Exhibit 13(a)(4)(i)

N-CSR - Change in Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

On May 14, 2019, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) resigned as the independent registered public accounting firm to DWS Small Cap Core Fund, DWS Capital Growth Fund, DWS CROCI ® U.S. Fund, DWS Core Equity Fund, and DWS Small Cap Growth Fund (the “Funds”). PwC communicated its resignation to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees (the “Board of Trustees”).

PwC’s reports on the Funds’ financial statements for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle.

During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and during the subsequent interim period through May 14, 2019: (i) there were no disagreements with PwC on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of PwC, would have caused PwC to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its reports on the Funds’ financial statements for such periods; and (ii) there were no “reportable events” of the kind described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Registrant has requested that PwC furnish the Registrant with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the foregoing statements and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of that letter is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. 

On May 15, 2019, the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Board of Trustees approved the selection of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as the Funds’ independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. During the Funds’ fiscal years ended September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, and the subsequent interim period through May 14, 2019, neither the Funds, nor anyone on their behalf, consulted with EY on items which: (i) concerned the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Funds’ financial statements; or (ii) concerned the subject of a disagreement (as defined in paragraph (a)(1)(iv) of Item 304 of Regulation S-K) or reportable events (as described in paragraph (a)(1)(v) of said Item 304).