PRE 14A 1 dpre14a.htm EYE.95-LTF.BOS PRE 14A EYE.95-LTF.BOS PRE 14A

Schedule 14A Information

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

 

 

Filed by the Registrant x                                                     Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

 

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¨  Confidential, for Use of Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

¨  Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨  Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨  Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

Global/International Fund, Inc.   Scudder Mutual Funds, Inc.
Investment Trust   Scudder Pathway Series /New/
Scudder Funds Trust   Scudder Portfolio Trust
Scudder Income Trust   Scudder Securities Trust
Scudder International Fund, Inc.   Scudder State Tax Free Trust
Scudder Municipal Trust   Scudder Tax Free Trust
Value Equity Trust

 


 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 


 

(Name of Person(s) filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)

 

 

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February [    ], 2006

 

Dear Shareholders,

 

You are being asked to vote on a number of subjects related to DWS funds you own, as part of a program initiated by Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DeIM”), your fund’s adviser. As Chairman of your fund’s Board, I would like to explain what these votes are about. This proxy may look complicated, but it represents an effort to simplify your fund’s governance system, fee and expense structure, governing documents and investment policies. It is the result of a long-term study and many meetings by your fund’s Board to consider these proposals.

 

Let me explain. You own one, if not more, DWS funds. These funds were previously named Scudder funds, as discussed in more detail below, and may have had other names in the past (Kemper, Morgan Grenfell, Alex Brown, Bankers Trust, Deutsche). Because DeIM had built its mutual fund business by buying other firms, a number of DWS funds were very similar, if not identical, in nature. Some were offered just to certain types of investors and many, even those with similar names and investment objectives, had differing fee structures because of their different history.

 

Because it is expensive to manage small mutual funds and inefficient to have several funds with similar investment goals, the Board and DeIM worked over the past two years to merge or liquidate some funds. The goal was to lower expenses and concentrate investment management talent on fewer but larger investment portfolios. You may have been asked to approve some of these transactions in the past.

 

The Board also looked at the governance system of the funds. Because DeIM managed funds acquired from various other fund groups over the years, there are now several different fund boards that oversee the DWS funds. This means that DeIM executives spend a great deal of time dealing with individual boards, most often reviewing the same issue or policy with each board. Because this is time consuming and inefficient, two of the three primary DWS fund boards decided that shareholders would be served better if the boards merged and the board members worked together as one board to discuss and decide important issues. In addition, the Board believes that a unified board structure (i) would benefit each DWS fund by enhancing the effectiveness of board oversight of the funds, their management and their other service providers and (ii) would facilitate uniform oversight of the DWS funds and the standardization of service arrangements and policies among the DWS funds described below.

 

Therefore, to enhance governance and the Board’s oversight of the funds, which have many operational issues in common, the Board unanimously recommends that you approve the combination of two of the DWS boards into a single board. The members of this combined board, all but one independent of DeIM, collectively have over 100 years of experience as mutual fund board members and their backgrounds and experiences are both diverse and relevant to the variety of tasks and issues that face a mutual fund board. Because of retirements, one of the two boards would have had to add new board members at this time; by combining the boards, shareholders would benefit from a larger group of experienced fund board members. Planned retirements will likely result in a smaller board in the coming years.

 

In light of the high cost of soliciting votes from shareholders, DeIM proposed, and your Board agreed, that it would be in the best interests of shareholders to use the opportunity presented by the shareholder meeting for electing new board members to ask shareholders to take certain other actions. Consequently, in addition to voting


for a single board, you are being asked to vote on several other proposals that would standardize and simplify fund documents, operations and policies.

 

First, your Board recommends that you approve a new investment management contract with DeIM. In the past, all of the services and the fees paid to DeIM for investment management and general administrative services have been contained in one contract. We recommend that the contract be separated into two contracts, one for investment advice and one for administrative services. Any increase in advisory fees would still require shareholder approval, but the Board would have more flexibility to make changes in the administrative services contract without asking for shareholder approval, which costs the funds millions of dollars. Some of the DWS funds have done this already; some have not. It is important that we standardize our practice in this regard.

 

As part of this proposal, the Board intends to approve implementation of a flat administrative fee of 0.10% for all funds, while at the same time (in most cases) reducing and eliminating other fees. It is important to note that this change does not represent an increase in expenses for most funds. While expenses for some funds may increase or decrease slightly as a result, as explained in this proxy statement, the changes generally are not material and the aggregate fees paid by all funds to DeIM will remain largely the same. As I explained earlier, the DWS funds managed by DeIM, for historical reasons, had a wide variety of fee policies and procedures. Some paid administrative fees covering different types of services. Some paid a separate fund accounting fee. Some paid for administrative services as part of the management fee. This meant that fund personnel had a daunting, unnecessary and expensive task to keep track of different fee arrangements of over 100 funds. DeIM recommended and your Board concluded that a uniform flat fee for a standard list of fund services was a more efficient and less error-prone approach.

 

Your Board also recommends that you approve a revised list of fundamental investment policies for your funds. All mutual funds have certain fundamental policies intended to ensure that the fund invests according to its investment objectives and does not assume undue risk. Because DeIM built its mutual fund business by acquiring a number of existing funds, there is little consistency in the way in which these fundamental policies have been written. DeIM recommended and the Board determined that it would be more efficient and, in the long run, less expensive to standardize them.

 

In addition, your Board recommends that you approve changes to your fund’s governing documents (in some cases, a declaration of trust, and in other cases, articles of incorporation) that will standardize these documents across all DWS funds to be overseen by the combined board. These changes would also provide the Board increased flexibility to adjust operations to be more efficient, to minimize compliance risks and reduce costs to shareholders. For example we are increasingly concerned about rising fund costs and are aware that the maintenance of multiple share classes with many small accounts may not be serving the interests of most shareholders. We intend to study these types of issues further but need flexibility to solve them.

 

Finally, as mentioned above, DeIM recommended and your Board approved that the Scudder funds operate under a unified name of DWS Funds, managed by DWS Scudder, and effective February 6, 2006, each Scudder fund’s name was changed to reflect this DWS branding. This name change is complementary to our simplification/standardization project and reflects the fact that your funds are part of Deutsche Bank’s larger global mutual fund family, all called DWS in other countries. The DWS funds’ former Scudder names are listed along with their new DWS names in Exhibit A to this proxy statement.


Your Board asks that you vote in favor of each of these proposals.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

LOGO

Dawn-Marie Driscoll (Chair)

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

Keith R. Fox

Kenneth C. Froewiss

Jean Gleason Stromberg

Carl W. Vogt


Questions & Answers

 

Q&A

 

Q   Why am I receiving this proxy statement?

 

A   Today’s U.S. DWS funds include the best offerings from what was at one time six different fund organizations. This proxy statement seeks shareholder approval of a number of proposals aimed at making the DWS funds’ operations more efficient, including:

 

  ·   election of a common Board to oversee most of the U.S. DWS funds, including your Fund;
  ·   adoption of a common form of investment management agreement;
  ·   adoption of a subadviser approval policy;
  ·   adoption of common fundamental investment restrictions; and
  ·   adoption of a common form of agreement and declaration of trust or articles of incorporation (“Charter Document”).

 

       Each of the Proposals is described in more detail below.

 

       After carefully reviewing the Proposals, your Fund’s Board has determined that these actions are in the best interests of your Fund. Your Fund’s Board unanimously recommends that you vote FOR the proposed slate of nominees to the Board and FOR each of the Proposals applicable to your Fund.

 

PROPOSAL TO ELECT BOARD MEMBERS

(ALL FUNDS)

 

Q   Why am I being asked to vote for board members?

 

A   Your Fund’s Board and the board of certain other DWS funds (“New York DWS Funds”) recommend that the Boston DWS Funds (which include your Fund) and the New York DWS Funds be overseen by a unified board composed primarily of the same group of individuals. All nominees except for Axel Schwarzer, CEO of DWS Scudder, currently serve as independent board members of your Fund or the New York DWS Funds. (The geographic references in the preceding sentence indicate the location in which the board of each DWS fund historically has held most of its meetings.) To accomplish this objective, the board of each Boston DWS Fund, including your Fund, and each New York DWS Fund has nominated, and is recommending that shareholders approve, a common, unified board. This board would oversee a majority of the U.S. DWS funds.

 

Q   Why does my Fund’s Board recommend this Proposal?

 

A   Your Fund’s Board believes that a unified board structure (i) will benefit each DWS fund by enhancing the effectiveness of board oversight of the DWS funds, their management and their other service providers, (ii) will facilitate uniform oversight of the DWS funds and standardization of service arrangements and policies among the DWS funds and (iii) will eliminate the need for the portfolio managers and other officers to prepare for and attend duplicative meetings, allowing such personnel more time to focus on the Boston DWS Funds’ business. Additionally, your Fund’s Board believes that your Fund would benefit from the diversity and experience of the nominees that would comprise the expanded board if this Proposal is approved.

LOGO


Q&A continued

 

PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN AMENDED AND RESTATED

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (ALL FUNDS)

 

Q   Why am I being asked to vote on an Investment Management Agreement?

 

A   The proposed Investment Management Agreement is part of a broader program initiated by Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DeIM”), the Funds’ investment adviser, to simplify and to standardize the expense structures and related contracts for the DWS funds. Currently, the management agreement for your Fund contemplates the provision by DeIM of both investment advisory and administrative services, and the management fee payable by your Fund compensates DeIM for both types of services. DeIM has proposed to divide the current management agreement into two separate agreements with two separate fees – an amended and restated agreement for investment advisory services and a new agreement for administrative services. You are being asked to vote on the proposed amended and restated Investment Management Agreement because the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), requires shareholder approval of the Investment Management Agreement for your Fund. You are not being asked to vote on the proposed new administrative services agreement, which requires only Board approval.

 

Q   Will the services provided and fees charged by DeIM change if shareholders approve the Investment Management Agreement?

 

A   In the aggregate, the scope of services provided to your Fund by DeIM and the fees paid to DeIM would remain largely unchanged, although some Funds would see increases or decreases reflecting an effort to standardize administrative fees. For information regarding the effect of these changes on your Fund’s fees, please see the tables on pages [            ]. In the case of some Funds, aggregate fee reductions are being implemented to reflect economic and competitive considerations.

 

Q   Why does my Fund’s Board recommend this proposal?

 

A   Your Fund’s Board believes that the amended and restated Investment Management Agreement would benefit your Fund because the Board would have greater flexibility to make future changes regarding your Fund’s administrative services arrangements that it believes to be in the best interests of shareholders without the time and expense of seeking shareholder approval.

 

Q   What will happen if shareholders do not approve the Investment Management Agreement?

 

A   If shareholders of your Fund do not approve the amended and restated Investment Management Agreement, DeIM will continue to manage your Fund pursuant to your Fund’s current management agreement.


Q&A continued

 

PROPOSAL TO APPROVE A SUBADVISER APPROVAL POLICY

(ALL FUNDS)

 

Q   Why am I being asked to vote on this proposal?

 

A   DeIM is seeking to amend your Fund’s current policy on appointing and terminating subadvisers and amending subadvisory agreements. Under the current policy, consistent with applicable law, shareholders must approve any subadvisory contract with an unaffiliated subadviser. The proposal, if adopted, would permit DeIM, subject to the approval of your Fund’s Board, including a majority of the Independent Board Members, and to the receipt of an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission, to appoint and replace unaffiliated subadvisers and to amend subadvisory contracts without obtaining shareholder approval.

 

Q   Why did my Fund’s Board recommend this proposal?

 

A   Your Fund’s Board recommends this proposal in order to provide DeIM with greater flexibility in selecting, supervising and evaluating subadvisers without incurring additional expense and potential delays in seeking shareholder approval, while remaining subject to Board oversight and supervision.

 

PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE REVISION OF THE

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTION RELATING TO COMMODITIES

(ALL FUNDS)

 

Q   Why am I being asked to vote for the revision of my Fund’s fundamental investment restriction?

 

A   DeIM is seeking to revise your Fund’s current fundamental investment restriction relating to commodities. In order to revise investment restrictions that are “fundamental” in nature, the 1940 Act requires shareholder approval.

 

Q   Why did my Fund’s Board recommend this Proposal?

 

A   Your Fund’s Board, together with DeIM, has reviewed each Fund’s fundamental investment restrictions with the goal of simplifying and conforming the fundamental investment restrictions of the various open-end funds managed by DeIM, which will simplify the process of monitoring compliance with the fundamental investment restrictions. This Proposal seeks shareholder approval of changes that are intended to further these goals and to provide each Fund, consistent with its investment objectives and strategies, with the flexibility to respond to changing markets, new investment opportunities and future changes in applicable law.

 

Q   What effect would the revision to my Fund’s fundamental investment restriction have on my Fund?

 

A   The proposed revised fundamental investment restriction does not affect the investment objective or strategies of your Fund, which would remain unchanged. The revised restriction may give your Fund an increased ability to engage in certain activities relating to commodities. Because such activities are not currently contemplated by your Fund’s investment objectives or strategies, the proposed revisions are not expected to affect the manner in which your Fund is managed or the investment program of your Fund.


Q&A continued

 

PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CHARTER DOCUMENT

(ALL FUNDS)

 

Q   Why am I being asked to vote on this proposal?

 

A   DeIM is seeking to amend your Fund’s current Charter Document. Under applicable state law, the proposed amendments require shareholder approval.

 

Q   What is a Charter Document?

 

A   A Charter Document is the constitutional document that governs the corporate actions of a fund. A Charter Document sets forth, among other things, details regarding the organization of the fund, shareholder rights, powers of the board of a fund and the characteristics of fund shares. Shareholders of funds that are part of a Massachusetts business trust (a “Trust”) will be asked to vote to approve an amended and restated declaration of trust (see Proposal IV.A) and to approve further amendments to that amended and restated declaration of trust (see Proposal IV.B). Shareholders of funds that are part of a Maryland corporation (a “Corporation”) will be asked to vote to approve amended and restated articles of incorporation (see Proposal IV.C). The notice for the upcoming special meeting indicates which funds are series of a Trust and which funds are series of a Corporation.

 

Q   Why am I being asked to approve both an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (Proposal IV.A) and further amendments to that Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (Proposal IV.B)?

 

A   The current declaration of trust of each Trust requires a majority vote of shareholders to make most amendments to the declaration, but requires two-thirds of shareholders to approve any amendment diminishing or eliminating the voting rights of a shareholder. The amendments to the current declaration proposed in Proposal IV.A do not affect the voting rights of applicable shareholders, whereas the further amendments proposed in Proposal IV.B (the “Further Amendments”) do affect such rights. As a result, a majority vote will be required to approve the amended and restated declaration of trust in Proposal IV.A, but a two-thirds vote of shareholders will be required to approve the Further Amendments to that amended and restated declaration of trust. If shareholders of a Trust approve Proposal IV.A, but not Proposal IV.B, that Trust will be governed by an amended and restated declaration of trust that does not contain any of the Further Amendments.

 

Q   Why did my Fund’s Board recommend this Proposal?

 

A   Your Fund’s Board believes that it is in the best interests of shareholders to use the opportunity presented by this shareholder meeting to modernize the Funds’ current Charter Documents and to make them uniform across all of the Trusts and Corporations that the proposed unified Board would oversee. It is anticipated that the overall effect of these changes will be to make the administration of the Funds more efficient and to provide more flexibility for the operations of the Funds, within the limits of applicable law.

 

Q   What effect would the adoption of an amended and restated Charter Document have on my Fund?

 

A   A description of the primary differences between your Fund’s current Charter Document and its amended and restated Charter Document is set forth in Proposal IV of the attached Proxy Statement. Adoption of an amended and restated Charter Document will not alter in any way the Board Members’ existing fiduciary obligations to act with due care and in the shareholders’ interests, nor will your Funds’ current investments and investment policies change by virtue of the adoption of an amended and restated Charter Document.


Q&A continued

 

GENERAL

 

Q   How can I vote?

 

A   You can vote in any one of four ways:

 

  (1)   Via the Internet, by going to the website listed on your proxy card;

 

  (2)   By telephone, with a toll-free call to the number listed on your proxy card;

 

  (3)   By mail, by sending the enclosed proxy card, signed and dated, to us in the enclosed envelope; or

 

  (4)   In person, by attending the special meeting.

 

We encourage you to vote over the Internet or by telephone, following the instructions that appear on your proxy card. Whichever method you choose, please take the time to read the full text of the Proxy Statement before you vote.

 

Q   Whom should I call for additional information about the attached proxy statement?

 

A   Please call Computershare Fund Services, Inc., your fund’s proxy solicitor, at [            ].


DWS Capital Growth Fund   DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund
DWS Conservative Allocation Fund   DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund
DWS Core Plus Income Fund   DWS Large Company Growth Fund
DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund   DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund
DWS Equity Income Fund   DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund
DWS GNMA Fund   DWS Moderate Allocation Fund
DWS Growth Allocation Fund   DWS Short Term Bond Fund
DWS Growth & Income Fund   DWS Small Cap Core Fund
DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund   DWS Small Cap Value Fund
DWS Health Care Fund    

 

Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund   DWS Global Thematic Fund
DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund   DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund
DWS Europe Equity Fund   DWS International Fund
DWS Global Bond Fund   DWS Latin America Equity Fund
DWS Global Opportunities Fund   DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

 

345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154

 


 

NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

To Be Held March [    ], 2006

 


 

This is the formal agenda for your Fund’s shareholder special meeting. It tells you what matters will be voted on and the time and place of the special meeting, in the event you choose to attend in person.

 

To the shareholders of the DWS funds listed above:

 

A special meeting of the shareholders of each DWS fund listed above will be held March [    ], 2006 at [            ] [a.m./p.m.] (Eastern time), at the offices of Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc., 345 Park Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10154 (the “Meeting”), to consider the following (each a “Proposal”):

 

PROPOSAL I:

(All Funds)

  Election of Board Members

PROPOSAL II.A:

(All Funds)

  Approval of an Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement

PROPOSAL II.B:

(All Funds)

  Approval of a Subadviser Approval Policy

PROPOSAL III:

(All Funds)

  Approval of a Revised Fundamental Investment Restriction Regarding Commodities


PROPOSAL IV.A:

(All Funds that are series of Massachusetts business trusts (“Trusts”), including: DWS Capital Growth Fund, DWS Conservative Allocation Fund, DWS Core Plus Income Fund, DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund, DWS Equity Income Fund, DWS GNMA Fund, DWS Growth Allocation Fund, DWS Growth & Income Fund, DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund, DWS Health Care Fund, DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund, DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund, DWS Large Company Growth Fund, DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund, DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund, DWS Moderate Allocation Fund, DWS Short Term Bond Fund, DWS Small Cap Core Fund and DWS Small Cap Value Fund)

  Approval of Amended and Restated Declarations of Trust

PROPOSAL IV.B:

(All Funds that are series of Trusts)

  Approval of Further Amendments to the Amended and Restated Declarations of Trust

PROPOSAL IV.C:

(All Funds that are series of Maryland corporations (“Corporations”), including: DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund, DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund, DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Global Bond Fund, DWS Global Opportunities Fund, DWS Global Thematic Fund, DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund, DWS International Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund)

  Approval of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation

 

The persons named as proxies will vote in their discretion on any other business that properly may come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

Holders of record of shares of the DWS funds listed above at the close of business on February [    ], 2006 are entitled to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote required to approve a Proposal for any Fund is not obtained at its Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Fund’s Meeting in accordance with applicable law to permit such further solicitation of proxies as may be deemed necessary or advisable. Any adjournment as to a matter involving a vote of the Trust or Corporation of which a Fund is a series or a vote of an individual Fund will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the question by shareholders of the Trust or Corporation or by shareholders of the Fund, respectively, in person or by proxy at the session of the Meeting to be adjourned. The persons named as proxies will vote FOR any such adjournment those proxies for which they are entitled to vote in favor of such Proposal and will vote AGAINST any such adjournment those proxies that are to be voted against such Proposal.


This notice and the related proxy material first are being mailed to shareholders on or about February [    ], 2006. This proxy is being solicited on behalf of your Fund’s Board.

 

By Order of the Trustees/Directors

 

LOGO

 

Dawn-Marie Driscoll (Chair)

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

Kenneth C. Froewiss

Keith R. Fox

Jean Gleason Stromberg

Carl W. Vogt

February [    ], 2006

 

We urge you to mark, sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided or to record your voting instructions by telephone or via the Internet so that you will be represented at the Meeting. If you complete and sign the proxy card (or tell us how you want to vote by voting by telephone or via the Internet), we will vote it exactly as you tell us. If you simply sign the proxy card, we will vote it in accordance with the Board’s recommendation on each Proposal applicable to your Fund. Your prompt return of the enclosed proxy card (or your voting by telephone or via the Internet) may save the necessity and expense of further solicitations. You may receive more than one proxy card because several shareholder special meetings are being held in connection with this proxy statement. If so, please return each one. If you have any questions, please call Computershare Fund Services, your Fund’s proxy solicitor, at the special toll-free number we have set up for you ([            ]), or contact your financial advisor.


INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS

 

The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and avoid the time and expense involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.

 

1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card.

 

2. Joint Accounts: Both parties should sign, and the name(s) of the party or parties signing should conform exactly to the name(s) shown in the registration on the proxy card.

 

3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For example:

 

Registration


 

Valid Signature


Corporate Accounts

   

(1) ABC Corp.

 

ABC Corp.

John Doe, Treasurer

(2) ABC Corp.

  John Doe, Treasurer

(3) ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer

  John Doe

(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan

  John Doe, Trustee

Partnership Accounts

   

(1) The XYZ Partnership

  Jane B. Smith, Partner

(2) Smith and Jones, Limited Partnership

  Jane B. Smith, General Partner

Trust Accounts

   

(1) ABC Trust Account

  Jane B. Doe, Trustee

(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d 12/28/78

  Jane B. Doe

Custodial or Estate Accounts

   

(1) John B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o John B. Smith Jr.

  John B. Smith

GMA/UTMA

   

(2) Estate of John B. Smith

  John B. Smith, Jr., Executor


JOINT PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

February [    ], 2006

 

GENERAL

 

This proxy statement (this “Proxy Statement”) is being furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees/Directors of each of the DWS funds listed in the enclosed Notice of a Special Meeting of Shareholders (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”), to be held jointly at the offices of Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc., 345 Park Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10154 on March [    ], 2006 at [            ] [a.m./p.m.] (Eastern time), and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof (the “Meeting”), at which shareholders will be asked to consider several proposals (each a “Proposal” and collectively, the “Proposals”).

 

This Proxy Statement, along with the enclosed Notice of a Special Meeting of Shareholders and the accompanying proxy card (the “Proxy Card”), is being mailed to shareholders on or about February [    ], 2006. It explains what you should know before voting on the matters described herein. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.

 

In the descriptions of the Proposals below, the word “fund” sometimes is used to mean an investment company or series thereof in general, and not the Funds whose shareholders are solicited by this Proxy Statement. In addition, for simplicity, actions may be described in this Proxy Statement as being taken by a Fund that is a series of a Massachusetts business trust or a Maryland corporation, although all actions actually are taken by the Massachusetts business trust or Maryland corporation on behalf of the applicable Fund. Each such Massachusetts business trust is referred to herein as a “Trust,” each such Maryland corporation is referred to herein as a “Corporation” and the Trusts and Corporations collectively are referred to as the “Companies.” The term “Board,” as used herein, refers to a board of trustees of a Trust, a board of directors of a Corporation or both, as applicable. The term “Board Member,” as used herein, refers to a person who serves as a trustee of a Trust (a “Trustee”) or a director of a Corporation (a “Director”).

 

The Meeting is being held to consider and to vote on the following Proposals for the Funds, as indicated below and as described more fully herein, and such other matters as properly may come before the Meeting:

 

PROPOSAL I:

(All Funds)

  Election of Board Members

PROPOSAL II.A:

(All Funds)

  Approval of an Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement

PROPOSAL II.B:

(All Funds)

  Approval of a Subadviser Approval Policy

PROPOSAL III:

(All Funds)

  Approval of a Revised Fundamental Investment Restriction Regarding Commodities

 

1


PROPOSAL IV.A:

(All Funds that are series of Massachusetts business trusts (“Trusts”), including: DWS Capital Growth Fund, DWS Conservative Allocation Fund, DWS Core Plus Income Fund, DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund, DWS Equity Income Fund, DWS GNMA Fund, DWS Growth Allocation Fund, DWS Growth & Income Fund, DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund, DWS Health Care Fund, DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund, DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund, DWS Large Company Growth Fund, DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund, DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund, DWS Moderate Allocation Fund, DWS Short Term Bond Fund, DWS Small Cap Core Fund and DWS Small Cap Value Fund)

  Approval of Amended and Restated Declarations of Trust

PROPOSAL IV.B:

(All Funds that are series of Trusts)

  Approval of Further Amendments to the Amended and Restated Declarations of Trust

PROPOSAL IV.C:

(All Funds that are series of Maryland corporations (“Corporations”), including: DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund, DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund, DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Global Bond Fund, DWS Global Opportunities Fund, DWS Global Thematic Fund, DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund, DWS International Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund)

  Approval of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation

 

The appointed proxies will vote in their discretion on any other business that properly may come before the Meeting.

 

The most recent Annual Reports of the Funds, containing audited financial statements for the applicable fiscal years, and the most recent Semiannual Reports succeeding the Annual Reports of the Funds, when applicable (each, a “Report”), previously have been furnished to the Funds’ shareholders. An additional copy of each Report will be furnished without charge upon request by writing to the Fund at 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606-5808 (for Class A, Class B, Class C, Class R, Class M, Institutional Class, Premier Class or Investment Class) or at P.O. Box 219669, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9669 (for Class S or Class AARP), or by calling 1-800-621-1048 (Class A, Class B, Class C, Class M, Class R or Investment Class), 1-800-730-1313 (Institutional Class or Premier Class) or 1-800-728-3337 (Class S or Class AARP). Reports also are available on the DWS website at www.dws-scudder.com or at the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) at www.sec.gov.

 

2


PROPOSAL I

 

ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS

 

The Board of each Fund is recommending that shareholders elect a unified board for the Boston DWS Funds (which include your Fund) and certain other DWS funds (the “New York DWS Funds”), each of which is listed on Exhibit A hereto. (Geographic references merely indicate where the board for each of these funds has historically held most of its meetings. In addition, as you may know, before February 6, 2006, the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds were known as “Scudder” funds. Exhibit A includes both the current and former names of the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds.) Accordingly, the Board of each Fund is submitting for election by shareholders of each Fund the slate of 13 individuals listed below (the “nominees”). All but one of the nominees are “independent” board members and already serve as a board member on one or more DWS funds for which Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM”), or its affiliate, Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., provides investment advisory and other services. DeIM and Deutsche Asset Management, Inc. each are a part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), which is the marketing name in the United States for the asset management activities of, among others, Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Limited, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and DWS Trust Company.

 

Each nominee is familiar with the operations of DeAM. Messrs. Becton, Fox, Vogt and Froewiss and Mses. Driscoll and Stromberg currently serve as board members of each Boston DWS Fund. Messrs. Jones and Searcy, Drs. Gruber, Herring and Saunders, and Ms. Rimel currently serve as board members of each New York DWS Fund. Axel Schwarzer, CEO of DWS Scudder, is the sole nominee who would be an interested Board Member by virtue of his positions with Deutsche Asset Management and does not currently serve on the boards of the Boston DWS Funds or the New York DWS Funds. Each of the nominees is being submitted for election by the shareholders of each Boston DWS Fund and each New York DWS Fund. Pertinent information about each nominee January 25, 2006 is set forth below. If elected by the shareholders of all of the Boston DWS Funds and all of the New York DWS Funds, each board member would serve on the board of 39 registered funds overseeing 89 funds in the current configuration of the DWS funds complex.

 

In 2004, representatives of various boards with responsibilities for overseeing the DWS funds participated in informal meetings to study ways to coordinate and enhance the governance of the DWS funds, given the number of funds each board oversees and the increased responsibilities imposed on board members generally as a result of recent industry-wide Commission regulatory initiatives and rulemaking. Among the subjects considered by these board members was the possible consolidation of boards so as to, among other things, enhance the effectiveness of board oversight of fund operations, facilitate adoption of uniform policies and procedures, and reduce the number of meetings attended by, and duplicative presentations required of, key personnel from DeAM. Following the meetings, representatives of the boards of the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds suggested that the corporate governance process might be enhanced by creating a unified board to govern the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds. The boards of the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds have conducted concurrent meetings for over a year to familiarize the board members with one another and to ensure that new standing committees of the proposed unified board would function well and would accommodate the increased number of funds over which the proposed unified board would have responsibility.

 

After extensive discussions and meetings, the Nominating and Governance Committees of the boards of the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds, composed exclusively of board members of the Boston

 

3


DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds who are not “interested persons” of any of the Boston DWS Funds or the New York DWS Funds, respectively, determined that each Boston DWS Fund and each New York DWS Fund would be best served if a unified board were responsible for all such funds. These discussions included all “independent” board members, counsel to the board members of the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds who are not “interested persons” of any of the Boston DWS Funds or the New York DWS Funds, respectively, counsel to each of the Boston DWS Funds and New York DWS Funds and representatives of DeAM.

 

At meetings held on September 29, 2005, the Nominating and Governance Committees of the boards of the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds determined to recommend to the full boards the slate described below for election to the board of each Boston DWS Fund and each New York DWS Fund. At meetings held on September 30, 2005, the Board of each Fund adopted the proposals of its Nominating and Governance Committee and determined to submit this slate of nominees for election by Fund shareholders. Mr. Schwarzer was nominated for election to the board of each Boston DWS Fund and each New York DWS Fund at the December 2, 2005 meeting of each such board.

 

Board Considerations

 

The Board considered the nomination of persons to serve as board members as part of an overall plan to coordinate and enhance the efficiency of the governance of the Boston DWS Funds. In its deliberations, the Board examined various matters related to the management and long-term welfare of each Fund and the Boston DWS Funds overall, including the following:

 

  ·   The opportunity to fill vacancies in the Board that had resulted from the death, retirement and resignation of Board Members in recent years with capable, experienced nominees.

 

  ·   The independent status of the nominees. If elected, all but one of the nominees would be board members who are not “interested persons” (as that term is used in the 1940 Act) of any DWS fund they oversee (“Independent Board Members”).

 

  ·   The diversity and experience of the nominees that would comprise the expanded board. The Board noted that the nominees have distinguished careers in government, law, finance, academia and other areas and would bring a wide range of expertise to the expanded board. In addition, all independent nominees have experience as board members overseeing other DWS funds.

 

  ·   Standardization of policies among the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds. The Board concluded that the unified board structure would assist it in developing uniform compliance and governance policies that would reflect the best practices of each individual board and the industry.

 

  ·   Rationalization of service arrangements. DeAM has recently undertaken a product rationalization program that includes, among other things, the standardization of service arrangements among the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds. The Board concluded that greater consistency of service providers and related contractual arrangements across all of the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds was in the best interests of shareholders and that a single board would facilitate this program.

 

  ·   Portfolio manager, chief compliance officer and other management resources committed to Board meetings. Many portfolio managers and other officers for the Funds also act as portfolio managers and officers for other Boston DWS Funds and for the New York DWS Funds. A single board would eliminate the need for the portfolio managers and other officers to prepare for and attend duplicative meetings, allowing such personnel more time to focus on the Funds’ business.

 

4


  ·   Continuity of Board membership. The Board will be able to provide for appropriate continuity over the years as incumbent members reach the mandatory retirement age of 72 or otherwise resign from the unified board.

 

  ·   The size of the expanded board. Recognizing that recent regulatory changes and the increasing complexities of the mutual fund business have substantially increased the responsibilities of mutual fund boards, the Board determined that a larger board would facilitate greater use of committees to review specific types of issues in greater detail and to develop greater expertise with respect to those issues. Because the expanded board would oversee a larger number of funds across which the expenses of the board would be spread, the total cost to the Funds is not expected to change materially if shareholders elect all of the nominees.

 

Information Concerning Board Member Nominees

 

Information is provided below for each nominee for election at the Meeting. The first section of the table lists information for each nominee who is an Independent Board Member nominee. Information for Mr. Schwarzer, who would be an interested board member by virtue of his positions with Deutsche Asset Management, appears in the second section of the table.

 

Each nominee elected to the Board at the Meeting will serve until his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, or until he or she resigns or is otherwise removed. Each nominee has indicated a willingness to serve if elected.

 

Independent Board Member Nominees

 

Name, Year of Birth,
Position with the
Fund and Length of
Time Served(1)


  

Business Experience and Directorships During the Past 5 Years


   Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex
Overseen


Henry P. Becton, Jr. 1943

Board Member of Boston Board Funds since 1990

   President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Becton Dickinson and Company (medical technology company); Belo Corporation (media company); Concord Academy; Boston Museum of Science; Public Radio International; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005); Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Former Directorships: American Public Television; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service    46

Dawn-Marie Driscoll 1946

Chairman of Boston Board Funds since 2004

 

Board Member of Boston Board Funds since 1987

   President, Driscoll Associates (consulting firm); Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; formerly, Partner, Palmer & Dodge (1988-1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene’s (1978-1988). Directorships: Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute; Member, Executive Committee of the Independent Directors Council of the Investment Company Institute; Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005)    46

 

5


Name, Year of Birth,
Position with the
Fund and Length of
Time Served(1)


  

Business Experience and Directorships During the Past 5 Years


   Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex
Overseen


Keith R. Fox

1954

Board Member of Boston Board Funds since 1996

   Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (a series of private equity funds). Directorships: Progressive Holding Corporation (kitchen goods importer and distributor); Cloverleaf Transportation Inc. (trucking); Natural History, Inc. (magazine publisher); Box Top Media Inc. (advertising), Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (sine 2005)    46

Kenneth C. Froewiss

1945

Board Member of Boston Board Funds since 2005

   Clinical Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business (1997-present); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2001), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2004), Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc. (since 1999), The Brazil Fund, Inc. (since 2000) and The Korea Fund, Inc. (since 2000); Member, Finance Committee, Association for Asian Studies (2002-present); Director, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (US) (2004-present); prior thereto, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan (investment banking firm) (until 1996)    51

Martin J. Gruber

1937

Board Member of New York Board Funds since 1992

   Nomura Professor of Finance, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University (since September 1965); Director, Japan Equity Fund, Inc. (since January 1992), Thai Capital Fund, Inc. (since January 2000), Singapore Fund, Inc. (since January 2000), Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) (registered investment companies). Formerly, Trustee, TIAA (pension funds) (January 1996-January 2000); Trustee, CREF and CREF Mutual Funds (January 2000-March 2005); Chairman, CREF and CREF Mutual Funds (February 2004-March 2005); and Director, S.G. Cowen Mutual Funds (January 1985- January 2001)    51

Richard J. Herring

1946

Board Member of New York Board Funds since 1990

   Jacob Safra Professor of International Banking and Professor, Finance Department, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (since July 1972); Director, Lauder Institute of International Management Studies (since July 2000); Co-Director, Wharton Financial Institutions Center (since July 2000); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Formerly, Vice Dean and Director, Wharton Undergraduate Division (July 1995-June 2000)    51

Graham E. Jones

1933

Board Member of New York Board Funds since 1993

   Senior Vice President, BGK Realty, Inc. (commercial real estate) (since 1995); Director, DWS Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), DWS Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Formerly, Trustee of various investment companies managed by Sun Capital Advisors, Inc. (1998-2005), Morgan Stanley Asset Management (1985-2001) and Weiss, Peck and Greer (1985-2005)    51

 

6


Name, Year of Birth,
Position with the
Fund and Length of
Time Served(1)


  

Business Experience and Directorships During the Past 5 Years


   Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex
Overseen


Rebecca W. Rimel

1951

Board Member of New York Board Funds since 1995

   President and Chief Executive Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts (charitable foundation) (1994 to present); Trustee, Thomas Jefferson Foundation (charitable organization) (1994 to present); Trustee, Executive Committee, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (2001 to present); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Formerly, Executive Vice President, The Glenmede Trust Company (investment trust and wealth management) (1983 to 2004); Board Member, Investor Education (charitable organization) (2004-2005)    51

Philip Saunders, Jr.

1935

Board Member of New York Board Funds since 1986

   Principal, Philip Saunders Associates (economic and financial consulting) (since November 1988); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Formerly, Director, Financial Industry Consulting, Wolf & Company (consulting) (1987-1988); President, John Hancock Home Mortgage Corporation (1984-1986); Senior Vice President of Treasury and Financial Services, John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. (1982-1986)    51

William N. Searcy, Jr.

1946

Board Member of New York Board Funds since 1993

   Private investor since October 2003; Trustee of 7 open-end mutual funds managed by Sun Capital Advisers, Inc. (since October 1998); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Formerly, Pension & Savings Trust Officer, Sprint Corporation(2) (telecommunications) (November 1989-October 2003)    51

Jean Gleason Stromberg

1943

Board Member of Boston Board Funds since 1999

   Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997-2001); Director, US Government Accountability Office (1996-1997); Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978-1996). Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Service Source, Inc.; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Former Directorships: Mutual Fund Directors Forum (2002-2004), American Bar Retirement Association (funding vehicle for retirement plans) (1987-1990 and 1994-1996)    46

Carl W. Vogt

1936

Board Member of Boston Board Funds since 2002

   Senior Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm); formerly, President (interim) of Williams College (1999-2000); President, certain funds in the Deutsche Asset Management Family of Funds (formerly, Flag Investors Family of Funds) (registered investment companies) (1999-2000). Directorships: Yellow Corporation (trucking); American Science & Engineering (x-ray detection equipment); ISI Family of Funds (registered investment companies, 4 funds overseen); National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005); formerly, Chairman and Member, National Transportation Safety Board    46

 

7


Interested Board Member Nominee

 

Name, Year of Birth,
Position with the
Fund and Length of
Time Served(1)


  

Business Experience and Directorships During the Past 5 Years


   Number of
Funds in Fund
Complex
Overseen


Axel Schwarzer

(1958)

None

   Managing Director, Deutsche Asset Management; Head of Deutsche Asset Management Americas; CEO of DWS Scudder; formerly, board member of DWS Investments, Germany (1999-2005); formerly, Head of Sales and Product Management for the Retail and Private Banking Division of Deutsche Bank in Germany (1997-1999); formerly, various strategic and operational positions for Deutsche Bank Germany Retail and Private Banking Division in the field of investment funds, tax driven instruments and asset management for corporates (1989-1996)    0

(1)   Unless otherwise indicated, the mailing address of each Board Member for the New York DWS Funds with respect to fund operations is 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154. The mailing address of each Board Member for the Boston DWS Funds with respect to fund operations is c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33904.
(2)   A publicly held company with securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

As reported to the Funds, Exhibit B to this Proxy Statement sets forth ownership by the board member nominees of shares of the Funds as of July 31, 2005. Exhibit C to this Proxy Statement sets forth compensation paid to each nominee by each Fund for its most recently completed fiscal year and by the DWS funds complex (which includes other Boston DWS Funds, the New York DWS Funds and other DWS funds) for the calendar year 2005.

 

Certain Indemnification Arrangements

 

In addition to customary indemnification rights provided by the governing instruments of each Fund, Board Members may be eligible to seek indemnification from DeIM in connection with certain matters as follows. In connection with litigation or regulatory action related to possible improper market timing or other improper trading activity or possible improper marketing and sales activity in the Funds, DeIM has agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify and hold harmless the Funds against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense arising from market timing or marketing and sales matters alleged in any enforcement actions brought by governmental authorities involving or potentially affecting the Funds or DeIM (“Enforcement Actions”) or that are the basis for private actions brought by shareholders of the Funds against the Funds, their Board Members and officers, DeIM and/or certain other parties (“Private Litigation”), or any proceedings or actions that may be threatened or commenced in the future by any person (including governmental authorities), arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. In recognition of its undertaking to indemnify the applicable Funds and in light of the rebuttable presumption generally afforded to Independent Board Members of funds that they have not engaged in conduct that would not entitle them to indemnification, DeIM has also agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify the Funds’ Independent Board Members against certain liabilities the Independent Board Members may incur from the matters alleged in any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation or arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation, and advance expenses that may be incurred by the Independent Board Members in connection with any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. DeIM is not, however,

 

8


required to provide indemnification and advancement of expenses to any Independent Board Member of a Fund: (1) with respect to any proceeding or action with respect to which the Fund’s Board determines that the Independent Board Member ultimately would not be entitled to indemnification or (2) for any liability of the Independent Board Member to the Fund or its shareholders to which such Independent Board Member would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of such Independent Board Member’s duties as a trustee or director of the Fund as determined in a final adjudication in such action or proceeding. The estimated amount of any expenses that may be advanced to an Independent Board Member or indemnity that may be payable under the indemnity agreements is currently unknown. These agreements by DeIM will survive the termination of the investment management agreements between DeIM and the Funds.

 

For more information regarding pending regulatory and litigation matters, please see “Market Timing Related Regulatory and Litigation Matters” and “Other Regulatory Matters” in Proposal II.A.

 

Officers

 

The officers of each Fund are set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

 

Board Structure

 

During the calendar year 2005, the Board conducted over 40 meetings to deal with fund issues (including regular and special Board and committee meetings). No Board Member attended less than 75% of the meetings of the Board and all committees of which he or she was a regular member.

 

Ms. Driscoll has served as Chairman of the Board of the Funds since June 2004. It is anticipated that Ms. Driscoll will continue to be Chairman of the Board if Proposal I is approved by shareholders.

 

The Board has established the following standing committees: Audit Committee, Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, Valuation Committee, Equity Oversight Committee, Fixed Income Oversight Committee, Marketing/Distribution/Shareholder Service Committee, Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee and Expense/Operations Committee. If the nominees are elected to the Board, the Board will consider whether other committees should be organized and the membership of all committees after it has reviewed the needs of the various funds. It should be noted that the committee members listed below are board members of the Boston DWS Funds. In practice, since December 2004, the board members of both the Boston DWS Funds and the New York DWS Funds have conducted joint board and committee meetings.

 

The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of the applicable Fund. It also makes recommendations regarding the selection of an independent registered public accounting firm for a Fund, reviews the independence of such firm, reviews the scope of audit and internal controls, considers and reports to the Board on matters relating to a Fund’s accounting and financial reporting practices, and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee receives annual representations from the independent registered public accounting firm as to its independence. The members of the Audit Committee are now Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg and also are expected to include Richard J. Herring, Graham E. Jones, Philip Saunders, Jr. and William N. Searcy, Jr. if Proposal I is approved. The Audit Committee held six (6) meetings during the calendar year 2005.

 

9


The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (i) recommends to the Board candidates to serve as Board Members and (ii) oversees and, as appropriate, makes recommendations to the Board regarding other fund governance-related matters, including but not limited to Board compensation practices, retirement policies, self-evaluations of effectiveness, review of possible conflicts of interest and independence issues involving Board Members, allocations of assignments and functions of committees of the Board, and share ownership policies. The members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are now Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg and also are expected to include Graham E. Jones and Rebecca W. Rimel if Proposal I is approved. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (previously known as the Committee on Independent Directors) held five (5) meetings during the calendar year 2005.

 

The Valuation Committee oversees Fund valuation matters, reviews valuation procedures adopted by the Board, determines the fair value of each Fund’s securities as needed in accordance with the valuation procedures when actual market values are unavailable and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary. The members of the Valuation Committee are now Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Alternate), Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss, Dawn-Marie Driscoll (Alternate), Jean Gleason Stromberg (Alternate) and Carl W. Vogt (Alternate) and also are expected to include Martin J. Gruber, Richard J. Herring and Philip Saunders, Jr. if Proposal I is approved. See Exhibit E for information regarding the number of meetings of the Valuation Committee held with respect to your Fund during the calendar year 2005.

 

The Board has established two Investment Oversight Committees, one focusing on Funds primarily investing in equity securities (the “Equity Oversight Committee”) and one focusing on Funds primarily investing in fixed income securities (the “Fixed Income Oversight Committee”). These Committees meet regularly with Fund portfolio managers and other investment personnel to review the relevant Funds’ investment strategies and investment performance. The members of the Equity Oversight Committee are now Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Carl W. Vogt and also are expected to include Martin J. Gruber, Richard J. Herring, Rebecca W. Rimel and Philip Saunders, Jr. if Proposal I is approved. The members of the Fixed Income Oversight Committee are now Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox, Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg (Chair) and also are expected to include Graham E. Jones and William N. Searcy, Jr. if Proposal I is approved. Each Investment Oversight Committee held six (6) meetings during the calendar year 2005.

 

The Marketing/Distribution/Shareholder Service Committee oversees (i) the quality, costs and types of shareholder services provided to the Funds and their shareholders, and (ii) the distribution-related services provided to the Funds and their shareholders. The members of the Marketing/Distribution/Shareholder Service Committee are now Jean Gleason Stromberg and Carl W. Vogt (Chair) and also are expected to include Martin J. Gruber, Richard J. Herring, Graham E. Jones and Rebecca W. Rimel if Proposal I is approved. The Marketing/Distribution/Shareholder Service Committee (previously known as the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee) held six (6) meetings during the calendar year 2005.

 

The Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee oversees (i) the significant legal affairs of the Funds, including the handling of pending or threatened litigation or regulatory action involving the Funds, (ii) general compliance matters relating to the Funds and (iii) proxy voting. The members of the Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee are now Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Jean Gleason Stromberg and Carl W. Vogt (Chair) and also are expected to include Rebecca W. Rimel and William N. Searcy, Jr. if Proposal I is approved. The Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee held six (6) meetings during the calendar year 2005.

 

The Expense/Operations Committee (i) monitors each Fund’s total operating expense levels, (ii) oversees the provision of administrative services to the Funds, including the Funds’ custody, fund accounting and

 

10


insurance arrangements, and (iii) reviews the Funds’ investment advisers’ brokerage practices, including the implementation of related policies. The members of the Expense/Operations Committee are now Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox (Chair) and Kenneth C. Froewiss and also are expected to include Graham E. Jones, Philip Saunders, Jr. and William N. Searcy, Jr. if Proposal I is approved. This committee held six (6) meetings during the calendar year 2005.

 

Required Vote

 

All of the Funds within a Company will vote together as a single class on the election of nominees. For each Company, the election of a nominee requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of the Company represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. The table below shows which Funds are series of which Companies.

 

Company


 

Funds


DWS Funds Trust

  DWS Short Term Bond Fund

DWS Global/International Fund, Inc.

  DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund
    DWS Global Bond Fund
    DWS Global Opportunities Fund
    DWS Global Thematic Fund

DWS Income Trust

  DWS GNMA Fund

DWS International Fund, Inc.

  DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund
    DWS Europe Equity Fund
    DWS International Fund
    DWS Latin America Equity Fund
    DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

DWS Investment Trust

  DWS Capital Growth Fund
    DWS Growth & Income Fund
    DWS Large Company Growth Fund
    DWS S&P 500 Index Fund
    DWS Small Cap Core Fund

DWS Municipal Trust

  DWS High Yield Tax Free Fund
    DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

DWS Mutual Funds, Inc.

  DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

DWS Pathway Series

  DWS Conservative Allocation Fund
    DWS Growth Allocation Fund
    DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund
    DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

DWS Portfolio Trust

  DWS Core Plus Income Fund

DWS Securities Trust

  DWS Health Care Fund
    DWS Small Cap Value Fund

DWS State Tax Free Trust

  DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

DWS Tax-Free Trust

  DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

DWS Value Equity Trust

  DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund
    DWS Equity Income Fund

 

11


Recommendation of the Board

 

The Board of your Fund believes that the election of each nominee is in the best interests of shareholders of your Fund. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR the election of each nominee as set forth in Proposal I.

 

12


PROPOSAL II.A

 

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN EACH FUND AND DEIM

 

The Board has approved, and recommends that shareholders of each Fund approve, an amended and restated investment management agreement between the Fund and DeIM, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit F (each, the “Investment Management Agreement”). The Board, consisting solely of persons that are independent of DeIM, approved the Investment Management Agreement with respect to each Fund.

 

Description of the Management Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement

 

Shareholders are being asked to approve an amended and restated Investment Management Agreement as part of an overall plan to standardize and add flexibility to the management agreements for all of the DWS funds, including your Fund. Currently, DeIM provides both investment management and administrative services required for the operation of your Fund under a single management agreement (the “Management Agreement”). DeIM also currently provides accounting services to your Fund under a separate accounting services agreement (the “Accounting Services Agreement”). The proposed changes would result in an amended and restated Investment Management Agreement covering only those services related to the management of the Fund’s portfolio investments and a new administrative services agreement (the “Administrative Services Agreement”) covering both those administrative services previously included in the Management Agreement and those accounting services previously included in the Accounting Services Agreement. Services provided under the Management Agreement, which will now be provided under the separate Administrative Services Agreement, include supervising and managing all aspects of your Fund’s operations, except for distribution services, and supervising the operations of the Fund’s third party service providers. The scope of services provided to your Fund by DeIM, and DeIM’s standard of care as an investment adviser, would not be reduced. The fees paid to DeIM would remain, in the aggregate, largely unchanged, although some Funds would see increases or decreases in fees reflecting an effort to standardize administrative fees. In the case of some Funds, aggregate fee reductions are being implemented to reflect economies of scale and competitive considerations. A comparison of the effective fees payable under the current and proposed arrangements (at December 31, 2004 asset levels) is shown below:

 

 

DWS Capital Growth Fund


   

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund


 

Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.542 %   Management    0.467 %   Management    0.000 %   Management    0.000 %

Accounting

   0.008 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.045 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.550 %  

Total

   0.557 %  

Total

   0.045 %  

Total

   0.100 %

DWS Core Plus Income Fund


   

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund


 

Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.529 %   Management    0.444 %   Management    1.250 %   Management    1.165 %

Accounting

   0.023 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.085 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.552 %  

Total

   0.544 %  

Total

   1.335 %  

Total

   1.265 %

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund


 


 

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   1.000 %   Management    0.665 %   Management    0.500 %   Management    0.415 %

Accounting

   0.085 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.077 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   1.085 %  

Total

   0.765 %  

Total

   0.577 %  

Total

   0.515 %

 

13


DWS Equity Income Fund


 


 

DWS Europe Equity Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.750 %   Management    0.665 %   Management    0.735 %   Management    0.650 %

Accounting

   0.079 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.048 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.829 %  

Total

   0.765 %  

Total

   0.783 %  

Total

   0.750 %

DWS Global Bond Fund


 


 

DWS Global Opportunities Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.750 %   Management    0.665 %   Management    1.100 %   Management    1.015 %

Accounting

   0.083 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.050 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.833 %  

Total

   0.765 %  

Total

   1.150 %  

Total

   1.115 %

DWS Global Thematic Fund


 


 

DWS GNMA Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.980 %   Management    0.895 %   Management    0.400 %   Management    0.315 %

Accounting

   0.046 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.019 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   1.026 %  

Total

   0.995 %  

Total

   0.419 %  

Total

   0.415 %

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund


 


 

DWS Growth Allocation Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   1.000 %   Management    0.915 %   Management    0.000 %   Management    0.000 %

Accounting

   0.055 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.025 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   1.055 %  

Total

   1.015 %  

Total

   0.025 %  

Total

   0.100 %

DWS Growth & Income Fund


 


 

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.436 %   Management    0.351 %   Management    0.000 %   Management    0.000 %

Accounting

   0.006 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.028 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.442 %  

Total

   0.451 %  

Total

   0.028 %  

Total

   0.100 %

DWS Health Care Fund


 


 

DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.850 %   Management    0.765 %   Management    0.608 %   Management    0.523 %

Accounting

   0.029 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.014 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.879 %  

Total

   0.865 %  

Total

   0.622 %  

Total

   0.623 %

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund


 


 

DWS International Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.400 %   Management    0.315 %   Management    0.650 %   Management    0.565 %

Accounting

   0.011 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.030 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.411 %  

Total

   0.415 %  

Total

   0.680 %  

Total

   0.665 %

 

14


DWS Large Company Growth Fund


 


 

DWS Latin America Equity Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.700 %   Management    0.615 %   Management    1.250 %   Management    1.165 %

Accounting

   0.015 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.055 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.715 %  

Total

   0.715 %  

Total

   1.305 %  

Total

   1.265 %

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund


 


 

DWS Massachusetts Tax Free Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.410 %   Management    0.325 %   Management    0.584 %   Management    0.499 %

Accounting

   0.007 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.017 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.417 %  

Total

   0.425 %  

Total

   0.601 %  

Total

   0.599 %

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund


 


 

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.000 %   Management    0.000 %   Management    0.850 %   Management    0.765 %

Accounting

   0.025 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.075 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.025 %  

Total

   0.100 %  

Total

   0.925 %  

Total

   0.865 %

DWS Short Term Bond Fund


 


 

DWS Small Cap Core Fund


 


Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:          Current Fees:          Proposed Fees:       

Management

   0.450 %   Management    0.365 %   Management    0.750 %   Management    0.665 %

Accounting

   0.013 %   Administrative    0.100 %   Accounting    0.063 %   Administrative    0.100 %
    

      

      

      

Total

   0.463 %  

Total

   0.465 %  

Total

   0.813 %  

Total

   0.765 %

DWS Small Cap Value Fund


 


     

Current Fees:

         Proposed Fees:                             

Management

   0.750 %   Management    0.665 %                      

Accounting

   0.024 %   Administrative    0.100 %                      
    

      

                     

Total

   0.774 %  

Total

   0.765 %                      

 

Additional information regarding the fees paid under the current Management Agreement and proposed to be paid under the Investment Management Agreement is set forth in Exhibit G. Exhibit G was calculated based on each Fund’s most recent fiscal year, while the tables above were calculated based on the one-year period ended December 31, 2004 to enable consistent analysis of the proposed fees.

 

The Investment Management Agreement also would permit DeIM to delegate the investment advisory function to both affiliated and unaffiliated subadvisers (certain of the current Management Agreements permit delegation only to affiliated subadvisers). This delegation would be subject to Board and, to the extent required by applicable law, shareholder approval (see Proposal II.B below). Shareholder approval is not required for the new Administrative Services Agreement, which has been approved by the Board of each Fund. The description of the Investment Management Agreement above is summary in nature and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Investment Management Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit F.

 

15


Background and Board Considerations

 

The proposed Investment Management Agreement and related Administrative Services Agreement were presented to the Board and considered by it as part of a broader program initiated by DeAM and intended to, among other things:

 

(i)   Reduce DeAM’s operational, business and compliance risk while increasing efficiency in its mutual funds operations; and

 

(ii)   Standardize and simplify the expenses and cap structures for DeAM’s mutual fund products.

 

The Board, consisting solely of Independent Board Members, conducted a thorough review of the potential implications of the Investment Management Agreement and related Administrative Services Agreement on each Fund’s shareholders. They were assisted in this review by a special committee of the Board formed to review this proposal, by their independent legal counsel and by independent industry consultants. In the subsequent months, the Board and its committee met on numerous occasions to review and discuss the Investment Management Agreement and related Administrative Services Agreement, both among themselves and with representatives of DeAM. In the course of their review, the Board requested and received substantial additional information and negotiated changes to DeAM’s initial proposal.

 

On September 30, 2005, the Board, consisting solely of Independent Board Members, approved the Investment Management Agreement and related Administrative Services Agreement with respect to each Fund. The Board has also unanimously agreed to recommend that the Investment Management Agreement be approved by each Fund’s shareholders.

 

In approving the proposed Investment Management Agreement and the proposed Administrative Services Agreement, the Board considered the following factors, among other things:

 

  ·   The separation of the investment management services and general administrative services provided by DeIM into two separate contracts would provide greater flexibility in the future to adjust the administrative services arrangements of the Funds without the cost of a shareholder meeting.

 

  ·   The standardization and simplification of contract provisions and fees charged to the Funds would reduce the risks of operational and compliance errors.

 

  ·   The overall scope of the services being provided by DeIM and the standard of care applicable to those services would not be reduced as a result of this restructuring.

 

  ·   The fees paid by the Boston DWS Funds to DeIM in the aggregate under the proposed new contracts would not increase.

 

  ·   The aggregate fees paid by individual Funds would also remain largely unchanged in most instances except as noted below.

 

  ·   The fees paid by certain Funds would be reduced to reflect economies of scale resulting from growth in assets and fees paid by competitive funds.

 

  ·   A number of Funds might experience modest increases or decreases in the total fees paid to DeIM as a result of the effort to standardize fee arrangements.

 

  ·   In the case of DWS Conservative Allocation Fund, DWS Growth Allocation Fund, DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund and DWS Moderate Allocation Fund, the implementation of an administrative services fee is fair and reasonable and consistent with industry practice, notwithstanding the fact that DeIM had previously provided such services to these funds without charge.

 

16


  ·   Any expense increases experienced by any of the Funds as a result of this restructuring are fair and reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of services being provided by DeIM and the long-term benefit of improved efficiencies in both DeIM’s administration and the Board’s oversight of the Funds.

 

  ·   The expense limitation adopted by the Board would maintain Fund expenses at current levels through September 30, 2006, the normal contract renewal period for the Funds, and would be reconsidered as part of the Board’s consideration of the future continuance of the agreements.

 

In reaching this conclusion, the Board did not give any particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Board Members and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Board Members may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual conclusions to approve the proposed new agreements.

 

The Board evaluated the proposed restructuring of these contracts in conjunction with its broader annual review of all contractual arrangements between the Funds and DeIM and its affiliates. At the conclusion of this review, the Board, which consists solely of persons independent of DeIM, unanimously voted to continue the current contractual arrangements between the Funds and DeIM, pending shareholder approval of the proposed Investment Management Agreement. The factors considered by the Board in connection with its general contract review, which are also pertinent to its approval of the proposed new agreements, are described in Exhibit H to this Proxy Statement.

 

Market Timing Related Regulatory and Litigation Matters

 

Since at least July 2003, federal, state and industry regulators have been conducting ongoing inquiries and investigations (“inquiries”) into the mutual fund industry, and have requested information from numerous mutual fund companies, including DWS Scudder. The DWS funds’ advisers have been cooperating in connection with these inquiries and are in discussions with the regulators concerning proposed settlements. Publicity about mutual fund practices arising from these industry-wide inquiries serves as the general basis of a number of private lawsuits against the DWS funds. These lawsuits, which previously have been reported in the press, involve purported class action and derivative lawsuits, making various allegations and naming as defendants various persons, including certain DWS funds, the DWS funds’ investment advisers and their affiliates, and certain individuals, including in some cases fund board members, officers, and other parties. Each DWS fund’s investment adviser has agreed to indemnify the applicable DWS funds in connection with these lawsuits, or other lawsuits or regulatory actions that may be filed making allegations similar to these lawsuits regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or related to the pending inquiries. It is not possible to determine with certainty what the outcome of these inquiries will be or what the effect, if any, would be on the DWS funds or their advisers.

 

With respect to the lawsuits, based on currently available information, the DWS funds’ investment advisers believe the likelihood that the pending lawsuits will have a material adverse financial impact on a DWS fund is remote and such actions are not likely to materially affect their ability to perform under their investment management agreements with the DWS funds.

 

With respect to the regulatory matters, DeAM has advised the DWS funds as follows:

 

DeAM expects to reach final agreements with regulators early in 2006 regarding allegations of improper trading in the DWS funds. DeAM expects that it will reach settlement agreements with the Commission, the

 

17


New York Attorney General and the Illinois Secretary of State providing for payment of disgorgement, penalties, and investor education contributions totaling approximately $134 million. Approximately $127 million of this amount would be distributed to shareholders of the affected DWS funds in accordance with a distribution plan to be developed by an independent distribution consultant. DeAM does not believe that any of the DWS funds will be named as respondents or defendants in any proceedings. The DWS funds’ investment advisers do not believe these amounts will have a material adverse financial impact on them or materially affect their ability to perform under their investment management agreements with the DWS funds. The above-described amounts are not material to Deutsche Bank, and they have already been reserved.

 

Based on the settlement discussions thus far, DeAM believes that it will be able to reach a settlement with the regulators on a basis that is generally consistent with settlements reached by other advisers, taking into account the particular facts and circumstances of market timing at DeAM and at the legacy Scudder and Kemper organizations prior to their acquisition by DeAM in April 2002. Among the terms of the expected settled orders, DeAM would be subject to certain undertakings regarding the conduct of its business in the future, including maintaining existing management fee reductions for certain funds for a period of five years. DeAM expects that these settlements would resolve regulatory allegations that it violated certain provisions of federal and state securities laws (i) by entering into trading arrangements that permitted certain investors to engage in market timing in certain DWS funds and (ii) by failing more generally to take adequate measures to prevent market timing in the DWS funds, primarily during the 1999-2001 period. With respect to the trading arrangements, DeAM expects that the settlement documents will include allegations related to one legacy DeAM arrangement, as well as three legacy Scudder and six legacy Kemper arrangements. All of these trading arrangements originated in businesses that existed prior to the current DeAM organization, which came together in April 2002 as a result of the various mergers of the legacy Scudder, Kemper and Deutsche Fund groups, and all of the arrangements were terminated prior to the start of the regulatory investigations that began in the summer of 2003. No current DeAM employee approved the trading arrangements.

 

There is no certainty that the final settlement documents will contain the foregoing terms and conditions. The independent board members of the DWS funds have carefully monitored these regulatory investigations with the assistance of independent legal counsel and independent economic consultants. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements will be made available at dws-scudder.com/regulatory_ settlements, which will also disclose the terms of any final settlement agreements once they are announced.

 

Other Regulatory Matters

 

DeAM is also engaged in settlement discussions with the Enforcement Staffs of the Commission and the NASD regarding DeAM’s practices during 2001-2003 with respect to directing brokerage commissions for portfolio transactions by certain DWS funds to broker-dealers that sold shares in the DWS funds and provided enhanced marketing and distribution for shares in the DWS funds. In addition, on January 13, 2006, DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. received a Wells notice from the Enforcement Staff of the NASD regarding DWS Scudder Distributors’ payment of non-cash compensation to associated persons of NASD member firms, as well as DWS Scudder Distributors’ procedures regarding non-cash compensation regarding entertainment provided to such associated persons. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements will be made available at dws-scudder.com/regulatory_settlements, which will also disclose the terms of any final settlement agreements once they are announced.

 

Information Regarding the Current Management Agreement

 

Exhibit I sets forth additional information regarding the current Management Agreement for each Fund.

 

18


Information Regarding DeIM

 

The name, address and principal occupation of each principal executive officer and each director of DeIM is set forth below. Unless otherwise noted, the address of each such person is c/o Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc., 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.

 

Name


 

Position


 

Principal Occupation


Michael Colon

  Chief Operating Officer and Director   Chief Operating Officer for Deutsche Asset Management Americas and DWS Scudder

Axel Schwarzer

  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   Head of Deutsche Asset Management Americas and CEO of DWS Scudder

Jennifer Birmingham

  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   [            ]

A. Thomas Smith

  Secretary and Chief Legal Officer   Head of Asset Management Legal – Americas and Head of the Asset Management Global Practice Group

Mark Cullen

  Executive Vice President   Global Chief Operating Officer for Asset Management

Pierre de Weck(1)

  Executive Vice President   Global Head of Private Wealth Management and Member of Group Executive Committee

Philip W. Gallo

  Chief Compliance Officer   Head of Asset Management Compliance

Joseph Rice(2)

  Assistant Treasurer   [            ]

Niral Kalaria

  Assistant Secretary   Senior Counsel for Asset Management

John H. Kim

  Assistant Secretary   Senior Counsel for Asset Management

1.   Mr. de Weck’s address is Winchester House, 1 Great Winchester Street, London, United Kingdom EC2N 2DB.
2.   Mr. Rice’s address is 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

DeIM is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corporation (“DBAHC”). DBAHC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Taunus Corporation, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.

 

Exhibit D sets forth the positions held by the officers of the Funds with DeIM or its affiliates.

 

DeIM acts as investment adviser to mutual funds (the “Similar Funds”) having a similar investment objective to certain of the Funds. Exhibit J sets forth information regarding the Similar Funds.

 

Exhibit K sets forth information about each Fund’s relationship with DeIM and certain affiliates of DeIM.

 

19


Required Vote and Other Information

 

Each Fund will vote separately with respect to approval of the proposed Investment Management Agreement. For each Fund, approval of the proposed Investment Management Agreement requires the affirmative vote of the lesser of (A) 67% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares present at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, if more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares are present at the Meeting or represented by proxy; or (B) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

 

If approved by shareholders of your Fund, the amended and restated Investment Management Agreement for your Fund would take effect on the first day of the following month if the Meeting at which shareholders approve the Agreement is held before the 15th day of the month. If the Meeting at which shareholders approve the Agreement is after the 15th day of the month, the Agreement would take effect on the first day of the next succeeding month. (For example, if the shareholders approve the Agreement on March 1, 2006, the Agreement would take effect on April 1, 2006. If the shareholders approve the Agreement on March 20, 2006, the Agreement would take effect on May 1, 2006.) The Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect for an initial term ending September 30, 2006 and thereafter for successive annual periods as long as such continuance is approved in accordance with the 1940 Act.

 

In the event that shareholders of a Fund do not approve the Investment Management Agreement for such Fund, the current Management Agreement and current Accounting Services Agreement for such Fund would remain in effect, and the Board would take such action as it deems in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. If shareholders of some of the Funds approve Proposal II.A and others do not, the Investment Management Agreement will go into effect for those Funds whose shareholders approve Proposal II.A, and the Board will consider what further actions may be appropriate with respect to Proposal II.A for those Funds whose shareholders did not approve Proposal II.A.

 

Recommendation of the Board

 

The Board of your Fund believes that approval of the proposed Investment Management Agreement is in the best interest of shareholders of your Fund. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR approval of the proposed Investment Management Agreement as set forth in Proposal II.A.

 

20


PROPOSAL II.B

 

APPROVAL OF A SUBADVISER APPROVAL POLICY

 

The Board of each Fund has approved, and recommends that shareholders of each Fund approve, a policy that would permit DeIM, subject to the approval of the Board and a majority of its Independent Board Members, to appoint and replace subadvisers without shareholder approval (the “Subadviser Approval Policy”). In addition, the Board approved, and recommends that shareholders of each Fund approve, a policy that would permit DeIM to change the subadvisory agreement, as applicable, for each Fund in the future without shareholder approval. If approved by each Fund’s shareholders, the policy would apply only to subadvisers that are not affiliated with DeIM.

 

Statutory Authority

 

Under the 1940 Act, no person may serve as an investment adviser, including as a subadviser, to an investment company except pursuant to a written contract that has been approved by the shareholders of the company. As a result, without an order exempting the Funds from these provisions or a Commission rule, the Funds would be unable to implement the proposed subadviser approval policy as set forth in this proposal. The Funds intend to file an application with the Commission for an exemptive order permitting the Funds to implement the policy. While a number of other mutual funds complexes have obtained such exemptive relief, there can be no assurance that the Funds’ exemptive application will be granted. The Commission proposed Rule 15a-5 under the 1940 Act in October 2003 to permit the appointment and termination of unaffiliated subadvisers and amendments to subadvisory agreements without shareholder approval. No action has been taken on proposed Rule 15a-5 since its proposal, and there is no assurance that the rule will be adopted as proposed.

 

It generally is a condition of such exemptive orders and proposed Rule 15a-5 that shareholder approval be obtained before a subadviser approval policy is implemented.

 

Current Subadviser Approval Process

 

Currently, after obtaining approval by the Board and a majority of its Independent Board Members, the Fund’s shareholders must approve any subadvisory contract between DeIM and another investment adviser (other than an adviser controlled by or under common control with DeIM) pursuant to which the other adviser provides the Fund with investment management services.

 

Proposed Subadviser Approval Policy

 

The Subadviser Approval Policy would permit DeIM, subject to the approval of the Board, including a majority of its Independent Board Members, to appoint and replace subadvisers and to amend sub-advisory contracts without obtaining shareholder approval.

 

If the Subadviser Approval Policy is adopted, the Board, including its Independent Board Members, will continue to evaluate and approve all new sub-advisory contracts between DeIM and any subadviser, as well as all changes to existing sub-advisory contracts. In addition, the Fund and DeIM will be subject to the conditions imposed by the Commission (either by an exemptive order or as part of a rule) to ensure that the interests of the Fund and its shareholders are adequately protected whenever DeIM acts under the Subadviser Approval Policy, including any shareholder notice requirements.

 

21


Shareholder approval of this Proposal will have no effect on the total amount of management fees paid by a Fund to DeIM or DeIM’s duties and responsibilities toward the Fund under the current Management Agreement or the proposed amended and restated Investment Management Agreement between DeIM and the Fund.

 

Benefits of the Subadviser Approval Policy

 

The Board believes that it is in the best interest of each Fund’s shareholders to give DeIM greater flexibility to select, supervise and evaluate subadvisers without incurring the expense and potential delay of seeking specific shareholder approval. Under current applicable law, while a change in investment management arrangements involving one or more subadvisers can be put into place promptly on a temporary basis, a Fund must still call and hold a meeting of the Fund’s shareholders, create and distribute proxy materials and arrange for the solicitation of voting instructions from shareholders. This process is time-intensive, slow and costly. If DeIM and the Board are authorized to implement the proposed Subadviser Approval Policy, the Board would be able to act more quickly and with less expense to appoint an unaffiliated subadviser when the Board and DeIM believe that the appointment would benefit the Fund and its shareholders.

 

The Board also believes that it is appropriate to vest the selection, supervision and evaluation of subadvisers in DeIM, subject to review by the Board, in light of DeIM’s significant experience and expertise in this area. The Board believes that investors may choose to invest in the Funds because of DeIM’s experience in this respect. The Board will also oversee the subadviser selection process to ensure that shareholders’ interests are protected whenever the investment adviser selects a subadviser or modifies a subadvisory contract. The Board will continue to evaluate and approve all new subadvisory contracts as well as any modification to existing subadvisory contracts. In each review, the Board will analyze all factors that it considers to be relevant to the determination, including the nature, quality and scope of services provided by the subadvisers. The Board believes that its review will ensure that the investment adviser continues to act in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Finally, DeIM informed the Board that similar subadviser approval policies are not unusual in the mutual fund industry.

 

Required Vote

 

Each Fund will vote separately on the Subadviser Approval Policy. Approval of the Subadviser Approval Policy with respect to a Fund requires the vote of the lesser of (A) 67% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares present at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, if more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares are present at the Meeting or represented by proxy; or (B) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares. If the shareholders of a Fund fail to approve the Subadviser Approval Policy, the current subadviser approval process will remain in effect for that Fund.

 

Recommendation of the Board

 

The Board of your Fund believes that approval of the proposed Subadviser Approval Policy is in the best interest of shareholders of your Fund. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR approval of the proposed Subadviser Approval Policy as set forth in Proposal II.B.

 

22


PROPOSAL III

 

APPROVAL OF THE REVISION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT RESTRICTION REGARDING COMMODITIES FOR ALL FUNDS

 

The 1940 Act requires an investment company to adopt certain specified investment restrictions which can be changed only by a shareholder vote. Those restrictions are often referred to as “fundamental” investment restrictions. In the past, fundamental investment restrictions were adopted by the Funds, and in some cases amended by vote of the shareholders of the affected Fund, in order to reflect regulatory, business or industry conditions which were in effect at the time the particular action was taken. DeIM and the Board have reviewed each Fund’s fundamental investment restrictions with the goal of simplifying and conforming the fundamental investment restrictions of the various open-end funds managed by DeIM, which will simplify the process of monitoring compliance with the fundamental investment restrictions. This Proposal seeks shareholder approval of changes that are intended to further this goal and to provide each Fund, consistent with its investment objectives and strategies, with the flexibility to respond to changing markets, new investment opportunities and future changes in applicable law.

 

The proposed changes to the fundamental investment restriction regarding commodities for each Fund are discussed in detail below. The new fundamental investment restriction would become effective as soon as is practicable after your Fund’s prospectus and/or statement of additional information has been supplemented to describe the revised restriction.

 

The reference below to interpretation or modification by a regulatory authority having jurisdiction is intended to include no-action letters or interpretive positions or releases issued by the staff of the Commission or another regulatory agency with jurisdiction over the Funds.

 

As noted below, DeIM has informed the Board that this proposed revision will not, without further Board approval, affect the manner in which any Fund is managed.

 

Investment In Commodities

 

The current fundamental investment restriction of each Fund (except the DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund) is:

 

The Fund may not purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities.

 

The current fundamental investment restriction of the DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund is:

 

The Fund may not purchase or sell physical commodities or contracts related to physical commodities, except for contracts for future delivery of gold, silver, platinum and palladium and gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion and coins.

 

If this proposal is approved, each Fund’s new fundamental investment restriction would read:

 

The Fund may not purchase or sell commodities, except as permitted by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted or modified by the regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time.

 

The current fundamental investment restriction of each Fund prohibits the purchase of physical commodities or contracts related to physical commodities (except that the current restriction of the DWS Gold & Precious

 

23


Metals Fund (the “Gold & Precious Metals Fund”) permits the purchase and sale of contracts for future delivery of gold, silver, platinum and palladium and gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion and coins). Physical commodities include bulk goods, such as grains, metals and foodstuffs. Under the proposed restriction, each Fund would be permitted to purchase or sell commodities as permitted by the 1940 Act, as amended, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction. Currently, the 1940 Act does not prohibit investments in physical commodities or contracts related to physical commodities. As a result, if this proposal is approved, the Funds would not be restricted from purchasing physical commodities or physical commodity-related instruments. The Gold & Precious Metals Fund’s existing freedom to purchase and sell contracts for future delivery of gold, silver, platinum and palladium and gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion and coins would not be affected. None of the Funds’ investment strategies currently contemplates investments in physical commodities or contracts related to physical commodities (except the Gold & Precious Metals Fund’s investments in contracts for future delivery of gold, silver, platinum and palladium and gold, silver, platinum and palladium bullion and coins), and DeIM does not currently anticipate proposing any changes to such investment strategies to allow such investments. Therefore, amending this investment restriction currently is not expected to have a material effect on a Fund, but would provide a Fund with flexibility to invest in physical commodities and contracts related to physical commodities in the future to the extent DeIM and the Board of a Fund determine such investments could assist a Fund in achieving its investment objectives and are consistent with the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. If a Fund were to invest in a physical commodity or a physical commodity-related instrument, it would be subject to the additional risks of that particular physical commodity and its related market. The value of commodities and commodity-related instruments can be extremely volatile and may be affected either directly or indirectly by a wide range of factors. A Fund’s prospectus would be amended to disclose these risks prior to investing a material portion of a Fund’s portfolio in physical commodities. It should be noted that the current restriction does not restrict a Fund from investing in financial commodities and contracts related to financial commodities, such as currencies and stock index futures. The proposed restriction would not alter the Funds’ ability to make such investments in financial commodities.

 

Required Vote

 

Each Fund will vote separately with respect to the approval of the proposed revised fundamental investment restriction. For each Fund, approval of the proposed revised restriction requires the affirmative vote of the lesser of (A) 67% or more of the Fund’s outstanding shares present at the Meeting, in person or by proxy, if more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares are present at the Meeting or represented by proxy; or (B) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares.

 

If the shareholders of a Fund fail to approve the proposed fundamental investment restriction, the current restriction would remain in effect for that Fund.

 

Recommendation of the Board

 

The Board of your Fund believes that the proposed revised fundamental investment restriction is in the best interests of shareholders of your Fund. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR approval of the proposed revised fundamental investment restriction as set forth in Proposal III.

 

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PROPOSAL IV

 

APPROVAL OF

AN AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST

AND

FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO AN AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

Funds to which these Proposals apply: DWS Capital Growth Fund, DWS Conservative Allocation Fund, DWS Core Plus Income Fund, DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund, DWS Equity Income Fund, DWS GNMA Fund, DWS Growth Allocation Fund, DWS Growth & Income Fund, DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund, DWS Health Care Fund, DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund, DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund, DWS Large Company Growth Fund, DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund, DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund, DWS Moderate Allocation Fund, DWS Short Term Bond Fund, DWS Small Cap Core Fund and DWS Small Cap Value Fund

 

Each Fund, like other mutual funds, is subject to comprehensive federal laws and regulations (in particular, to the 1940 Act) and to state laws. The above-referenced Funds are subject to Massachusetts law because each such Fund is a series of a Massachusetts business trust. Under Massachusetts law, a business trust generally operates under an organizational document, usually called a declaration of trust, which sets forth various provisions relating primarily to the authority and governance of the business trust. Each of the above-referenced Funds currently operates under the declaration of trust of the Trust of which it is a series.

 

The Trustees of each of the above-referenced Funds recommend that the shareholders of each such Fund vote to approve an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust for each Trust (the “Revised Declaration”). (Approval of the Revised Declaration is discussed in Proposal IV.A below.) The Trustees believe that it is in the best interests of shareholders to use the opportunity presented by the Meeting to modernize the Funds’ current declarations of trust (together, the “Current Declarations”) and make them uniform across all the Funds that they oversee. Approval of the Revised Declaration with respect to a Trust requires the vote of a majority of the shares of such Trust outstanding and entitled to vote.

 

The Trustees also recommend that the shareholders of each such Fund vote to approve further amendments to the Revised Declaration proposed in Proposal IV.A (the “Further Amendments”). (Approval of the Further Amendments is discussed in Proposal IV.B below.) Each of the Further Amendments might be deemed to have the effect of diminishing or eliminating the voting rights of a shareholder. The Current Declaration of each Trust requires a vote of two-thirds of the shares of the Trust to approve any amendment to the Current Declaration diminishing or eliminating the voting rights of a shareholder. As a result, a two-thirds vote of shareholders of a Trust will be required to approve the Further Amendments proposed in Proposal IV.B below with respect to that Trust.

 

It is anticipated that the overall effect of these changes will be to make the administration of the Funds more efficient and provide more flexibility for the operations of the Funds, within the limits of applicable law. Adoption of the Revised Declaration and/or the Further Amendments will not alter in any way the Trustees’ existing fiduciary obligations to act with due care and in the shareholders’ interests, nor will your Fund’s current investments and investment policies change by virtue of the adoption of the Revised Declaration and/or the Further Amendments.

 

The discussion below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Revised Declaration, which is attached hereto as Exhibit L, and the form of Revised Declaration with Further Amendments, which is attached

 

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hereto as Exhibit M. If Proposal IV.B is approved by shareholders of a Trust, the declaration of trust for that Trust will be the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments attached hereto as Exhibit M (and the Revised Declaration attached hereto as Exhibit L will not become effective, regardless of whether Proposal IV.A was approved by shareholders). If Proposal IV.A is approved with respect to a Trust, but Proposal IV.B is not approved with respect to that Trust, the declaration of trust for that Trust will be the Revised Declaration attached hereto as Exhibit L.

 

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PROPOSAL IV.A

 

APPROVAL OF AN AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

The discussion below will highlight certain differences between the Current Declarations and the Revised Declaration. The most significant changes are described below under the caption “Significant Changes.” In addition to the most significant changes, there are other substantive and stylistic differences between the Revised Declaration and the Current Declarations, certain of which are described below under the caption “Other Changes.” Because there are many variations among the Current Declarations, not all of the differences described below will necessarily pertain to the Fund in which you are an investor.

 

Because certain changes for DWS Income Trust only require a majority vote of shareholders for approval (whereas approval of those changes for the other Trusts would require a two-thirds vote of shareholders), the proposed Revised Declaration for DWS Income Trust and the other Trusts are different in certain respects. Those differences are noted in the form of Revised Declaration attached hereto as Exhibit L. Please see Proposal IV.B for more information.

 

If Proposal IV.A is approved by the shareholders of a Trust, the Board of such Trust will adopt Amended and Restated Bylaws for such Trust that make necessary and appropriate changes based on the Revised Declaration and other modernizing changes. No shareholder approval is required for the Amended and Restated Bylaws. In addition, if Proposal IV.A is approved by the shareholders of a Trust, the Revised Declaration will become effective when a majority of the Trustees of that Trust has signed the Revised Declaration.

 

Significant Changes

 

1.   Class Reorganizations

 

The Revised Declaration clarifies the Trustees’ authority to classify or reclassify issued shares of any class into one or more classes and to combine one or more classes of a Fund into a single class of a Fund (“Class Reorganizations”). The Current Declarations do not specifically contemplate Class Reorganizations.

 

The Revised Declaration would allow the Board added flexibility when considering Class Reorganizations to make decisions they feel are in the shareholders’ best interests, without causing the Funds to incur the time and expense of soliciting shareholder approval. A Class Reorganization could, in certain circumstances, adversely affect a class’s expense ratio. If Proposal IV.A is approved, it is anticipated that DeIM will recommend that the Board consider various Class Reorganizations as part of its broader program to streamline the Funds’ operations. For example, DeIM has advised the Board that it likely would propose one or more share class combinations, including the combination of the AARP Class and Class S (both of which are direct-sold classes) for all applicable Funds. It is anticipated that the combined share class would adopt the expense structure that is the lower of the two current classes.

 

2.   Involuntary Redemptions and Small Accounts

 

The Current Declarations contain no explicit provisions contemplating that fees will be charged to shareholders holding accounts below a minimum account size. The Revised Declaration makes explicit that the Board may, in its discretion, impose fees on accounts that do not exceed a minimum investment amount (and may involuntarily redeem shares in any such account in payment of such fees).

 

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The Current Declarations generally provide that the Trustees shall have the power to redeem the shares of any shareholder if the shareholder owns shares having an aggregate net asset value of less than a specified minimum amount subject to certain advance notice requirements. The Revised Declaration permits a Trust to make such involuntary redemptions as well, but also permits involuntary redemption in certain other circumstances, including: (i) if a particular shareholder’s ownership of shares would disqualify a series from being a regulated investment company under the Code, (ii) upon a shareholder’s failure to provide sufficient identification to permit the Trust to verify the shareholder’s identity, (iii) upon a shareholder’s failure to pay for shares or meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular class or series of shares, (iv) if the Board determines (or pursuant to policies established by the Board it is determined) that share ownership by a particular shareholder is not in the best interests of remaining shareholders, (v) when a Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or applicable law and (vi) upon a shareholder’s failure to comply with a request for information with respect to the direct or indirect ownership of shares of the Trust. A Fund will provide advance notice of the intention to redeem shares involuntarily or to impose fees on accounts that do not exceed a minimum investment size. The exercise of the power to redeem shares involuntarily is subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act and any rules promulgated thereunder.

 

Each Fund currently pays transfer agent and other costs which are incurred in whole or in part on a per account basis. A large number of relatively small shareholder accounts can therefore materially increase a Fund’s expense ratio. The Board believes it is important for the Funds to be able to charge an additional fee for accounts that fall below a specified minimum investment level. This would allow the Fund to cause those shareholders who maintain small accounts to bear a fair portion of the costs of maintaining those accounts. A Fund will provide advance notice of the intention to impose fees on accounts that do not exceed a minimum investment size. DeIM has advised the Board that it intends to present a proposal to the Board involving the imposition of small account fees. If the Trustees were to approve such a proposal, small account fees may be imposed in the future.

 

The other circumstances set forth in the Revised Declarations in which shares may be involuntarily redeemed are intended to ensure that the Trust can meet the requirements of applicable law and to enable the Trustees to protect the interests of all shareholders.

 

3.   Standard of Care of Certain Trustees

 

The Revised Declaration clarifies that the standard of care or liability imposed upon chairpersons of the Board, a member or chairperson of a committee of the Board, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), the lead Independent Trustee or a Trustee who has special skills or any other special appointment, designation or identification shall be the same as that imposed on a Trustee in the absence of such designations, appointments, expertise or identifications and that such a designation will not affect that Trustee’s rights or entitlement to indemnification. The Current Declarations do not contain a similar provision.

 

In the SEC’s 2003 adopting release for disclosure requirements related to the “audit committee financial expert” designation, the SEC stated that “[w]e find no support in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or in related legislative history that Congress intended to change the duties, obligations or liability of any audit committee member, including the audit committee financial expert, through this provision.” Although this is persuasive guidance, the standard of care imposed on a Trustee is primarily a matter governed by Massachusetts law rather than by federal law or regulations. Similarly, the Trustees believe that a Trustee designated as chairman of the Board or any committee or other similar designations should not be held to a stricter standard of liability. The proposed change would make clear that one standard of liability applies for all Trustees.

 

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4.   Demand Requirement for Derivative Actions

 

The Revised Declaration provides that a shareholder cannot bring or maintain any court action, proceeding or claim on behalf of the Trust without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring the action. The Revised Declaration sets forth the procedures for making such demand and the procedures to be followed by the Trustees in considering such request. The Revised Declaration clarifies that Trustees are not considered to have a personal financial interest in an action or be disqualified from ruling on a shareholder action by virtue of being compensated for their services as Trustees or as board members of funds with the same or an affiliated investment adviser or underwriter, or by virtue of the amount of such remuneration. The Current Declarations do not contain similar provisions, although Massachusetts courts have generally imposed similar demand requirements based on the Trustees’ inherent authority to manage all affairs of the Trust, including the bringing of litigation on behalf of the Trust. The Revised Declaration also conforms substantially to recent changes in Massachusetts corporate law requiring that demand be made in all circumstances.

 

The changes in the Revised Declaration are intended to save the time and expense of bringing a suit that the Trustees in their judgment do not believe would be in the best interests of the Trust and align more closely the rights and powers of shareholders and Trustees of the Trust with respect to derivative actions to those of shareholders and directors, respectively, of a Massachusetts business corporation. The effect of these changes may be to discourage suits brought against the Funds by shareholders. This provision is not intended to impair the rights of shareholders under federal law.

 

5.   Retirement/Removal of Trustees

 

The Current Declarations state that a Trustee may be removed by two-thirds of the remaining Trustees for cause or by two-thirds of the outstanding shares with or without cause.

 

The Revised Declaration is substantially similar, except that: (i) a Trustee may be removed by two-thirds of the remaining Trustees with or without cause, (ii) any Trustee who is required to retire by any written policy regarding age or term limits adopted by the Trustees shall automatically be deemed to have retired without the need for further action, and (iii) any Trustee who has become incapacitated may be retired by a majority of the other Trustees.

 

The changes in the Revised Declaration are intended to provide the Trustees with additional flexibility to remove a Trustee. As a result, the Trustees would have the power to remove a Trustee (including a Trustee that had been elected by shareholders) even though such Trustee had not engaged in any conduct that would give rise to “cause” for removal. A Trustee would only be removed if the remaining Trustees deem such removal as necessary to ensure the effective operation of the Board and otherwise serve the best interests of shareholders.

 

Other Changes

 

1.   The Revised Declaration clarifies that fees or charges may be imposed on shares being redeemed.

 

2.   Certain Current Declarations require Board action by written consent to be unanimous. In contrast, the Revised Declaration permits Board action by written consent of a majority of the Board. This change will give the Board additional flexibility to take actions without the requirement of holding a meeting of, or obtaining the consent of, the entire Board and, therefore, will allow the Board to take actions more expediently if necessary, and with less expense.

 

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3.   The Current Declarations permit the Trustees to require disclosure from shareholders of such information with respect to the direct and indirect ownership of shares as the Trustees may deem necessary to comply with applicable tax law. The Revised Declaration permits the Trustees to require such information and disclose it for any reason and, as noted above, redeem the shares of shareholders that do not comply with such a demand. The expanded power given to the Trustees will permit them to require such information when they deem it to be in for the best interests of the Trust and will assist the Trustees in complying with, among other things, its market timing policies and applicable anti-money laundering regulations.

 

4.   The Current Declarations do not set forth any procedures for retiring share certificates. The Revised Declaration provides that, upon written notice to a shareholder, the Trustees may cancel the shareholder’s outstanding certificates, provided that such cancellation shall not affect the ownership by such shareholder of shares and that the shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or its transfer agent. The Revised Declaration will permit the Trustees to cancel outstanding share certificates and thereby reduce administrative costs incurred from time to time relating to such certificates. For example, in the case of certain transactions such as a fund merger, special procedures must be instituted in order to collect and dispose of share certificates held by shareholders.

 

5.   The Current Declarations provide for the indemnification of Trustees and officers with certain exceptions. The Revised Declaration modifies the standard indemnification provision contained in the Current Declarations by adding a provision that creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of a Trustee or officer in determining whether the Trustee or officer engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not available or whether there is reason to believe that the Trustee or officer ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification. The Revised Declaration provides that, in making either of these determinations, the Independent Trustees or independent legal counsel will afford the Trustee or officer a rebuttable presumption that the Trustee or officer has not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his duties and has acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the applicable Fund and its shareholders.

 

6.   The Revised Declaration provides that a Trustee will remain in office until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Trustee or his successor, and until his successor is elected and qualified. The Revised Declaration further provides that any vacancy on the Board may be filled by a majority of the Trustees then in office, except that, when less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by shareholders, all Trustees will be elected by the shareholders of record owning a plurality of the shares of the Trust.

 

7.   The Revised Declaration gives Trustees discretion with respect to certain aspects of the determination of net asset value and certain other accounting issues. The Current Declarations generally have less flexible provisions relating to the determination of net asset value and those accounting issues.

 

8.   The Revised Declaration also provides that the composition of any dividend, distribution, payment for shares redeemed or payment upon liquidation, termination or dissolution (e.g., cash, securities and/or other assets) will be determined by the Fund in its sole discretion and may be different among shareholders (including differences among shareholders in the same Fund or class).

 

9.   The Revised Declaration clarifies that the Trustees will not be responsible or liable for any negligence or wrongdoing of any officer, employee, consultant, investment adviser, subadviser, principal underwriter, custodian or other agent of the Trust and that a Trustee will not be responsible for the act or omission of any other Trustee. Under the Revised Declaration, and consistent with federal law, the Trustees are liable only for their own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of their duties, and not for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law. The Current Declarations did not make clear that the Trustees were not liable for errors of judgment or mistakes of fact or law.

 

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Required Vote

 

All of the Funds and share classes within a Trust will vote together on the Revised Declaration, as a single class. Approval of the Revised Declaration with respect to a Trust requires the vote of a majority of the shares of such Trust outstanding and entitled to vote. If the shareholders of a Trust fail to approve the Revised Declaration, the Current Declaration will remain in effect for that Trust. The table below shows which Funds are series of which Trusts.

 

Trust


 

Funds


DWS Funds Trust

  DWS Short Term Bond Fund

DWS Income Trust

  DWS GNMA Fund

DWS Investment Trust

  DWS Capital Growth Fund
    DWS Growth & Income Fund
    DWS Large Company Growth Fund
    DWS S&P 500 Index Fund
    DWS Small Cap Core Fund

DWS Municipal Trust

  DWS High Yield Tax Free Fund
    DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

DWS Pathway Series

  DWS Conservative Allocation Fund
    DWS Growth Allocation Fund
    DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund
    DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

DWS Portfolio Trust

  DWS Core Plus Income Fund

DWS Securities Trust

  DWS Health Care Fund
    DWS Small Cap Value Fund

DWS State Tax Free Trust

  DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

DWS Tax-Free Trust

  DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

DWS Value Equity Trust

  DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund
    DWS Equity Income Fund

 

Board Recommendation

 

The Board of your Fund believes that approval of the Revised Declaration is in the best interests of shareholders of your Fund. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR Proposal IV.A.

 

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PROPOSAL IV.B

 

APPROVAL OF FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO

AN AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

The discussion below will highlight certain additional differences between the Current Declarations and the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments. The most significant changes are described below under the caption “Significant Changes.” In addition to the most significant changes, there are other substantive differences between the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments and the Current Declarations, certain of which are described below under the caption “Other Changes.” Because there are many variations among the Current Declarations, not all of the differences described below will necessarily pertain to the Fund in which you are an investor.

 

Because of certain differences between the Current Declaration for DWS Income Trust and the Current Declarations for the other Trusts, certain of the changes below are not applicable for DWS Income Trust (i.e., the Current Declaration of DWS Income Trust already reflects the change described below). If a particular change is not applicable for DWS Income Trust, it is noted below.

 

If Proposal IV.B is approved by the shareholders of a Trust, the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments will become effective when a majority of the Trustees of that Trust has signed the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments.

 

Significant Changes

 

1.   Authority to Amend Declaration

 

The Current Declarations may be amended only by the vote of a majority of the shares of the Trust outstanding and entitled to vote, except that Trustees may amend the Declaration without a shareholder vote to conform the Declaration to applicable law or the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), to change the name of the Trust or to make any other changes that do not adversely affect the rights of shareholders. Amendments diminishing or eliminating voting rights or reducing the amount payable upon liquidation require a vote of two-thirds of the shares of the Trust or of an affected Fund outstanding and entitled to vote.

 

In contrast, the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments provides for a broad general power of the Trustees to amend the Declaration without a shareholder vote, except for any amendment that would impair a shareholder’s voting right specifically granted in the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments, any amendment required by law to be approved by shareholders and any amendment submitted for shareholder approval by the Trustees. In addition, if a shareholder vote is required, an amendment shall require the vote of holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote of the Trust, unless the action is recommended by the Board, in which case the required vote is a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust. However, if the Trustees determine an amendment only affects one or more series or classes, the amendment may be approved by vote of only such series or classes. The Revised Declaration with Further Amendments also provides that no amendments may be made that limit the rights to indemnification provided in the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments with respect to persons entitled to such protection prior to such amendment.

 

These changes will allow certain amendments to be adopted by the Board without the cost and delay of solicitation and a shareholder meeting when the Board determines that such an amendment is advisable. In

 

32


addition, amendments (i) diminishing or eliminating voting rights or (ii) reducing the amount payable upon liquidation would only require a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities (assuming Board approval of such an amendment) and a vote of the Board, respectively. Any exercise of this power by the Trustees would be subject to their general fiduciary responsibilities to act in the best interests of all shareholders.

 

2.   Mergers, Consolidations and Sale of All Assets (“Reorganizations”)

(Not Applicable for DWS Income Trust)

 

The Current Declarations require a shareholder vote of a Trust or a Fund to approve the Reorganization of such Trust or Fund. The Current Declarations do not specifically contemplate the Reorganization of a class.

 

The Revised Declaration with Further Amendments permits Reorganizations of a Trust, a Fund or a class without a shareholder vote, except as otherwise required by applicable law. It is important to note that Rule 17a-8 under the 1940 Act requires, for Reorganizations involving affiliated funds, that the Board make certain determinations and that shareholders approve the Reorganization unless certain conditions are satisfied. Because of this requirement, some Reorganizations will require shareholder approval even though the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments would not otherwise require it.

 

The Revised Declaration with Further Amendments would allow the Board added flexibility when considering Reorganizations to make decisions they feel are in the shareholders’ best interests, without causing the Funds to incur the time and expense of soliciting shareholder approval.

 

3.   Demand Requirement for Derivative Actions

 

The Current Declarations provide that shareholders will have the right to vote to the same extent as the shareholders of a Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or shareholders. Because the requirements of Massachusetts law compelling a shareholder of a business corporation to make a demand on other shareholders prior to bringing a derivative claim have been eliminated, the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments does not include provision requiring this right to vote.

 

The changes in the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments are intended to align more closely the rights and powers of shareholders with respect to derivative actions to those of shareholders of a Massachusetts business corporation.

 

Other Changes

 

1.   The Revised Declaration with Further Amendments, unlike the Current Declarations, does not recite the specific requirements of the 1940 Act requiring shareholder voting. The requirements of the 1940 Act requiring shareholder voting for certain contracts and other items continue to apply to the Trusts under the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments, and the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments specifically provides that shareholders shall have the power to vote for Trust matters as may be required by the 1940 Act. (Not Applicable for DWS Income Trust.)

 

2.   The Revised Declaration with Further Amendments provides that any vacancy on the Board may be filled by a majority of the Trustees then in office, except that, when required by the 1940 Act, a Trustee will be elected by the shareholders of record owning a plurality of the shares of the Trust.

 

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3.   The Current Declarations provide that a meeting of shareholders shall be called at the written request of the holder or holders of ten percent (10%) or more of the total number of shares then issued and outstanding of the Trust entitled to vote at such meeting. The Revised Declarations with Further Amendments does not contain such a provision. This change in the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments is intended to avoid the time and expense of holding a shareholder meeting called at the request of a small portion of a Trust’s shareholders.

 

4.   The Current Declarations provide that, with the approval of the holders of a majority of the shares of a Trust or any Fund outstanding and entitled to vote, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing a corporation or other organization (an “Organization”) to take over all of the property of the Trust or the property of the Fund or to carry on any business in which the Trust or the Fund shall have any interest. The Current Declarations also provide the Trustees with the power to authorize the Organization and the Trust or Fund to enter into certain transactions with each other. The Revised Declaration with Further Amendments does not contain comparable provisions. (Not Applicable for DWS Income Trust.)

 

Required Vote

 

All of the Funds and share classes within a Trust will vote together on the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments, as a single class. Approval of the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments with respect to a Trust requires the vote of the holders of two-thirds of the shares of such Trust outstanding and entitled to vote. The table below shows which Funds are series of which Trusts.

 

Trust


 

Funds


DWS Funds Trust

  DWS Short Term Bond Fund

DWS Income Trust

  DWS GNMA Fund

DWS Investment Trust

  DWS Capital Growth Fund
    DWS Growth & Income Fund
    DWS Large Company Growth Fund
    DWS S&P 500 Index Fund
    DWS Small Cap Core Fund

DWS Municipal Trust

  DWS High Yield Tax Free Fund
    DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

DWS Pathway Series

  DWS Conservative Allocation Fund
    DWS Growth Allocation Fund
    DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund
    DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

DWS Portfolio Trust

  DWS Core Plus Income Fund

DWS Securities Trust

  DWS Health Care Fund
    DWS Small Cap Value Fund

DWS State Tax Free Trust

  DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

DWS Tax-Free Trust

  DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

DWS Value Equity Trust

  DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund
    DWS Equity Income Fund

 

Board Recommendation

 

The Board of your Fund believes that approval of the Revised Declaration with Further Amendments is in the best interests of shareholders of your Fund. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR Proposal IV.B.

 

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PROPOSAL IV.C

 

APPROVAL OF AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

 

Funds to which this Proposal applies:    DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund, DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund, DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Global Bond Fund, DWS Global Opportunities Fund, DWS Global Thematic Fund, DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund, DWS International Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

 

Each Fund, like other mutual funds, is subject to comprehensive federal laws and regulations (in particular, to the 1940 Act) and to state laws. The above-referenced Funds are subject to Maryland law because each such Fund is a series of a Maryland corporation. Under Maryland law, a corporation generally operates under an organizational document, usually called articles of incorporation, which sets forth various provisions relating primarily to the authority and governance of the corporation. Each of the above-referenced Funds currently operates under the articles of incorporation of the Corporation of which it is a series.

 

The Directors of each of the above-referenced Funds recommend that the shareholders of each such Fund vote to approve Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation for each Corporation (the “Revised Articles”). The Directors believe that it is in the best interests of shareholders to use the opportunity presented by the Meeting to modernize the current articles of incorporation of each Corporation (together, the “Current Articles”) and make them uniform across all Funds that they oversee. It is anticipated that the overall effect of these changes will be to make the administration of the Funds more efficient and provide more flexibility for the operations of the Funds, within the limits of applicable law. Adoption of the Revised Articles will not alter in any way the Directors’ existing fiduciary obligations, nor will your Fund’s current investments and investment policies change by virtue of the adoption of the Revised Articles.

 

The discussion below will highlight certain differences between the Current Articles and the Revised Articles. The most significant changes are described below under the caption “Significant Changes.” In addition to the most significant changes, there are other substantive and stylistic differences between the Revised Articles and the Current Articles, certain of which are described below under the caption “Other Changes.” Because there are many variations among the Current Articles, not all of the differences described below will necessarily pertain to the Fund in which you are an investor. The discussion below is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of Revised Articles, which is attached hereto as Exhibit N.

 

If Proposal IV.C is approved by the shareholders of a Corporation, the Board of such Corporation will adopt Amended and Restated Bylaws for such Corporation that make necessary and appropriate changes based on the Revised Articles and other modernizing changes. No shareholder approval is required for the Amended and Restated Bylaws. In addition, if Proposal IV.C is approved by a Corporation, the Revised Articles will become effective upon their filing with the State of Maryland.

 

Significant Changes

 

1.   Standard of Care of Certain Directors

 

The Revised Articles seek to clarify that the standard of care or liability imposed upon chairpersons of the Board, a member or chairperson of a committee of the Board, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), the lead Independent Director or a Director who has special skills or any other special appointment, designation or identification shall be the same as that imposed on a Director in the absence

 

35


of such designations, appointments, expertise or identifications and that such a designation will not effect that Director’s rights or entitlement to indemnification. The Current Articles do not contain a similar provision.

 

In the SEC’s 2003 adopting release for disclosure requirements related to the “audit committee financial expert” designation, the SEC stated that “[w]e find no support in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or in related legislative history that Congress intended to change the duties, obligations or liability of any audit committee member, including the audit committee financial expert, through this provision.” Although this is persuasive guidance, the standard of care imposed on a Director is primarily a matter governed by Maryland law rather than by federal law or regulations. Similarly, the Directors believe that a Director designated as chairman of the Board or any committee or other similar positions should not be held to a stricter standard of liability. The proposed change would seek to clarify that one standard of liability applies for all Directors.

 

2.   Conversion

 

The Current Articles for certain Funds provide that the shares of one class will automatically convert into another class of shares upon such terms and conditions established by the Board (e.g., Class B shares will automatically convert into Class A shares). The Revised Articles do not include such provisions and instead provide that shares of a particular Fund or class may be automatically converted by the Corporation into shares of another Fund or class subject to terms determined by the Board.

 

The Revised Articles would allow the Board added flexibility when considering automatic conversions to make decisions they feel are in the shareholders’ best interests, without causing the Funds to incur the time and expense of soliciting shareholder approval. A conversion could, in certain circumstances, adversely affect a Fund’s or class’ expense ratio or other aspects of a shareholder’s investment.

 

If Proposal IV.C is approved, it is anticipated that DeIM will recommend that the Board consider various share class conversions as part of its broader program to streamline the Funds’ operations. For example, DeIM has advised the Board that it likely would propose one or more share class combinations, including the combination of the AARP Class and Class S (both of which are direct-sold classes) for all applicable Funds. It is anticipated that the combined share class would adopt the expense structure that is the lowest of the two current classes.

 

3.   Small Accounts

 

The Revised Articles provide that the Board may, in its discretion, impose fees on accounts that do not exceed a minimum investment amount and may involuntarily redeem shares in any such account in payment of such fee. The Current Articles imply that the Corporation could take these actions.

 

Each Fund currently pays transfer agent and other costs which are incurred in whole or in part on a per account basis. A large number of relatively small shareholder accounts can therefore materially increase a Fund’s expense ratio. The Board believes it is important for the Funds to be able to charge an additional fee for accounts that fall below a specified minimum investment level. This ensures that those shareholders who choose to maintain small accounts will bear a fair portion of the costs of maintaining these accounts. A Fund will provide advance notice of the intention to impose fees on accounts that do not exceed a minimum investment size. DeIM has advised the Board that it intends to present a proposal to the Board involving the imposition of small account fees. If the Directors were to approve such a proposal, small account fees may be imposed in the future.

 

Other Changes

 

1.  

The Revised Articles permit the Directors to require disclosure of such information with respect to the direct and indirect ownership of shares as the Directors may deem necessary, disclose such information for any

 

36


 

reason and redeem the shares of shareholders that do not comply with such a demand. The Current Articles do not include a provision on this issue. The expanded power given to the Directors will permit them to require such information when they deem it to be in the best interests of the Corporation and will assist the Directors in complying with, among other things, its market timing policies and applicable anti-money laundering regulations.

 

2.   The Revised Articles provide that shareholders may take action by delivering a consent, in writing or by electronic transmission, of the shareholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a shareholders’ meeting. Because the Current Articles do not contain a similar provision, Maryland law requires unanimous consent when shareholders act without a formal meeting. The changes in the Revised Articles give the Board additional flexibility to obtain a shareholder consent in situations in which a few shareholders have a sufficient number of votes to approve a particular action. This would allow a Corporation to avoid the time and expense of a shareholder meeting if the outcome is certain.

 

3.   The Current Articles provide that a Director may be removed by the Board or a committee of the Board appointed for such purpose. Because such a provision is generally considered to be unenforceable under Maryland law, it has not been included in the Revised Articles.

 

4.   The Revised Articles provide that shareholders of a Corporation or any of its Funds or classes will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights provided under Maryland corporate law. Maryland corporate law was recently amended to provide that a Maryland corporation’s articles of incorporation may eliminate appraisal rights for shareholders. Regardless of whether articles of incorporation include a provision eliminating appraisal rights, shareholders of open-end investment companies like the Funds may not exercise appraisal rights where the value placed on the stock in the transaction is its net asset value.

 

5.   The Revised Articles give Directors discretion with respect to certain aspects of the determination of net asset value and certain other accounting issues. The Current Articles generally have less flexible provisions relating to the determination of net asset value and those accounting issues.

 

6.   The Restated Articles make explicit that fees or charges may be imposed on shares being redeemed and standardize language concerning redemption of shares.

 

7.   The Restated Articles provide Directors with explicit authority to establish and/or change sales loads or charges, expenses and fees (such as distribution and administrative expenses and administrative, recordkeeping, redemption and service fees), account size requirements and other rights and provisions applicable to shares of each Fund or class, in accordance with the 1940 Act. In general, these terms would be disclosed in each Fund’s prospectus.

 

8.   The Restated Articles emphasize that shareholders of a particular Fund or class are not permitted to participate in a derivative or class action on behalf of another Fund or class or the shareholders of another Fund or class.

 

9.   The Restated Articles also provide that the composition of any dividend, distribution, payment for shares redeemed or payment upon liquidation, termination or dissolution (e.g., cash, securities and/or other assets) will be determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion and may be different among shareholders (including differences among shareholders in the same Fund or class).

 

Required Vote

 

All of the Funds and share classes within a Corporation will vote together on the Revised Articles, as a single class. Approval of the Revised Articles requires the vote of a majority of the votes of such Corporation

 

37


entitled to be cast at the Meeting. If the shareholders of a Corporation fail to approve the Revised Articles, the Current Articles will remain in effect for that Corporation. The table below shows which Funds are series of which Corporations.

 

Corporation


 

Funds


DWS Global/International Fund, Inc.

  DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund
    DWS Global Bond Fund
    DWS Global Opportunities Fund
    DWS Global Thematic Fund

DWS International Fund, Inc.

  DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund
    DWS Europe Equity Fund
    DWS International Fund
    DWS Latin America Equity Fund
    DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

DWS Mutual Funds, Inc.

  DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

 

Board Recommendation

 

The Board of your Fund believes that approval of the Revised Articles is in the best interests of shareholders of your Fund. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote FOR Proposal IV.C.

 

38


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

Proxy Costs. The Funds will pay the costs of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed Proxy Card and Proxy Statement and all other costs incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies, including any additional solicitation made by letter, telephone or telegraph for each Fund, as set forth in Exhibit O hereto. Such costs are outside of any expense limitations or fee waivers then in effect.

 

Voting Power. For each Company and for each Fund, each whole share is entitled to one vote and each fractional share is entitled to a proportionate fractional vote.

 

Quorum and Required Vote. Proxies are being solicited from your Fund’s shareholders by your Fund’s Board for the Meeting. Unless revoked, all valid proxies will be voted in accordance with the specification thereon or, in the absence of specification, in the case of Proposal I, FOR election of all nominees and, in the case of all other Proposals, FOR approval of the Proposal. The specific voting requirement to approve each Proposal is discussed in the applicable Proposal. For each Company and for each Fund, the presence at the Meeting of one-third of the shares of such Company or such Fund, respectively, outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting constitutes a quorum for the Meeting.

 

Record Date and Method of Tabulation. Shareholders of record at the close of business on February [    ], 2006 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting. The number of shares of each class of each Fund that were issued and outstanding as of the Record Date are set forth in Exhibit P to this Proxy Statement.

 

Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Meeting will be counted by persons appointed by the Funds as tellers for the Meeting. The tellers will count the total number of votes cast “for” approval of a Proposal for purposes of determining whether sufficient affirmative votes have been cast. Shareholders will vote by Company on Proposal I, Proposal IV.A, Proposal IV.B and Proposal IV.C, as applicable, and by individual Fund on Proposal II.A, Proposal II.B and Proposal III, as applicable.

 

The tellers will count shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions and “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote, and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have the discretionary voting power on a particular matter) as shares that are present and entitled to vote on the matter for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum. Abstentions will have no effect on Proposal I and will have the effect of a negative vote on Proposals II.A, II.B, III, IV.A, IV.B and IV.C. Because brokers are permitted by applicable regulations to vote shares as to which instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote in uncontested elections of directors or trustees, there will be no “broker non-votes” in connection with Proposal I. “Broker non-votes” will have the effect of a negative vote on Proposals II.A, II.B, III, IV.A, IV.B and IV.C. Accordingly, shareholders are urged to forward their voting instructions promptly.

 

Deutsche Bank Voting. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“Deutsche Bank Trust”) will vote any shares in accounts as to which Deutsche Bank Trust has voting authority, and shares in any other accounts as to which Deutsche Bank Trust is the agent of record, which are not otherwise represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Deutsche Bank Trust will vote shares of the Funds over which it has investment discretion in accord with its fiduciary and other legal obligations, and in its discretion may consult with the beneficial owners or other fiduciaries. Deutsche Bank Trust will vote shares of the Funds for which it is the owner of record but does not have investment discretion, which are not otherwise represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting, in the same proportion as the votes cast by holders of all shares in the Funds otherwise represented at the Meeting. This

 

39


practice is commonly referred to as “mirror” or “echo” voting. Deutsche Bank and its affiliates will vote any shares held in proprietary accounts in accordance with their voting procedures.

 

Share Ownership. Exhibit Q to this Proxy Statement sets forth information as of the Record Date regarding the beneficial ownership of the Funds’ shares by the only persons known by the Funds to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of any Fund. Collectively, the Board Members and executive officers of each Fund and each nominee own less than 1% of such Fund’s outstanding shares. The number of shares beneficially owned is determined under rules of the Commission, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose.

 

Solicitation of Proxies. In addition to solicitations made by mail, solicitations also may be made by telephone, through the Internet or in person by officers or employees of the Funds and by certain financial services firms and their representatives, who will receive no extra compensation for their services. Computershare has been engaged to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Funds at an estimated aggregate cost of $1,916,796.03. However, the exact cost will depend on the amount and types of services rendered. If the Funds record votes by telephone or through the Internet, they will use procedures designed to authenticate shareholders’ identities, to allow shareholders to authorize the voting of their shares in accordance with their instructions and to allow shareholders to confirm that their instructions have been recorded properly.

 

In all cases in which a telephonic proxy is solicited, the Computershare representative is required to ask for each shareholder’s full name and address and to confirm that the shareholder has received the proxy materials in the mail. If the shareholder is a corporation or other entity, the Computershare representative is required to ask for the person’s title and for confirmation that the person is authorized to direct the voting of the shares. If the information solicited agrees with the information provided to Computershare, then the Computershare representative has the responsibility to explain the process, to read the Proposals listed on the Proxy Card and to ask for the shareholder’s instructions on each Proposal. Although the Computershare representative is permitted to answer questions about the process, he or she is not permitted to recommend to the shareholder how to vote, other than to read any recommendation set forth in this Proxy Statement. Computershare will record the shareholder’s instructions on the Proxy Card. Within 72 hours, the shareholder will be sent a letter or mailgram that confirms his or her vote and that asks the shareholder to call Computershare immediately if his or her instructions are reflected incorrectly in the confirmation.

 

Please see the instructions on your Proxy Card for telephone touch-tone voting and Internet voting. Shareholders will have an opportunity to review their voting instructions and to make any necessary changes before submitting their voting instructions and terminating their telephone call or Internet link. Shareholders who vote through the Internet, in addition to confirming their voting instructions prior to submission, will also receive an e-mail confirming their instructions upon request.

 

If a shareholder wishes to participate in the Meeting, but does not wish to give a proxy by telephone or via the Internet, the shareholder still may submit the Proxy Card originally sent with the Proxy Statement or attend the Meeting in person. Should shareholders require additional information regarding the proxy or a replacement Proxy Card, they may contact Computershare toll-free at [                ]. Any proxy given by a shareholder is revocable until voted at the Meeting.

 

As the Meeting date approaches, certain shareholders of a Fund may receive a telephone call from a representative of Computershare if their votes have not yet been received.

 

40


Persons holding shares as nominees will, upon request, be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses in soliciting instructions from their principals. The costs of solicitation will be borne by the Funds, including (a) the printing and mailing of this Proxy Statement and the accompanying materials, (b) the reimbursement of brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the Funds’ shares, (c) payment to Computershare for its services in soliciting proxies and (d) supplementary solicitations to submit proxies.

 

Revocation of Proxies. Proxies, including proxies given by telephone or via the Internet, may be revoked at any time before they are voted either (i) by a written revocation received by the Secretary of the applicable Fund at Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110 or 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, (ii) by properly submitting a later-dated Proxy Card that is received by the Fund at or prior to the Meeting or (iii) by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Merely attending the Meeting without voting, however, will not revoke a proxy previously given.

 

Adjournment. If sufficient votes in favor of a Proposal are not received by the time scheduled for the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose adjournments of the Meeting with respect to such Proposal for a reasonable period of time to permit further solicitation of proxies. With respect to Funds that are series of Corporations, such adjournment may not extend beyond a date 120 days after the Record Date. Any adjournment as to a matter involving a Company-wide vote or an individual Fund vote will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the question by shareholders of the Company or Fund, respectively, in person or by proxy at the session of the Meeting to be adjourned. The persons named as proxies will vote those proxies that they are entitled to vote FOR a Proposal in favor of an adjournment with respect to such Proposal and will vote those proxies required to be voted AGAINST a Proposal against an adjournment with respect to such Proposal.

 

Principal Underwriter. The principal underwriter for each Fund is DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc., 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606-5808.

 

Information Concerning Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms. The Board has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for each Fund for the current fiscal year.

 

Representatives of PwC are not expected to be present at the Meeting but have been given the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence.

 

41


The following table shows fees billed by PwC to each Fund during the two most recent fiscal years: (i) for audit and non-audit services provided to the Fund, and (ii) for engagements pre-approved by the Audit Committee for non-audit services for DeIM and certain entities controlling, controlled by, or under common control with DeIM that provide ongoing services to the Funds (collectively, the “DeIM Entities”), which engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds. The Audit Committee of the Board has reviewed whether the receipt by PwC of non-audit fees from the Fund, DeIM and all DeIM Entities is compatible with maintaining their independence.

 

    Audit Fees(1)

  Audit Related
Fees(2)


  Tax
Fees(3)


  All Other
Fees(4)


Name of Fund


  Fund

  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


DWS Global/

International Fund, Inc.

                                         

DWS Emerging

Markets Fixed Income

                                         

2004

  $ 120,600   $ 185   $ 453,907   $ 11,400   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 69,600   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 197,605   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Global Bond

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 69,500   $ 185   $ 453,907   $ 11,400   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 74,500   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 197,605   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Global

Opportunities Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 76,500   $ 185   $ 453,907   $ 9,400   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 77,500   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 197,605   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Global Thematic

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 79,500   $ 185   $ 767,051   $ 10,600   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 83,000   $ 225   $ 302,200   $ 11,100   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Investment Trust

                                         

DWS Capital Growth

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 46,500   $ 185   $ 613,907   $ 6,900   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 60,000   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Growth &

Income Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 87,500   $ 185   $ 613,907   $ 6,900   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 91,000   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Large Company

Growth Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 60,500   $ 185   $ 767,051   $ 6,900   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 61,000   $ 225   $ 264,200   $ 7,200   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Small Cap Core

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 50,000   $ 185   $ 613,907   $ 7,000   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 48,000   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

 

42


    Audit Fees(1)

  Audit Related
Fees(2)


  Tax
Fees(3)


  All Other
Fees(4)


Name of Fund


  Fund

  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


DWS Funds Trust

                                         

DWS Short Term Bond

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 88,000   $ 185   $ 431,907   $ 9,300   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

    N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A

DWS Income Trust

                                         

DWS GNMA Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 79,500   $ 185   $ 613,907   $ 7,600   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 88,000   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS International

Fund, Inc.

                                         

DWS Emerging

Markets Equity Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 104,600   $ 185   $ 453,907   $ 8,800   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 60,600   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 197,605   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Europe Equity

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 79,500   $ 185   $ 453,907   $ 8,800   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 81,500   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 197,605   $ 0   $ 0

DWS International

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 149,500   $ 185   $ 767,051   $ 10,600   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 74,750   $ 225   $ 302,200   $ 11,100   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Latin America

Equity Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 82,000   $ 185   $ 453,907   $ 9,500   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 83,000   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 197,605   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Pacific

Opportunities Equity

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 76,500   $ 185   $ 453,907   $ 9,600   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 77,500   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 197,605   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Municipal Trust

                                         

DWS Managed

Municipal Bond Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 74,250   $ 185   $ 542,483   $ 8,900   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 79,500   $ 225   $ 581,822   $ 9,300   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

DWS High Yield

Tax-Free Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 52,500   $ 185   $ 542,483   $ 7,000   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 55,500   $ 225   $ 581,822   $ 7,300   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

 

43


    Audit Fees(1)

  Audit Related
Fees(2)


  Tax
Fees(3)


  All Other
Fees(4)


Name of Fund


  Fund

  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


  Fund

  DeAM
Entities


DWS Mutual Funds,

Inc.

                                         

DWS Gold & Precious

Metals Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 79,500   $ 185   $ 453,907   $ 13,900   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 80,500   $ 225   $ 309,400   $ 0   $ 197,605   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Pathway Series

                                         

DWS Conservative

Allocation Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 33,167   $ 185   $ 767,051   $ 6,800   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 32,200   $ 225   $ 302,200   $ 7,200   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Growth Plus

Allocation Fund

                                         

2004

    N/A     N/A     N/A     N/A   $ 767,051     N/A     N/A

2005

  $ 24,000   $ 225   $ 302,200   $ 4,000   $ 136,355     N/A     N/A

DWS Growth

Allocation Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 33,167   $ 185   $ 767,051   $ 6,800   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 32,200   $ 225   $ 302,200   $ 7,200   $ 136,355     N/A     N/A

DWS Moderate

Allocation Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 33,167   $ 185   $ 767,051   $ 6,800   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 32,200   $ 225   $ 302,200   $ 7,200   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Portfolio Trust

                                         

DWS Core Plus

Income Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 69,000   $ 1,204   $ 594,457   $ 7,100   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 70,000   $ 185   $ 469,407   $ 7,400   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Securities Trust

                                         

DWS Health Care Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 45,500   $ 185   $ 542,483     6,900   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 48,500   $ 225   $ 581,822   $ 7,200   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

DWS Small Cap Value

Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 49,500   $ 185   $ 767,051   $ 6,900   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 49,500   $ 225   $ 264,200   $ 7,200   $ 136,355   $ 0   $ 0

DWS State Tax Free

Trust

                                         

DWS Massachusetts

Tax-Free Fund

                                         

2004

  $ 54,500   $ 2,029   $ 573,742   $ 11,200   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

2005

  $ 58,500   $ 225   $ 490,322   $ 7,300   $ 0   $ 0   $ 0

 

44


    Audit Fees(1)

    Audit Related
Fees(2)


    Tax
Fees(3)


    All Other
Fees(4)


 

Name of Fund


  Fund

    Fund

    DeAM
Entities


    Fund

    DeAM
Entities


    Fund

    DeAM
Entities


 

DWS Tax Free Trust

                                                       

DWS Intermediate

Tax/AMT Free Fund

                                                       

2004

  $ 76,500     $ 185     $ 542,483     $ 7,000     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  

2005

  $ 85,500     $ 225     $ 581,822     $ 7,300     $ 0     $ 0     $ 0  

DWS Value Equity

Trust

                                                       

DWS Enhanced

S&P 500 Index Fund

                                                       

2004

    [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]

2005

    [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]

DWS Equity Income

Fund

                                                       

2004

    [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]

2005

    [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]     [             ]

(1)   “Audit Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for the audit of each Fund’s annual financial statements and services provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

 

(2)   “Audit Related Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” They were for services in connection with an assessment of internal controls and additional related procedures.

 

(3)   “Tax Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for professional services for tax advice, tax compliance and tax planning. Fees billed were for tax compliance and tax return preparation.

 

(4)   “All Other Fees” are the aggregate fees billed for products and services other than “Audit Fees,” “Audit Related Fees” and “Tax Fees.”

 

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Procedures. Certain standard and/or anticipated audit and non-audit services that may be performed for the Fund by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm (“Fund Services”) and certain standard and/or anticipated non-audit services to be performed by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the DeIM Entities that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund (“Fund-Related Adviser Services”) have been approved. Any (a) audit or non-audit services to be performed for the Fund by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm that are not Fund Services and (b) non-audit services to be performed by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the DeIM Entities that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund that are not Fund-Related Adviser Services are subject to the Audit Committee “Pre-Approval Process.”

 

The Pre-Approval Process requires that any engagement of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for services described in (a) or (b) above be requested in a writing that details the proposed engagement, which writing should be addressed to the Audit Committee, with copies to DeIM, and, if time reasonably permits, included in the meeting materials for the Audit Committee meeting at which such engagement will be discussed.

 

45


For pre-approval requests requiring an immediate response, the request is delivered to the Audit Committee and the requesting party must follow such delivery with a call to the Chair of the Audit Committee. The Chair of the Audit Committee may approve or deny the request, or may call a special meeting of the Audit Committee to consider the request. In the absence of the Chair of the Audit Committee, any Audit Committee member may approve or deny the request.

 

The Audit Committee Pre-Approval Procedures must be reviewed and approved at least annually by the Audit Committee.

 

All Non-Audit Fees. The table below shows the aggregate non-audit fees billed by PwC for services rendered to the Funds and to the DeIM Entities for the two most recent fiscal years for each Fund.

 

Name of Fund


   Non-Audit Fees

DWS Global/International Fund, Inc.

      

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,153,767

2005

   $ 104,635

DWS Global Bond Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,153,767

2005

   $ 104,635

DWS Global Opportunities Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,153,767

2005

   $ 104,635

DWS Global Thematic Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,430,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Investment Trust

      

DWS Capital Growth Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,356,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Growth & Income Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,356,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Large Company Growth Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,584,295

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,356,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Funds Trust

      

DWS Short Term Bond Fund

      

2004

   $ 253,272

2005

     N/A

DWS Income Trust

      

DWS GNMA Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,356,816

2005

   $ 89,635

 

46


Name of Fund


   Non-Audit Fees

DWS International Fund, Inc.

      

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,153,767

2005

   $ 104,635

DWS Europe Equity Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,153,767

2005

   $ 104,635

DWS International Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,430,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,153,767

2005

   $ 104,635

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,153,767

2005

   $ 104,635

DWS Municipal Trust

      

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,681,369

2005

   $ 207,146

DWS High Yield Tax Free Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,681,369

2005

   $ 207,146

DWS Mutual Funds, Inc.

      

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,153,767

2005

   $ 104,635

DWS Pathway Series

      

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,430,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,430,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,430,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,430,816

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS Portfolio Trust

      

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

      

2004

   $ 3,507,628

2005

   $ 248,208

 

47


Name of Fund


   Non-Audit Fees

DWS Securities Trust

      

DWS Health Care Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,681,369

2005

   $ 207,146

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,584,295

2005

   $ 89,635

DWS State Tax Free Trust

      

DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

      

2004

   $ 2,412,058

2005

   $ 236,994

DWS Tax Free Trust

      

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,681,369

2005

   $ 207,146

DWS Value Equity Trust

      

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

      

2004

   $ 2,868,001

2005

   $ 202,194

DWS Equity Income Fund

      

2004

   $ 1,584,295

2005

   $ 89,635

 

SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

The Funds do not hold regular shareholders’ meetings. Shareholders wishing to submit proposals for inclusion in a proxy statement for a subsequent shareholders’ meeting should send their written proposals to the Secretary of the applicable Fund at the following address, as applicable: Two International Place, 13th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-4103, for Funds that are series of Trusts, or 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, for Funds that are series of Corporations.

 

Proposals must be received at a reasonable time prior to the date of a meeting of shareholders to be considered for inclusion in the materials for the meeting; however, timely submission of a Proposal does not necessarily mean that such proposal will be included in the associated proxy statement.

 

OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

 

No Board Member is aware of any matters that will be presented for action at the Meeting other than the matters set forth therein. Should any other matters requiring a vote of shareholders arise, the proxy in the accompanying form will confer upon the person or persons entitled to vote the shares represented by such proxy the discretionary authority to vote the shares as to any such other matters in accordance with their best judgment in the interest of each Company and/or Fund.

 

48


SHAREHOLDERS’ REQUEST FOR SPECIAL MEETING

 

Meetings of shareholders of a Trust shall be called by the president or secretary of such Trust upon the written request of the holders of 10% or more of the total number of shares of such Trust then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Meetings of shareholders of a Corporation shall be called at the request in writing of the shareholders entitled to cast at least 50% of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.

 

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS PROXY STATEMENT OR THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED TO EXECUTE AND TO DELIVER A PROXY CARD, PLEASE CONTACT COMPUTERSHARE AT [            ].

 

SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING AND WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR SHARES VOTED ARE REQUESTED TO DATE AND TO SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND TO RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE, OR TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD FOR VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR THROUGH THE INTERNET.

 

49


EXHIBIT A

 

BOSTON DWS FUNDS (AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES)

 

Current Trust/Corporation and Fund Name


  

Former Trust/Corporation and Fund Name


DWS Cash Investment Trust

  

Scudder Cash Investment Trust

DWS Funds Trust

  

Scudder Funds Trust

DWS Short Term Bond Fund*

  

Scudder Short Term Bond Fund

DWS Global/International Fund, Inc.

  

Global/International Fund, Inc.

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund*

  

Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund

DWS Global Bond Fund*

  

Scudder Global Bond Fund

DWS Global Opportunities Fund*

  

Scudder Global Discovery Fund

DWS Global Thematic Fund*

  

Scudder Global Fund

DWS Income Trust

  

Scudder Income Trust

DWS GNMA Fund*

  

Scudder GNMA Fund

DWS International Fund, Inc.

  

Scudder International Fund, Inc.

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund*

  

Scudder Emerging Markets Fund

DWS Europe Equity Fund*

  

Scudder Greater Europe Fund

DWS International Fund*

  

Scudder International Fund

DWS Latin America Equity Fund*

  

Scudder Latin America Fund

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund*

  

Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund

DWS Investment Trust

  

Investment Trust

DWS Capital Growth Fund*

  

Scudder Capital Growth Fund

DWS Growth & Income Fund*

  

Scudder Growth and Income Fund

DWS Large Company Growth Fund*

  

Scudder Large Company Growth Fund

DWS S&P 500 Index Fund

  

Scudder S&P 500 Index Fund

DWS Small Cap Core Fund*

  

Scudder Small Company Stock Fund

DWS Money Market Trust

  

Scudder Money Market Trust

DWS Money Market Series

  

Money Market Series

DWS Municipal Trust

  

Scudder Municipal Trust

DWS High Yield Tax Free Fund*

  

Scudder High Yield Tax Free Fund

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund*

  

Scudder Managed Municipal Bond Fund

DWS Mutual Funds, Inc.

  

Scudder Mutual Funds, Inc.

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund*

  

Scudder Gold and Precious Metals Fund

DWS Pathway Series

  

Scudder Pathway Series

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund*

  

Pathway Conservative Portfolio

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund*

  

Pathway Growth Plus Portfolio

DWS Growth Allocation Fund*

  

Pathway Growth Portfolio

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund*

  

Pathway Moderate Portfolio

 

A-1


Current Trust/Corporation and Fund Name


  

Former Trust/Corporation and Fund Name


DWS Portfolio Trust

  

Scudder Portfolio Trust

DWS Core Plus Income Fund*

  

Scudder Income Fund

DWS Securities Trust

  

Scudder Securities Trust

DWS Health Care Fund*

  

Scudder Health Care Fund

DWS Small Cap Value Fund*

  

Scudder Small Company Value Fund

DWS State Tax Free Trust

  

Scudder State Tax-Free Trust

DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund*

  

Scudder Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

DWS Tax Free Money Fund

  

Scudder Tax Free Money Fund

DWS Tax Free Trust

  

Scudder Tax Free Trust

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund*

  

Scudder Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

DWS U.S. Treasury Money Fund

  

Scudder U.S. Treasury Money Fund

DWS Value Equity Trust

  

Value Equity Trust

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund*

  

Scudder Select 500 Fund

DWS Equity Income Fund*

  

Scudder Tax Advantaged Dividend Fund

DWS Variable Series I

  

Scudder Variable Series I

DWS Bond VIP

  

Bond Portfolio

DWS Capital Growth VIP

  

Capital Growth Portfolio

DWS Global Opportunities VIP

  

Global Discovery Portfolio

DWS Growth & Income VIP

  

Growth and Income Portfolio

DWS Health Care VIP

  

Health Sciences Portfolio

DWS International VIP

  

International Portfolio

Money Market VIP

  

Money Market Portfolio


*   Denotes Funds covered by this proxy statement.

 

A-2


NEW YORK DWS FUNDS (AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES)

 

Current Trust/Corporation and Fund Name


 

Former Trust/Corporation and Fund Name


Cash Reserve Fund, Inc.

 

Cash Reserve Fund, Inc.

DWS Advisor Funds

 

Scudder Advisor Funds

DWS International Equity Fund

 

Scudder International Equity Fund

DWS Short Duration Plus Fund

 

Scudder Limited-Duration Plus Fund

DWS Mid Cap Growth Fund

 

Scudder Mid Cap Growth Fund

DWS Small Cap Growth Fund

 

Scudder Small Cap Growth Fund

DWS Advisor Funds II

 

Scudder Advisor Funds II

DWS EAFE Equity Index Fund

 

Scudder EAFE Equity Index Fund

DWS U.S. Bond Index Fund

 

Scudder U.S. Bond Index Fund

DWS Advisor Funds III

 

Scudder Advisor Funds III

DWS Lifecycle Long Range Fund

 

Scudder Lifecycle Long Range Fund

DWS Communications Fund

 

Scudder Flag Investors Communications Fund, Inc.

DWS Communications Fund

 

Scudder Flag Investors Communications Fund

DWS Equity Partners Fund

 

Scudder Flag Investors Equity Partners Fund, Inc.

DWS Equity Partners Fund

 

Scudder Flag Investors Equity Partners Fund

DWS Institutional Funds

 

Scudder Institutional Funds

DWS Equity 500 Index Fund

 

Scudder Equity 500 Index Fund

DWS International Equity Fund Institutional

 

Scudder International Equity Fund Institutional

DWS Commodity Securities Fund

 

Scudder Commodity Securities Fund

DWS Inflation Protected Plus Fund

 

Scudder Inflation Protected Plus Fund

DWS Investment Portfolios

 

Scudder Investment Portfolios

DWS Investments Trust

 

Scudder MG Investments Trust

DWS Core Fixed Income Fund

 

Scudder Fixed Income Fund

DWS High Income Plus Fund

 

Scudder High Income Plus Fund

DWS International Select Equity Fund

 

Scudder International Select Equity Fund

DWS Micro Cap Fund

 

Scudder Micro Cap Fund

DWS Short Duration Fund

 

Scudder Short Duration Fund

DWS Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund

 

Scudder Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund

DWS Investments VIT Funds

 

Scudder Investments VIT Funds

DWS Investors Funds, Inc.

 

Scudder Investors Funds, Inc.

DWS Japan Equity Fund

 

Scudder Japanese Equity Fund

DWS RREEF Securities Trust

 

Scudder RREEF Securities Trust

DWS RREEF Real Estate Securities Fund

 

Scudder RREEF Real Estate Securities Fund

DWS Value Builder Fund

 

Scudder Flag Investors Value Builder Fund, Inc.

DWS Value Builder Fund

 

Scudder Flag Investors Value Builder Fund

 

[Add Scudder Investment Portfolios, Scudder Cash Management Portfolio, Scudder Treasury Money Portfolio, Scudder International Equity Portfolio and Scudder Equity 500 Index Portfolio]

 

A-3


EXHIBIT B

 

NOMINEE SHARE OWNERSHIP

 

As of July 31, 2005, the nominees and the officers of each Company as a whole owned [less than 1%] of the outstanding shares of any class of any Fund.

 

The following tables show the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by each nominee (i) in each Fund and (ii) on an aggregate basis, in all DWS funds overseen or to be overseen by the nominee as of July 31, 2005.

 

The following dollar ranges apply:

 

  N   None
  A   $1 – $10,000
  B   $10,001 – $50,000
  C   $50,001 – $100,000
  D   Over $100,000

 

     Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Name of Nominee


   DWS Capital Growth
Fund


  DWS Conservative
Allocation Fund


  DWS Core Plus Income
Fund


  DWS Emerging
Markets Equity
Fund


Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

 

B-1


     Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Name of Nominee


   DWS Emerging Markets
Fixed Income Fund


  DWS Enhanced S&P
500 Index Fund


  DWS Equity Income
Fund


  DWS Europe Equity
Fund


Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

 

     Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Name of Nominee


   DWS Global Bond Fund

  DWS Global
Opportunities Fund


  DWS Global Thematic
Fund


  DWS GNMA Fund

Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

 

B-2


    Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Name of Nominee


  DWS Gold & Precious
Metals Fund


  DWS Growth Allocation
Fund


  DWS Growth & Income
Fund


  DWS Growth Plus
Allocation Fund


Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

               

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

               

Martin J. Gruber

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]
    Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Name of Nominee


  DWS Health Care Fund

  DWS High Yield Tax-
Free Fund


  DWS Intermediate
Tax/AMT Free Fund


  DWS International
Fund


Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

               

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

               

Martin J. Gruber

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

 

B-3


     Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Name of Nominee


   DWS Large Company
Growth Fund


  DWS Latin America
Equity Fund


  DWS Managed
Municipal Bond Fund


  DWS Massachusetts
Tax Free Fund


Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

 

     Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Name of Nominee


   DWS Moderate Allocation
Fund


  DWS Pacific Opportunities
Equity Fund


  DWS Short Term Bond Fund

Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

            

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

            

Martin J. Gruber

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

 

B-4


     Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in the Fund

Name of Nominee


   DWS Small Cap Core Fund

  DWS Small Cap Value Fund

Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

        

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

        

Martin J. Gruber

   [            ]   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

   [            ]   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

   [            ]   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

   [            ]   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

   [            ]   [            ]

 

Name of Nominee


  

Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities in all DWS Funds

Overseen or to be Overseen by the Nominee


Independent Nominees

Current Board Member Nominees

    

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]

Other Nominees

    

Martin J. Gruber

   [            ]

Richard J. Herring

   [            ]

Graham E. Jones

   [            ]

Rebecca W. Rimel

   [            ]

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   [            ]

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   [            ]
Interested Nominee

Axel Schwarzer

   [            ]

 

B-5


EXHIBIT C

 

NOMINEE COMPENSATION

 

The tables below show (i) the compensation paid to each nominee by each Fund for its most recently completed fiscal year and (ii) the total compensation received by each nominee from the DWS fund complex for calendar year 2005. Mr. Froewiss became a member of the Board on [September 2, 2005]. Mr. Schwarzer was appointed to the Board of the Funds on December 2, 2005, is an interested person of the Funds and received no compensation from the Funds or any fund in the DWS fund complex during the relevant periods. No Board Member of the Funds receives pension or retirement benefits from the funds.

 

     Aggregate Compensation from Fund ($)

Name of Nominee


   DWS Capital Growth
Fund


  DWS Conservative
Allocation Fund*


  DWS Core Plus Income
Fund


  DWS Emerging
Markets Equity
Fund


Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   0   0   0   0

Richard J. Herring

   0   0   0   0

Graham E. Jones

   0   0   0   0

Rebecca W. Rimel

   0   0   0   0

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   0   0   0   0

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   0   0   0   0

 

    Aggregate Compensation from Fund ($)

Name of Nominee


  DWS Emerging Markets
Fixed Income Fund


  DWS Enhanced S&P
500 Index Fund


  DWS Equity Income
Fund


  DWS Europe Equity
Fund


Current Board Member Nominees

               

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

  [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

               

Martin J. Gruber

  0   0   0   0

Richard J. Herring

  0   0   0   0

Graham E. Jones

  0   0   0   0

Rebecca W. Rimel

  0   0   0   0

Philip Saunders, Jr.

  0   0   0   0

William N. Searcy, Jr.

  0   0   0   0

*   Each Independent Trustee receives compensation for his or her services to the Fund, but such compensation is borne by the underlying funds in which the Fund invests, rather than directly by the Fund.

 

C-1


     Aggregate Compensation from Fund ($)

Name of Nominee


   DWS Global
Bond Fund


  DWS Global
Opportunities Fund


  DWS Global
Thematic Fund


  DWS GNMA Fund

Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   0   0   0   0

Richard J. Herring

   0   0   0   0

Graham E. Jones

   0   0   0   0

Rebecca W. Rimel

   0   0   0   0

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   0   0   0   0

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   0   0   0   0
     Aggregate Compensation from Fund ($)

Name of Nominee


   DWS Gold
& Precious
Metals Fund


  DWS Growth
Allocation Fund*


  DWS Growth &
Income Fund


  DWS Growth Plus
Allocation Fund*


Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   0   0   0   0

Richard J. Herring

   0   0   0   0

Graham E. Jones

   0   0   0   0

Rebecca W. Rimel

   0   0   0   0

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   0   0   0   0

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   0   0   0   0

*   Each Independent Trustee receives compensation for his or her services to the Fund, but such compensation is borne by the underlying funds in which the Fund invests, rather than directly by the Fund.

 

C-2


     Aggregate Compensation from Fund ($)

Name of Nominee


   DWS Health
Care Fund


  DWS High Yield
Tax-Free Fund


  DWS Intermediate
Tax/AMT Free Fund


  DWS International
Fund


Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   0   0   0   0

Richard J. Herring

   0   0   0   0

Graham E. Jones

   0   0   0   0

Rebecca W. Rimel

   0   0   0   0

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   0   0   0   0

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   0   0   0   0
     Aggregate Compensation from Fund ($)

Name of Nominee


   DWS Large Company
Growth Fund


  DWS Latin America
Equity Fund


  DWS Managed
Municipal Bond Fund


  DWS Massachusetts
Tax Free Fund


Current Board Member Nominees

                

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

                

Martin J. Gruber

   0   0   0   0

Richard J. Herring

   0   0   0   0

Graham E. Jones

   0   0   0   0

Rebecca W. Rimel

   0   0   0   0

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   0   0   0   0

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   0   0   0   0

 

C-3


     Aggregate Compensation from Fund ($)

Name of Nominee


   DWS Moderate Allocation
Fund*


  DWS Pacific Opportunities
Equity Fund


  DWS Short Term Bond Fund

Current Board Member Nominees

            

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

            

Martin J. Gruber

   0   0   0

Richard J. Herring

   0   0   0

Graham E. Jones

   0   0   0

Rebecca W. Rimel

   0   0   0

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   0   0   0

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   0   0   0

 

     Aggregate Compensation from Fund ($)

Name of Nominee


   DWS Small Cap Core Fund

  DWS Small Cap Value Fund

Current Board Member Nominees

        

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   [            ]   [            ]

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   [            ]   [            ]

Keith R. Fox

   [            ]   [            ]

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   [            ]   [            ]

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   [            ]   [            ]

Carl W. Vogt

   [            ]   [            ]

Other Nominees

        

Martin J. Gruber

   0   0

Richard J. Herring

   0   0

Graham E. Jones

   0   0

Rebecca W. Rimel

   0   0

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   0   0

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   0   0

*   Each Independent Trustee receives compensation for his or her services to the Fund, but such compensation is borne by the underlying funds in which the Fund invests, rather than directly by the Fund.

 

C-4


Name of Nominee


  

Total Compensation from

Fund and Fund Complex1


Independent Nominees

      

Dawn-Marie Driscoll

   $ 195,329

Henry P. Becton, Jr.

   $ 156,500

Keith R. Fox

   $ 176,329

Kenneth C. Froewiss

   $ 45,102

Martin J. Gruber

   $ 136,000

Richard J. Herring

   $ 138,000

Graham E. Jones

   $ 137,000

Rebecca W. Rimel

   $ 164,120

Philip Saunders, Jr.

   $ 138,000

William N. Searcy, Jr.

   $ 149,000

Jean Gleason Stromberg

   $ 170,049

Carl W. Vogt

   $ 153,549

1.   The Fund Complex is composed of 165 funds.

 

The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, composed entirely of Independent Board Members, periodically reviews and recommends compensation for Board Members to ensure that such fees continue to be appropriate in light of their responsibilities as well as in relation to fees paid to board members of other mutual fund complexes. In reviewing and recommending Board Member compensation, the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee considers, among other factors, the time commitment involved in serving as a Board Member of the Funds, the fiduciary responsibilities of Board Members and the number and complexity of the funds overseen by Board Members.

 

C-5


EXHIBIT D

 

OFFICERS(1)

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each officer below is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.

 

Name, Year of Birth,

Position(s) Held with the Trust

and Length of Time Served


  

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


  

Number of Funds in Fund

Complex Overseen


Vincent J. Esposito(3) (1956)

President, 2005-present

   Managing Director(2), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2003); Vice President of Central European Equity Fund, Inc., The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. (since 2003) (registered investment companies); Vice Chairman and Director of The Brazil Fund, Inc. (2004-present); formerly, Managing Director, Putnam Investments (1991-2002)    N/A

John Millette (1962)

Vice President and Secretary,

1999-present

   Director(2), Deutsche Asset Management    N/A

Paul H. Schubert(3) (1963)

Chief Financial Officer, 2004-present

Treasurer, 2005-present

   Managing Director(2), Deutsche Asset Management (since July 2004); formerly, Executive Director, Head of Mutual Fund Services and Treasurer for UBS Family of Funds (1998-2004); Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Finance at UBS Global Asset Management (1994-1998)    N/A

Patricia DeFilippis(3) (1963)

Assistant Secretary, 2005-present

   Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management (since June 2005); Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (2003-2005); legal associate, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (1998-2003)    N/A

Elisa D. Metzger (1962)

Assistant Secretary, 2005-present

   Director, Deutsche Asset Management (since September 2005); Counsel, Morrison and Foerster LLP (1999-2005)    N/A

Caroline Pearson (1962)

Assistant Secretary, 1997-present

   Managing Director(2), Deutsche Asset Management    N/A

Scott M. McHugh (1971)

Assistant Treasurer, 2005-present

   Director(2), Deutsche Asset Management    N/A

Kathleen Sullivan D’Eramo (1957)

Assistant Treasurer, 2003-present

   Director(2), Deutsche Asset Management    N/A

John Robbins(3) (1966)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2005-present

   Managing Director(2), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2005); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for GE Asset Management (1999-2005)    N/A

 

D-1


Name, Year of Birth,

Position(s) Held with the Trust

and Length of Time Served


  

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


  

Number of Funds in Fund

Complex Overseen


Philip Gallo(3) (1962)

Chief Compliance Officer, 2004-present

   Managing Director(2), Deutsche Asset Management (2003-present); formerly, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Legal (1994-2003)    N/A

A. Thomas Smith (1956)

Chief Legal Officer, 2005-present

   Managing Director, Deutsche Asset Management (2004-present); formerly, General Counsel, Morgan Stanley and Van Kampen Investments (1999-2004); Vice President and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Insurance Company (1994-1999); senior attorney, The Dreyfus Corporation (1991-1993); senior attorney, Willkie Farr & Gallagher (1989-1991); staff attorney, US Securities & Exchange Commission and the Illinois Securities Department (1986-1989)    N/A

(1)   As a result of their respective positions held with DeIM, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Funds within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Funds.
(2)   Executive title, not a board directorship.
(3)   Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.
(4)   Address: One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.

 

D-2


EXHIBIT E

 

VALUATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS

 

Fund


  

Valuation Committee Meetings

Conducted During the

Calendar Year Ended December 31, 2005


DWS Capital Growth Fund

   6

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

   6

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

   6

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

   11

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

   6

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

   6

DWS Equity Income Fund

   6

DWS Europe Equity Fund

   6

DWS Global Bond Fund

   7

DWS Global Opportunities Fund

   8

DWS Global Thematic Fund

   7

DWS GNMA Fund

   6

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

   10

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

   6

DWS Growth & Income Fund

   6

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

   6

DWS Health Care Fund

   6

DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund

   6

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

   6

DWS International Fund

   6

DWS Large Company Growth Fund

   6

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

   6

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

   6

DWS Massachusetts Tax Free Fund

   6

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

   6

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

   12

DWS Short Term Bond Fund

   6

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

   6

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

   6

 

E-1


EXHIBIT F

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

 

AGREEMENT, dated as of [            ], 2006, among [Name of Trust/Corporation], a [Massachusetts business trust/Maryland corporation] [(the “Trust”)/(the “Corporation”)], on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the Funds listed on Schedule I to this Agreement (each a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”), and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Adviser”).

 

WHEREAS, the [Trust/Corporation] is engaged in business as [an open-end/a closed-end] investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

 

WHEREAS, The [Trust/Corporation] engages in the business of investing and reinvesting the assets of each Fund in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions specified in the currently effective Prospectus (the “Prospectus”) and Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) of each Fund included in the [Trust’s/Corporation’s] Registration Statement on Form [N-1A/N-2], as amended from time to time (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the [Trust/Corporation] under the Investment Company Act and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser is engaged principally in rendering investment management services and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”);

 

WHEREAS, the [Trust/Corporation] desires to retain the Adviser to provide investment management services to each Fund on the terms set out in this Agreement, and the Adviser is willing to provide investment management services to each Fund on the terms set out in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the [Trust/Corporation] and the Adviser desire to amend and restate the Investment Management Agreement dated [            ].

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained in this Agreement, the [Trust/Corporation], each Fund and the Adviser agree as follows:

 

1. Appointment and Services.

 

(a) The [Trust/Corporation] appoints the Adviser to act as investment manager to each Fund. The Adviser accepts its appointment and agrees to provide the services set out in this Agreement for the compensation set out in this Agreement.

 

(b) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, and the supervision of the Board of [Trustees/Directors], the Adviser will provide continuing investment management of the assets of each Fund in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions set forth in the Prospectus and SAI of the Fund; the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations thereunder; the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), relating to regulated investment companies and all rules and regulations thereunder; and all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In connection with the services provided under this Agreement, the Adviser will use best efforts to manage each Fund so that it will qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and regulations issued under the Code. The Adviser will also monitor, to the extent not monitored by the Fund’s administrator or other agent, each Fund’s compliance with its investment and tax guidelines and other compliance policies. Each Fund will have the benefit of the investment analysis and research, the review of current economic conditions and trends and the consideration of long-range investment policy generally

 

F-1


available to the Adviser’s investment advisory clients. In managing each Fund in accordance with the requirements set out in this Section 1, the Adviser will be entitled to receive and act upon advice of counsel for the [Trust/Corporation] or a Fund.

 

(c) The Adviser will determine the securities and other instruments to be purchased, sold or entered into by each Fund and place orders with broker-dealers, foreign currency dealers, futures commission merchants or others pursuant to the Adviser’s determinations and all in accordance with each Fund’s policies as set out in the Prospectus and SAI of the Fund or as adopted by the Board of [Trustees/Directors] and disclosed to the Adviser. The Adviser will determine what portion of each Fund’s portfolio will be invested in securities and other assets and what portion, if any, should be held uninvested in cash or cash equivalents.

 

(d) The Adviser will provide assistance to the Board of [Trustees/Directors] in valuing the securities and other instruments held by each Fund, to the extent reasonably required by such valuation policies and procedures as may be adopted by each Fund.

 

(e) The Adviser will maintain in accordance with applicable law all books and records required of investment advisers under the Advisers Act, and will make available to the Board of [Trustees/Directors] such records upon request.

 

(f) The Adviser also agrees to make available to the Board of [Trustees/Directors] the following:

 

(i) periodic reports on the investment performance of each Fund;

 

(ii) additional reports and information related to the Adviser’s duties under this Agreement as the Board of [Trustees/Directors] may reasonably request; and

 

(iii) to the extent held by the Adviser, all of each Fund’s investment records and ledgers as are necessary to assist the [Trust/Corporation] in complying with the requirements of the Investment Company Act and other applicable laws.

 

      To the extent required by law, the Adviser will furnish to regulatory authorities having the requisite authority any information or reports in connection with the services provided under this Agreement that may be requested.

 

(g) The Adviser will also provide to each Fund’s administrator, custodian, fund accounting agent, shareholder service agents, transfer agents and other service providers, as required, and to the extent held by the Adviser, information relating to all transactions concerning the assets belonging to the Fund, in each case subject to compliance with applicable privacy standards.

 

2. Investment Management Fee.

 

(a) For all services to be rendered, payments to be made and costs to be assumed by the Adviser as provided under this Agreement, the [Trust/Corporation] on behalf of each Fund will pay the Adviser in United States Dollars following the last day of each month the unpaid balance of a fee equal to the sum of all the daily management accruals from the previous month. The daily management accrual is calculated on a daily basis by multiplying a Fund’s prior day’s net assets by [ ]% and dividing that product by the number of days in that year. The Adviser will be entitled to receive during any month such interim payments of its fee under this Section 2 as it will request, provided that no such payment will exceed 75 percent of the amount of its fee then accrued on the books of a Fund and unpaid.

 

F-2


(b) The “average daily net assets” of each Fund will mean the average of the values placed on the Fund’s net assets as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time) on each day on which the net asset value of the Fund is determined consistent with the provisions of Rule 22c-1 under the Investment Company Act or, if the Fund lawfully determines the value of its net assets as of some other time on each business day, as of such time. The value of the net assets of each Fund will always be determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of the [Trust’s Declaration of Trust, as amended from time-to-time (the “Declaration”)/ Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time-to-time (the “Articles”)] and the Registration Statement. If the determination of net asset value for a Fund does not take place for any particular day, then for the purposes of this Section 2, the value of the net assets of the Fund as last determined will be deemed to be the value of its net assets as of 4:00 p.m. (New York time), or as of such other time as the value of the net assets of the Fund’s portfolio may be lawfully determined on that day. If a Fund determines the value of the net assets of its portfolio more than once on any day, then the last such determination thereof on that day will be deemed to be the sole determination thereof on that day for the purposes of this Section 2.

 

(c) The Adviser may from time to time agree not to impose all or a portion of its fee otherwise payable under this Agreement and/or undertake to pay or reimburse a Fund for all or a portion of its expenses not otherwise required to be paid by or reimbursed by the Adviser. Unless otherwise agreed, any fee reduction or undertaking may be discontinued or modified by the Adviser at any time. For the month and year in which this Agreement becomes effective or terminates, there will be an appropriate pro ration of any fee based on the number of days that the Agreement is in effect during such month and year, respectively.

 

(d) All rights to compensation under this Agreement for services performed as of the termination of this Agreement shall survive the termination.

 

*REPLACE ABOVE SECTION 2 WITH THE FOLLOWING IF THERE IS NO FEE (when the advisor receives a fee from underlying funds)*

 

[2. Management Fee.    As the Adviser expects to be compensated under investment management agreements currently in effect between the Adviser or its affiliates and the underlying funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates in which a Fund may invest (“Underlying Funds”), the Adviser will not be paid a fee for the services described in Section 1 of this Agreement. The Adviser will be entitled to the reimbursement of expenses as set out in Section 3 of this Agreement.]

 

3. Expenses.

 

(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Section 3 or as determined by the Board of [Trustees/Directors], to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Adviser will pay the compensation and expenses of all [Trustees/Directors], officers and executive employees of the [Trust/Corporation] (including a Fund’s share of payroll taxes) who are affiliated persons of the Adviser, and the Adviser will make available, without expense to any Fund, the services of such of its directors, officers and employees as may duly be elected officers of the [Trust/Corporation], subject to their individual consent to serve and to any limitations imposed by law. The Adviser will provide at its expense the services described in this Agreement.

 

(b) The Adviser will not be required to pay any expenses of the [Trust/Corporation] or of a Fund other than those specifically allocated to it in this Section 3. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser will not be responsible, except to the extent of the reasonable compensation of such of the [Trust/Corporation]’s [Trustees/Directors] and officers as are directors, officers or employees of the Adviser whose services may be involved, for the following expenses of a Fund: fees payable to the Adviser; outside legal, accounting or auditing expenses including with respect to expenses related to

 

F-3


negotiation, acquisition, or distribution of portfolio investments; maintenance of books and records which are maintained by the [Trust/Corporation], a Fund’s custodian or other agents of the [Trust/Corporation]; taxes and governmental fees; fees and expenses of a Fund’s accounting agent, custodians, sub-custodians, depositories (for securities and/or commodities), transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents and registrars; payment for portfolio pricing or valuation services to pricing agents, accountants, bankers and other specialists, if any; brokerage commissions or other costs of acquiring or disposing of any portfolio securities or other instruments of a Fund; and litigation expenses and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of a Fund’s business.

 

(c) The Adviser will not be required to pay expenses of any activity which is primarily intended to result in sales of shares of a Fund (the “Shares”) if and to the extent that (i) such expenses are required to be borne by a principal underwriter that acts as the distributor of the Fund’s Shares pursuant to an underwriting agreement that provides that the underwriter will assume some or all of such expenses, or (ii) the [Trust/Corporation] on behalf of the Fund will have adopted a plan in conformity with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act providing that the Fund (or some other party) will assume some or all of such expenses. The Adviser will pay such sales expenses as are not required to be paid by the principal underwriter pursuant to the underwriting agreement or are not permitted to be paid by a Fund (or some other party) pursuant to such a plan.

 

4. Delegation of Investment Management Services.    Subject to the prior approval of a majority of the members of the Board of [Trustees/Directors], including a majority of the [Trustees/Directors] who are not “interested persons”, and, to the extent required by applicable law, by the shareholders of a Fund, the Adviser may, through a sub-advisory agreement or other arrangement, delegate to a sub-advisor any of the duties enumerated in this Agreement, including the management of all or a portion of the assets being managed. Subject to the prior approval of a majority of the members of the Board of [Trustees/Directors], including a majority of the [Trustees/Directors] who are not “interested persons”, and, to the extent required by applicable law, by the shareholders of a Fund, the Adviser may adjust such duties, the portion of assets being managed, and the fees to be paid by the Adviser; provided, that in each case the Adviser will continue to oversee the services provided by such company or employees and any such delegation will not relieve the Adviser of any of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

5. Selection of Brokers and Affiliated Transactions.

 

(a) Subject to the policies established by, and any direction from the [Trust/Corporation]’s Board of [Trustees/Directors] the Adviser will be responsible for selecting the brokers or dealers that will execute the purchases and sales for a Fund. Subject to the foregoing, it is understood that the Adviser will not be deemed to have acted unlawfully, or to have breached a fiduciary duty to the [Trust/Corporation] or be in breach of any obligation owing to the [Trust/Corporation] under this Agreement, or otherwise, solely by reason of its having directed a securities transaction on behalf of a series to a broker-dealer in compliance with the provisions of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or as otherwise permitted from time to time by a series’ Prospectus and SAI.

 

(b) Subject to the policies established by, and any direction from, a Fund’s Board of [Trustees/Directors], the Adviser may direct any of its affiliates to execute portfolio transactions for a Fund on an agency basis. The commissions paid to the Adviser’s affiliates must be in accordance with Rule 17e-1 under the Investment Company Act.

 

(c) The Adviser and any of its affiliates will not deal with a [Trust/Corporation] or any of its affiliates in any transaction in which the Adviser or any of its affiliates acts as a principal with respect to any part of a Fund order, except in compliance with the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations under the

 

F-4


Investment Company Act and any applicable SEC or SEC staff guidance or interpretation. If the Adviser or any of its affiliates is participating in an underwriting or selling group, a Fund may not buy securities from the group except in accordance with policies established by the Board of [Trustees/Directors] in compliance with the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations under the Investment Company Act and any applicable SEC or SEC staff guidance or interpretation.

 

(d) The Adviser will promptly communicate to a Fund’s administrator and to the officers and the [Trustees/Directors] of a [Trust/Corporation] such information relating to portfolio transactions as they may reasonably request.

 

6. Limitation of Liability of Manager.

 

(a) As an inducement to the Adviser undertaking to provide services to the [Trust/Corporation] and each Fund pursuant to this Agreement, the [Trust/Corporation] and each Fund agrees that the Adviser will not be liable under this Agreement for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the [Trust/Corporation] or a Fund in connection with the matters to which this Agreement relates, provided that nothing in this Agreement will be deemed to protect or purport to protect the Adviser against any liability to the [Trust/Corporation], a Fund or its shareholders to which the Adviser would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under this Agreement.

 

(b) The rights of exculpation provided under this Section 6 are not to be construed so as to provide for exculpation of any person described in this Section for any liability (including liability under U.S. federal securities laws that, under certain circumstances, impose liability even on persons that act in good faith) to the extent (but only to the extent) that exculpation would be in violation of applicable law, but will be construed so as to effectuate the applicable provisions of this Section 6 to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

 

7. Term and Termination.

 

(a) This Agreement will remain in force with respect to each party until [September 30, 2006] and continue in force from year to year thereafter, but only so long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by the vote of a majority of the [Trustees/Directors] who are not parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” of any party to this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and (b) by the vote of a majority of the [Trustees/Directors] of the [Trust/Corporation], or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the respective Fund. The requirement that continuance of this Agreement be “specifically approved at least annually” will be construed in a manner consistent with the Investment Company Act, the rules and regulations under the Investment Company Act and any applicable SEC or SEC staff guidance or interpretation.

 

(b) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to a Fund at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or by the [Trust/Corporation]’s Board of [Trustees/Directors] on 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser on 60 days’ written notice to the [Trust/Corporation]. This Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as defined under the Investment Company Act).

 

8. Amendment.    No provision of this Agreement may be changed, waived, discharged, or terminated orally, but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge, or termination is sought, and no amendment of this Agreement will be effective until approved in a manner consistent with the Investment Company Act, rules and regulations under the Investment Company Act and any applicable SEC or SEC staff guidance or interpretation.

 

F-5


9. Services Not Exclusive.    The Adviser’s services to the [Trust/Corporation] and each Fund pursuant to this Agreement are not exclusive and it is understood that the Adviser may render investment advice, management and services to other Persons (including other investment companies) and to engage in other activities, so long as its services under this Agreement are not impaired by such other activities. It is understood and agreed that officers or directors of the Adviser may serve as officers or [Trustees/Directors] of the [Trust/Corporation], and that officers or [Trustees/Directors] of the [Trust/Corporation] may serve as officers or directors of the Adviser to the extent permitted by law; and that the officers and directors of the Adviser are not prohibited from engaging in any other business activity or from rendering services to any other person, or from serving as partners, officers, trustees or directors of any other firm, trust or corporation, including other investment companies. Whenever a Fund and one or more other accounts or investment companies advised by the Adviser have available funds for investment, investments suitable and appropriate for each will be allocated in accordance with procedures believed by the Adviser to be equitable to each entity over time. Similarly, opportunities to sell securities will be allocated in a manner believed by the Adviser to be equitable to each entity over time. The [Trust/Corporation] and each Fund recognize that in some cases this procedure may adversely affect the size of the position that may be acquired or disposed of for a Fund.

 

10. Avoidance of Inconsistent Position.    In connection with purchases or sales of portfolio securities and other investments for the account of a Fund, neither the Adviser nor any of its directors, officers, or employees will act as a principal or agent or receive any commission, except in accordance with applicable law and policies and procedures adopted by the Board of [Trustees/Directors]. The Adviser or its agent will arrange for the placing of all orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities and other investments for a Fund’s account with brokers or dealers selected by it in accordance with Fund policies as expressed in the Registration Statement. If any occasion should arise in which the Adviser gives any advice to its clients concerning the Shares of a Fund, it will act solely as investment counsel for such clients and not in any way on behalf of the Fund.

 

11. Additional Series.    In the event the [Trust/Corporation] establishes one or more Funds after the effective date of this Agreement, such Funds will become Funds under this Agreement upon approval of this Agreement by the Board of [Trustees/Directors] with respect to the Funds and the execution of an amended Schedule I reflecting the Funds.

 

12. Delivery of Documents.    Copies of the Registration Statement and each Fund’s Prospectus and SAI have been furnished to the Adviser by the [Trust/Corporation]. The [Trust/Corporation] has also furnished the Adviser with copies properly certified or authenticated of each of the following additional documents related to the [Trust/Corporation] and each Fund:

 

(i) The [Declaration/Articles] dated [            ], as amended to date, together with all filed certificates regarding the establishment and designation of a series of Shares of the [Trust/Corporation], to the extent applicable.

 

(ii) By-Laws of the [Trust/Corporation] as in effect on the date hereof.

 

(iii) Resolutions of the [Trustees/Directors] of the [Trust/Corporation] approving the form of this Agreement.

 

The [Trust/Corporation] will promptly furnish the Adviser from time to time with copies, properly certified or authenticated, of all amendments of or supplements, if any, to the foregoing, including the Prospectus, the SAI and the Registration Statement.

 

*INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SECTION FOR MA BUSINESS TRUST ONLY*

 

F-6


[13. Limitation of Liability for Claims.

 

(a) The Declaration, a copy of which, together with all amendments thereto, is on file in the Office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, provides that the name “            Trust” refers to the Trustees under the Declaration collectively as Trustees and not as individuals or personally, and that no shareholder of a Fund, or Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust, will be subject to claims against or obligations of the Trust or of the Fund to any extent whatsoever, but that the Trust estate only will be liable.

 

(b) The Adviser is hereby expressly put on notice of the limitation of liability as set forth in the Declaration and it agrees that the obligations assumed by the Trust on behalf of each Fund pursuant to this Agreement will be limited in all cases to a Fund and its assets, and it will not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders or any shareholder of the Fund or any other series of the Trust, or from any Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust. The Adviser understands that the rights and obligations of each Fund, or series, under the Declaration are separate and distinct from those of any and all other series.]

 

[13/14]. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(b) Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or provision of the Investment Company Act will be resolved by reference to such term or provision of the Investment Company Act and to interpretations thereof, if any, by the United States Courts or in the absence of any controlling decision of any such court, by rules, regulations or orders of the SEC issued pursuant to the Investment Company Act. In addition, where the effect of a requirement of the Investment Company Act reflected in any provision of this Agreement is modified or interpreted by any applicable order or orders of the SEC or any rules or regulations adopted by, or interpretative releases of, the SEC thereunder, such provision will be deemed to incorporate the effect of such order, rule, regulation or interpretative release.

 

(c) This Agreement will be construed in accordance with the laws of [The Commonwealth of Massachusetts/the State of Maryland] without regard to choice of law or conflicts of law principles thereof, provided that nothing in this Agreement will be construed in a manner inconsistent with the Investment Company Act, or in a manner which would cause a Fund to fail to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code.

 

(d) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter, and supersedes any and all prior understandings.

 

(e) If any provision, term or part of this Agreement is deemed to be void, unenforceable, or invalid for any reason by a court decision, statute, rule, or otherwise, the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect as if such invalid provision, term or part was not a part of this Agreement.

 

(f) This Agreement will supersede all prior investment advisory or management agreements entered into between the Adviser and the [Trust/Corporation] on behalf of a Fund.

 

[The rest of this page is intentionally blank]

 

F-7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

[Name of Trust/Corporation]

By:

 

 


    [Name of Officer]
    [Title]

[Name of Trust/Corporation], on

behalf of the Funds set out on Schedule I

By:

 

 


    [Name of Officer]
    [Title]

DEUTSCHE INVESTMENT

MANAGEMENT AMERICAS INC.

By:

 

 


    [Name]
    [Title]

 

F-8


SCHEDULE I

 

FUNDS

 

[Funds]

 

F-9


SCHEDULE I

 

FUNDS

 

[Funds]

 

F-10


EXHIBIT G

 

COMPARISON OF MANAGEMENT FEE RATES

 

Fund


 

Management Fee

Rate under current

Management Agreement

As % of Net Assets


 

Management Fee

Rate under proposed

Investment Management

Agreement (“New Fee”)


 

Aggregate

Amount of
DeIM’s

management fee
under current
Management
Agreement(1) (2)


 

Aggregate

Amount DeIM
would have
received had
the New Fee
been in
effect(1) (2)


 

Percentage

Change in
Aggregate
Amount
received by
DeIM(1)


DWS Capital Growth Fund

 

0.580% to $250 million

0.550% next $750 million

0.530% next $1.5 billion

0.510% next $2.5 billion

0.480% next $2.5 billion

0.460% next $2.5 billion

0.440% next $2.5 billion

0.420% thereafter

 

0.495% to $250 million

0.465% next $750 million

0.445% next $1.5 billion

0.425% next $2.5 billion

0.395% next $2.5 billion

0.375% next $2.5 billion

0.355% next $2.5 billion

0.335% thereafter

  $9,126,992   $7,557,736   -17%

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

  0.00%   0.00%   $0   $0   N/A

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

 

0.550% to $250 million

0.520% next $750 million

0.500% next $1.5 billion

0.480% next $2.5 billion

0.450% next $2.5 billion

0.430% next $2.5 billion

0.410% next $2.5 billion

0.400% thereafter

 

0.465% to $250 million

0.435% next $750 million

0.415% next $1.5 billion

0.395% next $2.5 billion

0.365% next $2.5 billion

0.345% next $2.5 billion

0.325% next $2.5 billion

0.315% thereafter

  $4,639,957   $3,891,623   -16%

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

 

1.250% to $500 million

1.200% thereafter

 

1.165% to $500 million

1.115% thereafter

  $2,517,714   $2,346,349   -7%

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

 

1.00% to $500 million

0.950% thereafter

 

0.665% first $500 million

0.650% next $500 million

  $1,901,471   $1,264,628   -33%

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

 

0.500% to $500 million

0.475% next $500 million

0.450% thereafter

 

0.415% to $500 million

0.390% next $500 million

0.365% thereafter

  $502,818   $417,562   -17%

 

G-1


Fund


 

Management Fee

Rate under current

Management Agreement

As % of Net Assets


 

Management Fee

Rate under proposed

Investment Management

Agreement (“New Fee”)


 

Aggregate

Amount of
DeIM’s

management fee
under current
Management
Agreement(1) (2)


 

Aggregate

Amount DeIM
would have
received had
the New Fee
been in
effect(1) (2)


 

Percentage

Change in
Aggregate
Amount
received by
DeIM(1)


DWS Equity Income Fund

 

0.750% to $250 million

0.720% next $750 million

0.700% next $1.5 billion

0.680% next $2.5 billion

0.650% next $2.5 billion

0.640% next $2.5 billion

0.630% next $2.5 billion

0.620% thereafter

 

0.665% to $250 million

0.635% next $750 million

0.615% next $1.5 billion

0.595% next $2.5 billion

0.565% next $2.5 billion

0.555% next $2.5 billion

0.545% next $2.5 billion

0.535% thereafter

  $1,049,402   $990,895   -6%

DWS Europe Equity Fund

 

0.750% to $250 million

0.720% next $750 million

0.700% next $1.5 billion

0.680% next $2.5 billion

0.650% next 2.5 billion

0.640% next $2.5 billion

0.630% next $2.5 billion

0.620% thereafter

 

0.665% to $250 million

0.635% next $750 million

0.615% next $1.5 billion

0.595% next $2.5 billion

05650% next 2.5 billion

0.555% next $2.5 billion

0.545% next $2.5 billion

0.535% thereafter

  $3,655,987   $2,951,978   -19%

DWS Global Bond Fund

 

0.750% to $250 million

0.720% next $750 million

0.700% next $1.5 billion

0.680% next $2.5 billion

0.650% next $2.5 billion

0.640% next $2.5 billion

0.630% next $2.5 billion

0.620% thereafter

 

0.665% to $250 million

0.635% next $750 million

0.615% next $1.5 billion

0.595% next $2.5 billion

0.565% next $2.5 billion

0.555% next $2.5 billion

0.545% next $2.5 billion

0.535% thereafter

  $1,319,904   $1,170,288   -11%

DWS Global Opportunities Fund

  1.100%   1.015%   $6,443,596   $5,945,418   -8%

DWS Global Thematic Fund

 

1.000% to $500 million

0.950% next $500 million

0.900% next $500 million

0.850% next $500 million

0.800% thereafter

 

0.915% to $500 million

0.865% next $500 million

0.815% next $500 million

0.765% next $500 million

0.715% thereafter

  $8,883,911   $8,114,950   -9%

 

G-2


Fund


 

Management Fee

Rate under current

Management Agreement

As % of Net Assets


 

Management Fee

Rate under proposed

Investment Management

Agreement (“New Fee”)


 

Aggregate

Amount of
DeIM’s

management fee
under current
Management
Agreement(1) (2)


 

Aggregate

Amount DeIM
would have
received had
the New Fee
been in
effect(1) (2)


 

Percentage

Change in
Aggregate
Amount
received by
DeIM(1)


DWS GNMA Fund

 

0.400% to $5.0 billion

0.385% next $1.0 billion

0.370% thereafter

 

0.315% to $5.0 billion

0.300% next $1.0 billion

0.285% thereafter

  $13,671,125   $10,764,301   -21%

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

 

1.000% to $500 million

0.950% thereafter

 

.915% to $500 million

0.865% thereafter

  $4,728,588   $4,326,134   -9%

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

  0.00%   0.00%   $0   $0   N/A

DWS Growth & Income Fund

 

0.450% to $250 million

0.445% next $750 million

0.440 next $1.5 billion

0.430% next $5 billion

0.420% next $5 billion

0.410% next $5 billion

0.385% thereafter

 

0.365% to $250 million

0.360% next $750 million

0.355% next $1.5 billion

0.345% next $5 billion

0.335% next $5 billion

0.325% next $5 billion

0.300% thereafter

  $22,061,612   $17,438,957   -21%

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

  0.00%   0.00%   $0   $0   N/A

DWS Health Care Fund

 

0.850% to $500 million

0.800% thereafter

 

0.765% to $500 million

0.715% thereafter

  $2,021,996   $1,819,633   -10%

DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund

 

0.650% to $300 million

0.600% next $200 million

0.575% thereafter

 

0.565% to $300 million

0.515% next $200 million

0.490% thereafter

  $4,941,855   4,298,056   -13%

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

  0.400%   0.315%   $3,313,298   $2,667,471   -19%

DWS International Fund

 

0.675% to $6.0 billion

0.625% next $1.0 billion

0.60% thereafter

 

0.565% to $2.5 billion

0.454% next $2.5 billion

0.525% next $5 billion

0.515% next $5 billion

0.465% thereafter

  $10,735,566   $8,989,238   -16%

 

G-3


Fund


 

Management Fee

Rate under current

Management Agreement

As % of Net Assets


 

Management Fee

Rate under proposed

Investment Management

Agreement (“New Fee”)


 

Aggregate

Amount of
DeIM’s

management fee
under current
Management
Agreement(1) (2)


 

Aggregate

Amount DeIM
would have
received had
the New Fee
been in
effect(1) (2)


 

Percentage

Change in
Aggregate
Amount
received by
DeIM(1)


DWS Large Company Growth Fund

 

0.700% to $2.5 billion

0.650% next $500 million

0.600% thereafter

 

0.615% to $1.5 billion

0.565% next $500 million

0.515% thereafter

  $3,168,110   $2,782,501   -12%

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

 

1.250% to $400 million

1.150% thereafter

 

1.165% to $400 million

1.065% thereafter

  $5,854,074   $5,450,209   -7%

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

 

0.450% to $250 million

0.430% next $750 million

0.410% next $1.5 billion

0.400% next $2.5 billion

0.380% next $2.5 billion

0.360% next $2.5 billion

0.340% next $2.5 billion

0.320% thereafter

 

0.365% to $250 million

0.345% next $750 million

0.325% next $1.5 billion

0.315% next $2.5 billion

0.295% next $2.5 billion

0.275% next $2.5 billion

0.255% next $2.5 billion

0.235% thereafter

  $18,461,245   $14,644,916   -21%

DWS Massachusetts Tax Free Fund

 

0.600% to $400 million

0.525% next $600 million

0.500% thereafter

 

0.515% to $500 million

0.440% next $600 million

0.415% thereafter

  $2,942,297   $2,514,500   -15%

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

  0.00%   0.00%   $0   $0   N/A

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

 

0.850% to $250 million

0.820% next $750 million

0.800% next $1.5 billion

0.780% next $2.5 billion

0.750% next $2.5 billion

0.740% next $2.5 billion

0.730% next $2.5 billion

0.720% thereafter

 

0.765% to $250 million

0.735% next $750 million

0.715% next $1.5 billion

0.695% next $2.5 billion

0.665% next $2.5 billion

0.655% next $2.5 billion

0.643% next $2.5 billion

0.635% thereafter

  $943,667   $849,411   -10%

 

G-4


Fund


 

Management Fee

Rate under current

Management Agreement

As % of Net Assets


 

Management Fee

Rate under proposed

Investment Management

Agreement (“New Fee”)


 

Aggregate

Amount of
DeIM’s

management fee
under current
Management
Agreement(1) (2)


 

Aggregate

Amount DeIM
would have
received had
the New Fee
been in
effect(1) (2)


 

Percentage

Change in
Aggregate
Amount
received by
DeIM(1)


DWS Short Term Bond Fund

 

0.450% to $1.5 billion

0.425% next $500 million

0.400% next $1.0 billion

0.385% next $1.0 billion

0.370% next $1.0 billion

0.355% next $1.0 billion

0.340% thereafter

 

0.365% to $1.5 billion

0.340% next $500 million

0.315% next $1.0 billion

0.300% next $1.0 billion

0.285% next $1.0 billion

0.270% next $1.0 billion

0.255% thereafter

  $4,626,771   $3,752,350   -19%

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

 

0.750% to $500 million

0.700% next $500 million

0.650% thereafter

 

0.665% to $500 million

0.615% next $500 million

0.565% thereafter

  $1,301,094   $1,153,786   -11%

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

 

0.750% to $500 million

0.700% thereafter

 

0.665% to $500 million

0.615% thereafter

  $2,555,217   $2,266,320   -11%

(1)   This comparison is included because it is required by applicable SEC regulations. However, this comparison is not likely to be useful for shareholders of the Funds. As noted in the proxy statement, because fees paid to DeIM for administrative services pursuant to the current Management Agreement would be paid instead pursuant to the new Administrative Services Agreement if shareholders of a Fund approve the Investment Management Agreement, the management fee rate applicable to a Fund would be reduced. For some Funds, the reduction in management fee will be completely offset by the new fee charged for administrative services under the Administrative Services Agreement. Other Funds are proposed to pay lower management fees, even after giving effect to the new charges for administrative services under the Administrative Services Agreement.
(2)   Measured during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

 

G-5


EXHIBIT H

 

FACTORS CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH BOARD REVIEW OF FUND CONTRACTS

 

In determining to approve the continuation of the Funds’ current investment management agreements, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:

 

  ·   The investment management fee schedule for each Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for each Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to each Fund. More detailed information about the fees and expenses of each Fund as of December 31, 2004 is included in Exhibit H-1 to this Proxy Statement.

 

  ·   The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Funds grow. In this regard, the Board noted that almost all of the Funds’ investment management fee schedules include fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that all Funds’ fee schedules represent an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Funds at current asset levels.

 

  ·   The total operating expenses of each Fund, including relative to each Fund’s respective peer group as determined by Lipper. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. More detailed information about the fees and expenses of each Fund as of December 31, 2004 is included in Exhibit H-1 to this Proxy Statement.

 

  ·   The investment performance of each Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board also noted the disappointing investment performance of certain Funds in recent years and continued to discuss with senior management of DeIM the factors contributing to such underperformance and actions being taken to improve performance. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance. More detailed information about the performance of each Fund for periods ended June 30, 2005 is included in Exhibit H-1 to this Proxy Statement.

 

  ·   The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board noted that Deutsche Asset Management is part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreements, including the scope of services provided under the agreements. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Funds and their shareholders.

 

H-1


  ·   The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Funds. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Funds (and, separately, to the entire DWS fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that each Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Funds. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, DeAM’s overall profitability with respect to the DWS fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability of most comparable firms for which such data was available.

 

  ·   The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Funds’ brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process.

 

  ·   DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Funds against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board; (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by DeAM to compliance matters.

 

  ·   Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Funds and their shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth of its U.S. mutual fund business and the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups.

 

The Board evaluated the current investment management arrangements in light of the proposed changes to such arrangements being submitted to shareholders and the fact that the current agreements would be continued only until the changes could be implemented. Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue each Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such Agreements was in the best interests of each Fund’s shareholders.

 

H-2


In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Board Members and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Board Members may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current investment management agreements.

 

H-3


EXHIBIT H-1

 

FUND-BY-FUND BOARD APPROVAL DISCLOSURE

 

For purposes of the discussions below, Funds in the 1st quartile of the applicable Lipper universe for performance, management fee or total expenses have better performance, lower fees or lower expenses, respectively, as compared with funds in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles. Conversely, Funds in the 4th quartile for a particular category would have worse performance, higher fees or higher expenses, as applicable.

 

DWS CAPITAL GROWTH FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class AARP) was in the 1st quartile and 3rd quartile for the one- and three-year periods, respectively, but was in the 2nd quartile for the five-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS CONSERVATIVE ALLOCATION FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile and 3rd quartile for the one- and three-year periods, but was in the 4th quartile for the five-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The Board noted that no management fees are paid by the Fund and that, as a result, the comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

H1-1


The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS CORE PLUS INCOME FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 1st quartile for the one-year period, but was in the 2nd and 3rd quartiles for the three-year and five-year periods, respectively. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that although the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for the three-year period and it was in the 3rd quartile for both the one-year and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

H1-2


The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS EMERGING MARKETS FIXED INCOME FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 1st quartile for the one-year period, and was in the 2nd quartile for both the three-year and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that while the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS ENHANCED S&P 500 INDEX FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

H1-3


The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS EQUITY INCOME FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class A) was in the 2nd quartile for the one-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that, although the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS EUROPE EQUITY FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for the one-year period, but was in the 3rd and 4th quartiles for the three-year and five-year periods, respectively. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

H1-4


The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS GLOBAL BOND FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for the one-year period, at the median for the five-year period and in the 3rd quartile for the three-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that although the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 1st quartile for both the one- and three-year periods and was in the 2nd quartile for the five-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that while the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

H1-5


The Board noted that the Fund’s management fee does not contain breakpoints and determined that, at the present time and at current asset levels and management fee rates, fee breakpoints are not warranted. The Board continues to monitor the Fund’s management fees and asset levels to determine if any breakpoints are appropriate.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS GLOBAL THEMATIC FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 1st quartile for both the one- and five-year periods and was in the 2nd quartile for the three-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that although the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS GNMA FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class AARP) was in the 1st quartile for the one-year period and it was in the 2nd quartile for both the three-year and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

H1-6


Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were at the median of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS GOLD & PRECIOUS METALS FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 1st quartile for both the three- and five-year periods, but was in the 4th quartile for the one-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that while the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS GROWTH ALLOCATION FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that although the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile for the three- and five-year periods, the Fund’s performance was in the 2nd quartile for the one-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

H1-7


Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The Board noted that no management fees are paid by the Fund and that, as a result, the comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS GROWTH & INCOME FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS GROWTH PLUS ALLOCATION FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The Board noted the Fund’s recent inception, and that the comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class A) was in the 3rd quartile and 2nd quartile for the three- and six-month periods, respectively. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

H1-8


Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The Board noted that no management fees are paid by the Fund and that, as a result, the comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS HEALTH CARE FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 1st quartile for the five-year period, but was in the 3rd quartile for both the one-year and three-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

H1-9


Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that while the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS INTERMEDIATE TAX/AMT FREE FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that, while the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board noted that, although the management fee had recently been revised to eliminate breakpoints, the revised fee was set at the lowest fee under the previous breakpoint distribution. In this regard, the Board concluded that, at the present time and at current asset levels and management fee rates, fee breakpoints are not warranted. The Board continues to monitor the Fund’s management fees and asset levels to determine if any breakpoints are appropriate.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

H1-10


DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 1st quartile for the one-year period and was in the 3rd quartile for both the three-year and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS LARGE COMPANY GROWTH FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for the one-year period, the 3rd quartile for the three-year period, and the 4th quartile for the five-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that although the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

H1-11


DWS LATIN AMERICA EQUITY FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile for both the one- and five-year periods, but it was in the 4th quartile for the three-year period. The Board also noted the disappointing performance of the Fund in recent years and continued to discuss with senior management of DeIM the factors contributing to such underperformance and actions being taken to improve performance. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS MANAGED MUNICIPAL BOND FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

H1-12


DWS MASSACHUSETTS TAX-FREE FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for the five-year period and it was in the 3rd quartile for the both one-year and three-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that while the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 4th quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS MODERATE ALLOCATION FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that while the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile for the five-year period, the Fund’s performance was in the 2nd quartile for both the one- and three-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The Board noted that no management fees are paid by the Fund and that, as a result, the comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

H1-13


DWS PACIFIC OPPORTUNITIES EQUITY FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for the three-year period, but was in the 4th quartile for both the one-year and five-year periods. The Board also noted the disappointing performance of the Fund in recent years and continued to discuss with senior management of DeIM the factors contributing to such underperformance and actions being taken to improve performance. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS SHORT TERM BOND FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for both the one- and three-year periods. The Fund’s performance was in the 3rd quartile for the five-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that although the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 3rd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe, the Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

H1-14


DWS SMALL CAP CORE FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class AARP) was in the 2nd quartile for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

DWS SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

 

In approving the current investment management agreement, the Board also considered the following factors:

 

Fund Performance

 

The comparative Lipper information showed that the Fund’s performance (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile for the one- and five-year periods, but was in the 3rd quartile for the three-year period. Based on its review, the Board concluded that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.

 

Management Fees and Expense Ratios

 

The comparative Lipper information for the current investment management agreement showed that the Fund’s management fee (Class S) was in the 2nd quartile of the Fund’s expense universe. The Fund’s total expenses (Class S) were in the 1st quartile of the Fund’s expense universe.

 

The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of any Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Funds’ contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that each Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper expense universe.

 

Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services being provided to the Fund.

 

H1-15


EXHIBIT I

 

INFORMATION REGARDING THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

 

Fund


   Date of Current
Management
Agreement


   Date Current
Management
Agreement Last
Submitted to
Shareholder Vote


  

Purpose of Last
Submission of
Current
Management
Agreement to
Shareholder Vote


   Date of Last
Renewal of Current
Management
Agreement by Board
of Trustees


  

Action Taken by Board of
Directors/Trustees (Other
than Renewal) Since
Beginning of Fund’s Last
Fiscal Year


DWS Capital Growth Fund

   3/14/05    3/28/02    Change of control of investment advisor    9/30/05    Approved an amended agreement that incorporated a new fee schedule due to a merger

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

   4/5/02    4/4/02    Change of control of investment advisor    9/30/05    N/A

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

                        

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

   4/5/02    3/28/02    Change of control of investment advisor    9/30/05    N/A

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

   12/2/05    11/18/05    Amended to include a provision that the investment advisor can delegate some or all of its duties to a non-affiliated sub-advisor    9/30/05    N/A

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

   3/17/03    3/17/03    Amended to include a provision that the investment advisor can delegate some or all of its duties to a non-affiliated sub-advisor    9/30/05    N/A

DWS Equity Income Fund

   8/29/03    8/29/03    New fund launched    9/30/05    N/A

DWS Europe Equity Fund

   3/14/05    3/28/05    Change of control of investment advisor    9/30/05    Approved an amended agreement that incorporated a new fee schedule due to a merger

 

I-1


Fund


  Date of Current
Management
Agreement


  Date Current
Management
Agreement Last
Submitted to
Shareholder Vote


 

Purpose of Last
Submission of
Current
Management
Agreement to
Shareholder Vote


  Date of Last
Renewal of Current
Management
Agreement by Board
of Trustees


 

Action Taken by Board of
Directors/Trustees (Other than
Renewal) Since Beginning of
Fund’s Last Fiscal Year


DWS Global Bond Fund

  12/2/05   11/28/05   Amended to include a provision that the investment advisor can delegate some or all of its duties to a non-affiliated sub-advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Global Opportunities Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Global Thematic Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS GNMA Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Growth & Income Fund

                   

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

  4/5/02   4/4/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

  11/1/04   11/1/04   New fund launched   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Health Care Fund

                   

DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund

                   

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

                   

DWS International Fund

                   

DWS Large Company Growth Fund

                   

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

 

I-2


Fund


  Date of Current
Management
Agreement


  Date Current
Management
Agreement Last
Submitted to
Shareholder Vote


 

Purpose of Last
Submission of
Current
Management
Agreement to
Shareholder Vote


  Date of Last
Renewal of Current
Management
Agreement by Board
of Trustees


 

Action Taken by Board of
Directors/Trustees (Other than
Renewal) Since Beginning of
Fund’s Last Fiscal Year


DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

  4/5/02   4/4/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Short-Term Bond Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

  4/5/02   3/28/02   Change of control of investment advisor   9/30/05   N/A

 

I-3


Fund Name


   Net Assets

  

Rate of DeIM’s Investment
Management Fee


   Has DeIM
waived, reduced
or otherwise
agreed to reduce
its compensation
under any
applicable
contract?


Tax-Free Income Funds

              

DWS High Yield Tax Free Fund

        0.650% to $300 million     
          0.600% next $200 million     
          0.575% thereafter     

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

        0.400% of net assets     

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

        0.450% to $250 million     
          0.430% next $750 million     
          0.410% next $1.5 billion     
          0.400% next $2.5 billion     
          0.380% next $2.5 billion     
          0.360% next $2.5 billion     
          0.340% next $2.5 billion     
          0.320% thereafter     

DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

        0.600% to $400 million     
          0.525% next $600 million     
          0.500% thereafter     

DWS Short-Term Municipal Bond Fund

        0.40% of net assets     

Taxable Income Funds

              

DWS Core Fixed Income Fund

        0.400% of net assets     

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

        0.550% to $250 million     
          0.520% next $750 million     
          0.500% next $1.5 billion     
          0.480% next $2.5 billion     
          0.450% next $2.5 billion     
          0.430% next $2.5 billion     
          0.410% next $2.5 billion     
          0.400% thereafter     

DWS GNMA Fund

        0.400% to $5.0 billion     
          0.385% next $1.0 billion     
          0.370% thereafter     

DWS High Income Plus Fund

        0.500% to $1 billion     
          0.490% next $1.5 billion     
          0.480% next $2.5 billion     
          0.470% to $5 billion     
          0.460% thereafter     

 

J-1


Fund Name


   Net Assets

  

Rate of DeIM’s Investment
Management Fee


   Has DeIM
waived, reduced
or otherwise
agreed to reduce
its compensation
under any
applicable
contract?


DWS Inflation Protected Plus Fund

        0.400% on first $1.5 billion     
          0.375% on next $500 million     
          0.360% on next $1 billion     
          0.345% on next $1 billion     
          0.330% on next $1 billion     
          0.315% on next $1 billion     
          0.300% thereafter     

DWS Short Duration Fund

        0.400% of net assets     

DWS Short Duration Plus Fund

        0.700% of net assets     

DWS Short Term Bond Fund

        0.450% to $1.5 billion     
          0.425% next $500 million     
          0.400% next $1.0 billion     
          0.385% next $1.0 billion     
          0.370% next $1.0 billion     
          0.355% next $1.0 billion     
          0.340% thereafter     

Asset Allocation Funds

              

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

        0.00%     

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

        0.00%     

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

        0.00%     

DWS Lifecycle Long Range Fund

        0.650% of net assets     

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

        0.00%     

DWS Value Builder Fund

        1.00% to $50 million     
          0.85% next $50 million     
          0.80% next $100 million     
          0.70% thereafter     

Value Funds

              

DWS Commodity Securities Fund

        0.950% to $500 million     
          0.900% next $500 million     
          0.850% thereafter     

DWS Equity Income Fund

        0.750% to $250 million     
          0.720% next $750 million     
          0.700% next $1.5 billion     
          0.680% next $2.5 billion     
          0.650% next $2.5 billion     
          0.640% next $2.5 billion     
          0.630% next $2.5 billion     
          0.620% thereafter     

 

J-2


Fund Name


   Net Assets

  

Rate of DeIM’s Investment
Management Fee


   Has DeIM
waived, reduced
or otherwise
agreed to reduce
its compensation
under any
applicable
contract?


DWS Equity Partners Fund

        1.00% to $50 million     
          0.85% next $50 million     
          0.80% next $100 million     
          0.70% thereafter     

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

        1.000% to $500 million     
          0.950% thereafter     

DWS Growth & Income Fund

        0.450% to $250 million     
          0.445% next $750 million     
          0.440% next $1.5 billion     
          0.430% next $5 billion     
          0.420% next $5 billion     
          0.410% next $5 billion     
          0.385% thereafter     

DWS RREEF Real Estate Securities Fund

        0.650% to $100 million     
          0.550% next $100 million     
          0.500% next $100 million     
          0.450% thereafter     

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

        0.750% to $500 million     
          0.700% next $500 million     
          0.650% thereafter     

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

        0.750% to $500 million     
          0.700% thereafter     

Index-Related Funds

              

DWS EAFE Equity Index Fund

        0.250% of net assets     

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

        0.500% to $500 million     
          0.475% next $500 million     
          0.450% thereafter     

DWS Equity 500 Index Fund

        0.050% of net assets     

DWS S&P 500 Index Fund

        0.050% of net assets     

DWS U.S. Bond Index Fund

        0.150% of net assets     

Growth Funds

              

DWS Capital Growth Fund

        0.580% to $250 million     
          0.550% next $750 million     
          0.530% next $1.5 billion     
          0.510% next $2.5 billion     
          0.480% next $2.5 billion     

 

J-3


Fund Name


   Net Assets

  

Rate of DeIM’s Investment
Management Fee


   Has DeIM
waived, reduced
or otherwise
agreed to reduce
its compensation
under any
applicable
contract?


          0.460% next $2.5 billion     
          0.440% next $2.5 billion     
          0.420% thereafter     

DWS Communications Fund

        1.000% to $100 million     
          0.900% next $100 million     
          0.850% next $100 million     
          0.800% next $200 million     
          0.730% next $500 million     
          0.680% next $500 million     
          0.650% thereafter     

DWS Health Care Fund

        0.850% to $500 million     
          0.800% thereafter     

DWS Large Company Growth Fund

        0.700% to $1.5 billion     
          0.650% next $500 million     
          0.600% thereafter     

DWS Micro Cap Fund

        1.500% on net assets     

DWS Mid Cap Growth Fund

        0.650% to $500 million     
          0.600% next $1 billion     
          0.550% next $2.5 billion     
          0.540% next $2.5 billion     
          0.530% next $2.5 billion     
          0.520% next $2.5 billion     
          0.510% thereafter     

DWS Small Cap Growth Fund

        0.650% on net assets     

Global Growth Funds

              

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

        1.00% to $500 million     
          0.950% thereafter     

DWS Global Bond Fund

        0.750% to $250 million     
          0.720% next $750 million     
          0.700% next $1.5 billion     
          0.680% next $2.5 billion     
          0.650% next $2.5 billion     
          0.640% next $2.5 billion     
          0.630% next $2.5 billion     
          0.620% thereafter     

 

J-4


Fund Name


   Net Assets

  

Rate of DeIM’s Investment
Management Fee


   Has DeIM
waived, reduced
or otherwise
agreed to reduce
its compensation
under any
applicable
contract?


Global Income Funds

              

DWS Commodity Securities Fund

        0.950% to $500 million     

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

        1.250% to $500 million     
          1.200% thereafter     

DWS Europe Equity Fund

        0.750% to $250 million     
          0.720% next $750 million     
          0.700% next $1.5 billion     
          0.680% next $2.5 billion     
          0.650% next $2.5 billion     
          0.640% next $2.5 billion     
          0.630% next $2.5 billion     
          0.620% thereafter     

DWS Global Opportunities Fund

        1.100% of net assets     

DWS Global Thematic Fund

        1.000% to $500 million     
          0.950% next $500 million     
          0.900% next $500 million     
          0.850% next $500 million     
          0.800% thereafter     

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

        1.000% to $500 million     

DWS International Equity Fund

        0.650% of net assets     

DWS International Fund

        0.675% to $6.0 billion     
          0.625% next $1.0 billion     
          0.60% thereafter     

DWS International Select Equity Fund

        0.700% of net assets     

DWS Japan Equity Fund

        0.850% of net assets     

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

        1.250% to $400 million     
          1.150% thereafter     

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

        0.850% to $250 million     
          0.820% next $750 million     
          0.800% next $1.5 billion     
          0.780% next $2.5 billion     
          0.750% next $2.5 billion     
          0.740% next $2.5 billion     
          0.730% next $2.5 billion     
          0.720% thereafter     

 

J-5


EXHIBIT K

 

INFORMATION REGARDING EACH FUND’S RELATIONSHIP WITH

DEIM AND CERTAIN AFFILIATES

 

For purposes of the information below, “Affiliated Broker” means any broker:

 

  ·   That is an affiliated person of the Fund;

 

  ·   That is an affiliated person of such person; or

 

  ·   That is an affiliated person of which is an affiliated person of the Fund, DeIM, the Fund’s principal underwriter or the Fund’s administrator.

 

DWS Capital Growth Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

K-1


Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                    ]      [                    ]  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

 

K-2


DWS Equity Income Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                    ]      [                    ]  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Europe Equity Fund

 

Information regarding commissions paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 is set forth below.

 

Affiliated Broker    Relationship    Aggregate Amount of
Commissions
   Percentage of Aggregate
Brokerage Commissions
 

Deutsche Bank AG London

   Affiliate of DeIM    $ 3,104    0.1 %

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Global Bond Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

K-3


DWS Global Opportunities Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Global Thematic Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS GNMA Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

K-4


Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Growth & Income Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services      Amount of Fee  

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

[                    ]

   [                     ]    [                     ]

 

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services    Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

 

 

K-5


DWS Health Care Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services    Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

 

DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services    Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

 

DWS International Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

K-6


Name    Services    Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

 

DWS Large Company Growth Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services    Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]    [                    ]

 

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

K-7


DWS Massachusetts Tax Free Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

DWS Short Term Bond Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

K-8


Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

 

No commissions were paid to Affiliated Brokers for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005.

 

The following fees were paid by the Fund to DeIM and its affiliates during the fiscal year ended July 31, 2005 for services provided to the Fund (other than under an investment advisory contract or for brokerage commissions). These services will continue to be provided after the Investment Management Agreement is approved.

 

Name    Services   Amount of Fee

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

[                    ]

   [                    ]   [                    ]

 

K-9


EXHIBIT L

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

DATED

[                    ]

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

ARTICLE I NAME AND DEFINITIONS

   1

Section 1.1. Name

   1

Section 1.2. Definitions

   1

ARTICLE II TRUSTEES

   2

Section 2.1. General Powers

   2

Section 2.2. Certain Specific Powers.

   3

Section 2.3. Legal Title

   5

Section 2.4. Issuance and Repurchase of Shares

   5

Section 2.5. Delegation; Committees

   5

Section 2.6. Collection and Payment

   5

Section 2.7. Expenses

   5

Section 2.8. Manner of Acting

   6

Section 2.9. By-Laws

   6

Section 2.10. Principal Transactions

   6

Section 2.11. Number of Trustees

   6

Section 2.12. Election and Term

   6

Section 2.13. Resignation and Removal

   6

Section 2.14. Vacancies

   7

ARTICLE III CONTRACTS

   7

Section 3.1. Distribution Contract; Transfer Agent; Shareholder Servicing Agent; Custodian

   7

Section 3.2. Advisory or Management Contract; Administration

   7

Section 3.3. Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc

   8

Section 3.4. Further Authority of Trustees

   8

ARTICLE IV LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS,
TRUSTEES AND OTHERS

   8

Section 4.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc. Generally

   8

Section 4.2. Non-Liability of Trustees, Etc. to Trust or Shareholders

   9

Section 4.3. Mandatory Indemnification

   9


     Page

Section 4.4. No Bond Required of Trustees

   11

Section 4.5. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, Etc

   11

Section 4.6. Reliance on Experts, Etc

   11

Section 4.7. Derivative Actions

   11

ARTICLE V SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

   12

Section 5.1. Beneficial Interest

   12

Section 5.2. Rights of Shareholders

   12

Section 5.3. Trust Only

   12

Section 5.4. Issuance of Shares

   12

Section 5.5. Ownership of Shares; Small Accounts

   12

Section 5.6. Disclosure of Holdings

   13

Section 5.7. Notices; Reports

   13

Section 5.8. Voting Powers

   13

Section 5.9. Meetings of Shareholders; Action by Written Consent

   14

Section 5.10. Series

   14

Section 5.11. Classes

   15

Section 5.12. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes

   16

ARTICLE VI REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES

   16

Section 6.1. Redemption of Shares

   16

Section 6.2. Price

   16

Section 6.3. Payment

   16

Section 6.4. Redemption of Shareholder’s Interest

   16

Section 6.5. Reductions in Number of Outstanding Shares Pursuant to Net Asset Value Formula

   17

Section 6.6. Suspension of Right of Redemption

   17

ARTICLE VII DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS

   17

Section 7.1. Determination of Net Asset Value

   17

Section 7.2. Distributions to Shareholders

   17

Section 7.3. Constant Net Asset Value

   18

Section 7.4. Reserves

   18

Section 7.5. Determination by Trustees

   18

ARTICLE VIII DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.

   18

Section 8.1. Duration

   18

Section 8.2. Termination of Trust

   18

Section 8.3. Amendment Procedure

   19

Section 8.4. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

   20

Section 8.5. Incorporation

   20


     Page

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

   21

Section 9.1. Filing

   21

Section 9.2. Governing Law

   21

Section 9.3. Counterparts and Headings

   21

Section 9.4. Reliance by Third Parties

   21

Section 9.5. Provisions in Conflict with Law

   21


AMENDED AND RESTATED

DECLARATION OF TRUST

OF

[NAME OF TRUST]

 

DATED [                          ]

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of this [    ] day of [            ], 2006 by the Trustees hereunder.

 

WHEREAS, the [NAME OF TRUST] was established pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated [DATE OF ORIGINAL DECLARATION] (as amended to the date hereof, the “Original Declaration”) for the purposes of carrying on the business of a management investment company;

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees, pursuant to Section [    ], Article [    ] of the Original Declaration, may amend this Declaration with the vote or consent of the Shareholders as required by such Section;

 

WHEREAS, this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust has been amended in accordance with the provisions of the Original Declaration in effect as of the date hereof;

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees and any successor Trustees elected in accordance with Article II hereof are acquiring and may hereafter acquire assets and properties which they will hold and manage as trustees of a Massachusetts business trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets and properties, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder, IN TRUST, and that they will manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME AND DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1. Name. The name of the trust created hereby is the “NAME OF TRUST” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.

 

Section 1.2. Definitions. Wherever they are used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided, the following terms have the following respective meanings:

 

(a) “By-Laws” means the By-Laws referred to in Section 2.9 hereof, as from time to time amended.

 

(b) “Class” means the two or more Classes as may be established and designated from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section 5.12 hereof.

 

(c) The terms “Commission” and “Interested Person” shall have the same meanings given to such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

(d) “Declaration” means this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust as further amended from time to time. Reference in this Declaration of Trust to “Declaration,” “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration rather than exclusively to the article or section in which such words appear.

 

L-4


Page 2

 

(e) “His” shall include the feminine and neuter, as well as the masculine, genders.

 

(f) The “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (and any successor statute) as the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time, may apply to the Trust or any Series or Class thereof including pursuant to any exemptive or similar relief issued by the Commission or the Staff of the Commission under such Act. In construing the 1940 Act, the Trustees and officers of the Trust may, to the extent deemed appropriate, rely on interpretations of the 1940 Act issued by the Commission or the Staff thereof.

 

(g) “Outstanding Shares” means those Shares shown from time to time on the books of the Trust or its transfer agent as then issued and outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed or repurchased by the Trust.

 

(h) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.

 

(i) “Series” individually or collectively means the two or more Series as may be established and designated from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section 5.12 hereof.

 

(j) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Outstanding Shares.

 

(k) “Shares” means the units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, including the Shares of any and all Series and Classes which may be established and designated by the Trustees and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.

 

(l) The “Trust” refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time.

 

(m) The “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees.

 

(n) The “Trustees” means at any time the persons who have signed this Declaration, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all persons who may at that time be duly qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of Article II hereof and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons in this capacity or their capacities as Trustees hereunder.

 

ARTICLE II

 

TRUSTEES

 

Section 2.1. General Powers. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with full powers of delegation except as may otherwise be expressly prohibited by this Declaration. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations and maintain offices both within and without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to do all

 

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such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust. In construing the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Without limiting the foregoing the Trustees shall have power and authority to operate and carry on the business of an investment company and exercise all the powers as are necessary, convenient, appropriate, incidental or customary in connection therewith and may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by the trustees of a Massachusetts business trust. The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid general powers. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.

 

The Trustees may construe any of the provisions of this Declaration insofar as the same may appear to be ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions hereof, and any such construction hereof by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive as to the meaning to be given to such provisions.

 

Any determination made by or pursuant to the direction of the Trustees in good faith and consistent with the provisions of this Declaration shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Trust, every holder at any time of Shares and any other interested party.

 

Section 2.2. Certain Specific Powers.

 

(a) Investments.

 

The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by present or future laws, rules, regulations, or customs in regard to trust investments, but shall have full authority and power to make, invest and reinvest in, to buy or otherwise acquire, to hold, for investment or otherwise, to borrow, to sell or otherwise dispose of, to lend or to pledge, to trade in or deal in any and all investments in which they, in their absolute discretion, deem proper to accomplish the purpose of the Trust. In furtherance of, and in no way limiting, the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority:

 

(i) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

 

(ii) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in their or the Trust’s name or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees;

 

(iii) To exercise all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in all securities, repurchase agreements, futures contracts and options and other assets included in the Trust Property, including the right to vote thereon and otherwise act with respect thereto and to do all acts for the preservation, protection, improvement and enhancement in value of all such assets;

 

(iv) To acquire (by purchase, lease or otherwise) and to hold, use, maintain, develop and dispose of (by sale or otherwise) any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, including cash, and any interest therein;

 

(v) To borrow money for any purpose and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Trust Property; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation or engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust Property;

 

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(vi) To aid by further investment any corporation, company, trust, association or firm, any obligation of or interest in which is included in the Trust Property or in the affairs of which the Trustees have any direct or indirect interest; to do all acts and things designed to protect, preserve, improve or enhance the value of such obligation or interest, and to guarantee or become surety on any or all of the contracts, stocks, bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of any such corporation, company, trust, association or firm;

 

(vii) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security or property of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust; and

 

(viii) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper.

 

(b) Additional Powers.

 

The Trustees shall have the power:

 

(i) To employ or contract with, or make payments to, such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust;

 

(ii) To enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations;

 

(iii) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents or employees as they consider appropriate;

 

(iv) To purchase, and pay for out of Trust Property, (A) insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, distributors, administrators, selected dealers or independent contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability, (B) insurance for the protection of Trust Property or (C) such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable;

 

(v) To establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;

 

(vi) To the extent permitted by law, to indemnify any person with whom the Trust has dealings, including any investment adviser, distributor, administrator, custodian, transfer agent and selected dealers, to such extent as the Trustees shall determine;

 

(vii) To guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others;

 

(viii) To determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust and the method by which its accounts shall be kept;

 

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(ix) To adopt a seal for the Trust, but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust;

 

(x) To enter into a plan of distribution and any related agreements whereby the Trust may finance directly or indirectly any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares; and

 

(xi) To carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the powers enumerated in this Declaration, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power herein set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.

 

(c) The foregoing enumeration of the powers and authority of the Trustees shall be read as broadly and liberally as possible, it being the intent of the foregoing to in no way limit the Trustees’ powers and authority.

 

Section 2.3. Legal Title. Title to all of the assets of each Series of Shares and of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees. Such title shall automatically vest at the time a person becomes a Trustee and shall automatically unvest at the time a person ceases to be a Trustee, in each case without the execution or delivery of any conveyancing instrument.

 

Section 2.4. Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in Shares and in any options, warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or any other interests in the Trust other than Shares.

 

Section 2.5. Delegation; Committees. The Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to one or more of their number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, except to the extent such delegation is prohibited by the 1940 Act.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, the Trustees may by resolution appoint committees consisting of one or more, but less than the whole number of, Trustees then in office, which committees may be empowered to act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, as if the acts of such committees were the acts of all the Trustees then in office.

 

Section 2.6. Collection and Payment. The Trustees shall have power to collect all money or other property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property; to prosecute, defend, arbitrate, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property but shall have no liability for failing to do so; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any money or other property is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other instruments.

 

Section 2.7. Expenses. The Trustees shall have the power to incur and pay any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as Trustees and to reimburse themselves from the funds of the Trust for their expenses and disbursements. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers, employees and Trustees.

 

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Section 2.8. Manner of Acting. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the By-Laws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees (a quorum being present), including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone circuit or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, or by written consents of a majority of Trustees then in office. Except as set forth specifically in this Declaration, any action that may be taken by the Trustees may be taken by them without the vote or consent of Shareholders.

 

Section 2.9. By-Laws. The Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration to provide for the conduct of the business of the Trust and may amend or repeal such By-Laws to the extent such power is not reserved to the Shareholders.

 

Section 2.10. Principal Transactions. Except in transactions not permitted by the 1940 Act, the Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any investment adviser, distributor, administrator, custodian or transfer agent or with any Interested Person of such Person; and the Trust may employ any such Person, or firm or company in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent or custodian upon customary terms.

 

Section 2.11. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees then in office. No decrease in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term, but the number of Trustees may be decreased in conjunction with the removal of a Trustee pursuant to this Article II.

 

Section 2.12. Election and Term. Except in the event of resignation or removals pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof, each Trustee shall hold office until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Trustee or of a successor to such Trustee, and until his successor is elected and qualified. If at any time less than a majority of the Trustees holding office have been elected by Shareholders, the Trustees then in office will call a Shareholders’ meeting for the election of all of the Trustees. Except for the foregoing circumstances, the Trustees shall continue to hold office and any vacancy resulting from a newly created Trusteeship or the death, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of a Trustee may be filled by the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees then in office.

 

Section 2.13. Resignation and Removal. Any Trustee may resign (without the need for any prior or subsequent accounting, except as such accounting may be required by a majority of the remaining Trustees) by an instrument in writing signed by him and delivered or mailed to the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any Trustee who has attained a mandatory retirement age or term limit established pursuant to, or is otherwise required to retire in accordance with, any written policy adopted from time to time by the Trustees shall, automatically and without action of such Trustee or the remaining Trustees, be deemed to have retired in accordance with the terms of such policy, effective as of the date determined in accordance with such policy; and any Trustee who has become incapacitated by illness or injury as determined by a majority of the other Trustees, may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than one) by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by vote of Shareholders holding two thirds of the Outstanding Shares. The Trustees shall promptly call a meeting of the Shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of

 

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removal of any Trustee or Trustees when requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than ten percent of the Outstanding Shares, and in that connection, the Trustees will assist shareholder communications to the extent provided for in Section 16(c) under the 1940 Act. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement to which the Trust is a party or in a written policy adopted by the Trustees, no resigning or removed Trustee shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.

 

Section 2.14. Vacancies. The death, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity, of the Trustees, or any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein, or the number of Trustees as determined is reduced, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees, and during the period during which any such vacancy shall occur, only the Trustees then in office shall be counted for the purposes of the existence of a quorum or any action to be taken by such Trustees.

 

ARTICLE III

 

CONTRACTS

 

Section 3.1. Distribution Contract; Transfer Agent; Shareholder Servicing Agent; Custodian. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting, distribution or placement contract or contracts providing for the sale of the Shares, whereby the Trustees may either agree to sell the Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party as the Trust’s sales agent for the Shares, and in either case on such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Trustees may in their discretion determine; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase of the Shares by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more transfer agency and/or shareholder servicing contract(s), in each case with such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Trustees may in their discretion deem advisable. All securities and cash of the Trust or any Series thereof shall be held pursuant to a written contract or contracts with one or more custodians and subcustodians, each meeting the requirements for a custodian contained in the 1940 Act, or shall otherwise be held in accordance with the 1940 Act.

 

Section 3.2. Advisory or Management Contract; Administration. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an investment advisory or management contract or separate contracts with respect to one or more Series whereby the other party to such contract shall undertake to furnish to the Trust such management, investment advisory, statistical and research facilities and services, proxy voting services and such other facilities and services, including administrative services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation, as the Trustees may in their discretion determine, including the grant of authority to such other party to determine what securities shall be purchased or sold by the Trust or any Series and what portion of its assets shall be uninvested, which authority shall include the power to make changes in the investments of the Trust or any Series.

 

The Trustees may also employ, or authorize the investment adviser or a sub-adviser to employ, one or more sub-advisers from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the investment adviser or sub-adviser and upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as may be agreed upon between the investment

 

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adviser, the sub-adviser and/or such other sub-advisers and approved by the Trustees. Any reference in this Declaration to the investment adviser shall be deemed to include such sub-advisers unless the context otherwise requires.

 

The Trustees may, in their discretion from time to time enter into administration and/or, fund accounting contract(s), in each case with such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Trustees may in their discretion deem advisable.

 

Section 3.3. Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc. The fact that:

 

(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, member, trustee, employee, manager, adviser or distributor of or for any partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, association or other organization or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which a contract of the character described in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 above or for related services may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder of or has an interest in the Trust, or that

 

(ii) any partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, association or other organization with which a contract of the character described in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 above or for related services may have been or may hereafter be made also has any one or more of such contracts with one or more other partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests,

 

shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.

 

Section 3.4. Further Authority of Trustees. The authority of the Trustees hereunder to enter into contracts or other agreements or arrangements shall include the authority of the Trustees to modify, amend, waive any provision of, supplement, assign all or a portion of, or terminate such contracts, agreements or arrangements. The enumeration of any specific contracts in this Article III shall in no way be deemed to limit the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof to employ, contract with or make payments to such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES AND OTHERS

 

Section 4.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc. Generally. No Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. No Trustee, former Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than to the Trust or its Shareholders (as set forth in Section 4.2 below), in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust; and all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. The Trust shall indemnify and hold each Shareholder or former Shareholder harmless from and against all claims and liabilities to which such Shareholder may become subject solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder, and shall reimburse such Shareholder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with any such claim or liability. The indemnification

 

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and reimbursement required by the preceding sentence shall be made only out of the assets of the one or more Series of which the Shareholder who is entitled to indemnification or reimbursement was a Shareholder at the time the act or event occurred which gave rise to the claim against or liability of said Shareholder. The rights accruing to a Shareholder under this Section 4.1 shall not impair any other right to which such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the Trust to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein.

 

Section 4.2. Non-Liability of Trustees, Etc. to Trust or Shareholders. No Trustee, former Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any Shareholder for any action or failure to act except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties involved in the conduct of his office. Without limiting the foregoing, a Trustee shall not be responsible for or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, employee, investment adviser, subadviser, principal underwriter, custodian or other agent of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible or liable for the act or omission of any other Trustee, except in the case of such Trustee’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

 

Section 4.3. Mandatory Indemnification. (a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:

 

(i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (for purposes of this Section, “Trustee or officer” shall include persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer, and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;

 

(ii) the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

 

(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Trustee or officer:

 

(i) against any liability to the Trust or the Shareholders by reason of a final adjudication by a court or other body before which a proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;

 

(ii) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or

 

(iii) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii)) (whether by compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) resulting in a payment by a Trustee or officer, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee or officer acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust and is not liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office:

 

(A) by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition; or

 

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(B) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), by:

 

(x) a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or

 

(y) written opinion of legal counsel chosen by a majority of the Trustees and determined by them in their reasonable judgment to be independent.

 

(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided to any Trustee or officer shall be severable from those of any other Trustee or officer, shall not affect any other rights to which any Trustee or officer may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such Trustee or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators and assigns of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which any Trustee or officer or any other person may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

 

(d) Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification described in paragraph (a) of this Section 4.3 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.3, provided that either:

 

(i) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or

 

(ii) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

 

As used in this Section 4.3, a “Disinterested Trustee” is one who is not (i) an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), or (ii) involved in the claim, action, suit or proceeding.

 

In making any determination under this Section 4.3 as to whether a Trustee or officer engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Trustee or officer ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Disinterested Trustees or independent legal counsel making the determination shall afford the Trustee or officer a rebuttable presumption that the Trustee or officer has not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the Trustee’s or officer’s office and has acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that the Trustee’s or officer’s action was in the best interest of the Trust or Series and its Shareholders. Any determination pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall not prevent the recovery from any Trustee or officer of any amount paid to such Trustee or officer in accordance with this Section as indemnification if such Trustee or officer is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Trustee’s or officer’s action was in the best interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Trustee’s or officer’s office.

 

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Section 4.4. No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.

 

Section 4.5. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, Etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or any officer, or employee of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer or employee or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order. Every obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or undertaking, and every other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers or employees of the Trust. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular Series shall look only to the assets of the Trust or the assets of that particular Series for payment under such credit, contract or claim, and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Every written obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or officers shall recite that the same is executed or made by them not individually, but as Trustees or officers under the Declaration, and that the obligations of the Trust under any such instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or Shareholders individually, but bind only the Trust estate, and may contain any further recital which they or he may deem appropriate, but the omission of any such recital shall not operate to bind the Trustees, officers or Shareholders individually.

 

Section 4.6. Reliance on Experts, Etc. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and completely justified and protected from liability with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its officers or employees or by any investment adviser, distributor, transfer agent, custodian, administrator, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee. The appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as the chairperson of the Trustees, as a member or chairperson of a committee of the Trustees, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), or the lead independent Trustee, or any other special appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee, shall not impose on that person any standard of care or liability that is greater than that imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of the appointment, designation or identification, and no Trustee who has special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof. In addition, no appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as aforesaid shall effect in any way that Trustee’s rights or entitlement to indemnification.

 

Section 4.7. Derivative Actions. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action, proceeding or claim on behalf of the Trust without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary or Clerk of the Trust at the Trust’s principal office and shall set forth in reasonable detail the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust, as appropriate.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

Section 5.1. Beneficial Interest. The interest of the beneficiaries hereunder shall be divided into transferable Shares of beneficial interest, all of one class, except as provided in Section 5.10 and Section 5.11 hereof, with or without par value. The number of Shares of beneficial interest authorized hereunder is unlimited. All Shares issued hereunder including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split of Shares, shall be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Section 5.2. Rights of Shareholders. The ownership of the Trust Property and the property of each Series of the Trust of every description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay, provided however that any sales loads or charges, creation or redemption fees, account fees or any other fees or charges permitted to be charged to Shareholders under applicable law shall not be deemed to be an assessment for the purposes of this Declaration. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Declaration. The Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange rights, except as the Trustees may determine with respect to any Class of Shares in accordance with Section 5.11 hereof. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having become a shareholder, shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration and to have become a party hereto.

 

Section 5.3. Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only the relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

 

Section 5.4. Issuance of Shares. The Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time, issue Shares, in addition to the Outstanding Shares, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the assumption of, liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, to divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust, or to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable.

 

Section 5.5. Ownership of Shares; Small Accounts. (a) The ownership and transfer of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or its transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, transfer of Shares and similar

 

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matters. The record books of the Trust, as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent of the Trust, shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of Shares and as to the number of Shares held from time to time by each Shareholder.

 

(b) In the event any certificates representing Shares are at any time outstanding, the Trustees may at any time or from time to time discontinue the issuance of such certificates, and in connection therewith, upon written notice to any Shareholder holding certificates representing Outstanding Shares, cancel such certificates, provided that such cancellation shall not affect the ownership by such Shareholder of such Shares, and following such cancellation, ownership and transfer of such Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or its transfer or similar agent.

 

(c) The Trustees may establish, from time to time, one or more minimum investment amounts for Shareholder accounts, which may differ within and among any Series or Classes, and may impose account fees on (which may be satisfied by involuntarily redeeming the requisite number of Shares in any such account in the amount of such fee), and/or require the involuntary redemption of, those accounts the net asset value of which for any reason falls below such established minimum investment amounts, or may take any other such action with respect to minimum investment amounts as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustees, in each case upon such terms as shall be established by the Trustees.

 

Section 5.6. Disclosure of Holdings. The holders of Shares or others securities of the Trust shall upon demand disclose to the Trust in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Trust as the Trustees or officers deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to comply with the requirements of any other law or regulation, or as the Trustees may otherwise decide, and ownership of Shares may be disclosed by the Trust if so required by law or regulation or as the Trustees may otherwise decide.

 

Section 5.7. Notices; Reports. The Trustees may from time to time set forth in the By-Laws procedures for providing notices and other reports to Shareholders.

 

Section 5.8. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only (i) for the election of Trustees as provided in Section 2.12; (ii) for the removal of Trustees as provided in Section 2.13; (iii) with respect to termination of the Trust or a Series thereof to the extent and as provided in Section 8.2; (iv) with respect to any amendment of this Declaration to the extent and as provided in Section 8.3; (v) to the same extent as the stockholders of Massachusetts business corporation as to whether or not a court action, proceeding or claim should or should not be brought or maintained derivatively or as a class action on behalf of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof1 or the Shareholders [(vi) with respect to any investment advisory or management contract entered into pursuant to Section 3.2; (vii) with respect to any merger, consolidation or sale of assets as provided in Section 8.4; (viii) with respect to incorporation of the Trust, or any Series to the extent and as provided in Section 8.5; (ix) with respect to any plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (or any successor rule) under the 1940 Act;]2 and with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by this Declaration, the By-laws or any registration of the Trust as an investment company under the 1940 Act with the Commission (or any successor agency) or as the Trustees may consider necessary or desirable.

 


1   Italicized language applicable to Scudder Income Trust only.
2   Bracketed provisions applicable to Investment Trust, Scudder Funds Trust, Scudder Municipal Trust, Scudder Pathway Series, Scudder Portfolio Trust, Scudder Securities Trust, Scudder State Tax Free Trust, Scudder Tax Free Trust and Value Equity Trust only.

 

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Each whole Share outstanding on the record date established in accordance with the Declaration or By-Laws shall entitle the holder thereof one vote as to any matter on which such Shareholder is entitled to vote, and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law, this Declaration or the By-Laws to be taken by Shareholders.

 

On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to Series or Classes of Shares, except (1) when required by applicable law or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more Series or Classes of Shares materially differently, Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class; and (2) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects only the interests of one or more Series or Classes, only Shareholders of such Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon.

 

Section 5.9. Meetings of Shareholders; Action by Written Consent. Meetings of the Shareholders of the Trust or any one or more Series or Classes thereof may be called and held from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Shareholders as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable, and shall be called at the written request of the holder or holders of ten percent (10%) or more of the total number of the Outstanding Shares of the Trust entitled to vote at such meeting. Any such request shall state the purpose of the proposed meeting. Meetings of the Shareholders shall be held at such place within the United States as shall be fixed by the Trustees. The Trustees may set in the By-Laws provisions relating to the calling of meetings, quorum requirements, conduct of meetings, notice of meetings, adjournment of meetings and related matters.

 

(a) The Shareholders shall take action by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority, except in the case of the election of Trustees which shall only require a plurality, of the Shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote and voting or voted at a meeting of Shareholders at which a quorum is present, except as may be otherwise required by the 1940 Act or any provision of this Declaration or the By-Laws.

 

(b) Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Shareholders may be taken, at the sole discretion of the Trustees, without a meeting by written action signed by that number Shareholders holding not less than the minimum number of votes that would have been necessary to take the action at a meeting, assuming that all of the Shareholders entitled to vote on that action were present and voting at that meeting. The written action is effective when it has been signed by the requisite number of Shareholders and delivered to the Secretary or Clerk of the Trust, unless a different effective time is provided in the written action.

 

Section 5.10. Series. The Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the division of Shares into two or more Series, and the different Series shall be established and designated. All references to Shares in this Declaration shall be deemed to include references to Shares of any or all Series as the context may require.

 

(a) All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series of the Trust except as the context requires otherwise.

 

(b) The number of authorized Shares and the number of Shares of each Series that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees may classify or reclassify any issued or unissued Shares of any Series into one or more Series that may be established and designated from time to time or abolish any one or more Series in accordance with Section 8.2, and take such other action with respect to the Series as the Trustees may deem desirable.

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(c) All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be allocated and credited to that Series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of such Series and except as may otherwise be required by applicable laws, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Each Series shall be preferred over all other Series in respect of the assets allocated to that Series within the meaning of the 1940 Act and shall represent a separate investment portfolio of the Trust. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series, the Trustees shall allocate them among any one or more of the Series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable.

 

(d) The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust in respect of that Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series, and any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. The assets of a particular Series of the Trust shall, under no circumstances, be charged with liabilities attributable to any other Series of the Trust. All persons extending credit to, or contracting with or having any claim against, a particular Series of the Trust shall look only to the assets of that particular Series for payment of such credit, contract or claim. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have any claim on or right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series.

 

(e) Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent a beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a Series shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains made with respect to such Series as provided in Section 7.2. Upon redemption of his Shares or indemnification for liabilities incurred by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of a Series, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of such Series of the Trust. Upon liquidation or termination of a Series of the Trust, Shareholders of such Series shall be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the net assets of such Series as provided in Section 8.2. A Shareholder of a particular Series of the Trust shall not be entitled to participate in a derivative or class action on behalf of any other Series or the Shareholders of any other Series of the Trust.

 

Section 5.11. Classes. The Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the division of the Shares of the Trust, or, if any Series be established, the Shares of any Series, into two or more Classes, and the different Classes shall be established and designated, and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different Classes shall be fixed and determined, by the Trustees; provided, that all Shares of a Class shall be identical with each other and with the Shares of each other Class of the same Series except for such variations between Classes as may be authorized by the Trustees and not prohibited by the 1940 Act. The number of authorized Shares of each Class and the number of Shares of each Class that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees may in their discretion divide or combine the Shares of any Class into a greater or lesser number; classify or reclassify any issued or unissued Shares of any Class into one or more Classes; combine two or more Classes of a Series into a single Class of such Series; abolish any one or more Classes; and take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable. To the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any Classes, the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a Series to a particular Class of that Series or

 

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apportion the same among two or more Classes of that Series. All references to Shares in this Declaration shall be deemed to include references to Shares of any or all Classes as the context may require.

 

Section 5.12. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. The establishment and designation of any Series or Class of Shares shall be made either by the vote of a majority of the Trustees or upon the execution by a majority of the Trustees of an instrument, in each case setting forth such establishment and designation, the effective date of such establishment and designation and in the case of a Class the relative rights and preferences of such Class, which may make reference to one or more documents or instruments outside this Declaration and outside the resolutions, as the same may be in effect from time to time. Any such instrument executed by a majority of the Trustees, or, with respect to an establishment and designation made by vote of the Trustees, an instrument setting forth such resolutions and certified by either the Secretary/Clerk or an Assistant Secretary/Clerk of the Trust (in each case, a “Designation”), shall further be filed in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.1 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Series or Class of the Trust established and designated prior to the date hereof in accordance with the terms of the Original Declaration (a “Prior Designation”), and set forth on the Restated Designation attached as Appendix A hereto, shall be deemed for all intents and purposes to have been established and designated in accordance with this Section 5.12. The Restated Designation attached hereto as Appendix A shall supercede any terms set forth in a Prior Designation. Additions or modifications to a Designation, other than termination of an existing Series or Class, shall be deemed to be an amendment to this Declaration subject to Section 8.3 hereof.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Section 6.1. Redemption of Shares. All Shares of the Trust shall be redeemable, at the redemption price determined in the manner set out in this Declaration. The Trust shall redeem the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof at the price determined as hereinafter set forth, at such office or agency as may be designated from time to time for that purpose by the Trustees and in accordance with such conditions as the Trustees may from time to time determine, not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, regarding the redemption of Shares.

 

Section 6.2. Price. Any Shares redeemed shall be redeemed at their net asset value, less such fees and/or charges, if any, as may be established by the Trustees from time to time.

 

Section 6.3. Payment. Payment for such Shares shall be made in cash or in property, or any combination thereof, out of the assets of the Trust or relevant Series of the Trust. The composition of any such payment (e.g., cash, securities or other assets) shall be determined by the Trust in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class). In no event shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any other person in transferring securities or other property selected for delivery as all or part of any such payment.

 

Section 6.4. Redemption of Shareholder’s Interest. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, the Trustees, in their sole discretion, may cause the Trust to redeem all of the Shares of the Trust or one or more Series or Classes held by any Shareholder for any reason under terms set by the Trustees, including, but not limited to:

 

(i) the value of such Shares held by such Shareholder being less than the minimum amount established from time to time by the Trustees,

 

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(ii) the determination by the Trustees that direct or indirect ownership of Shares by any Person has become concentrated in such Shareholder to any extent that would disqualify that Series as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,

 

(iii) the failure of a Shareholder to supply a tax identification or other identification or if the Trust is unable to verify a Shareholder’s identity,

 

(iv) the failure of a Shareholder to pay when due the purchase price for the Shares issued to such Shareholder,

 

(v) when required for the payment of account fees or other charges, expenses and/or fees as set by the Trustees, including without limitation any small account fees permitted by Section 5.5(c) hereof,

 

(vi) failure of a Shareholder to meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular Series or Class of Shares,

 

(vii) the determination by the Trustees or pursuant to policies adopted by the Trustees that ownership of Shares by a particular Shareholder is not in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or applicable Series or Class,

 

(viii) failure of a holder of Shares or other securities of the Trust to comply with a demand pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof, or

 

(ix) when the Trust is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or applicable law.

 

Section 6.5. Reductions in Number of Outstanding Shares Pursuant to Net Asset Value Formula. The Trust may also redeem a portion of the Shares held by each Shareholder to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.3.

 

Section 6.6. Suspension of Right of Redemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may postpone payment of the redemption price and may suspend the right of Shareholders to require the Trust to redeem Shares to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 7.1. Determination of Net Asset Value. The Trustees may in their sole discretion from time to time prescribe the time or times for determining the per Share net asset value of the Shares of the Trust or any Series thereof, and may prescribe or approve the procedures and methods for determining the value of the assets of the Trust or Series thereof, and the procedures and methods for determining the net asset value of a Share of the Trust, or a Series or a Class thereof. The Trust may suspend the determination of net asset value during any period when it may suspend the right of the Shareholders to require the Trust to redeem Shares.

 

Section 7.2. Distributions to Shareholders. The Trustees may in their sole discretion from time to time declare and pay, or may prescribe and set forth in a duly adopted vote or votes of the Trustees, the bases and time for the declaration and payment by duly authorized officers of the Trust of, such dividends and distributions to Shareholders of any Series or Class thereof, in cash or in property, including any Shares or other securities of the

 

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Trust as they may deem necessary or desirable, after providing for actual and accrued expenses and liabilities (including such reserves as the Trustees may establish) determined in accordance with good accounting practices. If such dividends or other distributions or any portion thereof are to be paid in cash, such cash may be reinvested in full and fractional Shares of the Trust as the Trustees shall direct or as the Trustees may permit a Shareholder to direct. Any such distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Series shall be made to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Series held by each of them, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any Classes of Shares of that Series, and any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Class held by each of them; provided, however, that the composition of any such distribution (e.g., cash, securities or other assets) shall be determined by the Trust in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class). Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof.

 

Section 7.3. Constant Net Asset Value. With respect to any Series that holds itself out as a money market or stable value fund, the Trustees shall have the power to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares of the Series by reducing the number of Shares in the account of each Shareholder on a pro rata basis, or to take such other measures as are not prohibited by the 1940 Act, so as to maintain the net asset value per share of such Series at a constant dollar amount.

 

Section 7.4. Reserves. The Trustees may in their sole discretion set apart, from time to time, out of any funds of the Trust or Series or Class thereof a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose, and may abolish any such reserve.

 

Section 7.5. Determination by Trustees. The Trustees may make any determinations they deem necessary with respect to this Article VII, including, but not limited to, the following matters: the amount of the assets, obligations, liabilities and expenses of the Trust; the amount of the net income of the Trust from dividends, capital gains, interest or other sources for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends or distributions; which items are capital; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges were created shall have been paid or discharged); the market value, or any other price to be applied in determining the market value, or the fair value, of any security or other asset owned or held by the Trust; the number of Shares of the Trust issued or issuable; the net asset value per Share; and any of the foregoing matters as it may pertain to any Series or Class.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.

 

Section 8.1. Duration. The Trust shall continue without limitation of time but subject to the provisions of this Article VIII.

 

Section 8.2. Termination of Trust. (a) The Trust or any Series of the Trust may be terminated at any time by the Trustees by notice to the Shareholders of the Trust or such Series as the case may be, or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote of the Trust or such Series. Upon the termination of the Trust or any Series,

 

(i) the Trust or any Series shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs;

 

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(ii) the Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust or Series and all of the rights and powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the Trust or Series shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or Series, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or property of the Series to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business;

 

(iii) after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities which may include the establishment of a liquidating trust or similar vehicle, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property or property of the Series, in cash or in kind or partly each, to the Shareholders of the Trust or the Series involved, ratably according to the number of Shares of the Trust or such Series held by the several Shareholders of the Trust or such Series on the date of termination, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any Classes of Shares of a Series involved, provided that any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Class held by each of them. The composition of any such distribution (e.g., cash, securities or other assets) shall be determined by the Trust in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class).

 

(b) After termination of the Trust or any Series and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust (or Series) an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination, and the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders of the Trust or Series shall thereupon cease.

 

The foregoing provisions shall also apply mutatis mutandis to the termination of any Class.

 

Section 8.3. (a) This Declaration may be amended by a vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote. Amendments shall be effective upon the taking of action as provided in this section or at such later time as shall be specified in the applicable vote or instrument. The Trustees may also amend this Declaration without the vote or consent of Shareholders if they deem it necessary to conform this Declaration to the requirements of applicable federal or state laws or regulations or the requirements of the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (including those provisions of such Code relating to the retention of the exemption from federal income tax with respect to dividends paid by the Trust out of interest income received on Municipal Bonds), but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing so to do. The Trustees may also amend this Declaration without the vote or consent of Shareholders if they deem it necessary or desirable to change the name of the Trust or to make any other changes in the Declaration which do not materially adversely affect the rights of Shareholders hereunder.

 

(b) No amendment may be made under this Section 8.3 which would change any rights with respect to any Shares of the Trust or Series by reducing the amount payable thereon upon liquidation of the Trust or Series or by diminishing or eliminating any voting rights pertaining thereto, except with the vote or consent of the holders of two-thirds of the Shares of the Trust or Series outstanding and entitled to vote. Nothing contained in this Declaration shall permit the amendment of this Declaration to impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust or to permit assessments upon Shareholders.

 

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3   Italicized language applicable to Scudder Income Trust only.
4   Bracketed provisions applicable to Investment Trust, Scudder Funds Trust, Scudder Municipal Trust, Scudder Pathway Series, Scudder Portfolio Trust, Scudder Securities Trust, Scudder State Tax Free Trust, Scudder Tax Free Trust and Value Equity Trust.
5   Bracketed provisions applicable to Investment Trust, Scudder Funds Trust, Scudder Municipal Trust, Scudder Pathway Series, Scudder Portfolio Trust, Scudder Securities Trust, Scudder State Tax Free Trust, Scudder Tax Free Trust and Value Equity Trust.

 

Section 8.4. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Trustees may authorize the Trust or any Series or Class thereof to merge, reorganize or consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or series thereof (including another Series or Class of the Trust) or other entity (in each case, the “Surviving Entity”) or the Trustees may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust Property (or all or substantially all of the Trust Property allocated or belonging to a particular Series or Class) including its good will to any Surviving Entity, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration as authorized by the Trustees. Such transactions may be effected through share-for-share exchanges, transfers or sales of assets, in-kind redemptions and purchases, exchange offers, or any other method approved by the Trustees. The Trustees shall provide notice to affected Shareholders of each transaction pursuant to this Section 8.4. The authority of the Trustees under this Section 8.4 with respect to the merger, reorganization or consolidation of any Class of the Trust is in addition to the authority of the Trustees under Section 5.11 hereof to combine two or more Classes of a Series into a single Class.3 [The Trust or any Series thereof may merge or consolidate with any other corporation, association, trust or other organization or may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust Property or the property of any Series, including its good will, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration when and as authorized at any meeting of Shareholders of the Trust or Series called for the purpose by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares of the Trust or Series.]4

 

Section 8.5. [Incorporation. With the approval of the holders of a majority of the Shares of the Trust or any Series outstanding and entitled to vote, the Trustees may cause to be organized or assist in organizing a corporation or corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction or any other trust, partnership, association or other organization to take over all of the Trust Property or the property of any Series or to carry on any business in which the Trust or the Series shall directly or indirectly have any interest, and to sell, convey and transfer the Trust Property or the property of any Series to any such corporation, trust, association or organization in exchange for the Shares or securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe for the Shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or organization, or any corporation, partnership, trust, association or organization in which the Trust or the Series holds or is about to acquire shares or any other interest. The Trustees may also cause a merger or consolidation between the Trust or any Series or any successor thereto and any such corporation, trust, partnership, association or other organization if and to the extent permitted by law, as provided under the law then in effect. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring approval of Shareholders for the Trustees to organize or assist in organizing one or more corporations, trusts, partnerships, associations or other organizations and selling, conveying or transferring a portion of the Trust Property to such organization or entities.]5

 

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ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1. Filing. This Declaration, any amendment thereto, and any Designation executed in accordance with Section 5.12 hereof shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in such other places as may be required under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and may also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate, provided, however, that the failure to so file will not invalidate this instrument or any properly authorized amendment hereto or Designation. Unless the amendment or Designation is embodied in an instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees, each amendment or Designation filed shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and acknowledged by a Trustee or authorized officer stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein. A restated Declaration, integrating into a single instrument all of the provisions of the Declaration which are then in effect and operative, may be executed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and may hereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments thereto. The restated Declaration may include any amendment which the Trustees are empowered to adopt, whether or not such amendment has been adopted prior to the execution of the restated Declaration. The foregoing provisions for restating the Declaration and including an amendment in the restated Declaration shall also apply, mutatis mutandis, to the restatement of Designations.

 

Section 9.2. Governing Law. The principal place of business of the Trust in Massachusetts is [PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF THE TRUST]. The Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders, change the principal place of business of the Trust. The Trust set forth in this instrument shall be deemed made in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth as a voluntary association with transferable shares (commonly known as a business trust) of the type referred to in Chapter 182 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (or any successor law), and the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the internal laws of said Commonwealth without regard to the choice of law rules thereof.

 

Section 9.3. Counterparts and Headings. This Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part thereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument.

 

Section 9.4. Reliance by Third Parties. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate executed by an individual who, according to the records of the Trust, appears to be a Trustee or officer of the Trust, certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the due authorization of the execution of any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (d) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (e) the form of any By-Laws adopted, or the identity of any officers elected, by the Trustees, or (f) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust.

 

Section 9.5. Provisions in Conflict with Law. All provisions of this Declaration shall be construed, to the extent reasonably possible, in a manner consistent with applicable law. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any

 

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provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of the date first written above.

 

           
           
          

 

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APPENDIX A

 

[NAME OF TRUST]

RESTATED DESIGNATION OF SERIES AND CLASSES OF

SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust, acting pursuant to the Trust’s declaration of trust as then in effect, have previously established and designated one or more series of shares of beneficial interest in the Trust (each, a “Series”) pursuant to one or more designations of series (the “Prior Series Designations”) and have previously established and designated one or more classes of Shares (each, a “Class”) for some or all of the Series pursuant to one or more designations of classes (the “Prior Class Designations,” such Prior Series Designations and Prior Class Designations referred to herein collectively as the “Prior Designations”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the adoption of an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of [                    ] (the “Declaration”), as set forth in Section 5.12 of the Declaration, the previously established and designated Series and Classes are to be included on a restated designation.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the Trustees of the Trust, effective [                    ] hereby restate the Trust’s Prior Designations, the terms of this restated designation to supercede any terms set forth in the Prior Designations.

 

1. The following series of Shares and Classes thereof are established and designated, the Shares of such Series and Classes to be subject to the terms of, and entitled to all the rights and preferences accorded to Shares of a Series, and, if applicable, a Class under, the Declaration and this restated designation:

 

[Name of Series]


 

[Name of Class]


   

                [Name of Class]

                [Name of Class]

                [Name of Class]

[Name of Series]


 

[Name of Class]


   

                [Name of Class]

                [Name of Class]

                [Name of Class]

 

2. For Shares of a Class of a Series, the relative rights and preferences of such Class shall be as determined by the Trustees of the Trust from time to time in accordance with the Declaration and set forth in the Trust’s Multi-Distribution System Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as such Plan may be amended from time to time, or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Shares of a Class of a Series shall have such other terms, features and qualifications as may be determined by the Trustees of the Trust from time to time in accordance with the Declaration and set forth in the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Series relating to such Class, contained in the Trust’s registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such prospectus or statement of additional information may be further supplemented from time to time.

 

3. The designation of the Series and Classes hereby shall not impair the power of the Trustees from time to time to designate additional Series and Classes of Shares of the Trust.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, have executed this instrument as of this          day of [                                                 ].

 


     

        as Trustee

                          as Trustee

     

        as Trustee

                          as Trustee

     

        as Trustee

                          as Trustee

     

        as Trustee

                          as Trustee

 

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EXHIBIT M

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

DECLARATION OF TRUST

 

DATED

 

[                    ]

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

ARTICLE I NAME AND DEFINITIONS

   1

Section 1.1. Name

   1

Section 1.2. Definitions

   1

ARTICLE II TRUSTEES

   2

Section 2.1. General Powers

   2

Section 2.2. Certain Specific Powers.

   3

Section 2.3. Legal Title

   5

Section 2.4. Issuance and Repurchase of Shares

   5

Section 2.5. Delegation; Committees

   5

Section 2.6. Collection and Payment

   5

Section 2.7. Expenses

   5

Section 2.8. Manner of Acting

   5

Section 2.9. By-Laws

   6

Section 2.10. Principal Transactions

   6

Section 2.11. Number of Trustees

   6

Section 2.12. Election and Term

   6

Section 2.13. Resignation and Removal

   6

Section 2.14. Vacancies

   7

ARTICLE III CONTRACTS

   7

Section 3.1. Distribution Contract; Transfer Agent; Shareholder Servicing Agent; Custodian

   7

Section 3.2. Advisory or Management Contract; Administration

   7

Section 3.3. Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc

   8

Section 3.4. Further Authority of Trustees

   8

ARTICLE IV LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES AND OTHERS

   8

Section 4.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc. Generally

   8

Section 4.2. Non-Liability of Trustees, Etc. to Trust or Shareholders

   9

Section 4.3. Mandatory Indemnification

   9


     Page

Section 4.4. No Bond Required of Trustees

   10

Section 4.5. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, Etc

   10

Section 4.6. Reliance on Experts, Etc

   11

Section 4.7. Derivative Actions

   11

ARTICLE V SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

   11

Section 5.1. Beneficial Interest

   11

Section 5.2. Rights of Shareholders

   12

Section 5.3. Trust Only

   12

Section 5.4. Issuance of Shares

   12

Section 5.5. Ownership of Shares; Small Accounts

   12

Section 5.6. Disclosure of Holdings

   13

Section 5.7. Notices; Reports

   13

Section 5.8. Voting Powers

   13

Section 5.9. Meetings of Shareholders; Action by Written Consent

   13

Section 5.10. Series

   14

Section 5.11. Classes

   15

Section 5.12. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes

   15

ARTICLE VI REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES

   16

Section 6.1. Redemption of Shares

   16

Section 6.2. Price

   16

Section 6.3. Payment

   16

Section 6.4. Redemption of Shareholder’s Interest

   16

Section 6.5. Reductions in Number of Outstanding Shares Pursuant to Net Asset Value Formula

   17

Section 6.6. Suspension of Right of Redemption

   17

ARTICLE VII DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS

   17

Section 7.1. Determination of Net Asset Value

   17

Section 7.2. Distributions to Shareholders

   17

Section 7.3. Constant Net Asset Value

   17

Section 7.4. Reserves

   18

Section 7.5. Determination by Trustees

   18


     Page

ARTICLE VIII DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.

   18

Section 8.1. Duration

   18

Section 8.2. Termination of Trust

   18

Section 8.3. Amendment Procedure

   19

Section 8.4. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

   19

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

   20

Section 9.1. Filing

   20

Section 9.2. Governing Law

   20

Section 9.3. Counterparts and Headings

   20

Section 9.4. Reliance by Third Parties

   20

Section 9.5. Provisions in Conflict with Law

   21


AMENDED AND RESTATED

DECLARATION OF TRUST

OF

[NAME OF TRUST]

 

DATED [                            ]

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST is made as of this [        ] day of [            ], 2006 by the Trustees hereunder.

 

WHEREAS, the [NAME OF TRUST] was established pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated [DATE OF ORIGINAL DECLARATION] (as amended to the date hereof, the “Original Declaration”) for the purposes of carrying on the business of a management investment company;

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees, pursuant to Section [            ], Article [            ] of the Original Declaration, may amend this Declaration with the vote or consent of the Shareholders as required by such Section;

 

WHEREAS, this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust has been amended in accordance with the provisions of the Original Declaration in effect as of the date hereof;

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees and any successor Trustees elected in accordance with Article II hereof are acquiring and may hereafter acquire assets and properties which they will hold and manage as trustees of a Massachusetts business trust in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth;

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees declare that they will hold all cash, securities and other assets and properties, which they may from time to time acquire in any manner as Trustees hereunder, IN TRUST, and that they will manage and dispose of the same upon the following terms and conditions for the benefit of the holders from time to time of shares of beneficial interest in this Trust as hereinafter set forth.

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME AND DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1. Name. The name of the trust created hereby is the “NAME OF TRUST” and the Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other name as they may from time to time determine.

 

Section 1.2. Definitions. Wherever they are used herein, unless otherwise required by the context or specifically provided, the following terms have the following respective meanings:

 

(a) “By-Laws” means the By-Laws referred to in Section 2.9 hereof, as from time to time amended.

 

(b) “Class” means the two or more Classes as may be established and designated from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section 5.12 hereof.

 

(c) The terms “Commission” and “Interested Person” shall have the same meanings given to such terms in the 1940 Act. The term “vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities” shall have the same meaning given to it in the 1940 Act.

 

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(d) “Declaration” means this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust as further amended from time to time. Reference in this Declaration of Trust to “Declaration,” “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to this Declaration rather than exclusively to the article or section in which such words appear.

 

(e) “His” shall include the feminine and neuter, as well as the masculine, genders.

 

(f) The “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (and any successor statute) as the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time, may apply to the Trust or any Series or Class thereof including pursuant to any exemptive or similar relief issued by the Commission or the Staff of the Commission under such Act. In construing the 1940 Act, the Trustees and officers of the Trust may, to the extent deemed appropriate, rely on interpretations of the 1940 Act issued by the Commission or the Staff thereof.

 

(g) “Outstanding Shares” means those Shares shown from time to time on the books of the Trust or its transfer agent as then issued and outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed or repurchased by the Trust.

 

(h) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.

 

(i) “Series” individually or collectively means the two or more Series as may be established and designated from time to time by the Trustees pursuant to Section 5.12 hereof.

 

(j) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Outstanding Shares.

 

(k) “Shares” means the units of interest into which the beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time, including the Shares of any and all Series and Classes which may be established and designated by the Trustees and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.

 

(l) The “Trust” refers to the Massachusetts business trust established by this Declaration of Trust, as amended from time to time.

 

(m) The “Trust Property” means any and all property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the Trust or the Trustees.

 

(n) The “Trustees” means at any time the persons who have signed this Declaration, so long as they shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all persons who may at that time be duly qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions of Article II hereof and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such person or persons in this capacity or their capacities as Trustees hereunder.

 

ARTICLE II

 

TRUSTEES

 

Section 2.1. General Powers. The Trustees shall have exclusive and absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to the same extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and business in their own right, but with full powers of delegation except as may otherwise be expressly prohibited by this Declaration. The Trustees shall have power to conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations and maintain offices both within and without the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to do all

 

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such other things and execute all such instruments as they deem necessary, proper or desirable in order to promote the interests of the Trust. In construing the provisions of this Declaration, the presumption shall be in favor of a grant of power to the Trustees. Without limiting the foregoing the Trustees shall have power and authority to operate and carry on the business of an investment company and exercise all the powers as are necessary, convenient, appropriate, incidental or customary in connection therewith and may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by the trustees of a Massachusetts business trust. The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid general powers. Such powers of the Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court.

 

The Trustees may construe any of the provisions of this Declaration insofar as the same may appear to be ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions hereof, and any such construction hereof by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive as to the meaning to be given to such provisions.

 

Any determination made by or pursuant to the direction of the Trustees in good faith and consistent with the provisions of this Declaration shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Trust, every holder at any time of Shares and any other interested party.

 

Section 2.2. Certain Specific Powers.

 

(a) Investments.

 

The Trustees shall not in any way be bound or limited by present or future laws, rules, regulations, or customs in regard to trust investments, but shall have full authority and power to make, invest and reinvest in, to buy or otherwise acquire, to hold, for investment or otherwise, to borrow, to sell or otherwise dispose of, to lend or to pledge, to trade in or deal in any and all investments in which they, in their absolute discretion, deem proper to accomplish the purpose of the Trust. In furtherance of, and in no way limiting, the foregoing, the Trustees shall have power and authority:

 

(i) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

 

(ii) To hold any security or property in a form not indicating any trust, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form; or either in their or the Trust’s name or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees;

 

(iii) To exercise all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in all securities, repurchase agreements, futures contracts and options and other assets included in the Trust Property, including the right to vote thereon and otherwise act with respect thereto and to do all acts for the preservation, protection, improvement and enhancement in value of all such assets;

 

(iv) To acquire (by purchase, lease or otherwise) and to hold, use, maintain, develop and dispose of (by sale or otherwise) any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, including cash, and any interest therein;

 

(v) To borrow money for any purpose and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the Trust Property; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation or engagement of any other Person and to lend Trust Property;

 

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(vi) To aid by further investment any corporation, company, trust, association or firm, any obligation of or interest in which is included in the Trust Property or in the affairs of which the Trustees have any direct or indirect interest; to do all acts and things designed to protect, preserve, improve or enhance the value of such obligation or interest, and to guarantee or become surety on any or all of the contracts, stocks, bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of any such corporation, company, trust, association or firm;

 

(vii) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security or property of which is held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust; and

 

(viii) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall deem proper.

 

(b) Additional Powers.

 

The Trustees shall have the power:

 

(i) To employ or contract with, or make payments to, such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust;

 

(ii) To enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations;

 

(iii) To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such agents or employees as they consider appropriate;

 

(iv) To purchase, and pay for out of Trust Property, (A) insurance policies insuring the Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, distributors, administrators, selected dealers or independent contractors of the Trust against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether or not the Trust would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability, (B) insurance for the protection of Trust Property or (C) such other insurance as the Trustees in their sole judgment shall deem advisable;

 

(v) To establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement, incentive and benefit plans, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any Trustees, officers, employees and agents of the Trust;

 

(vi) To the extent permitted by law, to indemnify any person with whom the Trust has dealings, including any investment adviser, distributor, administrator, custodian, transfer agent and selected dealers, to such extent as the Trustees shall determine;

 

(vii) To guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others;

 

(viii) To determine and change the fiscal year of the Trust and the method by which its accounts shall be kept;

 

(ix) To adopt a seal for the Trust, but the absence of such seal shall not impair the validity of any instrument executed on behalf of the Trust;

 

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(x) To enter into a plan of distribution and any related agreements whereby the Trust may finance directly or indirectly any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares; and

 

(xi) To carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the powers enumerated in this Declaration, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power herein set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business or purposes, objects or powers.

 

(c) The foregoing enumeration of the powers and authority of the Trustees shall be read as broadly and liberally as possible, it being the intent of the foregoing to in no way limit the Trustees’ powers and authority.

 

Section 2.3. Legal Title. Title to all of the assets of each Series of Shares and of the Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trustees. Such title shall automatically vest at the time a person becomes a Trustee and shall automatically unvest at the time a person ceases to be a Trustee, in each case without the execution or delivery of any conveyancing instrument.

 

Section 2.4. Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the power to issue, sell, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire, hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, transfer, and otherwise deal in Shares and in any options, warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or any other interests in the Trust other than Shares.

 

Section 2.5. Delegation; Committees. The Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to one or more of their number or to officers, employees or agents of the Trust the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, except to the extent such delegation is prohibited by the 1940 Act.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding any provisions herein to the contrary, the Trustees may by resolution appoint committees consisting of one or more, but less than the whole number of, Trustees then in office, which committees may be empowered to act for and bind the Trustees and the Trust, as if the acts of such committees were the acts of all the Trustees then in office.

 

Section 2.6. Collection and Payment. The Trustees shall have power to collect all money or other property due to the Trust; to pay all claims, including taxes, against the Trust Property; to prosecute, defend, arbitrate, compromise or abandon any claims relating to the Trust Property but shall have no liability for failing to do so; to foreclose any security interest securing any obligations, by virtue of which any money or other property is owed to the Trust; and to enter into releases, agreements and other instruments.

 

Section 2.7. Expenses. The Trustees shall have the power to incur and pay any expenses which in the opinion of the Trustees are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of this Declaration, to pay reasonable compensation from the funds of the Trust to themselves as Trustees and to reimburse themselves from the funds of the Trust for their expenses and disbursements. The Trustees shall fix the compensation of all officers, employees and Trustees.

 

Section 2.8. Manner of Acting. Except as otherwise provided herein or in the By-Laws, any action to be taken by the Trustees may be taken by a majority of the Trustees present at a meeting of Trustees (a quorum being present), including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone circuit or similar communications

 

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equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, or by written consents of a majority of Trustees then in office. Except as set forth specifically in this Declaration, any action that may be taken by the Trustees may be taken by them without the vote or consent of Shareholders.

 

Section 2.9. By-Laws. The Trustees may adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Declaration to provide for the conduct of the business of the Trust and may amend or repeal such By-Laws to the extent such power is not reserved to the Shareholders.

 

Section 2.10. Principal Transactions. Except in transactions not permitted by the 1940 Act, the Trustees may, on behalf of the Trust, buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Trust to, any Trustee or officer of the Trust or any firm of which any such Trustee or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealings with any investment adviser, distributor, administrator, custodian or transfer agent or with any Interested Person of such Person; and the Trust may employ any such Person, or firm or company in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent or custodian upon customary terms.

 

Section 2.11. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be determined from time to time by the Trustees then in office. No decrease in the number of Trustees shall have the effect of removing any Trustee from office prior to the expiration of his term, but the number of Trustees may be decreased in conjunction with the removal of a Trustee pursuant to this Article II.

 

Section 2.12. Election and Term. Except as provided in Section 2.13 below, each Trustee shall hold office until the next meeting of Shareholders called for the purpose of considering the election or re-election of such Trustee or of a successor to such Trustee, and until his successor is elected and qualified. Any vacancy resulting from a newly created Trusteeship or the death, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of a Trustee may be filled by the affirmative vote or consent of a majority of the Trustees then in office, except as prohibited by the 1940 Act.

 

Section 2.13. Resignation and Removal. Any Trustee may resign (without the need for any prior or subsequent accounting, except as such accounting may be required by a majority of the remaining Trustees) by an instrument in writing signed by him and delivered or mailed to the Chairman, if any, the President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be effective upon such delivery, or at a later date according to the terms of the instrument. Any Trustee who has attained a mandatory retirement age or term limit established pursuant to, or is otherwise required to retire in accordance with, any written policy adopted from time to time by the Trustees shall, automatically and without action of such Trustee or the remaining Trustees, be deemed to have retired in accordance with the terms of such policy, effective as of the date determined in accordance with such policy; and any Trustee who has become incapacitated by illness or injury as determined by a majority of the other Trustees, may be retired by written instrument signed by a majority of the other Trustees. Any of the Trustees may be removed (provided the aggregate number of Trustees after such removal shall not be less than one) by the action of two-thirds of the remaining Trustees or by vote of Shareholders holding two thirds of the Outstanding Shares. The Trustees shall promptly call a meeting of the Shareholders for the purpose of voting upon the question of removal of any Trustee or Trustees when requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than ten percent of the Outstanding Shares, and in that connection, the Trustees will assist shareholder communications to the extent provided for in Section 16(c) under the 1940 Act. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement to which the Trust is a party or in a written policy adopted by the Trustees, no resigning or removed Trustee shall have any right to any compensation for any period following his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal.

 

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Section 2.14. Vacancies. The death, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity, of the Trustees, or any of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled as provided herein, or the number of Trustees as determined is reduced, the Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees, and during the period during which any such vacancy shall occur, only the Trustees then in office shall be counted for the purposes of the existence of a quorum or any action to be taken by such Trustees.

 

ARTICLE III

 

CONTRACTS

 

Section 3.1. Distribution Contract; Transfer Agent; Shareholder Servicing Agent; Custodian. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting, distribution or placement contract or contracts providing for the sale of the Shares, whereby the Trustees may either agree to sell the Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party as the Trust’s sales agent for the Shares, and in either case on such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Trustees may in their discretion determine; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase of the Shares by such other party as principal or as agent of the Trust. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into one or more transfer agency and/or shareholder servicing contract(s), in each case with such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Trustees may in their discretion deem advisable. All securities and cash of the Trust or any Series thereof shall be held pursuant to a written contract or contracts with one or more custodians and subcustodians, each meeting the requirements for a custodian contained in the 1940 Act, or shall otherwise be held in accordance with the 1940 Act.

 

Section 3.2. Advisory or Management Contract; Administration. The Trustees may in their discretion from time to time enter into an investment advisory or management contract or separate contracts with respect to one or more Series whereby the other party to such contract shall undertake to furnish to the Trust such management, investment advisory, statistical and research facilities and services, proxy voting services and such other facilities and services, including administrative services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation, as the Trustees may in their discretion determine, including the grant of authority to such other party to determine what securities shall be purchased or sold by the Trust or any Series and what portion of its assets shall be uninvested, which authority shall include the power to make changes in the investments of the Trust or any Series.

 

The Trustees may also employ, or authorize the investment adviser or a sub-adviser to employ, one or more sub-advisers from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the investment adviser or sub-adviser and upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as may be agreed upon between the investment adviser, the sub-adviser and/or such other sub-advisers and approved by the Trustees. Any reference in this Declaration to the investment adviser shall be deemed to include such sub-advisers unless the context otherwise requires.

 

The Trustees may, in their discretion from time to time enter into administration and/or, fund accounting contract(s), in each case with such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Trustees may in their discretion deem advisable.

 

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Section 3.3. Affiliations of Trustees or Officers, Etc. The fact that:

 

(i) any of the Shareholders, Trustees or officers of the Trust is a shareholder, director, officer, partner, member, trustee, employee, manager, adviser or distributor of or for any partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, association or other organization or of or for any parent or affiliate of any organization, with which a contract of the character described in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 above or for related services may have been or may hereafter be made, or that any such organization, or any parent or affiliate thereof, is a Shareholder of or has an interest in the Trust, or that

 

(ii) any partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, association or other organization with which a contract of the character described in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 above or for related services may have been or may hereafter be made also has any one or more of such contracts with one or more other partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, trusts, associations or other organizations, or has other business or interests,

 

shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the same or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its Shareholders.

 

Section 3.4. Further Authority of Trustees. The authority of the Trustees hereunder to enter into contracts or other agreements or arrangements shall include the authority of the Trustees to modify, amend, waive any provision of, supplement, assign all or a portion of, or terminate such contracts, agreements or arrangements. The enumeration of any specific contracts in this Article III shall in no way be deemed to limit the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof to employ, contract with or make payments to such Persons as the Trustees may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Trust.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY OF SHAREHOLDERS, TRUSTEES AND OTHERS

 

Section 4.1. No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Trustees, Etc. Generally. No Shareholder or former Shareholder shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust. No Trustee, former Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than to the Trust or its Shareholders (as set forth in Section 4.2 below), in connection with Trust Property or the acts, obligations or affairs of the Trust; and all such Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. The Trust shall indemnify and hold each Shareholder or former Shareholder harmless from and against all claims and liabilities to which such Shareholder may become subject solely by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder, and shall reimburse such Shareholder for all legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with any such claim or liability. The indemnification and reimbursement required by the preceding sentence shall be made only out of the assets of the one or more Series of which the Shareholder who is entitled to indemnification or reimbursement was a Shareholder at the time the act or event occurred which gave rise to the claim against or liability of said Shareholder. The rights accruing to a Shareholder under this Section 4.1 shall not impair any other right to which such Shareholder may be lawfully entitled, nor shall anything herein contained restrict the right of the Trust to indemnify or reimburse a Shareholder in any appropriate situation even though not specifically provided herein.

 

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Section 4.2. Non-Liability of Trustees, Etc. to Trust or Shareholders. No Trustee, former Trustee, officer or employee of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust or to any Shareholder for any action or failure to act except for his or her own bad faith, willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties involved in the conduct of his office. Without limiting the foregoing, a Trustee shall not be responsible for or liable in any event for any neglect or wrongdoing of any officer, employee, investment adviser, subadviser, principal underwriter, custodian or other agent of the Trust, nor shall any Trustee be responsible or liable for the act or omission of any other Trustee, except in the case of such Trustee’s own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

 

Section 4.3. Mandatory Indemnification. (a) Subject to the exceptions and limitations contained in paragraph (b) below:

 

(i) every person who is, or has been, a Trustee or officer of the Trust (for purposes of this Section, “Trustee or officer” shall include persons who serve at the Trust’s request as directors, officers or trustees of another organization in which the Trust has any interest as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise), shall be indemnified by the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against all liability and against all expenses reasonably incurred or paid by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding in which he becomes involved as a party or otherwise by virtue of his being or having been a Trustee or officer, and against amounts paid or incurred by him in the settlement thereof;

 

(ii) the words “claim,” “action,” “suit” or “proceeding” shall apply to all claims, actions, suits or proceedings (civil, criminal, administrative or other, including appeals), actual or threatened; and the words “liability” and “expenses” shall include without limitation, attorneys’ fees, costs, judgments, amounts paid in settlement, fines, penalties and other liabilities.

 

(b) No indemnification shall be provided hereunder to a Trustee or officer:

 

(i) against any liability to the Trust or the Shareholders by reason of a final adjudication by a court or other body before which a proceeding was brought that he engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office;

 

(ii) with respect to any matter as to which he shall have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interest of the Trust; or

 

(iii) in the event of a settlement or other disposition not involving a final adjudication (as provided in paragraph (b)(i) or (b)(ii)) (whether by compromise payment, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise) resulting in a payment by a Trustee or officer, unless there has been a determination that such Trustee or officer acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his action was in the best interests of the Trust and is not liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office:

 

(A) by the court or other body approving the settlement or other disposition; or

 

(B) a reasonable determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), by:

 

(x) a vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or

 

(y) written opinion of legal counsel chosen by a majority of the Trustees and determined by them in their reasonable judgment to be independent.

 

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(c) The rights of indemnification herein provided to any Trustee or officer shall be severable from those of any other Trustee or officer, shall not affect any other rights to which any Trustee or officer may now or hereafter be entitled, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be such Trustee or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators and assigns of such a person. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which any Trustee or officer or any other person may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law.

 

(d) Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim, action, suit or proceeding subject to a claim for indemnification described in paragraph (a) of this Section 4.3 shall be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 4.3, provided that either:

 

(i) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out of any such advances; or

 

(ii) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees act on the matter) or independent legal counsel in a written opinion shall determine, based upon a review of the readily available facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to believe that the recipient ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification.

 

As used in this Section 4.3, a “Disinterested Trustee” is one who is not (i) an Interested Person of the Trust (including anyone who has been exempted from being an Interested Person by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), or (ii) involved in the claim, action, suit or proceeding.

 

In making any determination under this Section 4.3 as to whether a Trustee or officer engaged in conduct for which indemnification is not provided as described herein, or as to whether there is reason to believe that a Trustee or officer ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Disinterested Trustees or independent legal counsel making the determination shall afford the Trustee or officer a rebuttable presumption that the Trustee or officer has not engaged in willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the Trustee’s or officer’s office and has acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that the Trustee’s or officer’s action was in the best interest of the Trust or Series and its Shareholders. Any determination pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall not prevent the recovery from any Trustee or officer of any amount paid to such Trustee or officer in accordance with this Section as indemnification if such Trustee or officer is subsequently adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such Trustee’s or officer’s action was in the best interests of the Trust or to have been liable to the Trust or its Shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such Trustee’s or officer’s office.

 

Section 4.4. No Bond Required of Trustees. No Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or other security for the performance of any of his duties hereunder.

 

Section 4.5. No Duty of Investigation; Notice in Trust Instruments, Etc. No purchaser, lender, transfer agent or other Person dealing with the Trustees or any officer, or employee of the Trust shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of any transaction purporting to be made by the Trustees or by said officer or employee or to see to the application of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order. Every obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or undertaking, and every

 

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other act or thing whatsoever executed in connection with the Trust shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed or done by the executors thereof only in their capacity as Trustees under this Declaration or in their capacity as officers or employees of the Trust. All persons extending credit to, contracting with or having any claim against the Trust or a particular Series shall look only to the assets of the Trust or the assets of that particular Series for payment under such credit, contract or claim, and neither the Shareholders nor the Trustees, nor any of the Trust’s officers, employees or agents, whether past, present or future, shall be personally liable therefor. Every written obligation, contract, instrument, certificate, Share, other security of the Trust or undertaking made or issued by the Trustees or officers shall recite that the same is executed or made by them not individually, but as Trustees or officers under the Declaration, and that the obligations of the Trust under any such instrument are not binding upon any of the Trustees, officers or Shareholders individually, but bind only the Trust estate, and may contain any further recital which they or he may deem appropriate, but the omission of any such recital shall not operate to bind the Trustees, officers or Shareholders individually.

 

Section 4.6. Reliance on Experts, Etc. Each Trustee and officer or employee of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully and completely justified and protected from liability with regard to any act or any failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel, or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its officers or employees or by any investment adviser, distributor, transfer agent, custodian, administrator, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers or employees of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee. The appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as the chairperson of the Trustees, as a member or chairperson of a committee of the Trustees, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), or the lead independent Trustee, or any other special appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee, shall not impose on that person any standard of care or liability that is greater than that imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of the appointment, designation or identification, and no Trustee who has special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof. In addition, no appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as aforesaid shall effect in any way that Trustee’s rights or entitlement to indemnification.

 

Section 4.7. Derivative Actions. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or maintain any court action, proceeding or claim on behalf of the Trust without first making demand on the Trustees requesting the Trustees to bring or maintain such action, proceeding or claim. Such demand shall be mailed to the Secretary or Clerk of the Trust at the Trust’s principal office and shall set forth in reasonable detail the nature of the proposed court action, proceeding or claim and the essential facts relied upon by the Shareholder to support the allegations made in the demand. In their sole discretion, the Trustees may submit the matter to a vote of Shareholders of the Trust, as appropriate.

 

ARTICLE V

 

SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

Section 5.1. Beneficial Interest. The interest of the beneficiaries hereunder shall be divided into transferable Shares of beneficial interest, all of one class, except as provided in Section 5.10 and Section 5.11 hereof, with or without par value. The number of Shares of beneficial interest authorized hereunder is unlimited. All Shares issued hereunder including, without limitation, Shares issued in connection with a dividend in Shares or a split of Shares, shall be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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Section 5.2. Rights of Shareholders. The ownership of the Trust Property and the property of each Series of the Trust of every description and the right to conduct any business hereinbefore described are vested exclusively in the Trustees, and the Shareholders shall have no interest therein other than the beneficial interest conferred by their Shares, and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of any property, profits, rights or interests of the Trust. Neither the Trust nor the Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power to bind personally any Shareholder, nor to call upon any Shareholder for the payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the Shareholder may at any time personally agree to pay, provided however that any sales loads or charges, creation or redemption fees, account fees or any other fees or charges permitted to be charged to Shareholders under applicable law shall not be deemed to be an assessment for the purposes of this Declaration. The Shares shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth in this Declaration. The Shares shall not entitle the holder to preference, preemptive, appraisal, conversion or exchange rights, except as the Trustees may determine with respect to any Class of Shares in accordance with Section 5.11 hereof. Every Shareholder, by virtue of having become a shareholder, shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of this Declaration and to have become a party hereto.

 

Section 5.3. Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to create only the relationship of Trustee and beneficiary between the Trustees and each Shareholder from time to time. It is not the intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, joint stock association, corporation, bailment or any form of legal relationship other than a trust. Nothing in this Declaration of Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.

 

Section 5.4. Issuance of Shares. The Trustees in their discretion may, from time to time, issue Shares, in addition to the Outstanding Shares, to such party or parties and for such amount and type of consideration, including cash or property, at such time or times and on such terms as the Trustees may deem appropriate, and may in such manner acquire other assets (including the acquisition of assets subject to, and in connection with the assumption of, liabilities) and businesses. In connection with any issuance of Shares, the Trustees may issue fractional Shares. The Trustees shall have full power and authority, in their sole discretion, to divide or combine the Shares into a greater or lesser number without thereby changing the proportionate beneficial interests in the Trust, or to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable.

 

Section 5.5. Ownership of Shares; Small Accounts. (a) The ownership and transfer of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or its transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, transfer of Shares and similar matters. The record books of the Trust, as kept by the Trust or any transfer or similar agent of the Trust, shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of Shares and as to the number of Shares held from time to time by each Shareholder.

 

(b) In the event any certificates representing Shares are at any time outstanding, the Trustees may at any time or from time to time discontinue the issuance of such certificates, and in connection therewith, upon written notice to any Shareholder holding certificates representing Outstanding Shares, cancel such certificates, provided that such cancellation shall not affect the ownership by such Shareholder of such Shares, and following such cancellation, ownership and transfer of such Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Trust or its transfer or similar agent.

 

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(c) The Trustees may establish, from time to time, one or more minimum investment amounts for Shareholder accounts, which may differ within and among any Series or Classes, and may impose account fees on (which may be satisfied by involuntarily redeeming the requisite number of Shares in any such account in the amount of such fee), and/or require the involuntary redemption of, those accounts the net asset value of which for any reason falls below such established minimum investment amounts, or may take any other such action with respect to minimum investment amounts as may be deemed appropriate by the Trustees, in each case upon such terms as shall be established by the Trustees.

 

Section 5.6. Disclosure of Holdings. The holders of Shares or others securities of the Trust shall upon demand disclose to the Trust in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Trust as the Trustees or officers deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to comply with the requirements of any other law or regulation, or as the Trustees may otherwise decide, and ownership of Shares may be disclosed by the Trust if so required by law or regulation or as the Trustees may otherwise decide.

 

Section 5.7. Notices; Reports. The Trustees may from time to time set forth in the By-Laws procedures for providing notices and other reports to Shareholders.

 

Section 5.8. Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have power to vote only: (a) for the election or removal of Trustees to the extent and as provided in Article II; (b) with respect to the termination of the Trust or a Series thereof to the extent and as provided in Section 8.2; (c) with respect to an amendment of this Declaration to the extent and as provided in Section 8.3; (d) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may be required by law; and (e) with respect to such additional matters as the Trustees may determine to be necessary or desirable.

 

Each whole Share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote as to any matter on which such it is entitled to vote, and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of Trustees. Until Shares are issued, the Trustees may exercise all rights of Shareholders and may take any action required by law, this Declaration or the By-Laws to be taken by Shareholders.

 

On any matter submitted to a vote of Shareholders, all Shares of the Trust then entitled to vote shall, except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws, be voted in the aggregate as a single class without regard to Series or Classes of Shares, except (1) when required by applicable law or when the Trustees shall have determined that the matter affects one or more Series or Classes of Shares materially differently, Shares shall be voted by individual Series or Class; and (2) when the Trustees have determined that the matter affects only the interests of one or more Series or Classes, only Shareholders of such Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote thereon.

 

Section 5.9. Meetings of Shareholders; Action by Written Consent. Meetings of the Shareholders of the Trust or any one or more Series or Classes thereof may be called and held from time to time for the purpose of taking action upon any matter requiring the vote or authority of the Shareholders as herein provided or upon any other matter deemed by the Trustees to be necessary or desirable. Meetings of the Shareholders shall be held at such place within the United States as shall be fixed by the Trustees. The Trustees may set in the By-Laws provisions relating to the calling of meetings, quorum requirements, conduct of meetings, notice of meetings, adjournment of meetings and related matters.

 

(a) The Shareholders shall take action by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority, except in the case of the election of Trustees which shall only require a plurality, of the Shares present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote and voting or voted at a meeting of Shareholders at which a quorum is present, except as may be otherwise required by the 1940 Act or any provision of this Declaration or the By-Laws.

 

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(b) Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Shareholders may be taken, at the sole discretion of the Trustees, without a meeting by written action signed by that number Shareholders holding not less than the minimum number of votes that would have been necessary to take the action at a meeting, assuming that all of the Shareholders entitled to vote on that action were present and voting at that meeting. The written action is effective when it has been signed by the requisite number of Shareholders and delivered to the Secretary or Clerk of the Trust, unless a different effective time is provided in the written action.

 

Section 5.10. Series. The Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the division of Shares into two or more Series, and the different Series shall be established and designated. All references to Shares in this Declaration shall be deemed to include references to Shares of any or all Series as the context may require.

 

(a) All provisions herein relating to the Trust shall apply equally to each Series of the Trust except as the context requires otherwise.

 

(b) The number of authorized Shares and the number of Shares of each Series that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees may classify or reclassify any issued or unissued Shares of any Series into one or more Series that may be established and designated from time to time or abolish any one or more Series in accordance with Section 8.2, and take such other action with respect to the Series as the Trustees may deem desirable.

 

(c) All consideration received by the Trust for the issue or sale of Shares of a particular Series, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be allocated and credited to that Series for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of such Series and except as may otherwise be required by applicable laws, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Trust. Each Series shall be preferred over all other Series in respect of the assets allocated to that Series within the meaning of the 1940 Act and shall represent a separate investment portfolio of the Trust. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series, the Trustees shall allocate them among any one or more of the Series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as they, in their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable.

 

(d) The assets belonging to each particular Series shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust in respect of that Series and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves attributable to that Series, and any general liabilities, expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Trust which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees to and among any one or more of the Series established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. The assets of a particular Series of the Trust shall, under no circumstances, be charged with liabilities attributable to any other Series of the Trust. All persons extending credit to, or contracting with or having any claim against, a particular Series of the Trust shall look only to the assets of that particular Series for payment of such credit, contract or claim. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series shall have any claim on or right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series.

 

(e) Each Share of a Series of the Trust shall represent a beneficial interest in the net assets of such Series. Each holder of Shares of a Series shall be entitled to receive his pro rata share of distributions of income and capital gains made with respect to such Series as provided in Section 7.2. Upon redemption of his Shares or

 

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indemnification for liabilities incurred by reason of his being or having been a Shareholder of a Series, such Shareholder shall be paid solely out of the funds and property of such Series of the Trust. Upon liquidation or termination of a Series of the Trust, Shareholders of such Series shall be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the net assets of such Series as provided in Section 8.2. A Shareholder of a particular Series of the Trust shall not be entitled to participate in a derivative or class action on behalf of any other Series or the Shareholders of any other Series of the Trust.

 

Section 5.11. Classes. The Trustees, in their discretion, may authorize the division of the Shares of the Trust, or, if any Series be established, the Shares of any Series, into two or more Classes, and the different Classes shall be established and designated, and the variations in the relative rights and preferences as between the different Classes shall be fixed and determined, by the Trustees; provided, that all Shares of a Class shall be identical with each other and with the Shares of each other Class of the same Series except for such variations between Classes as may be authorized by the Trustees and not prohibited by the 1940 Act. The number of authorized Shares of each Class and the number of Shares of each Class that may be issued shall be unlimited. The Trustees may in their discretion divide or combine the Shares of any Class into a greater or lesser number; classify or reclassify any issued or unissued Shares of any Class into one or more Classes; combine two or more Classes of a Series into a single Class of such Series; abolish any one or more Classes; and take such other action with respect to the Shares as the Trustees may deem desirable. To the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any Classes, the Trustees may, in their sole discretion, allocate assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a Series to a particular Class of that Series or apportion the same among two or more Classes of that Series. All references to Shares in this Declaration shall be deemed to include references to Shares of any or all Classes as the context may require.

 

Section 5.12. Establishment and Designation of Series and Classes. The establishment and designation of any Series or Class of Shares shall be made either by the vote of a majority of the Trustees or upon the execution by a majority of the Trustees of an instrument, in each case setting forth such establishment and designation, the effective date of such establishment and designation and in the case of a Class the relative rights and preferences of such Class, which may make reference to one or more documents or instruments outside this Declaration and outside the resolutions, as the same may be in effect from time to time. Any such instrument executed by a majority of the Trustees, or, with respect to an establishment and designation made by vote of the Trustees, an instrument setting forth such resolutions and certified by either the Secretary/Clerk or an Assistant Secretary/Clerk of the Trust (in each case, a “Designation”), shall further be filed in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.1 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Series or Class of the Trust established and designated prior to the date hereof in accordance with the terms of the Original Declaration (a “Prior Designation”), and set forth on the Restated Designation attached as Appendix A hereto, shall be deemed for all intents and purposes to have been established and designated in accordance with this Section 5.12. The Restated Designation attached hereto as Appendix A shall supercede any terms set forth in a Prior Designation. Additions or modifications to a Designation, other than termination of an existing Series or Class, shall be deemed to be an amendment to this Declaration subject to Section 8.3 hereof.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE OF SHARES

 

Section 6.1. Redemption of Shares. All Shares of the Trust shall be redeemable, at the redemption price determined in the manner set out in this Declaration. The Trust shall redeem the Shares of the Trust or any Series or Class thereof at the price determined as hereinafter set forth, at such office or agency as may be designated from time to time for that purpose by the Trustees and in accordance with such conditions as the Trustees may from time to time determine, not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, regarding the redemption of Shares.

 

Section 6.2. Price. Any Shares redeemed shall be redeemed at their net asset value, less such fees and/or charges, if any, as may be established by the Trustees from time to time.

 

Section 6.3. Payment. Payment for such Shares shall be made in cash or in property, or any combination thereof, out of the assets of the Trust or relevant Series of the Trust. The composition of any such payment (e.g., cash, securities or other assets) shall be determined by the Trust in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class). In no event shall the Trust be liable for any delay of any other person in transferring securities or other property selected for delivery as all or part of any such payment.

 

Section 6.4. Redemption of Shareholder’s Interest. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, the Trustees, in their sole discretion, may cause the Trust to redeem all of the Shares of the Trust or one or more Series or Classes held by any Shareholder for any reason under terms set by the Trustees, including, but not limited to:

 

(i) the value of such Shares held by such Shareholder being less than the minimum amount established from time to time by the Trustees,

 

(ii) the determination by the Trustees that direct or indirect ownership of Shares by any Person has become concentrated in such Shareholder to any extent that would disqualify that Series as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,

 

(iii) the failure of a Shareholder to supply a tax identification or other identification or if the Trust is unable to verify a Shareholder’s identity,

 

(iv) the failure of a Shareholder to pay when due the purchase price for the Shares issued to such Shareholder,

 

(v) when required for the payment of account fees or other charges, expenses and/or fees as set by the Trustees, including without limitation any small account fees permitted by Section 5.5(c) hereof,

 

(vi) failure of a Shareholder to meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular Series or Class of Shares,

 

(vii) the determination by the Trustees or pursuant to policies adopted by the Trustees that ownership of Shares by a particular Shareholder is not in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Trust or applicable Series or Class,

 

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(viii) failure of a holder of Shares or other securities of the Trust to comply with a demand pursuant to Section 5.6 hereof, or

 

(ix) when the Trust is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or applicable law.

 

Section 6.5. Reductions in Number of Outstanding Shares Pursuant to Net Asset Value Formula. The Trust may also redeem a portion of the Shares held by each Shareholder to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.3.

 

Section 6.6. Suspension of Right of Redemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust may postpone payment of the redemption price and may suspend the right of Shareholders to require the Trust to redeem Shares to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE, NET INCOME AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 7.1. Determination of Net Asset Value. The Trustees may in their sole discretion from time to time prescribe the time or times for determining the per Share net asset value of the Shares of the Trust or any Series thereof, and may prescribe or approve the procedures and methods for determining the value of the assets of the Trust or Series thereof, and the procedures and methods for determining the net asset value of a Share of the Trust, or a Series or a Class thereof. The Trust may suspend the determination of net asset value during any period when it may suspend the right of the Shareholders to require the Trust to redeem Shares.

 

Section 7.2. Distributions to Shareholders. The Trustees may in their sole discretion from time to time declare and pay, or may prescribe and set forth in a duly adopted vote or votes of the Trustees, the bases and time for the declaration and payment by duly authorized officers of the Trust of, such dividends and distributions to Shareholders of any Series or Class thereof, in cash or in property, including any Shares or other securities of the Trust as they may deem necessary or desirable, after providing for actual and accrued expenses and liabilities (including such reserves as the Trustees may establish) determined in accordance with good accounting practices. If such dividends or other distributions or any portion thereof are to be paid in cash, such cash may be reinvested in full and fractional Shares of the Trust as the Trustees shall direct or as the Trustees may permit a Shareholder to direct. Any such distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Series shall be made to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Series held by each of them, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any Classes of Shares of that Series, and any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Class held by each of them; provided, however, that the composition of any such distribution (e.g., cash, securities or other assets) shall be determined by the Trust in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class). Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof.

 

Section 7.3. Constant Net Asset Value. With respect to any Series that holds itself out as a money market or stable value fund, the Trustees shall have the power to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares of the Series by reducing the number of Shares in the account of each Shareholder on a pro rata basis, or to take such other measures as are not prohibited by the 1940 Act, so as to maintain the net asset value per share of such Series at a constant dollar amount.

 

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Section 7.4. Reserves. The Trustees may in their sole discretion set apart, from time to time, out of any funds of the Trust or Series or Class thereof a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose, and may abolish any such reserve.

 

Section 7.5. Determination by Trustees. The Trustees may make any determinations they deem necessary with respect to this Article VII, including, but not limited to, the following matters: the amount of the assets, obligations, liabilities and expenses of the Trust; the amount of the net income of the Trust from dividends, capital gains, interest or other sources for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends or distributions; which items are capital; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges were created shall have been paid or discharged); the market value, or any other price to be applied in determining the market value, or the fair value, of any security or other asset owned or held by the Trust; the number of Shares of the Trust issued or issuable; the net asset value per Share; and any of the foregoing matters as it may pertain to any Series or Class.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

DURATION; TERMINATION OF TRUST; AMENDMENT; MERGERS, ETC.

 

Section 8.1. Duration. The Trust shall continue without limitation of time but subject to the provisions of this Article VIII.

 

Section 8.2. Termination of Trust. (a) The Trust or any Series of the Trust may be terminated at any time by the Trustees by notice to the Shareholders of the Trust or such Series as the case may be, or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote of the Trust or such Series. Upon the termination of the Trust or any Series,

 

(i) the Trust or any Series shall carry on no business except for the purpose of winding up its affairs;

 

(ii) the Trustees shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Trust or Series and all of the rights and powers of the Trustees under this Declaration shall continue until the affairs of the Trust or Series shall have been wound up, including the power to fulfill or discharge the contracts of the Trust or Series, collect its assets, sell, convey, assign, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the remaining Trust Property or property of the Series to one or more persons at public or private sale for consideration which may consist in whole or in part of cash, securities or other property of any kind, discharge or pay its liabilities, and do all other acts appropriate to liquidate its business;

 

(iii) after paying or adequately providing for the payment of all liabilities which may include the establishment of a liquidating trust or similar vehicle, and upon receipt of such releases, indemnities and refunding agreements as they deem necessary for their protection, the Trustees may distribute the remaining Trust Property or property of the Series, in cash or in kind or partly each, to the Shareholders of the Trust or the Series involved, ratably according to the number of Shares of the Trust or such Series held by the several Shareholders of the Trust or such Series on the date of termination, except to the extent otherwise required or permitted by the preferences and special or relative rights and privileges of any Classes of Shares of a Series involved, provided that any distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Class of Shares shall be made to such Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Class held by each of

 

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them. The composition of any such distribution (e.g., cash, securities or other assets) shall be determined by the Trust in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class).

 

(b) After termination of the Trust or any Series and distribution to the Shareholders as herein provided, a majority of the Trustees shall execute and lodge among the records of the Trust (or Series) an instrument in writing setting forth the fact of such termination, and the Trustees shall thereupon be discharged from all further liabilities and duties hereunder, and the rights and interests of all Shareholders of the Trust or Series shall thereupon cease.

 

The foregoing provisions shall also apply mutatis mutandis to the termination of any Class.

 

Section 8.3. Amendment Procedure. (a) Except as specifically provided herein, the Trustees may amend or otherwise supplement the Declaration by making an amendment, a Declaration supplemental hereto or an amended and restated Declaration by an instrument in writing executed by a majority of the Trustees. Shareholders shall have the right to vote only on (i) any amendment that would affect their right to vote granted in Section 5.8 hereof; (ii) any amendment as may be required by law to be approved by Shareholders; and (iii) any amendment submitted to them by the Trustees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustees may, without any Shareholder vote, amend this Declaration (x) to supply any omission, to cure, correct or supplement any ambiguous, defective or inconsistent provision hereof, or (y) if they deem it necessary or advisable, to conform the Declaration to the requirements of applicable law, including the 1940 Act or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, but the Trustees shall not be liable for failing to do so, or, (z) with respect to an amendment affecting a Series or Class, for any reason at any time, if there are no Shares of such Series or Class outstanding at that time. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Declaration, any amendment on which Shareholders have the right to vote shall require an affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the Shares outstanding and entitled to vote of the Trust unless in any case such action is recommended by the Trustees, in which case the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust shall be required, except that an amendment which in the determination of the Trustees shall affect the holders of one or more Series or Classes of Shares but not the holders of all outstanding Series or Classes shall be authorized by vote of such Series or Classes affected and no vote of Shareholders of a Series or Class not affected shall be required.

 

(b) Nothing contained in the Declaration shall permit the amendment of the Declaration (i) to impair the exemption from personal liability of the Shareholders, former Shareholders, Trustees, former Trustees, officers, employees or agents, (ii) to permit assessments upon Shareholders of the Trust, or (iii) to limit the rights to indemnification provided in Article IV with respect to actions or omissions of persons entitled to indemnification under such Article prior to such amendment.

 

Section 8.4. Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Trustees may authorize the Trust or any Series or Class thereof to merge, reorganize or consolidate with any corporation, association, trust or series thereof (including another Series or Class of the Trust) or other entity (in each case, the “Surviving Entity”) or the Trustees may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of the Trust Property (or all or substantially all of the Trust Property allocated or belonging to a particular Series or Class) including its good will to any Surviving Entity, upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration as authorized by the Trustees. Such transactions may be effected through share-for-share exchanges, transfers or sales of assets, in-kind redemptions and purchases, exchange offers, or any other method approved by the

 

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Trustees. The Trustees shall provide notice to affected Shareholders of each transaction pursuant to this Section 8.4. The authority of the Trustees under this Section 8.4 with respect to the merger, reorganization or consolidation of any Class of the Trust is in addition to the authority of the Trustees under Section 5.11 hereof to combine two or more Classes of a Series into a single Class.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1. Filing. This Declaration, any amendment thereto, and any Designation executed in accordance with Section 5.12 hereof shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in such other places as may be required under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and may also be filed or recorded in such other places as the Trustees deem appropriate, provided, however, that the failure to so file will not invalidate this instrument or any properly authorized amendment hereto or Designation. Unless the amendment or Designation is embodied in an instrument signed by a majority of the Trustees, each amendment or Designation filed shall be accompanied by a certificate signed and acknowledged by a Trustee or authorized officer stating that such action was duly taken in a manner provided herein. A restated Declaration, integrating into a single instrument all of the provisions of the Declaration which are then in effect and operative, may be executed from time to time by a majority of the Trustees and shall, upon filing with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, be conclusive evidence of all amendments contained therein and may hereafter be referred to in lieu of the original Declaration and the various amendments thereto. The restated Declaration may include any amendment which the Trustees are empowered to adopt, whether or not such amendment has been adopted prior to the execution of the restated Declaration. The foregoing provisions for restating the Declaration and including an amendment in the restated Declaration shall also apply, mutatis mutandis, to the restatement of Designations.

 

Section 9.2. Governing Law. The principal place of business of the Trust in Massachusetts is [PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF THE TRUST]. The Trustees may, without the approval of Shareholders, change the principal place of business of the Trust. The Trust set forth in this instrument shall be deemed made in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and it is created under and is to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of said Commonwealth as a voluntary association with transferable shares (commonly known as a business trust) of the type referred to in Chapter 182 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (or any successor law), and the rights of all parties and the validity and construction of every provision hereof shall be subject to and construed according to the internal laws of said Commonwealth without regard to the choice of law rules thereof.

 

Section 9.3. Counterparts and Headings. This Declaration may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts, together, shall constitute one and the same instrument, which shall be sufficiently evidenced by any such original counterpart. Headings are placed herein for convenience of reference only and shall not be taken as a part thereof or control or affect the meaning, construction or effect of this instrument.

 

Section 9.4. Reliance by Third Parties. Anyone dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate executed by an individual who, according to the records of the Trust, appears to be a Trustee or officer of the Trust, certifying to: (a) the number or identity of Trustees or Shareholders, (b) the due authorization of the execution of

 

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any instrument or writing, (c) the form of any vote passed at a meeting of Trustees or Shareholders, (d) the fact that the number of Trustees or Shareholders present at any meeting or executing any written instrument satisfies the requirements of this Declaration, (e) the form of any By-Laws adopted, or the identity of any officers elected, by the Trustees, or (f) the existence of any fact or facts which in any manner relate to the affairs of the Trust.

 

Section 9.5. Provisions in Conflict with Law. All provisions of this Declaration shall be construed, to the extent reasonably possible, in a manner consistent with applicable law. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of this Declaration shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provisions in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of this Declaration in any jurisdiction.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of the date first written above.

 


       

       
    
    

 

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APPENDIX A

 

[NAME OF TRUST]

 

RESTATED DESIGNATION OF SERIES AND CLASSES OF

 

SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST

 

WHEREAS, the Trustees of the Trust, acting pursuant to the Trust’s declaration of trust as then in effect, have previously established and designated one or more series of shares of beneficial interest in the Trust (each, a “Series”) pursuant to one or more designations of series (the “Prior Series Designations”) and have previously established and designated one or more classes of Shares (each, a “Class”) for some or all of the Series pursuant to one or more designations of classes (the “Prior Class Designations,” such Prior Series Designations and Prior Class Designations referred to herein collectively as the “Prior Designations”);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the adoption of an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of [            ] (the “Declaration”), as set forth in Section 5.12 of the Declaration, the previously established and designated Series and Classes are to be included on a restated designation.

 

NOW THEREFORE, the Trustees of the Trust, effective [            ] hereby restate the Trust’s Prior Designations, the terms of this restated designation to supercede any terms set forth in the Prior Designations.

 

1. The following series of Shares and Classes thereof are established and designated, the Shares of such Series and Classes to be subject to the terms of, and entitled to all the rights and preferences accorded to Shares of a Series, and, if applicable, a Class under, the Declaration and this restated designation:

 

[Name of Series]

  [Name of Class]
    [Name of Class]
    [Name of Class]
    [Name of Class]
     

[Name of Series]

  [Name of Class]
    [Name of Class]
    [Name of Class]
    [Name of Class]

 

2. For Shares of a Class of a Series, the relative rights and preferences of such Class shall be as determined by the Trustees of the Trust from time to time in accordance with the Declaration and set forth in the Trust’s Multi-Distribution System Plan adopted pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as such Plan may be amended from time to time, or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Shares of a Class of a Series shall have such other terms, features and qualifications as may be determined by the Trustees of the Trust from time to time in accordance with the Declaration and set forth in the current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Series relating to such Class, contained in the Trust’s registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such prospectus or statement of additional information may be further supplemented from time to time.

 

3. The designation of the Series and Classes hereby shall not impair the power of the Trustees from time to time to designate additional Series and Classes of Shares of the Trust.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being a majority of the Trustees of the Trust, have executed this instrument as of this             day of [            ].

 


      

as Trustee

       as Trustee

      

as Trustee

       as Trustee

      

as Trustee

       as Trustee

      

as Trustee

       as Trustee

 

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EXHIBIT N

 

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

 

            , a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the “Corporation”) registered as an open-end investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

 

FIRST

 

The Corporation desires to amend and restate its charter as currently in effect pursuant to these Articles of Amendment and Restatement. These Articles of Amendment and Restatement set forth every charter provision currently in effect.

 

SECOND

 

The charter of the Corporation is hereby amended by striking in their entirety Articles FIRST through             , inclusive, and by substituting in lieu thereof the following:

 

ARTICLE FIRST: Name and Definitions.

 

Section 1.1. Name.    The name of the Corporation is:

 


 

Section 1.2. Definitions.    Wherever they are used herein, the following terms have the following respective meanings:

 

(a) “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

(b) “By-Laws” means the By-Laws referred to in Section 8.3 hereof, as from time to time amended.

 

(c) “Charter” means these Articles of Amendment and Restatement as amended, corrected or supplemented from time to time. Reference in this Charter to “Charter,” “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” shall be deemed to refer to this Charter rather than exclusively to the article or section in which such words appear.

 

(d) “Class” means the two or more Classes as may be established and designated from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.8(a) hereof.

 

(e) The terms “Commission” and “Interested Person” have the same meanings given to such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

(f) “His” or “his” shall include the feminine and neuter, as well as the masculine, genders.

 

(g) The “1940 Act” refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940 (and any successor statute) as the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time, may apply to the Corporation or any Series or Class thereof including pursuant to any exemptive or similar relief issued by the Commission or the staff of the Commission under the 1940 Act. In construing the 1940 Act, the Corporation may, to the extent it deems appropriate, rely on interpretations of the 1940 Act issued by the Commission or the staff of the Commission.

 

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(h) “Outstanding Shares” means those Shares shown from time to time on the books of the Corporation or its transfer agent as then issued and outstanding, but shall not include Shares which have been redeemed or repurchased by the Corporation.

 

(i) “Person” means and includes individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, associations, joint ventures and other entities, whether or not legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.

 

(j) “Series” individually or collectively means the two or more Series as may be established and designated from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.8(a) hereof.

 

(k) “Shareholder” means a record owner of Outstanding Shares.

 

(l) “Shares” means shares of capital stock of the Corporation with a par value of $             per share, including the Shares of any and all Series and Classes which may be established and designated by the Board of Directors and includes fractions of Shares as well as whole Shares.

 

ARTICLE SECOND: Purposes and Powers; Number of Directors; Principal Office and Resident Agent.

 

Section 2.1. General.    The purposes for which the Corporation is formed is as follows: To operate and carry on the business of an investment company and exercise all the powers as are necessary, convenient, appropriate, incidental or customary in connection therewith, and to exercise and generally to enjoy all of the powers, rights and privileges granted to or conferred upon corporations by the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time (the “Maryland General Corporation Law”). The enumeration of any specific power herein shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power.

 

Section 2.2. Certain Specific Powers.

 

(a) Investments.    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall have the power and authority to make, invest and reinvest in, to buy or otherwise acquire, to hold, for investment or otherwise, to borrow, to sell or otherwise dispose of, to lend or to pledge, to trade in or deal in, any and all investments, and, in connection therewith, the power and authority:

 

(1) To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in any manner arise out of ownership of securities;

 

(2) To hold any security or property, whether in bearer, unregistered or other negotiable form, either in the name of the Corporation or in the name of a custodian or a nominee or nominees;

 

(3) To exercise all rights, powers and privileges of ownership or interest in all securities, repurchase agreements, futures contracts and options and other assets owned by the Corporation, including the right to vote thereon and otherwise act with respect thereto and to do all acts for the preservation, protection, improvement and enhancement in value of all such assets;

 

(4) To acquire (by purchase, lease or otherwise) and to hold, use, maintain, develop and dispose of (by sale or otherwise) any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, including cash, and any interest therein;

 

(5) To borrow money and/or securities for any purpose and in this connection issue notes or other evidence of indebtedness; to secure borrowings by mortgaging, pledging or otherwise subjecting as security the assets of the Corporation; to endorse, guarantee, or undertake the performance of any obligation or engagement of any other Person and to lend the assets of the Corporation;

 

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(6) To aid by further investment any corporation, company, trust, association or firm, any obligation of or interest in which is included in the assets of the Corporation or in the affairs of which the Corporation has any direct or indirect interest; to do all acts and things designed to protect, preserve, improve or enhance the value of such obligation or interest, and to guarantee or become surety on any or all of the contracts, stocks, bonds, notes, debentures and other obligations of any such corporation, company, trust, association or firm;

 

(7) To consent to or participate in any plan for the reorganization, consolidation, or merger of any corporation or issuer, any security or property of which is held by the Corporation; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase, or sale of property by such corporation or issuer, and to pay calls or subscriptions with respect to any security held by the Corporation; and

 

(8) To join with other security holders in acting through a committee, depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Board of Directors shall deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Board of Directors shall deem proper.

 

(b) Additional Powers.    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall have the power and authority:

 

(1) To employ or contract with, or make payments to, such Persons as the Corporation may deem desirable for the transaction of the business of the Corporation;

 

(2) To enter into joint ventures, partnerships and any other combinations or associations;

 

(3) To purchase, and pay for out of the assets of the Corporation, (i) insurance policies insuring the directors, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, distributors, administrators, selected dealers or independent contractors of the Corporation against all claims arising by reason of holding any such position or by reason of any action taken or omitted by any such Person in such capacity, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability, (ii) insurance for the protection of the assets of the Corporation or (iii) such other insurance as the Board of Directors shall deem advisable;

 

(4) To establish pension, profit-sharing, share purchase, and other retirement and benefit plans, including the purchasing of life insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and other benefits, for any directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation;

 

(5) To the extent permitted by law, to indemnify any person with whom the Corporation has dealings, including any investment adviser, distributor, administrator, custodian, transfer agent and selected dealers;

 

(6) To guarantee indebtedness or contractual obligations of others;

 

(7) To enter into a plan of distribution and any related agreements whereby the Corporation may finance directly or indirectly any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of Shares; and

 

(8) To carry on any other business in connection with or incidental to any of the powers enumerated in this Charter, to do everything necessary, suitable or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object or the furtherance of any power herein set forth, either alone or in association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or appurtenant to or growing out of or connected with the aforesaid business, objects or powers.

 

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Section 2.3. Principal Transactions.    Except in transactions not permitted by the 1940 Act, and subject to the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Corporation may buy any securities from or sell any securities to, or lend any assets of the Corporation to, any director or officer of the Corporation or any firm of which any such director or officer is a member acting as principal, or have any such dealing with any investment adviser, distributor, administrator, custodian or transfer agent or with any Interested Person of such Person; and the Corporation may employ any such Person, or firm or company in which such Person is an Interested Person, as broker, legal counsel, registrar, transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent or custodian upon customary terms.

 

Section 2.4. Number of Directors.    The Corporation shall have thirteen (13) directors, which number may be increased or decreased from time to time pursuant to the By-Laws of the Corporation. The names of the directors who are currently in office and who shall act as such until their successors are duly elected and qualified are as follows: [NAMES OF DIRECTORS TO BE ADDED].

 

Section 2.5. Resident Agent and Principal Office.    The post office address of the principal office of the Corporation in Maryland is 300 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The name and post office address of the resident agent of the Corporation in Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 300 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The resident agent is a Maryland corporation.

 

ARTICLE THIRD: Contracts.

 

Section 3.1. Distribution Contract; Transfer Agent; Shareholder Servicing Agent; Custodian.    The Corporation may from time to time enter into an exclusive or non-exclusive underwriting, distribution or placement contract or contracts providing for the sale of the Shares, whereby the Corporation may either agree to sell the Shares to the other party to the contract or appoint such other party as the Corporation’s sales agent for the Shares, and in either case on such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Board of Directors may in its discretion determine; and such contract may also provide for the repurchase of the Shares by such other party as principal or as agent of the Corporation. The Corporation may from time to time enter into one or more transfer agency and/or shareholder servicing contract(s), in each case with such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Board of Directors may in its discretion deem advisable.

 

Section 3.2. Advisory or Management Contract; Administration.    The Corporation may from time to time enter into an investment advisory or management contract or separate contracts with respect to one or more Series whereby the other party to such contract shall undertake to furnish to the Corporation such management, investment advisory, statistical and research facilities and services, proxy voting services and such other facilities and services, including administrative services, if any, and all upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation, as the Board of Directors may in its discretion determine, including the grant of authority to such other party to determine what securities shall be purchased or sold by the Corporation or any Series and what portion of its assets shall be uninvested, which authority shall include the power to make changes in the investments of the Corporation or any Series.

 

The Corporation may also employ, or authorize the investment adviser or a sub-adviser to employ, one or more sub-advisers from time to time to perform such of the acts and services of the investment adviser or sub-adviser and upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as may be agreed upon between the investment adviser, the sub-adviser and/or such other sub-advisers and approved by the Board of Directors. Any reference in this Charter to the investment adviser shall be deemed to include such sub-advisers unless the context otherwise requires.

 

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The Corporation may from time to time enter into administration and/or fund accounting contract(s), in each case with such terms and conditions, and providing for such compensation, as the Board of Directors may in its discretion deem advisable.

 

Section 3.3. Additional Contracts.    Nothing in this Article THIRD shall be deemed to limit or restrict the Corporation’s power to employ, contract with (including contracts not described in this Article THIRD) or make payments to any Person in connection with or related to the business and/or affairs of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE FOURTH: Limitation of Liability; Indemnification.

 

Section 4.1. Limitation of Liability.    To the fullest extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the Maryland General Corporation Law, no director or former director and no officer or former officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its Shareholders for money damages. No amendment to the Charter or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the benefits provided by this Section 4.1 to directors or former directors or officers or former officers with respect to any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

Section 4.2. Indemnification.

 

(a) Any word or words used in this Section 4.2 that are defined in Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “Indemnification Section”) shall have the same meaning as defined in the Indemnification Section.

 

(b) The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to a director or officer (which includes, with respect to any such person, any person who is or was an officer of the Corporation and any person who, while an officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan) of the Corporation in connection with a proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by and in accordance with the Indemnification Section and the 1940 Act. The foregoing rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled.

 

(c) No amendment to this Charter or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the protection afforded by this Section 4.2 to a director or officer (as that term is described in subsection (b) above) with respect to any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

Section 4.3. Reliance on Experts.    Subject to any requirements of the 1940 Act and the Maryland General Corporation Law, the appointment, designation or identification of a director as the chairperson of the Board of Directors, as a member or chairperson of a committee of the Board of Directors, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), or the lead independent director, or any other special appointment, designation or identification of a director, shall not impose on that person any standard of care or liability that is greater than that imposed on that person as a director in the absence of the appointment, designation or identification, and no director who has special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof. In addition, and subject to any contrary requirements of the 1940 Act and the Maryland General Corporation Law, no appointment, designation or identification of a director as aforesaid shall affect in any way that director’s rights or entitlement to indemnification.

 

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ARTICLE FIFTH: Capital Stock.

 

Section 5.1. Authorized Shares.    The Corporation shall have the authority to issue              (            ) shares of capital stock, with a par value of $ per share, for an aggregate par value of $            . Currently, the Corporation’s authorized Shares have been designated and classified into the following Series, which Series have been subdivided into the following Classes:

 

[DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING SERIES AND CLASSES]

 

Section 5.2. Issuance of Shares.    The Board of Directors shall have the power to authorize the issuance from time to time of Shares of any Series or Class, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities convertible into Shares of any Series or Class, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors deems advisable without any action by the Shareholders. In connection with the issuance of Shares, the Board of Directors may issue fractional Shares. The Board of Directors may from time to time divide or combine the Shares of any particular Series or Class into a greater or lesser number of Shares of that Series or Class without thereby changing the proportionate interest in the assets belonging to that Series or Class or in any way affecting the rights of holders of Shares of any other Series or Class.

 

Section 5.3. Ownership of Shares/Small Accounts.

 

(a) The ownership and transfer of Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Corporation or its transfer or similar agent. No certificates certifying the ownership of Shares shall be issued except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine from time to time. The Board of Directors may make such rules as it considers appropriate for the issuance of Share certificates, transfer of Shares and similar matters. The record books of the Corporation, as kept by the Corporation or any transfer or similar agent of the Corporation, shall be conclusive as to who are the holders of Shares and as to the number of Shares held from time to time by each Shareholder.

 

(b) In the event any certificates representing Shares are at any time outstanding, the Board of Directors may at any time or from time to time discontinue the issuance of such certificates. Except as otherwise permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, such action by the Board shall not affect Shares already represented by certificates until the certificates are surrendered to the Corporation. Following such surrender, ownership and transfer of such Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Corporation or its transfer or similar agent.

 

(c) The Board of Directors may establish, from time to time, one or more minimum investment amounts for Shareholder accounts, which may be different for each Series or Class, and which may be different within each Series or Class, and may impose account fees on (which may be satisfied by involuntarily redeeming the requisite number of Shares in any such account in the amount of such fee), and/or require the involuntary redemption of, those accounts the net asset value of which for any reason falls below such established minimum amounts, or may take any other action with respect to minimum investment amounts as may be deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, in each case upon such terms as shall be established by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.4. Disclosure of Holdings.    The holders of Shares or other securities of the Corporation shall upon demand disclose to the Corporation in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of Shares or other securities of the Corporation as the Board of Directors or officers deem necessary to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to comply with the requirements of any other law or regulation, or as the Board of Directors may otherwise decide, and ownership of Shares may be disclosed by the Corporation if so required by law or regulation or as the Board of Directors may otherwise decide.

 

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Section 5.5. Notices; Reports.    The Board of Directors may from time to time set forth in the By-Laws procedures for providing notices and other reports to Shareholders.

 

Section 5.6. Voting.    On each matter submitted to a vote of the Shareholders, each holder of a Share shall be entitled to one vote for each such Share standing in such holder’s name upon the books of the Corporation regardless of the Series or Class thereof, and all Shares of all Series and Classes shall vote together as a single class (“Single Class Voting”); provided, however, that (a) when the 1940 Act or the Maryland General Corporation Law requires that a Series or Class or Series or Classes vote separately with respect to a given matter, the separate voting requirements of the applicable law shall govern with respect to the affected Series or Class or Series or Classes in lieu of Single Class Voting; (b) in the event that the separate vote requirement referred to in (a) above applies with respect to one or more Series or Classes, then, subject to (c) below, the Shares of all other Series and Classes shall vote as a single class; and (c) as to any matter, which, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, does not affect the interests of a particular Series or Class, such Series or Class shall not be entitled to any vote and only the holders of Shares of the affected Series or Class or Series or Classes shall be entitled to vote.

 

Section 5.7. Meetings; Action by Written Consent.

 

(a) The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of one-third of the Shares of all Series and Classes issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at all meetings of the Shareholders except as otherwise provided by the 1940 Act, provided, however, that where the holders of Shares of any Series or Class are entitled to a separate vote as a Series or Class (a “Separate Class”), or where the holders of Shares of two or more (but not all) Series or Classes are required to vote as a single class (a “Combined Class”), the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of one-third of the Shares of that Separate Class or Combined Class, as the case may be, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, shall constitute a quorum for such vote.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law requiring the authorization of any action by a greater proportion than a majority of the total number of Shares of all Series and Classes, or of the total number of shares of any one or more particular Series or Class or Series or Classes entitled to vote as a separate class, such action shall be valid and effective if authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of Outstanding Shares of all Series and Classes that are entitled to vote thereon, or of the Series or Class or Series or Classes entitled to vote thereon as a separate class, as the case may be.

 

(c) Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the notice and other requirements of the Maryland General Corporation Law, and any procedures adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time, the holders of Shares or of any Series or Class or Series or Classes may take action or consent to any action by delivering a consent, in writing or by electronic transmission, of the holders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of holders of Shares or any Series or Class or Series or Classes.

 

Section 5.8. Series and Classes.

 

(a) The Board of Directors shall have the power to classify or reclassify any unissued Shares, including by classifying or reclassifying such shares into one or more Series or Classes, by setting or changing in any one or more respects, from time to time before issuance of such shares, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of such Shares.

 

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(b) All provisions herein relating to the Corporation shall apply equally to each Series and Class of the Corporation except as the context requires otherwise. All references to Shares in this Charter shall be deemed to include references to Shares of any or all Series or Class as the context may require.

 

(c) The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority, without the approval of the holders of any outstanding Shares, to increase or decrease the number of Shares or the number of Shares of any Series or Class that the Corporation has authority to issue.

 

(d) All consideration received by the Corporation for the issue and sale of Shares of a particular Series or Class, together with all assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, including any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall be allocated and credited to that Series or Class for all purposes, subject only to the rights of creditors of such Series or Class and except as may otherwise be required by applicable law, and shall be so recorded upon the books of account of the Corporation. In the event that there are any assets, income, earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof, funds, or payments which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or Class, the Board of Directors shall allocate them among any one or more of the Series or Classes established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, deems fair and equitable.

 

(e) The assets belonging to each particular Series or Class shall be charged with the liabilities of the Corporation in respect of that Series or Class and all expenses, costs, charges or reserves of the Corporation which are not readily identifiable as belonging to any particular Series or Class shall be allocated and charged by the Board of Directors to and among any one or more of the Series or Classes established and designated from time to time in such manner and on such basis as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion deems fair and equitable. The assets of a particular Series or Class of the Corporation shall, under no circumstances, be charged with liabilities attributable to any other Series or Class of the Corporation.

 

All Persons extending credit to, or contracting with or having any claims against a particular Series or Class of the Corporation shall look only to the assets of that particular Series or Class for payment of such credit, contract or claim. No Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Series or Class shall have any claim on or right to any assets allocated or belonging to any other Series or Class.

 

(f) Subject to the terms of the Charter (including any preferences, rights and/or privileges of any Shares of any Series or Class created pursuant to this Section 5.8), each Share of each particular Series or Class shall represent an equal proportionate interest in that Series or Class. Each holder of Shares of a Series or Class shall be entitled to receive his share of distributions of income and capital gains made with respect to such Series or Class as provided in Section 7.2.

 

Except as otherwise provided herein (including any preferences, rights and/or privileges of any Shares of any Series or Class created pursuant to this Section 5.8), upon liquidation or termination of a Series or Class of the Corporation, Shareholders of such Series or Class shall be entitled to receive, pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Series or Class held by each of them, a share of the net assets of such Series or Class, and the holders of Shares of any other particular Series or Class shall not be entitled to any such distribution, provided, however, that the composition of any such payment (e.g., cash, securities and/or other assets) to any Shareholder shall be determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class).

 

N-8


A Shareholder of a particular Series or Class of the Corporation shall not be entitled to participate in a derivative or class action on behalf of any other Series or Class or the Shareholders of any other Series or Class of the Corporation.

 

(g) At such times as may be determined by the Board of Directors in compliance with the 1940 Act, Shares of a particular Series or Class may be automatically converted by the Corporation into Shares of another Series or Class based on the relative net asset values of such Series or Class at the time of conversion. The terms and conditions of such conversion may vary within and among the Series and Classes and within or among the holders of the Series and Classes to the extent determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Subject to compliance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to provide that the holders of any Series or Class of Shares shall have the right to convert or exchange said shares into Shares of one or more other Series or Classes in accordance with such requirements and procedures as may be established by the Board of Directors.

 

(h) No holder of any stock or any other securities of the Corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized, shall have any preemptive right to subscribe for or purchase any stock or any other securities of the Corporation other than such, if any, as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may determine and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may fix; and any stock or other securities which the Board of Directors may determine to offer for subscription may, as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion shall determine, be offered to the holders of any Series, Class or type of stock or other securities at the time outstanding to the exclusion of the holders of any or all other Series, Classes or types of stock or other securities at the time outstanding.

 

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Charter, each Share may be subject to such sales loads or charges, whether initial, deferred or contingent, or any combination thereof, or any other type of sales load or charge; to such expenses and fees (including, without limitation, distribution expenses, administrative expenses under an administrative or service agreement, plan or other arrangement, however designated, and other administrative, recordkeeping, redemption, service and other fees, however designated); to such account size requirements; and to such other rights and provisions; which may be the same or different from any other Share or any other Share of any Series or Class, including any other share of the same Series or Class, all as the Board of Directors may from time to time establish and/or change in accordance with the 1940 Act and as reflected in the Corporation’s then effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to such Shares, or such other document or instrument deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion.

 

ARTICLE SIXTH: Redemption and Repurchase of Shares.

 

Section 6.1. Redemption of Shares.    Subject to Section 6.6 hereof, the Corporation shall redeem the Shares of the Corporation or any Series or Class thereof at the price determined as hereinafter set forth at such office or agency as may be designated from time to time for that purpose by the Board of Directors and in accordance with such conditions as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, regarding the redemption of Shares.

 

Section 6.2. Price.    Any Shares redeemed shall be redeemed at the Shares’ net asset value less such fees and/or charges, if any, as may be established by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

N-9


Section 6.3. Payment.    Payment for Shares redeemed shall be made in cash or other property, or any combination thereof, out of the assets of the relevant Series or Class of the Corporation. The composition of any such payment (e.g., cash, securities and/or other assets) shall be determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class). In no event shall the Corporation be liable for any delay of any other person in transferring securities or other property selected for delivery as all or part of any such payment. Payment of the redemption price shall be made by the Corporation only from the assets belonging to the Series or Class whose Shares are to be redeemed.

 

Section 6.4. Redemption of Shareholder’s Shares at Option of Corporation.    Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may cause the Corporation to redeem all of the Shares of the Corporation or one or more Series or Classes held by any Shareholder for any reason under terms set by the Board of Directors, including, but not limited to:

 

(a) the value of such Shares held by such Shareholder being less than the minimum amount established from time to time by the Board of Directors;

 

(b) the determination by the Board of Directors that direct or indirect ownership of Shares by any Person has become concentrated in such Shareholder to any extent that would disqualify that Series as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

 

(c) the failure of a Shareholder to supply a tax identification or other identification or if the Corporation is unable to verify a Shareholder’s identity;

 

(d) the failure of a Shareholder to pay when due the purchase price for the Shares issued to such Shareholder;

 

(e) when required for the payment of account fees or other charges, expenses and/or fees as set by the Board of Directors, including without limitation any small account fees permitted by Section 5.3(c);

 

(f) failure of a Shareholder to meet or maintain the qualifications for ownership of a particular Series or Class of Shares;

 

(g) the determination by the Board of Directors or pursuant to policies adopted by the Board of Directors that ownership of Shares by a particular Shareholder is not in the best interests of the remaining Shareholders of the Corporation or applicable Series or Class;

 

(h) failure of a holder of Shares or other securities of the Corporation to comply with a demand pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof; or

 

(i) when the Corporation is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or applicable law.

 

Section 6.5. Reductions in Number of Outstanding Shares Pursuant to Net Asset Value Formula.    The Corporation may also redeem a portion of the Shares held by each Shareholder to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.3.

 

Section 6.6. Suspension of Right of Redemption.    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may postpone the payment of the redemption price and may suspend the right of Shareholders to require the Corporation to redeem Shares to the extent permissible under the 1940 Act.

 

N-10


ARTICLE SEVENTH: Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income and Distributions.

 

Section 7.1. Determination of Net Asset Value.    The Board of Directors may in its sole discretion from time to time prescribe the time or times for determining the per share net asset value of the Shares of the Corporation or any Series or Class thereof, and may prescribe or approve the procedures and methods for determining the value of the assets of the Corporation or a Series or Class thereof, and the procedures and methods for determining the net asset value of a Share of the Corporation, or a Series or a Class thereof. The Corporation may suspend the determination of net asset value for any Series or Class during any period when it may suspend the right of Shareholders to require the Corporation to redeem Shares.

 

Section 7.2. Distributions to Shareholders.    Subject to the right of the Board of Directors to delegate such powers as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors may in its sole discretion from time to time declare and pay, or may prescribe and set forth in a duly adopted resolution of the Board of Directors, the bases and times for the declaration and payment by duly authorized officers of the Corporation of, such dividends and distributions to Shareholders of any Series or Class thereof, in cash or other property, or any combination thereof, including any Shares or other securities of the Corporation as the Board of Directors may deem necessary or desirable, after providing for actual and accrued expenses and liabilities (including such reserves as the Board of Directors may establish) determined in accordance with good accounting practices. If such dividends or other distributions or any portion thereof are to be paid in cash such cash may be reinvested in full and fractional Shares of the Corporation as the Board of Directors shall direct or as the Board of Directors may permit a Shareholder to direct.

 

Any such dividend or distribution to the Shareholders of a particular Series or Class shall be made to said Shareholders pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Series or Class held by each of them, except as otherwise provided herein (including any preferences, rights and/or privileges of any Shares of any Series or Class created pursuant to Section 5.8); provided, however, that the composition of any such dividend or distribution (e.g., cash, securities and/or other assets) shall be determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class). Any such distribution paid in Shares will be paid at the net asset value thereof as determined in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof.

 

Without limiting the foregoing and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Charter, the Board of Directors may provide that dividends and distributions shall be payable only with respect to those Shares that have been held of record continuously by the Shareholder for a specified period prior to the record date of the dividend or distribution.

 

Section 7.3. Constant Net Asset Value.    With respect to any Series that holds itself out as a money market or stable value fund, the Board of Directors shall have the power to reduce the number of Outstanding Shares of the Series by reducing the number of Shares in the account of each Shareholder, or to take such other measures as are not prohibited by the 1940 Act, so as to maintain the net asset value per Share of such Series at a constant dollar amount.

 

Section 7.4. Reserves.    The Board of Directors may in its sole discretion set apart, from time to time, out of any funds of the Corporation or Series or Class thereof a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose, and may abolish any such reserve.

 

Section 7.5. Determination by the Board of Directors.    The Board of Directors may make any determinations they deem necessary with respect to this Article SEVENTH, including, but not limited to, the following matters: the amount of the assets, obligations, liabilities and expenses of the Corporation; the amount

 

N-11


of the net income of the Corporation from dividends, capital gains, interest or other sources for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends or distributions; which items are capital; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charge were created shall have been paid or discharged); the market value, or any other price to be applied in determining the market value, or the fair value, of any security or other asset owned or held by the Corporation; the number of Shares of the Corporation issued or issuable; the net asset value per Share; and any of the foregoing matters as it may pertain to any Series or Class.

 

Section 7.6. Distributions on Dissolution.    In the event of the dissolution of the Corporation, Shareholders of each Series or Class shall be entitled to receive, pro rata in proportion to the number of Shares of such Series or Class held by each of them, a share of the net assets of such Series or Class, except as otherwise provided herein (including any preferences, rights and/or privileges of any Shares of any Series or Class created pursuant to Section 5.8); provided, however, that the composition of any such payment (e.g., cash, securities and/or other assets) to any Shareholder shall be determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion, and may be different among Shareholders (including differences among Shareholders in the same Series or Class).

 

ARTICLE EIGHTH: Miscellaneous.

 

Section 8.1. Ambiguities.    The Board of Directors may construe any of the provisions of this Charter insofar as the same may appear to be ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions hereof, and any such construction hereof by the Board of Directors in good faith shall be conclusive as to the meaning to be given to such provisions.

 

Section 8.2. Board Decisions Conclusive.    Any determination made by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors in good faith and consistent with the provisions of this Charter shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder at any time of Shares.

 

Section 8.3. By-Laws.    The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, alter or repeal By-Laws not inconsistent with law or this Charter for the regulation and management of the affairs of the Corporation.

 

Section 8.4. Amendments to Charter.    The Corporation reserves the right to adopt from time to time any amendment to the Charter, as now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment that alters the contract rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter, of any outstanding Shares.

 

Section 8.5. Inspection of Records.    Except as required by the 1940 Act or the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Shareholders shall only have such right to inspect the records, documents, accounts and books of the Corporation as may be granted from time to time by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion.

 

Section 8.6. Appraisal Rights.    The holders of the Corporation’s Shares or any Series or Class of Shares shall not be entitled to exercise the rights of an objecting stockholder under §§ 3-201 to 3-213 of the Maryland General Corporation Law.

 

Section 8.7. Delegation; Committees.    To the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors may delegate to a committee of one or more of the members of the Board of Directors or to the officers of the Corporation any of the powers granted to the Board of Directors by the Charter or the Maryland General Corporation Law.

 

N-12


Section 8.8. Headings; Plural.    Article and Section titles contained herein are for descriptive purposes only and shall not control or alter the meaning of this Charter as set forth in the text or any article or section. The use of the singular herein shall be deemed to be or include the plural (and vice-versa), wherever appropriate.

 

THIRD

 

The Board of Directors of the Corporation, pursuant to and in accordance with the charter and bylaws of the Corporation and the Maryland General Corporation Law, duly advised the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter of the Corporation and the stockholders of the Corporation, pursuant to and in accordance with the charter and bylaws of the Corporation and the Maryland General Corporation Law, duly approved the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter of the Corporation.

 

[signatures begin on next page]

 

N-13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, [NAME OF CORPORATION] has caused these Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be signed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by its President and attested to by its Secretary on this      day of                 , 200  , and its President acknowledges that these Articles of Amendment and Restatement are the act of [NAME OF CORPORATION] and he/she further acknowledges that, as to all matters or facts set forth herein which are required to be verified under oath, such matters and facts are true in all material respects to the best of his/her knowledge, information and belief, and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.

 

ATTEST:

 

[NAME OF CORPORATION]

 


 

By:

 

 


Secretary

     

President

 

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EXHIBIT O

 

ALLOCATION OF COSTS

 

Each Fund will pay its own allocable share of the cost of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed Proxy Card and Proxy Statement and all other costs incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies, including any additional solicitation made by letter, telephone or telegraph (all such costs are referred to as the “Proxy Costs”). The amount borne by each Fund amounts to approximately the percentage of net asset value set forth in column 2 for that Fund, based on net assets of the Fund as of November 28, 2005.

 

Fund


  

Column 1

(Allocated Expense)


  

Column 2

(Allocated Expense
as % of NAV)


 

DWS Capital Growth Fund

   $ 1,055,323    0.053 %

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

   $ 87,075    0.060 %

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

   $ 272,266    0.035 %

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

   $ 65,160    0.026 %

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

   $ 64,340    0.031 %

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

   $ 51,098    0.050 %

DWS Equity Income Fund

   $ 32,317    0.021 %

DWS Europe Equity Fund

   $ 207,032    0.043 %

DWS Global Bond Fund

   $ 75,457    0.047 %

DWS Global Opportunities Fund

   $ 268,293    0.001 %

DWS Global Thematic Fund

   $ 325,392    0.031 %

DWS GNMA Fund

   $ 723,424    0.023 %

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

   $ 145,893    0.027 %

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

   $ 183,447    0.062 %

DWS Growth & Income Fund

   $ 1,633,747    0.033 %

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

   $ 6,791    0.038 %

DWS Health Care Fund

   $ 154,111    0.062 %

DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund

   $ 112,938    0.013 %

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

   $ 59,150    0.008 %

DWS International Fund

   $ 634,604    0.033 %

DWS Large Company Growth Fund

   $ 230,752    0.055 %

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

   $ 157,179    0.024 %

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

   $ 488,495    0.011 %

DWS Massachusetts Tax Free Fund

   $ 37,911    0.008 %

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

   $ 203,299    0.062 %

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

   $ 76,660    0.065 %

DWS Short Term Bond Fund

   $ 303,365    0.037 %

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

   $ 88,519    0.048 %

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

   $ 127,647    0.037 %

 

O-1


EXHIBIT P

 

SHARES OUTSTANDING AS OF RECORD DATE

 

Fund


   Number of Shares Outstanding

DWS Capital Growth Fund

   [            ]

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

   [            ]

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

   [            ]

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

   [            ]

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

   [            ]

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

   [            ]

DWS Equity Income Fund

   [            ]

DWS Europe Equity Fund

   [            ]

DWS Global Bond Fund

   [            ]

DWS Global Opportunities Fund

   [            ]

DWS Global Thematic Fund

   [            ]

DWS GNMA Fund

   [            ]

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

   [            ]

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

   [            ]

DWS Growth & Income Fund

   [            ]

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

   [            ]

DWS Health Care Fund

   [            ]

DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund

   [            ]

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

   [            ]

DWS International Fund

   [            ]

DWS Large Company Growth Fund

   [            ]

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

   [            ]

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

   [            ]

DWS Massachusetts Tax Free Fund

   [            ]

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

   [            ]

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

   [            ]

DWS Short Term Bond Fund

   [            ]

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

   [            ]

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

   [            ]

 

P-1


EXHIBIT Q

 

5% SHAREHOLDERS

 

Fund


   Name and Address
of Beneficial Owner


  Shares
Beneficially
Owned


  Percent
Ownership of
Outstanding
Fund Shares


DWS Capital Growth Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Conservative Allocation Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Core Plus Income Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Enhanced S&P 500 Index Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Equity Income Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Europe Equity Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Global Bond Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Global Opportunities Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Global Thematic Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS GNMA Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Gold & Precious Metals Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Growth Allocation Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Growth & Income Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Growth Plus Allocation Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Health Care Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS High Yield Tax-Free Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Intermediate Tax/AMT Free Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS International Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Large Company Growth Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Latin America Equity Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Managed Municipal Bond Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Massachusetts Tax Free Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Moderate Allocation Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Short Term Bond Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Small Cap Core Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

DWS Small Cap Value Fund

   [            ]   [            ]   [            ]

 

Q-1


 

 

 

 

 

 

EYE.95-LTF.BOS


FORM OF PROXY

 

[LOGO]   YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
[ADDRESS]    
   

VOTE TODAY BY MAIL,

TOUCH-TONE PHONE OR THE INTERNET

CALL TOLL FREE 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX OR

LOG ON TO [INTERNET WEB SITE ADDRESS]

*** CONTROL NUMBER: XXX XXX XXX XXX XX ***

  PLEASE FOLD AND DETACH CARD AT PERFORATION BEFORE MAILING.

[FUND]

   

PROXY                                SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS – MARCH [    ], 2006

 

The undersigned hereby appoints Patricia De Filippis, John Millette and Caroline Pearson, and each of them, the proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution to each of them, to vote all shares of the above-referenced fund (the “Fund”) that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held at the offices of Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., 345 Park Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10154 on March [    ], 2006 at [            ] [a.m./p.m.] (Eastern time), and at any adjournments thereof.

 

    

PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS

REQUIRED.

     Dated                         , 2006
    

PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR(S). WHEN SIGNING AS AN

ATTORNEY, EXECUTOR, ADMINISTRATOR, TRUSTEE OR GUARDIAN, PLEASE GIVE YOUR

FULL TITLE AS SUCH.

[NAME]

    

[ADDRESS]

    
     SIGNATURE(S) OF SHAREHOLDER(S)


[LOGO]   YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
[ADDRESS]    
   

VOTE TODAY BY MAIL,

TOUCH-TONE PHONE OR THE INTERNET

CALL TOLL FREE 1-XXX-XXX-XXXX OR

LOG ON TO INTERNET WEB SITE ADDRESS

PLEASE FOLD AND DETACH CARD AT PERFORATION BEFORE MAILING.

 

ALL PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXIES WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE INDICATED ON A PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXY, THE PROXY WILL BE VOTED, IN THE CASE OF PROPOSAL 1, FOR ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES AND, IN THE CASE OF ALL OTHER PROPOSALS, FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSALS.

 

THE PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF THE FUND. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE, IN THE CASE OF PROPOSAL I, FOR ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES AND, IN THE CASE OF ALL OTHER PROPOSALS, FOR APPROVAL OF EACH PROPOSAL.

 

PLEASE VOTE BY FILLING IN THE BOXES BELOW.

 

    

FOR

ALL NOMINEES
LISTED
(EXCEPT AS NOTED
IN

SPACE PROVIDED)


   WITHHOLD
AUTHORITY TO
VOTE FOR ALL
NOMINEES
LISTED


PROPOSAL I

         

Proposal to elect all nominees.

   ¨    ¨
NOMINEES:          
(01) Henry P. Becton, Jr. (02) Dawn-Marie Driscoll (03) Keith R. Fox (04) Kenneth C. Froewiss (05) Martin J. Gruber (06) Richard J. Herring (07) Graham E. Jones (08) Rebecca W. Rimel (09) Philip Saunders, Jr. (10) William N. Searcy, Jr. (11) Jean Gleason Stromberg (12) Carl W. Vogt (13) Axel Schwarzer          
INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, WRITE THE NAME(S) ON THE LINE IMMEDIATELY BELOW.          

 

 

       

PROPOSAL II.A

   FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN

Proposal to approve an amended and restated investment management agreement.

   ¨    ¨    ¨


PROPOSAL II.B    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN
Proposal to approve a subadviser approval policy.    ¨    ¨    ¨
PROPOSAL III    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN
Proposal to approve a revised fundamental investment restriction regarding commodities.    ¨    ¨    ¨
PROPOSAL IV.A    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN
Proposal to approve an amended and restated declaration of trust.    ¨    ¨    ¨
PROPOSAL IV.B    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN
Proposal to approve further amendments to an amended and restated declaration of trust.    ¨    ¨    ¨
PROPOSAL IV.C    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN
Proposal to approve amended and restated articles of incorporation.    ¨    ¨    ¨

 

THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE IN THEIR DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING AND ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF.

 

PLEASE SIGN ON REVERSE SIDE