UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number | 811-07377 | |||||||
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Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust | ||||||||
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) | ||||||||
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522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York |
| 10036 | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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John H. Gernon | ||||||||
(Name and address of agent for service) | ||||||||
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 212-296-0289 |
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Date of fiscal year end: | November 30, |
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Date of reporting period: | May 31, 2018 |
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Item 1 - Report to Shareholders
Trustees
Frank L. Bowman
Kathleen A. Dennis
Nancy C. Everett
Jakki L. Haussler
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Joseph J. Kearns
Michael F. Klein
Patricia Maleski
Michael E. Nugent, Chair of the Board
W. Allen Reed
Fergus Reid
Officers
John H. Gernon
President and Principal Executive Officer
Timothy J. Knierim
Chief Compliance Officer
Francis J. Smith
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
Mary E. Mullin
Secretary
Michael J. Key
Vice President
Transfer Agent
DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.
2000 Crown Colony Drive
Quincy, Massachusetts 02169
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Lincoln Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
Perkins Coie LLP
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112
Adviser and Administrator
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036
The financial statements included herein have been taken from the records of the Fund without examination by the independent auditors and accordingly they do not express an opinion thereon.
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. For more detailed information about the Fund, its fees and expenses and other pertinent information, please read its Prospectus. The Fund's Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund, including its trustees. It is available, without charge, by calling (800) 548-7786.
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective Prospectus. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc., member FINRA.
© 2018 Morgan Stanley
CPOSAN
2158845 EXP. 07.31.2019
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Semi-Annual Report
May 31, 2018
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Table of Contents
Welcome Shareholder | 3 | ||||||
Fund Report | 4 | ||||||
Performance Summary | 8 | ||||||
Expense Example | 9 | ||||||
Portfolio of Investments | 11 | ||||||
Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 15 | ||||||
Statement of Operations | 15 | ||||||
Statements of Changes in Net Assets | 16 | ||||||
Notes to Financial Statements | 17 | ||||||
Financial Highlights | 37 | ||||||
Privacy Notice | 43 |
2
Welcome Shareholder,
We are pleased to provide this Semi-Annual report, in which you will learn how your investment in Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust (the "Fund") performed during the latest six-month period. It includes an overview of the market conditions and discusses some of the factors that affected performance during the reporting period. In addition, the report contains financial statements and a list of portfolio holdings.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management is a client-centric, investor-led organization. Our global presence, intellectual capital, and breadth of products and services enable us to partner with investors to meet the evolving challenges of today's financial markets. We aim to deliver superior investment service and to empower our clients to make the informed decisions that help them reach their investment goals.
As always, we thank you for selecting Morgan Stanley Investment Management and look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.
This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus for the fund being offered.
Market forecasts provided in this report may not necessarily come to pass. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and, therefore, the value of the Fund's shares may be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Fund. Please see the prospectus for more complete information on investment risks.
3
Fund Report (unaudited)
For the six months ended May 31, 2018
Total Return for the 6 Months Ended May 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Class L | Class I | Class C | Class IS | Russell 3000® Growth Index1 | Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Index2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
19.41 | % | 18.90 | % | 19.09 | % | 19.57 | % | 18.97 | % | 19.59 | % | 7.21 | % | 7.81 | % |
The performance of Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust's (the "Fund") six share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Fund's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any applicable sales charges. Such costs would lower performance. See Performance Summary for standardized performance and benchmark information.
Market Conditions
U.S. stocks trended higher over the six-month reporting period. The U.S. economy continued to expand while inflation pressures stayed muted, allowing the Federal Reserve to maintain the gradual pace of interest rate hikes expected by the markets. Long-term interest rates began to rise, and the dollar strengthened against other major currencies. Concerns about tightening financial conditions, coupled with an increase in political risk coming from trade tensions, U.S.-North Korea relations, sanctions on Iran and Russia, and European politics, contributed to higher volatility during the first half of 2018 compared to the relative calm of 2017. However, strong corporate earnings reports and positive economic data in April and May were supportive for stock prices through the end of the reporting period.
Within the Russell 3000® Growth Index (the "Index"), the best-performing sectors were the more economically sensitive areas of the economy: information technology, consumer discretionary and energy. Defensive sectors lagged, with consumer staples, telecommunication services and real estate being the weakest performers in the reporting period.
Performance Analysis
All share classes of the Fund outperformed both the Index and the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Index for the six months ended May 31, 2018, assuming no deduction of applicable sales charges.
The long-term investment horizon and conviction-weighted investment approach embraced by the team since 1998 can result in periods of performance deviation from the benchmark and peers. The Fund outperformed the Index this reporting period primarily due to favorable stock selection and sector allocations.
The health care sector contributed the most to relative performance. Our stock selection in the sector strongly outperformed, despite being mildly offset by the overweight to the sector, which detracted. Also driving relative outperformance were our stock selection and overweight positions in both the information technology and consumer discretionary sectors.
While there were no relative detractors at the sector level in this reporting period, the Fund's lack of exposure to the energy and utilities sectors had a neutral impact on performance. Holdings in two e-commerce platforms, one based in the U.S. and the other based in South
4
America (and is not represented in the Index), were the largest individual stock detractors.
There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed herein or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future.
TOP 10 HOLDINGS as of 05/31/18 | |||||||
Amazon.com, Inc. | 8.8 | % | |||||
Shake Shack, Inc., Class A | 5.6 | ||||||
Coupa Software, Inc. | 4.9 | ||||||
Twitter, Inc. | 4.9 | ||||||
Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A | 4.9 | ||||||
Illumina, Inc. | 4.8 | ||||||
HealthEquity, Inc. | 4.8 | ||||||
salesforce.com, Inc. | 4.8 | ||||||
Activision Blizzard, Inc. | 4.7 | ||||||
athenahealth, Inc. | 4.7 | ||||||
TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES as of 05/31/18 | |||||||
Internet Software & Services | 24.8 | % | |||||
Software | 16.8 | ||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 13.9 | ||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 10.3 | ||||||
Health Care Technology | 9.6 |
Subject to change daily. Provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as a recommendation to buy or sell the securities mentioned above. Top 10 holdings and top five industries are as a percentage of net assets.
Morgan Stanley is a full-service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services.
5
Investment Strategy
The Fund will normally invest at least 65 percent of its net assets in a portfolio of common stocks of companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, within the capitalization range of the companies comprising the Index, which as of December 31, 2017 was between $14.8 million and $868 billion. The Fund's "Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in established and emerging companies. The Adviser emphasizes a bottom-up stock selection process, seeking attractive investments on an individual company basis. In selecting securities for investment, the Adviser seeks to invest in high quality companies it believes have sustainable competitive advantages and the ability to redeploy capital at high rates of return. The Adviser typically favors companies with rising returns on invested capital, above average business visibility, strong free cash flow generation and an attractive risk/reward. The Fund may invest in equity securities. The Fund may, but it is not required to, also use derivative instruments as discussed in the Fund's prospectus. These derivative instruments will be counted toward the Fund's 65 percent policy discussed above to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to the securities included within that policy.
For More Information About Portfolio Holdings
Each Morgan Stanley fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings in its semiannual and annual reports within 60 days of the end of the fund's second and fourth fiscal quarters. The semiannual reports and the annual reports are filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSRS and Form N-CSR, respectively. Morgan Stanley also delivers the semiannual and annual reports to fund shareholders and makes these reports available on its public web site, www.morganstanley.com/im. Each Morgan Stanley fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the fund's first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. Morgan Stanley does not deliver the reports for the first and third fiscal quarters to shareholders, nor are the reports posted to the Morgan Stanley public web site. You may, however, obtain the Form N-Q filings (as well as the Form N-CSR and N-CSRS filings) by accessing the SEC's web site, http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy them at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the SEC's public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC's e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing to the SEC's Public Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520.
6
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
You may obtain a copy of the Fund's Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures without charge, upon request, by calling toll free (800) 548-7786 or by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com/im. It is also available on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.
You may obtain information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 without charge by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com/im. This information is also available on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.
Householding Notice
To reduce printing and mailing costs, the Fund attempts to eliminate duplicate mailings to the same address. The Fund delivers a single copy of certain shareholder documents, including shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxy materials, to investors with the same last name who reside at the same address. Your participation in this program will continue for an unlimited period of time unless you instruct us otherwise. You can request multiple copies of these documents by calling (800) 548-7786, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., ET. Once our Customer Service Center has received your instructions, we will begin sending individual copies for each account within 30 days.
7
Performance Summary (unaudited)
Average Annual Total Returns—Period Ended May 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Symbol | Class A Shares* (since 07/28/97) CPOAX | Class B Shares** (since 02/27/96) CPOBX | Class L Shares*** (since 07/28/97) CPOCX | Class I Shares† (since 07/28/97) CPODX | Class C Shares†† (since 04/30/15) MSCMX | Class IS Shares††† (since 09/13/13) MCRTX | |||||||||||||||||||||
1 Year | 34.32 27.284 | %3 | 33.23 28.434 | %3 | 33.58 — | %3 | 34.72 — | %3 | 33.33 32.364 | %3 | 34.79 — | %3 | |||||||||||||||
5 Years | 20.343 19.054 | 19.423 19.224 | 19.723 — | 20.733 — | — — | — — | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 Years | 12.283 11.674 | 11.603 11.604 | 11.583 — | 12.603 — | — — | — — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Since Inception | 10.013 9.724 | 9.483 9.484 | 9.253 — | 10.283 — | 17.873 17.874 | 18.793 — | |||||||||||||||||||||
Gross Expense Ratio | 1.26 | 2.27 | 1.80 | 0.95 | 2.13 | 17.07 |
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please visit www.morganstanley.com/im or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate and fund shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The table does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund share. Performance for Class A, Class B, Class L, Class I, Class C and Class IS shares will vary due to differences in sales charges and expenses. See the Fund's current prospectus for complete details on fees and sales charges. Expense ratios are as of each Fund's fiscal year end as outlined in the Fund's current prospectus.
* The maximum front-end sales charge for Class A is 5.25%.
** The maximum contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) for Class B is 5.0%. The CDSC declines to 0% after six years. Effective April 2005, Class B shares will generally convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shares were purchased. Performance for periods greater than eight years reflects this conversion (beginning April 2005). Class B shares are closed to new investments.
*** Class L has no sales charge. Class L shares are closed to new investments.
† Class I has no sales charge.
†† The maximum contingent deferred sales charge for Class C is 1.0% for shares redeemed within one year of purchase.
††† Class IS has no sales charge.
(1) The Russell 3000® Growth Index measures the performance of the broad growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 3000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the largest 3000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
(2) The Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds classification. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in this Index. The Fund was in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds classification as of the date of this report.
(3) Figure shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions and does not reflect the deduction of any sales charges.
(4) Figure shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions and the deduction of the maximum applicable sales charge. See the Fund's current prospectus for complete details on fees and sales charges.
8
Expense Example (unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; and (2) ongoing costs, which may include advisory fees, administration fees, distribution and shareholder services (12b-1) fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period 12/01/17 – 05/31/18.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the table on the following page provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During Period" to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the table on the following page provides information about hypothetical expenses based on the Fund's actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund's actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads). Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs, and will not help you determine the relative total cost of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
9
Expense Example (unaudited) continued
Beginning Account Value | Ending Account Value | Expenses Paid During Period@ | |||||||||||||
12/01/17 | 05/31/18 | 12/01/17 – 05/31/18 | |||||||||||||
Class A | |||||||||||||||
Actual (19.41% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,194.10 | $ | 6.45 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,019.05 | $ | 5.94 | |||||||||
Class B | |||||||||||||||
Actual (18.90% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,189.00 | $ | 10.97 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,014.91 | $ | 10.10 | |||||||||
Class L | |||||||||||||||
Actual (19.09% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,190.90 | $ | 9.40 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,016.36 | $ | 8.65 | |||||||||
Class I | |||||||||||||||
Actual (19.57% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,195.70 | $ | 4.76 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,020.59 | $ | 4.38 | |||||||||
Class C | |||||||||||||||
Actual (18.97% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,189.70 | $ | 10.43 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,015.41 | $ | 9.60 | |||||||||
Class IS | |||||||||||||||
Actual (19.59% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,195.90 | $ | 4.49 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,020.84 | $ | 4.13 |
@ Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratios of 1.18%, 2.01%, 1.72%, 0.87%, 1.91% and 0.82% for Class A, Class B, Class L, Class I, Class C and Class IS shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period and multiplied by 182/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). If the Fund had borne all of its expenses, the annualized expense ratios would have been 1.19%, 2.27%, 1.73%, 0.88%, 1.92% and 14.52% for Class A, Class B, Class L, Class I, Class C and Class IS shares, respectively.
10
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Portfolio of Investments n May 31, 2018 (unaudited)
NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE | ||||||||||
Common Stocks (92.3%) | |||||||||||
Biotechnology (1.5%) | |||||||||||
43,692 | Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a) | $ | 4,346,043 | ||||||||
6,334 | Bluebird Bio, Inc. (a) | 1,134,103 | |||||||||
38,465 | Editas Medicine, Inc. (a) | 1,473,979 | |||||||||
52,612 | Intellia Therapeutics, Inc. (a) | 1,425,785 | |||||||||
86,035 | Intrexon Corp. (a)(b) | 1,426,460 | |||||||||
9,806,370 | |||||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.5%) | |||||||||||
179,240 | DexCom, Inc. (a) | 15,771,327 | |||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services (4.8%) | |||||||||||
415,489 | HealthEquity, Inc. (a) | 30,874,988 | |||||||||
Health Care Technology (9.6%) | |||||||||||
200,066 | athenahealth, Inc. (a) | 30,103,931 | |||||||||
406,136 | Veeva Systems, Inc., Class A (a) | 31,418,681 | |||||||||
61,522,612 | |||||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (10.2%) | |||||||||||
602,720 | Shake Shack, Inc., Class A (a) | 35,934,166 | |||||||||
526,312 | Starbucks Corp. | 29,826,101 | |||||||||
65,760,267 | |||||||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (12.5%) | |||||||||||
34,694 | Amazon.com, Inc. (a) | 56,538,036 | |||||||||
505,883 | Overstock.com, Inc. (a)(b) | 16,909,139 | |||||||||
125,356 | TripAdvisor, Inc. (a) | 6,536,062 | |||||||||
79,983,237 | |||||||||||
Internet Software & Services (24.8%) | |||||||||||
26,518 | Alphabet, Inc., Class C (a) | 28,771,765 | |||||||||
592,913 | Coupa Software, Inc. (a) | 31,649,696 | |||||||||
118,515 | Facebook, Inc., Class A (a) | 22,728,807 |
NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE | ||||||||||
29,811 | MercadoLibre, Inc. | $ | 8,669,933 | ||||||||
38,350 | Spotify Technology SA (a) | 6,048,178 | |||||||||
139,700 | Tencent Holdings Ltd. (c) | 7,041,949 | |||||||||
911,109 | Twitter, Inc. (a) | 31,615,482 | |||||||||
386,618 | Zillow Group, Inc., Class C (a) | 22,551,428 | |||||||||
159,077,238 | |||||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services (4.8%) | |||||||||||
114,075 | Illumina, Inc. (a) | 31,078,593 | |||||||||
Pharmaceuticals (0.2%) | |||||||||||
13,714 | Nektar Therapeutics (a) | 1,100,823 | |||||||||
Road & Rail (4.7%) | |||||||||||
209,355 | Union Pacific Corp. | 29,887,520 | |||||||||
Software (16.7%) | |||||||||||
425,859 | Activision Blizzard, Inc. | 30,197,662 | |||||||||
237,332 | salesforce.com, Inc. (a) | 30,694,148 | |||||||||
116,017 | ServiceNow, Inc. (a) | 20,605,779 | |||||||||
430,149 | Snap, Inc., Class A (a)(b) | 4,899,397 | |||||||||
158,348 | Workday, Inc., Class A (a) | 20,737,254 | |||||||||
107,134,240 | |||||||||||
Total Common Stocks (Cost $423,862,353) | 591,997,215 | ||||||||||
Preferred Stocks (3.1%) | |||||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (0.3%) | |||||||||||
82,075 | Magic Leap, Series C (a)(d)(e)(f) (acquisition cost - $1,890,434; acquired 12/22/15) | 2,216,025 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
11
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Portfolio of Investments n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE | ||||||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail (1.4%) | |||||||||||
58,155 | Airbnb, Inc., Series D (a)(d)(e)(f) (acquisition cost - $2,367,666; acquired 04/16/14) | $ | 5,860,861 | ||||||||
77,181 | Uber Technologies, Series G (a)(d)(e)(f) (acquisition cost - $3,764,289; acquired 12/03/15) | 3,023,951 | |||||||||
8,884,812 | |||||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.3%) | |||||||||||
901,243 | 10X Genomics, Inc., Series B (a)(d)(e)(f) (acquisition cost - $2,947,065; acquired 12/19/14) | 8,624,896 | |||||||||
Software (0.1%) | |||||||||||
197,427 | Lookout, Inc., Series F (a)(d)(e)(f) (acquisition cost - $2,255,228; acquired 06/17/14) | 379,060 | |||||||||
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost $13,224,682) | 20,104,793 |
NUMBER OF SHARES (000) | VALUE | ||||||||||
Short-Term Investments (6.4%) | |||||||||||
Securities held as Collateral on Loaned Securities (2.7%) | |||||||||||
Investment Company (1.8%) | |||||||||||
11,606 | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Treasury Securities Portfolio - Institutional Class (See Note 9) | $ | 11,605,962 | ||||||||
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT (000) | |||||||||||
Repurchase Agreements (0.9%) | |||||||||||
$ | 4,145 | Barclays Capital, Inc. (1.78%, dated 05/31/18, due 06/01/18; proceeds $4,145,191; fully collateralized by a U.S. Government obligation; 2.50% due 05/15/46; valued at $4,227,887) | 4,144,987 | ||||||||
1,507 | HSBC Securities USA, Inc. (1.78%, dated 05/31/18, due 06/01/18; proceeds $1,507,342; fully collateralized by a U.S. Government obligation; 0.00% due 11/15/21; valued at $1,537,649) | 1,507,268 | |||||||||
5,652,255 | |||||||||||
Total Securities held as Collateral on Loaned Securities (Cost $17,258,217) | 17,258,217 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
12
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Portfolio of Investments n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
NUMBER OF SHARES (000) | VALUE | ||||||||||
Investment Company (3.7%) | |||||||||||
23,618 | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Treasury Securities Portfolio - Institutional Class (See Note 9) (Cost $23,617,746) | $ | 23,617,746 | ||||||||
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost $40,875,963) | 40,875,963 | ||||||||||
Total Investments Excluding Purchased Options (Cost $477,962,998) | 101.8 | % | 652,977,971 | ||||||||
Total Purchased Options Outstanding (Cost $1,274,538) | 0.0 | % | 116,179 | ||||||||
Total Investments (Cost $479,237,536) (g)(h) | 101.8 | % | 653,094,150 | ||||||||
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets | (1.8 | ) | (11,896,549 | ) | |||||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $ | 641,197,601 |
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) All or a portion of this security was on loan at May 31, 2018.
(c) Security trades on the Hong Kong exchange.
(d) Illiquid security.
(e) Security cannot be offered for public resale without first being registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and related rules ("restricted security"). Acquisition date represents the day on which an enforceable right to acquire such security is obtained and is presented along with related cost in the security description. The Fund has registration rights for certain restricted securities. Any costs related to such registration are borne by the issuer. The aggregate value of restricted securities (excluding 144A holdings) at May 31, 2018 amounts to $20,104,793 and represents 3.1% of net assets.
(f) At May 31, 2018, the Fund held fair valued securities valued at $20,104,793, representing 3.1% of net assets. These securities have been fair valued as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees.
(g) The fair value and percentage of net assets, $7,041,949 and 1.1%, respectively, represent the securities that have been fair valued under the fair valuation policy for international investments as described in Note 1-A within the Notes to the Financial Statements.
(h) At May 31, 2018, the aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes approximates the aggregate cost for book purposes. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $193,184,613 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $19,327,999, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $173,856,614.
See Notes to Financial Statements
13
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Portfolio of Investments n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
Call Options Purchased:
The Fund had the following call options purchased open at May 31, 2018:
COUNTERPARTY | DESCRIPTION | STRIKE PRICE | EXPIRATION DATE | NUMBER OF CONTRACTS | NOTIONAL AMOUNT (000) | VALUE | PREMIUMS PAID | UNREALIZED DEPRECIATION | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland | USD/CNH | CNH | 7.16 | Jan-19 | 107,980,727 | 107,981 | $ | 105,065 | $ | 468,636 | $ | (363,571 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland | USD/CNH | CNH | 7.52 | Nov-18 | 100,778,319 | 100,778 | 10,380 | 417,222 | (406,842 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland | USD/CNH | CNH | 7.55 | Aug-18 | 73,335,734 | 73,336 | 734 | 388,680 | (387,946 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
$ | 116,179 | $ | 1,274,538 | $ | (1,158,359 | ) |
Currency Abbreviations:
CNH Chinese Yuan Renminbi Offshore.
USD United States Dollar.
Summary of Investments
INDUSTRY | VALUE | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |||||||||
Internet Software & Services | $ | 159,077,238 | 25.0 | % | |||||||
Software | 107,513,300 | 16.9 | |||||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 88,868,049 | 14.0 | |||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 65,760,267 | 10.3 | |||||||||
Health Care Technology | 61,522,612 | 9.7 | |||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 39,703,489 | 6.2 | |||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services | 30,874,988 | 4.9 | |||||||||
Road & Rail | 29,887,520 | 4.7 | |||||||||
Investment Company | 23,617,746 | 3.7 | |||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 15,771,327 | 2.5 | |||||||||
Biotechnology | 9,806,370 | 1.5 | |||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | 2,216,025 | 0.4 | |||||||||
Pharmaceuticals | 1,100,823 | 0.2 | |||||||||
Purchased Options | 116,179 | 0.0 | + | ||||||||
$ | 635,835,933 | ++ | 100.0 | % |
+ Amount is less than 0.05%.
++ Does not reflect the value of securities held as collateral on loaned securities.
See Notes to Financial Statements
14
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
May 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Assets: | |||||||
Investments in securities, at value (cost $444,013,828) (Including $17,270,305 for securities loaned) | $ | 617,870,442 | |||||
Investment in affiliate, at value (cost $35,223,708) | 35,223,708 | ||||||
Total investments in securities, at value (cost $479,237,536) | 653,094,150 | ||||||
Cash | 385,822 | ||||||
Receivable for: | |||||||
Shares of beneficial interest sold | 5,851,254 | ||||||
Dividends | 506,833 | ||||||
Securities lending income | 56,421 | ||||||
Dividends from affiliate | 47,388 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 115,578 | ||||||
Total Assets | 660,057,446 | ||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||
Collateral on securities loaned, at value | 17,543,642 | ||||||
Due to broker | 310,000 | ||||||
Payable for: | |||||||
Advisory fee | 334,321 | ||||||
Shares of beneficial interest redeemed | 264,364 | ||||||
Transfer and sub transfer agent fees | 153,256 | ||||||
Distribution fee | 109,547 | ||||||
Administration fee | 40,880 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other payables | 103,835 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | 18,859,845 | ||||||
Net Assets | $ | 641,197,601 | |||||
Composition of Net Assets: | |||||||
Paid-in-capital | $ | 421,971,088 | |||||
Net unrealized appreciation: | |||||||
Investments | 173,856,614 | ||||||
Foreign currency translation | 13 | ||||||
Accumulated net investment loss | (930,304 | ) | |||||
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain | 46,300,190 | ||||||
Net Assets | $ | 641,197,601 | |||||
Class A Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 413,945,165 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $0.01 par value) | 11,007,232 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 37.61 | |||||
Maximum Offering Price Per Share, (net asset value plus 5.54% of net asset value) | $ | 39.69 | |||||
Class B Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 1,235,880 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $0.01 par value) | 44,977 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 27.48 | |||||
Class L Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 30,300,424 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $0.01 par value) | 1,087,611 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 27.86 | |||||
Class I Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 187,455,348 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $0.01 par value) | 4,528,626 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 41.39 | |||||
Class C Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 8,247,839 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $0.01 par value) | 299,196 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 27.57 | |||||
Class IS Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 12,945 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $0.01 par value) | 311 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 41.58 |
Statement of Operations
For the six months ended May 31, 2018 (unaudited)
Net Investment Loss: Income | |||||||
Income from securities loaned - net | $ | 941,487 | |||||
Dividends (net of $14,270 foreign withholding tax) | 872,636 | ||||||
Dividends from affiliate (Note 9) | 138,299 | ||||||
Other | 3,254 | ||||||
Total Income | 1,955,676 | ||||||
Expenses | |||||||
Advisory fee (Note 4) | 1,678,723 | ||||||
Distribution fee (Class A shares) (Note 5) | 426,257 | ||||||
Distribution fee (Class B shares) (Note 5) | 6,520 | ||||||
Distribution fee (Class L shares) (Note 5) | 106,885 | ||||||
Distribution fee (Class C shares) (Note 5) | 23,245 | ||||||
Administration fee (Note 4) | 200,800 | ||||||
Sub transfer agent fees and expenses (Class A shares) | 142,780 | ||||||
Sub transfer agent fees and expenses (Class B shares) | 1,325 | ||||||
Sub transfer agent fees and expenses (Class L shares) | 15,678 | ||||||
Sub transfer agent fees and expenses (Class I shares) | 24,943 | ||||||
Sub transfer agent fees and expenses (Class C shares) | 798 | ||||||
Professional fees | 106,209 | ||||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Class A shares) (Note 6) | 40,017 | ||||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Class B shares) (Note 6) | 1,540 | ||||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Class L shares) (Note 6) | 4,897 | ||||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Class I shares) (Note 6) | 2,449 | ||||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Class C shares) (Note 6) | 1,233 | ||||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Class IS shares) (Note 6) | 828 | ||||||
Registration fees | 44,077 | ||||||
Shareholder reports and notices | 24,400 | ||||||
Custodian fees (Note 7) | 8,775 | ||||||
Trustees' fees and expenses | 6,904 | ||||||
Other | 17,012 | ||||||
Total Expenses | 2,886,295 | ||||||
Less: rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliated cash sweep (Note 9) | (19,413 | ) | |||||
Less: reimbursement of class specific expenses (Class B shares) (Note 4) | (1,640 | ) | |||||
Less: reimbursement of class specific expenses (Class IS shares) (Note 4) | (828 | ) | |||||
Net Expenses | 2,864,414 | ||||||
Net Investment Loss | (908,738 | ) | |||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss): Realized Gain on: | |||||||
Investments | 45,142,591 | ||||||
Foreign currency translation | 3,860 | ||||||
Net Realized Gain | 45,146,451 | ||||||
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: | |||||||
Investments | 44,506,282 | ||||||
Foreign currency translation | 13 | ||||||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation | 44,506,295 | ||||||
Net Gain | 89,652,746 | ||||||
Net Increase | $ | 88,744,008 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
15
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Financial Statements continued
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2018 | FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2017 | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: Operations: | |||||||||||
Net investment loss | $ | (908,738 | ) | $ | (3,062,880 | ) | |||||
Net realized gain | 45,146,451 | 102,614,781 | |||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 44,506,295 | 28,512,950 | |||||||||
Net Increase | 88,744,008 | 128,064,851 | |||||||||
Distributions to Shareholders from Net Realized Gain: | |||||||||||
Class A shares | (68,852,277 | ) | (22,389,184 | ) | |||||||
Class B shares | (392,499 | ) | (191,322 | ) | |||||||
Class L shares | (7,618,166 | ) | (2,630,994 | ) | |||||||
Class I shares | (17,855,600 | ) | (4,634,558 | ) | |||||||
Class C shares | (768,569 | ) | (126,428 | ) | |||||||
Class IS shares | (2,806 | ) | (905 | ) | |||||||
Total Distributions | (95,489,917 | ) | (29,973,391 | ) | |||||||
Net increase from transactions in shares of beneficial interest | 221,877,535 | 7,502,999 | |||||||||
Net Increase | 215,131,626 | 105,594,459 | |||||||||
Net Assets: | |||||||||||
Beginning of period | 426,065,975 | 320,471,516 | |||||||||
End of Period (Including accumulated net investment loss of $(930,304) and $(21,566)) | $ | 641,197,601 | $ | 426,065,975 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
16
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited)
1. Organization and Accounting Policies
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund applies investment company accounting and reporting guidance. The Fund's investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on October 17, 1995 and commenced operations on February 27, 1996. On July 28, 1997, the Fund converted to a multiple class share structure.
The Fund offers Class A shares, Class B shares, Class L shares, Class I shares, Class C shares and Class IS shares. The six classes are substantially the same except that most Class A shares are subject to a sales charge imposed at the time of purchase and some Class A shares, most Class B shares and most Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge imposed on shares redeemed within eighteen months, six years and one year, respectively. Class L shares, Class I shares and Class IS shares are not subject to a sales charge. Additionally, Class A shares, Class B shares, Class L shares and Class C shares incur distribution expenses.
The Fund suspended offering Class B and Class L shares to all investors (February 25, 2013 and April 30, 2015, respectively). Class B and Class L shareholders of the Fund do not have the option of purchasing additional Class B or Class L shares. However, the existing Class B and Class L shareholders may invest through reinvestment of dividends and distributions.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. Valuation of Investments — (1) An equity portfolio security listed or traded on an exchange is valued at its latest reported sales price (or at the exchange official closing price if such exchange reports an official closing price), and if there were no sales on a given day and if there is no official exchange closing price for that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices if such bid and asked prices are available on the relevant exchanges. Listed equity securities not traded on the valuation date with no reported bid and asked prices available on the exchange are valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices obtained from one or more reputable brokers or dealers. In cases where a security is traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as the primary market; (2) all other equity portfolio securities for which over-the-counter ("OTC") market quotations are readily available are valued at the latest reported sales price (or at the market official closing price if such market reports an official closing price), and if there was no trading in the security on a given day and if there is no official closing price from relevant markets for that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices if such bid and asked prices are available on the relevant markets. An unlisted equity security that does not trade on the valuation date and for which bid and asked prices from the
17
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
relevant markets are unavailable is valued at the mean between the current bid and asked prices obtained from one or more reputable brokers or dealers; (3) when market quotations are not readily available, including circumstances under which Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (the "Adviser"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, determines that the closing price, last sale price or the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices are not reflective of a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Trustees"). Occasionally, developments affecting the closing prices of securities and other assets may occur between the times at which valuations of such securities are determined (that is, close of the foreign market on which the securities trade) and the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). If developments occur during such periods that are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, such valuations may be adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value of such securities as of the close of the NYSE, as determined in good faith by the Trustees or by the Adviser using a pricing service and/or procedures approved by the Trustees; (4) quotations of foreign portfolio securities, other assets and liabilities and forward contracts stated in foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollar equivalents at the prevailing market rates prior to the close of the NYSE; (5) listed options are valued at the last reported sales price on the exchange on which they are listed (or at the exchange official closing price if such exchange reports an official closing price). If an official closing price or last reported sales price is unavailable, the listed option should be fair valued at the mean between its latest bid and ask prices. Unlisted options are valued at the mean between their latest bid and ask prices from a broker/dealer or valued by a pricing service/vendor; (6) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside pricing service/vendor approved by the Trustees. The pricing service/vendor may employ a pricing model that takes into account, among other things, bids, yield spreads and/or other market data and specific security characteristics. Alternatively, if a valuation is not available from an outside pricing service/vendor, and the security trades on an exchange, the security may be valued at its latest reported sale price (or at the exchange official closing price if such exchange reports an official closing price), prior to the time when assets are valued. If there are no sales on a given day and if there is no official exchange closing price for that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked prices if such bid and asked prices are available in the relevant exchanges; and (7) investments in mutual funds, including the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds, are valued at the net asset value ("NAV") as of the close of each business day.
The Trustees have responsibility for determining in good faith the fair value of the investments, and the Trustees may appoint others, such as the Fund's Adviser or a valuation committee, to assist the Trustees in determining fair value and to make the actual calculations pursuant to the fair valuation methodologies previously approved by the Trustees. Under procedures approved by the Trustees, the
18
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
Fund's Adviser has formed a Valuation Committee whose members are approved by the Trustees. The Valuation Committee provides administration and oversight of the Fund's valuation policies and procedures, which are reviewed at least annually by the Trustees. These procedures allow the Fund to utilize independent pricing services, quotations from securities and financial instrument dealers, and other market sources to determine fair value.
The Fund has procedures to determine the fair value of securities and other financial instruments for which market prices are not readily available. Under these procedures, the Valuation Committee convenes on a regular and ad hoc basis to review such securities and considers a number of factors, including valuation methodologies and significant unobservable valuation inputs, when arriving at fair value. The Valuation Committee may employ a market-based approach which may use related or comparable assets or liabilities, recent transactions, market multiples, book values and other relevant information for the investment to determine the fair value of the investment. An income-based valuation approach may also be used in which the anticipated future cash flows of the investment are discounted to calculate fair value. Discounts may also be applied due to the nature or duration of any restrictions on the disposition of the investments. Due to the inherent uncertainty of valuations of such investments, the fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had an active market existed. The Valuation Committee employs various methods for calibrating these valuation approaches including a regular review of valuation methodologies, key inputs and assumptions, transactional back-testing or disposition analysis and reviews of any related market activity.
B. Accounting for Investments — Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method. Dividend income and other distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized over the life of the respective securities and are included in interest income. Interest income is accrued daily as earned.
C. Multiple Class Allocations — Investment income, realized and unrealized gain (loss) and non-class specific expenses are allocated daily based upon the proportion of net assets of each class. Class specific expenses are borne by the respective share classes and include Distribution, Transfer Agent and Sub Transfer Agent fees.
D. Foreign Currency Translation and Foreign Investments — The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. dollars as follows:
— investments, other assets and liabilities at the prevailing rate of exchange on the valuation date;
— investment transactions and investment income at the prevailing rates of exchange on the dates of such transactions.
19
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
Although the net assets of the Fund are presented at the foreign exchange rates and market values at the close of the period, the Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities held at period end. Similarly, the Fund does not isolate the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities sold during the period. Accordingly, realized and unrealized foreign currency gains (losses) on investments in securities are included in the reported net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investment transactions and balances. However, pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, gains and losses from certain foreign currency transactions and the foreign currency portion of gains and losses realized on sales and maturities of foreign denominated debt securities are treated as ordinary income for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Net realized gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions represent net foreign exchange gains (losses) from foreign currency forward exchange contracts, disposition of foreign currencies, currency gains (losses) realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amount of investment income and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund's books and the U.S. dollar equivalent amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized currency gains (losses) from valuing foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities at period end exchange rates are reflected as a component of unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The change in unrealized currency gains (losses) on foreign currency translations for the period is reflected in the Statement of Operations.
E. Securities Lending — The Fund may lend securities to qualified financial institutions, such as broker-dealers, to earn additional income. Any increase or decrease in the fair value of the securities loaned that might occur and any interest earned or dividends declared on those securities during the term of the loan would remain in the Fund. The Fund receives cash or securities as collateral in an amount equal to or exceeding 100% of the current fair value of the loaned securities. The collateral is marked-to-market daily by State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), the securities lending agent, to ensure that a minimum of 100% collateral coverage is maintained.
Based on pre-established guidelines, the securities lending agent invests any cash collateral that is received in an affiliated money market portfolio and repurchase agreements. Securities lending income is generated from the earnings on the invested collateral and borrowing fees, less any rebates owed to the borrowers and compensation to the lending agent, and is recorded as "Income from securities loaned — net" in the Fund's Statement of Operations.
The Fund has the right under the securities lending agreement to recover the securities from the borrower on demand.
20
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
The following table presents financial instruments that are subject to enforceable netting arrangements as of May 31, 2018:
GROSS AMOUNTS NOT OFFSET IN THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES | |||||||||||||||
GROSS ASSET AMOUNT PRESENTED IN THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT | COLLATERAL RECEIVED | NET AMOUNT (NOT LESS THAN $0) | ||||||||||||
$ | 17,270,305 | (a) | $ | — | $ | (17,270,305 | )(b)(c) | $ | 0 |
(a) Represents market value of loaned securities at period end.
(b) The Fund received cash collateral of $17,543,642, of which $17,258,217 was subsequently invested in Repurchase Agreements and Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds as reported in the Portfolio of Investments. As of May 31, 2018, there was uninvested cash of $285,425, which is not reflected in the Portfolio of Investments.
(c) The actual collateral received is greater than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization. In addition, the Fund received non-cash collateral of $15,550 in the form of U.S. Government obligations, which the Fund cannot sell or repledge, and accordingly are not reflected in the Portfolio of Investments.
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards CodificationTM (ASC) 860, "Transfers & Servicing: Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures", is intended to provide increased transparency about the types of collateral pledged in securities lending transactions and other similar transactions that are accounted for as secured borrowing.
The following table displays a breakdown of transactions accounted for as secured borrowings, the gross obligations by class of collateral pledged, and the remaining contractual maturity of those transactions as of May 31, 2018:
REMAINING CONTRACTUAL MATURITY OF THE AGREEMENTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
OVERNIGHT AND CONTINUOUS | <30 DAYS | BETWEEN 30 & 90 DAYS | >90 DAYS | TOTAL | |||||||||||||||||||
Securities Lending Transactions | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 17,543,642 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 17,543,642 | |||||||||||||
Total Borrowings | $ | 17,543,642 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 17,543,642 | |||||||||||||
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for securities lending transactions | $ | 17,543,642 |
F. Repurchase Agreements — The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements under which the Fund lends cash and takes possession of securities with an agreement that the counterparty will repurchase such securities. In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements, a bank as custodian for the Fund takes possession of the underlying securities which are held as collateral, with a market value at least equal to the amount of the repurchase transaction, including principal and accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market on a daily basis to determine that the value of the collateral does not
21
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
decrease below the repurchase price plus accrued interest as earned. If such a decrease occurs, additional collateral will be requested and, when received, will be added to the account to maintain full collateralization. In the event of default on the obligation to repurchase, the Fund has the right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of the obligation. In the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty to the agreement, realization of the collateral proceeds may be subject to cost and delays. The Fund, along with other affiliated investment companies, may utilize a joint trading account for the purpose of entering into repurchase agreements.
G. Restricted Securities — The Fund invests in unregistered or otherwise restricted securities. The term "restricted securities" refers to securities that are unregistered or are held by control persons of the issuer and securities that are subject to contractual restrictions on their resale. As a result, restricted securities may be more difficult to value and the Fund may have difficulty disposing of such assets either in a timely manner or for a reasonable price. In order to dispose of an unregistered security, the Fund, where it has contractual rights to do so, may have to cause such security to be registered. A considerable period may elapse between the time the decision is made to sell the security and the time the security is registered so that the Fund can sell it. Contractual restrictions on the resale of securities vary in length and scope and are generally the result of a negotiation between the issuer and the acquirer of the securities. The Fund would, in either case, bear market risks during that period. Restricted securities, if any, are identified in the Portfolio of Investments.
H. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid semiannually. Net realized capital gains, if any, are distributed at least annually.
I. Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
J. Indemnifications — The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
2. Fair Valuation Measurements
FASB ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurement" ("ASC 820"), defines fair value as the value that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to
22
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
distinguish between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in valuing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs); and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in valuing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs) and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments. The inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
• Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
• Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
• Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs including the Fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), analysis of the issuer's financial statements or other available documents and, if necessary, available information concerning other securities in similar circumstances
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities and the determination of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to each security.
The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund's investments as of May 31, 2018:
INVESTMENT TYPE | LEVEL 1 UNADJUSTED QUOTED PRICES | LEVEL 2 OTHER SIGNIFICANT OBSERVABLE INPUTS | LEVEL 3 SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS | TOTAL | |||||||||||||||
Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks | |||||||||||||||||||
Biotechnology | $ | 9,806,370 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 9,806,370 | |||||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 15,771,327 | — | — | 15,771,327 | |||||||||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services | 30,874,988 | — | — | 30,874,988 | |||||||||||||||
Health Care Technology | 61,522,612 | — | — | 61,522,612 | |||||||||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 65,760,267 | — | — | 65,760,267 | |||||||||||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | 79,983,237 | — | — | 79,983,237 | |||||||||||||||
Internet Software & Services | 152,035,289 | 7,041,949 | — | 159,077,238 | |||||||||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 31,078,593 | — | — | 31,078,593 |
23
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
INVESTMENT TYPE | LEVEL 1 UNADJUSTED QUOTED PRICES | LEVEL 2 OTHER SIGNIFICANT OBSERVABLE INPUTS | LEVEL 3 SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS | TOTAL | |||||||||||||||
Assets (cont'd): | |||||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks (cont'd) | |||||||||||||||||||
Pharmaceuticals | $ | 1,100,823 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,100,823 | |||||||||||
Road & Rail | 29,887,520 | — | — | 29,887,520 | |||||||||||||||
Software | 107,134,240 | — | — | 107,134,240 | |||||||||||||||
Total Common Stocks | 584,955,266 | 7,041,949 | — | 591,997,215 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred Stocks | |||||||||||||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | — | — | 2,216,025 | 2,216,025 | |||||||||||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | — | — | 8,884,812 | 8,884,812 | |||||||||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services | — | — | 8,624,896 | 8,624,896 | |||||||||||||||
Software | — | — | 379,060 | 379,060 | |||||||||||||||
Total Preferred Stocks | — | — | 20,104,793 | 20,104,793 | |||||||||||||||
Call Options Purchased | — | 116,179 | — | 116,179 | |||||||||||||||
Short-Term Investments | |||||||||||||||||||
Investment Company | 35,223,708 | — | — | 35,223,708 | |||||||||||||||
Repurchase Agreements | — | 5,652,255 | — | 5,652,255 | |||||||||||||||
Total Short-Term Investments | 35,223,708 | 5,652,255 | — | 40,875,963 | |||||||||||||||
Total Assets | $ | 620,178,974 | $ | 12,810,383 | $ | 20,104,793 | $ | 653,094,150 |
Transfers between investment levels may occur as the markets fluctuate and/or the availability of data used in an investment's valuation changes. The Fund recognizes transfers between the levels as of the end of the period. As of May 31, 2018, the Fund did not have any investments transfer between investment levels.
24
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
PREFERRED STOCKS | |||||||
Beginning Balance | $ | 16,531,819 | |||||
Purchases | — | ||||||
Sales | — | ||||||
Amortization of discount | — | ||||||
Transfers in | — | ||||||
Transfers out | — | ||||||
Corporate actions | — | ||||||
Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 3,572,974 | ||||||
Realized gains (losses) | — | ||||||
Ending Balance | $ | 20,104,793 | |||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments still held as of May 31, 2018 | $ | 3,572,974 |
The following table presents additional information about valuation techniques and inputs used for investments that are measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 as of May 31, 2018. Various valuation techniques were used in the valuation of certain investments and weighted based on the level of significance:
FAIR VALUE AT MAY 31, 2018 | VALUATION TECHNIQUE | UNOBSERVABLE INPUT | RANGE | SELECTED VALUE | IMPACT TO VALUATION FROM AN INCREASE IN INPUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | $ | 2,216,025 | Market Transaction Method | Precedent Transaction | $ | 27.00 | $ | 27.00 | $ | 27.00 | Increase |
25
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
FAIR VALUE AT MAY 31, 2018 | VALUATION TECHNIQUE | UNOBSERVABLE INPUT | RANGE | SELECTED VALUE | IMPACT TO VALUATION FROM AN INCREASE IN INPUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stocks | $ | 5,860,861 | Discounted Cash Flow | Weighted Average Cost of Capital | 14.5 | % | 16.5 | % | 15.5 | % | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | | Perpetual Growth Rate | 3.0 | % | 4.0 | % | 3.5 | % | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | Market Comparable Companies | Enterprise Value/Revenue | 6.7 | x | 10.9 | x | 10.3 | x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | Discount for Lack of Marketability | 20.0 | % | 20.0 | % | 20.0 | % | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 3,023,951 | Market Transaction Method | Pending Transaction | $ | 40.00 | $ | 40.00 | $ | 40.00 | Increase | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | Discounted Cash Flow | Weighted Average Cost of Capital | 16.0 | % | 18.0 | % | 17.0 | % | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | Perpetual Growth Rate | 3.0 | % | 4.0 | % | 3.5 | % | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | Market Comparable Companies | Enterprise Value/Revenue | 1.5 | x | 7.5 | x | 4.3 | x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | Discount for Lack of Marketability | 20.0 | % | 20.0 | % | 20.0 | % | Decrease | |||||||||||||||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | $ | 8,624,896 | Market Transaction Method | Precedent Transaction | $ | 9.57 | $ | 9.57 | $ | 9.57 | Increase |
26
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
FAIR VALUE AT MAY 31, 2018 | VALUATION TECHNIQUE | UNOBSERVABLE INPUT | RANGE | SELECTED VALUE | IMPACT TO VALUATION FROM AN INCREASE IN INPUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Software | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | $ | 379,060 | Discounted Cash Flow | Weighted Average Cost of Capital | 17.5 | % | 19.5 | % | 18.5 | % | Decrease | ||||||||||||||||||||
| | | Perpetual Growth Rate | 3.0 | % | 4.0 | % | 3.5 | % | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | Market Comparable Companies | Enterprise Value/Revenue | 2.2 | x | 8.4 | x | 5.1 | x | Increase | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | Discount for Lack of Marketability | 20.0 | % | 20.0 | % | 20.0 | % | Decrease |
3. Derivatives
The Fund may, but it is not required to, use derivative instruments for a variety of purposes, including hedging, risk management, portfolio management or to earn income. Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based, in part, on the value of an underlying asset, interest rate, index or financial instrument. Prevailing interest rates and volatility levels, among other things, also affect the value of derivative instruments. A derivative instrument often has risks similar to its underlying asset and may have additional risks, including imperfect correlation between the value of the derivative and the underlying asset, risks of default by the counterparty to certain transactions, magnification of losses incurred due to changes in the market value of the securities, instruments, indices or interest rates to which the derivative instrument relates, risks that the transactions may not be liquid and risks arising from margin requirements. The use of derivatives involves risks that are different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with other portfolio investments. Derivatives may involve the use of highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with other portfolio investments. All of the Fund's holdings, including derivative instruments, are marked-to-market each day with the change in value reflected in unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Upon disposition, a realized gain or loss is recognized.
Certain derivative transactions may give rise to a form of leverage. Leverage magnifies the potential for gain and risk of loss. Leverage associated with derivative transactions may cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet earmarking or segregation requirements, pursuant to applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations, or may cause the Fund to be more volatile than if the Fund had not been
27
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
leveraged. Although the Adviser seeks to use derivatives to further the Fund's investment objectives, there is no assurance that the use of derivatives will achieve this result.
Following is a description of the derivative instruments and techniques that the Fund used during the period and their associated risks:
Options — In respect to options, the Fund is subject to equity risk, interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. If the Fund buys an option, it buys a legal contract giving it the right to buy or sell a specific amount of the underlying instrument or foreign currency, or futures contract on the underlying instrument or foreign currency, at an agreed-upon price during a period of time or on a specified date typically in exchange for a premium paid by the Fund. The Fund may purchase put and call options. Purchasing call options tends to increase the Fund's exposure to the underlying (or similar) instrument. Purchasing put options tends to decrease the Fund's exposure to the underlying (or similar) instrument. When entering into purchased option contracts, the Fund bears the risk of interest or exchange rates or securities prices moving unexpectedly, in which case, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the purchased option contracts; however the risk of loss is limited to the premium paid. Purchased options are reported as part of "Total Investments in Securities" in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Premium paid for purchasing options which expired are treated as realized losses. If the Fund sells an option, it sells to another party the right to buy from or sell to the Fund a specific amount of the underlying instrument or foreign currency, or futures contract on the underlying instrument or foreign currency, at an agreed upon price during a period of time or on a specified date typically in exchange for a premium received by the Fund. When options are purchased OTC, the Fund bears the risk that the counterparty that wrote the option will be unable or unwilling to perform its obligations under the option contract. Options may also be illiquid and the Fund may have difficulty closing out its position. A decision as to whether, when and how to use options involves the exercise of skill and judgment and even a well-conceived option transaction may be unsuccessful because of market behavior or unexpected events. The prices of options can be highly volatile and the use of options can lower total returns.
FASB ASC 815, "Derivatives and Hedging" ("ASC 815"), is intended to improve financial reporting about derivative instruments by requiring enhanced disclosures to enable investors to better understand how and why the Fund uses derivative instruments, how these derivative instruments are accounted for and their effects on the Fund's financial position and results of operations.
28
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
The following table sets forth the fair value of the Fund's derivative contracts by primary risk exposure as of May 31, 2018:
PRIMARY RISK EXPOSURE | ASSET DERIVATIVES STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES LOCATION | FAIR VALUE | |||||||||
Currency Risk | Investments, at Value (Purchased Options) | $ | 116,179 | (d) |
(d) Amounts are included in Investments in securities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The following table sets forth by primary risk exposure the Fund's change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) by type of derivative contract for the six months ended May 31, 2018 in accordance with ASC 815:
CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES
PRIMARY RISK EXPOSURE | PURCHASED OPTIONS (e) | ||||||
Currency Risk | $ | (637,863 | ) |
(e) Amounts are included in Investments in the Statement of Operations.
At May 31, 2018, the Fund's derivative assets and liabilities are as follows:
GROSS AMOUNTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES PRESENTED IN THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
DERIVATIVES | ASSETS (f) | LIABILITIES (f) | |||||||||
Purchased Options | $ | 116,179 | (d) | $ | — |
(d) Amounts are included in Investments in securities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(f) Absent an event of default or early termination, OTC derivative assets and liabilities are presented gross and not offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Fund typically enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreements ("ISDA Master Agreements") or similar master agreements (collectively, "Master Agreements") with its contract counterparties for certain OTC derivatives in order to, among other things, reduce its credit risk to counterparties. ISDA Master Agreements include provisions for general obligations, representations, collateral and events of default or termination. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund typically may offset with the counterparty certain OTC derivative financial instruments' payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment (close-out netting) in the event of default, termination and/or potential deterioration in the credit quality of the counterparty. Various Master Agreements govern the terms of certain transactions with counterparties, including transactions such as swap, forward, repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements. These Master Agreements typically attempt to reduce the counterparty risk associated with such transactions
29
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
by specifying credit protection mechanisms and providing standardization that improves legal certainty. Cross-termination provisions under Master Agreements typically provide that a default in connection with one transaction between the Fund and a counterparty gives the non-defaulting party the right to terminate any other transactions in place with the defaulting party to create one single net payment due to/due from the defaulting party and may be a feature in certain Master Agreements. In the event the Fund exercises its right to terminate a Master Agreement after a counterparty experiences a termination event as defined in the Master Agreement, the return of collateral with market value in excess of the Fund's net liability may be delayed or denied.
The following table presents derivative financial instruments that are subject to enforceable netting arrangements as of May 31, 2018:
GROSS AMOUNTS NOT OFFSET IN THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
COUNTERPARTY | GROSS ASSET DERIVATIVES PRESENTED IN STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT | COLLATERAL RECEIVED (g) | NET AMOUNT (NOT LESS THAN $0) | |||||||||||||||
Royal Bank of Scotland | $ | 116,179 | $ | — | $ | (116,179 | ) | $ | 0 |
(g) In some instances, the actual collateral received may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.
For the six months ended May 31, 2018, the average monthly amount outstanding for each derivative type is as follows:
Purchased Options:
Average monthly notional amount | 264,097,992 |
4. Advisory/Administration Agreements
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, the Fund pays an advisory fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, by applying the following annual rates to the net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business day: 0.67% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.645% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $2 billion; 0.62% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.595% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $3 billion. For the six months ended May 31, 2018, the advisory fee rate (net of waivers/rebate) was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.66% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
The Adviser also serves as the Administrator to the Fund and provides administrative services pursuant to an Administration Agreement for an annual fee, accrued daily and paid monthly, of 0.08% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
30
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
Under a Sub-Administration Agreement between the Administrator and State Street, State Street provides certain administrative services to the Fund. For such services, the Administrator pays State Street a portion of the fee the Administrator receives from the Fund.
The Adviser/Administrator has agreed to reduce its advisory fee, its administration fee and/or reimburse the Fund so that total annual operating expenses, excluding certain investment related expenses, taxes, interest and other extraordinary expenses (including litigation), will not exceed 1.27% for Class A, 2.02% for Class B, 1.77% for Class L, 0.92% for Class I, 2.02% for Class C and 0.85% for Class IS. The fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements will continue for at least one year from the date of the Fund's prospectus or until such time that the Trustees act to discontinue all or a portion of such waivers and/or expense reimbursements when they deem such action is appropriate. For the six months ended May 31, 2018, $2,468 of other expenses were reimbursed by the Adviser pursuant to this arrangement.
5. Plan of Distribution
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Adviser/Administrator. The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The Plan provides that the Fund will pay the Distributor a fee which is accrued daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates: (i) Class A — up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares; (ii) Class B — up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets of Class B shares; (iii) Class L — up to 0.75% of the average daily net assets of Class L shares; and (iv) Class C — up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.
In the case of Class B shares, provided that the Plan continues in effect, any cumulative expenses incurred by the Distributor but not yet recovered may or may not be recovered through the payment of future distribution fees from the Fund pursuant to the Plan and contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of Class B shares. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. The Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess amounts totaled $84,231,122 at May 31, 2018.
In the case of Class A shares, Class L shares and Class C shares, expenses incurred pursuant to the Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25%, 0.75% and 1.00% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares, Class L shares and Class C shares, respectively, will not be reimbursed by the Fund through payments in any subsequent year, except that expenses representing a gross sales commission credited to Financial Intermediaries at the time of sale may be reimbursed in the subsequent calendar year. For the six months ended May 31, 2018, the distribution fee was accrued
31
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
for Class A shares, Class L shares and Class C shares at the annual rate of 0.25%, 0.75% and 1.00%, respectively.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the six months ended May 31, 2018, it received contingent deferred sales charges from certain redemptions of the Fund's Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares of $21,956, $50 and $499, respectively, and received $379,990 in front-end sales charges from sales of the Fund's Class A shares. The respective shareholders pay such charges, which are not an expense of the Fund.
6. Dividend Disbursing and Transfer Agent
The Fund's dividend disbursing and transfer agent is Boston Financial Data Services, Inc. ("BFDS"). Pursuant to a Transfer Agency Agreement, the Fund pays BFDS a fee based on the number of classes, accounts and transactions relating to the Fund. Effective January 1, 2018, BFDS changed its name to DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.
7. Custodian Fees
State Street (the "Custodian") also serves as Custodian for the Fund in accordance with a Custodian Agreement. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the Act. Custody fees are payable monthly based on assets held in custody, investment purchases and sales activity and account maintenance fees, plus reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket expenses.
32
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
8. Shares of Beneficial Interest
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2018 | FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
SHARES | AMOUNT | SHARES | AMOUNT | ||||||||||||||||
CLASS A SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 2,256,020 | $ | 80,099,760 | 366,748 | $ | 12,991,361 | |||||||||||||
Conversion from Class B | 10,111 | 353,113 | 26,681 | 898,252 | |||||||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 2,077,386 | 67,141,110 | 752,535 | 21,763,495 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (986,117 | ) | (33,930,609 | ) | (1,235,665 | ) | (41,522,124 | ) | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) — Class A | 3,357,400 | 113,663,374 | (89,701 | ) | (5,869,016 | ) | |||||||||||||
CLASS B SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Exchanged | 7,046 | 179,833 | 15,123 | 378,126 | |||||||||||||||
Conversion to Class A | (13,809 | ) | (353,113 | ) | (33,509 | ) | (898,252 | ) | |||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 16,405 | 388,802 | 7,869 | 181,364 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (7,719 | ) | (189,951 | ) | (13,682 | ) | (358,552 | ) | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) — Class B | 1,923 | 25,571 | (24,199 | ) | (697,314 | ) | |||||||||||||
CLASS L SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Exchanged | 4,749 | 114,758 | 2,403 | 58,479 | |||||||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 305,683 | 7,336,385 | 109,119 | 2,535,896 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (74,539 | ) | (1,927,345 | ) | (177,002 | ) | (4,654,458 | ) | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) — Class L | 235,893 | 5,523,798 | (65,480 | ) | (2,060,083 | ) | |||||||||||||
CLASS I SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 2,771,090 | 108,203,891 | 896,023 | 34,450,975 | |||||||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 491,381 | 17,453,837 | 143,793 | 4,464,306 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (725,810 | ) | (28,543,163 | ) | (672,438 | ) | (23,976,110 | ) | |||||||||||
Net increase — Class I | 2,536,661 | 97,114,565 | 367,378 | 14,939,171 | |||||||||||||||
CLASS C SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 194,157 | 5,057,296 | 58,432 | 1,689,361 | |||||||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 31,939 | 759,181 | 4,865 | 112,796 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (9,987 | ) | (266,250 | ) | (23,788 | ) | (611,916 | ) | |||||||||||
Net increase — Class C | 216,109 | 5,550,227 | 39,509 | 1,190,241 | |||||||||||||||
Net increase in Fund | 6,347,986 | $ | 221,877,535 | 227,507 | $ | 7,502,999 |
9. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investment securities, excluding short-term investments, for the six months ended May 31, 2018, aggregated $280,482,212 and $174,517,849, respectively.
33
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
The Fund invests in the Institutional Class of the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds — Treasury Securities Portfolio (the "Liquidity Funds"), an open-end management investment company managed by the Adviser, both directly and as a portion of the securities held as collateral on loaned securities. Advisory fees paid by the Fund are reduced by an amount equal to its pro-rata share of the advisory and administration fees paid by the Fund due to its investment in the Liquidity Funds. For the six months ended May 31, 2018, advisory fees paid were reduced by $19,413 relating to the Fund's investment in the Liquidity Funds.
A summary of the Fund's transactions in shares of the Liquidity Funds during the six months ended May 31, 2018 is as follows:
AFFILIATED INVESTMENT COMPANY | VALUE NOVEMBER 30, 2017 | PURCHASES AT COST | PROCEEDS FROM SALES | DIVIDEND INCOME | REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) | CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) | VALUE MAY 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liquidity Funds | $ | 45,149,048 | $ | 195,986,329 | $ | 205,911,669 | $ | 138,299 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 35,223,708 |
For the six months ended May 31, 2018, the Fund incurred brokerage commissions of $1,152 with Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC, an affiliate of the Adviser/Administrator and Distributor, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.
The Fund is permitted to purchase and sell securities ("cross-trade") from and to other Morgan Stanley Funds as well as other funds and client accounts for which the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser serves as investment adviser, pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustees in compliance with Rule 17a-7 under the Act (the "Rule"). Each cross-trade is executed at the current market price in compliance with provisions of the Rule. For the six months ended May 31, 2018, the Fund did not engage in any cross-trade transactions.
The Fund has an unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Compensation Plan"), which allows each independent Trustee to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Trustees. Each eligible Trustee generally may elect to have the deferred amounts credited with a return equal to the total return on one or more of the Morgan Stanley funds that are offered as investment options under the Compensation Plan. Appreciation/depreciation and distributions received from these investments are recorded with an offsetting increase/decrease in the deferred compensation obligation and do not affect the NAV of the Fund.
10. Federal Income Tax Status
It is the Fund's intention to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company and distribute all of its taxable and tax-exempt income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.
34
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
The Fund may be subject to taxes imposed by countries in which it invests. Such taxes are generally based on income and/or capital gains earned or repatriated. Taxes are accrued based on net investment income, net realized gains and net unrealized appreciation as such income and/or gains are earned. Taxes may also be based on transactions in foreign currency and are accrued based on the value of investments denominated in such currency.
FASB ASC 740-10, "Income Taxes — Overall", sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Management has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. If applicable, the Fund recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in "Interest Expense" and penalties in "Other Expenses" in the Statement of Operations. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, New York and various states. Each of the tax years in the four-year period ended November 30, 2017, remains subject to examination by taxing authorities.
The tax character of distributions paid may differ from the character of distributions shown in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets due to short-term capital gains being treated as ordinary income for tax purposes. The tax character of distributions paid during fiscal years 2017 and 2016 was as follows:
2017 DISTRIBUTIONS PAID FROM: | 2016 DISTRIBUTIONS PAID FROM: | ||||||||||||||
ORDINARY INCOME | LONG-TERM CAPITAL GAIN | ORDINARY INCOME | LONG-TERM CAPITAL GAIN | ||||||||||||
$ | — | $ | 29,973,391 | $ | — | $ | 30,304,282 |
The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These book/tax differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature.
Temporary differences are attributable to differing book and tax treatments for the timing of the recognition of gains (losses) on certain investment transactions and the timing of the deductibility of certain expenses.
Permanent differences, primarily due to foreign currency losses and a net operating loss, resulted in the following reclassifications among the Fund's components of net assets at November 30, 2017:
ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT LOSS | ACCUMULATED UNDISTRIBUTED NET REALIZED GAIN | PAID-IN-CAPITAL | |||||||||
$ | 4,897,048 | $ | (4,897,048 | ) | $ | — |
35
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Notes to Financial Statements n May 31, 2018 (unaudited) continued
At November 30, 2017, the components of distributable earnings for the Fund on a tax basis were as follows:
UNDISTRIBUTED ORDINARY INCOME | UNDISTRIBUTED LONG-TERM CAPITAL GAIN | ||||||
$ | 13,459,106 | $ | 84,851,847 |
11. Risks Relating to Certain Financial Instruments
The Fund may lend securities to qualified financial institutions, such as broker-dealers, to earn additional income. Risks in securities lending transactions are that a borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or return the securities when due, and that the value of the short-term investments will be less than the amount of cash collateral plus any rebate that is required to be returned to the borrower.
Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, fluctuations of exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar, the possibility of lower levels of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability.
12. Credit Facility
The Fund and other Morgan Stanley funds participated in a $150,000,000 committed, unsecured revolving line of credit facility (the "Facility") with State Street. This Facility is to be used for temporary emergency purposes or funding of shareholder redemption requests. The interest rate on borrowings is based on the federal funds rate or 1 month LIBOR rate plus a spread. The Facility also has a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum based on the unused portion of the Facility. During the six months ended May 31, 2018, the Fund did not have any borrowings under the Facility.
13. Other
At May 31, 2018, the Fund had record owners of 10% or greater. Investment activities of these shareholders could have a material impact on the Fund. The aggregate percentage of such owners was 37.1%.
36
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Financial Highlights
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED | FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAY 31, 2018 | 2017 | 2016(1) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 40.28 | $ | 31.06 | $ | 35.07 | $ | 35.01 | $ | 34.14 | $ | 27.10 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(2) | (0.07 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.32 | ) | (0.27 | ) | (0.23 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 6.41 | 12.43 | (1.00 | ) | 2.67 | 4.24 | 10.48 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 6.34 | 12.13 | (1.20 | ) | 2.35 | 3.97 | 10.25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from net realized gain | (9.01 | ) | (2.91 | ) | (2.81 | ) | (2.29 | ) | (3.10 | ) | (3.21 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 37.61 | $ | 40.28 | $ | 31.06 | $ | 35.07 | $ | 35.01 | $ | 34.14 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return(3) | 19.41 | %(8) | 42.79 | % | (3.52 | )% | 7.63 | % | 12.66 | % | 43.05 | % | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses | 1.18 | %(4)(9) | 1.23 | %(4)(5) | 1.23 | %(4)(6) | 1.25 | %(4)(5) | 1.26 | %(4)(5) | 1.30 | %(4)(5) | |||||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (0.40 | )%(4)(9) | (0.86 | )%(4)(5) | (0.65 | )%(4)(6) | (0.96 | )%(4)(5) | (0.82 | )%(4)(5) | (0.80 | )%(4)(5) | |||||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.01 | %(9) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(7) | |||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 413,945 | $ | 308,159 | $ | 240,399 | $ | 282,164 | $ | 288,042 | $ | 274,528 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 36 | %(8) | 69 | % | 46 | % | 28 | % | 39 | % | 35 | % |
(1) Reflects prior period Custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed in September 2016. The amount of the reimbursement was immaterial on a per share basis and did not impact the total return of Class A shares. The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and the Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets would be unchanged as the reimbursement of Custodian fees was offset against current expense waivers/reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment loss.
(2) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(3) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(4) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(5) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were waived by the Adviser/Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
November 30, 2017 | 1.26 | % | (0.89 | )% | |||||||
November 30, 2015 | 1.27 | (0.98 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2014 | 1.30 | (0.86 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2013 | 1.33 | (0.83 | ) |
(6) If the Fund had not received the reimbursement from the Custodian, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
November 30, 2016 | 1.24 | % | (0.66 | )% |
(7) Amount is less than 0.005%.
(8) Not annualized.
(9) Annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements
37
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Financial Highlights continued
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED | FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAY 31, 2018 | 2017 | 2016(1) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class B Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 31.90 | $ | 25.37 | $ | 29.37 | $ | 29.92 | $ | 29.83 | $ | 24.25 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(2) | (0.16 | ) | (0.45 | ) | (0.36 | ) | (0.49 | ) | (0.45 | ) | (0.38 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 4.75 | 9.89 | (0.83 | ) | 2.23 | 3.64 | 9.17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 4.59 | 9.44 | (1.19 | ) | 1.74 | 3.19 | 8.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from net realized gain | (9.01 | ) | (2.91 | ) | (2.81 | ) | (2.29 | ) | (3.10 | ) | (3.21 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 27.48 | $ | 31.90 | $ | 25.37 | $ | 29.37 | $ | 29.92 | $ | 29.83 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return(3) | 18.90 | %(7) | 41.67 | % | (4.24 | )% | 6.79 | % | 11.83 | % | 41.94 | % | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses | 2.01 | %(4)(5)(8) | 2.01 | %(4)(5) | 2.02 | %(4)(5) | 2.02 | %(4)(5) | 2.01 | %(4)(5) | 2.06 | %(4)(5) | |||||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (1.22 | )%(4)(5)(8) | (1.66 | )%(4)(5) | (1.45 | )%(4)(5) | (1.72 | )%(4)(5) | (1.56 | )%(4)(5) | (1.56 | )%(4)(5) | |||||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.01 | %(8) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(6) | 0.00 | %(6) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(6) | |||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 1,236 | $ | 1,373 | $ | 1,706 | $ | 3,154 | $ | 4,339 | $ | 6,714 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 36 | %(7) | 69 | % | 46 | % | 28 | % | 39 | % | 35 | % |
(1) Reflects prior period Custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed in September 2016. The amount of the reimbursement was immaterial on a per share basis and did not impact the total return of Class B shares. The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and the Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets would be unchanged as the reimbursement of Custodian fees was offset against current expense waivers/reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment loss.
(2) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(3) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(4) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(5) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were waived by the Adviser/Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
May 31, 2018 | 2.27 | % | (1.48 | )% | |||||||
November 30, 2017 | 2.27 | (1.92 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2016 | 2.30 | (1.73 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2015 | 2.19 | (1.89 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2014 | 2.33 | (1.88 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2013 | 2.12 | (1.62 | ) |
(6) Amount is less than 0.005%.
(7) Not annualized.
(8) Annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements
38
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Financial Highlights continued
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED | FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAY 31, 2018 | 2017 | 2016(1) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class L Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 32.18 | $ | 25.51 | $ | 29.46 | $ | 29.93 | $ | 29.77 | $ | 24.16 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(2) | (0.12 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.42 | ) | (0.37 | ) | (0.33 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 4.81 | 9.96 | (0.84 | ) | 2.24 | 3.63 | 9.15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 4.69 | 9.58 | (1.14 | ) | 1.82 | 3.26 | 8.82 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from net realized gain | (9.01 | ) | (2.91 | ) | (2.81 | ) | (2.29 | ) | (3.10 | ) | (3.21 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 27.86 | $ | 32.18 | $ | 25.51 | $ | 29.46 | $ | 29.93 | $ | 29.77 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return(3) | 19.09 | %(7) | 42.02 | % | (4.04 | )% | 7.11 | % | 12.08 | % | 42.27 | % | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses | 1.72 | %(4)(8) | 1.76 | %(4)(5) | 1.77 | %(4)(5) | 1.76 | %(4)(5) | 1.76 | %(4)(5) | 1.85 | %(4)(5) | |||||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (0.93 | )%(4)(8) | (1.39 | )%(4)(5) | (1.19 | )%(4)(5) | (1.47 | )%(4)(5) | (1.31 | )%(4)(5) | (1.35 | )%(4)(5) | |||||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.01 | %(8) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(6) | 0.00 | %(6) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(6) | |||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 30,300 | $ | 27,412 | $ | 23,398 | $ | 28,861 | $ | 29,625 | $ | 27,327 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 36 | %(7) | 69 | % | 46 | % | 28 | % | 39 | % | 35 | % |
(1) Reflects prior period Custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed in September 2016. The amount of the reimbursement was immaterial on a per share basis and did not impact the total return of Class L shares. The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and the Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets would be unchanged as the reimbursement of Custodian fees was offset against current expense waivers/reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment loss.
(2) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(3) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period. Effective February 25, 2013, Class C shares were renamed Class L shares. Class C shares held for less than one year were subject to a 1.0% contingent deferred sales charge. The contingent deferred sales charge on Class L shares was eliminated effective February 25, 2013.
(4) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(5) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were waived by the Adviser/Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
November 30, 2017 | 1.80 | % | (1.43 | )% | |||||||
November 30, 2016 | 1.78 | (1.20 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2015 | 1.80 | (1.51 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2014 | 1.80 | (1.35 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2013 | 1.87 | (1.37 | ) |
(6) Amount is less than 0.005%.
(7) Not annualized.
(8) Annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements
39
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Financial Highlights continued
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED | FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAY 31, 2018 | 2017 | 2016(1) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class I Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 43.40 | $ | 33.15 | $ | 37.12 | $ | 36.79 | $ | 35.61 | $ | 28.06 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(2) | (0.02 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.11 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.17 | ) | (0.15 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 7.02 | 13.35 | (1.05 | ) | 2.84 | 4.45 | 10.91 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 7.00 | 13.16 | (1.16 | ) | 2.62 | 4.28 | 10.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from net realized gain | (9.01 | ) | (2.91 | ) | (2.81 | ) | (2.29 | ) | (3.10 | ) | (3.21 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 41.39 | $ | 43.40 | $ | 33.15 | $ | 37.12 | $ | 36.79 | $ | 35.61 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return(3) | 19.57 | %(7) | 43.23 | % | (3.20 | )% | 8.02 | % | 13.04 | % | 43.44 | % | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses | 0.87 | %(4)(8) | 0.91 | %(4)(5) | 0.92 | %(4)(5) | 0.90 | %(4)(5) | 0.91 | %(4)(5) | 1.02 | %(4)(5) | |||||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (0.10 | )%(4)(8) | (0.52 | )%(4)(5) | (0.34 | )%(4)(5) | (0.61 | )%(4)(5) | (0.48 | )%(4)(5) | (0.52 | )%(4)(5) | |||||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.01 | %(8) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(6) | 0.00 | %(6) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(6) | |||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 187,455 | $ | 86,453 | $ | 53,851 | $ | 60,534 | $ | 59,883 | $ | 41,126 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 36 | %(7) | 69 | % | 46 | % | 28 | % | 39 | % | 35 | % |
(1) Reflects prior period Custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed in September 2016. The amount of the reimbursement was immaterial on a per share basis and did not impact the total return of Class I shares. The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and the Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets would be unchanged as the reimbursement of Custodian fees was offset against current expense waivers/reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment loss.
(2) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(3) Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(4) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(5) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were waived by the Adviser/Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
November 30, 2017 | 0.95 | % | (0.56 | )% | |||||||
November 30, 2016 | 0.94 | (0.36 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2015 | 0.92 | (0.63 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2014 | 1.01 | (0.58 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2013 | 1.04 | (0.54 | ) |
(6) Amount is less than 0.005%.
(7) Not annualized.
(8) Annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements
40
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Financial Highlights continued
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED | FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, | FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 30, 2015(2) TO | |||||||||||||||||
MAY 31, 2018 | 2017 | 2016(1) | NOVEMBER 30, 2015 | ||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||
Class C Shares | |||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 31.96 | $ | 25.41 | $ | 29.42 | $ | 28.60 | |||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(3) | (0.15 | ) | (0.44 | ) | (0.36 | ) | (0.30 | ) | |||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 4.77 | 9.90 | (0.84 | ) | 1.13 | ||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 4.62 | 9.46 | (1.20 | ) | 0.83 | ||||||||||||||
Less distributions from net realized gain | (9.01 | ) | (2.91 | ) | (2.81 | ) | (0.01 | ) | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 27.57 | $ | 31.96 | $ | 25.41 | $ | 29.42 | |||||||||||
Total Return(4) | 18.97 | %(8) | 41.68 | % | (4.27 | )% | 2.91 | %(8) | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses | 1.91 | %(5)(9) | 2.02 | %(5)(6) | 2.02 | %(5)(6) | 2.02 | %(5)(6)(9) | |||||||||||
Net investment loss | (1.17 | )%(5)(9) | (1.58 | )%(5)(6) | (1.42 | )%(5)(6) | (1.76 | )%(5)(6)(9) | |||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.01 | %(9) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7)(9) | |||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 8,248 | $ | 2,656 | $ | 1,107 | $ | 693 | |||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 36 | %(8) | 69 | % | 46 | % | 28 | % |
(1) Reflects prior period Custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed in September 2016. The amount of the reimbursement was immaterial on a per share basis and did not impact the total return of Class C shares. The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and the Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets would be unchanged as the reimbursement of Custodian fees was offset against current period expense waivers/reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment loss.
(2) Commencement of offering.
(3) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(4) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(5) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(6) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were reimbursed or waived by the Adviser/Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
November 30, 2017 | 2.13 | % | (1.69 | )% | |||||||
November 30, 2016 | 2.21 | (1.61 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2015(9) | 2.38 | (2.12 | ) |
(7) Amount is less than 0.005%.
(8) Not annualized.
(9) Annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements
41
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Financial Highlights continued
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED | FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30, | FOR THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 13, 2013(2) TO | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAY 31, 2018 | 2017 | 2016(1) | 2015 | 2014 | NOVEMBER 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class IS Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 43.55 | $ | 33.23 | $ | 37.18 | $ | 36.83 | $ | 35.62 | $ | 32.12 | |||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(3) | (0.01 | ) | (0.18 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.20 | ) | (0.14 | ) | (0.04 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 7.05 | 13.41 | (1.06 | ) | 2.84 | 4.45 | 3.54 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 7.04 | 13.23 | (1.14 | ) | 2.64 | 4.31 | 3.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from net realized gain | (9.01 | ) | (2.91 | ) | (2.81 | ) | (2.29 | ) | (3.10 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 41.58 | $ | 43.55 | $ | 33.23 | $ | 37.18 | $ | 36.83 | $ | 35.62 | |||||||||||||||
Total Return(4) | 19.59 | %(9) | 43.35 | % | (3.13 | )% | 8.07 | % | 13.13 | % | 10.90 | %(9) | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net expenses | 0.82 | %(5)(6)(10) | 0.85 | %(5)(6) | 0.83 | %(5)(6)(7) | 0.85 | %(5)(6) | 0.84 | %(5)(6) | 0.84 | %(5)(6)(10) | |||||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (0.05 | )%(5)(6)(10) | (0.48 | )%(5)(6) | (0.25 | )%(5)(6)(7) | (0.55 | )%(5)(6) | (0.40 | )%(5)(6) | (0.52 | )%(5)(6)(10) | |||||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.00 | %(8)(10) | 0.00 | %(8) | 0.00 | %(8) | 0.00 | %(8) | 0.01 | % | 0.00 | %(8)(10) | |||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 13 | $ | 14 | $ | 10 | $ | 12 | $ | 11 | $ | 11 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 36 | %(9) | 69 | % | 46 | % | 28 | % | 39 | % | 35 | % |
(1) Reflects prior period Custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were reimbursed in September 2016. The amount of the reimbursement was immaterial on a per share basis and did not impact the total return of Class IS shares. The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets and the Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets would be unchanged as the reimbursement of Custodian fees was offset against current expense waivers/reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment loss.
(2) Commencement of offering.
(3) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(4) Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(5) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(6) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were waived by the Adviser/Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
May 31, 2018 | 14.52 | % | (13.75 | )% | |||||||
November 30, 2017 | 17.07 | (16.70 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2016 | 19.43 | (18.85 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2015 | 15.68 | (15.38 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2014 | 18.31 | (17.87 | ) | ||||||||
November 30, 2013(10) | 1.33 | (2.32 | ) |
(7) If the Fund had not received the reimbursement from the Custodian, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
November 30, 2016 | 0.84 | % | (0.26 | )% |
(8) Amount is less than 0.005%.
(9) Not annualized.
(10) Annualized.
See Notes to Financial Statements
42
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Privacy Notice (unaudited)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy
We are required by federal law to provide you with a copy of our privacy policy annually. This policy applies to current and former individual investors in funds managed or sponsored by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. ("MSIM") as well as current and former individual clients of MSIM. This policy is not applicable to partnerships, corporations, trusts or other non-individual clients or investors. Please note that we may amend this policy at any time, and will inform you of any changes as required by law.
We Respect Your Privacy
We appreciate that you have provided us with your personal financial information. We strive to maintain the privacy of such information while we help you achieve your financial objectives. This Notice describes what non-public personal information we collect about you, why we collect it, when we may share it with others and how certain others may use it. It discusses the steps you may take to limit our sharing of certain information about you to affiliated companies in the Morgan Stanley family of companies ("other Morgan Stanley companies"). It also discloses how you may limit use of certain shared information for marketing purposes by other Morgan Stanley branded companies. Throughout this policy, we refer to the non-public information that personally identifies you or your accounts as "personal information.''
1. What Personal Information Do We Collect About You?
We obtain personal information from applications and other forms you submit to us, from your dealings with us, from consumer reporting agencies, from our Web sites and from third parties and other sources.
For example:
• We may collect information such as your name, address, e-mail address, telephone/fax numbers, assets, income and investment objectives through subscription documents, applications and other forms you submit to us.
• We may obtain information about account balances, your use of account(s) and the types of products and services you prefer to receive from us through your dealings and transactions with us and other sources.
• We may obtain information about your creditworthiness and credit history from consumer reporting agencies.
43
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Privacy Notice (unaudited) continued
• We may collect background information from and through third-party vendors to verify representations you have made and to comply with various regulatory requirements.
• If you interact with us through our public and private Web sites, we may collect information that you provide directly through online communications (such as an e-mail address). We may also collect information about your Internet service provider, your domain name, your computer's operating system and Web browser, your use of our Web sites and your product and service preferences, through the use of "cookies." Please consult the Terms of Use of these sites for more details.
2. When Do We Disclose Personal Information We Collect About You?
We may disclose personal information we collect about you to other Morgan Stanley companies and to non-affiliated third parties.
a. Information We Disclose to Other Morgan Stanley Companies. We may disclose personal information to other Morgan Stanley companies for a variety of reasons, including to manage your account(s) effectively, to service and process your transactions, to let you know about products and services offered by us and other Morgan Stanley companies, to manage our business, and as otherwise required or permitted by law. Offers for products and services from other Morgan Stanley companies are developed under conditions designed to safeguard your personal information.
b. Information We Disclose to Non-affiliated Third Parties. We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to non-affiliated third parties except to those who provide marketing services on our behalf, to financial institutions with whom we have joint marketing agreements, and as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, we may disclose personal information to non-affiliated third parties for servicing and processing transactions, to offer our own products and services, to protect against fraud, for institutional risk control, to respond to judicial process or to perform services on our behalf. When we share personal information with a non-affiliated third party, they are required to limit their use of personal information to the particular purpose for which it was shared and they are not allowed to share personal information with others except to fulfill that limited purpose or as may be permitted or required by law.
3. How Do We Protect The Security And Confidentiality Of Personal Information We Collect About You?
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural security measures to help safeguard the personal information we collect about you. We have internal policies governing the proper handling of client information. Third parties that provide support or marketing services on our behalf may also receive personal information, and we require them to adhere to confidentiality standards with respect to such information.
44
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Privacy Notice (unaudited) continued
4. How Can You Limit The Sharing Of Certain Types Of Personal Information With Other Morgan Stanley Companies?
We offer you choices as to whether we share with other Morgan Stanley companies the personal information that was collected to determine your eligibility for products and services you request ("eligibility information"). Eligibility information does not include your identification information or personal information pertaining to our transactions or experiences with you. Please note that, even if you direct us not to share eligibility information with other Morgan Stanley companies ("opt-out"), we may still share personal information, including eligibility information, with those companies in circumstances excluded from the opt-out under applicable law, such as to process transactions or to service your account.
5. How Can You Limit The Use Of Certain Types Of Personal Information By Other Morgan Stanley Companies For Marketing?
By following the opt-out instructions in Section 6 below, you may limit other Morgan Stanley branded companies from marketing their products or services to you based on personal information we disclose to them. This information may include, for example, your income and account history with us. Please note that, even if you choose to limit Other Morgan Stanley Companies from using personal information about you that we may share with them for marketing their products and services to you, Other Morgan Stanley Companies may use your personal information that they obtain from us to market to you in circumstances permitted by law, such as if the Other Morgan Stanley Company has its own relationship with you.
6. How Can You Send Us An Opt-Out Instruction?
If you wish to limit our sharing of eligibility information about you with other Morgan Stanley companies or other Morgan Stanley companies' use of personal information for marketing purposes, as described in this notice, you may do so by:
• Calling us at (800) 548-7786
Monday–Friday between 8a.m. and 6p.m.(EST)
• Writing to us at the following address:
DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.
c/o Privacy Coordinator
P.O. Box 219804
Kansas City, Missouri 64121
45
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Privacy Notice (unaudited) continued
Your written request should include your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-out applies and whether you are opting out with respect to sharing of eligibility information (Section 4 above), or if information used for Marketing (Section 5 above) or both. Written opt-out requests should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your request, we require that the request be provided by you directly and not through a third party.
Your opt-out preference will remain in effect with respect to this policy (as it may be amended) until you notify us otherwise. If you have a joint account, your direction for us not to share this information with other Morgan Stanley companies and for those other Morgan Stanley companies not to use your personal information for marketing will be applied to all account holders on that account. Please understand that if you limit our sharing or our affiliated companies' use of personal information, you and any joint account holder(s) may not receive information about Morgan Stanley products and services, including products or services that could help you manage your financial resources and achieve your investment objectives.
7. What If An Affiliated Company Becomes A Non-Affiliated Third Party?
If, at any time in the future, an affiliated company becomes a non-affiliated third party, further disclosures of personal information made to the former affiliated company will be limited to those described in Section 2(b) above relating to non-affiliated third parties. If you elected under Section 6 to limit disclosures we make to affiliated companies, or use of personal information by affiliated companies, your election will not apply to use by any former affiliated company of your personal information in their possession once it becomes a non-affiliated third party.
46
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
Privacy Notice (unaudited) continued
Special Notice to Residents of Vermont
The following section supplements our policy with respect to our individual clients who have a Vermont address and supersedes anything to the contrary in the above policy with respect to those clients only.
The state of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and non-affiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with non-affiliated third parties or other Morgan Stanley companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information ("opt-in").
If you wish to receive offers for investment products and services offered by or through other Morgan Stanley companies, please notify us in writing at the following address:
DST Asset Manager Solutions, Inc.
c/o Privacy Coordinator
P.O. Box 219804
Kansas City, Missouri 64121
Your authorization should include your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-in applies and should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your authorization, we require that the authorization be provided by you directly and not through a third party.
Special Notice to Residents of California
The following section supplements our policy with respect to our individual clients who have a California address and supersedes anything to the contrary in the above policy with respect to those clients only.
In response to a California law, if your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to non-affiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
47
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
Not applicable for semiannual reports.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Not applicable for semiannual reports.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Not applicable for semiannual reports.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable for semiannual reports.
Item 6.
(a) Refer to Item 1.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable for semiannual reports.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Applicable only to annual reports filed by closed-end funds.
Item 9. Closed-End Fund Repurchases
Applicable to reports filed by closed-end funds.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
(a) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are sufficient to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, based upon such officers’ evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits
(a) Code of Ethics — Not applicable for semiannual reports.
(b) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant are attached hereto as part of EX-99.CERT.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Morgan Stanley Multi Cap Growth Trust
/s/ John H. Gernon |
|
John H. Gernon |
|
Principal Executive Officer |
|
July 17, 2018 |
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ John H. Gernon |
|
John H. Gernon |
|
Principal Executive Officer |
|
July 17, 2018 |
|
|
|
/s/ Francis Smith |
|
Francis Smith |
|
Principal Financial Officer |
|
July 17, 2018 |
|