UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM N-CSRS
Investment Company Act file number 811-642
DWS International Fund, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code: (212) 454-7190
Paul Schubert
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Date of fiscal year end: | 10/31 |
Date of reporting period: | 04/30/06 |
ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS
APRIL 30, 2006
Semiannual Report
to Shareholders
DWS Emerging Markets
Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Emerging Markets Fund)
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Contents
Click Here Performance Summary
Click Here Information About Your Fund's Expenses
Click Here Portfolio Management Review
Click Here Portfolio Summary
Click Here Investment Portfolio
Click Here Financial Statements
Click Here Financial Highlights
Click Here Notes to Financial Statements
Click Here Other Information
Click Here Shareholder Meeting Results
Click Here Account Management Resources
Click Here Privacy Statement
This report must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. To obtain a prospectus for any of our funds, refer to the Account Management Resources information provided in the back of this booklet. We advise you to consider the fund's objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
Investments in mutual funds involve risk. Some funds have more risk than others. This fund is subject to stock market risk. Investing in securities of emerging markets presents certain unique risks not associated with domestic investments, such as currency fluctuation, political and economic changes and market risks. This fund also may focus its investments in certain geographical regions, thereby increasing its vulnerability to developments in that region. All of these factors may result in greater share price volatility. Please read this fund's prospectus for specific details regarding its investments and risk profile.
DWS Scudder is part of Deutsche Asset Management, which is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. and DWS Trust Company.
NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE NOT A DEPOSIT NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
Performance Summary April 30, 2006
Classes A, B and C
All performance shown is historical, assumes reinvestment of all dividend and capital gain distributions, and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value fluctuate with changing market conditions so that, when redeemed, shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Please visit www.dws-scudder.com for the Fund's most recent month-end performance.
Please keep in mind that high double-digit returns were primarily achieved during favorable market conditions. Investors should not expect that such favorable returns can be consistently achieved. A fund's performance, especially for very short time periods, should not be the sole factor in making your investment decision.
The maximum sales charge for Class A shares is 5.75%. For Class B shares, the maximum contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is 4% within the first year after purchase, declining to 0% after six years. Class C shares have no adjustment for front-end sales charges but redemptions within one year of purchase may be subject to a CDSC of 1%. Unadjusted returns do not reflect sales charges and would have been lower if they had.
To discourage short-term trading, shareholders redeeming shares held less than 30 days will have a lower total return due to the effect of the 2% short-term redemption fee.
Returns and rankings for the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and Life of Fund periods shown for Class A and Class C shares and during all periods shown for Class B shares reflect a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement. Without this waiver/reimbursement, returns and rankings would have been lower.
Performance figures do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Returns and rankings may differ by share class.
Returns shown for Class A, B and C shares prior to their inception on May 29, 2001 are derived from the historical performance of Class S shares of the DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund during such periods and have been adjusted to reflect the higher gross total annual operating expenses of each specific class. Any difference in expenses will affect performance.
Average Annual Total Returns (Unadjusted for Sales Charge) as of 4/30/06 | |||||
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund | 6-Month* | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | Life of Fund* |
Class A | 36.83% | 60.13% | 44.46% | 23.08% | 8.78% |
Class B | 36.35% | 58.89% | 43.32% | 22.09% | 7.90% |
Class C | 36.33% | 58.90% | 43.36% | 22.13% | 7.94% |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index+ | 37.60% | 62.31% | 45.39% | 23.72% | 8.00% |
Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
* Total returns shown for periods less than one year are not annualized.
* The Fund commenced operations on May 8, 1996. Index returns began on May 31, 1996.
Net Asset Value and Distribution Information | |||
| Class A | Class B | Class C |
Net Asset Value: 4/30/06 | $ 25.78 | $ 24.86 | $ 24.91 |
10/31/05 | $ 20.26 | $ 19.66 | $ 19.70 |
Distribution Information: Six Months: Capital Gain Distributions as of 4/30/06 | $ 1.64 | $ 1.64 | $ 1.64 |
Class A Lipper Rankings — Emerging Markets Funds Category as of 4/30/06 | ||||
Period | Rank |
| Number of Funds Tracked | Percentile Ranking (%) |
1-Year | 105 | of | 196 | 54 |
3-Year | 93 | of | 177 | 53 |
Source: Lipper Inc. Rankings are historical and do not guarantee future results. Rankings are based on total return unadjusted for sales charges with distributions reinvested. If sales charges had been included, rankings might have been less favorable. Rankings are for Class A shares; other share classes may vary.
Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment (Adjusted for Maximum Sales Charge) |
[] DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund — Class A [] MSCI Emerging Markets Index+ |
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Yearly periods ended April 30 |
The Fund's growth of an assumed $10,000 investment is adjusted for the maximum sales charge of 5.75%. This results in a net initial investment of $9,425.
Comparative Results (Adjusted for Maximum Sales Charge) as of 4/30/06 | |||||
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | Life of Fund* | |
Class A | Growth of $10,000 | $15,092 | $28,412 | $26,623 | $21,824 |
Average annual total return | 50.92% | 41.63% | 21.63% | 8.14% | |
Class B | Growth of $10,000 | $15,589 | $29,240 | $27,022 | $21,361 |
Average annual total return | 55.89% | 43.00% | 22.00% | 7.90% | |
Class C | Growth of $10,000 | $15,890 | $29,463 | $27,173 | $21,428 |
Average annual total return | 58.90% | 43.36% | 22.13% | 7.94% | |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index+ | Growth of $10,000 | $16,231 | $30,731 | $28,987 | $21,453 |
Average annual total return | 62.31% | 45.39% | 23.72% | 8.00% |
The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.
* The Fund commenced operations on May 8, 1996. Index returns began on May 31, 1996.
+ MSCI Emerging Markets Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of companies in a universe of 26 emerging markets. The index is calculated using closing local market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns assume reinvested dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index.
Class AARP and Class S
Class AARP has been created especially for members of AARP. Class S shares are no longer available to new investors except under certain circumstances. (Please refer to the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.)
All performance shown is historical, assumes reinvestment of all dividend and capital gain distributions, and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value fluctuate with changing market conditions so that, when redeemed, shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. Please visit www.dws-scudder.com for the Fund's most recent month-end performance.
Please keep in mind that high double-digit returns were primarily achieved during favorable market conditions. Investors should not expect that such favorable returns can be consistently achieved. A fund's performance, especially for very short time periods, should not be the sole factor in making your investment decision.
To discourage short-term trading, shareholders redeeming shares held less than 30 days will have a lower total return due to the effect of the 2% short-term redemption fee.
Returns and rankings for the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and Life of Fund periods shown for Class AARP shares and during all periods shown for Class S shares reflect a fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement. Without this waiver/reimbursement, returns and rankings would have been lower.
Performance figures do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Returns and rankings may differ by share class.
Returns shown for Class AARP shares prior to its inception on October 2, 2000 are derived from the historical performance of Class S shares of the DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund during such periods and have assumed the same expense structure during such periods. Any difference in expenses will affect performance.
Average Annual Total Returns as of 4/30/06 | |||||
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund | 6-Month* | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | Life of Fund* |
Class S | 37.01% | 60.46% | 44.79% | 23.39% | 9.07% |
Class AARP | 36.97% | 60.48% | 44.78% | 23.38% | 9.07% |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index+ | 37.60% | 62.31% | 45.39% | 23.72% | 8.00% |
Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
* Total returns shown for periods less than one year are not annualized.
* The Fund commenced operations on May 8, 1996. Index returns began on May 31, 1996.
Net Asset Value and Distribution Information | ||
| Class AARP | Class S |
Net Asset Value: 4/30/06 | $ 25.99 | $ 25.98 |
10/31/05 | $ 20.40 | $ 20.38 |
Distribution Information: Six Months: Capital Gain Distributions as of 4/30/06 | $ 1.64 | $ 1.64 |
Class S Lipper Rankings — Emerging Markets Funds Category as of 4/30/06 | ||||
Period | Rank |
| Number of Funds Tracked | Percentile Ranking (%) |
1-Year | 100 | of | 196 | 51 |
3-Year | 85 | of | 177 | 48 |
5-Year | 75 | of | 137 | 55 |
Source: Lipper Inc. Rankings are historical and do not guarantee future results. Rankings are based on total return with distributions reinvested. Rankings are for Class S shares; other share classes may vary.
Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment |
[] DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund — Class S [] MSCI Emerging Markets Index+ |
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Yearly periods ended April 30 |
Comparative Results as of 4/30/06 | |||||
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | Life of Fund* | |
Class S | Growth of $10,000 | $16,046 | $30,356 | $28,605 | $23,774 |
Average annual total return | 60.46% | 44.79% | 23.39% | 9.07% | |
Class AARP | Growth of $10,000 | $16,048 | $30,345 | $28,596 | $23.790 |
Average annual total return | 60.48% | 44.78% | 23.38% | 9.07% | |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index+ | Growth of $10,000 | $16,231 | $30,731 | $28,987 | $21,453 |
Average annual total return | 62.31% | 45.39% | 23.72% | 8.00% |
The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.
* The Fund commenced operations on May 8, 1996. Index returns began on May 31, 1996.
+ MSCI Emerging Markets Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of companies in a universe of 26 emerging markets. The index is calculated using closing local market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns assume reinvested dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index.
Information About Your Fund's Expenses
As an investor of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: ongoing expenses and transaction costs. Ongoing expenses include management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees and other Fund expenses. Examples of transaction costs include sales charges (loads), redemption fees and account maintenance fees, which are not shown in this section. The following tables are intended to help you understand your ongoing expenses (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to help you compare these expenses with the ongoing expenses of investing in other mutual funds. In the most recent six-month period, Class B and Class S shares of the Fund limited these expenses; had it not done so, expenses would have been higher. The tables are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the six-month period ended April 30, 2006.
The tables illustrate your Fund's expenses in two ways:
Actual Fund Return. This helps you estimate the actual dollar amount of ongoing expenses (but not transaction costs) paid on a $1,000 investment in the Fund using the Fund's actual return during the period. To estimate the expenses 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 "Expenses Paid per $1,000" line under the share class you hold.
Hypothetical 5% Fund Return. This helps you to compare your Fund's ongoing expenses (but not transaction costs) with those of other mutual funds using the Fund's actual expense ratio and a hypothetical rate of return of 5% per year before expenses. Examples using a 5% hypothetical fund return may be found in the shareholder reports of other mutual funds. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.
Please note that the expenses shown in these tables are meant to highlight your ongoing expenses only and do not reflect any transaction costs. The "Expenses Paid per $1,000" line of the tables is useful in comparing ongoing expenses only and will not help you determine the relative total expense of owning different funds. If these transaction costs had been included, your costs would have been higher.
Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment for the six months ended April 30, 2006 | |||||
Actual Fund Return | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class AARP | Class S |
Beginning Account Value 11/1/05 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 |
Ending Account Value 4/30/06 | $ 1,368.30 | $ 1,363.50 | $ 1,363.30 | $ 1,369.70 | $ 1,370.10 |
Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $ 11.10 | $ 16.23 | $ 15.82 | $ 10.22 | $ 9.99 |
Hypothetical 5% Fund Return | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class AARP | Class S |
Beginning Account Value 11/1/05 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,000.00 |
Ending Account Value 4/30/06 | $ 1,015.42 | $ 1,011.06 | $ 1,011.41 | $ 1,016.36 | $ 1,016.17 |
Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $ 9.44 | $ 13.81 | $ 13.47 | $ 8.70 | $ 8.50 |
* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio for each share class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent six-month period, then divided by 365.
Annualized Expense Ratios | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class AARP | Class S |
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund | 1.89% | 2.77% | 2.70% | 1.74% | 1.70% |
For more information, please refer to the Fund's prospectus.
In the following interview, Co-Manager Oliver Kratz discusses DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund's strategy and the market environment during the six-month period ended April 30, 2006.
Q: How did emerging-markets stocks perform during the semiannual period?
A: Emerging-markets stocks performed well during the past six months, bringing the streak of outperformance for the asset class to beyond three years. The same factors that have supported returns over this time remained in place during the past six months. Low interest rates in the developed markets, notably Japan, have increased the global money supply and led to a substantial inflow of liquidity into the emerging markets. Additionally, strong fundamental trends have continued to influence market performance: Global growth has remained strong, emerging-markets nations have continued to enact reforms and bolster their balance sheets, and high commodity prices have brought a surge of cash into the developing countries. This, in turn, has helped both companies and corporations to reduce debt, and it has facilitated the ongoing growth of a middle class with spending power.
Taken together, these factors helped propel the fund's benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, to a return of 37.60% for the period, well ahead of the 16.01% return of the MSCI World Index.1 The strong returns in recent years have led to a significant improvement in the long-term results for emerging-markets equities and have helped the asset class outperform the developed markets by a meaningful margin over these time periods:
1 The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Markets Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of companies in a universe of 26 emerging markets. The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted measure of global stock markets, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and the Far East. The indices are calculated using closing market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns assume reinvestment of all distributions and, unlike fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index.
| 1-year | 3-year | 5-year |
MSCI Emerging Markets Index | 62.31% | 45.39% | 23.72% |
MSCI World Index | 24.32% | 21.12% | 5.51% |
Q: How did the fund perform relative to its benchmark and peer group?
A: The total return of the fund's Class A shares for the six-month period ended April 30, 2006 was 36.83%. In a reflection of the strong performance generated by both the emerging-markets asset class and the fund itself, average annualized returns for the one- and three-year time periods stood at 60.13% and 44.46%, respectively, as of April 30, 2006. (Returns are unadjusted for sales charges. If sales charges had been included, returns would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please see pages 4 through 8 for the performance of other share classes and for more complete performance information.)
The fund's six-month results were slightly below the 37.60% return of the benchmark but marginally ahead of the 36.29% average return of the 207 funds in its Lipper peer group, Emerging Markets Funds.2
2 Lipper's Emerging Markets Funds classification is defined as those funds that seek long-term capital appreciation by investing at least 65% of total assets in emerging- market equity securities, where "emerging market" is defined by a country's Gross National Product per capita or other economic measures. Category returns assume reinvestment of all distributions and, unlike fund returns, do not reflect fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into a Lipper category.
Q: What factors helped and hurt performance during the period?
A: The largest contribution to performance came from the fund's weighting in energy stocks. The sector, on a global basis, was boosted by the rising prices of oil and gas, but emerging-markets energy stocks in particular performed well because the valuations of many companies were re-rated significantly higher by the market. The largest individual contribution came from Petroleo Brasiliero SA ("Petrobras"), the Brazilian energy company which executed well and was helped by the strong performance of Brazil's stock market as a whole. Petrobras also confirmed that it has secured a sizable natural gas reserve in the Santos basin as well as a new deep sea field of light crude oil. OAO Gazprom, which, as the world's largest natural gas producer accounts for about a quarter of Western Europe's gas needs, was bolstered by an increase in net profits. Other contributors in the sector included the Russian oil stocks LUKOIL Holdings and Surgutneftegaz, the Korean refiner SK Corp., and PetroChina Co., Ltd.
The next largest contribution to performance came from our stock selection in the information technology sector. Top performers in this area included Samsung Electronics, Co. Ltd., which picked up ground as investors grew bullish on the company's prospects for the second half of 2006, when an easing of supply levels for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) memory chips is expected to help stabilize prices. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. also performed well after reporting record sales in October.
Lewis Group Ltd., of South Africa, rallied as a result of increased quarterly sales, a tame inflation environment and the announcement of a share repurchase program.
In a reflection of the positive overall environment, there were no sectors that detracted from performance — in all cases, the fund's underperforming holdings were the result of stock-specific issues. The largest detractor was SsangYong Motor Co., of South Korea, which posted a net loss in 2005 as a result of a stronger currency and weak domestic sales results. Braskem SA, the Brazilian chemical company, suffered a net loss in the fourth quarter due to the depreciation of Brazil's currency, the real. Since naphtha — the key raw material in the petrochemical industry — is priced in dollars or indexed to the dollar, the rising value of the dollar relative to the real led to higher costs for Braskem. Bank of Kaohsiung, of Taiwan, fell on investor concerns about future profitability, while South Korea's Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. missed earnings forecasts due to falling prices arising from increasing Japanese competition. (As of April 30, 2006, the position in Samsung SDI was sold.)
Q: What is your overall view of the asset class?
A: The past six months was another strong period for emerging-markets equities, with a number of our special-situation holdings contributing positively to portfolio performance. However, the expansion of the global money supply has resulted in liquidity-fueled moves in a number of asset classes. Given these developments, we would not be surprised to see a more discriminatory investment environment emerge over the coming months. This would likely entail the increased risk of a pullback in some of the beneficiaries of the recent liquidity boom, particularly in the stocks whose prices may have risen faster than their underlying fundamentals suggest should be the case. The result for the fund is that rather than try to guess the direction of liquidity-driven stocks, we prefer to focus on companies that historically have not been beneficiaries of these indiscriminate flows and that should prosper relatively well in any market weakness. Further, we are striving to invest in companies with scarce assets, managements with whom we can meet and business models that we can analyze.
Q: How is that investment approach reflected in the portfolio's holdings?
A: A prime example is the Indian hotel operator Hotel Leelaventure, Ltd., which continues to demonstrate strong operational results that are due in part to the structural deficit in high-quality business/tourist hotel rooms. With an emphasis on offering five-star service, the group continues to enjoy one of the highest average room rates in the country.
Credicorp Ltd., in Peru, meanwhile, remains one of the few undervalued dominant local banking franchises in the emerging markets. The bank enjoys a large market share in key corporate segments and is leveraging this dominance to expand into the fast-growing retail business, where personal loans grew substantially in 2005. Credit penetration in Peru remains low, with bank sector assets equal to only 22% of gross domestic product, vs. 40% in Colombia and 60% in Chile — a factor that bodes well for the company's growth potential. We believe Credicorp will continue to deliver profitable growth, thereby allowing the current discount relative to other equally dominant franchises to close.
We believe the banking sector in Taiwan also continues to offer undervalued opportunities. For example, Bank of Kaohsiung is one of the least expensive issues in the emerging-markets universe. We continue to favor this stock despite its underperformance during the reporting period. The fund's position in Morocco's ONA (Omnium Nord Africain) SA is also paying off, as the market has begun to recognize that ONA — with its unique, diversified asset base and profit recovery across all major business segments — offers a compelling way to gain exposure to the country's improving macroeconomic trends.
In technology, we have a high level of conviction in South Korea's Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.. The stock has contributed positively to recent performance as the market's focus has moved from short-term seasonal weakness to the company's long-term growth potential and excessive valuation discount relative to its global peers.
We also continue to favor companies positioned to benefit from the secular expansion of the global cellular market. Despite the increasing scarcity of "growth stories" in the sector following successive years of double-digit subscriber growth, there still remain a number of attractive opportunities in the emerging-market universe. One of our favored positions is PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, whose growth is underpinned by the rising availability of affordable, sub-$20 handsets. Coupled with decreasing capital spending needs and a recovery in the performance of the company's fixed-line business, we believe there may be a marked rise in cash flow growth over the next three years, with positive implications for future dividend increases. Trading at 10 times 2006 estimated earnings, the stock compares favorably with those of both its global and Asian peers. We are also seeking to exploit the cellular growth theme through significant holdings in Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Turkey's Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS.
The fund also has significant exposure to the South African retail sector, largely because of the substantial number of attractive companies we have identified through our research process. Two names stand out: Lewis Group, Ltd., one of South Africa's most profitable furniture and household-goods stores, and Truworths International Ltd., one of the country's leading clothing retailers. Both are plays on the continued rising spending power of the South African middle class consumer. Lewis, currently trading at eight times 2006 estimated earnings, offers considerable value given the company's strategy to further expand its store footprint, improve its balance sheet and buy back shares. We believe recent same-store sales growth offers proof of management's ability to successfully deliver its strategic targets. Truworths, meanwhile, has been a consistent outperformer in the South African apparel market. Despite the company's consistently high performance, the stock's premium to its local peer group has eroded over recent years. At the end of the reporting period, the stock traded at 11 times forward earnings, which is too low, in our view. We believe that with a return on equity of 40%, zero debt and a dividend yield in excess of 4%, the company deserves to trade at a premium to its peers.
Finally, we continue to find opportunities in the global outsourcing movement involving the structural shift in the supply chains of numerous industries from the industrialized West toward China and Southeast Asia. This theme has long been in place in many labor-intensive and lower value-added industries, such as clothing, toys and footwear. There now appears to be a second wave of outsourcing affecting industries with higher-value-added inputs, such as auto components, furniture and medical equipment. On a recent research trip to China, we identified what we believe is one such beneficiary: Norstar Founders Group Ltd., a manufacturer of automotive spare parts that sells predominantly into the Western marketplace. With fast-growing core earnings and rising profit margins, Norstar seems poised to benefit from the rising pressures on the US auto part makers. The fact that the stock trades at only six times forward earnings tells us that this latest outsourcing beneficiary is only just being discovered by the market.
Q: Do you have any closing thoughts for investors?
A: After three years of outstanding performance for the asset class, it is reasonable to expect that performance may slow down in the months ahead. However, our long-term outlook remains optimistic. There has been a substantial improvement in both corporate management practices and governments' fiscal situations, providing a more solid fundamental underpinning than has been the case at any point in the past. Opportunities to find fast-growing, reasonably valued companies remain abundant. Looking ahead, we will continue to use our research-driven, bottom-up approach to find what we believe are the best investment ideas in the emerging markets.
The views expressed in this report reflect those of the portfolio managers only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. The managers' views are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions and should not be construed as a recommendation.
Portfolio Summary April 30, 2006
Geographical Diversification (Excludes Securities Lending Collateral and Cash Equivalents) | 4/30/06 | 10/31/05 |
|
|
|
Pacific Basin | 43% | 45% |
Latin America | 26% | 19% |
Europe | 12% | 14% |
Africa | 11% | 10% |
Other | 8% | 12% |
| 100% | 100% |
Sector Diversification (As a % of Common and Preferred Stocks) | 4/30/06 | 10/31/05 |
|
|
|
Financials | 21% | 16% |
Information Technology | 18% | 18% |
Energy | 15% | 13% |
Telecommunication Services | 12% | 16% |
Consumer Discretionary | 12% | 12% |
Materials | 8% | 12% |
Industrials | 7% | 7% |
Health Care | 4% | 3% |
Consumer Staples | 3% | 2% |
Other | — | 1% |
| 100% | 100% |
Geographical and sector diversification are subject to change.
Ten Largest Equity Holdings at April 30, 2006 (22.5% of Net Assets) | ||
1. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Manufacturer of electronic parts | Korea | 4.2% |
2. Petroleo Brasileiro SA Provider and distributor of petroleum | Brazil | 3.6% |
3. Lewis Group Ltd. Retailer of furniture, household and electrical goods | South Africa | 2.2% |
4. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Manufacturer of integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices | Taiwan | 2.2% |
5. OAO Gazprom Extracts, transports and sells natural gas | Russia | 2.0% |
6. America Movil SA de CV "L" Provider of wireless communications services | Mexico | 1.9% |
7. Companhia Vale do Rio Doce Operator of diverse mining and industrial complex | Brazil | 1.8% |
8. Asustek Computer, Inc. Manufacturer of computer motherboards | Taiwan | 1.6% |
9. Hynix Semiconductor, Inc. Manufactures semiconductors, such as dynamic random access memory | Korea | 1.5% |
10. ABSA Group Ltd. Is a holding company of a banking and financial services group | South Africa | 1.5% |
Portfolio holdings are subject to change.
For more complete details about the Fund's investment portfolio, see page 20. A quarterly Fact Sheet is available upon request. Information concerning portfolio holdings of the Fund as of month end will be posted to www.dws-scudder.com on or after the last day of the following month. In addition, the Fund's top ten holdings and other information about the Fund is posted on www.dws-scudder.com as of the calendar quarter-end on or after the 15th day following quarter-end. Please see the Account Management Resources section for contact information.
Following the Fund's fiscal first and third quarter-end, a complete portfolio holdings listing is filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. The form will be available on the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov, and it also may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.
Investment Portfolio as of April 30, 2006 (Unaudited)
|
| Value ($) |
|
| |
Common Stocks 90.9% | ||
Austria 1.2% | ||
Erste Bank der Oesterreichischen Sparkassen AG* (Cost $4,976,543) | 88,300 | 5,297,038 |
Bermuda 0.9% | ||
Credicorp Ltd. (Cost $3,992,755) | 145,200 | 3,934,920 |
Brazil 11.0% | ||
Arcelor Brasil SA | 1 | 18 |
Banco Bradesco SA (ADR) (Preferred) (a) | 117,600 | 4,477,032 |
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (ADR) | 182,900 | 8,135,392 |
Diagnosticos da America SA* | 144,000 | 3,656,924 |
Gol-Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA (ADR) (Preferred) (a) | 175,200 | 6,494,664 |
Natura Cosmeticos SA | 261,300 | 3,342,937 |
Perdigao SA | 148,510 | 1,465,887 |
Petroleo Brasileiro SA (ADR) | 164,000 | 16,208,120 |
Unibanco-Uniao de Bancos Brasileiros SA (ADR) (a) | 73,300 | 5,816,355 |
(Cost $35,577,495) | 49,597,329 | |
Chile 0.4% | ||
Inversiones Aguas Metropolitanas SA (ADR) 144A* (Cost $1,526,092) | 78,200 | 1,883,422 |
China 2.6% | ||
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. "H" | 3,402,000 | 2,160,996 |
China Shenhua Energy Co., Ltd. "H"* | 1,529,000 | 2,770,749 |
Dalian Port (PDA) Co., Ltd.* | 482,000 | 268,873 |
PetroChina Co., Ltd. "H" | 2,768,000 | 3,052,429 |
PetroChina Co., Ltd. (ADR) (a) | 10,400 | 1,168,960 |
Xinao Gas Holdings Ltd. | 2,377,500 | 2,192,502 |
(Cost $9,357,225) | 11,614,509 | |
Hong Kong 1.7% | ||
Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. "H"* | 4,596,000 | 1,144,065 |
China Mobile (Hong Kong) Ltd. (ADR) (a) | 128,600 | 3,711,396 |
Norstar Founders Group Ltd. | 6,233,100 | 2,853,947 |
(Cost $5,208,248) | 7,709,408 | |
Hungary 1.0% | ||
MOL Magyar Olaj-es Gazipari Rt. (Cost $3,730,553) | 37,900 | 4,510,815 |
India 3.9% | ||
Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd.* | 401,000 | 3,760,553 |
Canara Bank Ltd. | 322,300 | 1,780,159 |
Hotel Leelaventure Ltd. | 197,999 | 1,816,828 |
Infosys Technologies Ltd. | 44,800 | 3,137,996 |
Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. | 178,600 | 1,881,465 |
Reliance Industries Ltd. | 119,300 | 2,683,586 |
Sintex Industries Ltd. | 574,935 | 2,689,006 |
(Cost $12,399,479) | 17,749,593 | |
Indonesia 2.9% | ||
PT Bank Mandiri | 16,840,000 | 3,680,455 |
PT Indosat Tbk | 868,400 | 533,792 |
PT Indosat Tbk (ADR) (a) | 71,000 | 2,158,400 |
PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk | 6,535,500 | 3,570,905 |
PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia "B" | 3,706,000 | 3,185,009 |
(Cost $9,352,864) | 13,128,561 | |
Israel 2.3% | ||
Elbit Systems Ltd. | 51,900 | 1,330,799 |
Makhteshim-Agan Industries Ltd. | 367,600 | 2,114,869 |
NICE Systems Ltd. (ADR)* | 60,200 | 3,298,960 |
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (ADR) | 93,800 | 3,798,900 |
(Cost $9,154,531) | 10,543,528 | |
Korea 14.1% | ||
Hynix Semiconductor, Inc.* | 131,300 | 4,586,869 |
Hynix Semiconductor, Inc. (GDR) (REG S) 144A* | 60,400 | 2,101,920 |
Hyundai Mobis | 30,300 | 2,675,986 |
Hyundai Motor Co. | 33,160 | 2,914,508 |
Industrial Bank of Korea | 119,100 | 2,399,173 |
Kookmin Bank (ADR) | 59,300 | 5,280,665 |
NEPES Corp.* | 460 | 6,291 |
POSCO | 5,910 | 1,647,933 |
POSCO (ADR) | 17,400 | 1,226,178 |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 28,040 | 19,145,208 |
Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd. | 53,200 | 2,275,891 |
Shinhan Financial Group Co., Ltd. | 113,600 | 5,660,729 |
SK Corp. | 71,000 | 5,224,131 |
SODIFF Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. | 100,300 | 1,807,782 |
Ssangyong Motor Co.* | 478,000 | 3,218,087 |
STX Pan Ocean Co., Ltd.* | 3,370,300 | 1,630,893 |
Woongjin Coway Co., Ltd | 70,250 | 2,085,454 |
(Cost $48,209,008) | 63,887,698 | |
Malaysia 1.9% | ||
Resorts World Bhd. | 1,218,100 | 4,502,769 |
SP Setia Bhd. | 2,120,900 | 2,188,184 |
Starhill Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)* | 7,087,400 | 1,876,939 |
(Cost $7,954,763) | 8,567,892 | |
Mexico 5.4% | ||
America Movil SA de CV "L" (ADR) (a) | 231,700 | 8,552,047 |
Fomento Economico Mexicano SA de CV (ADR) | 46,200 | 4,291,056 |
Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SA de CV (ADR) | 61,700 | 2,392,109 |
Grupo Financiero Banorte Sa de CV | 1,996,100 | 5,203,297 |
Grupo Televisa SA (ADR) | 182,800 | 3,875,360 |
(Cost $17,819,803) | 24,313,869 | |
Morocco 0.6% | ||
ONA SA (Cost $2,247,728) | 16,200 | 2,678,923 |
Peru 1.0% | ||
Compania de Minas Buenaventura SA (ADR) (Cost $3,683,188) | 154,900 | 4,707,411 |
Philippines 1.8% | ||
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (ADR) (a) | 153,100 | 6,085,725 |
SM Investments Corp. | 501,800 | 2,229,145 |
(Cost $6,313,887) | 8,314,870 | |
Poland 0.7% | ||
Telekomunikacja Polska SA (Cost $2,989,726) | 416,000 | 3,048,959 |
Russia 5.8% | ||
LUKOIL (ADR) | 43,700 | 3,959,220 |
Mobile TeleSystems (ADR) | 114,300 | 3,733,038 |
Novolipetsk Steel (GDR) 144A* | 114,190 | 2,540,727 |
OAO Gazprom (ADR) (REG S) (b) | 173,672 | 7,884,709 |
OAO Gazprom (ADR) (REG S) (b) | 24,250 | 1,100,950 |
Pyaterochka Holding NV (GDR) 144A* | 127,400 | 2,426,970 |
Surgutneftegaz (ADR) (a) | 53,600 | 4,663,200 |
(Cost $18,523,947) | 26,308,814 | |
South Africa 10.7% | ||
ABSA Group Ltd. | 336,700 | 6,647,200 |
Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd.* | 312,900 | 2,211,767 |
Gold Fields Ltd. | 121,100 | 3,046,584 |
Lewis Group Ltd. | 983,000 | 9,915,834 |
MTN Group Ltd. | 608,000 | 6,067,360 |
Naspers Ltd. "N" | 213,000 | 4,676,258 |
Network Healthcare Holdings Ltd.* | 3,020,200 | 5,123,666 |
Sasol Ltd. | 78,900 | 3,320,033 |
Steinhoff International Holdings Ltd.* | 898,800 | 3,562,312 |
Truworths International Ltd. | 807,500 | 3,894,802 |
(Cost $36,875,495) | 48,465,816 | |
Taiwan 13.6% | ||
Asustek Computer, Inc. | 2,571,000 | 7,115,254 |
AU Optronics Corp. (ADR) (a) | 244,300 | 4,013,849 |
Bank of Kaohsiung Co., Ltd. | 5,083,000 | 2,548,988 |
Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd. | 1,534,400 | 3,438,526 |
Chungwha Telecom Co., Ltd. | 1,387,300 | 2,665,376 |
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | 717,073 | 4,865,740 |
Powerchip Semiconductor Corp. | 6,298,600 | 4,343,045 |
Siliconware Precision Industries Co. | 1,534,697 | 2,227,057 |
Silitech Technology Corp. | 578,000 | 3,586,911 |
SinoPac Financial Holdings Co., Ltd. | 7,546,400 | 4,186,400 |
Taishin Financial Holdings Co., Ltd. | 3,427,000 | 2,255,595 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 2,854,027 | 6,091,620 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (ADR) | 348,858 | 3,656,032 |
United Microelectronics Corp. | 3,378,128 | 2,350,481 |
United Microelectronics Corp. (ADR) (a) | 383,161 | 1,444,517 |
Yang Ming Marine Transport | 2,952,000 | 1,933,705 |
Yuanta Core Pacific Securities Co. | 6,473,939 | 4,950,922 |
(Cost $52,109,996) | 61,674,018 | |
Thailand 3.6% | ||
Airports of Thailand PCL (Foreign Registered) | 1,926,000 | 3,002,158 |
Bangkok Bank PCL (Foreign Registered) | 1,297,500 | 4,114,109 |
Bangkok Expressway PCL (Foreign Registered) | 3,147,400 | 1,912,089 |
Krung Thai Bank PCL (Foreign Registered) | 8,051,500 | 2,638,781 |
Thai Oil PCL (Foreign Registered) | 1,969,900 | 3,542,986 |
True Corp. PCL (Foreign Registered)* | 4,887,000 | 1,282,626 |
(Cost $14,587,119) | 16,492,749 | |
Turkey 3.2% | ||
Hurriyet Gazetecilik ve Matbaacilik AS | 604,009 | 2,215,080 |
Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS (ADR) | 272,464 | 4,645,511 |
Turkiye Is Bankasi (Isbank) "C" | 449,500 | 3,772,741 |
Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi TAO "D"* | 591,300 | 3,733,350 |
(Cost $12,162,843) | 14,366,682 | |
United States 0.6% | ||
Bunge Ltd. (a) (Cost $2,715,075) | 51,800 | 2,763,530 |
Total Common Stocks (Cost $321,468,363) | 411,560,354 | |
| ||
Preferred Stocks 0.6% | ||
Brazil | ||
Braskem SA "A" (Cost $3,092,185) | 403,700 | 2,843,503 |
| Principal | Value ($) |
|
| |
Other Investments 0.0% | ||
Brazil | ||
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce* | 62,800 | 1,465 |
(Cost $0) |
|
|
| Shares | Value ($) |
|
| |
Warrants 6.9% | ||
United States | ||
Merrill Lynch International* (Cost $30,754,837) | 2,320 | 31,344,105 |
| ||
Securities Lending Collateral 8.2% | ||
United States | ||
Daily Assets Fund Institutional, 4.82% (c) (d) (Cost $37,059,801) | 37,059,801 | 37,059,801 |
| ||
Cash Equivalents 0.0% | ||
United States | ||
Cash Management QP Trust, 4.78% (e) (Cost $53,092) | 53,092 | 53,092 |
|
| % of Net Assets | Value ($) |
|
| |
Total Investment Portfolio (Cost $392,428,278)+ | 106.6 | 482,862,320 |
Other Assets and Liabilities, Net | (6.6) | (29,954,820) |
Net Assets | 100.0 | 452,907,500 |
* Non-income producing security.
+ The cost for federal income tax purposes was $392,544,568. At April 30, 2006, net unrealized appreciation for all securities based on tax cost was $90,317,752. This consisted of aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of value over tax cost of $94,635,739 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of tax cost over value of $4,317,987.
(a) All or a portion of these securities were on loan (see Notes to Financial Statements). The value of all securities loaned at April 30, 2006 amounted to $35,999,908 which is 7.9% of net assets.
(b) Securities with the same description are the same corporate entity but trade on different stock exchanges.
(c) Daily Assets Fund Institutional, an affiliated fund, is managed by Deutsche Asset Management, Inc. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end.
(d) Represents collateral held in connection with securities lending.
(e) Cash Management QP Trust, an affiliated fund, is managed by Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end.
144A: Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.
ADR: American Depositary Receipt
GDR: Global Depositary Receipt
REIT: Real Estate Investment Trust
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2006 (Unaudited) | |
Assets | |
Investments: Investments in securities, at value (cost $355,315,385) — including $35,999,908 of securities loaned | $ 445,749,427 |
Investment in Daily Assets Fund Institutional (cost $37,059,801)* | 37,059,801 |
Investment in Cash Management QP Trust (cost $53,092) | 53,092 |
Total investments in securities, at value (cost $392,428,278) | 482,862,320 |
Foreign currency, at value (cost $5,408,871) | 5,429,554 |
Receivable for investments sold | 13,250,744 |
Dividends receivable | 1,694,308 |
Interest receivable | 112,039 |
Receivable for Fund shares sold | 543,566 |
Foreign taxes recoverable | 103,634 |
Other assets | 49,819 |
Total assets | 504,045,984 |
Liabilities | |
Payable for investments purchased | 1,394,190 |
Notes payable | 10,850,000 |
Payable upon return of securities loaned | 37,059,801 |
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | 641,402 |
Due to custodian | 2,392 |
Accrued management fee | 343,906 |
Deferred foreign taxes payable | 89,812 |
Other accrued expenses and payables | 756,981 |
Total liabilities | 51,138,484 |
Net assets, at value | $ 452,907,500 |
Net Assets | |
Net assets consist of: Undistributed net investment income | 333,707 |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: Investments (net of deferred foreign taxes of $89,812) | 90,344,230 |
Foreign currency related transactions | 37,343 |
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) | 45,304,888 |
Paid-in capital | 316,887,332 |
Net assets, at value | $ 452,907,500 |
* Represents collateral on securities loaned.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2006 (Unaudited) (continued) | |
Net Asset Value | |
Class A Net Asset Value and redemption price(a) per share ($100,832,670 ÷ 3,911,609 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ 25.78 |
Maximum offering price per share (100 ÷ 94.25 of $25.78) | $ 27.35 |
Class B Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($7,143,691 ÷ 287,376 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ 24.86 |
Class C Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($13,748,178 ÷ 551,897 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized) | $ 24.91 |
Class AARP Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) per share ($17,856,860 ÷ 686,948 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized) | $ 25.99 |
Class S Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) per share ($313,326,101 ÷ 12,061,988 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized) | $ 25.98 |
(a) Redemption price per share for shares held less than 30 days is equal to net asset value less a 2% redemption fee.
Statement of Operations for the six months ended April 30, 2006 (Unaudited) | |
Investment Income | |
Income: Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $310,826) | $ 2,998,175 |
Interest — Cash Management QP Trust | 144,564 |
Securities lending income, including income from Daily Assets Fund Institutional, net of borrower rebates | 29,758 |
Interest | 3,911 |
Total Income | 3,176,408 |
Expenses: Management fee | 1,787,312 |
Distribution service fees | 194,533 |
Services to shareholders | 238,177 |
Custodian and accounting fees | 255,717 |
Auditing | 32,561 |
Legal | 45,044 |
Directors' fees and expenses | 2,620 |
Reports to shareholders | 13,640 |
Registration fees | 28,709 |
Interest expense | 10,203 |
Other | 92,294 |
Total expenses before expense reductions | 2,700,810 |
Expense reductions | (23,445) |
Total expenses after expense reductions | 2,677,365 |
Net investment income (loss) | 499,043 |
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment Transactions | |
Net realized gain (loss) from: Investments (net of foreign taxes of $91,559) | 45,875,739 |
Foreign currency related transactions | (65,824) |
| 45,809,915 |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period on: Investments (net of deferred foreign taxes of $10,330) | 47,147,549 |
Foreign currency related transactions | 58,262 |
| 47,205,811 |
Net gain (loss) on investment transactions | 93,015,726 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ 93,514,769 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets | ||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | Six Months Ended April 30, 2006 (Unaudited) | Year Ended October 31, 2005 |
Operations: Net investment income (loss) | $ 499,043 | $ 1,371,445 |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 45,809,915 | 35,988,326 |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period on investment transactions | 47,205,811 | 12,512,012 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 93,514,769 | 49,871,783 |
Distributions to shareholders: Net investment income: Class A | — | (275,942) |
Class AARP | — | (36,894) |
Class S | — | (728,883) |
Net realized gains: Class A | (6,882,331) | — |
Class B | (343,936) | — |
Class C | (701,456) | — |
Class AARP | (885,264) | — |
Class S | (10,375,182) | — |
Fund share transactions: Proceeds from shares sold | 48,133,337 | 102,960,655 |
Net assets acquired in tax-free reorganization | 137,847,772 | — |
Reinvestment of distributions | 16,633,123 | 737,694 |
Cost of shares redeemed | (56,904,188) | (67,906,063) |
Redemption fees | 3,719 | 40,136 |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | 145,713,763 | 35,832,422 |
Increase (decrease) in net assets | 220,040,363 | 84,662,486 |
Net assets at beginning of period | 232,867,137 | 148,204,651 |
Net assets at end of period (including undistributed net investment income and accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income of $333,707 and $165,336, respectively) | $ 452,907,500 | $ 232,867,137 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Class A Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001b |
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 20.26 | $ 15.61 | $ 13.25 | $ 8.69 | $ 8.28 | $ 10.25 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: Net investment income (loss)c | .03 | .10 | .08 | .04 | (.04) | (.03) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 7.13 | 4.63 | 2.29 | 4.52 | .45 | (1.95) |
Total from investment operations | 7.16 | 4.73 | 2.37 | 4.56 | .41 | (1.98) |
Less distributions from: Net investment income | — | (.08) | (.02) | — | — | — |
Net realized gains on investment transactions | (1.64) | — | — | — | — | — |
Redemption fees | .00*** | .00*** | .01 | .00*** | .00*** | .01 |
Net asset value, end of period | $ 25.78 | $ 20.26 | $ 15.61 | $ 13.25 | $ 8.69 | $ 8.28 |
Total Return (%)d | 36.83** | 30.48e | 18.00e | 52.47e | 4.95 | (19.22)** |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 101 | 84 | 49 | 16 | 8 | .09 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.89* | 2.05 | 2.06 | 2.19 | 2.18 | 2.20* |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.89* | 1.98 | 1.99 | 2.16 | 2.18 | 2.20* |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .30* | .59 | .56 | .38 | (.57) | (.86)* |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 126* | 126 | 146 | 182 | 115 | 69 |
a For the six months ended April 30, 2006 (Unaudited). b For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class A shares) to October 31, 2001. c Based on average shares outstanding during the period. d Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. e Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. * Annualized ** Not annualized *** Amount is less than $.005. |
Class B Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001b |
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 19.66 | $ 15.20 | $ 12.98 | $ 8.58 | $ 8.25 | $ 10.25 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: Net investment income (loss)c | (.06) | (.03) | (.02) | (.04) | (.12) | (.06) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.90 | 4.49 | 2.23 | 4.44 | .45 | (1.95) |
Total from investment operations | 6.84 | 4.46 | 2.21 | 4.40 | .33 | (2.01) |
Less distributions from: Net realized gains on investment transactions | (1.64) | — | — | — | — | — |
Redemption fees | .00*** | .00*** | .01 | .00*** | .00*** | .01 |
Net asset value, end of period | $ 24.86 | $ 19.66 | $ 15.20 | $ 12.98 | $ 8.58 | $ 8.25 |
Total Return (%)d | 36.35e** | 29.34e | 17.10e | 51.28e | 4.00 | (19.51)** |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | .64 | .03 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.79* | 3.03 | 2.91 | 2.97 | 2.98 | 3.00* |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.77* | 2.76 | 2.75 | 2.93 | 2.98 | 3.00* |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.58)* | (.19) | (.20) | (.39) | (1.37) | (1.66)* |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 126* | 126 | 146 | 182 | 115 | 69 |
a For the six months ended April 30, 2006 (Unaudited). b For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class B shares) to October 31, 2001. c Based on average shares outstanding during the period. d Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. e Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. * Annualized ** Not annualized *** Amount is less than $.005. |
Class C Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001b |
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 19.70 | $ 15.23 | $ 13.01 | $ 8.60 | $ 8.26 | $ 10.25 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: Net investment income (loss)c | (.05) | (.03) | (.02) | (.04) | (.12) | (.06) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.90 | 4.50 | 2.23 | 4.45 | .46 | (1.94) |
Total from investment operations | 6.85 | 4.47 | 2.21 | 4.41 | .34 | (2.00) |
Less distributions from: Net realized gains on investment transactions | (1.64) | — | — | — | — | — |
Redemption fees | .00*** | .00*** | .01 | .00*** | .00*** | .01 |
Net asset value, end of period | $ 24.91 | $ 19.70 | $ 15.23 | $ 13.01 | $ 8.60 | $ 8.26 |
Total Return (%)d | 36.33** | 29.35e | 17.06e | 51.28e | 4.12 | (19.41)** |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 14 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .01 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.70* | 2.89 | 2.86 | 2.95 | 2.96 | 2.97* |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.70* | 2.75 | 2.76 | 2.92 | 2.96 | 2.97* |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.51)* | (.18) | (.21) | (.38) | (1.35) | (1.63)* |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 126* | 126 | 146 | 182 | 115 | 69 |
a For the six months ended April 30, 2006 (Unaudited). b For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class C shares) to October 31, 2001. c Based on average shares outstanding during the period. d Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. e Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. * Annualized ** Not annualized *** Amount is less than $.005. |
Class AARP Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 20.40 | $ 15.73 | $ 13.36 | $ 8.73 | $ 8.30 | $ 11.11 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: Net investment income (loss)b | .05 | .14 | .11 | .06 | (.03) | (.01) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 7.18 | 4.66 | 2.31 | 4.57 | .46 | (2.81) |
Total from investment operations | 7.23 | 4.80 | 2.42 | 4.63 | .43 | (2.82) |
Less distributions from: Net investment income | — | (.13) | (.06) | — | — | — |
Net realized gains on investment transactions | (1.64) | — | — | — | — | — |
Redemption fees | .00*** | .00*** | .01 | .00*** | .00*** | .01 |
Net asset value, end of period | $ 25.99 | $ 20.40 | $ 15.73 | $ 13.36 | $ 8.73 | $ 8.30 |
Total Return (%) | 36.97** | 30.71c | 18.24c | 53.04c | 5.18 | (25.29) |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 18 | 10 | 4 | 2 | .45 | .15 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.74* | 1.97 | 1.91 | 1.92 | 1.91 | 1.91 |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.74* | 1.76 | 1.76 | 1.90 | 1.91 | 1.91 |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .45* | .81 | .79 | .64 | (.30) | (.05) |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 126* | 126 | 146 | 182 | 115 | 69 |
a For the six months ended April 30, 2006 (Unaudited). b Based on average shares outstanding during the period. c Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. * Annualized ** Not annualized *** Amount is less than $.005. |
Class S Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ 20.38 | $ 15.71 | $ 13.34 | $ 8.73 | $ 8.29 | $ 11.11 |
Income (loss) from investment operations: Net investment income (loss)b | .05 | .14 | .11 | .07 | (.03) | (.01) |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 7.19 | 4.66 | 2.31 | 4.54 | .47 | (2.82) |
Total from investment operations | 7.24 | 4.80 | 2.42 | 4.61 | .44 | (2.83) |
Less distributions from: Net investment income | — | (.13) | (.06) | — | — | — |
Net realized gains on investment transactions | (1.64) | — | — | — | — | — |
Redemption fees | .00*** | .00*** | .01 | .00*** | .00*** | .01 |
Net asset value, end of period | $ 25.98 | $ 20.38 | $ 15.71 | $ 13.34 | $ 8.73 | $ 8.29 |
Total Return (%) | 37.01c** | 30.67c | 18.34c | 52.81c | 5.31 | (25.38) |
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 313 | 128 | 89 | 65 | 38 | 42 |
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.72* | 1.89 | 1.93 | 1.92 | 1.91 | 1.91 |
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.70* | 1.76 | 1.76 | 1.90 | 1.91 | 1.91 |
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .49* | .81 | .79 | .64 | (.30) | (.05) |
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 126* | 126 | 146 | 182 | 115 | 69 |
a For the six months ended April 30, 2006 (Unaudited). b Based on average shares outstanding during the period. c Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. * Annualized ** Not annualized *** Amount is less than $.005. |
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
A. Significant Accounting Policies
DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund (formerly Scudder Emerging Markets Fund) (the "Fund"), is a diversified series of DWS International Fund, Inc. (formerly Scudder International Fund, Inc.) (the "Corporation"), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end management investment company organized as a Maryland Corporation.
The Fund offers multiple classes of shares which provide investors with different purchase options. Class A shares are offered to investors subject to an initial sales charge. Class B shares are offered without an initial sales charge but are subject to higher ongoing expenses than Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge payable upon certain redemptions. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares six years after issuance. Class C shares are offered without an initial sales charge but are subject to higher ongoing expenses than Class A shares and a contingent deferred sales charge payable upon certain redemptions within one year of purchase. Class C shares do not convert into another class. Shares of Class AARP are designed for members of AARP. Class AARP and S shares are not subject to initial or contingent deferred sales charges. Class S shares are no longer available to new investors except under certain circumstances. (Please refer to the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.)
Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and certain fund-level expenses and expense reductions, if any, are borne pro rata on the basis of relative net assets by the holders of all classes of shares, except that each class bears certain expenses unique to that class such as distribution service fees, services to shareholders and certain other class-specific expenses. Differences in class-level expenses may result in payment of different per share dividends by class. All shares of the Fund have equal rights with respect to voting subject to class-specific arrangements.
The Fund's financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which require the use of management estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The policies described below are followed consistently by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation. Investments are stated at value determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the exchange is open for trading. Equity securities are valued at the most recent sale price or official closing price reported on the exchange (US or foreign) or over-the-counter market on which the security is traded most extensively. Securities for which no sales are reported are valued at the calculated mean between the most recent bid and asked quotations on the relevant market or, if a mean cannot be determined, at the most recent bid quotation.
Money market instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of sixty days or less, maturing at par, are valued at amortized cost. Investments in open-end investment companies and Cash Management QP Trust are valued at their net asset value each business day.
Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the above valuation procedures are deemed not to reflect fair value are valued in a manner that is intended to reflect their fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Directors. The Fund may use a fair valuation model to value international equity securities in order to adjust for events which may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the New York Stock Exchange.
Securities Lending. The Fund may lend securities to financial institutions. The Fund retains beneficial ownership of the securities it has loaned and continues to receive interest and dividends paid by the securities and to participate in any changes in their market value. The Fund requires the borrowers of the securities to maintain collateral with the Fund consisting of liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at least equal to the value of the securities loaned. The Fund may invest the cash collateral into a joint trading account in an affiliated money market fund pursuant to Exemptive Orders issued by the SEC. The Fund receives compensation for lending its securities either in the form of fees or by earning interest on invested cash collateral net of fees paid to a lending agent. Either the Fund or the borrower may terminate the loan. The Fund is subject to all investment risks associated with the value of any cash collateral received, including, but not limited to, interest rate, credit and liquidity risk associated with such investments.
Foreign Currency Translations. The books and records of the Fund are maintained in US dollars. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into US dollars at the prevailing exchange rates at period end. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses are translated into US dollars at the prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of the transactions.
Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions represent net gains and losses between trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, the disposition of forward foreign currency exchange contracts and foreign currencies, and the difference between the amount of net investment income accrued and the US dollar amount actually received. That portion of both realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments that results from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed but is included with net realized and unrealized gains and losses on investment securities.
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. A forward foreign currency exchange contract ("forward currency contract") is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at the settlement date at a negotiated rate. The Fund may enter into forward currency contracts in order to hedge its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on its foreign currency denominated portfolio holdings and to facilitate transactions in foreign currency denominated securities. The Fund may also engage in forward currency contracts for non-hedging purposes.
Forward currency contracts are valued at the prevailing forward exchange rate of the underlying currencies and unrealized gain (loss) is recorded daily. Sales and purchases of forward currency contracts having the same settlement date and broker are offset and any gain (loss) is realized on the date of offset; otherwise, gain (loss) is realized on settlement date. Realized and unrealized gains and losses which represent the difference between the value of a forward currency contract to buy and a forward currency contract to sell are included in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) from foreign currency related transactions.
Certain risks may arise upon entering into forward currency contracts from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts. Additionally, when utilizing forward currency contracts to hedge, the Fund gives up the opportunity to profit from favorable exchange rate movements during the term of the contract.
Taxes. The Fund's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which are applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Accordingly, the Fund paid no federal income taxes and no federal income tax provision was required.
Additionally, based on the Fund's understanding of the tax rules and rates related to income, gains and transactions for the foreign jurisdictions in which it invests, the Fund will provide for foreign taxes, and where appropriate, deferred foreign taxes.
Distribution of Income and Gains. Net investment income of the Fund, if any, is declared and distributed to shareholders annually. Net realized gains from investment transactions, in excess of available capital loss carryforwards, would be taxable to the Fund if not distributed, and, therefore, will be distributed to shareholders at least annually.
The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined annually in accordance with federal tax regulations which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences primarily relate to investments in foreign denominated investments, investments in passive foreign investment companies, recognition of certain foreign currency gains (losses) as ordinary income (loss) and certain securities sold at a loss. As a result, net investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions for a reporting period may differ significantly from distributions during such period. Accordingly, the Fund may periodically make reclassifications among certain of its capital accounts without impacting the net asset value of the Fund.
The tax character of current year distributions will be determined at the end of the current fiscal year.
Redemption Fees. The Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount on the Fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them, either by purchase or exchange. This fee is assessed and retained by the Fund for the benefit of the remaining shareholders. The redemption fee is accounted for as an addition to paid-in capital.
Expenses. Expenses of the Corporation arising in connection with a specific fund are allocated to that fund. Other Corporation expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a fund are apportioned among the funds in the Corporation.
Contingencies. In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet been made. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.
Other. Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment security transactions are reported on trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date net of foreign withholding taxes. Certain dividends from foreign securities may be recorded subsequent to the ex-dividend date as soon as the Fund is informed of such dividends. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis.
B. Purchases and Sales of Securities
During the six months ended April 30, 2006, purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) aggregated $182,670,299 and $198,107,193, respectively.
C. Related Parties
Management Agreement. Under the Management Agreement with Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. ("DeIM" or the "Advisor"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG, the Advisor directs the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives, policies and restrictions. The Advisor determines the securities, instruments and other contracts relating to investments to be purchased, sold or entered into by the Fund. In addition to portfolio management services, the Advisor provides certain administrative services in accordance with the Management Agreement. The management fee payable under the Management Agreement is as follows:
From November 1, 2005 to April 16, 2006 the management fee was computed and accrued daily and payable monthly at the following rates:
First $500 million of the Fund's average daily net assets | 1.250% |
Over $500 million of such net assets | 1.200% |
Effective April 17, 2006 the new management fee was computed and accrued daily and payable monthly at the following rates:
First $250 million of the Fund's average daily net assets | 1.100% |
Next $500 million of such net assets | 1.075% |
Over $750 million of such net assets | 1.050% |
Accordingly, for the six months ended April 30, 2006, the fee pursuant to the Management Agreement was equivalent to an annualized effective rate of 1.23% of the Fund's average daily net assets.
For the period November 1, 2005 through May 31, 2006, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay certain operating expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the operating expenses of each class at 1.75% of average daily net assets for Class A, B, C, AARP and S shares (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, directors and directors' counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses).
In addition, effective April 17, 2006 through March 13, 2009, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay certain operating expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the operating expenses of Class S Shares at 1.55% of average daily net assets (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, directors and directors' counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses). Prior to April 16, 2006, the operating expenses of Class S shares were maintained at 1.75%.
Service Provider Fees. DWS Scudder Investments Service Company ("DWS-SISC"), an affiliate of the Advisor, is the transfer agent, shareholder service agent and dividend-paying agent for Class A, B and C shares of the Fund. DWS Scudder Service Corporation ("DWS-SSC"), also an affiliate of the Advisor, is the transfer agent, shareholder service agent and dividend-paying agent for Class AARP and S shares of the Fund. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement among DWS-SISC, DWS-SSC and DST Systems, Inc. ("DST"), DWS-SISC and DWS-SSC have delegated certain transfer agent and dividend paying agent functions to DST. DWS-SISC and DWS-SSC compensate DST out of the shareholder servicing fee they receive from the Fund. For the six months ended April 30, 2006, the amounts charged to the Fund by DWS-SISC and DWS-SSC were as follows:
Services to Shareholders | Total Aggregated | Waived | Unpaid at April 30, 2006 |
Class A | $ 50,790 | $ — | $ 8,177 |
Class B | 5,808 | 330 | 1,050 |
Class C | 7,148 | — | 124 |
Class AARP | 12,595 | — | 2,087 |
Class S | 117,336 | 18,603 | 21,171 |
| $ 193,677 | $ 18,933 | $ 32,609 |
DWS Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation ("DWS-SFAC"), an affiliate of the Advisor, is responsible for computing the daily net asset value per share and maintaining the portfolio and general accounting records of the Fund. DWS-SFAC has retained State Street Bank and Trust Company to provide certain administrative, fund accounting and record-keeping services to the Fund. For the six months ended April 30, 2006, the amount charged to the Fund by DWS-SFAC for accounting services aggregated $88,875, of which $10,678 is unpaid.
Distribution Service Agreement. Under the Distribution Service Agreement, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. ("DWS-SDI"), a subsidiary of the Advisor, receives a fee ("Distribution Fee") of 0.75% of average daily net assets of Class B and C shares. Pursuant to the agreement, DWS-SDI enters into related selling group agreements with various firms at various rates for sales of Class B and C shares. For the six months ended April 30, 2006, the Distribution Fee was as follows:
Distribution Fee | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at April 30, 2006 |
Class B | $ 20,112 | $ 4,024 |
Class C | 39,816 | 7,723 |
| $ 59,928 | $ 11,747 |
In addition, DWS-SDI provides information and administrative services ("Service Fee") to Class A, B and C shareholders at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets for each such class. DWS-SDI in turn has various agreements with financial services firms that provide these services and pays these fees based upon the assets of shareholder accounts the firms service. For the six months ended April 30, 2006, the Service Fee was as follows:
Service Fee | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at April 30, 2006 | Annualized Effective Rate |
Class A | $ 114,864 | $ 15,818 | .24% |
Class B | 6,622 | 1,329 | .25% |
Class C | 13,119 | 2,594 | .25% |
| $ 134,605 | $ 19,741 |
|
Underwriting Agreement and Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. DWS-SDI is the principal underwriter for the Fund. Underwriting commissions paid in connection with the distribution of Class A shares for the six months ended April 30, 2006, aggregated $22,505.
In addition, DWS-SDI receives any contingent deferred sales charge ("CDSC") from Class B share redemptions occurring within six years of purchase and Class C share redemptions occurring within one year of purchase. There is no such charge upon redemption of any share appreciation or reinvested dividends. The CDSC is based on declining rates ranging from 4% to 1% for Class B and 1% for Class C, of the value of the shares redeemed. For the six months ended April 30, 2006, the CDSC for Class B and Class C shares aggregated $3,719 and $1,767, respectively. A deferred sales charge of up to 1% is assessed on certain redemptions of Class A shares. For the six months ended March 31, 2006, SDI received $100.
Typesetting and Filing Service Fees. Under an agreement with DeIM, the Advisor is compensated for providing typesetting and certain regulatory filing services to the Fund. For the six months ended April 30, 2006, the amount charged to the Fund by DeIM included in reports to shareholders aggregated $14,160, of which $7,320 is unpaid.
Directors' Fees and Expenses. As compensation for his or her services, each Independent Director receives an aggregated annual fee, plus a fee for each meeting attended (plus reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with his or her attendance at board and committee meetings) from each Fund in the Fund Complex for which he or she serves. In addition, the Lead Director of the Board and the Chairman of each committee of the Board receive additional compensation for their services. Payment of such fees and expenses is allocated among all such Funds described above in direct proportion to their relative net assets.
Cash Management QP Trust. Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, the Fund may invest in the Cash Management QP Trust (the "QP Trust") and other affiliated funds managed by the Advisor. The QP Trust seeks to provide as high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation of capital and the maintenance of liquidity. The QP Trust does not pay its Advisor a management fee for the affiliated funds' investments in the QP Trust.
Other Related Parties. Through December 31, 2005, AARP through its affiliate, AARP Services, Inc., monitored and approved the AARP Investment Program from DWS Scudder, but did not act as an investment advisor or recommend specific mutual funds. The contractual relationship between DWS Scudder and AARP ended on December 31, 2005. As a result, the funds are no longer part of the AARP Investment Program and the AARP name and logo will be phased out in 2006. The funds will continue to be managed by Deutsche Asset Management and its affiliates.
D. Expense Reductions
In addition, for the six months ended April 30, 2006, the Advisor agreed to reimburse the Fund $4,512, which represents a portion of the fee savings expected to be realized by the Advisor related to the outsourcing by the Advisor of certain administrative services to an unaffiliated service provider.
E. Investing in Emerging Markets
Investing in emerging markets may involve special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in the United States of America. These risks include revaluation of currencies, high rates of inflation, repatriation restrictions on income and capital, and future adverse political, social and economic developments. Moreover, securities issued in these markets may be less liquid, subject to government ownership controls, delayed settlements and their prices are more volatile than those of comparable securities in the United States of America.
F. Line of Credit
The Fund and several other affiliated funds (the "Participants") share in a $750 million revolving credit facility administered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests that otherwise might require the untimely disposition of securities. The Participants are charged an annual commitment fee which is allocated, based upon net assets, among each of the Participants. Interest is calculated at the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5 percent. The Fund may borrow up to a maximum of 25 percent of its net assets under the agreement. At April 30, 2006, the Fund had an outstanding loan of $10,850,000. Interest expense incurred on borrowings amounted to $10,203 during the six months ended April 30, 2006. The average dollar amount of the borrowing was $5,750,000 and the weighted average interest rate on theses borrowing was 5.18%.
G. Share Transactions
The following table summarizes share and dollar activity in the Fund:
| Six Months Ended April 30, 2006 | Year Ended October 31, 2005 | ||
| Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars |
Shares sold | ||||
Class A | 835,861 | $ 19,397,365 | 3,270,075 | $ 58,883,243 |
Class B | 119,325 | 2,703,590 | 146,218 | 2,655,908 |
Class C | 179,938 | 4,020,567 | 281,793 | 5,138,679 |
Class AARP | 249,042 | 5,818,609 | 288,583 | 5,477,648 |
Class S | 696,638 | 16,193,206 | 1,667,558 | 30,805,177 |
|
| $ 48,133,337 |
| $ 102,960,655 |
Shares issued in tax-free reorganization | ||||
Class S | 5,580,758 | $ 137,847,772 | — | — |
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of dividends | ||||
Class A | 244,793 | $ 5,265,512 | 4,746 | $ 79,980 |
Class B | 14,599 | 303,661 | — | — |
Class C | 28,349 | 590,799 | — | — |
Class AARP | 38,027 | 824,422 | 1,890 | 32,026 |
Class S | 445,463 | 9,648,729 | 36,979 | 625,688 |
|
| $ 16,633,123 |
| $ 737,694 |
Shares redeemed | ||||
Class A | (1,304,833) | $ (30,800,438) | (2,278,846) | $ (42,096,068) |
Class B | (47,909) | (1,072,620) | (97,472) | (1,749,457) |
Class C | (42,820) | (949,924) | (109,171) | (1,929,837) |
Class AARP | (78,934) | (1,879,495) | (96,335) | (1,760,736) |
Class S | (928,026) | (22,201,711) | (1,110,238) | (20,369,965) |
|
| $ (56,904,188) |
| $ (67,906,063) |
Redemption fees | $ 3,719 |
| $ 40,136 | |
Net increase (decrease) | ||||
Class A | (224,179) | $ (6,137,060) | 995,975 | $ 16,874,799 |
Class B | 86,015 | 1,934,631 | 48,746 | 906,514 |
Class C | 165,467 | 3,661,442 | 172,622 | 3,208,848 |
Class AARP | 208,135 | 4,765,444 | 194,138 | 3,755,092 |
Class S | 5,794,833 | 141,489,306 | 594,299 | 11,087,169 |
|
| $ 145,713,763 |
| $ 35,832,422 |
H. Regulatory Matters and Litigation
Market Timing Related Regulatory and Litigation Matters. Since at least July 2003, federal, state and industry regulators have been conducting ongoing inquiries and investigations ("inquiries") into the mutual fund industry, and have requested information from numerous mutual fund companies, including DWS Scudder. The DWS funds' advisors have been cooperating in connection with these inquiries and are in discussions with the regulators concerning proposed settlements. Publicity about mutual fund practices arising from these industry-wide inquiries serves as the general basis of a number of private lawsuits against the DWS funds. These lawsuits, which previously have been reported in the press, involve purported class action and derivative lawsuits, making various allegations and naming as defendants various persons, including certain DWS funds, the funds' investment advisors and their affiliates, and certain individuals, including in some cases fund Trustees/Directors, officers, and other parties. Each DWS fund's investment advisor has agreed to indemnify the applicable DWS funds in connection with these lawsuits, or other lawsuits or regulatory actions that may be filed making allegations similar to these lawsuits regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or related to the pending inquiries. It is not possible to determine with certainty what the outcome of these inquiries will be or what the effect, if any, would be on the funds or their advisors.
With respect to the lawsuits, based on currently available information, the funds' investment advisors believe the likelihood that the pending lawsuits will have a material adverse financial impact on a DWS fund is remote and such actions are not likely to materially affect their ability to perform under their investment management agreements with the DWS funds.
With respect to the regulatory matters, Deutsche Asset Management ("DeAM") has advised the funds as follows:
DeAM expects to reach final agreements with regulators in 2006 regarding allegations of improper trading in the DWS funds. DeAM expects that it will reach settlement agreements with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Attorney General and the Illinois Secretary of State providing for payment of disgorgement, penalties, and investor education contributions totaling approximately $134 million. Approximately $127 million of this amount would be distributed to shareholders of the affected DWS funds in accordance with a distribution plan to be developed by an independent distribution consultant. DeAM does not believe that any of the DWS funds will be named as respondents or defendants in any proceedings. The funds' investment advisors do not believe these amounts will have a material adverse financial impact on them or materially affect their ability to perform under their investment management agreements with the DWS funds. The above-described amounts are not material to Deutsche Bank, and they have already been reserved.
Based on the settlement discussions thus far, DeAM believes that it will be able to reach a settlement with the regulators on a basis that is generally consistent with settlements reached by other advisors, taking into account the particular facts and circumstances of market timing at DeAM and at the legacy Scudder and Kemper organizations prior to their acquisition by DeAM in April 2002. Among the terms of the expected settled orders, DeAM would be subject to certain undertakings regarding the conduct of its business in the future, including maintaining existing management fee reductions for certain funds for a period of five years. DeAM expects that these settlements would resolve regulatory allegations that it violated certain provisions of federal and state securities laws (i) by entering into trading arrangements that permitted certain investors to engage in market timing in certain DWS funds and (ii) by failing more generally to take adequate measures to prevent market timing in the DWS funds, primarily during the 1999-2001 period. With respect to the trading arrangements, DeAM expects that the settlement documents will include allegations related to one legacy DeAM arrangement, as well as three legacy Scudder and six legacy Kemper arrangements. All of these trading arrangements originated in businesses that existed prior to the current DeAM organization, which came together in April 2002 as a result of the various mergers of the legacy Scudder, Kemper and Deutsche fund groups, and all of the arrangements were terminated prior to the start of the regulatory investigations that began in the summer of 2003. No current DeAM employee approved the trading arrangements.
There is no certainty that the final settlement documents will contain the foregoing terms and conditions. The independent Trustees/Directors of the DWS funds have carefully monitored these regulatory investigations with the assistance of independent legal counsel and independent economic consultants.
Other Regulatory Matters. DeAM is also engaged in settlement discussions with the Enforcement Staffs of the SEC and the NASD regarding DeAM's practices during 2001-2003 with respect to directing brokerage commissions for portfolio transactions by certain DWS funds to broker-dealers that sold shares in the DWS funds and provided enhanced marketing and distribution for shares in the DWS funds. In addition, on January 13, 2006, DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. received a Wells notice from the Enforcement Staff of the NASD regarding DWS Scudder Distributors' payment of non-cash compensation to associated persons of NASD member firms, as well as DWS Scudder Distributors' procedures regarding non-cash compensation regarding entertainment provided to such associated persons.
I. Acquisition of Assets
On April 13, 2006, the Fund acquired all of the net assets of Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc., pursuant to a plan of reorganization approved by shareholders on March 21, 2006. The acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 8,759,833 shares of Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc., for 5,580,758 Class S shares of DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund outstanding on April 13, 2006. Scudder New Asia Fund's net assets at that date of $137,847,772, including $24,490,845 of net unrealized appreciation, were combined with those of the Fund. The aggregate net assets of the Fund immediately before the acquisition were $300,654,235. The combined net assets of the Fund immediately following the acquisition were $438,502,007.
Additional information announced by Deutsche Asset Management regarding the terms of the expected settlements referred to in the Market Timing Related Regulatory and Litigation Matters and Other Regulatory Matters in the Notes to Financial Statements will be made available at www.dws-scudder.com/regulatory_settlements, which will also disclose the terms of any final settlement agreements once they are announced.
A Special Meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") of DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund (the "Fund") was held on May 5, 2006, at the offices of Deutsche Asset Management, 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. At the Meeting, the following matters were voted upon by the shareholders (the resulting votes are presented below).
I. Election of Directors. ("Number of Votes" represents all funds that are series of DWS International Fund, Inc.)
| Number of Votes: | |
| For | Withheld |
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | 44,300,607.035 | 1,995,374.833 |
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | 44,290,254.185 | 2,005,727.683 |
Keith R. Fox | 44,219,333.965 | 2,076,647.903 |
Kenneth C. Froewiss | 44,192,478.238 | 2,103,503.630 |
Martin J. Gruber | 44,151,118.992 | 2,144,862.876 |
Richard J. Herring | 44,126,900.988 | 2,169,080.880 |
Graham E. Jones | 44,041,331.504 | 2,254,650.364 |
Rebecca W. Rimel | 44,178,552.059 | 2,117,429.809 |
Philip Saunders, Jr. | 44,046,121.543 | 2,249,860.325 |
William N. Searcy, Jr. | 44,116,236.519 | 2,179,745.349 |
Jean Gleason Stromberg | 44,181,835.442 | 2,114,146.426 |
Carl W. Vogt | 44,209,521.653 | 2,086,450.215 |
Axel Schwarzer | 44,171,355.974 | 2,124,625.894 |
The meeting was reconvened on June 1, 2006, at which time the following matters were voted upon by the shareholders (the resulting votes are presented below):
II-A. Approval of an Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement:
Number of Votes: | |||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes* |
5,545,742.201 | 167,043.737 | 236,578.695 | 826,096.000 |
II-B. Approval of a Subadvisor Approval Policy:
Number of Votes: | |||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes* |
5,274,990.868 | 446,296.641 | 228,077.124 | 826,096.000 |
III. Approval of a Revised Fundamental Investment Restriction Regarding Commodities:
Number of Votes: | |||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes* |
5,509,874.423 | 212,660.915 | 226,829.295 | 826,096.000 |
IV-C. Approval of Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation:
Number of Votes: | |||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes* |
43,036,276.018 | 2,136,331.317 | 1,854,195.596 | 6,551,572.000 |
* Broker non-votes are proxies received by the fund from brokers or nominees when the broker or nominee neither has received instructions from the beneficial owner or other persons entitled to vote nor has discretionary power to vote on a particular matter.
For shareholders of Classes A, B and C | |
Automated Information Lines | InvestorACCESS (800) 972-3060 Personalized account information, information on other DWS funds and services via touchtone telephone and for Classes A, B, and C only, the ability to exchange or redeem shares. |
Web Site | www.dws-scudder.com View your account transactions and balances, trade shares, monitor your asset allocation, and change your address, 24 hours a day. Obtain prospectuses and applications, blank forms, interactive worksheets, news about DWS funds, subscription to fund updates by e-mail, retirement planning information, and more. |
For More Information | (800) 621-1048 To speak with a DWS Scudder service representative. |
Written Correspondence | DWS Scudder PO Box 219356 |
Proxy Voting | A description of the fund's policies and procedures for voting proxies for portfolio securities and information about how the fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available on our Web site — www.dws-scudder.com (click on "proxy voting"at the bottom of the page) — or on the SEC's Web site — www.sec.gov. To obtain a written copy of the fund's policies and procedures without charge, upon request, call us toll free at 1-800-621-1048. |
Principal Underwriter | If you have questions, comments or complaints, contact: DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. 222 South Riverside Plaza (800) 621-1148 |
| Class A | Class B | Class C |
Nasdaq Symbol | SEKAX | SEKBX | SEKCX |
CUSIP Number | 23337R 106 | 23337R 205 | 23337R 304 |
Fund Number | 479 | 679 | 779 |
For shareholders of Class AARP and Class S | |
Automated Information Lines | SAILTM (800) 343-2890 |
| Personalized account information, the ability to exchange or redeem shares, and information on other DWS funds and services via touchtone telephone. |
Web Site | www.dws-scudder.com |
| View your account transactions and balances, trade shares, monitor your asset allocation, and change your address, 24 hours a day. Obtain prospectuses and applications, blank forms, interactive worksheets, news about DWS funds, subscription to fund updates by e-mail, retirement planning information, and more. |
For More Information | (800) 728-3337 To speak with a DWS Scudder service representative. |
Written Correspondence | DWS Scudder PO Box 219669 |
Proxy Voting | A description of the fund's policies and procedures for voting proxies for portfolio securities and information about how the fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 is available on our Web site — www.dws-scudder.com (click on "proxy voting"at the bottom of the page) — or on the SEC's Web site — www.sec.gov. To obtain a written copy of the fund's policies and procedures without charge, upon request, call us toll free at 1-800-621-1048. |
Principal Underwriter | If you have questions, comments or complaints, contact: DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. 222 South Riverside Plaza (800) 621-1148 |
| Class AARP | Class S |
Nasdaq Symbol | SEMMX | SEMGX |
Fund Number | 2179 | 2079 |
This privacy statement is issued by DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc., Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., Investment Company Capital Corporation, DeAM Investor Services, Inc., DWS Trust Company and the DWS Funds.
We never sell customer lists or individual client information. We consider privacy fundamental to our client relationships and adhere to the policies and practices described below to protect current and former clients' information. Internal policies are in place to protect confidentiality, while allowing client needs to be served. Only individuals who need to do so in carrying out their job responsibilities may access client information. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal and state standards to protect confidentiality. These safeguards extend to all forms of interaction with us, including the Internet.
In the normal course of business, clients give us nonpublic personal information on applications and other forms, on our websites, and through transactions with us or our affiliates. Examples of the nonpublic personal information collected are name, address, Social Security number and transaction and balance information. To be able to serve our clients, certain of this client information is shared with affiliated and nonaffiliated third party service providers such as transfer agents, custodians, and broker-dealers to assist us in processing transactions and servicing your account with us. In addition, we may disclose all of the information we collect to companies that perform marketing services on our behalf or to other financial institutions with which we have joint marketing agreements. The organizations described above that receive client information may only use it for the purpose designated by the companies listed above.
We may also disclose nonpublic personal information about you to other parties as required or permitted by law. For example, we are required or we may provide information to government entities or regulatory bodies in response to requests for information or subpoenas, to private litigants in certain circumstances, to law enforcement authorities, or any time we believe it necessary to protect the firm.
Questions on this policy may be sent to:
DWS Scudder
Attention: Correspondence — Chicago
P.O. Box 219415, Kansas City, MO 64121-9415
For Class S only:
DWS Scudder
Attention: Correspondence,
P.O. Box 219669, Kansas City, MO 64121-9669
February 2006
Notes
| ITEM 2. | CODE OF ETHICS. |
| Not applicable. |
| ITEM 3. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. |
| Not applicable. |
| ITEM 4. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. |
| Not applicable. |
| ITEM 5. | AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS |
| Not Applicable |
| ITEM 6. | SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
| Not Applicable |
ITEM 7. | DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
| Not applicable. |
ITEM 8. | PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
| Not applicable. |
ITEM 9. | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
| Not Applicable. |
| ITEM 10. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. |
The Committee on Independent Trustees/Directors selects and nominates Independent Trustees/Directors. Fund shareholders may also submit nominees that will be considered by the committee when a Board vacancy occurs. Submissions should be mailed to: c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33910.
| ITEM 11. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. |
(a) | The Chief Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant's Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on the evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report. |
(b) | There have been no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's last half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of the annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting. |
| ITEM 12. | EXHIBITS. |
(a)(1) | Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT. |
(b) | Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT. |
Form N-CSRS Item F
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.
Registrant: | DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund, a series of DWS International Fund, Inc. |
By: | /s/Michael Colon | |
| Michael Colon |
|
President
Date: | June 27, 2006 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Registrant: | DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund, a series of DWS International Fund, Inc. |
By: | /s/Michael Colon | |
| Michael Colon |
|
President
Date: | June 27, 2006 |
By: | /s/Paul Schubert | |
| Paul Schubert |
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Date: | June 27, 2006 |