Table of Contents
As Filed Electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2006
Securities Act File No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-14
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 x
Pre-Effective Amendment No. ¨
Post-Effective Amendment No. ¨
DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
800-778-1482
(Registrant’s Area Code and Telephone Number)
John Millette
Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
Two International Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-4103
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
With copies to:
John W. Gerstmayr, Esq. Thomas R. Hiller, Esq. | David A. Sturms, Esq. Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz, P.C. 222 North LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60601 |
TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED:
Shares of the DWS International Fund series of the Registrant
Approximate date of proposed public offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective on September 11, 2006 pursuant to Rule 488.
No filing fee is required because an indefinite number of shares have previously been registered pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Table of Contents
Questions & Answers
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
DWS International Fund, Inc.
Q&A
Q What is happening?
A Deutsche Asset Management (or “DeAM,” as defined on page [[ ]] in the enclosed Prospectus/Proxy Statement), has initiated a program to reorganize and merge selected funds within the DWS fund family.
Q What issue am I being asked to vote on?
A You are being asked to vote on a proposal to convert your shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund into shares of DWS International Fund.
After carefully reviewing the proposal, your fund’s Board has determined that this action is in the best interests of the fund. The Board [[unanimously]] recommends that you vote for this proposal.
Q Why has this proposal been made for my fund?
A DeAM has advised the Board of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund that it believes future distribution opportunities for the DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund are limited and that the fund has little opportunity for future growth. Accordingly, DeAM has proposed the conversion of shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund into shares of DWS International Fund, which DeAM believes is most similar from an investment objective standpoint, though the funds’ investment strategies differ. There are significant differences in the portfolios of DWS International Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund. DeAM has estimated that approximately 98% of the portfolio of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund will be liquidated and the proceeds
Table of Contents
Q&A continued
reinvested in other securities so that at the time of the conversion, DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund’s portfolio will conform to DWS International Fund’s investment objective, policies, restrictions and strategies. As noted below, DeAM will pay all costs associated with the conversion, including but not limited to transaction costs associated with the repositioning of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund.
Q Will I have to pay taxes as a result of the conversion?
A The conversion is expected to be a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes and will not take place unless special tax counsel provides an opinion to that effect. As a result of the conversion, however, your fund may lose the benefit of certain tax losses that could have been used to offset or defer future gains. If you choose to redeem or exchange your shares before or after the conversion, the redemption or exchange likely will generate taxable gain or loss; therefore, you may wish to consult a tax advisor before doing so. Of course, you may also be subject to taxation as a result of the normal operations of your fund whether or not the conversion occurs.
Q Upon conversion, will I own the same number of shares?
A The aggregate value of your shares will not change as a result of the conversion. It is likely, however, that the number of shares you own will change as a result of the conversion because your shares will be converted at the net asset value per share of the corresponding class of DWS International Fund. The net asset value per share of each class of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund probably will be different than the net asset value per share of the corresponding class of DWS International Fund.
Q Will any fund pay for the proxy solicitation and legal costs associated with this solicitation?
A No. DeAM will bear these costs. If the conversion is approved, it may be necessary to make certain changes to DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund’s portfolio prior to consummation of the conversion. As such, DeAM will bear the costs of any such transaction expenses, and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund shareholders would realize gains or losses on the sale of portfolio securities in anticipation of the conversion.
Table of Contents
Q&A continued
Q When would the conversion take place?
A If approved, the conversion would occur on or about November 13, 2006 or as soon as reasonably practicable after shareholder approval is obtained. Shortly after completion of the conversion, shareholders whose accounts are affected by the conversion will receive a confirmation statement reflecting their new account number and the number of shares owned.
Q How can I vote?
A You can vote in any one of four ways:
n | Through the Internet, by going to the website listed on your proxy card; |
n | By telephone, with a toll-free call to the number listed on your proxy card; |
n | By mail, by sending the enclosed proxy card, signed and dated, to us in the enclosed envelope; or |
n | In person, by attending the special meeting. |
We encourage you to vote over the Internet or by telephone, following the instructions that appear on your proxy card. Whichever method you choose, please take the time to read the full text of the Prospectus/Proxy Statement before you vote.
Q Will I be able to continue to track my fund’s performance in the newspaper, on the Internet or through the voice response system (DWS ScudderACCESS)?
A Yes. You will be able to continue to track your fund’s performance through all these means.
Q Whom should I call for additional information about this Prospectus/Proxy Statement?
A Please call Computershare Fund Services, Inc., your fund’s proxy solicitor, at 1-866-774-4940.
Table of Contents
DWS PACIFIC OPPORTUNITIES EQUITY FUND
A Message from the Fund’s President
[[ ]]
Dear Shareholder:
I am writing to ask for your vote on an important matter that affects your investment in DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund (“Pacific Opportunities Fund”). While you are, of course, welcome to join us at Pacific Opportunities Fund’s special meeting, most shareholders cast their vote by filling out and signing the enclosed proxy card, or by voting by telephone or through the Internet.
We are asking for your vote on the following matter:
Proposal: | Approval of a proposed conversion of shares of each class of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of the corresponding class of DWS International Fund (“International Fund”). In this conversion, your shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund would be converted, on a tax-free basis for federal income tax purposes, into shares of International Fund with an equal aggregate net asset value. |
The proposed conversion is part of a program initiated by Deutsche Asset Management (or “DeAM,” as defined on page [[ ]] of the enclosed Prospectus/Proxy Statement). This program is intended to restructure DeAM’s product line to match its distribution focus in the future and to eliminate funds that have little opportunity for growth and that add unnecessary complexity and inefficiency to its business. In order to provide shareholders with a continuity of investment within the DWS fund family, DeAM has proposed to the Board the conversion of shares of each class of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of the corresponding class of International Fund, which DeAM believes is similar from an investment objective standpoint. Please note, however, that the investment strategies of Pacific Opportunities Fund are different from those of International Fund. See “Investment Strategies and Risk Factors” in the enclosed Prospectus/Proxy Statement for more details.
In determining to recommend approval of the conversion, the Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund conducted a thorough review of the potential implications of the conversion and concluded that the proposed conversion would be in the best interests of Pacific Opportunities Fund and would not dilute the interests of Pacific Opportunities Fund’s existing shareholders. If the proposed conversion is approved, it is expected that the proposed conversion will take effect during the fourth calendar quarter of 2006.
Included in this booklet is information about the upcoming shareholders’ meeting:
• | A Notice of a Special Meeting of Shareholders, which summarizes the issue for which you are being asked to provide voting instructions; and |
• | A Prospectus/Proxy Statement, which provides detailed information on International Fund, the specific proposal being considered at the shareholders’ meeting, and why the proposal is being made. |
Table of Contents
Although we would like very much to have each shareholder attend the special meeting, we realize this may not be possible. Whether or not you plan to be present, however, we need your vote. We urge you to review the enclosed materials thoroughly. Once you’ve determined how you would like your interests to be represented, please promptly complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card, vote by telephone or record your voting instructions through the Internet. A postage-paid envelope is enclosed for mailing, and telephone and Internet voting instructions are listed at the top of your proxy card. You may receive more than one proxy card. If so, please vote each one.
I’m sure that you, like most people, lead a busy life and are tempted to put this Prospectus/Proxy Statement aside for another day. Please don’t. Your prompt return of the enclosed proxy card (or your voting by telephone or through the Internet) may save the necessity and expense of further solicitations.
Your vote is important to us. We appreciate the time and consideration I am sure you will give this important matter. If you have questions about the proposal, please call Computershare Fund Services, Inc., Pacific Opportunities Fund’s proxy solicitor, at 1-866-774-4940, or contact your financial advisor. Thank you for your continued support of DWS Scudder.
Sincerely yours,
Michael Clark
President
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Table of Contents
DWS PACIFIC OPPORTUNITIES EQUITY FUND
NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
This is the formal agenda for your fund’s shareholder special meeting. It tells you what matter will be voted on and the time and place of the special meeting, in the event you choose to attend in person.
To the shareholders of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund:
A Special Meeting of shareholders of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund (“Pacific Opportunities Fund”), a series of DWS International Fund, Inc., will be held October 12, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, at the offices of Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., 345 Park Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10154 (the “Meeting”), to consider the following:
Proposal: | Approving an Agreement and Plan of Conversion which contemplates the conversion of each class of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of the corresponding class of DWS International Fund (“International Fund”) and the resulting transfer to International Fund of all of the assets and liabilities of Pacific Opportunities Fund, on a tax-free basis for federal income tax purposes, and the termination of Pacific Opportunities Fund. |
The persons named as proxies will vote in their discretion on any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Holders of record of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund at the close of business on August 3, 2006 are entitled to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Whether or not a quorum is present, the chairman of the Meeting may adjourn the Meeting in accordance with the bylaws of Pacific Opportunities Fund and applicable law to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date (August 3, 2006) without further notice of the adjourned meeting date, to permit such further solicitation of proxies as may be deemed necessary or advisable. In addition, upon motion of the chairman of the Meeting, the question of adjournment may be submitted to a vote of the shareholders, and, in any such case, any adjournment would require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the question in person or by proxy at the session of the Meeting to be adjourned. The Board of Directors may postpone the Meeting of shareholders prior to the Meeting with notice to the shareholders entitled to vote at or to receive notice of the Meeting. The persons named as proxies will vote FOR any such adjournment those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the proposal and will vote AGAINST any such adjournment those proxies to be voted against the proposal.
By order of the Board of Directors
John Millette
Secretary
[[ ]]
WE URGE YOU TO MARK, SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE PROVIDED OR RECORD YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BY TELEPHONE OR THROUGH THE INTERNET SO THAT YOU WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
Table of Contents
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING PROXY CARDS
The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and avoid the time and expense involved in validating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card.
2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to the name shown in the registration on the proxy card.
3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For example:
Registration | Valid Signature | |
Corporate Accounts | ||
(1) ABC Corp. | ABC Corp., John Doe, Treasurer | |
(2) ABC Corp. | John Doe, Treasurer | |
(3) ABC Corp. c/o John Doe, Treasurer | John Doe | |
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan | John Doe, Trustee | |
Partnership Accounts | ||
(1) The XYZ Partnership | Jane B. Smith, Partner | |
(2) Smith and Jones, Limited Partnership | Jane B. Smith, General Partner | |
Trust Accounts | ||
(1) ABC Trust Account | Jane B. Doe, Trustee | |
(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d 12/28/78 | Jane B. Doe | |
Custodial or Estate Accounts | ||
(1) John B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o John B. Smith Jr. UGMA/UTMA | John B. Smith | |
(2) Estate of John B. Smith | John B. Smith, Jr., Executor |
Table of Contents
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
FOR SHAREHOLDERS OF
DWS PACIFIC OPPORTUNITIES EQUITY FUND
This document contains a Prospectus/Proxy Statement and a proxy card. A proxy card is, in essence, a ballot. When you vote your proxy, it tells us how to vote on your behalf on an important issue relating to your fund. If you complete and sign the proxy card (or tell us how you want to vote by telephone or through the Internet), we’ll vote exactly as you tell us. If you simply sign the proxy card, we’ll vote it in accordance with the Directors’ recommendation on page [[ ]].
We urge you to review the Prospectus/Proxy Statement carefully and either fill out your proxy card and return it to us by mail, vote by telephone or record your voting instructions via the Internet. You may receive more than one proxy card since several shareholder special meetings are being held as part of the broader restructuring program of the DWS fund family. If so, please vote each one. Your prompt return of the enclosed proxy card (or your voting by telephone or through the Internet) may save the necessity and expense of further solicitations.
We want to know how you would like to vote and welcome your comments. Please take a few minutes to read these materials and return your proxy card to us.
If you have any questions, please call Computershare Fund Services, Inc., DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund’s proxy solicitor, at the special toll-free number we have set up for you (1-866-774-4940) or contact your financial advisor.
Table of Contents
PROSPECTUS/PROXY STATEMENT
[[ ]]
Conversion of the shares of each class of: | Into shares of the corresponding class of: | |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, a series of DWS International Fund, Inc. | DWS International Fund a series of DWS International Fund, Inc. | |
Two International Place | Two International Place |
This Prospectus/Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the proposed conversion of shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund (“Pacific Opportunities Fund”) into shares of DWS International Fund (“International Fund”). International Fund and Pacific Opportunities Fund are referred to herein collectively as the “Funds,” and each is referred to herein individually as a “Fund.” As a result of the proposed conversion, each shareholder of Pacific Opportunities Fund will receive a number of full and fractional shares of the corresponding class of International Fund equal in total value as of the Valuation Time (as defined below on page [[ ]]) to the total value of such shareholder’s Pacific Opportunities Fund shares.
This Prospectus/Proxy Statement, along with the Notice of Special Meeting and the proxy card, is being mailed to shareholders on or about [[ ]]. It explains concisely what you should know before voting on the matter described in this Prospectus/Proxy Statement or investing in International Fund, a diversified series of an open-end management investment company. Please read it carefully and keep it for future reference.
The securities offered by this Prospectus/Proxy Statement have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), nor has the SEC passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus/Proxy Statement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The following documents have been filed with the SEC and are incorporated into this Prospectus/Proxy Statement by reference:
(i) | the prospectus of International Fund, dated December 1, 2005, as supplemented from time to time, relating to Class A, Class B and Class C shares, a copy of which, if applicable, is included with this Prospectus/Proxy Statement; |
(ii) | the prospectus of International Fund, dated December 1, 2005, as supplemented from time to time, relating to Class S shares, a copy of which, if applicable, is included with this Prospectus/Proxy Statement; |
(iii) | the prospectus of Pacific Opportunities Fund, dated March 1, 2006, as supplemented from time to time, relating to Class A, Class B and Class C shares; |
(iv) | the prospectus of Pacific Opportunities Fund, dated March 1, 2006, as supplemented from time to time, relating to Class S shares; |
1
Table of Contents
(v) | the statement of additional information of Pacific Opportunities Fund, dated March 1, 2006, as supplemented from time to time, relating to Class A, Class B and Class C shares; |
(vi) | the statement of additional information of Pacific Opportunities Fund, dated March 1, 2006, as supplemented from time to time, relating to Class S shares; |
(vii) | the statement of additional information relating to the proposed conversion, dated [[ ]] (the “Conversion SAI”); and |
(viii) | the financial statements and related independent registered public accounting firm’s report included in Pacific Opportunities Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, and the unaudited financial statements included in Pacific Opportunities Fund’s Semiannual Report to Shareholders for the six-month period ended April 30, 2006. |
The financial highlights for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of International Fund contained in the Semiannual Report to Shareholders for the six-month period ended February 28, 2006 are attached to this Prospectus/Proxy Statement as Exhibit B.
Shareholders may receive free copies of the Funds’ annual reports, semiannual reports, prospectuses, statements of additional information or the Conversion SAI, request other information about a Fund or make shareholder inquiries by contacting their financial advisor or by calling the corresponding Fund at 1-800-621-1048.
Like shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund, shares of International Fund are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any financial institution, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other agency, and involve risk, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested.
This document is designed to give you the information you need to vote on the proposal. Much of the information is required disclosure under rules of the SEC; some of it is technical. If there is anything you don’t understand, please contact Computershare Fund Services, Inc., Pacific Opportunities Fund’s proxy solicitor, at 1-866-774-4940, or contact your financial advisor.
International Fund is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the SEC. You may review and copy information about the Funds, including the prospectuses and the statements of additional information, at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. You may call the SEC at 1-202-551-8090 for information about the operation of the public reference room. You may obtain copies of this information, with payment of a duplication fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Branch, Office of Consumer Affairs and Information Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102. You may also access reports and other information about the Funds on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
2
Table of Contents
I. SYNOPSIS
The responses to the questions that follow provide an overview of key points typically of concern to shareholders considering a proposed conversion of shares of one mutual fund into shares of another mutual fund. These responses are qualified in their entirety by the remainder of this Prospectus/Proxy Statement, which you should read carefully because it contains additional information and further details regarding the proposed conversion.
1. | What is being proposed? |
The Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund are recommending that shareholders approve the conversion contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Conversion (as described below in Part IV and the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A). If approved by shareholders, and all other conditions are met, (a) Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be converted into Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of International Fund (“Conversion Shares”), respectively, with a total value equal to the value of Pacific Opportunities Fund’s assets net of liabilities, and (b) all assets and liabilities of Pacific Opportunities Fund will become assets and liabilities of International Fund, all on a tax-free basis for federal income tax purposes.
2. | What will happen to my shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund as a result of the conversion? |
Your shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be converted into shares of the same share class of International Fund with an equal aggregate net asset value as of the Valuation Time (as defined below on page [[ ]]).
3. | Why have the Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund recommended that I approve the conversion? |
The Directors considered the following factors, among others, in determining to recommend that shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund approve the conversion:
• | That, as a part of its ongoing program to restructure its product line, Deutsche Asset Management (or “DeAM” as defined below on p. [[ ]]) desires to eliminate funds that it believes have little opportunity for growth and that add unnecessary complexity and inefficiency to its business. Accordingly, DeAM no longer wishes to manage or to support Pacific Opportunities Fund. |
• | Various alternatives to the proposed conversion (e.g., liquidation of Pacific Opportunities Fund, which would create a tax recognition event for some shareholders, or merger of Pacific Opportunities Fund into International Fund, which is impractical under state law). |
• | That DeAM recommended the conversion of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of International Fund based on its belief that International Fund has the closest investment objective to Pacific Opportunities Fund, relative to other DWS funds, though the Funds’ investment strategies differ. |
3
Table of Contents
• | That the conversion would provide a continuity of investment within the DWS fund family for shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund in a significantly larger fund. |
• | The fees and operating expense ratios of Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund, including comparisons between the operating expense ratio of Pacific Opportunities Fund and the estimated operating expense ratio of the combined fund, and in particular noted that the combined fund’s total operating expense ratio was anticipated to be lower than Pacific Opportunities Fund’s current total operating expense ratio. |
• | That DeAM has agreed to cap the total operating expense ratios of each class of shares of the combined fund at levels lower than the current total operating expense ratios of the corresponding share class of Pacific Opportunities Fund for at least three years following the conversion. |
• | That DeAM agreed to pay all costs associated with the conversion, including but not limited to transaction costs associated with the repositioning of Pacific Opportunities Fund’s portfolio. |
The Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund have concluded that: (1) the conversion is in the best interests of Pacific Opportunities Fund, and (2) the interests of the existing shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund will not be diluted as a result of the conversion. Accordingly, the Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund [[unanimously]] recommend approval of the Agreement (as defined below) and the conversion as contemplated thereby.
4. | How do the investment goals, policies, restrictions and strategies of the two Funds compare? |
The Funds have identical investment goals—long-term growth of capital. Their investment policies and restrictions have some similarities, but there are important differences in their investment strategies. The most important difference is that while each Fund generally buys equities of non-U.S. companies, Pacific Opportunities Fund focuses on equities issued by Pacific Basin companies (excluding Japanese companies) while International Fund has no similar geographic investment focus. Pacific Basin countries include the People’s Republic of China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand, as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, the so-called “four tigers.” Moreover, another important difference is that Pacific Opportunities Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Pacific Basin equities. In contrast, International Fund need invest only 65% of its total assets in foreign equities. Additionally, each Fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in debt securities. Pacific Opportunities Fund may invest in either foreign or domestic debt securities, but is restricted to the top three credit grades. International Fund has no credit restriction, but may invest only in foreign debt securities. Each Fund has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end management investment company. With certain exceptions, a diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of total assets, invest more than 5% of total assets in the securities of a single issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. Please also see Part II—Investment Strategies and Risk Factors—below for a more detailed comparison of the Funds’ investment policies, restrictions and strategies.
4
Table of Contents
The following table sets forth a summary of the composition of the investment portfolio of each Fund as of February 28, 2006, and the estimated composition of International Fund after giving effect to the proposed conversion of the Funds as of that date.
Portfolio Composition (as a % of Fund)
(excludes cash equivalents)
Pacific Opportunities Fund | International Fund | International Fund— Estimated(1) | |||||||
Europe (excluding the United Kingdom) | — | 50 | % | 50 | % | ||||
Japan | — | 22 | % | 22 | % | ||||
United Kingdom | — | 16 | % | 16 | % | ||||
Emerging Markets | — | 10 | % | 10 | % | ||||
Pacific (excluding Japan) | 100 | % | 1 | % | 1 | % | |||
Korea | 26 | % | — | — | |||||
Taiwan | 20 | % | — | — | |||||
Hong Kong | 16 | % | — | — | |||||
India | 10 | % | — | — | |||||
Singapore | 10 | % | — | — | |||||
China | 9 | % | — | — | |||||
Malaysia | 4 | % | — | — | |||||
Other | 5 | % | — | — | |||||
North America | — | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||||
100 | % | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||||
(1) | Reflects DeAM’s estimation of the portfolio composition of International Fund after the conversion, taking into account that prior to the conversion, it is anticipated that 98% of the portfolio of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be liquidated and the proceeds used to acquire other securities prior to the conversion that are consistent with the investment objective, policies, restrictions and strategies of International Fund. There can be no assurance as to the actual portfolio composition of International Fund after the conversion. |
5
Table of Contents
5. | How do the management fees and expense ratios of the two Funds compare, and what are they estimated to be following the conversion? |
The following tables summarize the fees and expenses you may pay when investing in the Funds, the expenses that each of the Funds incurred for the year ended February 28, 2006, and the pro forma estimated expense ratios of International Fund assuming consummation of the conversion as of that date.
Shareholder Fees
(fees that are paid directly from your investment)
Class A | Class B | Class C | Class S | |||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | ||||||||||||
Pacific Opportunities Fund | 5.75 | %(1) | None | None | None | |||||||
International Fund | 5.75 | %(1) | None | None | None | |||||||
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (Load) | ||||||||||||
Pacific Opportunities Fund | None | (2) | 4.00 | % | 1.00 | % | None | |||||
International Fund | None | (2) | 4.00 | % | 1.00 | % | None | |||||
Redemption/Exchange Fee on shares owned less than 30 days | ||||||||||||
Pacific Opportunities Fund | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||||
International Fund | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % |
(1) | Because of rounding in the calculation of the offering price, the actual maximum front-end sales charge paid by an investor may be higher than the percentage noted. Please see the applicable Fund’s prospectus for more details. |
(2) | The redemption of shares purchased at net asset value under the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months following purchase and 0.50% if redeemed during the next six months following purchase. Please see the applicable Fund’s prospectus for more details. |
(3) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see the applicable Fund’s prospectus for more details. |
As shown below, the conversion is expected to result in a lower management fee ratio and lower total expense ratios for shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the conversion will result in expense savings.
6
Table of Contents
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that are deducted from Fund assets)
(as a % of average net assets)
Management Fee(1),(2) | Distribution/ Service (12b-1) Fees | Other Expenses(1) | Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | Less Expense Waivers/ Reimbursements | Net Annual Fund Operating | |||||||||||||
Pacific Opportunities Fund |
| |||||||||||||||||
Class A | 0.87 | % | 0.25 | % | 0.74 | % | 1.86 | % | — | 1.86 | % | |||||||
Class B | 0.87 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.96 | % | 2.83 | % | — | 2.83 | % | |||||||
Class C | 0.87 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.78 | % | 2.65 | % | — | 2.65 | % | |||||||
Class S | 0.87 | % | None | 0.77 | % | 1.64 | % | — | 1.64 | % | ||||||||
International Fund |
| |||||||||||||||||
Class A | 0.67 | % | 0.25 | % | 0.36 | % | 1.28 | % | — | 1.28 | % | |||||||
Class B | 0.67 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.79 | % | 2.46 | % | — | 2.46 | % | |||||||
Class C | 0.67 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.48 | % | 2.15 | % | — | 2.15 | % | |||||||
Class S | 0.67 | % | None | 0.22 | % | 0.95 | % | — | 0.95 | % | ||||||||
International Fund |
| |||||||||||||||||
Class A | 0.67 | % | 0.25 | % | 0.36 | %(3) | 1.28 | % | 0.02 | %(4) | 1.26 | % | ||||||
Class B | 0.67 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.75 | %(3) | 2.42 | % | 0.41 | %(4) | 2.01 | % | ||||||
Class C | 0.67 | % | 1.00 | % | 0.45 | %(3) | 2.12 | % | 0.11 | %(4) | 2.01 | % | ||||||
Class S | 0.67 | % | None | 0.30 | %(3) | 0.97 | % | 0.02 | %(4) | 0.95 | % |
(1) | Restated on an annualized basis to reflect approved fee changes effective June 1, 2006. |
(2) | Management fee includes 0.10% paid to DeIM for administrative and accounting services pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement. |
(3) | Other expenses are estimated, accounting for the effect of the conversion. |
(4) | Through [[November 30, 2009]], Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM”), has agreed contractually to waive all or a portion of its management fee and/or to reimburse or to pay operating expenses of the combined fund to the extent necessary to maintain the combined fund’s total operating expense ratios at 1.26%, 2.01%, 2.01% and 0.95% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage and interest. |
The tables are provided to help you understand the expenses of investing in the Funds and your share of the operating expenses that each Fund incurs and that DeAM expects the combined fund to incur in the first year following the conversion.
Examples
The following examples translate the expenses shown in the preceding table into dollar amounts. By doing this, you can more easily compare the costs of investing in the Funds. The examples make certain assumptions. They assume that you invest $10,000 in a Fund for the time periods shown and reinvest all dividends and distributions. They also assume a 5% return on your investment each year and that a Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The examples take into account any expense reduction arrangements described in the footnotes to the Annual Operating Expenses table. The examples are hypothetical; your actual costs may be higher or lower.
7
Table of Contents
1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||||||
Pacific Opportunities Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | $ | 753 | $ | 1,126 | $ | 1,522 | $ | 2,629 | ||||
Class B(1) | $ | 686 | $ | 1,177 | $ | 1,694 | $ | 2,713 | ||||
Class B(2) | $ | 286 | $ | 877 | $ | 1,494 | $ | 2,713 | ||||
Class C(1) | $ | 368 | $ | 823 | $ | 1,405 | $ | 2,983 | ||||
Class C(2) | $ | 268 | $ | 823 | $ | 1,405 | $ | 2,983 | ||||
Class S | $ | 167 | $ | 517 | $ | 892 | $ | 1,944 | ||||
International Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | $ | 698 | $ | 958 | $ | 1,237 | $ | 2,031 | ||||
Class B(1) | $ | 649 | $ | 1,067 | $ | 1,511 | $ | 2,234 | ||||
Class B(2) | $ | 249 | $ | 767 | $ | 1,311 | $ | 2,234 | ||||
Class C(1) | $ | 318 | $ | 673 | $ | 1,154 | $ | 2,483 | ||||
Class C(2) | $ | 218 | $ | 673 | $ | 1,154 | $ | 2,483 | ||||
Class S | $ | 97 | $ | 303 | $ | 526 | $ | 1,166 | ||||
International Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A(3) | $ | 696 | $ | 952 | $ | 1,231 | $ | 2,026 | ||||
Class B(1),(3) | $ | 604 | $ | 931 | $ | 1,373 | $ | 2,105 | ||||
Class B(2),(3) | $ | 204 | $ | 631 | $ | 1,173 | $ | 2,105 | ||||
Class C(1),(3) | $ | 304 | $ | 631 | $ | 1,107 | $ | 2,424 | ||||
Class C(2),(3) | $ | 204 | $ | 631 | $ | 1,107 | $ | 2,424 | ||||
Class S(3) | $ | 97 | $ | 307 | $ | 534 | $ | 1,188 |
(1) | Assuming you sold your shares at the end of each period. |
(2) | Assuming you kept your shares. |
(3) | Includes one year of capped expenses in the “1 Year” period and three years of capped expenses in each other period. |
The table below compares the annual management fee schedules of the Funds as of June 1, 2006, expressed as a percentage of net assets. As of June 1, 2006, International Fund and Pacific Opportunities Fund had net assets of $1,694,375,810 and $144,623,922, respectively.
Pacific Opportunities Fund | International Fund Pre- and Post-Conversion | |||||
Average Daily Net Assets | Management Fee | Average Daily Net Assets | Management Fee | |||
$0–$250 million | 0.765% | $0–$6.0 billion | 0.590% | |||
Next $750 million | 0.735% | Next $1.0 billion | 0.540% | |||
Next $1.5 billion | 0.715% | Over $7.0 billion | 0.515% | |||
Next $2.5 billion | 0.695% | |||||
Next $2.5 billion | 0.665% | |||||
Next $2.5 billion | 0.655% | |||||
Next $2.5 billion | 0.645% | |||||
Over $12.5 billion | 0.635% |
6. | What are the federal income tax consequences of the proposed conversion? |
For federal income tax purposes, no gain or loss is expected to be recognized by Pacific Opportunities Fund or its shareholders as a direct result of the conversion.
8
Table of Contents
It is anticipated that 98% of the portfolio assets of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be sold in connection with the conversion. The actual tax impact of such sales will depend on the difference between the price at which such portfolio assets are sold and Pacific Opportunities Fund’s basis in such assets. Any capital gains recognized in these sales on a net basis will be distributed to Pacific Opportunities Fund’s shareholders as capital gain dividends (to the extent of net realized long-term capital gains distributed) and/or ordinary dividends (to the extent of net realized short-term capital gains distributed) during or with respect to the year of sale, and such distributions will be taxable to shareholders.
For more information, please see “Information about the Proposed Conversion—Federal Income Tax Consequences,” below.
7. | Will my dividends be affected by the conversion? |
The conversion will not result in a change in dividend policy.
8. | Do the procedures for purchasing, redeeming and exchanging shares of the two Funds differ? |
No. The procedures for purchasing and redeeming shares of each Fund, and for exchanging shares of each Fund for shares of other DWS funds, are identical.
9. | How will I be notified of the outcome of the conversion? |
If the proposed conversion is approved by shareholders, you will receive confirmation after the conversion is completed, indicating your new account number and the number of Conversion Shares you are receiving. Otherwise, you will be notified in the next shareholder report of Pacific Opportunities Fund.
10. | Will the number of shares I own change? |
Yes, the number of shares you own will most likely change. However, the total value of the shares of International Fund you receive will equal the total value of the shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund that you hold as of the Valuation Time (as defined below on page [[ ]]). Even though the net asset value per share of each class of each Fund is likely to be different, the total value of each shareholder’s holdings will not change as a result of the conversion.
11. | What percentage of shareholders’ votes is required to approve the conversion? |
Approval of the conversion will require the affirmative vote of all the votes cast at the special meeting, provided that a quorum of shares is present at the special meeting or represented thereat by proxy.
The Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund believe that the proposed conversion is in the best interests of Pacific Opportunities Fund. Accordingly, the Directors [[unanimously]] recommend that shareholders vote FOR approval of the proposed conversion.
9
Table of Contents
II. INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISK FACTORS
What are the main investment strategies and related risks of International Fund and how do they compare with those of Pacific Opportunities Fund?
Investment Objectives and Strategies. As noted above, International Fund and Pacific Opportunities Fund each have identical investment goals—long-term growth of capital. Each Fund focuses its investments on non-U.S. equities, that is, equities that are issued by companies that are organized outside of the United States, listed on non-U.S. stock exchanges, or do a majority of their business outside of the United States. Additionally, each Fund has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end management investment company. With certain exceptions, a diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of total assets, invest more than 5% of total assets in the securities of a single issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
The most significant difference between the Funds’ investment strategies is that while each Fund generally buys equities of non-U.S. companies, Pacific Opportunities Fund focuses on equities issued by Pacific Basin companies (excluding Japanese companies), while International Fund has no similar geographic investment focus. Pacific Opportunities Fund focuses on investments in Pacific Basin equities traded mainly on Pacific Basin markets, issued by companies organized under the laws of a Pacific Basin country or by any company with more than half of its business in the Pacific Basin, with a specific emphasis on common stocks from the region’s smaller emerging markets. Pacific Basin countries include the People’s Republic of China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand, as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan, the so-called “four tigers.” In contrast, International Fund’s investments focus on the common stock of established companies in countries with developed economies and do not have a similar geographic investment focus. Moreover, another important difference is that, under normal circumstances, the Pacific Opportunities Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Pacific Basin equities. In contrast, International Fund need invest only 65% of its total assets in foreign equities. Additionally, each Fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in debt securities. Pacific Opportunities Fund may invest in either foreign or domestic debt securities, but is restricted to the top three credit grades. International Fund has no credit restrictions, but may invest only in foreign debt securities.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager of Pacific Opportunities Fund uses a combination of three analytical disciplines: bottom-up research, growth orientation and analysis of regional themes. Bottom-up research means that the portfolio manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors. Growth orientation means that the manager generally looks for companies that he believes have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects. Analysis of regional themes means that the manager looks for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them. The manager may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times. Normally, the manager will sell a stock when he believes its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or when adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
10
Table of Contents
In choosing stocks for International Fund, the Fund’s portfolio manager uses a combination of two analytical disciplines: bottom-up research (described above) and top-down analysis. In top-down analysis, the manager considers the economic outlooks for various sectors and industries while looking for those that may benefit from changes in the overall business environment. The manager may favor different types of securities from different industries and companies at different times, while still maintaining variety in terms of the types of securities, issuers and countries represented. The manager will normally sell a stock when the manager believes its price is unlikely to go higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated or other investments offer better opportunities.
Both Funds are permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indices, currencies or securities) in circumstances when the managers believe that they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market.
Pursuant to the Agreement (defined below in Part IV and the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A), DeAM has estimated that approximately 98% of the portfolio of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be liquidated prior to the conversion. Proceeds from the liquidation will be used to acquire securities prior to the conversion that are consistent with International Fund’s investment objective, policies, restrictions and strategies.
For a more detailed description of the investment techniques used by Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund, please see the applicable Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information.
Primary Risks. As with any mutual fund, you may lose money by investing in International Fund. Certain risks associated with an investment in International Fund are summarized below. The risks of an investment in International Fund are similar to the risks of an investment in Pacific Opportunities Fund. More detailed descriptions of the risks associated with an investment in International Fund can be found in the current prospectus and statement of additional information for International Fund.
The value of your investment in International Fund will change with changes in the values of the investments held by International Fund. A wide array of factors can affect those values. In this summary, we describe the principal risks that may affect International Fund’s investments as a whole. International Fund could be subject to additional principal risks because the types of investments it makes can change over time.
There are several risk factors that could hurt the performance of International Fund, cause you to lose money or cause the performance of International Fund to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with International Fund is how stock markets perform. When prices of these stocks fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. Large company stocks at times may not perform as well as stocks of smaller or mid-sized companies. Because a stock represents ownership in its issuer, stock prices can be hurt by poor management, shrinking product demand and other business risks. These may affect single companies as well as groups of companies. In addition, movements in financial markets may adversely affect a stock’s price, regardless of how well the company performs. The market as a whole may not favor the types of investments International Fund makes and International Fund may not be able to get attractive prices for them. An investment in Pacific Opportunities Fund is also subject to stock market risk.
11
Table of Contents
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the manager’s estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value International Fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. International Fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees are generally higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of International Fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to International Fund’s foreign investments. |
An investment in Pacific Opportunities Fund is also subject to these Foreign Investment Risks.
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above, are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative. An investment in Pacific Opportunities Fund is also subject to emerging market risk.
12
Table of Contents
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if International Fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for International Fund shares when you buy into International Fund. If International Fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your International Fund shares when you sell. An investment in Pacific Opportunities Fund is also subject to pricing risk.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in International Fund’s portfolio will decline in value. An investment in Pacific Opportunities Fund is also subject to this risk.
Securities Lending Risk. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by International Fund that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by International Fund and would adversely affect International Fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in recovery of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan is outstanding. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by International Fund’s delegate after a review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
Other factors that could affect performance of the International Fund include:
• | the managers could be incorrect in their analysis of industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements. |
Performance Information. The following information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Funds. The bar charts show year-to-year changes in the performance of each Fund’s Class S shares. The table following the charts shows how each Fund’s performance compares to that of a broad-based market index (which, unlike a Fund, does not have any fees or expenses). Any difference in expenses will affect performance. Class S shares of International Fund are no longer available to new investors except under certain circumstances. (Please refer to the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.) The performance of the Funds and the indices varies over time. Of course, a Fund’s past performance is not an indication of future performance.
Calendar Year Total Returns (%)
International Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year | Class S |
2006 Total Return as of June 30: 9.66%
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 30.46%, Q4 1999 Worst Quarter: –19.37%, Q3 2002
13
Table of Contents
Pacific Opportunities Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year | Class S |
2006 Total Return as of June 30: 9.62%
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 39.72%, Q2 1999 Worst Quarter: –27.16%, Q4 1997
Average Annual Total Returns
(for periods ended 12/31/05)
Past 1 year | Past 5 years | Past 10 years | |||||||
International Fund | |||||||||
Class S (Return before taxes) | 16.29 | % | 1.23 | % | 7.12 | % | |||
Class S (Return after taxes on distributions) | 16.05 | % | 1.17 | % | 6.01 | % | |||
Class S (Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | 11.19 | % | 1.14 | % | 5.90 | % | |||
Class A (Return before taxes) | 9.28 | % | –0.28 | % | 6.15 | %(1) | |||
Class B (Return before taxes) | 11.65 | % | –0.17 | % | 5.91 | %(2) | |||
Class C (Return before taxes) | 14.89 | % | 0.07 | % | 5.95 | %(2) | |||
Index 1 (Reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 13.54 | % | 4.55 | % | 5.84 | % | |||
Pacific Opportunities Fund | |||||||||
Class S (Return before taxes) | 23.68 | % | 11.86 | % | 0.81 | % | |||
Class S (Return after taxes on distributions) | 23.49 | % | 11.98 | % | 0.76 | % | |||
Class S (Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares) | 15.65 | % | 10.58 | % | 0.71 | % | |||
Class A (Return before taxes) | 16.36 | % | 10.25 | %(3) | –0.06 | %(3) | |||
Class B (Return before taxes) | 19.48 | % | 10.55 | %(3) | –0.26 | %(3) | |||
Class C (Return before taxes) | 22.39 | % | 10.68 | %(3) | –0.25 | %(3) | |||
Index 2 (Reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 23.17 | % | 13.44 | % | 1.96 | % |
(1) | Performance information for periods prior to the inception of Class A shares (August 2, 1999) is based on the historical performance of Class S shares, adjusted to reflect both the higher gross total annual operating expenses and the current applicable sales charge for Class A. |
(2) | Performance information for periods prior to the inception of Class B and Class C shares (December 29, 2000) is based on the historical performance of Class S shares, adjusted to reflect both the higher gross total annual operating expenses and the current applicable sales charges for Class B and Class C. |
14
Table of Contents
(3) | Performance information for periods prior to the inception of Class A, Class B and Class C shares (May 29, 2001) is based on the historical performance of Class S shares, adjusted to reflect both the higher gross total annual operating expenses and the current applicable sales charges for Class A, Class B and Class C. |
Index 1: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia and Far East (EAFE) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that tracks international stock performance in the 21 developed markets of Europe, Australasia and the Far East.
Index 2: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Asia Free (ex-Japan) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of markets in the Pacific Region, excluding Japan.
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-621-1048 or visit the DWS Scudder website at www.dws-scudder.com.
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and are likely to differ from those shown. After-tax returns are shown for Class S shares of each Fund only and will vary for other share classes. After-tax returns are not relevant to those investing through 401(k) plans, IRAs or other tax-deferred arrangements.
III. OTHER COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE FUNDS
Advisor and Portfolio Managers. DeIM is the investment advisor for each Fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, DeIM, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York, or a subadvisor, makes each Fund’s investment decisions, buys and sells securities for each Fund and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. DeIM, or a subadvisor, also is responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges. DeIM is a part of Deutsche Asset Management and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”) is the marketing name in the United States for the asset management activities of, among others, Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, Deutsche Asset Management Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and DWS Trust Company. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual fund, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
International Fund
Matthias Knerr, CFA, Director of DeAM, is Portfolio Manager of International Fund. Mr. Knerr joined DeAM in 1995 and joined the Fund in 2004.
Pacific Opportunities Fund
Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited (“DeAM Asia”), 20 Raffles Place, #27-01, Ocean Towers, Singapore, an affiliate of DeIM, is the subadvisor for Pacific
15
Table of Contents
Opportunities Fund. DeAM Asia renders investment advisory and management services including services related to foreign securities, foreign currency transactions and related investments with regard to the portion of the Fund’s portfolio that is allocated to it by DeIM from time to time for management. DeIM compensates DeAM Asia out of the management fee it receives from the Fund.
Joseph Wat, Director of DeAM, is Portfolio Manager of Pacific Opportunities Fund. Mr. Wat joined DeAM in 2004 and joined the Fund in 2005. Mr. Wat manages Asian portfolios, specializing in South Asian market research. Prior to that, Mr. Wat had over 12 years of investment industry experience, including as an analyst at INVESCO Asset Management, specializing in South Asian markets; analyst at Schroders Securities; Assistant Treasurer at DBS Bank; and auditor at Arthur Andersen.
Distribution and Service Fees. Pursuant to separate Underwriting and Distribution Services Agreements, DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. (“DWS-SDI”), 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, an affiliate of DeIM, is the principal underwriter and distributor for each class of shares of both Funds and acts as agent of each Fund in the continuous offer of such shares.
International Fund has adopted distribution and/or service plans on behalf of its Class A, Class B and Class C shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that are substantially identical to the distribution and/or service plans adopted by Pacific Opportunities Fund on behalf of its Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Plans under Rule 12b-1 allow the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of its shares. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an ongoing basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than other types of investments.
Pursuant to the Shareholder Services Agreement with International Fund, which is substantially identical to the Shareholder Services Agreement with Pacific Opportunities Fund, DWS-SDI receives a service fee of up to 0.25% per year with respect to the Class A, Class B and Class C shares of International Fund. DWS-SDI uses the fee to compensate financial services firms for providing personal services and maintaining accounts for their customers that hold these classes of shares of International Fund, and may retain any portion of the fee not paid to such firms to compensate itself for administrative functions performed for International Fund. All amounts are payable monthly and are based on the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to the relevant class of shares.
For its services under the Distribution Agreement with International Fund, which is substantially identical to the Distribution Agreement with Pacific Opportunities Fund, DWS-SDI receives a fee from International Fund under its Rule 12b-1 plan, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to its Class B and Class C shares. This fee is accrued daily as an expense of the Class B and Class C shares. SDI also receives any contingent deferred sales charges paid with respect to Class B and Class C shares.
Directors and Officers. International Fund and Pacific Opportunities Fund are each series of DWS International Fund, Inc. Consequently, both Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund share the same Board of Directors and officers. As more
16
Table of Contents
fully described in the statement of additional information for International Fund, which is available upon request, the following individuals comprise the Board of Directors of DWS International Fund, Inc.: Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox, Kenneth C. Froewiss, Martin J. Gruber, Richard J. Herring, Graham E. Jones, Rebecca W. Rimel, Phillip Saunders, Jr., William N. Searcy, Jr., Jean Gleason Stromberg, Carl W. Vogt and Axel Schwarzer.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (“Auditor”). PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP serves as Auditor for International Fund and for Pacific Opportunities Fund.
Charter Documents. Because Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund are both series of DWS International Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation governed by Maryland law, the Funds are governed by the same Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated June 23, 2006, as amended from time to time, and shareholders of each Fund enjoy the same rights under Maryland law.
IV. INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED CONVERSION
General. The shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund are being asked to approve a conversion of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of International Fund pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Conversion (the “Agreement”), the form of which is attached to this Prospectus/Proxy Statement as Exhibit A.
Pursuant to the Agreement, the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be converted into Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares, respectively, of International Fund with a total value equal to the aggregate value of Pacific Opportunities Fund’s assets net of liabilities, and the assets and liabilities of Pacific Opportunities Fund will become assets and liabilities of International Fund.
After receipt of the Conversion Shares by Pacific Opportunities Fund shareholders, the legal existence of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be terminated. Each shareholder of Pacific Opportunities Fund will receive a number of full and fractional Conversion Shares of the same class(es) as, and equal in aggregate value at the date of the conversion to, the aggregate value of the shareholder’s Pacific Opportunities Fund shares.
Prior to the date of the conversion, Pacific Opportunities Fund will sell all investments that are not consistent with the current investment objective, policies, restrictions and strategies of International Fund and declare a taxable distribution that, together with all previous distributions, will have the effect of distributing to shareholders all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any, through the date of the conversion. The sale of such investments may increase the taxable distribution to shareholders of the Pacific Opportunities Fund occurring prior to the conversion above that which they would have received absent the conversion.
The Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund have voted to approve the Agreement and the proposed conversion and to recommend that shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund also approve the conversion. The actions contemplated by the
17
Table of Contents
Agreement and the related matters described therein will be consummated only if approved by the affirmative vote of all the votes cast at the special meeting, provided that a quorum of shares is present at the meeting or represented thereat by proxy.
In the event that the conversion does not receive the required shareholder approval, each Fund will continue to be managed as a separate fund in accordance with its current investment objectives and policies, and the Directors of the Funds may consider such alternatives as may be in the best interests of each Fund’s respective shareholders.
Background and Directors’ Considerations Relating to the Proposed Conversion. DeAM first discussed the conversion with the Directors on March 15 as a part of an ongoing program initiated by DeAM to restructure its mutual fund lineup. DeAM advised the Directors that the program is intended to restructure its product line to match its distribution focus in the future and to eliminate funds that have little opportunity for growth and that add unnecessary complexity and inefficiency to its business.
Accordingly, DeAM would like to eliminate Pacific Opportunities Fund. Because DeAM no longer wishes to manage or support Pacific Opportunities Fund in its current form, DeAM proposed to the Directors the conversion of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of International Fund, which DeAM believes is closest from an investment objective standpoint, relative to other DWS funds.
The Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund conducted a thorough review of the potential implications of the conversion on Pacific Opportunities Fund shareholders. They were assisted in this review by their independent legal counsel. The Directors met on several occasions to review and discuss the conversion, both among themselves and with representatives of DeAM. In the course of their review, the Directors requested and received substantial additional information.
On [[ ]], the Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund, including all Directors who are not “interested persons” of Pacific Opportunities Fund (as defined by the 1940 Act) (“Disinterested Directors”), approved the terms of the conversion, subject to shareholder approval. The Directors have also [[unanimously]] agreed to recommend that the conversion be approved by Pacific Opportunities Fund’s shareholders.
In determining to recommend that the shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund approve the conversion, the Directors considered, among others, the factors described below:
• | That, as a part of its ongoing program to restructure its product line, DeAM desires to eliminate funds that have little opportunity for growth and that add unnecessary complexity and inefficiency to its business. Accordingly, DeAM no longer wishes to manage or to support Pacific Opportunities Fund and informed the Board that it would propose liquidating Pacific Opportunities Fund if no reorganization partner could be found. |
• | Various alternatives to the proposed conversion (e.g., liquidation of Pacific Opportunities Fund, which would create a tax recognition event for some shareholders, or merger of Pacific Opportunities Fund into International Fund, which would be impractical under state law). |
18
Table of Contents
• | That DeAM recommended the conversion of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of International Fund based on its belief that International Fund has the closest investment objective to Pacific Opportunities Fund, relative to other DWS funds, though the Funds’ investment strategies differ. |
• | That the conversion would provide a continuity of investment within the DWS fund family for shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund in a significantly larger fund. |
• | The fees and operating expense ratios of Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund, including comparisons between the operating expense ratio of Pacific Opportunities Fund and the estimated operating expense ratio of the combined fund, and in particular noted that the combined fund’s total operating expense ratio was anticipated to be lower than Pacific Opportunities Fund’s current total operating expense ratio. |
• | That DeAM has agreed to cap the total operating expense ratios of each class of shares of the combined fund at levels lower than the current total operating expense ratios of the corresponding share class of Pacific Opportunities Fund for at least three years following the conversion. |
• | That DeAM agreed to pay all costs associated with the conversion, including but not limited to transaction costs associated with the repositioning of Pacific Opportunities Fund’s portfolio. |
• | That the conversion would not result in the dilution of the interests of Pacific Opportunities Fund shareholders and that the terms and conditions of the Agreement are fair and reasonable. |
• | That the services available to shareholders of each class of International Fund are substantially similar on a class-level basis. |
• | Prospects for the combined fund to attract additional assets. |
• | The tax consequences of the conversion on Pacific Opportunities Fund and its shareholders, as well as historical and pro forma attributes of Pacific Opportunities Fund. The Directors considered the tax consequences of converting shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of a significantly larger fund. The Directors also considered the potentially negative impact of the conversion on shareholders and determined that any such impact was likely to be outweighed by the benefits of the conversion to shareholders, including those summarized herein. |
• | The investment performance of Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund. |
• | That DeAM has agreed to indemnify International Fund against certain liabilities it may incur in connection with any litigation or regulatory action related to possible improper market timing or possible improper marketing and sales activity in International Fund (see Section VI) so that the likelihood that the combined fund would suffer any loss is considered by Fund management to be remote. |
The Directors also considered the potential tax consequences to shareholders as a result of differences in the Funds’ realized or unrealized capital gains or losses and
19
Table of Contents
capital loss carryforwards. Although the conversion will be achieved on a tax-free basis for federal income tax purposes (see “Federal Income Tax Consequences”), there are differences in the Funds’ unrealized gains or losses, tax loss carryforwards and portfolio turnover rates that may affect the timing and amount of any future capital gain distributions paid to shareholders.
12/31/05 Unrealized Gain (Loss) | 12/31/05 Unrealized Gain (Loss) as % of 12/31/05 Net Assets | 12/31/05 Loss Carryforwards | 12/31/05 Loss Carryforwards as % of 12/31/05 Net Assets | 12/31/05 Portfolio Turnover Rate | |||||||||||
Pacific Opportunities Fund | $ | 24,828,145 | 20.9034 | % | $ | (15,935,625 | ) | –13.4166 | % | % | |||||
International Fund | $ | 504,205,895 | 31.5030 | % | $ | (992,798,687 | ) | –62.0305 | % | % |
As of March 31, 2006, both Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund has substantial amounts of current net unrealized gains as well as capital loss carryforwards. Accordingly, as a technical matter the loss quarantine rules of Section 384 would apply, and none of the Funds’ respective capital loss carryforwards could generally be used to offset the unrealized gain of the other Fund when recognized by the combined fund for the five-year period beginning on the date of the conversion. The practical effect of Section 384 would not be significant, because each Fund would have both capital loss carryforwards and built-in gains as of the date of the conversion, and the Funds’ respective capital loss carryforwards could be used to offset the Funds’ respective unrealized gain when recognized by the combined Fund. Furthermore, as a result of the conversion, Pacific Opportunities Fund will undergo an “ownership change” for tax purposes (because Pacific Opportunities Fund is significantly smaller than International Fund) and, accordingly, some of its historic capital loss carryforwards will be limited as a technical matter by the operation of the tax loss limitation rules of Section 382 of the Code. Net capital losses of regulated investment companies generally expire at the end of the eighth taxable year after they arise, if not previously absorbed by that time. As a result, it is possible that some or all of each Fund’s capital loss carryforward will expire unused. After the conversion, the ability of the combined fund to absorb losses in the future depends on a variety of factors that cannot be known in advance, including the source and existence of capital gains against which these losses may be offset.
The Board of Directors considered the possibility that shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund in taxable accounts could incur indirect costs as a result of future capital gain distributions or the loss of current tax loss carryforwards (shareholders in tax deferred retirement accounts are not affected). They concluded that such future tax consequences are not quantifiable or predictable due to uncertainties as to the amount of any actual future realization of capital gains or losses in view of future changes in portfolio values, and the differing consequences of future capital gain distributions to each shareholder whose tax liability (if any) is determined by the net effect of a multitude of considerations that are individual to that shareholder. Shareholders should, however, review their own tax situation to determine what potential effect, if any, the tax differences discussed above may have on them.
Based on all of the foregoing, the Directors concluded that the conversion would be in the best interests of Pacific Opportunities Fund and would not dilute the interests of Pacific
20
Table of Contents
Opportunities Fund’s existing shareholders. The Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund, including the Disinterested Directors, [[unanimously]] recommend that shareholders of the Fund approve the conversion.
Agreement and Plan of Conversion. The proposed conversion will be governed by the Agreement, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A. The Agreement provides that shares of each class of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be converted into shares of the corresponding class of International Fund, and that all of the assets and liabilities of Pacific Opportunities Fund will become assets and liabilities of International Fund. The Conversion Shares will be issued on the next full business day (the “Exchange Date”) following the time as of which the Funds’ shares are valued for determining net asset value for the conversion (4:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 10, 2006, or such other date and time as may be agreed upon by the parties (the “Valuation Time”)). The following discussion of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Agreement.
On the Exchange Date, shares of each class of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be converted into shares of the corresponding class of International Fund having an aggregate net asset value equal to the aggregate net asset value of the shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund so converted. Also on the Exchange Date, all of the assets and liabilities of Pacific Opportunities Fund will become assets and liabilities of International Fund. As a result of the proposed conversion, each shareholder of Pacific Opportunities Fund will receive a number of Conversion Shares of each class equal in aggregate value as of the Valuation Time to the aggregate value of the Pacific Opportunities Fund shares of the corresponding class previously held by the shareholder. The conversion will be effected by the establishment of accounts on the share records of International Fund in the name of such Pacific Opportunities Fund shareholders, each account representing the respective number of full and fractional Conversion Shares of each class due to the respective shareholder. New certificates for Conversion Shares will not be issued.
The Directors of the Funds have determined that the proposed conversion is in the best interests of each Fund and that the interests of each Fund’s shareholders will not be diluted as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement.
The conversion is subject to the conditions set forth in the Agreement. The Agreement may be terminated and the conversion abandoned by the Directors.
If shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund approve the conversion, both Funds agree to coordinate their respective portfolios from the date of the Agreement up to and including the Exchange Date in order that, when the assets of Pacific Opportunities Fund are added to the portfolio of International Fund, the resulting portfolio will be consistent with the investment objective, policies, restrictions and strategies of International Fund.
All fees and expenses, including legal and accounting expenses, portfolio transfer taxes (if any), trading costs described above and any other expenses incurred in connection with the conversion and related transactions contemplated by the Agreement, will be borne by DeAM.
21
Table of Contents
Description of the Conversion Shares. Conversion Shares will be issued to Pacific Opportunities Fund’s shareholders in accordance with the Agreement as described above. The Conversion Shares will be Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of International Fund. Each class of Conversion Shares has the same characteristics as shares of the corresponding class of Pacific Opportunities Fund. Your Conversion Shares will be treated as having been purchased on the date you purchased your Pacific Opportunities Fund shares and for the price you originally paid. For more information on the characteristics of each class of Conversion Shares, please see the applicable International Fund prospectus, a copy of which is included with this Prospectus/Proxy Statement.
Federal Income Tax Consequences. As a condition to each Fund’s obligation to consummate the conversion, each Fund will receive a tax opinion from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (which opinion would be based on certain factual representations and certain customary assumptions), to the effect that, on the basis of the existing provisions of the Code, current administrative rules and court decisions, for federal income tax purposes:
• | the conversion of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of International Fund and the resulting transfer of all of the assets and liabilities of Pacific Opportunities Fund to International Fund, all pursuant to the Agreement, constitutes a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund will each be a “party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; |
• | under Section 361 of the Code, Pacific Opportunities Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon the conversion of shares of each class of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of the corresponding class of International Fund, or upon the resulting transfer of Pacific Opportunities Fund’s assets and liabilities to International Fund; |
• | under Section 354 of the Code, shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund will not recognize gain or loss on the receipt of Conversion Shares; |
• | under Section 358 of the Code, the aggregate basis of the Conversion Shares received by each shareholder of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be the same as the aggregate basis of Pacific Opportunities Fund shares converted; |
• | under Section 1223(1) of the Code, the holding period of the Conversion Shares received by each Pacific Opportunities Fund shareholder will include the holding periods of Pacific Opportunities Fund shares converted, provided that the Pacific Opportunities Fund shareholder held the Pacific Opportunities Fund shares at the time of the conversion as a capital asset; |
• | under Section 1032 of the Code, International Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon the receipt of assets of Pacific Opportunities Fund or the assumption of all of the liabilities of Pacific Opportunities Fund; |
• | under Section 362(b) of the Code, the basis of the assets of Pacific Opportunities Fund transferred to International Fund in the conversion will be the same in the hands of International Fund as the basis of such assets in the hands of Pacific Opportunities Fund immediately prior to the transfer; |
22
Table of Contents
• | under Section 1223(2) of the Code, the holding periods of the assets of Pacific Opportunities Fund transferred to International Fund in the conversion in the hands of International Fund will include the periods during which such assets were held by Pacific Opportunities Fund; and |
• | International Fund will succeed to and take into account the items of Pacific Opportunities Fund described in Section 381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Sections 381, 382, 383 and 384 of the Code and the Regulations thereunder. |
A substantial portion of the portfolio assets of Pacific Opportunities Fund may be sold in connection with the conversion. The actual tax impact of such sales will depend on the difference between the price at which such portfolio assets are sold and Pacific Opportunities Fund’s basis in such assets. Any capital gains recognized in these sales on a net basis will be distributed to Pacific Opportunities Fund’s shareholders as capital gain dividends (to the extent of net realized long-term capital gains distributed) and/or ordinary dividends (to the extent of net realized short-term capital gains distributed) during or with respect to the year of sale, and such distributions will be taxable to shareholders.
International Fund’s ability to carry forward the pre-conversion losses, if any, of Pacific Opportunities Fund will be limited as a result of the conversion. The effect of this limitation will depend on the amount of losses in each Fund at the time of the conversion. For example, if the conversion were to have occurred on March 31, 2006, Pacific Opportunities Fund would have had gross losses (i.e., year and capital loss carryforwards as adjusted by any year to date realized gains or losses) representing approximately 6% of its net asset value that would otherwise have been available to offset the fund’s future gains, but due to the loss limitation effects of section 382 those losses would have been both limited and spread over a large asset base. As a result of the conversion of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of International Fund, which has larger gross losses of approximately 52% of its net asset value, the combined fund would have had gross losses of 48% of its combined net assets, and the Pacific Opportunities Fund would have had no net losses (i.e., gross losses as further adjusted by any deemed recognition of unrealized gains) prior to the conversion. If the conversion were to have taken place on March 31, 2006, the combined fund would have had net losses representing approximately 17% of its net asset value. As a result, the Pacific Opportunities Fund would enjoy a significant increase in the amount of losses it would be able to use to offset future gains. If Pacific Opportunities Fund had significantly higher losses at the time of the conversion, the effect of the limitation would be more severe. Furthermore, for the five year period beginning after the Closing the combined fund will not be allowed to offset certain pre-conversion built-in gains attributable to International Fund with capital loss carryforwards (and certain “built-in losses”), if any, attributable to Pacific Opportunities Fund.
Due to the operation of these loss limitation rules, former shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund could, under certain circumstances, pay more taxes, or pay taxes sooner, than they would if such conversion did not occur.
While as noted above, shareholders are not expected to recognize any gain or loss upon the conversion of their shares, differences in the Funds’ portfolio turnover rates, net investment income and net realized capital gains may result in future taxable distributions to shareholders arising indirectly from the conversion.
23
Table of Contents
The portfolio turnover rate for International Fund, i.e., the ratio of the lesser of annual sales or purchases to the monthly average value of the portfolio (excluding from both the numerator and the denominator securities with maturities at the time of acquisition of one year or less), for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 was 57%. The portfolio turnover rate for Pacific Opportunities Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 was 100%. A higher portfolio turnover rate involves greater brokerage and transaction expenses to a fund and may result in the realization of net capital gains, which would be taxable to shareholders when distributed (and, in the case of net short-term capital gains, would be taxed as ordinary income).
Each Fund intends to distribute dividends from its net investment income excluding short-term capital gains annually in November and December, and if necessary, at other times. Each Fund intends to distribute net realized capital gains after utilization of capital loss carryforwards, if any, in December to prevent application of a federal excise tax, and to make additional distributions as necessary. Shareholders of each Fund can have their dividends and distributions automatically invested in additional shares of the same class of that Fund at net asset value and credited to the shareholder’s account on the payment date or, at the shareholder’s election, sent to the shareholder by check. If the Agreement is approved by Pacific Opportunities Fund’s shareholders, Pacific Opportunities Fund will declare a distribution to its shareholders of all undistributed net investment income (computed without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and undistributed realized net capital gains (after reduction by any capital loss carryforwards) prior to the Closing (as defined in the Agreement).
This description of the federal income tax consequences of the conversion is made without regard to the particular facts and circumstances of any shareholder. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the specific consequences to them of the conversion, including the applicability and effect of state, local, non-U.S. and other tax laws.
24
Table of Contents
Capitalization. The following table sets forth the unaudited capitalization of each Fund as of February 28, 2006 and of International Fund on a pro forma combined basis, giving effect to the proposed conversion as of that date:(1)
International Fund | Pacific Opportunities Fund | Pro Forma Adjustments | International Fund— Pro Forma Combined | ||||||||||
Net Assets | |||||||||||||
Class A Shares | $ | 234,362,355 | $ | 21,824,920 | — | $ | 256,187,275 | ||||||
Class B Shares | $ | 32,568,595 | $ | 4,419,810 | — | $ | 36,988,405 | ||||||
Class C Shares | $ | 23,024,433 | $ | 3,996,984 | — | $ | 27,021,417 | ||||||
Institutional Class Shares | $ | 6,549,394 | $ | — | — | $ | 6,549,394 | ||||||
Class AARP Shares(2) | $ | 30,478,604 | $ | 3,097,065 | — | $ | 33,575,669 | ||||||
Class S Shares | $ | 1,353,947,481 | $ | 106,528,892 | — | $ | 1,460,476,373 | ||||||
Total Net Assets | $ | 1,680,930,862 | $ | 139,867,671 | $ | $ | 1,820,798,533 | ||||||
Shares Outstanding | |||||||||||||
Class A Shares | 4,380,923 | 1,262,299 | (854,356 | ) | 4,788,866 | ||||||||
Class B Shares | 614,773 | 259,264 | (175,840 | ) | 698,197 | ||||||||
Class C Shares | 434,709 | 234,343 | (158,885 | ) | 510,167 | ||||||||
Institutional Class Shares | 122,471 | — | — | 122,471 | |||||||||
Class AARP Shares(2) | 567,610 | 177,585 | (119,912 | ) | 625,283 | ||||||||
Class S Shares | 25,201,916 | 6,113,199 | (4,130,159 | ) | 27,184,956 | ||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | |||||||||||||
Class A Shares | $ | 53.50 | $ | 17.29 | $ | — | $ | 53.50 | |||||
Class B Shares | $ | 52.98 | $ | 17.05 | $ | — | $ | 52.98 | |||||
Class C Shares | $ | 52.97 | $ | 17.06 | $ | — | $ | 52.97 | |||||
Institutional Class Shares | $ | 53.48 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 53.48 | |||||
Class AARP Shares(2) | $ | 53.70 | $ | 17.44 | $ | — | $ | 53.70 | |||||
Class S Shares | $ | 53.72 | $ | 17.43 | $ | — | $ | 53.72 |
(1) | Assumes the conversion had been consummated on February 28, 2006 and is for information purposes only. No assurance can be given as to how many shares of International Fund will be received by the shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund on the date the conversion takes place, and the foregoing should not be relied upon to reflect the number of shares of International Fund that actually will be received on or after such date. |
(2) | Class AARP Shares were converted into Class S Shares on [[July 14, 2006]]. |
The Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund, including the Disinterested Directors, [[unanimously]] recommend approval of the conversion.
25
Table of Contents
V. INFORMATION ABOUT VOTING AND THE SHAREHOLDER SPECIAL MEETING
General. This Prospectus/Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the proposed conversion of shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund into shares of International Fund and the solicitation of proxies by and on behalf of the Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund for use at the Special Meeting of Pacific Opportunities Fund Shareholders (the “Meeting”). The Meeting is to be held on October 12, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, at the offices of DeIM, 345 Park Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10154, or at such later time as is made necessary by adjournment or postponement. The Notice of the Special Meeting, the combined Prospectus/Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are being mailed to shareholders on or about [ ].
As of August 3, 2006, Pacific Opportunities Fund had the following shares outstanding:
Share Class | Number of Shares | |
Class A | [ ] | |
Class B | [ ] | |
Class C | [ ] | |
Class S | [ ] |
Only shareholders of record on August 3, 2006 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. Each share is entitled to one vote, with fractional shares voting proportionally.
The Directors of Pacific Opportunities Fund know of no matters other than those set forth herein to be brought before the Meeting. If, however, any other matters properly come before the Meeting, it is the Directors’ intention that proxies will be voted on such matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons named in the enclosed proxy card.
Required Vote. Proxies are being solicited from Pacific Opportunities Fund’s shareholders by Pacific Opportunities Fund’s Directors for the Meeting. Unless revoked, all valid proxies will be voted in accordance with the specification thereon or, in the absence of specification, FOR approval of the Agreement. The transactions contemplated by the Agreement will be consummated only if approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes cast at the Meeting, provided that a quorum of shares is present at the Meeting or represented thereat by proxy.
Record Date, Quorum and Method of Tabulation. Shareholders of record of Pacific Opportunities Fund at the close of business on August 3, 2006 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The holders of at least one-third of the shares of Pacific Opportunities Fund outstanding at the close of business on the Record Date present in person or represented by proxy will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Meeting. In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote required to approve the proposal is not obtained at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting in accordance with applicable law to permit further solicitation of proxies.
26
Table of Contents
Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Meeting will be counted by persons appointed by Pacific Opportunities Fund as tellers for the Meeting. The tellers will count the total number of votes cast “for” approval of the proposal for purposes of determining whether sufficient affirmative votes have been cast. The tellers will count shares represented by proxies that reflect abstentions and “broker non-votes” (i.e., shares held by brokers or nominees as to which (i) instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or the persons entitled to vote, and (ii) the broker or nominee does not have the discretionary voting power on a particular matter) as shares that are present and entitled to vote on the matter for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum, but such shares will have no effect on the vote regarding the proposal. Accordingly, shareholders are urged to forward their voting instructions promptly.
Share Ownership. [[As of August 3, 2006, the officers and Directors of DWS International Fund, Inc., each as a group, beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of each of Pacific Opportunities Fund and International Fund.]]
To the best of the knowledge of Pacific Opportunities Fund, the following shareholders owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of Pacific Opportunities Fund as of August 3, 2006:
Class | Shareholder Name and Address | Percentage Owned | ||
B | CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC. ATTN: PETER BOOTH 7TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10002-2402 | [ ]% | ||
B | MLPF&S (for the sole benefit of its customers) ATTN: FUND ADMINISTRATION #XXXXX JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246-6484 | [ ]% | ||
C | CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, INC. ATTN: PETER BOOTH 7TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY 10002-2402 | [ ]% | ||
C | MLPF&S (for the sole benefit of its customers) ATTN: FUND ADMINISTRATION #XXXXX JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246-6484 | [ ]% | ||
C | CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC. ATTN: MUTUAL FUNDS DEPARTMENT SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4122 | [ ]% |
27
Table of Contents
To the best of the knowledge of International Fund, the following shareholders owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of the outstanding shares of any class of International Fund as of August 3, 2006:
Class | Shareholder Name and Address | Percentage Owned | ||
Institutional | STATE STREET BANK & TRUST CO CUST FOR SCUDDER PATHWAY SERIES QUINCY MA 02171-2105 | [ ]% | ||
Institutional | STATE STREET BANK & TRUST CO CUST FOR SCUDDER PATHWAY SERIES QUINCY MA 02171-2105 | [ ]% | ||
Institutional | STATE STREET BANK & TRUST CO CUST FOR SCUDDER PATHWAY SERIES QUINCY MA 02171-2105 | [ ]% |
Solicitation of Proxies. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, certain officers and representatives of International Fund, officers and employees of DeAM and certain financial services firms and their representatives, who will receive no extra compensation for their services, may solicit proxies by telephone, by telegram or personally.
All properly executed proxies received in time for the Meeting will be voted as specified in the proxy or, if no specification is made, in favor of the proposal.
Computershare Fund Services, Inc. (“Computershare”) has been engaged to assist in the solicitation of proxies, at an estimated cost of $31,447.90. As the Meeting date approaches, certain shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund may receive a telephone call from a representative of Computershare if their votes have not yet been received. Authorization to permit Computershare to execute proxies may be obtained by telephonically or electronically transmitted instructions from shareholders of Pacific Opportunities Fund. Proxies that are obtained telephonically or through the Internet will be recorded in accordance with the procedures described below. The Directors believe that these procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that both the identity of the shareholder casting the vote and the voting instructions of the shareholder are accurately determined.
In all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited, the Computershare representative is required to ask for each shareholder’s full name and address, or zip code, or both, and to confirm that the shareholder has received the proxy materials in the mail. If the shareholder is a corporation or other entity, the Computershare representative is required to ask for the person’s title and confirmation that the person is authorized to direct the voting of the shares. If the information solicited agrees with the information provided to Computershare, then the Computershare representative has the responsibility to explain the process, read the proposal on the proxy card, and ask for the shareholder’s instructions on the proposal. Although the Computershare representative is permitted to answer questions about the process, he or she is not
28
Table of Contents
permitted to recommend to the shareholder how to vote, other than to read any recommendation set forth in this Prospectus/Proxy Statement. Computershare will record the shareholder’s instructions on the card. Within 72 hours, the shareholder will be sent a letter or mailgram to confirm his or her vote and asking the shareholder to call Computershare immediately if his or her instructions are not correctly reflected in the confirmation.
Please see the instructions on your proxy card for telephone touch-tone voting and Internet voting. Shareholders will have an opportunity to review their voting instructions and make any necessary changes before submitting their voting instructions and terminating their telephone call or Internet link. Shareholders who vote through the Internet, in addition to confirming their voting instructions prior to submission, will also receive an e-mail confirming their instructions upon request.
If a shareholder wishes to participate in the Meeting, but does not wish to give a proxy by telephone or electronically, the shareholder may still submit the proxy card originally sent with the Prospectus/Proxy Statement or attend in person. Should shareholders require additional information regarding the proxy or replacement proxy card, they may contact Computershare Fund Services, Inc. toll-free at 1-866-774-4940. Any proxy given by a shareholder is revocable until voted at the Meeting.
Persons holding shares as nominees will, upon request, be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses in soliciting instructions from their principals. The cost of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed proxy card and Prospectus/Proxy Statement, and all other costs incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies for Pacific Opportunities Fund, including any additional solicitation made by letter, telephone or telegraph, will be paid by DeAM.
Revocation of Proxies. Proxies, including proxies given by telephone or over the Internet, may be revoked at any time before they are voted either (i) by a written revocation received by the Secretary of Pacific Opportunities Fund at Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110, (ii) by properly executing a later-dated proxy that is received by the Fund at or prior to the Meeting, or (iii) by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Merely attending the Meeting without voting, however, will not revoke a previously submitted proxy.
Adjournment and Postponement. Whether or not a quorum is present, the Meeting may, by action of the chairman of the Meeting, be adjourned from time to time without notice with respect to the proposal to be considered at the Meeting to a designated time, not more than 120 days after the original record date, August 3, 2006, whether or not a quorum is present with respect to the proposal. In addition, upon motion of the chairman of the Meeting, the question of adjournment may be submitted to a vote of the shareholders and any adjournment must be approved by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present and entitled to vote with respect to the proposal without further notice. Unless a proxy is otherwise limited in this regard, any shares present and entitled to vote at the Meeting that are represented by broker non-votes, may, at the discretion of the proxies, be voted in favor of such adjournment. The Board of Directors may postpone the Meeting of shareholders prior to the Meeting with notice to the shareholders entitled to vote at the Meeting.
29
Table of Contents
VI. 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. 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
30
Table of Contents
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 the 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.
Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements 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.
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. is in settlement discussions with the Enforcement Staff of the NASD regarding DWS Scudder Distributors’ payment of non-cash compensation to associated persons of NASD member firms, as well as DWS Scudder Distributors’ procedures regarding non-cash compensation regarding entertainment provided to such associated persons. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements will be made available at www.dws-scudder.com/regulatory_settlements, which will also disclose the terms of any final settlement agreements once they are announced.
31
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF CONVERSION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF CONVERSION (the “Agreement”) is made as of this [ ] day of [ ], 2006, by and among DWS International Fund, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a Maryland corporation, on behalf of DWS International Fund (the “Acquiring Fund”), a separate series of the Corporation, and the Corporation, on behalf of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund (the “Acquired Fund,” and, together with the Acquiring Fund, each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), a separate series of the Corporation, and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM”), investment adviser for the Funds (for purposes of section 10.2 of the Agreement only). The principal place of business of the Corporation is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
This Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a plan of reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The reorganization (the “Reorganization”) will consist of the conversion of the shares of each class of the Acquired Fund into shares of the corresponding class of the Acquiring Fund (the “Acquiring Fund Shares”), and the resulting transfer to the Acquiring Fund of all of the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fund, all upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. | Conversion of Shares of each Class of the Acquired Fund into that Number of Full and Fractional shares of the Corresponding Class of the Acquiring Fund and the Resulting Transfer of All Assets and Liabilities of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund |
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and on the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein, the Corporation agrees (i) to convert all of the shares of each class of the Acquired Fund into that number of full and fractional shares of the corresponding class of the Acquiring Fund determined in the manner set forth in section 2.3; and (ii) to cause all of the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fundto become assets and liabilities of the Acquiring Fund. All Acquiring Fund Shares resulting from the conversion shall be issued at net asset value without a sales load, commission or other similar fee being imposed. The conversion and the resulting transfer shall take place at the closing provided for in section 3.1 (the “Closing”).
1.2 The assets of the Acquired Fund to become assets of the Acquiring Fund (the “Assets”) shall consist of all assets, including, without limitation, all cash, cash equivalents, securities, commodities and futures interests and dividends or interest or other receivables that are allocated to the Acquired Fund on the books of the Corporation and any deferred or prepaid expenses shown on the unaudited statement of assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fund prepared as of the effective time of the Closing in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
A-1
Table of Contents
States of America (“GAAP”) applied consistently with those of the Acquired Fund’s most recent audited statement of assets and liabilities. The Assets shall constitute at least 90% of the fair market value of the net assets, and at least 70% of the fair market value of the gross assets, allocated to the Acquired Fund immediately before the Closing (excluding for these purposes assets used to pay the dividends and other distributions paid pursuant to section 1.4).
1.3 The Acquired Fund will endeavor, to the extent practicable, to discharge all of its liabilities and obligations that are accrued prior to the Closing Date (as defined in section 3.1).
1.4 On or as soon as practicable prior to the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund will declare and pay to its shareholders of record one or more dividends and/or other distributions so that it will have distributed substantially all of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and realized net capital gain, if any, for the current taxable year through the Closing Date.
1.5 The conversion will be accomplished with respect to each class of shares of the Acquired Fund by the conversion and transfer of the Acquired Fund shares then credited to the accounts of shareholders of record with respect to each such class determined as of the Valuation Time (as defined in Section 2.1) (the “Acquired Fund Shareholders”) to open accounts on the share records of the Acquiring Fund in the names of the Acquired Fund Shareholders. The aggregate net asset value of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S Acquiring Fund Shares to be so credited to the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S Acquired Fund Shareholders shall, with respect to each class, be equal to the aggregate net asset value of the Acquired Fund shares of the same class owned by such shareholders as of the Valuation Time. All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund will simultaneously be cancelled on the books of the Acquired Fund, although share certificates representing interests in Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of the Acquired Fund will represent a number of Acquiring Fund Shares after the Closing Date as determined in accordance with section 2.3. The Acquiring Fund will not issue certificates representing Acquiring Fund Shares.
1.6 Ownership of Acquiring Fund Shares will be shown on the books of the Acquiring Fund.
1.7 Any reporting responsibility of the Acquired Fund including, without limitation, the responsibility for filing of regulatory reports, tax returns, or other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), any state securities commission, and any federal, state or local tax authorities or any other relevant regulatory authority, is and shall remain the responsibility of the Acquired Fund.
1.8 All books and records of the Acquired Fund, including all books and records required to be maintained under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder, shall be available to the Acquiring Fund from and after the Closing Date and shall be turned over to the Acquiring Fund as soon as practicable following the Closing Date.
2. | Valuation |
2.1 The value of the Assets and the liabilities of the Acquired Fund shall be computed as of the close of regular trading on The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the
A-2
Table of Contents
“NYSE”) on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date, as defined in section 3.1 (the “Valuation Time”) after the declaration and payment of any dividends and/or other distributions on that date, using the valuation procedures set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, and the Acquiring Fund’s then-current prospectus or statement of additional information, copies of which have been delivered to the Acquired Fund.
2.2 The net asset value of a Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S Acquiring Fund Share shall be the net asset value per share computed with respect to that class as of the Valuation Time using the valuation procedures referred to in section 2.1.
2.3 The number of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued as a result of the conversion (including fractional shares, if any) shall be determined with respect to each such class by dividing the value of the Assets net of liabilities with respect to Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of the Acquired Fund, determined in accordance with section 2.1, by the net asset value of an Acquiring Fund Share of the same class determined in accordance with section 2.2.
2.4 All computations of value hereunder shall be made by or under the direction of each Fund’s respective accounting agent, if applicable, in accordance with its regular practice and the requirements of the 1940 Act and shall be subject to confirmation by the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm upon the reasonable request of either Fund.
3. | Closing and Closing Date |
3.1 The Closing of the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated by this Agreement shall be November 6, 2006, or such later date as the parties may agree in writing (the “Closing Date”). All acts taking place at the Closing shall be deemed to take place simultaneously as of 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the Closing Date, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The Closing shall be held at the offices of counsel to the Acquiring Fund, or at such other place and time as the parties may agree.
3.2 The Acquired Fund shall deliver to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date a schedule of Assets.
3.3 Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (“BBHC”), as custodian for the Acquired Fund, shall deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that (a) the Assets shall have been delivered in proper form to BBHC, as custodian for the Acquiring Fund, prior to or on the Closing Date and (b) all necessary taxes in connection with the delivery of the Assets, including all applicable federal and state stock transfer stamps, if any, have been paid or provision for payment has been made. The Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities represented by a certificate or other written instrument shall be presented by the custodian for the Acquired Fund to the custodian for the Acquiring Fund for examination no later than five business days preceding the Closing Date and transferred and delivered by the Acquired Fund as of the Closing Date for the account of Acquiring Fund duly endorsed in proper form for transfer in such condition as to constitute good delivery thereof. The Acquired Fund’s portfolio securities and instruments deposited with a securities depository, as defined in Rule 17f-4 under the 1940 Act, shall be delivered as of the Closing Date by book entry in accordance with
A-3
Table of Contents
the customary practices of such depositories and the custodian for the Acquiring Fund. The cash to be transferred by the Acquired Fund shall be delivered by wire transfer of federal funds on the Closing Date.
3.4 DWS Scudder Investments Service Company (“DWS-SISC”) (or its designee), as transfer agent (or subtransfer agent) for the Acquired Fund, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, shall deliver at the Closing a certificate of an authorized officer stating that its records contain the names and addresses of the Acquired Fund Shareholders and the number and percentage ownership (to three decimal places) of outstanding Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S Acquired Fund shares owned by each such shareholder immediately prior to the Closing. The Acquiring Fund shall issue and deliver a confirmation evidencing the Acquiring Fund Shares to be credited on the Closing Date to the Acquired Fund Shareholders or provide evidence satisfactory to the Acquired Fund that such Acquiring Fund Shares have been credited to the Acquired Fund Shareholders’ accounts on the books of the Acquiring Fund. At the Closing, each party shall deliver to the other such checks, assignments, share certificates, if any, receipts or other documents as such other party or its counsel may reasonably request to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.5 In the event that immediately prior to the Valuation Time (a) the NYSE or another primary trading market for portfolio securities of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund shall be closed to trading or trading thereupon shall be restricted, or (b) trading or the reporting of trading on such exchange or elsewhere shall be disrupted so that, in the judgment of the directors of the Corporation, accurate appraisal of the value of the net assets with respect to the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund is impracticable, the Closing Date shall be postponed until the first business day after the day when trading shall have been fully resumed and reporting shall have been restored.
3.6 The liabilities of the Acquired Fund shall include all of the Acquired Fund’s liabilities, debts, obligations, and duties of whatever kind or nature, whether absolute, accrued, contingent, or otherwise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, whether or not determinable at the Closing Date, and whether or not specifically referred to in this Agreement.
4. | Representations and Warranties |
4.1 The Acquired Fund represents and warrants to the Acquiring Fund as follows:
(a) The Acquired Fund is a separate series of the Corporation duly designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement. The Acquired Fund is qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which it is required to be so qualified, except jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Fund. The Acquired Fund has all material federal, state and local authorizations necessary to own all of the properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except authorizations which the failure to so obtain would not have a material adverse effect on the Acquired Fund;
(b) The Acquired Fund is in compliance in all material respects with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
A-4
Table of Contents
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Acquired Fund of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state securities laws;
(d) The Acquired Fund is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Acquired Fund will not result (i) in violation of Maryland law or of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, or Bylaws, (ii) in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Acquired Fund will not result in the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Acquired Fund is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Acquired Fund;
(e) Other than as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(e), no material litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to the Acquired Fund’s knowledge threatened against the Acquired Fund or any properties or assets held by it. The Acquired Fund knows of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings which would materially and adversely affect its business, other than as disclosed in the foregoing schedule, and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the conversion and resulting transfer herein contemplated;
(f) The Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Operations, and Changes in Net Assets, the Financial Highlights, and the Investment Portfolio of the Acquired Fund at and for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and are in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and such statements (a copy of each of which has been furnished to the Acquiring Fund) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Acquired Fund as of such date in accordance with GAAP and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquired Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein;
(g) Since October 31, 2005, there has not been any material adverse change in the Acquired Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to this Agreement, or any incurrence by the Acquired Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date such indebtedness was incurred except as otherwise disclosed to and accepted in writing by the Acquiring Fund. For purposes of this subsection (g), a decline in net asset value per share of the Acquired Fund due to declines in market values of securities in the Acquired Fund’s portfolio, the discharge of Acquired Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquired Fund shares by Acquired Fund Shareholders shall not constitute a material adverse change;
A-5
Table of Contents
(h) At the date hereof and at the Closing Date, all federal and other tax returns and reports of the Acquired Fund required by law to have been filed by such dates (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will be correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes (whether or not required to be shown as due on said returns and reports) shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and, to the best of the Acquired Fund’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns;
(i) For each taxable year of its operation (including the taxable year ending on the Closing Date), the Acquired Fund has met the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company and has elected to be treated as such, has been eligible to and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will have distributed all of its investment company taxable income (as determined without regard to any deduction for dividends paid by the Acquired Fund) and net capital gain (as such terms are defined in the Code) that has accrued through the Closing Date;
(j) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquired Fund (i) have been offered and sold in every state and the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities laws, (ii) are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive or dissenter’s rights, and (iii) will be held at the time of the Closing by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records of DWS-SISC, as provided in section 3.4. The Acquired Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquired Fund shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any Acquired Fund shares;
(k) At the Closing Date, the Acquired Fund will have good and marketable title to the Acquired Fund’s Assets, free of any liens or other encumbrances, except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice at or prior to the Closing, and upon the transfer resulting from the conversion, the Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including such restrictions as might arise under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, except those restrictions as to which the Acquiring Fund has received notice and necessary documentation at or prior to the Closing;
(l) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Acquired Fund will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action on the part of the directors of the Corporation (including the determinations required by Rule 17a-8(a) under the 1940 Act), and, subject to the approval of the Acquired Fund Shareholders, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;
(m) The information to be furnished by the Acquired Fund for use in applications for orders, registration statements or proxy materials or for use in any other document filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority (including the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”)), which may be necessary in connection with the conversion and
A-6
Table of Contents
resulting transfer contemplated hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto;
(n) The current prospectuses and statement of additional information of the Acquired Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; and
(o) The Registration Statement referred to in section 5.7, insofar as it relates to the Acquired Fund, will, on the effective date of the Registration Statement and on the Closing Date, (i) comply in all material respects with the provisions and regulations of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act, as applicable, and (ii) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made, not materially misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this section shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information that was furnished or should have been furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use therein.
4.2 The Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the Acquired Fund as follows:
(a) The Corporation is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of he State of Maryland with power under the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, to own all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to carry out the Agreement. The Acquiring Fund is a separate series of the Corporation duly designated in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended. The Corporation and the Acquiring Fund are qualified to do business in all jurisdictions in which they are required to be so qualified, except jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or the Acquiring Fund. The Acquiring Fund has all material federal, state and local authorizations necessary to own all of the properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except authorizations which the failure to so obtain would not have a material adverse effect on the Acquiring Fund;
(b) The Corporation is registered with the Commission as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, and such registration is in full force and effect and the Acquiring Fund is in compliance in all material respects with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or governmental authority is required for the consummation by the Corporation of the conversion and resulting transfer contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required by state securities laws;
(d) The Corporation is not, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Corporation will not result (i) in violation of Maryland law or
A-7
Table of Contents
of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, or Bylaws, (ii) in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease or other undertaking known to counsel to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Corporation, on behalf of Acquiring Fund, will not result in the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, judgment or decree to which the Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Acquiring Fund;
(e) Other than as disclosed on Schedule 4.2(e), no material litigation or administrative proceeding or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or to its knowledge threatened against the Acquiring Fund or any properties or assets held by it. The Acquiring Fund knows of no facts which might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings which would materially and adversely affect its business, other than as disclosed in the foregoing schedule, and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree or judgment of any court or governmental body which materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions herein contemplated;
(f) The Statements of Assets and Liabilities, Operations, and Changes in Net Assets, the Financial Highlights, and the Investment Portfolio of the Acquiring Fund at and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, and are in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and such statements (a copy of each of which has been furnished to the Acquired Fund) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Acquiring Fund as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and there are no known contingent liabilities of the Acquiring Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP as of such date not disclosed therein;
(g) Since August 31, 2005, there has not been any material adverse change in the Acquiring Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities or business other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Acquiring Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date such indebtedness was incurred except as otherwise disclosed to and accepted in writing by the Acquired Fund. For purposes of this subsection (g), a decline in net asset value per share of the Acquiring Fund due to declines in market values of securities in the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio, the discharge of Acquiring Fund liabilities, or the redemption of Acquiring Fund shares by Acquiring Fund shareholders shall not constitute a material adverse change;
(h) At the date hereof and at the Closing Date, all federal and other tax returns and reports of the Acquiring Fund required by law to have been filed by such dates (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will be correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes (whether or not required to be shown as due on said returns and reports) shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof, and, to the best of the Acquiring Fund’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns;
(i) For each taxable year of its operation, the Acquiring Fund has met the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated
A-8
Table of Contents
investment company and has elected to be treated as such, has been eligible to and has computed its federal income tax under Section 852 of the Code, and will do so for the taxable year that includes the Closing Date;
(j) All issued and outstanding shares of the Acquiring Fund (i) have been offered and sold in every state and the District of Columbia in compliance in all material respects with applicable registration requirements of the 1933 Act and state securities laws and (ii) are, and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and not subject to preemptive or dissenter’s rights. The Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any of the Acquiring Fund shares, nor is there outstanding any security convertible at the option of the holder thereof into any Acquiring Fund Shares;
(k) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund Shareholders, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will at the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, when so issued, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable;
(l) At the Closing Date, the Acquiring Fund will have good and marketable title to the Acquiring Fund’s assets, free of any liens or other encumbrances, except those liens or encumbrances as to which the Acquired Fund has received notice at or prior to the Closing;
(m) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will have been duly authorized prior to the Closing Date by all necessary action on the part of the directors of the Corporation (including the determinations required by Rule 17a-8(a) under the 1940 Act) and this Agreement will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;
(n) The information to be furnished by the Acquiring Fund for use in applications for orders, registration statements or proxy materials or for use in any other document filed or to be filed with any federal, state or local regulatory authority (including the NASD), which may be necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be accurate and complete in all material respects and shall comply in all material respects with federal securities and other laws and regulations applicable thereto;
(o) The current prospectuses and statement of additional information of the Acquiring Fund conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading;
(p) The Registration Statement referred to in Section 5.7, insofar as it relates to the Acquiring Fund, will, on the effective date of the Registration Statement and on the Closing Date, (i) comply in all material respects with the provisions and regulations of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act and (ii) not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
A-9
Table of Contents
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not materially misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this section shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information that was furnished or should have been furnished by the Acquired Fund for use therein; and
(q) The Acquiring Fund agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and such of the state securities laws as may be necessary in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date.
5. | Covenants of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund |
5.1 The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund each covenants to operate its business in the ordinary course between the date hereof and the Closing Date, it being understood that such ordinary course of business will include (i) the declaration and payment of customary dividends and other distributions and such changes as are contemplated by the Funds’ normal operations and (ii) actions contemplated by this Agreement. No party shall take any action that would, or reasonably would be expected to, result in any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect. The Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund covenant and agree to coordinate the respective portfolios of the Acquired Fund and Acquiring Fund from the date of the Agreement up to and including the Closing Date in order that at Closing, when the Assets are added to the Acquiring Fund’s portfolio, the resulting portfolio will meet the Acquiring Fund’s investment objectives, policies, restrictions and strategies, as set forth in the Acquiring Fund’s current prospectus, a copy of which has been delivered to the Acquired Fund.
5.2 The Acquired Fund covenants that a meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders entitled to vote thereon will be called to consider and act upon this Agreement and to take all other reasonable action necessary to obtain approval of the transactions contemplated herein. Such meeting shall be scheduled for no later than December 12, 2006.
5.3 The Acquired Fund covenants that it will assist the Acquiring Fund in obtaining such information as the Acquiring Fund reasonably requests concerning the beneficial ownership of the Acquired Fund shares.
5.4 Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund will each take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper, and/or advisable to consummate and make effective the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated by this Agreement.
5.5 Each Fund covenants to prepare in compliance with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act the Registration Statement on Form N-14 (the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders to consider approval of this Agreement and the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated herein. The Corporation will file the Registration Statement, including a proxy statement, with the Commission. The Acquired Fund will provide the Acquiring
A-10
Table of Contents
Fund with information reasonably necessary for the preparation of a prospectus, which will include a proxy statement, all to be included in the Registration Statement, in compliance in all material respects with the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act.
5.6 The Acquired Fund covenants that it will, from time to time, as and when reasonably requested by the Acquiring Fund, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all such assignments and other instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further action as the Acquiring Fund may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to vest in and confirm the Acquiring Fund’s title to and possession of all the Assets and otherwise to carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement.
5.7 The Acquiring Fund covenants to use all reasonable efforts to obtain the approvals and authorizations required by the 1933 Act and 1940 Act, and such of the state securities laws as it deems appropriate in order to continue its operations after the Closing Date and to consummate the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated herein; provided, however, that the Acquiring Fund may take such actions it reasonably deems advisable after the Closing Date as circumstances change.
5.8 The Acquiring Fund covenants that it will, from time to time, as and when reasonably requested by the Acquired Fund, execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered all such assignments, assumption agreements, releases, and other instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further action, as the Acquired Fund may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to assume all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund.
5.9 The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund shall each use its reasonable best efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of the conditions precedent to effect the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable.
5.10 The intention of the parties is that the transaction will qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. None of the Corporation and the Funds shall take any action, or cause any action to be taken (including, without limitation, the filing of any tax return) that is inconsistent with such treatment or results in the failure of the conversion and the resulting transfer to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. At or prior to the Closing Date, the Corporation and the Funds will take such action, or cause such action to be taken, as is reasonably necessary to enable Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP to render the tax opinion contemplated herein in section 8.5.
5.11 At or immediately prior to the Closing, the Acquired Fund will declare and pay to its shareholders a dividend or other distribution in an amount large enough so that it will have distributed substantially all (and in any event not less than 98%) of its investment company taxable income (computed without regard to any deduction for dividends paid) and realized net capital gain, if any, for the current taxable year through the Closing Date.
5.12 The Acquiring Fund agrees to identify in writing prior to the Closing Date any assets of the Acquired Fund that it does not wish to become assets of the Acquiring Fund
A-11
Table of Contents
because they are not consistent with the current investment objective, policies, restrictions or strategies of the Acquiring Fund, and the Acquired Fund agrees to dispose of such assets prior to the Closing Date. The Acquiring Fund agrees to identify in writing prior to the Closing Date any assets that it would like the Acquired Fund to purchase, consistent with the Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, policies, restrictions and strategies, and the Acquired Fund agrees to purchase such assets with cash proceeds from the disposition of assets pursuant to the foregoing sentence prior to the Closing Date.
6. | Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Acquired Fund |
The obligations of the Acquired Fund to consummate the conversion and the resulting transfer provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquiring Fund of all the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date, and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
6.1 All representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date; and there shall be (i) no pending or threatened litigation brought by any person (other than the Acquired Fund, its adviser or any of their affiliates) against the Acquiring Fund or its investment adviser(s), directors or officers arising out of this Agreement and (ii) no facts known to the Acquiring Fund which the Acquiring Fund reasonably believes might result in such litigation.
6.2 The Acquiring Fund shall have delivered to the Acquired Fund on the Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by the Corporation’s President, Treasurer or a Vice President, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Acquiring Fund made in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated by this Agreement, and as to such other matters as the Acquired Fund shall reasonably request.
6.3 The Acquired Fund shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(b) the Acquiring Fund has the power to carry on its business as presently conducted in accordance with the description thereof in the Corporation’s registration statement under the 1940 Act;
(c) The Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund Shareholders, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, will at the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, when so issued, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Shares, and will be fully paid and non-assessable;
(d) the Agreement does not, and the issuance of Acquiring Fund Shares as a result of the conversion pursuant to the Agreement will not, violate any provision of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, or Bylaws applicable to the Acquiring Fund; and
A-12
Table of Contents
(e) to the knowledge of such counsel, and without any independent investigation, (i) other than as disclosed on Schedule 4.2(e), the Acquiring Fund is not subject to any litigation or other proceedings that might have a materially adverse effect on the operations of the Acquiring Fund, and (ii) all regulatory consents, authorizations, approvals or filings required to be obtained or made by the Acquiring Fund under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State of Maryland for the issuance of Acquiring Fund Shares pursuant to the Agreement have been obtained or made.
The delivery of such opinion is conditioned upon receipt by Ropes & Gray LLP of customary representations it shall reasonably request of the Corporation.
6.4 The Acquiring Fund shall have performed all of the covenants and complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Acquiring Fund on or before the Closing Date.
6.5 The Acquiring Fund shall have entered into an expense cap agreement with DeIM limiting the expenses of the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class S shares of the Acquiring Fund to [ ]%, [ ]%, [ ]% and [ ]%, respectively, excluding 12b-1 fees and certain other expenses, for the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending [November 30], 2009, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquired Fund.
7. | Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Acquiring Fund |
The obligations of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquiring Fund, to consummate the conversion and the resulting transfer provided for herein shall be subject, at its election, to the performance by the Acquired Fund of all of the obligations to be performed by it hereunder on or before the Closing Date and, in addition thereto, the following further conditions:
7.1 All representations and warranties of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquired Fund contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and, except as they may be affected by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date; and there shall be (i) no pending or threatened litigation brought by any person (other than the Acquiring Fund, its adviser or any of their affiliates) against the Acquired Fund or its investment adviser(s), directors or officers arising out of this Agreement and (ii) no facts known to the Acquired Fund which the Acquired Fund reasonably believes might result in such litigation.
7.2 The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund a statement of the Acquired Fund’s assets and liabilities as of the Closing Date, certified by the Treasurer of the Corporation.
7.3 The Acquired Fund shall have delivered to the Acquiring Fund on the Closing Date a certificate executed in its name by the Corporation’s President, Treasurer or a Vice President, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, made in this Agreement are true and
A-13
Table of Contents
correct on and as of the Closing Date, except as they may be affected by the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated by this Agreement, and as to such other matters as the Acquiring Fund shall reasonably request.
7.4 The Acquiring Fund shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Acquiring Fund, and dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(a) the Corporation has been formed and is legally existing as a corporation;
(b) the Acquired Fund has the power to carry on its business as presently conducted in accordance with the description thereof in the Corporation’s registration statement under the 1940 Act;
(c) the Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Corporation on behalf of the Acquired Fund, and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Corporation, on behalf of the Acquired Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;
(d) the execution and delivery of the Agreement did not, and the conversion of shares of each class of the Acquired Fund into shares of the corresponding class of the Acquiring Fund and the resulting transfer of assets and liabilities pursuant to the Agreement will not, violate the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, or Bylaws; and
(e) to the knowledge of such counsel, and without any independent investigation, (i) other than as disclosed on Schedule 4.1(e), the Acquired Fund is not subject to any litigation or other proceedings that might have a material adverse effect on the operations of the Acquired Fund, (ii) the Corporation is registered as an investment company with the Commission and is not subject to any stop order, and (iii) all regulatory consents, authorizations, approvals or filings required to be obtained or made by the Acquired Fund under the federal laws of the United States or the laws of the State or Maryland for the conversion of shares of each class of the Acquired Fund into shares of the corresponding class of the Acquiring Fund and the resulting transfer of assets and liabilities.
The delivery of such opinion is conditioned upon receipt by Ropes & Gray LLP of customary representations it shall reasonably request of the Corporation.
7.5 The Acquired Fund shall have performed all of the covenants and complied with all of the provisions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Acquired Fund on or before the Closing Date.
8. | Further Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund |
If any of the conditions set forth below have not been met on or before the Closing Date with respect to the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund, the other party to this Agreement shall, at its option, not be required to consummate the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated by this Agreement:
8.1 This Agreement and the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated herein shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the holders of the outstanding
A-14
Table of Contents
shares of the Acquired Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended, and Bylaws, applicable Maryland law and the 1940 Act, and any conditions imposed by the Corporation’s directors and certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such approval shall have been delivered to the Acquiring Fund. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund may waive the conditions set forth in this section 8.1.
8.2 On the Closing Date, no action, suit or other proceeding shall be pending or to its knowledge threatened before any court or governmental agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit, or obtain material damages or other relief in connection with, this Agreement or the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated herein.
8.3 All consents of other parties and all other consents, orders and permits of federal, state and local regulatory authorities deemed necessary by the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund to permit consummation, in all material respects, of the conversion and the resulting transfer contemplated hereby shall have been obtained, except where failure to obtain any such consent, order or permit would not involve a risk of a material adverse effect on the assets or properties of the Acquiring Fund or the Acquired Fund, provided that either party hereto may for itself waive any of such conditions.
8.4 The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop orders suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto, no investigation or proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, threatened or contemplated under the 1933 Act.
8.5 The parties shall have received an opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP addressed to each of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund, in a form reasonably satisfactory to each such party to this Agreement, substantially to the effect that, based upon certain facts, assumptions and representations of the parties, for federal income tax purposes: (i) the conversion of shares of the Acquired Fund into shares of the Acquiring Fund and the resulting transfer of all of the assets and liabilities of the Acquired Fund to the Acquiring Fund, all pursuant to the Agreement, constitutes a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the Acquired Fund and the Acquiring Fund will each be a “party to a reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; (ii) under Section 361 of the Code, the Acquired Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon the conversion of shares of each class of the Acquired Fund into shares of the corresponding class of the Acquiring Fund, or upon the resulting transfer of the Acquired Fund’s assets and liabilities to the Acquiring Fund; (iii) under Section 354 of the Code, shareholders of the Acquired Fund will not recognize gain or loss on the receipt of Acquiring Fund Shares; (iv) under Section 358 of the Code, the aggregate basis of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each shareholder of the Acquired Fund will be the same as the aggregate basis of the Acquired Fund shares converted; (v) under Section 1223(1) of the Code, the holding period of the Acquiring Fund Shares received by each Acquired Fund shareholder will include the holding periods of the Acquired Fund shares converted, provided that the Acquired Fund shareholder held the Acquired Fund shares at the time of the conversion as a capital asset; (vi) under Section 1032 of the Code, the Acquiring Fund will not recognize gain or loss upon the receipt of assets of the Acquired Fund or the assumption of all of the liabilities of the Acquired Fund;
A-15
Table of Contents
(vii) under Section 362(b) of the Code, the basis of the assets of the Acquired Fund transferred to the Acquiring Fund in the conversion will be the same in the hands of the Acquiring Fund as the basis of such assets in the hands of the Acquired Fund immediately prior to the transfer; (viii) under Section 1223(2) of the Code, the holding periods of the assets of the Acquired Fund transferred to the Acquiring Fund in the conversion in the hands of the Acquiring Fund will include the periods during which such assets were held by the Acquired Fund; and (ix) the Acquiring Fund will succeed to and take into account the items of the Acquired Fund described in Section 381(c) of the Code, subject to the conditions and limitations specified in Sections 381, 382, 383 and 384 of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder. The delivery of such opinion is conditioned upon receipt by Willkie Farr & Gallagher of customary representations it shall reasonably request of the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither the Acquiring Fund nor the Acquired Fund may waive the condition set forth in this section 8.5.
9. | Indemnification |
9.1 The Acquiring Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Acquired Fund and each of the Corporation’s directors and officers from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including, without limitation, the payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs of investigation) to which jointly and severally, the Corporation or any of its directors or officers may become subject, insofar as any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions with respect thereto) arises out of or is based on any breach by the Acquiring Fund of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
9.2 The Acquired Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Acquiring Fund and each of the Corporation’s directors and officers from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including, without limitation, the payment of reasonable legal fees and reasonable costs of investigation) to which jointly and severally, the Corporation or any of its directors or officers may become subject, insofar as any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions with respect thereto) arises out of or is based on any breach by the Acquired Fund of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
10. | Fees and Expenses |
10.1 Each Fund represents and warrants to the other that it has no obligations to pay any brokers or finders fees in connection with the transactions provided for herein.
10.2 DeIM or its affiliates will bear all the expenses associated with the Reorganization, including, but not limited to, any transaction costs payable by the Acquired Fund in connection with the rebalancing of its portfolio as designated by the Acquiring Fund, in anticipation of the Reorganization.
11. | Entire Agreement |
The Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund agree that neither party has made any representation, warranty or covenant not set forth herein and that this Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties.
A-16
Table of Contents
12. | Termination |
This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned by either party (i) by mutual agreement of the parties, or (ii) by either party if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before January [[ ]], 2007, unless such date is extended by mutual agreement of the parties, or (iii) by either party if the other party shall have materially breached its obligations under this Agreement or made a material and intentional misrepresentation herein or in connection herewith. In the event of any such termination, this Agreement shall become void and there shall be no liability hereunder on the part of any party or their respective directors or officers, except for any such material breach or intentional misrepresentation, as to each of which all remedies at law or in equity of the party adversely affected shall survive.
13. | Amendments |
This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented in such manner as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by any authorized officer of the Acquired Fund and any authorized officer of the Acquiring Fund; provided, however, that following the meeting of the Acquired Fund Shareholders called by the Acquired Fund pursuant to section 5.3 of this Agreement, no such amendment may have the effect of changing the provisions for determining the number of the Acquiring Fund Shares to be issued to the Acquired Fund Shareholders under this Agreement to the detriment of such shareholders without their further approval.
14. | Notices |
Any notice, report, statement or demand required or permitted by any provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given if delivered by hand (including by Federal Express or similar express courier) or transmitted by facsimile or three days after being mailed by prepaid registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the Acquired Fund, Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110-4103, with a copy to Ropes & Gray LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110-2624, Attention: John W. Gerstmayr, Esq., or to the Acquiring Fund, Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110-4103, with a copy to Ropes & Gray LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110-2624, Attention: John W. Gerstmayr, Esq. or to any other address that the Acquired Fund or the Acquiring Fund shall have last designated by notice to the other party.
15. | Headings; Counterparts; Assignment; Limitation of Liability |
15.1 The article and section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
15.2 This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
15.3 This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, but no assignment or transfer hereof or of any rights or obligations hereunder shall be made by any party without the written consent
A-17
Table of Contents
of the other party. Nothing herein expressed or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and the shareholders of the Acquiring Fund and the Acquired Fund and their respective successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
15.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the obligations, agreements, representations and warranties with respect to each Fund shall constitute the obligations, agreements, representations and warranties of that Fund only (the “Obligated Fund”), and in no event shall any other series of the Corporation or the assets of any such series be held liable with respect to the breach or other default by the Obligated Fund of its obligations, agreements, representations and warranties as set forth herein.
15.5 This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.
A-18
Table of Contents
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed by an authorized officer and its seal to be affixed thereto and attested by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary.
Attest: | DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC., on behalf of DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND | |
Secretary | By: | |
Its: | ||
Attest: | DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC., on behalf of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | |
Secretary | By: | |
Its: | ||
AGREED TO AND ACKNOWLEDGED ONLY WITH RESPECT TO SECTION 10.2 HERETO | ||
DEUTSCHE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AMERICAS INC. | ||
By: | ||
Its: |
A-19
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT B
DWS International Fund
Financial Highlights
Class A
Years Ended August 31, | 2006d | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 47.44 | $ | 37.86 | $ | 33.18 | $ | 32.35 | $ | 40.03 | $ | 57.54 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)a | (0.02 | ) | .56 | .16 | .26 | .10 | .06 | |||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.95 | 9.48 | 4.82 | .79 | (7.76 | ) | (14.89 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.93 | 10.04 | 4.98 | 1.05 | (7.66 | ) | (14.83 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.87 | ) | (.46 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.22 | ) | (.02 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | — | (2.68 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (0.87 | ) | (.46 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.22 | ) | (.02 | ) | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||||
Redemption fees | 0.00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 53.50 | $ | 47.44 | $ | 37.86 | $ | 33.18 | $ | 32.35 | $ | 40.03 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (%)b | 14.71 | ** | 26.63 | 15.06 | 3.28 | (19.13 | ) | (26.63 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 234 | 219 | 192 | 204 | 218 | 312 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.26 | * | 1.33 | 1.55 | 1.49 | 1.31c | 1.33 | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (0.06 | )e** | 1.28 | .41 | .84 | .28 | .17 | |||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 61 | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
b | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
c | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in certain liabilities of an acquired fund. The ratio without this reduction 1.33% |
d | For the six months ended February 28, 2006 (unaudited). |
e | The ratio for the six months ended February 28, 2006 has not been annualized since the Fund believes that would not be appropriate because the Fund’s income is not earned ratably throughout the fiscal year. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not Annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
B-1
Table of Contents
Class B
Years Ended August 31, | 2006f | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001a | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 46.74 | $ | 37.36 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.95 | $ | 39.83 | $ | 50.14 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)b | (0.29 | ) | .13 | (.14 | ) | .03 | (.17 | ) | (.11 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.86 | 9.31 | 4.77 | .76 | (7.71 | ) | (10.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.57 | 9.44 | 4.63 | .79 | (7.88 | ) | (10.31 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.33 | ) | (.06 | ) | (.01 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | 0.00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 52.98 | $ | 46.74 | $ | 37.36 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.95 | $ | 39.83 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (%)c | 14.10e | ** | 25.21e | 14.19e | 2.47 | (19.78 | ) | (20.56 | )** | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 33 | 33 | 40 | 47 | 60 | 92 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.39 | * | 2.62 | 2.49 | 2.27 | 2.08d | 2.13 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.37 | * | 2.37 | 2.37 | 2.27 | 2.08d | 2.13 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (0.61 | )g** | .24 | (.41 | ) | .06 | (.49 | ) | (.35 | )* | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 61 | * | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | For the period from December 29, 2000 (commencement of operations of Class B shares) to August 31, 2001. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
d | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in certain liabilities of an acquired fund. The ratio without this reduction was 2.13%. |
e | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
f | For the six months ended February 28, 2006 (unaudited). |
g | The ratio for the six months ended February 28, 2006 has not been annualized since the Fund believes that it would not be appropriate because the Fund’s income is not earned ratably throughout the fiscal year. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not Annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
B-2
Table of Contents
Class C
Years Ended August 31, | 2006e | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001a | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 46.74 | $ | 37.35 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.94 | $ | 39.82 | $ | 50.14 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)b | (.23 | ) | .18 | (.14 | ) | .03 | (.17 | ) | (.12 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.86 | 9.32 | 4.76 | .77 | (7.71 | ) | (10.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.63 | 9.50 | 4.62 | .80 | (7.88 | ) | (10.32 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomef | (0.40 | ) | (.11 | ) | (0.01 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | 0.00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $52.97 | $46.74 | $37.35 | $32.74 | $31.94 | $39.82 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Return (%)c | 14.23 | ** | 25.44 | 14.17d | 2.50 | (19.79 | ) | (20.58 | )** | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.12 | * | 2.24 | 2.38 | 2.26 | 2.11 | 2.11 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.12 | * | 2.24 | 2.36 | 2.26 | 2.11 | 2.11 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.49 | )g** | .37 | (.40 | ) | .07 | (.52 | ) | (.33 | )* | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 61 | * | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | For the period from December 29, 2000 (commencement of operations of Class C shares) to August 31, 2001. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
e | For the six months ended February 28, 2006 (unaudited). |
f | Based on average shares outstanding for the period. |
g | The ratio for the six months ended February 28, 2006 has not been annualized since the Fund believes that it would not be appropriate because the Fund’s income is not earned ratably throughout the fiscal year. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not Annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
B-3
Table of Contents
Class S
Years Ended August 31, | 2006c | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001a | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 47.74 | $ | 38.10 | $ | 33.36 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | $ | 57.73 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)a | .05 | .71 | .30 | .35 | .19 | .18 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.98 | 9.54 | 4.86 | .80 | (7.80 | ) | (14.94 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 7.03 | 10.25 | 5.16 | 1.15 | (7.61 | ) | (14.76 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (1.05 | ) | (.61 | ) | (.42 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.05 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | — | (2.68 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (1.05 | ) | (.61 | ) | (.42 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (2.73 | ) | ||||||||||||
Redemption fees | 0.00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 53.72 | $ | 47.74 | $ | 38.10 | $ | 33.36 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 14.87 | ** | 27.06 | 15.49b | 3.62 | (18.94 | ) | (26.44 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 1,354 | 1,278 | 1,273 | 1,444 | 1,872 | 3,248 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | .98 | * | .98 | 1.23 | 1.18 | 1.06 | 1.07 | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .98 | * | .98 | 1.17 | 1.18 | 1.06 | 1.07 | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .08d | ** | 1.63 | .79 | 1.15 | .53 | .43 | |||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 61 | * | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
c | For the six months ended February 28, 2006 (unaudited) |
d | The ratio for the six months ended February 28, 2006 has not been annualized since the Fund believes it would not be appropriate because the Fund’s dividend income is not earned ratably through the fiscal year. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not Annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
B-4
Table of Contents
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
UNLESS VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD
PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Your Proxy Vote is important!
And now you can Vote your Proxy on the PHONE or the INTERNET.
It saves Money! Telephone and Internet voting saves postage costs. Savings which can help minimize expenses.
It saves Time! Telephone and Internet voting is instantaneous – 24 hours a day.
It’s Easy! Just follow these simple steps:
1. Read your proxy statement and have it and this proxy card at hand.
2. Call toll-free [[ ]], or go to website: https://vote.proxy-direct.com.
3. Follow the recorded or on-screen directions.
4. Do not mail your Proxy Card when you vote by phone or Internet. |
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
![]() | DWS PACIFIC OPPORTUNITIES EQUITY FUND DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC. PROXY FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS 345 Park Avenue, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10154 11:00 a.m., Eastern time, on October 12, 2006 | PROXY CARD |
The undersigned hereby appoints Philip J. Collora, Daniel O. Hirsch, John Millette and Caroline Pearson, and each of them, with full power of substitution, as proxy or proxies of the undersigned to vote all shares of the Fund that the undersigned is entitled in any capacity to vote at the above-stated special meeting, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof (the ‘Special Meeting’), on the matter set forth in the Notice of Special Meeting of Shareholders and on this Proxy Card, and, in their discretion, upon all matters incident to the conduct of the Special Meeting and upon such other matters as may properly be brought before the Special Meeting. This proxy revokes all prior proxies given by the undersigned.
All properly executed proxies will be voted as directed. If no instructions are indicated on a properly executed proxy, the proxy will be voted FOR approval of the Proposal. All ABSTAIN votes will be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at the Special Meeting.
Receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting and the related Prospectus/Proxy Statement is hereby acknowledged.
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: https://vote.proxy-direct.com VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: [[ ]] |
Table of Contents
Note: Joint owners should EACH sign. Please sign EXACTLY as your name(s) appears on this card. When signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian or corporate officer, please give your FULL title as such. | ||
| ||
Signature(s) (Title(s), if applicable) | ||
| ||
Date
[ ] [ ] |
UNLESS VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET, PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD
PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE REQUIRED.
Table of Contents
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT!
UNLESS VOTING BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THIS PROXY CARD
PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR FUND. THE FOLLOWING MATTER IS PROPOSED BY YOUR FUND. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL.
TO VOTE, MARK A BLOCK BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: n
VOTE ON PROPOSAL 1:
FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN | ||||
1. Approving an Agreement and Plan of Conversion, which contemplates the conversion of each class of shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund (“Pacific Opportunities Fund”) into shares of the corresponding class of DWS International Fund (“International Fund”) and the resulting transfer to International Fund of all of the assets and liabilities of Pacific Opportunities Fund, on a tax-free basis for federal income tax purposes, and the termination of Pacific Opportunities Fund.
The appointed proxies will vote on any other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting. | ¨ | ¨ | ¨ |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED ON REVERSE SIDE.
[ ]
[ ]
Table of Contents
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02112
This statement of additional information is not a prospectus, but should be read in conjunction with the prospectus/proxy Statement dated September [ ], 2006 for the special meeting of shareholders of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund (“Pacific Opportunities Fund”), a series of DWS International Fund, Inc., to be held on October 12, 2006, into which this statement of additional information is hereby incorporated by reference. Copies of the prospectus/proxy statement may be obtained at no charge by contacting your insurance company or by calling the corresponding Fund at 1-800-621-1048, or from the firm from which this statement of additional information was obtained, and are available along with other materials on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet website (http://www.sec.gov).
Further information about DWS International Fund (“International Fund”), a series of DWS International Fund, Inc., is contained in International Fund’s two statements of additional information each dated December 1, 2005, as supplemented from time to time, for (i) Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares and (ii) Class S shares, respectively, which are attached to this statement of additional information as Exhibits A and B, respectively. The audited financial statements and related independent registered public accounting firm’s report for International Fund contained in the annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005 and the unaudited financial statements for International Fund contained in the semiannual report to shareholders for the six-month period ended February 28, 2006 are each incorporated herein by reference. No other parts of the annual report to shareholders are incorporated by reference herein.
The unaudited pro forma financial statements required by Rule 11-01 of Regulation S-X have been omitted pursuant to Item 14 of Form N-14, which permits such omission if the net asset value of the fund to be acquired des not exceed 10% of the acquiring fund’s net asset value as of a specified date within 30 days prior to the filing of the registration statement. As of July 31, 2006 the net asset value of Pacific Opportunities Fund did not exceed 10% of the net asset value of International Fund.
Further information about Pacific Opportunities Fund is contained in its two statements of additional information each dated March 1, 2006, as supplemented from time to time, for Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares and for Class S shares, respectively. The audited financial statements and related independent registered public accounting firm’s report for Pacific Opportunities Fund contained in the Annual Report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference. No other parts of the Annual Report to shareholders are incorporated by reference herein.
The date of this statement of additional information is September [ ], 2006.
1
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT A
Scudder Global Fund (Class A, B, C and R Shares)
A Series of Global/International Fund, Inc.
December 1, 2005
Scudder International Fund (Class A, B, C, Institutional Class and Investment Class Shares)
A Series of Scudder International Fund, Inc.
December 1, 2005
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This combined Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the combined Class A, B, C and R shares prospectus for Scudder Global Fund and the combined Class A, B and C shares prospectus and the Institutional Class and Investment Class prospectuses for Scudder International Fund (each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”), series of Global/International Fund, Inc. and Scudder International Fund, Inc., respectively, dated December 1, 2005, as amended from time to time, copies of which may be obtained without charge by contacting Scudder Distributors, Inc., 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or the firm from which this Statement of Additional Information was obtained and are available along with other materials on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov).
The Annual Report to Shareholders of each Fund, dated August 31, 2005 accompanies this Statement of Additional Information. They are incorporated by reference and are hereby deemed to be part of this Statement of Additional Information.
This combined Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into each applicable prospectus.
Table of Contents
Page | ||
1 | ||
5 | ||
26 | ||
26 | ||
26 | ||
35 | ||
36 | ||
39 | ||
43 | ||
43 | ||
43 | ||
44 | ||
46 | ||
49 | ||
60 | ||
66 | ||
67 | ||
75 | ||
76 | ||
77 | ||
77 | ||
78 |
i
Table of Contents
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Unless specified to the contrary, the following fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund which, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules thereunder and as used in this Statement of Additional Information, means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.
Any investment restrictions herein which involve a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after and is caused by an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, a Fund.
Each Fund has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end management investment company. A diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of total assets, invest more than 5% of total assets in the securities of a single issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
As a matter of fundamental policy, each Fund may not:
(1) | borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(2) | issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(3) | concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(4) | engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities; |
(5) | purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include securities of companies which deal in real estate or mortgages or investments secured by real estate or interests therein, except that the Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities; |
(6) | purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities; or |
(7) | make loans to other persons, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. |
With respect to fundamental policy number five above, the Funds have no current intention to hold and sell real estate acquired as a result of a Fund’s ownership of securities.
The Directors of each Corporation have voluntarily adopted certain policies and restrictions, which are observed in the conduct of each Fund’s affairs. These represent intentions of the Directors based upon current circumstances.
Table of Contents
Non-fundamental policies may be changed by the Directors of the Corporation without requiring prior notice to or approval of shareholders.
As a matter of non-fundamental policy, each Fund currently does not intend to:
(a) | borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets, except (i) for temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, or other investments or transactions described in the Fund’s registration statement which may be deemed to be borrowings; |
(b) | enter into either reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets; |
(c) | purchase securities on margin or make short sales, except (i) short sales against the box, (ii) in connection with arbitrage transactions, (iii) for margin deposits in connection with futures contracts, options or other permitted investments, (iv) that transactions in futures contracts and options shall not be deemed to constitute selling securities short, and (v) that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of securities transactions; |
(d) | purchase options, unless the aggregate premiums paid on all such options held by the Fund at any time do not exceed 20% of its total assets; or sell put options, if as a result, the aggregate value of the obligations underlying such put options would exceed 50% of its total assets; |
(e) | enter into futures contracts or purchase options thereon unless immediately after the purchase, the value of the aggregate initial margin with respect to such futures contracts entered into on behalf of the Fund and the premiums paid for such options on futures contracts does not exceed 5% of the fair market value of the Fund’s total assets; provided that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in computing the 5% limit; |
(f) | purchase warrants if as a result, such securities, taken at the lower of cost or market value, would represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (for this purpose, warrants acquired in units or attached to securities will be deemed to have no value); and |
(g) | lend portfolio securities in an amount greater than 33?% of its total assets. |
Each Fund will not purchase illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets, valued at the time of the transaction, would be invested in such securities.
Each Fund may engage in short sales against-the-box, although it is the Fund’s current intention that no more than 5% of its net assets will be at risk.
Each Fund will not acquire securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage beyond the specified limit resulting from a change in values or net assets will not be considered a violation.
Each Fund is an open-end management investment company which continuously offers and redeems shares at net asset value. Each Fund is a company of the type commonly known as a mutual fund. Scudder Global Fund is a diversified series of Global/International Fund, Inc. Scudder International Fund is a diversified series of Scudder International Fund, Inc. (each a “Corporation,” collectively the “Corporations”). Scudder Global Fund offers six classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares. Only Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R are offered herein. Scudder International Fund offers seven classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C, Institutional Class and Investment Class shares. Only
2
Table of Contents
Class A, Class B, Class C, Institutional Class and Investment Class of International Fund are offered herein. Each class has its own important features and policies. Shares of Class AARP are especially designed for members of AARP.
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. If there is a change in investment objective, shareholders should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of their then current financial position and needs. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Changes in portfolio securities are made on the basis of investment considerations and it is against the policy of management to make changes for trading purposes.
Scudder Global Fund
Scudder Global Fund will be invested usually in securities of issuers located in at least three countries, one of which may be the US. The Fund may be invested 100% in non-US issues, and for temporary defensive purposes may be invested 100% in US issues, although under normal circumstances it is expected that both foreign and US investments will be represented in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund will not invest in securities issued by tobacco-producing companies.
For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may vary from its investment policies during periods when the Advisor determines that it is advisable to do so because of conditions in the securities markets or other economic or political conditions. During such periods, the Fund may hold without limit cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in debt securities that are rated Baa or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or below by Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), or deemed by the Advisor to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds).
Scudder International Fund
Scudder International Fund invests in companies, wherever organized, which do business primarily outside the United States. The Fund intends to diversify investments among several countries and normally to have investments in securities of at least three different countries other than the US. The Fund will invest primarily in securities of issuers in the 21 developed foreign countries included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Europe, Australia, Far East (“EAFE”) Index, but may invest in “emerging markets.” The Fund considers “emerging markets” to include any country that is defined as an emerging or developing economy by any of the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (i.e., the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation or the United Nations or its authorities.
When the Advisor believes that it is appropriate to do so in order to achieve the Fund’s investment objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. The Fund will predominantly purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged by the Advisor to be of equivalent quality. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in debt securities which are rated below investment-grade.
The Fund may hold up to 20% of its net assets in US and foreign fixed income securities for temporary defensive purposes when the Advisor believes that market conditions so warrant. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets under normal conditions, and without limit for temporary defensive purposes, in cash or cash equivalents including domestic and foreign money market instruments, short-term government and corporate obligations and repurchase agreements, when the Advisor deems such a position advisable in light of economic or market conditions.
To meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company each Fund must limit its investments so that at the close of each quarter of its taxable year (1) no more than 25% of its total assets are invested in securities of a single issuer (other than US government or a regulated investment company), and (2) with respect to at least 50% of its total assets, no more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities of a single issuer.
3
Table of Contents
Temporary Defensive Policy. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder Global Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as money market securities. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder International Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as US or Canadian money market securities. These measures could prevent losses, but would mean that a fund was not pursuing its goal.
Master/feeder Fund Structure. The Boards of Directors has the discretion to retain the current distribution arrangement for a Fund while investing in a master fund in a master/feeder fund structure as described below.
A master/feeder fund structure is one in which a fund (a “feeder fund”), instead of investing directly in a portfolio of securities, invests most or all of its investment assets in a separate registered investment company (the “master fund”) with substantially the same investment objective and policies as the feeder fund. Such a structure permits the pooling of assets of two or more feeder funds, preserving separate identities or distribution channels at the feeder fund level. Based on the premise that certain of the expenses of operating an investment portfolio are relatively fixed, a larger investment portfolio may eventually achieve a lower ratio of operating expenses to average net assets. An existing investment company is able to convert to a feeder fund by selling all of its investments, which involves brokerage and other transaction costs and realization of a taxable gain or loss, or by contributing its assets to the master fund and avoiding transaction costs and, if proper procedures are followed, the realization of taxable gain or loss.
4
Table of Contents
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
General Investment Objective and Policies
Descriptions in this Statement of Additional Information of a particular investment practice or technique in which a Fund may engage are meant to describe the spectrum of investments that Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Advisor”) in its discretion might, but is not required to, use in managing each Fund’s portfolio assets. The Advisor may, in its discretion, at any time employ such practice, technique or instrument for one or more Funds but not for all funds advised by it. Furthermore, it is possible that certain types of financial instruments or investment techniques described herein may not be available, permissible, economically feasible or effective for their intended purposes in all markets. Certain practices, techniques or instruments may not be principal activities of the Funds, but, to the extent employed, could from time to time have a material impact on a Fund’s performance.
It is possible that certain investment practices and techniques described below may not be permissible for a Fund based on its investment restrictions, as described herein, and in the Funds’ applicable prospectus.
Borrowing. As a matter of fundamental policy, a fund will not borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. While each fund’s Board of Directors does not currently intend to borrow for investment leveraging purposes, if such a strategy were implemented in the future it would increase the funds’ volatility and the risk of loss in a declining market. Borrowing by a fund will involve special risk considerations. Although the principal of a fund’s borrowings will be fixed, a fund’s assets may change in value during the time a borrowing is outstanding, thus increasing exposure to capital risk.
Common Stocks. Common stock is issued by companies to raise cash for business purposes and represents a proportionate interest in the issuing companies. Therefore, a fund participates in the success or failure of any company in which it holds stock. The market values of common stock can fluctuate significantly, reflecting the business performance of the issuing company, investor perception and general economic and financial market movements. Despite the risk of price volatility, however, common stocks have historically offered a greater potential for long-term gain on investment, compared to other classes of financial assets such as bonds or cash equivalents, although there can be no assurance that this will be true in the future.
Convertible Securities. A fund may invest in convertible securities, that is, bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stocks and other securities which are convertible into common stock. Investments in convertible securities can provide an opportunity for capital appreciation and/or income through interest and dividend payments by virtue of their conversion or exchange features.
5
Table of Contents
The convertible securities in which a fund may invest are either fixed income or zero coupon debt securities which may be converted or exchanged at a stated or determinable exchange ratio into underlying shares of common stock. The exchange ratio for any particular convertible security may be adjusted from time to time due to stock splits, dividends, spin-offs, other corporate distributions or scheduled changes in the exchange ratio. Convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stocks, until converted, have general characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with debt securities generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion or exchange feature, the market value of convertible securities typically changes as the market value of the underlying common stocks changes, and, therefore, also tends to follow movements in the general market for equity securities. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock, although typically not as much as the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
As debt securities, convertible securities are investments which provide for a stream of income (or in the case of zero coupon securities, accretion of income) with generally higher yields than common stocks. Convertible securities generally offer lower yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality because of their conversion or exchange features.
Of course, like all debt securities, there can be no assurance of income or principal payments because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations.
Convertible securities generally are subordinated to other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior to common stock, of the same issuer. However, because of the subordination feature, convertible bonds and convertible preferred stock typically have lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities. Convertible securities may be issued as fixed income obligations that pay current income or as zero coupon notes and bonds, including Liquid Yield Option Notes (“LYONs”(TM)).
Corporate Obligations. Investment in corporate debt obligations involves credit and interest rate risk. The value of fixed-income investments will fluctuate with changes in interest rates and bond market conditions, tending to rise as interest rates decline and to decline as interest rates rise. Corporate debt obligations generally offer less current yield than securities of lower quality, but lower-quality securities generally have less liquidity, greater credit and market risk, and as a result, more price volatility. Longer term bonds are, however, generally more volatile than bonds with shorter maturities.
6
Table of Contents
Depositary Receipts. A fund may invest in sponsored or unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”) and other types of Depositary Receipts (which, together with ADRs, GDRs and IDRs are hereinafter referred to as “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary receipts provide indirect investment in securities of foreign issuers. Prices of unsponsored Depositary Receipts may be more volatile than if they were sponsored by the issuer of the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. In addition, the issuers of the stock of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. ADRs are Depositary Receipts which are bought and sold in the United States and are typically issued by a US bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities by a foreign corporation. GDRs, IDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they may also be issued by United States banks or trust companies, and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or a United States corporation. Generally, Depositary Receipts in registered form are designed for use in the United States securities markets and Depositary Receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside the United States. For purposes of a fund’s investment policies, a fund’s investments in ADRs, GDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts, including those denominated in US dollars will be subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. However, by investing in US dollar-denominated ADRs rather than directly in foreign issuers’ stock, a fund avoids currency risks during the settlement period. In general, there is a large, liquid market in the United States for most ADRs. However, certain Depositary Receipts may not be listed on an exchange and therefore may be illiquid securities.
Dollar Roll Transactions. Dollar roll transactions consist of the sale by a fund to a bank or broker-dealer (the “counterparty”) of GNMA certificates or other mortgage-backed securities together with a commitment to purchase from the counterparty similar, but not identical, securities at a future date, at the same price. The counterparty receives all principal and interest payments, including prepayments, made on the security while it is the holder. A fund receives a fee from the counterparty as consideration for entering into the commitment to purchase. Dollar rolls may be renewed over a period of several months with a different purchase and repurchase price fixed and a cash
7
Table of Contents
settlement made at each renewal without physical delivery of securities. Moreover, the transaction may be preceded by a firm commitment agreement pursuant to which a fund agrees to buy a security on a future date.
A fund will segregate cash, US Government securities or other liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet their purchase obligations under the transactions. A fund will also maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for all outstanding firm commitments, dollar rolls and other borrowings.
Dollar rolls may be treated for purposes of the 1940 Act, as borrowings of a fund because they involve the sale of a security coupled with an agreement to repurchase. A dollar roll involves costs to a fund. For example, while a fund receives a fee as consideration for agreeing to repurchase the security, a fund forgoes the right to receive all principal and interest payments while the counterparty holds the security. These payments to the counterparty may exceed the fee received by a fund, thereby effectively charging a fund interest on its borrowing. Further, although a fund can estimate the amount of expected principal prepayment over the term of the dollar roll, a variation in the actual amount of prepayment could increase or decrease the cost of a fund’s borrowing.
The entry into dollar rolls involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. For example, if the counterparty becomes insolvent, a fund’s right to purchase from the counterparty might be restricted. Additionally, the value of such securities may change adversely before a fund is able to purchase them. Similarly, a fund may be required to purchase securities in connection with a dollar roll at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since, as noted above, the counterparty is required to deliver a similar, but not identical security to a fund, the security that a fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. Finally, there can be no assurance that a fund’s use of the cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.
Euro. The implementation of the Euro may result in uncertainties for European securities and the operation of a fund. The Euro was introduced on January 1, 1999 by eleven members countries of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Implementation of the Euro requires the redenomination of European debt and equity securities over a period of time, which may result in various accounting differences and/or tax treatments which would not otherwise occur. Additional questions are raised by the fact that certain other European Community members, including the United Kingdom, did not officially implement the Euro on January 1, 1999.
Eurodollar Instruments. A fund may make investments in Eurodollar instruments. Eurodollar instruments are US dollar-denominated futures contracts or options thereon which are linked to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), although foreign currency-denominated instruments are available from time to time. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A fund might use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked.
Eurodollar Obligations. Eurodollar bank obligations are US dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the US capital markets by foreign branches of US banks and US branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar obligations are subject to the same risks that pertain to domestic issues, notably credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks.
Foreign Currencies. Because investments in foreign securities usually will involve currencies of foreign countries, and because a fund may hold foreign currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of a fund as measured in US dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and a fund may incur costs and experience conversion difficulties and uncertainties in connection with conversions between various currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing the security.
The strength or weakness of the US dollar against these currencies is responsible for part of a fund’s investment performance. If the dollar falls in value relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the dollar value of a Japanese stock held in the portfolio will rise even though the price of the stock remains unchanged. Conversely, if the dollar
8
Table of Contents
rises in value relative to the yen, the dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall. Many foreign currencies have experienced significant devaluation relative to the dollar.
Although a fund values its assets daily in terms of US dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into US dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should a fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. A fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.
Foreign Fixed Income Securities. Since most foreign fixed income securities are not rated, a fund will invest in foreign fixed income securities based on the Advisor’s analysis without relying on published ratings. Since such investments will be based upon the Advisor’s analysis rather than upon published ratings, achievement of a fund’s goals may depend more upon the abilities of the Advisor than would otherwise be the case.
The value of the foreign fixed income securities held by a fund, and thus the net asset value of a fund’s shares, generally will fluctuate with (a) changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the issuers of those securities, (b) movements in interest rates, and (c) changes in the relative values of the currencies in which a fund’s investments in fixed income securities are denominated with respect to the US Dollar. The extent of the fluctuation will depend on various factors, such as the average maturity of a fund’s investments in foreign fixed income securities, and the extent to which a fund hedges its interest rate, credit and currency exchange rate risks. A longer average maturity generally is associated with a higher level of volatility in the market value of such securities in response to changes in market conditions.
Investments in sovereign debt, including Brady Bonds (Brady Bonds are debt securities issued under a plan implemented to allow debtor nations to restructure their outstanding commercial bank indebtedness), involve special risks. Foreign governmental issuers of debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or pay interest when due. In the event of default, there may be limited or no legal recourse in that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party. Political conditions, especially a sovereign entity’s willingness to meet the terms of its fixed income securities, are of considerable significance. Also, there can be no assurance that the holders of commercial bank loans to the same sovereign entity may not contest payments to the holders of sovereign debt in the event of default under commercial bank loan agreements. In addition, there is no bankruptcy proceeding with respect to sovereign debt on which a sovereign has defaulted, and a fund may be unable to collect all or any part of its investment in a particular issue. Foreign investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled to varying degrees, including requiring governmental approval for the repatriation of income, capital or proceed of sales by foreign investors. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain sovereign debt or increase the costs and expenses of a fund.
Sovereign debt of emerging market governmental issuers is to be considered speculative. Emerging market governmental issuers are among the largest debtors to commercial banks, foreign governments, international financial organizations and other financial institutions. Certain emerging market governmental issuers have not been able to make payments of interest on or principal of debt obligations as those payments have come due. There is a history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities issuing sovereign debt. All or a portion of the interest payments and/or principal repayment with respect to sovereign debt may be uncollateralized. Obligations arising from past restructuring agreements may affect the economic performance and political and social stability of those issuers.
The ability of emerging market country governmental issuers to make timely payments on their obligations is likely to be influenced strongly by the issuer’s balance of payments, including export performance, and its access to international credits and investments. An emerging market whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities could be vulnerable to a decline in the international prices of one or more of those commodities. Increased protectionism on the part of an emerging market’s trading partners could also adversely affect the country’s exports
9
Table of Contents
and diminish its trade account surplus, if any. To the extent that emerging markets receive payment for its exports in currencies other than dollars or non-emerging market currencies, its ability to make debt payments denominated in dollars or non-emerging market currencies could be affected.
Another factor bearing on the ability of emerging market countries to repay debt obligations is the level of international reserves of the country. Fluctuations in the level of these reserves affect the amount of foreign exchange readily available for external debt payments and thus could have a bearing on the capacity of emerging market countries to make payments on these debt obligations.
To the extent that an emerging market country cannot generate a trade surplus, it must depend on continuing loans from foreign governments, multilateral organizations or private commercial banks, aid payments from foreign governments and inflows of foreign investment. The access of emerging markets to these forms of external funding may not be certain, and a withdrawal of external funding could adversely affect the capacity of emerging market country governmental issuers to make payments on their obligations. In addition, the cost of servicing emerging market debt obligations can be affected by a change in international interest rates since the majority of these obligations carry interest rates that are adjusted periodically based upon international rates.
Foreign Investments. Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the fund’s foreign investments and the value of its shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the US dollar. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign issuer than about a US issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the US. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable US issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions and other fees are also generally higher than in the US. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or in the recovery of the fund’s assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of investments in US markets. Payment for securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets.
In addition, foreign securities may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of the fund’s investments in certain foreign countries. Governments of many countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector through the ownership or control of many companies, including some of the largest in these countries. As a result, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions which may adversely affect prices of certain portfolio securities. There is also generally less government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the US. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, and special US tax considerations may apply. Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the US economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.
Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the US or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers organized under the laws of those foreign countries.
Of particular importance, many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon exports, particularly to developed countries, and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the US and other countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be negatively impacted by economic conditions in the US and other trading partners, which can lower the demand for goods produced in those countries.
The risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, typically are increased in connection with investments in “emerging markets.” For example, political and economic structures in these countries may be in their infancy and developing rapidly, and such countries may lack the social, political and
10
Table of Contents
economic stability characteristic of more developed countries (including amplified risk of war and terrorism). Certain of these countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized and expropriated the assets of private companies. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative.
The currencies of certain emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the US dollar, and future devaluations may adversely affect the value of assets denominated in such currencies. In addition, currency hedging techniques may be unavailable in certain emerging market countries. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for many years, and future inflation may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries.
In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in emerging markets and the availability of additional investments in these markets. Any change in the leadership or politics of emerging market countries, or the countries that exercise a significant influence over those countries, may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities. The small size, limited trading volume and relative inexperience of the securities markets in these countries may make investments in securities traded in emerging markets illiquid and more volatile than investments in securities traded in more developed countries. For example, limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions. In addition, the fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making investments in securities traded in emerging markets. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers of emerging market securities, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value of prospects of an investment in such securities.
The risk also exists that an emergency situation may arise in one or more emerging markets as a result of which trading of securities may cease or may be substantially curtailed and prices for a fund’s securities in such markets may not be readily available. A fund may suspend redemption of its shares for any period during which an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC. Accordingly if a fund believes that appropriate circumstances exist, it will promptly apply to the SEC for a determination that an emergency is present. During the period commencing from a fund’s identification of such condition until the date of the SEC action, a fund’s securities in the affected markets will be valued at fair value determined in good faith by or under the direction of a fund’s Board.
Certain of the foregoing risks may also apply to some extent to securities of US issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies or that are traded in foreign markets, or securities of US issuers having significant foreign operations.
High Yield/High Risk Bonds. A fund may also purchase, to a limited extent, debt securities which are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”), that is, rated below Baa by Moody’s or below BBB by S&P and unrated securities, which usually entail greater risk (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities), generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of principal and income, and may be less liquid, than securities in the higher rating categories. The lower the ratings of such debt securities, the greater their risks render them like equity securities. Scudder International Fund will invest no more than 5% of its total assets in securities rated BB or lower by Moody’s or Ba by S&P, and may invest in securities which are rated D by S&P. See the Appendix to this Statement of Additional Information for a more complete description of the ratings assigned by ratings organizations and their respective characteristics.
High yield, high-risk securities are especially subject to adverse changes in general economic conditions, to changes in the financial condition of their issuers and to price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates. An economic downturn could disrupt the high yield market and impair the ability of issuers to repay principal and interest. Also, an increase in interest rates would have a greater adverse impact on the value of such obligations than on higher quality debt securities. During an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issues may experience financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations. Prices and yields of high yield securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty, volatility of high yield securities may adversely affect a fund’s net asset value. In addition, investments in high yield zero coupon or pay-in-kind bonds, rather than income-bearing high yield securities, may be more speculative and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates.
11
Table of Contents
The trading market for high yield securities may be thin to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market. A thin trading market may limit the ability of a fund to accurately value high yield securities in its portfolio and to dispose of those securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities. These securities may also involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.
Credit quality in the high-yield securities market can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security. For these reasons, it is the policy of the Advisor not to rely exclusively on ratings issued by established credit rating agencies, but to supplement such ratings with its own independent and on-going review of credit quality. The achievement of a fund’s investment objective by investment in such securities may be more dependent on the Advisor’s credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds. Should the rating of a portfolio security be downgraded, the Advisor will determine whether it is in the best interests of the fund to retain or dispose of such security.
Prices for below investment-grade securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. For example, new federal rules require savings and loan institutions to gradually reduce their holdings of this type of security. Congress has from time to time considered legislation which would restrict or eliminate the corporate tax deduction for interest payments in these securities and regulate corporate restructurings. Such legislation may significantly depress the prices of outstanding securities of this type.
Illiquid Securities and Restricted Securities. A fund may purchase securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”). Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold (i) only to qualified institutional buyers; (ii) in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers; (iii) in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration; or (iv) in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Issuers of restricted securities may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.
Restricted securities are often illiquid, but they may also be liquid. For example, restricted securities that are eligible for resale under Rule 144A are often deemed to be liquid.
The Funds’ Boards have approved guidelines for use by the Advisor in determining whether a security is liquid or illiquid. Among the factors the Advisor may consider in reaching liquidity decisions relating to Rule 144A securities are: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the market for the security (i.e., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of the transfer). Where a registration statement is required for the resale of restricted securities, a fund may be required to bear all or part of the registration expenses. A fund may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the 1933 Act when selling restricted securities to the public and, in such event, a fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer is materially inaccurate or misleading.
A fund may also purchase securities that are not subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, but that are deemed illiquid. Such securities may be illiquid, for example, because there is a limited trading market for them.
A fund may be unable to sell a restricted or illiquid security. In addition, it may be more difficult to determine a market value for restricted or illiquid securities. Moreover, if adverse market conditions were to develop during the period between a fund’s decision to sell a restricted or illiquid security and the point at which a fund is permitted or able to sell such security, a fund might obtain a price less favorable than the price that prevailed when it decided to sell. This investment practice, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity of a fund.
IPO Risk. Securities issued through an initial public offering (IPO) can experience an immediate drop in value if the demand for the securities does not continue to support the offering price. Information about the issuers of IPO securities is also difficult to acquire since they are new to the market and may not have lengthy operating histories.
12
Table of Contents
A fund may engage in short-term trading in connection with its IPO investments, which could produce higher trading costs and adverse tax consequences. The number of securities issued in an IPO is limited, so it is likely that IPO securities will represent a smaller component of a fund’s portfolio as a fund’s assets increase (and thus have a more limited effect on a fund’s performance).
Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program. The Funds have received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which permits the Funds to participate in an interfund lending program among certain investment companies advised by the Advisor. The interfund lending program allows the participating funds to borrow money from and loan money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes. The program is subject to a number of conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds, including the following: (1) no fund may borrow money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than a rate approximating the lowest interest rate at which bank loans would be available to any of the participating funds under a loan agreement; and (2) no fund may lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable return than that available from an investment in repurchase agreements and, to the extent applicable, money market cash sweep arrangements. In addition, a fund may participate in the program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the fund’s investment objectives and policies (for instance, money market funds would normally participate only as lenders and tax exempt funds only as borrowers). Interfund loans and borrowings may extend overnight, but could have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one day’s notice. A fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional costs. The program is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Boards of the participating funds. To the extent the Funds are actually engaged in borrowing through the interfund lending program, the Funds, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, may not borrow for other than temporary or emergency purposes (and not for leveraging), except that the Funds may engage in reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls for any purpose.
Investment Company Securities. A fund may acquire securities of other investment companies to the extent consistent with its investment objective and subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act. A fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
For example, a fund may invest in a variety of investment companies which seek to track the composition and performance of specific indexes or a specific portion of an index. These index-based investments hold substantially all of their assets in securities representing their specific index. Accordingly, the main risk of investing in index-based investments is the same as investing in a portfolio of equity securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded (which may result in their trading at a discount or premium to their NAVs). Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specified index because of transaction costs and because of the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.
Examples of index-based investments include:
SPDRs(R): SPDRs, an acronym for “Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts,” are based on the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by the SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds shares of substantially all the companies in the S&P 500 in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
MidCap SPDRs(R): MidCap SPDRs are based on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. They are issued by the MidCap SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of securities consisting of substantially all of the common stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
Select Sector SPDRs(R): Select Sector SPDRs are based on a particular sector or group of industries that are represented by a specified Select Sector Index within the Standard & Poor’s Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by The Select Sector SPDR Trust, an open-end management investment company with nine portfolios that each seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of a particular Select Sector Index.
13
Table of Contents
DIAMONDS(SM): DIAMONDS are based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM). They are issued by the DIAMONDS Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of all the component common stocks of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Dow.
Nasdaq-100 Shares: Nasdaq-100 Shares are based on the Nasdaq 100 Index. They are issued by the Nasdaq-100 Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio consisting of substantially all of the securities, in substantially the same weighting, as the component stocks of the Nasdaq-100 Index and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
WEBs(SM): WEBs, an acronym for “World Equity Benchmark Shares,” are based on 17 country-specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Indexes. They are issued by the WEBs Index Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company that seeks to generally correspond to the price and yield performance of a specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Index.
Investment-Grade Bonds. A fund may purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Advisor. Moody’s considers bonds it rates Baa to have speculative elements as well as investment-grade characteristics. To the extent that a fund invests in higher-grade securities, a fund will not be able to avail itself of opportunities for higher income which may be available at lower grades.
Investment of Uninvested Cash Balances. A fund may have cash balances that have not been invested in portfolio securities (“Uninvested Cash”). Uninvested Cash may result from a variety of sources, including dividends or interest received from portfolio securities, unsettled securities transactions, reserves held for investment strategy purposes, scheduled maturity of investments, liquidation of investment securities to meet anticipated redemptions and dividend payments, and new cash received from investors. Uninvested Cash may be invested directly in money market instruments or other short-term debt obligations. Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, the Fund may use Uninvested Cash to purchase shares of affiliated funds including money market funds, short-term bond funds and Scudder Cash Management Investment Trust, or one or more future entities for which the advisor acts as trustee or investment advisor that operate as cash management investment vehicles and that are excluded from the definition of investment company pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (collectively, the “Central Funds”) in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Investment by a fund in shares of the Central Funds will be in accordance with a fund’s investment policies and restrictions as set forth in its registration statement.
Certain of the Central Funds comply with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The other Central Funds are or will be short-term bond funds that invest in fixed-income securities and maintain a dollar weighted average maturity of three years or less. Each of the Central Funds will be managed specifically to maintain a highly liquid portfolio, and access to them will enhance a fund’s ability to manage Uninvested Cash.
A fund will invest Uninvested Cash in Central Funds only to the extent that a fund’s aggregate investment in the Central Funds does not exceed 25% of its total assets. Purchase and sales of shares of Central Funds are made at net asset value.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. A fund may lend its investment securities to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions, such as covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver securities or completing arbitrage operations. By lending its investment securities, a fund attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest on the loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would belong to the fund. A fund may lend its investment securities so long as the terms, structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations or interpretations of the SEC thereunder, which currently require that (a) the borrower pledge and maintain with the fund collateral consisting of liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities loaned, (b) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities loaned rises (i.e., the borrower “marks to the market” on a daily basis), (c) the loan be made subject to termination by a fund at any time, and (d) a fund receives reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the fund investing any cash collateral in interest bearing short-term investments), and
14
Table of Contents
distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in their market value. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by a fund’s delegate after a commercially reasonable review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
At the present time, the staff of the SEC does not object if an investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the investment company’s Board of Trustees/Directors. In addition, voting rights may pass with the loaned securities, but if a material event occurs affecting an investment on loan, the loan must be called and the securities voted. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the SEC, cash collateral received by a fund may be invested in a money market fund managed by the Advisor (or one of its affiliates).
Micro-Cap Companies. While, historically, micro-capitalization company stocks have outperformed the stocks of large companies, the former have customarily involved more investment risk as well. There can be no assurance that this will continue to be true in the future. Micro-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may lack management depth or experience; and may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than large companies. The prices of micro-capitalization company securities are often more volatile than prices associated with large company issues, and can display abrupt or erratic movements at times, due to limited trading volumes and less publicly available information.
Also, because micro-capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding and these shares trade less frequently than large companies, it may be more difficult for a fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.
Some of the companies in which a fund may invest may distribute, sell or produce products which have recently been brought to market and may be dependent on key personnel. The securities of micro-capitalization companies are often traded over-the-counter and may not be traded in the volumes typical on a national securities exchange. Consequently, in order to sell this type of holding, a fund may need to discount the securities from recent prices or dispose of the securities over a long period of time.
Participation Interests. A fund may purchase from financial institutions participation interests in securities in which a fund may invest. A participation interest gives a fund an undivided interest in the security in the proportion that a fund’s participation interest bears to the principal amount of the security. These instruments may have fixed, floating or variable interest rates, with remaining maturities of 397 days or less. If the participation interest is unrated, or has been given a rating below that which is permissible for purchase by a fund, the participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by US Government securities, or, in the case of unrated participation interest, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality to those instruments in which a fund may invest. For certain participation interests, a fund will have the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, for all or any part of a fund’s participation interests in the security, plus accrued interest. As to these instruments, a fund generally intends to exercise its right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms of the security.
Privatized Enterprises. Investments in foreign securities may include securities issued by enterprises that have undergone or are currently undergoing privatization. The governments of certain foreign countries have, to varying degrees, embarked on privatization programs contemplating the sale of all or part of their interests in state enterprises. A fund’s investments in the securities of privatized enterprises may include privately negotiated investments in a government or state-owned or controlled company or enterprise that has not yet conducted an initial equity offering, investments in the initial offering of equity securities of a state enterprise or former state enterprise and investments in the securities of a state enterprise following its initial equity offering.
In certain jurisdictions, the ability of foreign entities, such as a fund, to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, or the price or terms on which a fund may be able to participate may be less advantageous than for local investors. Moreover, there can be no assurance that governments that have embarked on privatization programs will continue to divest their ownership of state enterprises, that proposed privatizations will be successful or that governments will not re-nationalize enterprises that have been privatized.
15
Table of Contents
In the case of the enterprises in which a fund may invest, large blocks of the stock of those enterprises may be held by a small group of stockholders, even after the initial equity offerings by those enterprises. The sale of some portion or all of those blocks could have an adverse effect on the price of the stock of any such enterprise.
Prior to making an initial equity offering, most state enterprises or former state enterprises go through an internal reorganization or management. Such reorganizations are made in an attempt to better enable these enterprises to compete in the private sector. However, certain reorganizations could result in a management team that does not function as well as an enterprise’s prior management and may have a negative effect on such enterprise. In addition, the privatization of an enterprise by its government may occur over a number of years, with the government continuing to hold a controlling position in the enterprise even after the initial equity offering for the enterprise.
Prior to privatization, most of the state enterprises in which a fund may invest enjoy the protection of and receive preferential treatment from the respective sovereigns that own or control them. After making an initial equity offering, these enterprises may no longer have such protection or receive such preferential treatment and may become subject to market competition from which they were previously protected. Some of these enterprises may not be able to operate effectively in a competitive market and may suffer losses or experience bankruptcy due to such competition.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). REITs are sometimes informally characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Investment in REITs may subject a fund to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, such as decreases in real estate values, overbuilding, increased competition and other risks related to local or general economic conditions, increases in operating costs and property taxes, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, possible environmental liabilities, regulatory limitations on rent and fluctuations in rental income. Equity REITs generally experience these risks directly through fee or leasehold interests, whereas mortgage REITs generally experience these risks indirectly through mortgage interests, unless the mortgage REIT forecloses on the underlying real estate. Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of a fund’s investment in REITs. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by those REITs.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalizations, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of their securities. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) and to maintain exemption from the registration requirements of the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of a fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. In addition, REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.
Repurchase Agreements. A fund may invest in repurchase agreements pursuant to its investment guidelines. In a repurchase agreement, a fund acquires ownership of a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller, typically a bank or broker-dealer. Some repurchase commitment transactions may not provide a fund with collateral marked-to-market during the term of the commitment.
A repurchase agreement provides a means for a fund to earn income on funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which the purchaser (i.e., a fund) acquires a security (“Obligation”) and the seller agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the Obligation at a specified time and price. Securities subject to a repurchase agreement are held in a segregated account and the value of such securities kept at least equal to the repurchase price on a daily basis. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to a fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to a fund together with the repurchase price upon repurchase. In either case, the income to a fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the Obligation itself. Obligations will be held by the Custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry system.
16
Table of Contents
It is not clear whether a court would consider the Obligation purchased by a fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by a fund or as being collateral for a loan by a fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the Obligation before repurchase of the Obligation under a repurchase agreement, a fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of the Obligation. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and a fund has not perfected a security interest in the Obligation, a fund may be required to return the Obligation to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, a fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for a fund, the Advisor seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the Obligation. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the Obligation, in which case a fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to a fund of the sale to a third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value of the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), a fund will direct the seller of the Obligation to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible that a fund will be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce the seller’s contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. A fund may enter into “reverse repurchase agreements,” which are repurchase agreements in which a fund, as the seller of the securities, agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. A fund maintains a segregated account in connection with outstanding reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are deemed to be borrowings subject to a fund’s investment restrictions applicable to that activity. A fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only when the Advisor believes that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction will be greater than the interest expense of the transaction. Such transactions may increase fluctuation in the market value of fund assets and their yields.
Small Company Risk. The Advisor believes that many small companies may have sales and earnings growth rates which exceed those of larger companies, and that such growth rates may in turn be reflected in more rapid share price appreciation over time. However, investing in smaller company stocks involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. For example, smaller companies can have limited product lines, markets, or financial and managerial resources. Smaller companies may also be dependent on one or a few key persons, and may be more susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Also, the securities of smaller companies may be thinly traded (and therefore have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or sold in small lots over an extended period of time). Transaction costs in smaller company stocks may be higher than those of larger companies.
Strategic Transactions and Derivatives. A fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment strategies as described below for a variety of purposes, such as hedging various market risks, managing the effective maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities in a fund’s portfolio or enhancing potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts.
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, a fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities, equity and fixed-income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors, collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies, or currency futures and various other currency transactions (collectively, all the above are called “Strategic Transactions”). In addition, strategic transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. Strategic Transactions may be used without limit (subject to certain limits imposed by the 1940 Act) to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for a fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect a fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of a fund’s portfolio, or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance potential gain although no more than 5% of a fund’s assets will be committed to certain Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any
17
Table of Contents
time and in any combination, and there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous variables including market conditions. The ability of a fund to utilize these Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Advisor’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. A fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions will not be used to alter fundamental investment purposes and characteristics of a fund, and a fund will segregate assets (or as provided by applicable regulations, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under options, futures and swaps to limit leveraging of a fund.
Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts, have risks associated with them including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Advisor’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Use of put and call options may result in losses to a fund, force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation a fund can realize on its investments or cause a fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in a fund incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension of settlements, or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of a fund creates the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of a fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances and certain over-the-counter options may have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, a fund might not be able to close out a transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts would create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchases of options, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce net asset value, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized.
General Characteristics of Options. Put options and call options typically have similar structural characteristics and operational mechanics regardless of the underlying instrument on which they are purchased or sold. Thus, the following general discussion relates to each of the particular types of options discussed in greater detail below. In addition, many Strategic Transactions involving options require segregation of fund assets in special accounts, as described below under “Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts.”
A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. For instance, the fund’s purchase of a put option on a security might be designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving the fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. A fund’s purchase of a call option on a security, financial future, index, currency or other instrument might be intended to protect the fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase such instrument. An American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior thereto. A fund is authorized to purchase and sell exchange listed options and over-the-counter options (“OTC options”). Exchange listed options are issued by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), which guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such options. The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other financial intermediaries.
With certain exceptions, OCC issued and exchange listed options generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, although in the future cash settlement may become available. Index options and Eurodollar instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the option is “in-the-money” (i.e., where
18
Table of Contents
the value of the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in ownership of the new option.
A fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OCC or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (“Counterparties”) through direct bilateral agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. A fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency options) that are subject to a buy-back provision permitting a fund to require the Counterparty to sell the option back to a fund at a formula price within seven days. A fund expects generally to enter into OTC options that have cash settlement provisions, although it is not required to do so.
Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with a fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, a fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Accordingly, the Advisor must assess the creditworthiness of each such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the Counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be satisfied. The fund will engage in OTC option transactions only with US government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as “primary dealers” or broker-dealers, domestic or foreign banks or other financial institutions which have received (or the guarantors of the obligation of which have received) a short-term credit rating of A-1 from S&P or P-1 from Moody’s or an equivalent rating from any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, in the case of OTC currency transactions, are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Advisor. The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by a fund, and portfolio securities “covering” the amount of a fund’s obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to a fund’s limitation on investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
If a fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will increase a fund’s income. The sale of put options can also provide income.
A fund may purchase and sell call options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments that are traded on US and foreign securities exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets, and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts. All calls sold by a fund must be “covered” (i.e., a fund must own the securities or futures contract subject to the call) or must meet the asset
19
Table of Contents
segregation requirements described below as long as the call is outstanding. Even though a fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, a call sold by a fund exposes the fund during the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the underlying security or instrument and may require a fund to hold a security or instrument which it might otherwise have sold.
A fund may purchase and sell put options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments (whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio), and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts other than futures on individual corporate debt and individual equity securities. A fund will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of the fund’s total assets would be required to be segregated to cover its potential obligations under such put options other than those with respect to futures and options thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that a fund may be required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.
General Characteristics of Futures. A fund may enter into futures contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, and for duration management, risk management and return enhancement purposes. Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
The funds have claimed exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” adapted by the CFTC and the National Futures Association, which regulate trading in the futures markets. Therefore, the funds are not subject to commodity pool operator registration and regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act. Futures and options on futures may be entered into for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio and return enhancement management purposes to the extent consistent with the exclusion from commodity pool operator registration. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon requires a fund to deposit with a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances). Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the mark to market value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of a fund. If a fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an advantageous price, nor that delivery will occur.
Options on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. A fund also may purchase and sell call and put options on securities indices and other financial indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same objectives it would achieve through the sale or purchase of options on individual securities or other instruments. Options on securities indices and other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, they settle by cash settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case of an OTC option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing price of the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price movements in the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on securities.
20
Table of Contents
Currency Transactions. A fund may engage in currency transactions with counterparties primarily in order to hedge, or manage the risk of the value of portfolio holdings denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency futures, exchange listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is described below. A fund may enter into currency transactions with counterparties which have received (or the guarantors of the obligations which have received) a credit rating of A-1 or P-1 by S&P or Moody’s, respectively, or that have an equivalent rating from a NRSRO or (except for OTC currency options) are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Advisor.
A fund’s dealings in forward currency contracts and other currency transactions such as futures, options, options on futures and swaps generally will be limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio positions except as described below. Transaction hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or liabilities of a fund, which will generally arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income therefrom. Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency.
A fund generally will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an extent greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or partially to offset other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the time of entering into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such currency, other than with respect to proxy hedging or cross hedging as described below.
A fund may also cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to other currencies to which a fund has or in which a fund expects to have portfolio exposure.
To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities, a fund may also engage in proxy hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which a fund’s portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the US dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a commitment or option to sell a currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be correlated to a currency or currencies in which some or all of a fund’s portfolio securities are or are expected to be denominated, in exchange for US dollars. The amount of the commitment or option would not exceed the value of a fund’s securities denominated in correlated currencies. Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to a fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that a fund is engaging in proxy hedging. If a fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the fund will comply with the asset segregation requirements described below.
Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to a fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy.
21
Table of Contents
Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the US. When conducted outside the US, Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the US, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the US of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the US, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the US, and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.
Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars. Among the Strategic Transactions into which a fund may enter are interest rate, currency, index and other swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors and collars. A fund expects to enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities a fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. A fund will not sell interest rate caps or floors where it does not own securities or other instruments providing the income stream a fund may be obligated to pay. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of principal. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the values of the reference indices. The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates or values.
Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Many Strategic Transactions, in addition to other requirements, require that a fund segregate cash or liquid assets with its custodian to the extent fund obligations are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by a fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid assets at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian. The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For example, a call option written by a fund will require a fund to hold the securities subject to the call (or securities convertible into the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid assets sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is exercised. A call option sold by a fund on an index will require a fund to own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on a current basis. A put option written by a fund requires a fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
Except when a fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no segregation, a currency contract which obligates a fund to buy or sell currency will generally require a fund to hold an amount of that currency or liquid assets denominated in that currency equal to a fund’s obligations or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of a fund’s obligation.
OTC options entered into by a fund, including those on securities, currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC issued and exchange listed index options, will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when a fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal 100% of the exercise price in the case of a non cash-settled put, the same as an OCC guaranteed listed option sold by a fund, or the in-the-money amount plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition, when a fund sells a call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, a fund will segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value to such excess. OCC issued and exchange listed options sold by a fund other than those above generally settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement and a fund will segregate an amount of
22
Table of Contents
cash or liquid assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, a fund must deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to segregating cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet their obligation to purchase or provide securities or currencies, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an index-based futures contract. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.
With respect to swaps, a fund will accrue the net amount of the excess, if any, of their obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets having a value equal to the accrued excess. Caps, floors and collars require segregation of assets with a value equal to a fund’s net obligation, if any.
Strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies. A fund may also enter into offsetting transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets, equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic Transactions. For example, a fund could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option sold by a fund. Moreover, instead of segregating cash or liquid assets if a fund held a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations. If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary transaction no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time, cash or liquid assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
A fund’s activities involving Strategic Transactions may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company.
Combined Transactions. Each Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (“component” transactions), instead of a single Strategic Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Advisor, it is in the best interests of the fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Advisor’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Supranational Entities. Supranational entities are international organizations designated or supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, The Asian Development Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank. Obligations of supranational entities are backed by the guarantee of one or more foreign governmental parties which sponsor the entity.
Trust Preferred Securities. A fund may invest in Trust Preferred Securities, which are hybrid instruments issued by a special purpose trust (the “Special Trust”), the entire equity interest of which is owned by a single issuer. The proceeds of the issuance to a fund of Trust Preferred Securities are typically used to purchase a junior subordinated debenture, and distributions from the Special Trust are funded by the payments of principal and interest on the subordinated debenture.
If payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures held by the Special Trust are deferred by the debenture issuer, the debentures would be treated as original issue discount (“OID”) obligations for the remainder of their term. As a result, holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as a fund, would be required to accrue daily for Federal income tax purposes their share of the stated interest and the de minimis OID on the debentures (regardless of whether a fund receives any cash distributions from the Special Trust), and the value of Trust Preferred Securities would likely be negatively affected. Interest payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures typically
23
Table of Contents
may only be deferred if dividends are suspended on both common and preferred stock of the issuer. The underlying junior subordinated debentures generally rank slightly higher in terms of payment priority than both common and preferred securities of the issuer, but rank below other subordinated debentures and debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be subject to mandatory prepayment under certain circumstances. The market values of Trust Preferred Securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and, unless and until registered, are restricted securities; there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of Trust Preferred Securities and the ability of holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as a fund, to sell their holdings.
US Government Securities. There are two broad categories of US Government-related debt instruments: (a) direct obligations of the US Treasury, and (b) securities issued or guaranteed by US Government agencies.
Examples of direct obligations of the US Treasury are Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and other debt securities issued by the US Treasury. These instruments are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. They differ primarily in interest rates, the length of maturities and the dates of issuance. Treasury bills have original maturities of one year or less. Treasury notes have original maturities of one to ten years and Treasury bonds generally have original maturities of greater than ten years.
Some agency securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (such as Maritime Administration Title XI Ship Financing Bonds and Agency for International Development Housing Guarantee Program Bonds) and others are backed only by the rights of the issuer to borrow from the US Treasury (such as Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds and Federal National Mortgage Association Bonds), while still others, such as the securities of the Federal Farm Credit Bank, are supported only by the credit of the issuer. With respect to securities supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or by an additional line of credit with the US Treasury, there is no guarantee that the US Government will provide support to such agencies and such securities may involve risk of loss of principal and interest.
US Government Securities may include “zero coupon” securities that have been stripped by the US Government of their unmatured interest coupons and collateralized obligations issued or guaranteed by a US Government agency or instrumentality.
Interest rates on US Government obligations may be fixed or variable. Interest rates on variable rate obligations are adjusted at regular intervals, at least annually, according to a formula reflecting then current specified standard rates, such as 91-day US Treasury bill rates. These adjustments generally tend to reduce fluctuations in the market value of the securities.
The government guarantee of the US Government Securities in a fund’s portfolio does not guarantee the net asset value of the shares of a fund. There are market risks inherent in all investments in securities and the value of an investment in a fund will fluctuate over time. Normally, the value of investments in US Government Securities varies inversely with changes in interest rates. For example, as interest rates rise the value of investments in US Government Securities will tend to decline, and as interest rates fall the value of a fund’s investments will tend to increase. In addition, the potential for appreciation in the event of a decline in interest rates may be limited or negated by increased principal prepayments with respect to certain Mortgage-Backed Securities, such as GNMA Certificates. Prepayments of high interest rate Mortgage-Backed Securities during times of declining interest rates will tend to lower the return of a fund and may even result in losses to a fund if some securities were acquired at a premium. Moreover, during periods of rising interest rates, prepayments of Mortgage-Backed Securities may decline, resulting in the extension of a fund’s average portfolio maturity. As a result, a fund’s portfolio may experience greater volatility during periods of rising interest rates than under normal market conditions.
Warrants. The holder of a warrant has the right, until the warrant expires, to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, however, and are, therefore, considered speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. Thus, if a warrant held by a fund were not exercised by the date of its expiration, a fund would lose the entire purchase price of the warrant.
24
Table of Contents
When-Issued Securities. A fund may from time to time purchase equity and debt securities on a “when-issued,” “delayed delivery” or “forward delivery” basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities takes place at a later date. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the fund. When the fund purchases such securities, it immediately assumes the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation. Failure to deliver a security purchased on this basis may result in a loss or missed opportunity to make an alternative investment.
To the extent that assets of the fund are held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the fund would earn no income. While such securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the fund intends to purchase them with the purpose of actually acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the time the fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on this basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its net asset value. The market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase price. The fund will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain cash and liquid securities equal in value to commitments for such securities.
Zero Coupon Securities. A fund may invest in zero coupon securities which pay no cash income and are sold at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. Zero coupon securities are subject to greater market value fluctuations from changing interest rates than debt obligations of comparable maturities which make current distributions of interest (cash). Zero coupon securities which are convertible into common stock offer the opportunity for capital appreciation as increases (or decreases) in market value of such securities closely follows the movements in the market value of the underlying common stock. Zero coupon convertible securities generally are expected to be less volatile than the underlying common stocks, as they usually are issued with maturities of 15 years or less and are issued with options and/or redemption features exercisable by the holder of the obligation entitling the holder to redeem the obligation and receive a defined cash payment.
Zero coupon securities include securities issued directly by the US Treasury, and US Treasury bonds or notes and their unmatured interest coupons and receipts for their underlying principal (“coupons”) which have been separated by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. A holder will separate the interest coupons from the underlying principal (the “corpus”) of the US Treasury security. A number of securities firms and banks have stripped the interest coupons and receipts and then resold them in custodial receipt programs with a number of different names, including “Treasury Income Growth Receipts” (TIGRS(TM)) and Certificate of Accrual on Treasuries (CATS(TM)). The underlying US Treasury bonds and notes themselves are held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Counsel to the underwriters of these certificates or other evidences of ownership of the US Treasury securities have stated that, for federal tax and securities purposes, in their opinion purchasers of such certificates, such as a fund, most likely will be deemed the beneficial holder of the underlying US Government securities. A fund understands that the staff of the Division of Investment Management of the SEC no longer considers such privately stripped obligations to be US Government securities, as defined in the 1940 Act; therefore, a fund intends to adhere to this staff position and will not treat such privately stripped obligations to be US Government securities for the purpose of determining if a fund is “diversified” under the 1940 Act.
The US Treasury has facilitated transfers of ownership of zero coupon securities by accounting separately for the beneficial ownership of particular interest coupon and corpus payments on Treasury securities through the Federal Reserve book-entry record keeping system. The Federal Reserve program as established by the Treasury Department is known as “STRIPS” or “Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities.” Under the STRIPS program, a fund will be able to have its beneficial ownership of zero coupon securities recorded directly in the book-entry record-keeping system in lieu of having to hold certificates or other evidences of ownership of the underlying US Treasury securities.
When US Treasury obligations have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons by the holder, the principal or corpus is sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the
25
Table of Contents
security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Once stripped or separated, the corpus and coupons may be sold separately. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the Treasury sells itself.
Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until a Fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). A Fund does not disseminate non-public information about portfolio holdings except in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by a Fund.
A Fund’s procedures permit non-public portfolio holdings information to be shared with the Advisor and its affiliates (collectively “Deutsche Asset Management” or “DeAM”), sub-advisers, if any, custodians, independent registered public accounting firms, securities lending agents, financial printers, proxy voting firms and other service providers to a Fund who require access to this information to fulfill their duties to a Fund, subject to the requirements described below. This non-public information may also be disclosed to certain mutual fund analysts and rating and tracking agencies, such as Lipper, shareholders in connection with in-kind redemptions or to other entities if a Fund has a legitimate business purpose in providing the information, subject to the requirements described below.
Prior to any disclosure of a Fund’s non-public portfolio holdings information to the foregoing types of entities or persons, a person authorized by a Fund’s Directors must make a good faith determination in light of the facts then known that a Fund has a legitimate business purpose for providing the information, that the disclosure is in the best interest of a Fund, and that the recipient assents or otherwise has a duty to keep the information confidential and agrees not to disclose, trade or make any investment recommendation based on the information received while the information remains non-public. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to a Fund’s Directors.
Registered investment companies that are sub-advised by DeAM may be subject to different portfolio holdings disclosure policies, and neither DeAM nor a Fund’s Directors exercise control over such policies. In addition, separate account clients of DeAM have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to a Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy. The portfolio holdings of some of the funds sub-advised by DeAM and some of the separate accounts managed by DeAM may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund.
DeAM also manages certain unregistered commingled trusts and creates model portfolios, the portfolio holdings of which may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund. To the extent that investors in these commingled trusts or recipients of model portfolio holdings information may receive portfolio holdings information of their trust or of a model portfolio on a different basis from that on which Fund portfolio holdings information is made public, DeAM has implemented procedures reasonably designed to encourage such investors and recipients to keep such information confidential, and to prevent those investors from trading on the basis of non-public holdings information.
There is no assurance that a Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings information will protect a Fund from the potential misuse of portfolio holdings information by those in possession of that information.
On April 5, 2002, 100% of Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc., not including certain UK operations (known as Threadneedle Investments), was acquired by Deutsche Bank AG and changed its name to Deutsche Investment
26
Table of Contents
Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Advisor”). DeIM, which is part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), is the investment advisor for the Funds. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors of each Fund, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, DeIM makes the Funds’ investment decisions, buys and sells securities for the Funds and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. The Advisor manages each Fund’s daily investment and business affairs subject to the policies established by each Corporation’s Board of Directors. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds. DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. The Funds’ investment advisor is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
DeAM is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, DeAM, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Scudder Trust Company. DeAM is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts, and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight, across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles. DeIM is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual fund, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
Pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Agreement”) with each Fund, the Advisor acts as each Fund’s investment advisor, manages its investments, administers its business affairs, furnishes office facilities and equipment, provides clerical and administrative services and permits its officers and employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of one or more funds if elected to such positions. To the extent permissible by law, the Advisor may appoint certain of its affiliates as subadvisors to perform certain of the Advisor’s duties.
The Advisor provides investment counsel for many individuals and institutions, including insurance companies, industrial corporations, and financial and banking organizations, as well as providing investment advice to open- and closed-end SEC registered funds.
In certain cases, the investments for a Fund are managed by the same individuals who manage one or more other mutual funds advised by the Advisor that have similar names, objectives and investment styles. You should be aware that a Fund is likely to differ from these other mutual funds in size, cash flow pattern and tax matters. Accordingly, the holdings and performance of a Fund can be expected to vary from those of these other mutual funds.
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. Frequently, a particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be equitable to each. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund.
The current Agreements, dated April 5, 2002, for Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund were last approved by the Directors of each Fund on September 30, 2005. Each Agreement will continue in effect from year to year thereafter only if its continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of those Directors who are not parties to such Agreements or interested persons of the Advisor or the Corporations, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and either by a vote of the Corporation’s Directors or of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
27
Table of Contents
The Agreements may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by either party on sixty days’ written notice and automatically terminate in the event of their assignment.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor regularly provides each Fund with continuing investment management consistent with each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions and determines what securities shall be purchased, held or sold and what portion of a Fund’s assets shall be held uninvested, subject to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, the 1940 Act, the Code and to each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and subject, further, to such policies and instructions as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time establish. The Advisor also advises and assists the officers of the Corporation in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of its Directors and the appropriate committees of the Directors regarding the conduct of the business of each Fund.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor also renders administrative services (not otherwise provided by third parties) necessary for each Fund’s operations as an open-end investment company including, but not limited to, preparing reports and notices to the Directors and shareholders; supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, and monitoring various third-party service providers to a Fund (such as each Funds’ transfer agent, pricing agents, custodian, accountants and others); preparing and making filings with the SEC and other regulatory agencies; assisting in the preparation and filing of each Funds’ federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and filing each Funds’ federal excise tax returns; assisting with investor and public relations matters; monitoring the valuation of securities and the calculation of net asset value; monitoring the registration of shares of each Fund under applicable federal and state securities laws; maintaining each Funds’ books and records to the extent not otherwise maintained by a third party; assisting in establishing accounting policies of each Fund; assisting in the resolution of accounting and legal issues; establishing and monitoring each Funds’ operating budget; processing the payment of each Funds’ bills; assisting each Fund in, and otherwise arranging for, the payment of distributions and dividends; and otherwise assisting each Fund in the conduct of its business, subject to the direction and control of the Directors.
The Advisor may serve as advisor to other funds with investment objectives and policies similar to those of a Fund that may have different distribution arrangements or expenses, which may affect performance.
None of the officers or Directors of a Corporation may have dealings with a Fund as principals in the purchase or sale of securities, except as individual subscribers to or holders of shares of the Fund.
Each Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who each play an important role in a Fund’s management process. Team members work together to develop investment strategies and select securities for a Fund’s portfolio. This team works for the Advisor or its affiliates and is supported by a large staff of economists, research analysts, traders and other investment specialists. The Advisor or its affiliates believe(s) its team approach benefits Fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and leveraging its extensive resources. Team members with primary responsibility for management of the Funds, as well as team members who have other ongoing management responsibilities for each Fund, are identified in each Fund’s prospectus, as of the date of the Fund’s prospectus. Composition of the team may change over time, and Fund shareholders and investors will be notified of changes affecting individuals with primary Fund management responsibility.
Scudder Global Fund
The current advisory fee rates are payable monthly at the annual rates shown below.
Average Daily Net Assets | Scudder Global Fund | |
$0-$500 million | 1.00% | |
$500 million-$1 billion | 0.95 | |
$1 billion-$1.5 billion | 0.90 | |
$1.5 billion-$2 billion | 0.85 | |
over $2 billion | 0.80 |
28
Table of Contents
The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
Scudder International Fund
Scudder International Fund pays the Advisor an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.675% on the first $6 billion of average daily net assets, 0.625% on the next $1 billion of such net assets, and 0.600% of such net assets in excess of $7 billion, computed and accrued daily. The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
The advisory fees paid by each Fund for its last three fiscal years are shown in the table below.
Fund | Fiscal Year 2005 | Fiscal Year 2004 | Fiscal Year 2003 | ||||||
Scudder Global Fund | $ | 8,883,911 | $ | 8,518,604 | $ | 7,705,564 | |||
Scudder International Fund | $ | 10,735,566 | $ | 11,830,071 | $ | 12,321,821 |
Under its investment management agreement, a Fund is responsible for all of its other expenses including: organizational costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; brokers’ commissions; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; insurance; taxes and governmental fees; the fees and expenses of the transfer agent; any other expenses of issue, sale, underwriting, distribution, redemption or repurchase of shares; the expenses of and the fees for registering or qualifying securities for sale; the fees and expenses of Directors, officers and employees of a Fund who are not affiliated with the Advisor; the cost of printing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders; and the fees and disbursements of custodians. A Fund may arrange to have third parties assume all or part of the expenses of sale, underwriting and distribution of shares of the Fund. A Fund is also responsible for its expenses of shareholders’ meetings, the cost of responding to shareholders’ inquiries, and its expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the legal obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Directors of the Fund with respect thereto.
Each Agreement identifies the Advisor as the exclusive licensee of the rights to use and sublicense the names “Scudder,” “Scudder Investments” and “Scudder, Stevens and Clark, Inc.” (together, the “Scudder Marks”). Under this license, the Corporation, with respect to a Fund, has the non-exclusive right to use and sublicense the Scudder name and marks as part of its name, and to use the Scudder Marks in the Corporation’s investment products and services. The term “Scudder Investments” is the designation given to the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to Scudder Mutual Funds.
In reviewing the terms of each Agreement and in discussions with the Advisor concerning such Agreement, the Directors of the Corporation who are not “interested persons” of the Advisor are represented by independent counsel at the Funds’ expense.
Each Agreement provides that the Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund in connection with matters to which the Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Advisor in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by the Advisor of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.
Officers and employees of the Advisor from time to time may have transactions with various banks, including the Funds’ custodian bank. It is the Advisor’s opinion that the terms and conditions of those transactions which have occurred were not influenced by existing or potential custodial or other Fund relationships.
Scudder Global Fund. Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.455%, 1.475% and 1.465% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. In addition, through February 28, 2006, the
29
Table of Contents
Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.955% for Class R shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.71%, 2.461%, 2.461% and 1.96% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Scudder International Fund. Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.345%, 1.365% and 1.355% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.34%, 2.25% and 2.25% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 0.94% for Institutional Class shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 0.88% for Institutional Class shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Scudder Global Fund: Board Considerations — Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements
The Fund’s Directors approved the continuation of Scudder Global Fund’s current investment management agreement with DeIM in September 2005.
In terms of the process the Directors followed prior to approving the contract, shareholders should know that:
• | At the present time, all of your Fund’s Directors — including the chair of the board — are independent of DeIM and its affiliates. |
• | The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. |
• | The Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. |
DeIM and its predecessors (Deutsche Bank acquired Scudder in 2002) have managed the Fund since inception, and the Directors believe that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interest of shareholders. As you may know, DeIM is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Directors believe that there are significant advantages to being part of a
30
Table of Contents
global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.
Shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, but the Fund’s Directors consider these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DeIM’s personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures. The Directors note approvingly that DeIM has worked with them to implement new, forward-looking policies and procedures in many important areas, such as those involving brokerage commissions and so-called “soft dollars”, even when not obligated to do so by law or regulation.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Fund’s current investment management agreement, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:
• | The investment management fee schedule for the Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisers by similar funds, the Directors noted that the fee rates paid by the Fund (Class S shares) were higher than the median (4th quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe as of December 31, 2004. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the investment services being provided to the Fund. |
• | The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows. In this regard, the Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels. |
• | The total operating expenses of the Fund, including relative to the Fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper. In this regard, the Board noted that the total expenses of the Fund (Class S shares) for the year ending December 31, 2004 were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of the Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. |
• | The investment performance of the Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board noted that for the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s performance (Class S shares) was in the 1st quartile, 2nd quartile and 1st quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also observed that the Fund has outperformed its benchmark in the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance. |
• | The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreement, including the scope of services provided under the agreement. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. |
• | The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by |
31
Table of Contents
DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Fund (and, separately, to the entire Scudder fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, Deutsche Asset Management’s overall profitability with respect to the Scudder fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available.
• | The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process. |
• | DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Fund against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board, (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by Deutsche Asset Management to compliance matters. |
• | Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Fund and its shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth of its U.S. mutual fund business, the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups. |
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue the Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such agreement was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current agreement.
Scudder International Fund: Board Considerations — Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements
The Fund’s Directors approved the continuation of Scudder International Fund’s current investment management agreement with DeIM in September 2005.
32
Table of Contents
In terms of the process the Directors followed prior to approving the contract, shareholders should know that:
• | At the present time, all of your Fund’s Directors — including the chair of the board — are independent of DeIM and its affiliates. |
• | The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. |
• | The Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. |
DeIM and its predecessors (Deutsche Bank acquired Scudder in 2002) have managed the Fund since inception, and the Directors believe that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interest of shareholders. As you may know, DeIM is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Directors believe that there are significant advantages to being part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.
Shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, but the Fund’s Directors consider these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DeIM’s personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures. The Directors note approvingly that DeIM has worked with them to implement new, forward-looking policies and procedures in many important areas, such as those involving brokerage commissions and so-called “soft dollars”, even when not obligated to do so by law or regulation.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Fund’s current investment management agreement, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:
• | The investment management fee schedule for the Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisers by similar funds, the Directors noted that the fee rates paid by the Fund (Class S shares) were lower than the median (2nd quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe as of December 31, 2004. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the investment services being provided to the Fund. |
• | The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows. In this regard, the Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels. |
• | The total operating expenses of the Fund, including relative to the Fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper. In this regard, the Board noted that the total expenses of the Fund (Class S shares) for the year ending December 31, 2004 were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of the Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. |
• | The investment performance of the Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board noted that for the one, three and five year periods |
33
Table of Contents
ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s performance (Class S shares) was in the 1st quartile, 3rd quartile and 3rd quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also observed that the Fund has outperformed its benchmark in the one year period ended June 30, 2005, and has underperformed its benchmark in the three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance.
• | The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreement, including the scope of services provided under the agreement. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. |
• | The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Fund (and, separately, to the entire Scudder fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, Deutsche Asset Management’s overall profitability with respect to the Scudder fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available. |
• | The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process. |
• | DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Fund against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board, (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by Deutsche Asset Management to compliance matters. |
• | Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Fund and its shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth |
34
Table of Contents
of its U.S. mutual fund business, the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups.
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue the Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such agreement was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current agreement.
Subadvisor — Scudder International Fund. Prior to September 30, 2005, Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Ltd. (“DeAMIS”) was Scudder International Fund’s subadvisor. On July 7, 2005, Deutsche Bank AG, the parent company of Scudder International Fund’s investment advisor, entered into an agreement (the “Transaction”) with Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen”) to sell parts of its asset management business based in London and Philadelphia. As part of the Transaction, DeAMIS was sold to Aberdeen. The fund’s Board allowed the subadvisory agreement with DeAMIS, due for renewal on September 30, 2005, to expire and only the advisory agreement with DeIM was approved for continuation. Aberdeen will play no role in managing Scudder International Fund.
From August 14, 2000, for Scudder International Fund and September 11, 2000, for Scudder Global Fund until March 31, 2004, each Fund operated under an administrative services agreement with the Advisor (the “Administrative Agreement”) pursuant to which the Advisor provided or paid others to provide substantially all of the administrative services required by the Fund (other than those provided by the Advisor under its investment management agreement with the Fund, as described above) in exchange for the payment by the Fund of an administrative services fee (the “Administrative Fee”). Effective January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, Scudder Global Fund paid an Administrative Fee of 0.475% for Class A shares, 0.495% for Class B shares and 0.485% for Class C shares, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. Effective January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, Scudder International Fund paid an Administrative Fee of 0.67% for Class A shares, 0.69% Class B shares, 0.68% Class C shares and 0.265% for Institutional Class shares, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. Prior to January 1, 2003, each Fund paid 0.400% for Class A, 0.450% for Class B, 0.425% for Class C and 0.150% for Institutional Class, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class.
The Administrative Agreement between the Advisor and each Fund terminated March 31, 2004. Effective April 1, 2004, each Fund directly bears the cost of those expenses formerly covered under the Administrative Agreement, subject to the Advisor’s contractual obligation to waive fees and reimburse expenses to maintain a Fund’s operating expenses at a specified level, as noted above and disclosed in the applicable prospectus.
Scudder Global Fund
For the period September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, the Fund paid administrative service fees of $43,945, $28,079 and $15,957 for Class A, B and C shares, respectively. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, the Fund paid administrative service fees of $63,331, $41,265 and $21,170 for Class A, B and C shares, respectively.
Scudder International Fund
For the period September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, the Fund paid administrative service fees of $836,887, $196,749, $94,959 and $35,628 for Class A, B, C and Institutional Class shares, respectively. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, the Fund paid administrative service fees of $1,093,159, $297,358, $124,838 and $53,045 for Class A, B, C and Institutional Class shares, respectively.
35
Table of Contents
AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program
Pursuant to an agreement between the Advisor and AMA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Medical Association (the “AMA”), dated May 9, 1997, the Advisor has agreed, subject to applicable state regulations, to pay AMA Solutions, Inc. royalties in an amount equal to 5% of the management fee received by the Advisor with respect to assets invested by AMA members in Scudder funds in connection with the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program. The Advisor will also pay AMA Solutions, Inc. a general monthly fee, currently in the amount of $833. The AMA and AMA Solutions, Inc. are not engaged in the business of providing investment advice and neither is registered as an investment advisor or broker-dealer under federal securities laws. Any person who participates in the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program will be a customer of the Advisor (or of a subsidiary thereof) and not the AMA or AMA Solutions, Inc. AMA InvestmentLink(SM) is a service mark of AMA Solutions, Inc.
Codes of Ethics
The Funds, the Advisor, Subadvisor and the Funds’ principal underwriter have each adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Board members, officers of the Corporations and employees of the Advisor and principal underwriter are permitted to make personal securities transactions, including transactions in securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, subject to requirements and restrictions set forth in the applicable Code of Ethics. The Advisor’s Code of Ethics contains provisions and requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest between personal investment activities and the interests of the Funds. Among other things, the Advisor’s Code of Ethics prohibits certain types of transactions absent prior approval, imposes time periods during which personal transactions may not be made in certain securities, and requires the submission of duplicate broker confirmations and quarterly reporting of securities transactions. Additional restrictions apply to portfolio managers, traders, research analysts and others involved in the investment advisory process. Exceptions to these and other provisions of the Advisor’s Code of Ethics may be granted in particular circumstances after review by appropriate personnel.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers
The Funds have been advised that the Advisor seeks to offer its investment professionals competitive short-term and long-term compensation. Portfolio managers and research professionals are paid (i) base salaries, which are linked to job function, responsibilities and financial services industry peer comparison and (ii) variable compensation, which is linked to investment performance, individual contributions to the team and Scudder Investments’ and Deutsche Bank’s financial results. Variable compensation may include a cash bonus incentive and participation in a variety of long-term equity programs (usually in the form of Deutsche Bank equity).
Bonus and long-term incentives comprise a greater proportion of total compensation as an investment professional’s seniority and compensation levels increase. Top performing investment professionals earn a total compensation package that is highly competitive, including a bonus that is a multiple of their base salary. The amount of equity awarded under the long-term equity programs is generally based on the individual’s total compensation package and may comprise from 0%-40% of the total compensation award. As incentive compensation increases, the percentage of compensation awarded in Deutsche Bank equity also increases. Certain senior investment professionals may be subject to a mandatory diverting of a portion of their equity compensation into proprietary mutual funds that they manage.
To evaluate its investment professionals, the Advisor uses a Performance Management Process. Objectives evaluated by the process are related to investment performance and generally take into account peer group and benchmark related data. The ultimate goal of this process is to link the performance of investment professionals with client investment objectives and to deliver investment performance that meets or exceeds clients’ risk and return objectives. When determining total compensation, the Advisor considers a number of quantitative and qualitative factors such as:
36
Table of Contents
• | Scudder Investments’ performance and the performance of Deutsche Asset Management; quantitative measures which include 1-, 3- and 5-year pre-tax returns versus benchmark (such as the benchmark used in the prospectus) and appropriate peer group, taking into consideration risk targets. Additionally, the portfolio manager’s retail/institutional asset mix is weighted, as appropriate for evaluation purposes. |
• | Qualitative measures include adherence to the investment process and individual contributions to the process, among other things. In addition, the Advisor assesses compliance, risk management and teamwork skills. |
• | Other factors, including contributions made to the investment team as well as adherence to compliance, risk management, and “living the values” of the Advisor, are part of a discretionary component which gives management the ability to reward these behaviors on a subjective basis through bonus incentives. |
In addition, the Advisor analyzes competitive compensation levels through the use of extensive market data surveys. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed and may be modified each year as appropriate to reflect changes in the market, as well as to adjust the factors used to determine overall compensation to promote good sustained investment performance.
Fund Ownership of Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar range of shares owned beneficially and of record by each member of each Fund’s portfolio management team in a Fund as well as in all Scudder Funds as a group (i.e., those funds advised by Deutsche Asset Management or its affiliates), including investments by their immediate family members sharing the same household and amounts invested through retirement and deferred compensation plans. This information is provided as of each Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
Name of Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned | Dollar Range of All Scudder Fund Shares Owned | ||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | $ | 0 | $ | 100,001 -$500,000 | ||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | $ | 100,001-$500,000 | $ | 100,001 -$500,000 |
Conflicts of Interest. In addition to managing the assets of a Fund, a Fund’s portfolio manager may have responsibility for managing other client accounts of the Advisor or its affiliates. The tables below show, for each portfolio manager, the number and asset size of (1) SEC registered investment companies (or series thereof) other than the Fund, (2) pooled investment vehicles that are not registered investment companies and (3) other accounts (e.g., accounts managed for individuals or organizations) managed by each portfolio manager. The tables also show the number of performance based fee accounts, as well as the total assets of the accounts for which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account. For Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund), this information is provided as of October 3, 2005. For Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund), this information is provided as of Scudder Global Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
Other SEC Registered Investment Companies Managed:
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Registered Investment Companies | Total Assets of Registered Investment Companies | Number of Investment Company Accounts with Performance Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance- Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | 4 | $ | 2,217,508,827 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 15 | $ | 1,698,865,334 | 0 | $ | 0 |
37
Table of Contents
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed: | ||||||||||
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Total Assets of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicle Accounts with Performance-Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | 3 | $ | 106,841,706 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 6 | $ | 686,046,399 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Other Accounts Managed: | ||||||||||
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Other Accounts | Total Assets of Other Accounts | Number of Other Accounts with Performance-Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | 4 | $ | 827,756,486 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 8 | $ | 1,020,576,336 | 0 | $ | 0 |
In addition to the accounts above, an investment professional may manage accounts in a personal capacity that may include holdings that are similar to, or the same as, those of the Funds. The Advisor has in place a Code of Ethics that is designed to address conflicts of interest and that, among other things, imposes restrictions on the ability of portfolio managers and other “access persons” to invest in securities that may be recommended or traded in the funds and other client accounts.
Real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day portfolio management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or account, including the following:
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor, including other client accounts managed by a Fund’s portfolio manager. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. A particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, because clients of the Advisor may have differing investment strategies, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. The investment results achieved for the Fund may differ from the results achieved for other clients of the Advisor. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be most equitable to each client, generally utilizing a pro rata allocation methodology. In some cases, the allocation procedure could potentially have an adverse effect or positive effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund and the other clients.
To the extent that a portfolio manager has responsibilities for managing multiple client accounts, a portfolio manager will need to divide time and attention among relevant accounts. The Advisor attempts to minimize these conflicts by aligning its portfolio management teams by investment strategy and by employing similar investment models across multiple client accounts.
In some cases, an apparent conflict may arise where the Advisor has an incentive, such as a performance-based fee, in managing one account and not with respect to other accounts it manages. The Advisor will not determine
38
Table of Contents
allocations based on whether it receives a performance-based fee from the client. Additionally, the Advisor has in place supervisory oversight processes to periodically monitor performance deviations for accounts with like strategies.
The Advisor is owned by Deutsche Bank AG, a multi-national financial services company. Therefore, the Advisor is affiliated with a variety of entities that provide, and/or engage in commercial banking, insurance, brokerage, investment banking, financial advisory, broker-dealer activities (including sales and trading), hedge funds, real estate and private equity investing, in addition to the provision of investment management services to institutional and individual investors. Since Deutsche Bank AG, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees (the “Firm”) are engaged in businesses and have interests other than managing asset management accounts, such other activities involve real, potential or apparent conflicts of interests. These interests and activities include potential advisory, transactional and financial activities and other interests in securities and companies that may be directly or indirectly purchased or sold by the Firm for its clients’ advisory accounts. These are considerations of which advisory clients should be aware and which may cause conflicts that could be to the disadvantage of the Advisor’s advisory clients. The Advisor has instituted business and compliance policies, procedures and disclosures that are designed to identify, monitor and mitigate conflicts of interest and, as appropriate, to report them to the Funds’ Boards.
Principal Underwriter and Administrator. Pursuant to an Underwriting and Distribution Services Agreement (“Distribution Agreement”), Scudder Distributors, Inc. (“SDI”), 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, an affiliate of the Advisor, is the principal underwriter, distributor and administrator for the Class A, Class B and Class C shares of each Fund, Class R shares for the Scudder Global Fund and Institutional and Investment Class shares of Scudder International Fund and acts as agent of each Fund in the continuous offering of its shares. Each Distribution Agreement for the Funds, dated April 5, 2002 was last approved by the Directors on September 30, 2005. The Distribution Agreement will continue from year to year thereafter only if its continuance is approved for each class at least annually by a vote of the Board members of the Fund, including the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Agreement.
Each Distribution Agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved for each class at least annually by a vote of the Board of Directors of each Fund, including the Directors who are not interested persons of each Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Agreement. Each Distribution Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment and may be terminated for a class at any time without penalty by each Fund or by SDI upon 60 days’ notice. Termination by each Fund with respect to a class may be by vote of (i) a majority of the Board members who are not interested persons of each Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Agreement, or (ii) a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the class of each Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act. All material amendments must be approved by the Board of Directors in the manner described above with respect to the continuation of the Agreement. The provisions concerning continuation, amendment and termination of a Distribution Agreement are on a series by series and class by class basis.
SDI bears all of its expenses of providing services pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, including the payment of any commissions. The Fund pays the cost for the prospectus and shareholder reports to be typeset and printed for existing shareholders, and SDI, as principal underwriter, pays for the printing and distribution of copies thereof used in connection with the offering of shares to prospective investors. SDI also pays for supplementary sales literature and advertising costs. As indicated under “Purchase of Shares,” SDI retains the sales charge upon the purchase of Class A shares and pays or allows concessions or discounts to firms for the sale of the Funds’ shares. SDI receives no compensation from the Funds as principal underwriter for Class A and R shares. SDI receives compensation from the Funds as principal underwriter for Class B, Class C and Class R shares, as applicable.
Shareholder and administrative services are provided to each Fund on behalf of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shareholders, as applicable, under a Shareholder Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with SDI. The Services Agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved for the Fund at least annually by a vote of the Board of the applicable Fund, including the Board members who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Services Agreement. The Services
39
Table of Contents
Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment and may be terminated at any time without penalty by the Fund or by SDI upon 60 days’ notice. Termination with respect to the Class A, B, C or R shares of a Fund may be by a vote of (i) the majority of the Board members of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Services Agreement, or (ii) a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Class A, B C or R shares, as defined under the 1940 Act. The Services Agreement may not be amended for a class to increase materially the fee to be paid by the Fund without approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such class of the Fund, and all material amendments must in any event be approved by the Board of Directors in the manner described above with respect to the continuation of the Services Agreement.
Under the Services Agreement, SDI may provide or appoint various broker-dealer firms and other service or administrative firms (“firms”) to provide information and services to investors in a Fund. Typically, SDI appoints firms that provide services and facilities for their customers or clients who are investors in a Fund. Firms appointed by SDI provide such office space and equipment, telephone facilities and personnel as is necessary or beneficial for providing information and services to their clients. Such services and assistance may include, but are not limited to, establishing and maintaining accounts and records, processing purchase and redemption transactions, answering routine inquiries regarding a Fund, providing assistance to clients in changing dividend and investment options, account designations and addresses and such other administrative services as may be agreed upon from time to time and permitted by applicable statute, rule or regulation.
SDI bears all of its expenses of providing those services pursuant to the Services Agreement, including the payment of a service fee to firms (as defined below). As indicated under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, SDI receives compensation from the Funds for its services under the Services Agreement.
Rule 12b-1 Plans
Each Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (each a “Rule 12b-1 Plan”) that provides for fees payable as an expense of the Class B shares, Class C and Class R shares that are used by SDI to pay for distribution services for those classes. Pursuant to each Rule 12b-1 Plan, shareholder and administrative services are provided to the applicable Fund on behalf of its Class A, B, C and R shareholders under each Fund’s Services Agreement with SDI. Because 12b-1 fees are paid out of Fund assets on an ongoing basis, they will, over time, increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.
The Rule 12b-1 distribution plans for Class B, Class C and Class R shares provide alternative methods for paying sales charges and may help funds grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale. Rule 12b-1 service plans provide compensation to SDI or intermediaries for post-sales servicing. Since each Distribution Agreement provides for fees payable as an expense of the Class B shares, Class C shares and Class R shares that are used by SDI to pay for distribution and services for those classes, the agreement is approved and reviewed separately for the Class B shares, Class C shares and Class R shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates the manner in which an investment company may, directly or indirectly, bear the expenses of distributing its shares. The Distribution Agreement may not be amended to increase the fee to be paid by a Fund with respect to a class without approval by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such class of the Fund. Similarly, the Services Agreement is approved and reviewed separately for the Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Class R shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1.
If a Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms, the obligation of the applicable Fund to make payments to SDI pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan will cease and the Fund will not be required to make any payments past the termination date. Thus, there is no legal obligation for a Fund to pay any expenses incurred by SDI other than fees payable under a Rule 12b-1 Plan, if for any reason the Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms. Future fees under the Plan may or may not be sufficient to reimburse SDI for its expenses incurred.
Distribution Services. For its services under the Distribution Agreement, SDI receives a fee from each Fund under its Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to its Class B shares. This fee is accrued daily as an expense of Class B shares. SDI also receives any contingent deferred sales charges paid with respect to Class B shares. SDI currently compensates firms for sales of Class B shares at a commission rate of 3.75%.
40
Table of Contents
For its services under the Distribution Agreement, SDI receives a fee from each Fund under its Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to Class C shares. This fee is accrued daily as an expense of Class C shares. SDI currently advances to firms the first year distribution fee at a rate of 0.75% of the purchase price of Class C shares. For periods after the first year, SDI currently pays firms for sales of Class C shares a distribution fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of net assets attributable to Class C shares maintained and serviced by the firm. This fee continues until terminated by SDI or the applicable Fund. SDI also receives any contingent deferred sales charges paid with respect to Class C shares.
For its services under the Distribution Agreement, SDI receives a fee from the Scudder Global Fund under its 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to Class R shares.
Shareholder Services. For its services under the Services Agreement, SDI receives a shareholder services fee from each Fund under a Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A, B, C and R shares of that Fund.
With respect to Class A and R Shares of a Fund, SDI pays each firm a service fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the net assets in Fund accounts that it maintains and services attributable to Class A and R Shares respectively of a Fund, commencing with the month after investment. With respect to Class B and Class C Shares of a Fund, SDI currently advances to firms the first-year service fee at a rate of up to 0.25% of the purchase price of such shares. For periods after the first year, SDI currently intends to pay firms a service fee at a rate of up to 0.25% (calculated monthly and paid quarterly) of the net assets attributable to Class B and Class C shares of the Fund maintained and serviced by the firm. Firms to which service fees may be paid include affiliates of SDI. In addition SDI may, from time to time, pay certain firms from it own resources additional amounts for ongoing administrative services and assistance provided to their customers and clients who are shareholders of a Fund.
SDI also may provide some of the above services and may retain any portion of the fee under the Services Agreement not paid to firms to compensate itself for shareholder or administrative functions performed for a Fund. Currently, the shareholder services fee payable to SDI is payable at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of net assets based upon Fund assets in accounts for which a firm provides administrative services and at the annual rate of 0.15% of net assets based upon Fund assets in accounts for which there is no firm of record (other than SDI) listed on a Fund’s records. The effective shareholder services fee rate to be charged against all assets of each Fund while this procedure is in effect will depend upon the proportion of Fund assets that is held in accounts for which a firm of record provides shareholder services. The Board of each Fund, in its discretion, may approve basing the fee to SDI at the annual rate of 0.25% on all Fund assets in the future.
Expenses of the Funds paid in connection with the Rule 12b-1 Plans for each class of shares are set forth below. A portion of the marketing and sales and operating expenses shown below could be considered overhead expenses.
Certain directors or officers of the Funds are also directors or officers of the Advisor or SDI, as indicated under “Officers and Directors.”
41
Table of Contents
Compensation to Underwriter and Firms
for Calendar Year 2004
12b-1 Fees Fee) Paid to SDI | 12b-1 Fees to SDI | Compensation Paid by SDI to Firms from Distribution Fee | Compensation Paid by SDI to Firms from | |||||||||
Scudder Global Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | N/A | $ | 390 | N/A | $ | 41,383 | ||||||
Class B | $ | 66,000 | $ | 71 | $ | 32,000 | $ | 20,359 | ||||
Class C | $ | 41,000 | $ | 19 | $ | 41,000 | $ | 13,519 | ||||
Scudder International Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | N/A | $ | 12,959 | N/A | $ | 485,280 | ||||||
Class B | $ | 329,000 | $ | 258 | $ | 178,000 | $ | 99,378 | ||||
Class C | $ | 176,000 | $ | 119 | $ | 163,000 | $ | 53,524 |
Other Distribution Expenses Paid by
Underwriter for Calendar Year 2004
Advertising, Sales, Literature and Promotional Materials | Prospectus Printing | Marketing and Sales Expenses | Postage and Mailing | Interest Expenses | |||||||||||
Scudder Global Fund | |||||||||||||||
Class A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | NA | ||||||||||
Class B | $ | 10,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 21,000 | |||||
Class C | $ | 8,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||||
Scudder International Fund | |||||||||||||||
Class A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | NA | ||||||||||
Class B | $ | 52,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 4,000 | $ | 371,000 | |||||
Class C | $ | 28,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 2,000 |
42
Table of Contents
The following table shows, for Class A shares, the aggregate amount of underwriting commissions paid to SDI, the amount in commissions it paid out to brokers and the amount of underwriting commissions retained by SDI.
Fund | Fiscal Year | Aggregate Sales Commissions | Aggregate Commissions Paid to Firms | Aggregate Affiliated Firms | Aggregate by SDI | |||||||||
Scudder Global Fund | 2005 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 19,000 | $ | 4,000 | |||||
2004 | $ | 14,000 | $ | 11,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | ||||||
2003 | $ | 15,000 | $ | 13,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 2,000 | ||||||
Scudder International Fund | 2005 | $ | 71,000 | $ | 54,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 12,000 | |||||
2004 | $ | 72,000 | $ | 59,000 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 10,000 | ||||||
2003 | $ | 76,000 | $ | 61,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 10,000 |
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The financial highlights of each Fund included in the Funds’ prospectus and the Financial Statements incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information have been so included or incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110, independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers audits the financial statements of the Funds and provides other audit, tax and related services. Shareholders will receive annual audited financial statements and semi-annual unaudited financial statements.
Ropes & Gray LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624, serves as legal counsel to each Fund and the Independent Directors of each Fund.
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation (“SFAC”), Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, a subsidiary of the Advisor, is responsible for determining net asset value per share and maintaining the portfolio and general accounting records for the Funds. Pursuant to a sub-accounting and sub-administration agreement among the Advisor, SFAC and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”), SFAC and the Advisor have delegated certain administrative and fund accounting functions to SSB under the investment management agreement and the fund accounting agreement, respectively. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by the Advisor and SFAC, not by a Fund.
Effective upon termination of the Administrative Agreement, the Funds pay SFAC an annual fee equal to 0.065% of the first $150 million of average daily net assets, 0.040% of such assets in excess of $150 million and 0.020% of such assets in excess of $1 billion, plus holding and transaction charges for this service.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged to Scudder Global Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $339,742, all of which is unpaid at August 31, 2004.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged to Scudder International Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $267,597, all of which is unpaid at August 31, 2004.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to Global Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $411,295, of which $28,957 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
43
Table of Contents
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to International Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $531,757, of which $4,983 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
Prior to April 1, 2004, the service provider fees outlined above were paid by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Custodian, Transfer Agent and Shareholder Service Agent
Brown Brothers Harriman & Company (“Custodian”), 40 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109 serves as Custodian of the Funds. The Custodian has entered into agreements with foreign subcustodians approved by the Directors of the Corporation pursuant to Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act.
Custodian’s fee may be reduced by certain earnings credits in favor of each Fund.
Scudder Investments Service Company (“SISC”), 210 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105-1614, an affiliate of the Advisor, is the Funds’ transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent for each Fund’s Class A, B, C shares, Scudder Global Fund’s Class R shares and Scudder International Fund’s Institutional Class and Investment Class shares. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between SISC and DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”), SISC has delegated certain transfer agent and dividend paying agent functions to DST. The costs and expenses of such delegation are born by SISC, not by the Funds. SISC receives as transfer agent, annual account fees of $5 per account, transaction and maintenance charges, annual fees associated with the contingent deferred sales charge (Class B shares only) and out-of-pocket expense reimbursement. For Class R shares, SISC is compensated as follows: (for non-money market accounts) an open account charge of $29 and an asset-based fee of 0.05% for out of pocket expenses.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged by SISC aggregated $31,921 (of which $12,106 was not imposed and $8,457 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class A shares, $21,210 (of which $10,128 was not imposed and $7,401 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class B shares, $11,809 (of which $5,466 was not imposed and $3,623 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class C shares and $584 (of which $122 was not imposed and $462 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class R shares of Scudder Global Fund.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged by SISC aggregated $304,826 (of which $138,795 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class A shares, $140,496 (of which $52,735 was not imposed and $23,418 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class B shares, $49,771 (of which $4,465 was not imposed and $18,280 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class C shares and $6,399 (of which $4,199 was not imposed at August 31, 2004) for Institutional Class shares of Scudder International Fund.
For the fiscal ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged by SISC aggregated $85,741 (of which $12,443 was not imposed and $29,005 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class A shares; $44,151 (of which $16,313 was not imposed and $11,167 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class B shares; $28,219 (of which $8,320 was not imposed and $8,464 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class C shares; and $4,763 (of which $2,085 was not imposed and $3,140 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class R shares of Scudder Global Fund.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged by SISC aggregated $599,345 (of which $167,016 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class A shares; $303,855 (of which $92,572 was not imposed and $66,372 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class B shares; $102,894 (of which $28,231 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class C shares; and $4,649 for Institutional Class shares of Scudder International Fund.
Prior to April 1, 2004, the service provider fees outlined above were paid by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Each Fund, or the Advisor (including any affiliate of the Advisor), or both, may pay unaffiliated third parties for providing recordkeeping and other administrative services with respect to accounts of participants in retirement plans or other beneficial owners of Fund shares whose interests are generally held in an omnibus account.
44
Table of Contents
SERVICE PLANS
Global Fund — Class R Shares
International Fund — Investment Class Shares
Each Fund has adopted a service plan (the “Service Plans”) with respect to Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund which authorizes a Fund to compensate Service Organizations whose customers invest in Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund for providing certain personal, account administration and/or shareholder liaison services. Pursuant to the Plans, the Funds may enter into agreements with Service Organizations (“Service Agreements”). Under such Service Agreements or otherwise, the Service Organizations may perform some or all of the following services: (i) acting as record holder and nominee of all Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund beneficially owned by their customers; (ii) establishing and maintaining individual accounts and records with respect to the Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund owned by each customer; (iii) providing facilities to answer inquiries and respond to correspondence from customers about the status of their accounts or about other aspects of the Corporations or applicable Fund; (iv) processing and issuing confirmations concerning customer orders to purchase, redeem and exchange such shares; (v) receiving and transmitting funds representing the purchase price or redemption proceeds of such shares; (vi) participant level recordkeeping, sub-accounting, and other administrative services in connection with the entry of purchase and redemption orders for the Service Plans; (vii) withholding sums required by applicable authorities; (viii) providing daily violation services to the Service Plans; (ix) paying and filing of all withholding and documentation required by appropriate government agencies; (x) provision of reports, refund and other documents required by tax laws and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”); and (xi) providing prospectuses, proxy materials and other documents of an applicable Fund to participants as may be required by law.
As compensation for such services, each Service Organization of a Fund is entitled to receive a service fee in an amount up to 0.25% (on an annualized basis) of the average daily net assets of the Global Fund’s Class R shares and International Fund’s Investment Class shares attributable to customers of such Service Organization. Service Organizations may from time to time be required to meet certain other criteria in order to receive service fees.
In accordance with the terms of the Service Plans, the Officers of the Corporation provide to the Corporation’s Board of Directors for their review periodically a written report of services performed by and fees paid to each Service Organization under the Service Agreements and Service Plans.
Pursuant to the Service Plans, Investment Class shares of International Fund that are beneficially owned by customers of a Service Organization will convert automatically to Institutional Class shares of the Fund in the event that such Service Organization’s Service Agreement expires or is terminated. Customers of a Service Organization will receive advance notice of any such conversion, and any such conversion will be effected on the basis of the relative net asset values of the two classes of shares involved.
Conflict of interest restrictions (including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) may apply to a Service Organization’s receipt of compensation paid by a Fund in connection with the investment of fiduciary assets in Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund. Service Organizations that are subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC, the Department of Labor or state securities commissions are urged to consult their own legal Advisors before investing fiduciary assets in Class R shares of Global Fund or Investment Class shares of International Fund and receiving service fees.
The Corporations believe that fiduciaries of ERISA plans may properly receive fees under a Service Plan if the plan fiduciary otherwise properly discharges its fiduciary duties, including (if applicable) those under ERISA. Under ERISA, a plan fiduciary, such as a trustee or investment manager, must meet the fiduciary responsibility standards set forth in part 4 of Title I of ERISA. Those standards are designed to help ensure that the fiduciary’s decisions are made in the best interests of the plan and are not colored by self-interest.
45
Table of Contents
Section 403(c)(1) of ERISA provides, in part, that the assets of a plan shall be held for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to the plan’s participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the plan. Section 404(a)(1) sets forth a similar requirement on how a plan fiduciary must discharge his or her duties with respect to the plan, and provides further that such fiduciary must act prudently and solely in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries. These basic provisions are supplemented by the per se prohibitions of certain classes of transactions set forth in Section 406 of ERISA.
Section 406(a)(1)(D) of ERISA prohibits a fiduciary of an ERISA plan from causing that plan to engage in a transaction if he knows or should know that the transaction would constitute a direct or indirect transfer to, or use by or for the benefit of, a party in interest, of any assets of that plan. Section 3(14) includes within the definition of “party in interest” with respect to a plan any fiduciary with respect to that plan. Thus, Section 406(a)(1)(D) would not only prohibit a fiduciary from causing the plan to engage in a transaction which would benefit a third person who is a party in interest, but it would also prohibit the fiduciary from similarly benefiting himself. In addition, Section 406(b)(1) specifically prohibits a fiduciary with respect to a plan from dealing with the assets of that plan in his own interest or for his own account. Section 406(b)(3) supplements these provisions by prohibiting a plan fiduciary from receiving any consideration for his own personal account from any party dealing with the plan in connection with a transaction involving the assets of the plan.
In accordance with the foregoing, however, a fiduciary of an ERISA plan may properly receive service fees under a Service Plan if the fees are used for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to the plan’s participants and their beneficiaries or for defraying reasonable expenses of administering the plan for which the plan would otherwise be liable. See, e.g., Department of Labor ERISA Technical Release No. 86-1 (stating a violation of ERISA would not occur where a broker-dealer rebates commission dollars to a plan fiduciary who, in turn, reduces its fees for which plan is otherwise responsible for paying). Thus, the fiduciary duty issues involved in a plan fiduciary’s receipt of the service fee must be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the relevant plan fiduciary.
The Advisor is generally responsible for placing the orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, including the allocation of brokerage.
The policy of the Advisor in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund is to seek best execution, taking into account such factors, among others, as price; commission (where applicable); the broker-dealer’s ability to ensure that securities will be delivered on settlement date; the willingness of the broker-dealer to commit its capital and purchase a thinly traded security for its own inventory; whether the broker-dealer specializes in block orders or large program trades; the broker-dealer’s knowledge of the market and the security; the broker-dealer’s ability to maintain confidentiality; the financial condition of the broker-dealer; and whether the broker-dealer has the infrastructure and operational capabilities to execute and settle the trade. The Advisor seeks to evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions with commissions charged on comparable transactions and compares the brokerage commissions (if any) paid by the Fund to reported commissions paid by others. The Advisor routinely reviews commission rates, execution and settlement services performed and makes internal and external comparisons.
Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on US securities exchanges are subject to negotiation. Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on foreign securities exchanges are generally fixed. Purchases and sales of fixed-income securities and other over-the-counter securities are effected on a net basis, without the payment of brokerage commissions. Transactions in fixed income and other over-the-counter securities are generally placed by the Advisor with the principal market makers for these securities unless the Advisor reasonably believes more favorable results are available elsewhere. Transactions with dealers serving as market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. Purchases of underwritten issues will include an underwriting fee paid to the underwriter. Money market instruments are normally purchased in principal transactions directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker.
It is likely that the broker-dealers selected based on the considerations described in this section will include firms that also sell shares of the Fund to their customers. However, the Advisor does not consider sales of shares of the
46
Table of Contents
Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund and, accordingly, has implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent its traders from considering sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund.
The Advisor is permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), when placing portfolio transactions for the Fund, to cause the Fund to pay brokerage commissions in excess of that which another broker-dealer might charge for executing the same transaction in order to obtain research and brokerage services. The Advisor, however, does not as a matter of policy execute transactions with broker-dealers for the Fund in order to obtain research from such broker-dealers that is prepared by third parties (i.e., “third party research”). However, the Advisor may from time to time, in reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, obtain proprietary research prepared by the executing broker-dealer in connection with a transaction or transactions through that broker-dealer (i.e., “proprietary research”). Consistent with the Advisor’s policy regarding best execution, where more than one broker is believed to be capable of providing best execution for a particular trade, the Advisor may take into consideration the receipt of proprietary research in selecting the broker-dealer to execute the trade. Proprietary research provided by broker-dealers may include, but is not limited to, information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations, political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance analysis and measurement and analysis of corporate responsibility issues. Proprietary research is typically received in the form of written reports, telephone contacts and personal meetings with security analysts, but may also be provided in the form of access to various computer software and associated hardware, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry representatives.
In reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Advisor may also select broker-dealers and obtain from them brokerage services in the form of software and/or hardware that is used in connection with executing trades. Typically, this computer software and/or hardware is used by the Advisor to facilitate trading activity with those broker-dealers.
Proprietary research and brokerage services received from a broker-dealer chosen to execute a particular trade may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to clients other than the Fund making the trade, and not all such information is used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund. Conversely, such information provided to the Advisor by broker-dealers through which other clients of the Advisor effect securities transactions may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to the Fund.
The Advisor will monitor regulatory developments and market practice in the use of client commissions to obtain research and brokerage services, whether proprietary or third party.
Investment decisions for the Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Advisor are made independently of each other in light of differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable. To the extent permitted by law, the Advisor may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for other accounts in executing transactions. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and commission and allocated as to amount in a manner deemed equitable to each account. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect on the price paid or received by, or on the size of the position obtained or disposed of for, the Fund, in other cases it is believed that the ability to engage in volume transactions will be beneficial to the Fund.
Deutsche Bank AG or one of its affiliates may act as a broker for the Fund and receive brokerage commissions or other transaction-related compensation from the Fund in the purchase and sale of securities, options or futures contracts when, in the judgment of the Advisor, and in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board, the affiliated broker will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as those obtained from other qualified brokers and if, in the transaction, the affiliated broker charges the Fund a rate consistent with that charged to comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions.
Scudder Global Fund: For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2003, August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $2,111,176, $2,263,000 and $1,881,808, respectively.
47
Table of Contents
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of | ||
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB | $ | 14,306,000 | |
Bangkok Bank PLC | $ | 7,265,000 | |
DBS Group Holdings Ltd. | $ | 6,420,000 | |
Citigroup Inc. | $ | 12,995,000 | |
JP Morgan Chase & Co. | $ | 6,310,000 | |
Banco Bradesco S.A. | $ | 4,113,000 | |
Mega Financial Holdings Co., Ltd. | $ | 4,926,000 |
Scudder International Fund: For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2003, August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $7,286,366, $2,035,000 and $3,601,297, respectively.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of | ||
Toyota Motor Corp. | $ | 34,534,000 | |
HSBC Holdings PLC | $ | 29,685,000 | |
Banca Intesa Spa | $ | 26,105,000 | |
BNP Paribas SA | $ | 21,705,000 | |
ING Groep NV | $ | 20,447,000 | |
Alpha Bank AE | $ | 12,993,000 | |
Australia & New Zealand Group, Ltd. | $ | 15,995,000 |
Name of Fund | Percentage of Brokers | Percentage of Paid to Affiliated Brokers | Dollar Amount of Commissions Paid to Brokers for Research Services | ||||||
Scudder Global Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 | |||
Scudder International Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 |
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio turnover rate is defined by the SEC as the ratio of the lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of such securities owned during the year, excluding all securities whose remaining maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less.
Higher levels of activity by a Fund result in higher transaction costs and may also result in taxes on realized capital gains to be borne by the Fund’s shareholders. Purchases and sales are made whenever necessary, in the Advisor’s discretion, to meet a Fund’s objective.
48
Table of Contents
Portfolio turnover rates for the two most recent fiscal periods are as follows:
2005 | 2004 | |||||
Scudder Global Fund | 54 | % | 81 | % | ||
Scudder International Fund | 57 | % | 82 | % |
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
General Information
Policies and procedures affecting transactions in Fund shares can be changed at any time without notice, subject to applicable law. Transactions may be contingent upon proper completion of application forms and other documents by shareholders and their receipt by the Fund’s agents. Transaction delays in processing (and changing account features) due to circumstances within or beyond the control of the Fund and its agents may occur. Shareholders (or their financial service firms) are responsible for all losses and fees resulting from bad checks, cancelled orders or the failure to consummate transactions effected pursuant to instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.
A distribution will be reinvested in shares of the same Fund and class if the distribution check is returned as undeliverable.
Orders will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value of the Fund next determined after receipt in good order by SDI of the order accompanied by payment. Orders received by dealers or other financial services firms prior to the determination of net asset value and received in good order by SDI prior to the determination of net asset value will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value next determined after receipt by SDI (“trade date”).
Certificates. Share certificates will not be issued. Share certificates now in a shareholder’s possession may be sent to SISC for cancellation and book-entry credit to such shareholder’s account. Certain telephone and other procedures require book-entry holdings. Shareholders with outstanding certificates bear the risk of loss.
Use of Financial Services Firms. Investment dealers and other firms provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem a Fund’s shares, including higher minimum investments, and may assess transaction or other fees. Firms may arrange with their clients for other investment or administrative services. Such firms may independently establish and charge additional amounts to their clients for such services. Firms also may hold a Fund’s shares in nominee or street name as agent for and on behalf of their customers. In such instances, a Fund’s transfer agent, SISC will have no information with respect to or control over the accounts of specific shareholders. Such shareholders may obtain access to their accounts and information about their accounts only from their firm. Certain of these firms may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for record-keeping and other expenses relating to these nominee accounts. In addition, certain privileges with respect to the purchase and redemption of shares or the reinvestment of dividends may not be available through such firms. Some firms may participate in a program allowing them access to their clients’ accounts for servicing including, without limitation, transfers of registration and dividend payee changes; and may perform functions such as generation of confirmation statements and disbursement of cash dividends. Such firms, including affiliates of SDI, may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for these services.
Telephone and Electronic Transaction Procedures. Shareholders have various telephone, Internet, wire and other electronic privileges available. A Fund or its agents may be liable for any losses, expenses or costs arising out of fraudulent or unauthorized instructions pursuant to these privileges unless the Fund or its agents reasonably believe, based upon reasonable verification procedures, that the instructions were genuine. Verification procedures include recording instructions, requiring certain identifying information before acting upon instructions and sending written confirmations. During periods when it is difficult to contact the Shareholder Service Agent, it may be difficult to use telephone, wire and other privileges.
QuickBuy and QuickSell (not applicable to Class R shares). QuickBuy and QuickSell permits the transfer of money via the Automated Clearing House System (minimum $50, maximum $250,000) from or to a shareholder’s
49
Table of Contents
bank, savings and loan, or credit union account in connection with the purchase or redemption of Fund shares. Shares purchased by check or through QuickBuy and QuickSell or Direct Deposit may not be redeemed under this privilege until such Shares have been owned for at least calendar 10 days. QuickBuy and QuickSell cannot be used with passbook savings accounts or for certain tax-deferred plans such as IRAs.
Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. The Shareholder Service Agent provides retirement plan services and documents and SDI can establish investor accounts in any of the following types of retirement plans:
• | Traditional, Roth and Education IRAs. This includes Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (“SIMPLE”), Simplified Employee Pension Plan (“SEP”) IRA accounts and prototype documents. |
• | 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts. This type of plan is available to employees of most non-profit organizations. |
• | Prototype money purchase pension and profit-sharing plans may be adopted by employers. |
Brochures describing these plans as well as model defined benefit plans, target benefit plans, 457 plans, 401(k) plans, simple 401(k) plans and materials for establishing them are available from the Shareholder Service Agent upon request. Additional fees and transaction policies and procedures may apply to such plans. Investors should consult with their own tax advisors before establishing a retirement plan.
Purchases
The Funds reserve the right to withdraw all or any part of the offering made by its prospectus and to reject purchase orders for any reason. Also, from time to time, the Funds may temporarily suspend the offering of any class of their shares to new investors. During the period of such suspension, persons who are already shareholders of such class of such Fund may be permitted to continue to purchase additional shares of such class and to have dividends reinvested.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. For more information, please see “Policies You Should Know About” in the fund prospectus.
The Funds may waive the minimum for purchases by trustees, directors, officers or employees of the Fund or the Advisor and its affiliates.
Financial Services Firms’ Compensation. Banks and other financial services firms may provide administrative services related to order placement and payment to facilitate transactions in shares of the Fund for their clients, and SDI may pay them a transaction fee up to the level of the discount or commission allowable or payable to dealers.
SDI may, from time to time, pay or allow to firms a 1% commission on the amount of shares of the Fund sold under the following conditions: (i) the purchased shares are held in a Scudder IRA account, (ii) the shares are purchased as a direct “roll over” of a distribution from a qualified retirement plan account maintained on the subaccount record keeping system maintained for Scudder-branded plans by ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates, (iii) the registered representative placing the trade is a member of Executive Council, a group of persons designated by SDI in acknowledgment of their dedication to the employee benefit plan area; and (iv) the purchase is not otherwise subject to a commission.
In addition to the discounts or commissions described herein and in the prospectus, SDI, the Advisor, or its affiliates may pay or allow additional discounts, commissions or promotional incentives, in the form of cash, to firms that sell shares of the Fund. In some instances, such amounts may be offered only to certain firms that sell or are expected to sell during specified time periods certain minimum amounts of shares of the Fund, or other Funds underwritten by SDI.
50
Table of Contents
Upon notice to all dealers, SDI may re-allow to dealers up to the full applicable Class A sales charge during periods and for transactions specified in such notice and such re-allowances may be based upon attainment of minimum sales levels. During periods when 90% or more of the sales charge is re-allowed, such dealers may be deemed to be underwriters as that term is defined in the 1933 Act.
SDI may at its discretion compensate investment dealers or other financial services firms in connection with the sale of Class A shares of the Fund in accordance with the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege and one of the five compensation schedules up to the following amounts:
Compensation Schedule #1: | Compensation Schedule #2: | Compensation Schedule #3: | |||||||||
Retail Sales and Scudder Flex Plan(1) | Scudder Premium Plan(2) | Scudder Mid-to-Large Market Plan(2) | |||||||||
Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | Amount of Shares Sold | As a Asset Value | Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | ||||||
$1 million to $3 million (equity funds) | 1.00% | Under $15 million | 0.50 | % | Over $15 million | 0.00% -0.50% | |||||
Over $3 million to $50 million | 0.50% | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Over $50 million | 0.25% | — | — | — | — |
Compensation Schedule #4: Scudder Choice Plan(3) | |||
Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net | ||
All amounts (equity funds) | 1.00 | % | |
All amounts (Scudder Short | 0.75 | % | |
Duration Fund and Scudder Short Term Bond Fund) |
(1) | The commission schedule will be reset on a calendar year basis for sales of shares pursuant to the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege to employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount recordkeeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates. For purposes of determining the appropriate commission percentage to be applied to a particular sale under the foregoing schedule, SDI will consider the cumulative amount invested by the purchaser in a Fund and other Funds listed under “Special Features — Class A Shares — Combined Purchases,” including purchases pursuant to the “Combined Purchases,” “Letter of Intent” and “Cumulative Discount” features referred to above. |
(2) | Compensation Schedules 2 and 3 apply to employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the OmniPlus subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates. The Compensation Schedule will be determined based on the value of the conversion assets. Conversion from “Compensation Schedule #2” to “Compensation Schedule #3” is not an automatic process. When a plan’s assets grow to exceed $15 million, the Plan Sponsor must contact their Client Relationship Manager to discuss a conversion to Compensation Schedule #3. |
(3) | SDI compensates UBS Financial in accordance with Premium Plan Compensation Schedule #2. |
SDI compensates firms for sales of Class B shares at the time of sale at a commission rate of up to 3.75% of the amount of Class B shares purchased. SDI is compensated by the Fund for services as distributor and principal underwriter for Class B shares. SDI advances to firms the first year distribution fee at a rate of 0.75% of the
51
Table of Contents
purchase price of such shares. For periods after the first year, SDI currently pays firms for sales of Class C shares a distribution fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of net assets attributable to Class C shares maintained and serviced by the firm. SDI is compensated by the Fund for services as distributor and principal underwriter for Class C shares.
Class A Purchases. The public offering price of Class A shares for purchasers choosing the initial sales charge alternative is the net asset value plus a sales charge, as set forth below.
Sales Charge | |||||||||
Amount of Purchase | As a Percentage of Offering Price | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value* | Allowed to Dealers as a Percentage of Offering Price | ||||||
Less than $50,000 | 5.75 | % | 6.10 | % | 5.20 | % | |||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.50 | 4.71 | 4.00 | ||||||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.50 | 3.63 | 3.00 | ||||||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.60 | 2.67 | 2.25 | ||||||
$500,000 but less than $1 million | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 | ||||||
$1 million and over | .00 | ** | .00 | ** | .00 | *** |
* | Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent. |
** | Redemption of shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge as discussed below. |
*** | Commission is payable by SDI as discussed below. |
Class A Quantity Discounts. An investor or the investor’s dealer or other financial services firm must notify the Shareholder Service Agent or SDI whenever a quantity discount or reduced sales charge is applicable to a purchase. In order to qualify for a lower sales charge, all orders from an organized group will have to be placed through a single investment dealer or other firm and identified as originating from a qualifying purchaser.
Combined Purchases. The Fund’s Class A shares may be purchased at the rate applicable to the sales charge discount bracket attained by combining same day investments in Class A shares of any Scudder Funds that bear a sales charge.
Class B Purchases. Class B shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value. No initial sales charge is imposed. Class B shares sold without an initial sales charge allow the full amount of the investor’s purchase payment to be invested in Class B shares for his or her account. Class B shares have a contingent deferred sales charge of 4.00% that declines (for shares sold within six years of purchase) and Rule 12b-1 fees, as described in the Funds’ Prospectuses and SAI. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after six years.
Class C Purchases. Class C shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value. No initial sales charge is imposed. Class C shares sold without an initial sales charge, which allows the full amount of the investor’s purchase payment to be invested in Class C shares for his or her account. Class C shares continue to be are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% (for shares sold within one year of purchase) and Rule 12b-1 fees, as described in the Funds’ prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Letter of Intent. The reduced sales charges for Class A shares, as shown in the applicable prospectus, also apply to the aggregate amount of purchases of Class A shares of Scudder Funds that bear a sales charge made by any purchaser within a 24-month period under a written Letter of Intent (“Letter”) provided by SDI. The Letter, which imposes no obligation to purchase or sell additional Class A shares, provides for a price adjustment depending upon the actual amount purchased within such period. The Letter provides that the first purchase following execution of the Letter must be at least 5% of the amount of the intended purchase, and that 5% of the amount of the intended purchase normally will be held in escrow in the form of shares pending completion of the intended purchase. If the total investments under the Letter are less than the intended amount and thereby qualify only for a higher sales
52
Table of Contents
charge than actually paid, the appropriate number of escrowed shares are redeemed and the proceeds used toward satisfaction of the obligation to pay the increased sales charge. The Letter for an employer-sponsored employee benefit plan maintained on the subaccount record keeping system available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates may have special provisions regarding payment of any increased sales charge resulting from a failure to complete the intended purchase under the Letter. A shareholder may include the value (at the maximum offering price, which is determined by adding the maximum applicable sales load charged to the net asset value) of all Class A shares of such Scudder Funds held of record as of the initial purchase date under the Letter as an “accumulation credit” toward the completion of the Letter, but no price adjustment will be made on such shares.
Class A Cumulative Discount. Class A shares of the Fund may also be purchased at the rate applicable to the discount bracket attained by adding to the cost of shares being purchased, the value of all Class A shares of Scudder Funds that bear a sales charge (computed at the maximum offering price at the time of the purchase for which the discount is applicable) already owned by the investor or his or her immediate family member.
For purposes of the Combined Purchases, Letter of Intent and Cumulative Discount features described above, employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the Flex subaccount record keeping system available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates may include: (a) Money Market Funds as “Scudder Funds”, (b) all classes of shares of any Scudder Fund and (c) the value of any other plan investments, such as guaranteed investment contracts and employer stock, maintained on such subaccount record keeping system.
Class A NAV Sales. Class A shares may be sold at net asset value to:
(a) | a current or former director or trustee of Deutsche or Scudder mutual funds; |
(b) | an employee (including the employee’s spouse or life partner and children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates or of a subadvisor to any fund in the Scudder family of funds or of a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of the Fund or service agents of the Fund; |
(c) | certain professionals who assist in the promotion of Scudder mutual funds pursuant to personal services contracts with SDI, for themselves or members of their families. SDI in its discretion may compensate financial services firms for sales of Class A shares under this privilege at a commission rate of 0.50% of the amount of Class A shares purchased; |
(d) | any trust, pension, profit-sharing or other benefit plan for only such persons listed under the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b); |
(e) | persons who purchase such shares through bank trust departments that process such trades through an automated, integrated mutual fund clearing program provided by a third party clearing firm; |
(f) | selected employees (including their spouses or life partners and children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) of banks and other financial services firms that provide administrative services related to order placement and payment to facilitate transactions in shares of the Fund for their clients pursuant to an agreement with SDI or one of its affiliates. Only those employees of such banks and other firms who as part of their usual duties provide services related to transactions in Fund shares qualify; |
(g) | unit investment trusts sponsored by Ranson & Associates, Inc. and unitholders of unit investment trusts sponsored by Ranson & Associates, Inc. or its predecessors through reinvestment programs described in the prospectuses of such trusts that have such programs; |
(h) | through certain investment advisors registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and other financial services firms acting solely as agent for their clients, that adhere to certain standards established by SDI, including a requirement that such shares be sold for the benefit of their clients participating in an investment advisory program or agency commission program under which such clients pay a fee to the investment advisor or other firm for portfolio management or agency brokerage services. Such shares are sold for investment purposes and on the condition that they will not be resold except through redemption or repurchase by the Fund; |
53
Table of Contents
(i) | (1) employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the Flex subaccount recordkeeping system (“Flex Plans”) made available through ADP under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates, established prior to October 1, 2003, provided that the Flex Plan is a participant-directed plan that has not less than 200 eligible employees and (2) investors investing $1 million or more, either as a lump sum or through the “Combined Purchases,” “Letter of Intent” and “Cumulative Discount” features referred to above (collectively, the “Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege”). The Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege is not available if another net asset value purchase privilege is available; |
(j) | in connection with the acquisition of the assets of or merger or consolidation with another investment company, or to shareholders in connection with the investment or reinvestment of income and capital gain dividends, and under other circumstances deemed appropriate by SDI and consistent with regulatory requirements; and |
(k) | in connection with a direct “roll over” of a distribution from a Flex Plan into a Scudder IRA (this applies to Class B shares only). |
Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value in any amount by members of the plaintiff class in the proceeding known as Howard and Audrey Tabankin, et al. v. Kemper Short-Term Global Income Fund, et al., Case No. 93 C 5231 (N.D. IL). This privilege is generally non-transferable and continues for the lifetime of individual class members and for a ten-year period for non-individual class members. To make a purchase at net asset value under this privilege, the investor must, at the time of purchase, submit a written request that the purchase be processed at net asset value pursuant to this privilege specifically identifying the purchaser as a member of the ��Tabankin Class.” Shares purchased under this privilege will be maintained in a separate account that includes only shares purchased under this privilege. For more details concerning this privilege, class members should refer to the Notice of (i) Proposed Settlement with Defendants; and (ii) Hearing to Determine Fairness of Proposed Settlement, dated August 31, 1995, issued in connection with the aforementioned court proceeding. For sales of Fund shares at net asset value pursuant to this privilege, SDI may in its discretion pay investment dealers and other financial services firms a concession, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of net assets attributable to such shares maintained and serviced by the firm. A firm becomes eligible for the concession based upon assets in accounts attributable to shares purchased under this privilege in the month after the month of purchase and the concession continues until terminated by SDI. The privilege of purchasing Class A shares of the Fund at net asset value under this privilege is not available if another net asset value purchase privilege also applies.
Purchase of Class C Shares. Class C shares of the fund will be offered at net asset value. No initial sales charge will be imposed. Class C shares sold without an initial sales charge will allow the full amount of the investor’s purchase payment to be invested in Class C shares for his or her account. Class C shares will continue to be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% (for shares sold within one year of purchase) and Rule 12b-1 fees, as described in each prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Multi-Class Suitability. SDI has established the following procedures regarding the purchase of Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Orders to purchase Class B shares of $100,000 or more and orders to purchase Class C shares of $500,000 or more will be declined with the exception of orders received from financial representatives acting for clients whose shares are held in an omnibus account and employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount record keeping system (“System”) maintained for Scudder-branded plans under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates (“Scudder Flex Plans” and “Scudder Choice Plans”).
The following provisions apply to Scudder Flex Plans and Scudder Choice Plans.
a. | Class B Share Scudder Flex Plans. Class B shares have not been sold to Scudder Flex Plans that were established on the System after October 1, 2003. Orders to purchase Class B shares for a Scudder Flex Plan established on the System prior to October 1, 2003 that has regularly been purchasing Class B shares will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in Scudder |
54
Table of Contents
Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is $100,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for the first purchase after eligible plan assets reach the $100,000 threshold. A later decline in assets below the $100,000 threshold will not affect the plan’s ability to continue to purchase Class A shares at net asset value.
b. | Class C Share Scudder Flex Plans. Orders to purchase Class C shares for a Scudder Flex Plan, regardless of when such plan was established on the System, will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in Scudder Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is $1,000,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for the first purchase after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold. A later decline in assets below the $1,000,000 threshold will not affect the plan’s ability to continue to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. |
c. | Class C Share Scudder Choice Plans. Orders to purchase Class C shares for a Scudder Choice Plan that has been regularly purchasing Class C shares will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in Scudder Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is $1,000,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for purchases made beginning in the month after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold. In addition, as a condition to being permitted to use the Choice Plan platform, plans must agree that, within one month after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold, all existing Class C shares held in the plan will be automatically converted to Class A shares. |
The procedures above do not reflect in any way the suitability of a particular class of shares for a particular investor and should not be relied upon as such. A suitability determination must be made by investors with the assistance of their financial representative.
Purchase of Institutional and Investment Class Shares. (Scudder International Fund only) Information on how to buy shares is set forth in the section entitled “How to Invest in the Fund” in the Fund’s Prospectuses. The following supplements that information. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000. There is no minimum subsequent investment requirement for Institutional Class shares. The minimum initial investment for Investment Class shares is $1,000 and the minimum subsequent investment is $50. Investment Class shares are subject to an annual shareholder servicing fee of 0.25%. These minimum amounts may be changed at any time in management’s discretion.
In order to make an initial investment in Investment Class shares of the Fund, an investor must establish an account with a service organization. Investors may invest in Institutional Class shares by setting up an account directly with SISC or through an authorized service agent. Investors who establish shareholder accounts directly with SISC should submit purchase and redemption orders as described in the Prospectus. Additionally, the Fund has authorized brokers to accept purchase and redemption orders for Institutional and Investment Class shares for the Fund. Brokers, including authorized brokers of service organizations, are, in turn, authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. Investors who invest through brokers, service organizations or their designated intermediaries may be subject to minimums established by their broker, service organization or designated intermediary.
To sell shares in a retirement account other than an IRA, your request must be made in writing, except for exchanges to other eligible funds in the Scudder Investments family of funds, which can be requested by phone or in writing.
Purchase of Class R Shares. (Scudder Global Fund only) Investors may invest in Class R shares through certain retirement and other plans. Class R shares are subject to an annual distribution and shareholder servicing fee of 0.50% (0.25% distribution fee, 0.25% shareholder service fee.)
Automatic Investment Plan. A shareholder may purchase shares of a Fund through an automatic investment program. With the Direct Deposit Purchase Plan (“Direct Deposit”), investments are made automatically (minimum $50 and maximum $250,000 for both initial and subsequent investments) from the shareholder’s account at a bank, savings and loan or credit union into the shareholder’s Fund account. Termination by a shareholder will become effective within thirty days after the Shareholder Service Agent has received the request. A Fund may immediately terminate a shareholder’s Direct Deposit in the event that any item is unpaid by the shareholder’s financial institution.
55
Table of Contents
Payroll Investment Plans. A shareholder may purchase shares through Payroll Direct Deposit or Government Direct Deposit. Under these programs, all or a portion of a shareholder’s net pay or government check is invested each payment period. A shareholder may terminate participation in these programs by giving written notice to the shareholder’s employer or government agency, as appropriate. (A reasonable time to act is required.) A Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the employer or government agency making the payment or any financial institutions transmitting payments.
Redemptions
Redemption fee. Each Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value, without regard to the effect of any contingent deferred sales charge; any contingent deferred sales charge is also assessed on the total redemption amount without regard to the assessment of the 2% redemption fee) on all Fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to the Fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last. The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the Fund. For this reason, each Fund has undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s.
A Fund may suspend the right of redemption or delay payment more than seven days (a) during any period when the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or during any period in which trading on the Exchange is restricted, (b) during any period when an emergency exists as a result of which (i) disposal of the Fund’s investments is not reasonably practicable, or (ii) it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to determine the value of its net assets, or (c) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.
A request for repurchase (confirmed redemption) may be communicated by a shareholder through a financial services firm to SDI, which firms must promptly submit orders to be effective.
Redemption requests must be unconditional. Redemption requests (and a stock power for certificated shares) must be duly endorsed by the account holder. As specified in the prospectus, signatures may need to be guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company, savings and loan association, federal savings bank, member firm of a national securities exchange or other financial institution permitted by SEC rule. Additional documentation may be required, particularly from institutional and fiduciary account holders, such as corporations, custodians (e.g., under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), executors, administrators, trustees or guardians.
If the proceeds of the redemption (prior to the imposition of any contingent deferred sales charge) are $100,000 or less and the proceeds are payable to the shareholder of record at the address of record, normally a telephone request or a written request by any one account holder without a signature guarantee is sufficient for redemptions by individual or joint account holders, and trust, executor and guardian account holders, provided the trustee, executor or guardian is named in the account registration. Other institutional account holders exercise this special privilege of redeeming shares by telephone request or written request without signature guarantee subject to the same conditions as individual account holders, provided that this privilege has been pre-authorized by the institutional account holder by written instruction to the Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed. This privilege may not be used
56
Table of Contents
to redeem shares held in certificated form and may not be used if the shareholder’s account has had an address change within 15 days of the redemption request.
Wires. Delivery of the proceeds of a wire redemption of $250,000 or more may be delayed by a Fund for up to seven days if the Fund or the Shareholder Service Agent deems it appropriate under then-current market conditions. The ability to send wires is limited by the business hours and holidays of the firms involved. The Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the federal wire system or the account holder’s financial services firm or bank. The account holder is responsible for any charges imposed by the account holder’s firm or bank. To change the designated account to receive wire redemption proceeds, send a written request to the Fund Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed as described above or contact the firm through which Fund shares were purchased.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The owner of $5,000 or more of a class of a Fund’s shares at the offering price (net asset value plus, in the case of Class A shares, the initial sales charge) may provide for the payment from the owner’s account of any requested dollar amount to be paid to the owner or a designated payee monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. The $5,000 minimum account size is not applicable to IRAs. The minimum periodic payment is $50. The maximum annual rate at which shares, subject to CDSC may be redeemed is 12% of the net asset value of the account. Shares are redeemed so that the payee should receive payment approximately the first of the month. Investors using this Plan must reinvest Fund distributions.
Non-retirement plan shareholders may establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan (the “Plan”) to receive monthly, quarterly or periodic redemptions from his or her account for any designated amount of $50 or more. Shareholders may designate which day they want the automatic withdrawal to be processed. The check amounts may be based on the redemption of a fixed dollar amount, fixed share amount, percent of account value or declining balance. The Plan provides for income dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, to be reinvested in additional Shares. Shares are then liquidated as necessary to provide for withdrawal payments. Since the withdrawals are in amounts selected by the investor and have no relationship to yield or income, payments received cannot be considered as yield or income on the investment and the resulting liquidations may deplete or possibly extinguish the initial investment and any reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions. Any such requests must be received by a Portfolio’s transfer agent ten days prior to the date of the first automatic withdrawal. An Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the shareholder, the Trust or its agent on written notice, and will be terminated when all Shares of a Portfolio under the Plan have been liquidated or upon receipt by the Trust of notice of death of the shareholder.
The purchase of Class A shares while participating in a systematic withdrawal plan will ordinarily be disadvantageous to the investor because the investor will be paying a sales charge on the purchase of shares at the same time that the investor is redeeming shares upon which a sales charge may have already been paid. Therefore, a Fund will not knowingly permit additional investments of less than $2,000 if the investor is at the same time making systematic withdrawals.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC). The following example will illustrate the operation of the CDSC. Assume that an investor makes a single purchase of $10,000 of the Fund’s Class B shares and that 16 months later the value of the shares has grown by $1,000 through reinvested dividends and by an additional $1,000 of share appreciation to a total of $12,000. If the investor were then to redeem the entire $12,000 in share value, the CDSC would be payable only with respect to $10,000 because neither the $1,000 of reinvested dividends nor the $1,000 of share appreciation is subject to the charge. The charge would be at the rate of 3.00% ($300) because it was in the second year after the purchase was made.
The rate of the CDSC is determined by the length of the period of ownership. Investments are tracked on a monthly basis. The period of ownership for this purpose begins the first day of the month in which the order for the investment is received. For example, an investment made in March of the year of investment will be eligible for the second year’s charge if redeemed on or after March of the following year. In the event no specific order is requested when redeeming shares subject to a CDSC, the redemption will be made first from shares representing reinvested dividends and then from the earliest purchase of shares. SDI receives any CDSC directly. The charge will not be imposed upon redemption of reinvested dividends or share appreciation.
57
Table of Contents
The Class A CDSC will be waived in the event of:
(a) | redemptions by a participant-directed qualified retirement plan described in Code Section 401(a), a participant-directed non-qualified deferred compensation plan described in Code Section 457 or a participant-directed qualified retirement plan described in Code Section 403(b)(7) which is not sponsored by a K-12 school district; |
(b) | redemptions by employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates; |
(c) | redemption of shares of a shareholder (including a registered joint owner) who has died; |
(d) | redemption of shares of a shareholder (including a registered joint owner) who after purchase of the shares being redeemed becomes totally disabled (as evidenced by a determination by the federal Social Security Administration); |
(e) | redemptions under the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan at a maximum of 12% per year of the net asset value of the account; and |
(f) | redemptions of shares whose dealer of record at the time of the investment notifies SDI that the dealer waives the discretionary commission applicable to such Large Order NAV Purchase. |
The Class B CDSC will be waived for the circumstances set forth in items (c), (d) and (e) for Class A shares. In addition, this CDSC will be waived:
(g) | for redemptions made pursuant to any IRA systematic withdrawal based on the shareholder’s life expectancy including, but not limited to, substantially equal periodic payments described in Internal Revenue Code Section 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) prior to age 59 1/2; |
(h) | for redemptions to satisfy required minimum distributions after age 70 1/2 from an IRA account (with the maximum amount subject to this waiver being based only upon the shareholder’s Scudder IRA accounts); and |
(i) | in connection with the following redemptions of shares held by employer sponsored employee benefit plans maintained on the subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates: (1) to satisfy participant loan advances (note that loan repayments constitute new purchases for purposes of the CDSC and the conversion privilege), (2) in connection with retirement distributions (limited at any one time to 12% of the total value of plan assets invested in the Fund), (3) in connection with distributions qualifying under the hardship provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, (4) representing returns of excess contributions to such plans and (5) in connection with direct “roll over” distributions from a Flex Plan into a Scudder IRA under the Class A net asset value purchase privilege. |
The Class C CDSC will be waived for the circumstances set forth in items (b), (c), (d) and (e) for Class A shares and for the circumstances set forth in items (g) and (h) for Class B shares. In addition, this CDSC will be waived for:
(j) | redemption of shares by an employer sponsored employee benefit plan that offers funds in addition to Scudder Funds and whose dealer of record has waived the advance of the first year administrative service and distribution fees applicable to such shares and agrees to receive such fees quarterly, and |
(k) | redemption of shares purchased through a dealer-sponsored asset allocation program maintained on an omnibus record-keeping system provided the dealer of record had waived the advance of the first year administrative services and distribution fees applicable to such shares and has agreed to receive such fees quarterly. |
58
Table of Contents
In-kind Redemptions. A Fund reserves the right to honor any request for redemption or repurchase by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities. These securities will be chosen by the fund and valued as they are for purposes of computing the fund’s net asset value. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.
Exchanges
Shareholders may request a taxable exchange of their shares for shares of the corresponding class of other Scudder Funds without imposition of a sales charge, subject to the provisions below. For purposes of calculating any CDSC, amounts exchanged retain their original cost and purchase date.
Series of Scudder Target Fund are available on exchange only during the Offering Period for such series as described in the applicable prospectus. Cash Management Fund Investment, Tax Free Money Fund Investment, New York Tax Free Money Fund Investment, Treasury Money Fund Investment, Money Market Fund Investment, Cash Management Fund Institutional, Cash Reserves Fund Institutional, Treasury Money Fund Institutional, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. Prime Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. — Treasury Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. Tax-Free Series, Cash Equivalent Fund, Tax-Exempt California Money Market Fund, Cash Account Trust, Investors Municipal Cash Fund and Investors Cash Trust are available on exchange but only through a financial services firm having a services agreement with SDI. All exchanges among money funds must meet applicable investor eligibility and investment requirements. Exchanges may only be made for funds that are available for sale in the shareholder’s state of residence.
Shareholders must obtain prospectuses of the Funds they are exchanging into from dealers, other firms or SDI.
Automatic Exchange Plan (not applicable to Class R shares). The owner of $1,000 or more of any class of shares of a Scudder Fund may authorize the automatic exchange of a specified amount ($50 minimum) of such shares for shares of the same class of another such Scudder Fund. Exchanges will be made automatically until the shareholder or the Fund terminates the privilege. Exchanges are subject to the terms and conditions described above.
Multi-Class Conversions. For purposes of conversion to Class A shares, shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions paid with respect to Class B shares in a shareholder’s Fund account will be converted to Class A shares on a pro rata basis.
Dividends
Each Fund intends to distribute its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains in November or December to avoid federal excise tax, although an additional distribution may be made if necessary.
Each Fund intends to distribute dividends from its net investment income, excluding short-term capital gains, annually in November and December. Each Fund intends to distribute net realized capital gains after utilization of
59
Table of Contents
capital loss carryforwards, if any, in November and December to prevent application of a federal excise tax. An additional distribution may be made, if necessary.
Any dividends or capital gains distributions declared in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid during the following January will be treated by shareholders for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar year declared.
The level of income dividends per share (as a percentage of net asset value) will be lower for Class B and Class C Shares than for Class A Shares primarily as a result of the distribution services fee applicable to Class B and Class C Shares. Distributions of capital gains, if any, will be paid in the same amount for each class.
Income and capital gain dividends, if any, of a Fund will be credited to shareholder accounts in full and fractional shares of the same class of the Fund at net asset value on the reinvestment date, except that, upon written request to the Shareholder Service Agent, a shareholder may select one of the following options:
1. | To receive income and short-term capital gain dividends in cash and long-term capital gain dividends in shares of the same class at net asset value; or |
2. | To receive income and capital gain dividends in cash. |
Dividends will be reinvested in Shares of the same class of a Fund unless shareholders indicate in writing that they wish to receive them in cash or in shares of other Scudder Funds with multiple classes of shares or Scudder Funds as provided in the prospectus. To use this privilege of investing dividends of the Fund in shares of another Scudder Fund, shareholders must maintain a minimum account value of $1,000 in the Fund distributing the dividends. The Fund will reinvest dividend checks (and future dividends) in shares of that same Fund and class if checks are returned as undeliverable. Dividends and other distributions of the Fund in the aggregate amount of $10 or less are automatically reinvested in shares of the Fund unless the shareholder requests that such policy not be applied to the shareholder’s account.
If an investment is in the form of a retirement plan, all dividends and capital gains distributions must be reinvested into the shareholder’s account.
If a shareholder has elected to reinvest any dividends and/or other distributions, such distributions will be made in shares of that Fund and confirmations will be mailed to each shareholder. If a shareholder has chosen to receive cash, a check will be sent. Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains are taxable, whether made in shares or cash.
Each distribution is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution. The characterization of distributions on such correspondence may differ from the characterization for federal tax purposes. In January of each year, each Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions in the prior calendar year.
Each Fund may at any time vary its foregoing dividend practices and, therefore, reserves the right from time to time to either distribute or retain for reinvestment such of its net investment income and its net short-term and long-term capital gains as its Board determines appropriate under the then current circumstances. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, a Fund may make additional distributions of net investment income or capital gain net income in order to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements contained in the Code.
The following is intended to be a general summary of certain federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds. It is not intended as a complete discussion of all such consequences, nor does it purport to deal with all categories of investors. Investors are therefore advised to consult with their tax advisors before making an investment in a Fund.
60
Table of Contents
Federal Taxation. Each Fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things:
(a) | derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; |
(b) | distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally, taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt interest income, for such year; and |
(c) | diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested (x) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined below). |
In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in paragraph (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the regulated investment company. However, recent legislation provides that for taxable years of a regulated investment company beginning after October 22, 2004, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (defined as a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (ii) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in paragraph (a) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. Finally, for purposes of paragraph (c) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below).
If for any taxable year a Fund does not qualify for the special federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, all of its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders), and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Such distributions would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on amounts that have been retained rather than distributed, as required under a prescribed formula. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s taxable ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses realized during the one-year period ending October 31 (in most
61
Table of Contents
cases) of such year as well as amounts that were neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the prior calendar year. Although each Fund’s distribution policies should enable it to avoid excise tax liability, a Fund may retain (and be subject to income or excise tax on) a portion of its capital gain or other income if it appears to be in the interest of such Fund.
Taxation of Distributions from the Funds. For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Funds owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions of net capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for more than one year and that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008, distributions of investment income designated by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008.
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be
62
Table of Contents
eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Transactions in Fund Shares. The sale, exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be treated as short-term gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares of the Fund will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of a Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
63
Table of Contents
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Foreign Taxation. Foreign withholding or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) on certain foreign securities may occur. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable US income tax treaty.
So long as more than 50% of the value of the total assets of a Fund at the close of the taxable year consists of securities in foreign corporations, the Fund may make an election under Section 853 of the Code to enable the shareholders to claim a credit or deduction (subject to limitations) on their federal income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries (which taxes relate primarily to investment income). Shareholders will treat such amounts as part of their distribution from the Fund. The foreign tax credit available to shareholders is subject to certain limitations and restrictions imposed by the Code.
If a Fund does not make the election permitted under section 853 of the Code, any foreign taxes paid or accrued will represent an expense to the Fund that will reduce its investment company taxable income. In such a case, shareholders will not be able to claim either a credit or a deduction for their pro rata portion of such taxes paid by the Fund, nor will shareholders be required to treat as part of the amounts distributed to them their pro rata portion of such taxes paid.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Equity investments by a Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could potentially subject the Fund to a US federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, such Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company. Such Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require such Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.”
Other Tax Considerations. A Fund’s use of options, futures contracts, forward contracts (to the extent permitted) and certain other Strategic Transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate the Fund’s income, defer losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of portfolio securities, convert capital gains into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to investors.
Certain of a Fund’s hedging activities (including transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of a Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If a Fund’s book income is less than its taxable
64
Table of Contents
income, that Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund’s investment in zero coupon bonds and other debt obligations having original issue discount may cause a Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of any cash received from the investment.
Under the backup withholding provisions of the Code, redemption proceeds as well as distributions may be subject to federal income tax withholding for certain shareholders, including those who fail to furnish a Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers and certifications as to their tax status.
Shareholders of a Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of a Fund’s shares.
Capital gains distributions may be reduced if Fund capital loss carryforwards are available. Any capital loss carryforwards to which a Fund is entitled are disclosed in a Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
All distributions by a Fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of that Fund’s shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a shareholder’s cost basis, such distribution would nevertheless be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of capital. In particular, investors should be careful to consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a distribution will receive a partial return of capital upon the distribution, which will nevertheless be taxable to them.
Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of Fund securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. In general, dividends (other than Capital Gain Dividends) paid by each Fund to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (such shareholder, a “foreign person”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding. However, before January 1, 2008, each Fund will not be required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a foreign person (w) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (x) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign person is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign person and the foreign person is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income that would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign person, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by each Fund, and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to an individual foreign person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by the Fund. The Funds [do/do not] intend to designate distributions as interest-related dividends or as short-term capital gain dividends.
If a beneficial holder who is a foreign person has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct by the beneficial holder of a trade or business in the United States, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.
65
Table of Contents
Recent legislation modifies the tax treatment of distributions from each Fund that are paid to a foreign person and are attributable to gain from “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”), which the Code defines to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and interests (other than solely as a creditor) in “U.S. real property holding corporations” such as REITs. The Code deems any corporation that holds (or held during the previous five-year period) USRPIs with a fair market value equal to 50% or more of the fair market value of the corporation’s U.S. and foreign real property assets and other assets used or held for use in a trade or business to be a U.S. real property holding corporation; however, if any class of stock of a corporation is traded on an established securities market, stock of such class shall be treated as a USRPI only in the case of a person who holds more than 5% of such class of stock at any time during the previous five-year period. For dividends paid or deemed paid on or before December 31, 2007, distributions to foreign persons attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs will give rise to an obligation for those foreign persons to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax, and may well be subject to withholding under future regulations.
Under U.S. federal tax law, a beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of a Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or Capital Gain Dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the shares constitute USRPIs or (effective for taxable years of the Fund beginning on September 1, 2005) the Capital Gain Dividends are paid or deemed paid on or before December 31, 2007 and are attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs. Effective before January 1, 2008, if a Fund is a U.S. real property holding corporation (as described above) the Fund’s shares will nevertheless not constitute USRPIs if the Fund is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” which is defined to include a RIC that, at all times during the shorter of the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period during which the RIC was in existence, had less than 50 percent in value of its stock held directly or indirectly by foreign persons.
The net asset value of shares of each Fund is computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) on each day the Exchange is open for trading (the “Value Time”). The Exchange is scheduled to be closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of these holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively. Net asset value per share is determined separately for each class of shares by dividing the value of the total assets of the Fund attributable to the shares of that class, less all liabilities attributable to that class, by the total number of shares of that class outstanding. The per share net asset value may be lower for certain classes of the Fund because of higher expenses borne by these classes.
An equity security is valued at its most recent sale price on the security’s primary exchange or over-the-counter (“OTC”) market as of the Value Time. Lacking any sales, the security is valued at the calculated mean between the most recent bid quotation and the most recent asked quotation (the “Calculated Mean”) on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the security is valued at the most recent bid quotation on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. In the case of certain foreign exchanges or OTC markets, the closing price reported by the exchange or OTC market (which may sometimes be referred to as the “official close” or the “official closing price” or other similar term) will be considered the most recent sale price. If a security is traded on more than one exchange, or upon one or more exchanges and in the OTC market, quotations are taken from the market in which the security is traded most extensively.
Debt securities are valued as follows. Money market instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of 60 days or less, maturing at par, are valued at amortized cost. Other money market instruments are valued based on information obtained from an approved pricing agent or, if such information is not readily available, by using matrix pricing techniques (formula driven calculations based primarily on current market yields). Bank loans are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the mean of the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices, as applicable, based on quotations or evaluated
66
Table of Contents
prices obtained from one or more broker-dealers. Privately placed debt securities, other than Rule 144A debt securities, initially are valued at cost and thereafter based on all relevant factors including type of security, size of holding and restrictions on disposition. Municipal debt securities are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the average of the means based on the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices obtained from two broker-dealers. Other debt securities not addressed above are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent, if available, and otherwise at the most recent bid quotation or evaluated price, as applicable, obtained from one or more broker-dealers. If it is not possible to value a particular debt security pursuant to the above methods, the security is valued on the basis of factors including (but not limited to) maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency denomination, and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded.
An exchange-traded option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments is valued at its most recent sale price on such the relevant exchange. Lacking any sales, the option contract is valued at the Calculated Mean. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the option contract is valued at the most recent bid quotation in the case of a purchased option contract or the most recent asked quotation in the case of a written option contract, in each case as of the Value Time. An option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments traded in the OTC market is valued on the Value Date at the evaluated price provided by the broker-dealer with which it was traded. Futures contracts (and options thereon) are valued at the most recent settlement price, if available, on the security’s primary exchange on which they are traded most extensively. With the exception of stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement times are prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. For stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement prices are normally available at approximately 4:20 pm Eastern time. If no settlement price is available, the last traded price on such exchange will be used. Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed (“Local Currency”), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of US dollars is calculated by converting the Local Currency into US dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
If market quotations for a portfolio asset are not readily available or the value of a portfolio asset as determined in accordance with Board approved procedures does not represent the fair market value of the portfolio asset, the value of the portfolio asset is taken to be an amount which, in the opinion of a Fund’s Pricing Committee (or, in some cases, the Board’s Valuation Committee), represents fair market value. The value of other portfolio holdings owned by the Fund is determined in a manner which is intended to fairly reflect the fair market value of the asset on the valuation date, based on valuation procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board and overseen primarily by the Fund’s Pricing Committee.
Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed (“Local Currency”), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of US dollars is calculated by converting the Local Currency into US dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
Global/International Fund, Inc. and Scudder International Fund, Inc.
The following table presents certain information regarding the Directors and Officers of the Corporation as of December 1, 2005. Each Director’s year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Director has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity, and (ii) the address of each Director is c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each Officer is Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110. The term of office for each Director is until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed as provided in the governing documents of the Corporation. Because the Fund does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders, each Director will hold office for an indeterminate period. The Directors of the Corporation may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex.
67
Table of Contents
Independent Directors
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946) Chairman since 2004 and Director, 1987-present | President, Driscoll Associates (consulting firm); Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; formerly, Partner, Palmer & Dodge (1988-1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene's (1978-1988). Directorships: Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute; Member, Executive Committee of the Independent Directors Council of the Investment Company Institute, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. (1943) Director, 1990-present | President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Becton Dickinson and Company (medical technology company); Belo Corporation (media company); Concord Academy; Boston Museum of Science; Public Radio International; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Former Directorships: American Public Television; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service | 43 | ||
Keith R. Fox (1954) Director, 1996-present | Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (private equity funds). Directorships: Progressive Holding Corporation (kitchen importer and distributor); Cloverleaf Transportation Inc. (trucking); Natural History, Inc. (magazine publisher); Box Top Media Inc. (advertising); Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Kenneth C. Froewiss (1945) Director 2005-present | Clinical Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business; Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2001), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2004), Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc. (since 1999), The Brazil Fund, Inc. (since 2000) and The Korea Fund, Inc. (since 2000); Member, Finance Committee, Association for Asian Studies (2002-present); Director, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (US) (2004-present); prior thereto, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan (investment banking firm) (until 1996) | 46 |
68
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Jean Gleason Stromberg (1943) Director, 1999-present | Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997-2001); Director, US General Accounting Office (1996-1997); Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978-1996). Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Service Source, Inc.; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Carl W. Vogt (1936) Director, 2002-present | Senior Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P (law firm); formerly, President (interim) of Williams College (1999-2000); President, certain funds in the Deutsche Asset Management Family of Funds (formerly, Flag Investors Family of Funds) (registered investment companies) (1999-2000). Directorships: Yellow Corporation (trucking); American Science & Engineering (x-ray detection equipment); ISI Family of Funds (registered investment companies; 4 funds overseen); National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); formerly, Chairman and Member, National Transportation Safety Board; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Officers(2) | ||||
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Vincent J. Esposito(4) (1956) President, 2005-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2003); President and Chief Executive Officer of The Central Europe and Russia Fund, Inc., The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. (since 2003) (registered investment companies); Vice Chairman and Director of The Brazil Fund, Inc. (2004-present); formerly, Managing Director, Putnam Investments (1991-2002) | n/a | ||
John Millette (1962) Vice President and Secretary, 1999-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Paul H. Schubert(4) (1963) Chief Financial Officer, 2004-present Treasurer, since 2005 | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since July 2004); formerly, Executive Director, Head of Mutual Fund Services and Treasurer for UBS Family of Funds (1998-2004); Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Finance at UBS Global Asset Management (1994-1998) | n/a | ||
Patricia DeFilippis(4) (1963) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management (since June 2005); Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (2003-2005); legal associate, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (1998-2003) | n/a |
69
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Daniel O. Hirsch(5) (1954) Assistant Secretary, 2002-present | Consultant. Formerly, Managing Director, Deutsche Asset Management (2002-2005); Director, Deutsche Asset Management (1999-2002); Principal, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated (now Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.) (1998-1999); Assistant General Counsel, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (1993-1998); Director, Deutsche Global Funds Ltd. (2002-2004) | n/a | ||
Elisa D. Metzger (1962) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Director((3)), Deutsche Asset Management (since September 2005); Counsel, Morrison and Foerster LLP (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Caroline Pearson (1962) Assistant Secretary, 1997-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Scott M. McHugh (1971) Assistant Treasurer, 2005-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Kathleen Sullivan D'Eramo (1957) Assistant Treasurer, 2003-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
John Robbins(4) (1966) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2005-present | Managing Director((3)), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2005); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for GE Asset Management (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Philip Gallo(4) (1962) Chief Compliance Officer, 2004-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (2003-present); formerly, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Legal (1994-2003) | n/a |
(1) | Length of time served represents the date that each Director was first elected to the common board of Directors which oversees a number of investment companies, including the fund, managed by the Advisor. For the officers of the Corporation, the length of time served represents the date that each officer was first elected to serve as an officer of any fund overseen by the aforementioned common board of Directors. |
(2) | As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Funds. |
(3) | Executive title, not a board directorship. |
(4) | Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. |
(5) | Address: One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. |
Officer’s Role with Principal Underwriter: Scudder Distributors, Inc.
Caroline Pearson: Secretary
Directors’ Responsibilities. The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to represent the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and to provide oversight of the management of the Fund. Currently, six of the Board’s members are “Independent Directors;” that is, they are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Corporation or the Advisor.
The Directors meet multiple times during the year to review the investment performance of the Fund and other operational matters, including policies and procedures designed to assure compliance with regulatory and other
70
Table of Contents
requirements. In 2004, the Directors conducted over 40 meetings to deal with fund issues (including regular and special board and committee meetings). These meetings were held over the course of 23 different days. In addition, various Directors participated as members of the Board’s Valuation Committee throughout the year. Furthermore, the Independent Directors review the fees paid to the Advisor and its affiliates for investment advisory services and other administrative and shareholder services. The Directors have adopted specific policies and guidelines that, among other things, seek to further enhance the effectiveness of the Independent Directors in performing their duties. Many of these are similar to those suggested in the Investment Company Institute’s 1999 Report of the Advisory Group on Best Practices for Fund Directors. For example, the Independent Directors select independent legal counsel to work with them in reviewing fees, advisory and other contracts and overseeing fund matters. The Directors are also assisted in this regard by the Fund’s independent public accountants and other independent experts retained from time to time for this purpose. The Independent Directors regularly meet privately with their counsel and other advisors. In addition, the Independent Directors from time to time have appointed task forces and subcommittees from their members to focus on particular matters such as investment, accounting and shareholders servicing issues.
For a discussion of the factors considered by the Board in connection with its most recent approval of the continuation of the Fund’s management contracts, please refer to “Management of the Funds — Board Considerations in Connection with Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements.”
Board Committees. The Board oversees a number of investment companies managed by the Advisor. Information shown below represents meetings held on behalf of all such funds. The common Board has the following standing committees:
Audit Committee: The Audit Committee makes recommendations regarding the selection of independent registered public accounting firms for the Fund, reviews the independence of such firm, reviews the scope of audit and internal controls, considers and reports to the Board on matters relating to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting practices, and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee receives annual representations from the independent registered public accounting firm as to their independence. The members of the Audit Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Audit Committee held seven meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee: The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (i) selects and nominates candidates to serve as Independent Directors*; (ii) oversees all other fund governance-related matters, including Board compensation practices, retirement policies, self-evaluations of effectiveness and allocations of assignments and functions of committees of the Board. The members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (previously known as the Committee on Independent Directors) held seven meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Valuation Committee: The Valuation Committee oversees fund valuation matters, reviews Valuation Procedures adopted by the Board, determines fair value of the Fund’s securities as needed in accordance with the Valuation Procedures when actual market values are unavailable and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary. The members of the Valuation Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Henry P. Becton, Jr. (alternate). The Valuation Committee held five meetings for each Fund during the calendar year 2004.
Investment Oversight Committee: The Board has established two Investment Oversight Committees, one focusing on funds primarily investing in equity securities (the “Equity Oversight Committee”) and one focusing on funds primarily investing in fixed income securities (the “Fixed Income Oversight Committee”). These Committees meet regularly with fund portfolio managers and other investment personnel to review the relevant funds’ investment strategies and investment performance. The members of the Equity Oversight Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Carl W. Vogt. The members of the Fixed Income Oversight Committee are Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox, Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg (Chair). Each Investment Oversight Committee held four meetings during the calendar year 2004.
71
Table of Contents
Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee: The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee oversees (i) the quality, costs and types of shareholder services provided to the Funds and their shareholders, and (ii) the distribution-related services provided to the Fund and their shareholders. The members of the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee are Carl W. Vogt (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee (previously known as the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee) held four meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee: The Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee oversees (i) the significant legal affairs of the Fund, including the handling of pending or threatened litigation or regulatory action involving the Fund, and (ii) general compliance matters relating to the Fund. The members of the Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll and Carl Vogt (Chair). This committee met eight times in 2004.
Expense/Operations Committee: The Expense/Operations Committee (i) monitors the Fund’s total operating expense levels, (ii) oversees the provision of administrative services to the Funds, including the Fund’s custody, fund accounting and insurance arrangements, and (iii) reviews the Fund’s investment advisers’ brokerage practices, including the implementation of related policies. The members of the Expense/Operations Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox (Chair) and Kenneth C. Froewiss. This committee was established on October 12, 2004 and met one time in 2004.
* | 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 33904. |
Remuneration. Each Independent Director receives compensation from the Fund for his or her services, which includes an annual retainer and an attendance fee for each meeting attended. No additional compensation is paid to any Independent Director for travel time to meetings, attendance at directors’ educational seminars or conferences, service on industry or association committees, participation as speakers at directors’ conferences or service on special director task forces or subcommittees. Independent Directors do not receive any employee benefits such as pension or retirement benefits or health insurance.
Members of the Board of Directors who are officers, directors, employees or stockholders of the Advisor or its affiliates receive no direct compensation from the Fund, although they are compensated as employees of the Advisor, or its affiliates, and as a result may be deemed to participate in fees paid by the Fund. The following table shows compensation received by each Director from the Fund and aggregate compensation from all of the funds in the fund complex during the calendar year 2004.
Name of Director | Compensation from Scudder Global Fund | Compensation from Scudder International Fund | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses | Total Compensation Paid to Director from the Fund Complex (2)(3)(4) | ||||||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $ | 3,251 | $ | 6,338 | $ | 0 | $ | 159,500 | ||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll(1) | $ | 4,188 | $ | 8,238 | $ | 0 | $ | 208,016 | ||||
Keith R. Fox | $ | 3,846 | $ | 7,389 | $ | 0 | $ | 220,620 | ||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(5) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 87,364 | ||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | $ | 3,131 | $ | 6,091 | $ | 0 | $ | 153,500 | ||||
Carl W. Vogt | $ | 3,533 | $ | 6,905 | $ | 0 | $ | 168,500 |
(1) | Includes $14,896 in annual retainer fees in Ms. Driscoll’s role as Chairman of the Board. |
(2) | For each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, total compensation includes compensation for service on the boards of 18 trusts/corporations comprised of 49 funds/portfolios. Each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, currently serves on the boards of 18 trusts/corporations comprised of 41 funds/portfolios. Mr. Froewiss currently serves on the boards of 23 trusts/corporations comprised of 46 funds/portfolios. |
72
Table of Contents
(3) | Aggregate compensation reflects amounts paid to the Trustees, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with the possible consolidation of the various Scudder Fund Boards and with respect to legal and regulatory matters. Such amounts totaled $3,000 for Mr. Becton, $34,120 for Ms. Driscoll, $36,620 for Mr. Fox, and $17,000 for Mr. Vogt. These meeting fees were borne by the Funds. |
(4) | Aggregate compensation also reflects amounts paid to the Trustees for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with reviewing the Funds’ shareholder servicing arrangements. Such amounts totaled $2,500 for Ms. Driscoll and $31,000 for Mr. Fox. Also, included are amounts paid to the Trustees, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings to consider fund mergers. These amounts totaled $5,000 for Mr. Becton and Ms Driscoll, $4,000 for Mr. Fox and $3,000 for Ms. Stromberg. The Funds were reimbursed by the Advisor for these meeting fees. |
(5) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. He served as a member of five Scudder closed-end funds in 2004, for which he received the compensation indicated. |
Director Fund Ownership of Independent and Interested Directors
The following sets forth ranges of Director beneficial share ownership as of December 31, 2004.
Name of Director | Dollar Range of Securities Owned in Scudder Global Fund | Dollar Range of Securities Owned in Scudder International Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities Owned in All Funds in the Fund Complex Overseen by Director | |||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $10,001 - $50,000 | $10,001 - $50,000 | Over $100,000 | |||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | $10,001 - $50,000 | $1 - $10,000 | Over $100,000 | |||
Keith R. Fox | None | $10,001 - $50,000 | Over $100,000 | |||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(1) | None | None | $50,000-$100,000 | |||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | None | Over $100,000 | |||
Carl W. Vogt | None | None | Over $100,000 |
(1) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. |
Securities Beneficially Owned
As of November 11, 2005, all Directors and Officers of the Fund as a group owned beneficially (as that term is defined is section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) less than 1% of each class of each Fund.
To the best of each Fund’s knowledge, as of November 11, 2005, no person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of a Fund’s outstanding shares, except as noted below:
As of November 11, 2005, 14,090 shares in the aggregate, or 30.55% of the outstanding shares of Scudder Global Fund, Class R were held in the name of Scudder Trust Company, FBO Applied Energy Solutions LLC, Salem, NH 03079-1143, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of November 11, 2005, 11,826 shares in the aggregate, or 25.64% of the outstanding shares of Scudder Global Fund, Class R were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust FBO ADP/Scudder Choice, Florham Park, NJ 07932-1502, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of November 11, 2005, 4,760 shares in the aggregate, or 10.32% of the outstanding shares of Scudder Global Fund, Class R were held in the name of S&S Manufacturing, FBO S&S Manufacturing, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-1635, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
73
Table of Contents
As of November 11, 2005, 20,701 shares in the aggregate, or 15.12% of the outstanding shares of Scudder International Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Company, Custodian for Scudder Pathway Series, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of November 11, 2005, 46,622 shares in the aggregate, or 34.04% of the outstanding shares of Scudder International Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Company, Custodian for Scudder Pathway Series, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of November 11, 2005, 60,271 shares in the aggregate, or 44.01% of the outstanding shares of Scudder International Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Company, Custodian for Scudder Pathway Series, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
Ownership in Securities of the Advisor and Related Companies
As reported to the Fund, the information in the following table reflects ownership by the Independent Directors and their immediate family members of certain securities as of December 31, 2004. An immediate family member can be a spouse, children residing in the same household including step and adoptive children and any dependents. The securities represent ownership in an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund and any persons (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund (including Deutsche Bank AG).
Independent Director | Owner and Relationship to Director | Company | Title of Class | Value of Securities on an Aggregate Basis | Percent of Class on an Aggregate Basis | |||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | None | |||||||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | None | |||||||||
Keith R. Fox | None | |||||||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss | None | |||||||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | |||||||||
Carl W. Vogt | None |
Agreement to Indemnify Independent Directors for Certain Expenses.
In connection with litigation or regulatory action related to possible improper market timing or other improper trading activity or possible improper marketing and sales activity in the Funds, each Fund’s investment advisor has agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify and hold harmless the applicable Funds against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense, arising from market timing or marketing and sales matters alleged in any enforcement actions brought by governmental authorities involving or potentially affecting the Funds or the investment advisor (“Enforcement Actions”) or that are the basis for private actions brought by shareholders of the Funds against the Funds, their directors and officers, the Funds’ investment advisor and/or certain other parties (“Private Litigation”), or any proceedings or actions that may be threatened or commenced in the future by any person (including governmental authorities), arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. In recognition of its undertaking to indemnify the applicable Funds and in light of the rebuttable presumption generally afforded to independent directors of investment companies that they have not engaged in disabling conduct, each Fund’s investment advisor has also agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify the applicable Funds’ Independent Directors against certain liabilities the Independent Directors may incur from the matters alleged in any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation or arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation, and advance expenses that may be incurred by the Independent Directors in connection with any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. The applicable investment advisor is not, however, required to provide indemnification and advancement of expenses:
74
Table of Contents
(1) with respect to any proceeding or action with respect to which the applicable Fund’s Board determines that the Independent Director ultimately would not be entitled to indemnification or (2) for any liability of the Independent Director to the Funds or their shareholders to which the Independent Director would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Independent Director’s duties as a director or trustee of the Funds as determined in a final adjudication in such action or proceeding. The estimated amount of any expenses that may be advanced to the Independent Directors or indemnity that may be payable under the indemnity agreements is currently unknown. These agreements by each Fund’s investment advisor will survive the termination of the investment management agreements between the investment advisor and the Funds.
Organizational Description
Scudder Global Fund. Scudder Global Fund is a series of Global/International Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation organized on May 15, 1986. The name of this Corporation was changed, effective May 29, 1998, from Scudder Global Fund, Inc. This Corporation currently consists of four series: Scudder Global Fund, Scudder Global Bond Fund, Scudder Global Discovery Fund and Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund. Each Fund except Scudder Global Fund is further divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Scudder Global Fund is further divided into six classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R.
The authorized capital stock of Global/International Fund, Inc. consists of 1,559,993,796 shares with $0.01 par value, 200 million shares of which are allocated to Scudder Global Discovery Fund, 529,154,575 shares of which are allocated to Scudder Global Bond Fund, and 320 million shares of which are allocated to each of Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund and Scudder Global Fund.
Scudder International Fund. Scudder International Fund, Inc. was organized as Scudder Fund of Canada Ltd. in Canada in 1953 by the investment management firm of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. On March 16, 1964, the name of this Corporation was changed to Scudder International Investments Ltd. On July 31, 1975, the corporate domicile of this Corporation was changed to the US through the transfer of its net assets to a newly formed Maryland corporation, Scudder International Fund, Inc., in exchange for shares of the Corporation which then were distributed to the shareholders of the Corporation.
The authorized capital stock of Scudder International Fund, Inc., consists of 2,447,923,888 shares of a par value of $.01 each, which capital stock has been divided into five series: Scudder International Fund, the original series; Scudder Latin America Fund and Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, both organized in December 1992, Scudder Greater Europe Fund, organized in October 1994, and Scudder Emerging Markets Fund, organized in May 1996. Each series consists of 320 million shares except for International Fund which consists of 620,595,597 shares, Scudder Latin America Fund which consists of 340 million shares and Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund which consists of 420 million shares. Scudder International Fund is further divided into seven classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A (formerly known as Class R Shares), Class B, Class C, Institutional Class (formerly known as Class I shares) and Investment Class shares. Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund and Scudder Emerging Markets Fund are each divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C. Scudder Latin America Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class M. Scudder Greater Europe Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Institutional Class.
The Directors have the authority to create additional Funds and to designate the relative rights and preferences as between the different Funds. The Directors also may authorize the division of shares of a Fund into different classes, which may bear different expenses. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, transferable, have no pre-emptive or conversion rights and are redeemable as described in the SAI and in the Fund’s prospectus. Each share has equal rights with each other share of the same class of the Fund as to voting, dividends, exchanges, conversion features and liquidation. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held. The Directors may also terminate any Fund or class by notice to the shareholders without shareholder approval.
75
Table of Contents
Maryland corporate law provides that a Director of the Corporation shall not be liable for actions taken in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonable believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use in similar circumstances. In so acting, a Director shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon reports made to the Corporation by persons selected in good faith by the Directors as qualified to make such reports.
The Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws provide that the Corporation will indemnify Directors and officers of the Corporation against liabilities and expenses actually incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their positions with the Corporation. However, nothing in the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the By-Laws protects or indemnifies a Director or officer against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Each Director serves until the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of electing directors and until the election and qualification of a successor or until such director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed.
Subject to the limits of the 1940 Act and unless otherwise provided by the By-laws, a Director may be removed with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.
The Fund has delegated proxy voting responsibilities to its investment advisor, subject to the Board’s general oversight. The Fund has delegated proxy voting to the Advisor with the direction that proxies should be voted consistent with the Fund’s best economic interests. The Advisor has adopted its own Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”), and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Guidelines”) for this purpose. The Policies address, among other things, conflicts of interest that may arise between the interests of the Fund, and the interests of the Advisor and its affiliates, including the Fund’s principal underwriter. The Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general position on various proposals, such as:
• | Shareholder Rights — The Advisor generally votes against proposals that restrict shareholder rights. |
• | Corporate Governance — The Advisor generally votes for confidential and cumulative voting and against supermajority voting requirements for charter and bylaw amendments. The Advisor generally votes for proposals to restrict a chief executive officer from serving on more than three outside boards of directors. The Advisor generally votes against proposals that require a company to appoint a Chairman who is an independent director. |
• | Anti-Takeover Matters — The Advisor generally votes for proposals that require shareholder ratification of poison pills or that request boards to redeem poison pills, and votes against the adoption of poison pills if they are submitted for shareholder ratification. The Advisor generally votes for fair price proposals. |
• | Compensation Matters — The Advisor generally votes for executive cash compensation proposals, unless they are unreasonably excessive. The Advisor generally votes against stock option plans that do not meet the Advisor’s criteria. |
• | Routine Matters — The Advisor generally votes for the ratification of auditors, procedural matters related to the annual meeting and changes in company name, and against bundled proposals and adjournment. |
The general provisions described above do not apply to investment companies. The Advisor generally votes proxies solicited by investment companies in accordance with the recommendations of an independent third party, except for proxies solicited by or with respect to investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or principal underwriter (“affiliated investment companies”). The Advisor votes affiliated investment company proxies in the same proportion as the vote of the investment company’s other shareholders
76
Table of Contents
(sometimes called “mirror” or “echo” voting). Master fund proxies solicited from feeder funds are voted in accordance with applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Although the Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general voting positions on various proposals, the Advisor may, consistent with the Fund’s best interests, determine under some circumstances to vote contrary to those positions.
The Guidelines on a particular issue may or may not reflect the view of individual members of the Board or of a majority of the Board. In addition, the Guidelines may reflect a voting position that differs from the actual practices of the public companies within the Deutsche Bank organization or of the investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or sponsor.
The Advisor may consider the views of a portfolio company’s management in deciding how to vote a proxy or in establishing general voting positions for the Guidelines, but management’s views are not determinative.
As mentioned above, the Policies describe the way in which the Advisor resolves conflicts of interest. To resolve conflicts, the advisor, under normal circumstances, votes proxies in accordance with its Guidelines. If the Advisor departs from the Guidelines with respect to a particular proxy or if the Guidelines do not specifically address a certain proxy proposal, a proxy voting committee established by the advisor will vote the proxy. Before voting any such proxy, however, the Advisor’s conflicts review committee will conduct an investigation to determine whether any potential conflicts of interest exist in connection with the particular proxy proposal. If the conflicts review committee determines that the Advisor has a material conflict of interest, or certain individuals on the proxy voting committee should be recused from participating in a particular proxy vote, it will inform the proxy voting committee. If notified that the Advisor has a material conflict, or fewer than three voting members are eligible to participate in the proxy vote, typically the Advisor will engage an independent third party to vote the proxy or follow the proxy voting recommendations of an independent third party.
Under certain circumstances, the Advisor may not be able to vote proxies or the Advisor may find that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the benefits associated with voting. For example, the Advisor may not vote proxies on certain foreign securities due to local restrictions or customs. The Advisor generally does not vote proxies on securities subject to share blocking restrictions.
You may obtain information about how a fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 by visiting the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov or by visiting our Web site at: www.scudder.com (type “proxy voting” in the search field).
The financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, of Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund, together with the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and notes to financial statements as applicable in the Annual Report to the Shareholders of each Fund dated August 31, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference and are hereby deemed to be a part of this combined Statement of Additional Information.
The CUSIP number of Scudder Global Fund — Class A is 378947-857.
The CUSIP number of Scudder Global Fund — Class B is 378947-840.
The CUSIP number of Scudder Global Fund — Class C is 378947-832.
77
Table of Contents
The CUSIP number of Scudder Global Fund—Class R is 378947-741.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Class A: 811165-810.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Class B is 811165-794.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Class C is 811165-786.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Institutional Class is 811165-778.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Investment Class is 811165-620.
Each Fund has a fiscal year end of August 31.
This Statement of Additional Information contains the information of Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund. Each Fund, through its combined prospectus, offers only its own share classes, yet it is possible that one Fund might become liable for a misstatement regarding the other Fund. The Directors of each Fund have considered this, and have approved the use of this Statement of Additional Information.
The Funds’ prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information omit certain information contained in the Registration Statement which the Funds have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect to each Fund and the securities offered hereby. This Registration Statement and its amendments are available for inspection by the public at the SEC in Washington, D.C.
Standard & Poor’s Corporation Bond Ratings
AAA. Debt rated AAA had the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA. Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A. Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
BBB. Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
BB, B, CCC, CC and C. Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
CI. The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.
D. Debt rated D is in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in arrears.
78
Table of Contents
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Bond Ratings
AAA. Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt-edge.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa. Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A. Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa. Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba. Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B. Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa. Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca. Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C. Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
Fitch Long-Term Debt Ratings
AAA. Highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA. Very high credit quality. “AA”` ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A. High credit quality. “A” ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
79
Table of Contents
BBB. Good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.
BB. Speculative. “BB” ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
B. Highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC, C. High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A “CC” rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. “C” ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, D. Default. The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. “DDD” obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest. “DD” indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%, and “D” the lowest recovery potential, i.e., below 50%.
Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated “DDD” have the highest prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization process. Entities rated “DD” and “D” are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated “DD” are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated “D” have a poor prospect for repaying all obligations.
Fitch Short-Term Debt Ratings
F1. Highest credit quality. Indicates the Best capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2. Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
F3. Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B. Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C. High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
D. Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Commercial Paper Ratings
Commercial paper rated by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) has the following characteristics: Liquidity ratios are adequate to meet cash requirements. Long-term senior debt is rated “A” or better. The issuer has access to at least two additional channels of borrowing. Basic earnings and cash flow have an upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances. Typically, the issuer’s industry is well established and the issuer has a strong
80
Table of Contents
position within the industry. The reliability and quality of management are unquestioned. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determine whether the issuer’s commercial paper is rated A-1 or A-2.
The ratings Prime-1 and Prime-2 are the two highest commercial paper ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”). Among the factors considered by it in assigning ratings are the following: (1) evaluation of the management of the issuer; (2) economic evaluation of the issuer’s industry or industries and an appraisal of speculative-type risks which may be inherent in certain areas; (3) evaluation of the issuer’s products in relation to competition and customer acceptance; (4) liquidity; (5) amount and quality of long-term debt; (6) trend of earnings over a period of ten years; (7) financial strength of a parent company and the relationships which exist with the issuer; and (8) recognition by the management of obligations which may be present or may arise as a result of public interest questions and preparations to meet such obligations. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determines whether the issuer’s commercial paper is rated Prime-1 or 2.
Municipal Notes
Moody’s: The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “MIG 1,” “MIG 2,” and “MIG 3” (or “VMIG 1,” “VMIG 2” and “VMIG 3” in the case of an issue having a variable rate demand feature). Notes rated “MIG 1” or “VMIG 1” are judged to be of the “best quality”. Notes rated “MIG 2” or “VMIG 2” are of “high quality,” with margins or protection “ample although not as large as in the preceding group”. Notes rated “MIG 3” or “VMIG 3” are of “favorable quality,” with all security elements accounted for but lacking the strength of the preceding grades.
S&P: The “SP-1” rating reflects a “very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest”. Notes issued with “overwhelming safety characteristics” will be rated “SP-1+”. The “SP-2” rating reflects a “satisfactory capacity” to pay principal and interest.
Fitch: The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “F-1+,” “F-1,” and “F-2.”
81
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT B
Scudder Global Fund
A Series of Global/International Fund, Inc.
Scudder International Fund
A Series of Scudder International Fund, Inc.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Class AARP and Class S Shares
December 1, 2005
This combined Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the combined prospectus for the Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund (each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”), series of Global/International Fund, Inc. and Scudder International Fund, Inc., respectively, dated December 1, 2005, as amended from time to time, a copy of which may be obtained without charge by contacting Scudder Distributors, Inc., 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, 1-800-SCUDDER or the firm from which this Statement of Additional Information was obtained and is available along with other related materials on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov).
The Annual Report to Shareholders of each Fund, dated August 31, 2005 accompanies this Statement of Additional Information. They are incorporated by reference and are hereby deemed to be part of this Statement of Additional Information.
This combined Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into the combined prospectus.
Table of Contents
Page | ||
1 | ||
3 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
25 | ||
26 | ||
26 | ||
34 | ||
35 | ||
38 | ||
38 | ||
39 | ||
39 | ||
39 | ||
40 | ||
40 | ||
41 | ||
43 | ||
50 | ||
56 | ||
58 | ||
65 | ||
66 | ||
67 | ||
67 | ||
69 |
i
Table of Contents
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Unless specified to the contrary, the following fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund which, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules thereunder and as used in this Statement of Additional Information, means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.
Any investment restrictions herein which involve a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after and is caused by an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, a Fund.
Each Fund has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end management investment company. A diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of total assets, invest more than 5% of total assets in the securities of a single issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
As a matter of fundamental policy, each Fund may not:
(1) | borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(2) | issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(3) | concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(4) | engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities; |
(5) | purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include securities of companies which deal in real estate or mortgages or investments secured by real estate or interests therein, except that the Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities; |
(6) | purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities; or |
(7) | make loans to other persons, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. |
With respect to fundamental policy number five above, the Funds have no current intention to hold and sell real estate acquired as a result of a Fund’s ownership of securities.
The Directors of each Corporation have voluntarily adopted certain policies and restrictions, which are observed in the conduct of each Fund’s affairs. These represent intentions of the Directors based upon current circumstances. Non-fundamental policies may be changed by the Directors of the Corporation without requiring prior notice to or approval of shareholders.
Table of Contents
As a matter of non-fundamental policy, each Fund currently does not intend to:
(a) | borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets, except (i) for temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, or other investments or transactions described in the Fund’s registration statement which may be deemed to be borrowings; |
(b) | enter into either reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets; |
(c) | purchase securities on margin or make short sales, except (i) short sales against the box, (ii) in connection with arbitrage transactions, (iii) for margin deposits in connection with futures contracts, options or other permitted investments, (iv) that transactions in futures contracts and options shall not be deemed to constitute selling securities short, and (v) that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of securities transactions; |
(d) | purchase options, unless the aggregate premiums paid on all such options held by the Fund at any time do not exceed 20% of its total assets; or sell put options, if as a result, the aggregate value of the obligations underlying such put options would exceed 50% of its total assets; |
(e) | enter into futures contracts or purchase options thereon unless immediately after the purchase, the value of the aggregate initial margin with respect to such futures contracts entered into on behalf of the Fund and the premiums paid for such options on futures contracts does not exceed 5% of the fair market value of the Fund’s total assets; provided that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in computing the 5% limit; |
(f) | purchase warrants if as a result, such securities, taken at the lower of cost or market value, would represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (for this purpose, warrants acquired in units or attached to securities will be deemed to have no value); and |
(g) | lend portfolio securities in an amount greater than 33?% of its total assets. |
Each Fund will not purchase illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets, valued at the time of the transaction, would be invested in such securities.
Each Fund may engage in short sales against-the-box, although it is the Fund’s current intention that no more than 5% of its net assets will be at risk.
Each Fund will not acquire securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage beyond the specified limit resulting from a change in values or net assets will not be considered a violation.
Each Fund is an open-end management investment company which continuously offers and redeems shares at net asset value. Each Fund is a company of the type commonly known as a mutual fund. Scudder Global Fund is a diversified series of Global/International Fund, Inc. Scudder International Fund is a diversified series of Scudder International Fund, Inc. (each a “Corporation,” collectively the “Corporations”). Scudder Global Fund offers six classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares. Only Class AARP and Class S are offered herein. Scudder International Fund offers seven classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C, Institutional Class and Investment Class shares. Only Class AARP and Class S are offered herein. Each class has its own important features and policies. Shares of Class AARP are especially designed for members of AARP.
2
Table of Contents
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. If there is a change in investment objective, shareholders should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of their then current financial position and needs. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Changes in portfolio securities are made on the basis of investment considerations and it is against the policy of management to make changes for trading purposes.
Scudder Global Fund will be invested usually in securities of issuers located in at least three countries, one of which may be the US. The Fund may be invested 100% in non-US issues, and for temporary defensive purposes may be invested 100% in US issues, although under normal circumstances it is expected that both foreign and US investments will be represented in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund will not invest in securities issued by tobacco-producing companies.
For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may vary from its investment policies during periods when the Advisor determines that it is advisable to do so because of conditions in the securities markets or other economic or political conditions. During such periods, the Fund may hold without limit cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in debt securities that are rated Baa or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or below by Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), or deemed by the Advisor to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds).
Scudder International Fund invests in companies, wherever organized, which do business primarily outside the United States. The Fund intends to diversify investments among several countries and normally to have investments in securities of at least three different countries other than the US. The Fund will invest primarily in securities of issuers in the 21 developed foreign countries included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Europe, Australia, Far East (“EAFE”) Index, but may invest in “emerging markets.” The Fund considers “emerging markets” to include any country that is defined as an emerging or developing economy by any of the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (i.e., the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation or the United Nations or its authorities.
When the Advisor believes that it is appropriate to do so in order to achieve the Fund’s investment objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. The Fund will predominantly purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged by the Advisor to be of equivalent quality. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in debt securities which are rated below investment-grade.
The Fund may hold up to 20% of its net assets in US and foreign fixed income securities for temporary defensive purposes when the Advisor believes that market conditions so warrant. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets under normal conditions, and without limit for temporary defensive purposes, in cash or cash equivalents including domestic and foreign money market instruments, short-term government and corporate obligations and repurchase agreements, when the Advisor deems such a position advisable in light of economic or market conditions.
To meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company each Fund must limit its investments so that at the close of each quarter of its taxable year (1) no more than 25% of its total assets are invested in securities of a single issuer (other than US government or a regulated investment company), and (2) with respect to at least 50% of its total assets, no more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities of a single issuer.
3
Table of Contents
Temporary Defensive Policy. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder Global Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as money market securities. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder International Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as US or Canadian money market securities. These measures could prevent losses, but would mean that a fund was not pursuing its goal.
Master/feeder Fund Structure. The Boards of Directors has the discretion to retain the current distribution arrangement for a Fund while investing in a master fund in a master/feeder fund structure as described below.
A master/feeder fund structure is one in which a fund (a “feeder fund”), instead of investing directly in a portfolio of securities, invests most or all of its investment assets in a separate registered investment company (the “master fund”) with substantially the same investment objective and policies as the feeder fund. Such a structure permits the pooling of assets of two or more feeder funds, preserving separate identities or distribution channels at the feeder fund level. Based on the premise that certain of the expenses of operating an investment portfolio are relatively fixed, a larger investment portfolio may eventually achieve a lower ratio of operating expenses to average net assets. An existing investment company is able to convert to a feeder fund by selling all of its investments, which involves brokerage and other transaction costs and realization of a taxable gain or loss, or by contributing its assets to the master fund and avoiding transaction costs and, if proper procedures are followed, the realization of taxable gain or loss.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
General Investment Objective and Policies
Descriptions in this Statement of Additional Information of a particular investment practice or technique in which a Fund may engage are meant to describe the spectrum of investments that the Advisor in its discretion might, but is not required to, use in managing each Fund’s portfolio assets. The Advisor may, in its discretion, at any time employ such practice, technique or instrument for one or more Funds but not for all funds advised by it. Furthermore, it is possible that certain types of financial instruments or investment techniques described herein may not be available, permissible, economically feasible or effective for their intended purposes in all markets. Certain practices, techniques or instruments may not be principal activities of the Funds, but, to the extent employed, could from time to time have a material impact on a Fund’s performance.
It is possible that certain investment practices and techniques described below may not be permissible for a Fund based on its investment restrictions, as described herein, and in the Funds’ applicable prospectus.
Borrowing. As a matter of fundamental policy, a fund will not borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. While each fund’s Board of Directors does not currently intend to borrow for investment leveraging purposes, if such a strategy were implemented in the future it would increase the funds’ volatility and the risk of loss in a declining market. Borrowing by a fund will involve special risk considerations. Although the principal of a fund’s borrowings will be fixed, a fund’s assets may change in value during the time a borrowing is outstanding, thus increasing exposure to capital risk.
Common Stocks. Common stock is issued by companies to raise cash for business purposes and represents a proportionate interest in the issuing companies. Therefore, a fund participates in the success or failure of any
4
Table of Contents
company in which it holds stock. The market values of common stock can fluctuate significantly, reflecting the business performance of the issuing company, investor perception and general economic and financial market movements. Despite the risk of price volatility, however, common stocks have historically offered a greater potential for long-term gain on investment, compared to other classes of financial assets such as bonds or cash equivalents, although there can be no assurance that this will be true in the future.
Convertible Securities. A fund may invest in convertible securities, that is, bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stocks and other securities which are convertible into common stock. Investments in convertible securities can provide an opportunity for capital appreciation and/or income through interest and dividend payments by virtue of their conversion or exchange features.
The convertible securities in which a fund may invest are either fixed income or zero coupon debt securities which may be converted or exchanged at a stated or determinable exchange ratio into underlying shares of common stock. The exchange ratio for any particular convertible security may be adjusted from time to time due to stock splits, dividends, spin-offs, other corporate distributions or scheduled changes in the exchange ratio. Convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stocks, until converted, have general characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with debt securities generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion or exchange feature, the market value of convertible securities typically changes as the market value of the underlying common stocks changes, and, therefore, also tends to follow movements in the general market for equity securities. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock, although typically not as much as the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
As debt securities, convertible securities are investments which provide for a stream of income (or in the case of zero coupon securities, accretion of income) with generally higher yields than common stocks. Convertible securities generally offer lower yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality because of their conversion or exchange features.
Of course, like all debt securities, there can be no assurance of income or principal payments because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations.
Convertible securities generally are subordinated to other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior to common stock, of the same issuer. However, because of the subordination feature, convertible bonds and convertible preferred stock typically have lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities. Convertible securities may be issued as fixed income obligations that pay current income or as zero coupon notes and bonds, including Liquid Yield Option Notes (“LYONs”(TM)).
Corporate Obligations. Investment in corporate debt obligations involves credit and interest rate risk. The value of fixed-income investments will fluctuate with changes in interest rates and bond market conditions, tending to rise as interest rates decline and to decline as interest rates rise. Corporate debt obligations generally offer less current yield than securities of lower quality, but lower-quality securities generally have less liquidity, greater credit and market risk, and as a result, more price volatility. Longer-term bonds are, however, generally more volatile than bonds with shorter maturities.
5
Table of Contents
Depositary Receipts. A fund may invest in sponsored or unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”) and other types of Depositary Receipts (which, together with ADRs, GDRs and IDRs are hereinafter referred to as “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary receipts provide indirect investment in securities of foreign issuers. Prices of unsponsored Depositary Receipts may be more volatile than if they were sponsored by the issuer of the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. In addition, the issuers of the stock of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. ADRs are Depositary Receipts which are bought and sold in the United States and are typically issued by a US bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities by a foreign corporation. GDRs, IDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they may also be issued by United States banks or trust companies, and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or a United States corporation. Generally, Depositary Receipts in registered form are designed for use in the United States securities markets and Depositary Receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside the United States. For purposes of a fund’s investment policies, a fund’s investments in ADRs, GDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts, including those denominated in US dollars will be subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. However, by
6
Table of Contents
investing in US dollar-denominated ADRs rather than directly in foreign issuers’ stock, a fund avoids currency risks during the settlement period. In general, there is a large, liquid market in the United States for most ADRs. However, certain Depositary Receipts may not be listed on an exchange and therefore may be illiquid securities.
Dollar Roll Transactions. Dollar roll transactions consist of the sale by a fund to a bank or broker-dealer (the “counterparty”) of GNMA certificates or other mortgage-backed securities together with a commitment to purchase from the counterparty similar, but not identical, securities at a future date, at the same price. The counterparty receives all principal and interest payments, including prepayments, made on the security while it is the holder. A fund receives a fee from the counterparty as consideration for entering into the commitment to purchase. Dollar rolls may be renewed over a period of several months with a different purchase and repurchase price fixed and a cash settlement made at each renewal without physical delivery of securities. Moreover, the transaction may be preceded by a firm commitment agreement pursuant to which a fund agrees to buy a security on a future date.
A fund will segregate cash, US Government securities or other liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet their purchase obligations under the transactions. A fund will also maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for all outstanding firm commitments, dollar rolls and other borrowings.
Dollar rolls may be treated for purposes of the 1940 Act, as borrowings of a fund because they involve the sale of a security coupled with an agreement to repurchase. A dollar roll involves costs to a fund. For example, while a fund receives a fee as consideration for agreeing to repurchase the security, a fund forgoes the right to receive all principal and interest payments while the counterparty holds the security. These payments to the counterparty may exceed the fee received by a fund, thereby effectively charging a fund interest on its borrowing. Further, although a fund can estimate the amount of expected principal prepayment over the term of the dollar roll, a variation in the actual amount of prepayment could increase or decrease the cost of a fund’s borrowing.
The entry into dollar rolls involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. For example, if the counterparty becomes insolvent, a fund’s right to purchase from the counterparty might be restricted. Additionally, the value of such securities may change adversely before a fund is able to purchase them. Similarly, a fund may be required to purchase securities in connection with a dollar roll at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since, as noted above, the counterparty is required to deliver a similar, but not identical security to a fund, the security that a fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. Finally, there can be no assurance that a fund’s use of the cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.
Euro. The implementation of the Euro may result in uncertainties for European securities and the operation of a fund. The Euro was introduced on January 1, 1999 by eleven members countries of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Implementation of the Euro requires the redenomination of European debt and equity securities over a period of time, which may result in various accounting differences and/or tax treatments which would not otherwise occur. Additional questions are raised by the fact that certain other European Community members, including the United Kingdom, did not officially implement the Euro on January 1, 1999.
Eurodollar Instruments. A fund may make investments in Eurodollar instruments. Eurodollar instruments are US dollar-denominated futures contracts or options thereon which are linked to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), although foreign currency-denominated instruments are available from time to time. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A fund might use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked.
Eurodollar Obligations. Eurodollar bank obligations are US dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the US capital markets by foreign branches of US banks and US branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar obligations are subject to the same risks that pertain to domestic issues, notably credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks.
Foreign Currencies. Because investments in foreign securities usually will involve currencies of foreign countries, and because a fund may hold foreign currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign
7
Table of Contents
currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of a fund as measured in US dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and a fund may incur costs and experience conversion difficulties and uncertainties in connection with conversions between various currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing the security.
The strength or weakness of the US dollar against these currencies is responsible for part of a fund’s investment performance. If the dollar falls in value relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the dollar value of a Japanese stock held in the portfolio will rise even though the price of the stock remains unchanged. Conversely, if the dollar rises in value relative to the yen, the dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall. Many foreign currencies have experienced significant devaluation relative to the dollar.
Although a fund values its assets daily in terms of US dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into US dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should a fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. A fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.
Foreign Fixed Income Securities. Since most foreign fixed income securities are not rated, a fund will invest in foreign fixed income securities based on the Advisor’s analysis without relying on published ratings. Since such investments will be based upon the Advisor’s analysis rather than upon published ratings, achievement of a fund’s goals may depend more upon the abilities of the Advisor than would otherwise be the case.
The value of the foreign fixed income securities held by a fund, and thus the net asset value of a fund’s shares, generally will fluctuate with (a) changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the issuers of those securities, (b) movements in interest rates, and (c) changes in the relative values of the currencies in which a fund’s investments in fixed income securities are denominated with respect to the US Dollar. The extent of the fluctuation will depend on various factors, such as the average maturity of a fund’s investments in foreign fixed income securities, and the extent to which a fund hedges its interest rate, credit and currency exchange rate risks. A longer average maturity generally is associated with a higher level of volatility in the market value of such securities in response to changes in market conditions.
Investments in sovereign debt, including Brady Bonds (Brady Bonds are debt securities issued under a plan implemented to allow debtor nations to restructure their outstanding commercial bank indebtedness) involve special risks. Foreign governmental issuers of debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or pay interest when due. In the event of default, there may be limited or no legal recourse in that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party. Political conditions, especially a sovereign entity’s willingness to meet the terms of its fixed income securities, are of considerable significance. Also, there can be no assurance that the holders of commercial bank loans to the same sovereign entity may not contest payments to the holders of sovereign debt in the event of default under commercial bank loan agreements. In addition, there is no bankruptcy proceeding with respect to sovereign debt on which a sovereign has defaulted, and a fund may be unable to collect all or any part of its investment in a particular issue. Foreign investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled to varying degrees, including requiring governmental approval for the repatriation of income, capital or proceed of sales by foreign investors. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain sovereign debt or increase the costs and expenses of a fund.
Sovereign debt of emerging market governmental issuers is to be considered speculative. Emerging market governmental issuers are among the largest debtors to commercial banks, foreign governments, international financial organizations and other financial institutions. Certain emerging market governmental issuers have not been able to make payments of interest on or principal of debt obligations as those payments have come due. There is a history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities issuing sovereign debt.
8
Table of Contents
All or a portion of the interest payments and/or principal repayment with respect to sovereign debt may be uncollateralized. Obligations arising from past restructuring agreements may affect the economic performance and political and social stability of those issuers.
The ability of emerging market country governmental issuers to make timely payments on their obligations is likely to be influenced strongly by the issuer’s balance of payments, including export performance, and its access to international credits and investments. An emerging market whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities could be vulnerable to a decline in the international prices of one or more of those commodities. Increased protectionism on the part of an emerging market’s trading partners could also adversely affect the country’s exports and diminish its trade account surplus, if any. To the extent that emerging markets receive payment for its exports in currencies other than dollars or non-emerging market currencies, its ability to make debt payments denominated in dollars or non-emerging market currencies could be affected.
Another factor bearing on the ability of emerging market countries to repay debt obligations is the level of international reserves of the country. Fluctuations in the level of these reserves affect the amount of foreign exchange readily available for external debt payments and thus could have a bearing on the capacity of emerging market countries to make payments on these debt obligations.
To the extent that an emerging market country cannot generate a trade surplus, it must depend on continuing loans from foreign governments, multilateral organizations or private commercial banks, aid payments from foreign governments and inflows of foreign investment. The access of emerging markets to these forms of external funding may not be certain, and a withdrawal of external funding could adversely affect the capacity of emerging market country governmental issuers to make payments on their obligations. In addition, the cost of servicing emerging market debt obligations can be affected by a change in international interest rates since the majority of these obligations carry interest rates that are adjusted periodically based upon international rates.
Foreign Investments. Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the fund’s foreign investments and the value of its shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the US dollar. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign issuer than about a US issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the US. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable US issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions and other fees are also generally higher than in the US. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or in the recovery of the fund’s assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of investments in US markets. Payment for securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets.
In addition, foreign securities may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of the fund’s investments in certain foreign countries. Governments of many countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector through the ownership or control of many companies, including some of the largest in these countries. As a result, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions which may adversely affect prices of certain portfolio securities. There is also generally less government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the US. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, and special US tax considerations may apply. Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the US economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.
Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the US or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers organized under the laws of those foreign countries.
9
Table of Contents
Of particular importance, many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon exports, particularly to developed countries, and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the US and other countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be negatively impacted by economic conditions in the US and other trading partners, which can lower the demand for goods produced in those countries.
The risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, typically are increased in connection with investments in “emerging markets.” For example, political and economic structures in these countries may be in their infancy and developing rapidly, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries (including amplified risk of war and terrorism). Certain of these countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized and expropriated the assets of private companies. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative.
The currencies of certain emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the US dollar, and future devaluations may adversely affect the value of assets denominated in such currencies. In addition, currency hedging techniques may be unavailable in certain emerging market countries. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for many years, and future inflation may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries.
In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in emerging markets and the availability of additional investments in these markets. Any change in the leadership or politics of emerging market countries, or the countries that exercise a significant influence over those countries, may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities. The small size, limited trading volume and relative inexperience of the securities markets in these countries may make investments in securities traded in emerging markets illiquid and more volatile than investments in securities traded in more developed countries. For example, limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions. In addition, the fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making investments in securities traded in emerging markets. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers of emerging market securities, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value of prospects of an investment in such securities.
The risk also exists that an emergency situation may arise in one or more emerging markets as a result of which trading of securities may cease or may be substantially curtailed and prices for a fund’s securities in such markets may not be readily available. A fund may suspend redemption of its shares for any period during which an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC. Accordingly if a fund believes that appropriate circumstances exist, it will promptly apply to the SEC for a determination that an emergency is present. During the period commencing from a fund’s identification of such condition until the date of the SEC action, a fund’s securities in the affected markets will be valued at fair value determined in good faith by or under the direction of a fund’s Board.
Certain of the foregoing risks may also apply to some extent to securities of US issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies or that are traded in foreign markets, or securities of US issuers having significant foreign operations.
High Yield/High Risk Bonds. A fund may also purchase, to a limited extent, debt securities which are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”), that is, rated below Baa by Moody’s or below BBB by S&P and unrated securities, which usually entail greater risk (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities), generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of principal and income, and may be less liquid, than securities in the higher rating categories. The lower the ratings of such debt securities, the greater their risks render them like equity securities. Scudder International Fund will invest no more than 5% of its total assets in securities rated BB or lower by Moody’s or Ba by S&P, and may invest in securities which are rated D by S&P. See the Appendix to this Statement of Additional Information for a more complete description of the ratings assigned by ratings organizations and their respective characteristics.
10
Table of Contents
High yield, high-risk securities are especially subject to adverse changes in general economic conditions, to changes in the financial condition of their issuers and to price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates. An economic downturn could disrupt the high yield market and impair the ability of issuers to repay principal and interest. Also, an increase in interest rates would have a greater adverse impact on the value of such obligations than on higher quality debt securities. During an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issues may experience financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations. Prices and yields of high yield securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty, volatility of high yield securities may adversely affect a fund’s net asset value. In addition, investments in high yield zero coupon or pay-in-kind bonds, rather than income-bearing high yield securities, may be more speculative and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates.
The trading market for high yield securities may be thin to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market. A thin trading market may limit the ability of a fund to accurately value high yield securities in its portfolio and to dispose of those securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities. These securities may also involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.
Credit quality in the high-yield securities market can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security. For these reasons, it is the policy of the Advisor not to rely exclusively on ratings issued by established credit rating agencies, but to supplement such ratings with its own independent and on-going review of credit quality. The achievement of a fund’s investment objective by investment in such securities may be more dependent on the Advisor’s credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds. Should the rating of a portfolio security be downgraded, the Advisor will determine whether it is in the best interests of the fund to retain or dispose of such security.
Prices for below investment-grade securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. For example, new federal rules require savings and loan institutions to gradually reduce their holdings of this type of security. Congress has from time to time considered legislation which would restrict or eliminate the corporate tax deduction for interest payments in these securities and regulate corporate restructurings. Such legislation may significantly depress the prices of outstanding securities of this type.
Illiquid Securities and Restricted Securities. A fund may purchase securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”). Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold (i) only to qualified institutional buyers; (ii) in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers; (iii) in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration; or (iv) in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Issuers of restricted securities may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.
Restricted securities are often illiquid, but they may also be liquid. For example, restricted securities that are eligible for resale under Rule 144A are often deemed to be liquid.
The Funds’ Boards have approved guidelines for use by the Advisor in determining whether a security is liquid or illiquid. Among the factors the Advisor may consider in reaching liquidity decisions relating to Rule 144A securities are: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the market for the security (i.e., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of the transfer). Where a registration statement is required for the resale of restricted securities, a fund may be required to bear all or part of the registration expenses. A fund may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the 1933 Act when selling restricted securities to the public and, in such event, a fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer is materially inaccurate or misleading.
11
Table of Contents
A fund may also purchase securities that are not subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, but that are deemed illiquid. Such securities may be illiquid, for example, because there is a limited trading market for them.
A fund may be unable to sell a restricted or illiquid security. In addition, it may be more difficult to determine a market value for restricted or illiquid securities. Moreover, if adverse market conditions were to develop during the period between a fund’s decision to sell a restricted or illiquid security and the point at which a fund is permitted or able to sell such security, a fund might obtain a price less favorable than the price that prevailed when it decided to sell. This investment practice, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity of a fund.
IPO Risk. Securities issued through an initial public offering (IPO) can experience an immediate drop in value if the demand for the securities does not continue to support the offering price. Information about the issuers of IPO securities is also difficult to acquire since they are new to the market and may not have lengthy operating histories. A fund may engage in short-term trading in connection with its IPO investments, which could produce higher trading costs and adverse tax consequences. The number of securities issued in an IPO is limited, so it is likely that IPO securities will represent a smaller component of a fund’s portfolio as a fund’s assets increase (and thus have a more limited effect on a fund’s performance).
Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program. The Funds have received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which permits the Funds to participate in an interfund lending program among certain investment companies advised by the Advisor. The interfund lending program allows the participating funds to borrow money from and loan money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes. The program is subject to a number of conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds, including the following: (1) no fund may borrow money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than a rate approximating the lowest interest rate at which bank loans would be available to any of the participating funds under a loan agreement; and (2) no fund may lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable return than that available from an investment in repurchase agreements and, to the extent applicable, money market cash sweep arrangements. In addition, a fund may participate in the program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the fund’s investment objectives and policies (for instance, money market funds would normally participate only as lenders and tax exempt funds only as borrowers). Interfund loans and borrowings may extend overnight, but could have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one day’s notice. A fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional costs. The program is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Boards of the participating funds. To the extent the Funds are actually engaged in borrowing through the interfund lending program, the Funds, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, may not borrow for other than temporary or emergency purposes (and not for leveraging), except that the Funds may engage in reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls for any purpose.
Investment Company Securities. A fund may acquire securities of other investment companies to the extent consistent with its investment objective and subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act. A fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
For example, a fund may invest in a variety of investment companies which seek to track the composition and performance of specific indexes or a specific portion of an index. These index-based investments hold substantially all of their assets in securities representing their specific index. Accordingly, the main risk of investing in index-based investments is the same as investing in a portfolio of equity securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded (which may result in their trading at a discount or premium to their NAVs). Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specified index because of transaction costs and because of the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.
Examples of index-based investments include:
SPDRs(R): SPDRs, an acronym for “Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts,” are based on the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by the SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds shares of substantially all the companies in the S&P 500 in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
12
Table of Contents
MidCap SPDRs(R): MidCap SPDRs are based on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. They are issued by the MidCap SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of securities consisting of substantially all of the common stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
Select Sector SPDRs(R): Select Sector SPDRs are based on a particular sector or group of industries that are represented by a specified Select Sector Index within the Standard & Poor’s Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by The Select Sector SPDR Trust, an open-end management investment company with nine portfolios that each seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of a particular Select Sector Index.
DIAMONDS(SM): DIAMONDS are based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM). They are issued by the DIAMONDS Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of all the component common stocks of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Dow.
Nasdaq-100 Shares: Nasdaq-100 Shares are based on the Nasdaq 100 Index. They are issued by the Nasdaq-100 Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio consisting of substantially all of the securities, in substantially the same weighting, as the component stocks of the Nasdaq-100 Index and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
WEBs(SM): WEBs, an acronym for “World Equity Benchmark Shares,” are based on 17 country-specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Indexes. They are issued by the WEBs Index Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company that seeks to generally correspond to the price and yield performance of a specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Index.
Investment-Grade Bonds. A fund may purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Advisor. Moody’s considers bonds it rates Baa to have speculative elements as well as investment-grade characteristics. To the extent that a fund invests in higher-grade securities, a fund will not be able to avail itself of opportunities for higher income which may be available at lower grades.
Investment of Uninvested Cash Balances. A fund may have cash balances that have not been invested in portfolio securities (“Uninvested Cash”). Uninvested Cash may result from a variety of sources, including dividends or interest received from portfolio securities, unsettled securities transactions, reserves held for investment strategy purposes, scheduled maturity of investments, liquidation of investment securities to meet anticipated redemptions and dividend payments, and new cash received from investors. Uninvested Cash may be invested directly in money market instruments or other short-term debt obligations. Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, the Fund may use Uninvested Cash to purchase shares of affiliated funds including money market funds, short-term bond funds and Scudder Cash Management Investment Trust, or one or more future entities for which the advisor acts as trustee or investment advisor that operate as cash management investment vehicles and that are excluded from the definition of investment company pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (collectively, the “Central Funds”) in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Investment by a fund in shares of the Central Funds will be in accordance with a fund’s investment policies and restrictions as set forth in its registration statement.
Certain of the Central Funds comply with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The other Central Funds are or will be short-term bond funds that invest in fixed-income securities and maintain a dollar weighted average maturity of three years or less. Each of the Central Funds will be managed specifically to maintain a highly liquid portfolio, and access to them will enhance a fund’s ability to manage Uninvested Cash.
A fund will invest Uninvested Cash in Central Funds only to the extent that a fund’s aggregate investment in the Central Funds does not exceed 25% of its total assets. Purchase and sales of shares of Central Funds are made at net asset value.
13
Table of Contents
Lending of Portfolio Securities. A fund may lend its investment securities to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions, such as covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver securities or completing arbitrage operations. By lending its investment securities, a fund attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest on the loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would belong to a fund. A fund may lend its investment securities so long as the terms, structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations or interpretations of the SEC thereunder, which currently require that (a) the borrower pledge and maintain with the fund collateral consisting of liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities loaned, (b) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities loaned rises (i.e., the borrower “marks to the market” on a daily basis), (c) the loan be made subject to termination by the fund at any time, and (d) the fund receives reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the fund investing any cash collateral in interest bearing short-term investments), and distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in their market value. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by a fund’s delegate after a commercially reasonable review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
At the present time, the staff of the SEC does not object if an investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the investment company’s Board of Trustees/Directors. In addition, voting rights may pass with the loaned securities, but if a material event occurs affecting an investment on loan, the loan must be called and the securities voted. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the SEC, cash collateral received by a fund may be invested in a money market fund managed by the Advisor (or one of its affiliates).
Micro-Cap Companies. While, historically, micro-capitalization company stocks have outperformed the stocks of large companies, the former have customarily involved more investment risk as well. There can be no assurance that this will continue to be true in the future. Micro-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may lack management depth or experience; and may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than large companies. The prices of micro-capitalization company securities are often more volatile than prices associated with large company issues, and can display abrupt or erratic movements at times, due to limited trading volumes and less publicly available information.
Also, because micro-capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding and these shares trade less frequently than large companies, it may be more difficult for a fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.
Some of the companies in which a fund may invest may distribute, sell or produce products which have recently been brought to market and may be dependent on key personnel. The securities of micro-capitalization companies are often traded over-the-counter and may not be traded in the volumes typical on a national securities exchange. Consequently, in order to sell this type of holding, a fund may need to discount the securities from recent prices or dispose of the securities over a long period of time.
Participation Interests. A fund may purchase from financial institutions participation interests in securities in which a fund may invest. A participation interest gives a fund an undivided interest in the security in the proportion that a fund’s participation interest bears to the principal amount of the security. These instruments may have fixed, floating or variable interest rates, with remaining maturities of 397 days or less. If the participation interest is unrated, or has been given a rating below that which is permissible for purchase by a fund, the participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by US Government securities, or, in the case of unrated participation interest, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality to those instruments in which a fund may invest. For certain participation interests, a fund will have the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, for all or any part of a fund’s participation interests in the security, plus accrued interest. As to these instruments, a fund generally intends to exercise its right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms of the security.
14
Table of Contents
Privatized Enterprises. Investments in foreign securities may include securities issued by enterprises that have undergone or are currently undergoing privatization. The governments of certain foreign countries have, to varying degrees, embarked on privatization programs contemplating the sale of all or part of their interests in state enterprises. A fund’s investments in the securities of privatized enterprises may include privately negotiated investments in a government or state-owned or controlled company or enterprise that has not yet conducted an initial equity offering, investments in the initial offering of equity securities of a state enterprise or former state enterprise and investments in the securities of a state enterprise following its initial equity offering.
In certain jurisdictions, the ability of foreign entities, such as a fund, to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, or the price or terms on which a fund may be able to participate may be less advantageous than for local investors. Moreover, there can be no assurance that governments that have embarked on privatization programs will continue to divest their ownership of state enterprises, that proposed privatizations will be successful or that governments will not re-nationalize enterprises that have been privatized.
In the case of the enterprises in which a fund may invest, large blocks of the stock of those enterprises may be held by a small group of stockholders, even after the initial equity offerings by those enterprises. The sale of some portion or all of those blocks could have an adverse effect on the price of the stock of any such enterprise.
Prior to making an initial equity offering, most state enterprises or former state enterprises go through an internal reorganization or management. Such reorganizations are made in an attempt to better enable these enterprises to compete in the private sector. However, certain reorganizations could result in a management team that does not function as well as an enterprise’s prior management and may have a negative effect on such enterprise. In addition, the privatization of an enterprise by its government may occur over a number of years, with the government continuing to hold a controlling position in the enterprise even after the initial equity offering for the enterprise.
Prior to privatization, most of the state enterprises in which a fund may invest enjoy the protection of and receive preferential treatment from the respective sovereigns that own or control them. After making an initial equity offering, these enterprises may no longer have such protection or receive such preferential treatment and may become subject to market competition from which they were previously protected. Some of these enterprises may not be able to operate effectively in a competitive market and may suffer losses or experience bankruptcy due to such competition.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). REITs are sometimes informally characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Investment in REITs may subject a fund to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, such as decreases in real estate values, overbuilding, increased competition and other risks related to local or general economic conditions, increases in operating costs and property taxes, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, possible environmental liabilities, regulatory limitations on rent and fluctuations in rental income. Equity REITs generally experience these risks directly through fee or leasehold interests, whereas mortgage REITs generally experience these risks indirectly through mortgage interests, unless the mortgage REIT forecloses on the underlying real estate. Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of a fund’s investment in REITs. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by those REITs.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalizations, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of their securities. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) and to maintain exemption from the registration requirements of the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of a fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. In addition, REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.
15
Table of Contents
Repurchase Agreements. A fund may invest in repurchase agreements pursuant to its investment guidelines. In a repurchase agreement, a fund acquires ownership of a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller, typically a bank or broker-dealer. Some repurchase commitment transactions may not provide a fund with collateral marked-to-market during the term of the commitment.
A repurchase agreement provides a means for a fund to earn income on funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which the purchaser (i.e., a fund) acquires a security (“Obligation”) and the seller agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the Obligation at a specified time and price. Securities subject to a repurchase agreement are held in a segregated account and the value of such securities kept at least equal to the repurchase price on a daily basis. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to a fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to a fund together with the repurchase price upon repurchase. In either case, the income to a fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the Obligation itself. Obligations will be held by the Custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry system.
It is not clear whether a court would consider the Obligation purchased by a fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by a fund or as being collateral for a loan by a fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the Obligation before repurchase of the Obligation under a repurchase agreement, a fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of the Obligation. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and a fund has not perfected a security interest in the Obligation, a fund may be required to return the Obligation to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, a fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for a fund, the Advisor seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the Obligation. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the Obligation, in which case a fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to a fund of the sale to a third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value of the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), a fund will direct the seller of the Obligation to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible that a fund will be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce the seller’s contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. A fund may enter into “reverse repurchase agreements,” which are repurchase agreements in which a fund, as the seller of the securities, agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. A fund maintains a segregated account in connection with outstanding reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are deemed to be borrowings subject to a fund’s investment restrictions applicable to that activity. A fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only when the Advisor believes that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction will be greater than the interest expense of the transaction. Such transactions may increase fluctuation in the market value of fund assets and their yields.
Small Company Risk. The Advisor believes that many small companies may have sales and earnings growth rates which exceed those of larger companies, and that such growth rates may in turn be reflected in more rapid share price appreciation over time. However, investing in smaller company stocks involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. For example, smaller companies can have limited product lines, markets, or financial and managerial resources. Smaller companies may also be dependent on one or a few key persons, and may be more susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Also, the securities of smaller companies may be thinly traded (and therefore have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or sold in small lots over an extended period of time). Transaction costs in smaller company stocks may be higher than those of larger companies.
Strategic Transactions and Derivatives. A fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment strategies as described below for a variety of purposes, such as hedging various market risks, managing the effective maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities in a fund’s portfolio or enhancing potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts.
16
Table of Contents
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, a fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities, equity and fixed-income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors, collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies, or currency futures and various other currency transactions (collectively, all the above are called “Strategic Transactions”). In addition, strategic transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. Strategic Transactions may be used without limit (subject to certain limits imposed by the 1940 Act) to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for a fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect a fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of a fund’s portfolio, or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance potential gain although no more than 5% of a fund’s assets will be committed to certain Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous variables including market conditions. The ability of a fund to utilize these Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Advisor’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. A fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions will not be used to alter fundamental investment purposes and characteristics of a fund, and a fund will segregate assets (or as provided by applicable regulations, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under options, futures and swaps to limit leveraging of a fund.
Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts, have risks associated with them including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Advisor’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Use of put and call options may result in losses to a fund, force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation a fund can realize on its investments or cause a fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in a fund incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension of settlements, or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of a fund creates the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of a fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances and certain over-the-counter options may have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, a fund might not be able to close out a transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts would create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchases of options, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce net asset value, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized.
General Characteristics of Options. Put options and call options typically have similar structural characteristics and operational mechanics regardless of the underlying instrument on which they are purchased or sold. Thus, the following general discussion relates to each of the particular types of options discussed in greater detail below. In addition, many Strategic Transactions involving options require segregation of fund assets in special accounts, as described below under “Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts.”
A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. For instance, the fund’s purchase of a put option on a security might be designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving the fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives
17
Table of Contents
the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. A fund’s purchase of a call option on a security, financial future, index, currency or other instrument might be intended to protect the fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase such instrument. An American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior thereto. A fund is authorized to purchase and sell exchange listed options and over-the-counter options (“OTC options”). Exchange listed options are issued by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), which guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such options. The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other financial intermediaries.
With certain exceptions, OCC issued and exchange listed options generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, although in the future cash settlement may become available. Index options and Eurodollar instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the option is “in-the-money” (i.e., where the value of the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in ownership of the new option.
A fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OCC or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (“Counterparties”) through direct bilateral agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. A fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency options) that are subject to a buy-back provision permitting a fund to require the Counterparty to sell the option back to a fund at a formula price within seven days. A fund expects generally to enter into OTC options that have cash settlement provisions, although it is not required to do so.
Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with a fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, a fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Accordingly, the Advisor must assess the creditworthiness of each such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the Counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be satisfied. The fund will engage in OTC option transactions only with US government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as “primary dealers” or broker-dealers, domestic or foreign banks or other financial institutions which have received (or the guarantors of the obligation of which have received) a short-term credit rating of A-1 from S&P or P-1 from Moody’s or an equivalent rating from any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, in the case of OTC currency transactions, are determined to be of
18
Table of Contents
equivalent credit quality by the Advisor. The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by a fund, and portfolio securities “covering” the amount of a fund’s obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to a fund’s limitation on investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
If a fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will increase a fund’s income. The sale of put options can also provide income.
A fund may purchase and sell call options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments that are traded on US and foreign securities exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets, and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts. All calls sold by a fund must be “covered” (i.e., a fund must own the securities or futures contract subject to the call) or must meet the asset segregation requirements described below as long as the call is outstanding. Even though a fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, a call sold by a fund exposes the fund during the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the underlying security or instrument and may require a fund to hold a security or instrument which it might otherwise have sold.
A fund may purchase and sell put options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments (whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio), and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts other than futures on individual corporate debt and individual equity securities. A fund will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of the fund’s total assets would be required to be segregated to cover its potential obligations under such put options other than those with respect to futures and options thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that a fund may be required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.
General Characteristics of Futures. A fund may enter into futures contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, and for duration management, risk management and return enhancement purposes. Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
The funds have claimed exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” adapted by the CFTC and the National Futures Association, which regulate trading in the futures markets. Therefore, the funds are not subject to commodity pool operator registration and regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act. Futures and options on futures may be entered into for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio and return enhancement management purposes to the extent consistent with the exclusion from commodity pool operator registration. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon requires a fund to deposit with a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances). Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the mark to market value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of a fund. If a fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an advantageous price, nor that delivery will occur.
19
Table of Contents
Options on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. A fund also may purchase and sell call and put options on securities indices and other financial indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same objectives it would achieve through the sale or purchase of options on individual securities or other instruments. Options on securities indices and other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, they settle by cash settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case of an OTC option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing price of the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price movements in the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on securities.
Currency Transactions. A fund may engage in currency transactions with counterparties primarily in order to hedge, or manage the risk of the value of portfolio holdings denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency futures, exchange listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is described below. A fund may enter into currency transactions with counterparties which have received (or the guarantors of the obligations which have received) a credit rating of A-1 or P-1 by S&P or Moody’s, respectively, or that have an equivalent rating from a NRSRO or (except for OTC currency options) are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Advisor.
A fund’s dealings in forward currency contracts and other currency transactions such as futures, options, options on futures and swaps generally will be limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio positions except as described below. Transaction hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or liabilities of a fund, which will generally arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income therefrom. Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency.
A fund generally will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an extent greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or partially to offset other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the time of entering into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such currency, other than with respect to proxy hedging or cross hedging as described below.
A fund may also cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to other currencies to which a fund has or in which a fund expects to have portfolio exposure.
To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities, a fund may also engage in proxy hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which a fund’s portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the US dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a commitment or option to sell a currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be correlated to a currency or currencies in which some or all of a fund’s portfolio securities are or are expected to be denominated, in exchange for US dollars. The amount of the commitment or option would not exceed the value of a fund’s securities denominated in correlated currencies. Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to a fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that a fund is engaging in proxy hedging. If a fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the fund will comply with the asset segregation requirements described below.
20
Table of Contents
Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to a fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy.
Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the US. When conducted outside the US, Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the US, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the US of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the US, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the US, and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.
Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars. Among the Strategic Transactions into which a fund may enter are interest rate, currency, index and other swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors and collars. A fund expects to enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities a fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. A fund will not sell interest rate caps or floors where it does not own securities or other instruments providing the income stream a fund may be obligated to pay. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of principal. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the values of the reference indices. The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates or values.
Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Many Strategic Transactions, in addition to other requirements, require that a fund segregate cash or liquid assets with its custodian to the extent fund obligations are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by a fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid assets at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian. The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For example, a call option written by a fund will require a fund to hold the securities subject to the call (or securities convertible into the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid assets sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is exercised. A call option sold by a fund on an index will require a fund to own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on a current basis. A put option written by a fund requires a fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
Except when a fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no segregation, a currency contract which obligates a fund to buy or sell currency will
21
Table of Contents
generally require a fund to hold an amount of that currency or liquid assets denominated in that currency equal to a fund’s obligations or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of a fund’s obligation.
OTC options entered into by a fund, including those on securities, currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC issued and exchange listed index options, will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when a fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal 100% of the exercise price in the case of a non cash-settled put, the same as an OCC guaranteed listed option sold by a fund, or the in-the-money amount plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition, when a fund sells a call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, a fund will segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value to such excess. OCC issued and exchange listed options sold by a fund other than those above generally settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement and a fund will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, a fund must deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to segregating cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet their obligation to purchase or provide securities or currencies, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an index-based futures contract. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.
With respect to swaps, a fund will accrue the net amount of the excess, if any, of their obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets having a value equal to the accrued excess. Caps, floors and collars require segregation of assets with a value equal to a fund’s net obligation, if any.
Strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies. A fund may also enter into offsetting transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets, equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic Transactions. For example, a fund could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option sold by a fund. Moreover, instead of segregating cash or liquid assets if a fund held a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations. If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary transaction no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time, cash or liquid assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
A fund’s activities involving Strategic Transactions may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company.
Combined Transactions. A fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (“component” transactions), instead of a single Strategic Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Advisor, it is in the best interests of the fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Advisor’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Supranational Entities. Supranational entities are international organizations designated or supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, The Asian Development Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank. Obligations of supranational entities are backed by the guarantee of one or more foreign governmental parties which sponsor the entity.
22
Table of Contents
Trust Preferred Securities. A fund may invest in Trust Preferred Securities, which are hybrid instruments issued by a special purpose trust (the “Special Trust”), the entire equity interest of which is owned by a single issuer. The proceeds of the issuance to a fund of Trust Preferred Securities are typically used to purchase a junior subordinated debenture, and distributions from the Special Trust are funded by the payments of principal and interest on the subordinated debenture.
If payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures held by the Special Trust are deferred by the debenture issuer, the debentures would be treated as original issue discount (“OID”) obligations for the remainder of their term. As a result, holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as a fund, would be required to accrue daily for Federal income tax purposes their share of the stated interest and the de minimis OID on the debentures (regardless of whether a fund receives any cash distributions from the Special Trust), and the value of Trust Preferred Securities would likely be negatively affected. Interest payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures typically may only be deferred if dividends are suspended on both common and preferred stock of the issuer. The underlying junior subordinated debentures generally rank slightly higher in terms of payment priority than both common and preferred securities of the issuer, but rank below other subordinated debentures and debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be subject to mandatory prepayment under certain circumstances. The market values of Trust Preferred Securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and, unless and until registered, are restricted securities; there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of Trust Preferred Securities and the ability of holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as a fund, to sell their holdings.
US Government Securities. There are two broad categories of US Government-related debt instruments: (a) direct obligations of the US Treasury, and (b) securities issued or guaranteed by US Government agencies.
Examples of direct obligations of the US Treasury are Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and other debt securities issued by the US Treasury. These instruments are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. They differ primarily in interest rates, the length of maturities and the dates of issuance. Treasury bills have original maturities of one year or less. Treasury notes have original maturities of one to ten years and Treasury bonds generally have original maturities of greater than ten years.
Some agency securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (such as Maritime Administration Title XI Ship Financing Bonds and Agency for International Development Housing Guarantee Program Bonds) and others are backed only by the rights of the issuer to borrow from the US Treasury (such as Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds and Federal National Mortgage Association Bonds), while still others, such as the securities of the Federal Farm Credit Bank, are supported only by the credit of the issuer. With respect to securities supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or by an additional line of credit with the US Treasury, there is no guarantee that the US Government will provide support to such agencies and such securities may involve risk of loss of principal and interest.
US Government Securities may include “zero coupon” securities that have been stripped by the US Government of their unmatured interest coupons and collateralized obligations issued or guaranteed by a US Government agency or instrumentality.
Interest rates on US Government obligations may be fixed or variable. Interest rates on variable rate obligations are adjusted at regular intervals, at least annually, according to a formula reflecting then current specified standard rates, such as 91-day US Treasury bill rates. These adjustments generally tend to reduce fluctuations in the market value of the securities.
The government guarantee of the US Government Securities in a fund’s portfolio does not guarantee the net asset value of the shares of a fund. There are market risks inherent in all investments in securities and the value of an investment in a fund will fluctuate over time. Normally, the value of investments in US Government Securities varies inversely with changes in interest rates. For example, as interest rates rise the value of investments in US
23
Table of Contents
Government Securities will tend to decline, and as interest rates fall the value of a fund’s investments will tend to increase. In addition, the potential for appreciation in the event of a decline in interest rates may be limited or negated by increased principal prepayments with respect to certain Mortgage-Backed Securities, such as GNMA Certificates. Prepayments of high interest rate Mortgage-Backed Securities during times of declining interest rates will tend to lower the return of a fund and may even result in losses to a fund if some securities were acquired at a premium. Moreover, during periods of rising interest rates, prepayments of Mortgage-Backed Securities may decline, resulting in the extension of a fund’s average portfolio maturity. As a result, a fund’s portfolio may experience greater volatility during periods of rising interest rates than under normal market conditions.
Warrants. The holder of a warrant has the right, until the warrant expires, to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, however, and are, therefore, considered speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. Thus, if a warrant held by a fund were not exercised by the date of its expiration, a fund would lose the entire purchase price of the warrant.
When-Issued Securities. Each fund may from time to time purchase equity and debt securities on a “when-issued,” “delayed delivery” or “forward delivery” basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities takes place at a later date. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the fund. When the fund purchases such securities, it immediately assumes the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation. Failure to deliver a security purchased on this basis may result in a loss or missed opportunity to make an alternative investment.
To the extent that assets of the fund are held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the fund would earn no income. While such securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the fund intends to purchase them with the purpose of actually acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the time the fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on this basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its net asset value. The market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase price. The fund will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain cash and liquid securities equal in value to commitments for such securities.
Zero Coupon Securities. A fund may invest in zero coupon securities which pay no cash income and are sold at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. Zero coupon securities are subject to greater market value fluctuations from changing interest rates than debt obligations of comparable maturities which make current distributions of interest (cash). Zero coupon securities which are convertible into common stock offer the opportunity for capital appreciation as increases (or decreases) in market value of such securities closely follows the movements in the market value of the underlying common stock. Zero coupon convertible securities generally are expected to be less volatile than the underlying common stocks, as they usually are issued with maturities of 15 years or less and are issued with options and/or redemption features exercisable by the holder of the obligation entitling the holder to redeem the obligation and receive a defined cash payment.
Zero coupon securities include securities issued directly by the US Treasury, and US Treasury bonds or notes and their unmatured interest coupons and receipts for their underlying principal (“coupons”) which have been separated by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. A holder will separate the interest coupons from the underlying principal (the “corpus”) of the US Treasury security. A number of securities firms and banks have stripped the interest coupons and receipts and then resold them in custodial receipt programs with a number of different names, including “Treasury Income Growth Receipts” (TIGRS(TM)) and Certificate of Accrual on Treasuries (CATS(TM)). The underlying US Treasury bonds and notes themselves are held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Counsel to the underwriters of these certificates or other evidences of ownership of the US Treasury securities have stated that, for federal tax and securities purposes, in their opinion purchasers of such certificates, such as a fund, most likely will be deemed the beneficial holder of
24
Table of Contents
the underlying US Government securities. A fund understands that the staff of the Division of Investment Management of the SEC no longer considers such privately stripped obligations to be US Government securities, as defined in the 1940 Act; therefore, a fund intends to adhere to this staff position and will not treat such privately stripped obligations to be US Government securities for the purpose of determining if a fund is “diversified” under the 1940 Act.
The US Treasury has facilitated transfers of ownership of zero coupon securities by accounting separately for the beneficial ownership of particular interest coupon and corpus payments on Treasury securities through the Federal Reserve book-entry record keeping system. The Federal Reserve program as established by the Treasury Department is known as “STRIPS” or “Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities.” Under the STRIPS program, a fund will be able to have its beneficial ownership of zero coupon securities recorded directly in the book-entry record-keeping system in lieu of having to hold certificates or other evidences of ownership of the underlying US Treasury securities.
When US Treasury obligations have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons by the holder, the principal or corpus is sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Once stripped or separated, the corpus and coupons may be sold separately. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the Treasury sells itself.
Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until a Fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). A Fund does not disseminate non-public information about portfolio holdings except in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by a Fund.
A Fund’s procedures permit non-public portfolio holdings information to be shared with the Advisor and its affiliates (collectively “Deutsche Asset Management” or “DeAM”), sub-advisers, if any, custodians, independent registered public accounting firms, securities lending agents, financial printers, proxy voting firms and other service providers to a Fund who require access to this information to fulfill their duties to a Fund, subject to the requirements described below. This non-public information may also be disclosed to certain mutual fund analysts and rating and tracking agencies, such as Lipper, shareholders in connection with in-kind redemptions or to other entities if a Fund has a legitimate business purpose in providing the information, subject to the requirements described below.
Prior to any disclosure of a Fund’s non-public portfolio holdings information to the foregoing types of entities or persons, a person authorized by a Fund’s Directors must make a good faith determination in light of the facts then known that a Fund has a legitimate business purpose for providing the information, that the disclosure is in the best interest of a Fund, and that the recipient assents or otherwise has a duty to keep the information confidential and agrees not to disclose, trade or make any investment recommendation based on the information received while the information remains non-public. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to a Fund’s Directors.
Registered investment companies that are sub-advised by DeAM may be subject to different portfolio holdings disclosure policies, and neither DeAM nor a Fund’s Directors exercise control over such policies. In addition, separate account clients of DeAM have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to a Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy. The portfolio holdings of some of the funds sub-advised by DeAM and some of the separate accounts managed by DeAM may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund.
DeAM also manages certain unregistered commingled trusts and creates model portfolios, the portfolio holdings of which may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund. To the extent that investors in these commingled trusts or recipients of model portfolio holdings information
25
Table of Contents
may receive portfolio holdings information of their trust or of a model portfolio on a different basis from that on which Fund portfolio holdings information is made public, DeAM has implemented procedures reasonably designed to encourage such investors and recipients to keep such information confidential, and to prevent those investors from trading on the basis of non-public holdings information.
There is no assurance that a Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings information will protect a Fund from the potential misuse of portfolio holdings information by those in possession of that information.
On April 5, 2002, 100% of Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc., not including certain U.K. operations (known as Threadneedle Investments), was acquired by Deutsche Bank AG and changed its name to Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Advisor”). DeIM, which is part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), is the investment advisor for the Funds. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors of each Fund, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, DeIM makes the Funds’ investment decisions, buys and sells securities for the Funds and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. The Advisor manages each Fund’s daily investment and business affairs subject to the policies established by each Corporation’s Board of Directors. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds. DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. The Funds’ investment advisor is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
DeAM is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, DeAM, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Scudder Trust Company. DeAM is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts, and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight, across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles. DeIM is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
Pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Agreement”) with each Fund, the Advisor acts as each Fund’s investment advisor, manages its investments, administers its business affairs, furnishes office facilities and equipment, provides clerical and administrative services and permits its officers and employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of one or more funds if elected to such positions. To the extent permissible by law, the Advisor may appoint certain of its affiliates as subadvisors to perform certain of the Advisor’s duties.
The Advisor provides investment counsel for many individuals and institutions, including insurance companies, industrial corporations, and financial and banking organizations, as well as providing investment advice to open- and closed-end SEC registered funds.
In certain cases, the investments for a Fund are managed by the same individuals who manage one or more other mutual funds advised by the Advisor that have similar names, objectives and investment styles. You should be aware that a Fund is likely to differ from these other mutual funds in size, cash flow pattern and tax matters. Accordingly, the holdings and performance of a Fund can be expected to vary from those of these other mutual funds.
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. Frequently, a particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, a particular security may be
26
Table of Contents
bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be equitable to each. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund.
The current Agreements, dated April 5, 2002, for Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund, were last approved by the Directors of each Fund on September 30, 2005. Each Agreement will continue in effect from year to year thereafter only if its continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of those Directors who are not parties to such Agreements or interested persons of the Advisor or the Corporations, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and either by a vote of the Corporations’ Directors or of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.
The Agreements may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by either party on sixty days’ written notice and automatically terminate in the event of their assignment.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor regularly provides each Fund with continuing investment management consistent with each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions and determines what securities shall be purchased, held or sold and what portion of a Fund’s assets shall be held uninvested, subject to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, the 1940 Act, the Code and to each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and subject, further, to such policies and instructions as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time establish. The Advisor also advises and assists the officers of the Corporation in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of its Directors and the appropriate committees of the Directors regarding the conduct of the business of each Fund.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor also renders administrative services (not otherwise provided by third parties) necessary for each Fund’s operations as an open-end investment company including, but not limited to, preparing reports and notices to the Directors and shareholders; supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, and monitoring various third-party service providers to a Fund (such as each Funds’ transfer agent, pricing agents, custodian, accountants and others); preparing and making filings with the SEC and other regulatory agencies; assisting in the preparation and filing of each Funds’ federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and filing each Funds’ federal excise tax returns; assisting with investor and public relations matters; monitoring the valuation of securities and the calculation of net asset value; monitoring the registration of shares of each Fund under applicable federal and state securities laws; maintaining each Funds’ books and records to the extent not otherwise maintained by a third party; assisting in establishing accounting policies of each Fund; assisting in the resolution of accounting and legal issues; establishing and monitoring each Funds’ operating budget; processing the payment of each Funds’ bills; assisting each Fund in, and otherwise arranging for, the payment of distributions and dividends; and otherwise assisting each Fund in the conduct of its business, subject to the direction and control of the Directors.
The Advisor may serve as advisor to other funds with investment objectives and policies similar to those of a Fund that may have different distribution arrangements or expenses, which may affect performance.
None of the officers or Directors of a Corporation may have dealings with a Fund as principals in the purchase or sale of securities, except as individual subscribers to or holders of shares of the Fund.
Each Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who each play an important role in a Fund’s management process. Team members work together to develop investment strategies and select securities for a Fund’s portfolio. This team works for the Advisor or its affiliates and is supported by a large staff of economists, research analysts, traders and other investment specialists. The Advisor or its affiliates believe(s) its team approach benefits Fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and leveraging its extensive resources. Team members with primary responsibility for management of the Funds, as well as team members who have other ongoing management responsibilities for each Fund, are identified in each Fund’s prospectus, as of the date of the Fund’s prospectus. Composition of the team may change over time, and Fund shareholders and investors will be notified of changes affecting individuals with primary Fund management responsibility.
27
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund
The current advisory fee rates are payable monthly at the annual rates shown below.
Average Daily Net Assets | Scudder Global Fund | ||
$0-$500 million | 1.00 | % | |
$500 million-$1 billion | 0.95 | ||
$1 billion-$1.5 billion | 0.90 | ||
$1.5 billion-$2 billion | 0.85 | ||
over $2 billion | 0.80 |
The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
Scudder International Fund
Scudder International Fund pays the Advisor an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.675% on the first $6 billion of average daily net assets, 0.625% on the next $1 billion of such net assets, and 0.600% of such net assets in excess of $7 billion, computed and accrued daily. The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
The advisory fees paid by each Fund for its last three fiscal years are shown in the table below.
Fund | Fiscal Year 2005 | Fiscal Year 2004 | Fiscal Year 2003 | ||||||
Scudder Global Fund | $ | 8,883,911 | $ | 8,518,604 | $ | 7,705,564 | |||
Scudder International Fund | $ | 10,735,566 | $ | 11,830,071 | $ | 12,321,821 |
Under its investment management agreement, a Fund is responsible for all of its other expenses including: organizational costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; brokers’ commissions; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; insurance; taxes and governmental fees; the fees and expenses of the transfer agent; any other expenses of issue, sale, underwriting, distribution, redemption or repurchase of shares; the expenses of and the fees for registering or qualifying securities for sale; the fees and expenses of Directors, officers and employees of a Fund who are not affiliated with the Advisor; the cost of printing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders; and the fees and disbursements of custodians. A Fund may arrange to have third parties assume all or part of the expenses of sale, underwriting and distribution of shares of the Fund. A Fund is also responsible for its expenses of shareholders’ meetings, the cost of responding to shareholders’ inquiries, and its expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the legal obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Directors of the Fund with respect thereto.
Each Agreement identifies the Advisor as the exclusive licensee of the rights to use and sublicense the names “Scudder,” “Scudder Investments” and “Scudder, Stevens and Clark, Inc.” (together, the “Scudder Marks”). Under this license, the Corporation, with respect to a Fund, has the non-exclusive right to use and sublicense the Scudder name and marks as part of its name, and to use the Scudder Marks in the Corporation’s investment products and services. The term “Scudder Investments” is the designation given to the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to Scudder Mutual Funds.
In reviewing the terms of each Agreement and in discussions with the Advisor concerning such Agreement, the Directors of the Corporation who are not “interested persons” of the Advisor are represented by independent counsel at the Funds’ expense.
Each Agreement provides that the Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund in connection with matters to which the Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from
28
Table of Contents
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Advisor in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by the Advisor of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.
Officers and employees of the Advisor from time to time may have transactions with various banks, including the Funds’ custodian bank. It is the Advisor’s opinion that the terms and conditions of those transactions which have occurred were not influenced by existing or potential custodial or other Fund relationships.
Scudder Global Fund. Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.445% for each of Class AARP and Class S shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.46% and 1.461% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Scudder International Fund. Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.34% and 1.24% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.305% and 1.105% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
AARP through its affiliate, AARP Services, Inc. monitors and oversees the AARP Investment Program from Scudder Investments, but does not act as an investment advisor or recommend specific mutual funds. The advisor has agreed to pay a fee to AARP and/or its affiliates in return for the use of the AARP trademark and services relating to investments by AARP members in AARP Class shares of each fund. This fee is calculated on a daily basis as a percentage of the combined net assets of the AARP Classes of all funds managed by the advisor. The fee rates, which decrease as the aggregate net assets of the AARP Classes become larger, are as follows: 0.07% for the first $6 billion in net assets, 0.06% for the next $10 billion and 0.05% thereafter. These amounts are used for the general purposes of AARP and its members.
Scudder Global Fund: Board Considerations — Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements
The Fund’s Directors approved the continuation of Scudder Global Fund’s current investment management agreement with DeIM in September 2005.
In terms of the process the Directors followed prior to approving the contract, shareholders should know that:
• | At the present time, all of your Fund’s Directors — including the chair of the board — are independent of DeIM and its affiliates. |
29
Table of Contents
• | The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. |
• | The Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. |
DeIM and its predecessors (Deutsche Bank acquired Scudder in 2002) have managed the Fund since inception, and the Directors believe that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interest of shareholders. As you may know, DeIM is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Directors believe that there are significant advantages to being part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.
Shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, but the Fund’s Directors consider these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DeIM’s personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures. The Directors note approvingly that DeIM has worked with them to implement new, forward-looking policies and procedures in many important areas, such as those involving brokerage commissions and so-called “soft dollars”, even when not obligated to do so by law or regulation.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Fund’s current investment management agreement, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:
• | The investment management fee schedule for the Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisers by similar funds, the Directors noted that the fee rates paid by the Fund (Class S shares) were higher than the median (4th quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe as of December 31, 2004. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the investment services being provided to the Fund. |
• | The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows. In this regard, the Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels. |
• | The total operating expenses of the Fund, including relative to the Fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper. In this regard, the Board noted that the total expenses of the Fund (Class S shares) for the year ending December 31, 2004 were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of the Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. |
• | The investment performance of the Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board noted that for the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s performance (Class S shares) was in the 1st quartile, 2nd quartile and 1st quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also observed that the Fund has |
30
Table of Contents
outperformed its benchmark in the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance.
• | The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreement, including the scope of services provided under the agreement. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. |
• | The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Fund (and, separately, to the entire Scudder fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, Deutsche Asset Management’s overall profitability with respect to the Scudder fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available. |
• | The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process. |
• | DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Fund against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board, (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by Deutsche Asset Management to compliance matters. |
• | Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Fund and its shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth of its U.S. mutual fund business, the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups. |
31
Table of Contents
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue the Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such agreement was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current agreement.
Scudder International Fund: Board Considerations — Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements
The Fund’s Directors approved the continuation of Scudder International Fund’s current investment management agreement with DeIM in September 2005.
In terms of the process the Directors followed prior to approving the contract, shareholders should know that:
• | At the present time, all of your Fund’s Directors — including the chair of the board — are independent of DeIM and its affiliates. |
• | The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. |
• | The Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. |
DeIM and its predecessors (Deutsche Bank acquired Scudder in 2002) have managed the Fund since inception, and the Directors believe that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interest of shareholders. As you may know, DeIM is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Directors believe that there are significant advantages to being part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.
Shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, but the Fund’s Directors consider these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DeIM’s personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures. The Directors note approvingly that DeIM has worked with them to implement new, forward-looking policies and procedures in many important areas, such as those involving brokerage commissions and so-called “soft dollars”, even when not obligated to do so by law or regulation.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Fund’s current investment management agreement, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:
• | The investment management fee schedule for the Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisers by similar funds, the Directors noted that the fee rates paid by the Fund (Class S shares) were lower than the median (2nd quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe as of December 31, 2004. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the investment services being provided to the Fund. |
• | The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows. In this regard, the Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded |
32
Table of Contents
that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels.
• | The total operating expenses of the Fund, including relative to the Fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper. In this regard, the Board noted that the total expenses of the Fund (Class S shares) for the year ending December 31, 2004 were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of the Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. |
• | The investment performance of the Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board noted that for the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s performance (Class S shares) was in the 1st quartile, 3rd quartile and 3rd quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also observed that the Fund has outperformed its benchmark in the one year period ended June 30, 2005, and has underperformed its benchmark in the three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance. |
• | The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreement, including the scope of services provided under the agreement. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. |
• | The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Fund (and, separately, to the entire Scudder fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, Deutsche Asset Management’s overall profitability with respect to the Scudder fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available. |
• | The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process. |
• | DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Fund against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. |
33
Table of Contents
The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board, (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by Deutsche Asset Management to compliance matters.
• | Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Fund and its shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth of its U.S. mutual fund business, the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups. |
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue the Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such agreement was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current agreement.
Subadvisor — Scudder International Fund. Prior to September 30, 2005, Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Ltd. (“DeAMIS”) was Scudder International Fund’s subadvisor. On July 7, 2005, Deutsche Bank AG, the parent company of Scudder International Fund’s investment advisor, entered into an agreement (the “Transaction”) with Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen”) to sell parts of its asset management business based in London and Philadelphia. As part of the Transaction, DeAMIS was sold to Aberdeen. The fund’s Board allowed the subadvisory agreement with DeAMIS, due for renewal on September 30, 2005, to expire and only the advisory agreement with DeIM was approved for continuation. Aberdeen will play no role in managing Scudder International Fund.
From August 14, 2000 for Scudder International Fund and September 11, 2000, for Scudder Global Fund, until March 31, 2004, each Fund operated under an administrative services agreement with the Advisor (the “Administrative Agreement”) pursuant to which the Advisor provided or paid others to provide substantially all of the administrative services required by the Fund (other than those provided by the Advisor under its investment management agreement with the Fund, as described above) in exchange for the payment by the Fund of an administrative services fee (the “Administrative Fee”). Effective January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, Scudder Global Fund paid an Administrative Fee of 0.470% for Class AARP and Class S shares, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. Effective January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, Scudder International Fund paid an Administrative Fee of 0.665% for Class AARP shares and 0.565% for Class S shares, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. Prior to January 1, 2003, each Fund paid 0.375% for Class AARP and Class S of the average daily net assets of the applicable class.
The Administrative Agreement between the Advisor and each Fund terminated March 31, 2004. Effective April 1, 2004, each Fund directly bears the cost of those expenses formerly covered under the Administrative Agreement, subject to the Advisor’s contractual obligation to waive fees and reimburse expenses to maintain the Fund’s operating expenses at a specified level, as noted above and disclosed in the applicable prospectus.
34
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund
For the period September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, the Administrative Fee paid by the Fund was $2,412,814, of which $427 and $12,751 for Class AARP and Class S, respectively, were not imposed as of August 31, 2004. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, the Administrative Fee paid by the Fund was $3,426,329.
Scudder International Fund
For the period September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, the Administrative Fee paid by the Fund was $6,145,072. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, the Administrative Fee paid by the Fund was $9,209,992.
AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program
Pursuant to an agreement between the Advisor and AMA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Medical Association (the “AMA”), dated May 9, 1997, the Advisor has agreed, subject to applicable state regulations, to pay AMA Solutions, Inc. royalties in an amount equal to 5% of the management fee received by the Advisor with respect to assets invested by AMA members in Scudder funds in connection with the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program. The Advisor will also pay AMA Solutions, Inc. a general monthly fee, currently in the amount of $833. The AMA and AMA Solutions, Inc. are not engaged in the business of providing investment advice and neither is registered as an investment advisor or broker-dealer under federal securities laws. Any person who participates in the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program will be a customer of the Advisor (or of a subsidiary thereof) and not the AMA or AMA Solutions, Inc. AMA InvestmentLink(SM) is a service mark of AMA Solutions, Inc.
Codes of Ethics
The Funds, the Advisor, the Subadvisor, and the Funds’ principal underwriter have each adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Board members, officers of the Corporations and employees of the Advisor and principal underwriter are permitted to make personal securities transactions, including transactions in securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, subject to requirements and restrictions set forth in the applicable Code of Ethics. The Advisor’s Code of Ethics contains provisions and requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest between personal investment activities and the interests of the Funds. Among other things, the Advisor’s Code of Ethics prohibits certain types of transactions absent prior approval, imposes time periods during which personal transactions may not be made in certain securities, and requires the submission of duplicate broker confirmations and quarterly reporting of securities transactions. Additional restrictions apply to portfolio managers, traders, research analysts and others involved in the investment advisory process. Exceptions to these and other provisions of the Advisor’s Code of Ethics may be granted in particular circumstances after review by appropriate personnel.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers
The Funds have been advised that the Advisor seeks to offer its investment professionals competitive short-term and long-term compensation. Portfolio managers and research professionals are paid (i) base salaries, which are linked to job function, responsibilities and financial services industry peer comparison and (ii) variable compensation, which is linked to investment performance, individual contributions to the team and Scudder Investments’ and Deutsche Bank’s financial results. Variable compensation may include a cash bonus incentive and participation in a variety of long-term equity programs (usually in the form of Deutsche Bank equity).
Bonus and long-term incentives comprise a greater proportion of total compensation as an investment professional’s seniority and compensation levels increase. Top performing investment professionals earn a total compensation package that is highly competitive, including a bonus that is a multiple of their base salary. The amount of equity awarded under the long-term equity programs is generally based on the individual’s total compensation package and
35
Table of Contents
may comprise from 0%-40% of the total compensation award. As incentive compensation increases, the percentage of compensation awarded in Deutsche Bank equity also increases. Certain senior investment professionals may be subject to a mandatory diverting of a portion of their equity compensation into proprietary mutual funds that they manage.
To evaluate its investment professionals, the Advisor uses a Performance Management Process. Objectives evaluated by the process are related to investment performance and generally take into account peer group and benchmark related data. The ultimate goal of this process is to link the performance of investment professionals with client investment objectives and to deliver investment performance that meets or exceeds clients’ risk and return objectives. When determining total compensation, the Advisor considers a number of quantitative and qualitative factors such as:
• | Scudder Investments’ performance and the performance of Deutsche Asset Management; quantitative measures which include 1-, 3- and 5-year pre-tax returns versus benchmark (such as the benchmark used in the prospectus) and appropriate peer group, taking into consideration risk targets. Additionally, the portfolio manager’s retail/institutional asset mix is weighted, as appropriate for evaluation purposes. |
• | Qualitative measures include adherence to the investment process and individual contributions to the process, among other things. In addition, the Advisor assesses compliance, risk management and teamwork skills. |
• | Other factors, including contributions made to the investment team as well as adherence to compliance, risk management, and “living the values” of the Advisor, are part of a discretionary component which gives management the ability to reward these behaviors on a subjective basis through bonus incentives. |
In addition, the Advisor analyzes competitive compensation levels through the use of extensive market data surveys. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed and may be modified each year as appropriate to reflect changes in the market, as well as to adjust the factors used to determine overall compensation to promote good sustained investment performance.
Fund Ownership of Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar range of shares owned beneficially and of record by each member of each Fund’s portfolio management team in a Fund as well as in all Scudder Funds as a group (i.e., those funds advised by Deutsche Asset Management or its affiliates), including investments by their immediate family members sharing the same household and amounts invested through retirement and deferred compensation plans. This information is provided as of each Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
Name of Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned | Dollar Range of All Scudder Fund Shares Owned | ||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | $ | 0 | $ | 100,001 - $ 500,000 | ||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | $ | 100,001 - $ 500,000 | $ | 100,001 - $ 500,000 |
Conflicts of Interest. In addition to managing the assets of a Fund, a Fund’s portfolio manager may have responsibility for managing other client accounts of the Advisor or its affiliates. The tables below show, for each portfolio manager, the number and asset size of (1) SEC registered investment companies (or series thereof) other than the Fund, (2) pooled investment vehicles that are not registered investment companies and (3) other accounts (e.g., accounts managed for individuals or organizations) managed by each portfolio manager. The tables also show the number of performance based fee accounts, as well as the total assets of the accounts for which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account. For Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund), this information is provided as of October 3, 2005. For Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund), this information is provided as of Scudder Global Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
36
Table of Contents
Other SEC Registered Investment Companies Managed:
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Registered Investment Companies | Total Assets of Registered Investment Companies | Number of Investment Company Accounts with Performance Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance- Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder | 4 | $ | 2,217,508,827 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
International Fund) | ||||||||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 15 | $ | 1,698,865,334 | 0 | $ | 0 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed:
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Total Assets of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicle Accounts with Performance-Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance- Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder | 3 | $ | 106,841,706 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
International Fund) | ||||||||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 6 | $ | 686,046,399 | 0 | $ | 0 |
Other Accounts Managed:
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Other Accounts | Total Assets of Other Accounts | Number of Other Accounts with Performance-Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder | 4 | $ | 827,756,486 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
International Fund) | ||||||||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 8 | $ | 1,020,576,336 | 0 | $ | 0 |
In addition to the accounts above, an investment professional may manage accounts in a personal capacity that may include holdings that are similar to, or the same as, those of the Funds. The Advisor has in place a Code of Ethics that is designed to address conflicts of interest and that, among other things, imposes restrictions on the ability of portfolio managers and other “access persons” to invest in securities that may be recommended or traded in the funds and other client accounts.
Real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day portfolio management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or account, including the following:
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor, including other client accounts managed by a Fund’s portfolio manager. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. A particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, because clients of the Advisor may have differing investment strategies, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. The investment results achieved for the Fund may differ from the results achieved for other clients of the Advisor. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be most equitable to each client, generally utilizing a pro rata allocation methodology. In some cases, the allocation
37
Table of Contents
procedure could potentially have an adverse effect or positive effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund and the other clients.
To the extent that a portfolio manager has responsibilities for managing multiple client accounts, a portfolio manager will need to divide time and attention among relevant accounts. The Advisor attempts to minimize these conflicts by aligning its portfolio management teams by investment strategy and by employing similar investment models across multiple client accounts.
In some cases, an apparent conflict may arise where the Advisor has an incentive, such as a performance-based fee, in managing one account and not with respect to other accounts it manages. The Advisor will not determine allocations based on whether it receives a performance-based fee from the client. Additionally, the Advisor has in place supervisory oversight processes to periodically monitor performance deviations for accounts with like strategies.
The Advisor is owned by Deutsche Bank AG, a multi-national financial services company. Therefore, the Advisor is affiliated with a variety of entities that provide, and/or engage in commercial banking, insurance, brokerage, investment banking, financial advisory, broker-dealer activities (including sales and trading), hedge funds, real estate and private equity investing, in addition to the provision of investment management services to institutional and individual investors. Since Deutsche Bank AG, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees (the “Firm”) are engaged in businesses and have interests other than managing asset management accounts, such other activities involve real, potential or apparent conflicts of interests. These interests and activities include potential advisory, transactional and financial activities and other interests in securities and companies that may be directly or indirectly purchased or sold by the Firm for its clients’ advisory accounts. These are considerations of which advisory clients should be aware and which may cause conflicts that could be to the disadvantage of the Advisor’s advisory clients. The Advisor has instituted business and compliance policies, procedures and disclosures that are designed to identify, monitor and mitigate conflicts of interest and, as appropriate, to report them to the Funds’ Boards.
The Corporations, on behalf of the Funds, have an underwriting agreement with Scudder Distributors, Inc., 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (the “Distributor” or “SDI”), a Massachusetts corporation, which is a subsidiary of the Advisor, a Delaware corporation. The Corporations’ underwriting agreements dated April 5, 2002 were last approved by the Directors on September 30, 2005 and will remain in effect from year to year thereafter only if their continuance is approved annually by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not parties to such agreement or interested persons of any such party and either by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund.
Under the underwriting agreement, each Fund is responsible for the payment of all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing with the SEC of its registration statement and prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto; the registration and qualification of shares for sale in the various states, including registering each Fund as a broker or dealer in various states, as required; the fees and expenses of preparing, printing and mailing prospectuses annually to existing shareholders (see below for expenses relating to prospectuses paid by the Distributor); notices, proxy statements, reports or other communications to shareholders of each Fund; the cost of printing and mailing confirmations of purchases of shares and any prospectuses accompanying such confirmations; any issuance taxes and/or any initial transfer taxes; a portion of shareholder toll-free telephone charges and expenses of shareholder service representatives; the cost of wiring funds for share purchases and redemptions (unless paid by the shareholder who initiates the transaction); the cost of printing and postage of business reply envelopes; and a portion of the cost of computer terminals used by both the Funds and the Distributor.
The Distributor will pay for printing and distributing prospectuses or reports prepared for its use in connection with the offering of each Fund’s shares to the public and preparing, printing and mailing any other literature or advertising in connection with the offering of shares of each Fund to the public. The Distributor will pay all fees and
38
Table of Contents
expenses in connection with its qualification and registration as a broker or dealer under federal and state laws, a portion of the cost of toll-free telephone service and expenses of shareholder service representatives, a portion of the cost of computer terminals, and expenses of any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares issued by each Fund, unless a Rule 12b-1 Plan is in effect which provides that a Fund shall bear some or all of such expenses.
Although neither Class AARP nor Class S shares of each Fund has a 12b-1 Plan, and the Directors have no current intention of adopting one, the Funds will also pay those fees and expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the Corporation pursuant to a 12b-1 Plan, if any, adopted by the Corporation, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in the underwriting agreement.
The Distributor currently offers shares of each Fund on a continuous basis to investors in all states in which shares of each Fund may from time to time be registered or where permitted by applicable law. The underwriting agreement provides that the Distributor accepts orders for shares at net asset value as no sales commission or load is charged to the investor. The Distributor has made no firm commitment to acquire shares of each Fund.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The financial highlights of each Fund included in the Funds’ prospectus and the Financial Statements incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information have been so included or incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110, independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers audits the financial statements of the Funds and provides other audit, tax and related services. Shareholders will receive annual audited financial statements and semi-annual unaudited financial statements.
Ropes & Gray, LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624, serves as legal counsel to each Fund and the Independent Directors of each Fund.
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation (“SFAC”), Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, a subsidiary of the Advisor, is responsible for determining net asset value per share and maintaining the portfolio and general accounting records for the Funds. Pursuant to a sub-accounting and sub-administration agreement among the Advisor, SFAC and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”), SFAC and the Advisor have delegated certain administrative and fund accounting functions to SSB under the investment management agreement and the fund accounting agreement, respectively. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by the Advisor and SFAC, not by a Fund.
Effective upon termination of the Administrative Agreement, the Funds pay SFAC an annual fee equal to 0.065% of the first $150 million of average daily net assets, 0.040% of such assets in excess of $150 million and 0.020% of such assets in excess of $1 billion, plus holding and transaction charges for this service.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged to Global Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $339,742, all of which is unpaid at August 31, 2004.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged to International Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $267,597, all of which is unpaid at August 31, 2004.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to Global Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $411,295, of which $28,957 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
39
Table of Contents
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to International Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $531,757, of which $4,983 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
Prior to April 1, 2004, the service provider fees outlined above were paid by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Brown Brothers Harriman & Company (“Custodian”), 40 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109 serves as Custodian to the Funds. The Custodian has entered into agreements with foreign subcustodians approved by the Directors of the Corporation pursuant to Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act.
Custodian’s fee may be reduced by certain earnings credits in favor of each Fund.
Scudder Service Corporation (“Service Corporation” or “SSC”), P.O. Box 219669, Kansas City, Missouri, 64121-9669, a subsidiary of the Advisor, is the transfer and dividend-disbursing agent for each Fund. Service Corporation also serves as shareholder service agent for each Fund and provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services for shareholder accounts in certain retirement and employee benefit plans. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between SISC and DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”), SSC has delegated certain transfer agent and dividend paying agent functions to DST. The costs and expenses of such delegation are born by SSC, not by the Funds. Each Fund pays Service Corporation an annual fee of $26 for each regular account for a shareholder and $29 for each retirement account maintained for a participant.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged by SSC aggregated $142,775 (of which $32,674 was not imposed and $53,721 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class AARP shares and $493,225 (of which $224,209 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class S shares of Scudder Global Fund.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged by SSC aggregated $56,993 (of which $9,331 was not imposed and $14,195 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class AARP shares and $1,091,202 (of which $443,704 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class S shares of Scudder International Fund.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged by SSC aggregated $336,853 (of which $76,628 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class AARP shares and $875,302 (of which $239,145 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class S shares of Scudder Global Fund.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged by SSC aggregated $134,702 (of which $30,603 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class AARP shares and $2,145,604 (of which $585,404 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class S shares of Scudder International Fund.
Prior to April 1, 2004, the service provider fees outlined above were paid by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Each Fund, or the Advisor (including any affiliate of the Advisor), or both, may pay unaffiliated third parties for providing recordkeeping and other administrative services with respect to accounts of participants in retirement plans or other beneficial owners of Fund shares whose interests are generally held in an omnibus account.
Retirement Service Provider. Scudder Trust Company, an affiliate of the Advisor, provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services for shareholder accounts in certain retirement and employee benefit plans invested in the Funds. Annual service fees are paid by each Fund to Scudder Trust Company, 11 Northeastern Boulevard, Salem, NH 03079 for such accounts. Each Fund pays Scudder Trust Company an annual fee of $29 per shareholder account.
40
Table of Contents
Prior to April 30, 2004, the foregoing costs were borne by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Pursuant to an agreement between STC and ADP, STC has delegated certain of these sub-accounting and recordkeeping services to ADP. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by STC, not by the Funds.
The Advisor is generally responsible for placing the orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, including the allocation of brokerage.
The policy of the Advisor in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund is to seek best execution, taking into account such factors, among others, as price; commission (where applicable); the broker-dealer’s ability to ensure that securities will be delivered on settlement date; the willingness of the broker-dealer to commit its capital and purchase a thinly traded security for its own inventory; whether the broker-dealer specializes in block orders or large program trades; the broker-dealer’s knowledge of the market and the security; the broker-dealer’s ability to maintain confidentiality; the financial condition of the broker-dealer; and whether the broker-dealer has the infrastructure and operational capabilities to execute and settle the trade. The Advisor seeks to evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions with commissions charged on comparable transactions and compares the brokerage commissions (if any) paid by the Fund to reported commissions paid by others. The Advisor routinely reviews commission rates, execution and settlement services performed and makes internal and external comparisons.
Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on US securities exchanges are subject to negotiation. Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on foreign securities exchanges are generally fixed. Purchases and sales of fixed-income securities and other over-the-counter securities are effected on a net basis, without the payment of brokerage commissions. Transactions in fixed income and other over-the-counter securities are generally placed by the Advisor with the principal market makers for these securities unless the Advisor reasonably believes more favorable results are available elsewhere. Transactions with dealers serving as market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. Purchases of underwritten issues will include an underwriting fee paid to the underwriter. Money market instruments are normally purchased in principal transactions directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker.
It is likely that the broker-dealers selected based on the considerations described in this section will include firms that also sell shares of the Fund to their customers. However, the Advisor does not consider sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund and, accordingly, has implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent its traders from considering sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund.
The Advisor is permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), when placing portfolio transactions for the Fund, to cause the Fund to pay brokerage commissions in excess of that which another broker-dealer might charge for executing the same transaction in order to obtain research and brokerage services. The Advisor, however, does not as a matter of policy execute transactions with broker-dealers for the Fund in order to obtain research from such broker-dealers that is prepared by third parties (i.e., “third party research”). However, the Advisor may from time to time, in reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, obtain proprietary research prepared by the executing broker-dealer in connection with a transaction or transactions through that broker-dealer (i.e., “proprietary research”). Consistent with the Advisor’s policy regarding best execution, where more than one broker is believed to be capable of providing best execution for a particular trade, the Advisor may take into consideration the receipt of proprietary research in selecting the broker-dealer to execute the trade. Proprietary research provided by broker-dealers may include, but is not limited to, information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations, political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance analysis and measurement and analysis of corporate responsibility issues. Proprietary research is typically received in the form of written reports, telephone
41
Table of Contents
contacts and personal meetings with security analysts, but may also be provided in the form of access to various computer software and associated hardware, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry representatives.
In reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Advisor may also select broker-dealers and obtain from them brokerage services in the form of software and/or hardware that is used in connection with executing trades. Typically, this computer software and/or hardware is used by the Advisor to facilitate trading activity with those broker-dealers.
Proprietary research and brokerage services received from a broker-dealer chosen to execute a particular trade may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to clients other than the Fund making the trade, and not all such information is used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund. Conversely, such information provided to the Advisor by broker-dealers through which other clients of the Advisor effect securities transactions may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to the Fund.
The Advisor will monitor regulatory developments and market practice in the use of client commissions to obtain research and brokerage services, whether proprietary or third party.
Investment decisions for the Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Advisor are made independently of each other in light of differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable. To the extent permitted by law, the Advisor may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for other accounts in executing transactions. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and commission and allocated as to amount in a manner deemed equitable to each account. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect on the price paid or received by, or on the size of the position obtained or disposed of for, the Fund, in other cases it is believed that the ability to engage in volume transactions will be beneficial to the Fund.
Deutsche Bank AG or one of its affiliates may act as a broker for the Fund and receive brokerage commissions or other transaction-related compensation from the Fund in the purchase and sale of securities, options or futures contracts when, in the judgment of the Advisor, and in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board, the affiliated broker will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as those obtained from other qualified brokers and if, in the transaction, the affiliated broker charges the Fund a rate consistent with that charged to comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions.
Scudder Global Fund: For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2003, August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $2,111,176, $2,263,000 and $1,881,808, respectively.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of August 31, 2005 | ||
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB | $ | 14,306,000 | |
Citigroup Inc. | $ | 12,995,000 | |
Bangkok Bank PLC | $ | 7,265,000 | |
DBS Group Holdings Ltd. | $ | 6,420,000 | |
JP Morgan Chase & Co. | $ | 6,310,000 | |
Banco Bradesco S.A. | $ | 4,113,000 | |
Mega Financial Holdings Co., Ltd. | $ | 4,926,000 |
Scudder International Fund: For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2003, August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $7,286,366, $2,035,000 and $3,601,297, respectively.
42
Table of Contents
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of August 31, 2005 | ||
Toyota Motor Corp. | $ | 34,534,000 | |
HSBC Holdings PLC | $ | 29,685,000 | |
Banca Intesa Spa | $ | 26,105,000 | |
BNP Paribas SA | $ | 21,705,000 | |
ING Groep NV | $ | 20,447,000 | |
Alpha Bank AE | $ | 12,993,000 | |
Australia & New Zealand Group, Ltd. | $ | 15,995,000 |
Name of Fund | Percentage of Commissions Paid to Affiliated Brokers | Percentage of Transactions Involving Commissions Paid to Affiliated | Dollar Amount of Commissions Paid to Brokers for Research Services | ||||||
Scudder Global Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 | |||
Scudder International Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 |
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio turnover rate is defined by the SEC as the ratio of the lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of such securities owned during the year, excluding all securities whose remaining maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less.
Higher levels of activity by a Fund result in higher transaction costs and may also result in taxes on realized capital gains to be borne by the Fund’s shareholders. Purchases and sales are made whenever necessary, in the Advisor’s discretion, to meet a Fund’s objective.
Portfolio turnover rates for the two most recent fiscal periods are as follows:
2005 | 2004 | |||||
Scudder Global Fund | 54 | % | 81 | % | ||
Scudder International Fund | 57 | % | 82 | % |
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
General Information
Policies and procedures affecting transactions in Fund shares can be changed at any time without notice, subject to applicable law. Transactions may be contingent upon proper completion of application forms and other documents by shareholders and their receipt by the Fund’s agents. Transaction delays in processing (and changing account features) due to circumstances within or beyond the control of the Fund and its agents may occur. Shareholders (or their financial service firms) are responsible for all losses and fees resulting from bad checks, cancelled orders or the failure to consummate transactions effected pursuant to instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.
A distribution will be reinvested in shares of the same Fund and class if the distribution check is returned as undeliverable.
43
Table of Contents
Orders will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value of the Fund next determined after receipt in good order by SDI of the order accompanied by payment. Orders received by dealers or other financial services firms prior to the determination of net asset value and received in good order by SDI prior to the determination of net asset value will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value next determined after receipt by SDI (“trade date”).
Additional Minimum Balance Policies. For fiduciary accounts such as IRAs, and custodial accounts such as Uniform Gifts to Minor Act and Uniform Transfers to Minor Act accounts, the minimum balance is $1,000 for Class S and $500 for Class AARP. A shareholder may open an account with at least $1,000 ($500 for fiduciary/custodial accounts), if an automatic investment plan (AIP) of $50/month is established. Scudder group retirement plans and certain other accounts have similar or lower minimum share balance requirements.
Reductions in value that result solely from market activity will not trigger an annual fee or involuntary redemption. Shareholders with a combined household account balance in any of the Scudder Funds of $100,000 or more, as well as group retirement and certain other accounts will not be subject to a fee or automatic redemption.
Fiduciary (e.g., IRA or Roth IRA) and custodial accounts (e.g., UGMA or UTMA) with balances below $100 are subject to automatic redemption following 60 days’ written notice to applicable shareholders.
Certificates. Share certificates will not be issued. Share certificates now in a shareholder’s possession may be sent to Service Corporation for cancellation and book-entry credit to such shareholder’s account. Certain telephone and other procedures require book-entry holdings. Shareholders with outstanding certificates bear the risk of loss.
Use of Financial Services Firms. Investment dealers and other firms provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem a Fund’s shares, including higher minimum investments, and may assess transaction or other fees. Firms may arrange with their clients for other investment or administrative services. Such firms may independently establish and charge additional amounts to their clients for such services. Firms also may hold the Funds’ shares in nominee or street name as agent for and on behalf of their customers. In such instances, Service Corporation will have no information with respect to or control over the accounts of specific shareholders. Such shareholders may obtain access to their accounts and information about their accounts only from their firm. Certain of these firms may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for record-keeping and other expenses relating to these nominee accounts. In addition, certain privileges with respect to the purchase and redemption of shares or the reinvestment of dividends may not be available through such firms. Some firms may participate in a program allowing them access to their clients’ accounts for servicing including, without limitation, transfers of registration and dividend payee changes; and may perform functions such as generation of confirmation statements and disbursement of cash dividends. Such firms, including affiliates of SDI, may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for these services.
Telephone and Electronic Transaction Procedures. Shareholders have various telephone, Internet, wire and other electronic privileges available. A Fund or its agents may be liable for any losses, expenses or costs arising out of fraudulent or unauthorized instructions pursuant to these privileges unless a Fund or its agents reasonably believe, based upon reasonable verification procedures, that the instructions were genuine. Verification procedures include recording instructions, requiring certain identifying information before acting upon instructions and sending written confirmations. During periods when it is difficult to contact the Shareholder Service Agent, it may be difficult to use telephone, wire and other privileges.
QuickBuy and QuickSell. QuickBuy and QuickSell permits the transfer of money via the Automated Clearing House System (minimum $50 and maximum $250,000) from or to a shareholder’s bank, savings and loan, or credit union account in connection with the purchase or redemption of Fund shares. Shares purchased by check or through QuickBuy and QuickSell or Direct Deposit may not be redeemed under this privilege until such Shares have been owned for at least 10 calendar days. QuickBuy and QuickSell cannot be used with passbook savings accounts or for certain tax-deferred plans such as IRAs.
Direct Distributions Program. Investors may have dividends and distributions automatically deposited to their predesignated bank account through Scudder’s Direct Distributions Program. Shareholders who elect to participate in the Direct Distributions Program, and whose predesignated checking account of record is with a member bank of
44
Table of Contents
Automated Clearing House Network (ACH) can have income and capital gain distributions automatically deposited to their personal bank account usually within three business days after a Fund pays its distribution. A Direct Distributions request form can be obtained by calling 1-800-SCUDDER for Class S and 1-800-253-2277 for Class AARP. Confirmation Statements will be mailed to shareholders as notification that distributions have been deposited.
Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. The Shareholder Service Agent provides retirement plan services and documents and SDI can establish investor accounts in any of the following types of retirement plans:
• | Traditional, Roth and Education IRAs. This includes Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (“SIMPLE”), Simplified Employee Pension Plan (“SEP”) IRA accounts and prototype documents. |
• | 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts. This type of plan is available to employees of most non-profit organizations. |
• | Prototype money purchase pension and profit-sharing plans may be adopted by employers. |
Brochures describing these plans as well as model defined benefit plans, target benefit plans, 457 plans, 401(k) plans, simple 401(k) plans and materials for establishing them are available from the Shareholder Service Agent upon request. Additional fees and transaction policies and procedures may apply to such plans. Investors should consult with their own tax advisors before establishing a retirement plan.
Purchases
The Funds reserve the right to withdraw all or any part of the offering made by its prospectus and to reject purchase orders for any reason. Also, from time to time, the Funds may temporarily suspend the offering of any class of their shares to new investors. During the period of such suspension, persons who are already shareholders of such class of such Fund may be permitted to continue to purchase additional shares of such class and to have dividends reinvested.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. For more information, please see “Policies You Should Know About” in the fund prospectus.
The Funds may waive the minimum for purchases by trustees, directors, officers or employees of the Fund or the Advisor and its affiliates. Fees generally charged to IRA accounts will be charged to accounts of employees and directors.
Clients having a regular investment counsel account with the Advisor or its affiliates and members of their immediate families, officers and employees of the Advisor or of any affiliated organization and members of their immediate families, members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) and banks may, if they prefer, subscribe initially for at least $2,500 for Class S and $1,000 for Class AARP through Scudder Investor Services, Inc. by letter, fax, or telephone.
Automatic Investment Plan. A shareholder may purchase shares of a Fund through an automatic investment program. With the Direct Deposit Purchase Plan (“Direct Deposit”), investments are made automatically (minimum $50 and maximum $250,000 for both initial and subsequent investments) from the shareholder’s account at a bank, savings and loan or credit union into the shareholder’s Fund account. Termination by a shareholder will become effective within thirty days after the Shareholder Service Agent has received the request. A Fund may immediately terminate a shareholder’s Direct Deposit in the event that any item is unpaid by the shareholder’s financial institution.
Payroll Investment Plans. A shareholder may purchase shares through Payroll Direct Deposit or Government Direct Deposit. Under these programs, all or a portion of a shareholder’s net pay or government check is invested
45
Table of Contents
each payment period. A shareholder may terminate participation in these programs by giving written notice to the shareholder’s employer or government agency, as appropriate. (A reasonable time to act is required.) A Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the employer or government agency making the payment or any financial institutions transmitting payments.
Expedited Purchase Procedures for Existing Shareholders. Shareholders of other Scudder funds who have submitted an account application and have certified a tax identification number, clients having a regular investment counsel account with the Advisor or its affiliates and members of their immediate families, officers and employees of the Advisor or of any affiliated organization and their immediate families, members of the NASD, and banks may open an account by wire by calling 1-800-SCUDDER for instructions. The investor must send a duly completed and signed application to the Fund promptly. A subsequent purchase order for $10,000 or more that is not greater than four times an account value may be placed by telephone, fax, etc. by established shareholders (except by Scudder Individual Retirement Account (IRA), Scudder Horizon Plan, Scudder Profit Sharing and Money Purchase Pension Plans, Scudder 401(k) and Scudder 403(b) Plan holders), members of the NASD, and banks.
It is our policy to offer purchase privileges to current or former directors or trustees of the Deutsche or Scudder mutual funds, employees, their spouses or life partners and children or step-children age 21 or younger of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates or a sub-adviser to any fund in the Scudder family of funds or a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of the funds. Qualified individuals will generally be allowed to purchase shares in the class with the lowest expense ratio, usually the Institutional Class shares. If a fund does not offer Institutional Class shares, these individuals will be allowed to buy Class A shares at NAV. The funds also reserve the right to waive the minimum account balance requirement for employee and director accounts. Fees generally charged to IRA accounts will be charged to accounts of employees and directors.
After December 31, 2004, Class S shares (and, in the case of Scudder Money Market Series, Premium Class S and Prime Reserve Class S) of each of the funds listed above will no longer be available to new investors except under certain circumstances. Certain investors may purchase Class S shares, as described below.
Eligible Class S Investors.
A. | The following investors may purchase Class S shares of Scudder Funds either (i) directly from Scudder Distributors, Inc. (“SDI”), the Fund’s principal underwriter; or (ii) through an intermediary relationship with a financial services firm established with respect to the Scudder Funds as of December 31, 2004. Investors may not otherwise purchase Class S shares through a broker-dealer, registered investment advisor or other financial services firm. |
1. | Existing shareholders of Class S shares of any Scudder Fund as of December 31, 2004, and household members residing at the same address. |
2. | Shareholders who own Class S shares continuously since December 31, 2004 and household members residing at the same address may open new accounts for Class S shares of any Scudder Fund. |
3. | Any participant who owns Class S shares of any Scudder Fund through an employee sponsored retirement, employee stock, bonus, pension or profit sharing plan continuously since December 31, 2004 may open a new individual account for Class S shares of any Scudder Fund. |
4. | Any participant who owns Class S shares of any Scudder Fund through a retirement, employee stock, bonus, pension or profit sharing plan may complete a direct rollover to an IRA account that will hold Class S shares. This applies to individuals who begin their retirement plan investments with a Scudder Fund at any time, including after December 31, 2004. |
5. | Officers, Fund Trustees and Directors, and full-time employees and their family members, of the Advisor and its affiliates. |
46
Table of Contents
6. | Class S shares are available to any accounts managed by the Advisor, any advisory products offered by the Advisor or SDI and to the Portfolios of Scudder Pathway Series or other fund of funds managed by the Advisor or its affiliates. |
B. | The following additional investors may purchase Class S shares of Scudder Funds. |
1. | Broker-dealers and registered investment advisors (“RIAs”) may purchase Class S shares in connection with a comprehensive or “wrap” fee program or other fee based program. |
2. | Any group retirement, employee stock, bonus, pension or profit-sharing plans. |
SDI may, at its discretion, require appropriate documentation that shows an investor is eligible to purchase Class S shares.
Redemptions
Redemption fee. Each Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value, without regard to the effect of any contingent deferred sales charge; any contingent deferred sales charge is also assessed on the total redemption amount without regard to the assessment of the 2% redemption fee) on all Fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to the Fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last. The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the Fund. For this reason, each Fund has undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s.
A Fund may suspend the right of redemption or delay payment more than seven days (a) during any period when the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or during any period in which trading on the Exchange is restricted, (b) during any period when an emergency exists as a result of which (i) disposal of the Fund’s investments is not reasonably practicable, or (ii) it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to determine the value of its net assets, or (c) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.
A request for repurchase (confirmed redemption) may be communicated by a shareholder through a financial services firm to SDI, which firms must promptly submit orders to be effective.
Redemption requests must be unconditional. Redemption requests (and a stock power for certificated shares) must be duly endorsed by the account holder. As specified in the prospectus, signatures may need to be guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company, savings and loan association, federal savings bank, member firm of a national securities exchange or other financial institution permitted by SEC rule. Additional documentation may be required, particularly from institutional and fiduciary account holders, such as corporations, custodians (e.g., under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), executors, administrators, trustees or guardians.
If the proceeds of the redemption (prior to the imposition of any contingent deferred sales charge) are $100,000 or less and the proceeds are payable to the shareholder of record at the address of record, normally a telephone request or a written request by any one account holder without a signature guarantee is sufficient for redemptions by individual or joint account holders, and trust, executor and guardian account holders, provided the trustee, executor
47
Table of Contents
or guardian is named in the account registration. Other institutional account holders exercise this special privilege of redeeming shares by telephone request or written request without signature guarantee subject to the same conditions as individual account holders, provided that this privilege has been pre-authorized by the institutional account holder by written instruction to the Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed. This privilege may not be used to redeem shares held in certificated form and may not be used if the shareholder’s account has had an address change within 15 days of the redemption request.
Wires. Delivery of the proceeds of a wire redemption of $250,000 or more may be delayed by a Fund for up to seven days if the Fund or the Shareholder Service Agent deems it appropriate under then-current market conditions. The ability to send wires is limited by the business hours and holidays of the firms involved. The Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the federal wire system or the account holder’s financial services firm or bank. The account holder is responsible for any charges imposed by the account holder’s firm or bank. To change the designated account to receive wire redemption proceeds, send a written request to the Fund Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed as described above or contact the firm through which Fund shares were purchased.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The owner of $5,000 or more of a class of a Fund’s shares at the offering price (net asset value) may provide for the payment from the owner’s account of any requested dollar amount to be paid to the owner or a designated payee monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. The $5,000 minimum account size is not applicable to IRAs. The minimum periodic payment is $50. The maximum annual rate at which shares subject to CDSC may be redeemed is 12% of the net asset value of the account. Shares are redeemed so that the payee should receive payment approximately the first of the month. Investors using this Plan must reinvest Fund distributions.
Non-retirement plan shareholders may establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan (the “Plan”) to receive monthly, quarterly or periodic redemptions from his or her account for any designated amount of $50 or more. Shareholders may designate which day they want the automatic withdrawal to be processed. The check amounts may be based on the redemption of a fixed dollar amount, fixed share amount, percent of account value or declining balance. The Plan provides for income dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, to be reinvested in additional Shares. Shares are then liquidated as necessary to provide for withdrawal payments. Since the withdrawals are in amounts selected by the investor and have no relationship to yield or income, payments received cannot be considered as yield or income on the investment and the resulting liquidations may deplete or possibly extinguish the initial investment and any reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions. Any such requests must be received by a Portfolio’s transfer agent ten days prior to the date of the first automatic withdrawal. An Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the shareholder, the Trust or its agent on written notice, and will be terminated when all Shares of a Portfolio under the Plan have been liquidated or upon receipt by the Trust of notice of death of the shareholder.
In-kind Redemptions. The Funds reserve the right to honor any request for redemption or repurchase by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities. These securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued as they are for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.
Exchanges
Shareholders may request a taxable exchange of their shares for shares of the corresponding class of other Scudder Funds without imposition of a sales charge, subject to the provisions below. For purposes of calculating any CDSC, amounts exchanged retain their original cost and purchase date.
Series of Scudder Target Fund are available on exchange only during the Offering Period for such series as described in the applicable prospectus. Cash Management Fund Investment, Tax Free Money Fund Investment, New York Tax Free Money Fund Investment, Treasury Money Fund Investment, Money Market Fund Investment, Cash Management Fund Institutional, Cash Reserves Fund Institutional, Treasury Money Fund Institutional, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. Prime Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. — Treasury Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. Tax-Free Series, Cash Equivalent Fund, Tax-Exempt California Money Market Fund, Cash Account Trust, Investors Municipal Cash Fund and Investors Cash Trust are available on exchange but only through a financial services firm having a services agreement with SDI. All exchanges among money funds must meet applicable investor eligibility and investment requirements. Exchanges may only be made for funds that are available for sale in the shareholder’s state of residence.
48
Table of Contents
Shareholders must obtain prospectuses of the Funds they are exchanging into from dealers, other firms or SDI.
Automatic Exchange Plan. The owner of $1,000 or more of any class of shares of a Scudder Fund may authorize the automatic exchange of a specified amount ($50 minimum) of such shares for shares of the same class of another such Scudder Fund. Exchanges will be made automatically until the shareholder or the Fund terminates the privilege. Exchanges are subject to the terms and conditions described above.
Dividends
Each Fund intends to distribute its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains in November or December to avoid federal excise tax, although an additional distribution may be made if necessary.
Each Fund intends to distribute dividends from its net investment income, excluding short-term capital gains, annually in November and December. Each Fund intends to distribute net realized capital gains after utilization of capital loss carryforwards, if any, in November and December to prevent application of a federal excise tax. An additional distribution may be made, if necessary.
Any dividends or capital gains distributions declared in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid during the following January will be treated by shareholders for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar year declared.
Income and capital gain dividends, if any, of a Fund will be credited to shareholder accounts in full and fractional shares of the same class of the Fund at net asset value on the reinvestment date, except that, upon written request to the Shareholder Service Agent, a shareholder may select one of the following options:
1. | To receive income and short-term capital gain dividends in cash and long-term capital gain dividends in shares of the same class at net asset value; or |
2. | To receive income and capital gain dividends in cash. |
Dividends will be reinvested in Shares of the same class of a Fund unless shareholders indicate in writing that they wish to receive them in cash or in shares of other Scudder Funds with multiple classes of shares or Scudder Funds as provided in the prospectus. To use this privilege of investing dividends of the Fund in shares of another Scudder Fund, shareholders must maintain a minimum account value of $1,000 in the Fund distributing the dividends. The Fund will reinvest dividend checks (and future dividends) in shares of that same Fund and class if checks are returned as undeliverable. Dividends and other distributions of the Fund in the aggregate amount of $10 or less are automatically reinvested in shares of the Fund unless the shareholder requests that such policy not be applied to the shareholder’s account.
If an investment is in the form of a retirement plan, all dividends and capital gains distributions must be reinvested into the shareholder’s account.
If a shareholder has elected to reinvest any dividends and/or other distributions, such distributions will be made in shares of that Fund and confirmations will be mailed to each shareholder. If a shareholder has chosen to receive cash, a check will be sent. Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains are taxable, whether made in shares or cash.
Each distribution is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution. The characterization of distributions on such correspondence may differ from the characterization for federal tax purposes. In January of each year, each Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions in the prior calendar year.
49
Table of Contents
Each Fund may at any time vary its foregoing dividend practices and, therefore, reserves the right from time to time to either distribute or retain for reinvestment such of its net investment income and its net short-term and long-term capital gains as its Board determines appropriate under the then current circumstances. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, a Fund may make additional distributions of net investment income or capital gain net income in order to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements contained in the Code.
The following is intended to be a general summary of certain federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds. It is not intended as a complete discussion of all such consequences, nor does it purport to deal with all categories of investors. Investors are therefore advised to consult with their tax advisors before making an investment in a Fund.
Federal Taxation. Each Fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things:
(a) | derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; |
(b) | distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally, taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt interest income, for such year; and |
(c) | diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested (x) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined below). |
In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in paragraph (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the regulated investment company. However, recent legislation provides that for taxable years of a regulated investment company beginning after October 22, 2004, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (defined as a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (ii) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in paragraph (a) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. Finally, for purposes of paragraph (c) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below).
50
Table of Contents
If for any taxable year a Fund does not qualify for the special federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, all of its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders), and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Such distributions would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on amounts that have been retained rather than distributed, as required under a prescribed formula. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s taxable ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses realized during the one-year period ending October 31 (in most cases) of such year as well as amounts that were neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the prior calendar year. Although each Fund’s distribution policies should enable it to avoid excise tax liability, a Fund may retain (and be subject to income or excise tax on) a portion of its capital gain or other income if it appears to be in the interest of such Fund.
Taxation of Distributions from the Funds. For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Funds owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions of net capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for more than one year and that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008, distributions of investment income designated by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008.
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
51
Table of Contents
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Transactions in Fund Shares. The sale, exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be treated as short-term gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares of the Fund will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of a Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
52
Table of Contents
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Transactions in Fund Shares. The sale, exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be treated as short-term gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of a Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
53
Table of Contents
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Foreign Taxation. Foreign withholding or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) on certain foreign securities may occur. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable US income tax treaty.
So long as more than 50% of the value of the total assets of a Fund at the close of the taxable year consists of securities in foreign corporations, the Fund may make an election under Section 853 of the Code to enable the shareholders to claim a credit or deduction (subject to limitations) on their federal income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries (which taxes relate primarily to investment income). Shareholders will treat such amounts as part of their distribution from the Fund. The foreign tax credit available to shareholders is subject to certain limitations and restrictions imposed by the Code.
If a Fund does not make the election permitted under section 853 of the Code, any foreign taxes paid or accrued will represent an expense to the Fund that will reduce its investment company taxable income. In such a case, shareholders will not be able to claim either a credit or a deduction for their pro rata portion of such taxes paid by the Fund, nor will shareholders be required to treat as part of the amounts distributed to them their pro rata portion of such taxes paid.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Equity investments by a Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could potentially subject the Fund to a US federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, such Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company. Such Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require such Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.”
54
Table of Contents
Other Tax Considerations. A Fund’s use of options, futures contracts, forward contracts (to the extent permitted) and certain other Strategic Transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate the Fund’s income, defer losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of portfolio securities, convert capital gains into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to investors.
Certain of a Fund’s hedging activities (including transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of a Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset. If a Fund’s book income is less than its taxable income, that Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund’s investment in zero coupon bonds and other debt obligations having original issue discount may cause a Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of any cash received from the investment.
Under the backup withholding provisions of the Code, redemption proceeds as well as distributions may be subject to federal income tax withholding for certain shareholders, including those who fail to furnish a Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers and certifications as to their tax status.
Shareholders of a Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of a Fund’s shares.
Capital gains distributions may be reduced if Fund capital loss carryforwards are available. Any capital loss carryforwards to which a Fund is entitled are disclosed in a Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
All distributions by a Fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of that Fund’s shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a shareholder’s cost basis, such distribution would nevertheless be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of capital. In particular, investors should be careful to consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a distribution will receive a partial return of capital upon the distribution, which will nevertheless be taxable to them.
Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of Fund securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. In general, dividends (other than Capital Gain Dividends) paid by each Fund to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (such shareholder, a “foreign person”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding. However, before January 1, 2008, each Fund will not be required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a foreign person (w) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (x) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign person
55
Table of Contents
is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign person and the foreign person is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income that would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign person, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by each Fund, and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to an individual foreign person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by the Fund. The Funds do not intend to designate distributions as interest-related dividends or as short-term capital gain dividends.
If a beneficial holder who is a foreign person has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct by the beneficial holder of a trade or business in the United States, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.
Recent legislation modifies the tax treatment of distributions from each Fund that are paid to a foreign person and are attributable to gain from “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”), which the Code defines to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and interests (other than solely as a creditor) in “U.S. real property holding corporations” such as REITs. The Code deems any corporation that holds (or held during the previous five-year period) USRPIs with a fair market value equal to 50% or more of the fair market value of the corporation’s U.S. and foreign real property assets and other assets used or held for use in a trade or business to be a U.S. real property holding corporation; however, if any class of stock of a corporation is traded on an established securities market, stock of such class shall be treated as a USRPI only in the case of a person who holds more than 5% of such class of stock at any time during the previous five-year period. For dividends paid or deemed paid on or before December 31, 2007, distributions to foreign persons attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs will give rise to an obligation for those foreign persons to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax, and may well be subject to withholding under future regulations.
Under U.S. federal tax law, a beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of a Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or Capital Gain Dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the shares constitute USRPIs or (effective for taxable years of the Fund beginning on September 1, 2005) the Capital Gain Dividends are paid or deemed paid on or before December 31, 2007 and are attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs. Effective before January 1, 2008, if a Fund is a U.S. real property holding corporation (as described above) the Fund’s shares will nevertheless not constitute USRPIs if the Fund is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” which is defined to include a RIC that, at all times during the shorter of the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period during which the RIC was in existence, had less than 50 percent in value of its stock held directly or indirectly by foreign persons.
The net asset value of shares of each Fund is computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) on each day the Exchange is open for trading (the “Value Time”). The Exchange is scheduled to be closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of these holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively. Net asset value per share is determined separately for each class of shares by dividing the value of the total assets of the Fund attributable to the shares of that class, less all liabilities attributable to that class, by the total number of shares of that class outstanding. The per share net asset value may be lower for certain classes of the Fund because of higher expenses borne by these classes.
An equity security is valued at its most recent sale price on the security’s primary exchange or over-the-counter (“OTC”) market as of the Value Time. Lacking any sales, the security is valued at the calculated mean between the
56
Table of Contents
most recent bid quotation and the most recent asked quotation (the “Calculated Mean”) on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the security is valued at the most recent bid quotation on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. In the case of certain foreign exchanges or OTC markets, the closing price reported by the exchange or OTC market (which may sometimes be referred to as the “official close” or the “official closing price” or other similar term) will be considered the most recent sale price. If a security is traded on more than one exchange, or upon one or more exchanges and in the OTC market, quotations are taken from the market in which the security is traded most extensively.
Debt securities are valued as follows. Money market instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of 60 days or less, maturing at par, are valued at amortized cost. Other money market instruments are valued based on information obtained from an approved pricing agent or, if such information is not readily available, by using matrix pricing techniques (formula driven calculations based primarily on current market yields). Bank loans are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the mean of the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices, as applicable, based on quotations or evaluated prices obtained from one or more broker-dealers. Privately placed debt securities, other than Rule 144A debt securities, initially are valued at cost and thereafter based on all relevant factors including type of security, size of holding and restrictions on disposition. Municipal debt securities are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the average of the means based on the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices obtained from two broker-dealers. Other debt securities not addressed above are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent, if available, and otherwise at the most recent bid quotation or evaluated price, as applicable, obtained from one or more broker-dealers. If it is not possible to value a particular debt security pursuant to the above methods, the security is valued on the basis of factors including (but not limited to) maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency denomination, and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded.
An exchange-traded option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments is valued at its most recent sale price on such the relevant exchange. Lacking any sales, the option contract is valued at the Calculated Mean. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the option contract is valued at the most recent bid quotation in the case of a purchased option contract or the most recent asked quotation in the case of a written option contract, in each case as of the Value Time. An option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments traded in the OTC market is valued on the Value Date at the evaluated price provided by the broker-dealer with which it was traded. Futures contracts (and options thereon) are valued at the most recent settlement price, if available, on the security’s primary exchange on which they are traded most extensively. With the exception of stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement times are prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. For stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement prices are normally available at approximately 4:20 pm Eastern time. If no settlement price is available, the last traded price on such exchange will be used. Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed (“Local Currency”), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of US dollars is calculated by converting the Local Currency into US dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
If market quotations for a portfolio asset are not readily available or the value of a portfolio asset as determined in accordance with Board approved procedures does not represent the fair market value of the portfolio asset, the value of the portfolio asset is taken to be an amount which, in the opinion of a Fund’s Pricing Committee (or, in some cases, the Board’s Valuation Committee), represents fair market value. The value of other portfolio holdings owned by the Fund is determined in a manner which is intended to fairly reflect the fair market value of the asset on the valuation date, based on valuation procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board and overseen primarily by the Fund’s Pricing Committee.
Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed (“Local Currency”), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of US dollars is calculated by converting the Local Currency into US dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
57
Table of Contents
Global/International Fund, Inc. and Scudder International Fund, Inc.
The following table presents certain information regarding the Directors and Officers of the Corporation as of December 1, 2005. Each Director’s year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Director has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity, and (ii) the address of each Director is c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each Officer is Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110. The term of office for each Director is until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed as provided in the governing documents of the Corporation. Because the Fund does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders, each Director will hold office for an indeterminate period. The Directors of the Corporation may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex.
Independent Directors
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946) Chairman since 2004 and Director, 1987-present | President, Driscoll Associates (consulting firm); Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; formerly, Partner, Palmer & Dodge (1988-1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene's (1978-1988). Directorships: Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute; Member, Executive Committee of the Independent Directors Council of the Investment Company Institute, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. (1943) Director, 1990-present | President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Becton Dickinson and Company (medical technology company); Belo Corporation (media company); Concord Academy; Boston Museum of Science; Public Radio International; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Former Directorships: American Public Television; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service | 43 | ||
Keith R. Fox (1954) Director, 1996-present | Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (private equity funds). Directorships: Progressive Holding Corporation (kitchen importer and distributor); Cloverleaf Transportation Inc. (trucking); Natural History, Inc. (magazine publisher); Box Top Media Inc. (advertising); Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 |
58
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Kenneth C. Froewiss (1945) Director 2005-present | Clinical Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business; Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2001), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2004), Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc. (since 1999), The Brazil Fund, Inc. (since 2000) and The Korea Fund, Inc. (since 2000); Member, Finance Committee, Association for Asian Studies (2002-present); Director, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (US) (2004-present); prior thereto, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan (investment banking firm) (until 1996) | 46 | ||
Jean Gleason Stromberg (1943) Director, 1999-present | Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997-2001); Director, US General Accounting Office (1996-1997); Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978-1996). Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Service Source, Inc.; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Carl W. Vogt (1936) Director, 2002-present | Senior Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P (law firm); formerly, President (interim) of Williams College (1999-2000); President, certain funds in the Deutsche Asset Management Family of Funds (formerly, Flag Investors Family of Funds) (registered investment companies) (1999-2000). Directorships: Yellow Corporation (trucking); American Science & Engineering (x-ray detection equipment); ISI Family of Funds (registered investment companies; 4 funds overseen); National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); formerly, Chairman and Member, National Transportation Safety Board; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Officers(2) | ||||
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Vincent J. Esposito((4)) (1956) President, 2005-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2003); President and Chief Executive Officer of The Central Europe and Russia Fund, Inc., The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. (since 2003) (registered investment companies); Vice Chairman and Director of The Brazil Fund, Inc. (2004-present); formerly, Managing Director, Putnam Investments (1991-2002) | n/a | ||
John Millette (1962) Vice President and Secretary, 1999-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a |
59
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Paul H. Schubert(4) (1963) Chief Financial Officer, 2004-present Treasurer, since 2005 | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since July 2004); formerly, Executive Director, Head of Mutual Fund Services and Treasurer for UBS Family of Funds (1998-2004); Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Finance at UBS Global Asset Management (1994-1998) | n/a | ||
Patricia DeFilippis(4) (1963) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management (since June 2005); Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (2003-2005); legal associate, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (1998-2003) | n/a | ||
Daniel O. Hirsch(5) (1954) Assistant Secretary, 2002-present | Consultant. Formerly, Managing Director, Deutsche Asset Management (2002-2005); Director, Deutsche Asset Management (1999-2002); Principal, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated (now Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.) (1998-1999); Assistant General Counsel, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (1993-1998); Director, Deutsche Global Funds Ltd. (2002-2004) | n/a | ||
Elisa D. Metzger (1962) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Director((3)), Deutsche Asset Management (since September 2005); Counsel, Morrison and Foerster LLP (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Caroline Pearson (1962) Assistant Secretary, 1997-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Scott M. McHugh (1971) Assistant Treasurer, 2005-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Kathleen Sullivan D'Eramo (1957) Assistant Treasurer, 2003-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
John Robbins(4) (1966) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2005-present | Managing Director((3)), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2005); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for GE Asset Management (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Philip Gallo(4) (1962) Chief Compliance Officer, 2004-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (2003-present); formerly, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Legal (1994-2003) | n/a |
(1) | Length of time served represents the date that each Director was first elected to the common board of Directors which oversees a number of investment companies, including the fund, managed by the Advisor. For the officers of the Corporation, the length of time served represents the date that each officer was first elected to serve as an officer of any fund overseen by the aforementioned common board of Directors. |
(2) | As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Funds. |
(3) | Executive title, not a board directorship. |
(4) | Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. |
(5) | Address: One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. |
Officer’s Role with Principal Underwriter: Scudder Distributors, Inc.
Caroline Pearson: Secretary
60
Table of Contents
Directors’ Responsibilities. The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to represent the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and to provide oversight of the management of the Fund. Currently, six of the Board’s members are “Independent Directors;” that is, they are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Corporation or the Advisor.
The Directors meet multiple times during the year to review the investment performance of the Fund and other operational matters, including policies and procedures designed to assure compliance with regulatory and other requirements. In 2004, the Directors conducted over 40 meetings to deal with fund issues (including regular and special board and committee meetings). These meetings were held over the course of 23 different days. In addition, various Directors participated as members of the Board’s Valuation Committee throughout the year. Furthermore, the Independent Directors review the fees paid to the Advisor and its affiliates for investment advisory services and other administrative and shareholder services. The Directors have adopted specific policies and guidelines that, among other things, seek to further enhance the effectiveness of the Independent Directors in performing their duties. Many of these are similar to those suggested in the Investment Company Institute’s 1999 Report of the Advisory Group on Best Practices for Fund Directors. For example, the Independent Directors select independent legal counsel to work with them in reviewing fees, advisory and other contracts and overseeing fund matters. The Directors are also assisted in this regard by the Fund’s independent public accountants and other independent experts retained from time to time for this purpose. The Independent Directors regularly meet privately with their counsel and other advisors. In addition, the Independent Directors from time to time have appointed task forces and subcommittees from their members to focus on particular matters such as investment, accounting and shareholders servicing issues.
For a discussion of the factors considered by the Board in connection with its most recent approval of the continuation of the Fund’s management contracts, please refer to “Management of the Funds — Board Considerations in Connection with Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements.”
Board Committees. The Board oversees a number of investment companies managed by the Advisor. Information shown below represents meetings held on behalf of all such funds. The common Board has the following standing committees:
Audit Committee: The Audit Committee makes recommendations regarding the selection of independent registered public accounting firms for the Fund, reviews the independence of such firm, reviews the scope of audit and internal controls, considers and reports to the Board on matters relating to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting practices, and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee receives annual representations from the independent registered public accounting firm as to their independence. The members of the Audit Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Audit Committee held seven meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee: The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (i) selects and nominates candidates to serve as Independent Directors*; (ii) oversees all other fund governance-related matters, including Board compensation practices, retirement policies, self-evaluations of effectiveness and allocations of assignments and functions of committees of the Board. The members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (previously known as the Committee on Independent Directors) held seven meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Valuation Committee: The Valuation Committee oversees fund valuation matters, reviews Valuation Procedures adopted by the Board, determines fair value of the Fund’s securities as needed in accordance with the Valuation Procedures when actual market values are unavailable and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary. The members of the Valuation Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Henry P. Becton, Jr. (alternate). The Valuation Committee held five meetings for each Fund during the calendar year 2004.
Investment Oversight Committee: The Board has established two Investment Oversight Committees, one focusing on funds primarily investing in equity securities (the “Equity Oversight Committee”) and one focusing on funds primarily investing in fixed income securities (the “Fixed Income Oversight Committee”). These Committees
61
Table of Contents
meet regularly with fund portfolio managers and other investment personnel to review the relevant funds’ investment strategies and investment performance. The members of the Equity Oversight Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Carl W. Vogt. The members of the Fixed Income Oversight Committee are Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox, Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg (Chair). Each Investment Oversight Committee held four meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee: The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee oversees (i) the quality, costs and types of shareholder services provided to the Funds and their shareholders, and (ii) the distribution-related services provided to the Fund and their shareholders. The members of the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee are Carl W. Vogt (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee (previously known as the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee) held four meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee: The Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee oversees (i) the significant legal affairs of the Fund, including the handling of pending or threatened litigation or regulatory action involving the Fund, and (ii) general compliance matters relating to the Fund. The members of the Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll and Carl Vogt (Chair). This committee met eight times in 2004.
Expense/Operations Committee: The Expense/Operations Committee (i) monitors the Fund’s total operating expense levels, (ii) oversees the provision of administrative services to the Funds, including the Fund’s custody, fund accounting and insurance arrangements, and (iii) reviews the Fund’s investment advisers’ brokerage practices, including the implementation of related policies. The members of the Expense/Operations Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox (Chair) and Kenneth C. Froewiss. This committee was established on October 12, 2004 and met one time in 2004.
* | 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 33904. |
Remuneration. Each Independent Director receives compensation from the Fund for his or her services, which includes an annual retainer and an attendance fee for each meeting attended. No additional compensation is paid to any Independent Director for travel time to meetings, attendance at directors’ educational seminars or conferences, service on industry or association committees, participation as speakers at directors’ conferences or service on special director task forces or subcommittees. Independent Directors do not receive any employee benefits such as pension or retirement benefits or health insurance.
Members of the Board of Directors who are officers, directors, employees or stockholders of the Advisor or its affiliates receive no direct compensation from the Fund, although they are compensated as employees of the Advisor, or its affiliates, and as a result may be deemed to participate in fees paid by the Fund. The following table shows compensation received by each Director from the Fund and aggregate compensation from all of the funds in the fund complex during the calendar year 2004.
Name of Director | Compensation from Scudder Global Fund | Compensation from Scudder International Fund | Pension or Retirement Fund Expenses | Total Compensation (2)(3)(4) | ||||||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $ | 3,251 | $ | 6,338 | $ | 0 | $ | 159,500 | ||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll(1) | $ | 4,188 | $ | 8,238 | $ | 0 | $ | 208,016 | ||||
Keith R. Fox | $ | 3,846 | $ | 7,389 | $ | 0 | $ | 220,620 | ||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(5) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 87,364 | ||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | $ | 3,131 | $ | 6,091 | $ | 0 | $ | 153,500 | ||||
Carl W. Vogt | $ | 3,533 | $ | 6,905 | $ | 0 | $ | 168,500 |
(1) | Includes $14,896 in annual retainer fees in Ms. Driscoll’s role as Chairman of the Board. |
62
Table of Contents
(2) | For each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, total compensation includes compensation for service on the boards of 18 trusts/corporations comprised of 49 funds/portfolios. Each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, currently serves on the boards of 18 trusts/corporations comprised of 41 funds/portfolios. Mr. Froewiss currently serves on the boards of 23 trusts/corporations comprised of 46 funds/portfolios. |
(3) | Aggregate compensation reflects amounts paid to the Trustees, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with the possible consolidation of the various Scudder Fund Boards and with respect to legal and regulatory matters. Such amounts totaled $3,000 for Mr. Becton, $34,120 for Ms. Driscoll, $36,620 for Mr. Fox, and $17,000 for Mr. Vogt. These meeting fees were borne by the Funds. |
(4) | Aggregate compensation also reflects amounts paid to the Trustees for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with reviewing the Funds’ shareholder servicing arrangements. Such amounts totaled $2,500 for Ms. Driscoll and $31,000 for Mr. Fox. Also, included are amounts paid to the Trustees, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings to consider fund mergers. These amounts totaled $5,000 for Mr. Becton and Ms Driscoll, $4,000 for Mr. Fox and $3,000 for Ms. Stromberg. The Funds were reimbursed by the Advisor for these meeting fees. |
(5) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. He served as a member of five Scudder closed-end funds in 2004, for which he received the compensation indicated. |
Director Fund Ownership of Independent and Interested Directors
The following sets forth ranges of Director beneficial share ownership as of December 31, 2004.
Name of Director | Dollar Range of Securities Owned in Scudder Global Fund | Dollar Range of Securities Owned in Scudder International Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of in the Fund Complex Overseen by Director | |||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | $1 - $ 10,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Keith R. Fox | None | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(1) | None | None | $ 50,000-$100,000 | |||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | None | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Carl W. Vogt | None | None | Over $ 100,000 |
(1) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. |
Securities Beneficially Owned
As of November 11, 2005, all Directors and Officers of the Fund as a group owned beneficially (as that term is defined is section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) less than 1% of each class of each Fund.
To the best of each Fund’s knowledge, as of November 11, 2005, no person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of a Fund’s outstanding shares, except as noted below:
As of November 11, 2005, 2,328,026 shares in the aggregate, or 8.36% of the outstanding shares of Scudder Global Fund, Class S were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
63
Table of Contents
As of November 11, 2005, 2,160,556 shares in the aggregate, or 8.21% of the outstanding shares of Scudder International Fund, Class S were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
Ownership in Securities of the Advisor and Related Companies
As reported to the Fund, the information in the following table reflects ownership by the Independent Directors and their immediate family members of certain securities as of December 31, 2004. An immediate family member can be a spouse, children residing in the same household including step and adoptive children and any dependents. The securities represent ownership in an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund and any persons (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund (including Deutsche Bank AG).
Independent Director | Owner and Relationship to Director | Company | Title of Class | Value of Securities on an Aggregate Basis | Percent of Class on an Basis | |||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | None | |||||||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | None | |||||||||
Keith R. Fox | None | |||||||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss | None | |||||||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | |||||||||
Carl W. Vogt | None |
Agreement to Indemnify Independent Directors for Certain Expenses.
In connection with litigation or regulatory action related to possible improper market timing or other improper trading activity or possible improper marketing and sales activity in the Funds, each Fund’s investment advisor has agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify and hold harmless the applicable Funds against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense, arising from market timing or marketing and sales matters alleged in any enforcement actions brought by governmental authorities involving or potentially affecting the Funds or the investment advisor (“Enforcement Actions”) or that are the basis for private actions brought by shareholders of the Funds against the Funds, their directors and officers, the Funds’ investment advisor and/or certain other parties (“Private Litigation”), or any proceedings or actions that may be threatened or commenced in the future by any person (including governmental authorities), arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. In recognition of its undertaking to indemnify the applicable Funds and in light of the rebuttable presumption generally afforded to independent directors of investment companies that they have not engaged in disabling conduct, each Fund’s investment advisor has also agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify the applicable Funds’ Independent Directors against certain liabilities the Independent Directors may incur from the matters alleged in any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation or arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation, and advance expenses that may be incurred by the Independent Directors in connection with any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. The applicable investment advisor is not, however, required to provide indemnification and advancement of expenses: (1) with respect to any proceeding or action with respect to which the applicable Fund’s Board determines that the Independent Director ultimately would not be entitled to indemnification or (2) for any liability of the Independent Director to the Funds or their shareholders to which the Independent Director would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Independent Director’s duties as a director or trustee of the Funds as determined in a final adjudication in such action or proceeding. The estimated amount of any expenses that may be advanced to the Independent Directors or indemnity that may be payable under the indemnity agreements is currently unknown. These agreements by each Fund’s investment advisor will survive the termination of the investment management agreements between the investment advisor and the Funds.
64
Table of Contents
Organizational Description
Scudder Global Fund. Scudder Global Fund is a series of Global/International Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation organized on May 15, 1986. The name of this Corporation was changed, effective May 29, 1998, from Scudder Global Fund, Inc. This Corporation currently consists of four series: Scudder Global Fund, Scudder Global Bond Fund, Scudder Global Discovery Fund and Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund. Each Fund except Scudder Global Fund is further divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Scudder Global Fund is further divided into six classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R.
The authorized capital stock of Global/International Fund, Inc. consists of 1,559,993,796 shares with $0.01 par value, 200 million shares of which are allocated to Scudder Global Discovery Fund, 529,154,575 shares of which are allocated to Scudder Global Bond Fund, and 320 million shares of which are allocated to each of Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund and Scudder Global Fund.
Scudder International Fund. Scudder International Fund, Inc. was organized as Scudder Fund of Canada Ltd. in Canada in 1953 by the investment management firm of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. On March 16, 1964, the name of this Corporation was changed to Scudder International Investments Ltd. On July 31, 1975, the corporate domicile of this Corporation was changed to the US through the transfer of its net assets to a newly formed Maryland corporation, Scudder International Fund, Inc., in exchange for shares of the Corporation which then were distributed to the shareholders of the Corporation.
The authorized capital stock of Scudder International Fund, Inc., consists of 2,447,923,888 shares of a par value of $.01 each, which capital stock has been divided into five series: Scudder International Fund, the original series; Scudder Latin America Fund and Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, both organized in December 1992, Scudder Greater Europe Fund, organized in October 1994, and Scudder Emerging Markets Fund, organized in May 1996. Each series consists of 320 million shares except for International Fund which consists of 620,595,597 shares, Scudder Latin America Fund which consists of 340 million shares and Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund which consists of 420 million shares. Scudder International Fund is further divided into seven classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A (formerly known as Class R Shares), Class B, Class C, Institutional Class (formerly known as Class I shares) and Investment Class shares. Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund and Scudder Emerging Markets Fund are each divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C. Scudder Latin America Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class M. Scudder Greater Europe Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Institutional Class.
The Directors have the authority to create additional Funds and to designate the relative rights and preferences as between the different Funds. The Directors also may authorize the division of shares of a Fund into different classes, which may bear different expenses. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, transferable, have no pre-emptive or conversion rights and are redeemable as described in the SAI and in the Fund’s prospectus. Each share has equal rights with each other share of the same class of the Fund as to voting, dividends, exchanges, conversion features and liquidation. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held. The Directors may also terminate any Fund or class by notice to the shareholders without shareholder approval.
Maryland corporate law provides that a Director of the Corporation shall not be liable for actions taken in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonable believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use in similar circumstances. In so acting, a Director shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon reports made to the Corporation by persons selected in good faith by the Directors as qualified to make such reports.
The Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws provide that the Corporation will indemnify Directors and officers of the Corporation against liabilities and expenses actually incurred in connection with litigation in which
65
Table of Contents
they may be involved because of their positions with the Corporation. However, nothing in the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the By-Laws protects or indemnifies a Director or officer against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Each Director serves until the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of electing directors and until the election and qualification of a successor or until such director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed.
Subject to the limits of the 1940 Act and unless otherwise provided by the By-laws, a Director may be removed with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.
Each Fund has delegated proxy voting responsibilities to its investment advisor, subject to the Board’s general oversight. Each Fund has delegated proxy voting to the Advisor with the direction that proxies should be voted consistent with each Fund’s best economic interests. The Advisor has adopted its own Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”), and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Guidelines”) for this purpose. The Policies address, among other things, conflicts of interest that may arise between the interests of the Funds, and the interests of the Advisor and its affiliates, including the Fund’s principal underwriter. The Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general position on various proposals, such as:
• | Shareholder Rights — The Advisor generally votes against proposals that restrict shareholder rights. |
• | Corporate Governance — The Advisor generally votes for confidential and cumulative voting and against supermajority voting requirements for charter and bylaw amendments. The Advisor generally votes for proposals to restrict a chief executive officer from serving on more than three outside boards of directors. The Advisor generally votes against proposals that require a company to appoint a Chairman who is an independent director. |
• | Anti-Takeover Matters — The Advisor generally votes for proposals that require shareholder ratification of poison pills or that request boards to redeem poison pills, and votes against the adoption of poison pills if they are submitted for shareholder ratification. The Advisor generally votes for fair price proposals. |
• | Compensation Matters — The Advisor generally votes for executive cash compensation proposals, unless they are unreasonably excessive. The Advisor generally votes against stock option plans that do not meet the Advisor’s criteria. |
• | Routine Matters — The Advisor generally votes for the ratification of auditors, procedural matters related to the annual meeting and changes in company name, and against bundled proposals and adjournment. |
The general provisions described above do not apply to investment companies. The Advisor generally votes proxies solicited by investment companies in accordance with the recommendations of an independent third party, except for proxies solicited by or with respect to investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or principal underwriter (“affiliated investment companies”). The Advisor votes affiliated investment company proxies in the same proportion as the vote of the investment company’s other shareholders (sometimes called “mirror” or “echo” voting). Master fund proxies solicited from feeder funds are voted in accordance with applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Although the Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general voting positions on various proposals, the Advisor may, consistent with the Fund’s best interests, determine under some circumstances to vote contrary to those positions.
The Guidelines on a particular issue may or may not reflect the view of individual members of the Board or of a majority of the Board. In addition, the Guidelines may reflect a voting position that differs from the actual practices
66
Table of Contents
of the public companies within the Deutsche Bank organization or of the investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or sponsor.
The Advisor may consider the views of a portfolio company’s management in deciding how to vote a proxy or in establishing general voting positions for the Guidelines, but management’s views are not determinative.
As mentioned above, the Policies describe the way in which the Advisor resolves conflicts of interest. To resolve conflicts, the advisor, under normal circumstances, votes proxies in accordance with its Guidelines. If the Advisor departs from the Guidelines with respect to a particular proxy or if the Guidelines do not specifically address a certain proxy proposal, a proxy voting committee established by the advisor will vote the proxy. Before voting any such proxy, however, the Advisor’s conflicts review committee will conduct an investigation to determine whether any potential conflicts of interest exist in connection with the particular proxy proposal. If the conflicts review committee determines that the Advisor has a material conflict of interest, or certain individuals on the proxy voting committee should be recused from participating in a particular proxy vote, it will inform the proxy voting committee. If notified that the Advisor has a material conflict, or fewer than three voting members are eligible to participate in the proxy vote, typically the Advisor will engage an independent third party to vote the proxy or follow the proxy voting recommendations of an independent third party.
Under certain circumstances, the Advisor may not be able to vote proxies or the Advisor may find that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the benefits associated with voting. For example, the Advisor may not vote proxies on certain foreign securities due to local restrictions or customs. The Advisor generally does not vote proxies on securities subject to share blocking restrictions.
You may obtain information about how a Fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at www.sec.gov or by visiting our Web site at: aarp.scudder.com for Class AARP shares or myscudder.com for Class S shares (type “proxy voting” in the search field).
The financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, of Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund, together with the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and notes to financial statements in the Annual Report to the Shareholders of each Fund dated August 31, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference and are hereby deemed to be a part of this combined Statement of Additional Information.
The CUSIP number of Global Fund Class S is 378947-20-4.
The CUSIP number of Global Fund Class AARP is 378947-87-3.
The CUSIP number of International Fund Class S shares is 811165-10-9.
The CUSIP number of International Fund Class AARP shares is 811165-82-8.
Each Fund has a fiscal year end of August 31.
This Statement of Additional Information contains the information of Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund. Each Fund, through its combined prospectus, offers only its own share classes, yet it is possible that one Fund might become liable for a misstatement regarding the other Fund. The Directors of each Fund have considered this, and have approved the use of this Statement of Additional Information.
67
Table of Contents
The Funds’ prospectuses and this Statement of Additional Information omit certain information contained in the Registration Statement which the Funds have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect to each Fund and the securities offered hereby. This Registration Statement and its amendments are available for inspection by the public at the SEC in Washington, D.C.
68
Table of Contents
Standard & Poor’s Corporation Bond Ratings
AAA. Debt rated AAA had the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA. Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A. Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
BBB. Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
BB, B, CCC, CC and C. Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
CI. The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.
D. Debt rated D is in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in arrears.
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Bond Ratings
AAA. Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt-edge.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa. Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A. Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa. Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba. Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well
69
Table of Contents
safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B. Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa. Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca. Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C. Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
Fitch Long-Term Debt Ratings
AAA. Highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA. Very high credit quality. “AA”` ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A. High credit quality. “A” ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB. Good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.
BB. Speculative. “BB” ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
B. Highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC, C. High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A “CC” rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. “C” ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, D. Default. The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. “DDD” obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest. “DD” indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%, and “D” the lowest recovery potential, i.e., below 50%.
Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated “DDD” have the highest prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization
70
Table of Contents
process. Entities rated “DD” and “D” are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated “DD” are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated “D” have a poor prospect for repaying all obligations.
Fitch Short-Term Debt Ratings
F1. Highest credit quality. Indicates the Best capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2. Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
F3. Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B. Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C. High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
D. Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Commercial Paper Ratings
Commercial paper rated by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) has the following characteristics: Liquidity ratios are adequate to meet cash requirements. Long-term senior debt is rated “A” or better. The issuer has access to at least two additional channels of borrowing. Basic earnings and cash flow have an upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances. Typically, the issuer’s industry is well established and the issuer has a strong position within the industry. The reliability and quality of management are unquestioned. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determine whether the issuer’s commercial paper is rated A-1 or A-2.
The ratings Prime-1 and Prime-2 are the two highest commercial paper ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”). Among the factors considered by it in assigning ratings are the following: (1) evaluation of the management of the issuer; (2) economic evaluation of the issuer’s industry or industries and an appraisal of speculative-type risks which may be inherent in certain areas; (3) evaluation of the issuer’s products in relation to competition and customer acceptance; (4) liquidity; (5) amount and quality of long-term debt; (6) trend of earnings over a period of ten years; (7) financial strength of a parent company and the relationships which exist with the issuer; and (8) recognition by the management of obligations which may be present or may arise as a result of public interest questions and preparations to meet such obligations. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determines whether the issuer’s commercial paper is rated Prime-1 or 2.
Municipal Notes
Moody’s: The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “MIG 1,” “MIG 2,” and “MIG 3” (or “VMIG 1,” “VMIG 2” and “VMIG 3” in the case of an issue having a variable rate demand feature). Notes rated “MIG 1” or “VMIG 1” are judged to be of the “best quality”. Notes rated “MIG 2” or “VMIG 2” are of “high quality,” with margins or protection “ample although not as large as in the preceding group”. Notes rated “MIG 3” or “VMIG 3” are of “favorable quality,” with all security elements accounted for but lacking the strength of the preceding grades.
71
Table of Contents
S&P: The “SP-1” rating reflects a “very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest”. Notes issued with “overwhelming safety characteristics” will be rated “SP-1+”. The “SP-2” rating reflects a “satisfactory capacity” to pay principal and interest.
Fitch: The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “F-1+,” “F-1,” and “F-2.”
72
Table of Contents
SCUDDER INVESTMENTS
Global/International Funds I
Prospectus
December 1, 2005
Scudder Global Fund Classes A, B, C and R
Scudder International Fund Classes A, B and C
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not approve or disapprove these shares or determine whether the information in this prospectus is truthful or complete. It is a criminal offense for anyone to inform you otherwise.
Table of Contents
Contents | ||||||
How the Funds Work | How to Invest in the Funds | |||||
4 | 34 | |||||
13 | 41 | |||||
21 | 42 | |||||
22 | 43 | |||||
26 | 44 | |||||
57 |
Table of Contents
How the Funds Work
On the next few pages, you’ll find information about each fund’s investment goal, the main strategies each uses to pursue that goal and the main risks that could affect performance.
Whether you are considering investing in a fund or are already a shareholder, you’ll want to look this information over carefully. You may want to keep it on hand for reference as well.
Remember that mutual funds are investments, not bank deposits. They’re not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Their share prices will go up and down and you could lose money by investing in them.
Classes A, B and C shares are generally intended for investors seeking the advice and assistance of a financial advisor. Class R shares are only available to participants in certain retirement plans.
3
Table of Contents
Class A | Class B | Class C | Class R | |||||
ticker symbol | SGQAX | SGQBX | SGQCX | SGQRX | ||||
fund number | 407 | 607 | 707 | 1512 |
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital, while actively seeking to reduce downside risk as compared with other global growth funds. The fund invests at least 65% of its total assets in US and foreign equities (equities issued by US and foreign-based companies). Most of the fund’s equities are common stocks. Although the fund can invest in companies of any size and from any country, it generally focuses on established companies in countries with developed economies. In addition, the fund does not invest in securities issued by tobacco-producing companies.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
Growth orientation. The manager generally looks for companies that he believes have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
Analysis of global themes. The manager considers global economic outlooks, seeking to identify industries and companies that are likely to benefit from social, political and economic changes.
OTHER INVESTMENTS The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indices, currencies, or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market.
4
Table of Contents
The manager uses analytical tools to actively monitor the risk profile of the portfolio as compared to comparable funds and appropriate benchmarks and peer groups.
The manager uses several strategies in seeking to reduce downside risk, including:
(i) diversifying broadly among companies, industries, countries and regions;
(ii) focusing on high-quality companies with reasonable valuations; and
(iii) generally focusing on countries with developed economies.
The manager may favor different types of securities from different industries and companies at different times, while still maintaining variety in terms of the types of securities, issuers and countries represented.
The manager will normally sell a stock when he believes its price is unlikely to go higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund’s emphasis on a given country.
The fund may lend its investment securities up to 33 (1)/3% of its total assets to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions.
5
Table of Contents
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, the most important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform, both in the US and abroad. When stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. Because a stock represents ownership in its issuer, stock prices can be hurt by poor management, shrinking product demand and other business risks. These may affect single companies as well as groups of companies. In addition, movements in financial markets may adversely affect a stock’s price, regardless of how well the company performs. The market as a whole may not favor the types of investments the fund makes, and the fund may not be able to get attractive prices for them.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for long-term investors who are interested in a broadly diversified approach to global investing with an emphasis on long-term growth of capital.
6
Table of Contents
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the manager’s estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees are generally higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
7
Table of Contents
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Securities Lending Risk. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by the fund that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the fund and would adversely affect the fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in recovery of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan is outstanding. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by the fund’s delegate after a review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
Other factors that could affect performance include:
• | the manager could be incorrect in his analysis of industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters |
• | the fund’s risk management strategies could make long-term performance somewhat lower than it would have been without these strategies |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information) |
8
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how the performance for the fund’s Class A shares has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The bar chart does not reflect sales loads; if it did, total returns would be lower than those shown. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with that of a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The table includes the effects of maximum sales loads. The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class A, B and C shares was June 18, 2001. The inception date for Class R shares was November 3, 2003. In the bar chart, the performance figures for Class A shares before that date are based on the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S), adjusted to reflect the higher gross total annual operating expenses of Class A.
In the table, the performance figures for each share class prior to its inception are based on the historical performance of Class S, adjusted to reflect both the higher gross total annual operating expenses of Class A, B, C or R and the current applicable sales charges of Class A or B. Class S shares are offered in a different prospectus.
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class A only and will vary for Classes B and C. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant for Class R shares or for investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Scudder Global Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year | Class A |
2005 Total Return as of September 30: 16.82%
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 15.12%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -17.42%, Q3 2002 |
9
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2004
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||
Class A | |||||||
Return before Taxes | 8.10 | -0.98 | 7.68 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 8.10 | -1.75 | 5.78 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 3.25 | -1.30 | * | 5.68 | |||
Class B (Return before Taxes) | 10.86 | -0.76 | 7.47 | ||||
Class C (Return before Taxes) | 13.86 | -0.57 | 7.49 | ||||
Class R (Return before Taxes) | 14.60 | -0.01 | 8.08 | ||||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 14.72 | -2.45 | 8.09 |
Index: Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index, is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of global stock markets including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and the Far East.
Total returns for 2004-2005 would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
* | Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares is higher than other return figures for the same period due to a capital loss occurring upon redemption resulting in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial representative or (800) 621-1048 or visit our Web site at www.scudder.com.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
10
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold fund shares.
Fee Table | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class R | ||||||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as % of offering price) | 5.75 | %(1) | None | None | None | |||||||
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of redemption proceeds) | None | (2) | 4.00 | % | 1.00 | % | None | |||||
Redemption/Exchange fee on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of amount, redeemed, if applicable)(3) | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | % | |||||||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||||||||||
Management Fee | 0.98 | % | 0.98 | % | 0.98 | % | 0.98 | % | ||||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.24 | 0.99 | 1.00 | 0.46 | ||||||||
Other Expenses | 0.58 | 0.76 | 0.68 | 0.87 | ||||||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(4),(5) | 1.80 | 2.73 | 2.66 | 2.31 |
(1) | Because of rounding in the calculation of the offering price, the actual maximum front-end sales charge paid by an investor may be higher than the percentage noted (see “Choosing a Share Class — Class A shares”). |
(2) | The redemption of shares purchased at net asset value under the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege (see “Policies You Should Know About — Policies about transactions”) may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase and 0.50% if redeemed during the next six months following purchase. |
(3) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(4) | Through February 28, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.455%, 1.475% and 1.465% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. In addition, through February 28, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.955% for Class R shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(5) | Effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.71%, 2.461%, 2.461% and 1.96% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
11
Table of Contents
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns and reinvested all dividends and distributions. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you sold your shares at the end of each period | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 747 | $ | 1,109 | $ | 1,494 | $ | 2,569 | ||||
Class B shares | 676 | 1,147 | 1,645 | 2,632 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 369 | 826 | 1,410 | 2,993 | ||||||||
Class R shares | 234 | 721 | 1,235 | 2,646 | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you kept your shares | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 747 | $ | 1,109 | $ | 1,494 | $ | 2,569 | ||||
Class B shares | 276 | 847 | 1,445 | 2,632 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 269 | 826 | 1,410 | 2,993 | ||||||||
Class R shares | 234 | 721 | 1,235 | 2,646 |
12
Table of Contents
Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||
ticker symbol | SUIAX | SUIBX | SUICX | |||
fund number | 468 | 668 | 768 |
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing at least 65% of its total assets in foreign equities (equities issued by foreign-based companies and listed on foreign exchanges). Although the fund can invest in companies of any size and from any country, it invests mainly in common stocks of established companies in countries with developed economies (other than the United States).
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of two analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
Top-down analysis. The manager considers the economic outlooks for various sectors and industries while looking for those that may benefit from changes in the overall business environment.
The manager may favor different types of securities from different industries and companies at different times, while still maintaining variety in terms of the types of securities, issuers and countries represented.
The manager will normally sell a stock when the manager believes its price is unlikely to go higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated or other investments offer better opportunities.
OTHER INVESTMENTS The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in foreign debt securities, including convertible bonds. The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indices, currencies, or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market.
13
Table of Contents
The fund may lend its investment securities up to 33(1)/3% of its total assets to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, the most important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case, foreign markets. When foreign stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. Because a stock represents ownership in its issuer, stock prices can be hurt by poor management, shrinking product demand and other business risks. These may affect single companies as well as groups of companies. In addition, movements in financial markets may adversely affect a stock’s price, regardless of how well the company performs. The market as a whole may not favor the types of investments the fund makes, and the fund may not be able to get attractive prices for them.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who are interested in a broadly diversified non-US international investment with the emphasis squarely on long-term growth of capital.
14
Table of Contents
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the manager’s estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees are generally higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
15
Table of Contents
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Securities Lending Risk. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by the fund that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the fund and would adversely affect the fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in recovery of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan is outstanding. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by the fund’s delegate after a review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
Other factors that could affect performance include:
• | the manager could be incorrect in his analysis of industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information) |
16
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how the performance for the fund’s Class A shares has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The bar chart does not reflect sales loads; if it did, total returns would be lower than those shown. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with that of a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The table includes the effects of maximum sales loads. The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class A shares (formerly Class R) is August 2, 1999. The inception date for Class B and C shares is December 29, 2000. In the bar chart, the performance figures for Class A shares before that date are based on the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S), adjusted to reflect the higher gross total annual operating expenses of Class A.
In the table, the performance figures for each share class prior to its inception are based on the historical performance of Class S, adjusted to reflect both the higher gross total annual operating expenses of Class A, B or C and the current applicable sales charges of Class A or B. Class S shares are offered in a different prospectus.
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class A only and will vary for Classes B and C. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Scudder International Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year | Class A |
2005 Total Return as of September 30: 11.85%
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 30.20%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -19.42%, Q3 2002 |
17
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2004
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||
Class A | |||||||
Return before Taxes | 9.68 | -7.28 | 5.78 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 9.73 | -7.77 | 4.66 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 4.73 | -6.35 | * | 4.58 | |||
Class B (Return before Taxes) | 12.38 | -7.10 | 5.57 | ||||
Class C (Return before Taxes) | 15.37 | -6.93 | 5.59 | ||||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 20.25 | -1.13 | 5.62 |
Index: Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that tracks international stock performance in the 21 developed markets of Europe, Australasia and the Far East.
Total returns for 2004-2005 would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
* | Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares is higher than other return figures for the same period due to a capital loss occurring upon redemption resulting in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial representative or (800) 621-1048 or visit our Web site at www.scudder.com.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
18
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold fund shares.
Fee Table | Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | |||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as % of offering price) | 5.75 | %(1) | None | None | |||||
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of redemption proceeds) | None | (2) | 4.00 | % | 1.00 | % | |||
Redemption/Exchange fee on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of amount redeemed, if applicable)(3) | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | ||||||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | |||||||||
Management Fee | 0.68 | % | 0.68 | % | 0.68 | % | |||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.23 | 1.00 | 0.98 | ||||||
Other Expenses | 0.46 | 0.98 | 0.62 | ||||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(4),(5) | 1.37 | 2.66 | 2.28 |
(1) | Because of rounding in the calculation of the offering price, the actual maximum front-end sales charge paid by an investor may be higher than the percentage noted (see “Choosing a Share Class — Class A shares”). |
(2) | The redemption of shares purchased at net asset value under the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege (see “Policies You Should Know About — Policies about transactions”) may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase and 0.50% if redeemed during the next six months following purchase. |
(3) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(4) | Through February 28, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.345%, 1.365% and 1.355% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(5) | Effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.34%, 2.25% and 2.25% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
19
Table of Contents
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns and reinvested all dividends and distributions. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you sold your shares at the end of each period | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 706 | $ | 984 | $ | 1,282 | $ | 2,127 | ||||
Class B shares | 669 | 1,126 | 1,610 | 2,389 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 331 | 712 | 1,220 | 2,615 | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you kept your shares | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 706 | $ | 984 | $ | 1,282 | $ | 2,127 | ||||
Class B shares | 269 | 826 | 1,410 | 2,389 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 231 | 712 | 1,220 | 2,615 |
20
Table of Contents
Other Policies and Secondary Risks
While the sections on the previous pages describe the main points of each fund’s strategy and risks, there are a few other issues to know about:
• | Although major changes tend to be infrequent, a fund’s Board could change that fund’s investment goal without seeking shareholder approval. |
• | As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder Global Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as money market securities. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder International Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as US or Canadian money market securities. These measures could prevent losses, but would mean that a fund was not pursuing its goal. |
• | Each fund’s equity investments are mainly common stocks, but may also include preferred stocks and other securities with equity characteristics, such as convertible securities and warrants. |
Secondary risks
Derivatives Risk. Although not one of its principal investment strategies, each fund may invest in certain types of derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives include: the derivative is not well correlated with the security, index or currency for which it is acting as a substitute; derivatives used for risk management may not have the intended effects and may result in losses or missed opportunities; the risk that each fund cannot sell the derivative because of an illiquid secondary market; and the risk that the derivatives transaction could expose each fund to the effect of leverage, which could increase a fund’s exposure to the market and magnify potential losses that it could have if it had not entered into these transactions. There is no guarantee that these derivatives activities will be employed or that they will work, and their use could cause lower returns or even losses to a fund.
21
Table of Contents
For more information
This prospectus doesn’t tell you about every policy or risk of investing in the funds.
If you want more information on a fund’s allowable securities and investment practices and the characteristics and risks of each one, you may want to request a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (the back cover tells you how to do this).
Keep in mind that there is no assurance that any mutual fund will achieve its goal.
The funds’ complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until the fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). The funds’ Statement of Additional Information includes a description of the funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the funds’ portfolio holdings.
Who Manages and Oversees the Funds
The investment advisor
Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM”), which is part of Deutsche Asset Management, is the investment advisor for each fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, DeIM, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154, makes each fund’s investment decisions, buys and sells securities for each fund and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds. DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. DeIM is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
Scudder Investments is part of Deutsche Asset Management, which is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Scudder Trust Company.
22
Table of Contents
Deutsche Asset Management is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts, and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.
DeIM is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
DeIM receives a management fee from each fund. Below are the actual rates paid by each fund for the most recent fiscal year, as a percentage of each fund’s average daily net assets:
Fund Name | Fee Paid | ||
Scudder Global Fund | 0.98 | % | |
Scudder International Fund | 0.68 | %* |
* | A portion of this fee was paid to Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services, Ltd., which served as Scudder International Fund’s subadvisor until September 30, 2005. |
23
Table of Contents
The portfolio managers
The following people handle the day-to-day management of each fund.
Scudder Global Fund | Scudder International Fund | |
Oliver Kratz | Matthias Knerr, CFA | |
Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Lead Manager of the fund. | Director, Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund. | |
• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1996, having since served as portfolio manager for European Equity Fund and Global Emerging Markets analyst for International Equity Fund, after two years of experience at Merrill Lynch, Brown Brothers Harriman and McKinsey & Co.; authored Frontier Emerging Markets Securities Price Behavior And Valuation; Kluwers Academic Publishers, 1999; member of Budapest Stock Exchange Advisory Board. | • Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1995 and the fund in 2004. • Portfolio manager for EAFE Equities and Global Equities. • BS, Pennsylvania State University. | |
• Head of global portfolio selection team for Alpha Emerging Markets Equity and co-lead manager for Global Thematic Equity: New York. | ||
• Joined the fund in 2003. | ||
• BA, Tufts University and Karlova Universidad, Prague; MALD, Ph.D, The Fletcher School, administered jointly by Harvard University and Tufts University. |
The funds’ Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ investments in the funds, a description of their compensation structure and information regarding other accounts they manage.
24
Table of Contents
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 Scudder Investments. The funds’ advisors have been cooperating in connection with these inquiries and are in discussions with these regulators concerning proposed settlements. Publicity about mutual fund practices arising from these industrywide inquiries serves as the general basis of a number of private lawsuits against the Scudder 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 Scudder funds, the funds’ investment advisors and their affiliates, and certain individuals, including in some cases fund Trustees/Directors, officers, and other parties. Each Scudder fund’s investment advisor has agreed to indemnify the applicable Scudder 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 or lawsuits will be or what the effect, if any, would be on the funds or their advisors. Based on currently available information, including the proposed settlements with regulators, however, the funds’ investment advisors believe the likelihood that the pending lawsuits and any regulatory settlements will have a material adverse financial impact on a Scudder fund is remote and such actions are not likely to materially affect their ability to perform under their investment management agreements with the Scudder funds.
25
Table of Contents
These tables are designed to help you understand each fund’s financial performance in recent years. The figures in the first part of each table are for a single share. The total return figures represent the percentage that an investor in a fund would have earned (or lost), assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, whose reports, along with each fund’s financial statements, are included in that fund’s annual report (see “Shareholder reports” on the back cover).
Scudder Global Fund — Class A
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 22.81 | $ | 20.42 | $ | 18.76 | $ | 23.14 | $ | 24.58 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .13 | — | *** | .12 | .07 | .04 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.66 | 2.65 | 1.69 | (3.89 | ) | (1.48 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.79 | 2.65 | 1.81 | (3.82 | ) | (1.44 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | — | (.26 | ) | (.15 | ) | (.41 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | (.15 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | — | (.26 | ) | (.15 | ) | (.56 | ) | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | — | *** | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 29.60 | $ | 22.81 | $ | 20.42 | $ | 18.76 | $ | 23.14 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 29.77 | ^d | 12.99 | ^d | 9.75 | (16.80 | ) | (5.86 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 26 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 18 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.76 | 1.77 | 1.66 | 1.63 | 1.62 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.70 | 1.69 | 1.66 | 1.63 | 1.62 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .51 | .04 | .66 | .34 | .78 | * | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 54 | 81 | 55 | 31 | 40 |
^a | For the period from June 18, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class A shares) to August 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
26
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund — Class B
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 22.79 | $ | 20.40 | $ | 18.73 | $ | 23.10 | $ | 24.58 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | (.07 | ) | (.18 | ) | (.03 | ) | (.10 | ) | — | *** | ||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.63 | 2.65 | 1.70 | (3.90 | ) | (1.48 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.56 | 2.47 | 1.67 | (4.00 | ) | (1.48 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | — | (.08 | ) | — | *** | (.22 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | (.15 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | — | (.08 | ) | — | *** | (.37 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
Redemption fees | — | *** | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 29.35 | $ | 22.79 | $ | 20.40 | $ | 18.73 | $ | 23.10 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 28.78 | ^d | 12.21 | ^d | 8.93 | (17.50 | ) | (6.02 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.69 | 2.58 | 2.45 | 2.43 | 2.41 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.47 | 2.47 | 2.45 | 2.43 | 2.41 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.26 | ) | (.74 | ) | (.13 | ) | (.46 | ) | (.01 | )* | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 54 | 81 | 55 | 31 | 40 |
^a | For the period from June 18, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class B shares) to August 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
27
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund — Class C
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 22.79 | $ | 20.39 | $ | 18.73 | $ | 23.10 | $ | 24.58 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | (.07 | ) | (.16 | ) | (.02 | ) | (.09 | ) | — | *** | ||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.63 | 2.64 | 1.69 | (3.90 | ) | (1.48 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.56 | 2.48 | 1.67 | (3.99 | ) | (1.48 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | — | (.08 | ) | (.01 | ) | (.23 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | (.15 | ) | — | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | — | (.08 | ) | (.01 | ) | (.38 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
Redemption fees | — | *** | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 29.35 | $ | 22.79 | $ | 20.39 | $ | 18.73 | $ | 23.10 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 28.78 | ^d | 12.23 | ^d | 8.91 | (17.48 | ) | (6.02 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.62 | 2.56 | 2.44 | 2.40 | 2.39 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.47 | 2.46 | 2.44 | 2.40 | 2.39 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.26 | ) | (.73 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.43 | ) | .01 | * | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 54 | 81 | 55 | 31 | 40 |
^a | For the period from June 18, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class C shares) to August 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
28
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund — Class R
Year Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004^a | ||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 22.89 | $ | 21.69 | ||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .06 | .02 | ||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.68 | 1.37 | ||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.74 | 1.39 | ||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||
Net investment income | — | (.19 | ) | |||||
Redemption fees | — | *** | — | |||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 29.63 | $ | 22.89 | ||||
Total Return (%)^c | 29.45 | 6.38 | ** | |||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 1 | .5 | ||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.27 | 1.87 | * | |||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.96 | 1.82 | * | |||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .25 | .13 | * | |||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 54 | 81 |
^a | For the period from November 3, 2003 (commencement of operations of Class R shares) to August 31, 2004. |
^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. |
29
Table of Contents
Scudder International Fund — Class A
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 37.86 | $ | 33.18 | $ | 32.35 | $ | 40.03 | $ | 57.54 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .56 | .16 | .26 | .10 | .06 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.48 | 4.82 | .79 | (7.76 | ) | (14.89 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 10.04 | 4.98 | 1.05 | (7.66 | ) | (14.83 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.46 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.22 | ) | (.02 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.46 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.22 | ) | (.02 | ) | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 47.44 | $ | 37.86 | $ | 33.18 | $ | 32.35 | $ | 40.03 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^b | 26.63 | 15.06 | 3.28 | (19.13 | ) | (26.63 | ) | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 219 | 192 | 204 | 218 | 312 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses (%) | 1.33 | 1.55 | 1.49 | 1.31 | ^c | 1.33 | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.28 | .41 | .84 | .28 | .17 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^c | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in certain liabilities of an acquired fund. The ratio without this reduction was 1.33%. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
30
Table of Contents
Scudder International Fund — Class B
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of Period | $ | 37.36 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.95 | $ | 39.83 | $ | 50.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .13 | (.14 | ) | .03 | (.17 | ) | (.11 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.31 | 4.77 | .76 | (7.71 | ) | (10.20 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 9.44 | 4.63 | .79 | (7.88 | ) | (10.31 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.06 | ) | (.01 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 46.74 | $ | 37.36 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.95 | $ | 39.83 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 25.21 | ^e | 14.19 | ^e | 2.47 | (19.78 | ) | (20.56 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 33 | 40 | 47 | 60 | 92 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.62 | 2.49 | 2.27 | 2.08 | ^d | 2.13 | * | |||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.37 | 2.37 | 2.27 | 2.08 | ^d | 2.13 | * | |||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .24 | (.41 | ) | .06 | (.49 | ) | (.35 | )* | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
^a | For the period from December 29, 2000 (commencement of operations of Class B shares) to August 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in certain liabilities of an acquired fund. The ratio without this reduction was 2.13%. |
^e | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
31
Table of Contents
Scudder International Fund — Class C
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 37.35 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.94 | $ | 39.82 | $ | 50.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .18 | (.14 | ) | .03 | (.17 | ) | (.12 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.32 | 4.76 | .77 | (7.71 | ) | (10.20 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 9.50 | 4.62 | .80 | (7.88 | ) | (10.32 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.11 | ) | (.01 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 46.74 | $ | 37.35 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.94 | $ | 39.82 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 25.44 | 14.17 | ^d | 2.50 | (19.79 | ) | (20.58 | )** | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 32 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.24 | 2.38 | 2.26 | 2.11 | 2.11 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.24 | 2.36 | 2.26 | 2.11 | 2.11 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .37 | (.40 | ) | .07 | (.52 | ) | (.33 | )* | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
^a | For the period from December 29, 2000 (commencement of operations of Class C shares) to August 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
32
Table of Contents
How to Invest in the Funds
The following pages tell you about many of the services, choices and benefits of being a shareholder. You’ll also find information on how to check the status of your account using the method that’s most convenient for you.
You can find out more about the topics covered here by speaking with your financial advisor or a representative of your workplace retirement plan or other investment provider.
33
Table of Contents
Offered in this prospectus are three share classes for the Scudder International Fund and four share classes for the Scudder Global Fund. Each class has its own fees and expenses, offering you a choice of cost structures. Each fund offers other classes of shares separately. Class A, Class B and Class C shares are intended for investors seeking the advice and assistance of a financial advisor, who will typically receive compensation for those services.
Class R shares are only available to participants in certain retirement plans.
Before you invest, take a moment to look over the characteristics of each share class, so that you can be sure to choose the class that’s right for you. You may want to ask your financial representative to help you with this decision.
We describe each share class in detail on the following pages. But first, you may want to look at the table below, which gives you a brief comparison of the main features of each class.
Classes and features | Points to help you compare | |
Class A • Sales charges of up to 5.75%, charged when you buy shares
• In most cases, no charges when you sell shares
• Up to 0.25% annual shareholder servicing fee |
• Some investors may be able to reduce or eliminate their sales charges; see next page
• Total annual operating expenses are lower than those for Class B or Class C | |
Class B • No charges when you buy shares
• Deferred sales charge declining from 4.00%, charged when you sell shares you bought within the last six years
• 0.75% annual distribution fee and up to 0.25% annual shareholder servicing fee |
• The deferred sales charge rate falls to zero after six years
• Shares automatically convert to Class A after six years, which means lower annual expenses going forward
| |
Class C | ||
• No charges when you buy shares
• Deferred sales charge of 1.00%, charged when you sell shares you bought within the last year
• 0.75% annual distribution fee and up to 0.25% annual shareholder servicing fee | • The deferred sales charge rate is lower than Class B shares, but your shares never convert to Class A, so annual expenses remain higher | |
Class R • No charges when you buy or sell shares
• 0.25% annual distribution fee and up to 0.25% annual shareholder servicing fee |
• Class R is only available to participants in certain retirement plans |
Your financial advisor will typically be paid a fee when you buy shares and may receive different levels of compensation depending upon which class of shares you buy. In addition to these payments, the fund’s advisor or its affiliates may provide compensation to your financial advisor for distribution, administrative and promotional services. Financial advisors may also receive compensation from a fund for the services they provide to their clients.
34
Table of Contents
Class A shares
Class A shares have a 12b-1 plan, under which a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% is deducted from class assets each year.
Class A shares have a sales charge that varies with the amount you invest:
Your investment | Sales Charge as % of offering price(1),(2) | Sales Charge as % of your net investment | ||
Up to $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.10% | ||
$50,000-$99,999 | 4.50 | 4.71 | ||
$100,000-$249,999 | 3.50 | 3.63 | ||
$250,000-$499,999 | 2.60 | 2.67 | ||
$500,000-$999,999 | 2.00 | 2.04 |
$1 million or more | See below and next two pages |
(1) | The offering price includes sales charge. |
(2) | Because of rounding in the calculation of the offering price, the actual maximum front-end sales charge paid by an investor may be higher than the percentage noted above. |
You may be able to lower your Class A sales charges if:
• | you plan to invest at least $100,000 in Class A shares (including Class A shares in other retail Scudder funds) over the next 24 months (“Letter of Intent”) |
• | the amount of Class A shares you already own (including Class A shares in other retail Scudder funds) plus the amount you’re investing now in Class A shares is at least $100,000 (“Cumulative Discount”) |
• | you are investing a total of $100,000 or more in Class A shares of several funds on the same day (“Combined Purchases”) |
The point of these three features is to let you count investments made at other times or in certain other funds for purposes of calculating your present sales charge. Any time you can use the privileges to “move” your investment into a lower sales charge category, it’s generally beneficial for you to do so.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Class A shares may make sense for long-term investors, especially those who are eligible for reduced or eliminated sales charges.
35
Table of Contents
For purposes of determining whether you are eligible for a reduced Class A sales charge, you and your immediate family (your spouse or life partner and your children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) may aggregate your investments in the Scudder family of funds. This includes, for example, investments held in a retirement account, an employee benefit plan, or at a financial advisor other than the one handling your current purchase. These combined investments will be valued at their current offering price to determine whether your current investment qualifies for a reduced sales charge.
To receive a reduction in your Class A initial sales charge, you must let your financial advisor or Shareholder Services know at the time you purchase shares that you qualify for such a reduction. You may be asked by your financial advisor or Shareholder Services to provide account statements or other information regarding related accounts of you or your immediate family in order to verify your eligibility for a reduced sales charge.
For more information about sales charge discounts, please visit www.scudder.com (click on the link entitled “Fund Sales Charge and Breakpoint Schedule”), consult with your financial advisor or refer to the section entitled “Purchase or Redemption of Shares” in the fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
You may be able to buy Class A shares without sales charges when you are:
• | reinvesting dividends or distributions |
• | participating in an investment advisory or agency commission program under which you pay a fee to an investment advisor or other firm for portfolio management or brokerage services |
• | exchanging an investment in Class A shares of another fund in the Scudder family of funds for an investment in the fund |
• | a current or former director or trustee of the Deutsche or Scudder mutual funds |
• | an employee (including the employee’s spouse or life partner and children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates or of a subadvisor to any fund in the Scudder family of funds or of a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of such funds |
36
Table of Contents
There are a number of additional provisions that apply in order to be eligible for a sales charge waiver. Each fund may waive the sales charges for investors in other situations as well. Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you are eligible.
If you’re investing $1 million or more, either as a lump sum or through one of the sales charge reduction features described above, you may be eligible to buy Class A shares without sales charges (“Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege”). However, you may be charged a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 1.00% on any shares you sell within 12 months of purchase and a similar charge of 0.50% on shares you sell during the next six months following purchase. This CDSC is waived under certain circumstances (see “Policies You Should Know About”). Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you’re eligible.
37
Table of Contents
Class B shares
With Class B shares, you pay no up-front sales charges. Class B shares have a 12b-1 plan, under which a distribution fee of 0.75% and a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% are deducted from class assets each year. This means the annual expenses for Class B shares are somewhat higher (and their performance correspondingly lower) compared to Class A shares. After six years, Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares which has the net effect of lowering the annual expenses from the seventh year on. However, unlike Class A shares, your entire investment goes to work immediately.
Class B shares have a CDSC. This charge declines over the years you own shares and disappears completely after six years of ownership. But for any shares you sell within those six years, you may be charged as follows:
Year after you bought shares | CDSC on shares you sell | |
First year | 4.00% | |
Second or third year | 3.00 | |
Fourth or fifth year | �� | 2.00 |
Sixth year | 1.00 |
Seventh year and later | None (automatic conversion to Class A) |
This CDSC is waived under certain circumstances (see “Policies You Should Know About”). Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you’re eligible.
While Class B shares don’t have any front-end sales charges, their higher annual expenses mean that over the years you could end up paying more than the equivalent of the maximum allowable front-end sales charge.
If you are thinking of making a large purchase in Class B shares or if you already own a large amount of Class A shares in this fund or other Scudder funds, it may be more cost efficient to purchase Class A shares instead. Orders to purchase Class B shares of $100,000 or more will be declined with the exception of orders received from financial representatives acting for clients whose shares are held in an omnibus account and certain employer-sponsored employee benefit plans. You should consult with your financial advisor to determine which class of shares is appropriate for you.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Class B shares may make sense for long-term investors who prefer to see all of their investment go to work right away and can accept somewhat higher annual expenses.
38
Table of Contents
Class C shares
With Class C shares, you pay no up-front sales charges. Class C shares have a 12b-1 plan under which a distribution fee of 0.75% and a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% are deducted from class assets each year. Because of these fees, the annual expenses for Class C shares are similar to those of Class B shares, but higher than those for Class A shares (and the performance of Class C shares is correspondingly lower than that of Class A shares).
Unlike Class B shares, Class C shares do NOT automatically convert to Class A shares after six years, so they continue to have higher annual expenses.
Class C shares have a CDSC, but only on shares you sell within one year of buying them:
Year after you bought shares | CDSC on shares you sell | |
First year | 1.00% | |
Second year and later | None |
This CDSC is waived under certain circumstances (see “Policies You Should Know About”). Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you’re eligible.
While Class C shares don’t have any up-front sales charges, their higher annual expenses mean that over the years, you could end up paying more than the equivalent of the maximum allowable front-end sales charge.
Orders to purchase Class C shares of $500,000 or more will be declined with the exception of orders received from financial representatives acting for clients whose shares are held in an omnibus account and certain employer-sponsored employee benefit plans.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Class C shares may appeal to investors who plan to sell some or all shares within six years of buying them or who aren’t certain of their investment time horizon.
39
Table of Contents
Class R shares
Class R shares have no initial sales charges or deferred sales charges. Class R shares have a 12b-1 plan, under which each year a distribution fee of 0.25% and a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% are deducted from class assets. Because distribution fees are continuous in nature, these fees may, over time, increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges.
Eligibility requirements
You may buy Class R shares if you are a participant in any of the following types of employer-sponsored plans that offer Class R shares of the fund:
• | All section 401(a) and 457 plans |
• | Certain section 403(b)(7) plans |
• | 401(k), profit sharing, money purchase pension and defined benefit plans |
• | Non-qualified deferred compensation plans |
40
Table of Contents
How to Buy Class A, B and C Shares
Once you’ve chosen a share class, use these instructions to make investments.
First investment | Additional investments | |
$1,000 or more for regular accounts | $50 or more for regular accounts and IRA accounts | |
$500 or more for IRAs | ||
$50 or more with an Automatic Investment Plan | $50 or more with an Automatic Investment Plan |
Through a financial advisor • Contact your advisor using the method that’s most convenient for you |
• Contact your advisor using the method that’s most convenient for you | |
By mail or express mail (see below) • Fill out and sign an application
• Send it to us at the appropriate address, along with an investment check |
• Send a check made out to “Scudder Funds” and a Scudder investment slip to us at the appropriate address below
• If you don’t have an investment slip, simply include a letter with your name, account number, the full name of the fund and the share class and your investment instructions | |
By wire • Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions |
• Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | |
By phone | ||
Not available | • Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | |
With an automatic investment plan • Fill in the information on your application and include a voided check |
• To set up regular investments from a bank checking account, call (800) 621-1048 | |
On the Internet | ||
Not available | • Call (800) 621-1048 to establish Internet access | |
• Go to www.scudder.com and log in | ||
• Follow the instructions for buying shares with money from your bank account |
Regular mail:
First Investment: Scudder Investments, PO Box 219356, Kansas City, MO 64121-9356
Additional Investments: Scudder Investments, PO Box 219154, Kansas City, MO 64121-9154
Express, registered or certified mail:
Scudder Investments, 210 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1614
41
Table of Contents
How to Exchange or Sell Class A, B and C Shares
Use these instructions to exchange or sell shares in your account.
Exchanging into another fund | Selling shares | |
$1,000 or more to open a new account ($500 for IRAs)
$50 or more for exchanges between existing accounts | Some transactions, including most for over $100,000, can only be ordered in writing with a signature guarantee; if you’re in doubt, see page 51 | |
Through a financial advisor | ||
• Contact your advisor by the method that’s most convenient for you | • Contact your advisor by the method that’s most convenient for you | |
By phone or wire | ||
• Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | • Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | |
By mail or express mail (see previous page) | ||
Write a letter that includes: | Write a letter that includes: | |
• the fund, class and account number you’re exchanging out of
| • the fund, class and account number from which you want to sell shares | |
• the dollar amount or number of shares you want to exchange
• the name and class of the fund you want to exchange into
| • the dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell
• your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account
| |
• your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account | • a daytime telephone number | |
• a daytime telephone number | ||
With an automatic exchange plan | ||
• To set up regular exchanges from a fund account, call (800) 621-1048 | Not available | |
With an automatic withdrawal plan | ||
Not available | • To set up regular cash payments from a fund account, call (800) 621-1048 (minimum $50) | |
On the Internet | ||
• Call (800) 621-1048 to establish Internet access | • Call (800) 621-1048 to establish Internet access | |
• Go to www.scudder.com and log in | • Go to www.scudder.com and log in | |
• Follow the instructions for making on-line exchanges | • Follow the instructions for making on-line redemptions |
42
Table of Contents
How to Buy or Sell Class R Shares
If your plan sponsor has selected Class R shares as an investment option, you may buy Class R shares through your securities dealer or through any financial institution that is authorized to act as a shareholder servicing agent (“financial advisor”). Contact them for details on how to enter and pay for your order. Financial representatives include brokers, financial advisors or any other bank, dealer or other institution that has a sub-shareholder servicing agreement with the funds. Financial advisors may charge additional fees to investors for those services not otherwise included in their sub-distribution or servicing agreement, such as cash management or special trust or retirement investment reporting. The funds’ advisor or administrator may provide compensation to financial advisors for distribution, administrative and promotional services.
There are no minimum investments with respect to Class R shares.
Instructions for buying and selling shares must generally be submitted by your employer-sponsored plan, not by plan participants for whose benefit the shares are held. Please contact your financial advisor for information on how to open a fund account.
43
Table of Contents
Policies You Should Know About
Along with the instructions on the previous pages, the policies below may affect you as a shareholder. Some of this information, such as the section on dividends and taxes, applies to all investors, including those investing through financial advisors.
If you are investing through a financial advisor or through a retirement plan, check the materials you received from them about how to buy and sell shares because particular financial advisors or other intermediaries may adopt policies, procedures or limitations that are separate from those described by the funds. Please note that a financial advisor may charge fees separate from those charged by a fund.
Keep in mind that the information in this prospectus applies only to each fund’s Class A, Class B and Class C shares, and Scudder Global Fund’s Class R shares. The funds do have other share classes, which are described in separate prospectuses and which have different fees, requirements and services.
In order to reduce the amount of mail you receive and to help reduce expenses, we generally send a single copy of any shareholder report and prospectus to each household. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please contact your financial advisor or call (800) 621-1048.
Policies about transactions
The funds are open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Each fund calculates its share price for each class every business day, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (typically 4 p.m. Eastern time, but sometimes earlier, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading). You can place an order to buy or sell shares at any time.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
The Scudder Web site can be a valuable resource for shareholders with Internet access. Go to www.scudder.com to get up-to-date information, review balances or even place orders for exchanges.
44
Table of Contents
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means to you: when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. Some or all of this information will be used to verify the identity of all persons opening an account.
We might request additional information about you (which may include certain documents, such as articles of incorporation for companies) to help us verify your identity, and in some cases the information and/or documents may be required to conduct the verification. The information and documents will be used solely to verify your identity.
We will attempt to collect any missing required and requested information by contacting you or your financial advisor. If we are unable to obtain this information within the time frames established by each fund then we may reject your application and order.
Each fund will not invest your purchase until all required and requested identification has been provided and your application has been submitted in “good order.” After we receive all the information, your application is deemed to be in good order and we accept your purchase, you will receive the net asset value per share next calculated (less any applicable sales charges).
If we are unable to verify your identity within time frames established by each fund, after a reasonable effort to do so, you will receive written notification.
The funds generally will not accept new account applications to establish an account with a non-US address (APO/FPO and US territories are acceptable) or for a non-resident alien.
Because orders placed through financial advisors must be forwarded to the transfer agent before they can be processed, you’ll need to allow extra time. A representative of your financial advisor should be able to tell you approximately when your order will be processed. It is the responsibility of your financial advisor to forward your order to the transfer agent in a timely manner.
45
Table of Contents
IRA Rollovers. You may complete a direct rollover from an employer-sponsored plan offering Class R shares to an IRA account by reinvesting up to the full amount of your distribution in Class A shares of any Scudder Fund at net asset value. Subsequent purchases of Class A shares will be made at the public offering price as described in the prospectus for Class A shares. Please note that if you terminate your participation in an employer-sponsored plan and transfer all of your Class R shares, you will lose the privilege of purchasing Class R shares in the future. Rollovers to a Scudder Class R share IRA are not permitted.
Market Timing Policies and Procedures. Short-term and excessive trading of fund shares may present risks to a fund’s long-term shareholders, including potential dilution in the value of fund shares, interference with the efficient management of a fund’s portfolio (including losses on the sale of investments), taxable gains to remaining shareholders and increased brokerage and administrative costs. These risks may be more pronounced for funds investing in certain securities such as those that trade in foreign markets, are illiquid or do not otherwise have “readily available market quotations” these risks may be more pronounced. Certain investors may seek to employ short-term trading strategies aimed at exploiting variations in portfolio valuation that arise from the nature of the securities held by a fund (e.g., “time zone arbitrage”).
The funds discourage short-term and excessive trading. Each fund will take steps to detect and deter short-term and excessive trading pursuant to each fund’s policies as described in this prospectus and approved by the Boards. The funds generally define short-term trading as purchase and redemption activity, including exchanges, that occurs within the time period for imposition of redemption fees. Each fund may also take trading activity that occurs over longer periods into account if the fund reasonably believes such activity is of an amount or frequency that may be harmful to long-term shareholders or disruptive to portfolio management.
46
Table of Contents
Each fund’s policies include:
• | a 2% redemption fee on fund shares held for less than a specified holding period (subject to certain exceptions discussed below under “Redemption fees”); |
• | each fund reserves the right to reject or cancel a purchase or exchange order for any reason when, in the opinion of the advisor, there appears to be a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity by a shareholder or any other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to the fund; and |
• | each fund will continue to use fair value pricing where appropriate under policies approved by a fund’s Board. (See “How the funds calculate share price.”) |
When a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity or other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to a fund by an investor is detected, the advisor may determine to prohibit that investor from future purchases in the funds or to limit or terminate the investor’s exchange privilege. The detection of these patterns and the banning of further trading are inherently subjective and therefore involve some selectivity in their application. The advisor seeks to make such determinations in a manner consistent with the interests of the funds’ long-term shareholders.
There is no assurance that these policies and procedures will be effective in limiting short-term and excessive trading in all cases. For example, the advisor may not be able to effectively monitor, detect or limit short-term or excessive trading by underlying shareholders that occurs through omnibus accounts maintained by broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries. Depending on the amount of fund shares held in such omnibus accounts (which may represent most of a fund’s shares) short-term and/or excessive trading of fund shares could adversely affect long-term shareholders in a fund. It is important to note that shareholders that invest through omnibus accounts also may be subject to the policies and procedures of their financial intermediaries with respect to short-term and excessive trading in a fund.
Each fund’s policies and procedures may be modified or terminated at any time.
47
Table of Contents
Redemption fees. Each fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value, without regard to the effect of any contingent deferred sales charge; any contingent deferred sales charge is also assessed on the total redemption amount without regard to the assessment of the 2% redemption fee) on all fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to a fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last.
The redemption fee is applicable to fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the funds. For this reason, the funds have undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the fund. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the funds’. Subject to approval by DeAM or each fund’s Board, intermediaries who transact business on an omnibus basis may implement the redemption fees according to their own operational guidelines (which may be different than the funds’ policies) and remit the fees to the funds. In addition, certain intermediaries that do not currently have the capacity to collect redemption fees at an account level may be granted a temporary waiver from the funds’ policies until such time as they can develop and implement a system to collect the redemption fees.
48
Table of Contents
The redemption fee will not be charged in connection with the following exchange or redemption transactions: (i) transactions on behalf of participants in certain research wrap programs; (ii) transactions on behalf of participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (iii) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to return any excess IRA contributions to the shareholder; (iv) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to effect a required minimum distribution on an IRA; (v) transactions on behalf of any mutual fund advised by the fund’s investment advisor and its affiliates (e.g., “funds of funds”) or, in the case of a master/feeder relationship, redemptions by the feeder fund from the master portfolio; (vi) transactions following death or disability of any registered shareholder, beneficial owner or grantor of a living trust with respect to shares purchased before death or disability; (vii) transactions involving hardship of any registered shareholder; (viii) systematic transactions with predefined trade dates for purchases, exchanges or redemptions, such as automatic account rebalancing, or loan origination and repayments; (ix) transactions involving shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or other distributions; (x) transactions involving shares transferred from another account in the same fund or converted from another class of the same fund (e.g., shares converting from Class B to Class A) (the redemption fee period will carry over to the acquired shares); (xi) transactions initiated by a fund or administrator (e.g., redemptions for not meeting account minimums, to pay account fees funded by share redemptions, or in the event of the liquidation or merger of a fund); or (xii) transactions in cases when there are legal or contractual limitations or restrictions on the imposition of the redemption fee (as determined by the fund or its agents in their sole discretion).
The funds expect that the waiver for certain group retirement plans and financial intermediaries will be eliminated over time as their respective operating systems are improved. Until such time that these operating systems are improved, the funds’ investment advisor will attempt to monitor the trading activity in these accounts and will take appropriate corrective action if it appears that a pattern of short-term or excessive trading or other harmful or disruptive trading by underlying shareholders exists. The funds reserve the right to withdraw waivers, and to modify or terminate these waivers or the redemption fee at any time.
49
Table of Contents
ScudderACCESS, the Scudder Automated
Information Line, is available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 972-3060. You can use ScudderACCESS to get information on Scudder funds generally and on accounts held directly at Scudder. You can also use it to make exchanges and sell shares.
Telephone and electronic transactions. Generally, you are automatically entitled to telephone and electronic transaction privileges, but you may elect not to have them when you open your account or by contacting Shareholder Services at (800) 621-1048 at a later date.
Since many transactions may be initiated by telephone or electronically, it’s important to understand that as long as we take reasonable steps to ensure that an order to purchase or redeem shares is genuine, such as recording calls or requesting personalized security codes or other information, we are not responsible for any losses that may occur as a result. For transactions conducted over the Internet, we recommend the use of a secure Internet browser. In addition, you should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them.
QuickBuy and QuickSell let you set up a link between a Scudder account and a bank account. Once this link is in place, you can move money between the two with a phone call. You’ll need to make sure your bank has Automated Clearing House (ACH) services. Transactions take two to three days to be completed and there is a $50 minimum and a $250,000 maximum. To set up QuickBuy or QuickSell on a new account, see the account application; to add it to an existing account, call (800) 621-1048.
Each fund accepts payment for shares only in US dollars by check, by bank or Federal Funds wire transfer, or by electronic bank transfer. Please note that we cannot accept cash, traveler’s checks, starter checks, money orders, third party checks, checks drawn on foreign banks or checks issued by credit card companies or Internet-based companies.
When you ask us to send or receive a wire, please note that while we don’t charge a fee to send or receive wires, it’s possible that your bank may do so. Wire transactions are generally completed within 24 hours. The funds can only send wires of $1,000 or more and accept wires of $50 or more.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
If you ever have difficulty placing an order by phone or Internet, you can always send us your order in writing.
50
Table of Contents
We do not issue share certificates. However, if you currently have shares in certificated form, you must include the share certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock power when exchanging or redeeming shares. You may not exchange or redeem shares in certificate form by telephone or via the Internet.
When you want to sell more than $100,000 worth of shares or send proceeds to a third party or to a new address, you’ll usually need to place your order in writing and include a signature guarantee. However, if you want money wired to a bank account that is already on file with us; in that case, you don’t need a signature guarantee. Also, you don’t need a signature guarantee for an exchange, although we may require one in certain other circumstances.
A signature guarantee is simply a certification of your signature — a valuable safeguard against fraud. You can get a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution, including commercial banks, savings and loans, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. Note that you can’t get a signature guarantee from a notary public and we must be provided with the original guarantee.
Selling shares of trust accounts and business or organization accounts may require additional documentation. Please contact your financial advisor for more information.
When you sell shares that have a CDSC, we calculate the CDSC as a percentage of what you paid for the shares or what you are selling them for — whichever results in the lower charge to you. In processing orders to sell shares, the shares with the lowest CDSC sell first. Exchanges from one fund into another fund don’t affect CDSCs. For each investment you make, the date you first bought shares is the date we use to calculate a CDSC on that particular investment.
51
Table of Contents
There are certain cases in which you may be exempt from a CDSC. These include:
• | the death or disability of an account owner (including a joint owner). This waiver applies only under certain conditions. Please contact your financial advisor or Shareholder Services to determine if the conditions exist |
• | withdrawals made through an automatic withdrawal plan. Such withdrawals may be made at a maximum of 12% per year of the net asset value of the account |
• | withdrawals related to certain retirement or benefit plans |
• | redemptions for certain loan advances, hardship provisions or returns of excess contributions from retirement plans |
• | for Class A shares purchased through the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege, redemption of shares whose dealer of record at the time of the investment notifies Scudder Distributors Inc., the funds’ distributor, that the dealer waives the applicable commission |
• | for Class C shares, redemption of shares purchased through a dealer-sponsored asset allocation program maintained on an omnibus record-keeping system, provided the dealer of record has waived the advance of the first year distribution and service fees applicable to such shares and has agreed to receive such fees quarterly |
In each of these cases, there are a number of additional provisions that apply in order to be eligible for a CDSC waiver. Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you are eligible.
52
Table of Contents
If you sell shares in a Scudder fund and then decide to invest with Scudder again within six months, you can take advantage of the “reinstatement feature.” With this feature, you can put your money back into the same class of a Scudder fund at its current NAV and for purposes of sales charges it will be treated as if it had never left Scudder. You’ll be reimbursed (in the form of fund shares) for any CDSC you paid when you sold. Future CDSC calculations will be based on your original investment date, rather than your reinstatement date. There is also an option that lets investors who sold Class B shares buy Class A shares with no sales charge, although they won’t be reimbursed for any CDSC they paid. You can only use the reinstatement feature once for any given group of shares. To take advantage of this feature, contact Shareholder Services or your financial advisor.
Money from shares you sell is normally sent out within one business day of when your order is processed (not when it is received), although it could be delayed for up to seven days. There are also two circumstances when it could be longer: when you are selling shares you bought recently by check and that check hasn’t cleared yet (maximum delay: 10 days) or when unusual circumstances prompt the SEC to allow further delays. Certain expedited redemption processes may also be delayed when you are selling recently purchased shares.
You may obtain additional information about other ways to sell shares by contacting your financial advisor.
How the funds calculate share price
To calculate net asset value per share, or NAV, each share class uses the following equation:
TOTAL ASSETS - TOTAL LIABILITIES
| = NAV | |
TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING |
The price at which you buy shares is the NAV, although for Class A shares it will be adjusted to allow for any applicable sales charges (see “Choosing a Shares Class”).
The price at which you sell shares is also the NAV, although for Class B and Class C investors a CDSC may be taken out of the proceeds (see “Choosing a Share Class”).
53
Table of Contents
Each fund charges a short-term redemption fee equal to 2.00% of the value of shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Please see “Policies about transactions — Redemption fees” for further information.
We typically value securities using information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations, where appropriate. However, we may use methods approved by a fund’s Board, such as a fair valuation model, which are intended to reflect fair value when pricing service information or market quotations are not readily available or when a security’s value or a meaningful portion of the value of a fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a significant event, such as a natural disaster, an economic event like a bankruptcy filing, or a substantial fluctuation in domestic or foreign markets, that has occurred between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market) and the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In such a case, a fund’s value for a security is likely to be different from the last quoted market price or pricing service information. In addition, due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, it is possible that the value determined for a particular asset may be materially different from the value realized upon such asset’s sale. It is expected that the greater the percentage of fund assets that is invested in non-US securities, the more extensive will be a fund’s use of fair value pricing. This is intended to reduce a fund’s exposure to “time zone arbitrage” and other harmful trading practices. (See “Market Timing Policies and Procedures.”)
To the extent that a fund invests in securities that are traded primarily in foreign markets, the value of its holdings could change at a time when you aren’t able to buy or sell fund shares. This is because some foreign markets are open on days or at times when the funds don’t price their shares.
54
Table of Contents
Other rights we reserve
You should be aware that we may do any of the following:
• | withdraw or suspend the offering of shares at any time |
• | withhold a portion of your distributions as federal income tax if we have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding or if you fail to provide us with a correct taxpayer ID number or certification that you are exempt from backup withholding |
• | reject a new account application if you don’t provide any required or requested indentifying information, or for other reasons |
• | for Class A, B and C shares, close your account and send you the proceeds if your balance falls below $1,000; we will give you 60 days’ notice (90 days for retirement accounts) so you can either increase your balance or close your account (this policy doesn’t apply to investors with $100,000 or more in Scudder fund shares, investors with an Automatic Investment Plan established with $50 or more per month or in any case where a fall in share price created the low balance) |
• | refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; freeze any account (meaning you will not be able to purchase fund shares in your account); suspend account services; and/or involuntarily redeem your account if we think that the account is being used for fraudulent or illegal purposes; one or more of these actions will be taken when, at our sole discretion, they are deemed to be in the fund’s best interest or when the fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or by applicable law |
• | close and liquidate your account if we are unable to verify your identity, or for other reasons; if we decide to close your account, your fund shares will be redeemed at the net asset value per share next calculated after we determine to close your account (less any applicable sales charges or redemption fees); you may be subject to gain or loss on the redemption of your fund shares and you may incur tax liability |
55
Table of Contents
• | pay you for shares you sell by “redeeming in kind,” that is, by giving you marketable securities (which typically will involve brokerage costs for you to liquidate) rather than cash; a fund generally won’t make a redemption in kind unless your requests over a 90-day period total more than $250,000 or 1% of the value of the fund’s net assets, whichever is less |
• | change, add or withdraw various services, fees and account policies (for example, we may change or terminate the exchange privilege or adjust a fund’s investment minimums at any time) |
• | suspend or postpone redemptions as permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Generally, those circumstances are when: 1) the New York Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings; 2) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted; 3) an emergency exists which makes the disposal of securities owned by a portfolio or the fair determination of the value of a portfolio’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or 4) the SEC, by order, permits the suspension of the right of redemption. Redemption payments by wire may also be delayed in the event of a nonroutine closure of the Federal Reserve wire payment system. |
56
Table of Contents
Understanding Distributions and Taxes
Each fund intends to distribute to its shareholders virtually all of its net earnings. A fund can earn money in two ways: by receiving interest, dividends or other income from securities it holds and by selling securities for more than it paid for them. (A fund’s earnings are separate from any gains or losses stemming from your own purchase and sales of shares.) A fund may not always pay a distribution for a given period.
Each fund intends to pay dividends and distributions to its shareholders annually in November and December and, if necessary, may do so at other times as well.
For federal income tax purposes, income and capital gains distributions are generally taxable. However, distributions by the fund to retirement plans that qualify for tax-exempt treatment under federal income tax laws will not be taxable. Similarly, there will be no tax consequences when a qualified retirement plan buys or sells fund shares.
You can choose how to receive your dividends and distributions. You can have them all automatically reinvested in fund shares (at NAV), all deposited directly to your bank account or all sent to you by check, have one type reinvested and the other sent to you by check or have them invested in a different fund. Tell us your preference on your application. If you don’t indicate a preference, your dividends and distributions will all be reinvested without sales charges. Dividends and distributions are taxable whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. For Class R shares and retirement plans, reinvestment (at NAV) is the only option.
Buying and selling fund shares will usually have tax consequences for you (except for Class R shares or in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). Your sales of shares may result in a capital gain or loss for you. The gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you owned the shares that were sold. For tax purposes, an exchange is treated the same as a sale.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Because each shareholder’s tax situation is unique, ask your tax professional about the tax consequences of your investments, including any state and local tax consequences.
57
Table of Contents
The tax status of fund earnings you receive and your own fund transactions generally depends on their type:
Generally taxed at long-term capital gain rates: | Generally taxed at ordinary income rates: | |
Taxable distributions from a fund | ||
• gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for more than one year | • gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for one year or less | |
• qualified dividend income | • all other taxable income | |
Transactions involving fund shares | ||
• gains from selling fund shares held for more than one year | • gains from selling fund shares held for one year or less |
Any investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes. In that case, a fund’s yield on those securities would generally be decreased. Shareholders generally should be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by a fund. In addition, any investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may increase or accelerate a fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of each fund’s distributions.
For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008, distributions of investment income designated by each fund as derived from qualified dividend income are eligible for taxation in the hands of individuals at long-term capital gain rates. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic and some foreign corporations. In addition, each fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each fund’s shares for lower tax rates to apply.
For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008, the maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals has been reduced to 15%. For more information, see the Statement of Additional Information, under “Taxes.”
58
Table of Contents
Your fund will send you detailed tax information every January. These statements tell you the amount and the tax category of any dividends or distributions you received. They also have certain details on your purchases and sales of shares. The tax status of dividends and distributions is the same whether you reinvest them or not. Dividends or distributions declared in the last quarter of a given year are taxed in that year, even though you may not receive the money until the following January.
If you invest right before a fund pays a dividend, you’ll be getting some of your investment back as a taxable dividend. You can avoid this, if you want, by investing after the fund declares the dividend. In tax-advantaged retirement accounts you don’t need to worry about this.
Corporations may be able to take a dividends-received deduction for a portion of income dividends they receive from a fund.
The above discussion is applicable to shareholders who are US persons. If you are a non-US person, please consult your own tax advisor with respect to the US tax consequences of an investment in the fund.
59
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
To Get More Information
Shareholder reports — These include commentary from each fund’s management team about recent market conditions and the effects of a fund’s strategies on its performance. They also have detailed performance figures, a list of everything each fund owns and each fund’s financial statements. Shareholders get these reports automatically.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) — This tells you more about each fund’s features and policies, including additional risk information. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this document (meaning that it’s legally part of this prospectus).
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information about a fund, call (800) 621-1048, or contact Scudder Investments at the address listed below. Each fund’s SAI and shareholder reports are also available through the Scudder Web site at www.scudder.com. These documents and other information about each fund are available from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. If you like, you may obtain copies of this information, after paying a copying fee, by e-mailing a request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC at the address listed below. You can also review and copy these documents and other information about each fund, including each fund’s SAI, 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 (202) 942-8090.
Scudder Investments | SEC | |
222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606-5808 www.scudder.com (800) 621-1048 | Public Reference Section Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 www.sec.gov (202) 942-8090 | |
Distributor Scudder Distributors, Inc. 222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606-5808 |
SCUDDER INVESTMENTS | SEC File Numbers: | |||
Scudder Global Fund | 811-4670 | |||
![]() | Scudder International Fund | 811-642 |
64
Table of Contents
SCUDDER INVESTMENTS
Global/International Funds I
Class AARP and Class S Shares
Prospectus
December 1, 2005
Scudder Global Fund
Scudder International Fund
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not approve or disapprove these shares or determine whether the information in this prospectus is truthful or complete. It is a criminal offense for anyone to inform you otherwise.
Table of Contents
Contents | ||||||
How the Funds Work | How to Invest in the Funds | |||||
4 | 29 | |||||
12 | 31 | |||||
19 | 33 | |||||
20 | 43 | |||||
24 |
Table of Contents
How the Funds Work
On the next few pages, you’ll find information about each fund’s investment goal, the main strategies each uses to pursue that goal and the main risks that could affect performance.
Whether you are considering investing in a fund or are already a shareholder, you’ll want to look this information over carefully. You may want to keep it on hand for reference as well.
Remember that mutual funds are investments, not bank deposits. They’re not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Their share prices will go up and down and you could lose money by investing in them.
This prospectus offers two classes of shares for each fund. Class AARP shares have been created especially for AARP members. Class S shares are generally not available to new investors. Unless otherwise noted, all information in this prospectus applies to both classes.
You can find Scudder prospectuses on the Internet for Class AARP shares at aarp.scudder.com and for Class S shares at myScudder.com.
3
Table of Contents
Class AARP | Class S | |||
ticker symbol | ACOBX | SCOBX | ||
fund number | 107 | 007 |
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital, while actively seeking to reduce downside risk as compared with other global growth funds. The fund invests at least 65% of its total assets in US and foreign equities (equities issued by US and foreign-based companies). Most of the fund’s equities are common stocks. Although the fund can invest in companies of any size and from any country, it generally focuses on established companies in countries with developed economies. In addition, the fund does not invest in securities issued by tobacco-producing companies.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
Growth orientation. The manager generally looks for companies that he believes have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
Analysis of global themes. The manager considers global economic outlooks, seeking to identify industries and companies that are likely to benefit from social, political and economic changes.
The manager uses analytical tools to actively monitor the risk profile of the portfolio as compared to comparable funds and appropriate benchmarks and peer groups.
OTHER INVESTMENTS The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indices, currencies, or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market.
4
Table of Contents
The manager uses several strategies in seeking to reduce downside risk, including:
(i) diversifying broadly among companies, industries, countries and regions;
(ii) focusing on high-quality companies with reasonable valuations; and
(iii) generally focusing on countries with developed economies.
The manager may favor different types of securities from different industries and companies at different times, while still maintaining variety in terms of the types of securities, issuers and countries represented.
The manager will normally sell a stock when he believes its price is unlikely to go higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund’s emphasis on a given country.
The fund may lend its investment securities up to 33(1)/3% of its total assets to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, the most important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform, both in the US and abroad. When stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. Because a stock represents ownership in its issuer, stock prices can be hurt by poor management, shrinking product demand and other business risks. These may affect single companies as well as groups of companies. In addition, movements in financial markets may adversely affect a stock’s price, regardless of how well the company performs. The market as a whole may not favor the types of investments the fund makes, and the fund may not be able to get attractive prices for them.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for long-term investors who are interested in a broadly diversified approach to global investing with an emphasis on long-term growth of capital.
5
Table of Contents
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the manager’s estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
6
Table of Contents
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees are generally higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Securities Lending Risk. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by the fund that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the fund and would adversely affect the fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in recovery of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan is outstanding. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by the fund’s delegate after a review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
7
Table of Contents
Other factors that could affect performance include:
• | the manager could be incorrect in his analysis of industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters |
• | the fund’s risk management strategies could make long-term performance somewhat lower than it would have been without these strategies |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information) |
8
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how the performance for the fund’s Class S shares has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with that of a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class AARP shares is September 11, 2000. Performance figures before that date reflect the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S).
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class S only and will vary for Class AARP. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Scudder Global Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year | Class S |
2005 Total Return as of September 30: 17.27%
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 15.20%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -17.42%, Q3 2002 |
9
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2004
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||
Class S | |||||||
Return before Taxes | 15.04 | 0.47 | 8.62 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 15.12 | -0.37 | 6.64 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 10.00 | 0.08 | * | 6.60 | |||
Class AARP (Return before Taxes) | 15.03 | 0.48 | 8.62 | ||||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 14.72 | -2.45 | 8.09 |
Index: Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of global stock markets including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and the Far East.
Total returns for 2004 would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
* | Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares is higher than other return figures for the same period due to a capital loss occurring upon redemption resulting in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-253-2277 (Class AARP) or 1-800-SCUDDER (Class S) or visit our Web site at aarp.scudder.com (Class AARP) or myScudder.com (Class S).
The Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
10
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
The fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares have no sales charges or other shareholder fees other than a redemption/exchange fee. The fund does have annual operating expenses and as a shareholder of either Class AARP or Class S shares you pay them indirectly.
Fee Table | Class AARP | Class S | ||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||||
Redemption/Exchange fee on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of amount redeemed, if applicable)(1) | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||||
Management Fee | 0.98 | % | 0.98 | % | ||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||||
Other Expenses | 0.50 | 0.31 | ||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(2),(3) | 1.48 | 1.29 |
(1) | This fee will be charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(2) | Through February 28, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.445% for each class, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(3) | Effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at no higher than 1.46% and 1.461% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare this fund’s expenses to those of other mutual funds. The example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns, reinvested all dividends and distributions, and sold your shares at the end of each period. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Class AARP shares | $ | 151 | $ | 468 | $ | 808 | $ | 1,768 | ||||
Class S shares | 131 | 409 | 708 | 1,556 |
11
Table of Contents
Class AARP | Class S | |||
ticker symbol | AINTX | SCINX | ||
fund number | 168 | 068 |
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing at least 65% of its total assets in foreign equities (equities issued by foreign-based companies and listed on foreign exchanges). Although the fund can invest in companies of any size and from any country, it invests mainly in common stocks of established companies in countries with developed economies (other than the United States).
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of two analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
Top-down analysis. The manager considers the economic outlooks for various sectors and industries while looking for those that may benefit from changes in the overall business environment.
The manager may favor different types of securities from different industries and companies at different times, while still maintaining variety in terms of the types of securities, issuers and countries represented.
The manager will normally sell a stock when the manager believes its price is unlikely to go higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated or other investments offer better opportunities.
OTHER INVESTMENTS The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in foreign debt securities, including convertible bonds. The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indices, currencies, or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market.
12
Table of Contents
The fund may lend its investment securities up to 33 1/3% of its total assets to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, the most important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case, foreign markets. When foreign stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. Because a stock represents ownership in its issuer, stock prices can be hurt by poor management, shrinking product demand, and other business risks. These may affect single companies as well as groups of companies. In addition, movements in financial markets may adversely affect a stock’s price, regardless of how well the company performs. The market as a whole may not favor the types of investments the fund makes, and the fund may not be able to get attractive prices for them.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who are interested in a broadly diversified non-US international investment with the emphasis squarely on long-term growth of capital.
13
Table of Contents
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the manager’s estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees are generally higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
14
Table of Contents
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Securities Lending Risk. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by the fund that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the fund and would adversely affect the fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in recovery of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan is outstanding. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by the fund’s delegate after a review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
Other factors that could affect performance include:
• | the manager could be incorrect in his analysis of industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information) |
15
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how the performance for the fund’s Class S shares has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with that of a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class AARP shares is August 14, 2000. Performance figures before that date reflect the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S).
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class S only and will vary for Class AARP. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Scudder International Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year | Class S |
2005 Total Return as of September 30: 12.11%
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 30.46%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -19.37%, Q3 2002 |
16
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2004
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||
Class S | ||||||||
Return before Taxes | 16.85 | -5.89 | 6.73 | |||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 16.84 | -6.43 | 5.55 | |||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 11.50 | -4.96 | * | 5.57 | * | |||
Class AARP (Return before Taxes) | 16.56 | -5.96 | 6.70 | |||||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 20.25 | -1.13 | 5.62 |
Index: Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia, Far East (EAFE) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that tracks international stock performance in the 21 developed markets of Europe, Australasia and the Far East.
Total returns for 2004 would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
* | Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares is higher than other return figures for the same period due to a capital loss occurring upon redemption resulting in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-253-2277 (Class AARP) or 1-800-SCUDDER (Class S) or visit our Web site at aarp.scudder.com (Class AARP) or myScudder.com (Class S).
The Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
17
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
The fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares have no sales charges or other shareholder fees, other than a redemption/exchange fee. The fund does have annual operating expenses and as a shareholder of either Class AARP or Class S shares you pay them indirectly.
Fee Table | Class AARP | Class S | ||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||||
Redemption/Exchange fee on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of amount redeemed, if applicable)(1) | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||||
Management Fee | 0.68 | % | 0.68 | % | ||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fee | None | None | ||||
Other Expenses | 0.68 | 0.34 | ||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(2), (3) | 1.36 | 1.02 |
(1) | This fee will be charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(2) | Through February 28, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.34% and 1.24% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(3) | Effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at no higher than 1.305% and 1.015% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare this fund’s expenses to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns, reinvested all dividends and distributions and sold your shares at the end of each period. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Class AARP shares | $ | 138 | $ | 431 | $ | 745 | $ | 1,635 | ||||
Class S shares | 104 | 325 | 563 | 1,248 |
18
Table of Contents
Other Policies and Secondary Risks
While the sections on the previous pages describe the main points of each fund’s strategy and risks, there are a few other issues to know about:
• | Although major changes tend to be infrequent, a fund’s Board could change that fund’s investment goal without seeking shareholder approval. |
• | As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder Global Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as money market securities. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder International Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as US or Canadian money market securities. These measures could prevent losses, but would mean that a fund was not pursuing its goal. |
• | Each fund’s equity investments are mainly common stocks, but may also include preferred stocks and other securities with equity characteristics, such as convertible securities and warrants. |
Secondary risks
Derivatives Risk. Although not one of its principal investment strategies, each fund may invest in certain types of derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives include: the derivative is not well correlated with the security, index or currency for which it is acting as a substitute; derivatives used for risk management may not have the intended effects and may result in losses or missed opportunities; the risk that each fund cannot sell the derivative because of an illiquid secondary market; and the risk that the derivatives transaction could expose each fund to the effect of leverage, which could increase a fund’s exposure to the market and magnify potential losses that it could have if it had not entered into these transactions. There is no guarantee that these derivatives activities will be employed or that they will work, and their use could cause lower returns or even losses to a fund.
19
Table of Contents
For more information
This prospectus doesn’t tell you about every policy or risk of investing in the funds.
If you want more information on a fund’s allowable securities and investment practices and the characteristics and risks of each one, you may want to request a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (the back cover tells you how to do this).
Keep in mind that there is no assurance that any mutual fund will achieve its goal.
The funds’ complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until the fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). The funds’ Statement of Additional Information includes a description of the funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the funds’ portfolio holdings.
Who Manages and Oversees the Funds
The investment advisor
Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM”), which is part of Deutsche Asset Management, is the investment advisor for each fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, DeIM, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154, makes each fund’s investment decisions, buys and sells securities for each fund and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds. DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. DeIM is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
Scudder Investments is part of Deutsche Asset Management, which is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Scudder Trust Company.
20
Table of Contents
Deutsche Asset Management is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts, and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.
DeIM is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual fund, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
DeIM receives a management fee from each fund. Below are the actual rates paid by each fund for the most recent fiscal year, as a percentage of each fund’s average daily net assets:
Fund Name | Fee Paid | ||
Scudder Global Fund | 0.98 | % | |
Scudder International Fund | 0.68 | %* |
* | A portion of this fee was paid to Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Ltd., an affiliate of DeIM, which served as Scudder International Fund’s subadvisor until September 30, 2005. |
AARP, through its affiliate, AARP Services, Inc., monitors and oversees the AARP Investment Program from Scudder Investments, but does not act as an investment advisor or recommend specific mutual funds. DeIM has agreed to pay a fee to AARP and/or its affiliates in return for the use of the AARP trademark and services relating to investments by AARP members in AARP Class shares of each fund. This fee is calculated on a daily basis as a percentage of the combined net assets of the AARP Classes of all funds managed by DeIM. The fee rates, which decrease as the aggregate net assets of the AARP Classes become larger, are as follows: 0.07% for the first $6 billion in net assets, 0.06% for the next $10 billion and 0.05% thereafter. These amounts are used for the general purposes of AARP and its members.
21
Table of Contents
The portfolio managers
The following people handle the day-to-day management of each fund.
Scudder Global Fund | Scudder International Fund | |
Oliver Kratz | Matthias Knerr, CFA | |
Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Lead Manager of the fund. | Director, Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund. | |
• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1996, having since served as portfolio manager for European Equity Fund and Global Emerging Markets analyst for International Equity Fund, after two years of experience at Merrill Lynch, Brown Brothers Harriman and McKinsey & Co.; authored Frontier Emerging Markets Securities Price Behavior and Valuation; Kluwers Academic Publishers, 1999; member of Budapest Stock Exchange Advisory Board. | • Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1995 and the fund in 2004. • Portfolio manager for EAFE Equities and Global Equities. • BS, Pennsylvania State University. | |
• Head of global portfolio selection team for Alpha Emerging Markets Equity and co-lead manager for Global Thematic Equity: New York. | ||
• Joined the fund in 2003. | ||
• BA, Tufts University and Karlova Universidad, Prague; MALD, Ph.D, The Fletcher School, administered jointly by Harvard University and Tufts University. |
The funds’ Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ investments in the funds, a description of their compensation structure and information regarding other accounts they manage.
22
Table of Contents
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 Scudder Investments. The funds’ advisors have been cooperating in connection with these inquiries and are in discussions with these regulators concerning proposed settlements. Publicity about mutual fund practices arising from these industrywide inquiries serves as the general basis of a number of private lawsuits against the Scudder 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 Scudder funds, the funds’ investment advisors and their affiliates, and certain individuals, including in some cases fund Trustees/Directors, officers, and other parties. Each Scudder fund’s investment advisor has agreed to indemnify the applicable Scudder 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 or lawsuits will be or what the effect, if any, would be on the funds or their advisors. Based on currently available information, including the proposed settlements with regulators, however, the funds’ investment advisors believe the likelihood that the pending lawsuits and any regulatory settlements will have a material adverse financial impact on a Scudder fund is remote and such actions are not likely to materially affect their ability to perform under their investment management agreements with the Scudder funds.
23
Table of Contents
These tables are designed to help you understand each fund’s financial performance. The figures in the first part of each table are for a single share. The total return figures represent the percentage that an investor in a fund would have earned (or lost), assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested. This information has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, whose reports, along with each fund’s financial statements, are included in that fund’s annual report (see “Shareholder reports” on the back cover).
Scudder Global Fund — Class AARP
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 22.82 | $ | 20.42 | $ | 18.77 | $ | 23.16 | $ | 27.40 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .20 | .05 | .16 | .13 | .22 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.67 | 2.67 | 1.69 | (3.90 | ) | (4.31 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.87 | 2.72 | 1.85 | (3.77 | ) | (4.09 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.05 | ) | (.32 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.47 | ) | (.05 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | (.15 | ) | (.10 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.05 | ) | (.32 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.62 | ) | (.15 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | — | *** | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 29.64 | $ | 22.82 | $ | 20.42 | $ | 18.77 | $ | 23.16 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 30.10 | 13.35 | ^c | 10.00 | (16.62 | ) | (14.99 | )** | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 111 | 93 | 87 | 90 | 126 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.44 | 1.49 | 1.43 | 1.35 | 1.30 | ^d* | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.44 | 1.45 | 1.43 | 1.35 | 1.30 | ^d* | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .77 | .28 | .89 | .62 | .90 | * | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 54 | 81 | 55 | 31 | 40 |
^a | For the period from September 11, 2000 (commencement of operations of Class AARP shares) to August 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^d | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in fund complex reorganization costs from fiscal 2000. This ratio without this reduction was 1.34%. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
24
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund — Class S
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 22.82 | $ | 20.41 | $ | 18.76 | $ | 23.15 | $ | 31.36 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .25 | .07 | .16 | .13 | .21 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 6.66 | 2.66 | 1.69 | (3.90 | ) | (4.77 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.91 | 2.73 | 1.85 | (3.77 | ) | (4.56 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.09 | ) | (.32 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.47 | ) | (.25 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | (.15 | ) | (3.40 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.09 | ) | (.32 | ) | (.20 | ) | (.62 | ) | (3.65 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | — | * | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 29.64 | $ | 22.82 | $ | 20.41 | $ | 18.76 | $ | 23.15 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 30.35 | 13.36 | ^b | 10.01 | (16.62 | ) | (16.34 | ) | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 832 | 703 | 705 | 756 | 1,090 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses (%) | 1.25 | 1.42 | 1.43 | 1.35 | 1.34 | ^c | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .96 | .31 | .89 | .62 | .86 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 54 | 81 | 55 | 31 | 40 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^c | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in fund complex reorganization costs from fiscal 2000. This ratio without this reduction was 1.34%. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
25
Table of Contents
Scudder International Fund — Class AARP
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 38.03 | $ | 33.34 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | $ | 57.74 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .56 | .23 | .33 | .19 | .20 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.52 | 4.86 | .80 | (7.80 | ) | (14.96 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 10.08 | 5.09 | 1.13 | (7.61 | ) | (14.76 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.51 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.06 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.51 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (2.74 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 47.60 | $ | 38.03 | $ | 33.34 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 26.66 | 15.27 | ^c | 3.53 | 18.94 | ) | (26.43 | ) | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 27 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 36 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.32 | 1.39 | 1.25 | 1.06 | 1.04 | ^b | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.32 | 1.35 | 1.25 | 1.06 | 1.04 | ^b | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.29 | .61 | 1.08 | .53 | .46 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in fund complex reorganization costs from fiscal 2000. The ratio without this reduction was 1.07%. |
^c | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
26
Table of Contents
Scudder International Fund — Class S
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 38.10 | $ | 33.36 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | $ | 57.73 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income^a | .71 | .30 | .35 | .19 | .18 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.54 | 4.86 | .80 | (7.80 | ) | (14.94 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 10.25 | 5.16 | 1.15 | (7.61 | ) | (14.76 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.61 | ) | (.42 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.05 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.61 | ) | (.42 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (2.73 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 47.74 | $ | 38.10 | $ | 33.36 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 27.06 | 15.49 | ^b | 3.62 | (18.94 | ) | (26.44 | ) | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 1,278 | 1,273 | 1,444 | 1,872 | 3,248 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | .98 | 1.23 | 1.18 | 1.06 | 1.07 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .98 | 1.17 | 1.18 | 1.06 | 1.07 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (%) | 1.63 | .79 | 1.15 | .53 | .43 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
27
Table of Contents
How to Invest in the Funds
The following pages tell you how to invest in these funds and what to expect as a shareholder. If you’re investing directly with Scudder, all of this information applies to you.
If you’re investing through a “third party provider” — for example, a workplace retirement plan, financial supermarket or financial advisor — your provider may have its own policies or instructions and you should follow those.
As noted earlier, there are two classes of shares of each fund available through this prospectus. The instructions for buying and selling each class are slightly different.
Instructions for buying and selling Class AARP shares, which have been created especially for AARP members, are found on the next two pages. These are followed by instructions for buying and selling Class S shares, which are generally not available to new investors. Be sure to use the appropriate table when placing any orders to buy, exchange or sell shares in your account.
28
Table of Contents
How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Class AARP Shares
Buying Shares: Use these instructions to invest directly. Make out your check to “The AARP Investment Program.”
First investment | Additional investments | |
$1,000 or more for regular accounts | $50 minimum for regular accounts and IRA accounts | |
$500 or more for IRAs or with an Automatic Investment Plan | $50 minimum with an Automatic Investment Plan, Payroll Deduction or Direct Deposit | |
By mail or express mail (see below) | ||
• For enrollment forms, call 1-800-253-2277 • Fill out and sign an enrollment form • Send it to us at the appropriate address, along with an investment check | Send a personalized investment slip or short note that includes: • fund and class name • account number • check payable to “The AARP Investment Program” | |
By wire | ||
• Call 1-800-253-2277 for instructions | • Call 1-800-253-2277 for instructions | |
By phone | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-253-2277 for instructions | |
With an automatic investment plan | ||
• Fill in the information required on your enrollment form and include a voided check | • To set up regular investments from a bank checking account, call 1-800-253-2277 | |
Payroll Deduction or Direct Deposit | ||
• Select either of these options on your enrollment form and submit it. You will receive further instructions by mail. | • Once you specify a dollar amount (minimum $50), investments are automatic. | |
Using QuickBuy | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-253-2277 | |
• or, to use QuickBuy on the Easy-Access Line, call 1-800-631-4636 and follow the instructions on how to purchase shares | ||
On the Internet | ||
• Go to “services and forms — How to open an account” at aarp.scudder.com • Print out a prospectus and an enrollment form • Complete and return the enrollment form with your check | • Call 1-800-253-2277 to ensure you have electronic services • Register at aarp.scudder.com • Follow the instructions for buying shares with money from your bank account |
Regular mail: The AARP Investment Program,
First Investment: PO Box 219735, Kansas City, MO 64121-9735
Additional Investments: PO Box 219743, Kansas City, MO 64121-9743
Express, registered or certified mail:
The AARP Investment Program, 210 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1614
29
Table of Contents
Exchanging or Selling Shares: Use these instructions to exchange or sell shares in an account opened directly with Scudder.
Exchanging into another fund | Selling shares | |
$1,000 or more to open a new account ($500 or more for IRAs)
$50 or more for exchanges between existing accounts | Some transactions, including most for over $100,000, can only be ordered in writing with a signature guarantee; if you’re in doubt, see page 39 | |
By phone | ||
• Call 1-800-253-2277 for instructions | • Call 1-800-253-2277 for instructions | |
Using Easy-Access Line | ||
• Call 1-800-631-4636 and follow the instructions | • Call 1-800-631-4636 and follow the instructions | |
By mail or express mail (see previous page) | ||
Your instructions should include: | Your instructions should include: | |
• your account number | • your account number | |
• names of the funds, class and number of shares or dollar amount you want to exchange | • name of the fund, class and number of shares or dollar amount you want to redeem | |
With an automatic withdrawal plan | ||
Not available | • To set up regular cash payments from an account, call 1-800-253-2277 | |
Using QuickSell | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-253-2277 | |
On the Internet | ||
• Register at aarp.scudder.com | Not available | |
• Go to “services and forms” | ||
• Follow the instructions for making on-line exchanges |
To reach us: | • Web site aarp.scudder.com | |
• Program representatives 1-800-253-2277, M-F, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST | ||
• TDD line 1-800-634-9454, M-F, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST | ||
Class AARP Services | • AARP Lump Sum Service for planning and setting up a lump sum distribution | |
• AARP Legacy Service for organizing financial documents and planning the orderly transfer of assets to heirs | ||
• AARP Goal Setting and Asset Allocation Service for allocating assets and measuring investment progress | ||
• For more information, please call 1-800-253-2277. |
30
Table of Contents
How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Class S Shares
Buying Shares: Use these instructions to invest directly. Make out your check to “The Scudder Funds.”
First investment | Additional investments | |
$2,500 or more for regular accounts | $50 or more for regular accounts and IRA accounts | |
$1,000 or more for IRAs or with an Automatic Investment Plan | $50 or more with an Automatic Investment Plan | |
By mail or express mail (see below) | ||
Send a Scudder investment slip or short note that includes: | ||
• Fill out and sign an application | • fund and class name | |
• Send it to us at the appropriate address, along with an investment check | • account number • check payable to “The Scudder Funds” | |
By wire | ||
• Call 1-800-SCUDDER for instructions | • Call 1-800-SCUDDER for instructions | |
By phone | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-SCUDDER for instructions | |
With an automatic investment plan | ||
• Fill in the information on your application and include a voided check | • To set up regular investments from a bank checking account, call 1-800-SCUDDER | |
Using QuickBuy | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-SCUDDER to speak to a representative | |
• or, to use QuickBuy on SAIL(TM), call 1-800-343-2890 and follow the instructions on how to purchase shares | ||
On the Internet | ||
• Go to “funds and prices” at myScudder.com • Print out a prospectus and a new account application • Complete and return the application with your check | • Call 1-800-SCUDDER to ensure you have electronic services • Register at myScudder.com • Follow the instructions for buying shares with money from your bank account |
Regular mail:
First Investment: Scudder Investments, PO Box 219669, Kansas City, MO 64121-9669
Additional Investments: Scudder Investments, PO Box 219664, Kansas City, MO 64121-9664
Express, registered or certified mail:
Scudder Investments, 210 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1614
31
Table of Contents
Exchanging or Selling Shares: Use these instructions to exchange or sell shares in an account opened directly with Scudder.
Exchanging into another fund | Selling shares | |
$2,500 or more to open a new account ($1,000 or more for IRAs)
$50 or more for exchanges between existing accounts | Some transactions, including most for over $100,000, can only be ordered in writing with a signature guarantee; if you’re in doubt, see page 39 | |
By phone or wire | ||
• Call 1-800-SCUDDER for instructions | • Call 1-800-SCUDDER for instructions | |
Using SAIL(TM) | ||
• Call 1-800-343-2890 and follow the instructions | • Call 1-800-343-2890 and follow the instructions | |
By mail or express mail (see previous page) | ||
Your instructions should include: | Your instructions should include: | |
• the fund, class and account number you’re exchanging out of | • the fund, class and account number from which you want to sell shares | |
• the dollar amount or number of shares you want to exchange | • the dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell | |
• the name and class of the fund you want to exchange into | • your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account | |
• your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account | • a daytime telephone number | |
• a daytime telephone number | ||
With an automatic withdrawal plan | ||
Not available | • To set up regular cash payments from a Scudder account, call 1-800-SCUDDER | |
Using QuickSell | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-SCUDDER | |
On the Internet | ||
• Register at myScudder.com | • Register at myScudder.com | |
• Follow the instructions for making on-line exchanges | • Follow the instructions for making on-line redemptions |
32
Table of Contents
Policies You Should Know About
Along with the instructions on the previous pages, the policies below may affect you as a shareholder. Some of this information, such as the section on dividends and taxes, applies to all investors, including those investing through financial advisors.
If you are investing through a financial advisor or through a retirement plan, check the materials you received from them about how to buy and sell shares because particular financial advisors or other intermediaries may adopt policies, procedures or limitations that are separate from those described by the funds. Please note that a financial advisor may charge fees separate from those charged by a fund.
Keep in mind that the information in this prospectus applies only to each fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares. The funds do have other share classes, which are described in separate prospectuses and which have different fees, requirements and services.
In order to reduce the amount of mail you receive and to help reduce expenses, we generally send a single copy of any shareholder report and prospectus to each household. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call 1-800-253-2277 (Class AARP) or 1-800-SCUDDER (Class S).
Policies about transactions
The funds are open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Each fund calculates its share price for each class every business day, as of the close of regular trading on the Exchange (typically 4 p.m. Eastern time, but sometimes earlier, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading). You can place an order to buy or sell shares at any time.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means to you: when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. Some or all of this information will be used to verify the identity of all persons opening an account.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Questions? You can speak to a Scudder representative between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time on any fund business day by calling 1-800-253-2277 (Class AARP) or 1-800-SCUDDER (Class S).
33
Table of Contents
We might request additional information about you (which may include certain documents, such as articles of incorporation for companies) to help us verify your identity, and in some cases the information and/or documents may be required to conduct the verification. The information and documents will be used solely to verify your identity.
We will attempt to collect any missing required and requested information by contacting you or your financial intermediary. If we are unable to obtain this information within the time frames established by each fund then we may reject your application and order.
Each fund will not invest your purchase until all required and requested identification has been provided and your application has been submitted in “good order.” After we receive all the information, your application is deemed to be in good order and we accept your purchase, you will receive the net asset value per share next calculated.
If we are unable to verify your identity within time frames established by each fund, after a reasonable effort to do so, you will receive written notification.
The funds generally will not accept new account applications to establish an account with a non-US address (APO/FPO and US territories are acceptable) or for a non-resident alien.
Because orders placed through financial advisors must be forwarded to the transfer agent before they can be processed, you’ll need to allow extra time. A representative of your financial advisor should be able to tell you approximately when your order will be processed. It is the responsibility of your financial advisor to forward your order to the transfer agent in a timely manner.
Market Timing Policies and Procedures. Short-term and excessive trading of fund shares may present risks to a fund’s long-term shareholders, including potential dilution in the value of fund shares, interference with the efficient management of a fund’s portfolio (including losses on the sale of investments), taxable gains to remaining shareholders and increased brokerage and administrative costs. These risks may be more pronounced for funds investing in certain securities such as those that trade in foreign markets, are illiquid or do not otherwise have “readily available market quotations” these risks may be more pronounced. Certain investors may seek to employ short-term trading strategies aimed at exploiting variations in portfolio valuation that arise from the nature of the securities held by a fund (e.g., “time zone arbitrage”).
34
Table of Contents
The funds discourage short-term and excessive trading. Each fund will take steps to detect and deter short-term and excessive trading pursuant to each fund’s policies as described in this prospectus and approved by the Board. The funds generally define short-term trading as purchase and redemption activity, including exchanges, that occurs within the time period for imposition of redemption fees. Each fund may also take trading activity that occurs over longer periods into account if the fund reasonably believes such activity is of an amount or frequency that may be harmful to long-term shareholders or disruptive to portfolio management.
Each fund’s policies include:
• | a 2% redemption fee on fund shares held for less than a specified holding period (subject to certain exceptions discussed below under “Redemption fees”); |
• | each fund reserves the right to reject or cancel a purchase or exchange order for any reason when, in the opinion of the advisor, there appears to be a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity by a shareholder or any other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to the fund; and |
• | each fund will continue to use fair value pricing where appropriate under policies approved by a fund’s Board. (See “How the funds calculate share price.”) |
When a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity or other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to a fund by an investor is detected, the advisor may determine to prohibit that investor from future purchases in the funds or to limit or terminate the investor’s exchange privilege. The detection of these patterns and the banning of further trading are inherently subjective and therefore involve some selectivity in their application. The advisor seeks to make such determinations in a manner consistent with the interests of the funds’ long-term shareholders.
There is no assurance that these policies and procedures will be effective in limiting short-term and excessive trading in all cases. For example, the advisor may not be able to effectively monitor, detect or limit short-term or excessive trading by underlying shareholders that occurs through omnibus accounts maintained by broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries. Depending on the amount of fund shares held in such omnibus accounts (which may represent most of a fund’s shares) short-term and/or excessive trading of fund shares could adversely affect long-term shareholders in a fund. It is
35
Table of Contents
important to note that shareholders that invest through omnibus accounts also may be subject to the policies and procedures of their financial intermediaries with respect to short-term and excessive trading in a fund.
Each fund’s policies and procedures may be modified or terminated at any time.
Redemption fees. Each fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value) on all fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to a fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last.
The redemption fee is applicable to fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the funds. For this reason, the funds have undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the fund. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the funds’. Subject to approval by DeAM or each fund’s Board, intermediaries who transact business on an omnibus basis may implement the redemption fees according to their own operational guidelines (which may be different than the funds’ policies) and remit the fees to the funds. In addition, certain intermediaries that do not currently have the capacity to collect redemption fees at an account level may be granted a temporary waiver from the funds’ policies until such time as they can develop and implement a system to collect the redemption fees.
36
Table of Contents
The redemption fee will not be charged in connection with the following exchange or redemption transactions: (i) transactions on behalf of participants in certain research wrap programs; (ii) transactions on behalf of participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (iii) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to return any excess IRA contributions to the shareholder; (iv) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to effect a required minimum distribution on an IRA; (v) transactions on behalf of any mutual fund advised by the fund’s investment advisor and its affiliates (e.g., “funds of funds”) or, in the case of a master/feeder relationship, redemptions by the feeder fund from the master portfolio; (vi) transactions following death or disability of any registered shareholder, beneficial owner or grantor of a living trust with respect to shares purchased before death or disability; (vii) transactions involving hardship of any registered shareholder; (viii) systematic transactions with pre-defined trade dates for purchases, exchanges or redemptions, such as automatic account rebalancing, or loan origination and repayments; (ix) transactions involving shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or other distributions; (x) transactions involving shares transferred from another account in the same fund or converted from another class of the same fund (e.g., shares converting from Class B to Class A) (the redemption fee period will carry over to the acquired shares); (xi) transactions initiated by a fund or administrator (e.g., redemptions for not meeting account minimums, to pay account fees funded by share redemptions, or in the event of the liquidation or merger of a fund); or (xii) transactions in cases when there are legal or contractual limitations or restrictions on the imposition of the redemption fee (as determined by the fund or its agents in their sole discretion).
The funds expect that the waiver for certain group retirement plans and financial intermediaries will be eliminated over time as their respective operating systems are improved. Until such time that these operating systems are improved, the funds’ investment advisor will attempt to monitor the trading activity in these accounts and will take appropriate corrective action if it appears that a pattern of short-term or excessive trading or other harmful or disruptive trading by underlying shareholders exists. The funds reserve the right to withdraw waivers, and to modify or terminate these waivers or the redemption fee at any time.
37
Table of Contents
Automated phone information is available 24 hours a day. You can use your automated phone services to get information on Scudder funds generally and on accounts held directly at Scudder. If you signed up for telephone services, you can also use this service to make exchanges and sell shares.
For Class AARP shares
Call Easy-Access Line, the AARP Program Automated Information Line, at 1-800-631-4636
For Class S shares
Call SAIL(TM), the Scudder Automated Information Line, at 1-800-343-2890
Telephone and electronic transactions. Generally, you are automatically entitled to telephone and electronic transaction privileges, but you may elect not to have them when you open your account or by contacting Shareholder Services at 1-800-253-2277 (Class AARP) or 1-800-SCUDDER (Class S) at a later date.
Since many transactions may be initiated by telephone or electronically, it’s important to understand that as long as we take reasonable steps to ensure that an order to purchase or redeem shares is genuine, such as recording calls or requesting personalized security codes or other information, we are not responsible for any losses that may occur as a result. For transactions conducted over the Internet, we recommend the use of a secure Internet browser. In addition, you should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them.
QuickBuy and QuickSell let you set up a link between a Scudder account and a bank account. Once this link is in place, you can move money between the two with a phone call. You’ll need to make sure your bank has Automated Clearing House (ACH) services. Transactions take two to three days to be completed and there is a $50 minimum and a $250,000 maximum. To set up QuickBuy or QuickSell on a new account, see the account application; to add it to an existing account, call 1-800-253-2277 (Class AARP) or 1-800-SCUDDER (Class S).
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
The Scudder Web site can be a valuable resource for shareholders with Internet access. To get up-to-date information, review balances or even place orders for exchanges, go to aarp.scudder.com (Class AARP) or myScudder.com (Class S).
38
Table of Contents
Each fund accepts payment for shares only in US dollars by check, bank or Federal Funds wire transfer, or by electronic bank transfer. Please note that we cannot accept cash, traveler’s checks, starter checks, money orders, third party checks, checks drawn on foreign banks, or checks issued by credit card companies or Internet-based companies.
When you ask us to send or receive a wire, please note that while we don’t charge a fee to send or receive wires, it’s possible that your bank may do so. Wire transactions are completed within 24 hours. The funds can only send wires of $1,000 or more and accept wires of $50 or more.
We do not issue share certificates. However, if you currently have shares in certificated form, you must include the share certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock power when exchanging or redeeming shares. You may not exchange or redeem shares in certificate form by telephone or via the Internet.
When you want to sell more than $100,000 worth of shares or send proceeds to a third party or to a new address, you’ll usually need to place your order in writing and include a signature guarantee. However, if you want money wired to a bank account that is already on file with us; in that case, you don’t need a signature guarantee. Also, you don’t need a signature guarantee for an exchange, although we may require one in certain other circumstances.
A signature guarantee is simply a certification of your signature — a valuable safeguard against fraud. You can get a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution, including commercial banks, savings and loans, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. Note that you can’t get a signature guarantee from a notary public, and we must be provided with the original guarantee.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
If you ever have difficulty placing an order by phone or Internet, you can always send us your order in writing.
39
Table of Contents
Selling shares of trust accounts and business or organization accounts may require additional documentation. Please call 1-800-253-2277 (Class AARP) or 1-800-SCUDDER (Class S) or contact your financial advisor for more information.
Money from shares you sell is normally sent out within one business day of when your order is processed (not when it is received), although it could be delayed for up to seven days. There are also two circumstances when it could be longer: when you are selling shares you bought recently by check and that check hasn’t cleared yet (maximum delay: 10 days) or when unusual circumstances prompt the SEC to allow further delays. Certain expedited redemption processes may also be delayed when you are selling recently purchased shares.
You may obtain additional information about other ways to sell your shares by contacting your financial advisor.
How the funds calculate share price
To calculate net asset value or NAV, each share class uses the following equation:
TOTAL ASSETS - TOTAL LIABILITIES | = NAV | |
TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING |
The price at which you buy and sell shares is the NAV.
Each fund charges a short-term redemption fee equal to 2.00% of the value of shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Please see “Policies about transactions — Redemption fees” for further information.
We typically value securities using information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations, where appropriate. However, we may use methods approved by a fund’s Board, such as a fair valuation model, which are intended to reflect fair value when pricing service information or market quotations are not readily available or when a security’s value or a meaningful portion of the value of a fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a significant event, such as a natural disaster, an economic event like a bankruptcy filing, or a substantial fluctuation in domestic or foreign markets, that has occurred between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market) and the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In such a case, a fund’s value for a
40
Table of Contents
security is likely to be different from the last quoted market price or pricing service information. In addition, due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, it is possible that the value determined for a particular asset may be materially different from the value realized upon such asset’s sale. It is expected that the greater the percentage of fund assets that is invested in non-US securities, the more extensive will be a fund’s use of fair value pricing. This is intended to reduce a fund’s exposure to “time zone arbitrage” and other harmful trading practices. (See “Market Timing Policies and Procedures.”)
To the extent that a fund invests in securities that are traded primarily in foreign markets, the value of its holdings could change at a time when you aren’t able to buy or sell fund shares. This is because some foreign markets are open on days or at times when the funds don’t price their shares.
Other rights we reserve
You should be aware that we may do any of the following:
• | withdraw or suspend the offering of shares at any time |
• | withhold a portion of your distributions as federal income tax if we have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding or if you fail to provide us with a correct taxpayer ID number or certification that you are exempt from backup withholding |
• | reject a new account application if you don’t provide any required or requested identifying information, or for other reasons |
• | refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; freeze any account (meaning you will not be able to purchase fund shares in your account); suspend account services; and/or involuntarily redeem your account if we think that the account is being used for fraudulent or illegal purposes; one or more of these actions will be taken when, at our sole discretion, they are deemed to be in the fund’s best interest or when the fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or by applicable law |
• | close and liquidate your account if we are unable to verify your identity, or for other reasons; if we decide to close your account, your fund shares will be redeemed at the net asset value per share next calculated after we determine to close your account (less any applicable redemption fees); you may be subject to gain or loss on the redemption of your fund shares and you may incur tax liability |
41
Table of Contents
• | close your account and send you the proceeds if your balance falls below $1,000 for Class AARP shareholders ($500 with an Automatic Investment Plan funded with $50 or more per month in subsequent investments), $2,500 for Class S shareholders ($1,000 with an Automatic Investment Plan funded with $50 or more per month in subsequent investments); we will give you 60 days’ notice (90 days for retirement accounts) so you can either increase your balance or close your account (these policies don’t apply to investors with $100,000 or more in Scudder fund shares, or more per month or in any case where a fall in share price created the low balance) |
• | pay you for shares you sell by “redeeming in kind,” that is, by giving you marketable securities (which typically will involve brokerage costs for you to liquidate) rather than cash; a fund generally won’t make a redemption in kind unless your requests over a 90-day period total more than $250,000 or 1% of the value of the fund’s net assets, whichever is less |
• | change, add or withdraw various services, fees and account policies (for example, we may change or terminate the exchange privilege at any time) |
• | suspend or postpone redemptions as permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Generally, those circumstances are when: 1) the New York Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings; 2) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted; 3) an emergency exists which makes the disposal of securities owned by a portfolio or the fair determination of the value of a portfolio’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or 4) the SEC, by order, permits the suspension of the right of redemption. Redemption payments by wire may also be delayed in the event of a nonroutine closure of the Federal Reserve wire payment system. |
42
Table of Contents
Understanding Distributions and Taxes
Each fund intends to distribute to its shareholders virtually all of its net earnings. A fund can earn money in two ways: by receiving interest, dividends or other income from securities it holds and by selling securities for more than it paid for them. (A fund’s earnings are separate from any gains or losses stemming from your own purchase and sale of shares.) A fund may not always pay a distribution for a given period.
Each fund intends to pay dividends and distributions to its shareholders annually in November and December and, if necessary, may do so at other times as well.
For federal income tax purposes, income and capital gains distributions are generally taxable. However, distributions by the fund to retirement plans that qualify for tax-exempt treatment under federal income tax laws will not be taxable. Similarly, there will be no tax consequences when a qualified retirement plan buys or sells fund shares.
You can choose how to receive your dividends and distributions. You can have them all automatically reinvested in fund shares (at NAV), all deposited directly to your bank account or all sent to you by check, have one type reinvested and the other sent to you by check or have them invested in a different fund. Tell us your preference on your application. If you don’t indicate a preference, your dividends and distributions will all be reinvested without sales charges. Dividends and distributions are taxable whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. For retirement plans, reinvestment (at NAV) is the only option.
Buying and selling fund shares will usually have tax consequences for you (except in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). Your sales of shares may result in a capital gain or loss for you. The gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you owned the shares that were sold. For tax purposes, an exchange is treated the same as a sale.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Because each shareholder’s tax situation is unique, ask your tax professional about the tax consequences of your investments, including any state and local tax consequences.
43
Table of Contents
The tax status of taxable fund earnings you receive, should you receive them, and your own fund transactions generally depends on their type:
Generally taxed at long-term Capital gain rates: | Generally taxed at ordinary income rates: | |
Taxable distributions from a fund | ||
• gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for more than one year | • gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for one year or less | |
• qualified dividend income | • all other taxable income | |
Transactions involving fund shares | ||
• gains from selling fund shares held for more than one year | • gains from selling fund shares held for one year or less |
Any investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes. In that case, a fund’s yield on those securities would be decreased. Shareholders generally should be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by a fund. In addition, any investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may increase or accelerate a fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of each fund’s distributions.
For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008, distributions of investment income designated by each fund as derived from qualified dividend income are eligible for taxation in the hands of individuals at long-term capital gain rates. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic and some foreign corporations. In addition, each fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each fund’s shares for the lower tax rates to apply.
For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008, the maximum long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals has been reduced to 15%. For more information, see the Statement of Additional Information, under “Taxes.”
44
Table of Contents
Your fund will send you detailed tax information every January. These statements tell you the amount and the tax category of any dividends or distributions you received. They also have certain details on your purchases and sales of shares. The tax status of dividends and distributions is the same whether you reinvest them or not. Dividends or distributions declared in the last quarter of a given year are taxed in that year, even though you may not receive the money until the following January.
If you invest right before a fund pays a dividend, you’ll be getting some of your investment back as a taxable dividend. You can avoid this, if you want, by investing after the fund declares the dividend. In tax-advantaged retirement accounts you don’t need to worry about this.
Corporations may be able to take a dividends-received deduction for a portion of income dividends they receive from a fund.
The above discussion is applicable to shareholders who are US persons. If you are a non-US person, please consult your own tax advisor with respect to the US tax consequences of an investment in the fund.
45
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
To Get More Information
Shareholder reports — These include commentary from each fund’s management team about recent market conditions and the effects of a fund’s strategies on its performance. They also have detailed performance figures, a list of everything each fund owns and its financial statements. Shareholders get these reports automatically.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) — This tells you more about each fund’s features and policies, including additional risk information. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this document (meaning that it’s legally part of this prospectus).
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information about a fund, call 1-800-253-2277 (Class AARP) or 1-800-SCUDDER (Class S), or contact Scudder Investments at the address listed below. Each fund’s SAI and shareholder reports are also available through the Scudder Web site at aarp.scudder.com (Class AARP) and myScudder.com (Class S). These documents and other information about each fund are available from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. If you like, you may obtain copies of this information, after paying a copying fee, by e-mailing a request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC at the address listed below. You can also review and copy these documents and other information about each fund, including each fund’s SAI, 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 1-202-942-8090.
AARP Investment Program from | Scudder Investments | SEC | ||
PO Box 219735 Kansas City, MO 64121-9735 aarp.scudder.com 1-800-253-2277 | PO Box 219669 Kansas City, MO 64121-9669 myScudder.com 1-800-SCUDDER | Public Reference Section Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 www.sec.gov 1-202-942-8090 |
Distributor Scudder Distributors, Inc. 222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606-5808 | ||||
SCUDDER INVESTMENTS | SEC File Numbers: | |||
Scudder Global Fund | 811-4670 | |||
![]() | Scudder International Fund | 811-642 |
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund (Class A, B, C and R Shares)
A Series of Global/International Fund, Inc.
December 1, 2005
Scudder International Fund (Class A, B, C, Institutional Class and Investment Class Shares)
A Series of Scudder International Fund, Inc.
December 1, 2005
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This combined Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the combined Class A, B, C and R shares prospectus for Scudder Global Fund and the combined Class A, B and C shares prospectus and the Institutional Class and Investment Class prospectuses for Scudder International Fund (each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”), series of Global/International Fund, Inc. and Scudder International Fund, Inc., respectively, dated December 1, 2005, as amended from time to time, copies of which may be obtained without charge by contacting Scudder Distributors, Inc., 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, or the firm from which this Statement of Additional Information was obtained and are available along with other materials on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov).
The Annual Report to Shareholders of each Fund, dated August 31, 2005 accompanies this Statement of Additional Information. They are incorporated by reference and are hereby deemed to be part of this Statement of Additional Information.
This combined Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into each applicable prospectus.
Table of Contents
Page | ||
1 | ||
5 | ||
26 | ||
26 | ||
26 | ||
35 | ||
36 | ||
39 | ||
43 | ||
43 | ||
43 | ||
44 | ||
46 | ||
49 | ||
60 | ||
66 | ||
67 | ||
75 | ||
76 | ||
77 | ||
77 | ||
78 |
i
Table of Contents
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Unless specified to the contrary, the following fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund which, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules thereunder and as used in this Statement of Additional Information, means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.
Any investment restrictions herein which involve a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after and is caused by an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, a Fund.
Each Fund has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end management investment company. A diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of total assets, invest more than 5% of total assets in the securities of a single issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
As a matter of fundamental policy, each Fund may not:
(1) | borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(2) | issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(3) | concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(4) | engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities; |
(5) | purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include securities of companies which deal in real estate or mortgages or investments secured by real estate or interests therein, except that the Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities; |
(6) | purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities; or |
(7) | make loans to other persons, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. |
With respect to fundamental policy number five above, the Funds have no current intention to hold and sell real estate acquired as a result of a Fund’s ownership of securities.
The Directors of each Corporation have voluntarily adopted certain policies and restrictions, which are observed in the conduct of each Fund’s affairs. These represent intentions of the Directors based upon current circumstances.
1
Table of Contents
Non-fundamental policies may be changed by the Directors of the Corporation without requiring prior notice to or approval of shareholders.
As a matter of non-fundamental policy, each Fund currently does not intend to:
(a) | borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets, except (i) for temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, or other investments or transactions described in the Fund’s registration statement which may be deemed to be borrowings; |
(b) | enter into either reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets; |
(c) | purchase securities on margin or make short sales, except (i) short sales against the box, (ii) in connection with arbitrage transactions, (iii) for margin deposits in connection with futures contracts, options or other permitted investments, (iv) that transactions in futures contracts and options shall not be deemed to constitute selling securities short, and (v) that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of securities transactions; |
(d) | purchase options, unless the aggregate premiums paid on all such options held by the Fund at any time do not exceed 20% of its total assets; or sell put options, if as a result, the aggregate value of the obligations underlying such put options would exceed 50% of its total assets; |
(e) | enter into futures contracts or purchase options thereon unless immediately after the purchase, the value of the aggregate initial margin with respect to such futures contracts entered into on behalf of the Fund and the premiums paid for such options on futures contracts does not exceed 5% of the fair market value of the Fund’s total assets; provided that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in computing the 5% limit; |
(f) | purchase warrants if as a result, such securities, taken at the lower of cost or market value, would represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (for this purpose, warrants acquired in units or attached to securities will be deemed to have no value); and |
(g) | lend portfolio securities in an amount greater than 33?% of its total assets. |
Each Fund will not purchase illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets, valued at the time of the transaction, would be invested in such securities.
Each Fund may engage in short sales against-the-box, although it is the Fund’s current intention that no more than 5% of its net assets will be at risk.
Each Fund will not acquire securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage beyond the specified limit resulting from a change in values or net assets will not be considered a violation.
Each Fund is an open-end management investment company which continuously offers and redeems shares at net asset value. Each Fund is a company of the type commonly known as a mutual fund. Scudder Global Fund is a diversified series of Global/International Fund, Inc. Scudder International Fund is a diversified series of Scudder International Fund, Inc. (each a “Corporation,” collectively the “Corporations”). Scudder Global Fund offers six classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares. Only Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R are offered herein. Scudder International Fund offers seven classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C, Institutional Class and Investment Class shares. Only
2
Table of Contents
Class A, Class B, Class C, Institutional Class and Investment Class of International Fund are offered herein. Each class has its own important features and policies. Shares of Class AARP are especially designed for members of AARP.
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. If there is a change in investment objective, shareholders should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of their then current financial position and needs. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Changes in portfolio securities are made on the basis of investment considerations and it is against the policy of management to make changes for trading purposes.
Scudder Global Fund
Scudder Global Fund will be invested usually in securities of issuers located in at least three countries, one of which may be the US. The Fund may be invested 100% in non-US issues, and for temporary defensive purposes may be invested 100% in US issues, although under normal circumstances it is expected that both foreign and US investments will be represented in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund will not invest in securities issued by tobacco-producing companies.
For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may vary from its investment policies during periods when the Advisor determines that it is advisable to do so because of conditions in the securities markets or other economic or political conditions. During such periods, the Fund may hold without limit cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in debt securities that are rated Baa or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or below by Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), or deemed by the Advisor to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds).
Scudder International Fund
Scudder International Fund invests in companies, wherever organized, which do business primarily outside the United States. The Fund intends to diversify investments among several countries and normally to have investments in securities of at least three different countries other than the US. The Fund will invest primarily in securities of issuers in the 21 developed foreign countries included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Europe, Australia, Far East (“EAFE”) Index, but may invest in “emerging markets.” The Fund considers “emerging markets” to include any country that is defined as an emerging or developing economy by any of the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (i.e., the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation or the United Nations or its authorities.
When the Advisor believes that it is appropriate to do so in order to achieve the Fund’s investment objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. The Fund will predominantly purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged by the Advisor to be of equivalent quality. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in debt securities which are rated below investment-grade.
The Fund may hold up to 20% of its net assets in US and foreign fixed income securities for temporary defensive purposes when the Advisor believes that market conditions so warrant. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets under normal conditions, and without limit for temporary defensive purposes, in cash or cash equivalents including domestic and foreign money market instruments, short-term government and corporate obligations and repurchase agreements, when the Advisor deems such a position advisable in light of economic or market conditions.
To meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company each Fund must limit its investments so that at the close of each quarter of its taxable year (1) no more than 25% of its total assets are invested in securities of a single issuer (other than US government or a regulated investment company), and (2) with respect to at least 50% of its total assets, no more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities of a single issuer.
3
Table of Contents
Temporary Defensive Policy. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder Global Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as money market securities. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder International Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as US or Canadian money market securities. These measures could prevent losses, but would mean that a fund was not pursuing its goal.
Master/feeder Fund Structure. The Boards of Directors has the discretion to retain the current distribution arrangement for a Fund while investing in a master fund in a master/feeder fund structure as described below.
A master/feeder fund structure is one in which a fund (a “feeder fund”), instead of investing directly in a portfolio of securities, invests most or all of its investment assets in a separate registered investment company (the “master fund”) with substantially the same investment objective and policies as the feeder fund. Such a structure permits the pooling of assets of two or more feeder funds, preserving separate identities or distribution channels at the feeder fund level. Based on the premise that certain of the expenses of operating an investment portfolio are relatively fixed, a larger investment portfolio may eventually achieve a lower ratio of operating expenses to average net assets. An existing investment company is able to convert to a feeder fund by selling all of its investments, which involves brokerage and other transaction costs and realization of a taxable gain or loss, or by contributing its assets to the master fund and avoiding transaction costs and, if proper procedures are followed, the realization of taxable gain or loss.
4
Table of Contents
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
General Investment Objective and Policies
Descriptions in this Statement of Additional Information of a particular investment practice or technique in which a Fund may engage are meant to describe the spectrum of investments that Deutsche Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Advisor”) in its discretion might, but is not required to, use in managing each Fund’s portfolio assets. The Advisor may, in its discretion, at any time employ such practice, technique or instrument for one or more Funds but not for all funds advised by it. Furthermore, it is possible that certain types of financial instruments or investment techniques described herein may not be available, permissible, economically feasible or effective for their intended purposes in all markets. Certain practices, techniques or instruments may not be principal activities of the Funds, but, to the extent employed, could from time to time have a material impact on a Fund’s performance.
It is possible that certain investment practices and techniques described below may not be permissible for a Fund based on its investment restrictions, as described herein, and in the Funds’ applicable prospectus.
Borrowing. As a matter of fundamental policy, a fund will not borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. While each fund’s Board of Directors does not currently intend to borrow for investment leveraging purposes, if such a strategy were implemented in the future it would increase the funds’ volatility and the risk of loss in a declining market. Borrowing by a fund will involve special risk considerations. Although the principal of a fund’s borrowings will be fixed, a fund’s assets may change in value during the time a borrowing is outstanding, thus increasing exposure to capital risk.
Common Stocks. Common stock is issued by companies to raise cash for business purposes and represents a proportionate interest in the issuing companies. Therefore, a fund participates in the success or failure of any company in which it holds stock. The market values of common stock can fluctuate significantly, reflecting the business performance of the issuing company, investor perception and general economic and financial market movements. Despite the risk of price volatility, however, common stocks have historically offered a greater potential for long-term gain on investment, compared to other classes of financial assets such as bonds or cash equivalents, although there can be no assurance that this will be true in the future.
Convertible Securities. A fund may invest in convertible securities, that is, bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stocks and other securities which are convertible into common stock. Investments in convertible securities can provide an opportunity for capital appreciation and/or income through interest and dividend payments by virtue of their conversion or exchange features.
5
Table of Contents
The convertible securities in which a fund may invest are either fixed income or zero coupon debt securities which may be converted or exchanged at a stated or determinable exchange ratio into underlying shares of common stock. The exchange ratio for any particular convertible security may be adjusted from time to time due to stock splits, dividends, spin-offs, other corporate distributions or scheduled changes in the exchange ratio. Convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stocks, until converted, have general characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with debt securities generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion or exchange feature, the market value of convertible securities typically changes as the market value of the underlying common stocks changes, and, therefore, also tends to follow movements in the general market for equity securities. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock, although typically not as much as the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
As debt securities, convertible securities are investments which provide for a stream of income (or in the case of zero coupon securities, accretion of income) with generally higher yields than common stocks. Convertible securities generally offer lower yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality because of their conversion or exchange features.
Of course, like all debt securities, there can be no assurance of income or principal payments because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations.
Convertible securities generally are subordinated to other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior to common stock, of the same issuer. However, because of the subordination feature, convertible bonds and convertible preferred stock typically have lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities. Convertible securities may be issued as fixed income obligations that pay current income or as zero coupon notes and bonds, including Liquid Yield Option Notes (“LYONs”™).
Corporate Obligations. Investment in corporate debt obligations involves credit and interest rate risk. The value of fixed-income investments will fluctuate with changes in interest rates and bond market conditions, tending to rise as interest rates decline and to decline as interest rates rise. Corporate debt obligations generally offer less current yield than securities of lower quality, but lower-quality securities generally have less liquidity, greater credit and market risk, and as a result, more price volatility. Longer term bonds are, however, generally more volatile than bonds with shorter maturities.
6
Table of Contents
Depositary Receipts. A fund may invest in sponsored or unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”) and other types of Depositary Receipts (which, together with ADRs, GDRs and IDRs are hereinafter referred to as “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary receipts provide indirect investment in securities of foreign issuers. Prices of unsponsored Depositary Receipts may be more volatile than if they were sponsored by the issuer of the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. In addition, the issuers of the stock of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. ADRs are Depositary Receipts which are bought and sold in the United States and are typically issued by a US bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities by a foreign corporation. GDRs, IDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they may also be issued by United States banks or trust companies, and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or a United States corporation. Generally, Depositary Receipts in registered form are designed for use in the United States securities markets and Depositary Receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside the United States. For purposes of a fund’s investment policies, a fund’s investments in ADRs, GDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts, including those denominated in US dollars will be subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. However, by investing in US dollar-denominated ADRs rather than directly in foreign issuers’ stock, a fund avoids currency risks during the settlement period. In general, there is a large, liquid market in the United States for most ADRs. However, certain Depositary Receipts may not be listed on an exchange and therefore may be illiquid securities.
Dollar Roll Transactions. Dollar roll transactions consist of the sale by a fund to a bank or broker-dealer (the “counterparty”) of GNMA certificates or other mortgage-backed securities together with a commitment to purchase from the counterparty similar, but not identical, securities at a future date, at the same price. The counterparty receives all principal and interest payments, including prepayments, made on the security while it is the holder. A fund receives a fee from the counterparty as consideration for entering into the commitment to purchase. Dollar rolls may be renewed over a period of several months with a different purchase and repurchase price fixed and a cash
7
Table of Contents
settlement made at each renewal without physical delivery of securities. Moreover, the transaction may be preceded by a firm commitment agreement pursuant to which a fund agrees to buy a security on a future date.
A fund will segregate cash, US Government securities or other liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet their purchase obligations under the transactions. A fund will also maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for all outstanding firm commitments, dollar rolls and other borrowings.
Dollar rolls may be treated for purposes of the 1940 Act, as borrowings of a fund because they involve the sale of a security coupled with an agreement to repurchase. A dollar roll involves costs to a fund. For example, while a fund receives a fee as consideration for agreeing to repurchase the security, a fund forgoes the right to receive all principal and interest payments while the counterparty holds the security. These payments to the counterparty may exceed the fee received by a fund, thereby effectively charging a fund interest on its borrowing. Further, although a fund can estimate the amount of expected principal prepayment over the term of the dollar roll, a variation in the actual amount of prepayment could increase or decrease the cost of a fund’s borrowing.
The entry into dollar rolls involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. For example, if the counterparty becomes insolvent, a fund’s right to purchase from the counterparty might be restricted. Additionally, the value of such securities may change adversely before a fund is able to purchase them. Similarly, a fund may be required to purchase securities in connection with a dollar roll at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since, as noted above, the counterparty is required to deliver a similar, but not identical security to a fund, the security that a fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. Finally, there can be no assurance that a fund’s use of the cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.
Euro. The implementation of the Euro may result in uncertainties for European securities and the operation of a fund. The Euro was introduced on January 1, 1999 by eleven members countries of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Implementation of the Euro requires the redenomination of European debt and equity securities over a period of time, which may result in various accounting differences and/or tax treatments which would not otherwise occur. Additional questions are raised by the fact that certain other European Community members, including the United Kingdom, did not officially implement the Euro on January 1, 1999.
Eurodollar Instruments. A fund may make investments in Eurodollar instruments. Eurodollar instruments are US dollar-denominated futures contracts or options thereon which are linked to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), although foreign currency-denominated instruments are available from time to time. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A fund might use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked.
Eurodollar Obligations. Eurodollar bank obligations are US dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the US capital markets by foreign branches of US banks and US branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar obligations are subject to the same risks that pertain to domestic issues, notably credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks.
Foreign Currencies. Because investments in foreign securities usually will involve currencies of foreign countries, and because a fund may hold foreign currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of a fund as measured in US dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and a fund may incur costs and experience conversion difficulties and uncertainties in connection with conversions between various currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing the security.
The strength or weakness of the US dollar against these currencies is responsible for part of a fund’s investment performance. If the dollar falls in value relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the dollar value of a Japanese stock held in the portfolio will rise even though the price of the stock remains unchanged. Conversely, if the dollar
8
Table of Contents
rises in value relative to the yen, the dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall. Many foreign currencies have experienced significant devaluation relative to the dollar.
Although a fund values its assets daily in terms of US dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into US dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should a fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. A fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.
Foreign Fixed Income Securities. Since most foreign fixed income securities are not rated, a fund will invest in foreign fixed income securities based on the Advisor’s analysis without relying on published ratings. Since such investments will be based upon the Advisor’s analysis rather than upon published ratings, achievement of a fund’s goals may depend more upon the abilities of the Advisor than would otherwise be the case.
The value of the foreign fixed income securities held by a fund, and thus the net asset value of a fund’s shares, generally will fluctuate with (a) changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the issuers of those securities, (b) movements in interest rates, and (c) changes in the relative values of the currencies in which a fund’s investments in fixed income securities are denominated with respect to the US Dollar. The extent of the fluctuation will depend on various factors, such as the average maturity of a fund’s investments in foreign fixed income securities, and the extent to which a fund hedges its interest rate, credit and currency exchange rate risks. A longer average maturity generally is associated with a higher level of volatility in the market value of such securities in response to changes in market conditions.
Investments in sovereign debt, including Brady Bonds (Brady Bonds are debt securities issued under a plan implemented to allow debtor nations to restructure their outstanding commercial bank indebtedness), involve special risks. Foreign governmental issuers of debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or pay interest when due. In the event of default, there may be limited or no legal recourse in that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party. Political conditions, especially a sovereign entity’s willingness to meet the terms of its fixed income securities, are of considerable significance. Also, there can be no assurance that the holders of commercial bank loans to the same sovereign entity may not contest payments to the holders of sovereign debt in the event of default under commercial bank loan agreements. In addition, there is no bankruptcy proceeding with respect to sovereign debt on which a sovereign has defaulted, and a fund may be unable to collect all or any part of its investment in a particular issue. Foreign investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled to varying degrees, including requiring governmental approval for the repatriation of income, capital or proceed of sales by foreign investors. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain sovereign debt or increase the costs and expenses of a fund.
Sovereign debt of emerging market governmental issuers is to be considered speculative. Emerging market governmental issuers are among the largest debtors to commercial banks, foreign governments, international financial organizations and other financial institutions. Certain emerging market governmental issuers have not been able to make payments of interest on or principal of debt obligations as those payments have come due. There is a history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities issuing sovereign debt. All or a portion of the interest payments and/or principal repayment with respect to sovereign debt may be uncollateralized. Obligations arising from past restructuring agreements may affect the economic performance and political and social stability of those issuers.
The ability of emerging market country governmental issuers to make timely payments on their obligations is likely to be influenced strongly by the issuer’s balance of payments, including export performance, and its access to international credits and investments. An emerging market whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities could be vulnerable to a decline in the international prices of one or more of those commodities. Increased protectionism on the part of an emerging market’s trading partners could also adversely affect the country’s exports
9
Table of Contents
and diminish its trade account surplus, if any. To the extent that emerging markets receive payment for its exports in currencies other than dollars or non-emerging market currencies, its ability to make debt payments denominated in dollars or non-emerging market currencies could be affected.
Another factor bearing on the ability of emerging market countries to repay debt obligations is the level of international reserves of the country. Fluctuations in the level of these reserves affect the amount of foreign exchange readily available for external debt payments and thus could have a bearing on the capacity of emerging market countries to make payments on these debt obligations.
To the extent that an emerging market country cannot generate a trade surplus, it must depend on continuing loans from foreign governments, multilateral organizations or private commercial banks, aid payments from foreign governments and inflows of foreign investment. The access of emerging markets to these forms of external funding may not be certain, and a withdrawal of external funding could adversely affect the capacity of emerging market country governmental issuers to make payments on their obligations. In addition, the cost of servicing emerging market debt obligations can be affected by a change in international interest rates since the majority of these obligations carry interest rates that are adjusted periodically based upon international rates.
Foreign Investments. Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the fund’s foreign investments and the value of its shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the US dollar. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign issuer than about a US issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the US. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable US issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions and other fees are also generally higher than in the US. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or in the recovery of the fund’s assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of investments in US markets. Payment for securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets.
In addition, foreign securities may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of the fund’s investments in certain foreign countries. Governments of many countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector through the ownership or control of many companies, including some of the largest in these countries. As a result, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions which may adversely affect prices of certain portfolio securities. There is also generally less government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the US. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, and special US tax considerations may apply. Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the US economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.
Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the US or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers organized under the laws of those foreign countries.
Of particular importance, many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon exports, particularly to developed countries, and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the US and other countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be negatively impacted by economic conditions in the US and other trading partners, which can lower the demand for goods produced in those countries.
The risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, typically are increased in connection with investments in “emerging markets.” For example, political and economic structures in these countries may be in their infancy and developing rapidly, and such countries may lack the social, political and
10
Table of Contents
economic stability characteristic of more developed countries (including amplified risk of war and terrorism). Certain of these countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized and expropriated the assets of private companies. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative.
The currencies of certain emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the US dollar, and future devaluations may adversely affect the value of assets denominated in such currencies. In addition, currency hedging techniques may be unavailable in certain emerging market countries. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for many years, and future inflation may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries.
In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in emerging markets and the availability of additional investments in these markets. Any change in the leadership or politics of emerging market countries, or the countries that exercise a significant influence over those countries, may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities. The small size, limited trading volume and relative inexperience of the securities markets in these countries may make investments in securities traded in emerging markets illiquid and more volatile than investments in securities traded in more developed countries. For example, limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions. In addition, the fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making investments in securities traded in emerging markets. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers of emerging market securities, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value of prospects of an investment in such securities.
The risk also exists that an emergency situation may arise in one or more emerging markets as a result of which trading of securities may cease or may be substantially curtailed and prices for a fund’s securities in such markets may not be readily available. A fund may suspend redemption of its shares for any period during which an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC. Accordingly if a fund believes that appropriate circumstances exist, it will promptly apply to the SEC for a determination that an emergency is present. During the period commencing from a fund’s identification of such condition until the date of the SEC action, a fund’s securities in the affected markets will be valued at fair value determined in good faith by or under the direction of a fund’s Board.
Certain of the foregoing risks may also apply to some extent to securities of US issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies or that are traded in foreign markets, or securities of US issuers having significant foreign operations.
High Yield/High Risk Bonds. A fund may also purchase, to a limited extent, debt securities which are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”), that is, rated below Baa by Moody’s or below BBB by S&P and unrated securities, which usually entail greater risk (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities), generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of principal and income, and may be less liquid, than securities in the higher rating categories. The lower the ratings of such debt securities, the greater their risks render them like equity securities. Scudder International Fund will invest no more than 5% of its total assets in securities rated BB or lower by Moody’s or Ba by S&P, and may invest in securities which are rated D by S&P. See the Appendix to this Statement of Additional Information for a more complete description of the ratings assigned by ratings organizations and their respective characteristics.
High yield, high-risk securities are especially subject to adverse changes in general economic conditions, to changes in the financial condition of their issuers and to price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates. An economic downturn could disrupt the high yield market and impair the ability of issuers to repay principal and interest. Also, an increase in interest rates would have a greater adverse impact on the value of such obligations than on higher quality debt securities. During an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issues may experience financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations. Prices and yields of high yield securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty, volatility of high yield securities may adversely affect a fund’s net asset value. In addition, investments in high yield zero coupon or pay-in-kind bonds, rather than income-bearing high yield securities, may be more speculative and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates.
11
Table of Contents
The trading market for high yield securities may be thin to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market. A thin trading market may limit the ability of a fund to accurately value high yield securities in its portfolio and to dispose of those securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities. These securities may also involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.
Credit quality in the high-yield securities market can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security. For these reasons, it is the policy of the Advisor not to rely exclusively on ratings issued by established credit rating agencies, but to supplement such ratings with its own independent and on-going review of credit quality. The achievement of a fund’s investment objective by investment in such securities may be more dependent on the Advisor’s credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds. Should the rating of a portfolio security be downgraded, the Advisor will determine whether it is in the best interests of the fund to retain or dispose of such security.
Prices for below investment-grade securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. For example, new federal rules require savings and loan institutions to gradually reduce their holdings of this type of security. Congress has from time to time considered legislation which would restrict or eliminate the corporate tax deduction for interest payments in these securities and regulate corporate restructurings. Such legislation may significantly depress the prices of outstanding securities of this type.
Illiquid Securities and Restricted Securities. A fund may purchase securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”). Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold (i) only to qualified institutional buyers; (ii) in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers; (iii) in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration; or (iv) in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Issuers of restricted securities may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.
Restricted securities are often illiquid, but they may also be liquid. For example, restricted securities that are eligible for resale under Rule 144A are often deemed to be liquid.
The Funds’ Boards have approved guidelines for use by the Advisor in determining whether a security is liquid or illiquid. Among the factors the Advisor may consider in reaching liquidity decisions relating to Rule 144A securities are: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the market for the security (i.e., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of the transfer). Where a registration statement is required for the resale of restricted securities, a fund may be required to bear all or part of the registration expenses. A fund may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the 1933 Act when selling restricted securities to the public and, in such event, a fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer is materially inaccurate or misleading.
A fund may also purchase securities that are not subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, but that are deemed illiquid. Such securities may be illiquid, for example, because there is a limited trading market for them.
A fund may be unable to sell a restricted or illiquid security. In addition, it may be more difficult to determine a market value for restricted or illiquid securities. Moreover, if adverse market conditions were to develop during the period between a fund’s decision to sell a restricted or illiquid security and the point at which a fund is permitted or able to sell such security, a fund might obtain a price less favorable than the price that prevailed when it decided to sell. This investment practice, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity of a fund.
IPO Risk. Securities issued through an initial public offering (IPO) can experience an immediate drop in value if the demand for the securities does not continue to support the offering price. Information about the issuers of IPO securities is also difficult to acquire since they are new to the market and may not have lengthy operating histories.
12
Table of Contents
A fund may engage in short-term trading in connection with its IPO investments, which could produce higher trading costs and adverse tax consequences. The number of securities issued in an IPO is limited, so it is likely that IPO securities will represent a smaller component of a fund’s portfolio as a fund’s assets increase (and thus have a more limited effect on a fund’s performance).
Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program. The Funds have received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which permits the Funds to participate in an interfund lending program among certain investment companies advised by the Advisor. The interfund lending program allows the participating funds to borrow money from and loan money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes. The program is subject to a number of conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds, including the following: (1) no fund may borrow money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than a rate approximating the lowest interest rate at which bank loans would be available to any of the participating funds under a loan agreement; and (2) no fund may lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable return than that available from an investment in repurchase agreements and, to the extent applicable, money market cash sweep arrangements. In addition, a fund may participate in the program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the fund’s investment objectives and policies (for instance, money market funds would normally participate only as lenders and tax exempt funds only as borrowers). Interfund loans and borrowings may extend overnight, but could have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one day’s notice. A fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional costs. The program is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Boards of the participating funds. To the extent the Funds are actually engaged in borrowing through the interfund lending program, the Funds, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, may not borrow for other than temporary or emergency purposes (and not for leveraging), except that the Funds may engage in reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls for any purpose.
Investment Company Securities. A fund may acquire securities of other investment companies to the extent consistent with its investment objective and subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act. A fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
For example, a fund may invest in a variety of investment companies which seek to track the composition and performance of specific indexes or a specific portion of an index. These index-based investments hold substantially all of their assets in securities representing their specific index. Accordingly, the main risk of investing in index-based investments is the same as investing in a portfolio of equity securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded (which may result in their trading at a discount or premium to their NAVs). Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specified index because of transaction costs and because of the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.
Examples of index-based investments include:
SPDRs(R): SPDRs, an acronym for “Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts,” are based on the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by the SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds shares of substantially all the companies in the S&P 500 in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
MidCap SPDRs(R): MidCap SPDRs are based on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. They are issued by the MidCap SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of securities consisting of substantially all of the common stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
Select Sector SPDRs(R): Select Sector SPDRs are based on a particular sector or group of industries that are represented by a specified Select Sector Index within the Standard & Poor’s Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by The Select Sector SPDR Trust, an open-end management investment company with nine portfolios that each seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of a particular Select Sector Index.
13
Table of Contents
DIAMONDS(SM): DIAMONDS are based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM). They are issued by the DIAMONDS Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of all the component common stocks of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Dow.
Nasdaq-100 Shares: Nasdaq-100 Shares are based on the Nasdaq 100 Index. They are issued by the Nasdaq-100 Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio consisting of substantially all of the securities, in substantially the same weighting, as the component stocks of the Nasdaq-100 Index and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
WEBs(SM): WEBs, an acronym for “World Equity Benchmark Shares,” are based on 17 country-specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Indexes. They are issued by the WEBs Index Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company that seeks to generally correspond to the price and yield performance of a specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Index.
Investment-Grade Bonds. A fund may purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Advisor. Moody’s considers bonds it rates Baa to have speculative elements as well as investment-grade characteristics. To the extent that a fund invests in higher-grade securities, a fund will not be able to avail itself of opportunities for higher income which may be available at lower grades.
Investment of Uninvested Cash Balances. A fund may have cash balances that have not been invested in portfolio securities (“Uninvested Cash”). Uninvested Cash may result from a variety of sources, including dividends or interest received from portfolio securities, unsettled securities transactions, reserves held for investment strategy purposes, scheduled maturity of investments, liquidation of investment securities to meet anticipated redemptions and dividend payments, and new cash received from investors. Uninvested Cash may be invested directly in money market instruments or other short-term debt obligations. Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, the Fund may use Uninvested Cash to purchase shares of affiliated funds including money market funds, short-term bond funds and Scudder Cash Management Investment Trust, or one or more future entities for which the advisor acts as trustee or investment advisor that operate as cash management investment vehicles and that are excluded from the definition of investment company pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (collectively, the “Central Funds”) in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Investment by a fund in shares of the Central Funds will be in accordance with a fund’s investment policies and restrictions as set forth in its registration statement.
Certain of the Central Funds comply with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The other Central Funds are or will be short-term bond funds that invest in fixed-income securities and maintain a dollar weighted average maturity of three years or less. Each of the Central Funds will be managed specifically to maintain a highly liquid portfolio, and access to them will enhance a fund’s ability to manage Uninvested Cash.
A fund will invest Uninvested Cash in Central Funds only to the extent that a fund’s aggregate investment in the Central Funds does not exceed 25% of its total assets. Purchase and sales of shares of Central Funds are made at net asset value.
Lending of Portfolio Securities. A fund may lend its investment securities to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions, such as covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver securities or completing arbitrage operations. By lending its investment securities, a fund attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest on the loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would belong to the fund. A fund may lend its investment securities so long as the terms, structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations or interpretations of the SEC thereunder, which currently require that (a) the borrower pledge and maintain with the fund collateral consisting of liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities loaned, (b) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities loaned rises (i.e., the borrower “marks to the market” on a daily basis), (c) the loan be made subject to termination by a fund at any time, and (d) a fund receives reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the fund investing any cash collateral in interest bearing short-term investments), and
14
Table of Contents
distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in their market value. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by a fund’s delegate after a commercially reasonable review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
At the present time, the staff of the SEC does not object if an investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the investment company’s Board of Trustees/Directors. In addition, voting rights may pass with the loaned securities, but if a material event occurs affecting an investment on loan, the loan must be called and the securities voted. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the SEC, cash collateral received by a fund may be invested in a money market fund managed by the Advisor (or one of its affiliates).
Micro-Cap Companies. While, historically, micro-capitalization company stocks have outperformed the stocks of large companies, the former have customarily involved more investment risk as well. There can be no assurance that this will continue to be true in the future. Micro-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may lack management depth or experience; and may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than large companies. The prices of micro-capitalization company securities are often more volatile than prices associated with large company issues, and can display abrupt or erratic movements at times, due to limited trading volumes and less publicly available information.
Also, because micro-capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding and these shares trade less frequently than large companies, it may be more difficult for a fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.
Some of the companies in which a fund may invest may distribute, sell or produce products which have recently been brought to market and may be dependent on key personnel. The securities of micro-capitalization companies are often traded over-the-counter and may not be traded in the volumes typical on a national securities exchange. Consequently, in order to sell this type of holding, a fund may need to discount the securities from recent prices or dispose of the securities over a long period of time.
Participation Interests. A fund may purchase from financial institutions participation interests in securities in which a fund may invest. A participation interest gives a fund an undivided interest in the security in the proportion that a fund’s participation interest bears to the principal amount of the security. These instruments may have fixed, floating or variable interest rates, with remaining maturities of 397 days or less. If the participation interest is unrated, or has been given a rating below that which is permissible for purchase by a fund, the participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by US Government securities, or, in the case of unrated participation interest, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality to those instruments in which a fund may invest. For certain participation interests, a fund will have the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, for all or any part of a fund’s participation interests in the security, plus accrued interest. As to these instruments, a fund generally intends to exercise its right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms of the security.
Privatized Enterprises. Investments in foreign securities may include securities issued by enterprises that have undergone or are currently undergoing privatization. The governments of certain foreign countries have, to varying degrees, embarked on privatization programs contemplating the sale of all or part of their interests in state enterprises. A fund’s investments in the securities of privatized enterprises may include privately negotiated investments in a government or state-owned or controlled company or enterprise that has not yet conducted an initial equity offering, investments in the initial offering of equity securities of a state enterprise or former state enterprise and investments in the securities of a state enterprise following its initial equity offering.
In certain jurisdictions, the ability of foreign entities, such as a fund, to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, or the price or terms on which a fund may be able to participate may be less advantageous than for local investors. Moreover, there can be no assurance that governments that have embarked on privatization programs will continue to divest their ownership of state enterprises, that proposed privatizations will be successful or that governments will not re-nationalize enterprises that have been privatized.
15
Table of Contents
In the case of the enterprises in which a fund may invest, large blocks of the stock of those enterprises may be held by a small group of stockholders, even after the initial equity offerings by those enterprises. The sale of some portion or all of those blocks could have an adverse effect on the price of the stock of any such enterprise.
Prior to making an initial equity offering, most state enterprises or former state enterprises go through an internal reorganization or management. Such reorganizations are made in an attempt to better enable these enterprises to compete in the private sector. However, certain reorganizations could result in a management team that does not function as well as an enterprise’s prior management and may have a negative effect on such enterprise. In addition, the privatization of an enterprise by its government may occur over a number of years, with the government continuing to hold a controlling position in the enterprise even after the initial equity offering for the enterprise.
Prior to privatization, most of the state enterprises in which a fund may invest enjoy the protection of and receive preferential treatment from the respective sovereigns that own or control them. After making an initial equity offering, these enterprises may no longer have such protection or receive such preferential treatment and may become subject to market competition from which they were previously protected. Some of these enterprises may not be able to operate effectively in a competitive market and may suffer losses or experience bankruptcy due to such competition.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). REITs are sometimes informally characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Investment in REITs may subject a fund to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, such as decreases in real estate values, overbuilding, increased competition and other risks related to local or general economic conditions, increases in operating costs and property taxes, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, possible environmental liabilities, regulatory limitations on rent and fluctuations in rental income. Equity REITs generally experience these risks directly through fee or leasehold interests, whereas mortgage REITs generally experience these risks indirectly through mortgage interests, unless the mortgage REIT forecloses on the underlying real estate. Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of a fund’s investment in REITs. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by those REITs.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalizations, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of their securities. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) and to maintain exemption from the registration requirements of the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of a fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. In addition, REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.
Repurchase Agreements. A fund may invest in repurchase agreements pursuant to its investment guidelines. In a repurchase agreement, a fund acquires ownership of a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller, typically a bank or broker-dealer. Some repurchase commitment transactions may not provide a fund with collateral marked-to-market during the term of the commitment.
A repurchase agreement provides a means for a fund to earn income on funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which the purchaser (i.e., a fund) acquires a security (“Obligation”) and the seller agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the Obligation at a specified time and price. Securities subject to a repurchase agreement are held in a segregated account and the value of such securities kept at least equal to the repurchase price on a daily basis. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to a fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to a fund together with the repurchase price upon repurchase. In either case, the income to a fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the Obligation itself. Obligations will be held by the Custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry system.
16
Table of Contents
It is not clear whether a court would consider the Obligation purchased by a fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by a fund or as being collateral for a loan by a fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the Obligation before repurchase of the Obligation under a repurchase agreement, a fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of the Obligation. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and a fund has not perfected a security interest in the Obligation, a fund may be required to return the Obligation to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, a fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for a fund, the Advisor seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the Obligation. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the Obligation, in which case a fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to a fund of the sale to a third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value of the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), a fund will direct the seller of the Obligation to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible that a fund will be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce the seller’s contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. A fund may enter into “reverse repurchase agreements,” which are repurchase agreements in which a fund, as the seller of the securities, agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. A fund maintains a segregated account in connection with outstanding reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are deemed to be borrowings subject to a fund’s investment restrictions applicable to that activity. A fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only when the Advisor believes that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction will be greater than the interest expense of the transaction. Such transactions may increase fluctuation in the market value of fund assets and their yields.
Small Company Risk. The Advisor believes that many small companies may have sales and earnings growth rates which exceed those of larger companies, and that such growth rates may in turn be reflected in more rapid share price appreciation over time. However, investing in smaller company stocks involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. For example, smaller companies can have limited product lines, markets, or financial and managerial resources. Smaller companies may also be dependent on one or a few key persons, and may be more susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Also, the securities of smaller companies may be thinly traded (and therefore have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or sold in small lots over an extended period of time). Transaction costs in smaller company stocks may be higher than those of larger companies.
Strategic Transactions and Derivatives. A fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment strategies as described below for a variety of purposes, such as hedging various market risks, managing the effective maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities in a fund’s portfolio or enhancing potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts.
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, a fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities, equity and fixed-income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors, collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies, or currency futures and various other currency transactions (collectively, all the above are called “Strategic Transactions”). In addition, strategic transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. Strategic Transactions may be used without limit (subject to certain limits imposed by the 1940 Act) to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for a fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect a fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of a fund’s portfolio, or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance potential gain although no more than 5% of a fund’s assets will be committed to certain Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any
17
Table of Contents
time and in any combination, and there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous variables including market conditions. The ability of a fund to utilize these Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Advisor’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. A fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions will not be used to alter fundamental investment purposes and characteristics of a fund, and a fund will segregate assets (or as provided by applicable regulations, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under options, futures and swaps to limit leveraging of a fund.
Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts, have risks associated with them including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Advisor’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Use of put and call options may result in losses to a fund, force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation a fund can realize on its investments or cause a fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in a fund incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension of settlements, or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of a fund creates the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of a fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances and certain over-the-counter options may have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, a fund might not be able to close out a transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts would create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchases of options, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce net asset value, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized.
General Characteristics of Options. Put options and call options typically have similar structural characteristics and operational mechanics regardless of the underlying instrument on which they are purchased or sold. Thus, the following general discussion relates to each of the particular types of options discussed in greater detail below. In addition, many Strategic Transactions involving options require segregation of fund assets in special accounts, as described below under “Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts.”
A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. For instance, the fund’s purchase of a put option on a security might be designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving the fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. A fund’s purchase of a call option on a security, financial future, index, currency or other instrument might be intended to protect the fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase such instrument. An American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior thereto. A fund is authorized to purchase and sell exchange listed options and over-the-counter options (“OTC options”). Exchange listed options are issued by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), which guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such options. The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other financial intermediaries.
With certain exceptions, OCC issued and exchange listed options generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, although in the future cash settlement may become available. Index options and Eurodollar instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the option is “in-the-money” (i.e., where
18
Table of Contents
the value of the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in ownership of the new option.
A fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OCC or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (“Counterparties”) through direct bilateral agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. A fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency options) that are subject to a buy-back provision permitting a fund to require the Counterparty to sell the option back to a fund at a formula price within seven days. A fund expects generally to enter into OTC options that have cash settlement provisions, although it is not required to do so.
Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with a fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, a fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Accordingly, the Advisor must assess the creditworthiness of each such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the Counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be satisfied. The fund will engage in OTC option transactions only with US government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as “primary dealers” or broker-dealers, domestic or foreign banks or other financial institutions which have received (or the guarantors of the obligation of which have received) a short-term credit rating of A-1 from S&P or P-1 from Moody’s or an equivalent rating from any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, in the case of OTC currency transactions, are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Advisor. The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by a fund, and portfolio securities “covering” the amount of a fund’s obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to a fund’s limitation on investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
If a fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will increase a fund’s income. The sale of put options can also provide income.
A fund may purchase and sell call options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments that are traded on US and foreign securities exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets, and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts. All calls sold by a fund must be “covered” (i.e., a fund must own the securities or futures contract subject to the call) or must meet the asset
19
Table of Contents
segregation requirements described below as long as the call is outstanding. Even though a fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, a call sold by a fund exposes the fund during the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the underlying security or instrument and may require a fund to hold a security or instrument which it might otherwise have sold.
A fund may purchase and sell put options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments (whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio), and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts other than futures on individual corporate debt and individual equity securities. A fund will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of the fund’s total assets would be required to be segregated to cover its potential obligations under such put options other than those with respect to futures and options thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that a fund may be required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.
General Characteristics of Futures. A fund may enter into futures contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, and for duration management, risk management and return enhancement purposes. Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
The funds have claimed exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” adapted by the CFTC and the National Futures Association, which regulate trading in the futures markets. Therefore, the funds are not subject to commodity pool operator registration and regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act. Futures and options on futures may be entered into for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio and return enhancement management purposes to the extent consistent with the exclusion from commodity pool operator registration. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon requires a fund to deposit with a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances). Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the mark to market value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of a fund. If a fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an advantageous price, nor that delivery will occur.
Options on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. A fund also may purchase and sell call and put options on securities indices and other financial indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same objectives it would achieve through the sale or purchase of options on individual securities or other instruments. Options on securities indices and other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, they settle by cash settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case of an OTC option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing price of the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price movements in the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on securities.
20
Table of Contents
Currency Transactions. A fund may engage in currency transactions with counterparties primarily in order to hedge, or manage the risk of the value of portfolio holdings denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency futures, exchange listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is described below. A fund may enter into currency transactions with counterparties which have received (or the guarantors of the obligations which have received) a credit rating of A-1 or P-1 by S&P or Moody’s, respectively, or that have an equivalent rating from a NRSRO or (except for OTC currency options) are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Advisor.
A fund’s dealings in forward currency contracts and other currency transactions such as futures, options, options on futures and swaps generally will be limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio positions except as described below. Transaction hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or liabilities of a fund, which will generally arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income therefrom. Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency.
A fund generally will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an extent greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or partially to offset other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the time of entering into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such currency, other than with respect to proxy hedging or cross hedging as described below.
A fund may also cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to other currencies to which a fund has or in which a fund expects to have portfolio exposure.
To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities, a fund may also engage in proxy hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which a fund’s portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the US dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a commitment or option to sell a currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be correlated to a currency or currencies in which some or all of a fund’s portfolio securities are or are expected to be denominated, in exchange for US dollars. The amount of the commitment or option would not exceed the value of a fund’s securities denominated in correlated currencies. Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to a fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that a fund is engaging in proxy hedging. If a fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the fund will comply with the asset segregation requirements described below.
Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to a fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy.
21
Table of Contents
Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the US. When conducted outside the US, Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the US, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the US of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the US, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the US, and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.
Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars. Among the Strategic Transactions into which a fund may enter are interest rate, currency, index and other swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors and collars. A fund expects to enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities a fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. A fund will not sell interest rate caps or floors where it does not own securities or other instruments providing the income stream a fund may be obligated to pay. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of principal. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the values of the reference indices. The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates or values.
Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Many Strategic Transactions, in addition to other requirements, require that a fund segregate cash or liquid assets with its custodian to the extent fund obligations are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by a fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid assets at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian. The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For example, a call option written by a fund will require a fund to hold the securities subject to the call (or securities convertible into the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid assets sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is exercised. A call option sold by a fund on an index will require a fund to own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on a current basis. A put option written by a fund requires a fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
Except when a fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no segregation, a currency contract which obligates a fund to buy or sell currency will generally require a fund to hold an amount of that currency or liquid assets denominated in that currency equal to a fund’s obligations or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of a fund’s obligation.
OTC options entered into by a fund, including those on securities, currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC issued and exchange listed index options, will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when a fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal 100% of the exercise price in the case of a non cash-settled put, the same as an OCC guaranteed listed option sold by a fund, or the in-the-money amount plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition, when a fund sells a call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, a fund will segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value to such excess. OCC issued and exchange listed options sold by a fund other than those above generally settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement and a fund will segregate an amount of
22
Table of Contents
cash or liquid assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, a fund must deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to segregating cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet their obligation to purchase or provide securities or currencies, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an index-based futures contract. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.
With respect to swaps, a fund will accrue the net amount of the excess, if any, of their obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets having a value equal to the accrued excess. Caps, floors and collars require segregation of assets with a value equal to a fund’s net obligation, if any.
Strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies. A fund may also enter into offsetting transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets, equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic Transactions. For example, a fund could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option sold by a fund. Moreover, instead of segregating cash or liquid assets if a fund held a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations. If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary transaction no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time, cash or liquid assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
A fund’s activities involving Strategic Transactions may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company.
Combined Transactions. Each Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (“component” transactions), instead of a single Strategic Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Advisor, it is in the best interests of the fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Advisor’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Supranational Entities. Supranational entities are international organizations designated or supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, The Asian Development Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank. Obligations of supranational entities are backed by the guarantee of one or more foreign governmental parties which sponsor the entity.
Trust Preferred Securities. A fund may invest in Trust Preferred Securities, which are hybrid instruments issued by a special purpose trust (the “Special Trust”), the entire equity interest of which is owned by a single issuer. The proceeds of the issuance to a fund of Trust Preferred Securities are typically used to purchase a junior subordinated debenture, and distributions from the Special Trust are funded by the payments of principal and interest on the subordinated debenture.
If payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures held by the Special Trust are deferred by the debenture issuer, the debentures would be treated as original issue discount (“OID”) obligations for the remainder of their term. As a result, holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as a fund, would be required to accrue daily for Federal income tax purposes their share of the stated interest and the de minimis OID on the debentures (regardless of whether a fund receives any cash distributions from the Special Trust), and the value of Trust Preferred Securities would likely be negatively affected. Interest payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures typically
23
Table of Contents
may only be deferred if dividends are suspended on both common and preferred stock of the issuer. The underlying junior subordinated debentures generally rank slightly higher in terms of payment priority than both common and preferred securities of the issuer, but rank below other subordinated debentures and debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be subject to mandatory prepayment under certain circumstances. The market values of Trust Preferred Securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and, unless and until registered, are restricted securities; there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of Trust Preferred Securities and the ability of holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as a fund, to sell their holdings.
US Government Securities. There are two broad categories of US Government-related debt instruments: (a) direct obligations of the US Treasury, and (b) securities issued or guaranteed by US Government agencies.
Examples of direct obligations of the US Treasury are Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and other debt securities issued by the US Treasury. These instruments are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. They differ primarily in interest rates, the length of maturities and the dates of issuance. Treasury bills have original maturities of one year or less. Treasury notes have original maturities of one to ten years and Treasury bonds generally have original maturities of greater than ten years.
Some agency securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (such as Maritime Administration Title XI Ship Financing Bonds and Agency for International Development Housing Guarantee Program Bonds) and others are backed only by the rights of the issuer to borrow from the US Treasury (such as Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds and Federal National Mortgage Association Bonds), while still others, such as the securities of the Federal Farm Credit Bank, are supported only by the credit of the issuer. With respect to securities supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or by an additional line of credit with the US Treasury, there is no guarantee that the US Government will provide support to such agencies and such securities may involve risk of loss of principal and interest.
US Government Securities may include “zero coupon” securities that have been stripped by the US Government of their unmatured interest coupons and collateralized obligations issued or guaranteed by a US Government agency or instrumentality.
Interest rates on US Government obligations may be fixed or variable. Interest rates on variable rate obligations are adjusted at regular intervals, at least annually, according to a formula reflecting then current specified standard rates, such as 91-day US Treasury bill rates. These adjustments generally tend to reduce fluctuations in the market value of the securities.
The government guarantee of the US Government Securities in a fund’s portfolio does not guarantee the net asset value of the shares of a fund. There are market risks inherent in all investments in securities and the value of an investment in a fund will fluctuate over time. Normally, the value of investments in US Government Securities varies inversely with changes in interest rates. For example, as interest rates rise the value of investments in US Government Securities will tend to decline, and as interest rates fall the value of a fund’s investments will tend to increase. In addition, the potential for appreciation in the event of a decline in interest rates may be limited or negated by increased principal prepayments with respect to certain Mortgage-Backed Securities, such as GNMA Certificates. Prepayments of high interest rate Mortgage-Backed Securities during times of declining interest rates will tend to lower the return of a fund and may even result in losses to a fund if some securities were acquired at a premium. Moreover, during periods of rising interest rates, prepayments of Mortgage-Backed Securities may decline, resulting in the extension of a fund’s average portfolio maturity. As a result, a fund’s portfolio may experience greater volatility during periods of rising interest rates than under normal market conditions.
Warrants. The holder of a warrant has the right, until the warrant expires, to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, however, and are, therefore, considered speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. Thus, if a warrant held by a fund were not exercised by the date of its expiration, a fund would lose the entire purchase price of the warrant.
24
Table of Contents
When-Issued Securities. A fund may from time to time purchase equity and debt securities on a “when-issued,” “delayed delivery” or “forward delivery” basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities takes place at a later date. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the fund. When the fund purchases such securities, it immediately assumes the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation. Failure to deliver a security purchased on this basis may result in a loss or missed opportunity to make an alternative investment.
To the extent that assets of the fund are held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the fund would earn no income. While such securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the fund intends to purchase them with the purpose of actually acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the time the fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on this basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its net asset value. The market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase price. The fund will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain cash and liquid securities equal in value to commitments for such securities.
Zero Coupon Securities. A fund may invest in zero coupon securities which pay no cash income and are sold at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. Zero coupon securities are subject to greater market value fluctuations from changing interest rates than debt obligations of comparable maturities which make current distributions of interest (cash). Zero coupon securities which are convertible into common stock offer the opportunity for capital appreciation as increases (or decreases) in market value of such securities closely follows the movements in the market value of the underlying common stock. Zero coupon convertible securities generally are expected to be less volatile than the underlying common stocks, as they usually are issued with maturities of 15 years or less and are issued with options and/or redemption features exercisable by the holder of the obligation entitling the holder to redeem the obligation and receive a defined cash payment.
Zero coupon securities include securities issued directly by the US Treasury, and US Treasury bonds or notes and their unmatured interest coupons and receipts for their underlying principal (“coupons”) which have been separated by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. A holder will separate the interest coupons from the underlying principal (the “corpus”) of the US Treasury security. A number of securities firms and banks have stripped the interest coupons and receipts and then resold them in custodial receipt programs with a number of different names, including “Treasury Income Growth Receipts” (TIGRS™) and Certificate of Accrual on Treasuries (CATS™). The underlying US Treasury bonds and notes themselves are held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Counsel to the underwriters of these certificates or other evidences of ownership of the US Treasury securities have stated that, for federal tax and securities purposes, in their opinion purchasers of such certificates, such as a fund, most likely will be deemed the beneficial holder of the underlying US Government securities. A fund understands that the staff of the Division of Investment Management of the SEC no longer considers such privately stripped obligations to be US Government securities, as defined in the 1940 Act; therefore, a fund intends to adhere to this staff position and will not treat such privately stripped obligations to be US Government securities for the purpose of determining if a fund is “diversified” under the 1940 Act.
The US Treasury has facilitated transfers of ownership of zero coupon securities by accounting separately for the beneficial ownership of particular interest coupon and corpus payments on Treasury securities through the Federal Reserve book-entry record keeping system. The Federal Reserve program as established by the Treasury Department is known as “STRIPS” or “Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities.” Under the STRIPS program, a fund will be able to have its beneficial ownership of zero coupon securities recorded directly in the book-entry record-keeping system in lieu of having to hold certificates or other evidences of ownership of the underlying US Treasury securities.
When US Treasury obligations have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons by the holder, the principal or corpus is sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the
25
Table of Contents
security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Once stripped or separated, the corpus and coupons may be sold separately. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the Treasury sells itself.
Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until a Fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). A Fund does not disseminate non-public information about portfolio holdings except in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by a Fund.
A Fund’s procedures permit non-public portfolio holdings information to be shared with the Advisor and its affiliates (collectively “Deutsche Asset Management” or “DeAM”), sub-advisers, if any, custodians, independent registered public accounting firms, securities lending agents, financial printers, proxy voting firms and other service providers to a Fund who require access to this information to fulfill their duties to a Fund, subject to the requirements described below. This non-public information may also be disclosed to certain mutual fund analysts and rating and tracking agencies, such as Lipper, shareholders in connection with in-kind redemptions or to other entities if a Fund has a legitimate business purpose in providing the information, subject to the requirements described below.
Prior to any disclosure of a Fund’s non-public portfolio holdings information to the foregoing types of entities or persons, a person authorized by a Fund’s Directors must make a good faith determination in light of the facts then known that a Fund has a legitimate business purpose for providing the information, that the disclosure is in the best interest of a Fund, and that the recipient assents or otherwise has a duty to keep the information confidential and agrees not to disclose, trade or make any investment recommendation based on the information received while the information remains non-public. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to a Fund’s Directors.
Registered investment companies that are sub-advised by DeAM may be subject to different portfolio holdings disclosure policies, and neither DeAM nor a Fund’s Directors exercise control over such policies. In addition, separate account clients of DeAM have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to a Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy. The portfolio holdings of some of the funds sub-advised by DeAM and some of the separate accounts managed by DeAM may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund.
DeAM also manages certain unregistered commingled trusts and creates model portfolios, the portfolio holdings of which may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund. To the extent that investors in these commingled trusts or recipients of model portfolio holdings information may receive portfolio holdings information of their trust or of a model portfolio on a different basis from that on which Fund portfolio holdings information is made public, DeAM has implemented procedures reasonably designed to encourage such investors and recipients to keep such information confidential, and to prevent those investors from trading on the basis of non-public holdings information.
There is no assurance that a Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings information will protect a Fund from the potential misuse of portfolio holdings information by those in possession of that information.
On April 5, 2002, 100% of Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc., not including certain UK operations (known as Threadneedle Investments), was acquired by Deutsche Bank AG and changed its name to Deutsche Investment
26
Table of Contents
Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Advisor”). DeIM, which is part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), is the investment advisor for the Funds. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors of each Fund, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, DeIM makes the Funds’ investment decisions, buys and sells securities for the Funds and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. The Advisor manages each Fund’s daily investment and business affairs subject to the policies established by each Corporation’s Board of Directors. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds. DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. The Funds’ investment advisor is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
DeAM is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, DeAM, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Scudder Trust Company. DeAM is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts, and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight, across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles. DeIM is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual fund, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
Pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Agreement”) with each Fund, the Advisor acts as each Fund’s investment advisor, manages its investments, administers its business affairs, furnishes office facilities and equipment, provides clerical and administrative services and permits its officers and employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of one or more funds if elected to such positions. To the extent permissible by law, the Advisor may appoint certain of its affiliates as subadvisors to perform certain of the Advisor’s duties.
The Advisor provides investment counsel for many individuals and institutions, including insurance companies, industrial corporations, and financial and banking organizations, as well as providing investment advice to open- and closed-end SEC registered funds.
In certain cases, the investments for a Fund are managed by the same individuals who manage one or more other mutual funds advised by the Advisor that have similar names, objectives and investment styles. You should be aware that a Fund is likely to differ from these other mutual funds in size, cash flow pattern and tax matters. Accordingly, the holdings and performance of a Fund can be expected to vary from those of these other mutual funds.
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. Frequently, a particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be equitable to each. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund.
The current Agreements, dated April 5, 2002, for Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund were last approved by the Directors of each Fund on September 30, 2005. Each Agreement will continue in effect from year to year thereafter only if its continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of those Directors who are not parties to such Agreements or interested persons of the Advisor or the Corporations, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and either by a vote of the Corporation’s Directors or of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund.
27
Table of Contents
The Agreements may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by either party on sixty days’ written notice and automatically terminate in the event of their assignment.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor regularly provides each Fund with continuing investment management consistent with each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions and determines what securities shall be purchased, held or sold and what portion of a Fund’s assets shall be held uninvested, subject to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, the 1940 Act, the Code and to each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and subject, further, to such policies and instructions as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time establish. The Advisor also advises and assists the officers of the Corporation in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of its Directors and the appropriate committees of the Directors regarding the conduct of the business of each Fund.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor also renders administrative services (not otherwise provided by third parties) necessary for each Fund’s operations as an open-end investment company including, but not limited to, preparing reports and notices to the Directors and shareholders; supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, and monitoring various third-party service providers to a Fund (such as each Funds’ transfer agent, pricing agents, custodian, accountants and others); preparing and making filings with the SEC and other regulatory agencies; assisting in the preparation and filing of each Funds’ federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and filing each Funds’ federal excise tax returns; assisting with investor and public relations matters; monitoring the valuation of securities and the calculation of net asset value; monitoring the registration of shares of each Fund under applicable federal and state securities laws; maintaining each Funds’ books and records to the extent not otherwise maintained by a third party; assisting in establishing accounting policies of each Fund; assisting in the resolution of accounting and legal issues; establishing and monitoring each Funds’ operating budget; processing the payment of each Funds’ bills; assisting each Fund in, and otherwise arranging for, the payment of distributions and dividends; and otherwise assisting each Fund in the conduct of its business, subject to the direction and control of the Directors.
The Advisor may serve as advisor to other funds with investment objectives and policies similar to those of a Fund that may have different distribution arrangements or expenses, which may affect performance.
None of the officers or Directors of a Corporation may have dealings with a Fund as principals in the purchase or sale of securities, except as individual subscribers to or holders of shares of the Fund.
Each Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who each play an important role in a Fund’s management process. Team members work together to develop investment strategies and select securities for a Fund’s portfolio. This team works for the Advisor or its affiliates and is supported by a large staff of economists, research analysts, traders and other investment specialists. The Advisor or its affiliates believe(s) its team approach benefits Fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and leveraging its extensive resources. Team members with primary responsibility for management of the Funds, as well as team members who have other ongoing management responsibilities for each Fund, are identified in each Fund’s prospectus, as of the date of the Fund’s prospectus. Composition of the team may change over time, and Fund shareholders and investors will be notified of changes affecting individuals with primary Fund management responsibility.
Scudder Global Fund
The current advisory fee rates are payable monthly at the annual rates shown below.
Average Daily Net Assets | Scudder Global Fund | |
$0-$500 million | 1.00% | |
$500 million-$1 billion | 0.95 | |
$1 billion-$1.5 billion | 0.90 | |
$1.5 billion-$2 billion | 0.85 | |
over $2 billion | 0.80 |
28
Table of Contents
The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
Scudder International Fund
Scudder International Fund pays the Advisor an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.675% on the first $6 billion of average daily net assets, 0.625% on the next $1 billion of such net assets, and 0.600% of such net assets in excess of $7 billion, computed and accrued daily. The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
The advisory fees paid by each Fund for its last three fiscal years are shown in the table below.
Fund | Fiscal Year 2005 | Fiscal Year 2004 | Fiscal Year 2003 | ||||||
Scudder Global Fund | $ | 8,883,911 | $ | 8,518,604 | $ | 7,705,564 | |||
Scudder International Fund | $ | 10,735,566 | $ | 11,830,071 | $ | 12,321,821 |
Under its investment management agreement, a Fund is responsible for all of its other expenses including: organizational costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; brokers’ commissions; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; insurance; taxes and governmental fees; the fees and expenses of the transfer agent; any other expenses of issue, sale, underwriting, distribution, redemption or repurchase of shares; the expenses of and the fees for registering or qualifying securities for sale; the fees and expenses of Directors, officers and employees of a Fund who are not affiliated with the Advisor; the cost of printing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders; and the fees and disbursements of custodians. A Fund may arrange to have third parties assume all or part of the expenses of sale, underwriting and distribution of shares of the Fund. A Fund is also responsible for its expenses of shareholders’ meetings, the cost of responding to shareholders’ inquiries, and its expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the legal obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Directors of the Fund with respect thereto.
Each Agreement identifies the Advisor as the exclusive licensee of the rights to use and sublicense the names “Scudder,” “Scudder Investments” and “Scudder, Stevens and Clark, Inc.” (together, the “Scudder Marks”). Under this license, the Corporation, with respect to a Fund, has the non-exclusive right to use and sublicense the Scudder name and marks as part of its name, and to use the Scudder Marks in the Corporation’s investment products and services. The term “Scudder Investments” is the designation given to the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to Scudder Mutual Funds.
In reviewing the terms of each Agreement and in discussions with the Advisor concerning such Agreement, the Directors of the Corporation who are not “interested persons” of the Advisor are represented by independent counsel at the Funds’ expense.
Each Agreement provides that the Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund in connection with matters to which the Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Advisor in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by the Advisor of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.
Officers and employees of the Advisor from time to time may have transactions with various banks, including the Funds’ custodian bank. It is the Advisor’s opinion that the terms and conditions of those transactions which have occurred were not influenced by existing or potential custodial or other Fund relationships.
Scudder Global Fund. Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.455%, 1.475% and 1.465% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. In addition, through February 28, 2006, the
29
Table of Contents
Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.955% for Class R shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.71%, 2.461%, 2.461% and 1.96% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Scudder International Fund. Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.345%, 1.365% and 1.355% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.34%, 2.25% and 2.25% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 0.94% for Institutional Class shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 0.88% for Institutional Class shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Scudder Global Fund: Board Considerations -- Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements
The Fund’s Directors approved the continuation of Scudder Global Fund’s current investment management agreement with DeIM in September 2005.
In terms of the process the Directors followed prior to approving the contract, shareholders should know that:
• | At the present time, all of your Fund’s Directors -- including the chair of the board -- are independent of DeIM and its affiliates. |
• | The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. |
• | The Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. |
DeIM and its predecessors (Deutsche Bank acquired Scudder in 2002) have managed the Fund since inception, and the Directors believe that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interest of shareholders. As you may know, DeIM is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Directors believe that there are significant advantages to being part of a
30
Table of Contents
global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.
Shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, but the Fund’s Directors consider these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DeIM’s personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures. The Directors note approvingly that DeIM has worked with them to implement new, forward-looking policies and procedures in many important areas, such as those involving brokerage commissions and so-called “soft dollars”, even when not obligated to do so by law or regulation.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Fund’s current investment management agreement, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:
• | The investment management fee schedule for the Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisers by similar funds, the Directors noted that the fee rates paid by the Fund (Class S shares) were higher than the median (4th quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe as of December 31, 2004. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the investment services being provided to the Fund. |
• | The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows. In this regard, the Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels. |
• | The total operating expenses of the Fund, including relative to the Fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper. In this regard, the Board noted that the total expenses of the Fund (Class S shares) for the year ending December 31, 2004 were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of the Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. |
• | The investment performance of the Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board noted that for the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s performance (Class S shares) was in the 1st quartile, 2nd quartile and 1st quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also observed that the Fund has outperformed its benchmark in the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance. |
• | The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreement, including the scope of services provided under the agreement. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. |
• | The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by |
31
Table of Contents
DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Fund (and, separately, to the entire Scudder fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, Deutsche Asset Management’s overall profitability with respect to the Scudder fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available.
• | The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process. |
• | DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Fund against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board, (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by Deutsche Asset Management to compliance matters. |
• | Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Fund and its shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth of its U.S. mutual fund business, the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups. |
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue the Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such agreement was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current agreement.
Scudder International Fund: Board Considerations -- Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements
The Fund’s Directors approved the continuation of Scudder International Fund’s current investment management agreement with DeIM in September 2005.
32
Table of Contents
In terms of the process the Directors followed prior to approving the contract, shareholders should know that:
• | At the present time, all of your Fund’s Directors -- including the chair of the board -- are independent of DeIM and its affiliates. |
• | The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. |
• | The Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. |
DeIM and its predecessors (Deutsche Bank acquired Scudder in 2002) have managed the Fund since inception, and the Directors believe that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interest of shareholders. As you may know, DeIM is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Directors believe that there are significant advantages to being part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.
Shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, but the Fund’s Directors consider these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DeIM’s personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures. The Directors note approvingly that DeIM has worked with them to implement new, forward-looking policies and procedures in many important areas, such as those involving brokerage commissions and so-called “soft dollars”, even when not obligated to do so by law or regulation.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Fund’s current investment management agreement, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:
• | The investment management fee schedule for the Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisers by similar funds, the Directors noted that the fee rates paid by the Fund (Class S shares) were lower than the median (2nd quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe as of December 31, 2004. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the investment services being provided to the Fund. |
• | The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows. In this regard, the Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels. |
• | The total operating expenses of the Fund, including relative to the Fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper. In this regard, the Board noted that the total expenses of the Fund (Class S shares) for the year ending December 31, 2004 were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of the Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. |
• | The investment performance of the Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board noted that for the one, three and five year periods |
33
Table of Contents
ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s performance (Class S shares) was in the 1st quartile, 3rd quartile and 3rd quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also observed that the Fund has outperformed its benchmark in the one year period ended June 30, 2005, and has underperformed its benchmark in the three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance.
• | The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreement, including the scope of services provided under the agreement. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. |
• | The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Fund (and, separately, to the entire Scudder fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, Deutsche Asset Management’s overall profitability with respect to the Scudder fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available. |
• | The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process. |
• | DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Fund against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board, (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by Deutsche Asset Management to compliance matters. |
• | Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Fund and its shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth |
34
Table of Contents
of its U.S. mutual fund business, the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups.
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue the Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such agreement was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current agreement.
Subadvisor — Scudder International Fund. Prior to September 30, 2005, Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Ltd. (“DeAMIS”) was Scudder International Fund’s subadvisor. On July 7, 2005, Deutsche Bank AG, the parent company of Scudder International Fund’s investment advisor, entered into an agreement (the “Transaction”) with Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen”) to sell parts of its asset management business based in London and Philadelphia. As part of the Transaction, DeAMIS was sold to Aberdeen. The fund’s Board allowed the subadvisory agreement with DeAMIS, due for renewal on September 30, 2005, to expire and only the advisory agreement with DeIM was approved for continuation. Aberdeen will play no role in managing Scudder International Fund.
From August 14, 2000, for Scudder International Fund and September 11, 2000, for Scudder Global Fund until March 31, 2004, each Fund operated under an administrative services agreement with the Advisor (the “Administrative Agreement”) pursuant to which the Advisor provided or paid others to provide substantially all of the administrative services required by the Fund (other than those provided by the Advisor under its investment management agreement with the Fund, as described above) in exchange for the payment by the Fund of an administrative services fee (the “Administrative Fee”). Effective January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, Scudder Global Fund paid an Administrative Fee of 0.475% for Class A shares, 0.495% for Class B shares and 0.485% for Class C shares, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. Effective January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, Scudder International Fund paid an Administrative Fee of 0.67% for Class A shares, 0.69% Class B shares, 0.68% Class C shares and 0.265% for Institutional Class shares, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. Prior to January 1, 2003, each Fund paid 0.400% for Class A, 0.450% for Class B, 0.425% for Class C and 0.150% for Institutional Class, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class.
The Administrative Agreement between the Advisor and each Fund terminated March 31, 2004. Effective April 1, 2004, each Fund directly bears the cost of those expenses formerly covered under the Administrative Agreement, subject to the Advisor’s contractual obligation to waive fees and reimburse expenses to maintain a Fund’s operating expenses at a specified level, as noted above and disclosed in the applicable prospectus.
Scudder Global Fund
For the period September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, the Fund paid administrative service fees of $43,945, $28,079 and $15,957 for Class A, B and C shares, respectively. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, the Fund paid administrative service fees of $63,331, $41,265 and $21,170 for Class A, B and C shares, respectively.
Scudder International Fund
For the period September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, the Fund paid administrative service fees of $836,887, $196,749, $94,959 and $35,628 for Class A, B, C and Institutional Class shares, respectively. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, the Fund paid administrative service fees of $1,093,159, $297,358, $124,838 and $53,045 for Class A, B, C and Institutional Class shares, respectively.
35
Table of Contents
AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program
Pursuant to an agreement between the Advisor and AMA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Medical Association (the “AMA”), dated May 9, 1997, the Advisor has agreed, subject to applicable state regulations, to pay AMA Solutions, Inc. royalties in an amount equal to 5% of the management fee received by the Advisor with respect to assets invested by AMA members in Scudder funds in connection with the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program. The Advisor will also pay AMA Solutions, Inc. a general monthly fee, currently in the amount of $833. The AMA and AMA Solutions, Inc. are not engaged in the business of providing investment advice and neither is registered as an investment advisor or broker-dealer under federal securities laws. Any person who participates in the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program will be a customer of the Advisor (or of a subsidiary thereof) and not the AMA or AMA Solutions, Inc. AMA InvestmentLink(SM) is a service mark of AMA Solutions, Inc.
Codes of Ethics
The Funds, the Advisor, Subadvisor and the Funds’ principal underwriter have each adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Board members, officers of the Corporations and employees of the Advisor and principal underwriter are permitted to make personal securities transactions, including transactions in securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, subject to requirements and restrictions set forth in the applicable Code of Ethics. The Advisor’s Code of Ethics contains provisions and requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest between personal investment activities and the interests of the Funds. Among other things, the Advisor’s Code of Ethics prohibits certain types of transactions absent prior approval, imposes time periods during which personal transactions may not be made in certain securities, and requires the submission of duplicate broker confirmations and quarterly reporting of securities transactions. Additional restrictions apply to portfolio managers, traders, research analysts and others involved in the investment advisory process. Exceptions to these and other provisions of the Advisor’s Code of Ethics may be granted in particular circumstances after review by appropriate personnel.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers
The Funds have been advised that the Advisor seeks to offer its investment professionals competitive short-term and long-term compensation. Portfolio managers and research professionals are paid (i) base salaries, which are linked to job function, responsibilities and financial services industry peer comparison and (ii) variable compensation, which is linked to investment performance, individual contributions to the team and Scudder Investments’ and Deutsche Bank’s financial results. Variable compensation may include a cash bonus incentive and participation in a variety of long-term equity programs (usually in the form of Deutsche Bank equity).
Bonus and long-term incentives comprise a greater proportion of total compensation as an investment professional’s seniority and compensation levels increase. Top performing investment professionals earn a total compensation package that is highly competitive, including a bonus that is a multiple of their base salary. The amount of equity awarded under the long-term equity programs is generally based on the individual’s total compensation package and may comprise from 0%-40% of the total compensation award. As incentive compensation increases, the percentage of compensation awarded in Deutsche Bank equity also increases. Certain senior investment professionals may be subject to a mandatory diverting of a portion of their equity compensation into proprietary mutual funds that they manage.
To evaluate its investment professionals, the Advisor uses a Performance Management Process. Objectives evaluated by the process are related to investment performance and generally take into account peer group and benchmark related data. The ultimate goal of this process is to link the performance of investment professionals with client investment objectives and to deliver investment performance that meets or exceeds clients’ risk and return objectives. When determining total compensation, the Advisor considers a number of quantitative and qualitative factors such as:
36
Table of Contents
• | Scudder Investments’ performance and the performance of Deutsche Asset Management; quantitative measures which include 1-, 3- and 5-year pre-tax returns versus benchmark (such as the benchmark used in the prospectus) and appropriate peer group, taking into consideration risk targets. Additionally, the portfolio manager’s retail/institutional asset mix is weighted, as appropriate for evaluation purposes. |
• | Qualitative measures include adherence to the investment process and individual contributions to the process, among other things. In addition, the Advisor assesses compliance, risk management and teamwork skills. |
• | Other factors, including contributions made to the investment team as well as adherence to compliance, risk management, and “living the values” of the Advisor, are part of a discretionary component which gives management the ability to reward these behaviors on a subjective basis through bonus incentives. |
In addition, the Advisor analyzes competitive compensation levels through the use of extensive market data surveys. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed and may be modified each year as appropriate to reflect changes in the market, as well as to adjust the factors used to determine overall compensation to promote good sustained investment performance.
Fund Ownership of Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar range of shares owned beneficially and of record by each member of each Fund’s portfolio management team in a Fund as well as in all Scudder Funds as a group (i.e., those funds advised by Deutsche Asset Management or its affiliates), including investments by their immediate family members sharing the same household and amounts invested through retirement and deferred compensation plans. This information is provided as of each Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
Name of Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned | Dollar Range of All Scudder Fund Shares Owned | ||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | $ 0 | $100,001 - $ 500,000 | ||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | $100,001 - $ 500,000 | $100,001 - $ 500,000 |
Conflicts of Interest. In addition to managing the assets of a Fund, a Fund’s portfolio manager may have responsibility for managing other client accounts of the Advisor or its affiliates. The tables below show, for each portfolio manager, the number and asset size of (1) SEC registered investment companies (or series thereof) other than the Fund, (2) pooled investment vehicles that are not registered investment companies and (3) other accounts (e.g., accounts managed for individuals or organizations) managed by each portfolio manager. The tables also show the number of performance based fee accounts, as well as the total assets of the accounts for which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account. For Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund), this information is provided as of October 3, 2005. For Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund), this information is provided as of Scudder Global Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
Other SEC Registered Investment Companies Managed:
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Registered Investment Companies | Total Assets of Registered Investment Companies | Number of Investment Company Accounts with Performance Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance- Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder | 4 | $ | 2,217,508,827 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
International Fund) | ||||||||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global | 15 | $ | 1,698,865,334 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Fund) |
37
Table of Contents
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed:
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Total Assets of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicle Accounts with Performance-Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | 3 | $ | 106,841,706 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 6 | $ | 686,046,399 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Other Accounts Managed: | ||||||||||
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Other Accounts | Total Assets of Other Accounts | Number of Other Accounts with Performance-Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | 4 | $ | 827,756,486 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 8 | $ | 1,020,576,336 | 0 | $ | 0 |
In addition to the accounts above, an investment professional may manage accounts in a personal capacity that may include holdings that are similar to, or the same as, those of the Funds. The Advisor has in place a Code of Ethics that is designed to address conflicts of interest and that, among other things, imposes restrictions on the ability of portfolio managers and other “access persons” to invest in securities that may be recommended or traded in the funds and other client accounts.
Real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day portfolio management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or account, including the following:
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor, including other client accounts managed by a Fund’s portfolio manager. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. A particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, because clients of the Advisor may have differing investment strategies, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. The investment results achieved for the Fund may differ from the results achieved for other clients of the Advisor. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be most equitable to each client, generally utilizing a pro rata allocation methodology. In some cases, the allocation procedure could potentially have an adverse effect or positive effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund and the other clients.
To the extent that a portfolio manager has responsibilities for managing multiple client accounts, a portfolio manager will need to divide time and attention among relevant accounts. The Advisor attempts to minimize these conflicts by aligning its portfolio management teams by investment strategy and by employing similar investment models across multiple client accounts.
In some cases, an apparent conflict may arise where the Advisor has an incentive, such as a performance-based fee, in managing one account and not with respect to other accounts it manages. The Advisor will not determine
38
Table of Contents
allocations based on whether it receives a performance-based fee from the client. Additionally, the Advisor has in place supervisory oversight processes to periodically monitor performance deviations for accounts with like strategies.
The Advisor is owned by Deutsche Bank AG, a multi-national financial services company. Therefore, the Advisor is affiliated with a variety of entities that provide, and/or engage in commercial banking, insurance, brokerage, investment banking, financial advisory, broker-dealer activities (including sales and trading), hedge funds, real estate and private equity investing, in addition to the provision of investment management services to institutional and individual investors. Since Deutsche Bank AG, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees (the “Firm”) are engaged in businesses and have interests other than managing asset management accounts, such other activities involve real, potential or apparent conflicts of interests. These interests and activities include potential advisory, transactional and financial activities and other interests in securities and companies that may be directly or indirectly purchased or sold by the Firm for its clients’ advisory accounts. These are considerations of which advisory clients should be aware and which may cause conflicts that could be to the disadvantage of the Advisor’s advisory clients. The Advisor has instituted business and compliance policies, procedures and disclosures that are designed to identify, monitor and mitigate conflicts of interest and, as appropriate, to report them to the Funds’ Boards.
Principal Underwriter and Administrator. Pursuant to an Underwriting and Distribution Services Agreement (“Distribution Agreement”), Scudder Distributors, Inc. (“SDI”), 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, an affiliate of the Advisor, is the principal underwriter, distributor and administrator for the Class A, Class B and Class C shares of each Fund, Class R shares for the Scudder Global Fund and Institutional and Investment Class shares of Scudder International Fund and acts as agent of each Fund in the continuous offering of its shares. Each Distribution Agreement for the Funds, dated April 5, 2002 was last approved by the Directors on September 30, 2005. The Distribution Agreement will continue from year to year thereafter only if its continuance is approved for each class at least annually by a vote of the Board members of the Fund, including the Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Agreement.
Each Distribution Agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved for each class at least annually by a vote of the Board of Directors of each Fund, including the Directors who are not interested persons of each Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Agreement. Each Distribution Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment and may be terminated for a class at any time without penalty by each Fund or by SDI upon 60 days’ notice. Termination by each Fund with respect to a class may be by vote of (i) a majority of the Board members who are not interested persons of each Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Agreement, or (ii) a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the class of each Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act. All material amendments must be approved by the Board of Directors in the manner described above with respect to the continuation of the Agreement. The provisions concerning continuation, amendment and termination of a Distribution Agreement are on a series by series and class by class basis.
SDI bears all of its expenses of providing services pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, including the payment of any commissions. The Fund pays the cost for the prospectus and shareholder reports to be typeset and printed for existing shareholders, and SDI, as principal underwriter, pays for the printing and distribution of copies thereof used in connection with the offering of shares to prospective investors. SDI also pays for supplementary sales literature and advertising costs. As indicated under “Purchase of Shares,” SDI retains the sales charge upon the purchase of Class A shares and pays or allows concessions or discounts to firms for the sale of the Funds’ shares. SDI receives no compensation from the Funds as principal underwriter for Class A and R shares. SDI receives compensation from the Funds as principal underwriter for Class B, Class C and Class R shares, as applicable.
Shareholder and administrative services are provided to each Fund on behalf of Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shareholders, as applicable, under a Shareholder Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with SDI. The Services Agreement continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved for the Fund at least annually by a vote of the Board of the applicable Fund, including the Board members who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Services Agreement. The Services
39
Table of Contents
Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment and may be terminated at any time without penalty by the Fund or by SDI upon 60 days’ notice. Termination with respect to the Class A, B, C or R shares of a Fund may be by a vote of (i) the majority of the Board members of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Services Agreement, or (ii) a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Class A, B C or R shares, as defined under the 1940 Act. The Services Agreement may not be amended for a class to increase materially the fee to be paid by the Fund without approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such class of the Fund, and all material amendments must in any event be approved by the Board of Directors in the manner described above with respect to the continuation of the Services Agreement.
Under the Services Agreement, SDI may provide or appoint various broker-dealer firms and other service or administrative firms (“firms”) to provide information and services to investors in a Fund. Typically, SDI appoints firms that provide services and facilities for their customers or clients who are investors in a Fund. Firms appointed by SDI provide such office space and equipment, telephone facilities and personnel as is necessary or beneficial for providing information and services to their clients. Such services and assistance may include, but are not limited to, establishing and maintaining accounts and records, processing purchase and redemption transactions, answering routine inquiries regarding a Fund, providing assistance to clients in changing dividend and investment options, account designations and addresses and such other administrative services as may be agreed upon from time to time and permitted by applicable statute, rule or regulation.
SDI bears all of its expenses of providing those services pursuant to the Services Agreement, including the payment of a service fee to firms (as defined below). As indicated under the Rule 12b-1 Plan, SDI receives compensation from the Funds for its services under the Services Agreement.
Rule 12b-1 Plans
Each Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (each a “Rule 12b-1 Plan”) that provides for fees payable as an expense of the Class B shares, Class C and Class R shares that are used by SDI to pay for distribution services for those classes. Pursuant to each Rule 12b-1 Plan, shareholder and administrative services are provided to the applicable Fund on behalf of its Class A, B, C and R shareholders under each Fund’s Services Agreement with SDI. Because 12b-1 fees are paid out of Fund assets on an ongoing basis, they will, over time, increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.
The Rule 12b-1 distribution plans for Class B, Class C and Class R shares provide alternative methods for paying sales charges and may help funds grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale. Rule 12b-1 service plans provide compensation to SDI or intermediaries for post-sales servicing. Since each Distribution Agreement provides for fees payable as an expense of the Class B shares, Class C shares and Class R shares that are used by SDI to pay for distribution and services for those classes, the agreement is approved and reviewed separately for the Class B shares, Class C shares and Class R shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates the manner in which an investment company may, directly or indirectly, bear the expenses of distributing its shares. The Distribution Agreement may not be amended to increase the fee to be paid by a Fund with respect to a class without approval by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such class of the Fund. Similarly, the Services Agreement is approved and reviewed separately for the Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Class R shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1.
If a Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms, the obligation of the applicable Fund to make payments to SDI pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan will cease and the Fund will not be required to make any payments past the termination date. Thus, there is no legal obligation for a Fund to pay any expenses incurred by SDI other than fees payable under a Rule 12b-1 Plan, if for any reason the Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms. Future fees under the Plan may or may not be sufficient to reimburse SDI for its expenses incurred.
Distribution Services. For its services under the Distribution Agreement, SDI receives a fee from each Fund under its Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to its Class B shares. This fee is accrued daily as an expense of Class B shares. SDI also receives any contingent
40
Table of Contents
deferred sales charges paid with respect to Class B shares. SDI currently compensates firms for sales of Class B shares at a commission rate of 3.75%.
For its services under the Distribution Agreement, SDI receives a fee from each Fund under its Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to Class C shares. This fee is accrued daily as an expense of Class C shares. SDI currently advances to firms the first year distribution fee at a rate of 0.75% of the purchase price of Class C shares. For periods after the first year, SDI currently pays firms for sales of Class C shares a distribution fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of net assets attributable to Class C shares maintained and serviced by the firm. This fee continues until terminated by SDI or the applicable Fund. SDI also receives any contingent deferred sales charges paid with respect to Class C shares.
For its services under the Distribution Agreement, SDI receives a fee from the Scudder Global Fund under its 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at an annual rate of 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to Class R shares.
Shareholder Services. For its services under the Services Agreement, SDI receives a shareholder services fee from each Fund under a Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A, B, C and R shares of that Fund.
With respect to Class A and R Shares of a Fund, SDI pays each firm a service fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the net assets in Fund accounts that it maintains and services attributable to Class A and R Shares respectively of a Fund, commencing with the month after investment. With respect to Class B and Class C Shares of a Fund, SDI currently advances to firms the first-year service fee at a rate of up to 0.25% of the purchase price of such shares. For periods after the first year, SDI currently intends to pay firms a service fee at a rate of up to 0.25% (calculated monthly and paid quarterly) of the net assets attributable to Class B and Class C shares of the Fund maintained and serviced by the firm. Firms to which service fees may be paid include affiliates of SDI. In addition SDI may, from time to time, pay certain firms from it own resources additional amounts for ongoing administrative services and assistance provided to their customers and clients who are shareholders of a Fund.
SDI also may provide some of the above services and may retain any portion of the fee under the Services Agreement not paid to firms to compensate itself for shareholder or administrative functions performed for a Fund. Currently, the shareholder services fee payable to SDI is payable at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of net assets based upon Fund assets in accounts for which a firm provides administrative services and at the annual rate of 0.15% of net assets based upon Fund assets in accounts for which there is no firm of record (other than SDI) listed on a Fund’s records. The effective shareholder services fee rate to be charged against all assets of each Fund while this procedure is in effect will depend upon the proportion of Fund assets that is held in accounts for which a firm of record provides shareholder services. The Board of each Fund, in its discretion, may approve basing the fee to SDI at the annual rate of 0.25% on all Fund assets in the future.
Expenses of the Funds paid in connection with the Rule 12b-1 Plans for each class of shares are set forth below. A portion of the marketing and sales and operating expenses shown below could be considered overhead expenses.
Certain directors or officers of the Funds are also directors or officers of the Advisor or SDI, as indicated under “Officers and Directors.”
41
Table of Contents
Compensation to Underwriter and Firms
for Calendar Year 2004
12b-1 Fees to SDI | 12b-1 Fees to SDI | Compensation Paid by SDI to Firms from Distribution Fee | Compensation Paid to Firms from | |||||||||
Scudder Global Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | N/A | $ | 390 | N/A | $ | 41,383 | ||||||
Class B | $ | 66,000 | $ | 71 | $ | 32,000 | $ | 20,359 | ||||
Class C | $ | 41,000 | $ | 19 | $ | 41,000 | $ | 13,519 | ||||
Scudder International Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | N/A | $ | 12,959 | N/A | $ | 485,280 | ||||||
Class B | $ | 329,000 | $ | 258 | $ | 178,000 | $ | 99,378 | ||||
Class C | $ | 176,000 | $ | 119 | $ | 163,000 | $ | 53,524 |
Other Distribution Expenses Paid by
Underwriter for Calendar Year 2004
Advertising, Sales, Literature and Promotional Materials | Prospectus Printing | Marketing and Sales Expenses | Postage and Mailing | Interest Expenses | |||||||||||
Scudder Global Fund | |||||||||||||||
Class A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | NA | ||||||||||
Class B | $ | 10,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 21,000 | |||||
Class C | $ | 8,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||||
Scudder International Fund | |||||||||||||||
Class A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | NA | ||||||||||
Class B | $ | 52,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 4,000 | $ | 371,000 | |||||
Class C | $ | 28,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 2,000 |
42
Table of Contents
The following table shows, for Class A shares, the aggregate amount of underwriting commissions paid to SDI, the amount in commissions it paid out to brokers and the amount of underwriting commissions retained by SDI.
Fund | Fiscal Year | Aggregate Sales Commissions | Aggregate Commissions Paid to Firms | Aggregate Affiliated Firms | Aggregate by SDI | |||||||||
Scudder Global Fund | 2005 | $ | 25,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 19,000 | $ | 4,000 | |||||
2004 | $ | 14,000 | $ | 11,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | ||||||
2003 | $ | 15,000 | $ | 13,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 2,000 | ||||||
Scudder International Fund | 2005 | $ | 71,000 | $ | 54,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 12,000 | |||||
2004 | $ | 72,000 | $ | 59,000 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 10,000 | ||||||
2003 | $ | 76,000 | $ | 61,000 | $ | 5,000 | $ | 10,000 |
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The financial highlights of each Fund included in the Funds’ prospectus and the Financial Statements incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information have been so included or incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110, independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers audits the financial statements of the Funds and provides other audit, tax and related services. Shareholders will receive annual audited financial statements and semi-annual unaudited financial statements.
Ropes & Gray LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624, serves as legal counsel to each Fund and the Independent Directors of each Fund.
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation (“SFAC”), Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, a subsidiary of the Advisor, is responsible for determining net asset value per share and maintaining the portfolio and general accounting records for the Funds. Pursuant to a sub-accounting and sub-administration agreement among the Advisor, SFAC and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”), SFAC and the Advisor have delegated certain administrative and fund accounting functions to SSB under the investment management agreement and the fund accounting agreement, respectively. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by the Advisor and SFAC, not by a Fund.
Effective upon termination of the Administrative Agreement, the Funds pay SFAC an annual fee equal to 0.065% of the first $150 million of average daily net assets, 0.040% of such assets in excess of $150 million and 0.020% of such assets in excess of $1 billion, plus holding and transaction charges for this service.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged to Scudder Global Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $339,742, all of which is unpaid at August 31, 2004.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged to Scudder International Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $267,597, all of which is unpaid at August 31, 2004.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to Global Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $411,295, of which $28,957 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
43
Table of Contents
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to International Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $531,757, of which $4,983 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
Prior to April 1, 2004, the service provider fees outlined above were paid by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Custodian, Transfer Agent and Shareholder Service Agent
Brown Brothers Harriman & Company (“Custodian”), 40 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109 serves as Custodian of the Funds. The Custodian has entered into agreements with foreign subcustodians approved by the Directors of the Corporation pursuant to Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act.
Custodian’s fee may be reduced by certain earnings credits in favor of each Fund.
Scudder Investments Service Company (“SISC”), 210 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105-1614, an affiliate of the Advisor, is the Funds’ transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent for each Fund’s Class A, B, C shares, Scudder Global Fund’s Class R shares and Scudder International Fund’s Institutional Class and Investment Class shares. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between SISC and DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”), SISC has delegated certain transfer agent and dividend paying agent functions to DST. The costs and expenses of such delegation are born by SISC, not by the Funds. SISC receives as transfer agent, annual account fees of $5 per account, transaction and maintenance charges, annual fees associated with the contingent deferred sales charge (Class B shares only) and out-of-pocket expense reimbursement. For Class R shares, SISC is compensated as follows: (for non-money market accounts) an open account charge of $29 and an asset-based fee of 0.05% for out of pocket expenses.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged by SISC aggregated $31,921 (of which $12,106 was not imposed and $8,457 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class A shares, $21,210 (of which $10,128 was not imposed and $7,401 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class B shares, $11,809 (of which $5,466 was not imposed and $3,623 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class C shares and $584 (of which $122 was not imposed and $462 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class R shares of Scudder Global Fund.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged by SISC aggregated $304,826 (of which $138,795 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class A shares, $140,496 (of which $52,735 was not imposed and $23,418 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class B shares, $49,771 (of which $4,465 was not imposed and $18,280 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class C shares and $6,399 (of which $4,199 was not imposed at August 31, 2004) for Institutional Class shares of Scudder International Fund.
For the fiscal ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged by SISC aggregated $85,741 (of which $12,443 was not imposed and $29,005 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class A shares; $44,151 (of which $16,313 was not imposed and $11,167 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class B shares; $28,219 (of which $8,320 was not imposed and $8,464 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class C shares; and $4,763 (of which $2,085 was not imposed and $3,140 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class R shares of Scudder Global Fund.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged by SISC aggregated $599,345 (of which $167,016 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class A shares; $303,855 (of which $92,572 was not imposed and $66,372 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class B shares; $102,894 (of which $28,231 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class C shares; and $4,649 for Institutional Class shares of Scudder International Fund.
Prior to April 1, 2004, the service provider fees outlined above were paid by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Each Fund, or the Advisor (including any affiliate of the Advisor), or both, may pay unaffiliated third parties for providing recordkeeping and other administrative services with respect to accounts of participants in retirement plans or other beneficial owners of Fund shares whose interests are generally held in an omnibus account.
44
Table of Contents
SERVICE PLANS
Global Fund — Class R Shares
International Fund — Investment Class Shares
Each Fund has adopted a service plan (the “Service Plans”) with respect to Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund which authorizes a Fund to compensate Service Organizations whose customers invest in Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund for providing certain personal, account administration and/or shareholder liaison services. Pursuant to the Plans, the Funds may enter into agreements with Service Organizations (“Service Agreements”). Under such Service Agreements or otherwise, the Service Organizations may perform some or all of the following services: (i) acting as record holder and nominee of all Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund beneficially owned by their customers; (ii) establishing and maintaining individual accounts and records with respect to the Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund owned by each customer; (iii) providing facilities to answer inquiries and respond to correspondence from customers about the status of their accounts or about other aspects of the Corporations or applicable Fund; (iv) processing and issuing confirmations concerning customer orders to purchase, redeem and exchange such shares; (v) receiving and transmitting funds representing the purchase price or redemption proceeds of such shares; (vi) participant level recordkeeping, sub-accounting, and other administrative services in connection with the entry of purchase and redemption orders for the Service Plans; (vii) withholding sums required by applicable authorities; (viii) providing daily violation services to the Service Plans; (ix) paying and filing of all withholding and documentation required by appropriate government agencies; (x) provision of reports, refund and other documents required by tax laws and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”); and (xi) providing prospectuses, proxy materials and other documents of an applicable Fund to participants as may be required by law.
As compensation for such services, each Service Organization of a Fund is entitled to receive a service fee in an amount up to 0.25% (on an annualized basis) of the average daily net assets of the Global Fund’s Class R shares and International Fund’s Investment Class shares attributable to customers of such Service Organization. Service Organizations may from time to time be required to meet certain other criteria in order to receive service fees.
In accordance with the terms of the Service Plans, the Officers of the Corporation provide to the Corporation’s Board of Directors for their review periodically a written report of services performed by and fees paid to each Service Organization under the Service Agreements and Service Plans.
Pursuant to the Service Plans, Investment Class shares of International Fund that are beneficially owned by customers of a Service Organization will convert automatically to Institutional Class shares of the Fund in the event that such Service Organization’s Service Agreement expires or is terminated. Customers of a Service Organization will receive advance notice of any such conversion, and any such conversion will be effected on the basis of the relative net asset values of the two classes of shares involved.
Conflict of interest restrictions (including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) may apply to a Service Organization’s receipt of compensation paid by a Fund in connection with the investment of fiduciary assets in Class R shares of Global Fund and Investment Class shares of International Fund. Service Organizations that are subject to the jurisdiction of the SEC, the Department of Labor or state securities commissions are urged to consult their own legal Advisors before investing fiduciary assets in Class R shares of Global Fund or Investment Class shares of International Fund and receiving service fees.
The Corporations believe that fiduciaries of ERISA plans may properly receive fees under a Service Plan if the plan fiduciary otherwise properly discharges its fiduciary duties, including (if applicable) those under ERISA. Under ERISA, a plan fiduciary, such as a trustee or investment manager, must meet the fiduciary responsibility standards set forth in part 4 of Title I of ERISA. Those standards are designed to help ensure that the fiduciary’s decisions are made in the best interests of the plan and are not colored by self-interest.
45
Table of Contents
Section 403(c)(1) of ERISA provides, in part, that the assets of a plan shall be held for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to the plan’s participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the plan. Section 404(a)(1) sets forth a similar requirement on how a plan fiduciary must discharge his or her duties with respect to the plan, and provides further that such fiduciary must act prudently and solely in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries. These basic provisions are supplemented by the per se prohibitions of certain classes of transactions set forth in Section 406 of ERISA.
Section 406(a)(1)(D) of ERISA prohibits a fiduciary of an ERISA plan from causing that plan to engage in a transaction if he knows or should know that the transaction would constitute a direct or indirect transfer to, or use by or for the benefit of, a party in interest, of any assets of that plan. Section 3(14) includes within the definition of “party in interest” with respect to a plan any fiduciary with respect to that plan. Thus, Section 406(a)(1)(D) would not only prohibit a fiduciary from causing the plan to engage in a transaction which would benefit a third person who is a party in interest, but it would also prohibit the fiduciary from similarly benefiting himself. In addition, Section 406(b)(1) specifically prohibits a fiduciary with respect to a plan from dealing with the assets of that plan in his own interest or for his own account. Section 406(b)(3) supplements these provisions by prohibiting a plan fiduciary from receiving any consideration for his own personal account from any party dealing with the plan in connection with a transaction involving the assets of the plan.
In accordance with the foregoing, however, a fiduciary of an ERISA plan may properly receive service fees under a Service Plan if the fees are used for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to the plan’s participants and their beneficiaries or for defraying reasonable expenses of administering the plan for which the plan would otherwise be liable. See, e.g., Department of Labor ERISA Technical Release No. 86-1 (stating a violation of ERISA would not occur where a broker-dealer rebates commission dollars to a plan fiduciary who, in turn, reduces its fees for which plan is otherwise responsible for paying). Thus, the fiduciary duty issues involved in a plan fiduciary’s receipt of the service fee must be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the relevant plan fiduciary.
The Advisor is generally responsible for placing the orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, including the allocation of brokerage.
The policy of the Advisor in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund is to seek best execution, taking into account such factors, among others, as price; commission (where applicable); the broker-dealer’s ability to ensure that securities will be delivered on settlement date; the willingness of the broker-dealer to commit its capital and purchase a thinly traded security for its own inventory; whether the broker-dealer specializes in block orders or large program trades; the broker-dealer’s knowledge of the market and the security; the broker-dealer’s ability to maintain confidentiality; the financial condition of the broker-dealer; and whether the broker-dealer has the infrastructure and operational capabilities to execute and settle the trade. The Advisor seeks to evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions with commissions charged on comparable transactions and compares the brokerage commissions (if any) paid by the Fund to reported commissions paid by others. The Advisor routinely reviews commission rates, execution and settlement services performed and makes internal and external comparisons.
Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on US securities exchanges are subject to negotiation. Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on foreign securities exchanges are generally fixed. Purchases and sales of fixed-income securities and other over-the-counter securities are effected on a net basis, without the payment of brokerage commissions. Transactions in fixed income and other over-the-counter securities are generally placed by the Advisor with the principal market makers for these securities unless the Advisor reasonably believes more favorable results are available elsewhere. Transactions with dealers serving as market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. Purchases of underwritten issues will include an underwriting fee paid to the underwriter. Money market instruments are normally purchased in principal transactions directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker.
It is likely that the broker-dealers selected based on the considerations described in this section will include firms that also sell shares of the Fund to their customers. However, the Advisor does not consider sales of shares of the
46
Table of Contents
Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund and, accordingly, has implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent its traders from considering sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund.
The Advisor is permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), when placing portfolio transactions for the Fund, to cause the Fund to pay brokerage commissions in excess of that which another broker-dealer might charge for executing the same transaction in order to obtain research and brokerage services. The Advisor, however, does not as a matter of policy execute transactions with broker-dealers for the Fund in order to obtain research from such broker-dealers that is prepared by third parties (i.e., “third party research”). However, the Advisor may from time to time, in reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, obtain proprietary research prepared by the executing broker-dealer in connection with a transaction or transactions through that broker-dealer (i.e., “proprietary research”). Consistent with the Advisor’s policy regarding best execution, where more than one broker is believed to be capable of providing best execution for a particular trade, the Advisor may take into consideration the receipt of proprietary research in selecting the broker-dealer to execute the trade. Proprietary research provided by broker-dealers may include, but is not limited to, information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations, political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance analysis and measurement and analysis of corporate responsibility issues. Proprietary research is typically received in the form of written reports, telephone contacts and personal meetings with security analysts, but may also be provided in the form of access to various computer software and associated hardware, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry representatives.
In reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Advisor may also select broker-dealers and obtain from them brokerage services in the form of software and/or hardware that is used in connection with executing trades. Typically, this computer software and/or hardware is used by the Advisor to facilitate trading activity with those broker-dealers.
Proprietary research and brokerage services received from a broker-dealer chosen to execute a particular trade may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to clients other than the Fund making the trade, and not all such information is used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund. Conversely, such information provided to the Advisor by broker-dealers through which other clients of the Advisor effect securities transactions may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to the Fund.
The Advisor will monitor regulatory developments and market practice in the use of client commissions to obtain research and brokerage services, whether proprietary or third party.
Investment decisions for the Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Advisor are made independently of each other in light of differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable. To the extent permitted by law, the Advisor may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for other accounts in executing transactions. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and commission and allocated as to amount in a manner deemed equitable to each account. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect on the price paid or received by, or on the size of the position obtained or disposed of for, the Fund, in other cases it is believed that the ability to engage in volume transactions will be beneficial to the Fund.
Deutsche Bank AG or one of its affiliates may act as a broker for the Fund and receive brokerage commissions or other transaction-related compensation from the Fund in the purchase and sale of securities, options or futures contracts when, in the judgment of the Advisor, and in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board, the affiliated broker will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as those obtained from other qualified brokers and if, in the transaction, the affiliated broker charges the Fund a rate consistent with that charged to comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions.
Scudder Global Fund: For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2003, August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $2,111,176, $2,263,000 and $1,881,808, respectively.
47
Table of Contents
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of August 31, 2005 | ||
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB | $ | 14,306,000 | |
Bangkok Bank PLC | $ | 7,265,000 | |
DBS Group Holdings Ltd. | $ | 6,420,000 | |
Citigroup Inc. | $ | 12,995,000 | |
JP Morgan Chase & Co. | $ | 6,310,000 | |
Banco Bradesco S.A. | $ | 4,113,000 | |
Mega Financial Holdings Co., Ltd. | $ | 4,926,000 |
Scudder International Fund: For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2003, August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $7,286,366, $2,035,000 and $3,601,297, respectively.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of August 31, 2005 | ||
Toyota Motor Corp. | $ | 34,534,000 | |
HSBC Holdings PLC | $ | 29,685,000 | |
Banca Intesa Spa | $ | 26,105,000 | |
BNP Paribas SA | $ | 21,705,000 | |
ING Groep NV | $ | 20,447,000 | |
Alpha Bank AE | $ | 12,993,000 | |
Australia & New Zealand Group, Ltd. | $ | 15,995,000 |
Name of Fund | Percentage of Brokers | Percentage of Paid to Affiliated Brokers | Dollar Amount of Commissions Paid to Brokers for Research Services | |||
Scudder Global Fund | 0% | 0% | $0 | |||
Scudder International Fund | 0% | 0% | $0 |
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio turnover rate is defined by the SEC as the ratio of the lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of such securities owned during the year, excluding all securities whose remaining maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less.
Higher levels of activity by a Fund result in higher transaction costs and may also result in taxes on realized capital gains to be borne by the Fund’s shareholders. Purchases and sales are made whenever necessary, in the Advisor’s discretion, to meet a Fund’s objective.
48
Table of Contents
Portfolio turnover rates for the two most recent fiscal periods are as follows:
2005 | 2004 | |||||
Scudder Global Fund | 54 | % | 81 | % | ||
Scudder International Fund | 57 | % | 82 | % |
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
General Information
Policies and procedures affecting transactions in Fund shares can be changed at any time without notice, subject to applicable law. Transactions may be contingent upon proper completion of application forms and other documents by shareholders and their receipt by the Fund’s agents. Transaction delays in processing (and changing account features) due to circumstances within or beyond the control of the Fund and its agents may occur. Shareholders (or their financial service firms) are responsible for all losses and fees resulting from bad checks, cancelled orders or the failure to consummate transactions effected pursuant to instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.
A distribution will be reinvested in shares of the same Fund and class if the distribution check is returned as undeliverable.
Orders will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value of the Fund next determined after receipt in good order by SDI of the order accompanied by payment. Orders received by dealers or other financial services firms prior to the determination of net asset value and received in good order by SDI prior to the determination of net asset value will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value next determined after receipt by SDI (“trade date”).
Certificates. Share certificates will not be issued. Share certificates now in a shareholder’s possession may be sent to SISC for cancellation and book-entry credit to such shareholder’s account. Certain telephone and other procedures require book-entry holdings. Shareholders with outstanding certificates bear the risk of loss.
Use of Financial Services Firms. Investment dealers and other firms provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem a Fund’s shares, including higher minimum investments, and may assess transaction or other fees. Firms may arrange with their clients for other investment or administrative services. Such firms may independently establish and charge additional amounts to their clients for such services. Firms also may hold a Fund’s shares in nominee or street name as agent for and on behalf of their customers. In such instances, a Fund’s transfer agent, SISC will have no information with respect to or control over the accounts of specific shareholders. Such shareholders may obtain access to their accounts and information about their accounts only from their firm. Certain of these firms may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for record-keeping and other expenses relating to these nominee accounts. In addition, certain privileges with respect to the purchase and redemption of shares or the reinvestment of dividends may not be available through such firms. Some firms may participate in a program allowing them access to their clients’ accounts for servicing including, without limitation, transfers of registration and dividend payee changes; and may perform functions such as generation of confirmation statements and disbursement of cash dividends. Such firms, including affiliates of SDI, may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for these services.
Telephone and Electronic Transaction Procedures. Shareholders have various telephone, Internet, wire and other electronic privileges available. A Fund or its agents may be liable for any losses, expenses or costs arising out of fraudulent or unauthorized instructions pursuant to these privileges unless the Fund or its agents reasonably believe, based upon reasonable verification procedures, that the instructions were genuine. Verification procedures include recording instructions, requiring certain identifying information before acting upon instructions and sending written confirmations. During periods when it is difficult to contact the Shareholder Service Agent, it may be difficult to use telephone, wire and other privileges.
QuickBuy and QuickSell (not applicable to Class R shares). QuickBuy and QuickSell permits the transfer of money via the Automated Clearing House System (minimum $50, maximum $250,000) from or to a shareholder’s
49
Table of Contents
bank, savings and loan, or credit union account in connection with the purchase or redemption of Fund shares. Shares purchased by check or through QuickBuy and QuickSell or Direct Deposit may not be redeemed under this privilege until such Shares have been owned for at least calendar 10 days. QuickBuy and QuickSell cannot be used with passbook savings accounts or for certain tax-deferred plans such as IRAs.
Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. The Shareholder Service Agent provides retirement plan services and documents and SDI can establish investor accounts in any of the following types of retirement plans:
• | Traditional, Roth and Education IRAs. This includes Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (“SIMPLE”), Simplified Employee Pension Plan (“SEP”) IRA accounts and prototype documents. |
• | 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts. This type of plan is available to employees of most non-profit organizations. |
• | Prototype money purchase pension and profit-sharing plans may be adopted by employers. |
Brochures describing these plans as well as model defined benefit plans, target benefit plans, 457 plans, 401(k) plans, simple 401(k) plans and materials for establishing them are available from the Shareholder Service Agent upon request. Additional fees and transaction policies and procedures may apply to such plans. Investors should consult with their own tax advisors before establishing a retirement plan.
Purchases
The Funds reserve the right to withdraw all or any part of the offering made by its prospectus and to reject purchase orders for any reason. Also, from time to time, the Funds may temporarily suspend the offering of any class of their shares to new investors. During the period of such suspension, persons who are already shareholders of such class of such Fund may be permitted to continue to purchase additional shares of such class and to have dividends reinvested.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. For more information, please see “Policies You Should Know About” in the fund prospectus.
The Funds may waive the minimum for purchases by trustees, directors, officers or employees of the Fund or the Advisor and its affiliates.
Financial Services Firms’ Compensation. Banks and other financial services firms may provide administrative services related to order placement and payment to facilitate transactions in shares of the Fund for their clients, and SDI may pay them a transaction fee up to the level of the discount or commission allowable or payable to dealers.
SDI may, from time to time, pay or allow to firms a 1% commission on the amount of shares of the Fund sold under the following conditions: (i) the purchased shares are held in a Scudder IRA account, (ii) the shares are purchased as a direct “roll over” of a distribution from a qualified retirement plan account maintained on the subaccount record keeping system maintained for Scudder-branded plans by ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates, (iii) the registered representative placing the trade is a member of Executive Council, a group of persons designated by SDI in acknowledgment of their dedication to the employee benefit plan area; and (iv) the purchase is not otherwise subject to a commission.
In addition to the discounts or commissions described herein and in the prospectus, SDI, the Advisor, or its affiliates may pay or allow additional discounts, commissions or promotional incentives, in the form of cash, to firms that sell shares of the Fund. In some instances, such amounts may be offered only to certain firms that sell or are expected to sell during specified time periods certain minimum amounts of shares of the Fund, or other Funds underwritten by SDI.
50
Table of Contents
Upon notice to all dealers, SDI may re-allow to dealers up to the full applicable Class A sales charge during periods and for transactions specified in such notice and such re-allowances may be based upon attainment of minimum sales levels. During periods when 90% or more of the sales charge is re-allowed, such dealers may be deemed to be underwriters as that term is defined in the 1933 Act.
SDI may at its discretion compensate investment dealers or other financial services firms in connection with the sale of Class A shares of the Fund in accordance with the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege and one of the five compensation schedules up to the following amounts:
Compensation Schedule #1: | Compensation Schedule #2: | Compensation Schedule #3: Scudder | ||||||||
Retail Sales and Scudder | Scudder Premium Plan(2) | Mid-to-Large Market Plan(2) | ||||||||
Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | |||||
$1 million to $3 million (equity funds) | 1.00% | Under $ 15 million | 0.50% | Over $15 million | 0.00% - 0.50% | |||||
Over $3 million to $50 million | 0.50% | — | — | — | — | |||||
Over $50 million | 0.25% | — | — | — | — |
Compensation Schedule #4: Scudder Choice Plan(3) | |||
Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | ||
All amounts (equity funds) | 1.00 | % | |
All amounts (Scudder Short | 0.75 | % | |
Duration Fund and Scudder Short Term Bond Fund) |
(1) | The commission schedule will be reset on a calendar year basis for sales of shares pursuant to the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege to employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount recordkeeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates. For purposes of determining the appropriate commission percentage to be applied to a particular sale under the foregoing schedule, SDI will consider the cumulative amount invested by the purchaser in a Fund and other Funds listed under “Special Features — Class A Shares — Combined Purchases,” including purchases pursuant to the “Combined Purchases,” “Letter of Intent” and “Cumulative Discount” features referred to above. |
(2) | Compensation Schedules 2 and 3 apply to employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the OmniPlus subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates. The Compensation Schedule will be determined based on the value of the conversion assets. Conversion from “Compensation Schedule #2” to “Compensation Schedule #3” is not an automatic process. When a plan’s assets grow to exceed $15 million, the Plan Sponsor must contact their Client Relationship Manager to discuss a conversion to Compensation Schedule #3. |
(3) | SDI compensates UBS Financial in accordance with Premium Plan Compensation Schedule #2. |
SDI compensates firms for sales of Class B shares at the time of sale at a commission rate of up to 3.75% of the amount of Class B shares purchased. SDI is compensated by the Fund for services as distributor and principal underwriter for Class B shares. SDI advances to firms the first year distribution fee at a rate of 0.75% of the
51
Table of Contents
purchase price of such shares. For periods after the first year, SDI currently pays firms for sales of Class C shares a distribution fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of net assets attributable to Class C shares maintained and serviced by the firm. SDI is compensated by the Fund for services as distributor and principal underwriter for Class C shares.
Class A Purchases. The public offering price of Class A shares for purchasers choosing the initial sales charge alternative is the net asset value plus a sales charge, as set forth below.
Sales Charge | |||||||||
Amount of Purchase | As a Percentage of Offering Price | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value* | Allowed to Dealers as a Percentage of Offering Price | ||||||
Less than $50,000 | 5.75 | % | 6.10 | % | 5.20 | % | |||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.50 | 4.71 | 4.00 | ||||||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.50 | 3.63 | 3.00 | ||||||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.60 | 2.67 | 2.25 | ||||||
$500,000 but less than $1 million | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 | ||||||
$1 million and over | .00 | ** | .00 | ** | .00 | *** |
* | Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent. |
** | Redemption of shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge as discussed below. |
*** | Commission is payable by SDI as discussed below. |
Class A Quantity Discounts. An investor or the investor’s dealer or other financial services firm must notify the Shareholder Service Agent or SDI whenever a quantity discount or reduced sales charge is applicable to a purchase. In order to qualify for a lower sales charge, all orders from an organized group will have to be placed through a single investment dealer or other firm and identified as originating from a qualifying purchaser.
Combined Purchases. The Fund’s Class A shares may be purchased at the rate applicable to the sales charge discount bracket attained by combining same day investments in Class A shares of any Scudder Funds that bear a sales charge.
Class B Purchases. Class B shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value. No initial sales charge is imposed. Class B shares sold without an initial sales charge allow the full amount of the investor’s purchase payment to be invested in Class B shares for his or her account. Class B shares have a contingent deferred sales charge of 4.00% that declines (for shares sold within six years of purchase) and Rule 12b-1 fees, as described in the Funds’ Prospectuses and SAI. Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares after six years.
Class C Purchases. Class C shares of a Fund are offered at net asset value. No initial sales charge is imposed. Class C shares sold without an initial sales charge, which allows the full amount of the investor’s purchase payment to be invested in Class C shares for his or her account. Class C shares continue to be are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% (for shares sold within one year of purchase) and Rule 12b-1 fees, as described in the Funds’ prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Letter of Intent. The reduced sales charges for Class A shares, as shown in the applicable prospectus, also apply to the aggregate amount of purchases of Class A shares of Scudder Funds that bear a sales charge made by any purchaser within a 24-month period under a written Letter of Intent (“Letter”) provided by SDI. The Letter, which imposes no obligation to purchase or sell additional Class A shares, provides for a price adjustment depending upon the actual amount purchased within such period. The Letter provides that the first purchase following execution of the Letter must be at least 5% of the amount of the intended purchase, and that 5% of the amount of the intended purchase normally will be held in escrow in the form of shares pending completion of the intended purchase. If the total investments under the Letter are less than the intended amount and thereby qualify only for a higher sales
52
Table of Contents
charge than actually paid, the appropriate number of escrowed shares are redeemed and the proceeds used toward satisfaction of the obligation to pay the increased sales charge. The Letter for an employer-sponsored employee benefit plan maintained on the subaccount record keeping system available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates may have special provisions regarding payment of any increased sales charge resulting from a failure to complete the intended purchase under the Letter. A shareholder may include the value (at the maximum offering price, which is determined by adding the maximum applicable sales load charged to the net asset value) of all Class A shares of such Scudder Funds held of record as of the initial purchase date under the Letter as an “accumulation credit” toward the completion of the Letter, but no price adjustment will be made on such shares.
Class A Cumulative Discount. Class A shares of the Fund may also be purchased at the rate applicable to the discount bracket attained by adding to the cost of shares being purchased, the value of all Class A shares of Scudder Funds that bear a sales charge (computed at the maximum offering price at the time of the purchase for which the discount is applicable) already owned by the investor or his or her immediate family member.
For purposes of the Combined Purchases, Letter of Intent and Cumulative Discount features described above, employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the Flex subaccount record keeping system available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates may include: (a) Money Market Funds as “Scudder Funds”, (b) all classes of shares of any Scudder Fund and (c) the value of any other plan investments, such as guaranteed investment contracts and employer stock, maintained on such subaccount record keeping system.
Class A NAV Sales. Class A shares may be sold at net asset value to:
(a) | a current or former director or trustee of Deutsche or Scudder mutual funds; |
(b) | an employee (including the employee’s spouse or life partner and children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates or of a subadvisor to any fund in the Scudder family of funds or of a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of the Fund or service agents of the Fund; |
(c) | certain professionals who assist in the promotion of Scudder mutual funds pursuant to personal services contracts with SDI, for themselves or members of their families. SDI in its discretion may compensate financial services firms for sales of Class A shares under this privilege at a commission rate of 0.50% of the amount of Class A shares purchased; |
(d) | any trust, pension, profit-sharing or other benefit plan for only such persons listed under the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b); |
(e) | persons who purchase such shares through bank trust departments that process such trades through an automated, integrated mutual fund clearing program provided by a third party clearing firm; |
(f) | selected employees (including their spouses or life partners and children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) of banks and other financial services firms that provide administrative services related to order placement and payment to facilitate transactions in shares of the Fund for their clients pursuant to an agreement with SDI or one of its affiliates. Only those employees of such banks and other firms who as part of their usual duties provide services related to transactions in Fund shares qualify; |
(g) | unit investment trusts sponsored by Ranson & Associates, Inc. and unitholders of unit investment trusts sponsored by Ranson & Associates, Inc. or its predecessors through reinvestment programs described in the prospectuses of such trusts that have such programs; |
(h) | through certain investment advisors registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and other financial services firms acting solely as agent for their clients, that adhere to certain standards established by SDI, including a requirement that such shares be sold for the benefit of their clients participating in an investment advisory program or agency commission program under which such clients pay a fee to the investment advisor or other firm for portfolio management or agency brokerage services. Such shares are |
53
Table of Contents
sold for investment purposes and on the condition that they will not be resold except through redemption or repurchase by the Fund;
(i) | (1) employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the Flex subaccount recordkeeping system (“Flex Plans”) made available through ADP under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates, established prior to October 1, 2003, provided that the Flex Plan is a participant-directed plan that has not less than 200 eligible employees and (2) investors investing $1 million or more, either as a lump sum or through the “Combined Purchases,” “Letter of Intent” and “Cumulative Discount” features referred to above (collectively, the “Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege”). The Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege is not available if another net asset value purchase privilege is available; |
(j) | in connection with the acquisition of the assets of or merger or consolidation with another investment company, or to shareholders in connection with the investment or reinvestment of income and capital gain dividends, and under other circumstances deemed appropriate by SDI and consistent with regulatory requirements; and |
(k) | in connection with a direct “roll over” of a distribution from a Flex Plan into a Scudder IRA (this applies to Class B shares only). |
Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value in any amount by members of the plaintiff class in the proceeding known as Howard and Audrey Tabankin, et al. v. Kemper Short-Term Global Income Fund, et al., Case No. 93 C 5231 (N.D. IL). This privilege is generally non-transferable and continues for the lifetime of individual class members and for a ten-year period for non-individual class members. To make a purchase at net asset value under this privilege, the investor must, at the time of purchase, submit a written request that the purchase be processed at net asset value pursuant to this privilege specifically identifying the purchaser as a member of the “Tabankin Class.” Shares purchased under this privilege will be maintained in a separate account that includes only shares purchased under this privilege. For more details concerning this privilege, class members should refer to the Notice of (i) Proposed Settlement with Defendants; and (ii) Hearing to Determine Fairness of Proposed Settlement, dated August 31, 1995, issued in connection with the aforementioned court proceeding. For sales of Fund shares at net asset value pursuant to this privilege, SDI may in its discretion pay investment dealers and other financial services firms a concession, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of net assets attributable to such shares maintained and serviced by the firm. A firm becomes eligible for the concession based upon assets in accounts attributable to shares purchased under this privilege in the month after the month of purchase and the concession continues until terminated by SDI. The privilege of purchasing Class A shares of the Fund at net asset value under this privilege is not available if another net asset value purchase privilege also applies.
Purchase of Class C Shares. Class C shares of the fund will be offered at net asset value. No initial sales charge will be imposed. Class C shares sold without an initial sales charge will allow the full amount of the investor’s purchase payment to be invested in Class C shares for his or her account. Class C shares will continue to be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% (for shares sold within one year of purchase) and Rule 12b-1 fees, as described in each prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Multi-Class Suitability. SDI has established the following procedures regarding the purchase of Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Orders to purchase Class B shares of $100,000 or more and orders to purchase Class C shares of $500,000 or more will be declined with the exception of orders received from financial representatives acting for clients whose shares are held in an omnibus account and employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount record keeping system (“System”) maintained for Scudder-branded plans under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates (“Scudder Flex Plans” and “Scudder Choice Plans”).
The following provisions apply to Scudder Flex Plans and Scudder Choice Plans.
a. | Class B Share Scudder Flex Plans. Class B shares have not been sold to Scudder Flex Plans that were established on the System after October 1, 2003. Orders to purchase Class B shares for a Scudder Flex Plan established on the System prior to October 1, 2003 that has regularly been purchasing Class B shares will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in Scudder |
54
Table of Contents
Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is $100,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for the first purchase after eligible plan assets reach the $100,000 threshold. A later decline in assets below the $100,000 threshold will not affect the plan’s ability to continue to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. |
b. | Class C Share Scudder Flex Plans. Orders to purchase Class C shares for a Scudder Flex Plan, regardless of when such plan was established on the System, will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in Scudder Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is $1,000,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for the first purchase after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold. A later decline in assets below the $1,000,000 threshold will not affect the plan’s ability to continue to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. |
c. | Class C Share Scudder Choice Plans. Orders to purchase Class C shares for a Scudder Choice Plan that has been regularly purchasing Class C shares will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in Scudder Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is $1,000,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for purchases made beginning in the month after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold. In addition, as a condition to being permitted to use the Choice Plan platform, plans must agree that, within one month after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold, all existing Class C shares held in the plan will be automatically converted to Class A shares. |
The procedures above do not reflect in any way the suitability of a particular class of shares for a particular investor and should not be relied upon as such. A suitability determination must be made by investors with the assistance of their financial representative.
Purchase of Institutional and Investment Class Shares. (Scudder International Fund only) Information on how to buy shares is set forth in the section entitled “How to Invest in the Fund” in the Fund’s Prospectuses. The following supplements that information. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000. There is no minimum subsequent investment requirement for Institutional Class shares. The minimum initial investment for Investment Class shares is $1,000 and the minimum subsequent investment is $50. Investment Class shares are subject to an annual shareholder servicing fee of 0.25%. These minimum amounts may be changed at any time in management’s discretion.
In order to make an initial investment in Investment Class shares of the Fund, an investor must establish an account with a service organization. Investors may invest in Institutional Class shares by setting up an account directly with SISC or through an authorized service agent. Investors who establish shareholder accounts directly with SISC should submit purchase and redemption orders as described in the Prospectus. Additionally, the Fund has authorized brokers to accept purchase and redemption orders for Institutional and Investment Class shares for the Fund. Brokers, including authorized brokers of service organizations, are, in turn, authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. Investors who invest through brokers, service organizations or their designated intermediaries may be subject to minimums established by their broker, service organization or designated intermediary.
To sell shares in a retirement account other than an IRA, your request must be made in writing, except for exchanges to other eligible funds in the Scudder Investments family of funds, which can be requested by phone or in writing.
Purchase of Class R Shares. (Scudder Global Fund only) Investors may invest in Class R shares through certain retirement and other plans. Class R shares are subject to an annual distribution and shareholder servicing fee of 0.50% (0.25% distribution fee, 0.25% shareholder service fee.)
Automatic Investment Plan. A shareholder may purchase shares of a Fund through an automatic investment program. With the Direct Deposit Purchase Plan (“Direct Deposit”), investments are made automatically (minimum $50 and maximum $250,000 for both initial and subsequent investments) from the shareholder’s account at a bank, savings and loan or credit union into the shareholder’s Fund account. Termination by a shareholder will become effective within thirty days after the Shareholder Service Agent has received the request. A Fund may immediately terminate a shareholder’s Direct Deposit in the event that any item is unpaid by the shareholder’s financial institution.
55
Table of Contents
Payroll Investment Plans. A shareholder may purchase shares through Payroll Direct Deposit or Government Direct Deposit. Under these programs, all or a portion of a shareholder’s net pay or government check is invested each payment period. A shareholder may terminate participation in these programs by giving written notice to the shareholder’s employer or government agency, as appropriate. (A reasonable time to act is required.) A Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the employer or government agency making the payment or any financial institutions transmitting payments.
Redemptions
Redemption fee. Each Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value, without regard to the effect of any contingent deferred sales charge; any contingent deferred sales charge is also assessed on the total redemption amount without regard to the assessment of the 2% redemption fee) on all Fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to the Fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last. The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the Fund. For this reason, each Fund has undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s.
A Fund may suspend the right of redemption or delay payment more than seven days (a) during any period when the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or during any period in which trading on the Exchange is restricted, (b) during any period when an emergency exists as a result of which (i) disposal of the Fund’s investments is not reasonably practicable, or (ii) it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to determine the value of its net assets, or (c) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.
A request for repurchase (confirmed redemption) may be communicated by a shareholder through a financial services firm to SDI, which firms must promptly submit orders to be effective.
Redemption requests must be unconditional. Redemption requests (and a stock power for certificated shares) must be duly endorsed by the account holder. As specified in the prospectus, signatures may need to be guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company, savings and loan association, federal savings bank, member firm of a national securities exchange or other financial institution permitted by SEC rule. Additional documentation may be required, particularly from institutional and fiduciary account holders, such as corporations, custodians (e.g., under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), executors, administrators, trustees or guardians.
If the proceeds of the redemption (prior to the imposition of any contingent deferred sales charge) are $100,000 or less and the proceeds are payable to the shareholder of record at the address of record, normally a telephone request or a written request by any one account holder without a signature guarantee is sufficient for redemptions by individual or joint account holders, and trust, executor and guardian account holders, provided the trustee, executor or guardian is named in the account registration. Other institutional account holders exercise this special privilege of redeeming shares by telephone request or written request without signature guarantee subject to the same conditions as individual account holders, provided that this privilege has been pre-authorized by the institutional account holder by written instruction to the Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed. This privilege may not be used
56
Table of Contents
to redeem shares held in certificated form and may not be used if the shareholder’s account has had an address change within 15 days of the redemption request.
Wires. Delivery of the proceeds of a wire redemption of $250,000 or more may be delayed by a Fund for up to seven days if the Fund or the Shareholder Service Agent deems it appropriate under then-current market conditions. The ability to send wires is limited by the business hours and holidays of the firms involved. The Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the federal wire system or the account holder’s financial services firm or bank. The account holder is responsible for any charges imposed by the account holder’s firm or bank. To change the designated account to receive wire redemption proceeds, send a written request to the Fund Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed as described above or contact the firm through which Fund shares were purchased.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The owner of $5,000 or more of a class of a Fund’s shares at the offering price (net asset value plus, in the case of Class A shares, the initial sales charge) may provide for the payment from the owner’s account of any requested dollar amount to be paid to the owner or a designated payee monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. The $5,000 minimum account size is not applicable to IRAs. The minimum periodic payment is $50. The maximum annual rate at which shares, subject to CDSC may be redeemed is 12% of the net asset value of the account. Shares are redeemed so that the payee should receive payment approximately the first of the month. Investors using this Plan must reinvest Fund distributions.
Non-retirement plan shareholders may establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan (the “Plan”) to receive monthly, quarterly or periodic redemptions from his or her account for any designated amount of $50 or more. Shareholders may designate which day they want the automatic withdrawal to be processed. The check amounts may be based on the redemption of a fixed dollar amount, fixed share amount, percent of account value or declining balance. The Plan provides for income dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, to be reinvested in additional Shares. Shares are then liquidated as necessary to provide for withdrawal payments. Since the withdrawals are in amounts selected by the investor and have no relationship to yield or income, payments received cannot be considered as yield or income on the investment and the resulting liquidations may deplete or possibly extinguish the initial investment and any reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions. Any such requests must be received by a Portfolio’s transfer agent ten days prior to the date of the first automatic withdrawal. An Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the shareholder, the Trust or its agent on written notice, and will be terminated when all Shares of a Portfolio under the Plan have been liquidated or upon receipt by the Trust of notice of death of the shareholder.
The purchase of Class A shares while participating in a systematic withdrawal plan will ordinarily be disadvantageous to the investor because the investor will be paying a sales charge on the purchase of shares at the same time that the investor is redeeming shares upon which a sales charge may have already been paid. Therefore, a Fund will not knowingly permit additional investments of less than $2,000 if the investor is at the same time making systematic withdrawals.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC). The following example will illustrate the operation of the CDSC. Assume that an investor makes a single purchase of $10,000 of the Fund’s Class B shares and that 16 months later the value of the shares has grown by $1,000 through reinvested dividends and by an additional $1,000 of share appreciation to a total of $12,000. If the investor were then to redeem the entire $12,000 in share value, the CDSC would be payable only with respect to $10,000 because neither the $1,000 of reinvested dividends nor the $1,000 of share appreciation is subject to the charge. The charge would be at the rate of 3.00% ($300) because it was in the second year after the purchase was made.
The rate of the CDSC is determined by the length of the period of ownership. Investments are tracked on a monthly basis. The period of ownership for this purpose begins the first day of the month in which the order for the investment is received. For example, an investment made in March of the year of investment will be eligible for the second year’s charge if redeemed on or after March of the following year. In the event no specific order is requested when redeeming shares subject to a CDSC, the redemption will be made first from shares representing reinvested dividends and then from the earliest purchase of shares. SDI receives any CDSC directly. The charge will not be imposed upon redemption of reinvested dividends or share appreciation.
57
Table of Contents
The Class A CDSC will be waived in the event of:
(a) | redemptions by a participant-directed qualified retirement plan described in Code Section 401(a), a participant-directed non-qualified deferred compensation plan described in Code Section 457 or a participant-directed qualified retirement plan described in Code Section 403(b)(7) which is not sponsored by a K-12 school district; |
(b) | redemptions by employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates; |
(c) | redemption of shares of a shareholder (including a registered joint owner) who has died; |
(d) | redemption of shares of a shareholder (including a registered joint owner) who after purchase of the shares being redeemed becomes totally disabled (as evidenced by a determination by the federal Social Security Administration); |
(e) | redemptions under the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan at a maximum of 12% per year of the net asset value of the account; and |
(f) | redemptions of shares whose dealer of record at the time of the investment notifies SDI that the dealer waives the discretionary commission applicable to such Large Order NAV Purchase. |
The Class B CDSC will be waived for the circumstances set forth in items (c), (d) and (e) for Class A shares. In addition, this CDSC will be waived:
(g) | for redemptions made pursuant to any IRA systematic withdrawal based on the shareholder’s life expectancy including, but not limited to, substantially equal periodic payments described in Internal Revenue Code Section 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) prior to age 59 1/2; |
(h) | for redemptions to satisfy required minimum distributions after age 70 1/2 from an IRA account (with the maximum amount subject to this waiver being based only upon the shareholder’s Scudder IRA accounts); and |
(i) | in connection with the following redemptions of shares held by employer sponsored employee benefit plans maintained on the subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates: (1) to satisfy participant loan advances (note that loan repayments constitute new purchases for purposes of the CDSC and the conversion privilege), (2) in connection with retirement distributions (limited at any one time to 12% of the total value of plan assets invested in the Fund), (3) in connection with distributions qualifying under the hardship provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, (4) representing returns of excess contributions to such plans and (5) in connection with direct “roll over” distributions from a Flex Plan into a Scudder IRA under the Class A net asset value purchase privilege. |
The Class C CDSC will be waived for the circumstances set forth in items (b), (c), (d) and (e) for Class A shares and for the circumstances set forth in items (g) and (h) for Class B shares. In addition, this CDSC will be waived for:
(j) | redemption of shares by an employer sponsored employee benefit plan that offers funds in addition to Scudder Funds and whose dealer of record has waived the advance of the first year administrative service and distribution fees applicable to such shares and agrees to receive such fees quarterly, and |
(k) | redemption of shares purchased through a dealer-sponsored asset allocation program maintained on an omnibus record-keeping system provided the dealer of record had waived the advance of the first year administrative services and distribution fees applicable to such shares and has agreed to receive such fees quarterly. |
58
Table of Contents
In-kind Redemptions. A Fund reserves the right to honor any request for redemption or repurchase by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities. These securities will be chosen by the fund and valued as they are for purposes of computing the fund’s net asset value. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.
Exchanges
Shareholders may request a taxable exchange of their shares for shares of the corresponding class of other Scudder Funds without imposition of a sales charge, subject to the provisions below. For purposes of calculating any CDSC, amounts exchanged retain their original cost and purchase date.
Series of Scudder Target Fund are available on exchange only during the Offering Period for such series as described in the applicable prospectus. Cash Management Fund Investment, Tax Free Money Fund Investment, New York Tax Free Money Fund Investment, Treasury Money Fund Investment, Money Market Fund Investment, Cash Management Fund Institutional, Cash Reserves Fund Institutional, Treasury Money Fund Institutional, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. Prime Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. — Treasury Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. Tax-Free Series, Cash Equivalent Fund, Tax-Exempt California Money Market Fund, Cash Account Trust, Investors Municipal Cash Fund and Investors Cash Trust are available on exchange but only through a financial services firm having a services agreement with SDI. All exchanges among money funds must meet applicable investor eligibility and investment requirements. Exchanges may only be made for funds that are available for sale in the shareholder’s state of residence.
Shareholders must obtain prospectuses of the Funds they are exchanging into from dealers, other firms or SDI.
Automatic Exchange Plan (not applicable to Class R shares). The owner of $1,000 or more of any class of shares of a Scudder Fund may authorize the automatic exchange of a specified amount ($50 minimum) of such shares for shares of the same class of another such Scudder Fund. Exchanges will be made automatically until the shareholder or the Fund terminates the privilege. Exchanges are subject to the terms and conditions described above.
Multi-Class Conversions. For purposes of conversion to Class A shares, shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions paid with respect to Class B shares in a shareholder’s Fund account will be converted to Class A shares on a pro rata basis.
Dividends
Each Fund intends to distribute its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains in November or December to avoid federal excise tax, although an additional distribution may be made if necessary.
Each Fund intends to distribute dividends from its net investment income, excluding short-term capital gains, annually in November and December. Each Fund intends to distribute net realized capital gains after utilization of
59
Table of Contents
capital loss carryforwards, if any, in November and December to prevent application of a federal excise tax. An additional distribution may be made, if necessary.
Any dividends or capital gains distributions declared in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid during the following January will be treated by shareholders for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar year declared.
The level of income dividends per share (as a percentage of net asset value) will be lower for Class B and Class C Shares than for Class A Shares primarily as a result of the distribution services fee applicable to Class B and Class C Shares. Distributions of capital gains, if any, will be paid in the same amount for each class.
Income and capital gain dividends, if any, of a Fund will be credited to shareholder accounts in full and fractional shares of the same class of the Fund at net asset value on the reinvestment date, except that, upon written request to the Shareholder Service Agent, a shareholder may select one of the following options:
1. | To receive income and short-term capital gain dividends in cash and long-term capital gain dividends in shares of the same class at net asset value; or |
2. | To receive income and capital gain dividends in cash. |
Dividends will be reinvested in Shares of the same class of a Fund unless shareholders indicate in writing that they wish to receive them in cash or in shares of other Scudder Funds with multiple classes of shares or Scudder Funds as provided in the prospectus. To use this privilege of investing dividends of the Fund in shares of another Scudder Fund, shareholders must maintain a minimum account value of $1,000 in the Fund distributing the dividends. The Fund will reinvest dividend checks (and future dividends) in shares of that same Fund and class if checks are returned as undeliverable. Dividends and other distributions of the Fund in the aggregate amount of $10 or less are automatically reinvested in shares of the Fund unless the shareholder requests that such policy not be applied to the shareholder’s account.
If an investment is in the form of a retirement plan, all dividends and capital gains distributions must be reinvested into the shareholder’s account.
If a shareholder has elected to reinvest any dividends and/or other distributions, such distributions will be made in shares of that Fund and confirmations will be mailed to each shareholder. If a shareholder has chosen to receive cash, a check will be sent. Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains are taxable, whether made in shares or cash.
Each distribution is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution. The characterization of distributions on such correspondence may differ from the characterization for federal tax purposes. In January of each year, each Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions in the prior calendar year.
Each Fund may at any time vary its foregoing dividend practices and, therefore, reserves the right from time to time to either distribute or retain for reinvestment such of its net investment income and its net short-term and long-term capital gains as its Board determines appropriate under the then current circumstances. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, a Fund may make additional distributions of net investment income or capital gain net income in order to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements contained in the Code.
The following is intended to be a general summary of certain federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds. It is not intended as a complete discussion of all such consequences, nor does it purport to deal with all categories of investors. Investors are therefore advised to consult with their tax advisors before making an investment in a Fund.
60
Table of Contents
Federal Taxation. Each Fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things:
(a) | derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; |
(b) | distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally, taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt interest income, for such year; and |
(c) | diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested (x) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined below). |
In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in paragraph (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the regulated investment company. However, recent legislation provides that for taxable years of a regulated investment company beginning after October 22, 2004, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (defined as a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (ii) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in paragraph (a) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. Finally, for purposes of paragraph (c) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below).
If for any taxable year a Fund does not qualify for the special federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, all of its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders), and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Such distributions would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on amounts that have been retained rather than distributed, as required under a prescribed formula. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s taxable ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses realized during the one-year period ending October 31 (in most
61
Table of Contents
cases) of such year as well as amounts that were neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the prior calendar year. Although each Fund’s distribution policies should enable it to avoid excise tax liability, a Fund may retain (and be subject to income or excise tax on) a portion of its capital gain or other income if it appears to be in the interest of such Fund.
Taxation of Distributions from the Funds. For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Funds owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions of net capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for more than one year and that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008, distributions of investment income designated by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008.
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be
62
Table of Contents
eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Transactions in Fund Shares. The sale, exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be treated as short-term gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares of the Fund will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of a Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
63
Table of Contents
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Foreign Taxation. Foreign withholding or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) on certain foreign securities may occur. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable US income tax treaty.
So long as more than 50% of the value of the total assets of a Fund at the close of the taxable year consists of securities in foreign corporations, the Fund may make an election under Section 853 of the Code to enable the shareholders to claim a credit or deduction (subject to limitations) on their federal income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries (which taxes relate primarily to investment income). Shareholders will treat such amounts as part of their distribution from the Fund. The foreign tax credit available to shareholders is subject to certain limitations and restrictions imposed by the Code.
If a Fund does not make the election permitted under section 853 of the Code, any foreign taxes paid or accrued will represent an expense to the Fund that will reduce its investment company taxable income. In such a case, shareholders will not be able to claim either a credit or a deduction for their pro rata portion of such taxes paid by the Fund, nor will shareholders be required to treat as part of the amounts distributed to them their pro rata portion of such taxes paid.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Equity investments by a Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could potentially subject the Fund to a US federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, such Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company. Such Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require such Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.”
Other Tax Considerations. A Fund’s use of options, futures contracts, forward contracts (to the extent permitted) and certain other Strategic Transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate the Fund’s income, defer losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of portfolio securities, convert capital gains into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to investors.
Certain of a Fund’s hedging activities (including transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of a Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset .If a Fund’s book income is less than its taxable
64
Table of Contents
income, that Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund’s investment in zero coupon bonds and other debt obligations having original issue discount may cause a Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of any cash received from the investment.
Under the backup withholding provisions of the Code, redemption proceeds as well as distributions may be subject to federal income tax withholding for certain shareholders, including those who fail to furnish a Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers and certifications as to their tax status.
Shareholders of a Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of a Fund’s shares.
Capital gains distributions may be reduced if Fund capital loss carryforwards are available. Any capital loss carryforwards to which a Fund is entitled are disclosed in a Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
All distributions by a Fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of that Fund’s shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a shareholder’s cost basis, such distribution would nevertheless be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of capital. In particular, investors should be careful to consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a distribution will receive a partial return of capital upon the distribution, which will nevertheless be taxable to them.
Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of Fund securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. In general, dividends (other than Capital Gain Dividends) paid by each Fund to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (such shareholder, a “foreign person”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding. However, before January 1, 2008, each Fund will not be required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a foreign person (w) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (x) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign person is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign person and the foreign person is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income that would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign person, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by each Fund, and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to an individual foreign person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by the Fund. The Funds [do/do not] intend to designate distributions as interest-related dividends or as short-term capital gain dividends.
If a beneficial holder who is a foreign person has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct by the beneficial holder of a trade or business in the United States, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.
65
Table of Contents
Recent legislation modifies the tax treatment of distributions from each Fund that are paid to a foreign person and are attributable to gain from “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”), which the Code defines to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and interests (other than solely as a creditor) in “U.S. real property holding corporations” such as REITs. The Code deems any corporation that holds (or held during the previous five-year period) USRPIs with a fair market value equal to 50% or more of the fair market value of the corporation’s U.S. and foreign real property assets and other assets used or held for use in a trade or business to be a U.S. real property holding corporation; however, if any class of stock of a corporation is traded on an established securities market, stock of such class shall be treated as a USRPI only in the case of a person who holds more than 5% of such class of stock at any time during the previous five-year period. For dividends paid or deemed paid on or before December 31, 2007, distributions to foreign persons attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs will give rise to an obligation for those foreign persons to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax, and may well be subject to withholding under future regulations.
Under U.S. federal tax law, a beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of a Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or Capital Gain Dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the shares constitute USRPIs or (effective for taxable years of the Fund beginning on September 1, 2005) the Capital Gain Dividends are paid or deemed paid on or before December 31, 2007 and are attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs. Effective before January 1, 2008, if a Fund is a U.S. real property holding corporation (as described above) the Fund’s shares will nevertheless not constitute USRPIs if the Fund is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” which is defined to include a RIC that, at all times during the shorter of the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period during which the RIC was in existence, had less than 50 percent in value of its stock held directly or indirectly by foreign persons.
The net asset value of shares of each Fund is computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) on each day the Exchange is open for trading (the “Value Time”). The Exchange is scheduled to be closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of these holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively. Net asset value per share is determined separately for each class of shares by dividing the value of the total assets of the Fund attributable to the shares of that class, less all liabilities attributable to that class, by the total number of shares of that class outstanding. The per share net asset value may be lower for certain classes of the Fund because of higher expenses borne by these classes.
An equity security is valued at its most recent sale price on the security’s primary exchange or over-the-counter (“OTC”) market as of the Value Time. Lacking any sales, the security is valued at the calculated mean between the most recent bid quotation and the most recent asked quotation (the “Calculated Mean”) on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the security is valued at the most recent bid quotation on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. In the case of certain foreign exchanges or OTC markets, the closing price reported by the exchange or OTC market (which may sometimes be referred to as the “official close” or the “official closing price” or other similar term) will be considered the most recent sale price. If a security is traded on more than one exchange, or upon one or more exchanges and in the OTC market, quotations are taken from the market in which the security is traded most extensively.
Debt securities are valued as follows. Money market instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of 60 days or less, maturing at par, are valued at amortized cost. Other money market instruments are valued based on information obtained from an approved pricing agent or, if such information is not readily available, by using matrix pricing techniques (formula driven calculations based primarily on current market yields). Bank loans are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the mean of the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices, as applicable, based on quotations or evaluated
66
Table of Contents
prices obtained from one or more broker-dealers. Privately placed debt securities, other than Rule 144A debt securities, initially are valued at cost and thereafter based on all relevant factors including type of security, size of holding and restrictions on disposition. Municipal debt securities are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the average of the means based on the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices obtained from two broker-dealers. Other debt securities not addressed above are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent, if available, and otherwise at the most recent bid quotation or evaluated price, as applicable, obtained from one or more broker-dealers. If it is not possible to value a particular debt security pursuant to the above methods, the security is valued on the basis of factors including (but not limited to) maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency denomination, and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded.
An exchange-traded option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments is valued at its most recent sale price on such the relevant exchange. Lacking any sales, the option contract is valued at the Calculated Mean. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the option contract is valued at the most recent bid quotation in the case of a purchased option contract or the most recent asked quotation in the case of a written option contract, in each case as of the Value Time. An option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments traded in the OTC market is valued on the Value Date at the evaluated price provided by the broker-dealer with which it was traded. Futures contracts (and options thereon) are valued at the most recent settlement price, if available, on the security’s primary exchange on which they are traded most extensively. With the exception of stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement times are prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. For stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement prices are normally available at approximately 4:20 pm Eastern time. If no settlement price is available, the last traded price on such exchange will be used. Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed (“Local Currency”), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of US dollars is calculated by converting the Local Currency into US dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
If market quotations for a portfolio asset are not readily available or the value of a portfolio asset as determined in accordance with Board approved procedures does not represent the fair market value of the portfolio asset, the value of the portfolio asset is taken to be an amount which, in the opinion of a Fund’s Pricing Committee (or, in some cases, the Board’s Valuation Committee), represents fair market value. The value of other portfolio holdings owned by the Fund is determined in a manner which is intended to fairly reflect the fair market value of the asset on the valuation date, based on valuation procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board and overseen primarily by the Fund’s Pricing Committee.
Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed (“Local Currency”), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of US dollars is calculated by converting the Local Currency into US dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
Global/International Fund, Inc. and Scudder International Fund, Inc.
The following table presents certain information regarding the Directors and Officers of the Corporation as of December 1, 2005. Each Director’s year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Director has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity, and (ii) the address of each Director is c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each Officer is Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110. The term of office for each Director is until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed as provided in the governing documents of the Corporation. Because the Fund does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders, each Director will hold office for an indeterminate period. The Directors of the Corporation may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex.
67
Table of Contents
Independent Directors
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946) Chairman since 2004 and Director, 1987-present | President, Driscoll Associates (consulting firm); Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; formerly, Partner, Palmer & Dodge (1988-1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene's (1978-1988). Directorships: Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute; Member, Executive Committee of the Independent Directors Council of the Investment Company Institute, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. (1943) Director, 1990-present | President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Becton Dickinson and Company (medical technology company); Belo Corporation (media company); Concord Academy; Boston Museum of Science; Public Radio International; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Former Directorships: American Public Television; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service | 43 | ||
Keith R. Fox (1954) Director, 1996-present | Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (private equity funds). Directorships: Progressive Holding Corporation (kitchen importer and distributor); Cloverleaf Transportation Inc. (trucking); Natural History, Inc. (magazine publisher); Box Top Media Inc. (advertising); Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Kenneth C. Froewiss (1945) Director 2005-present | Clinical Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business; Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2001), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2004), Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc. (since 1999), The Brazil Fund, Inc. (since 2000) and The Korea Fund, Inc. (since 2000); Member, Finance Committee, Association for Asian Studies (2002-present); Director, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (US) (2004-present); prior thereto, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan (investment banking firm) (until 1996) | 46 |
68
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Jean Gleason Stromberg (1943) Director, 1999-present | Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997-2001); Director, US General Accounting Office (1996-1997); Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978-1996). Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Service Source, Inc.; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Carl W. Vogt (1936) Director, 2002-present | Senior Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P (law firm); formerly, President (interim) of Williams College (1999-2000); President, certain funds in the Deutsche Asset Management Family of Funds (formerly, Flag Investors Family of Funds) (registered investment companies) (1999-2000). Directorships: Yellow Corporation (trucking); American Science & Engineering (x-ray detection equipment); ISI Family of Funds (registered investment companies; 4 funds overseen); National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); formerly, Chairman and Member, National Transportation Safety Board; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Officers(2) | ||||
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Vincent J. Esposito(4) (1956) President, 2005-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2003); President and Chief Executive Officer of The Central Europe and Russia Fund, Inc., The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. (since 2003) (registered investment companies); Vice Chairman and Director of The Brazil Fund, Inc. (2004-present); formerly, Managing Director, Putnam Investments (1991-2002) | n/a | ||
John Millette (1962) Vice President and Secretary, 1999-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Paul H. Schubert(4) (1963) Chief Financial Officer, 2004-present Treasurer, since 2005 | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since July 2004); formerly, Executive Director, Head of Mutual Fund Services and Treasurer for UBS Family of Funds (1998-2004); Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Finance at UBS Global Asset Management (1994-1998) | n/a | ||
Patricia DeFilippis(4) (1963) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management (since June 2005); Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (2003-2005); legal associate, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (1998-2003) | n/a |
69
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Daniel O. Hirsch(5) (1954) Assistant Secretary, 2002-present | Consultant. Formerly, Managing Director, Deutsche Asset Management (2002-2005); Director, Deutsche Asset Management (1999-2002); Principal, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated (now Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.) (1998- 1999); Assistant General Counsel, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (1993-1998); Director, Deutsche Global Funds Ltd. (2002- 2004) | n/a | ||
Elisa D. Metzger (1962) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Director((3)), Deutsche Asset Management (since September 2005); Counsel, Morrison and Foerster LLP (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Caroline Pearson (1962) Assistant Secretary, 1997-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Scott M. McHugh (1971) Assistant Treasurer, 2005-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Kathleen Sullivan D'Eramo (1957) Assistant Treasurer, 2003-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
John Robbins(4) (1966) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2005-present | Managing Director((3)), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2005); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for GE Asset Management (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Philip Gallo(4) (1962) Chief Compliance Officer, 2004-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (2003-present); formerly, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Legal (1994-2003) | n/a |
(1) | Length of time served represents the date that each Director was first elected to the common board of Directors which oversees a number of investment companies, including the fund, managed by the Advisor. For the officers of the Corporation, the length of time served represents the date that each officer was first elected to serve as an officer of any fund overseen by the aforementioned common board of Directors. |
(2) | As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Funds. |
(3) | Executive title, not a board directorship. |
(4) | Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. |
(5) | Address: One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. |
Officer’s Role with Principal Underwriter: Scudder Distributors, Inc.
Caroline Pearson: Secretary
Directors’ Responsibilities. The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to represent the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and to provide oversight of the management of the Fund. Currently, six of the Board’s members are “Independent Directors;” that is, they are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Corporation or the Advisor.
The Directors meet multiple times during the year to review the investment performance of the Fund and other operational matters, including policies and procedures designed to assure compliance with regulatory and other
70
Table of Contents
requirements. In 2004, the Directors conducted over 40 meetings to deal with fund issues (including regular and special board and committee meetings). These meetings were held over the course of 23 different days. In addition, various Directors participated as members of the Board’s Valuation Committee throughout the year. Furthermore, the Independent Directors review the fees paid to the Advisor and its affiliates for investment advisory services and other administrative and shareholder services. The Directors have adopted specific policies and guidelines that, among other things, seek to further enhance the effectiveness of the Independent Directors in performing their duties. Many of these are similar to those suggested in the Investment Company Institute’s 1999 Report of the Advisory Group on Best Practices for Fund Directors. For example, the Independent Directors select independent legal counsel to work with them in reviewing fees, advisory and other contracts and overseeing fund matters. The Directors are also assisted in this regard by the Fund’s independent public accountants and other independent experts retained from time to time for this purpose. The Independent Directors regularly meet privately with their counsel and other advisors. In addition, the Independent Directors from time to time have appointed task forces and subcommittees from their members to focus on particular matters such as investment, accounting and shareholders servicing issues.
For a discussion of the factors considered by the Board in connection with its most recent approval of the continuation of the Fund’s management contracts, please refer to “Management of the Funds — Board Considerations in Connection with Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements.”
Board Committees. The Board oversees a number of investment companies managed by the Advisor. Information shown below represents meetings held on behalf of all such funds. The common Board has the following standing committees:
Audit Committee: The Audit Committee makes recommendations regarding the selection of independent registered public accounting firms for the Fund, reviews the independence of such firm, reviews the scope of audit and internal controls, considers and reports to the Board on matters relating to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting practices, and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee receives annual representations from the independent registered public accounting firm as to their independence. The members of the Audit Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Audit Committee held seven meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee: The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (i) selects and nominates candidates to serve as Independent Directors*; (ii) oversees all other fund governance-related matters, including Board compensation practices, retirement policies, self-evaluations of effectiveness and allocations of assignments and functions of committees of the Board. The members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (previously known as the Committee on Independent Directors) held seven meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Valuation Committee: The Valuation Committee oversees fund valuation matters, reviews Valuation Procedures adopted by the Board, determines fair value of the Fund’s securities as needed in accordance with the Valuation Procedures when actual market values are unavailable and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary. The members of the Valuation Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Henry P. Becton, Jr. (alternate). The Valuation Committee held five meetings for each Fund during the calendar year 2004.
Investment Oversight Committee: The Board has established two Investment Oversight Committees, one focusing on funds primarily investing in equity securities (the “Equity Oversight Committee”) and one focusing on funds primarily investing in fixed income securities (the “Fixed Income Oversight Committee”). These Committees meet regularly with fund portfolio managers and other investment personnel to review the relevant funds’ investment strategies and investment performance. The members of the Equity Oversight Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Carl W. Vogt. The members of the Fixed Income Oversight Committee are Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox, Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg (Chair). Each Investment Oversight Committee held four meetings during the calendar year 2004.
71
Table of Contents
Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee: The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee oversees (i) the quality, costs and types of shareholder services provided to the Funds and their shareholders, and (ii) the distribution-related services provided to the Fund and their shareholders. The members of the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee are Carl W. Vogt (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee (previously known as the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee) held four meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee: The Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee oversees (i) the significant legal affairs of the Fund, including the handling of pending or threatened litigation or regulatory action involving the Fund, and (ii) general compliance matters relating to the Fund. The members of the Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll and Carl Vogt (Chair). This committee met eight times in 2004.
Expense/Operations Committee: The Expense/Operations Committee (i) monitors the Fund’s total operating expense levels, (ii) oversees the provision of administrative services to the Funds, including the Fund’s custody, fund accounting and insurance arrangements, and (iii) reviews the Fund’s investment advisers’ brokerage practices, including the implementation of related policies. The members of the Expense/Operations Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox (Chair) and Kenneth C. Froewiss. This committee was established on October 12, 2004 and met one time in 2004.
* | 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 33904. |
Remuneration. Each Independent Director receives compensation from the Fund for his or her services, which includes an annual retainer and an attendance fee for each meeting attended. No additional compensation is paid to any Independent Director for travel time to meetings, attendance at directors’ educational seminars or conferences, service on industry or association committees, participation as speakers at directors’ conferences or service on special director task forces or subcommittees. Independent Directors do not receive any employee benefits such as pension or retirement benefits or health insurance.
Members of the Board of Directors who are officers, directors, employees or stockholders of the Advisor or its affiliates receive no direct compensation from the Fund, although they are compensated as employees of the Advisor, or its affiliates, and as a result may be deemed to participate in fees paid by the Fund. The following table shows compensation received by each Director from the Fund and aggregate compensation from all of the funds in the fund complex during the calendar year 2004.
Name of Director | Compensation from Scudder Global Fund | Compensation from Scudder International Fund | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses | Total Compensation Paid to Director from the Fund Complex (2)(3)(4) | ||||||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $ | 3,251 | $ | 6,338 | $ | 0 | $ | 159,500 | ||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll(1) | $ | 4,188 | $ | 8,238 | $ | 0 | $ | 208,016 | ||||
Keith R. Fox | $ | 3,846 | $ | 7,389 | $ | 0 | $ | 220,620 | ||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(5) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 87,364 | ||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | $ | 3,131 | $ | 6,091 | $ | 0 | $ | 153,500 | ||||
Carl W. Vogt | $ | 3,533 | $ | 6,905 | $ | 0 | $ | 168,500 |
(1) | Includes $14,896 in annual retainer fees in Ms. Driscoll’s role as Chairman of the Board. |
(2) | For each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, total compensation includes compensation for service on the boards of 18 trusts/corporations comprised of 49 funds/portfolios. Each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, currently serves on the boards of 18 trusts/corporations comprised of 41 funds/portfolios. Mr. Froewiss currently serves on the boards of 23 trusts/corporations comprised of 46 funds/portfolios. |
72
Table of Contents
(3) | Aggregate compensation reflects amounts paid to the Trustees, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with the possible consolidation of the various Scudder Fund Boards and with respect to legal and regulatory matters. Such amounts totaled $3,000 for Mr. Becton, $34,120 for Ms. Driscoll, $36,620 for Mr. Fox, and $17,000 for Mr. Vogt. These meeting fees were borne by the Funds. |
(4) | Aggregate compensation also reflects amounts paid to the Trustees for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with reviewing the Funds’ shareholder servicing arrangements. Such amounts totaled $2,500 for Ms. Driscoll and $31,000 for Mr. Fox. Also, included are amounts paid to the Trustees, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings to consider fund mergers. These amounts totaled $5,000 for Mr. Becton and Ms Driscoll, $4,000 for Mr. Fox and $3,000 for Ms. Stromberg. The Funds were reimbursed by the Advisor for these meeting fees. |
(5) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. He served as a member of five Scudder closed-end funds in 2004, for which he received the compensation indicated. |
Director Fund Ownership of Independent and Interested Directors
The following sets forth ranges of Director beneficial share ownership as of December 31, 2004.
Name of Director | Dollar Range of Securities Owned in Scudder Global Fund | Dollar Range of Securities Owned in Scudder International Fund | Aggregate Dollar Range of Securities Owned in All Funds in the Fund Complex Overseen by Director | |||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | $1 - $ 10,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Keith R. Fox | None | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(1) | None | None | $ 50,000-$100,000 | |||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | None | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Carl W. Vogt | None | None | Over $ 100,000 |
(1) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. |
Securities Beneficially Owned
As of November 11, 2005, all Directors and Officers of the Fund as a group owned beneficially (as that term is defined is section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) less than 1% of each class of each Fund.
To the best of each Fund’s knowledge, as of November 11, 2005, no person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of a Fund’s outstanding shares, except as noted below:
As of November 11, 2005, 14,090 shares in the aggregate, or 30.55% of the outstanding shares of Scudder Global Fund, Class R were held in the name of Scudder Trust Company, FBO Applied Energy Solutions LLC, Salem, NH 03079-1143, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of November 11, 2005, 11,826 shares in the aggregate, or 25.64% of the outstanding shares of Scudder Global Fund, Class R were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust FBO ADP/Scudder Choice, Florham Park, NJ 07932-1502, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of November 11, 2005, 4,760 shares in the aggregate, or 10.32% of the outstanding shares of Scudder Global Fund, Class R were held in the name of S&S Manufacturing, FBO S&S Manufacturing, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-1635, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
73
Table of Contents
As of November 11, 2005, 20,701 shares in the aggregate, or 15.12% of the outstanding shares of Scudder International Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Company, Custodian for Scudder Pathway Series, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of November 11, 2005, 46,622 shares in the aggregate, or 34.04% of the outstanding shares of Scudder International Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Company, Custodian for Scudder Pathway Series, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of November 11, 2005, 60,271 shares in the aggregate, or 44.01% of the outstanding shares of Scudder International Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Company, Custodian for Scudder Pathway Series, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
Ownership in Securities of the Advisor and Related Companies
As reported to the Fund, the information in the following table reflects ownership by the Independent Directors and their immediate family members of certain securities as of December 31, 2004. An immediate family member can be a spouse, children residing in the same household including step and adoptive children and any dependents. The securities represent ownership in an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund and any persons (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund (including Deutsche Bank AG).
Independent Director | Owner and Relationship to Director | Company | Title of Class | Value of Securities on an Aggregate Basis | Percent of Class on an Aggregate Basis | |||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | None | |||||||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | None | |||||||||
Keith R. Fox | None | |||||||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss | None | |||||||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | |||||||||
Carl W. Vogt | None |
Agreement to Indemnify Independent Directors for Certain Expenses.
In connection with litigation or regulatory action related to possible improper market timing or other improper trading activity or possible improper marketing and sales activity in the Funds, each Fund’s investment advisor has agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify and hold harmless the applicable Funds against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense, arising from market timing or marketing and sales matters alleged in any enforcement actions brought by governmental authorities involving or potentially affecting the Funds or the investment advisor (“Enforcement Actions”) or that are the basis for private actions brought by shareholders of the Funds against the Funds, their directors and officers, the Funds’ investment advisor and/or certain other parties (“Private Litigation”), or any proceedings or actions that may be threatened or commenced in the future by any person (including governmental authorities), arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. In recognition of its undertaking to indemnify the applicable Funds and in light of the rebuttable presumption generally afforded to independent directors of investment companies that they have not engaged in disabling conduct, each Fund’s investment advisor has also agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify the applicable Funds’ Independent Directors against certain liabilities the Independent Directors may incur from the matters alleged in any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation or arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation, and advance expenses that may be incurred by the Independent Directors in connection with any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. The applicable investment advisor is not, however, required to provide indemnification and advancement of expenses:
74
Table of Contents
(1) with respect to any proceeding or action with respect to which the applicable Fund’s Board determines that the Independent Director ultimately would not be entitled to indemnification or (2) for any liability of the Independent Director to the Funds or their shareholders to which the Independent Director would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Independent Director’s duties as a director or trustee of the Funds as determined in a final adjudication in such action or proceeding. The estimated amount of any expenses that may be advanced to the Independent Directors or indemnity that may be payable under the indemnity agreements is currently unknown. These agreements by each Fund’s investment advisor will survive the termination of the investment management agreements between the investment advisor and the Funds.
Organizational Description
Scudder Global Fund. Scudder Global Fund is a series of Global/International Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation organized on May 15, 1986. The name of this Corporation was changed, effective May 29, 1998, from Scudder Global Fund, Inc. This Corporation currently consists of four series: Scudder Global Fund, Scudder Global Bond Fund, Scudder Global Discovery Fund and Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund. Each Fund except Scudder Global Fund is further divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Scudder Global Fund is further divided into six classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R.
The authorized capital stock of Global/International Fund, Inc. consists of 1,559,993,796 shares with $0.01 par value, 200 million shares of which are allocated to Scudder Global Discovery Fund, 529,154,575 shares of which are allocated to Scudder Global Bond Fund, and 320 million shares of which are allocated to each of Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund and Scudder Global Fund.
Scudder International Fund. Scudder International Fund, Inc. was organized as Scudder Fund of Canada Ltd. in Canada in 1953 by the investment management firm of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. On March 16, 1964, the name of this Corporation was changed to Scudder International Investments Ltd. On July 31, 1975, the corporate domicile of this Corporation was changed to the US through the transfer of its net assets to a newly formed Maryland corporation, Scudder International Fund, Inc., in exchange for shares of the Corporation which then were distributed to the shareholders of the Corporation.
The authorized capital stock of Scudder International Fund, Inc., consists of 2,447,923,888 shares of a par value of $.01 each, which capital stock has been divided into five series: Scudder International Fund, the original series; Scudder Latin America Fund and Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, both organized in December 1992, Scudder Greater Europe Fund, organized in October 1994, and Scudder Emerging Markets Fund, organized in May 1996. Each series consists of 320 million shares except for International Fund which consists of 620,595,597 shares, Scudder Latin America Fund which consists of 340 million shares and Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund which consists of 420 million shares. Scudder International Fund is further divided into seven classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A (formerly known as Class R Shares), Class B, Class C, Institutional Class (formerly known as Class I shares) and Investment Class shares. Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund and Scudder Emerging Markets Fund are each divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C. Scudder Latin America Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class M. Scudder Greater Europe Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Institutional Class.
The Directors have the authority to create additional Funds and to designate the relative rights and preferences as between the different Funds. The Directors also may authorize the division of shares of a Fund into different classes, which may bear different expenses. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, transferable, have no pre-emptive or conversion rights and are redeemable as described in the SAI and in the Fund’s prospectus. Each share has equal rights with each other share of the same class of the Fund as to voting, dividends, exchanges, conversion features and liquidation. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held. The Directors may also terminate any Fund or class by notice to the shareholders without shareholder approval.
75
Table of Contents
Maryland corporate law provides that a Director of the Corporation shall not be liable for actions taken in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonable believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use in similar circumstances. In so acting, a Director shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon reports made to the Corporation by persons selected in good faith by the Directors as qualified to make such reports.
The Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws provide that the Corporation will indemnify Directors and officers of the Corporation against liabilities and expenses actually incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their positions with the Corporation. However, nothing in the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the By-Laws protects or indemnifies a Director or officer against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Each Director serves until the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of electing directors and until the election and qualification of a successor or until such director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed.
Subject to the limits of the 1940 Act and unless otherwise provided by the By-laws, a Director may be removed with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.
The Fund has delegated proxy voting responsibilities to its investment advisor, subject to the Board’s general oversight. The Fund has delegated proxy voting to the Advisor with the direction that proxies should be voted consistent with the Fund’s best economic interests. The Advisor has adopted its own Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”), and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Guidelines”) for this purpose. The Policies address, among other things, conflicts of interest that may arise between the interests of the Fund, and the interests of the Advisor and its affiliates, including the Fund’s principal underwriter. The Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general position on various proposals, such as:
• | Shareholder Rights — The Advisor generally votes against proposals that restrict shareholder rights. |
• | Corporate Governance — The Advisor generally votes for confidential and cumulative voting and against supermajority voting requirements for charter and bylaw amendments. The Advisor generally votes for proposals to restrict a chief executive officer from serving on more than three outside boards of directors. The Advisor generally votes against proposals that require a company to appoint a Chairman who is an independent director. |
• | Anti-Takeover Matters — The Advisor generally votes for proposals that require shareholder ratification of poison pills or that request boards to redeem poison pills, and votes against the adoption of poison pills if they are submitted for shareholder ratification. The Advisor generally votes for fair price proposals. |
• | Compensation Matters — The Advisor generally votes for executive cash compensation proposals, unless they are unreasonably excessive. The Advisor generally votes against stock option plans that do not meet the Advisor’s criteria. |
• | Routine Matters — The Advisor generally votes for the ratification of auditors, procedural matters related to the annual meeting and changes in company name, and against bundled proposals and adjournment. |
The general provisions described above do not apply to investment companies. The Advisor generally votes proxies solicited by investment companies in accordance with the recommendations of an independent third party, except for proxies solicited by or with respect to investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or principal underwriter (“affiliated investment companies”). The Advisor votes affiliated investment company proxies in the same proportion as the vote of the investment company’s other shareholders
76
Table of Contents
(sometimes called “mirror” or “echo” voting). Master fund proxies solicited from feeder funds are voted in accordance with applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Although the Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general voting positions on various proposals, the Advisor may, consistent with the Fund’s best interests, determine under some circumstances to vote contrary to those positions.
The Guidelines on a particular issue may or may not reflect the view of individual members of the Board or of a majority of the Board. In addition, the Guidelines may reflect a voting position that differs from the actual practices of the public companies within the Deutsche Bank organization or of the investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or sponsor.
The Advisor may consider the views of a portfolio company’s management in deciding how to vote a proxy or in establishing general voting positions for the Guidelines, but management’s views are not determinative.
As mentioned above, the Policies describe the way in which the Advisor resolves conflicts of interest. To resolve conflicts, the advisor, under normal circumstances, votes proxies in accordance with its Guidelines. If the Advisor departs from the Guidelines with respect to a particular proxy or if the Guidelines do not specifically address a certain proxy proposal, a proxy voting committee established by the advisor will vote the proxy. Before voting any such proxy, however, the Advisor’s conflicts review committee will conduct an investigation to determine whether any potential conflicts of interest exist in connection with the particular proxy proposal. If the conflicts review committee determines that the Advisor has a material conflict of interest, or certain individuals on the proxy voting committee should be recused from participating in a particular proxy vote, it will inform the proxy voting committee. If notified that the Advisor has a material conflict, or fewer than three voting members are eligible to participate in the proxy vote, typically the Advisor will engage an independent third party to vote the proxy or follow the proxy voting recommendations of an independent third party.
Under certain circumstances, the Advisor may not be able to vote proxies or the Advisor may find that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the benefits associated with voting. For example, the Advisor may not vote proxies on certain foreign securities due to local restrictions or customs. The Advisor generally does not vote proxies on securities subject to share blocking restrictions.
You may obtain information about how a fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 by visiting the SEC’s Web site at www.sec.gov or by visiting our Web site at: www.scudder.com (type “proxy voting” in the search field).
The financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, of Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund, together with the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and notes to financial statements as applicable in the Annual Report to the Shareholders of each Fund dated August 31, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference and are hereby deemed to be a part of this combined Statement of Additional Information.
The CUSIP number of Scudder Global Fund — Class A is 378947-857.
The CUSIP number of Scudder Global Fund — Class B is 378947-840.
The CUSIP number of Scudder Global Fund — Class C is 378947-832.
77
Table of Contents
The CUSIP number of Scudder Global Fund — Class R is 378947-741.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Class A: 811165-810.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Class B is 811165-794.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Class C is 811165-786.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Institutional Class is 811165-778.
The CUSIP number of Scudder International Fund — Investment Class is 811165-620.
Each Fund has a fiscal year end of August 31.
This Statement of Additional Information contains the information of Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund. Each Fund, through its combined prospectus, offers only its own share classes, yet it is possible that one Fund might become liable for a misstatement regarding the other Fund. The Directors of each Fund have considered this, and have approved the use of this Statement of Additional Information.
The Funds’ prospectus and this Statement of Additional Information omit certain information contained in the Registration Statement which the Funds have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect to each Fund and the securities offered hereby. This Registration Statement and its amendments are available for inspection by the public at the SEC in Washington, D.C.
Standard & Poor’s Corporation Bond Ratings
AAA. Debt rated AAA had the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA. Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A. Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
BBB. Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
BB, B, CCC, CC and C. Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
CI. The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.
D. Debt rated D is in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in arrears.
78
Table of Contents
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Bond Ratings
AAA. Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt-edge.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa. Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A. Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa. Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba. Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
B. Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa. Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca. Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C. Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
Fitch Long-Term Debt Ratings
AAA. Highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA. Very high credit quality. “AA”` ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A. High credit quality. “A” ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
79
Table of Contents
BBB. Good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.
BB. Speculative. “BB” ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
B. Highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC, C. High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A “CC” rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. “C” ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, D. Default. The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. “DDD” obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest. “DD” indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%, and “D” the lowest recovery potential, i.e., below 50%.
Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated “DDD” have the highest prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization process. Entities rated “DD” and “D” are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated “DD” are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated “D” have a poor prospect for repaying all obligations.
Fitch Short-Term Debt Ratings
F1. Highest credit quality. Indicates the Best capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2. Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
F3. Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B. Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C. High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
D. Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Commercial Paper Ratings
Commercial paper rated by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) has the following characteristics: Liquidity ratios are adequate to meet cash requirements. Long-term senior debt is rated “A” or better. The issuer has access to at least two additional channels of borrowing. Basic earnings and cash flow have an upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances. Typically, the issuer’s industry is well established and the issuer has a strong
80
Table of Contents
position within the industry. The reliability and quality of management are unquestioned. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determine whether the issuer’s commercial paper is rated A-1 or A-2.
The ratings Prime-1 and Prime-2 are the two highest commercial paper ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”). Among the factors considered by it in assigning ratings are the following: (1) evaluation of the management of the issuer; (2) economic evaluation of the issuer’s industry or industries and an appraisal of speculative-type risks which may be inherent in certain areas; (3) evaluation of the issuer’s products in relation to competition and customer acceptance; (4) liquidity; (5) amount and quality of long-term debt; (6) trend of earnings over a period of ten years; (7) financial strength of a parent company and the relationships which exist with the issuer; and (8) recognition by the management of obligations which may be present or may arise as a result of public interest questions and preparations to meet such obligations. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determines whether the issuer’s commercial paper is rated Prime-1 or 2.
Municipal Notes
Moody’s: The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “MIG 1,” “MIG 2,” and “MIG 3” (or “VMIG 1,” “VMIG 2” and “VMIG 3” in the case of an issue having a variable rate demand feature). Notes rated “MIG 1” or “VMIG 1” are judged to be of the “best quality”. Notes rated “MIG 2” or “VMIG 2” are of “high quality,” with margins or protection “ample although not as large as in the preceding group”. Notes rated “MIG 3” or “VMIG 3” are of “favorable quality,” with all security elements accounted for but lacking the strength of the preceding grades.
S&P: The “SP-1” rating reflects a “very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest”. Notes issued with “overwhelming safety characteristics” will be rated “SP-1+”. The “SP-2” rating reflects a “satisfactory capacity” to pay principal and interest.
Fitch: The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “F-1+,” “F-1,” and “F-2.”
81
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund
A Series of Global/International Fund, Inc.
Scudder International Fund
A Series of Scudder International Fund, Inc.
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Class AARP and Class S Shares
December 1, 2005
This combined Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the combined prospectus for the Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund (each a “Fund,” collectively the “Funds”), series of Global/International Fund, Inc. and Scudder International Fund, Inc., respectively, dated December 1, 2005, as amended from time to time, a copy of which may be obtained without charge by contacting Scudder Distributors, Inc., 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, 1-800-SCUDDER or the firm from which this Statement of Additional Information was obtained and is available along with other related materials on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov).
The Annual Report to Shareholders of each Fund, dated August 31, 2005 accompanies this Statement of Additional Information. They are incorporated by reference and are hereby deemed to be part of this Statement of Additional Information.
This combined Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into the combined prospectus.
Table of Contents
Page | ||
1 | ||
3 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
25 | ||
26 | ||
26 | ||
34 | ||
35 | ||
38 | ||
38 | ||
39 | ||
39 | ||
39 | ||
40 | ||
40 | ||
41 | ||
43 | ||
50 | ||
56 | ||
58 | ||
65 | ||
66 | ||
67 | ||
67 | ||
69 |
i
Table of Contents
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Unless specified to the contrary, the following fundamental policies may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund which, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules thereunder and as used in this Statement of Additional Information, means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.
Any investment restrictions herein which involve a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after and is caused by an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, a Fund.
Each Fund has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end management investment company. A diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of total assets, invest more than 5% of total assets in the securities of a single issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
As a matter of fundamental policy, each Fund may not:
(1) | borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(2) | issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(3) | concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(4) | engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities; |
(5) | purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include securities of companies which deal in real estate or mortgages or investments secured by real estate or interests therein, except that the Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of the Fund’s ownership of securities; |
(6) | purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities; or |
(7) | make loans to other persons, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. |
With respect to fundamental policy number five above, the Funds have no current intention to hold and sell real estate acquired as a result of a Fund’s ownership of securities.
The Directors of each Corporation have voluntarily adopted certain policies and restrictions, which are observed in the conduct of each Fund’s affairs. These represent intentions of the Directors based upon current circumstances. Non-fundamental policies may be changed by the Directors of the Corporation without requiring prior notice to or approval of shareholders.
As a matter of non-fundamental policy, each Fund currently does not intend to:
(a) | borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets, except (i) for temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, or other investments or transactions described in the Fund’s registration statement which may be deemed to be borrowings; |
Table of Contents
(b) | enter into either reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets; |
(c) | purchase securities on margin or make short sales, except (i) short sales against the box, (ii) in connection with arbitrage transactions, (iii) for margin deposits in connection with futures contracts, options or other permitted investments, (iv) that transactions in futures contracts and options shall not be deemed to constitute selling securities short, and (v) that the Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of securities transactions; |
(d) | purchase options, unless the aggregate premiums paid on all such options held by the Fund at any time do not exceed 20% of its total assets; or sell put options, if as a result, the aggregate value of the obligations underlying such put options would exceed 50% of its total assets; |
(e) | enter into futures contracts or purchase options thereon unless immediately after the purchase, the value of the aggregate initial margin with respect to such futures contracts entered into on behalf of the Fund and the premiums paid for such options on futures contracts does not exceed 5% of the fair market value of the Fund’s total assets; provided that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in computing the 5% limit; |
(f) | purchase warrants if as a result, such securities, taken at the lower of cost or market value, would represent more than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (for this purpose, warrants acquired in units or attached to securities will be deemed to have no value); and |
(g) | lend portfolio securities in an amount greater than 33?% of its total assets. |
Each Fund will not purchase illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets, valued at the time of the transaction, would be invested in such securities.
Each Fund may engage in short sales against-the-box, although it is the Fund’s current intention that no more than 5% of its net assets will be at risk.
Each Fund will not acquire securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage beyond the specified limit resulting from a change in values or net assets will not be considered a violation.
Each Fund is an open-end management investment company which continuously offers and redeems shares at net asset value. Each Fund is a company of the type commonly known as a mutual fund. Scudder Global Fund is a diversified series of Global/International Fund, Inc. Scudder International Fund is a diversified series of Scudder International Fund, Inc. (each a “Corporation,” collectively the “Corporations”). Scudder Global Fund offers six classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R shares. Only Class AARP and Class S are offered herein. Scudder International Fund offers seven classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C, Institutional Class and Investment Class shares. Only Class AARP and Class S are offered herein. Each class has its own important features and policies. Shares of Class AARP are especially designed for members of AARP.
2
Table of Contents
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. If there is a change in investment objective, shareholders should consider whether the Fund remains an appropriate investment in light of their then current financial position and needs. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Changes in portfolio securities are made on the basis of investment considerations and it is against the policy of management to make changes for trading purposes.
Scudder Global Fund will be invested usually in securities of issuers located in at least three countries, one of which may be the US. The Fund may be invested 100% in non-US issues, and for temporary defensive purposes may be invested 100% in US issues, although under normal circumstances it is expected that both foreign and US investments will be represented in the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund will not invest in securities issued by tobacco-producing companies.
For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may vary from its investment policies during periods when the Advisor determines that it is advisable to do so because of conditions in the securities markets or other economic or political conditions. During such periods, the Fund may hold without limit cash and cash equivalents. The Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in debt securities that are rated Baa or below by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or BBB or below by Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. (“S&P”), or deemed by the Advisor to be of comparable quality (commonly referred to as “high yield” or “junk” bonds).
Scudder International Fund invests in companies, wherever organized, which do business primarily outside the United States. The Fund intends to diversify investments among several countries and normally to have investments in securities of at least three different countries other than the US. The Fund will invest primarily in securities of issuers in the 21 developed foreign countries included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) Europe, Australia, Far East (“EAFE”) Index, but may invest in “emerging markets.” The Fund considers “emerging markets” to include any country that is defined as an emerging or developing economy by any of the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (i.e., the World Bank), the International Finance Corporation or the United Nations or its authorities.
When the Advisor believes that it is appropriate to do so in order to achieve the Fund’s investment objective of long-term capital growth, the Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. The Fund will predominantly purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged by the Advisor to be of equivalent quality. The Fund may also invest up to 5% of its total assets in debt securities which are rated below investment-grade.
The Fund may hold up to 20% of its net assets in US and foreign fixed income securities for temporary defensive purposes when the Advisor believes that market conditions so warrant. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets under normal conditions, and without limit for temporary defensive purposes, in cash or cash equivalents including domestic and foreign money market instruments, short-term government and corporate obligations and repurchase agreements, when the Advisor deems such a position advisable in light of economic or market conditions.
To meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a regulated investment company each Fund must limit its investments so that at the close of each quarter of its taxable year (1) no more than 25% of its total assets are invested in securities of a single issuer (other than US government or a regulated investment company), and (2) with respect to at least 50% of its total assets, no more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities of a single issuer.
3
Table of Contents
Temporary Defensive Policy. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder Global Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as money market securities. As a temporary defensive measure, Scudder International Fund could shift up to 100% of its assets into investments such as US or Canadian money market securities. These measures could prevent losses, but would mean that a fund was not pursuing its goal.
Master/feeder Fund Structure. The Boards of Directors has the discretion to retain the current distribution arrangement for a Fund while investing in a master fund in a master/feeder fund structure as described below.
A master/feeder fund structure is one in which a fund (a “feeder fund”), instead of investing directly in a portfolio of securities, invests most or all of its investment assets in a separate registered investment company (the “master fund”) with substantially the same investment objective and policies as the feeder fund. Such a structure permits the pooling of assets of two or more feeder funds, preserving separate identities or distribution channels at the feeder fund level. Based on the premise that certain of the expenses of operating an investment portfolio are relatively fixed, a larger investment portfolio may eventually achieve a lower ratio of operating expenses to average net assets. An existing investment company is able to convert to a feeder fund by selling all of its investments, which involves brokerage and other transaction costs and realization of a taxable gain or loss, or by contributing its assets to the master fund and avoiding transaction costs and, if proper procedures are followed, the realization of taxable gain or loss.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
General Investment Objective and Policies
Descriptions in this Statement of Additional Information of a particular investment practice or technique in which a Fund may engage are meant to describe the spectrum of investments that the Advisor in its discretion might, but is not required to, use in managing each Fund’s portfolio assets. The Advisor may, in its discretion, at any time employ such practice, technique or instrument for one or more Funds but not for all funds advised by it. Furthermore, it is possible that certain types of financial instruments or investment techniques described herein may not be available, permissible, economically feasible or effective for their intended purposes in all markets. Certain practices, techniques or instruments may not be principal activities of the Funds, but, to the extent employed, could from time to time have a material impact on a Fund’s performance.
It is possible that certain investment practices and techniques described below may not be permissible for a Fund based on its investment restrictions, as described herein, and in the Funds’ applicable prospectus.
Borrowing. As a matter of fundamental policy, a fund will not borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. While each fund’s Board of Directors does not currently intend to borrow for investment leveraging purposes, if such a strategy were implemented in the future it would increase the funds’ volatility and the risk of loss in a declining market. Borrowing by a fund will involve special risk considerations. Although the principal of a fund’s borrowings will be fixed, a fund’s assets may change in value during the time a borrowing is outstanding, thus increasing exposure to capital risk.
Common Stocks. Common stock is issued by companies to raise cash for business purposes and represents a proportionate interest in the issuing companies. Therefore, a fund participates in the success or failure of any
4
Table of Contents
company in which it holds stock. The market values of common stock can fluctuate significantly, reflecting the business performance of the issuing company, investor perception and general economic and financial market movements. Despite the risk of price volatility, however, common stocks have historically offered a greater potential for long-term gain on investment, compared to other classes of financial assets such as bonds or cash equivalents, although there can be no assurance that this will be true in the future.
Convertible Securities. A fund may invest in convertible securities, that is, bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stocks and other securities which are convertible into common stock. Investments in convertible securities can provide an opportunity for capital appreciation and/or income through interest and dividend payments by virtue of their conversion or exchange features.
The convertible securities in which a fund may invest are either fixed income or zero coupon debt securities which may be converted or exchanged at a stated or determinable exchange ratio into underlying shares of common stock. The exchange ratio for any particular convertible security may be adjusted from time to time due to stock splits, dividends, spin-offs, other corporate distributions or scheduled changes in the exchange ratio. Convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stocks, until converted, have general characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with debt securities generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion or exchange feature, the market value of convertible securities typically changes as the market value of the underlying common stocks changes, and, therefore, also tends to follow movements in the general market for equity securities. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock, although typically not as much as the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
As debt securities, convertible securities are investments which provide for a stream of income (or in the case of zero coupon securities, accretion of income) with generally higher yields than common stocks. Convertible securities generally offer lower yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality because of their conversion or exchange features.
Of course, like all debt securities, there can be no assurance of income or principal payments because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations.
Convertible securities generally are subordinated to other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior to common stock, of the same issuer. However, because of the subordination feature, convertible bonds and convertible preferred stock typically have lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities. Convertible securities may be issued as fixed income obligations that pay current income or as zero coupon notes and bonds, including Liquid Yield Option Notes (“LYONs”(TM)).
Corporate Obligations. Investment in corporate debt obligations involves credit and interest rate risk. The value of fixed-income investments will fluctuate with changes in interest rates and bond market conditions, tending to rise as interest rates decline and to decline as interest rates rise. Corporate debt obligations generally offer less current yield than securities of lower quality, but lower-quality securities generally have less liquidity, greater credit and market risk, and as a result, more price volatility. Longer-term bonds are, however, generally more volatile than bonds with shorter maturities.
5
Table of Contents
Depositary Receipts. A fund may invest in sponsored or unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”) and other types of Depositary Receipts (which, together with ADRs, GDRs and IDRs are hereinafter referred to as “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary receipts provide indirect investment in securities of foreign issuers. Prices of unsponsored Depositary Receipts may be more volatile than if they were sponsored by the issuer of the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. In addition, the issuers of the stock of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. ADRs are Depositary Receipts which are bought and sold in the United States and are typically issued by a US bank or trust company which evidence ownership of underlying securities by a foreign corporation. GDRs, IDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they may also be issued by United States banks or trust companies, and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or a United States corporation. Generally, Depositary Receipts in registered form are designed for use in the United States securities markets and Depositary Receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside the United States. For purposes of a fund’s investment policies, a fund’s investments in ADRs, GDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts, including those denominated in US dollars will be subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. However, by
6
Table of Contents
investing in US dollar-denominated ADRs rather than directly in foreign issuers’ stock, a fund avoids currency risks during the settlement period. In general, there is a large, liquid market in the United States for most ADRs. However, certain Depositary Receipts may not be listed on an exchange and therefore may be illiquid securities.
Dollar Roll Transactions. Dollar roll transactions consist of the sale by a fund to a bank or broker-dealer (the “counterparty”) of GNMA certificates or other mortgage-backed securities together with a commitment to purchase from the counterparty similar, but not identical, securities at a future date, at the same price. The counterparty receives all principal and interest payments, including prepayments, made on the security while it is the holder. A fund receives a fee from the counterparty as consideration for entering into the commitment to purchase. Dollar rolls may be renewed over a period of several months with a different purchase and repurchase price fixed and a cash settlement made at each renewal without physical delivery of securities. Moreover, the transaction may be preceded by a firm commitment agreement pursuant to which a fund agrees to buy a security on a future date.
A fund will segregate cash, US Government securities or other liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet their purchase obligations under the transactions. A fund will also maintain asset coverage of at least 300% for all outstanding firm commitments, dollar rolls and other borrowings.
Dollar rolls may be treated for purposes of the 1940 Act, as borrowings of a fund because they involve the sale of a security coupled with an agreement to repurchase. A dollar roll involves costs to a fund. For example, while a fund receives a fee as consideration for agreeing to repurchase the security, a fund forgoes the right to receive all principal and interest payments while the counterparty holds the security. These payments to the counterparty may exceed the fee received by a fund, thereby effectively charging a fund interest on its borrowing. Further, although a fund can estimate the amount of expected principal prepayment over the term of the dollar roll, a variation in the actual amount of prepayment could increase or decrease the cost of a fund’s borrowing.
The entry into dollar rolls involves potential risks of loss that are different from those related to the securities underlying the transactions. For example, if the counterparty becomes insolvent, a fund’s right to purchase from the counterparty might be restricted. Additionally, the value of such securities may change adversely before a fund is able to purchase them. Similarly, a fund may be required to purchase securities in connection with a dollar roll at a higher price than may otherwise be available on the open market. Since, as noted above, the counterparty is required to deliver a similar, but not identical security to a fund, the security that a fund is required to buy under the dollar roll may be worth less than an identical security. Finally, there can be no assurance that a fund’s use of the cash that it receives from a dollar roll will provide a return that exceeds borrowing costs.
Euro. The implementation of the Euro may result in uncertainties for European securities and the operation of a fund. The Euro was introduced on January 1, 1999 by eleven members countries of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Implementation of the Euro requires the redenomination of European debt and equity securities over a period of time, which may result in various accounting differences and/or tax treatments which would not otherwise occur. Additional questions are raised by the fact that certain other European Community members, including the United Kingdom, did not officially implement the Euro on January 1, 1999.
Eurodollar Instruments. A fund may make investments in Eurodollar instruments. Eurodollar instruments are US dollar-denominated futures contracts or options thereon which are linked to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), although foreign currency-denominated instruments are available from time to time. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. A fund might use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked.
Eurodollar Obligations. Eurodollar bank obligations are US dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the US capital markets by foreign branches of US banks and US branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar obligations are subject to the same risks that pertain to domestic issues, notably credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks.
Foreign Currencies. Because investments in foreign securities usually will involve currencies of foreign countries, and because a fund may hold foreign currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign
7
Table of Contents
currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of a fund as measured in US dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and a fund may incur costs and experience conversion difficulties and uncertainties in connection with conversions between various currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing the security.
The strength or weakness of the US dollar against these currencies is responsible for part of a fund’s investment performance. If the dollar falls in value relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the dollar value of a Japanese stock held in the portfolio will rise even though the price of the stock remains unchanged. Conversely, if the dollar rises in value relative to the yen, the dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall. Many foreign currencies have experienced significant devaluation relative to the dollar.
Although a fund values its assets daily in terms of US dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into US dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should a fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. A fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.
Foreign Fixed Income Securities. Since most foreign fixed income securities are not rated, a fund will invest in foreign fixed income securities based on the Advisor’s analysis without relying on published ratings. Since such investments will be based upon the Advisor’s analysis rather than upon published ratings, achievement of a fund’s goals may depend more upon the abilities of the Advisor than would otherwise be the case.
The value of the foreign fixed income securities held by a fund, and thus the net asset value of a fund’s shares, generally will fluctuate with (a) changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the issuers of those securities, (b) movements in interest rates, and (c) changes in the relative values of the currencies in which a fund’s investments in fixed income securities are denominated with respect to the US Dollar. The extent of the fluctuation will depend on various factors, such as the average maturity of a fund’s investments in foreign fixed income securities, and the extent to which a fund hedges its interest rate, credit and currency exchange rate risks. A longer average maturity generally is associated with a higher level of volatility in the market value of such securities in response to changes in market conditions.
Investments in sovereign debt, including Brady Bonds (Brady Bonds are debt securities issued under a plan implemented to allow debtor nations to restructure their outstanding commercial bank indebtedness) involve special risks. Foreign governmental issuers of debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or pay interest when due. In the event of default, there may be limited or no legal recourse in that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party. Political conditions, especially a sovereign entity’s willingness to meet the terms of its fixed income securities, are of considerable significance. Also, there can be no assurance that the holders of commercial bank loans to the same sovereign entity may not contest payments to the holders of sovereign debt in the event of default under commercial bank loan agreements. In addition, there is no bankruptcy proceeding with respect to sovereign debt on which a sovereign has defaulted, and a fund may be unable to collect all or any part of its investment in a particular issue. Foreign investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled to varying degrees, including requiring governmental approval for the repatriation of income, capital or proceed of sales by foreign investors. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain sovereign debt or increase the costs and expenses of a fund.
Sovereign debt of emerging market governmental issuers is to be considered speculative. Emerging market governmental issuers are among the largest debtors to commercial banks, foreign governments, international financial organizations and other financial institutions. Certain emerging market governmental issuers have not been able to make payments of interest on or principal of debt obligations as those payments have come due. There is a history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities issuing sovereign debt.
8
Table of Contents
All or a portion of the interest payments and/or principal repayment with respect to sovereign debt may be uncollateralized. Obligations arising from past restructuring agreements may affect the economic performance and political and social stability of those issuers.
The ability of emerging market country governmental issuers to make timely payments on their obligations is likely to be influenced strongly by the issuer’s balance of payments, including export performance, and its access to international credits and investments. An emerging market whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities could be vulnerable to a decline in the international prices of one or more of those commodities. Increased protectionism on the part of an emerging market’s trading partners could also adversely affect the country’s exports and diminish its trade account surplus, if any. To the extent that emerging markets receive payment for its exports in currencies other than dollars or non-emerging market currencies, its ability to make debt payments denominated in dollars or non-emerging market currencies could be affected.
Another factor bearing on the ability of emerging market countries to repay debt obligations is the level of international reserves of the country. Fluctuations in the level of these reserves affect the amount of foreign exchange readily available for external debt payments and thus could have a bearing on the capacity of emerging market countries to make payments on these debt obligations.
To the extent that an emerging market country cannot generate a trade surplus, it must depend on continuing loans from foreign governments, multilateral organizations or private commercial banks, aid payments from foreign governments and inflows of foreign investment. The access of emerging markets to these forms of external funding may not be certain, and a withdrawal of external funding could adversely affect the capacity of emerging market country governmental issuers to make payments on their obligations. In addition, the cost of servicing emerging market debt obligations can be affected by a change in international interest rates since the majority of these obligations carry interest rates that are adjusted periodically based upon international rates.
Foreign Investments. Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the fund’s foreign investments and the value of its shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the US dollar. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign issuer than about a US issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the US. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable US issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions and other fees are also generally higher than in the US. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or in the recovery of the fund’s assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of investments in US markets. Payment for securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets.
In addition, foreign securities may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of the fund’s investments in certain foreign countries. Governments of many countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector through the ownership or control of many companies, including some of the largest in these countries. As a result, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions which may adversely affect prices of certain portfolio securities. There is also generally less government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the US. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, and special US tax considerations may apply. Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the US economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.
Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the US or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers organized under the laws of those foreign countries.
9
Table of Contents
Of particular importance, many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon exports, particularly to developed countries, and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the US and other countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be negatively impacted by economic conditions in the US and other trading partners, which can lower the demand for goods produced in those countries.
The risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, typically are increased in connection with investments in “emerging markets.” For example, political and economic structures in these countries may be in their infancy and developing rapidly, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries (including amplified risk of war and terrorism). Certain of these countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized and expropriated the assets of private companies. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative.
The currencies of certain emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the US dollar, and future devaluations may adversely affect the value of assets denominated in such currencies. In addition, currency hedging techniques may be unavailable in certain emerging market countries. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for many years, and future inflation may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries.
In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in emerging markets and the availability of additional investments in these markets. Any change in the leadership or politics of emerging market countries, or the countries that exercise a significant influence over those countries, may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities. The small size, limited trading volume and relative inexperience of the securities markets in these countries may make investments in securities traded in emerging markets illiquid and more volatile than investments in securities traded in more developed countries. For example, limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions. In addition, the fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making investments in securities traded in emerging markets. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers of emerging market securities, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value of prospects of an investment in such securities.
The risk also exists that an emergency situation may arise in one or more emerging markets as a result of which trading of securities may cease or may be substantially curtailed and prices for a fund’s securities in such markets may not be readily available. A fund may suspend redemption of its shares for any period during which an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC. Accordingly if a fund believes that appropriate circumstances exist, it will promptly apply to the SEC for a determination that an emergency is present. During the period commencing from a fund’s identification of such condition until the date of the SEC action, a fund’s securities in the affected markets will be valued at fair value determined in good faith by or under the direction of a fund’s Board.
Certain of the foregoing risks may also apply to some extent to securities of US issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies or that are traded in foreign markets, or securities of US issuers having significant foreign operations.
High Yield/High Risk Bonds. A fund may also purchase, to a limited extent, debt securities which are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”), that is, rated below Baa by Moody’s or below BBB by S&P and unrated securities, which usually entail greater risk (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities), generally involve greater volatility of price and risk of principal and income, and may be less liquid, than securities in the higher rating categories. The lower the ratings of such debt securities, the greater their risks render them like equity securities. Scudder International Fund will invest no more than 5% of its total assets in securities rated BB or lower by Moody’s or Ba by S&P, and may invest in securities which are rated D by S&P. See the Appendix to this Statement of Additional Information for a more complete description of the ratings assigned by ratings organizations and their respective characteristics.
10
Table of Contents
High yield, high-risk securities are especially subject to adverse changes in general economic conditions, to changes in the financial condition of their issuers and to price fluctuations in response to changes in interest rates. An economic downturn could disrupt the high yield market and impair the ability of issuers to repay principal and interest. Also, an increase in interest rates would have a greater adverse impact on the value of such obligations than on higher quality debt securities. During an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issues may experience financial stress which would adversely affect their ability to service their principal and interest payment obligations. Prices and yields of high yield securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty, volatility of high yield securities may adversely affect a fund’s net asset value. In addition, investments in high yield zero coupon or pay-in-kind bonds, rather than income-bearing high yield securities, may be more speculative and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates.
The trading market for high yield securities may be thin to the extent that there is no established retail secondary market. A thin trading market may limit the ability of a fund to accurately value high yield securities in its portfolio and to dispose of those securities. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities. These securities may also involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.
Credit quality in the high-yield securities market can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security. For these reasons, it is the policy of the Advisor not to rely exclusively on ratings issued by established credit rating agencies, but to supplement such ratings with its own independent and on-going review of credit quality. The achievement of a fund’s investment objective by investment in such securities may be more dependent on the Advisor’s credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds. Should the rating of a portfolio security be downgraded, the Advisor will determine whether it is in the best interests of the fund to retain or dispose of such security.
Prices for below investment-grade securities may be affected by legislative and regulatory developments. For example, new federal rules require savings and loan institutions to gradually reduce their holdings of this type of security. Congress has from time to time considered legislation which would restrict or eliminate the corporate tax deduction for interest payments in these securities and regulate corporate restructurings. Such legislation may significantly depress the prices of outstanding securities of this type.
Illiquid Securities and Restricted Securities. A fund may purchase securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”). Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold (i) only to qualified institutional buyers; (ii) in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers; (iii) in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration; or (iv) in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Issuers of restricted securities may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.
Restricted securities are often illiquid, but they may also be liquid. For example, restricted securities that are eligible for resale under Rule 144A are often deemed to be liquid.
The Funds’ Boards have approved guidelines for use by the Advisor in determining whether a security is liquid or illiquid. Among the factors the Advisor may consider in reaching liquidity decisions relating to Rule 144A securities are: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the market for the security (i.e., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of the transfer). Where a registration statement is required for the resale of restricted securities, a fund may be required to bear all or part of the registration expenses. A fund may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the 1933 Act when selling restricted securities to the public and, in such event, a fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer is materially inaccurate or misleading.
11
Table of Contents
A fund may also purchase securities that are not subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, but that are deemed illiquid. Such securities may be illiquid, for example, because there is a limited trading market for them.
A fund may be unable to sell a restricted or illiquid security. In addition, it may be more difficult to determine a market value for restricted or illiquid securities. Moreover, if adverse market conditions were to develop during the period between a fund’s decision to sell a restricted or illiquid security and the point at which a fund is permitted or able to sell such security, a fund might obtain a price less favorable than the price that prevailed when it decided to sell. This investment practice, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the level of illiquidity of a fund.
IPO Risk. Securities issued through an initial public offering (IPO) can experience an immediate drop in value if the demand for the securities does not continue to support the offering price. Information about the issuers of IPO securities is also difficult to acquire since they are new to the market and may not have lengthy operating histories. A fund may engage in short-term trading in connection with its IPO investments, which could produce higher trading costs and adverse tax consequences. The number of securities issued in an IPO is limited, so it is likely that IPO securities will represent a smaller component of a fund’s portfolio as a fund’s assets increase (and thus have a more limited effect on a fund’s performance).
Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program. The Funds have received exemptive relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which permits the Funds to participate in an interfund lending program among certain investment companies advised by the Advisor. The interfund lending program allows the participating funds to borrow money from and loan money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes. The program is subject to a number of conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds, including the following: (1) no fund may borrow money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than a rate approximating the lowest interest rate at which bank loans would be available to any of the participating funds under a loan agreement; and (2) no fund may lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable return than that available from an investment in repurchase agreements and, to the extent applicable, money market cash sweep arrangements. In addition, a fund may participate in the program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the fund’s investment objectives and policies (for instance, money market funds would normally participate only as lenders and tax exempt funds only as borrowers). Interfund loans and borrowings may extend overnight, but could have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one day’s notice. A fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional costs. The program is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Boards of the participating funds. To the extent the Funds are actually engaged in borrowing through the interfund lending program, the Funds, as a matter of non-fundamental policy, may not borrow for other than temporary or emergency purposes (and not for leveraging), except that the Funds may engage in reverse repurchase agreements and dollar rolls for any purpose.
Investment Company Securities. A fund may acquire securities of other investment companies to the extent consistent with its investment objective and subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act. A fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
For example, a fund may invest in a variety of investment companies which seek to track the composition and performance of specific indexes or a specific portion of an index. These index-based investments hold substantially all of their assets in securities representing their specific index. Accordingly, the main risk of investing in index-based investments is the same as investing in a portfolio of equity securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded (which may result in their trading at a discount or premium to their NAVs). Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specified index because of transaction costs and because of the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.
Examples of index-based investments include:
SPDRs(R): SPDRs, an acronym for “Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts,” are based on the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by the SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds shares of substantially all the companies in the S&P 500 in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
12
Table of Contents
MidCap SPDRs(R): MidCap SPDRs are based on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. They are issued by the MidCap SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of securities consisting of substantially all of the common stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
Select Sector SPDRs(R): Select Sector SPDRs are based on a particular sector or group of industries that are represented by a specified Select Sector Index within the Standard & Poor’s Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by The Select Sector SPDR Trust, an open-end management investment company with nine portfolios that each seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of a particular Select Sector Index.
DIAMONDS(SM): DIAMONDS are based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM). They are issued by the DIAMONDS Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of all the component common stocks of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Dow.
Nasdaq-100 Shares: Nasdaq-100 Shares are based on the Nasdaq 100 Index. They are issued by the Nasdaq-100 Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio consisting of substantially all of the securities, in substantially the same weighting, as the component stocks of the Nasdaq-100 Index and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
WEBs(SM): WEBs, an acronym for “World Equity Benchmark Shares,” are based on 17 country-specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Indexes. They are issued by the WEBs Index Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company that seeks to generally correspond to the price and yield performance of a specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Index.
Investment-Grade Bonds. A fund may purchase “investment-grade” bonds, which are those rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Advisor. Moody’s considers bonds it rates Baa to have speculative elements as well as investment-grade characteristics. To the extent that a fund invests in higher-grade securities, a fund will not be able to avail itself of opportunities for higher income which may be available at lower grades.
Investment of Uninvested Cash Balances. A fund may have cash balances that have not been invested in portfolio securities (“Uninvested Cash”). Uninvested Cash may result from a variety of sources, including dividends or interest received from portfolio securities, unsettled securities transactions, reserves held for investment strategy purposes, scheduled maturity of investments, liquidation of investment securities to meet anticipated redemptions and dividend payments, and new cash received from investors. Uninvested Cash may be invested directly in money market instruments or other short-term debt obligations. Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, the Fund may use Uninvested Cash to purchase shares of affiliated funds including money market funds, short-term bond funds and Scudder Cash Management Investment Trust, or one or more future entities for which the advisor acts as trustee or investment advisor that operate as cash management investment vehicles and that are excluded from the definition of investment company pursuant to Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (collectively, the “Central Funds”) in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Investment by a fund in shares of the Central Funds will be in accordance with a fund’s investment policies and restrictions as set forth in its registration statement.
Certain of the Central Funds comply with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The other Central Funds are or will be short-term bond funds that invest in fixed-income securities and maintain a dollar weighted average maturity of three years or less. Each of the Central Funds will be managed specifically to maintain a highly liquid portfolio, and access to them will enhance a fund’s ability to manage Uninvested Cash.
A fund will invest Uninvested Cash in Central Funds only to the extent that a fund’s aggregate investment in the Central Funds does not exceed 25% of its total assets. Purchase and sales of shares of Central Funds are made at net asset value.
13
Table of Contents
Lending of Portfolio Securities. A fund may lend its investment securities to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions, such as covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver securities or completing arbitrage operations. By lending its investment securities, a fund attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest on the loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would belong to a fund. A fund may lend its investment securities so long as the terms, structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations or interpretations of the SEC thereunder, which currently require that (a) the borrower pledge and maintain with the fund collateral consisting of liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities loaned, (b) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities loaned rises (i.e., the borrower “marks to the market” on a daily basis), (c) the loan be made subject to termination by the fund at any time, and (d) the fund receives reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the fund investing any cash collateral in interest bearing short-term investments), and distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in their market value. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by a fund’s delegate after a commercially reasonable review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
At the present time, the staff of the SEC does not object if an investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the investment company’s Board of Trustees/Directors. In addition, voting rights may pass with the loaned securities, but if a material event occurs affecting an investment on loan, the loan must be called and the securities voted. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the SEC, cash collateral received by a fund may be invested in a money market fund managed by the Advisor (or one of its affiliates).
Micro-Cap Companies. While, historically, micro-capitalization company stocks have outperformed the stocks of large companies, the former have customarily involved more investment risk as well. There can be no assurance that this will continue to be true in the future. Micro-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may lack management depth or experience; and may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than large companies. The prices of micro-capitalization company securities are often more volatile than prices associated with large company issues, and can display abrupt or erratic movements at times, due to limited trading volumes and less publicly available information.
Also, because micro-capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding and these shares trade less frequently than large companies, it may be more difficult for a fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.
Some of the companies in which a fund may invest may distribute, sell or produce products which have recently been brought to market and may be dependent on key personnel. The securities of micro-capitalization companies are often traded over-the-counter and may not be traded in the volumes typical on a national securities exchange. Consequently, in order to sell this type of holding, a fund may need to discount the securities from recent prices or dispose of the securities over a long period of time.
Participation Interests. A fund may purchase from financial institutions participation interests in securities in which a fund may invest. A participation interest gives a fund an undivided interest in the security in the proportion that a fund’s participation interest bears to the principal amount of the security. These instruments may have fixed, floating or variable interest rates, with remaining maturities of 397 days or less. If the participation interest is unrated, or has been given a rating below that which is permissible for purchase by a fund, the participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by US Government securities, or, in the case of unrated participation interest, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality to those instruments in which a fund may invest. For certain participation interests, a fund will have the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, for all or any part of a fund’s participation interests in the security, plus accrued interest. As to these instruments, a fund generally intends to exercise its right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms of the security.
14
Table of Contents
Privatized Enterprises. Investments in foreign securities may include securities issued by enterprises that have undergone or are currently undergoing privatization. The governments of certain foreign countries have, to varying degrees, embarked on privatization programs contemplating the sale of all or part of their interests in state enterprises. A fund’s investments in the securities of privatized enterprises may include privately negotiated investments in a government or state-owned or controlled company or enterprise that has not yet conducted an initial equity offering, investments in the initial offering of equity securities of a state enterprise or former state enterprise and investments in the securities of a state enterprise following its initial equity offering.
In certain jurisdictions, the ability of foreign entities, such as a fund, to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, or the price or terms on which a fund may be able to participate may be less advantageous than for local investors. Moreover, there can be no assurance that governments that have embarked on privatization programs will continue to divest their ownership of state enterprises, that proposed privatizations will be successful or that governments will not re-nationalize enterprises that have been privatized.
In the case of the enterprises in which a fund may invest, large blocks of the stock of those enterprises may be held by a small group of stockholders, even after the initial equity offerings by those enterprises. The sale of some portion or all of those blocks could have an adverse effect on the price of the stock of any such enterprise.
Prior to making an initial equity offering, most state enterprises or former state enterprises go through an internal reorganization or management. Such reorganizations are made in an attempt to better enable these enterprises to compete in the private sector. However, certain reorganizations could result in a management team that does not function as well as an enterprise’s prior management and may have a negative effect on such enterprise. In addition, the privatization of an enterprise by its government may occur over a number of years, with the government continuing to hold a controlling position in the enterprise even after the initial equity offering for the enterprise.
Prior to privatization, most of the state enterprises in which a fund may invest enjoy the protection of and receive preferential treatment from the respective sovereigns that own or control them. After making an initial equity offering, these enterprises may no longer have such protection or receive such preferential treatment and may become subject to market competition from which they were previously protected. Some of these enterprises may not be able to operate effectively in a competitive market and may suffer losses or experience bankruptcy due to such competition.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). REITs are sometimes informally characterized as equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Investment in REITs may subject a fund to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, such as decreases in real estate values, overbuilding, increased competition and other risks related to local or general economic conditions, increases in operating costs and property taxes, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, possible environmental liabilities, regulatory limitations on rent and fluctuations in rental income. Equity REITs generally experience these risks directly through fee or leasehold interests, whereas mortgage REITs generally experience these risks indirectly through mortgage interests, unless the mortgage REIT forecloses on the underlying real estate. Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of a fund’s investment in REITs. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by those REITs.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalizations, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of their securities. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) and to maintain exemption from the registration requirements of the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through a fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of a fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. In addition, REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.
15
Table of Contents
Repurchase Agreements. A fund may invest in repurchase agreements pursuant to its investment guidelines. In a repurchase agreement, a fund acquires ownership of a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller, typically a bank or broker-dealer. Some repurchase commitment transactions may not provide a fund with collateral marked-to-market during the term of the commitment.
A repurchase agreement provides a means for a fund to earn income on funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which the purchaser (i.e., a fund) acquires a security (“Obligation”) and the seller agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the Obligation at a specified time and price. Securities subject to a repurchase agreement are held in a segregated account and the value of such securities kept at least equal to the repurchase price on a daily basis. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to a fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to a fund together with the repurchase price upon repurchase. In either case, the income to a fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the Obligation itself. Obligations will be held by the Custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry system.
It is not clear whether a court would consider the Obligation purchased by a fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by a fund or as being collateral for a loan by a fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the Obligation before repurchase of the Obligation under a repurchase agreement, a fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of the Obligation. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and a fund has not perfected a security interest in the Obligation, a fund may be required to return the Obligation to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, a fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for a fund, the Advisor seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the Obligation. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the Obligation, in which case a fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to a fund of the sale to a third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value of the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), a fund will direct the seller of the Obligation to deliver additional securities so that the market value of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price. It is possible that a fund will be unsuccessful in seeking to enforce the seller’s contractual obligation to deliver additional securities.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. A fund may enter into “reverse repurchase agreements,” which are repurchase agreements in which a fund, as the seller of the securities, agrees to repurchase them at an agreed upon time and price. A fund maintains a segregated account in connection with outstanding reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are deemed to be borrowings subject to a fund’s investment restrictions applicable to that activity. A fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only when the Advisor believes that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction will be greater than the interest expense of the transaction. Such transactions may increase fluctuation in the market value of fund assets and their yields.
Small Company Risk. The Advisor believes that many small companies may have sales and earnings growth rates which exceed those of larger companies, and that such growth rates may in turn be reflected in more rapid share price appreciation over time. However, investing in smaller company stocks involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. For example, smaller companies can have limited product lines, markets, or financial and managerial resources. Smaller companies may also be dependent on one or a few key persons, and may be more susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Also, the securities of smaller companies may be thinly traded (and therefore have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or sold in small lots over an extended period of time). Transaction costs in smaller company stocks may be higher than those of larger companies.
Strategic Transactions and Derivatives. A fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment strategies as described below for a variety of purposes, such as hedging various market risks, managing the effective maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities in a fund’s portfolio or enhancing potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts.
16
Table of Contents
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, a fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities, equity and fixed-income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors, collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies, or currency futures and various other currency transactions (collectively, all the above are called “Strategic Transactions”). In addition, strategic transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. Strategic Transactions may be used without limit (subject to certain limits imposed by the 1940 Act) to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for a fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect a fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of a fund’s portfolio, or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance potential gain although no more than 5% of a fund’s assets will be committed to certain Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous variables including market conditions. The ability of a fund to utilize these Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Advisor’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. A fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions will not be used to alter fundamental investment purposes and characteristics of a fund, and a fund will segregate assets (or as provided by applicable regulations, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under options, futures and swaps to limit leveraging of a fund.
Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts, have risks associated with them including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Advisor’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Use of put and call options may result in losses to a fund, force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation a fund can realize on its investments or cause a fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in a fund incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension of settlements, or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions entails certain other risks. In particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of a fund creates the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of a fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances and certain over-the-counter options may have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, a fund might not be able to close out a transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts would create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchases of options, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce net asset value, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized.
General Characteristics of Options. Put options and call options typically have similar structural characteristics and operational mechanics regardless of the underlying instrument on which they are purchased or sold. Thus, the following general discussion relates to each of the particular types of options discussed in greater detail below. In addition, many Strategic Transactions involving options require segregation of fund assets in special accounts, as described below under “Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts.”
A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. For instance, the fund’s purchase of a put option on a security might be designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving the fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives
17
Table of Contents
the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. A fund’s purchase of a call option on a security, financial future, index, currency or other instrument might be intended to protect the fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase such instrument. An American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior thereto. A fund is authorized to purchase and sell exchange listed options and over-the-counter options (“OTC options”). Exchange listed options are issued by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), which guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such options. The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other financial intermediaries.
With certain exceptions, OCC issued and exchange listed options generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, although in the future cash settlement may become available. Index options and Eurodollar instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the option is “in-the-money” (i.e., where the value of the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in ownership of the new option.
A fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OCC or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (“Counterparties”) through direct bilateral agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. A fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency options) that are subject to a buy-back provision permitting a fund to require the Counterparty to sell the option back to a fund at a formula price within seven days. A fund expects generally to enter into OTC options that have cash settlement provisions, although it is not required to do so.
Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with a fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, a fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Accordingly, the Advisor must assess the creditworthiness of each such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the Counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be satisfied. The fund will engage in OTC option transactions only with US government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as “primary dealers” or broker-dealers, domestic or foreign banks or other financial institutions which have received (or the guarantors of the obligation of which have received) a short-term credit rating of A-1 from S&P or P-1 from Moody’s or an equivalent rating from any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, in the case of OTC currency transactions, are determined to be of
18
Table of Contents
equivalent credit quality by the Advisor. The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by a fund, and portfolio securities “covering” the amount of a fund’s obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to a fund’s limitation on investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
If a fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will increase a fund’s income. The sale of put options can also provide income.
A fund may purchase and sell call options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments that are traded on US and foreign securities exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets, and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts. All calls sold by a fund must be “covered” (i.e., a fund must own the securities or futures contract subject to the call) or must meet the asset segregation requirements described below as long as the call is outstanding. Even though a fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, a call sold by a fund exposes the fund during the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the underlying security or instrument and may require a fund to hold a security or instrument which it might otherwise have sold.
A fund may purchase and sell put options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments (whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio), and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts other than futures on individual corporate debt and individual equity securities. A fund will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of the fund’s total assets would be required to be segregated to cover its potential obligations under such put options other than those with respect to futures and options thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that a fund may be required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.
General Characteristics of Futures. A fund may enter into futures contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, and for duration management, risk management and return enhancement purposes. Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below. The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by the fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
The funds have claimed exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” adapted by the CFTC and the National Futures Association, which regulate trading in the futures markets. Therefore, the funds are not subject to commodity pool operator registration and regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act. Futures and options on futures may be entered into for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio and return enhancement management purposes to the extent consistent with the exclusion from commodity pool operator registration. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon requires a fund to deposit with a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances). Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the mark to market value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of a fund. If a fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an advantageous price, nor that delivery will occur.
19
Table of Contents
Options on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. A fund also may purchase and sell call and put options on securities indices and other financial indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same objectives it would achieve through the sale or purchase of options on individual securities or other instruments. Options on securities indices and other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, they settle by cash settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case of an OTC option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing price of the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price movements in the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on securities.
Currency Transactions. A fund may engage in currency transactions with counterparties primarily in order to hedge, or manage the risk of the value of portfolio holdings denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency futures, exchange listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is described below. A fund may enter into currency transactions with counterparties which have received (or the guarantors of the obligations which have received) a credit rating of A-1 or P-1 by S&P or Moody’s, respectively, or that have an equivalent rating from a NRSRO or (except for OTC currency options) are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Advisor.
A fund’s dealings in forward currency contracts and other currency transactions such as futures, options, options on futures and swaps generally will be limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio positions except as described below. Transaction hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or liabilities of a fund, which will generally arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income therefrom. Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency.
A fund generally will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an extent greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or partially to offset other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the time of entering into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such currency, other than with respect to proxy hedging or cross hedging as described below.
A fund may also cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to other currencies to which a fund has or in which a fund expects to have portfolio exposure.
To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities, a fund may also engage in proxy hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which a fund’s portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the US dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a commitment or option to sell a currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be correlated to a currency or currencies in which some or all of a fund’s portfolio securities are or are expected to be denominated, in exchange for US dollars. The amount of the commitment or option would not exceed the value of a fund’s securities denominated in correlated currencies. Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to a fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that a fund is engaging in proxy hedging. If a fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the fund will comply with the asset segregation requirements described below.
20
Table of Contents
Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to a fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy.
Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the US. When conducted outside the US, Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the US, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the US of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in a fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the US, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the US, and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.
Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars. Among the Strategic Transactions into which a fund may enter are interest rate, currency, index and other swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors and collars. A fund expects to enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities a fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. A fund will not sell interest rate caps or floors where it does not own securities or other instruments providing the income stream a fund may be obligated to pay. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by a fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with respect to a notional amount of principal. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the values of the reference indices. The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates or values.
Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Many Strategic Transactions, in addition to other requirements, require that a fund segregate cash or liquid assets with its custodian to the extent fund obligations are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by a fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid assets at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian. The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For example, a call option written by a fund will require a fund to hold the securities subject to the call (or securities convertible into the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid assets sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is exercised. A call option sold by a fund on an index will require a fund to own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on a current basis. A put option written by a fund requires a fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
Except when a fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no segregation, a currency contract which obligates a fund to buy or sell currency will
21
Table of Contents
generally require a fund to hold an amount of that currency or liquid assets denominated in that currency equal to a fund’s obligations or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of a fund’s obligation.
OTC options entered into by a fund, including those on securities, currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC issued and exchange listed index options, will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when a fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal 100% of the exercise price in the case of a non cash-settled put, the same as an OCC guaranteed listed option sold by a fund, or the in-the-money amount plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition, when a fund sells a call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, a fund will segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value to such excess. OCC issued and exchange listed options sold by a fund other than those above generally settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement and a fund will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, a fund must deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to segregating cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet their obligation to purchase or provide securities or currencies, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an index-based futures contract. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.
With respect to swaps, a fund will accrue the net amount of the excess, if any, of their obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets having a value equal to the accrued excess. Caps, floors and collars require segregation of assets with a value equal to a fund’s net obligation, if any.
Strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies. A fund may also enter into offsetting transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets, equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic Transactions. For example, a fund could purchase a put option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option sold by a fund. Moreover, instead of segregating cash or liquid assets if a fund held a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations. If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary transaction no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time, cash or liquid assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
A fund’s activities involving Strategic Transactions may be limited by the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a regulated investment company.
Combined Transactions. A fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (“component” transactions), instead of a single Strategic Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Advisor, it is in the best interests of the fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Advisor’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Supranational Entities. Supranational entities are international organizations designated or supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, The Asian Development Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank. Obligations of supranational entities are backed by the guarantee of one or more foreign governmental parties which sponsor the entity.
22
Table of Contents
Trust Preferred Securities. A fund may invest in Trust Preferred Securities, which are hybrid instruments issued by a special purpose trust (the “Special Trust”), the entire equity interest of which is owned by a single issuer. The proceeds of the issuance to a fund of Trust Preferred Securities are typically used to purchase a junior subordinated debenture, and distributions from the Special Trust are funded by the payments of principal and interest on the subordinated debenture.
If payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures held by the Special Trust are deferred by the debenture issuer, the debentures would be treated as original issue discount (“OID”) obligations for the remainder of their term. As a result, holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as a fund, would be required to accrue daily for Federal income tax purposes their share of the stated interest and the de minimis OID on the debentures (regardless of whether a fund receives any cash distributions from the Special Trust), and the value of Trust Preferred Securities would likely be negatively affected. Interest payments on the underlying junior subordinated debentures typically may only be deferred if dividends are suspended on both common and preferred stock of the issuer. The underlying junior subordinated debentures generally rank slightly higher in terms of payment priority than both common and preferred securities of the issuer, but rank below other subordinated debentures and debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be subject to mandatory prepayment under certain circumstances. The market values of Trust Preferred Securities may be more volatile than those of conventional debt securities. Trust Preferred Securities may be issued in reliance on Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, and, unless and until registered, are restricted securities; there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of Trust Preferred Securities and the ability of holders of Trust Preferred Securities, such as a fund, to sell their holdings.
US Government Securities. There are two broad categories of US Government-related debt instruments: (a) direct obligations of the US Treasury, and (b) securities issued or guaranteed by US Government agencies.
Examples of direct obligations of the US Treasury are Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and other debt securities issued by the US Treasury. These instruments are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the United States. They differ primarily in interest rates, the length of maturities and the dates of issuance. Treasury bills have original maturities of one year or less. Treasury notes have original maturities of one to ten years and Treasury bonds generally have original maturities of greater than ten years.
Some agency securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States (such as Maritime Administration Title XI Ship Financing Bonds and Agency for International Development Housing Guarantee Program Bonds) and others are backed only by the rights of the issuer to borrow from the US Treasury (such as Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds and Federal National Mortgage Association Bonds), while still others, such as the securities of the Federal Farm Credit Bank, are supported only by the credit of the issuer. With respect to securities supported only by the credit of the issuing agency or by an additional line of credit with the US Treasury, there is no guarantee that the US Government will provide support to such agencies and such securities may involve risk of loss of principal and interest.
US Government Securities may include “zero coupon” securities that have been stripped by the US Government of their unmatured interest coupons and collateralized obligations issued or guaranteed by a US Government agency or instrumentality.
Interest rates on US Government obligations may be fixed or variable. Interest rates on variable rate obligations are adjusted at regular intervals, at least annually, according to a formula reflecting then current specified standard rates, such as 91-day US Treasury bill rates. These adjustments generally tend to reduce fluctuations in the market value of the securities.
The government guarantee of the US Government Securities in a fund’s portfolio does not guarantee the net asset value of the shares of a fund. There are market risks inherent in all investments in securities and the value of an investment in a fund will fluctuate over time. Normally, the value of investments in US Government Securities varies inversely with changes in interest rates. For example, as interest rates rise the value of investments in US
23
Table of Contents
Government Securities will tend to decline, and as interest rates fall the value of a fund’s investments will tend to increase. In addition, the potential for appreciation in the event of a decline in interest rates may be limited or negated by increased principal prepayments with respect to certain Mortgage-Backed Securities, such as GNMA Certificates. Prepayments of high interest rate Mortgage-Backed Securities during times of declining interest rates will tend to lower the return of a fund and may even result in losses to a fund if some securities were acquired at a premium. Moreover, during periods of rising interest rates, prepayments of Mortgage-Backed Securities may decline, resulting in the extension of a fund’s average portfolio maturity. As a result, a fund’s portfolio may experience greater volatility during periods of rising interest rates than under normal market conditions.
Warrants. The holder of a warrant has the right, until the warrant expires, to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities, however, and are, therefore, considered speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. Thus, if a warrant held by a fund were not exercised by the date of its expiration, a fund would lose the entire purchase price of the warrant.
When-Issued Securities. Each fund may from time to time purchase equity and debt securities on a “when-issued,” “delayed delivery” or “forward delivery” basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities takes place at a later date. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the fund. When the fund purchases such securities, it immediately assumes the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation. Failure to deliver a security purchased on this basis may result in a loss or missed opportunity to make an alternative investment.
To the extent that assets of the fund are held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the fund would earn no income. While such securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the fund intends to purchase them with the purpose of actually acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the time the fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on this basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its net asset value. The market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase price. The fund will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain cash and liquid securities equal in value to commitments for such securities.
Zero Coupon Securities. A fund may invest in zero coupon securities which pay no cash income and are sold at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. Zero coupon securities are subject to greater market value fluctuations from changing interest rates than debt obligations of comparable maturities which make current distributions of interest (cash). Zero coupon securities which are convertible into common stock offer the opportunity for capital appreciation as increases (or decreases) in market value of such securities closely follows the movements in the market value of the underlying common stock. Zero coupon convertible securities generally are expected to be less volatile than the underlying common stocks, as they usually are issued with maturities of 15 years or less and are issued with options and/or redemption features exercisable by the holder of the obligation entitling the holder to redeem the obligation and receive a defined cash payment.
Zero coupon securities include securities issued directly by the US Treasury, and US Treasury bonds or notes and their unmatured interest coupons and receipts for their underlying principal (“coupons”) which have been separated by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. A holder will separate the interest coupons from the underlying principal (the “corpus”) of the US Treasury security. A number of securities firms and banks have stripped the interest coupons and receipts and then resold them in custodial receipt programs with a number of different names, including “Treasury Income Growth Receipts” (TIGRS(TM)) and Certificate of Accrual on Treasuries (CATS(TM)). The underlying US Treasury bonds and notes themselves are held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Counsel to the underwriters of these certificates or other evidences of ownership of the US Treasury securities have stated that, for federal tax and securities purposes, in their opinion purchasers of such certificates, such as a fund, most likely will be deemed the beneficial holder of
24
Table of Contents
the underlying US Government securities. A fund understands that the staff of the Division of Investment Management of the SEC no longer considers such privately stripped obligations to be US Government securities, as defined in the 1940 Act; therefore, a fund intends to adhere to this staff position and will not treat such privately stripped obligations to be US Government securities for the purpose of determining if a fund is “diversified” under the 1940 Act.
The US Treasury has facilitated transfers of ownership of zero coupon securities by accounting separately for the beneficial ownership of particular interest coupon and corpus payments on Treasury securities through the Federal Reserve book-entry record keeping system. The Federal Reserve program as established by the Treasury Department is known as “STRIPS” or “Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities.” Under the STRIPS program, a fund will be able to have its beneficial ownership of zero coupon securities recorded directly in the book-entry record-keeping system in lieu of having to hold certificates or other evidences of ownership of the underlying US Treasury securities.
When US Treasury obligations have been stripped of their unmatured interest coupons by the holder, the principal or corpus is sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Once stripped or separated, the corpus and coupons may be sold separately. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the Treasury sells itself.
Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until a Fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). A Fund does not disseminate non-public information about portfolio holdings except in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by a Fund.
A Fund’s procedures permit non-public portfolio holdings information to be shared with the Advisor and its affiliates (collectively “Deutsche Asset Management” or “DeAM”), sub-advisers, if any, custodians, independent registered public accounting firms, securities lending agents, financial printers, proxy voting firms and other service providers to a Fund who require access to this information to fulfill their duties to a Fund, subject to the requirements described below. This non-public information may also be disclosed to certain mutual fund analysts and rating and tracking agencies, such as Lipper, shareholders in connection with in-kind redemptions or to other entities if a Fund has a legitimate business purpose in providing the information, subject to the requirements described below.
Prior to any disclosure of a Fund’s non-public portfolio holdings information to the foregoing types of entities or persons, a person authorized by a Fund’s Directors must make a good faith determination in light of the facts then known that a Fund has a legitimate business purpose for providing the information, that the disclosure is in the best interest of a Fund, and that the recipient assents or otherwise has a duty to keep the information confidential and agrees not to disclose, trade or make any investment recommendation based on the information received while the information remains non-public. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to a Fund’s Directors.
Registered investment companies that are sub-advised by DeAM may be subject to different portfolio holdings disclosure policies, and neither DeAM nor a Fund’s Directors exercise control over such policies. In addition, separate account clients of DeAM have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to a Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy. The portfolio holdings of some of the funds sub-advised by DeAM and some of the separate accounts managed by DeAM may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund.
DeAM also manages certain unregistered commingled trusts and creates model portfolios, the portfolio holdings of which may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund. To the extent that investors in these commingled trusts or recipients of model portfolio holdings information
25
Table of Contents
may receive portfolio holdings information of their trust or of a model portfolio on a different basis from that on which Fund portfolio holdings information is made public, DeAM has implemented procedures reasonably designed to encourage such investors and recipients to keep such information confidential, and to prevent those investors from trading on the basis of non-public holdings information.
There is no assurance that a Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings information will protect a Fund from the potential misuse of portfolio holdings information by those in possession of that information.
On April 5, 2002, 100% of Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc., not including certain U.K. operations (known as Threadneedle Investments), was acquired by Deutsche Bank AG and changed its name to Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Advisor”). DeIM, which is part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), is the investment advisor for the Funds. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors of each Fund, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154, DeIM makes the Funds’ investment decisions, buys and sells securities for the Funds and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. The Advisor manages each Fund’s daily investment and business affairs subject to the policies established by each Corporation’s Board of Directors. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds. DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. The Funds’ investment advisor is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
DeAM is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, DeAM, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Scudder Trust Company. DeAM is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts, and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight, across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles. DeIM is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
Pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Agreement”) with each Fund, the Advisor acts as each Fund’s investment advisor, manages its investments, administers its business affairs, furnishes office facilities and equipment, provides clerical and administrative services and permits its officers and employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of one or more funds if elected to such positions. To the extent permissible by law, the Advisor may appoint certain of its affiliates as subadvisors to perform certain of the Advisor’s duties.
The Advisor provides investment counsel for many individuals and institutions, including insurance companies, industrial corporations, and financial and banking organizations, as well as providing investment advice to open- and closed-end SEC registered funds.
In certain cases, the investments for a Fund are managed by the same individuals who manage one or more other mutual funds advised by the Advisor that have similar names, objectives and investment styles. You should be aware that a Fund is likely to differ from these other mutual funds in size, cash flow pattern and tax matters. Accordingly, the holdings and performance of a Fund can be expected to vary from those of these other mutual funds.
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. Frequently, a particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, a particular security may be
26
Table of Contents
bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be equitable to each. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund.
The current Agreements, dated April 5, 2002, for Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund, were last approved by the Directors of each Fund on September 30, 2005. Each Agreement will continue in effect from year to year thereafter only if its continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of those Directors who are not parties to such Agreements or interested persons of the Advisor or the Corporations, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and either by a vote of the Corporations’ Directors or of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.
The Agreements may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by either party on sixty days’ written notice and automatically terminate in the event of their assignment.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor regularly provides each Fund with continuing investment management consistent with each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions and determines what securities shall be purchased, held or sold and what portion of a Fund’s assets shall be held uninvested, subject to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, the 1940 Act, the Code and to each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and subject, further, to such policies and instructions as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time establish. The Advisor also advises and assists the officers of the Corporation in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of its Directors and the appropriate committees of the Directors regarding the conduct of the business of each Fund.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor also renders administrative services (not otherwise provided by third parties) necessary for each Fund’s operations as an open-end investment company including, but not limited to, preparing reports and notices to the Directors and shareholders; supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, and monitoring various third-party service providers to a Fund (such as each Funds’ transfer agent, pricing agents, custodian, accountants and others); preparing and making filings with the SEC and other regulatory agencies; assisting in the preparation and filing of each Funds’ federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and filing each Funds’ federal excise tax returns; assisting with investor and public relations matters; monitoring the valuation of securities and the calculation of net asset value; monitoring the registration of shares of each Fund under applicable federal and state securities laws; maintaining each Funds’ books and records to the extent not otherwise maintained by a third party; assisting in establishing accounting policies of each Fund; assisting in the resolution of accounting and legal issues; establishing and monitoring each Funds’ operating budget; processing the payment of each Funds’ bills; assisting each Fund in, and otherwise arranging for, the payment of distributions and dividends; and otherwise assisting each Fund in the conduct of its business, subject to the direction and control of the Directors.
The Advisor may serve as advisor to other funds with investment objectives and policies similar to those of a Fund that may have different distribution arrangements or expenses, which may affect performance.
None of the officers or Directors of a Corporation may have dealings with a Fund as principals in the purchase or sale of securities, except as individual subscribers to or holders of shares of the Fund.
Each Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who each play an important role in a Fund’s management process. Team members work together to develop investment strategies and select securities for a Fund’s portfolio. This team works for the Advisor or its affiliates and is supported by a large staff of economists, research analysts, traders and other investment specialists. The Advisor or its affiliates believe(s) its team approach benefits Fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and leveraging its extensive resources. Team members with primary responsibility for management of the Funds, as well as team members who have other ongoing management responsibilities for each Fund, are identified in each Fund’s prospectus, as of the date of the Fund’s prospectus. Composition of the team may change over time, and Fund shareholders and investors will be notified of changes affecting individuals with primary Fund management responsibility.
27
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund
The current advisory fee rates are payable monthly at the annual rates shown below.
Average Daily Net Assets | Scudder Global Fund | ||
$0-$500 million | 1.00 | % | |
$500 million-$1 billion | 0.95 | ||
$1 billion-$1.5 billion | 0.90 | ||
$1.5 billion-$2 billion | 0.85 | ||
over $2 billion | 0.80 |
The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
Scudder International Fund
Scudder International Fund pays the Advisor an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.675% on the first $6 billion of average daily net assets, 0.625% on the next $1 billion of such net assets, and 0.600% of such net assets in excess of $7 billion, computed and accrued daily. The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid.
The advisory fees paid by each Fund for its last three fiscal years are shown in the table below.
Fund | Fiscal Year 2005 | Fiscal Year 2004 | Fiscal Year 2003 | ||||||
Scudder Global Fund | $ | 8,883,911 | $ | 8,518,604 | $ | 7,705,564 | |||
Scudder International Fund | $ | 10,735,566 | $ | 11,830,071 | $ | 12,321,821 |
Under its investment management agreement, a Fund is responsible for all of its other expenses including: organizational costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with membership in investment company organizations; brokers’ commissions; legal, auditing and accounting expenses; insurance; taxes and governmental fees; the fees and expenses of the transfer agent; any other expenses of issue, sale, underwriting, distribution, redemption or repurchase of shares; the expenses of and the fees for registering or qualifying securities for sale; the fees and expenses of Directors, officers and employees of a Fund who are not affiliated with the Advisor; the cost of printing and distributing reports and notices to shareholders; and the fees and disbursements of custodians. A Fund may arrange to have third parties assume all or part of the expenses of sale, underwriting and distribution of shares of the Fund. A Fund is also responsible for its expenses of shareholders’ meetings, the cost of responding to shareholders’ inquiries, and its expenses incurred in connection with litigation, proceedings and claims and the legal obligation it may have to indemnify its officers and Directors of the Fund with respect thereto.
Each Agreement identifies the Advisor as the exclusive licensee of the rights to use and sublicense the names “Scudder,” “Scudder Investments” and “Scudder, Stevens and Clark, Inc.” (together, the “Scudder Marks”). Under this license, the Corporation, with respect to a Fund, has the non-exclusive right to use and sublicense the Scudder name and marks as part of its name, and to use the Scudder Marks in the Corporation’s investment products and services. The term “Scudder Investments” is the designation given to the services provided by the Advisor and its affiliates to Scudder Mutual Funds.
In reviewing the terms of each Agreement and in discussions with the Advisor concerning such Agreement, the Directors of the Corporation who are not “interested persons” of the Advisor are represented by independent counsel at the Funds’ expense.
Each Agreement provides that the Advisor shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by a Fund in connection with matters to which the Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from
28
Table of Contents
willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Advisor in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by the Advisor of its obligations and duties under the Agreement.
Officers and employees of the Advisor from time to time may have transactions with various banks, including the Funds’ custodian bank. It is the Advisor’s opinion that the terms and conditions of those transactions which have occurred were not influenced by existing or potential custodial or other Fund relationships.
Scudder Global Fund. Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.445% for each of Class AARP and Class S shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.46% and 1.461% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Scudder International Fund. Through February 28, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.34% and 1.24% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, trustee and trustee counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
In addition, effective March 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the Advisor has agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.305% and 1.105% for Class AARP and Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
AARP through its affiliate, AARP Services, Inc. monitors and oversees the AARP Investment Program from Scudder Investments, but does not act as an investment advisor or recommend specific mutual funds. The advisor has agreed to pay a fee to AARP and/or its affiliates in return for the use of the AARP trademark and services relating to investments by AARP members in AARP Class shares of each fund. This fee is calculated on a daily basis as a percentage of the combined net assets of the AARP Classes of all funds managed by the advisor. The fee rates, which decrease as the aggregate net assets of the AARP Classes become larger, are as follows: 0.07% for the first $6 billion in net assets, 0.06% for the next $10 billion and 0.05% thereafter. These amounts are used for the general purposes of AARP and its members.
Scudder Global Fund: Board Considerations — Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements
The Fund’s Directors approved the continuation of Scudder Global Fund’s current investment management agreement with DeIM in September 2005.
29
Table of Contents
In terms of the process the Directors followed prior to approving the contract, shareholders should know that:
• | At the present time, all of your Fund’s Directors — including the chair of the board — are independent of DeIM and its affiliates. |
• | The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. |
• | The Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. |
DeIM and its predecessors (Deutsche Bank acquired Scudder in 2002) have managed the Fund since inception, and the Directors believe that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interest of shareholders. As you may know, DeIM is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Directors believe that there are significant advantages to being part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.
Shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, but the Fund’s Directors consider these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DeIM’s personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures. The Directors note approvingly that DeIM has worked with them to implement new, forward-looking policies and procedures in many important areas, such as those involving brokerage commissions and so-called “soft dollars”, even when not obligated to do so by law or regulation.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Fund’s current investment management agreement, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:
• | The investment management fee schedule for the Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisers by similar funds, the Directors noted that the fee rates paid by the Fund (Class S shares) were higher than the median (4th quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe as of December 31, 2004. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the investment services being provided to the Fund. |
• | The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows. In this regard, the Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels. |
• | The total operating expenses of the Fund, including relative to the Fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper. In this regard, the Board noted that the total expenses of the Fund (Class S shares) for the year ending December 31, 2004 were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of the Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. |
• | The investment performance of the Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board noted that for the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s performance (Class S shares) was in the 1st quartile, 2nd quartile and 1st quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also observed that the Fund has |
30
Table of Contents
outperformed its benchmark in the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance.
• | The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreement, including the scope of services provided under the agreement. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. |
• | The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Fund (and, separately, to the entire Scudder fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, Deutsche Asset Management’s overall profitability with respect to the Scudder fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available. |
• | The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process. |
• | DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Fund against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board, (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by Deutsche Asset Management to compliance matters. |
• | Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Fund and its shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth of its U.S. mutual fund business, the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups. |
31
Table of Contents
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue the Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such agreement was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current agreement.
Scudder International Fund: Board Considerations — Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements
The Fund’s Directors approved the continuation of Scudder International Fund’s current investment management agreement with DeIM in September 2005.
In terms of the process the Directors followed prior to approving the contract, shareholders should know that:
• | At the present time, all of your Fund’s Directors — including the chair of the board — are independent of DeIM and its affiliates. |
• | The Directors meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Directors dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. |
• | The Directors regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. |
DeIM and its predecessors (Deutsche Bank acquired Scudder in 2002) have managed the Fund since inception, and the Directors believe that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious adviser is in the best interest of shareholders. As you may know, DeIM is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Directors believe that there are significant advantages to being part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.
Shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, but the Fund’s Directors consider these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DeIM’s personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures. The Directors note approvingly that DeIM has worked with them to implement new, forward-looking policies and procedures in many important areas, such as those involving brokerage commissions and so-called “soft dollars”, even when not obligated to do so by law or regulation.
In determining to approve the continuation of the Fund’s current investment management agreement, the Board considered factors that it believes relevant to the interests of Fund shareholders, including:
• | The investment management fee schedule for the Fund, including (i) comparative information provided by Lipper regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisers by similar funds and (ii) fee rates paid to DeIM by similar funds and institutional accounts advised by DeIM. With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisers by similar funds, the Directors noted that the fee rates paid by the Fund (Class S shares) were lower than the median (2nd quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe as of December 31, 2004. The Board gave only limited consideration to fees paid by similar institutional accounts advised by DeIM, in light of the material differences in the scope of services provided to mutual funds as compared to those provided to institutional accounts. Taking into account the foregoing, the Board concluded that the fee schedule in effect for the Fund represents reasonable compensation in light of the nature, extent and quality of the investment services being provided to the Fund. |
• | The extent to which economies of scale would be realized as the Fund grows. In this regard, the Board noted that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule includes fee breakpoints. The Board concluded |
32
Table of Contents
that the Fund’s fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between Fund shareholders and DeIM of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels.
• | The total operating expenses of the Fund, including relative to the Fund’s peer group as determined by Lipper. In this regard, the Board noted that the total expenses of the Fund (Class S shares) for the year ending December 31, 2004 were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also considered that the various expense limitations agreed to by DeIM effectively limit the ability of the Fund to experience a material increase in total expenses prior to the Board’s next annual review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements, and also serve to ensure that the Fund’s total operating expenses would be competitive relative to the applicable Lipper universe. |
• | The investment performance of the Fund and DeIM, both absolute and relative to various benchmarks and industry peer groups. The Board noted that for the one, three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005, the Fund’s performance (Class S shares) was in the 1st quartile, 3rd quartile and 3rd quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe. The Board also observed that the Fund has outperformed its benchmark in the one year period ended June 30, 2005, and has underperformed its benchmark in the three and five year periods ended June 30, 2005. The Board recognized that DeIM has made significant changes in its investment personnel and processes in recent years in an effort to improve long-term performance. |
• | The nature, extent and quality of the advisory services provided by DeIM. The Board considered extensive information regarding DeIM, including DeIM’s personnel (including particularly those personnel with responsibilities for providing services to the Fund), resources, policies and investment processes. The Board also considered the terms of the current investment management agreement, including the scope of services provided under the agreement. In this regard, the Board concluded that the quality and range of services provided by DeIM have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders. |
• | The costs of the services to, and profits realized by, DeIM and its affiliates from their relationships with the Fund. The Board reviewed information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by DeIM during 2004 from providing investment management services to the Fund (and, separately, to the entire Scudder fund complex), and reviewed with DeIM the cost allocation methodology used to determine DeIM’s profitability. In analyzing DeIM’s costs and profits, the Board also reviewed the fees paid to and services provided by DeIM and its affiliates with respect to administrative services, fund accounting, shareholder servicing and distribution (including fees paid pursuant to 12b-1 plans). As part of this review, the Board considered information provided by an independent accounting firm engaged to review DeIM’s cost allocation methodology and calculations. The Board concluded that the Fund’s investment management fee schedule represented reasonable compensation in light of the costs incurred by DeIM and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited, Deutsche Asset Management’s overall profitability with respect to the Scudder fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DeIM and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available. |
• | The practices of DeIM regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers executing portfolio transactions for the Fund, including DeIM’s soft dollar practices. In this regard, the Board observed that DeIM had voluntarily terminated the practice of allocating brokerage commissions to acquire research services from third-party service providers. The Board indicated that it would continue to monitor the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage to ensure that the principle of “best price and execution” remains paramount in the portfolio trading process. |
• | DeIM’s commitment to and record of compliance, including its written compliance policies and procedures. In this regard, the Board considered DeIM’s commitment to indemnify the Fund against any costs and liabilities related to lawsuits or regulatory actions making allegations regarding market timing, revenue sharing, fund valuation or other subjects arising from or relating to pending regulatory inquiries. |
33
Table of Contents
The Board also considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DeIM to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DeIM’s chief compliance officer, who reports to the Board, (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DeIM’s chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by Deutsche Asset Management to compliance matters.
• | Deutsche Bank’s commitment to restructuring and growing its U.S. mutual fund business. The Board considered recent and ongoing efforts by Deutsche Bank to restructure its U.S. mutual fund business to improve efficiency and competitiveness and to reduce compliance and operational risk. The Board considered assurances received from Deutsche Bank that it would commit the resources necessary to maintain high quality services to the Fund and its shareholders while various organizational initiatives are being implemented. The Board also considered Deutsche Bank’s strategic plans for investing in the growth of its U.S. mutual fund business, the potential benefits to Fund shareholders and Deutsche Bank’s management of the DWS fund group, one of Europe’s most successful fund groups. |
Based on all of the foregoing, the Board determined to continue the Fund’s current investment management agreement, and concluded that the continuation of such agreement was in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders.
In reaching this conclusion the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, many of which were in executive session with only the Independent Directors and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Directors may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the current agreement.
Subadvisor — Scudder International Fund. Prior to September 30, 2005, Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Ltd. (“DeAMIS”) was Scudder International Fund’s subadvisor. On July 7, 2005, Deutsche Bank AG, the parent company of Scudder International Fund’s investment advisor, entered into an agreement (the “Transaction”) with Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen”) to sell parts of its asset management business based in London and Philadelphia. As part of the Transaction, DeAMIS was sold to Aberdeen. The fund’s Board allowed the subadvisory agreement with DeAMIS, due for renewal on September 30, 2005, to expire and only the advisory agreement with DeIM was approved for continuation. Aberdeen will play no role in managing Scudder International Fund.
From August 14, 2000 for Scudder International Fund and September 11, 2000, for Scudder Global Fund, until March 31, 2004, each Fund operated under an administrative services agreement with the Advisor (the “Administrative Agreement”) pursuant to which the Advisor provided or paid others to provide substantially all of the administrative services required by the Fund (other than those provided by the Advisor under its investment management agreement with the Fund, as described above) in exchange for the payment by the Fund of an administrative services fee (the “Administrative Fee”). Effective January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, Scudder Global Fund paid an Administrative Fee of 0.470% for Class AARP and Class S shares, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. Effective January 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, Scudder International Fund paid an Administrative Fee of 0.665% for Class AARP shares and 0.565% for Class S shares, of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. Prior to January 1, 2003, each Fund paid 0.375% for Class AARP and Class S of the average daily net assets of the applicable class.
The Administrative Agreement between the Advisor and each Fund terminated March 31, 2004. Effective April 1, 2004, each Fund directly bears the cost of those expenses formerly covered under the Administrative Agreement, subject to the Advisor’s contractual obligation to waive fees and reimburse expenses to maintain the Fund’s operating expenses at a specified level, as noted above and disclosed in the applicable prospectus.
34
Table of Contents
Scudder Global Fund
For the period September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, the Administrative Fee paid by the Fund was $2,412,814, of which $427 and $12,751 for Class AARP and Class S, respectively, were not imposed as of August 31, 2004. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, the Administrative Fee paid by the Fund was $3,426,329.
Scudder International Fund
For the period September 1, 2003 through March 31, 2004, the Administrative Fee paid by the Fund was $6,145,072. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, the Administrative Fee paid by the Fund was $9,209,992.
AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program
Pursuant to an agreement between the Advisor and AMA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Medical Association (the “AMA”), dated May 9, 1997, the Advisor has agreed, subject to applicable state regulations, to pay AMA Solutions, Inc. royalties in an amount equal to 5% of the management fee received by the Advisor with respect to assets invested by AMA members in Scudder funds in connection with the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program. The Advisor will also pay AMA Solutions, Inc. a general monthly fee, currently in the amount of $833. The AMA and AMA Solutions, Inc. are not engaged in the business of providing investment advice and neither is registered as an investment advisor or broker-dealer under federal securities laws. Any person who participates in the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program will be a customer of the Advisor (or of a subsidiary thereof) and not the AMA or AMA Solutions, Inc. AMA InvestmentLink(SM) is a service mark of AMA Solutions, Inc.
Codes of Ethics
The Funds, the Advisor, the Subadvisor, and the Funds’ principal underwriter have each adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Board members, officers of the Corporations and employees of the Advisor and principal underwriter are permitted to make personal securities transactions, including transactions in securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, subject to requirements and restrictions set forth in the applicable Code of Ethics. The Advisor’s Code of Ethics contains provisions and requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest between personal investment activities and the interests of the Funds. Among other things, the Advisor’s Code of Ethics prohibits certain types of transactions absent prior approval, imposes time periods during which personal transactions may not be made in certain securities, and requires the submission of duplicate broker confirmations and quarterly reporting of securities transactions. Additional restrictions apply to portfolio managers, traders, research analysts and others involved in the investment advisory process. Exceptions to these and other provisions of the Advisor’s Code of Ethics may be granted in particular circumstances after review by appropriate personnel.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers
The Funds have been advised that the Advisor seeks to offer its investment professionals competitive short-term and long-term compensation. Portfolio managers and research professionals are paid (i) base salaries, which are linked to job function, responsibilities and financial services industry peer comparison and (ii) variable compensation, which is linked to investment performance, individual contributions to the team and Scudder Investments’ and Deutsche Bank’s financial results. Variable compensation may include a cash bonus incentive and participation in a variety of long-term equity programs (usually in the form of Deutsche Bank equity).
Bonus and long-term incentives comprise a greater proportion of total compensation as an investment professional’s seniority and compensation levels increase. Top performing investment professionals earn a total compensation package that is highly competitive, including a bonus that is a multiple of their base salary. The amount of equity awarded under the long-term equity programs is generally based on the individual’s total compensation package and
35
Table of Contents
may comprise from 0%-40% of the total compensation award. As incentive compensation increases, the percentage of compensation awarded in Deutsche Bank equity also increases. Certain senior investment professionals may be subject to a mandatory diverting of a portion of their equity compensation into proprietary mutual funds that they manage.
To evaluate its investment professionals, the Advisor uses a Performance Management Process. Objectives evaluated by the process are related to investment performance and generally take into account peer group and benchmark related data. The ultimate goal of this process is to link the performance of investment professionals with client investment objectives and to deliver investment performance that meets or exceeds clients’ risk and return objectives. When determining total compensation, the Advisor considers a number of quantitative and qualitative factors such as:
• | Scudder Investments’ performance and the performance of Deutsche Asset Management; quantitative measures which include 1-, 3- and 5-year pre-tax returns versus benchmark (such as the benchmark used in the prospectus) and appropriate peer group, taking into consideration risk targets. Additionally, the portfolio manager’s retail/institutional asset mix is weighted, as appropriate for evaluation purposes. |
• | Qualitative measures include adherence to the investment process and individual contributions to the process, among other things. In addition, the Advisor assesses compliance, risk management and teamwork skills. |
• | Other factors, including contributions made to the investment team as well as adherence to compliance, risk management, and “living the values” of the Advisor, are part of a discretionary component which gives management the ability to reward these behaviors on a subjective basis through bonus incentives. |
In addition, the Advisor analyzes competitive compensation levels through the use of extensive market data surveys. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed and may be modified each year as appropriate to reflect changes in the market, as well as to adjust the factors used to determine overall compensation to promote good sustained investment performance.
Fund Ownership of Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar range of shares owned beneficially and of record by each member of each Fund’s portfolio management team in a Fund as well as in all Scudder Funds as a group (i.e., those funds advised by Deutsche Asset Management or its affiliates), including investments by their immediate family members sharing the same household and amounts invested through retirement and deferred compensation plans. This information is provided as of each Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
Name of Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned | Dollar Range of All Scudder Fund Shares Owned | ||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | $0 | $100,001 - $500,000 | ||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | $100,001 - $ 500,000 | $100,001 - $500,000 |
Conflicts of Interest. In addition to managing the assets of a Fund, a Fund’s portfolio manager may have responsibility for managing other client accounts of the Advisor or its affiliates. The tables below show, for each portfolio manager, the number and asset size of (1) SEC registered investment companies (or series thereof) other than the Fund, (2) pooled investment vehicles that are not registered investment companies and (3) other accounts (e.g., accounts managed for individuals or organizations) managed by each portfolio manager. The tables also show the number of performance based fee accounts, as well as the total assets of the accounts for which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account. For Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund), this information is provided as of October 3, 2005. For Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund), this information is provided as of Scudder Global Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
36
Table of Contents
Other SEC Registered Investment Companies Managed:
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Registered Investment Companies | Total Assets of Registered Investment Companies | Number of Investment Company Accounts with Performance- Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | 4 | $ | 2,217,508,827 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 15 | $ | 1,698,865,334 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed: | ||||||||||
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Total Assets of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicle Accounts with Performance-Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance- Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | 3 | $ | 106,841,706 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 6 | $ | 686,046,399 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Other Accounts Managed: | ||||||||||
Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Other Accounts | Total Assets of Other Accounts | Number of Other Accounts with Performance- Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | ||||||
Matthias Knerr (Scudder International Fund) | 4 | $ | 827,756,486 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Oliver Kratz (Scudder Global Fund) | 8 | $ | 1,020,576,336 | 0 | $ | 0 |
In addition to the accounts above, an investment professional may manage accounts in a personal capacity that may include holdings that are similar to, or the same as, those of the Funds. The Advisor has in place a Code of Ethics that is designed to address conflicts of interest and that, among other things, imposes restrictions on the ability of portfolio managers and other “access persons” to invest in securities that may be recommended or traded in the funds and other client accounts.
Real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day portfolio management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or account, including the following:
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor, including other client accounts managed by a Fund’s portfolio manager. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. A particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, because clients of the Advisor may have differing investment strategies, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. The investment results achieved for the Fund may differ from the results achieved for other clients of the Advisor. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be most equitable to each client, generally utilizing a pro rata allocation methodology. In some cases, the allocation
37
Table of Contents
procedure could potentially have an adverse effect or positive effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund and the other clients.
To the extent that a portfolio manager has responsibilities for managing multiple client accounts, a portfolio manager will need to divide time and attention among relevant accounts. The Advisor attempts to minimize these conflicts by aligning its portfolio management teams by investment strategy and by employing similar investment models across multiple client accounts.
In some cases, an apparent conflict may arise where the Advisor has an incentive, such as a performance-based fee, in managing one account and not with respect to other accounts it manages. The Advisor will not determine allocations based on whether it receives a performance-based fee from the client. Additionally, the Advisor has in place supervisory oversight processes to periodically monitor performance deviations for accounts with like strategies.
The Advisor is owned by Deutsche Bank AG, a multi-national financial services company. Therefore, the Advisor is affiliated with a variety of entities that provide, and/or engage in commercial banking, insurance, brokerage, investment banking, financial advisory, broker-dealer activities (including sales and trading), hedge funds, real estate and private equity investing, in addition to the provision of investment management services to institutional and individual investors. Since Deutsche Bank AG, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees (the “Firm”) are engaged in businesses and have interests other than managing asset management accounts, such other activities involve real, potential or apparent conflicts of interests. These interests and activities include potential advisory, transactional and financial activities and other interests in securities and companies that may be directly or indirectly purchased or sold by the Firm for its clients’ advisory accounts. These are considerations of which advisory clients should be aware and which may cause conflicts that could be to the disadvantage of the Advisor’s advisory clients. The Advisor has instituted business and compliance policies, procedures and disclosures that are designed to identify, monitor and mitigate conflicts of interest and, as appropriate, to report them to the Funds’ Boards.
The Corporations, on behalf of the Funds, have an underwriting agreement with Scudder Distributors, Inc., 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (the “Distributor” or “SDI”), a Massachusetts corporation, which is a subsidiary of the Advisor, a Delaware corporation. The Corporations’ underwriting agreements dated April 5, 2002 were last approved by the Directors on September 30, 2005 and will remain in effect from year to year thereafter only if their continuance is approved annually by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not parties to such agreement or interested persons of any such party and either by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors or a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund.
Under the underwriting agreement, each Fund is responsible for the payment of all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing with the SEC of its registration statement and prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto; the registration and qualification of shares for sale in the various states, including registering each Fund as a broker or dealer in various states, as required; the fees and expenses of preparing, printing and mailing prospectuses annually to existing shareholders (see below for expenses relating to prospectuses paid by the Distributor); notices, proxy statements, reports or other communications to shareholders of each Fund; the cost of printing and mailing confirmations of purchases of shares and any prospectuses accompanying such confirmations; any issuance taxes and/or any initial transfer taxes; a portion of shareholder toll-free telephone charges and expenses of shareholder service representatives; the cost of wiring funds for share purchases and redemptions (unless paid by the shareholder who initiates the transaction); the cost of printing and postage of business reply envelopes; and a portion of the cost of computer terminals used by both the Funds and the Distributor.
The Distributor will pay for printing and distributing prospectuses or reports prepared for its use in connection with the offering of each Fund’s shares to the public and preparing, printing and mailing any other literature or advertising in connection with the offering of shares of each Fund to the public. The Distributor will pay all fees and
38
Table of Contents
expenses in connection with its qualification and registration as a broker or dealer under federal and state laws, a portion of the cost of toll-free telephone service and expenses of shareholder service representatives, a portion of the cost of computer terminals, and expenses of any activity which is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares issued by each Fund, unless a Rule 12b-1 Plan is in effect which provides that a Fund shall bear some or all of such expenses.
Although neither Class AARP nor Class S shares of each Fund has a 12b-1 Plan, and the Directors have no current intention of adopting one, the Funds will also pay those fees and expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the Corporation pursuant to a 12b-1 Plan, if any, adopted by the Corporation, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary in the underwriting agreement.
The Distributor currently offers shares of each Fund on a continuous basis to investors in all states in which shares of each Fund may from time to time be registered or where permitted by applicable law. The underwriting agreement provides that the Distributor accepts orders for shares at net asset value as no sales commission or load is charged to the investor. The Distributor has made no firm commitment to acquire shares of each Fund.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The financial highlights of each Fund included in the Funds’ prospectus and the Financial Statements incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information have been so included or incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110, independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers audits the financial statements of the Funds and provides other audit, tax and related services. Shareholders will receive annual audited financial statements and semi-annual unaudited financial statements.
Ropes & Gray, LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-2624, serves as legal counsel to each Fund and the Independent Directors of each Fund.
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation (“SFAC”), Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, a subsidiary of the Advisor, is responsible for determining net asset value per share and maintaining the portfolio and general accounting records for the Funds. Pursuant to a sub-accounting and sub-administration agreement among the Advisor, SFAC and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”), SFAC and the Advisor have delegated certain administrative and fund accounting functions to SSB under the investment management agreement and the fund accounting agreement, respectively. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by the Advisor and SFAC, not by a Fund.
Effective upon termination of the Administrative Agreement, the Funds pay SFAC an annual fee equal to 0.065% of the first $150 million of average daily net assets, 0.040% of such assets in excess of $150 million and 0.020% of such assets in excess of $1 billion, plus holding and transaction charges for this service.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged to Global Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $339,742, all of which is unpaid at August 31, 2004.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged to International Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $267,597, all of which is unpaid at August 31, 2004.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to Global Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $411,295, of which $28,957 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
39
Table of Contents
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to International Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $531,757, of which $4,983 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
Prior to April 1, 2004, the service provider fees outlined above were paid by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Brown Brothers Harriman & Company (“Custodian”), 40 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109 serves as Custodian to the Funds. The Custodian has entered into agreements with foreign subcustodians approved by the Directors of the Corporation pursuant to Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act.
Custodian’s fee may be reduced by certain earnings credits in favor of each Fund.
Scudder Service Corporation (“Service Corporation” or “SSC”), P.O. Box 219669, Kansas City, Missouri, 64121-9669, a subsidiary of the Advisor, is the transfer and dividend-disbursing agent for each Fund. Service Corporation also serves as shareholder service agent for each Fund and provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services for shareholder accounts in certain retirement and employee benefit plans. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between SISC and DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”), SSC has delegated certain transfer agent and dividend paying agent functions to DST. The costs and expenses of such delegation are born by SSC, not by the Funds. Each Fund pays Service Corporation an annual fee of $26 for each regular account for a shareholder and $29 for each retirement account maintained for a participant.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged by SSC aggregated $142,775 (of which $32,674 was not imposed and $53,721 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class AARP shares and $493,225 (of which $224,209 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class S shares of Scudder Global Fund.
For the period April 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004, the amount charged by SSC aggregated $56,993 (of which $9,331 was not imposed and $14,195 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class AARP shares and $1,091,202 (of which $443,704 was unpaid at August 31, 2004) for Class S shares of Scudder International Fund.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged by SSC aggregated $336,853 (of which $76,628 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class AARP shares and $875,302 (of which $239,145 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class S shares of Scudder Global Fund.
For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged by SSC aggregated $134,702 (of which $30,603 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class AARP shares and $2,145,604 (of which $585,404 was unpaid at August 31, 2005) for Class S shares of Scudder International Fund.
Prior to April 1, 2004, the service provider fees outlined above were paid by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Each Fund, or the Advisor (including any affiliate of the Advisor), or both, may pay unaffiliated third parties for providing recordkeeping and other administrative services with respect to accounts of participants in retirement plans or other beneficial owners of Fund shares whose interests are generally held in an omnibus account.
Retirement Service Provider. Scudder Trust Company, an affiliate of the Advisor, provides subaccounting and recordkeeping services for shareholder accounts in certain retirement and employee benefit plans invested in the Funds. Annual service fees are paid by each Fund to Scudder Trust Company, 11 Northeastern Boulevard, Salem, NH 03079 for such accounts. Each Fund pays Scudder Trust Company an annual fee of $29 per shareholder account.
40
Table of Contents
Prior to April 30, 2004, the foregoing costs were borne by the Advisor in accordance with the Administrative Agreement.
Pursuant to an agreement between STC and ADP, STC has delegated certain of these sub-accounting and recordkeeping services to ADP. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by STC, not by the Funds.
The Advisor is generally responsible for placing the orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, including the allocation of brokerage.
The policy of the Advisor in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the Fund is to seek best execution, taking into account such factors, among others, as price; commission (where applicable); the broker-dealer’s ability to ensure that securities will be delivered on settlement date; the willingness of the broker-dealer to commit its capital and purchase a thinly traded security for its own inventory; whether the broker-dealer specializes in block orders or large program trades; the broker-dealer’s knowledge of the market and the security; the broker-dealer’s ability to maintain confidentiality; the financial condition of the broker-dealer; and whether the broker-dealer has the infrastructure and operational capabilities to execute and settle the trade. The Advisor seeks to evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions with commissions charged on comparable transactions and compares the brokerage commissions (if any) paid by the Fund to reported commissions paid by others. The Advisor routinely reviews commission rates, execution and settlement services performed and makes internal and external comparisons.
Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on US securities exchanges are subject to negotiation. Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on foreign securities exchanges are generally fixed. Purchases and sales of fixed-income securities and other over-the-counter securities are effected on a net basis, without the payment of brokerage commissions. Transactions in fixed income and other over-the-counter securities are generally placed by the Advisor with the principal market makers for these securities unless the Advisor reasonably believes more favorable results are available elsewhere. Transactions with dealers serving as market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. Purchases of underwritten issues will include an underwriting fee paid to the underwriter. Money market instruments are normally purchased in principal transactions directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker.
It is likely that the broker-dealers selected based on the considerations described in this section will include firms that also sell shares of the Fund to their customers. However, the Advisor does not consider sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund and, accordingly, has implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent its traders from considering sales of shares of the Fund as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the Fund.
The Advisor is permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), when placing portfolio transactions for the Fund, to cause the Fund to pay brokerage commissions in excess of that which another broker-dealer might charge for executing the same transaction in order to obtain research and brokerage services. The Advisor, however, does not as a matter of policy execute transactions with broker-dealers for the Fund in order to obtain research from such broker-dealers that is prepared by third parties (i.e., “third party research”). However, the Advisor may from time to time, in reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, obtain proprietary research prepared by the executing broker-dealer in connection with a transaction or transactions through that broker-dealer (i.e., “proprietary research”). Consistent with the Advisor’s policy regarding best execution, where more than one broker is believed to be capable of providing best execution for a particular trade, the Advisor may take into consideration the receipt of proprietary research in selecting the broker-dealer to execute the trade. Proprietary research provided by broker-dealers may include, but is not limited to, information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations, political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance analysis and measurement and analysis of corporate responsibility issues. Proprietary research is typically received in the form of written reports, telephone
41
Table of Contents
contacts and personal meetings with security analysts, but may also be provided in the form of access to various computer software and associated hardware, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry representatives.
In reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Advisor may also select broker-dealers and obtain from them brokerage services in the form of software and/or hardware that is used in connection with executing trades. Typically, this computer software and/or hardware is used by the Advisor to facilitate trading activity with those broker-dealers.
Proprietary research and brokerage services received from a broker-dealer chosen to execute a particular trade may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to clients other than the Fund making the trade, and not all such information is used by the Advisor in connection with the Fund. Conversely, such information provided to the Advisor by broker-dealers through which other clients of the Advisor effect securities transactions may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to the Fund.
The Advisor will monitor regulatory developments and market practice in the use of client commissions to obtain research and brokerage services, whether proprietary or third party.
Investment decisions for the Fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Advisor are made independently of each other in light of differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable. To the extent permitted by law, the Advisor may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for the Fund with those to be sold or purchased for other accounts in executing transactions. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and commission and allocated as to amount in a manner deemed equitable to each account. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect on the price paid or received by, or on the size of the position obtained or disposed of for, the Fund, in other cases it is believed that the ability to engage in volume transactions will be beneficial to the Fund.
Deutsche Bank AG or one of its affiliates may act as a broker for the Fund and receive brokerage commissions or other transaction-related compensation from the Fund in the purchase and sale of securities, options or futures contracts when, in the judgment of the Advisor, and in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board, the affiliated broker will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as those obtained from other qualified brokers and if, in the transaction, the affiliated broker charges the Fund a rate consistent with that charged to comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions.
Scudder Global Fund: For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2003, August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $2,111,176, $2,263,000 and $1,881,808, respectively.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of August 31, 2005 | ||
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB | $ | 14,306,000 | |
Citigroup Inc. | $ | 12,995,000 | |
Bangkok Bank PLC | $ | 7,265,000 | |
DBS Group Holdings Ltd. | $ | 6,420,000 | |
JP Morgan Chase & Co. | $ | 6,310,000 | |
Banco Bradesco S.A. | $ | 4,113,000 | |
Mega Financial Holdings Co., Ltd. | $ | 4,926,000 |
Scudder International Fund: For the fiscal years ended August 31, 2003, August 31, 2004 and August 31, 2005 the Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $7,286,366, $2,035,000 and $3,601,297, respectively.
42
Table of Contents
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of August 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of | ||
Toyota Motor Corp. | $ | 34,534,000 | |
HSBC Holdings PLC | $ | 29,685,000 | |
Banca Intesa Spa | $ | 26,105,000 | |
BNP Paribas SA | $ | 21,705,000 | |
ING Groep NV | $ | 20,447,000 | |
Alpha Bank AE | $ | 12,993,000 | |
Australia & New Zealand Group, Ltd. | $ | 15,995,000 |
Name of Fund | Percentage of Paid to Brokers | Percentage of Involving Paid to Affiliated | Dollar Amount of Paid to Brokers for | ||||||
Scudder Global Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 | |||
Scudder International Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 |
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio turnover rate is defined by the SEC as the ratio of the lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of such securities owned during the year, excluding all securities whose remaining maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less.
Higher levels of activity by a Fund result in higher transaction costs and may also result in taxes on realized capital gains to be borne by the Fund’s shareholders. Purchases and sales are made whenever necessary, in the Advisor’s discretion, to meet a Fund’s objective.
Portfolio turnover rates for the two most recent fiscal periods are as follows:
2005 | 2004 | |||||
Scudder Global Fund | 54 | % | 81 | % | ||
Scudder International Fund | 57 | % | 82 | % |
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
General Information
Policies and procedures affecting transactions in Fund shares can be changed at any time without notice, subject to applicable law. Transactions may be contingent upon proper completion of application forms and other documents by shareholders and their receipt by the Fund’s agents. Transaction delays in processing (and changing account features) due to circumstances within or beyond the control of the Fund and its agents may occur. Shareholders (or their financial service firms) are responsible for all losses and fees resulting from bad checks, cancelled orders or the failure to consummate transactions effected pursuant to instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.
A distribution will be reinvested in shares of the same Fund and class if the distribution check is returned as undeliverable.
43
Table of Contents
Orders will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value of the Fund next determined after receipt in good order by SDI of the order accompanied by payment. Orders received by dealers or other financial services firms prior to the determination of net asset value and received in good order by SDI prior to the determination of net asset value will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value next determined after receipt by SDI (“trade date”).
Additional Minimum Balance Policies. For fiduciary accounts such as IRAs, and custodial accounts such as Uniform Gifts to Minor Act and Uniform Transfers to Minor Act accounts, the minimum balance is $1,000 for Class S and $500 for Class AARP. A shareholder may open an account with at least $1,000 ($500 for fiduciary/custodial accounts), if an automatic investment plan (AIP) of $50/month is established. Scudder group retirement plans and certain other accounts have similar or lower minimum share balance requirements.
Reductions in value that result solely from market activity will not trigger an annual fee or involuntary redemption. Shareholders with a combined household account balance in any of the Scudder Funds of $100,000 or more, as well as group retirement and certain other accounts will not be subject to a fee or automatic redemption.
Fiduciary (e.g., IRA or Roth IRA) and custodial accounts (e.g., UGMA or UTMA) with balances below $100 are subject to automatic redemption following 60 days’ written notice to applicable shareholders.
Certificates. Share certificates will not be issued. Share certificates now in a shareholder’s possession may be sent to Service Corporation for cancellation and book-entry credit to such shareholder’s account. Certain telephone and other procedures require book-entry holdings. Shareholders with outstanding certificates bear the risk of loss.
Use of Financial Services Firms. Investment dealers and other firms provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem a Fund’s shares, including higher minimum investments, and may assess transaction or other fees. Firms may arrange with their clients for other investment or administrative services. Such firms may independently establish and charge additional amounts to their clients for such services. Firms also may hold the Funds’ shares in nominee or street name as agent for and on behalf of their customers. In such instances, Service Corporation will have no information with respect to or control over the accounts of specific shareholders. Such shareholders may obtain access to their accounts and information about their accounts only from their firm. Certain of these firms may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for record-keeping and other expenses relating to these nominee accounts. In addition, certain privileges with respect to the purchase and redemption of shares or the reinvestment of dividends may not be available through such firms. Some firms may participate in a program allowing them access to their clients’ accounts for servicing including, without limitation, transfers of registration and dividend payee changes; and may perform functions such as generation of confirmation statements and disbursement of cash dividends. Such firms, including affiliates of SDI, may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for these services.
Telephone and Electronic Transaction Procedures. Shareholders have various telephone, Internet, wire and other electronic privileges available. A Fund or its agents may be liable for any losses, expenses or costs arising out of fraudulent or unauthorized instructions pursuant to these privileges unless a Fund or its agents reasonably believe, based upon reasonable verification procedures, that the instructions were genuine. Verification procedures include recording instructions, requiring certain identifying information before acting upon instructions and sending written confirmations. During periods when it is difficult to contact the Shareholder Service Agent, it may be difficult to use telephone, wire and other privileges.
QuickBuy and QuickSell. QuickBuy and QuickSell permits the transfer of money via the Automated Clearing House System (minimum $50 and maximum $250,000) from or to a shareholder’s bank, savings and loan, or credit union account in connection with the purchase or redemption of Fund shares. Shares purchased by check or through QuickBuy and QuickSell or Direct Deposit may not be redeemed under this privilege until such Shares have been owned for at least 10 calendar days. QuickBuy and QuickSell cannot be used with passbook savings accounts or for certain tax-deferred plans such as IRAs.
Direct Distributions Program. Investors may have dividends and distributions automatically deposited to their predesignated bank account through Scudder’s Direct Distributions Program. Shareholders who elect to participate in the Direct Distributions Program, and whose predesignated checking account of record is with a member bank of
44
Table of Contents
Automated Clearing House Network (ACH) can have income and capital gain distributions automatically deposited to their personal bank account usually within three business days after a Fund pays its distribution. A Direct Distributions request form can be obtained by calling 1-800-SCUDDER for Class S and 1-800-253-2277 for Class AARP. Confirmation Statements will be mailed to shareholders as notification that distributions have been deposited.
Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. The Shareholder Service Agent provides retirement plan services and documents and SDI can establish investor accounts in any of the following types of retirement plans:
• | Traditional, Roth and Education IRAs. This includes Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (“SIMPLE”), Simplified Employee Pension Plan (“SEP”) IRA accounts and prototype documents. |
• | 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts. This type of plan is available to employees of most non-profit organizations. |
• | Prototype money purchase pension and profit-sharing plans may be adopted by employers. |
Brochures describing these plans as well as model defined benefit plans, target benefit plans, 457 plans, 401(k) plans, simple 401(k) plans and materials for establishing them are available from the Shareholder Service Agent upon request. Additional fees and transaction policies and procedures may apply to such plans. Investors should consult with their own tax advisors before establishing a retirement plan.
Purchases
The Funds reserve the right to withdraw all or any part of the offering made by its prospectus and to reject purchase orders for any reason. Also, from time to time, the Funds may temporarily suspend the offering of any class of their shares to new investors. During the period of such suspension, persons who are already shareholders of such class of such Fund may be permitted to continue to purchase additional shares of such class and to have dividends reinvested.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. For more information, please see “Policies You Should Know About” in the fund prospectus.
The Funds may waive the minimum for purchases by trustees, directors, officers or employees of the Fund or the Advisor and its affiliates. Fees generally charged to IRA accounts will be charged to accounts of employees and directors.
Clients having a regular investment counsel account with the Advisor or its affiliates and members of their immediate families, officers and employees of the Advisor or of any affiliated organization and members of their immediate families, members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) and banks may, if they prefer, subscribe initially for at least $2,500 for Class S and $1,000 for Class AARP through Scudder Investor Services, Inc. by letter, fax, or telephone.
Automatic Investment Plan. A shareholder may purchase shares of a Fund through an automatic investment program. With the Direct Deposit Purchase Plan (“Direct Deposit”), investments are made automatically (minimum $50 and maximum $250,000 for both initial and subsequent investments) from the shareholder’s account at a bank, savings and loan or credit union into the shareholder’s Fund account. Termination by a shareholder will become effective within thirty days after the Shareholder Service Agent has received the request. A Fund may immediately terminate a shareholder’s Direct Deposit in the event that any item is unpaid by the shareholder’s financial institution.
Payroll Investment Plans. A shareholder may purchase shares through Payroll Direct Deposit or Government Direct Deposit. Under these programs, all or a portion of a shareholder’s net pay or government check is invested
45
Table of Contents
each payment period. A shareholder may terminate participation in these programs by giving written notice to the shareholder’s employer or government agency, as appropriate. (A reasonable time to act is required.) A Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the employer or government agency making the payment or any financial institutions transmitting payments.
Expedited Purchase Procedures for Existing Shareholders. Shareholders of other Scudder funds who have submitted an account application and have certified a tax identification number, clients having a regular investment counsel account with the Advisor or its affiliates and members of their immediate families, officers and employees of the Advisor or of any affiliated organization and their immediate families, members of the NASD, and banks may open an account by wire by calling 1-800-SCUDDER for instructions. The investor must send a duly completed and signed application to the Fund promptly. A subsequent purchase order for $10,000 or more that is not greater than four times an account value may be placed by telephone, fax, etc. by established shareholders (except by Scudder Individual Retirement Account (IRA), Scudder Horizon Plan, Scudder Profit Sharing and Money Purchase Pension Plans, Scudder 401(k) and Scudder 403(b) Plan holders), members of the NASD, and banks.
It is our policy to offer purchase privileges to current or former directors or trustees of the Deutsche or Scudder mutual funds, employees, their spouses or life partners and children or step-children age 21 or younger of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates or a sub-adviser to any fund in the Scudder family of funds or a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of the funds. Qualified individuals will generally be allowed to purchase shares in the class with the lowest expense ratio, usually the Institutional Class shares. If a fund does not offer Institutional Class shares, these individuals will be allowed to buy Class A shares at NAV. The funds also reserve the right to waive the minimum account balance requirement for employee and director accounts. Fees generally charged to IRA accounts will be charged to accounts of employees and directors.
After December 31, 2004, Class S shares (and, in the case of Scudder Money Market Series, Premium Class S and Prime Reserve Class S) of each of the funds listed above will no longer be available to new investors except under certain circumstances. Certain investors may purchase Class S shares, as described below.
Eligible Class S Investors.
A. | The following investors may purchase Class S shares of Scudder Funds either (i) directly from Scudder Distributors, Inc. (“SDI”), the Fund’s principal underwriter; or (ii) through an intermediary relationship with a financial services firm established with respect to the Scudder Funds as of December 31, 2004. Investors may not otherwise purchase Class S shares through a broker-dealer, registered investment advisor or other financial services firm. |
1. | Existing shareholders of Class S shares of any Scudder Fund as of December 31, 2004, and household members residing at the same address. |
2. | Shareholders who own Class S shares continuously since December 31, 2004 and household members residing at the same address may open new accounts for Class S shares of any Scudder Fund. |
3. | Any participant who owns Class S shares of any Scudder Fund through an employee sponsored retirement, employee stock, bonus, pension or profit sharing plan continuously since December 31, 2004 may open a new individual account for Class S shares of any Scudder Fund. |
4. | Any participant who owns Class S shares of any Scudder Fund through a retirement, employee stock, bonus, pension or profit sharing plan may complete a direct rollover to an IRA account that will hold Class S shares. This applies to individuals who begin their retirement plan investments with a Scudder Fund at any time, including after December 31, 2004. |
5. | Officers, Fund Trustees and Directors, and full-time employees and their family members, of the Advisor and its affiliates. |
46
Table of Contents
6. | Class S shares are available to any accounts managed by the Advisor, any advisory products offered by the Advisor or SDI and to the Portfolios of Scudder Pathway Series or other fund of funds managed by the Advisor or its affiliates. |
B. | The following additional investors may purchase Class S shares of Scudder Funds. |
1. | Broker-dealers and registered investment advisors (“RIAs”) may purchase Class S shares in connection with a comprehensive or “wrap” fee program or other fee based program. |
2. | Any group retirement, employee stock, bonus, pension or profit-sharing plans. |
SDI may, at its discretion, require appropriate documentation that shows an investor is eligible to purchase Class S shares.
Redemptions
Redemption fee. Each Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value, without regard to the effect of any contingent deferred sales charge; any contingent deferred sales charge is also assessed on the total redemption amount without regard to the assessment of the 2% redemption fee) on all Fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to the Fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last. The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the Fund. For this reason, each Fund has undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s.
A Fund may suspend the right of redemption or delay payment more than seven days (a) during any period when the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or during any period in which trading on the Exchange is restricted, (b) during any period when an emergency exists as a result of which (i) disposal of the Fund’s investments is not reasonably practicable, or (ii) it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to determine the value of its net assets, or (c) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of the Fund’s shareholders.
A request for repurchase (confirmed redemption) may be communicated by a shareholder through a financial services firm to SDI, which firms must promptly submit orders to be effective.
Redemption requests must be unconditional. Redemption requests (and a stock power for certificated shares) must be duly endorsed by the account holder. As specified in the prospectus, signatures may need to be guaranteed by a commercial bank, trust company, savings and loan association, federal savings bank, member firm of a national securities exchange or other financial institution permitted by SEC rule. Additional documentation may be required, particularly from institutional and fiduciary account holders, such as corporations, custodians (e.g., under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), executors, administrators, trustees or guardians.
If the proceeds of the redemption (prior to the imposition of any contingent deferred sales charge) are $100,000 or less and the proceeds are payable to the shareholder of record at the address of record, normally a telephone request or a written request by any one account holder without a signature guarantee is sufficient for redemptions by individual or joint account holders, and trust, executor and guardian account holders, provided the trustee, executor
47
Table of Contents
or guardian is named in the account registration. Other institutional account holders exercise this special privilege of redeeming shares by telephone request or written request without signature guarantee subject to the same conditions as individual account holders, provided that this privilege has been pre-authorized by the institutional account holder by written instruction to the Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed. This privilege may not be used to redeem shares held in certificated form and may not be used if the shareholder’s account has had an address change within 15 days of the redemption request.
Wires. Delivery of the proceeds of a wire redemption of $250,000 or more may be delayed by a Fund for up to seven days if the Fund or the Shareholder Service Agent deems it appropriate under then-current market conditions. The ability to send wires is limited by the business hours and holidays of the firms involved. The Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the federal wire system or the account holder’s financial services firm or bank. The account holder is responsible for any charges imposed by the account holder’s firm or bank. To change the designated account to receive wire redemption proceeds, send a written request to the Fund Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed as described above or contact the firm through which Fund shares were purchased.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. The owner of $5,000 or more of a class of a Fund’s shares at the offering price (net asset value) may provide for the payment from the owner’s account of any requested dollar amount to be paid to the owner or a designated payee monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. The $5,000 minimum account size is not applicable to IRAs. The minimum periodic payment is $50. The maximum annual rate at which shares subject to CDSC may be redeemed is 12% of the net asset value of the account. Shares are redeemed so that the payee should receive payment approximately the first of the month. Investors using this Plan must reinvest Fund distributions.
Non-retirement plan shareholders may establish an Automatic Withdrawal Plan (the “Plan”) to receive monthly, quarterly or periodic redemptions from his or her account for any designated amount of $50 or more. Shareholders may designate which day they want the automatic withdrawal to be processed. The check amounts may be based on the redemption of a fixed dollar amount, fixed share amount, percent of account value or declining balance. The Plan provides for income dividends and capital gains distributions, if any, to be reinvested in additional Shares. Shares are then liquidated as necessary to provide for withdrawal payments. Since the withdrawals are in amounts selected by the investor and have no relationship to yield or income, payments received cannot be considered as yield or income on the investment and the resulting liquidations may deplete or possibly extinguish the initial investment and any reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions. Any such requests must be received by a Portfolio’s transfer agent ten days prior to the date of the first automatic withdrawal. An Automatic Withdrawal Plan may be terminated at any time by the shareholder, the Trust or its agent on written notice, and will be terminated when all Shares of a Portfolio under the Plan have been liquidated or upon receipt by the Trust of notice of death of the shareholder.
In-kind Redemptions. The Funds reserve the right to honor any request for redemption or repurchase by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities. These securities will be chosen by the Fund and valued as they are for purposes of computing the Fund’s net asset value. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.
Exchanges
Shareholders may request a taxable exchange of their shares for shares of the corresponding class of other Scudder Funds without imposition of a sales charge, subject to the provisions below. For purposes of calculating any CDSC, amounts exchanged retain their original cost and purchase date.
Series of Scudder Target Fund are available on exchange only during the Offering Period for such series as described in the applicable prospectus. Cash Management Fund Investment, Tax Free Money Fund Investment, New York Tax Free Money Fund Investment, Treasury Money Fund Investment, Money Market Fund Investment, Cash Management Fund Institutional, Cash Reserves Fund Institutional, Treasury Money Fund Institutional, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. Prime Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. — Treasury Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. Tax-Free Series, Cash Equivalent Fund, Tax-Exempt California Money Market Fund, Cash Account Trust, Investors Municipal Cash Fund and Investors Cash Trust are available on exchange but only through a financial services firm having a services agreement with SDI. All exchanges among money funds must meet applicable investor eligibility and investment requirements. Exchanges may only be made for funds that are available for sale in the shareholder’s state of residence.
48
Table of Contents
Shareholders must obtain prospectuses of the Funds they are exchanging into from dealers, other firms or SDI.
Automatic Exchange Plan. The owner of $1,000 or more of any class of shares of a Scudder Fund may authorize the automatic exchange of a specified amount ($50 minimum) of such shares for shares of the same class of another such Scudder Fund. Exchanges will be made automatically until the shareholder or the Fund terminates the privilege. Exchanges are subject to the terms and conditions described above.
Dividends
Each Fund intends to distribute its investment company taxable income and any net realized capital gains in November or December to avoid federal excise tax, although an additional distribution may be made if necessary.
Each Fund intends to distribute dividends from its net investment income, excluding short-term capital gains, annually in November and December. Each Fund intends to distribute net realized capital gains after utilization of capital loss carryforwards, if any, in November and December to prevent application of a federal excise tax. An additional distribution may be made, if necessary.
Any dividends or capital gains distributions declared in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid during the following January will be treated by shareholders for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar year declared.
Income and capital gain dividends, if any, of a Fund will be credited to shareholder accounts in full and fractional shares of the same class of the Fund at net asset value on the reinvestment date, except that, upon written request to the Shareholder Service Agent, a shareholder may select one of the following options:
1. | To receive income and short-term capital gain dividends in cash and long-term capital gain dividends in shares of the same class at net asset value; or |
2. | To receive income and capital gain dividends in cash. |
Dividends will be reinvested in Shares of the same class of a Fund unless shareholders indicate in writing that they wish to receive them in cash or in shares of other Scudder Funds with multiple classes of shares or Scudder Funds as provided in the prospectus. To use this privilege of investing dividends of the Fund in shares of another Scudder Fund, shareholders must maintain a minimum account value of $1,000 in the Fund distributing the dividends. The Fund will reinvest dividend checks (and future dividends) in shares of that same Fund and class if checks are returned as undeliverable. Dividends and other distributions of the Fund in the aggregate amount of $10 or less are automatically reinvested in shares of the Fund unless the shareholder requests that such policy not be applied to the shareholder’s account.
If an investment is in the form of a retirement plan, all dividends and capital gains distributions must be reinvested into the shareholder’s account.
If a shareholder has elected to reinvest any dividends and/or other distributions, such distributions will be made in shares of that Fund and confirmations will be mailed to each shareholder. If a shareholder has chosen to receive cash, a check will be sent. Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains are taxable, whether made in shares or cash.
Each distribution is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution. The characterization of distributions on such correspondence may differ from the characterization for federal tax purposes. In January of each year, each Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions in the prior calendar year.
49
Table of Contents
Each Fund may at any time vary its foregoing dividend practices and, therefore, reserves the right from time to time to either distribute or retain for reinvestment such of its net investment income and its net short-term and long-term capital gains as its Board determines appropriate under the then current circumstances. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, a Fund may make additional distributions of net investment income or capital gain net income in order to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements contained in the Code.
The following is intended to be a general summary of certain federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds. It is not intended as a complete discussion of all such consequences, nor does it purport to deal with all categories of investors. Investors are therefore advised to consult with their tax advisors before making an investment in a Fund.
Federal Taxation. Each Fund intends to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things:
(a) | derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; |
(b) | distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid—generally, taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt interest income, for such year; and |
(c) | diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested (x) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined below). |
In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in paragraph (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the regulated investment company. However, recent legislation provides that for taxable years of a regulated investment company beginning after October 22, 2004, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (defined as a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (ii) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in paragraph (a) above) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. Finally, for purposes of paragraph (c) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below).
50
Table of Contents
If for any taxable year a Fund does not qualify for the special federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, all of its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders), and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Such distributions would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on amounts that have been retained rather than distributed, as required under a prescribed formula. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s taxable ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses realized during the one-year period ending October 31 (in most cases) of such year as well as amounts that were neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the prior calendar year. Although each Fund’s distribution policies should enable it to avoid excise tax liability, a Fund may retain (and be subject to income or excise tax on) a portion of its capital gain or other income if it appears to be in the interest of such Fund.
Taxation of Distributions from the Funds. For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Funds owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions of net capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for more than one year and that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008, distributions of investment income designated by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008.
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
51
Table of Contents
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Transactions in Fund Shares. The sale, exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be treated as short-term gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares of the Fund will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of a Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
52
Table of Contents
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Transactions in Fund Shares. The sale, exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be treated as short-term gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of a Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2008
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
53
Table of Contents
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by the Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Dividends from domestic corporations may comprise a substantial part of each Fund’s gross income. If any such dividends constitute a portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
Foreign Taxation. Foreign withholding or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) on certain foreign securities may occur. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable US income tax treaty.
So long as more than 50% of the value of the total assets of a Fund at the close of the taxable year consists of securities in foreign corporations, the Fund may make an election under Section 853 of the Code to enable the shareholders to claim a credit or deduction (subject to limitations) on their federal income tax returns for their pro rata portion of qualified taxes paid by the Fund to foreign countries (which taxes relate primarily to investment income). Shareholders will treat such amounts as part of their distribution from the Fund. The foreign tax credit available to shareholders is subject to certain limitations and restrictions imposed by the Code.
If a Fund does not make the election permitted under section 853 of the Code, any foreign taxes paid or accrued will represent an expense to the Fund that will reduce its investment company taxable income. In such a case, shareholders will not be able to claim either a credit or a deduction for their pro rata portion of such taxes paid by the Fund, nor will shareholders be required to treat as part of the amounts distributed to them their pro rata portion of such taxes paid.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies. Equity investments by a Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could potentially subject the Fund to a US federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, such Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company. Such Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require such Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.”
54
Table of Contents
Other Tax Considerations. A Fund’s use of options, futures contracts, forward contracts (to the extent permitted) and certain other Strategic Transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate the Fund’s income, defer losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of portfolio securities, convert capital gains into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to investors.
Certain of a Fund’s hedging activities (including transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If a Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of a Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset .If a Fund’s book income is less than its taxable income, that Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund’s investment in zero coupon bonds and other debt obligations having original issue discount may cause a Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of any cash received from the investment.
Under the backup withholding provisions of the Code, redemption proceeds as well as distributions may be subject to federal income tax withholding for certain shareholders, including those who fail to furnish a Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers and certifications as to their tax status.
Shareholders of a Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of a Fund’s shares.
Capital gains distributions may be reduced if Fund capital loss carryforwards are available. Any capital loss carryforwards to which a Fund is entitled are disclosed in a Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
All distributions by a Fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of that Fund’s shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a shareholder’s cost basis, such distribution would nevertheless be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of capital. In particular, investors should be careful to consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a distribution will receive a partial return of capital upon the distribution, which will nevertheless be taxable to them.
Under Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of Fund securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. In general, dividends (other than Capital Gain Dividends) paid by each Fund to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (such shareholder, a “foreign person”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding. However, before January 1, 2008, each Fund will not be required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a foreign person (w) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (x) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign person
55
Table of Contents
is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign person and the foreign person is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income that would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign person, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by each Fund, and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to an individual foreign person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by the Fund. The Funds do not intend to designate distributions as interest-related dividends or as short-term capital gain dividends.
If a beneficial holder who is a foreign person has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct by the beneficial holder of a trade or business in the United States, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.
Recent legislation modifies the tax treatment of distributions from each Fund that are paid to a foreign person and are attributable to gain from “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”), which the Code defines to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and interests (other than solely as a creditor) in “U.S. real property holding corporations” such as REITs. The Code deems any corporation that holds (or held during the previous five-year period) USRPIs with a fair market value equal to 50% or more of the fair market value of the corporation’s U.S. and foreign real property assets and other assets used or held for use in a trade or business to be a U.S. real property holding corporation; however, if any class of stock of a corporation is traded on an established securities market, stock of such class shall be treated as a USRPI only in the case of a person who holds more than 5% of such class of stock at any time during the previous five-year period. For dividends paid or deemed paid on or before December 31, 2007, distributions to foreign persons attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs will give rise to an obligation for those foreign persons to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax, and may well be subject to withholding under future regulations.
Under U.S. federal tax law, a beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of a Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or Capital Gain Dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the shares constitute USRPIs or (effective for taxable years of the Fund beginning on September 1, 2005) the Capital Gain Dividends are paid or deemed paid on or before December 31, 2007 and are attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs. Effective before January 1, 2008, if a Fund is a U.S. real property holding corporation (as described above) the Fund’s shares will nevertheless not constitute USRPIs if the Fund is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” which is defined to include a RIC that, at all times during the shorter of the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period during which the RIC was in existence, had less than 50 percent in value of its stock held directly or indirectly by foreign persons.
The net asset value of shares of each Fund is computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) on each day the Exchange is open for trading (the “Value Time”). The Exchange is scheduled to be closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of these holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively. Net asset value per share is determined separately for each class of shares by dividing the value of the total assets of the Fund attributable to the shares of that class, less all liabilities attributable to that class, by the total number of shares of that class outstanding. The per share net asset value may be lower for certain classes of the Fund because of higher expenses borne by these classes.
An equity security is valued at its most recent sale price on the security’s primary exchange or over-the-counter (“OTC”) market as of the Value Time. Lacking any sales, the security is valued at the calculated mean between the
56
Table of Contents
most recent bid quotation and the most recent asked quotation (the “Calculated Mean”) on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the security is valued at the most recent bid quotation on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. In the case of certain foreign exchanges or OTC markets, the closing price reported by the exchange or OTC market (which may sometimes be referred to as the “official close” or the “official closing price” or other similar term) will be considered the most recent sale price. If a security is traded on more than one exchange, or upon one or more exchanges and in the OTC market, quotations are taken from the market in which the security is traded most extensively.
Debt securities are valued as follows. Money market instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of 60 days or less, maturing at par, are valued at amortized cost. Other money market instruments are valued based on information obtained from an approved pricing agent or, if such information is not readily available, by using matrix pricing techniques (formula driven calculations based primarily on current market yields). Bank loans are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the mean of the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices, as applicable, based on quotations or evaluated prices obtained from one or more broker-dealers. Privately placed debt securities, other than Rule 144A debt securities, initially are valued at cost and thereafter based on all relevant factors including type of security, size of holding and restrictions on disposition. Municipal debt securities are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the average of the means based on the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices obtained from two broker-dealers. Other debt securities not addressed above are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent, if available, and otherwise at the most recent bid quotation or evaluated price, as applicable, obtained from one or more broker-dealers. If it is not possible to value a particular debt security pursuant to the above methods, the security is valued on the basis of factors including (but not limited to) maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency denomination, and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded.
An exchange-traded option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments is valued at its most recent sale price on such the relevant exchange. Lacking any sales, the option contract is valued at the Calculated Mean. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the option contract is valued at the most recent bid quotation in the case of a purchased option contract or the most recent asked quotation in the case of a written option contract, in each case as of the Value Time. An option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments traded in the OTC market is valued on the Value Date at the evaluated price provided by the broker-dealer with which it was traded. Futures contracts (and options thereon) are valued at the most recent settlement price, if available, on the security’s primary exchange on which they are traded most extensively. With the exception of stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement times are prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. For stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement prices are normally available at approximately 4:20 pm Eastern time. If no settlement price is available, the last traded price on such exchange will be used. Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed (“Local Currency”), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of US dollars is calculated by converting the Local Currency into US dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
If market quotations for a portfolio asset are not readily available or the value of a portfolio asset as determined in accordance with Board approved procedures does not represent the fair market value of the portfolio asset, the value of the portfolio asset is taken to be an amount which, in the opinion of a Fund’s Pricing Committee (or, in some cases, the Board’s Valuation Committee), represents fair market value. The value of other portfolio holdings owned by the Fund is determined in a manner which is intended to fairly reflect the fair market value of the asset on the valuation date, based on valuation procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board and overseen primarily by the Fund’s Pricing Committee.
Following the valuations of securities or other portfolio assets in terms of the currency in which the market quotation used is expressed (“Local Currency”), the value of these portfolio assets in terms of US dollars is calculated by converting the Local Currency into US dollars at the prevailing currency exchange rate on the valuation date.
57
Table of Contents
Global/International Fund, Inc. and Scudder International Fund, Inc.
The following table presents certain information regarding the Directors and Officers of the Corporation as of December 1, 2005. Each Director’s year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Director has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity, and (ii) the address of each Director is c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each Officer is Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110. The term of office for each Director is until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed as provided in the governing documents of the Corporation. Because the Fund does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders, each Director will hold office for an indeterminate period. The Directors of the Corporation may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex.
Independent Directors
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946) Chairman since 2004 and Director, 1987-present | President, Driscoll Associates (consulting firm); Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; formerly, Partner, Palmer & Dodge (1988-1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene's (1978-1988). Directorships: Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute; Member, Executive Committee of the Independent Directors Council of the Investment Company Institute, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization); Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. (1943) Director, 1990-present | President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Becton Dickinson and Company (medical technology company); Belo Corporation (media company); Concord Academy; Boston Museum of Science; Public Radio International; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Former Directorships: American Public Television; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service | 43 | ||
Keith R. Fox (1954) Director, 1996-present | Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (private equity funds). Directorships: Progressive Holding Corporation (kitchen importer and distributor); Cloverleaf Transportation Inc. (trucking); Natural History, Inc. (magazine publisher); Box Top Media Inc. (advertising); Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. | 43 |
58
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Kenneth C. Froewiss (1945) Director 2005-present | Clinical Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business; Director, Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2001), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2004), Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc. (since 1999), The Brazil Fund, Inc. (since 2000) and The Korea Fund, Inc. (since 2000); Member, Finance Committee, Association for Asian Studies (2002-present); Director, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (US) (2004-present); prior thereto, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan (investment banking firm) (until 1996) | 46 | ||
Jean Gleason Stromberg (1943) Director, 1999-present | Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997-2001); Director, US General Accounting Office (1996-1997); Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978-1996). Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Service Source, Inc.; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Carl W. Vogt (1936) Director, 2002-present | Senior Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P (law firm); formerly, President (interim) of Williams College (1999-2000); President, certain funds in the Deutsche Asset Management Family of Funds (formerly, Flag Investors Family of Funds) (registered investment companies) (1999-2000). Directorships: Yellow Corporation (trucking); American Science & Engineering (x-ray detection equipment); ISI Family of Funds (registered investment companies; 4 funds overseen); National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); formerly, Chairman and Member, National Transportation Safety Board; Scudder Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), Scudder Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Officers(2) | ||||
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Vincent J. Esposito((4)) (1956) President, 2005-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2003); President and Chief Executive Officer of The Central Europe and Russia Fund, Inc., The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. (since 2003) (registered investment companies); Vice Chairman and Director of The Brazil Fund, Inc. (2004-present); formerly, Managing Director, Putnam Investments (1991-2002) | n/a | ||
John Millette (1962) Vice President and Secretary, 1999-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a |
59
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Paul H. Schubert(4) (1963) Chief Financial Officer, 2004-present Treasurer, since 2005 | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since July 2004); formerly, Executive Director, Head of Mutual Fund Services and Treasurer for UBS Family of Funds (1998-2004); Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Finance at UBS Global Asset Management (1994-1998) | n/a | ||
Patricia DeFilippis(4) (1963) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management (since June 2005); Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (2003-2005); legal associate, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (1998-2003) | n/a | ||
Daniel O. Hirsch(5) (1954) Assistant Secretary, 2002-present | Consultant. Formerly, Managing Director, Deutsche Asset Management (2002-2005); Director, Deutsche Asset Management (1999-2002); Principal, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated (now Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.) (1998-1999); Assistant General Counsel, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (1993-1998); Director, Deutsche Global Funds Ltd. (2002-2004) | n/a | ||
Elisa D. Metzger (1962) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Director((3)), Deutsche Asset Management (since September 2005); Counsel, Morrison and Foerster LLP (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Caroline Pearson (1962) Assistant Secretary, 1997-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Scott M. McHugh (1971) Assistant Treasurer, 2005-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Kathleen Sullivan D'Eramo (1957) Assistant Treasurer, 2003-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
John Robbins(4) (1966) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2005-present | Managing Director((3)), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2005); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for GE Asset Management (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Philip Gallo(4) (1962) Chief Compliance Officer, 2004-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (2003-present); formerly, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Legal (1994-2003) | n/a |
(1) | Length of time served represents the date that each Director was first elected to the common board of Directors which oversees a number of investment companies, including the fund, managed by the Advisor. For the officers of the Corporation, the length of time served represents the date that each officer was first elected to serve as an officer of any fund overseen by the aforementioned common board of Directors. |
(2) | As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Funds. |
(3) | Executive title, not a board directorship. |
(4) | Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. |
(5) | Address: One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. |
Officer’s Role with Principal Underwriter: Scudder Distributors, Inc.
Caroline Pearson: | Secretary |
60
Table of Contents
Directors’ Responsibilities. The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to represent the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and to provide oversight of the management of the Fund. Currently, six of the Board’s members are “Independent Directors;” that is, they are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Corporation or the Advisor.
The Directors meet multiple times during the year to review the investment performance of the Fund and other operational matters, including policies and procedures designed to assure compliance with regulatory and other requirements. In 2004, the Directors conducted over 40 meetings to deal with fund issues (including regular and special board and committee meetings). These meetings were held over the course of 23 different days. In addition, various Directors participated as members of the Board’s Valuation Committee throughout the year. Furthermore, the Independent Directors review the fees paid to the Advisor and its affiliates for investment advisory services and other administrative and shareholder services. The Directors have adopted specific policies and guidelines that, among other things, seek to further enhance the effectiveness of the Independent Directors in performing their duties. Many of these are similar to those suggested in the Investment Company Institute’s 1999 Report of the Advisory Group on Best Practices for Fund Directors. For example, the Independent Directors select independent legal counsel to work with them in reviewing fees, advisory and other contracts and overseeing fund matters. The Directors are also assisted in this regard by the Fund’s independent public accountants and other independent experts retained from time to time for this purpose. The Independent Directors regularly meet privately with their counsel and other advisors. In addition, the Independent Directors from time to time have appointed task forces and subcommittees from their members to focus on particular matters such as investment, accounting and shareholders servicing issues.
For a discussion of the factors considered by the Board in connection with its most recent approval of the continuation of the Fund’s management contracts, please refer to “Management of the Funds — Board Considerations in Connection with Annual Renewal of Investment Management Agreements.”
Board Committees. The Board oversees a number of investment companies managed by the Advisor. Information shown below represents meetings held on behalf of all such funds. The common Board has the following standing committees:
Audit Committee: The Audit Committee makes recommendations regarding the selection of independent registered public accounting firms for the Fund, reviews the independence of such firm, reviews the scope of audit and internal controls, considers and reports to the Board on matters relating to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting practices, and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee receives annual representations from the independent registered public accounting firm as to their independence. The members of the Audit Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Audit Committee held seven meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee: The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (i) selects and nominates candidates to serve as Independent Directors*; (ii) oversees all other fund governance-related matters, including Board compensation practices, retirement policies, self-evaluations of effectiveness and allocations of assignments and functions of committees of the Board. The members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (previously known as the Committee on Independent Directors) held seven meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Valuation Committee: The Valuation Committee oversees fund valuation matters, reviews Valuation Procedures adopted by the Board, determines fair value of the Fund’s securities as needed in accordance with the Valuation Procedures when actual market values are unavailable and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary. The members of the Valuation Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Henry P. Becton, Jr. (alternate). The Valuation Committee held five meetings for each Fund during the calendar year 2004.
Investment Oversight Committee: The Board has established two Investment Oversight Committees, one focusing on funds primarily investing in equity securities (the “Equity Oversight Committee”) and one focusing on funds primarily investing in fixed income securities (the “Fixed Income Oversight Committee”). These Committees
61
Table of Contents
meet regularly with fund portfolio managers and other investment personnel to review the relevant funds’ investment strategies and investment performance. The members of the Equity Oversight Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Carl W. Vogt. The members of the Fixed Income Oversight Committee are Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox, Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg (Chair). Each Investment Oversight Committee held four meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee: The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee oversees (i) the quality, costs and types of shareholder services provided to the Funds and their shareholders, and (ii) the distribution-related services provided to the Fund and their shareholders. The members of the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee are Carl W. Vogt (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee (previously known as the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee) held four meetings during the calendar year 2004.
Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee: The Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee oversees (i) the significant legal affairs of the Fund, including the handling of pending or threatened litigation or regulatory action involving the Fund, and (ii) general compliance matters relating to the Fund. The members of the Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll and Carl Vogt (Chair). This committee met eight times in 2004.
Expense/Operations Committee: The Expense/Operations Committee (i) monitors the Fund’s total operating expense levels, (ii) oversees the provision of administrative services to the Funds, including the Fund’s custody, fund accounting and insurance arrangements, and (iii) reviews the Fund’s investment advisers’ brokerage practices, including the implementation of related policies. The members of the Expense/Operations Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox (Chair) and Kenneth C. Froewiss. This committee was established on October 12, 2004 and met one time in 2004.
• | 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 33904. |
Remuneration. Each Independent Director receives compensation from the Fund for his or her services, which includes an annual retainer and an attendance fee for each meeting attended. No additional compensation is paid to any Independent Director for travel time to meetings, attendance at directors’ educational seminars or conferences, service on industry or association committees, participation as speakers at directors’ conferences or service on special director task forces or subcommittees. Independent Directors do not receive any employee benefits such as pension or retirement benefits or health insurance.
Members of the Board of Directors who are officers, directors, employees or stockholders of the Advisor or its affiliates receive no direct compensation from the Fund, although they are compensated as employees of the Advisor, or its affiliates, and as a result may be deemed to participate in fees paid by the Fund. The following table shows compensation received by each Director from the Fund and aggregate compensation from all of the funds in the fund complex during the calendar year 2004.
Name of Director | Compensation from Scudder Global Fund | Compensation from Scudder International Fund | Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses | Total Compensation Paid to Director (2)(3)(4) | ||||||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $ | 3,251 | $ | 6,338 | $ | 0 | $ | 159,500 | ||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll(1) | $ | 4,188 | $ | 8,238 | $ | 0 | $ | 208,016 | ||||
Keith R. Fox | $ | 3,846 | $ | 7,389 | $ | 0 | $ | 220,620 | ||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(5) | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 87,364 | ||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | $ | 3,131 | $ | 6,091 | $ | 0 | $ | 153,500 | ||||
Carl W. Vogt | $ | 3,533 | $ | 6,905 | $ | 0 | $ | 168,500 |
(1) | Includes $14,896 in annual retainer fees in Ms. Driscoll’s role as Chairman of the Board. |
62
Table of Contents
(2) | For each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, total compensation includes compensation for service on the boards of 18 trusts/corporations comprised of 49 funds/portfolios. Each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, currently serves on the boards of 18 trusts/corporations comprised of 41 funds/portfolios. Mr. Froewiss currently serves on the boards of 23 trusts/corporations comprised of 46 funds/portfolios. |
(3) | Aggregate compensation reflects amounts paid to the Trustees, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with the possible consolidation of the various Scudder Fund Boards and with respect to legal and regulatory matters. Such amounts totaled $3,000 for Mr. Becton, $34,120 for Ms. Driscoll, $36,620 for Mr. Fox, and $17,000 for Mr. Vogt. These meeting fees were borne by the Funds. |
(4) | Aggregate compensation also reflects amounts paid to the Trustees for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with reviewing the Funds’ shareholder servicing arrangements. Such amounts totaled $2,500 for Ms. Driscoll and $31,000 for Mr. Fox. Also, included are amounts paid to the Trustees, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings to consider fund mergers. These amounts totaled $5,000 for Mr. Becton and Ms Driscoll, $4,000 for Mr. Fox and $3,000 for Ms. Stromberg. The Funds were reimbursed by the Advisor for these meeting fees. |
(5) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. He served as a member of five Scudder closed-end funds in 2004, for which he received the compensation indicated. |
Director Fund Ownership of Independent and Interested Directors
The following sets forth ranges of Director beneficial share ownership as of December 31, 2004.
Name of Director | Dollar Range of Securities Owned in Scudder Global Fund | Dollar Range of Securities Owned in Scudder | Aggregate Dollar Range of in the Fund Complex Overseen by Director | |||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | $1 - $ 10,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Keith R. Fox | None | $10,001 - $ 50,000 | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(1) | None | None | $ 50,000-$100,000 | |||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | None | Over $ 100,000 | |||
Carl W. Vogt | None | None | Over $ 100,000 |
(1) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. |
Securities Beneficially Owned
As of November 11, 2005, all Directors and Officers of the Fund as a group owned beneficially (as that term is defined is section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) less than 1% of each class of each Fund.
To the best of each Fund’s knowledge, as of November 11, 2005, no person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of a Fund’s outstanding shares, except as noted below:
As of November 11, 2005, 2,328,026 shares in the aggregate, or 8.36% of the outstanding shares of Scudder Global Fund, Class S were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
63
Table of Contents
As of November 11, 2005, 2,160,556 shares in the aggregate, or 8.21% of the outstanding shares of Scudder International Fund, Class S were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
Ownership in Securities of the Advisor and Related Companies
As reported to the Fund, the information in the following table reflects ownership by the Independent Directors and their immediate family members of certain securities as of December 31, 2004. An immediate family member can be a spouse, children residing in the same household including step and adoptive children and any dependents. The securities represent ownership in an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund and any persons (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund (including Deutsche Bank AG).
Independent Director | Owner and Relationship to Director | Company | Title of Class | Value of Securities on an Aggregate Basis | Percent of Class on an Basis | |||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | None | |||||||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | None | |||||||||
Keith R. Fox | None | |||||||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss | None | |||||||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | |||||||||
Carl W. Vogt | None |
Agreement to Indemnify Independent Directors for Certain Expenses.
In connection with litigation or regulatory action related to possible improper market timing or other improper trading activity or possible improper marketing and sales activity in the Funds, each Fund’s investment advisor has agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify and hold harmless the applicable Funds against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense, arising from market timing or marketing and sales matters alleged in any enforcement actions brought by governmental authorities involving or potentially affecting the Funds or the investment advisor (“Enforcement Actions”) or that are the basis for private actions brought by shareholders of the Funds against the Funds, their directors and officers, the Funds’ investment advisor and/or certain other parties (“Private Litigation”), or any proceedings or actions that may be threatened or commenced in the future by any person (including governmental authorities), arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. In recognition of its undertaking to indemnify the applicable Funds and in light of the rebuttable presumption generally afforded to independent directors of investment companies that they have not engaged in disabling conduct, each Fund’s investment advisor has also agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify the applicable Funds’ Independent Directors against certain liabilities the Independent Directors may incur from the matters alleged in any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation or arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation, and advance expenses that may be incurred by the Independent Directors in connection with any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. The applicable investment advisor is not, however, required to provide indemnification and advancement of expenses: (1) with respect to any proceeding or action with respect to which the applicable Fund’s Board determines that the Independent Director ultimately would not be entitled to indemnification or (2) for any liability of the Independent Director to the Funds or their shareholders to which the Independent Director would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Independent Director’s duties as a director or trustee of the Funds as determined in a final adjudication in such action or proceeding. The estimated amount of any expenses that may be advanced to the Independent Directors or indemnity that may be payable under the indemnity agreements is currently unknown. These agreements by each Fund’s investment advisor will survive the termination of the investment management agreements between the investment advisor and the Funds.
64
Table of Contents
Organizational Description
Scudder Global Fund. Scudder Global Fund is a series of Global/International Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation organized on May 15, 1986. The name of this Corporation was changed, effective May 29, 1998, from Scudder Global Fund, Inc. This Corporation currently consists of four series: Scudder Global Fund, Scudder Global Bond Fund, Scudder Global Discovery Fund and Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund. Each Fund except Scudder Global Fund is further divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Scudder Global Fund is further divided into six classes of shares: Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class R.
The authorized capital stock of Global/International Fund, Inc. consists of 1,559,993,796 shares with $0.01 par value, 200 million shares of which are allocated to Scudder Global Discovery Fund, 529,154,575 shares of which are allocated to Scudder Global Bond Fund, and 320 million shares of which are allocated to each of Scudder Emerging Markets Income Fund and Scudder Global Fund.
Scudder International Fund. Scudder International Fund, Inc. was organized as Scudder Fund of Canada Ltd. in Canada in 1953 by the investment management firm of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. On March 16, 1964, the name of this Corporation was changed to Scudder International Investments Ltd. On July 31, 1975, the corporate domicile of this Corporation was changed to the US through the transfer of its net assets to a newly formed Maryland corporation, Scudder International Fund, Inc., in exchange for shares of the Corporation which then were distributed to the shareholders of the Corporation.
The authorized capital stock of Scudder International Fund, Inc., consists of 2,447,923,888 shares of a par value of $.01 each, which capital stock has been divided into five series: Scudder International Fund, the original series; Scudder Latin America Fund and Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, both organized in December 1992, Scudder Greater Europe Fund, organized in October 1994, and Scudder Emerging Markets Fund, organized in May 1996. Each series consists of 320 million shares except for International Fund which consists of 620,595,597 shares, Scudder Latin America Fund which consists of 340 million shares and Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund which consists of 420 million shares. Scudder International Fund is further divided into seven classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A (formerly known as Class R Shares), Class B, Class C, Institutional Class (formerly known as Class I shares) and Investment Class shares. Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund and Scudder Emerging Markets Fund are each divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C. Scudder Latin America Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class M. Scudder Greater Europe Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Institutional Class.
The Directors have the authority to create additional Funds and to designate the relative rights and preferences as between the different Funds. The Directors also may authorize the division of shares of a Fund into different classes, which may bear different expenses. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, transferable, have no pre-emptive or conversion rights and are redeemable as described in the SAI and in the Fund’s prospectus. Each share has equal rights with each other share of the same class of the Fund as to voting, dividends, exchanges, conversion features and liquidation. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held. The Directors may also terminate any Fund or class by notice to the shareholders without shareholder approval.
Maryland corporate law provides that a Director of the Corporation shall not be liable for actions taken in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonable believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use in similar circumstances. In so acting, a Director shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon reports made to the Corporation by persons selected in good faith by the Directors as qualified to make such reports.
The Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws provide that the Corporation will indemnify Directors and officers of the Corporation against liabilities and expenses actually incurred in connection with litigation in which
65
Table of Contents
they may be involved because of their positions with the Corporation. However, nothing in the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the By-Laws protects or indemnifies a Director or officer against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Each Director serves until the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of electing directors and until the election and qualification of a successor or until such director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed.
Subject to the limits of the 1940 Act and unless otherwise provided by the By-laws, a Director may be removed with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation.
Each Fund has delegated proxy voting responsibilities to its investment advisor, subject to the Board’s general oversight. Each Fund has delegated proxy voting to the Advisor with the direction that proxies should be voted consistent with each Fund’s best economic interests. The Advisor has adopted its own Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”), and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Guidelines”) for this purpose. The Policies address, among other things, conflicts of interest that may arise between the interests of the Funds, and the interests of the Advisor and its affiliates, including the Fund’s principal underwriter. The Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general position on various proposals, such as:
• | Shareholder Rights — The Advisor generally votes against proposals that restrict shareholder rights. |
• | Corporate Governance — The Advisor generally votes for confidential and cumulative voting and against supermajority voting requirements for charter and bylaw amendments. The Advisor generally votes for proposals to restrict a chief executive officer from serving on more than three outside boards of directors. The Advisor generally votes against proposals that require a company to appoint a Chairman who is an independent director. |
• | Anti-Takeover Matters — The Advisor generally votes for proposals that require shareholder ratification of poison pills or that request boards to redeem poison pills, and votes against the adoption of poison pills if they are submitted for shareholder ratification. The Advisor generally votes for fair price proposals. |
• | Compensation Matters — The Advisor generally votes for executive cash compensation proposals, unless they are unreasonably excessive. The Advisor generally votes against stock option plans that do not meet the Advisor’s criteria. |
• | Routine Matters — The Advisor generally votes for the ratification of auditors, procedural matters related to the annual meeting and changes in company name, and against bundled proposals and adjournment. |
The general provisions described above do not apply to investment companies. The Advisor generally votes proxies solicited by investment companies in accordance with the recommendations of an independent third party, except for proxies solicited by or with respect to investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or principal underwriter (“affiliated investment companies”). The Advisor votes affiliated investment company proxies in the same proportion as the vote of the investment company’s other shareholders (sometimes called “mirror” or “echo” voting). Master fund proxies solicited from feeder funds are voted in accordance with applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Although the Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general voting positions on various proposals, the Advisor may, consistent with the Fund’s best interests, determine under some circumstances to vote contrary to those positions.
The Guidelines on a particular issue may or may not reflect the view of individual members of the Board or of a majority of the Board. In addition, the Guidelines may reflect a voting position that differs from the actual practices
66
Table of Contents
of the public companies within the Deutsche Bank organization or of the investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or sponsor.
The Advisor may consider the views of a portfolio company’s management in deciding how to vote a proxy or in establishing general voting positions for the Guidelines, but management’s views are not determinative.
As mentioned above, the Policies describe the way in which the Advisor resolves conflicts of interest. To resolve conflicts, the advisor, under normal circumstances, votes proxies in accordance with its Guidelines. If the Advisor departs from the Guidelines with respect to a particular proxy or if the Guidelines do not specifically address a certain proxy proposal, a proxy voting committee established by the advisor will vote the proxy. Before voting any such proxy, however, the Advisor’s conflicts review committee will conduct an investigation to determine whether any potential conflicts of interest exist in connection with the particular proxy proposal. If the conflicts review committee determines that the Advisor has a material conflict of interest, or certain individuals on the proxy voting committee should be recused from participating in a particular proxy vote, it will inform the proxy voting committee. If notified that the Advisor has a material conflict, or fewer than three voting members are eligible to participate in the proxy vote, typically the Advisor will engage an independent third party to vote the proxy or follow the proxy voting recommendations of an independent third party.
Under certain circumstances, the Advisor may not be able to vote proxies or the Advisor may find that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the benefits associated with voting. For example, the Advisor may not vote proxies on certain foreign securities due to local restrictions or customs. The Advisor generally does not vote proxies on securities subject to share blocking restrictions.
You may obtain information about how a Fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at www.sec.gov or by visiting our Web site at: aarp.scudder.com for Class AARP shares or myscudder.com for Class S shares (type “proxy voting” in the search field).
The financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, of Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund, together with the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Financial Highlights and notes to financial statements in the Annual Report to the Shareholders of each Fund dated August 31, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference and are hereby deemed to be a part of this combined Statement of Additional Information.
The CUSIP number of Global Fund Class S is 378947-20-4.
The CUSIP number of Global Fund Class AARP is 378947-87-3.
The CUSIP number of International Fund Class S shares is 811165-10-9.
The CUSIP number of International Fund Class AARP shares is 811165-82-8.
Each Fund has a fiscal year end of August 31.
This Statement of Additional Information contains the information of Scudder Global Fund and Scudder International Fund. Each Fund, through its combined prospectus, offers only its own share classes, yet it is possible that one Fund might become liable for a misstatement regarding the other Fund. The Directors of each Fund have considered this, and have approved the use of this Statement of Additional Information.
67
Table of Contents
The Funds’ prospectuses and this Statement of Additional Information omit certain information contained in the Registration Statement which the Funds have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect to each Fund and the securities offered hereby. This Registration Statement and its amendments are available for inspection by the public at the SEC in Washington, D.C.
68
Table of Contents
Standard & Poor’s Corporation Bond Ratings
AAA. Debt rated AAA had the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.
AA. Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the higher rated issues only in small degree.
A. Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.
BBB. Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
BB, B, CCC, CC and C. Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded, on balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates the lowest degree of speculation and C the highest degree of speculation. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions.
CI. The rating CI is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid.
D. Debt rated D is in default, and payment of interest and/or repayment of principal is in arrears.
Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Bond Ratings
AAA. Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt-edge.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues.
Aa. Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities.
A. Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Baa. Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well.
Ba. Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class.
69
Table of Contents
B. Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Caa. Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest.
Ca. Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings.
C. Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
Fitch Long-Term Debt Ratings
AAA. Highest credit quality. “AAA” ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.
AA. Very high credit quality. “AA”` ratings denote a very low expectation of credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for timely payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.
A. High credit quality. “A” ratings denote a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.
BBB. Good credit quality. “BBB” ratings indicate that there is currently a low expectation of credit risk. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse changes in circumstances and in economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. This is the lowest investment-grade category.
BB. Speculative. “BB” ratings indicate that there is a possibility of credit risk developing, particularly as the result of adverse economic change over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met. Securities rated in this category are not investment grade.
B. Highly speculative. “B” ratings indicate that significant credit risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is contingent upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
CCC, CC, C. High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon sustained, favorable business or economic developments. A “CC” rating indicates that default of some kind appears probable. “C” ratings signal imminent default.
DDD, DD, D. Default. The ratings of obligations in this category are based on their prospects for achieving partial or full recovery in a reorganization or liquidation of the obligor. While expected recovery values are highly speculative and cannot be estimated with any precision, the following serve as general guidelines. “DDD” obligations have the highest potential for recovery, around 90%-100% of outstanding amounts and accrued interest. “DD” indicates potential recoveries in the range of 50%-90%, and “D” the lowest recovery potential, i.e., below 50%.
Entities rated in this category have defaulted on some or all of their obligations. Entities rated “DDD” have the highest prospect for resumption of performance or continued operation with or without a formal reorganization
70
Table of Contents
process. Entities rated “DD” and “D” are generally undergoing a formal reorganization or liquidation process; those rated “DD” are likely to satisfy a higher portion of their outstanding obligations, while entities rated “D” have a poor prospect for repaying all obligations.
Fitch Short-Term Debt Ratings
F1. Highest credit quality. Indicates the Best capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.
F2. Good credit quality. A satisfactory capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, but the margin of safety is not as great as in the case of the higher ratings.
F3. Fair credit quality. The capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate; however, near-term adverse changes could result in a reduction to non-investment grade.
B. Speculative. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus vulnerability to near-term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.
C. High default risk. Default is a real possibility. Capacity for meeting financial commitments is solely reliant upon a sustained, favorable business and economic environment.
D. Default. Denotes actual or imminent payment default.
Commercial Paper Ratings
Commercial paper rated by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”) has the following characteristics: Liquidity ratios are adequate to meet cash requirements. Long-term senior debt is rated “A” or better. The issuer has access to at least two additional channels of borrowing. Basic earnings and cash flow have an upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances. Typically, the issuer’s industry is well established and the issuer has a strong position within the industry. The reliability and quality of management are unquestioned. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determine whether the issuer’s commercial paper is rated A-1 or A-2.
The ratings Prime-1 and Prime-2 are the two highest commercial paper ratings assigned by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”). Among the factors considered by it in assigning ratings are the following: (1) evaluation of the management of the issuer; (2) economic evaluation of the issuer’s industry or industries and an appraisal of speculative-type risks which may be inherent in certain areas; (3) evaluation of the issuer’s products in relation to competition and customer acceptance; (4) liquidity; (5) amount and quality of long-term debt; (6) trend of earnings over a period of ten years; (7) financial strength of a parent company and the relationships which exist with the issuer; and (8) recognition by the management of obligations which may be present or may arise as a result of public interest questions and preparations to meet such obligations. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determines whether the issuer’s commercial paper is rated Prime-1 or 2.
Municipal Notes
Moody’s: The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “MIG 1,” “MIG 2,” and “MIG 3” (or “VMIG 1,” “VMIG 2” and “VMIG 3” in the case of an issue having a variable rate demand feature). Notes rated “MIG 1” or “VMIG 1” are judged to be of the “best quality”. Notes rated “MIG 2” or “VMIG 2” are of “high quality,” with margins or protection “ample although not as large as in the preceding group”. Notes rated “MIG 3” or “VMIG 3” are of “favorable quality,” with all security elements accounted for but lacking the strength of the preceding grades.
71
Table of Contents
S&P: The “SP-1” rating reflects a “very strong or strong capacity to pay principal and interest”. Notes issued with “overwhelming safety characteristics” will be rated “SP-1+”. The “SP-2” rating reflects a “satisfactory capacity” to pay principal and interest.
Fitch: The highest ratings for state and municipal short-term obligations are “F-1+,” “F-1,” and “F-2.”
72
Table of Contents
Scudder International Fund
Annual Report to Shareholders
August 31, 2005
Table of Contents
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 foreign securities presents certain unique risks not associated with domestic investments, such as currency fluctuation, political and economic changes and market risks. This may result in greater share price volatility. Please read this fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding its investments and risk profile.
Scudder Investments is part of Deutsche Asset Management, which is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., Deutsche Asset Management Inc., Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Ltd., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Scudder Trust Company.
Fund shares are not FDIC-insured and are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, any bank. Fund shares involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal.
Table of Contents
Performance Summary August 31, 2005
Classes A, B, C and Institutional
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 scudder.com for the Fund’s most recent month-end performance.
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. Institutional Class shares are not subject to sales charges.
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 during all periods shown for Class B shares and during the 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods shown for Class C and Institutional Class 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 redemptions of fund shares. Returns and rankings may differ by share class.
Returns shown for Class A shares prior to its inception on August 2, 1999 and for Class B and C shares prior to their inception on December 29, 2000 are derived from the historical performance of Class S shares of the Scudder International 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. Class S shares are no longer available to new investors except under certain circumstances. (Please refer to the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.)
Average Annual Total Returns (Unadjusted for Sales Charge) as of 8/31/05
Scudder International Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||
Class A | 26.63 | % | 14.59 | % | -2.24 | % | 6.28 | % | ||||
Class B | 25.21 | % | 13.58 | % | -3.07 | % | 5.42 | % | ||||
Class C | 25.44 | % | 13.64 | % | -3.04 | % | 5.45 | % | ||||
MSCI EAFE Index+ | 23.58 | % | 18.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 5.58 | % |
Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
Average Annual Total Returns as of 8/31/05
Scudder International Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | Life of Class* | ||||||
Institutional Class | 27.18 | % | 15.23 | % | -.11 | % | |||
MSCI EAFE Index+ | 23.58 | % | 18.25 | % | 3.03 | % |
Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
* | Institutional Class shares commenced operations on December 29, 2000. Index returns begin December 31, 2000. |
Table of Contents
Net Asset Value and Distribution Information
Class A | Class B | Class C | Institutional Class | |||||||||
Net Asset Value: | ||||||||||||
8/31/05 | $ | 47.44 | $ | 46.74 | $ | 46.74 | $ | 47.58 | ||||
8/31/04 | $ | 37.86 | $ | 37.36 | $ | 37.35 | $ | 37.99 | ||||
Distribution Information: | ||||||||||||
Twelve Months: | ||||||||||||
Income Dividends as of 8/31/05 | $ | .46 | $ | .06 | $ | .11 | $ | .68 |
Class A Lipper Rankings — International Large-Cap Core Funds Category as of 8/31/05
Period | Rank | Number of Funds Tracked | Percentile Ranking | |||||
1-Year | 17 | of | 192 | 9 | ||||
3-Year | 91 | of | 175 | 52 | ||||
5-Year | 85 | of | 128 | 66 |
Source: Lipper Inc. Rankings are historical and do not guarantee future results. Rankings are based on total return unadjusted for sales charge 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)
¨ Scudder International Fund — Class A
¨ MSCI EAFE Index+
Yearly periods ended August 31
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 8/31/05
Scudder International Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||||||
Class A | ||||||||||||||||
Growth of $10,000 | $ | 11,934 | $ | 14,182 | $ | 8,415 | $ | 17,323 | ||||||||
Average annual total return | 19.34 | % | 12.35 | % | -3.39 | % | 5.65 | % | ||||||||
Class B | ||||||||||||||||
Growth of $10,000 | $ | 12,221 | $ | 14,451 | $ | 8,474 | $ | 16,948 | ||||||||
Average annual total return | 22.21 | % | 13.06 | % | -3.26 | % | 5.42 | % | ||||||||
Class C | ||||||||||||||||
Growth of $10,000 | $ | 12,544 | $ | 14,676 | $ | 8,568 | $ | 16,995 | ||||||||
Average annual total return | 25.44 | % | 13.64 | % | -3.04 | % | 5.45 | % | ||||||||
MSCI EAFE Index+ | ||||||||||||||||
Growth of $10,000 | $ | 12,358 | $ | 16,537 | $ | 10,639 | $ | 17,207 | ||||||||
Average annual total return | 23.58 | % | 18.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 5.58 | % |
The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.
Scudder International Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | Life of Class* | |||||||||
Institutional Class | ||||||||||||
Growth of $1,000,000 | $ | 1,271,800 | $ | 1,529,900 | $ | 994,800 | ||||||
Average annual total return | 27.18 | % | 15.23 | % | -.11 | % | ||||||
MSCI EAFE Index+ | ||||||||||||
Growth of $1,000,000 | $ | 1,235,800 | $ | 1,653,700 | $ | 1,149,200 | ||||||
Average annual total return | 23.58 | % | 18.25 | % | 3.03 | % |
The growth of $1,000,000 is cumulative.
The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000.
* | Institutional Class shares commenced operations on December 29, 2000. Index returns begin December 31, 2000. |
+ | The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia and Far East (EAFE) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that tracks international stock performance in the 21 developed markets of Europe, Australasia and the Far East. The index is calculated using closing local market prices and converts to US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index. |
Table of Contents
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 aarp.scudder.com (Class AARP) or myScudder.com (Class S) for the Fund’s most recent month-end performance.
For the period from September 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005, shareholders redeeming Class S shares held less than six months had a lower total return due to the effect of the 2% redemption fee. To discourage short-term trading, effective February 1, 2005, shareholders redeeming Class AARP and S 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 during the 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods shown for Class AARP and 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 sale of fund shares. Returns and rankings may differ by share class.
Returns shown for Class AARP shares prior to its inception on August 14, 2000 are derived from the historical performance of Class S shares of the Scudder International 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 8/31/05
Scudder International Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||
Class S | 27.06 | % | 14.99 | % | -1.94 | % | 6.60 | % | ||||
Class AARP | 26.66 | % | 14.76 | % | -2.05 | % | 6.54 | % | ||||
MSCI EAFE Index+ | 23.58 | % | 18.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 5.58 | % |
Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
Table of Contents
Net Asset Value and Distribution Information
Class AARP | Class S | |||||
Net Asset Value: | ||||||
8/31/05 | $ | 47.60 | $ | 47.74 | ||
8/31/04 | $ | 38.03 | $ | 38.10 | ||
Distribution Information: | ||||||
Twelve Months: | ||||||
Income Dividends as of 8/31/05 | $ | .51 | $ | .61 |
Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment
¨ Scudder International Fund — Class S
¨ MSCI EAFE Index+
Yearly periods ended August 31
Comparative Results as of 8/31/05
Scudder International Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||||||
Class S | ||||||||||||||||
Growth of $10,000 | $ | 12,706 | $ | 15,205 | $ | 9,067 | $ | 18,955 | ||||||||
Average annual total return | 27.06 | % | 14.99 | % | -1.94 | % | 6.60 | % | ||||||||
Class AARP | ||||||||||||||||
Growth of $10,000 | $ | 12,666 | $ | 15,115 | $ | 9,014 | $ | 18,844 | ||||||||
Average annual total return | 26.66 | % | 14.76 | % | -2.05 | % | 6.54 | % | ||||||||
MSCI EAFE Index+ | ||||||||||||||||
Growth of $10,000 | $ | 12,358 | $ | 16,537 | $ | 10,639 | $ | 17,207 | ||||||||
Average annual total return | 23.58 | % | 18.25 | % | 1.25 | % | 5.58 | % |
The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.
+ | The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia and Far East (EAFE) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that tracks international stock performance in the 21 developed markets of Europe, Australasia and the Far East. The index is calculated using closing local market prices and converts to US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index. |
Class S Lipper Rankings — International Large-Cap Core Funds Category as of 8/31/05
Period | Rank | Number of Funds Tracked | Percentile Ranking | |||||
1-Year | 14 | of | 192 | 8 | ||||
3-Year | 73 | of | 175 | 42 | ||||
5-Year | 77 | of | 128 | 59 | ||||
10-Year | 9 | of | 51 | 18 |
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.
Table of Contents
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 shares 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 August 31, 2005.
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 August 31, 2005
Actual Fund Return | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class AARP | Class S | Institutional Class | ||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 3/1/05 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | ||||||
Ending Account Value 8/31/05 | $ | 1,048.90 | $ | 1,042.60 | $ | 1,044.00 | $ | 1,048.50 | $ | 1,050.40 | $ | 1,051.30 | ||||||
Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $ | 6.30 | $ | 12.20 | $ | 10.97 | $ | 6.61 | $ | 4.70 | $ | 3.98 | ||||||
Hypothetical 5% Fund Return | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class AARP | Class S | Institutional Class | ||||||||||||
Beginning Account Value 3/1/05 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | ||||||
Ending Account Value 8/31/05 | $ | 1,019.06 | $ | 1,013.26 | $ | 1,014.47 | $ | 1,018.75 | $ | 1,020.62 | $ | 1,021.32 | ||||||
Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $ | 6.21 | $ | 12.03 | $ | 10.82 | $ | 6.51 | $ | 4.63 | $ | 3.92 |
* | 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 | Institutional Class | ||||||||||||
Scudder International Fund | 1.22 | % | 2.37 | % | 2.13 | % | 1.28 | % | .91 | % | .77 | % |
For more information, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.
Table of Contents
Scudder International Fund: A Team Approach to Investing
Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Advisor”), which is part of Deutsche Asset Management, is the investment advisor for Scudder International Fund. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds and DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. DeIM is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
Deutsche Asset Management is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.
DeIM is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
Portfolio Manager
Matthias Knerr, CFA
Director, Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund.*
Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1995 and the fund in 2004.
Portfolio manager for International Equity: New York.
Portfolio manager for EAFE Equities and Global Equities.
* | Effective September 30, 2005, Mr. Knerr became Portfolio Manager of the fund. In addition, effective September 30, 2005, Deutsche Asset Management Services Ltd. is no longer the subadvisor for the fund. |
Table of Contents
In the following interview, Lead Portfolio Manager Alex Tedder discusses Scudder International Fund’s strategy and the market environment during the one-year period ended August 31, 2005. Mr. Tedder was lead portfolio manager of the fund until September 30, 2005. As of that date, Matthias Knerr assumed the fund’s management duties.
Q: How did international equity markets perform during the past year?
A: Both developed and emerging markets performed very well during the past year, with each strongly outpacing the US market. The MSCI EAFE Index returned 23.58% for the period, while the MSCI Emerging Markets Index returned 41.83%.1 The US market, as gauged by the S&P 500 Index, returned 12.56%.2
1 | The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe, Australasia and Far East (EAFE) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index that tracks international stock performance in the 21 developed markets of Europe, Australasia and the Far East. The index is calculated using closing local market prices and converts to US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index. |
2 | The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks. The index is designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major indices. |
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.
3 | Since mutual funds generally purchase stock in local currencies, the appreciation of those currencies versus the dollar raises the value of the equity investment. |
With respect to the MSCI EAFE Index, benchmark of the Scudder International Fund, currency fluctuations did not have a major effect on performance. While the US dollar declined versus the basket of international currencies in the latter half of 2004, it rebounded strongly during the first eight months of 2005. This recovery negated the additional return that dollar-based investors gained from the falling dollar (and the corresponding rise in overseas currencies) during the first part of the reporting period.3
From a sector perspective, energy and materials easily outpaced the broader benchmark. The energy sector was a clear beneficiary of the rising price of oil, which topped the $70 per barrel mark before settling at $66.81 on the final day of the reporting period. In comparison, oil stood at just under $40 per barrel on August 31, 2004.4 As a result, major oil producers across the world benefited from a profit windfall. With respect to the materials sector, the Chinese industrial build-out has raised the demand for raw materials and as a result has exacerbated global supply-demand imbalances. Chinese demand for metals (copper, iron, steel, ores) and construction materials allowed key producers to gain pricing power, pushing the sector return well ahead of that of the index.
4 | Source: US Energy Information Administration. |
Table of Contents
The two key laggards over the period were information technology (IT) and health care. Within IT, a lack of pricing power hurt many key industries, including Internet software and services, personal computers and office electronics. Coupled with weakness in semiconductor (computer chip) stocks, IT was unable to keep pace with the broader index. In the health care sector, pharmaceutical companies were pressured by increasing government scrutiny over several product lines.
Country returns within EAFE generally reflected the divergence in sector performance. Countries with strong production of oils and metals (such as Australia and Norway) outperformed by a wide margin, while those with greater IT exposure — such as Ireland — generally lagged.
Q: Will you discuss the fund’s performance results?
A: The Class A shares of the fund returned 26.63%, outperforming the 23.58% return of the MSCI EAFE Index. (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 3 through 7 for the performance of other share classes and for more complete performance information.) The fund also outpaced the 22.60% average return of the 192 funds in its Lipper peer group, International Large-Cap Core Funds, and finished in the top decile of the group for the annual period.5
5 | Source: Lipper Inc. as of 8/31/05. Lipper figures include reinvestment of dividends and capital gains and represent the average of the total returns reported by all of the mutual funds designated by Lipper as falling into the International Large Cap Core Funds category. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. According to Lipper international large cap core funds are funds that, by portfolio practice, invest at least 75% of their equity assets in companies strictly outside of the United States, with market capitalizations (on a three-year weighted basis) greater than the 250th-largest company in the S&P/CitigroupWorld ex-US Broad Market Index. Large-cap core funds typically have an average price-to-cash-flow ratio, price-to-book ratio and three-year sales-per-share growth value compared with the S&P/Citigroup World ex-US BMI. |
Q: What factors helped the fund’s performance?
A: The fund benefited from its positioning in the emerging markets and Japan. Investment opportunities were plentiful within the emerging markets, with key themes ranging from the growing wealth in Eastern Europe to the emerging middle classes in Asia. The fund benefited from exposure to emerging market financial services companies, as consumer lending, credit card expansion and mortgage loan growth continue to grow strongly. Two examples are ICICI Bank Ltd. (India) and OTP Bank Rt (GDR) (Hungary), both strong contributors to fund performance during the annual period. Several emerging market nations with metals and energy resources, as noted in the previous section, also were outperformers. The fund was aided by positions in materials producers, including Brazil’s Companhia Vale do Rio Doce SA (iron and ferrous metals) and South Korea’s POSCO (rolled steel). Energy producers and distributors within the emerging markets — such as Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Brazil) and OAO Gazprom (Russia) — also added to return. (As of August 31, 2005, the position in POSCO was sold.)
Table of Contents
Japan was one of the worst country performers within the developed-markets region, but the fund’s holdings in the country — the second largest in the EAFE benchmark — outperformed. Our stock selection in Japan was particularly good within industrials (aided by our position in the trading company Mitsubishi Corp.) and information technology stocks.
The information technology sector, the worst performer within the EAFE Index, was significantly affected by the poor performance of Asian tech stocks. The fund, however, was able to more than double the sector’s weak return thanks to strong stock selection in Japan (as noted above), Taiwan and South Korea. Among the stocks that helped the fund’s relative performance were Hoya Corp., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Q: What elements of the fund’s positioning hurt performance?
A: Although the fund’s performance was positive in both absolute and relative terms, there were a few detractors from performance. Our only notable underperformance on a sector basis was in health care, where several of the fund’s holdings in Europe — including AstraZeneca PLC and Smith & Nephew — lagged. In addition, relative performance was affected by the portfolio’s underweight in Sanofi-Aventis, the French pharmaceutical leader. Synergies created by the merger of Sanofi-Synthelabo and Aventis, aided by the French government to create a “national champion,” helped the stock outperform the European health care sector during the period.6 (As of August 31, 2005, the positions in Smith & Nephew and Sanofi-Aventis were sold.)
6 | An underweight is a weighting in a stock or industry lower than that of the benchmark. An overweight is a weighting in a stock or industry greater than that of the benchmark. |
The other source of negative performance was the fund’s underweight in Australia. Materials stocks in the country returned in excess of 50% in US dollar terms, but our nonholding of these stocks meant that the portfolio did not benefit from the rally.
Q: How is the fund positioned on a regional basis?
A: The fund’s largest overweight was within the emerging markets, where the fund had exposure to Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. The fund also maintained an overweight in Europe, where the elevated level of discontent that resulted in the resounding “no” vote against the ratification of the European Union constitution may lead to real structural reform for the first time in years. Although perhaps not the ideal choice for many, President Chirac’s newly appointed prime minister Dominique de Villepin appears to be serious about addressing the level of French unemployment, which currently stands above 10%. In Germany, we believe there is an even greater prospect for change with the upcoming early elections, to be held in late September, likely to lead to a change in government. Change is also happening at the corporate level in Germany, as underperformance is no longer being tolerated.
Table of Contents
The fund was underweight in the Pacific Basin ex-Japan area, mostly the result of our lower allocation to the Australian market. The other major underweight was in the United Kingdom, where we feel that economic imbalances still exist. As is the case in the United States, the UK consumer is burdened by high household mortgage debt and consumer credit, and we believe that this will continue to affect the British economy.
Q: What is your strategy and outlook for the fund?
A: While we continue to find investment opportunities on the company level, we are mindful of the risks currently overhanging the global economy. Included among those risks are the high levels of housing prices and consumer debt in the United States, the rising price of oil and the possibility of inflation.
In the more immediate future, though, we continue to believe that company managements will be measured by their ability to successfully reinvest record high levels of cash flow using one of three strategies:
Funding attractive internal growth opportunities through rising capital expenditures
Returning excess cash to shareholders
Participating in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity
Up until this point, we have shown a clear preference for companies whose managements have chosen either the first or second option. However, the third option has become a more attractive strategy, in our view. In an environment of low bond yields and high equity cash flow yields, reinvesting capital by way of corporate activity may currently be a more efficient use of capital than has often been the case historically. Of course, we have to be wary of overzealous managements overpaying for acquisitions, but deals executed at reasonable prices and based on realistic assumptions could be significantly value-enhancing. Positive share price reactions to some recent transactions as of late appear to validate this view. Therefore, we will be assessing the merits of M&A activity as a use of corporate cash flows with a more open mind than we have historically.
While our overall expectations are modest, they are by no means pessimistic. In contrast, we are optimistic about the prospects for many companies. In our view, companies that are able to deliver good revenue and earnings growth in difficult economic circumstances will be rewarded by the market. We therefore continue to focus on areas where positive returns are likely to be maintained.
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.
Table of Contents
Portfolio Summary August 31, 2005
Asset Allocation (Excludes Securities Lending Collateral) | 8/31/05 | 8/31/04 | ||||
Common Stocks | 99 | % | 99 | % | ||
Cash Equivalents | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||
100 | % | 100 | % | |||
Geographical Diversification (As a % of Common Stocks) | 8/31/05 | 8/31/04 | ||||
Europe (excluding United Kingdom) | 53 | % | 44 | % | ||
Japan | 21 | % | 23 | % | ||
United Kingdom | 17 | % | 25 | % | ||
Pacific Basin | 8 | % | 7 | % | ||
Latin America | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||
100 | % | 100 | % | |||
Sector Diversification (As a % of Common Stocks) | 8/31/05 | 8/31/04 | ||||
Financials | 29 | % | 27 | % | ||
Consumer Discretionary | 16 | % | 14 | % | ||
Industrials | 10 | % | 8 | % | ||
Energy | 9 | % | 10 | % | ||
Health Care | 7 | % | 10 | % | ||
Materials | 7 | % | 6 | % | ||
Telecommunication Services | 6 | % | 8 | % | ||
Information Technology | 6 | % | 7 | % | ||
Consumer Staples | 6 | % | 6 | % | ||
Utilities | 4 | % | 4 | % | ||
100 | % | 100 | % | |||
Asset allocation, geographical diversification and sector diversification are subject to change.
Table of Contents
Ten Largest Equity Holdings at August 31, 2005 (22.5% of Net Assets)
1. Total SA Producer of oil and natural gas | France | 3.2 | % | ||
2. Nestle SA (Registered) Producer and seller of food products | Switzerland | 2.7 | % | ||
3. Royal Dutch Shell PLC Explores, produces and refines petroleum | Netherlands | 2.4 | % | ||
4. Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC Provider of a wide range of financial services | United Kingdom | 2.2 | % | ||
5. Toyota Motor Corp. Manufacturer of diversified automotive products | Japan | 2.2 | % | ||
6. E.ON AG Distributor of electricity to commercial and residential customers | Germany | 2.1 | % | ||
7. Mitsubishi Corp. Operator of a general trading company | Japan | 2.0 | % | ||
8. Eni SpA Provider of oilfield and engineering services | Italy | 1.9 | % | ||
9. Roche Holding AG Developer of pharmaceutical and chemical products | Switzerland | 1.9 | % | ||
10. Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. Provider of financial services | Japan | 1.9 | % |
Portfolio holdings are subject to change.
For more complete details about the fund’s investment portfolio, see page 19. A quarterly Fact Sheet is available upon request. Information concerning portfolio holdings of the Fund as of month end will be posted to scudder.com on the 15th of the following month. Please see the Account Management Resources section for contact information.
Table of Contents
Following the Fund’s fiscal first and third quarter-end, a complete portfolio holdings listing is filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. This 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 August 31, 2005
Shares | Value ($) | |||
Common Stocks 99.5% | ||||
Australia 1.9% | ||||
Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. | 952,498 | 15,995,344 | ||
Macquarie Airports | 5,879,100 | 14,199,803 | ||
(Cost $27,113,792) | 30,195,147 | |||
Austria 0.7% | ||||
Wienerberger AG (Cost $8,219,445) | 257,024 | 10,606,243 | ||
Brazil 1.5% | ||||
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (ADR) | 369,218 | 12,697,407 | ||
Petroleo Brasileiro SA (ADR) | 170,230 | 10,649,589 | ||
(Cost $9,149,642) | 23,346,996 | |||
Finland 2.0% | ||||
Nokia Oyj | 543,697 | 8,560,268 | ||
Nokia Oyj (ADR) | 230,796 | 3,639,653 | ||
Nokian Renkaat Oyj (a) | 895,710 | 19,079,446 | ||
(Cost $29,504,255) | 31,279,367 | |||
France 6.5% | ||||
Axa | 667,900 | 17,865,809 | ||
BNP Paribas SA | 296,600 | 21,704,771 | ||
Pernod Ricard SA (a) | 80,500 | 13,985,039 | ||
Total SA | 189,968 | 50,050,183 | ||
(Cost $65,128,183) | 103,605,802 | |||
Germany 11.2% | ||||
Adidas-Salomon AG | 102,600 | 18,347,084 | ||
BASF AG | 252,200 | 17,725,406 | ||
Bayer AG | 432,050 | 15,302,222 | ||
Continental AG | 178,370 | 14,169,805 | ||
Deutsche Post AG (Registered) | 633,200 | 16,017,845 | ||
E.ON AG | 349,183 | 33,423,336 | ||
Fresenius Medical Care AG (a) | 142,910 | 12,973,076 | ||
Hypo Real Estate Holding AG | 568,000 | 28,011,950 | ||
Metro AG | 227,778 | 11,570,054 | ||
Siemens AG (Registered) | 133,470 | 10,140,002 | ||
(Cost $132,033,461) | 177,680,780 | |||
Greece 2.6% | ||||
Alpha Bank AE | 463,351 | 12,993,431 | ||
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA* | 771,020 | 15,961,379 | ||
OPAP SA | 369,500 | 11,750,567 | ||
(Cost $28,111,767) | 40,705,377 | |||
Hong Kong 1.7% | ||||
Esprit Holdings Ltd. (Cost $14,688,769) | 3,614,180 | 26,675,152 | ||
Hungary 0.7% | ||||
OTP Bank Rt (GDR) (REG S) (Cost $2,919,126) | 151,578 | 11,943,897 | ||
India 1.2% | ||||
ICICI Bank Ltd. (Cost $14,225,297) | 1,769,700 | 19,396,457 | ||
Indonesia 1.0% | ||||
PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (ADR) (Cost $17,009,599) | 795,300 | 15,269,760 | ||
Ireland 2.8% | ||||
Anglo Irish Bank Corp. PLC | 1,210,740 | 16,365,133 | ||
CRH PLC | 522,500 | 14,257,657 | ||
Grafton Group PLC (Units)* | 1,362,400 | 14,390,147 | ||
(Cost $44,205,249) | 45,012,937 | |||
Italy 5.4% | ||||
Banca Intesa SpA | 5,399,730 | 26,104,671 | ||
Capitalia SpA | 2,910,800 | 16,397,492 | ||
Enel SpA | 1,425,543 | 12,681,350 | ||
Eni SpA | 1,042,628 | 30,914,547 | ||
(Cost $64,009,239) | 86,098,060 | |||
Japan 20.6% | ||||
Aiful Corp. | 161,096 | 12,408,686 | ||
Astellas Pharma, Inc. | 465,500 | 16,609,416 | ||
Canon, Inc. | 561,000 | 28,401,559 | ||
Credit Saison Co., Ltd. | 238,000 | 9,367,012 | ||
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | 528,088 | 8,442,746 | ||
Daito Trust Construction Co., Ltd. | 284,300 | 11,903,960 | ||
Hoya Corp. | 150,300 | 19,664,593 | ||
Mitsubishi Corp. | 1,956,000 | 32,388,655 | ||
Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. | 1,023,000 | 13,196,213 | ||
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd. | 963,000 | 9,851,273 | ||
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. | 5,432 | 30,362,779 | ||
Nippon Steel Corp. | 5,196,500 | 15,245,106 | ||
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | 1,745,333 | 18,379,490 | ||
Nitori Co., Ltd. | 112,200 | 9,017,478 | ||
Sega Sammy Holdings, Inc. | 371,700 | 27,384,924 | ||
Sharp Corp. (a) | 586,547 | 8,878,070 | ||
Takefuji Corp. | 186,000 | 13,047,688 | ||
Toyota Motor Corp. | 843,500 | 34,533,609 | ||
Yamada Denki Co., Ltd. (a) | 135,800 | 8,757,131 | ||
(Cost $232,650,846) | 327,840,388 | |||
Korea 1.3% | ||||
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Cost $10,298,476) | 38,301 | 20,239,322 | ||
Netherlands 4.5% | ||||
ING Groep NV (a) | 699,696 | 20,447,198 | ||
Royal Dutch Shell PLC “B” | 1,104,143 | 37,439,102 | ||
Stork NV | 287,000 | 14,335,682 | ||
(Cost $47,946,322) | 72,221,982 | |||
Norway 1.2% | ||||
Statoil ASA (Cost $9,456,079) | 758,689 | 18,630,992 | ||
Russia 1.0% | ||||
AFK Sistema (REG S) | 404,791 | 8,173,892 | ||
OAO Gazprom (REG S) (e) | 164,456 | 8,107,681 | ||
OAO Gazprom (REG S) (e) | 5,084 | 250,999 | ||
(Cost $13,050,381) | 16,532,572 | |||
Spain 2.9% | ||||
ACS, Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA | 612,200 | 18,462,436 | ||
Telefonica SA | 1,670,580 | 27,694,734 | ||
(Cost $30,892,427) | 46,157,170 | |||
Sweden 3.1% | ||||
ForeningsSparbanken AB (Swedbank) | 642,760 | 15,819,386 | ||
SKF AB “B” | 1,019,210 | 12,511,904 | ||
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson “B” | 5,874,872 | 20,500,131 | ||
(Cost $31,341,065) | 48,831,421 | |||
Switzerland 8.3% | ||||
Baloise Holding AG (Registered) | 210,100 | 11,191,525 | ||
Nestle SA (Registered) | 149,734 | 42,118,402 | ||
Novartis AG (Registered) | 385,978 | 18,781,848 | ||
Roche Holding AG (Genusschein) | 222,653 | 30,878,751 | ||
UBS AG (Registered) | 361,970 | 29,730,131 | ||
(Cost $78,732,025) | 132,700,657 | |||
Taiwan 0.5% | ||||
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (Cost $6,555,939) | 1,680,870 | 8,695,530 | ||
United Kingdom 16.9% | ||||
AstraZeneca PLC | 267,123 | 12,241,895 | ||
BAA PLC | 1,198,132 | 13,252,195 | ||
BHP Billiton PLC | 1,854,531 | 27,650,828 | ||
Hammerson PLC | 991,300 | 16,117,248 | ||
Hilton Group PLC | 1,701,000 | 9,692,369 | ||
HSBC Holdings PLC | 1,840,058 | 29,685,054 | ||
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC | 998,300 | 27,812,491 | ||
Informa PLC | 1,745,200 | 12,530,898 | ||
MFI Furniture Group PLC | 3,519,400 | 7,376,276 | ||
National Grid PLC | 1,429,068 | 13,564,941 | ||
Prudential PLC | 1,292,073 | 11,851,140 | ||
Reckitt Benckiser PLC | 485,200 | 15,079,175 | ||
Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC | 1,185,178 | 34,647,541 | ||
Vodafone Group PLC | 10,653,946 | 29,284,653 | ||
Woolworths Group PLC | 11,020,129 | 7,151,674 | ||
(Cost $193,561,298) | 267,938,378 | |||
Total Common Stocks (Cost $1,110,802,682) | 1,581,604,387 | |||
Table of Contents
Principal Amount ($) | Value ($) | |||||
Other 0.0% | ||||||
Brazil | ||||||
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce* (Cost $0) | 715,900 | 14,792 | ||||
Shares | Value ($) | |||||
Securities Lending Collateral 3.5% | ||||||
Scudder Daily Assets Fund Institutional, 3.61% (b) (c) (Cost $54,692,884) | 54,692,884 | 54,692,884 | ||||
Cash Equivalents 0.5% | ||||||
Scudder Cash Management QP Trust, 3.54% (d) (Cost $7,816,426) | 7,816,426 | 7,816,426 | ||||
% of Net Assets | Value ($) | |||||
Total Investment Portfolio (Cost $1,173,311,992)+ | 103.5 | 1,644,128,489 | ||||
Other Assets and Liabilities, Net | (3.5 | ) | (55,039,401 | ) | ||
Net Assets | 100.0 | 1,589,089,088 | ||||
+ | The cost for federal income tax purposes was $1,189,963,401. At August 31, 2005, net unrealized appreciation for all securities based on tax cost was $454,165,088. This consisted of aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of value over tax cost of $464,537,846 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of tax cost over value of $10,372,758. |
* | Non-income producing security. |
(a) | All or a portion of these securities were on loan (see Notes to Financial Statements). The value of all securities loaned at August 31, 2005 amounted to $52,011,128 which is 3.3% of net assets. |
(b) | Scudder 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. |
(c) | Represents collateral held in connection with securities lending. |
(d) | Scudder Cash Management QP Trust is managed by Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield at period end. |
(e) | Securities with the same description are the same corporate entity but trade on different stock exchanges. |
ADR: American Depositary Receipt
GDR: Global Depositary Receipt
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of August 31, 2005
Assets | ||||
Investments: | ||||
Investments in securities, at value (cost $1,110,802,682) — including $52,011,128 of securities loaned | $ | 1,581,619,179 | ||
Investment in Scudder Daily Assets Fund Institutional (cost $54,692,884)* | 54,692,884 | |||
Investment in Scudder Cash Management QP Trust (cost $7,816,426) | 7,816,426 | |||
Total investments in securities, at value (cost $1,173,311,992) | 1,644,128,489 | |||
Foreign currency, at value (cost $1,177,534) | 1,148,377 | |||
Dividends receivable | 1,687,588 | |||
Interest receivable | 38,414 | |||
Receivable for Fund shares sold | 3,671,775 | |||
Foreign taxes recoverable | 809,407 | |||
Other assets | 53,456 | |||
Total assets | 1,651,537,506 | |||
Liabilities | ||||
Payable upon return of securities loaned | 54,692,884 | |||
Payable for investments purchased | �� | 2,784,379 | ||
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | 2,279,731 | |||
Deferred foreign taxes payable | 211,122 | |||
Accrued management fee | 918,195 | |||
Other accrued expenses and payables | 1,562,107 | |||
Total liabilities | 62,448,418 | |||
Net assets, at value | $ | 1,589,089,088 | ||
Net Assets | ||||
Net assets consist of: | ||||
Undistributed net investment income | 12,717,730 | |||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | ||||
Investments (net of deferred foreign taxes of $211,122) | 470,605,375 | |||
Foreign currency related transactions | 23,117 | |||
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) | (1,082,952,379 | ) | ||
Paid-in capital | 2,188,695,245 | |||
Net assets, at value | $ | 1,589,089,088 | ||
* | Represents collateral on securities loaned |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of August 31, 2005 (continued)
Net Asset Value | |||
Class A | |||
Net Asset Value and redemption price(a) per share ($218,898,524 ÷ 4,614,661 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 47.44 | |
Maximum offering price per share (100 ÷ 94.25 of $47.44) | $ | 50.33 | |
Class B | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($33,491,551 ÷ 716,483 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 46.74 | |
Class C | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($22,402,781 ÷ 479,356 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 46.74 | |
Class AARP | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) per share ($27,084,517 ÷ 568,978 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 47.60 | |
Class S | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) per share ($1,278,401,828 ÷ 26,776,982 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 200,595,597 shares authorized) | $ | 47.74 | |
Institutional Class | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) per share ($8,809,887 ÷ 185,166 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 47.58 |
(a) | Redemption price per share for shares held less than 30 days is equal to net asset value less a 2% redemption fee. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
Statement of Operations for the year ended August 31, 2005
Investment Income | ||||
Income: | ||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $4,533,651) | $ | 40,067,720 | ||
Interest — Scudder Cash Management QP Trust | 84,772 | |||
Interest | 173,136 | |||
Securities lending income, including income from Scudder Daily Assets Fund Institutional, net of borrower rebates | 1,217,982 | |||
Total Income | 41,543,610 | |||
Expenses: | ||||
Management fee | 10,735,566 | |||
Services to shareholders | 3,737,478 | |||
Custodian and accounting fees | 1,274,648 | |||
Distribution service fees | 1,081,211 | |||
Auditing | 105,172 | |||
Legal | 31,660 | |||
Directors’ fees and expenses | 34,922 | |||
Reports to shareholders | 57,560 | |||
Registration fees | 53,860 | |||
Other | 181,959 | |||
Total expenses, before expense reductions | 17,294,036 | |||
Expense reductions | (108,098 | ) | ||
Total expenses, after expense reductions | 17,185,938 | |||
Net investment income (loss) | 24,357,672 | |||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment Transactions | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) from: | ||||
Investments (net of foreign taxes of $752,702) | 193,223,542 | |||
Foreign currency related transactions | 2,564,888 | |||
195,788,430 | ||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period on: | ||||
Investments (net of deferred foreign taxes of $211,122) | 160,668,639 | |||
Foreign currency related transactions | 197,230 | |||
160,865,869 | ||||
Net gain (loss) on investment transactions | 356,654,299 | |||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ | 381,011,971 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
Years Ended August 31, | ||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | 2005 | 2004 | ||||||
Operations: | ||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 24,357,672 | $ | 12,066,084 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 195,788,430 | 191,464,554 | ||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period on investment transactions | 160,865,869 | 64,007,531 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 381,011,971 | 267,538,169 | ||||||
Distributions to shareholders from: | ||||||||
Net investment income: | ||||||||
Class A | (2,251,691 | ) | (1,714,818 | ) | ||||
Class B | (53,018 | ) | (6,719 | ) | ||||
Class C | (63,244 | ) | (5,870 | ) | ||||
Barrett International Shares | — | (13,106 | ) | |||||
Class AARP | (301,489 | ) | (248,114 | ) | ||||
Class S | (19,266,523 | ) | (16,878,373 | ) | ||||
Institutional Class | (113,152 | ) | (340,402 | ) | ||||
Fund share transactions: | ||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 154,941,844 | 428,744,477 | ||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 20,351,593 | 17,551,465 | ||||||
Cost of shares redeemed | (503,357,180 | ) | (896,646,481 | ) | ||||
Redemption fees | 37,489 | 132,467 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | (328,026,254 | ) | (450,218,072 | ) | ||||
(Increase) decrease in net assets | 30,936,600 | (201,887,305 | ) | |||||
Net assets at beginning of period | 1,558,152,488 | 1,760,039,793 | ||||||
Net assets at end of period (including undistributed net investment income of $12,717,730 and $8,596,989, respectively) | $ | 1,589,089,088 | $ | 1,558,152,488 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
Class A
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 37.86 | $ | 33.18 | $ | 32.35 | $ | 40.03 | $ | 57.54 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)a | .56 | .16 | .26 | .10 | .06 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.48 | 4.82 | .79 | (7.76 | ) | (14.89 | ) | |||||||||||||
�� | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 10.04 | 4.98 | 1.05 | (7.66 | ) | (14.83 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.46 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.22 | ) | (.02 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.46 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.22 | ) | (.02 | ) | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 47.44 | $ | 37.86 | $ | 33.18 | $ | 32.35 | $ | 40.03 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)b | 26.63 | 15.06 | 3.28 | (19.13 | ) | (26.63 | ) | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 219 | 192 | 204 | 218 | 312 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses (%) | 1.33 | 1.55 | 1.49 | 1.31 | c | 1.33 | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.28 | .41 | .84 | .28 | .17 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
b | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
c | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in certain liabilities of an acquired fund. The ratio without this reduction was 1.33%. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
Table of Contents
Class B
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 37.36 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.95 | $ | 39.83 | $ | 50.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)b | .13 | (.14 | ) | .03 | (.17 | ) | (.11 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.31 | 4.77 | .76 | (7.71 | ) | (10.20 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 9.44 | 4.63 | .79 | (7.88 | ) | (10.31 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.06 | ) | (.01 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 46.74 | $ | 37.36 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.95 | $ | 39.83 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)c | 25.21 | e | 14.19 | e | 2.47 | (19.78 | ) | (20.56 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 33 | 40 | 47 | 60 | 92 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.62 | 2.49 | 2.27 | 2.08 | d | 2.13 | * | |||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.37 | 2.37 | 2.27 | 2.08 | d | 2.13 | * | |||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .24 | (.41 | ) | .06 | (.49 | ) | (.35 | )* | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | For the period from December 29, 2000 (commencement of operations of Class B shares) to August 31, 2001. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
d | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in certain liabilities of an acquired fund. The ratio without this reduction was 2.13%. |
e | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
Table of Contents
Class C
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 37.35 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.94 | $ | 39.82 | $ | 50.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)b | .18 | (.14 | ) | .03 | (.17 | ) | (.12 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.32 | 4.76 | .77 | (7.71 | ) | (10.20 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 9.50 | 4.62 | .80 | (7.88 | ) | (10.32 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.11 | ) | (.01 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 46.74 | $ | 37.35 | $ | 32.74 | $ | 31.94 | $ | 39.82 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)c | 25.44 | 14.17 | d | 2.50 | (19.79 | ) | (20.58 | )** | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 32 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.24 | 2.38 | 2.26 | 2.11 | 2.11 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.24 | 2.36 | 2.26 | 2.11 | 2.11 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .37 | (.40 | ) | .07 | (.52 | ) | (.33 | )* | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | For the period from December 29, 2000 (commencement of operations of Class C shares) to August 31, 2001. |
b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
Table of Contents
Class AARP
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 38.03 | $ | 33.34 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | $ | 57.74 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)a | .56 | .23 | .33 | .19 | .20 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.52 | 4.86 | .80 | (7.80 | ) | (14.96 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 10.08 | 5.09 | 1.13 | (7.61 | ) | (14.76 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.51 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.06 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.51 | ) | (.40 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (2.74 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 47.60 | $ | 38.03 | $ | 33.34 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 26.66 | 15.27 | c | 3.53 | (18.94 | ) | (26.43 | ) | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 27 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 36 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.32 | 1.39 | 1.25 | 1.06 | 1.04 | b | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.32 | 1.35 | 1.25 | 1.06 | 1.04 | b | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.29 | .61 | 1.08 | .53 | .46 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
b | The ratio of operating expenses includes a one-time reduction in fund complex reorganization costs from fiscal 2000. The ratio without this reduction was 1.07%. |
c | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
Table of Contents
Class S
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 38.10 | $ | 33.36 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | $ | 57.73 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomea | .71 | .30 | .35 | .19 | .18 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.54 | 4.86 | .80 | (7.80 | ) | (14.94 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 10.25 | 5.16 | 1.15 | (7.61 | ) | (14.76 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.61 | ) | (.42 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.05 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gain on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (2.68 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.61 | ) | (.42 | ) | (.30 | ) | (.12 | ) | (2.73 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 47.74 | $ | 38.10 | $ | 33.36 | $ | 32.51 | $ | 40.24 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 27.06 | 15.49 | b | 3.62 | (18.94 | ) | (26.44 | ) | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 1,278 | 1,273 | 1,444 | 1,872 | 3,248 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | .98 | 1.23 | 1.18 | 1.06 | 1.07 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .98 | 1.17 | 1.18 | 1.06 | 1.07 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (%) | 1.63 | .79 | 1.15 | .53 | .43 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
Table of Contents
Institutional Class
Years Ended August 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 37.99 | $ | 33.28 | $ | 32.42 | $ | 40.13 | $ | 50.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomeb | .76 | .39 | .43 | .28 | .23 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 9.51 | 4.84 | .80 | (7.79 | ) | (10.24 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 10.27 | 5.23 | 1.23 | (7.51 | ) | (10.01 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.68 | ) | (.52 | ) | (.37 | ) | (.20 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 47.58 | $ | 37.99 | $ | 33.28 | $ | 32.42 | $ | 40.13 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 27.18 | 15.77 | c | 3.90 | (18.76 | ) | (19.96 | )** | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 9 | 8 | 21 | 16 | 22 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | .85 | .96 | .92 | .83 | .84 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .85 | .94 | .92 | .83 | .84 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (%) | 1.76 | 1.02 | 1.41 | .76 | .86 | * | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 57 | 82 | 104 | 105 | 85 |
a | For the period from December 29, 2000 (commencement of operations of Institutional Class shares) to August 31, 2001. |
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. |
Table of Contents
A. Significant Accounting Policies
Scudder International Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of 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 to investors 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. Institutional Class shares are offered to a limited group of investors, are not subject to initial or contingent deferred sales charges and have lower ongoing expenses than other classes. 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 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.
Table of Contents
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 Scudder 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 certain events which may occur between the close of the foreign exchanges and the close of the New York Stock Exchange.
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.
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.
Table of Contents
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.
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 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.
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.
At August 31, 2005, the Fund had a net tax basis capital loss carryforward of approximately $1,077,452,000, which may be applied against any realized net taxable capital gains of each succeeding year until fully utilized or until August 31, 2010 ($615,044,000) and August 31, 2011 ($462,408,000), the respective expiration dates, whichever occurs first. During the year ended August 31, 2005, the Fund utilized $190,225,000 of a prior year capital loss carryforward.
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.
Table of Contents
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, forward currency contracts, 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.
At August 31, 2005, the Fund’s components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a tax-basis were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income* | $ | 23,868,447 | ||
Capital loss carryforwards | $ | (1,077,452,000 | ) | |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | $ | 454,165,088 |
In addition, the tax character of distributions paid to shareholders by the Fund is summarized as follows:
Years Ended August 31, | ||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||
Distributions from ordinary income* | $ | 22,049,117 | $ | 19,207,402 |
* | For tax purposes short-term capital gains distributions are considered ordinary income distributions. |
Redemption Fees. For the period from September 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005, Class S shareholders redeeming or exchanging shares held less than six months were assessed a fee of 2% of the total amount redeemed or exchanged. Effective February 1, 2005, the Fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount on all 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 indemnifications 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.
Table of Contents
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 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 year ended August 31, 2005, purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) aggregated $892,273,605 and $1,174,604,999, 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 equal to an annual rate of 0.675% of the first $6,000,000,000 of the Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.625% of the next $1,000,000,000 of such net assets, and 0.60% of such net assets in excess of $7,000,000,000, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly. Accordingly, for the year ended August 31, 2005, the fee pursuant to the Management Agreement was equivalent to an annual effective rate of 0.675% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Ltd. (“DeAMIS”), an affiliate of the Advisor, served as subadvisor through September 30, 2005(see Note H) with respect to the investment and reinvestment of assets in the Fund.
Effective October 1, 2003 through November 30, 2005, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or 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 1.345%, 1.365%, 1.355%, 1.34%, 1.24% and 0.94% of average daily net assets for Class A, B, C, AARP, S and Institutional Class shares, respectively (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage and interest, Rule 12b-1 and/or service fees, director and director counsel fees and organization and offering expenses).
Table of Contents
Service Provider Fees. Scudder Investments Service Company (“SISC”), an affiliate of the Advisor, is the transfer, shareholder service agent and dividend-paying agent for Class A, B, C and Institutional Class shares, of the Fund. Scudder Service Corporation (“SSC”), a subsidiary of the Advisor, is the transfer, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent for Class AARP and S shares of the Fund. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement among SISC, SSC and DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”), SISC and SCC have delegated certain transfer agent and dividend-paying agent functions to DST. SISC and SSC compensate DST out of the shareholder servicing fee they receive from the Fund. For the year ended August 31, 2005, the amounts charged to the Fund by SISC and SSC were as follows:
Services to Shareholders | Total Aggregated | Waived | Unpaid at August 31, 2005 | ||||||
Class A | $ | 599,345 | $ | — | $ | 167,016 | |||
Class B | 303,855 | 92,572 | 66,372 | ||||||
Class C | 102,894 | — | 28,231 | ||||||
Class AARP | 134,702 | — | 30,603 | ||||||
Class S | 2,145,604 | — | 585,405 | ||||||
Institutional Class | 4,649 | — | — | ||||||
$ | 3,291,049 | $ | 92,572 | $ | 877,627 | ||||
Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation (“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. SFAC has retained State Street Bank and Trust Company to provide certain administrative, fund accounting and record-keeping services to the Fund. For the year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to the Fund by SFAC for accounting services aggregated $531,757, of which $4,983 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
Distribution Service Agreement. Under the Distribution Service Agreement, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, Scudder Distributors, Inc. (“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, SDI enters into related selling group agreements with various firms at various rates for sales of Class B and C shares. For the year ended August 31, 2005, the Distribution Fee was as follows:
Distribution Fee | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at August 31, 2005 | ||||
Class B | $ | 277,775 | $ | 24,220 | ||
Class C | 171,094 | 15,282 | ||||
$ | 448,869 | $ | 39,502 | |||
In addition, 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. 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 year ended August 31, 2005, the Service Fee was as follows:
Service Fee | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at August 31, 2005 | Annual Effective Rate | ||||||
Class A | $ | 486,861 | $ | 38,566 | .23 | % | |||
Class B | 92,259 | 8,102 | .25 | % | |||||
Class C | 53,222 | 2,991 | .23 | % | |||||
$ | 632,342 | $ | 49,659 | ||||||
Table of Contents
Underwriting Agreement and Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. SDI is the principal underwriter for the Fund. Underwriting commissions paid in connection with the distribution of Class A shares for the year ended August 31, 2005 aggregated $16,963.
In addition, 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 year ended August 31, 2005, the CDSC for Class B and C shares aggregated $168,805 and $967, respectively. A deferred sales charge of up to 1% is assessed on certain redemptions of Class A shares. For the year ended August 31, 2005, SDI received $260.
Typesetting and Filing Service Fees. Under an agreement with DeIM, the Advisor is compensated for providing typesetting and regulatory filing services to the Fund. For the year ended August 31, 2005, the amount charged to the Fund by DeIM included in the reports to shareholders aggregated $21,840, of which $3,120 is unpaid at August 31, 2005.
Directors’ Fees and Expenses. The Fund pays each Director not affiliated with the Advisor retainer fees plus specified amounts for attended board and committee meetings.
Scudder Cash Management QP Trust. Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, the Fund may invest in the Scudder 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 the Advisor a management fee for the affiliated funds’ investments in the QP Trust.
Other Related Parties. AARP through its affiliate, AARP Services, Inc., monitors and oversees the AARP Investment Program from Scudder Investments, but does not act as an investment advisor or recommend specific mutual funds. DeIM has agreed to pay a fee to AARP and/or its affiliates in return for the use of the AARP trademark and services relating to investments by AARP members in AARP Class shares of the Fund. This fee is calculated on a daily basis as a percentage of the combined net assets of the AARP classes of all funds managed by DeIM. The fee rates, which decrease as the aggregate net assets of the AARP classes become larger, are as follows: 0.07% for the first $6 billion of net assets, 0.06% for the next $10 billion of such net assets and 0.05% of such net assets thereafter. These amounts are used for the general purposes of AARP and its members.
Table of Contents
D. Expense Reductions
For the year ended August 31, 2005, the Advisor agreed to reimburse the Fund $15,526, 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. Line of Credit
The Fund and several other affiliated funds (the “Participants”) share in a $1.1 billion revolving credit facility administered by J.P. Morgan Chase Bank 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 33 percent of its net assets under the agreement.
F. Share Transactions
The following table summarizes share and dollar activity in the Fund:
Year Ended August 31, 2005 | Year Ended August 31, 2004 | |||||||||||||
Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars | |||||||||||
Shares sold | ||||||||||||||
Class A | 1,016,052 | $ | 44,011,621 | 1,563,973 | $ | 57,915,810 | ||||||||
Class B | 116,972 | 4,951,557 | 406,427 | 15,253,713 | ||||||||||
Class C | 127,573 | 5,386,704 | 151,746 | 5,683,306 | ||||||||||
Class AARP | 80,734 | 3,497,237 | 111,735 | 4,290,433 | ||||||||||
Class S | 2,044,084 | 87,962,103 | 8,945,892 | 333,710,788 | ||||||||||
Institutional Class | 208,621 | 9,132,622 | 329,303 | 11,890,427 | ||||||||||
$ | 154,941,844 | $ | 428,744,477 | |||||||||||
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | ||||||||||||||
Class A | 49,070 | $ | 2,129,658 | 43,674 | $ | 1,636,011 | ||||||||
Class B | 1,204 | 51,917 | 185 | 6,719 | ||||||||||
Class C | 1,390 | 59,794 | 150 | 5,583 | ||||||||||
Barrett International Shares* | — | — | 347 | 13,106 | ||||||||||
Class AARP | 6,429 | 280,041 | 6,201 | 233,136 | ||||||||||
Class S | 406,541 | 17,717,031 | 407,355 | 15,316,508 | ||||||||||
Institutional Class | 2,607 | 113,152 | 9,092 | 340,402 | ||||||||||
$ | 20,351,593 | $ | 17,551,465 | |||||||||||
Shares redeemed | ||||||||||||||
Class A | (1,530,591 | ) | $ | (65,754,074 | ) | (2,680,449 | ) | $ | (99,187,889 | ) | ||||
Class B | (470,874 | ) | (19,893,079 | ) | (772,625 | ) | (28,981,563 | ) | ||||||
Class C | (228,615 | ) | (9,734,100 | ) | (240,928 | ) | (9,064,857 | ) | ||||||
Barrett International Shares* | — | — | (28,767 | ) | (1,106,647 | ) | ||||||||
Class AARP | (133,700 | ) | (5,783,017 | ) | (142,128 | ) | (5,406,696 | ) | ||||||
Class S | (9,081,899 | ) | (391,666,255 | ) | (19,239,089 | ) | (724,479,832 | ) | ||||||
Institutional Class | (235,627 | ) | (10,526,655 | ) | (745,168 | ) | (28,418,997 | ) | ||||||
$ | (503,357,180 | ) | $ | (896,646,481 | ) | |||||||||
Redemption fees | — | $ | 37,489 | — | $ | 132,467 | ||||||||
Net increase (decrease) | ||||||||||||||
Class A | (465,469 | ) | $ | (19,612,001 | ) | (1,072,802 | ) | $ | (39,503,601 | ) | ||||
Class B | (352,698 | ) | (14,889,500 | ) | (366,013 | ) | (13,721,131 | ) | ||||||
Class C | (99,652 | ) | (4,287,598 | ) | (89,032 | ) | (3,375,968 | ) | ||||||
Barrett International Shares* | — | — | (28,420 | ) | (1,093,541 | ) | ||||||||
Class AARP | (46,537 | ) | (2,005,375 | ) | (24,192 | ) | (883,127 | ) | ||||||
Class S | (6,631,274 | ) | (285,950,899 | ) | (9,885,842 | ) | (375,452,536 | ) | ||||||
Institutional Class | (24,399 | ) | (1,280,881 | ) | (406,773 | ) | (16,188,168 | ) | ||||||
$ | (328,026,254 | ) | $ | (450,218,072 | ) | |||||||||
* | Effective August 20, 2004, shares of the Barrett International Class were liquidated. |
Table of Contents
G. Regulatory Matters and Litigation
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 Scudder Investments. The funds’ advisors have been cooperating in connection with these inquiries and are in discussions with these 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 Scudder 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 Scudder funds, the funds’ investment advisors and their affiliates, and certain individuals, including in some cases fund Trustees/Directors, officers, and other parties. Each Scudder fund’s investment advisor has agreed to indemnify the applicable Scudder 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. Based on currently available information, however, the funds’ investment advisors believe the likelihood that the pending lawsuits and any regulatory settlements will have a material adverse financial impact on a Scudder fund is remote and such actions are not likely to materially affect their ability to perform under their investment management agreements with the Scudder funds.
H. Other
On July 7, 2005, Deutsche Bank AG, the parent company of the Fund’s Advisor, entered into an agreement (the “Transaction”) with Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen”) to sell parts of its asset management business based in London and Philadelphia. The Fund’s subadvisor Deutsche Asset Management Investment Services Ltd. (“DeAMIS”) is proposed to be sold to Aberdeen. The Fund’s Board allowed its subadvisory agreement with DeAMIS, due for renewal on September 30, 2005, to expire and only the Fund’s Management Agreement with DeIM was approved for continuation. Aberdeen will play no role in managing the Fund.
Table of Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of Scudder International Fund, Inc.
and the Shareholders of Scudder International Fund:
In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the investment portfolio, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Scudder International Fund (the “Fund”) at August 31, 2005, and the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at August 31, 2005, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Boston, Massachusetts
October 26, 2005 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Table of Contents
The Fund paid foreign taxes of $5,286,353 and earned $28,079,916 of foreign source income during the year ended August 31, 2005. Pursuant to Section 853 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund designates $0.16 per share as foreign taxes paid and $0.84 per share as income earned from foreign sources for the year ended August 31, 2005.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund designates $44,600,000, or the maximum amount allowable under tax law, as qualified dividend income.
Please consult a tax advisor if you have questions about federal or state income tax laws, or on how to prepare your tax returns. If you have specific questions about your account, please call 1-800-SCUDDER.
Table of Contents
The following table presents certain information regarding the Directors and Officers of the fund as of August 31, 2005. Each individual’s year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each individual has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity, and (ii) the address of each Director is c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each Officer is Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. The term of office for each Director is until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed as provided in the governing documents of the fund. Because the fund does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders, each Director will hold office for an indeterminate period. The Directors of the Fund may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex.
Independent Directors
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Fund and Length of Time Served1 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946) Chairman, 2004- present Director, 1987 -present | President, Driscoll Associates (consulting firm); Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; formerly, Partner, Palmer & Dodge (1988-1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene’s (1978-1988). Directorships: Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute; Member, Executive Committee of the Independent Directors Council of the Investment Company Institute, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization) | 42 | ||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. (1943) Director, 1990-present | President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Becton Dickinson and Company (medical technology company); The A.H. Belo Company (media company); Concord Academy; Boston Museum of Science; Public Radio International. Former Directorships: American Public Television; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service | 42 | ||
Keith R. Fox (1954) Director, 1996-present | Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (a series of private equity funds). Directorships: Progressive Holding Corporation (kitchen goods importer and distributor); Cloverleaf Transportation Inc. (trucking); Natural History, Inc. (magazine publisher); Box Top Media Inc. (advertising) | 42 | ||
Jean Gleason Stromberg (1943) Director, 1999-present | Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997-2001); Director, US General Accounting Office (1996-1997); Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978-1996). Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Service Source, Inc. | 42 | ||
Carl W. Vogt (1936) Director, 2002-present | Senior Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm); formerly, President (interim) of Williams College (1999-2000); President, certain funds in the Deutsche Asset Management Family of Funds (formerly, Flag Investors Family of Funds) (registered investment companies) (1999-2000). Directorships: Yellow Corporation (trucking); American Science & Engineering (x-ray detection equipment); ISI Family of Funds (registered investment companies, 4 funds overseen); National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); formerly, Chairman and Member, National Transportation Safety Board | 42 |
Table of Contents
Officers2
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Fund and Length of Time Served1 | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | |
Vincent J. Esposito4,6 (1956) President, 2005-present | Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (since 2003); Vice President of Central European Equity Fund, Inc., The Germany Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. (since 2003) (registered investment companies); formerly, Managing Director, Putnam Investments (1991-2002) | |
John Millette (1962) Vice President and Secretary, 1999-present | Director3, Deutsche Asset Management | |
Patricia DeFilippis4,6 (1963) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management (since June 2005) | |
Paul H. Schubert4 (1963) Chief Financial Officer, 2004-present Treasurer, since 2005 | Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (since July 2004); formerly, Executive Director, Head of Mutual Fund Services and Treasurer for UBS Family of Funds at UBS Global Asset Management (1994-2004) | |
Daniel O. Hirsch5 (1954) Assistant Secretary, 2002-present | Consultant. Formerly, Managing Director, Deutsche Asset Management (2002-2005); Director, Deutsche Asset Management (1999-2002), Principal, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated (now Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.) (1998-1999); Assistant General Counsel, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (1993-1998); Director, Deutsche Global Funds Ltd. (2002-2004) | |
Caroline Pearson (1962) Assistant Secretary, 1997-present | Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management | |
Scott M. McHugh (1971) Assistant Treasurer, 2005-present | Director3, Deutsche Asset Management | |
Kathleen Sullivan D’Eramo (1957) Assistant Treasurer, 2003-present | Director3, Deutsche Asset Management | |
John Robbins4,6 (1966) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2005-present | Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (since 2005); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for GE Asset Management (1999-2005) | |
Philip Gallo4 (1962) Chief Compliance Officer, 2004-present | Managing Director3, Deutsche Asset Management (2003-present); formerly, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Legal (1994-2003) |
1 | Length of time served represents the date that each Director was first elected to the common board of Directors which oversees a number of investment companies, including the fund, managed by the Advisor. For the Officers of the fund, the length of time served represents the date that each Officer was first elected to serve as an Officer of any fund overseen by the aforementioned common board of Directors. |
2 | As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the funds. |
3 | Executive title, not a board directorship |
4 | Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154 |
5 | Address: One South Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 |
6 | Elected on September 29, 2005 |
The fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Directors. The SAI is available, without charge, upon request. If you would like to request a copy of the SAI, you may do so by calling the following toll-free number: 1-800-SCUDDER.
Table of Contents
For shareholders of Classes A, B, C and Institutional Class
Automated Information Lines | ScudderACCESS (800) 972-3060
Personalized account information, information on other Scudder funds and services via touchtone telephone and for Classes A, B, and C only, the ability to exchange or redeem shares. | |
Web Site | 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 Scudder funds, subscription to fund updates by e-mail, retirement planning information, and more. | |
For More Information | (800) 621-1048
To speak with a Scudder service representative. | |
Written Correspondence | Scudder Investments
PO Box 219356 Kansas City, MO 64121-9356 | |
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 — scudder.com (type “proxy voting” in the search field) — 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 (800) 621-1048. | |
Principal Underwriter | If you have questions, comments or complaints, contact:
Scudder Distributors, Inc.
222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606
(800) 621-1148 |
Class A | Class B | Class C | Institutional Class | |||||
Nasdaq Symbol | SUIAX | SUIBX | SUICX | SUIIX | ||||
CUSIP Number | 811165-810 | 811165-794 | 811165-786 | 811165-778 | ||||
Fund Number | 468 | 668 | 768 | 1468 |
AARP Investment Program Shareholders | Scudder Class S Shareholders | |||
Automated Information Lines | Easy-Access Line (800) 631-4636 | SAILTM (800) 343-2890 | ||
Personalized account information, the ability to exchange or redeem shares, and information on other Scudder funds and services via touchtone telephone. | ||||
Web Sites | aarp.scudder.com | myScudder.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 Scudder funds, subscription to fund updates by e-mail, retirement planning information, and more. | ||||
For More Information | (800) 253-2277
To speak with an AARP Investment Program service representative | (800) SCUDDER
To speak with a Scudder service representative. | ||
Written Correspondence | AARP Investment Program from Scudder Investments
PO Box 219735 Kansas City, MO 64121-9735 | Scudder Investments
PO Box 219669 Kansas City, MO 64121-9669 | ||
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 sites — aarp.scudder.com or myScudder.com (type “proxy voting” in the search field) —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 your service representative. | |||
Principal Underwriter | If you have questions, comments or complaints, contact:
Scudder Distributors, Inc.
222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL 60606 (800) 621-1148 |
Class AARP | Class S | |||
Nasdaq Symbol | AINTX | SCINX | ||
Fund Number | 168 | 068 |
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
MARCH 1, 2006
PROSPECTUS
CLASSES A, B AND C
DWS Europe Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Greater Europe Fund)
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Latin America Fund)
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund)
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not approve or disapprove these shares or determine whether the information in this prospectus is truthful or complete. It is a criminal offense for anyone to inform you otherwise.
ONE GLOBAL FORCE. ONE FOCUS. YOU. [DWS SCUDDER Logo]
Deutsche Bank Group
Table of Contents
4 | ||
12 | ||
20 | ||
28 | ||
30 | ||
36 | ||
46 | ||
52 | ||
53 | ||
54 | ||
66 |
2
Table of Contents
On the next few pages, you’ll find information about each fund’s investment goal, the main strategies each uses to pursue that goal and the main risks that could affect performance.
Whether you are considering investing in a fund or are already a shareholder, you’ll want to look this information over carefully. You may want to keep it on hand for reference as well.
Remember that mutual funds are investments, not bank deposits. They’re not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Their share prices will go up and down and you could lose money by investing in them.
3
Table of Contents
Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||
ticker symbol | SERCX | SERAX | SERBX | |||
fund number | 777 | 477 | 677 |
(formerly Scudder Greater Europe Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing at least 80% of its total assets in European common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on European markets or are issued by companies organized under the laws of Europe or do more than half of their business there). Although the fund may invest in equities of any size or European country, it tends to focus on common stocks of multinational companies in industrialized Western and Southern European countries such as France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
Growth orientation. The manager generally looks for companies that he believes have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in European debt securities, including junk bonds (i.e., grade BB and below). Compared to investment-grade bonds, junk bonds may pay higher yields and have higher volatility and higher risk of default on payments.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
4
Table of Contents
Analysis of regional themes. The manager looks for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The manager may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The manager will normally sell a stock when he believes its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
Securities Lending. The fund may lend its investment securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case, the European markets. When European stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. For example, European companies could be hurt by such factors as regional economic downturns or difficulties with the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eastern European companies can be very sensitive to political and economic developments. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to these risks as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who are interested in gaining exposure to Europe’s established markets.
5
Table of Contents
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
6
Table of Contents
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Non-Diversification Risk. The fund is classified as “non-diversified.” This means that it may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. Thus, the performance of one or a small number of fund holdings can affect overall performance more than if the fund invested in a larger number of issuers.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Securities Lending Risk. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by the fund that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the fund and would adversely affect the fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in recovery of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan is outstanding. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by the fund’s delegate after a review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
Other factors that could affect performance include:
• | the manager could be incorrect in his analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
7
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how the performance for the fund’s Class A shares has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The bar chart does not reflect sales loads; if it did, total returns would be lower than those shown. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The table includes the effects of maximum sales loads. The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class A, B and C shares is March 19, 2001. In the bar chart, the performance figures for Class A shares before that date are based on the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S), adjusted to reflect the higher gross total annual operating expenses of Class A.
In the table, the performance figures for each share class prior to its inception are based on the historical performance of Class S, adjusted to reflect both the higher gross total annual operating expenses and the current applicable sales charges for Classes A, B or C. Class S shares are offered in a separate prospectus.
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are estimates shown for Class A only and will vary for Classes B and C. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Europe Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class A
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 30.52 | |
1997 | 23.65 | |
1998 | 28.85 | |
1999 | 34.21 | |
2000 | -9.36 | |
2001 | -25.92 | |
2002 | -21.39 | |
2003 | 32.23 | |
2004 | 16.83 | |
2005 | 12.63 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 30.83%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -25.08%, Q3 2002 |
8
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||
Class A | |||||||
Return before Taxes | 6.16 | -0.91 | 9.22 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 5.83 | -0.89 | 8.84 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 2.61 | -0.77 | * | 8.09 | |||
Class B (Return before Taxes) | 8.53 | -0.77 | 8.97 | ||||
Class C (Return before Taxes) | 11.72 | -0.53 | 9.01 | ||||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 9.42 | 3.68 | 9.38 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in 16 stock markets in Europe.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
* | Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares is higher than other return figures for the same period due to a capital loss occurring upon redemption resulting in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or (800) 621-1048 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
9
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold fund shares.
Fee Table | Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | |||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as % of offering price) | 5.75 | %(1) | None | None | |||||
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of redemption proceeds) | None | (2) | 4.00 | % | 1.00 | % | |||
Redemption/Exchange fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(3) | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | ||||||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | |||||||||
Management Fee(4) | 0.74 | % | 0.74 | % | 0.74 | % | |||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.23 | 1.00 | 1.00 | ||||||
Other Expenses(5) | 0.48 | 0.95 | 0.65 | ||||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses | 1.45 | 2.69 | 2.39 | ||||||
Less Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement | 0.01 | 0.20 | 0.06 | ||||||
Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses (after waiver)(6) | 1.44 | 2.49 | 2.33 |
(1) | Because of rounding in the calculation of the offering price, the actual maximum front-end sales charge paid by an investor may be higher than the percentage noted (see “Choosing a Share Class — Class A shares”). |
(2) | The redemption of shares purchased at net asset value under the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege (see “Choosing a Share Class — Class A shares”) may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase and 0.50% if redeemed during the next six months following purchase. |
(3) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies You Should Know About — Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(4) | Management fees have been restated to reflect the new fee schedule effective March 14, 2005. |
(5) | On March 11, 2005, Scudder New Europe Fund merged into the fund. In connection with the merger, certain fees that compose Other Expenses have been renegotiated. Accordingly, the expenses have been restated to reflect the anticipated result of the merger. Actual expenses may be different. |
(6) | Through March 13, 2008, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s total operating expenses at 1.17%, 1.45% and 1.29% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
10
Table of Contents
Based on the costs above (including one year of capped expenses in the “1 Year” period and two years of expenses in the “3 Years,” “5 Years” and “10 Years” periods), this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns and reinvested all dividends and distributions. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you sold your shares at the end of each period | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 713 | $ | 1,005 | $ | 1,320 | $ | 2,209 | ||||
Class B shares | 652 | 1,087 | 1,588 | 2,411 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 336 | 734 | 1,264 | 2,717 | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you kept your shares | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 713 | $ | 1,005 | $ | 1,320 | $ | 2,209 | ||||
Class B shares | 252 | 797 | 1,388 | 2,411 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 236 | 734 | 1,264 | 2,717 |
11
Table of Contents
Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||
ticker symbol | SLANX | SLAOX | SLAPX | |||
fund number | 474 | 674 | 774 |
(formerly Scudder Latin America Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Latin American common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on Latin American markets, issued or guaranteed by a Latin American government or issued by a company organized under the laws of a Latin American country or any company with more than half of its business in Latin America). Latin America is defined as Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking islands of the Caribbean. Although the fund may invest in any Latin American country, it expects to invest primarily in common stocks of established companies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Peru.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio managers use a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The managers look for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in debt securities including junk bonds (i.e., grade BB and below), 10% of which may include securities rated B or lower. Compared to investment-grade bonds, junk bonds may pay higher yields and have higher volatility and higher risk of default.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the managers believe they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
12
Table of Contents
Growth orientation. The managers generally look for companies that they believe have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
Analysis of regional themes. The managers look for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The managers may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The managers will normally sell a stock when they believe its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or when adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case, the Latin American markets. When Latin American stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to this risk as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who can accept above-average risks to their investments and are interested in investing for long-term growth and who seek exposure to Latin American markets.
13
Table of Contents
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above, are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition,
14
Table of Contents
profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Non-Diversification Risk. The fund is classified as “non-diversified.” This means that it may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. Thus, the performance of one or a small number of fund holdings can affect overall performance more than if the fund invested in a larger number of issuers.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Other factors that could affect fund performance include:
• | the managers could be incorrect in their analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
15
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how the performance for the fund’s Class A shares has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The bar chart does not reflect sales loads; if it did, total returns would be lower than those shown. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The table includes the effects of maximum sales loads. The performance of both the fund and the index vary over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class A, B and C shares is May 29, 2001. In the bar chart, the performance figures for Class A shares before that date are based on the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S), adjusted to reflect the higher gross total annual operating expenses of Class A.
In the table, the performance figures for each share class prior to its inception are based on the historical performance of Class S, adjusted to reflect both the higher gross total annual operating expenses and the current applicable sales charges for Classes A, B or C. Class S shares are offered in a separate prospectus.
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are estimates shown for Class A only and will vary for Classes B and C. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class A
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 27.97 | |
1997 | 30.94 | |
1998 | -29.89 | |
1999 | 46.76 | |
2000 | -15.87 | |
2001 | -1.12 | |
2002 | -18.54 | |
2003 | 54.49 | |
2004 | 33.79 | |
2005 | 52.14 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 33.99%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -22.20%, Q3 1998 |
16
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||
Class A | ||||||
Return before Taxes | 43.40 | 19.01 | 13.22 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 42.19 | 18.70 | 12.57 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 28.29 | 16.86 | 11.73 | |||
Class B (Return before Taxes) | 47.84 | 19.38 | 12.99 | |||
Class C (Return before Taxes) | 50.99 | 19.46 | 13.00 | |||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 50.42 | 23.02 | 14.58 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) EM (Emerging Markets) Latin America Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in seven Latin American markets.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or (800) 621-1048 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
17
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold fund shares.
Fee Table | Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | |||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as % of offering price) | 5.75 | %(1) | None | None | |||||
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of redemption proceeds) | None | (2) | 4.00 | % | 1.00 | % | |||
Redemption/Exchange fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(3) | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | ||||||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets Management Fee | 1.23 | % | 1.23 | % | 1.23 | % | |||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.22 | 0.99 | 0.99 | ||||||
Other Expenses | 0.38 | 0.53 | 0.40 | ||||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(4),(5) | 1.83 | 2.75 | 2.62 |
(1) | Because of rounding in the calculation of the offering price, the actual maximum front-end sales charge paid by an investor may be higher than the percentage noted (see “Choosing a Share Class — Class A shares”). |
(2) | The redemption of shares purchased at net asset value under the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege (see “Choosing a Share Class — Class A shares”) may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase and 0.50% if redeemed during the next six months following purchase. |
(3) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies You Should Know About — Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(4) | Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.75% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(5) | Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 2.089%, 2.839% and 2.839% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
18
Table of Contents
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns and reinvested all dividends and distributions. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you sold your shares at the end of each period | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 750 | $ | 1,117 | $ | 1,508 | $ | 2,599 | ||||
Class B shares | 678 | 1,153 | 1,654 | 2,656 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 365 | 814 | 1,390 | 2,954 | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you kept your shares | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 750 | $ | 1,117 | $ | 1,508 | $ | 2,599 | ||||
Class B shares | 278 | 853 | 1,454 | 2,656 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 265 | 814 | 1,390 | 2,954 |
19
Table of Contents
Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||
ticker symbol | SPAOX | SBPOX | SPCCX | |||
fund number | 473 | 673 | 773 |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Pacific Basin common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on Pacific Basin markets, issued by companies organized under the laws of a Pacific Basin country or issued by any company with more than half of its business in the Pacific Basin). Pacific Basin countries include: the People’s Republic of China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand, as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan — the so-called “four tigers.” The fund generally intends to focus on common stocks from the region’s smaller emerging markets and does not invest in Japan.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in foreign or domestic debt securities in the top three credit grades. The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in non-Pacific Basin equities, excluding Japan.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
20
Table of Contents
Growth orientation. The manager generally looks for companies that they believe have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
Analysis of regional themes. The manager looks for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The manager may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The manager will normally sell a stock when they believe its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or when adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case Pacific Basin markets. When Pacific Basin stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to this risk as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who are interested in investing for long-term growth who can accept above-average risks to their investments and who seek exposure to higher risk markets in the Pacific region.
21
Table of Contents
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
22
Table of Contents
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above, are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Other factors that could affect fund performance include:
• | the manager could be incorrect in his analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
23
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how the performance for the fund’s Class A shares has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The bar chart does not reflect sales loads; if it did, total returns would be lower than those shown. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The table includes the effects of maximum sales loads. The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class A, B and C shares is May 29, 2001. In the bar chart, the performance figures for Class A shares before that date are based on the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S), adjusted to reflect the higher gross total annual operating expenses of Class A.
In the table, the performance figures for each share class prior to its inception are based on the historical performance of Class S, adjusted to reflect both the higher gross total annual operating expenses and the current applicable sales charges for Classes A, B or C. Class S shares are offered in a separate prospectus.
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class A only and will vary for Classes B and C. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class A
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 6.16 | |
1997 | -37.90 | |
1998 | -12.87 | |
1999 | 75.14 | |
2000 | -39.31 | |
2001 | -7.29 | |
2002 | -8.87 | |
2003 | 43.72 | |
2004 | 15.28 | |
2005 | 23.45 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 39.63%, Q2 1999 | Worst Quarter: -27.21%, Q4 1997 |
24
Table of Contents
Average | Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005 |
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||
Class A | |||||||
Return before Taxes | 16.36 | 10.25 | -0.06 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 16.24 | 10.52 | 0.00 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 8.84 | 9.18 | 0.01 | * | |||
Class B (Return before Taxes) | 19.48 | 10.55 | -0.26 | ||||
Class C (Return before Taxes) | 22.39 | 10.68 | -0.25 | ||||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 23.17 | 13.44 | 1.96 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Asia Free (ex- Japan) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of markets in the Pacific Region, excluding Japan.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
* | Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares is higher than other return figures for the same period due to a capital loss occurring upon redemption resulting in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or (800) 621-1048 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
25
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold fund shares.
Fee Table | Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | |||||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as % of offering price) | 5.75 | %(1) | None | None | |||||
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as % of redemption proceeds) | None | (2) | 4.00 | % | 1.00 | % | |||
Redemption/Exchange fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(3) | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | ||||||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | |||||||||
Management Fee | 0.85 | % | 0.85 | % | 0.85 | % | |||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | 0.23 | 0.99 | 1.00 | ||||||
Other Expenses | 0.82 | 1.11 | 0.91 | ||||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(4),(5) | 1.90 | 2.95 | 2.76 |
(1) | Because of rounding in the calculation of the offering price, the actual maximum front-end sales charge paid by an investor may be higher than the percentage noted (see “Choosing a Share Class — Class A shares”). |
(2) | The redemption of shares purchased at net asset value under the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege (see “Choosing a Share Class — Class A shares”) may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months of purchase and 0.50% if redeemed during the next six months following purchase. |
(3) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies You Should Know About — Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(4) | Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.75% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(5) | Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 2.00%, 2.75% and 2.75% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
26
Table of Contents
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns and reinvested all dividends and distributions. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you sold your shares at the end of each period | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 757 | $ | 1,138 | $ | 1,542 | $ | 2,669 | ||||
Class B shares | 698 | 1,213 | 1,752 | 2,795 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 379 | 856 | 1,459 | 3,090 | ||||||||
Expenses, assuming you kept your shares | ||||||||||||
Class A shares | $ | 757 | $ | 1,138 | $ | 1,542 | $ | 2,669 | ||||
Class B shares | 298 | 913 | 1,552 | 2,795 | ||||||||
Class C shares | 279 | 856 | 1,459 | 3,090 |
27
Table of Contents
Other Policies and Secondary Risks
While the previous pages describe the main points of each fund’s strategy and risks, there are a few other issues to know about:
• | Although major changes tend to be infrequent, a fund’s Board could change that fund’s investment goal without seeking shareholder approval. Each fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice prior to making any changes to its 80% investment policy. |
• | As a temporary defensive measure, each fund could shift up to 100% of assets into investments such as money market securities or other short-term instruments that offer comparable levels of risk. This could prevent losses but, while engaged in a temporary defensive position, a fund will not be pursuing its investment objective. However, the portfolio managers may choose not to use these strategies for various reasons, even in very volatile market conditions. |
• | Each fund’s equity investments are mainly common stocks, but may also include other types of equities such as preferred stocks or convertible securities. |
• | Each fund may trade securities actively. This could raise transaction costs (thus lowering return) and could mean higher taxable distributions. |
Secondary risks
Derivatives Risk. Although not one of its principal investment strategies, each fund may invest in certain types of derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives include: the risk that the derivative is not well correlated with the security, index or currency to which it relates; the risk that derivatives used for risk management may not have the intended effects and may result in losses or missed opportunities; the risk that a fund will be unable to sell the derivative because of an illiquid secondary market; the risk that a counterparty is unwilling or unable to meet its obligation; the risk of interest rate movements and the risk that the derivatives transaction could expose a fund to the effects of leverage, which could increase a fund’s exposure to the market and magnify potential losses. There is no guarantee that derivatives activities will be employed or that they will work, and their use could cause lower returns or even losses to a fund.
28
Table of Contents
Credit Risk. A fund purchasing bonds faces the risk that the creditworthiness of the issuer may decline, causing the value of its bonds to decline. In addition, an issuer may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments on the interest and principal on the bonds it has issued. Because the issuers of high yield (or junk) bonds (rated below the fourth highest category) may be in uncertain financial health, the prices of their bonds are generally more vulnerable to bad economic news or even the expectation of bad news, than those of investment-grade bonds. In some cases, bonds, particularly junk bonds, may decline in credit quality or go into default.
For more information
This prospectus doesn’t tell you about every policy or risk of investing in the funds.
If you want more information on a fund’s allowable securities and investment practices and the characteristics and risks of each one, you may want to request a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (the back cover tells you how to do this).
Keep in mind that there is no assurance that any mutual fund will achieve its goal.
Each fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.dws-scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until a fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.dws-scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). Each fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes a description of the policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the fund’s portfolio holdings.
29
Table of Contents
Who Manages and Oversees the Funds
DWS Scudder is part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), which is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM”), Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and DWS Trust Company.
Deutsche Asset Management is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.
DeIM is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
The investment advisor
DeIM is the investment advisor for each fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, DeIM, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154, or the subadvisor, makes each fund’s investment decisions, buys and sells securities for each fund and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds and DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. DeIM, or the subadvisor, is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
DeIM receives a management fee from each fund. Below are the actual rates paid by each fund for the most recent fiscal year, as a percentage of each fund’s average daily net assets:
Fund Name | Fee Paid | ||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | 0.81 | % | |
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | 1.23 | % | |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 0.85 | % |
30
Table of Contents
Effective March 14, 2005, DWS Europe Equity Fund pays DeIM a monthly fee at the annual rates shown below:
Average Daily Net Assets | Fee Rate | ||
$0 - $250 million | 0.750 | % | |
$250 million - $1 billion | 0.720 | % | |
$1 billion - $2.5 billion | 0.700 | % | |
$2.5 billion - $5 billion | 0.680 | % | |
$5 billion - $7.5 billion | 0.650 | % | |
$7.5 billion - $10 billion | 0.640 | % | |
$10 billion - $12.5 billion | 0.630 | % | |
Over $12.5 billion | 0.620 | % |
Each fund’s shareholder report for the most recently completed fiscal year, ended October 31, 2005, contains a discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors’ renewal of each fund’s investment management agreement and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund’s subadvisory agreement (see “Shareholder reports” on the back cover).
The subadvisor
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited (“DeAM Asia”), 20 Raffles Place, #27-01, Ocean Towers, Singapore, an affiliate of DeIM, is the subadvisor for DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund. DeAM Asia renders investment advisory and management services including services related to foreign securities, foreign currency transactions and related investments with regard to the portion of the fund’s portfolio that is allocated to it by DeIM from time to time for management. DeIM compensates DeAM Asia out of the management fee it receives from the fund.
31
Table of Contents
The portfolio managers
The following people handle the day-to-day management of each fund.
DWS Europe Equity Fund |
Paras Anand |
Vice President of Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund. |
• Portfolio Manager for European Equity: New York. |
• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 2003 and the fund in 2004. |
• Prior experience includes seven years of experience managing a pan-European hedge fund at HSBC and as a fund manager for UK equities at INVESCO. |
• BA, Bristol University. |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund |
Joseph Wat Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund. |
• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 2004 and the fund in 2005. |
• Manages Asian portfolios, specializing in South Asian market research. |
• Prior to that, over 12 years of investment industry experience, including as an analyst at INVESCO Asset Management, specializing in South Asian markets; analyst at Schroders Securities; Assistant Treasurer at DBS Bank; and auditor at Arthur Andersen. |
• Graduated from National University of Singapore. |
DWS Latin America Equity Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who each play an important role in the fund’s management process. The team works for DeIM or its affiliates and is supported by a large staff of economists, research analysts, traders and other investment specialists. DeIM or its affiliates believe(s) its team approach benefits fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and leveraging its extensive resources.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who collaborate to implement the fund’s investment strategy. Each portfolio manager on the team has authority over all aspects of the fund’s investment portfolio, including, but not limited to, purchases and sales of individual securities, portfolio construction techniques, portfolio risk assessment and the management of daily cash flows in accordance with the portfolio holdings.
32
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund |
Tara C. Kenney |
Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Co-Manager of the fund. |
• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1995 and the fund in 1996. |
• Over 21 years of investment industry experience. |
• BA, University of Notre Dame; MBA, New York University. |
Paul H. Rogers, CFA Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Co-Manager of the fund. |
• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1994 and the fund in 1995. |
• Over 20 years of investment industry experience. |
• BA, University of Vermont; MBA, New York University. |
The funds’ Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ investments in a fund, a description of their compensation structure and information regarding other accounts they manage.
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 industrywide 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.
33
Table of Contents
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 early 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
34
Table of Contents
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. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements 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.
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. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements 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.
35
Table of Contents
These tables are designed to help you understand each fund’s financial performance in recent years. The figures in the first part of each table are for a single share. The total return figures represent the percentage that an investor in a fund would have earned (or lost), assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The information for each fund has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose reports, along with each fund’s financial statements, are included in that fund’s annual report (see “Shareholder reports” on the back cover).
DWS Europe Equity Fund — Class A
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 24.77 | $ | 21.16 | $ | 18.06 | $ | 22.13 | $ | 25.79 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .59 | ^e | .23 | .18 | .06 | (.01 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 3.47 | 3.61 | 2.99 | (4.09 | ) | (3.65 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 4.06 | 3.84 | 3.17 | (4.03 | ) | (3.66 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.39 | ) | (.23 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.04 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 28.44 | $ | 24.77 | $ | 21.16 | $ | 18.06 | $ | 22.13 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 16.49 | 18.21 | ^d | 17.59 | ^d | (18.29 | ) | (14.19 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 115 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .72 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.41 | 1.66 | 1.65 | 1.66 | 1.64 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.41 | 1.64 | 1.65 | 1.66 | 1.64 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 2.16 | .98 | 1.02 | .25 | (.07 | )* | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 168 | 104 | 71 | 89 | 104 |
^a | For the period from March 19, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class A shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^e | Net investment income per share includes nonrecurring dividend income amounting to $.14 per share. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
36
Table of Contents
DWS Europe Equity Fund — Class B
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 24.38 | $ | 20.84 | $ | 17.85 | $ | 22.02 | $ | 25.79 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .31 | ^e | .04 | .05 | (.10 | ) | (.13 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 3.43 | 3.54 | 2.94 | (4.07 | ) | (3.64 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 3.74 | 3.58 | 2.99 | (4.17 | ) | (3.77 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.18 | ) | (.04 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 27.94 | $ | 24.38 | $ | 20.84 | $ | 17.85 | $ | 22.02 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 15.40 | ^d | 17.20 | ^d | 16.75 | (18.97 | ) | (14.62 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 9 | .37 | .24 | .25 | .05 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.65 | 2.54 | 2.45 | 2.46 | 2.44 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.46 | 2.49 | 2.45 | 2.46 | 2.44 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.11 | .13 | .22 | (.55 | ) | (.87 | )* | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 168 | 104 | 71 | 89 | 104 |
^a | For the period from March 19, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class B shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^e | Net investment income per share includes nonrecurring dividend income amounting to $.14 per share. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
37
Table of Contents
DWS Europe Equity Fund — Class C
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 24.39 | $ | 20.84 | $ | 17.86 | $ | 22.01 | $ | 25.79 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .35 | ^e | .05 | .04 | (.10 | ) | (.11 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 3.44 | 3.54 | 2.94 | (4.05 | ) | (3.67 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 3.79 | 3.59 | 2.98 | (4.15 | ) | (3.78 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.19 | ) | (.04 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 27.99 | $ | 24.39 | $ | 20.84 | $ | 17.86 | $ | 22.01 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 15.57 | ^d | 17.25 | 16.69 | (18.86 | ) | (14.66 | )** | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 6 | .74 | .36 | .28 | .06 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.35 | 2.45 | 2.45 | 2.43 | 2.42 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.30 | 2.45 | 2.45 | 2.43 | 2.42 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.27 | .17 | .22 | (.52 | ) | (.85 | )* | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 168 | 104 | 71 | 89 | 104 |
^a | For the period from March 19, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class C shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^e | Net investment income per share includes nonrecurring dividend income amounting to $.14 per share. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
38
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund — Class A
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 27.80 | $ | 21.59 | $ | 15.21 | $ | 17.36 | $ | 21.51 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .47 | .54 | .22 | .14 | (.09 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 16.99 | 6.05 | 6.26 | (2.10 | ) | (4.06 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 17.46 | 6.59 | 6.48 | (1.96 | ) | (4.15 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.42 | ) | (.38 | ) | (.10 | ) | (.27 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | — | .00 | *** | .08 | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 44.84 | $ | 27.80 | $ | 21.59 | $ | 15.21 | $ | 17.36 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 63.44 | 30.85 | ^d | 42.72 | ^d | (11.12 | ) | (19.29 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 32 | 9 | 6 | .23 | .55 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.81 | 1.99 | 2.17 | 2.18 | 2.18 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.81 | 1.91 | 2.14 | 2.18 | 2.18 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.40 | 2.24 | 1.29 | .83 | (1.39 | )* | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 73 | 62 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
^a | For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class A shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
39
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund — Class B
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 27.71 | $ | 21.51 | $ | 15.18 | $ | 17.32 | $ | 21.51 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .15 | .34 | .07 | .04 | (.14 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 16.84 | 6.04 | 6.26 | (2.14 | ) | (4.05 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 16.99 | 6.38 | 6.33 | (2.10 | ) | (4.19 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.42 | ) | (.18 | ) | — | (.12 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | — | .00 | *** | .08 | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 44.28 | $ | 27.71 | $ | 21.51 | $ | 15.18 | $ | 17.32 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 61.94 | 29.82 | ^d | 41.70 | ^d | (11.82 | ) | (19.48 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 4 | .4 | .22 | .04 | .001 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.73 | 3.09 | 3.00 | 2.98 | 2.98 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.73 | 2.76 | 2.96 | 2.98 | 2.98 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .48 | 1.39 | .47 | .03 | (2.19 | )* | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 73 | 62 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
^a | For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class B shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
40
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund — Class C
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 27.62 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 15.14 | $ | 17.28 | $ | 21.51 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .17 | (.07 | )^e | .08 | .05 | (.14 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 16.86 | 6.43 | 6.23 | (2.15 | ) | (4.09 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations 17.03 | 6.36 | 6.31 | (2.10 | ) | (4.23 | ) | — | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.36 | ) | (.19 | ) | — | (.12 | ) | — | ||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | — | .00 | *** | .08 | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 44.29 | $ | 27.62 | $ | 21.45 | $ | 15.14 | $ | 17.28 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 62.19 | 29.77 | ^d | 41.68 | ^d | (11.82 | ) | (19.67 | )** | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 6 | .5 | .22 | .01 | .001 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.60 | 2.92 | 2.97 | 2.95 | 2.95 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.60 | 2.72 | 2.92 | 2.95 | 2.95 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .61 | (6.62 | )^e | .51 | .06 | (2.16 | )* | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 73 | 62 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
^a | For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class C shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^e | Due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions for this class in relation to the operating results of the Fund, the amount shown does not correspond to the net investment income per share and ratio of net investment income (loss) of other share classes during the year. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
41
Table of Contents
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class A
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 11.95 | $ | 10.90 | $ | 7.97 | $ | 7.37 | $ | 9.37 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .19 | .07 | .08 | (.03 | ) | (.01 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 2.03 | 1.04 | 2.85 | .62 | (2.00 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 2.22 | 1.11 | 2.93 | .59 | (2.01 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .01 | .00 | *** | .01 | .01 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 14.05 | $ | 11.95 | $ | 10.90 | $ | 7.97 | $ | 7.37 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 18.63 | 10.32 | ^d | 36.76 | 8.14 | (21.34 | )** | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 14 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.83 | 1.89 | 1.76 | 1.79 | 1.80 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.83 | 1.88 | 1.76 | 1.79 | 1.80 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.40 | .76 | .94 | (.33 | ) | (.09 | )* | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
^a | For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class A shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
42
Table of Contents
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class B
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 11.69 | $ | 10.69 | $ | 7.88 | $ | 7.35 | $ | 9.37 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .08 | (.00 | )*** | .01 | (.10 | ) | (.03 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 2.01 | .99 | 2.80 | .62 | (2.00 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 2.09 | .99 | 2.81 | .52 | (2.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .01 | .00 | *** | .01 | .01 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 13.78 | $ | 11.69 | $ | 10.69 | $ | 7.88 | $ | 7.35 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 17.88 | ^d | 9.35 | ^d | 35.66 | 7.21 | (21.56 | )** | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.88 | 2.83 | 2.59 | 2.59 | 2.61 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.74 | 2.67 | 2.59 | 2.59 | 2.61 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .49 | (.04 | ) | .11 | (1.13 | ) | (.90 | )* | ||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
^a | For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class B shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
43
Table of Contents
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class C
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001^a | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 11.71 | $ | 10.70 | $ | 7.89 | $ | 7.35 | $ | 9.37 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^b | .08 | .00 | *** | .02 | (.10 | ) | (.03 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 1.99 | 1.00 | 2.79 | .63 | (2.00 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 2.07 | 1.00 | 2.81 | .53 | (2.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .01 | .00 | *** | .01 | .01 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 13.78 | $ | 11.71 | $ | 10.70 | $ | 7.89 | $ | 7.35 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%)^c | 17.68 | 9.44^d | 35.61 | 7.35 | (21.56 | )** | ||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.69 | 2.79 | 2.55 | 2.56 | 2.57 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.69 | 2.67 | 2.55 | 2.56 | 2.57 | * | ||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .54 | .04 | .15 | (1.10 | ) | (.86 | )* | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
^a | For the period from May 29, 2001 (commencement of operations of Class C shares) to October 31, 2001. |
^b | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^c | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
^d | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Annualized |
** | Not annualized |
*** | Amount is less than $.005. |
44
Table of Contents
The following pages tell you about many of the services, choices and benefits of being a shareholder. You’ll also find information on how to check the status of your account using the method that’s most convenient for you.
You can find out more about the topics covered here by speaking with your financial advisor or a representative of your workplace retirement plan or other investment provider.
45
Table of Contents
This prospectus offers three share classes for each fund. Each class has its own fees and expenses, offering you a choice of cost structures. Each fund offers other classes of shares separately. Class A, Class B and Class C shares are intended for investors seeking the advice and assistance of a financial advisor, who will typically receive compensation for those services.
Before you invest, take a moment to look over the characteristics of each share class, so that you can be sure to choose the class that’s right for you. You may want to ask your financial advisor to help you with this decision.
We describe each share class in detail on the following pages. But first, you may want to look at the table below, which gives you a brief comparison of the main features of each class.
Classes and features | Points to help you compare | |
Class A | ||
• Sales charges of up to 5.75%, charged when you buy shares | • Some investors may be able to reduce or eliminate their sales charges; see next page | |
• In most cases, no charges when you sell shares | • Total annual operating expenses are lower than those for Class B or Class C | |
• Up to 0.25% annual shareholder servicing fee | ||
Class B | ||
• No sales charges when you buy shares | • The deferred sales charge rate falls to zero after six years | |
• Deferred sales charge declining from 4.00%, charged when you sell shares you bought within the last six years | • Shares automatically convert to Class A after six years, which means lower annual expenses going forward | |
• Up to 0.75% annual distribution fee and up to 0.25% annual shareholder servicing fee | ||
Class C | ||
• No sales charges when you buy shares
• Deferred sales charge of 1.00%, charged when you sell shares you bought within the last year | • The deferred sales charge rate is lower than Class B shares, but your shares never convert to Class A, so annual expenses remain higher | |
• Up to 0.75% annual distribution fee and up to 0.25% annual shareholder servicing fee |
Your financial advisor will typically be paid a fee when you buy shares and may receive different levels of compensation depending upon which class of shares you buy. In addition to these payments, a fund’s advisor or its affiliates may provide compensation to your financial advisor for distribution, administrative and promotional services. Financial advisors may also receive compensation from a fund for the services they provide to their clients.
46
Table of Contents
Class A shares
Class A shares have a 12b-1 plan, under which a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% is deducted from class assets each year.
Class A shares have a sales charge that varies with the amount you invest:
Your investment | Front-end Sales Charge as a % of offering price(1),(2) | Front-end Sales Charge as a % of your net investment(2) | ||
Up to $50,000 | 5.75% | 6.10% | ||
$50,000-$99,999 | 4.50 | 4.71 | ||
$100,000-$249,999 | 3.50 | 3.63 | ||
$250,000-$499,999 | 2.60 | 2.67 | ||
$500,000-$999,999 | 2.00 | 2.04 | ||
$1 million or more | See below and page 52 |
(1) | The offering price includes the sales charge. |
(2) | Because of rounding in the calculation of the offering price, the actual front-end sales charge paid by an investor may be higher or lower than the percentage noted above. |
You may be able to lower your Class A sales charges if:
• | you plan to invest at least $50,000 in Class A shares (including Class A shares in other retail DWS funds) over the next 24 months (“Letter of Intent”) |
• | the amount of Class A shares you already own (including Class A shares in other retail DWS funds) plus the amount you’re investing now in Class A shares is at least $50,000 (“Cumulative Discount”) |
• | you are investing a total of $50,000 or more in Class A shares of several retail DWS funds on the same day (“Combined Purchases”) |
The point of these three features is to let you count investments made at other times and in certain other funds for purposes of calculating your present sales charge. Any time you can use the privileges to “move” your investment into a lower sales charge category in the table above, it’s generally beneficial for you to do so.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Class A shares may make sense for long-term investors, especially those who are eligible for reduced or eliminated sales charges.
47
Table of Contents
For purposes of determining whether you are eligible for a reduced Class A sales charge, you and your immediate family (your spouse or life partner and your children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) may aggregate your investments in the DWS family of funds. This includes, for example, investments held in a retirement account, an employee benefit plan, or at a financial advisor other than the one handling your current purchase. These combined investments will be valued at their current offering price to determine whether your current investment qualifies for a reduced sales charge.
To receive a reduction in your Class A initial sales charge, you must let your financial advisor or Shareholder Services know at the time you purchase shares that you qualify for such a reduction. You may be asked by your financial advisor or Shareholder Services to provide account statements or other information regarding related accounts of you or your immediate family in order to verify your eligibility for a reduced sales charge.
For more information about sales charge discounts, please visit www.dws-scudder.com (click on the link entitled “Fund Sales Charge and Breakpoint Schedule”), consult with your financial advisor or refer to the section entitled “Purchase or Redemption of Shares” in each fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
48
Table of Contents
You may be able to buy Class A shares without sales charges when you are:
• | reinvesting dividends or distributions |
• | participating in an investment advisory or agency commission program under which you pay a fee to an investment advisor or other firm for portfolio management or brokerage services |
• | exchanging an investment in Class A shares of another fund in the DWS family of funds for an investment in the fund |
• | a current or former director or trustee of the Deutsche or DWS mutual funds |
• | an employee (including the employee’s spouse or life partner and children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates or of a subadvisor to any fund in the DWS family of funds or of a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of such funds |
There are a number of additional provisions that apply in order to be eligible for a sales charge waiver. Each fund may waive the sales charges for investors in other situations as well. Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you are eligible.
If you’re investing $1 million or more, either as a lump sum or through one of the sales charge reduction features described above, you may be eligible to buy Class A shares without sales charges (“Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege”). However, you may be charged a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) of 1.00% on any shares you sell within 12 months of purchase and a similar charge of 0.50% on shares you sell during the next six months of owning them. This CDSC is waived under certain circumstances (see “Policies You Should Know About”). Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you’re eligible.
49
Table of Contents
Class B shares
With Class B shares, you pay no up-front sales charges. Class B shares have a 12b-1 plan, under which a distribution fee of 0.75% and a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% are deducted from class assets each year. This means the annual expenses for Class B shares are somewhat higher (and their performance correspondingly lower) compared to Class A shares. After six years, Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares which has the net effect of lowering the annual expenses from the seventh year on. However, unlike Class A shares, your entire investment goes to work immediately.
Class B shares have a CDSC. This charge declines over the years you own shares and disappears completely after six years of ownership. But for any shares you sell within those six years, you may be charged as follows:
Year after you bought shares | CDSC on shares you sell | |
First year | 4.00% | |
Second or third year | 3.00 | |
Fourth or fifth year | 2.00 | |
Sixth year | 1.00 | |
Seventh year and later | None (automatic conversion to Class A) |
This CDSC is waived under certain circumstances (see “Policies You Should Know About”). Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you’re eligible.
While Class B shares don’t have any front-end sales charges, their higher annual expenses mean that over the years you could end up paying more than the equivalent of the maximum allowable front-end sales charge.
If you are thinking of making a large purchase in Class B shares or if you already own a large amount of Class A shares in these funds or other DWS funds, it may be more cost efficient to purchase Class A shares instead. Orders to purchase Class B shares of $100,000 or more will be declined with the exception of orders received from financial representatives acting for clients whose shares are held in an omnibus account and certain employer-sponsored employee benefit plans. You should consult with your financial advisor to determine which class of shares is appropriate for you.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Class B shares may make sense for long-term investors who prefer to see all of their investment go to work right away and can accept somewhat higher annual expenses.
50
Table of Contents
Class C shares
With Class C shares, you pay no up-front sales charges. Class C shares have a 12b-1 plan under which a distribution fee of 0.75% and a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% are deducted from class assets each year. Because of these fees, the annual expenses for Class C shares are similar to those of Class B shares, but higher than those for Class A shares (and the performance of Class C shares is correspondingly lower than that of Class A shares).
Unlike Class B shares, Class C shares do NOT automatically convert to Class A shares after six years, so they continue to have higher annual expenses.
Class C shares have a CDSC, but only on shares you sell within one year of buying them:
Year after you bought shares | CDSC on shares you sell | |
First year | 1.00% | |
Second year and later | None |
This CDSC is waived under certain circumstances (see “Policies You Should Know About”). Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you’re eligible.
While Class C shares don’t have any front-end sales charge, their higher annual expenses mean that over the years, you could end up paying more than the equivalent of the maximum allowable front-end sales charge.
Orders to purchase Class C shares of $500,000 or more will be declined with the exception of orders received from financial representatives acting for clients whose shares are held in an omnibus account and certain employer-sponsored employee benefit plans.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Class C shares may appeal to investors who plan to sell some or all of their shares within six years of buying them or who aren’t certain of their investment time horizon.
51
Table of Contents
Once you’ve chosen a share class, use these instructions to make investments.
First investment | Additional investments | |
$1,000 or more for regular accounts | $50 or more for regular accounts and IRA accounts | |
$500 or more for IRAs | $50 or more with an Automatic Investment Plan | |
$50 or more with an Automatic Investment Plan | ||
Through a financial advisor | ||
• Contact your advisor using the method that's most convenient for you | • Contact your advisor using the method that's most convenient for you | |
By mail or express mail (see below) | ||
• Fill out and sign an application | • Send a check made out to "DWS Scudder" and a DWS Scudder investment slip to us at the appropriate address below | |
• Send it to us at the appropriate address, along with an investment check | • If you don't have an investment slip, simply include a letter with your name, account number, the full name of the fund and the share class and your investment instructions | |
By wire | ||
• Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | • Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | |
By phone | ||
Not available | • Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | |
With an automatic investment plan | ||
• Fill in the information on your application and include a voided check. | • To set up regular investments from a bank checking account, call (800) 621-1048 | |
On the Internet | ||
Not available | • Call (800) 621-1048 to establish Internet access | |
• Go to www.dws-scudder.com and register | ||
• Follow the instructions for buying shares with money from your bank account |
Regular mail:
First Investment: DWS Scudder, PO Box 219356, Kansas City, MO 64121-9356
Additional Investments: DWS Scudder, PO Box 219154, Kansas City, MO 64121-9154
Express, registered or certified mail:
DWS Scudder, 210 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1614
52
Table of Contents
How to Exchange or Sell Shares
Use these instructions to exchange or sell shares in your account.
Exchanging into another fund | Selling shares | |
$1,000 or more to open a new account ( $500 for IRAs)
$50 or more for exchanges between existing accounts | Some transactions, including most for over $100,000, can only be ordered in writing with a signature guarantee; if you're in doubt, see page 61 | |
• Contact your advisor by the method that's most convenient for you | • Contact your advisor by the method that's most convenient for you | |
By phone or wire | ||
• Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | • Call (800) 621-1048 for instructions | |
By mail or express mail (see previous page) | ||
Write a letter that includes: | Write a letter that includes: | |
• the fund, class and account number you're exchanging out of | • the fund, class and account number from which you want to sell shares | |
• the dollar amount or number of shares you want to exchange | • the dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell | |
• the name and class of the fund you want to exchange into | • your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account | |
• your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account | • a daytime telephone number | |
• a daytime telephone number | ||
With an automatic exchange plan | ||
• To set up regular exchanges from a fund account, call (800) 621-1048 | Not available | |
With an automatic withdrawal plan | ||
Not available | • To set up regular cash payments from a fund account, call (800) 621-1048 (minimum $ 50) | |
On the Internet | ||
• Call (800) 621-1048 to establish Internet access | • Call (800) 621-1048 to establish Internet access | |
• Go to www.dws-scudder.com and log in | • Go to www.dws-scudder.com and log in | |
• Follow the instructions for making on-line exchanges | • Follow the instructions for making on-line redemptions |
53
Table of Contents
Policies You Should Know About
Along with the instructions on the previous pages, the policies below may affect you as a shareholder. Some of this information, such as the section on dividends and taxes, applies to all investors, including those investing through a financial advisor.
If you are investing through a financial advisor or through a retirement plan, check the materials you received from them about how to buy and sell shares because particular financial advisors or other intermediaries may adopt policies, procedures or limitations that are separate from those described by the funds. Please note that a financial advisor may charge fees separate from those charged by a fund.
In either case, keep in mind that the information in this prospectus applies only to each fund’s Class A, Class B and Class C shares. The funds have other share classes, which are described in separate prospectuses and which have different fees, requirements and services.
In order to reduce the amount of mail you receive and to help reduce expenses, we generally send a single copy of any shareholder report and prospectus to each household. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please contact your financial advisor or call (800) 621-1048.
Policies about transactions
Each fund is open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Each fund calculates its share price for each class every business day, as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (typically 4 p.m. Eastern time, but sometimes earlier, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading). You can place an order to buy or sell shares at any time.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
The DWS Scudder Web site can be a valuable resource for shareholders with Internet access. Go to www.dws-scudder.com to get up-to-date information, review balances or even place orders for exchanges.
54
Table of Contents
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means to you: when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. Some or all of this information will be used to verify the identity of all persons opening an account.
We might request additional information about you (which may include certain documents, such as articles of incorporation for companies) to help us verify your identity, and in some cases the information and/or documents may be required to conduct the verification. The information and documents will be used solely to verify your identity.
We will attempt to collect any missing required and requested information by contacting you or your financial advisor. If we are unable to obtain this information within the time frames established by each fund then we may reject your application and order.
The funds will not invest your purchase until all required and requested identification information has been provided and your application has been submitted in “good order.” After we receive all the information, your application is deemed to be in good order and we accept your purchase, you will receive the net asset value per share next calculated (less any applicable sales charges). In addition, while we attempt to verify your identity, we may limit your ability to purchase or exchange fund shares.
If we are unable to verify your identity within time frames established by each fund, after a reasonable effort to do so, you will receive written notification.
The funds generally will not accept new account applications to establish an account with a non-US address (APO/FPO and US territories are acceptable) or for a non-resident alien.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
If you ever have difficulty placing an order by phone or Internet, you can send us your order in writing.
55
Table of Contents
Because orders placed through a financial advisor must be forwarded to the transfer agent before they can be processed, you’ll need to allow extra time. A representative of your financial advisor should be able to tell you approximately when your order will be processed. It is the responsibility of your financial advisor to forward your order to the transfer agent in a timely manner.
Market Timing Policies and Procedures. Short-term and excessive trading of fund shares may present risks to a fund’s long-term shareholders, including potential dilution in the value of fund shares, interference with the efficient management of a fund’s portfolio (including losses on the sale of investments), taxable gains to remaining shareholders and increased brokerage and administrative costs. These risks may be more pronounced for funds investing in certain securities such as those that trade in foreign markets, are illiquid or do not otherwise have “readily available market quotations.” Certain investors may seek to employ short-term trading strategies aimed at exploiting variations in portfolio valuation that arise from the nature of the securities held by a fund (e.g., “time zone arbitrage”).
Each fund discourages short-term and excessive trading. Each fund will take steps to detect and deter short-term and excessive trading pursuant to each fund’s policies as described in this prospectus and approved by the Board. The funds generally define short-term trading as purchase and redemption activity, including exchanges, that occurs within the time period for imposition of redemption fees. Each fund may also take trading activity that occurs over longer periods into account if the fund reasonably believes such activity is of an amount or frequency that may be harmful to long-term shareholders or disruptive to portfolio management.
56
Table of Contents
Each fund’s policies include:
• | a 2% redemption fee on fund shares held for less than a specified holding period (subject to certain exceptions noted in the discussion of redemption fees); |
• | each fund reserves the right to reject or cancel a purchase or exchange order for any reason when, in the opinion of the advisor, there appears to be a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity by a shareholder or any other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to the fund; and |
• | each fund has adopted certain fair valuation practices reasonably designed to protect the fund from “time zone arbitrage” with respect to its foreign securities holdings and other trading practices that seek to exploit variations in portfolio valuation that arise from the nature of the securities held by the fund. (See “How the funds calculate share price.”) |
When a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity or other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to a fund by an investor is detected, the advisor may determine to prohibit that investor from future purchases in the funds or to limit or terminate the investor’s exchange privilege. The detection of these patterns and the banning of further trading are inherently subjective and therefore involve some selectivity in their application. The advisor seeks to make such determinations in a manner consistent with the interests of the funds’ long-term shareholders.
There is no assurance that these policies and procedures will be effective in limiting short-term and excessive trading in all cases. For example, the advisor may not be able to effectively monitor, detect or limit short-term or excessive trading by underlying shareholders that occurs through omnibus accounts maintained by broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries. Depending on the amount of fund shares held in such omnibus accounts (which may represent most of a fund’s shares) short-term and/or excessive trading of fund shares could adversely affect long-term shareholders in a fund. It is important to note that shareholders that invest through omnibus accounts also may be subject to the policies and procedures of their financial intermediaries with respect to short-term and excessive trading in the funds.
57
Table of Contents
Each fund’s policies and procedures may be modified or terminated at any time.
Redemption fees. Each fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value, without regard to the effect of any contingent deferred sales charge; any contingent deferred sales charge is also assessed on the total redemption amount without regard to the assessment of the 2% redemption fee) on all fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to a fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last.
The redemption fee is applicable to fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the funds on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the funds. For this reason, the funds have undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the funds. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the funds’. Subject to approval by DeAM or each fund’s Board, intermediaries who transact business on an omnibus basis may implement the redemption fees according to their own operational guidelines (which may be different than the funds’ policies) and remit the fees to the funds. In addition, certain intermediaries that do not currently have the capacity to collect redemption fees at an account level may be granted a temporary waiver from the funds’ policies until such time as they can develop and implement a system to collect the redemption fees.
58
Table of Contents
The redemption fee will not be charged in connection with the following exchange or redemption transactions: (i) transactions on behalf of participants in certain research wrap programs; (ii) transactions on behalf of participants in certain group retirement plans and financial intermediaries whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (iii) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to return any excess IRA contributions to the shareholder; (iv) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to effect a required minimum distribution on an IRA; (v) transactions on behalf of any mutual fund advised by the funds’ investment advisor and its affiliates (e.g., “funds of funds”) or, in the case of a master/feeder relationship, redemptions by the feeder fund from the master portfolio; (vi) transactions following death or disability of any registered shareholder, beneficial owner or grantor of a living trust with respect to shares purchased before death or disability; (vii) transactions involving hardship of any registered shareholder; (viii) systematic transactions with predefined trade dates for purchases, exchanges or redemptions, such as automatic account rebalancing, or loan origination and repayments; (ix) transactions involving shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or other distributions; (x) transactions involving shares transferred from another account in the same fund or converted from another class of the same fund (e.g., shares converting from Class B to Class A) (the redemption fee period will carry over to the acquired shares); (xi) transactions initiated by a fund or administrator (e.g., redemptions for not meeting account minimums, to pay account fees funded by share redemptions, or in the event of the liquidation or merger of a fund); or (xii) transactions in cases when there are legal or contractual limitations or restrictions on the imposition of the redemption fee (as determined by the fund or its agents in their sole discretion).
59
Table of Contents
The funds expect that the waiver for certain group retirement plans and financial intermediaries will be eliminated over time as their respective operating systems are improved. Until such time that these operating systems are improved, the funds’ investment advisor will attempt to monitor the trading activity in these accounts and will take appropriate corrective action if it appears that a pattern of short-term or excessive trading or other harmful or disruptive trading by underlying shareholders exists. The funds reserve the right to withdraw waivers, and to modify or terminate these waivers or the redemption fee at any time.
InvestorACCESS, the automated information line, is available 24 hours a day by calling (800) 972-3060. You can use InvestorACCESS to get information on DWS funds generally and on accounts held directly at DWS Scudder. You can also use it to make exchanges and sell shares.
QuickBuy and QuickSell let you set up a link between a DWS fund account and a bank account. Once this link is in place, you can move money between the two with a phone call. You’ll need to make sure your bank has Automated Clearing House (ACH) services. Transactions take two to three days to be completed and there is a $50 minimum and a $250,000 maximum. To set up QuickBuy or QuickSell on a new account, see the account application; to add it to an existing account, call (800) 621-1048.
Telephone and electronic transactions. Generally, you are automatically entitled to telephone and electronic transaction privileges but you may elect not to have them when you open your account or by contacting Shareholder Services at a later date.
Since many transactions may be initiated by telephone or electronically, it’s important to understand that as long as we take reasonable steps to ensure that an order to purchase or redeem shares is genuine, such as recording calls or requesting personalized security codes or other information, we are not responsible for any losses that may occur as a result. For transactions conducted over the Internet, we recommend the use of a secure Internet browser. In addition, you should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them.
60
Table of Contents
Each fund accepts payment for shares only in US dollars by check, bank or Federal Funds wire transfer, or by electronic bank transfer. Please note that the funds cannot accept cash, traveler’s checks, starter checks, money orders, third party checks, checks drawn on foreign banks, or checks issued by credit card companies or Internet-based companies.
When you ask us to send or receive a wire, please note that while we don’t charge a fee to send or receive wires, it’s possible that your bank may do so. Wire transactions are generally completed within 24 hours. The funds can only send wires of $1,000 or more and accept wires of $50 or more.
We do not issue share certificates. However, if you currently have shares in certificated form, you must include the share certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock power when exchanging or redeeming shares. You may not exchange or redeem shares in certificate form by telephone or via the Internet.
When you want to sell more than $100,000 worth of shares or send proceeds to a third party or to a new address, you’ll usually need to place your order in writing and include a signature guarantee. However, if you want money wired to a bank account that is already on file with us, you don’t need a signature guarantee. Also, you don’t generally need a signature guarantee for an exchange, although we may require one in certain other circumstances.
A signature guarantee is simply a certification of your signature — a valuable safeguard against fraud. You can get a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution, including commercial banks, savings and loans, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. Note that you can’t get a signature guarantee from a notary public, and we must be provided the original guarantee.
Selling shares of trust accounts and business or organization accounts may require additional documentation. Please contact your financial advisor for more information.
61
Table of Contents
When you sell shares that have a CDSC, we calculate the CDSC as a percentage of what you paid for the shares or what you are selling them for — whichever results in the lower charge to you. In processing orders to sell shares, the shares with the lowest CDSC are sold first. Exchanges from one fund into another fund don’t affect CDSCs. For each investment you make, the date you first bought shares is the date we use to calculate a CDSC on that particular investment.
There are certain cases in which you may be exempt from a CDSC. These include:
• | the death or disability of an account owner (including a joint owner). This waiver applies only under certain conditions. Please contact your financial advisor or Shareholder Services to determine if the conditions exist |
• | withdrawals made through an automatic withdrawal plan. Such withdrawals may be made at a maximum of 12% per year of the net asset value of the account |
• | withdrawals related to certain retirement or benefit plans |
• | redemptions for certain loan advances, hardship provisions or returns of excess contributions from retirement plans |
• | for Class A shares purchased through the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege, redemption of shares whose dealer of record at the time of the investment notifies DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. that the dealer waives the applicable commission |
• | for Class C shares, redemption of shares purchased through a dealer-sponsored asset allocation program maintained on an omnibus record-keeping system, provided the dealer of record has waived the advance of the first year distribution and service fees applicable to such shares and has agreed to receive such fees quarterly |
In each of these cases, there are a number of additional provisions that apply in order to be eligible for a CDSC waiver. Your financial advisor or Shareholder Services can answer your questions and help you determine if you are eligible.
62
Table of Contents
If you sell shares in a DWS fund and then decide to invest with DWS Scudder again within six months, you can take advantage of the “reinstatement feature.” With this feature, you can put your money back into the same class of a DWS fund at its current NAV and for purposes of sales charges it will be treated as if it had never left DWS Scudder. You’ll be reimbursed (in the form of fund shares) for any CDSC you paid when you sold. Future CDSC calculations will be based on your original investment date, rather than your reinstatement date. There is also an option that lets investors who sold Class B shares buy Class A shares with no sales charge, although they won’t be reimbursed for any CDSC they paid. You can only use the reinstatement feature once for any given group of shares. To take advantage of this feature, contact Shareholder Services or your financial advisor.
Money from shares you sell is normally sent out within one business day of when your order is processed (not when it is received), although it could be delayed for up to seven days. There are also two circumstances when it could be longer: when you are selling shares you bought recently by check and that check hasn’t cleared yet (maximum delay: 10 days) or when unusual circumstances prompt the SEC to allow further delays. Certain expedited redemption processes may also be delayed when you are selling recently purchased shares.
You may obtain additional information about other ways to sell your shares by contacting your financial advisor.
How the funds calculate share price
To calculate net asset value per share, or NAV, each share class of each fund uses the following equation:
TOTAL ASSETS - TOTAL LIABILITIES | = NAV | |||
TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING |
The price at which you buy shares is the NAV, although for Class A shares it will be adjusted to allow for any applicable sales charges (see “Choosing a Share Class”).
The price at which you sell shares is also the NAV, although for Class B and Class C investors a CDSC may be taken out of the proceeds (see “Choosing a Share Class”).
63
Table of Contents
Each fund charges a short-term redemption fee equal to 2.00% of the value of shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Please see “Policies about transactions — Redemption fees” for further information.
We typically value securities using information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations, where appropriate. However, we may use methods approved by each fund’s Board, such as a fair valuation model, which are intended to reflect fair value when pricing service information or market quotations are not readily available or when a security’s value or a meaningful portion of the value of a fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a significant event, such as a natural disaster, an economic event like a bankruptcy filing, or a substantial fluctuation in domestic or foreign markets, that has occurred between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market) and the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In such a case, a fund’s value for a security is likely to be different from the last quoted market price or pricing service information. In addition, due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, it is possible that the value determined for a particular asset may be materially different from the value realized upon such asset’s sale. It is expected that the greater the percentage of fund assets that is invested in non-US securities, the more extensive will be a fund’s use of fair value pricing. This is intended to reduce a fund’s exposure to “time zone arbitrage” and other harmful trading practices. (See “Market Timing Policies and Procedures.”)
Because each fund invests in securities that are traded primarily in foreign markets, the value of its holdings could change at a time when you aren’t able to buy or sell fund shares. This is because some foreign markets are open on days or at times when the funds don’t price their shares.
64
Table of Contents
Other rights we reserve
You should be aware that we may do any of the following:
• | withdraw or suspend the offering of shares at any time |
• | withhold a portion of your distributions as federal income tax if we have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding or if you fail to provide us with a correct taxpayer ID number or certification that you are exempt from backup withholding |
• | reject a new account application if you don’t provide any required or requested identifying information, or for other reasons |
• | refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; freeze any account (meaning you will not be able to purchase fund shares in your account); suspend account services; and/or involuntarily redeem your account if we think that the account is being used for fraudulent or illegal purposes; one or more of these actions will be taken when, at our sole discretion, they are deemed to be in each fund’s best interest or when a fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or by applicable law |
• | close and liquidate your account if we are unable to verify your identity, or for other reasons; if we decide to close your account, your fund shares will be redeemed at the net asset value per share next calculated after we determine to close your account (less any applicable sales charges or redemption fees); you may be subject to gain or loss on the redemption of your fund shares and you may incur tax liability |
• | close your account and send you the proceeds if your balance falls below $1,000; we will give you 60 days’ notice (90 days for retirement accounts) so you can either increase your balance or close your account (this policy doesn’t apply to investors with $100,000 or more in DWS fund shares, investors with an Automatic Investment Plan established with $50 or more per month or in any case where a fall in share price created the low balance) |
65
Table of Contents
• | pay you for shares you sell by “redeeming in kind,” that is, by giving you marketable securities (which typically will involve brokerage costs for you to liquidate) rather than cash; in most cases, the funds generally won’t make a redemption in kind unless your requests over a 90-day period total more than $250,000 or 1% of the value of a fund’s net assets, whichever is less |
• | change, add or withdraw various services, fees and account policies (for example, we may change or terminate the exchange privilege at any time) |
• | suspend or postpone redemptions as permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Generally, those circumstances are when: 1) the New York Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings; 2) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted; 3) an emergency exists which makes the disposal of securities owned by a fund or the fair determination of the value of a fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or 4) the SEC, by order, permits the suspension of the right of redemption. Redemption payments by wire may also be delayed in the event of a nonroutine closure of the Federal Reserve wire payment system. |
Understanding Distributions and Taxes
Each fund intends to distribute to its shareholders virtually all of its net earnings. A fund can earn money in two ways: by receiving interest, dividends or other income from securities it holds and by selling securities for more than it paid for them. (A fund’s earnings are separate from any gains or losses stemming from your own purchase and sale of shares.) A fund may not always pay a distribution for a given period.
Each fund intends to pay dividends and distributions to its shareholders in November or December, and if necessary, may do so at other times as well.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Because each shareholder’s tax situation is unique, ask your tax professional about the tax consequences of your investments, including any state and local tax consequences.
66
Table of Contents
For federal income tax purposes, income and capital gains distributions are generally taxable. Dividends and distributions received by retirement plans qualifying for tax-exempt treatment under federal income tax laws will not be taxable. Similarly, there will be no tax consequences when a qualified retirement plan buys or sells fund shares.
You can choose how to receive your dividends and distributions. You can have them all automatically reinvested in fund shares (at NAV), all deposited directly to your bank account or all sent to you by check, have one type reinvested and the other sent to you by check or have them invested in a different fund. Tell us your preference on your application. If you don’t indicate a preference, your dividends and distributions will all be reinvested without applicable sales charges. Dividends and distributions are taxable whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. For retirement plans, reinvestment (at NAV) is the only option.
Buying and selling fund shares will usually have tax consequences for you (except in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). Your sales of shares may result in a capital gain or loss for you. The gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you owned the shares that were sold. For federal income tax purposes, an exchange is treated the same as a sale.
The tax status of a fund’s earnings you receive and your own fund transactions, generally depends on their type:
Generally taxed at long-term capital gain rates: | Generally taxed at ordinary income rates: | |
Distributions from a fund | ||
• gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for more than one year | • gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for one year or less | |
• qualified dividend income | • all other taxable income | |
Transactions involving fund shares | ||
• gains from selling fund shares held for more than one year | • gains from selling fund shares held for one year or less |
67
Table of Contents
Any investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes. In that case, each fund’s yield on those securities would generally be decreased. A fund may elect to pass through to its shareholders a credit or deduction for foreign taxes it has paid if, at the end of its fiscal year, more than 50% of a fund’s total assets are stock or securities of foreign corporations and the fund meets its distribution requirements for that year. In addition, any investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may increase or accelerate a fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of a fund’s distributions.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, distributions of investment income designated by a fund as derived from qualified dividend income are eligible for taxation in the hands of individuals at long-term capital gain rates. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic and some foreign corporations. It does not include income from investments in fixed-income securities. In addition, a fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to a fund’s shares for lower rates to apply.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, the maximum federal long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals has been reduced to 15%. For more information, see the Statement of Additional Information, under “Taxes.”
A fund’s investments in certain debt obligations may cause the fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such obligations. Thus, the fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.
68
Table of Contents
Your fund will send you detailed tax information every January. These statements tell you the amount and the tax category of any dividends or distributions you received. They also have certain details on your purchases and sales of shares. The tax status of dividends and distributions is the same whether you reinvest them or not. Dividends or distributions declared in the last quarter of a given year are taxed in that year, even though you may not receive the money until the following January.
If you invest right before a fund pays a dividend, you’ll be getting some of your investment back as a taxable dividend. You can avoid this, if you want, by investing after the fund declares a dividend. In tax-advantaged retirement accounts you don’t need to worry about this.
Corporations may be able to take a dividends-received deduction for a portion of income dividends they receive from a fund.
The above discussion is applicable to shareholders who are US persons. If you are a non-US person, please consult your own tax advisor with respect to the US tax consequences of an investment in a fund. Additional information may be found in the funds’ Statement of Additional Information.
69
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
To Get More Information
Shareholder reports — These include commentary from each fund’s management team about recent market conditions and the effects of a fund’s strategies on its performance. They also have detailed performance figures, a list of everything each fund owns and its financial statements. Shareholders get these reports automatically.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) — This tells you more about each fund’s features and policies, including additional risk information. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this document (meaning that it’s legally part of this prospectus).
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information about a fund, call (800) 621-1048, or contact DWS Scudder at the address listed below. Each fund’s SAI and shareholder reports are also available through the DWS Scudder Web site at www.dws-scudder.com. These documents and other information about each fund are available from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. If you like, you may obtain copies of this information, after paying a copying fee, by e-mailing a request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC at the address listed below. You can also review and copy these documents and other information about each fund, including each fund’s SAI, 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 (202) 942-8090.
DWS Scudder | SEC | Distributor | ||
222 South Riverside Plaza | Public Reference Section | DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. | ||
Chicago, IL 60606-5808 | Washington, D.C. 20549 | 222 South Riverside Plaza | ||
www.dws-scudder.com | www.sec.gov | Chicago, IL 60606-5808 | ||
(800) 621-1048 | (202) 942-8090 | (800) 621-1148 | ||
SEC File Number:
DWS International Fund, Inc. | 811-642 |
[Logo]DWS
SCUDDER
Deutsche Bank Group
Table of Contents
MARCH 1, 2006
PROSPECTUS
CLASS AARP AND CLASS S SHARES
DWS Europe Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Greater Europe Fund)
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Latin America Fund)
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund)
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not approve or disapprove these shares or determine whether the information in this prospectus is truthful or complete. It is a criminal offense for anyone to inform you otherwise.
ONE GLOBAL FORCE. ONE FOCUS. YOU. [DWS SCUDDER Logo]
Deutsche Bank Group
Table of Contents
4 | ||
12 | ||
19 | ||
26 | ||
28 | ||
35 | ||
42 | ||
44 | ||
56 |
Table of Contents
On the next few pages, you’ll find information about each fund’s investment goal, the main strategies it uses to pursue that goal and the main risks that could affect performance.
Whether you are considering investing in a fund or are already a shareholder, you’ll want to look this information over carefully. You may want to keep it on hand for reference as well.
Remember that mutual funds are investments, not bank deposits. They’re not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Their share prices will go up and down and you could lose money by investing in them.
You can find DWS prospectuses on the Internet at www.dws-scudder.com.
Table of Contents
Class AARP | Class S | |||
ticker symbol | SGEGX | SCGEX | ||
fund number | 177 | 077 |
(formerly Scudder Greater Europe Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing at least 80% of its total assets in European common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on European markets or are issued by companies organized under the laws of Europe or do more than half of their business there). Although the fund may invest in equities of any size or European country, it tends to focus on common stocks of multinational companies in industrialized Western and Southern European countries such as France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
Growth orientation. The manager generally looks for companies that he believes have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of total assets in European debt securities, including junk bonds (i.e., grade BB and below). Compared to investment grade bonds, junk bonds may pay higher yields and have higher volatility and higher risk of default on payments.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
4
Table of Contents
Analysis of regional themes. The manager looks for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The manager may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The manager will normally sell a stock when he believes its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
Securities Lending. The fund may lend its investment securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case, the European markets. When European stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. For example, European companies could be hurt by such factors as regional economic downturns or difficulties with the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eastern European companies can be very sensitive to political and economic developments. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to these risks as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who are interested in gaining exposure to Europe’s established markets.
5
Table of Contents
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
6
Table of Contents
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Non-Diversification Risk. The fund is classified as “non-diversified.” This means that it may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. Thus, the performance of one or a small number of fund holdings can affect overall performance more than if the fund invested in a larger number of issuers.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Securities Lending Risk. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by the fund that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the fund and would adversely affect the fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in recovery of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan is outstanding. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by the fund’s delegate after a review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
7
Table of Contents
Other factors that could affect performance include:
• | the manager could be incorrect in his analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
8
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how performance has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class AARP shares is October 2, 2000. Performance figures before that date reflect the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S).
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class S only and will vary for Class AARP. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Europe Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class S
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 30.88 | |
1997 | 23.99 | |
1998 | 29.20 | |
1999 | 34.58 | |
2000 | -9.11 | |
2001 | -25.69 | |
2002 | -21.15 | |
2003 | 32.46 | |
2004 | 16.99 | |
2005 | 12.89 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 30.92%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -25.02%, Q3 2002 |
9
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||
Class S | |||||||
Return before Taxes | 12.89 | 0.50 | 10.15 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 12.54 | 0.48 | 9.71 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 9.08 | 0.58 | * | 8.91 | |||
Class AARP (Return before Taxes) | 12.74 | 0.47 | 10.13 | ||||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 9.42 | 3.68 | 9.38 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in 16 stock markets in Europe.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
* | Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares is higher than other return figures for the same period due to a capital loss occurring upon redemption resulting in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-728-3337 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
10
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
The fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares have no sales charges or other shareholder fees other than a short-term redemption/exchange fee. The fund does have annual operating expenses and as a shareholder of either Class AARP or Class S shares you pay them indirectly.
Fee Table | Class AARP | Class S | ||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | None | None | ||||
Redemption/Exchange Fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(1) | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||||
Management Fee(2) | 0.74 | % | 0.74 | % | ||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||||
Other Expenses(3) | 0.70 | 0.49 | ||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(4) | 1.44 | 1.23 | ||||
(1) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(2) | Management fees have been restated to reflect the new fee schedule effective March 14, 2005. |
(3) | On March 11, 2005, Scudder New Europe Fund merged into the fund. In connection with the merger, certain fees that compose Other Expenses have been renegotiated. Accordingly, the expenses have been restated to reflect the anticipated result of the merger. Actual expenses may be different. |
(4) | Through March 13, 2008, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.45% for Class AARP shares and 1.20% for Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns, reinvested all dividends and distributions and sold your shares at the end of each period. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Class AARP | $ | 147 | $ | 456 | $ | 787 | $ | 1,724 | ||||
Class S | 125 | 390 | 676 | 1,489 |
11
Table of Contents
Class AARP | Class S | |||
ticker symbol | SLAMX | SLAFX | ||
fund number | 174 | 074 |
(formerly Scudder Latin America Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Latin American common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on Latin American markets, issued or guaranteed by a Latin American government or issued by a company organized under the laws of a Latin American country or any company with more than half of its business in Latin America). Latin America is defined as Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking islands of the Caribbean. Although the fund may invest in any Latin American country, it expects to invest primarily in the common stocks of established companies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Peru.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio managers use a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The managers look for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in debt securities including junk bonds (i.e., grade BB and below), 10% of which may include securities rated B or lower. Compared to investment-grade bonds, junk bonds may pay higher yields and have higher volatility and higher risk of default.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the managers believe they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
12
Table of Contents
Growth orientation. The managers generally look for companies that they believe have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
Analysis of regional themes. The managers look for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The managers may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The managers will normally sell a stock when they believe its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or when adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case, the Latin American markets. When Latin American stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to this risk as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who can accept above-average risks to their investments and are interested in investing for long-term growth and who seek exposure to Latin American markets.
13
Table of Contents
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above, are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency
14
Table of Contents
devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Non-Diversification Risk. The fund is classified as “non-diversified.” This means that it may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. Thus, the performance of one or a small number of fund holdings can affect overall performance more than if the fund invested in a larger number of issuers.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Other factors that could affect fund performance include:
• | the managers could be incorrect in their analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
15
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how performance has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The performance of both the fund and the index vary over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class AARP shares is October 2, 2000. Performance figures before that date reflect the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S).
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class S only and will vary for Class AARP. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class S
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 28.32 | |
1997 | 31.30 | |
1998 | -29.70 | |
1999 | 47.16 | |
2000 | -15.64 | |
2001 | -0.82 | |
2002 | -18.28 | |
2003 | 54.86 | |
2004 | 34.09 | |
2005 | 52.45 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 34.08%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -22.14%, Q3 1998 |
16
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||
Class S | ||||||
Return before Taxes | 52.45 | 20.74 | 14.20 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 51.12 | 20.36 | 13.45 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 36.59 | 18.43 | 12.44 | |||
Class AARP (Return before Taxes) | 52.42 | 20.75 | 14.21 | |||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 50.42 | 23.02 | 14.58 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) EM (Emerging Markets) Latin America Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in seven Latin American markets.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-728-3337 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
17
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
The fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares have no sales charges or other shareholder fees other than a short-term redemption/exchange fee. The fund does have annual operating expenses and as a shareholder of either Class AARP or Class S shares you pay them indirectly.
Fee Table | Class AARP | Class S | ||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | None | None | ||||
Redemption/Exchange Fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(1) | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||||
Management Fee | 1.23 | % | 1.23 | % | ||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||||
Other Expenses | 0.43 | 0.39 | ||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(2),(3) | 1.66 | 1.62 | ||||
(1) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(2) | Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.75% for Class AARP and Class S shares excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(3) | Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.839% for Class AARP and Class S shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns and reinvested all dividends and distributions and sold your shares at the end of each period. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Class AARP | $ | 169 | $ | 523 | $ | 902 | $ | 1,965 | ||||
Class S | 165 | 511 | 881 | 1,922 |
18
Table of Contents
Class AARP | Class S | |||
ticker symbol | SPOPX | SCOPX | ||
fund number | 173 | 073 |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Pacific Basin common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on Pacific Basin markets, issued by companies organized under the laws of a Pacific Basin country or issued by any company with more than half of its business in the Pacific Basin). Pacific Basin countries include: the People’s Republic of China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand, as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan — the so-called “four tigers.” The fund generally intends to focus on common stocks from the region’s smaller emerging markets and does not invest in Japan.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in foreign or domestic debt securities in the top three credit grades. The fund may invest up to 20% of total assets in non-Pacific Basin equities, excluding Japan.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
19
Table of Contents
Growth orientation. The manager generally looks for companies that he believes have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
Analysis of regional themes. The manager looks for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The manager may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The manager will normally sell a stock when they believe its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or when adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case Pacific Basin markets. When Pacific Basin stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to this risk as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who are interested in investing for long-term growth who can accept above-average risks to their investments and who seek exposure to higher risk markets in the Pacific region.
20
Table of Contents
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
21
Table of Contents
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above, are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Other factors that could affect fund performance include:
• | the manager could be wrong in his analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
22
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how performance has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class AARP shares is October 2, 2000. Performance figures before that date reflect the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S).
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class S only and will vary for Class AARP. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class S
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 6.45 | |
1997 | -37.72 | |
1998 | -12.63 | |
1999 | 75.62 | |
2000 | -39.14 | |
2001 | -6.97 | |
2002 | -8.63 | |
2003 | 44.12 | |
2004 | 15.59 | |
2005 | 23.68 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 39.72%, Q2 1999 | Worst Quarter: -27.16%, Q4 1997 |
23
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||
Class S | ||||||
Return before Taxes | 23.68 | 11.86 | 0.81 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 23.49 | 11.98 | 0.76 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 15.65 | 10.58 | 0.71 | |||
Class AARP (Return before Taxes) | 23.52 | 11.85 | 0.81 | |||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 23.17 | 13.44 | 1.96 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Asia Free (ex-Japan) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of stock markets in the Pacific Region, excluding Japan.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-728-3337 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
24
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
The fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares have no sales charges or other shareholder fees other than a short-term redemption/exchange fee. The fund does have annual operating expenses and as a shareholder of either Class AARP or Class S shares you pay them indirectly.
Fee Table | Class AARP | Class S | ||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | None | None | ||||
Redemption/Exchange Fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(1) | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||||
Management Fee | 0.85 | % | 0.85 | % | ||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||||
Other Expenses | 1.06 | 0.85 | ||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(2),(3) | 1.91 | 1.70 | ||||
(1) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(2) | Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.75% for Class AARP and Class S shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(3) | Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.75% for Class AARP and Class S shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns, reinvested all dividends and distributions and sold your shares at the end of each period. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Class AARP | $ | 194 | $ | 600 | $ | 1,032 | $ | 2,233 | ||||
Class S | 173 | 536 | 923 | 2,009 |
25
Table of Contents
Other Policies and Secondary Risks
While the previous pages describe the main points of each fund’s strategy and risks, there are a few other issues to know about:
• | Although major changes tend to be infrequent, a fund’s Board could change that fund’s investment goal without seeking shareholder approval. Each fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice prior to making any changes to its 80% investment policy. |
• | As a temporary defensive measure, each fund could shift up to 100% of assets into investments such as money securities or other short-term instruments that offer comparable levels of risk. This could prevent losses but, while engaged in a temporary defensive position, a fund will not be pursuing its investment objective. However, the portfolio managers may choose not to use these strategies for various reasons, even in very volatile market conditions. |
• | Each fund’s equity investments are mainly common stocks, but may also include other types of equities such as preferred stocks or convertible securities. |
• | Each fund may trade securities actively. This could could raise transaction costs (thus lowering return) and could mean higher taxable distributions. |
Secondary risks
Derivatives Risk. Although not one of its principal investment strategies, each fund may invest in certain types of derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives include: the risk that a derivative is not well correlated with the security, index or currency to which it relates; the risk that derivatives used for risk management may not have the intended effects and may result in losses or missed opportunities; the risk that a fund will be unable to sell the derivative because of an illiquid secondary market; and the risk that the derivatives transaction could expose a fund to the effects of leverage, which could increase a fund’s exposure to the market and magnify potential losses. There is no guarantee that derivatives activities will be employed or that they will work, and their use could cause lower returns or even losses to a fund.
26
Table of Contents
Credit Risk. A fund purchasing bonds faces the risk that the creditworthiness of the issuer may decline, causing the value of its bonds to decline. In addition, an issuer may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments on the interest and principal on the bonds it has issued. Because the issuers of high yield (or junk) bonds (rated below the fourth highest category) may be in uncertain financial health, the prices of their bonds are generally more vulnerable to bad economic news or even the expectation of bad news, than those of investment-grade bonds. In some cases, bonds, particularly junk bonds, may decline in credit quality or go into default.
For more information
This prospectus doesn’t tell you about every policy or risk of investing in the funds.
If you want more information on a fund’s allowable securities and investment practices and the characteristics and risks of each one, you may want to request a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (the back cover tells you how to do this).
Keep in mind that there is no assurance that any mutual fund will achieve its goal.
Each fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.dws-scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until a fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.dws-scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). Each fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes a description of the policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the funds’ portfolio holdings.
27
Table of Contents
Who Manages and Oversees the Funds
DWS Scudder is part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), which is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM”), Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and DWS Trust Company.
Deutsche Asset Management is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.
DeIM is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
The investment advisor
DeIM is the investment advisor for each fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, DeIM, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154, or the subadvisor, makes each fund’s investment decisions, buys and sells securities for each fund and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds and DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. DeIM, or the subadvisor, is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
DeIM receives a management fee from each fund. Below are the actual rates paid by each fund for the most recent fiscal year, as a percentage of each fund’s average daily net assets:
Fund Name | Fee Paid | ||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | 0.81 | % | |
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | 1.23 | % | |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 0.85 | % |
28
Table of Contents
Effective March 14, 2005, DWS Europe Equity Fund pays DeIM a monthly fee at the annual rates shown below:
Average Daily Net Assets | Fee Rate | ||
$0 - $250 million | 0.750 | % | |
$250 million - $1 billion | 0.720 | % | |
$1 billion - $2.5 billion | 0.700 | % | |
$2.5 billion - $5 billion | 0.680 | % | |
$5 billion - $7.5 billion | 0.650 | % | |
$7.5 billion - $10 billion | 0.640 | % | |
$10 billion - $12.5 billion | 0.630 | % | |
Over $12.5 billion | 0.620 | % |
Each fund’s shareholder report for the fiscal year, ended October 31, 2005, contains a discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors’ renewal of each fund’s investment management agreement and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund’s subadvisory agreement (see “Shareholder reports” on the back cover).
AARP shares
Through December 31, 2005, AARP through its affiliate, AARP Services, Inc., monitored and approved the AARP Investment Program from Scudder Investments, but did not act as an investment advisor or recommend specific mutual funds. The contractual relationship between Scudder Investments and AARP ended on December 31, 2005. As a result, the fund is no longer part of the AARP Investment Program and the AARP name and logo will be phased out in 2006.
29
Table of Contents
The subadvisor
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited (“DeAM Asia”), 20 Raffles Place, #27-01, Ocean Towers, Singapore, an affiliate of DeIM, is the subadvisor for DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund. DeAM Asia renders investment advisory and management services including services related to foreign securities, foreign currency transactions and related investments with regard to the portion of the fund’s portfolio that is allocated to it by DeIM from time to time for management. DeIM compensates DeAM Asia out of the management fee it receives from the fund.
The portfolio managers
The following people handle the day-to-day management of each fund.
DWS Europe Equity Fund | ||
Paras Anand | ||
Vice President of Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund. | ||
• | Portfolio Manager for European Equity: New York. | |
• | Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 2003 and the fund in 2004. | |
• | Prior experience includes seven years of experience managing a pan-European hedge fund at HSBC and as a fund manager | |
for UK equities at INVESCO. | ||
BA, Bristol University. | ||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | ||
Joseph Wat | ||
Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund. | ||
• | Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 2004 and the fund in 2005. | |
• | Manages Asian portfolios, specializing in South Asian market research. | |
• | Prior to that, over 12 years of investment industry experience, including as an analyst at INVESCO Asset Management, | |
specializing in South Asian markets; analyst at Schroders Securities; Assistant Treasurer at DBS Bank; and auditor at Arthur Andersen. | ||
• | Graduated from National University of Singapore. |
30
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who each play an important role in the fund’s management process. The team works for DeIM or its affiliates and is supported by a large staff of economists, research analysts, traders and other investment specialists. DeIM or its affiliates believe(s) its team approach benefits fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and leveraging its extensive resources.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who collaborate to implement the fund’s investment strategy. Each portfolio manager on the team has authority over all aspects of the fund’s investment portfolio, including, but not limited to, purchases and sales of individual securities, portfolio construction techniques, portfolio risk assessment and the management of daily cash flows in accordance with the portfolio holdings.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | ||
Tara C. Kenney | ||
Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Co-Manager of the fund. | ||
• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1995 and the fund in 1996. | ||
• Over 21 years of investment industry experience. | ||
• BA, University of Notre Dame; MBA, New York University. | ||
Paul H. Rogers, CFA | ||
Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Co-Manager of the fund. | ||
• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1994 and the fund in 1995. | ||
• Over 20 years of investment industry experience. | ||
• BA, University of Vermont; MBA, New York University. |
The funds’ Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ investments in a fund, a description of their compensation structure and information regarding other accounts they manage.
31
Table of Contents
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 industrywide 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 early 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
32
Table of Contents
$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.
33
Table of Contents
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. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements 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.
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. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements 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.
34
Table of Contents
These tables are designed to help you understand each fund’s financial performance in recent years. The figures in the first part of each table are for a single share. The total return figures represent the percentage that an investor in a fund would have earned (or lost), assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The information for each fund has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose reports, along with each fund’s financial statements, are included in that fund’s annual report (see “Shareholder reports” on the back cover).
DWS Europe Equity Fund — Class AARP
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 24.81 | $ | 21.21 | $ | 18.10 | $ | 22.17 | $ | 31.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .60 | ^c | .27 | .23 | .11 | .06 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 3.50 | 3.61 | 3.00 | (4.11 | ) | (7.82 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 4.10 | 3.88 | 3.23 | (4.00 | ) | (7.76 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.47 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (1.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.47 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | (1.21 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 28.44 | $ | 24.81 | $ | 21.21 | $ | 18.10 | $ | 22.17 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 16.61 | ^b | 18.36 | ^b | 17.93 | ^b | (18.10 | ) | (26.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.48 | 1.65 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.37 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.42 | 1.47 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.37 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 2.15 | 1.15 | 1.22 | .53 | .24 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 168 | 104 | 71 | 89 | 104 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^c | Net investment income per share includes nonrecurring dividend income amounting to $.14 per share. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
35
Table of Contents
DWS Europe Equity Fund — Class S
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 24.82 | $ | 21.21 | $ | 18.11 | $ | 22.17 | $ | 31.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .63 | ^c | .27 | .23 | .11 | .06 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 3.51 | 3.62 | 2.99 | (4.10 | ) | (7.82 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 4.14 | 3.89 | 3.22 | (3.99 | ) | (7.76 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.47 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (1.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.47 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | (1.21 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 28.49 | $ | 24.82 | $ | 21.21 | $ | 18.11 | $ | 22.17 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 16.77 | ^b | 18.41 | ^b | 17.87 | ^b | (18.09 | ) | (25.97 | ) | ||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 328 | 347 | 369 | 421 | 721 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.29 | 1.53 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.37 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.28 | 1.46 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.37 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 2.29 | 1.16 | 1.22 | .53 | .24 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 168 | 104 | 71 | 89 | 104 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^c | Net investment income per share includes nonrecurring dividend income amounting to $.14 per share. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
36
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund — Class AARP
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 27.87 | $ | 21.65 | $ | 15.25 | $ | 17.40 | $ | 22.75 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .54 | .58 | .26 | .21 | .27 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 17.09 | 6.08 | 6.28 | (2.11 | ) | (3.95 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 17.63 | 6.66 | 6.54 | (1.90 | ) | (3.68 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.43 | ) | (.44 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.33 | ) | (.18 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (1.49 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.43 | ) | (.44 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.33 | ) | (1.67 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | — | .00 | * | .08 | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 45.07 | $ | 27.87 | $ | 21.65 | $ | 15.25 | $ | 17.40 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 63.67 | 31.10 | ^b | 43.20 | ^b | (10.83 | ) | (17.08 | ) | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 14 | 3 | .93 | .17 | .18 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.64 | 1.90 | 1.91 | 1.91 | 1.90 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.64 | 1.77 | 1.88 | 1.91 | 1.90 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.57 | 2.38 | 1.55 | 1.10 | 1.33 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 73 | 62 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
37
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund — Class S
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 27.84 | $ | 21.62 | $ | 15.23 | $ | 17.39 | $ | 22.74 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .58 | .59 | .26 | .21 | .27 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 16.99 | 6.06 | 6.27 | (2.12 | ) | (3.95 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 17.57 | 6.65 | 6.53 | (1.91 | ) | (3.68 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | (.43 | ) | (.43 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.33 | ) | (.18 | ) | ||||||||||
Net investment income | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (1.49 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.43 | ) | (.43 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.33 | ) | (1.67 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | — | .00 | * | .08 | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 44.98 | $ | 27.84 | $ | 21.62 | $ | 15.23 | $ | 17.39 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 63.76 | 31.09 | ^b | 43.19 | ^b | (10.89 | ) | (17.08 | ) | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 543 | 351 | 298 | 228 | 294 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.60 | 1.81 | 1.92 | 1.91 | 1.90 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.60 | 1.75 | 1.90 | 1.91 | 1.90 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.61 | 2.40 | 1.53 | 1.10 | 1.33 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 73 | 62 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
38
Table of Contents
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class AARP
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 12.04 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | $ | 10.08 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .20 | .12 | .10 | (.01 | ) | .01 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 2.05 | 1.03 | 2.87 | .63 | (2.73 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 2.25 | 1.15 | 2.97 | .62 | (2.72 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.12 | ) | (.10 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .01 | .00 | * | .01 | .02 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 14.17 | $ | 12.04 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 18.69^b | 10.71^b | 37.08 | 8.54 | (26.79 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 2 | 1 | .388 | .167 | .064 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.84 | 1.70 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.75 | 1.69 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.48 | .95 | 1.19 | (.05 | ) | .19 | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
39
Table of Contents
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class S
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 12.03 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | $ | 10.09 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .22 | .12 | .10 | (.01 | ) | .01 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 2.05 | 1.02 | 2.87 | .63 | (2.74 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 2.27 | 1.14 | 2.97 | .62 | (2.73 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.12 | ) | (.10 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .01 | .00 | * | .01 | .02 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 14.18 | $ | 12.03 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 18.87 | 10.62 | ^b | 37.08 | 8.54 | (26.86 | ) | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 87 | 82 | 80 | 66 | 65 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.63 | 1.71 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.63 | 1.65 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.60 | .99 | 1.19 | (.05 | ) | .19 | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
40
Table of Contents
The following pages tell you how to invest in these funds and what to expect as a shareholder. If you’re investing directly with DWS Scudder, all of this information applies to you.
If you’re investing through a “third party provider” — for example, a workplace retirement plan, financial supermarket or financial advisor — your provider may have its own policies or instructions and you should follow those.
41
Table of Contents
How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares
Buying Shares: Use these instructions to invest directly. Make out your check to “DWS Scudder.”
First investment | Additional investments | |
Regular accounts: | $50 or more for regular accounts and IRA accounts | |
Class S: $2,500 or more | ||
Class AARP: $1,000 or more | $50 or more with an Automatic Investment Plan | |
IRA accounts and Automatic Investment Plan: | ||
Class S: $1,000 or more | ||
Class AARP: $500 or more | ||
By mail or express mail (see below)
• Fill out and sign an application | Send a DWS Scudder investment slip or short note that includes: | |
• Send it to us at the appropriate address, along with an investment check | • fund and class name | |
• account number | ||
• check payable to “DWS Scudder” | ||
By wire
• Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | • Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | |
By phone | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | |
With an automatic investment plan
• Fill in the information on your application and include a voided check | • To set up regular investments from a bank checking account, call 1-800-728-3337 | |
Using QuickBuy | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-728-3337 to speak to a representative | |
• or, to use QuickBuy on SAILa, call 1-800-343-2890 and follow the instructions on how to purchase shares | ||
On the Internet | ||
• Go to “funds and prices” at www.dws-scudder.com | • Call 1-800-728-3337 to ensure you have electronic services | |
• Print out a prospectus and a new account application | • Register at www.dws-scudder.com | |
• Complete and return the application with your check | • Follow the instructions for buying shares with money from your bank account |
Regular mail:
First Investment: DWS Scudder, PO Box 219669, Kansas City, MO 64121-9669
Additional Investments: DWS Scudder, PO Box 219664, Kansas City, MO 64121-9664
Express, registered or certified mail:
DWS Scudder, 210 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1614
42
Table of Contents
Exchanging or Selling Shares: Use these instructions to exchange or sell shares in an account opened directly with DWS Scudder.
Exchanging into another fund | Selling shares | |
Class S: $2,500 or more to open a new account ($1,000 or more for IRAs) | Some transactions, including most for over $100,000, can only be ordered in writing with a signature guarantee; if you’re in doubt, see page 51 | |
Class AARP: $1,000 or more to open a new account ($500 or more for IRAs) | ||
$50 or more for exchanges between existing accounts | ||
By phone or wire | ||
• Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | • Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | |
Using SAILa | ||
• Call 1-800-343-2890 for instructions | • Call 1-800-343-2890 for instructions | |
By mail or express mail | ||
(see previous page) | ||
Your instructions should include: | Your instructions should include: | |
• the fund, class and account number you’re exchanging out of | • the fund, class and account number from which you want to sell shares | |
• the dollar amount or number of shares you want to exchange | • the dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell | |
• the name and class of the fund you want to exchange into | • your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account | |
• your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account | • a daytime telephone number | |
• a daytime telephone number | ||
With an automatic withdrawal plan | ||
Not available | • To set up regular cash payments from a DWS fund account, call 1-800-728-3337 | |
Using QuickSell | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | |
On the Internet | ||
• Register at www.dws-scudder.com | • Register at www.dws-scudder.com | |
• Follow the instructions for making on-line exchanges | • Follow the instructions for making on-line redemptions |
To reach us: Web site: www.dws-scudder.com
Telephone representative: 1-800-728-3337, M-F, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET
TDD line: 1-800-972-3006, M-F, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET
43
Table of Contents
Policies You Should Know About
Along with the instructions on the previous pages, the policies below may affect you as a shareholder. Some of this information, such as the section on dividends and taxes, applies to all investors, including those investing through a financial advisor.
If you are investing through a financial advisor or through a retirement plan, check the materials you received from them about how to buy and sell shares because particular financial advisors or other intermediaries may adopt policies, procedures or limitations that are separate from those described by the funds. Please note that a financial advisor may charge fees separate from those charged by a fund.
In either case, keep in mind that the information in this prospectus applies only to each fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares. The funds have other share classes, which are described in a separate prospectus and which have different fees, requirements and services.
In order to reduce the amount of mail you receive and to help reduce expenses, we generally send a single copy of any shareholder report and prospectus to each household. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call 1-800-728-3337.
Policies about transactions
Each fund is open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Each fund calculates its share price for each class every business day, as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (typically 4 p.m. Eastern time, but sometimes earlier, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading). You can place an order to buy or sell shares at any time.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Questions? You can speak to a DWS Scudder representative between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time on any fund business day by calling 1-800-728-3337.
44
Table of Contents
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means to you: when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. Some or all of this information will be used to verify the identity of all persons opening an account.
We might request additional information about you (which may include certain documents, such as articles of incorporation for companies) to help us verify your identity, and in some cases the information and/or documents may be required to conduct the verification. The information and documents will be used solely to verify your identity.
We will attempt to collect any missing required and requested information by contacting you or your financial advisor. If we are unable to obtain this information within the time frames established by the fund then we may reject your application and order.
The funds will not invest your purchase until all required and requested identification information has been provided and your application has been submitted in “good order.” After we receive all the information, your application is deemed to be in good order and we accept your purchase, you will receive the net asset value per share next calculated. In addition, while we attempt to verify your identity, we may limit your ability to purchase or exchange fund shares.
If we are unable to verify your identity within time frames established by the fund, after a reasonable effort to do so, you will receive written notification.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
The DWS Scudder Web site can be a valuable resource for shareholders with Internet access. To get up-to-date information, review balances or even place orders for exchanges go to www.dws-scudder.com.
45
Table of Contents
The funds generally will not accept new account applications to establish an account with a non-US address (APO/FPO and US territories are acceptable) or for a non-resident alien.
Because orders placed through a financial advisor must be forwarded to the transfer agent before they can be processed, you’ll need to allow extra time. Your financial advisor should be able to tell you approximately when your order will be processed. It is the responsibility of your financial advisor to forward your order to the transfer agent in a timely manner.
Market Timing Policies and Procedures. Short-term and excessive trading of fund shares may present risks to a fund’s long-term shareholders, including potential dilution in the value of fund shares, interference with the efficient management of a fund’s portfolio (including losses on the sale of investments), taxable gains to remaining shareholders and increased brokerage and administrative costs. These risks may be more pronounced for funds investing in certain securities such as those that trade in foreign markets, are illiquid or do not otherwise have “readily available market quotations.” Certain investors may seek to employ short-term trading strategies aimed at exploiting variations in portfolio valuation that arise from the nature of the securities held by a fund (e.g., “time zone arbitrage”).
The funds discourage short-term and excessive trading. Each fund will take steps to detect and deter short-term and excessive trading pursuant to each fund’s policies as described in this prospectus and approved by the Board. The funds generally define short-term trading as purchase and redemption activity, including exchanges, that occurs within the time period for imposition of redemption fees. Each fund may also take trading activity that occurs over longer periods into account if the fund reasonably believes such activity is of an amount or frequency that may be harmful to long-term shareholders or disruptive to portfolio management.
46
Table of Contents
Each fund’s policies include:
• | a 2% redemption fee on fund shares held for less than a specified holding period (subject to certain exceptions noted in the discussion of redemption fees); |
• | each fund reserves the right to reject or cancel a purchase or exchange order for any reason when, in the opinion of the advisor, there appears to be a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity by a shareholder or any other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to the fund; and |
• | each fund has adopted certain fair valuation practices reasonably designed to protect the fund from “time zone arbitrage” with respect to its foreign securities holdings and other trading practices that seek to exploit variations in portfolio valuation that arise from the nature of the securities held by the fund. (See “How the funds calculate share price.”) |
When a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity or other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to a fund by an investor is detected, the advisor may determine to prohibit that investor from future purchases in the funds or to limit or terminate the investor’s exchange privilege. The detection of these patterns and the banning of further trading are inherently subjective and therefore involve some selectivity in their application. The advisor seeks to make such determinations in a manner consistent with the interests of the funds’ long-term shareholders.
There is no assurance that these policies and procedures will be effective in limiting short-term and excessive trading in all cases. For example, the advisor may not be able to effectively monitor, detect or limit short-term or excessive trading by underlying shareholders that occurs through omnibus accounts maintained by broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries. Depending on the amount of fund shares held in such omnibus accounts (which may represent most of a fund’s shares) short-term and/or excessive trading of fund shares could adversely affect long-term shareholders in a fund. It is important to note that shareholders that invest through omnibus accounts also may be subject to the policies and procedures of their financial intermediaries with respect to short-term and excessive trading in the funds.
47
Table of Contents
Each fund’s policies and procedures may be modified or terminated at any time.
Redemption fees. Each fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value), on all fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to a fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last.
The redemption fee is applicable to fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the funds on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the funds. For this reason, the funds have undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the funds. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the funds’. Subject to approval by DeAM or each fund’s Board, intermediaries who transact business on an omnibus basis may implement the redemption fees according to their own operational guidelines (which may be different than the funds’ policies) and remit the fees to the funds. In addition, certain intermediaries that do not currently have the capacity to collect redemption fees at an account level may be granted a temporary waiver from the funds’ policies until such time as they can develop and implement a system to collect the redemption fees.
48
Table of Contents
The redemption fee will not be charged in connection with the following exchange or redemption transactions: (i) transactions on behalf of participants in certain research wrap programs; (ii) transactions on behalf of participants in certain group retirement plans and financial intermediaries whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (iii) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to return any excess IRA contributions to the shareholder; (iv) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to effect a required minimum distribution on an IRA; (v) transactions on behalf of any mutual fund advised by the funds’ investment advisor and its affiliates (e.g., “funds of funds”) or, in the case of a master/feeder relationship, redemptions by the feeder fund from the master portfolio; (vi) transactions following death or disability of any registered shareholder, beneficial owner or grantor of a living trust with respect to shares purchased before death or disability; (vii) transactions involving hardship of any registered shareholder; (viii) systematic transactions with predefined trade dates for purchases, exchanges or redemptions, such as automatic account rebalancing, or loan origination and repayments; (ix) transactions involving shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or other distributions; (x) transactions involving shares transferred from another account in the same fund or converted from another class of the same fund (e.g., shares converting from Class B to Class A) (the redemption fee period will carry over to the acquired shares); (xi) transactions initiated by a fund or administrator (e.g., redemptions for not meeting account minimums, to pay account fees funded by share redemptions, or in the event of the liquidation or merger of a fund); or (xii) transactions in cases when there are legal or contractual limitations or restrictions on the imposition of the redemption fee (as determined by the fund or its agents in their sole discretion).
49
Table of Contents
The funds expect that the waiver for certain group retirement plans and financial intermediaries will be eliminated over time as their respective operating systems are improved. Until such time that these operating systems are improved, the funds’ investment advisor will attempt to monitor the trading activity in these accounts and will take appropriate corrective action if it appears that a pattern of short-term or excessive trading or other harmful or disruptive trading by underlying shareholders exists. The funds reserve the right to withdraw waivers, and to modify or terminate these waivers or the redemption fee at any time.
Automated phone information is available 24 hours a day. You can use your automated phone services to get information on DWS funds generally and on accounts held directly at DWS Scudder. If you signed up for telephone services, you can also use this service to make exchanges and sell shares.
For Class S shares
Call SAIL(TM), the Shareholder Automated Information Line, at 1-800-343-2890
QuickBuy and QuickSell let you set up a link between a DWS Scudder account and a bank account. Once this link is in place, you can move money between the two with a phone call. You’ll need to make sure your bank has Automated Clearing House (ACH) services. Transactions take two to three days to be completed and there is a $50 minimum and a $250,000 maximum. To set up QuickBuy or QuickSell on a new account, see the account application; to add it to an existing account, call 1-800-728-3337.
Telephone and electronic transactions. Generally, you are automatically entitled to telephone and electronic transaction privileges, but you may elect not to have them when you open your account or by contacting Shareholder Services at 1-800-728-3337 at a later date.
50
Table of Contents
Since many transactions may be initiated by telephone or electronically, it’s important to understand that as long as we take reasonable steps to ensure that an order to purchase or redeem shares is genuine, such as recording calls or requesting personalized security codes or other information, we are not responsible for any losses that may occur as a result. For transactions conducted over the Internet, we recommend the use of a secure Internet browser. In addition, you should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them.
Each fund accepts payment for shares only in US dollars by check, bank or Federal Funds wire transfer, or by electronic bank transfer. Please note that the funds cannot accept cash, traveler’s checks, starter checks, money orders, third party checks, checks drawn on foreign banks or checks issued by credit card companies or Internet-based companies.
When you ask us to send or receive a wire, please note that while we don’t charge a fee to send or receive wires, it’s possible that your bank may do so. Wire transactions are generally completed within 24 hours. The funds can only send wires of $1,000 or more and accept wires of $50 or more.
We do not issue share certificates. However, if you currently have shares in certificated form, you must include the share certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock power when exchanging or redeeming shares. You may not exchange or redeem shares in certificate form by telephone or via the Internet.
When you want to sell more than $100,000 worth of shares or send proceeds to a third party or to a new address, you’ll usually need to place your order in writing and include a signature guarantee. However, if you want money wired to a bank account that is already on file with us, you don’t need a signature guarantee. Also, you don’t need a signature guarantee for an exchange, although we may require one in certain other circumstances.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
If you ever have difficulty placing an order by phone or Internet, you can send us your order in writing.
51
Table of Contents
A signature guarantee is simply a certification of your signature — a valuable safeguard against fraud. You can get a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution, including commercial banks, savings and loans, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. Note that you can’t get a signature guarantee from a notary public, and we must be provided the original guarantee.
Selling shares of trust accounts and business or organization accounts may require additional documentation. Please contact your financial advisor for more information.
Money from shares you sell is normally sent out within one business day of when your order is processed (not when it is received), although it could be delayed for up to seven days. There are also two circumstances when it could be longer: when you are selling shares you bought recently by check and that check hasn’t cleared yet (maximum delay: 10 days) or when unusual circumstances prompt the SEC to allow further delays. Certain expedited redemption processes may also be delayed when you are selling recently purchased shares.
You may obtain additional information about other ways to sell your shares by contacting your financial advisor.
52
Table of Contents
How the funds calculate share price
To calculate net asset value per share, or NAV, each share class of each fund uses the following equation:
TOTAL ASSETS - TOTAL LIABILITIES | = NAV | |
TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING |
The price at which you buy and sell shares is the NAV.
Each fund charges a short-term redemption fee equal to 2.00% of the value of shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Please see “Policies about transactions — Redemption fees” for further information.
We typically value securities using information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations, where appropriate. However, we may use methods approved by a fund’s Board, such as a fair valuation model, which are intended to reflect fair value when pricing service information or market quotations are not readily available or when a security’s value or a meaningful portion of the value of a fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a significant event, such as a natural disaster, an economic event like a bankruptcy filing, or a substantial fluctuation in domestic or foreign markets, that has occurred between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market) and the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In such a case, a fund’s value for a security is likely to be different from the last quoted market price or pricing service information. In addition, due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, it is possible that the value determined for a particular asset may be materially different from the value realized upon such asset’s sale. It is expected that the greater the percentage of fund assets that is invested in non-US securities, the more extensive will be a fund’s use of fair value pricing. This is intended to reduce a fund’s exposure to “time zone arbitrage” and other harmful trading practices. (See “Market Timing Policies and Procedures.”)
53
Table of Contents
Because each fund invests in securities that are traded primarily in foreign markets, the value of their holdings could change at a time when you aren’t able to buy or sell fund shares. This is because some foreign markets are open at times and on days or at times when the funds don’t price their shares.
Other rights we reserve
You should be aware that we may do any of the following:
• | withdraw or suspend the offering of shares at any time |
• | withhold a portion of your distributions as federal income tax if we have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding or if you fail to provide us with a correct taxpayer ID number or certification that you are exempt from backup withholding |
• | reject a new account application if you don’t provide any required or requested identifying information, or for other reasons |
• | refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; freeze any account (meaning you will not be able to purchase fund shares in your account); suspend account services; and/or involuntarily redeem your account if we think that the account is being used for fraudulent or illegal purposes; one or more of these actions will be taken when, at our sole discretion, they are deemed to be in the fund’s best interest or when the fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or by applicable law |
• | close and liquidate your account if we are unable to verify your identity, or for other reasons; if we decide to close your account, your fund shares will be redeemed at the net asset value per share next calculated after we determine to close your account (less any applicable redemption fees); you may be subject to gain or loss on the redemption of your fund shares and you may incur tax liability |
54
Table of Contents
• | close your account and send you the proceeds if your balance falls below $1,000 for Class AARP shareholders ($500 with an Automatic Investment Plan funded with $50 or more per month in subsequent investments), $2,500 for Class S shareholders ($1,000 with an Automatic Investment Plan funded with $50 or more per month in subsequent investments) or $250 for Class S retirement accounts; we will give you 60 days’ notice (90 days for retirement accounts) so you can either increase your balance or close your account (these policies don’t apply to investors with $100,000 or more in DWS fund shares or, in any case where a fall in share price created the low balance) |
• | pay you for shares you sell by “redeeming in kind,” that is, by giving you marketable securities (which typically will involve brokerage costs for you to liquidate) rather than cash; the funds generally won’t make a redemption in kind unless your requests over a 90-day period total more than $250,000 or 1% of the value of a fund’s net assets, whichever is less |
• | change, add or withdraw various services, fees and account policies (for example, we may change or terminate the exchange privilege or adjust a fund’s investment minimum at any time) |
• | suspend or postpone redemptions as permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Generally, those circumstances are when: 1) the New York Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings; 2) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted; 3) an emergency exists which makes the disposal of securities owned by a fund or the fair determination of the value of a fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or 4) the SEC, by order, permits the suspension of the right of redemption. Redemption payments by wire may also be delayed in the event of a nonroutine closure of the Federal Reserve wire payment system. |
55
Table of Contents
Understanding Distributions and Taxes
Each fund intends to distribute to its shareholders virtually all of its net earnings. A fund can earn money in two ways: by receiving interest, dividends or other income from securities it holds and by selling securities for more than it paid for them. (A fund’s earnings are separate from any gains or losses stemming from your own purchase and sale of shares.) A fund may not always pay a distribution for a given period.
Each fund intends to pay dividends and distributions to their shareholders in November or December and if necessary may do so at other times as well.
For federal income tax purposes, income and capital gains distributions are generally taxable. Dividends and distributions received by retirement plans qualifying for tax-exempt treatment under federal income tax laws will not be taxable. Similarly, there will be no tax consequences when a qualified retirement plan buys or sells fund shares.
You can choose how to receive your dividends and distributions. You can have them all automatically reinvested in fund shares (at NAV), all deposited directly to your bank account or all sent to you by check, have one type reinvested and the other sent to you by check or have them invested in a different fund. Tell us your preference on your application. If you don’t indicate a preference, your dividends and distributions will all be reinvested. Dividends are taxable whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. For retirement plans, reinvestment (at NAV) is the only option.
Buying and selling fund shares will usually have tax consequences for you (except in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). Your sales of shares may result in a capital gain or loss for you. The gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you owned the shares that were sold. For federal income tax purposes, an exchange is treated the same as a sale.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Because each shareholder’s tax situation is unique, ask your tax professional about the tax consequences of your investments, including any state and local tax consequences.
56
Table of Contents
The tax status of a fund’s earnings you receive and your own portfolio transactions, generally depends on their type:
Generally taxed at long-term capital gain rates: | Generally taxed at ordinary income rates: | |
Distributions from a fund
• gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for more than one year | • gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for one year or less | |
• qualified dividend income
Transactions involving fund shares | • all other taxable income | |
• gains from selling fund shares held for more than one year | • gains from selling fund shares held for one year or less |
Any investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes. In that case, a fund’s yield on those securities would generally be decreased. A fund may elect to pass through to its shareholders a credit or deduction for foreign taxes it has paid if, at the end of its fiscal year, more than 50% of a fund’s total assets are stock or securities of foreign corporations and the fund meets its distribution requirements for that year. In addition, any investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may increase or accelerate a fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of a fund’s distributions.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, distributions of investment income designated by a fund as derived from qualified dividend income are eligible for taxation in the hands of individuals at long-term capital gain rates. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic and some foreign corporations. It does not include income from investments in fixed-income securities. In addition, a fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to a fund’s shares for the lower tax rates to apply.
57
Table of Contents
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, the maximum federal long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals has been reduced to 15%. For more information, see the Statement of Additional Information, under “Taxes.”
A fund’s investments in certain debt obligations may cause the fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such obligations. Thus, the fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.
Your fund will send you detailed tax information every January. These statements tell you the amount and the tax category of any dividends or distributions you received. They also have certain details on your purchases and sales of shares. The tax status of dividends and distributions is the same whether you reinvest them or not. Dividends or distributions declared in the last quarter of a given year are taxed in that year, even though you may not receive the money until the following January.
If you invest right before a fund pays a dividend, you’ll be getting some of your investment back as a taxable dividend. You can avoid this, if you want, by investing after the fund declares a dividend. In tax-advantaged retirement accounts you don’t need to worry about this.
Corporations may be able to take a dividends-received deduction for a portion of income dividends they receive from a fund.
The above discussion is applicable to shareholders who are US persons. If you are a non-US person, please consult your own tax advisor with respect to the US tax consequences of an investment in a fund. Additional information may be found in the funds’ Statement of Additional Information.
58
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
To Get More Information
Shareholder reports — These include commentary from each fund’s management team about recent market conditions and the effects of a fund’s strategies on its performance. They also have detailed performance figures, a list of everything each fund owns and its financial statements. Shareholders get these reports automatically.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) — This tells you more about each fund’s features and policies, including additional risk information. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this document (meaning that it’s legally part of this prospectus).
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information about a fund, call (800) 728-3337 or contact DWS Scudder at the address listed below. Each fund’s SAI and shareholder reports are also available through the DWS Scudder Web site at www.dws-scudder.com. These documents and other information about each fund are available from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. If you like, you may obtain copies of this information, after paying a copying fee, by e-mailing a request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC at the address listed below. You can also review and copy these documents and other information about a fund, including each fund’s SAIs, 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 (202) 942-8090.
DWS Scudder | SEC | Distributor | ||
PO Box 219669 | Public Reference Section | DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. | ||
Kansas City, MO 64121-9669 | Washington, D.C. 20549 | 222 South Riverside Plaza | ||
www.dws-scudder.com | www.sec.gov | Chicago, IL 60606-5808 | ||
1-800-728-3337 | 1-202-942-8090 | 1-800-621-1148 |
SEC File Numbers:
DWS International Fund, Inc. | 811-642 |
[Logo]DWS
SCUDDER
Deutsche Bank Group
Table of Contents
DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
DWS Europe Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund)
Class A, Class B, Class C and Institutional Class Shares
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Latin America Fund)
Class A, Class B, Class C and Class M Shares
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund)
Class A, Class B and Class C Shares
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
March 1, 2006
This combined Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus and should be read in conjunction with the prospectuses, dated March 1, 2006, for DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, each a series of DWS International Fund, Inc. (each a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”), as amended from time to time, copies of which may be obtained without charge by contacting DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc., 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, 1-800-621-1148 or from the firm from which this Statement of Additional Information was obtained and is available along with other materials on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov).
The Annual Report to Shareholders for each Fund, dated October 31, 2005, accompany this Statement of Additional Information. The financial statements contained therein, together with accompanying notes, are incorporated by reference and are hereby deemed to be part of this Statement of Additional Information.
This Statement of Additional Information is incorporated by reference into the corresponding prospectuses for each class of shares of each Fund noted above.
Table of Contents
Page | ||
1 | ||
3 | ||
4 | ||
22 | ||
23 | ||
23 | ||
27 | ||
28 | ||
32 | ||
32 | ||
36 | ||
36 | ||
36 | ||
37 | ||
38 | ||
41 | ||
53 | ||
58 | ||
60 | ||
68 | ||
70 | ||
71 | ||
71 | ||
73 |
i
Table of Contents
Except as otherwise indicated, each Fund’s investment objective and policies are not fundamental and may be changed without a vote of shareholders. There can be no assurance that a Fund’s objective will be met.
Any investment restrictions herein which involve a maximum percentage of securities or assets shall not be considered to be violated unless an excess over the percentage occurs immediately after and is caused by an acquisition or encumbrance of securities or assets of, or borrowings by, a Fund.
DWS Europe Equity Fund and DWS Latin America Equity Fund have each elected to be classified as a non-diversified series of an open-end investment management company. A non-diversified fund may invest a greater proportion of its assets in the obligations of a small number of issuers, and may be subject to greater risk and substantial losses as a result of changes in the financial condition or the market’s assessment of the issuers. While not limited by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) as to the proportion of its assets that it may invest in obligations of a single issuer, each Fund will comply with the diversification requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) for qualification as a regulated investment company.
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund has elected to be classified as a diversified series of an open-end investment management company. A diversified fund may not, with respect to 75% of total assets, invest more than 5% of total assets in the securities of a single issuer or invest in more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer.
As a matter of fundamental policy, each Fund may not:
(1) | borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(2) | issue senior securities, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(3) | concentrate its investments in a particular industry, as that term is used in the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time; |
(4) | engage in the business of underwriting securities issued by others, except to the extent that a Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter in connection with the disposition of portfolio securities; |
(5) | purchase or sell real estate, which term does not include securities of companies which deal in real estate or mortgages or investments secured by real estate or interests therein, except that a Fund reserves freedom of action to hold and to sell real estate acquired as a result of a Fund’s ownership of securities; |
(6) | purchase physical commodities or contracts relating to physical commodities; or |
(7) | make loans except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. |
A fundamental policy may not be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund which, under the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder and as used in this Statement of Additional Information, means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of the voting securities present at such meeting, if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.
The Directors of DWS International Fund, Inc. (the “Corporation”) have voluntarily adopted certain policies and restrictions, which are observed in the conduct of each Fund’s affairs. These represent intentions of the Directors
1
Table of Contents
based upon current circumstances. Non-fundamental policies may be changed by the Directors of the Corporation without requiring approval of or, with certain exceptions, prior notice to, shareholders.
As a matter of nonfundamental policy, each Fund currently does not intend to:
(a) | borrow money in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets except (i) for temporary or emergency purposes and (ii) by engaging in reverse repurchase agreements, dollar rolls, or other investments or transactions described in a Fund’s registration statement which may be deemed to be borrowings; |
(b) | enter into either reverse repurchase agreements or dollar rolls in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets; |
(c) | purchase securities on margin or make short sales, except (i) short sales against the box, (ii) in connection with arbitrage transactions, (iii) for margin deposits in connection with futures contracts, options or other permitted investments, (iv) that transactions in futures contracts and options shall not be deemed to constitute selling securities short, and (v) that a Fund may obtain such short-term credits as may be necessary for the clearance of securities transactions; |
(d) | purchase options, unless the aggregate premiums paid on all such options held by a Fund at any time do not exceed 20% of its total assets; or sell put options, if as a result, the aggregate value of the obligations underlying such put options would exceed 50% of its total assets; |
(e) | enter into futures contracts or purchase options thereon unless immediately after the purchase, the value of the aggregate initial margin with respect to such futures contracts entered into on behalf of a Fund and the premiums paid for such options on futures contracts does not exceed 5% of the fair market value of a Fund’s total assets; provided that in the case of an option that is in-the-money at the time of purchase, the in-the-money amount may be excluded in computing the 5% limit; |
(f) | purchase warrants if as a result, such securities, taken at the lower of cost or market value, would represent more than 5% of the value of a Fund’s total assets (for this purpose, warrants acquired in units or attached to securities will be deemed to have no value); |
(g) | (for DWS Europe Equity Fund) lend portfolio securities in an amount greater than 33?% of its total assets; |
(h) | (for DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund) lend portfolio securities in an amount greater than 5% of its total assets; or |
(i) | acquire securities of registered open-end investment companies or registered unit investment trusts in reliance on Sections 12(d)(1)(F) or 12(d)(1)(G) of the 1940 Act. |
The Funds will not purchase illiquid securities, including repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, if, as a result thereof, more than 15% of the Fund’s net assets, valued at the time of the transaction, would be invested in such securities.
If a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage beyond the specified limit resulting from a change in values or net assets will not be considered a violation.
Master/feeder Fund Structure. The Board of Directors has the discretion to retain the current distribution arrangement for a Fund while investing in a master fund in a master/feeder fund structure as described below.
A master/feeder fund structure is one in which a fund (a “feeder fund”), instead of investing directly in a portfolio of securities, invests most or all of its investment assets in a separate registered investment company (the “master fund”) with substantially the same investment objective and policies as the feeder fund. Such a structure permits the pooling of assets of two or more feeder funds, preserving separate identities or distribution channels at the feeder
2
Table of Contents
fund level. Based on the premise that certain of the expenses of operating an investment portfolio are relatively fixed, a larger investment portfolio may eventually achieve a lower ratio of operating expenses to average net assets. An existing investment company is able to convert to a feeder fund by selling all of its investments, which involves brokerage and other transaction costs and realization of a taxable gain or loss, or by contributing its assets to the master fund and avoiding transaction costs and, if proper procedures are followed, the realization of taxable gain or loss.
DWS Europe Equity Fund
DWS Europe Equity Fund intends to allocate its investments among at least three countries at all times.
Temporary Defensive Policy. When, in the opinion of the Advisor, market conditions warrant, the Fund may hold foreign or US debt instruments as well as cash or cash equivalents, including foreign and domestic money market instruments, short-term government and corporate obligations, and repurchase agreements without limit for temporary defensive purposes and up to 20% to maintain liquidity.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
DWS Latin America Equity Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in the equity securities of US and other non-Latin American issuers. In evaluating non-Latin American investments, the Advisor seeks investments where an issuer’s Latin American business activities and the impact of developments in Latin America may have a positive effect on the issuer’s business results.
Temporary Defensive Policy. To provide for redemptions, or in anticipation of investment in Latin American securities, the Fund may hold cash or cash equivalents (in US dollars or foreign currencies) and other short-term securities, including money market securities denominated in US dollars or foreign currencies. The Fund may assume a defensive position when, due to political or other factors, the Advisor determines that opportunities for capital appreciation in Latin American markets would be significantly limited over an extended period or that investing in those markets poses undue risk to investors. The Fund may, for temporary defensive purposes, invest without limit in cash or cash equivalents and money market instruments, or invest all or a portion of its assets in securities of US or other non-Latin American issuers when the Advisor deems such a position advisable in light of economic or market conditions.
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund intends to allocate investments among at least three countries at all times.
Temporary Defensive Policy. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may hold without limit debt instruments as well as cash and cash equivalents, including foreign and domestic money market instruments, short-term government and corporate obligations, and repurchase agreements when the Advisor deems such a position advisable in light of economic or market conditions.
INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES
General
Each Fund is an open-end management investment company which continuously offers and redeems shares at net asset value (less applicable sales charges or fees). Each Fund is a company of the type commonly known as a mutual fund. DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund and DWS Latin America Equity Fund are each series of DWS International Fund, Inc. DWS Europe Equity Fund offers six classes of shares: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class S, Class AARP and Institutional Class. DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund offers five classes of shares: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class S and Class AARP. DWS Latin America Equity Fund offers six classes of shares: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class S, Class AARP and Class M. Class AARP and Class S shares are offered in a separate Statement of Additional Information.
3
Table of Contents
Descriptions in this Statement of Additional Information of a particular investment practice or technique in which a Fund may engage are meant to describe the spectrum of investments that the Advisor or the subadvisor (hereinafter the “Advisor”) in its discretion might, but is not required to, use in managing each Fund’s portfolio assets. The Advisor may in its discretion at any time employ such a practice, technique or instrument for one or more Funds but not for all funds advised by it. Furthermore, it is possible that certain types of financial instruments or investment techniques described herein may not be available, permissible, economically feasible or effective for their intended purposes in all markets. Certain practices, techniques or instruments may not be principal activities of the Funds, but, to the extent employed, could from time to time have a material impact on a Fund’s performance. It is possible that certain investment practices and techniques described below may not be permissible for a Fund based on its investment restrictions, as described herein, and in the Funds’ applicable prospectuses.
Borrowing. As a matter of fundamental policy, a Fund will not borrow money, except as permitted under the 1940 Act, and as interpreted or modified by regulatory authority having jurisdiction, from time to time. While each Fund’s Board of Directors does not currently intend to borrow for investment leveraging purposes, if such a strategy were implemented in the future it would increase the Funds’ volatility and the risk of loss in a declining market. Borrowing by a Fund will involve special risk considerations. Although the principal of a Fund’s borrowings will be fixed, a Fund’s assets may change in value during the time a borrowing is outstanding, thus increasing exposure to capital risk.
Common Stocks. Common stock is issued by companies to raise cash for business purposes and represents a proportionate interest in the issuing companies. Therefore, each Fund participates in the success or failure of any company in which it holds stock. The market values of common stock can fluctuate significantly, reflecting the business performance of the issuing company, investor perception and general economic and financial market movements. Despite the risk of price volatility, however, common stocks have historically offered a greater potential for long-term gain on investment, compared to other classes of financial assets such as bonds or cash equivalents, although there can be no assurance that this will be true in the future.
Convertible Securities. A Fund may invest in convertible securities, that is, bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stocks and other securities which are convertible into common stock. Investments in convertible securities can provide an opportunity for capital appreciation and/or income through interest and dividend payments by virtue of their conversion or exchange features.
The convertible securities in which a Fund may invest are either fixed income or zero coupon debt securities which may be converted or exchanged at a stated or determinable exchange ratio into underlying shares of common stock. The exchange ratio for any particular convertible security may be adjusted from time to time due to stock splits, dividends, spin-offs, other corporate distributions or scheduled changes in the exchange ratio. Convertible debt securities and convertible preferred stocks, until converted, have general characteristics similar to both debt and equity securities. Although to a lesser extent than with debt securities generally, the market value of convertible securities tends to decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, tends to increase as interest rates decline. In addition, because of the conversion or exchange feature, the market value of convertible securities typically changes as the market value of the underlying common stocks changes, and, therefore, also tends to follow movements in the general market for equity securities. A unique feature of convertible securities is that as the market price of the underlying common stock declines, convertible securities tend to trade increasingly on a yield basis, and so may not experience market value declines to the same extent as the underlying common stock. When the market price of the underlying common stock increases, the prices of the convertible securities tend to rise as a reflection of the value of the underlying common stock, although typically not as much as the underlying common stock. While no securities investments are without risk, investments in convertible securities generally entail less risk than investments in common stock of the same issuer.
As debt securities, convertible securities are investments which provide for a stream of income (or in the case of zero coupon securities, accretion of income) with generally higher yields than common stocks. Convertible securities generally offer lower yields than non-convertible securities of similar quality because of their conversion or exchange features.
4
Table of Contents
Of course, like all debt securities, there can be no assurance of income or principal payments because the issuers of the convertible securities may default on their obligations.
Convertible securities generally are subordinated to other similar but non-convertible securities of the same issuer, although convertible bonds, as corporate debt obligations, enjoy seniority in right of payment to all equity securities, and convertible preferred stock is senior to common stock, of the same issuer. However, because of the subordination feature, convertible bonds and convertible preferred stock typically have lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities. Convertible securities may be issued as fixed income obligations that pay current income or as zero coupon notes and bonds, including Liquid Yield Option Notes (“LYONs”(TM).
Debt Securities. A Fund may invest in debt securities, including bonds of private issuers. Portfolio debt investments will be selected on the basis of, among other things, credit quality, and the fundamental outlooks for currency, economic and interest rate trends, taking into account the ability to hedge a degree of currency or local bond price risk. A Fund may purchase “investment-grade” bonds, rated Aaa, Aa, A or Baa by Moody’s or AAA, AA, A or BBB by S&P or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Advisor.
The principal risks involved with investments in bonds include interest rate risk, credit risk and pre-payment risk. Interest rate risk refers to the likely decline in the value of bonds as interest rates rise. Generally, longer-term securities are more susceptible to changes in value as a result of interest-rate changes than are shorter-term securities. Credit risk refers to the risk that an issuer of a bond may default with respect to the payment of principal and interest. The lower a bond is rated, the more it is considered to be a speculative or risky investment. Pre-payment risk is commonly associated with pooled debt securities, such as mortgage-backed securities and asset backed securities, but may affect other debt securities as well. When the underlying debt obligations are prepaid ahead of schedule, the return on the security will be lower than expected. Pre-payment rates usually increase when interest rates are falling.
Depositary Receipts. Each Fund may invest in sponsored or unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), International Depositary Receipts (“IDRs”) and other types of Depositary Receipts (which, together with ADRs, EDRs, GDRs and IDRs are hereinafter referred to as “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts provide indirect investment in securities of foreign issuers. Prices of unsponsored Depositary Receipts may be more volatile than if they were sponsored by the issuer of the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the underlying securities into which they may be converted. In addition, the issuers of the stock of unsponsored Depositary Receipts are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the Depositary Receipts. ADRs are Depositary Receipts which are bought and sold in the United States and are typically issued by a US bank or trust company and which evidence ownership of underlying securities by a foreign corporation. GDRs, IDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts are typically issued by foreign banks or trust companies, although they may also be issued by United States banks or trust companies, and evidence ownership of underlying securities issued by either a foreign or a United States corporation. Generally, Depositary Receipts in registered form are designed for use in the United States securities markets and Depositary Receipts in bearer form are designed for use in securities markets outside the United States. For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, each Fund’s investments in ADRs, GDRs and other types of Depositary Receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Depositary Receipts, including those denominated in US dollars will be subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. However, by investing in US dollar-denominated ADRs rather than directly in foreign issuers’ stock, each Fund avoids currency risks during the settlement period. In general, there is a large, liquid market in the United States for most ADRs. However, certain Depositary Receipts may not be listed on an exchange and therefore may be illiquid securities.
Eurodollar Instruments. Each Fund may make investments in Eurodollar instruments. Eurodollar instruments are US dollar-denominated futures contracts or options thereon which are linked to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), although foreign currency-denominated instruments are available from time to time. Eurodollar futures contracts enable purchasers to obtain a fixed rate for the lending of funds and sellers to obtain a fixed rate for borrowings. Each Fund might use Eurodollar futures contracts and options thereon to hedge against changes in LIBOR, to which many interest rate swaps and fixed income instruments are linked.
5
Table of Contents
Eurodollar Obligations. Eurodollar bank obligations are US dollar-denominated certificates of deposit and time deposits issued outside the US capital markets by foreign branches of US banks and US branches of foreign banks. Eurodollar obligations are subject to the same risks that pertain to domestic issues, notably credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk. Additionally, Eurodollar obligations are subject to certain sovereign risks.
Foreign Currencies. Because investments in foreign securities usually will involve currencies of foreign countries, and because a Fund may hold foreign currencies and forward contracts, futures contracts and options on foreign currencies and foreign currency futures contracts, the value of the assets of a Fund as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and a Fund may incur costs and experience conversion difficulties and uncertainties in connection with conversions between various currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may also affect the earning power and asset value of the foreign entity issuing the security.
The strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar against these currencies is responsible for part of a Fund’s investment performance. If the dollar falls in value relative to the Japanese yen, for example, the dollar value of a Japanese stock held in the portfolio will rise even though the price of the stock remains unchanged. Conversely, if the dollar rises in value relative to the yen, the dollar value of the Japanese stock will fall. Many foreign currencies have experienced significant devaluation relative to the dollar.
Although each Fund values its assets daily in terms of U.S. dollars, it does not intend to convert its holdings of foreign currencies into U.S. dollars on a daily basis. It will do so from time to time, and investors should be aware of the costs of currency conversion. Although foreign exchange dealers do not charge a fee for conversion, they do realize a profit based on the difference (the “spread”) between the prices at which they are buying and selling various currencies. Thus, a dealer may offer to sell a foreign currency to a Fund at one rate, while offering a lesser rate of exchange should a Fund desire to resell that currency to the dealer. A Fund will conduct its foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through entering into options or forward or futures contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.
Foreign Fixed Income Securities. Since most foreign fixed income securities are not rated, a fund will invest in foreign fixed income securities based on the Advisor’s analysis without relying on published ratings. Since such investments will be based upon the Advisor’s analysis rather than upon published ratings, achievement of a fund’s goals may depend more upon the abilities of the Advisor than would otherwise be the case.
The value of the foreign fixed income securities held by a fund, and thus the net asset value of a fund’s shares, generally will fluctuate with (a) changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the issuers of those securities, (b) movements in interest rates, and (c) changes in the relative values of the currencies in which a fund’s investments in fixed income securities are denominated with respect to the US Dollar. The extent of the fluctuation will depend on various factors, such as the average maturity of a fund’s investments in foreign fixed income securities, and the extent to which a fund hedges its interest rate, credit and currency exchange rate risks. A longer average maturity generally is associated with a higher level of volatility in the market value of such securities in response to changes in market conditions.
Investments in sovereign debt, including Brady Bonds (Brady Bonds are debt securities issued under a plan implemented to allow debtor nations to restructure their outstanding commercial bank indebtedness), involve special risks. Foreign governmental issuers of debt or the governmental authorities that control the repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal or pay interest when due. In the event of default, there may be limited or no legal recourse in that, generally, remedies for defaults must be pursued in the courts of the defaulting party. Political conditions, especially a sovereign entity’s willingness to meet the terms of its fixed income securities, are of considerable significance. Also, there can be no assurance that the holders of commercial bank loans to the same sovereign entity may not contest payments to the holders of sovereign debt in the event of default under commercial bank loan agreements. In addition, there is no bankruptcy proceeding with respect to sovereign debt on which a sovereign has defaulted, and a fund may be unable to collect all or any part of its investment in a particular issue. Foreign investment in certain sovereign debt is restricted or controlled to varying degrees, including requiring governmental approval for the repatriation of income, capital or proceed of sales by foreign investors. These restrictions or controls may at times limit or preclude foreign investment in certain sovereign debt or increase the costs and expenses of a fund.
6
Table of Contents
Sovereign debt of emerging market governmental issuers is to be considered speculative. Emerging market governmental issuers are among the largest debtors to commercial banks, foreign governments, international financial organizations and other financial institutions. Certain emerging market governmental issuers have not been able to make payments of interest on or principal of debt obligations as those payments have come due. There is a history of defaults with respect to commercial bank loans by public and private entities issuing sovereign debt. All or a portion of the interest payments and/or principal repayment with respect to sovereign debt may be uncollateralized. Obligations arising from past restructuring agreements may affect the economic performance and political and social stability of those issuers.
The ability of emerging market country governmental issuers to make timely payments on their obligations is likely to be influenced strongly by the issuer’s balance of payments, including export performance, and its access to international credits and investments. An emerging market whose exports are concentrated in a few commodities could be vulnerable to a decline in the international prices of one or more of those commodities. Increased protectionism on the part of an emerging market’s trading partners could also adversely affect the country’s exports and diminish its trade account surplus, if any. To the extent that emerging markets receive payment for its exports in currencies other than dollars or non-emerging market currencies, its ability to make debt payments denominated in dollars or non-emerging market currencies could be affected.
Another factor bearing on the ability of emerging market countries to repay debt obligations is the level of international reserves of the country. Fluctuations in the level of these reserves affect the amount of foreign exchange readily available for external debt payments and thus could have a bearing on the capacity of emerging market countries to make payments on these debt obligations.
To the extent that an emerging market country cannot generate a trade surplus, it must depend on continuing loans from foreign governments, multilateral organizations or private commercial banks, aid payments from foreign governments and inflows of foreign investment. The access of emerging markets to these forms of external funding may not be certain, and a withdrawal of external funding could adversely affect the capacity of emerging market country governmental issuers to make payments on their obligations. In addition, the cost of servicing emerging market debt obligations can be affected by a change in international interest rates since the majority of these obligations carry interest rates that are adjusted periodically based upon international rates.
Foreign Investment. Foreign securities are normally denominated and traded in foreign currencies. As a result, the value of the fund’s foreign investments and the value of its shares may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in currency exchange rates relative to the US dollar. There may be less information publicly available about a foreign issuer than about a US issuer, and foreign issuers may not be subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those in the US. The securities of some foreign issuers are less liquid and at times more volatile than securities of comparable US issuers. Foreign brokerage commissions and other fees are also generally higher than in the US. Foreign settlement procedures and trade regulations may involve certain risks (such as delay in payment or delivery of securities or in the recovery of the fund’s assets held abroad) and expenses not present in the settlement of investments in US markets. Payment for securities without delivery may be required in certain foreign markets.
In addition, foreign securities may be subject to the risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets, imposition of currency exchange controls or restrictions on the repatriation of foreign currency, confiscatory taxation, political or financial instability and diplomatic developments which could affect the value of the fund’s investments in certain foreign countries. Governments of many countries have exercised and continue to exercise substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector through the ownership or control of many companies, including some of the largest in these countries. As a result, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on economic conditions which may adversely affect prices of certain portfolio securities. There is also generally less government supervision and regulation of stock exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the US. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale of, foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding taxes, and special US tax considerations may apply. Moreover, foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from the US economy in such respects as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of payments position.
7
Table of Contents
Legal remedies available to investors in certain foreign countries may be more limited than those available with respect to investments in the US or in other foreign countries. The laws of some foreign countries may limit the fund’s ability to invest in securities of certain issuers organized under the laws of those foreign countries.
Of particular importance, many foreign countries are heavily dependent upon exports, particularly to developed countries, and, accordingly, have been and may continue to be adversely affected by trade barriers, managed adjustments in relative currency values, and other protectionist measures imposed or negotiated by the US and other countries with which they trade. These economies also have been and may continue to be negatively impacted by economic conditions in the US and other trading partners, which can lower the demand for goods produced in those countries.
The risks described above, including the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, typically are increased in connection with investments in “emerging markets.” For example, political and economic structures in these countries may be in their infancy and developing rapidly, and such countries may lack the social, political and economic stability characteristic of more developed countries (including amplified risk of war and terrorism). Certain of these countries have in the past failed to recognize private property rights and have at times nationalized and expropriated the assets of private companies. Investments in emerging markets may be considered speculative.
The currencies of certain emerging market countries have experienced devaluations relative to the US dollar, and future devaluations may adversely affect the value of assets denominated in such currencies. In addition, currency hedging techniques may be unavailable in certain emerging market countries. Many emerging market countries have experienced substantial, and in some periods extremely high, rates of inflation or deflation for many years, and future inflation may adversely affect the economies and securities markets of such countries.
In addition, unanticipated political or social developments may affect the value of investments in emerging markets and the availability of additional investments in these markets. Any change in the leadership or politics of emerging market countries, or the countries that exercise a significant influence over those countries, may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities. The small size, limited trading volume and relative inexperience of the securities markets in these countries may make investments in securities traded in emerging markets illiquid and more volatile than investments in securities traded in more developed countries. For example, limited market size may cause prices to be unduly influenced by traders who control large positions. In addition, the fund may be required to establish special custodial or other arrangements before making investments in securities traded in emerging markets. There may be little financial or accounting information available with respect to issuers of emerging market securities, and it may be difficult as a result to assess the value of prospects of an investment in such securities.
The risk also exists that an emergency situation may arise in one or more emerging markets as a result of which trading of securities may cease or may be substantially curtailed and prices for a fund’s securities in such markets may not be readily available. A fund may suspend redemption of its shares for any period during which an emergency exists, as determined by the SEC. Accordingly if a fund believes that appropriate circumstances exist, it will promptly apply to the SEC for a determination that an emergency is present. During the period commencing from a fund’s identification of such condition until the date of the SEC action, a fund’s securities in the affected markets will be valued at fair value determined in good faith by or under the direction of a fund’s Board.
Certain of the foregoing risks may also apply to some extent to securities of US issuers that are denominated in foreign currencies or that are traded in foreign markets, or securities of US issuers having significant foreign operations.
High Yield/High Risk Bonds. A Fund may also purchase debt securities which are rated below investment-grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”), that is, rated below Baa by Moody’s or below BBB by S&P and unrated securities judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Advisor. These securities usually entail greater risk (including the possibility of default or bankruptcy of the issuers of such securities), generally involve greater
8
Table of Contents
volatility of price and risk to principal and income, and may be less liquid, than securities in the higher rating categories. The lower the ratings of such debt securities, the more their risks render them like equity securities. Securities rated D may be in default with respect to payment of principal or interest.
Issuers of such high yielding securities often are highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally is greater than is the case with higher rated securities. For example, during an economic downturn or a sustained period of rising interest rates, highly leveraged issuers of high yield securities may experience financial stress. During such periods, such issuers may not have sufficient revenues to meet their interest payment obligations. The issuer’s ability to service its debt obligations may also be adversely affected by specific corporate developments, or the issuer’s inability to meet specific projected business forecasts, or the unavailability of additional financing. The risk of loss from default by the issuer is significantly greater for the holders of high yield securities because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. Prices and yields of high yield securities will fluctuate over time and, during periods of economic uncertainty, volatility of high yield securities may adversely affect a fund’s net asset value. In addition, investments in high yield zero coupon or pay-in-kind bonds, rather than income-bearing high yield securities, may be more speculative and may be subject to greater fluctuations in value due to changes in interest rates.
A Fund may have difficulty disposing of certain high yield (high risk) securities because they may have a thin trading market. Because not all dealers maintain markets in all high yield securities, a Fund anticipates that such securities could be sold only to a limited number of dealers or institutional investors. The lack of a liquid secondary market may have an adverse effect on the market price and a Fund’s ability to dispose of particular issues and may also make it more difficult for a fund to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing a Fund’s assets. Market quotations generally are available on many high yield issues only from a limited number of dealers and may not necessarily represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. Adverse publicity and investor perceptions may decrease the values and liquidity of high yield securities. These securities may also involve special registration responsibilities, liabilities and costs, and liquidity and valuation difficulties.
Credit quality in the high-yield securities market can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and even recently issued credit ratings may not fully reflect the actual risks posed by a particular high-yield security. For these reasons, it is generally the policy of the Advisor not to rely exclusively on ratings issued by established credit rating agencies, but to supplement such ratings with its own independent and on-going review of credit quality. The achievement of a Fund’s investment objective by investment in such securities may be more dependent on the Advisor’s credit analysis than is the case for higher quality bonds. Should the rating of a portfolio security be downgraded, the Advisor will determine whether it is in the best interests of a Fund to retain or dispose of such security.
Illiquid Securities and Restricted Securities. Each Fund may purchase securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”). Generally speaking, restricted securities may be sold (i) only to qualified institutional buyers; (ii) in a privately negotiated transaction to a limited number of purchasers; (iii) in limited quantities after they have been held for a specified period of time and other conditions are met pursuant to an exemption from registration; or (iv) in a public offering for which a registration statement is in effect under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Issuers of restricted securities may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirements that would be applicable if their securities were publicly traded.
Restricted securities are often illiquid, but they may also be liquid. For example, restricted securities that are eligible for resale under Rule 144A are often deemed to be liquid.
Each Corporation’s Board has approved guidelines for use by the Advisor in determining whether a security is liquid or illiquid. Among the factors the Advisor may consider in reaching liquidity decisions relating to Rule 144A securities are: (1) the frequency of trades and quotes for the security; (2) the number of dealers wishing to purchase or sell the security and the number of other potential purchasers; (3) dealer undertakings to make a market in the security; and (4) the nature of the security and the nature of the market for the security (i.e., the time needed to dispose of the security, the method of soliciting offers, and the mechanics of the transfer. Issuers of restricted securities may not be subject to the disclosure and other investor protection requirement that would be applicable if
9
Table of Contents
their securities were publicly traded. Where a registration statement is required for the resale of restricted securities, a Fund may be required to bear all or part of the registration expenses. Each Fund may be deemed to be an “underwriter” for purposes of the 1933 Act, as amended when selling restricted securities to the public and, in such event, a Fund may be liable to purchasers of such securities if the registration statement prepared by the issuer is materially inaccurate or misleading.
Each Fund may also purchase securities that are not subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, but that are deemed illiquid. Such securities may be illiquid, for example, because there is a limited trading market for them.
A Fund may be unable to sell a restricted or illiquid security. In addition, it may be more difficult to determine a market value for restricted or illiquid securities. Moreover, if adverse market conditions were to develop during the period between the Fund’s decision to sell a restricted or illiquid security and the point at which the Fund is permitted or able to sell such security, the Fund might obtain a price less favorable than the price that prevailed when it decided to sell.
IPO Risk. Securities issued through an initial public offering (IPO) can experience an immediate drop in value if the demand for the securities does not continue to support the offering price. Information about the issuers of IPO securities is also difficult to acquire since they are new to the market and may not have lengthy operating histories. A Fund may engage in short-term trading in connection with its IPO investments, which could produce higher trading costs and adverse tax consequences. The number of securities issued in an IPO is limited, so it is likely that IPO securities will represent a smaller component of a Fund’s portfolio as the Fund’s assets increase (and thus have a more limited effect on the Fund’s performance).
Interfund Borrowing and Lending Program. The Funds have received exemptive relief from the SEC, which permits the Funds to participate in an interfund lending program among certain investment companies advised by the Advisor. The interfund lending program allows the participating funds to borrow money from and loan money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes. The program is subject to a number of conditions designed to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all participating funds, including the following: (1) no fund may borrow money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than a rate approximating the lowest interest rate at which bank loans would be available to any of the participating funds under a loan agreement; and (2) no fund may lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable return than that available from an investment in repurchase agreements and, to the extent applicable, money market cash sweep arrangements. In addition, a fund may participate in the program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the fund’s investment objectives and policies (for instance, money market funds would normally participate only as lenders and tax exempt funds only as borrowers). Interfund loans and borrowings may extend only overnight, but could have a maximum duration of seven days. Loans may be called on one day’s notice. A fund may have to borrow from a bank at a higher interest rate if an interfund loan is called or not renewed. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional costs. The program is subject to the oversight and periodic review of the Boards of the participating funds. To the extent the Funds are actually engaged in borrowing through the interfund lending program, the Funds will comply with their respective nonfundamental policies on borrowing.
Investment Company Securities. A Fund may acquire securities of other investment companies to the extent consistent with its investment objective and subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act. A Fund will indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management fees and other expenses paid by such other investment companies.
For example, a Fund may invest in a variety of investment companies which seek to track the composition and performance of specific indexes or a specific portion of an index. These index-based investments hold substantially all of their assets in securities representing their specific index. Accordingly, the main risk of investing in index-based investments is the same as investing in a portfolio of equity securities comprising the index. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with both changes in the market value of their underlying portfolio securities and due to supply and demand for the instruments on the exchanges on which they are traded (which may result in their trading at a discount or premium to their NAVs). Index-based investments may not replicate exactly the performance of their specified index because of transaction costs and because of the temporary unavailability of certain component securities of the index.
10
Table of Contents
Examples of index-based investments include:
SPDRs(R): SPDRs, an acronym for “Standard & Poor’s Depositary Receipts,” are based on the S&P 500 Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by the SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds shares of substantially all the companies in the S&P 500 in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
MidCap SPDRs(R): MidCap SPDRs are based on the S&P MidCap 400 Index. They are issued by the MidCap SPDR Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of securities consisting of substantially all of the common stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index in substantially the same weighting and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
Select Sector SPDRs(R): Select Sector SPDRs are based on a particular sector or group of industries that are represented by a specified Select Sector Index within the Standard & Poor’s Composite Stock Price Index. They are issued by The Select Sector SPDR Trust, an open-end management investment company with nine portfolios that each seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of a particular Select Sector Index.
DIAMONDS(SM): DIAMONDS are based on the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM). They are issued by the DIAMONDS Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio of all the component common stocks of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Dow.
Nasdaq-100 Shares: Nasdaq-100 Shares are based on the Nasdaq 100 Index. They are issued by the Nasdaq-100 Trust, a unit investment trust that holds a portfolio consisting of substantially all of the securities, in substantially the same weighting, as the component stocks of the Nasdaq 100 Index and seeks to closely track the price performance and dividend yield of the Index.
WEBs(SM): WEBs, an acronym for “World Equity Benchmark Shares,” are based on 17 country-specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Indexes. They are issued by the WEBs Index Fund, Inc., an open-end management investment company that seeks to generally correspond to the price and yield performance of a specific Morgan Stanley Capital International Index.
Investment of Uninvested Cash Balances. A Fund may have cash balances that have not been invested in portfolio securities (“Uninvested Cash”). Uninvested Cash may result from a variety of sources, including dividends or interest received from portfolio securities, unsettled securities transactions, reserves held for investment strategy purposes, scheduled maturity of investments, liquidation of investment securities to meet anticipated redemptions and dividend payments, and new cash received from investors. Uninvested Cash may be invested directly in money market instruments or other short-term debt obligations. Pursuant to an Exemptive Order issued by the SEC, a Fund may use Uninvested Cash to purchase shares of affiliated funds including money market funds, short-term bond funds and Scudder Cash Management Investment Trust, or one or more future entities for which the Advisor acts as trustee or investment advisor that operate as cash management investment vehicles and that are excluded from the definition of investment company pursuant to section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (collectively, the “Central Funds”) in excess of the limitations of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act. Investment by a Fund in shares of the Central Funds will be in accordance with a Fund’s investment policies and restrictions as set forth in its registration statement.
Certain of the Central Funds comply with rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. The other Central Funds are or will be short-term bond funds that invest in fixed-income securities and maintain a dollar weighted average maturity of three years or less. Each of the Central Funds will be managed specifically to maintain a highly liquid portfolio, and access to them will enhance a Fund’s ability to manage Uninvested Cash.
A Fund will invest Uninvested Cash in Central Funds only to the extent that a Fund’s aggregate investment in the Central Funds does not exceed 25% of its total assets. Purchase and sales of shares of Central Funds are made at net asset value.
11
Table of Contents
Lending of Portfolio Securities. DWS Europe Equity Fund may lend its investment securities to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions, such as covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver securities or completing arbitrage operations. By lending its investment securities, a Fund attempts to increase its net investment income through the receipt of interest on the loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would belong to the Fund. Each Fund may lend its investment securities so long as the terms, structure and the aggregate amount of such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations or interpretations of the SEC thereunder, which currently require that (a) the borrower pledge and maintain with the Fund collateral consisting of liquid, unencumbered assets having a value at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities loaned, (b) the borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities loaned rises (i.e., the borrower “marks to the market” on a daily basis), (c) the loan be made subject to termination by the Fund at any time, and (d) the Fund receives reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the Fund investing any cash collateral in interest bearing short-term investments), and distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in their market value. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by a Fund’s delegate after a commercially reasonable review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
At the present time, the staff of the SEC does not object if an investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and approved by the investment company’s Board of Trustees/Directors. In addition, voting rights may pass with the loaned securities, but if a material event occurs affecting an investment on loan, the loan must be called and the securities voted. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the SEC, cash collateral received by a Fund may be invested in a money market fund managed by the Advisor (or one of its affiliates).
Micro-Cap Company Risk. While, historically, micro-capitalization company stocks have outperformed the stocks of large companies, the former have customarily involved more investment risk as well. There can be no assurance that this will continue to be true in the future. Micro-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources; may lack management depth or experience; and may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments than large companies. The prices of micro-capitalization company securities are often more volatile than prices associated with large company issues, and can display abrupt or erratic movements at times, due to limited trading volumes and less publicly available information.
Also, because micro-capitalization companies normally have fewer shares outstanding and these shares trade less frequently than large companies, it may be more difficult for a Fund to buy and sell significant amounts of such shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing market prices.
Some of the companies in which a Fund may invest may distribute, sell or produce products which have recently been brought to market and may be dependent on key personnel. The securities of micro-capitalization companies are often traded over-the-counter and may not be traded in the volumes typical on a national securities exchange. Consequently, in order to sell this type of holding, a Fund may need to discount the securities from recent prices or dispose of the securities over a long period of time.
Participation Interests. A Fund may purchase from financial institutions participation interests in securities in which a Fund may invest. A participation interest gives a Fund an undivided interest in the security in the proportion that a Fund’s participation interest bears to the principal amount of the security. These instruments may have fixed, floating or variable interest rates, with remaining maturities of 397 days or less. If the participation interest is unrated, or has been given a rating below that which is permissible for purchase by a Fund, the participation interest will be backed by an irrevocable letter of credit or guarantee of a bank, or the payment obligation otherwise will be collateralized by US Government securities, or, in the case of unrated participation interest, determined by the Advisor to be of comparable quality to those instruments in which a Fund may invest. For certain participation interests, a Fund will have the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, for all or any part of the Fund’s participation interests in the security, plus accrued interest. As to these instruments, a Fund generally intends to exercise its right to demand payment only upon a default under the terms of the security.
12
Table of Contents
Privatized Enterprises. Investments in foreign securities may include securities issued by enterprises that have undergone or are currently undergoing privatization. The governments of certain foreign countries have, to varying degrees, embarked on privatization programs contemplating the sale of all or part of their interests in state enterprises. A Fund’s investments in the securities of privatized enterprises may include privately negotiated investments in a government or state-owned or controlled company or enterprise that has not yet conducted an initial equity offering, investments in the initial offering of equity securities of a state enterprise or former state enterprise and investments in the securities of a state enterprise following its initial equity offering.
In certain jurisdictions, the ability of foreign entities, such as a Fund, to participate in privatizations may be limited by local law, or the price or terms on which a Fund may be able to participate may be less advantageous than for local investors. Moreover, there can be no assurance that governments that have embarked on privatization programs will continue to divest their ownership of state enterprises, that proposed privatizations will be successful or that governments will not re-nationalize enterprises that have been privatized.
In the case of the enterprises in which a Fund may invest, large blocks of the stock of those enterprises may be held by a small group of stockholders, even after the initial equity offerings by those enterprises. The sale of some portion or all of those blocks could have an adverse effect on the price of the stock of any such enterprise.
Prior to making an initial equity offering, most state enterprises or former state enterprises go through an internal reorganization or management. Such reorganizations are made in an attempt to better enable these enterprises to compete in the private sector. However, certain reorganizations could result in a management team that does not function as well as an enterprise’s prior management and may have a negative effect on such enterprise. In addition, the privatization of an enterprise by its government may occur over a number of years, with the government continuing to hold a controlling position in the enterprise even after the initial equity offering for the enterprise.
Prior to privatization, most of the state enterprises in which a Fund may invest enjoy the protection of and receive preferential treatment from the respective sovereigns that own or control them. After making an initial equity offering, these enterprises may no longer have such protection or receive such preferential treatment and may become subject to market competition from which they were previously protected. Some of these enterprises may not be able to operate effectively in a competitive market and may suffer losses or experience bankruptcy due to such competition.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). REITs are sometimes informally categorized into equity REITs, mortgage REITs and hybrid REITs. Investment in REITs may subject a Fund to risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate, such as decreases in real estate values, overbuilding, increased competition and other risks related to local or general economic conditions, increases in operating costs and property taxes, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, possible environmental liabilities, regulatory limitations on rent and fluctuations in rental income. Equity REITs generally experience these risks directly through fee or leasehold interests, whereas mortgage REITs generally experience these risks indirectly through mortgage interests, unless the mortgage REIT forecloses on the underlying real estate. Changes in interest rates may also affect the value of a Fund’s investment in REITs. For instance, during periods of declining interest rates, certain mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by those REITs.
Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalizations, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of their securities. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers and the possibility of failing to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Code and to maintain exemption from the registration requirements of the 1940 Act. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his or her proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, expenses of the REITs. In addition, REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.
13
Table of Contents
Repurchase Agreements. Each Fund may enter in repurchase agreements pursuant to its investment guidelines. In a repurchase agreement, a Fund acquires ownership of a security and simultaneously commits to resell that security to the seller, typically a bank or broker/dealer.
A repurchase agreement provides a means for a Fund to earn income on funds for periods as short as overnight. It is an arrangement under which the purchaser (i.e., the Fund) acquires a security (“Obligation”) and the seller agrees, at the time of sale, to repurchase the Obligation at a specified time and price. Securities subject to a repurchase agreement are held in a segregated account and, as described in more detail below, and the value of such securities kept at least equal to the repurchase price on a daily basis. The repurchase price may be higher than the purchase price, the difference being income to a Fund, or the purchase and repurchase prices may be the same, with interest at a stated rate due to a Fund together with the repurchase price upon repurchase. In either case, the income to a Fund is unrelated to the interest rate on the Obligation itself. Obligations will be held by the Custodian or in the Federal Reserve Book Entry system.
It is not clear whether a court would consider the Obligation purchased by a Fund subject to a repurchase agreement as being owned by a Fund or as being collateral for a loan by a Fund to the seller. In the event of the commencement of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings with respect to the seller of the Obligation before repurchase of the Obligation under a repurchase agreement, the Fund may encounter delay and incur costs before being able to sell the security. Delays may involve loss of interest or decline in price of the Obligation. If the court characterizes the transaction as a loan and a Fund has not perfected a security interest in the Obligation, a Fund may be required to return the Obligation to the seller’s estate and be treated as an unsecured creditor of the seller. As an unsecured creditor, a Fund would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and income involved in the transaction. As with any unsecured debt instrument purchased for a Fund, the Advisor seeks to minimize the risk of loss through repurchase agreements by analyzing the creditworthiness of the obligor, in this case the seller of the Obligation. Apart from the risk of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, there is also the risk that the seller may fail to repurchase the Obligation, in which case the Fund may incur a loss if the proceeds to the Fund of the sale to a third party are less than the repurchase price. However, if the market value (including interest) of the Obligation subject to the repurchase agreement becomes less than the repurchase price (including interest), the Fund will direct the seller of the Obligation to deliver additional securities so that the market value (including interest) of all securities subject to the repurchase agreement will equal or exceed the repurchase price.
Repurchase Commitments. DWS Latin America Equity Fund may enter into repurchase commitments with any party deemed creditworthy by the Advisor, including foreign banks and broker/dealers, if the transaction is entered into for investment purposes and the counterparty’s creditworthiness is at least equal to that of issuers of securities which the Fund may purchase. Such transactions may not provide the Fund with collateral marked-to-market during the term of the commitment.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements. Each Fund may enter into “reverse repurchase agreements,” which are repurchase agreements in which a Fund, as the seller of the securities, agrees to repurchase them at an agreed time and price. Each Fund maintains a segregated account in connection with outstanding reverse repurchase agreements. Each Fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only when the Advisor believes that the interest income to be earned from the investment of the proceeds of the transaction will be greater than the interest expense of the transaction. Such transactions may increase fluctuations in the market value of Fund assets and its yield.
Small Company Risk. The Advisor believes that many small companies may have sales and earnings growth rates which exceed those of larger companies, and that such growth rates may in turn be reflected in more rapid share price appreciation over time. However, investing in smaller company stocks involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investing in larger, more established companies. For example, smaller companies can have limited product lines, markets, or financial and managerial resources. Smaller companies may also be dependent on one or a few key persons, and may be more susceptible to losses and risks of bankruptcy. Also, the securities of smaller companies may be thinly traded (and therefore have to be sold at a discount from current market prices or sold in small lots over an extended period of time). Transaction costs in smaller company stocks may be higher than those of larger companies.
14
Table of Contents
Sovereign Debt. Investment in sovereign debt can involve a high degree of risk. The governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be able or willing to repay the principal and/or interest when due in accordance with the terms of such debt. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to repay principal and interest due in a timely manner may be affected by, among other factors, its cash flow situation, the extent of its foreign reserves, the availability of sufficient foreign exchange on the date a payment is due, the relative size of the debt service burden to the economy as a whole, the governmental entity’s policy toward the International Monetary Fund, and the political constraints to which a governmental entity may be subject. Governmental entities may also be dependent on expected disbursements from foreign governments, multilateral agencies and others abroad to reduce principal and interest arrearages on their debt. The commitment on the part of these governments, agencies and others to make such disbursements may be conditioned on a governmental entity’s implementation of economic reforms and/or economic performance and the timely service of such debtor’s obligations. Failure to implement such reforms, achieve such levels of economic performance or repay principal or interest when due may result in the cancellation of such third parties commitments to lend funds to the governmental entity, which may further impair such debtor’s ability or willingness to service its debts in a timely manner. Consequently, governmental entities may default on their sovereign debt. Holders of sovereign debt may be requested to participate in the rescheduling of such debt and to extend further loans to governmental entities. There is no bankruptcy proceeding by which sovereign debt on which governmental entities have defaulted may be collected in whole or in part.
Strategic Transactions and Derivatives. A Fund may, but is not required to, utilize various other investment strategies as described below for a variety of purposes, such as hedging various market risks, managing the effective maturity or duration of the fixed-income securities in each Fund’s portfolio or enhancing potential gain. These strategies may be executed through the use of derivative contracts.
In the course of pursuing these investment strategies, a Fund may purchase and sell exchange-listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities, equity and fixed-income indices and other instruments, purchase and sell futures contracts and options thereon, enter into various transactions such as swaps, caps, floors, collars, currency forward contracts, currency futures contracts, currency swaps or options on currencies, or currency futures and various other currency transactions (collectively, all the above are called “Strategic Transactions”). In addition, strategic transactions may also include new techniques, instruments or strategies that are permitted as regulatory changes occur. Strategic Transactions may be used without limit (subject to certain limits imposed by the 1940 Act) to attempt to protect against possible changes in the market value of securities held in or to be purchased for a Fund’s portfolio resulting from securities markets or currency exchange rate fluctuations, to protect a Fund’s unrealized gains in the value of its portfolio securities, to facilitate the sale of such securities for investment purposes, to manage the effective maturity or duration of a Fund’s portfolio, or to establish a position in the derivatives markets as a substitute for purchasing or selling particular securities. Some Strategic Transactions may also be used to enhance potential gain although no more than 5% of a Fund’s assets will be committed to certain Strategic Transactions entered into for non-hedging purposes. Any or all of these investment techniques may be used at any time and in any combination, and there is no particular strategy that dictates the use of one technique rather than another, as use of any Strategic Transaction is a function of numerous variables including market conditions. The ability of a Fund to utilize these Strategic Transactions successfully will depend on the Advisor’s ability to predict pertinent market movements, which cannot be assured. Each Fund will comply with applicable regulatory requirements when implementing these strategies, techniques and instruments. Strategic Transactions will not be used to alter fundamental investment purposes and characteristics of a Fund, and the Fund will segregate assets (or as provided by applicable regulations, enter into certain offsetting positions) to cover its obligations under options, futures and swaps to limit leveraging of a Fund.
Strategic Transactions, including derivative contracts, have risks associated with them including possible default by the other party to the transaction, illiquidity and, to the extent the Advisor’s view as to certain market movements is incorrect, the risk that the use of such Strategic Transactions could result in losses greater than if they had not been used. Use of put and call options may result in losses to a fund, force the sale or purchase of portfolio securities at inopportune times or for prices higher than (in the case of put options) or lower than (in the case of call options) current market values, limit the amount of appreciation a Fund can realize on its investments or cause a Fund to hold a security it might otherwise sell. The use of currency transactions can result in a fund incurring losses as a result of a number of factors including the imposition of exchange controls, suspension of settlements, or the inability to deliver or receive a specified currency. The use of options and futures transactions entails certain other risks. In
15
Table of Contents
particular, the variable degree of correlation between price movements of futures contracts and price movements in the related portfolio position of a fund creates the possibility that losses on the hedging instrument may be greater than gains in the value of a Fund’s position. In addition, futures and options markets may not be liquid in all circumstances and certain over-the-counter options may have no markets. As a result, in certain markets, a Fund might not be able to close out a transaction without incurring substantial losses, if at all. Although the use of futures and options transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time they tend to limit any potential gain which might result from an increase in value of such position. Finally, the daily variation margin requirements for futures contracts would create a greater ongoing potential financial risk than would purchases of options, where the exposure is limited to the cost of the initial premium. Losses resulting from the use of Strategic Transactions would reduce net asset value, and possibly income, and such losses can be greater than if the Strategic Transactions had not been utilized.
General Characteristics of Options. Put options and call options typically have similar structural characteristics and operational mechanics regardless of the underlying instrument on which they are purchased or sold. Thus, the following general discussion relates to each of the particular types of options discussed in greater detail below. In addition, many Strategic Transactions involving options require segregation of Fund assets in special accounts, as described below under “Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts.”
A put option gives the purchaser of the option, upon payment of a premium, the right to sell, and the writer the obligation to buy, the underlying security, commodity, index, currency or other instrument at the exercise price. For instance, a Fund’s purchase of a put option on a security might be designed to protect its holdings in the underlying instrument (or, in some cases, a similar instrument) against a substantial decline in the market value by giving the Fund the right to sell such instrument at the option exercise price. A call option, upon payment of a premium, gives the purchaser of the option the right to buy, and the seller the obligation to sell, the underlying instrument at the exercise price. The Fund’s purchase of a call option on a security, financial future, index, currency or other instrument might be intended to protect the Fund against an increase in the price of the underlying instrument that it intends to purchase in the future by fixing the price at which it may purchase such instrument. An American style put or call option may be exercised at any time during the option period while a European style put or call option may be exercised only upon expiration or during a fixed period prior thereto. A Fund is authorized to purchase and sell exchange listed options and over-the-counter options (“OTC options”). Exchange listed options are issued by a regulated intermediary such as the Options Clearing Corporation (“OCC”), which guarantees the performance of the obligations of the parties to such options. The discussion below uses the OCC as an example, but is also applicable to other financial intermediaries.
With certain exceptions, OCC issued and exchange listed options generally settle by physical delivery of the underlying security or currency, although in the future cash settlement may become available. Index options and Eurodollar instruments are cash settled for the net amount, if any, by which the option is “in-the-money” (i.e., where the value of the underlying instrument exceeds, in the case of a call option, or is less than, in the case of a put option, the exercise price of the option) at the time the option is exercised. Frequently, rather than taking or making delivery of the underlying instrument through the process of exercising the option, listed options are closed by entering into offsetting purchase or sale transactions that do not result in ownership of the new option.
A Fund’s ability to close out its position as a purchaser or seller of an OCC or exchange listed put or call option is dependent, in part, upon the liquidity of the option market. Among the possible reasons for the absence of a liquid option market on an exchange are: (i) insufficient trading interest in certain options; (ii) restrictions on transactions imposed by an exchange; (iii) trading halts, suspensions or other restrictions imposed with respect to particular classes or series of options or underlying securities including reaching daily price limits; (iv) interruption of the normal operations of the OCC or an exchange; (v) inadequacy of the facilities of an exchange or OCC to handle current trading volume; or (vi) a decision by one or more exchanges to discontinue the trading of options (or a particular class or series of options), in which event the relevant market for that option on that exchange would cease to exist, although outstanding options on that exchange would generally continue to be exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The hours of trading for listed options may not coincide with the hours during which the underlying financial instruments are traded. To the extent that the option markets close before the markets for the underlying financial instruments, significant price and rate movements can take place in the underlying markets that cannot be reflected in the option markets.
16
Table of Contents
OTC options are purchased from or sold to securities dealers, financial institutions or other parties (“Counterparties”) through direct bilateral agreement with the Counterparty. In contrast to exchange listed options, which generally have standardized terms and performance mechanics, all the terms of an OTC option, including such terms as method of settlement, term, exercise price, premium, guarantees and security, are set by negotiation of the parties. A Fund will only sell OTC options (other than OTC currency options) that are subject to a buy-back provision permitting the Fund to require the Counterparty to sell the option back to a Fund at a formula price within seven days. A Fund expects generally to enter into OTC options that have cash settlement provisions, although it is not required to do so.
Unless the parties provide for it, there is no central clearing or guaranty function in an OTC option. As a result, if the Counterparty fails to make or take delivery of the security, currency or other instrument underlying an OTC option it has entered into with the Fund or fails to make a cash settlement payment due in accordance with the terms of that option, the fund will lose any premium it paid for the option as well as any anticipated benefit of the transaction. Accordingly, the Advisor must assess the creditworthiness of each such Counterparty or any guarantor or credit enhancement of the Counterparty’s credit to determine the likelihood that the terms of the OTC option will be satisfied. A Fund will engage in OTC option transactions only with US government securities dealers recognized by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as “primary dealers” or broker/dealers, domestic or foreign banks or other financial institutions which have received (or the guarantors of the obligation of which have received) a short-term credit rating of A-1 from S&P or P-1 from Moody’s or an equivalent rating from any nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, in the case of OTC currency transactions, are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Advisor. The staff of the SEC currently takes the position that OTC options purchased by a Fund, and portfolio securities “covering” the amount of the Fund’s obligation pursuant to an OTC option sold by it (the cost of the sell-back plus the in-the-money amount, if any) are illiquid, and are subject to a Fund’s limitation on investing no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.
If a Fund sells a call option, the premium that it receives may serve as a partial hedge, to the extent of the option premium, against a decrease in the value of the underlying securities or instruments in its portfolio or will increase a Fund’s income. The sale of put options can also provide income.
A Fund may purchase and sell call options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments that are traded on US and foreign securities exchanges and in the over-the-counter markets, and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts. All calls sold by the fund must be “covered” (i.e., the Fund must own the securities or futures contract subject to the call) or must meet the asset segregation requirements described below as long as the call is outstanding. Even though the Fund will receive the option premium to help protect it against loss, a call sold by the Fund exposes the fund during the term of the option to possible loss of opportunity to realize appreciation in the market price of the underlying security or instrument and may require the Fund to hold a security or instrument which it might otherwise have sold.
Each Fund may purchase and sell put options on securities including US Treasury and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, foreign sovereign debt, corporate debt securities, equity securities (including convertible securities) and Eurodollar instruments (whether or not it holds the above securities in its portfolio), and on securities indices, currencies and futures contracts other than futures on individual corporate debt and individual equity securities. The Fund will not sell put options if, as a result, more than 50% of the Fund’s total assets would be required to be segregated to cover its potential obligations under such put options other than those with respect to futures and options thereon. In selling put options, there is a risk that the Fund may be required to buy the underlying security at a disadvantageous price above the market price.
General Characteristics of Futures. Each Fund may enter into futures contracts or purchase or sell put and call options on such futures as a hedge against anticipated interest rate, currency or equity market changes, and for duration management, risk management and return enhancement purposes. Futures are generally bought and sold on the commodities exchanges where they are listed with payment of initial and variation margin as described below.
17
Table of Contents
The sale of a futures contract creates a firm obligation by a Fund, as seller, to deliver to the buyer the specific type of financial instrument called for in the contract at a specific future time for a specified price (or, with respect to index futures and Eurodollar instruments, the net cash amount). Options on futures contracts are similar to options on securities except that an option on a futures contract gives the purchaser the right in return for the premium paid to assume a position in a futures contract and obligates the seller to deliver such position.
Each Fund has claimed exclusion from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator” adopted by the CFTC and the National Futures Association, which regulate trading in the futures markets. Therefore, the Funds are not subject to commodity pool operator registration and regulation under the Commodity Exchange Act. Futures and options on futures may be entered into for bona fide hedging, risk management (including duration management) or other portfolio and return enhancement management purposes to the extent consistent with the exclusion from commodity pool operator registration. Typically, maintaining a futures contract or selling an option thereon requires a Fund to deposit with a financial intermediary as security for its obligations an amount of cash or other specified assets (initial margin) which initially is typically 1% to 10% of the face amount of the contract (but may be higher in some circumstances). Additional cash or assets (variation margin) may be required to be deposited thereafter on a daily basis as the marked to market value of the contract fluctuates. The purchase of an option on financial futures involves payment of a premium for the option without any further obligation on the part of a Fund. If a Fund exercises an option on a futures contract it will be obligated to post initial margin (and potential subsequent variation margin) for the resulting futures position just as it would for any position. Futures contracts and options thereon are generally settled by entering into an offsetting transaction but there can be no assurance that the position can be offset prior to settlement at an advantageous price, nor that delivery will occur.
Options on Securities Indices and Other Financial Indices. The Funds also may purchase and sell call and put options on securities indices and other financial indices and in so doing can achieve many of the same objectives it would achieve through the sale or purchase of options on individual securities or other instruments. Options on securities indices and other financial indices are similar to options on a security or other instrument except that, rather than settling by physical delivery of the underlying instrument, they settle by cash settlement, i.e., an option on an index gives the holder the right to receive, upon exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the index upon which the option is based exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the case of a put, the exercise price of the option (except if, in the case of an OTC option, physical delivery is specified). This amount of cash is equal to the excess of the closing price of the index over the exercise price of the option, which also may be multiplied by a formula value. The seller of the option is obligated, in return for the premium received, to make delivery of this amount. The gain or loss on an option on an index depends on price movements in the instruments making up the market, market segment, industry or other composite on which the underlying index is based, rather than price movements in individual securities, as is the case with respect to options on securities.
Currency Transactions. The Funds may engage in currency transactions with Counterparties primarily in order to hedge, or manage the risk of the value of portfolio holdings denominated in particular currencies against fluctuations in relative value. Currency transactions include forward currency contracts, exchange listed currency futures, exchange listed and OTC options on currencies, and currency swaps. A forward currency contract involves a privately negotiated obligation to purchase or sell (with delivery generally required) a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows based on the notional difference among two or more currencies and operates similarly to an interest rate swap, which is described below. The Fund may enter into currency transactions with Counterparties which have received (or the guarantors of the obligations which have received) a credit rating of A-1 or P-1 by S&P or Moody’s, respectively, or that have an equivalent rating from a NRSRO or (except for OTC currency options) are determined to be of equivalent credit quality by the Advisor.
The Fund’s dealings in forward currency contracts and other currency transactions such as futures, options, options on futures and swaps generally will be limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio positions except as described below. Transaction hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to specific assets or liabilities of the fund, which will generally arise in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities or the receipt of income therefrom. Position hedging is entering into a currency transaction with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or generally quoted in that currency.
18
Table of Contents
The Funds generally will not enter into a transaction to hedge currency exposure to an extent greater, after netting all transactions intended wholly or partially to offset other transactions, than the aggregate market value (at the time of entering into the transaction) of the securities held in its portfolio that are denominated or generally quoted in or currently convertible into such currency, other than with respect to proxy hedging or cross hedging as described below.
The Funds may also cross-hedge currencies by entering into transactions to purchase or sell one or more currencies that are expected to decline in value relative to other currencies to which the fund has or in which the Funds expect to have portfolio exposure.
To reduce the effect of currency fluctuations on the value of existing or anticipated holdings of portfolio securities, the fund may also engage in proxy hedging. Proxy hedging is often used when the currency to which a Fund’s portfolio is exposed is difficult to hedge or to hedge against the dollar. Proxy hedging entails entering into a commitment or option to sell a currency whose changes in value are generally considered to be correlated to a currency or currencies in which some or all of a Fund’s portfolio securities are or are expected to be denominated, in exchange for US dollars. The amount of the commitment or option would not exceed the value of the fund’s securities denominated in correlated currencies. For example, if the Advisor considers that the Austrian schilling is correlated to the German deutschemark (the “D-mark”), the fund holds securities denominated in schillings and the Advisor believes that the value of schillings will decline against the US dollar, the Advisor may enter into a commitment or option to sell D-marks and buy dollars. Currency hedging involves some of the same risks and considerations as other transactions with similar instruments. Currency transactions can result in losses to the Fund if the currency being hedged fluctuates in value to a degree or in a direction that is not anticipated. Further, there is the risk that the perceived correlation between various currencies may not be present or may not be present during the particular time that the Fund is engaging in proxy hedging. If a Fund enters into a currency hedging transaction, the Fund will comply with the asset segregation requirements described below.
Risks of Currency Transactions. Currency transactions are subject to risks different from those of other portfolio transactions. Because currency control is of great importance to the issuing governments and influences economic planning and policy, purchases and sales of currency and related instruments can be negatively affected by government exchange controls, blockages, and manipulations or exchange restrictions imposed by governments. These can result in losses to a Fund if it is unable to deliver or receive currency or funds in settlement of obligations and could also cause hedges it has entered into to be rendered useless, resulting in full currency exposure as well as incurring transaction costs. Buyers and sellers of currency futures are subject to the same risks that apply to the use of futures generally. Further, settlement of a currency futures contract for the purchase of most currencies must occur at a bank based in the issuing nation. Trading options on currency futures is relatively new, and the ability to establish and close out positions on such options is subject to the maintenance of a liquid market which may not always be available. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate based on factors extrinsic to that country’s economy.
Risks of Strategic Transactions Outside the US. When conducted outside the US, Strategic Transactions may not be regulated as rigorously as in the US, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities, currencies and other instruments. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by: (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the US of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the Fund’s ability to act upon economic events occurring in foreign markets during non-business hours in the US, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the US, and (v) lower trading volume and liquidity.
Swaps, Caps, Floors and Collars. Among the Strategic Transactions into which a Fund may enter are interest rate, currency, index and other swaps and the purchase or sale of related caps, floors and collars. The Fund expects to enter into these transactions primarily to preserve a return or spread on a particular investment or portion of its portfolio, to protect against currency fluctuations, as a duration management technique or to protect against any increase in the price of securities the fund anticipates purchasing at a later date. A Fund will not sell interest rate caps or floors where it does not own securities or other instruments providing the income stream the fund may be obligated to pay. Interest rate swaps involve the exchange by the fund with another party of their respective commitments to pay or receive interest, e.g., an exchange of floating rate payments for fixed rate payments with
19
Table of Contents
respect to a notional amount of principal. A currency swap is an agreement to exchange cash flows on a notional amount of two or more currencies based on the relative value differential among them and an index swap is an agreement to swap cash flows on a notional amount based on changes in the values of the reference indices. The purchase of a cap entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such cap to the extent that a specified index exceeds a predetermined interest rate or amount. The purchase of a floor entitles the purchaser to receive payments on a notional principal amount from the party selling such floor to the extent that a specified index falls below a predetermined interest rate or amount. A collar is a combination of a cap and a floor that preserves a certain return within a predetermined range of interest rates or values.
Use of Segregated and Other Special Accounts. Many Strategic Transactions, in addition to other requirements, require that a fund segregate cash or liquid assets with its custodian to the extent fund obligations are not otherwise “covered” through ownership of the underlying security, financial instrument or currency. In general, either the full amount of any obligation by a fund to pay or deliver securities or assets must be covered at all times by the securities, instruments or currency required to be delivered, or, subject to any regulatory restrictions, an amount of cash or liquid assets at least equal to the current amount of the obligation must be segregated with the custodian. The segregated assets cannot be sold or transferred unless equivalent assets are substituted in their place or it is no longer necessary to segregate them. For example, a call option written by a fund will require a fund to hold the securities subject to the call (or securities convertible into the needed securities without additional consideration) or to segregate cash or liquid assets sufficient to purchase and deliver the securities if the call is exercised. A call option sold by a fund on an index will require a fund to own portfolio securities which correlate with the index or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the excess of the index value over the exercise price on a current basis. A put option written by a fund requires a fund to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the exercise price.
Except when a fund enters into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of a security denominated in a particular currency, which requires no segregation, a currency contract which obligates a fund to buy or sell currency will generally require a fund to hold an amount of that currency or liquid assets denominated in that currency equal to a fund’s obligations or to segregate cash or liquid assets equal to the amount of a fund’s obligation.
OTC options entered into by a fund, including those on securities, currency, financial instruments or indices and OCC issued and exchange listed index options, will generally provide for cash settlement. As a result, when a fund sells these instruments it will only segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to its accrued net obligations, as there is no requirement for payment or delivery of amounts in excess of the net amount. These amounts will equal 100% of the exercise price in the case of a non cash-settled put, the same as an OCC guaranteed listed option sold by a fund, or the in-the-money amount plus any sell-back formula amount in the case of a cash-settled put or call. In addition, when a fund sells a call option on an index at a time when the in-the-money amount exceeds the exercise price, a fund will segregate, until the option expires or is closed out, cash or cash equivalents equal in value to such excess. OCC issued and exchange listed options sold by a fund other than those above generally settle with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement and a fund will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets equal to the full value of the option. OTC options settling with physical delivery, or with an election of either physical delivery or cash settlement will be treated the same as other options settling with physical delivery.
In the case of a futures contract or an option thereon, a fund must deposit initial margin and possible daily variation margin in addition to segregating cash or liquid assets sufficient to meet its obligation to purchase or provide securities or currencies, or to pay the amount owed at the expiration of an index-based futures contract. Such liquid assets may consist of cash, cash equivalents, liquid debt or equity securities or other acceptable assets.
With respect to swaps, a fund will accrue the net amount of the excess, if any, of its obligations over its entitlements with respect to each swap on a daily basis and will segregate an amount of cash or liquid assets having a value equal to the accrued excess. Caps, floors and collars require segregation of assets with a value equal to a fund’s net obligation, if any.
Strategic Transactions may be covered by other means when consistent with applicable regulatory policies. A fund may also enter into offsetting transactions so that its combined position, coupled with any segregated assets, equals its net outstanding obligation in related options and Strategic Transactions. For example, a fund could purchase a put
20
Table of Contents
option if the strike price of that option is the same or higher than the strike price of a put option sold by a fund. Moreover, instead of segregating cash or liquid assets if a fund held a futures or forward contract, it could purchase a put option on the same futures or forward contract with a strike price as high or higher than the price of the contract held. Other Strategic Transactions may also be offset in combinations. If the offsetting transaction terminates at the time of or after the primary transaction no segregation is required, but if it terminates prior to such time, cash or liquid assets equal to any remaining obligation would need to be segregated.
Combined Transactions. A Fund may enter into multiple transactions, including multiple options transactions, multiple futures transactions, multiple currency transactions (including forward currency contracts) and multiple interest rate transactions and any combination of futures, options, currency and interest rate transactions (“component” transactions), instead of a single Strategic Transaction, as part of a single or combined strategy when, in the opinion of the Advisor, it is in the best interests of the Fund to do so. A combined transaction will usually contain elements of risk that are present in each of its component transactions. Although combined transactions are normally entered into based on the Advisor’s judgment that the combined strategies will reduce risk or otherwise more effectively achieve the desired portfolio management goal, it is possible that the combination will instead increase such risks or hinder achievement of the portfolio management objective.
Supranational Entities. Supranational entities are international organizations designated or supported by governmental entities to promote economic reconstruction or development and international banking institutions and related government agencies. Examples include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the World Bank), the European Coal and Steel Community, The Asian Development Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank. Obligations of supranational entities are backed by the guarantee of one or more foreign governmental parties which sponsor the entity.
When-Issued Securities. Each Fund may from time to time purchase equity and debt securities on a “when-issued,” “delayed delivery” or “forward delivery” basis. The price of such securities, which may be expressed in yield terms, is fixed at the time the commitment to purchase is made, but delivery and payment for the securities takes place at a later date. During the period between purchase and settlement, no payment is made by the Fund to the issuer and no interest accrues to the Fund. When the Fund purchases such securities, it immediately assumes the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation. Failure to deliver a security purchased on this basis may result in a loss or missed opportunity to make an alternative investment.
To the extent that assets of a Fund are held in cash pending the settlement of a purchase of securities, the Fund would earn no income. While such securities may be sold prior to the settlement date, the Fund intends to purchase them with the purpose of actually acquiring them unless a sale appears desirable for investment reasons. At the time the Fund makes the commitment to purchase a security on this basis, it will record the transaction and reflect the value of the security in determining its net asset value. The market value of the securities may be more or less than the purchase price. The Fund will establish a segregated account in which it will maintain cash and liquid securities equal in value to commitments for such securities.
Warrants. Each Fund may invest in warrants up to 5% of the value of its total assets. The holder of a warrant has the right, until the warrant expires, to purchase a given number of shares of a particular issuer at a specified price. Such investments can provide a greater potential for profit or loss than an equivalent investment in the underlying security. Prices of warrants do not necessarily move, however, in tandem with the prices of the underlying securities and are, therefore, considered speculative investments. Warrants pay no dividends and confer no rights other than a purchase option. Thus, if a warrant held by a Fund were not exercised by the date of its expiration, that Fund would lose the entire purchase price of the warrant.
Zero Coupon Securities. DWS Europe Equity Fund may invest in zero coupon securities which pay no cash income and are sold at substantial discounts from their value at maturity. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the purchase price and their value at maturity. The effect of owning instruments which do not make current interest payments is that a fixed yield is earned not only on the original investment but also, in effect, on all discount accretion during the life of the obligation. This implicit reinvestment of earnings at the same rate eliminates the risk of being unable to reinvest distributions at a rate as high as the implicit yield on the zero coupon bond, but at the same time eliminates any
21
Table of Contents
opportunity to reinvest earnings at higher rates. For this reason, zero coupon bonds are subject to substantially greater price fluctuations during periods of changing market interest rates than those of comparable securities that pay interest currently, which fluctuation is greater as the period to maturity is longer. Zero coupon convertible securities which are convertible into common stock offer the opportunity for capital appreciation (or depreciation) as increases (or decreases) in market value of such securities closely follow the movements in the market value of the underlying common stock. Zero coupon convertible securities generally are expected to be less volatile than the underlying common stocks, as they usually are issued with maturities of 15 years or less and are issued with options and/or redemption features exercisable by the holder of the obligation entitling the holder to redeem the obligation and receive a defined cash payment.
Each Fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.dws-scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until a Fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.dws-scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). A Fund does not disseminate non-public information about portfolio holdings except in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by a Fund.
A Fund’s procedures permit non-public portfolio holdings information to be shared with Deutsche Asset Management, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively “DeAM”), subadvisors, if any, custodians, independent registered public accounting firms, securities lending agents, financial printers, proxy voting firms and other service providers to a Fund who require access to this information to fulfill their duties to a Fund, subject to the requirements described below. This non-public information may also be disclosed to certain mutual fund analysts and rating and tracking agencies, such as Lipper, to shareholders in connection with in-kind redemptions, or to other entities if a Fund has a legitimate business purpose in providing the information, subject to the requirements described below.
Prior to any disclosure of a Fund’s non-public portfolio holdings information to the foregoing types of entities or persons, a person authorized by a Fund’s Directors must make a good faith determination in light of the facts then known that a Fund has a legitimate business purpose for providing the information, that the disclosure is in the best interest of a Fund, and that the recipient assents or otherwise has a duty to keep the information confidential and agrees not to disclose, trade or make any investment recommendation based on the information received while the information remains non-public. Periodic reports regarding these procedures will be provided to a Fund’s Directors.
Registered investment companies that are subadvised by DeAM may be subject to different portfolio holdings disclosure policies, and neither DeAM nor a Fund’s Directors exercise control over such policies. In addition, separate account clients of DeAM have access to their portfolio holdings and are not subject to a Fund’s portfolio holdings disclosure policy. The portfolio holdings of some of a Funds sub-advised by DeAM and some of the separate accounts managed by DeAM may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund.
DeAM also manages certain unregistered commingled trusts and creates model portfolios, the portfolio holdings of which may substantially overlap with the portfolio holdings of a Fund. To the extent that investors in these commingled trusts or recipients of model portfolio holdings information may receive portfolio holdings information of their trust or of a model portfolio on a different basis from that on which Fund portfolio holdings information is made public, DeAM has implemented procedures reasonably designed to encourage such investors and recipients to keep such information confidential, and to prevent those investors from trading on the basis of non-public holdings information.
There is no assurance that a Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of portfolio holdings information will protect a Fund from the potential misuse of portfolio holdings information by those in possession of that information.
22
Table of Contents
On April 5, 2002, 100% of Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc., not including certain UK operations (known as Threadneedle Investments), was acquired by Deutsche Bank AG. and changed its name to Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM” or the “Advisor”). DeIM, which is part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), is the investment advisor for the Fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors of the Funds, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York, DeIM makes the Funds’ investment decisions, buys and sells securities for the Funds and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. The Advisor manages each Fund’s daily investment and business affairs subject to the policies established by the Corporation’s Board of Directors. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds. DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. The Funds’ investment advisor is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
DeAM is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, DeIM, Deutsche Asset Management Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and DWS Trust Company. DeAM is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight, across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles. DeIM is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual fund, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
Pursuant to investment management agreements (the “Agreements”) with the Funds, the Advisor acts as each Fund’s investment advisor, manages its investments, administers its business affairs, furnishes office facilities and equipment, provides clerical and administrative services and permits its officers and employees to serve without compensation as trustees or officers of one or more funds if elected to such positions. To the extent permissible by law, the Advisor may appoint certain of its affiliates as sub-advisors to perform certain of the Advisor’s duties.
The Advisor provides investment counsel for many individuals and institutions, including insurance companies, industrial corporations, and financial and banking organizations, as well as providing investment advice to open- and closed-end SEC registered funds.
In certain cases, the investments for the Funds are managed by the same individuals who manage one or more other mutual funds advised by the Advisor that have similar names, objectives and investment styles. You should be aware that each Fund is likely to differ from these other mutual funds in size, cash flow pattern and tax matters. Accordingly, the holdings and performance of a Fund can be expected to vary from those of these other mutual funds.
Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. Frequently, a particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be equitable to each. In some cases, this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund.
23
Table of Contents
A revised Agreement, dated March 14, 2005 for DWS Europe Equity Fund, was approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors on December 13, 2004 and re-approved on September 30, 2005. Current Agreements, dated April 5, 2002 for DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund were last approved by the Funds’ Board of Directors on September 30, 2005. The Agreements will continue in effect until September 30, 2006 and from year to year thereafter only if their continuance is approved annually by the vote of a majority of those Directors who are not parties to such Agreements or interested persons of the Advisor or the Corporation, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval, and either by a vote of the Corporation’s Board of Directors or of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund.
The Agreements may be terminated at any time without payment of penalty by either party on sixty days’ written notice and automatically terminate in the event of their assignment.
Under each Agreement, the Advisor regularly provides each Fund with continuing investment management consistent with each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions and determines what securities shall be purchased, held or sold and what portion of a Fund’s assets shall be held uninvested, subject to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, the 1940 Act, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and to each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and subject, further, to such policies and instructions as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time establish. The Advisor also advises and assists the officers of the Corporation in taking such steps as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the decisions of its Directors and the appropriate committees of the Directors regarding the conduct of the business of each Fund.
Under each Fund’s Agreement, the Advisor also renders administrative services (not otherwise provided by third parties) necessary for each Fund’s operations as an open-end investment company including, but not limited to, preparing reports and notices to the Directors and shareholders; supervising, negotiating contractual arrangements with, and monitoring various third-party service providers to a Fund (such as each Fund’s transfer agent, pricing agents, Custodian, accountants and others); preparing and making filings with the SEC and other regulatory agencies; assisting in the preparation and filing of each Fund’s federal, state and local tax returns; preparing and filing each Fund’s federal excise tax returns; assisting with investor and public relations matters; monitoring the valuation of securities and the calculation of net asset value; monitoring the registration of shares of each Fund under applicable federal and state securities laws; maintaining each Fund’s books and records to the extent not otherwise maintained by a third party; assisting in establishing accounting policies of each Fund; assisting in the resolution of accounting and legal issues; establishing and monitoring each Fund’s operating budget; processing the payment of each Fund’s bills; assisting each Fund in, and otherwise arranging for, the payment of distributions and dividends; and otherwise assisting each Fund in the conduct of its business, subject to the direction and control of the Directors.
Pursuant to an agreement between the Advisor and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”), the Advisor has delegated certain administrative functions to SSB under each investment management agreement. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by the Advisor, not by the Funds.
DWS Europe Equity Fund
Effective March 14, 2005, DWS Europe Equity Fund pays DeIM a monthly fee at the annual rates shown below:
Average Daily Net Assets | Fee Rate | ||
$0 - $250 million | 0.750 | % | |
$250 million - $1 billion | 0.720 | % | |
$1 billion - $2.5 billion | 0.700 | % | |
$2.5 billion - $5 billion | 0.680 | % | |
$5 billion - $7.5 billion | 0.650 | % | |
$7.5 billion - $10 billion | 0.640 | % | |
$10 billion - $12.5 billion | 0.630 | % | |
Over $12.5 billion | 0.620 | % |
24
Table of Contents
Through March 13, 2008, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of DWS Europe Equity Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s total operating expenses at 1.17%, 1.45% and 1.29% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
Through March 13, 2008, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain DWS Europe Equity Fund’s total operating expenses at 1.10%, for Institutional Class shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
DWS Latin America Equity Fund pays the Advisor an advisory fee at the annual rate of 1.25% of the first $400 million of the Fund’s average daily net assets and 1.15% of such net assets in excess of $400 million. The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid. All of the Fund’s expenses are paid out of gross investment income.
Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain DWS Latin America Equity Fund’s expenses at 1.75% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 2.089%, 2.839% and 2.839% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain DWS Latin America Equity Fund’s total operating expenses at 1.75% for Class M shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.839% for Class M shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund pays the Advisor an advisory fee at the annual rate of 0.85% of the first $250 million of the Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.82% of the next $750 million of such net assets, 0.80% of the next $1.5 billion of such net assets, 0.78% of the next $2.5 billion of such net assets, 0.75% of the next $2.5 billion of such net assets 0.74% of the next $2.5 billion of such net assets, 0.73% of the next $2.5 billion of such net assets, and 0.72% of such net assets in excess of $12.5 billion. The fee is payable monthly, provided that the Fund will make such interim payments as may be requested by the Advisor not to exceed 75% of the amount of the fee then accrued on the books of the Fund and unpaid. All of the Fund’s expenses are paid out of gross investment income.
25
Table of Contents
Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund’s expenses at 1.75% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses.
Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 2.00%, 2.75% and 2.75% for Class A, Class B and Class C shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses.
All Funds
The investment management fees paid by each Fund for its last three fiscal years are shown in the table below.
Fund | Fiscal 2005 | Fiscal 2004 | Fiscal 2003 | ||||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | $ | 3,655,987 | $ | 3,696,081 | $ | 3,805,436 | |||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | $ | 5,854,074 | $ | 4,350,803 | $ | 3,381,229 | |||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | $ | 943,667 | $ | 886,958 | $ | 676,380 |
Under a separate agreement between Deutsche Bank AG and the Funds, Deutsche Bank AG has granted a license to the Funds to utilize the trademark “DWS.”
The Agreements identify the Advisor as the exclusive licensee of the rights to use and sublicense the names “Scudder,” “Scudder Investments” and “Scudder, Stevens and Clark, Inc.” (together the “Scudder Marks”). Under this license, DWS International Fund, Inc., with respect to its series, has the non-exclusive right to use and sublicense the Scudder name and marks as part of its name, and to use the Scudder Marks in the Corporation’s investment products and services. The term “Scudder Investments” is the designation given to the services provided by Scudder Investments and its affiliates to the Scudder Mutual Funds.
Pursuant to a sub-accounting and administrator agreement among the Advisor, DWS Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation (“DWS-SFAC”) and State Street Bank and Trust Company (“SSB”), the Advisor has delegated certain administrative functions to SSB under the Agreement. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by the Advisor, not by the Funds.
Subadvisor — DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund. Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited (“DeAM Asia”), 20 Raffles Place, #27-01 Ocean Towers, Singapore, an affiliate of the Advisor, is the subadvisor for DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund. DeAM Asia serves as sub-advisor pursuant to the terms of a Research and Advisory Agreement between it and the Advisor.
Under the terms of the Research and Advisory Agreement, DeAM Asia manages the investment and reinvestment of the Fund’s portfolio and will provide such investment advice, research and assistance as the Advisor may, from time to time, reasonably request.
The Advisor pays DeAM Asia for its services a sub-advisory fee, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.425% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets.
The Research and Advisory Agreement provides that DeAM Asia will not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Fund in connection with matters to which the Research and Advisory Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of DeAM Asia in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by DeAM Asia of its obligations and duties under the Research and Advisory Agreement.
26
Table of Contents
The Research and Advisory Agreement shall continue in effect until September 30, 2005 and year to year thereafter, but only as long as such continuance is specifically approved at least annually (a) by a majority of the Directors of the Corporation who are not parties to such agreement or interested persons of any such party except in their capacity as Directors of the Corporation, and (b) by the shareholders or the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The Research and Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time upon 60 days’ notice by the Advisor or by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or by majority vote of the outstanding shares of the Fund, and will terminate automatically upon assignment or upon termination of the Fund’s investment management agreement.
AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program
Pursuant to an agreement between the Advisor and AMA Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of the American Medical Association (the “AMA”), dated May 9, 1997, the Advisor has agreed, subject to applicable state regulations, to pay AMA Solutions, Inc. royalties in an amount equal to 5% of the management fee received by the Advisor with respect to assets invested by AMA members in DWS funds in connection with the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program. The Advisor will also pay AMA Solutions, Inc. a general monthly fee, currently in the amount of $833 in connection with these arrangements. The AMA and AMA Solutions, Inc. are not engaged in the business of providing investment advice and neither is registered as an investment advisor or broker/dealer under federal securities laws. Any person who participates in the AMA InvestmentLink(SM) Program will be a customer of the Advisor (or of a subsidiary thereof) and not the AMA or AMA Solutions, Inc. AMA InvestmentLink(SM) is a service mark of AMA Solutions, Inc.
Codes of Ethics
The Funds, the Advisor, subadvisors and the Funds’ principal underwriter have each adopted codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. Board members, officers of the Corporations and employees of the Advisor, subadvisors and principal underwriter are permitted to make personal securities transactions, including transactions in securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, subject to certain requirements and restrictions set forth in the applicable Code of Ethics. The Advisor’s Code of Ethics contains provisions and requirements designed to identify and address certain conflicts of interest between personal investment activities and the interests of the Funds. Among other things, the Advisor’s Code of Ethics prohibits certain types of transactions absent prior approval, imposes time periods during which personal transactions may not be made in certain securities, and requires the submission of duplicate broker confirmations and quarterly reporting of securities transactions. Additional restrictions apply to portfolio managers, traders, research analysts and others involved in the investment advisory process. Exceptions to these and other provisions of the Advisor’s and subadvisors’ Code of Ethics may be granted in particular circumstances after review by appropriate personnel.
Compensation of Portfolio Managers
Each Fund has been advised that the Advisor seeks to offer its investment professionals competitive short-term and long-term compensation. Portfolio managers and research professionals are paid (i) base salaries, which are linked to job function, responsibilities and financial services industry peer comparison and (ii) variable compensation, which is linked to investment performance, individual contributions to the team and DWS Scudder’s and Deutsche Bank’s financial results. Variable compensation may include a cash bonus incentive and participation in a variety of long-term equity programs (usually in the form of Deutsche Bank equity).
Bonus and long-term incentives comprise a greater proportion of total compensation as an investment professional’s seniority and compensation levels increase. Top performing investment professionals earn a total compensation package that is highly competitive, including a bonus that is a multiple of their base salary. The amount of equity awarded under the long-term equity programs is generally based on the individual’s total compensation package and may comprise from 0%-40% of the total compensation award. As incentive compensation increases, the percentage of compensation awarded in Deutsche Bank equity also increases. Certain senior investment professionals may be subject to a mandatory diverting of a portion of their equity compensation into proprietary mutual funds that they manage.
27
Table of Contents
To evaluate its investment professionals, the Advisor uses a Performance Management Process. Objectives evaluated by the process are related to investment performance and generally take into account peer group and benchmark related data. The ultimate goal of this process is to link the performance of investment professionals with client investment objectives and to deliver investment performance that meets or exceeds clients’ risk and return objectives. When determining total compensation, the Advisor considers a number of quantitative and qualitative factors such as:
• | DWS Scudder’s performance and the performance of Deutsche Asset Management; quantitative measures which include 1, 3 and 5 year pre-tax returns versus benchmark (such as the benchmark used in the prospectus) and appropriate peer group, taking into consideration risk targets. Additionally, the portfolio manager’s retail/institutional asset mix is weighted, as appropriate for evaluation purposes. |
• | Qualitative measures include adherence to the investment process and individual contributions to the process, among other things. In addition, the Advisor assesses compliance, risk management and teamwork skills. |
• | Other factors, including contributions made to the investment team as well as adherence to compliance, risk management, and “living the values” of the Advisor, are part of a discretionary component which gives management the ability to reward these behaviors on a subjective basis through bonus incentives. |
In addition, the Advisor analyzes competitive compensation levels through the use of extensive market data surveys. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed and may be modified each year as appropriate to reflect changes in the market, as well as to adjust the factors used to determine overall compensation to promote good sustained investment performance.
Fund Ownership of Portfolio Managers
The following table shows the dollar range of shares owned beneficially and of record by each member of each Fund’s portfolio management team in the Funds as well as in all DWS Funds as a group (i.e. those funds advised by Deutsche Asset Management or its affiliates), including investments by their immediate family members sharing the same household and amounts invested through retirement and deferred compensation plans. This information is provided as of each Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
Name of Fund | Name of Portfolio Manager | Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned | Dollar Range of All DWS Fund Shares Owned | |||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | Paras Anand | $0 | $ 0 | |||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | Tara C. Kenney | $50,001-$ 100,000 | $100,001-$ 500,000 | |||
Paul H. Rogers | $0 | $100,001-$ 500,000 | ||||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | Joseph Wat | $0 | $ 0 |
Conflicts of Interest
In addition to managing the assets of a Fund, the Funds’ portfolio managers may have responsibility for managing other client accounts of the Advisor or its affiliates. The tables below show, for each portfolio manager, the number and asset size of (1) SEC registered investment companies (or series thereof) other than a Fund, (2) pooled investment vehicles that are not registered investment companies and (3) other accounts (e.g., accounts managed for individuals or organizations) managed by each portfolio manager. The tables also show the number of performance based fee accounts, as well as the total assets of the accounts for which the advisory fee is based on the performance of the account. This information is provided as of each Fund’s most recent fiscal year end.
28
Table of Contents
Other SEC Registered Investment Companies Managed:
Name of Fund | Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Registered Investment Companies | Total Assets of Registered Investment Companies | Number of Investment Company Accounts with Performance-Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | |||||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | Paras Anand | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | Tara C. Kenney | 6 | $ | 1,305,830,316 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||
Paul H. Rogers | 1 | $ | 800,358,593 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | Joseph Wat | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 |
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Managed:
Name of Fund | Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Total Assets of Pooled Investment Vehicles | Number of Pooled Investment Vehicle Accounts with Performance- Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | |||||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | Paras Anand | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | Tara C. Kenney | 2 | $ | 548,349,654 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||
Paul H. Rogers | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | Joseph Wat | 3 | $ | 238,365,688 | 0 | $ | 0 |
Other Accounts Managed:
Name of Fund | Name of Portfolio Manager | Number of Other Accounts | Total Assets of Other Accounts | Number of Other Accounts with Performance- Based Fee | Total Assets of Performance-Based Fee Accounts | |||||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | Paras Anand | 0 | $ | 0 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | Tara C. Kenney | 4 | $ | 1,147,861,040 | 0 | $ | 0 | |||||
Paul H. Rogers | 2 | $ | 627,291,608 | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | Joseph Wat | 3 | $ | 556,802,873 | 0 | $ | 0 |
In addition to the accounts above, an investment professional may have personal accounts that may include holdings that are similar to, or the same as, those of the Funds. The Advisor has in place a Code of Ethics that is designed to
29
Table of Contents
address conflicts of interest and that, among other things, imposes restrictions on the ability of portfolio managers and other “access persons” to invest in securities that may be recommended or traded in the Funds and other client accounts.
Real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day portfolio management responsibilities with respect to more than one fund or account, including the following:
• | Certain investments may be appropriate for a Fund and also for other clients advised by the Advisor, including other client accounts managed by a Fund’s portfolio management team. Investment decisions for a Fund and other clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives and after consideration of such factors as their current holdings, availability of cash for investment and the size of their investments generally. A particular security may be bought or sold for only one client or in different amounts and at different times for more than one but less than all clients. Likewise, because clients of the Advisor may have differing investment strategies, a particular security may be bought for one or more clients when one or more other clients are selling the security. The investment results achieved for a Fund may differ from the results achieved for other clients of the Advisor. In addition, purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two or more clients on the same day. In such event, such transactions will be allocated among the clients in a manner believed by the Advisor to be most equitable to each client, generally utilizing a pro rata allocation methodology. In some cases, the allocation procedure could potentially have an adverse effect or positive effect on the price or amount of the securities purchased or sold by a Fund. Purchase and sale orders for a Fund may be combined with those of other clients of the Advisor in the interest of achieving the most favorable net results to a Fund and the other clients. |
• | To the extent that a portfolio manager has responsibilities for managing multiple client accounts, a portfolio manager will need to divide time and attention among relevant accounts. The Advisor attempts to minimize these conflicts by aligning its portfolio management teams by investment strategy and by employing similar investment models across multiple client accounts. |
• | In some cases, an apparent conflict may arise where the Advisor has an incentive, such as a performance-based fee, in managing one account and not with respect to other accounts it manages. The Advisor will not determine allocations based on whether it receives a performance-based fee from the client. Additionally, the Advisor has in place supervisory oversight processes to periodically monitor performance deviations for accounts with like strategies. |
The Advisor is owned by Deutsche Bank AG, a multi-national financial services company. Therefore, the Advisor is affiliated with a variety of entities that provide, and/or engage in commercial banking, insurance, brokerage, investment banking, financial advisory, broker-dealer activities (including sales and trading), hedge funds, real estate and private equity investing, in addition to the provision of investment management services to institutional and individual investors. Since Deutsche Bank AG, its affiliates, directors, officers and employees (the “Firm”) are engaged in businesses and have interests other than managing asset management accounts, such other activities involve real, potential or apparent conflicts of interests. These interests and activities include potential advisory, transactional and financial activities and other interests in securities and companies that may be directly or indirectly purchased or sold by the Firm for its clients’ advisory accounts. These are considerations of which advisory clients should be aware and which may cause conflicts that could be to the disadvantage of the Advisor’s advisory clients. The Advisor has instituted business and compliance policies, procedures and disclosures that are designed to identify, monitor and mitigate conflicts of interest and, as appropriate, to report them to the Funds’ Board.
Administrative Agreement
Through April 1, 2004, each of DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund had entered into an Amended and Restated Administrative Services Agreement (the “Administrative Agreement”) with the Advisor pursuant to which the Advisor provided or paid others to provide substantially all of the administrative services required by the Funds (other than those provided by the Advisor under its investment management agreement with the Funds, as described above) in exchange for the payment by each Fund of an administrative services fee (the “Administrative Fee”) of 0.675% for Class A, 0.725% for Class B and
30
Table of Contents
0.700% for Class C shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund and 0.400% for Class A, 0.450% for Class B and 0.425% for Class C shares of DWS Europe Equity Fund and 0.40% of the average daily net assets of the applicable class. The Administrative Agreements were terminated, effective April 1, 2004, for each Fund. The Funds now each bear those expenses daily. In connection with such termination, the Advisor has agreed to limit expenses. Please refer to the descriptions of each Fund’s Investment Management Agreement.
Administrative fees charged to each Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004 were as follows:
DWS Europe Equity Fund
Year | Class A | Class B | Class C | Unpaid at End Class A | Unpaid at Fiscal Year End Class B | Unpaid at Fiscal Year End Class C | ||||||||||||
2004 | $ | 5,152 | $ | 568 | $ | 895 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
Year | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class M | Unpaid at End Class A | Unpaid at Fiscal Year End Class B | Unpaid at Class C | Unpaid at Class M | ||||||||||||||||
2004 | $ | 25,020 | $ | 951 | $ | 6,665 | $ | 32,374 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Year | Class A | Class B | Class C | Unpaid at End Class A | Unpaid at End Class B | Unpaid at End Class C | ||||||||||||
2004 | $ | 45,895 | $ | 12,871 | $ | 5,216 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
Institutional Class shares of DWS Europe Equity Fund commenced operations on March 14, 2005 and, therefore, do not have any information to report for any prior period.
Various third-party service providers (the “Service Providers”), some of which are affiliated with the Advisor, provide certain services to the Fund pursuant to separate agreements with each Fund.
The Advisor will pay the Service Providers for the provision of their services to each Fund and will pay most other fund expenses, including insurance, registration, printing and postage fees. In return, each Fund will pay the Advisor an Administrative Fee.
The fee payable by each Fund to the Advisor pursuant to the Administrative Agreement is reduced by the amount of any credit received from each Fund’s custodian for cash balances.
Certain expenses of each Fund will not be borne by the Advisor under the Administrative Agreement, such as taxes, brokerage, interest and extraordinary expenses; and the fees and expenses of the Independent Directors (including
31
Table of Contents
the fees and expenses of their independent counsel). In addition, each Fund will continue to pay the fees required by its investment management agreement with the Advisor.
Without the Administrative Agreements, fees paid by each class of shares for administrative services currently paid and provided pursuant to the Administrative Agreement may be higher.
Principal Underwriter and Administrator
Pursuant to separate Underwriting and Distribution Services Agreements (“Distribution Agreements”), DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. (“DWS-SDI”), 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, an affiliate of the Advisor, is the principal underwriter, distributor and administrator for the Class A, Class B, Class C, Class M (DWS Latin America Equity Fund) and Institutional Class shares (DWS Europe Equity Fund) of each Fund and acts as agent of each Fund in the continuous offering of its shares. The Distribution Agreements for each Fund, dated September 30, 2002, were last approved by the Directors on September 30, 2005. Each Distribution Agreement continues in effect from year to year only if its continuance is approved for each class at least annually by a vote of the Board members of a Fund, including the Directors who are not interested persons of a Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Agreement.
Each Distribution Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment and may be terminated for a class at any time without penalty by the relevant Fund or by DWS-SDI upon 60 days’ notice. Termination by each Fund with respect to a class may be by vote of (i) a majority of the Board members who are not interested persons of each Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Distribution Agreement, or (ii) a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the class of each Fund, as defined under the 1940 Act. All material amendments must be approved by the Board of Directors in the manner described above with respect to the continuation of the Agreement. The provisions concerning continuation, amendment and termination of a Distribution Agreement are on a series by series and class by class basis.
DWS-SDI bears all of its expenses of providing services pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, including the payment of any commissions. The Fund pays the cost for the prospectus and shareholder reports to be typeset and printed for existing shareholders, and DWS-SDI, as principal underwriter, pays for the printing and distribution of copies thereof used in connection with the offering of shares to prospective investors. DWS-SDI also pays for supplementary sales literature and advertising costs. As indicated under “Purchase and Redemption of Shares,” DWS-SDI retains the sales charge upon the purchase of shares and pays or allows concessions or discounts to firms for the sale of the Funds’ shares. DWS-SDI receives no compensation from the Funds as principal underwriter for Class A shares. DWS-SDI receives compensation from the Funds as principal underwriter for Class B and Class C shares.
Shareholder and administrative services are provided to each Fund on behalf of Class A, Class B and Class C shareholders under a Shareholder Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with DWS-SDI. The Services Agreement had an initial term ending September 30, 2002 and continues in effect from year to year so long as such continuance is approved for the Funds at least annually by a vote of the Board of the applicable Fund, including the Board members who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Services Agreement. The Services Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment and may be terminated at any time without penalty by a Fund or by DWS-SDI upon 60 days’ notice. Termination with respect to the Class A, B or C shares of a Fund may be by a vote of (i) the majority of the Board members of the Fund who are not interested persons of the Fund and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Services Agreement, or (ii) a “majority of the outstanding voting securities” of the Class A, B or C shares, as defined under the 1940 Act. The Services Agreement may not be amended for a class to increase materially the fee to be paid by the Fund without approval of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such class of the Fund, and all material amendments must in any event be approved by the Board of Directors in the manner described above with respect to the continuation of the Services Agreement.
32
Table of Contents
Under the Services Agreement, DWS-SDI may provide or appoint various broker-dealer firms and other service or administrative firms (“firms”) to provide information and services to investors in a Fund. Typically, DWS-SDI appoints firms that provide services and facilities for their customers or clients who are investors in a Fund. Firms appointed by DWS-SDI provide such office space and equipment, telephone facilities and personnel as is necessary or beneficial for providing information and services to their clients. Such services and assistance may include, but are not limited to, establishing and maintaining accounts and records, processing purchase and redemption transactions, answering routine inquiries regarding a Fund, providing assistance to clients in changing dividend and investment options, account designations and addresses and such other administrative services as may be agreed upon from time to time and permitted by applicable statute, rule or regulation.
DWS-SDI bears all of its expenses of providing those services pursuant to the Services Agreement, including the payment of a service fee to firms (as defined below). As indicated under the Rule 12b-1 Plan (as defined below), DWS-SDI receives compensation from the Funds for its services under the Services Agreement.
Rule 12b-1 Plans
Each Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (each a “Rule 12b-1 Plan”) that provides for fees payable as an expense of the Class B shares and Class C shares that are used by DWS-SDI to pay for distribution services for those classes. Pursuant to each Rule 12b-1 Plan, shareholder and administrative services are provided to the applicable Fund on behalf of its Class A, B and C shareholders under each Fund’s Services Agreement with DWS-SDI. Because 12b-1 fees are paid out of Fund assets on an ongoing basis, they will, over time, increase the cost of an investment and may cost more than other types of sales charges.
The Rule 12b-1 distribution plans for Class B and Class C shares provide alternative methods for paying sales charges and may help funds grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale. Rule 12b-1 service plans provide compensation to DWS-SDI or intermediaries for post-sales servicing. Since each Distribution Agreement provides for fees payable as an expense of the Class B shares and the Class C shares that are used by DWS-SDI to pay for distribution and services for those classes, the agreement is approved and reviewed separately for the Class B shares and the Class C shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates the manner in which an investment company may, directly or indirectly, bear the expenses of distributing its shares. The Distribution Agreements and Rule 12b-1 plans may not be amended to increase the fee to be paid by a Fund with respect to a class without approval by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of such class. Similarly, the Services Agreement is approved and reviewed separately for the Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares in accordance with Rule 12b-1.
If a Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms, the obligation of the applicable Fund to make payments to DWS-SDI pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan will cease and the Fund will not be required to make any payments past the termination date. Thus, there is no legal obligation for a Fund to pay any expenses incurred by DWS-SDI other than fees payable under a Rule 12b-1 Plan, if for any reason the Rule 12b-1 Plan is terminated in accordance with its terms. Future fees under the Plan may or may not be sufficient to reimburse DWS-SDI for its expenses incurred.
Class B and Class C Shares
Distribution Services. For its services under the Distribution Agreement, DWS-SDI receives a fee from each Fund under its Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to its Class B shares. This fee is accrued daily as an expense of Class B shares. DWS-SDI also receives any contingent deferred sales charges paid with respect to Class B shares. DWS-SDI currently compensates firms for sales of Class B shares at a commission rate of 3.75%.
For its services under the Distribution Agreement, DWS-SDI receives a fee from each Fund under its Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to Class C shares. This fee is accrued daily as an expense of Class C shares. DWS-SDI currently advances to firms the first year distribution fee at a rate of 0.75% of the purchase price of Class C shares. For periods after the first year, DWS-SDI currently pays firms for sales of Class C shares a distribution fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.75%
33
Table of Contents
of net assets attributable to Class C shares maintained and serviced by the firm. This fee continues until terminated by DWS-SDI or the applicable Fund. DWS-SDI also receives any contingent deferred sales charges paid with respect to Class C shares.
Class A, Class B and Class C Shares
Shareholder Services. For its services under the Services Agreement, DWS-SDI receives a shareholder services fee from each Fund under a Rule 12b-1 Plan, payable monthly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A, B and C shares of that Fund.
With respect to Class A Shares of a Fund, DWS-SDI pays each firm a service fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the net assets in Fund accounts that it maintains and services attributable to Class A Shares of a Fund, commencing with the month after investment. With respect to Class B and Class C Shares of a Fund, DWS-SDI currently advances to firms the first-year service fee at a rate of up to 0.25% of the purchase price of such shares. For periods after the first year, DWS-SDI currently intends to pay firms a service fee at a rate of up to 0.25% (calculated monthly and paid quarterly) of the net assets attributable to Class B and Class C shares of the Fund maintained and serviced by the firm. Firms to which service fees may be paid include affiliates of DWS-SDI. In addition DWS-SDI may, from time to time, pay certain firms from its own resources additional amounts for ongoing administrative services and assistance provided to their customers and clients who are shareholders of a Fund.
DWS-SDI also may provide some of the above services and may retain any portion of the fee under the Services Agreement not paid to firms to compensate itself for shareholder or administrative functions performed for a Fund. Currently, the shareholder services fee payable to DWS-SDI is payable at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of net assets based upon Fund assets in accounts for which a firm provides administrative services and at the annual rate of 0.15% of net assets based upon Fund assets in accounts for which there is no firm of record (other than DWS-SDI) listed on a Fund’s records. The effective shareholder services fee rate to be charged against all assets of each Fund while this procedure is in effect will depend upon the proportion of Fund assets that is held in accounts for which a firm of record provides shareholder services. The Board of each Fund, in its discretion, may approve basing the fee to DWS-SDI at the annual rate of 0.25% on all Fund assets in the future.
Prior to the implementation of the Rule 12b-1 Plan, the administrative service fees were paid by each Fund under a separate administrative services agreement.
Expenses of the Funds paid in connection with the Rule 12b-1 Plans for each class of shares are set forth below. A portion of the marketing and sales and operating expenses shown below could be considered overhead expenses.
34
Table of Contents
Compensation to Underwriter and Firms
for the calendar year ended December 31, 2005
Fund | Rule 12b-1 Fees Paid to DWS-SDI | 12b-1 Fees to DWS-SDI | Compensation Paid by DWS-SDI to Firms from Distribution Fee | Compensation Paid to Firms from | ||||||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | NA | $ | 12,005 | NA | $ | 70,407 | ||||||
Class B | $ | 64,031 | $ | 221 | $ | 3,960 | $ | 9,921 | ||||
Class C | $ | 40,262 | $ | 131 | $ | 36,352 | $ | 20,635 | ||||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | NA | $ | 908 | NA | $ | 14,813 | ||||||
Class B | $ | 15,809 | $ | 318 | $ | 174,874 | $ | 11,244 | ||||
Class C | $ | 26,105 | $ | 129 | $ | 8,856 | $ | 9,469 | ||||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | ||||||||||||
Class A | NA | $ | 2,655 | NA | $ | 15,105 | ||||||
Class B | $ | 29,330 | $ | 60 | $ | 4,209 | $ | 4,238 | ||||
Class C | $ | 21,342 | $ | 110 | $ | 15,161 | $ | 8,637 |
Other Distribution Expenses Paid by Underwriter
for the calendar year ended December 31, 2005
Fund | Advertising, Sales, Literature and Promotional Materials | Prospectus Printing | Marketing and Sales Expenses | Postage and Mailing | Interest Expense | ||||||||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | |||||||||||||||
Class A | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | ||||||||||
Class B | $ | 541 | $ | 30 | $ | 81 | $ | 42 | $ | 131,425 | |||||
Class C | $ | 1,390 | $ | 86 | $ | 154 | $ | 87 | $ | 0 | |||||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | |||||||||||||||
Class A | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | ||||||||||
Class B | $ | 10,420 | $ | 621 | $ | 419 | $ | 559 | $ | 3,221 | |||||
Class C | $ | 18,244 | $ | 1,099 | $ | 1,573 | $ | 1,126 | $ | 0 | |||||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | |||||||||||||||
Class A | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | ||||||||||
Class B | $ | 2,201 | $ | 143 | $ | 327 | $ | 174 | $ | 73,843 | |||||
Class C | $ | 4,118 | $ | 269 | $ | 501 | $ | 294 | $ | 0 |
35
Table of Contents
The following table shows the aggregate amount of underwriting commissions paid to DWS-SDI, the amount in commissions it paid out to brokers and the amount of underwriting commissions retained by DWS-SDI.
Fund | Fiscal Year | Aggregate Sales Commissions | Aggregate Commissions Paid to Unaffiliated Firms | Aggregate Commissions Paid to Affiliated Firms | Aggregate Commissions Retained by DWS-SDI | |||||||||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | 2005 | $ | 32,000 | $ | 7,000 | $ | 8,000 | $ | 17,000 | |||||
2004 | $ | 8,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 7,000 | ||||||
2003 | $ | 4,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | ||||||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 2005 | $ | 12,000 | $ | 7,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 4,000 | |||||
2004 | $ | 16,000 | $ | 9,000 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 4,000 | ||||||
2003 | $ | 4,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | ||||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | 2005 | $ | 12,000 | $ | 7,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 3,000 | |||||
2004 | $ | 3,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | ||||||
2003 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Financial Highlights of DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund included in the Funds’ prospectus, and the Financial Statements incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information, have been so included or incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 125 High Street, Boston MA 02110, independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP audits the financial statements of the Funds and provides other audit, tax and related services. Shareholders will receive annual audited financial statements and semi-annual unaudited financial statements.
Ropes & Gray LLP, One International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, serves as legal counsel to DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, and their Independent Directors.
DWS Scudder Fund Accounting Corporation (“DWS-SFAC”), Two International Place, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, a subsidiary of the Advisor, is responsible for determining net asset value per share and maintaining the portfolio and general accounting records for the Funds. Pursuant to Agreements between DWS-SFAC and the Funds, each Fund pays DWS-SFAC an annual fee equal to 0.065% of the first $150 million of average daily net assets, 0.040% of such assets in excess of $150 million and 0.020% of such assets in excess of $1 billion, plus holding and transaction charges.
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, the amount charged to DWS Europe Equity Fund by DWS-SFAC for accounting services aggregated $244,914, of which $20,377 is unpaid at October 31, 2005. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, the amount charged to DWS Latin America Equity Fund by DWS-SFAC for accounting services aggregated $245,200, of which $17,429 is unpaid at October 31, 2005. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, the amount charged to DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund by DWS-SFAC for accounting services aggregated $87,592, of which $5,471 is unpaid at October 31, 2005.
36
Table of Contents
For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, the amount charged to DWS Europe Equity Fund by DWS-SFAC for accounting services aggregated $114,300. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, the amount charged to DWS Latin America Equity Fund by DWS-SFAC for accounting services aggregated $107,988. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2004, the amount charged to DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund by DWS-SFAC for accounting services aggregated $49,947.
DWS-SFAC has retained SSB to provide certain administrative, fund accounting and record-keeping services to the Funds. The costs and expenses of such delegation are borne by DWS-SFAC, not by the Funds.
Custodian, Transfer Agent and Shareholder Service Agent
Each Fund employs Brown Brothers Harriman & Company (the “Custodian”), 40 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109, as Custodian. The Custodian has entered into agreements with foreign subcustodians approved by the Directors of the Corporation pursuant to Rule 17f-5 of the 1940 Act. Custodians’ fees may be reduced by certain earnings credits in favor of each Fund.
DWS Scudder Investments Service Company (SISC), 210 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105-1614, an affiliate of the Advisor, is the transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent for the Class A, B and C shares of DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund. Each Fund pays SISC an annual fee of $10.00 for each regular account (including Individual Retirement Accounts), $18.00 for each retirement account (excluding Individual Retirement Accounts), $5.00 in set-up charges for each new account (excluding Class A share accounts established in connection with a conversion from a Class B share account), $2.00 per account, as applicable, in connection with the contingent deferred sales charge, and an annual asset-based fee of 0.08%.
For fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, the amount charged by DWS-SISC to DWS Europe Equity Fund aggregated $121,946 for Class A shares (of which $0 was waived and $85,109 was unpaid at October 31, 2005); $43,954 for Class B shares (of which $12,675 was waived and $17,223 was unpaid at October 31, 2005); $15,476 for Class C shares (of which $1,989 was waived and $3,532 was unpaid at October 31, 2005); and $7,235 for Institutional Class shares (of which $0 was waived and $1,158 was unpaid at October 31, 2005). For fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, the amount charged by DWS-SISC to DWS Latin America Equity Fund aggregated $22,143 for Class A shares (of which $4,979 was unpaid at October 31, 2005); $3,600 for Class B shares (of which $498 was unpaid at October 31, 2005); $4,040 for Class C shares (of which $645 was unpaid at October 31, 2005); and $25,008 for Class M shares (of which $4,358 was unpaid at October 31, 2005). For fiscal year ended October 31, 2005, the amount charged by DWS-SISC to DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund aggregated $43,564 for Class A shares (of which $0 was waived and $7,143 was unpaid at October 31, 2005); $22,139 for Class B shares (of which $5,482 was waived and $3,417 was unpaid at October 31, 2005); and $10,106 for Class C shares (of which $0 was waived and $1,408 was unpaid at October 31, 2005).
For the period April 1, 2004 through October 31, 2004, the amount charged by DWS-SISC to DWS Europe Equity Fund aggregated $3,283 for Class A shares; $754 for Class B shares; and $943 for Class C shares. For the period April 1, 2004 through October 31, 2004, the amount charged by DWS-SISC to DWS Latin America Equity Fund aggregated $6,771 for Class A shares; $814 for Class B shares; $764 for Class C shares; and $13,130 for Class M shares. For the period April 1, 2004 through October 31, 2004, the amount charged by DWS-SISC to DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund aggregated $26,792 for Class A shares; $13,352 for Class B shares; and $5,812 for Class C shares.
Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between DWS-SISC and DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”), DWS-SISC has delegated certain transfer agent and dividend paying agent functions to DST. The costs and expenses of such delegation are born by DWS-SISC, not by the Funds.
Each Fund, or the Advisor (including any affiliate of the Advisor), or both, may pay unaffiliated third parties for providing recordkeeping and other administrative services with respect to accounts of participants in retirement plans or other beneficial owners of Fund shares whose interests are generally held in an omnibus account.
37
Table of Contents
The Advisor is generally responsible for placing the orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, including the allocation of brokerage. With respect to those funds for which a sub-investment advisor manages the fund’s investments, references in this section to the “Advisor” should be read to mean the Sub-Advisor.
The policy of the Advisor in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities for the funds is to seek best execution, taking into account such factors, among others, as price; commission (where applicable); the broker-dealer’s ability to ensure that securities will be delivered on settlement date; the willingness of the broker-dealer to commit its capital and purchase a thinly traded security for its own inventory; whether the broker-dealer specializes in block orders or large program trades; the broker-dealer’s knowledge of the market and the security; the broker-dealer’s ability to maintain confidentiality; the financial condition of the broker-dealer; and whether the broker-dealer has the infrastructure and operational capabilities to execute and settle the trade. The Advisor seeks to evaluate the overall reasonableness of brokerage commissions with commissions charged on comparable transactions and compares the brokerage commissions (if any) paid by the funds to reported commissions paid by others. The Advisor routinely reviews commission rates, execution and settlement services performed and makes internal and external comparisons.
Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on U.S. securities exchanges are subject to negotiation. Commission rates on transactions in equity securities on foreign securities exchanges are generally fixed. Purchases and sales of fixed-income securities and other over-the-counter securities are effected on a net basis, without the payment of brokerage commissions. Transactions in fixed income and other over-the-counter securities are generally placed by the Advisor with the principal market makers for these securities unless the Advisor reasonably believes more favorable results are available elsewhere. Transactions with dealers serving as market makers reflect the spread between the bid and asked prices. Purchases of underwritten issues will include an underwriting fee paid to the underwriter. Money market instruments are normally purchased in principal transactions directly from the issuer or from an underwriter or market maker.
It is likely that the broker-dealers selected based on the considerations described in this section will include firms that also sell shares of the funds to their customers. However, the Advisor does not consider sales of shares of the funds as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the funds and, accordingly, has implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent its traders from considering sales of shares of the funds as a factor in the selection of broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions for the funds.
The Advisor is permitted by Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), when placing portfolio transactions for a fund, to cause the fund to pay brokerage commissions in excess of that which another broker-dealer might charge for executing the same transaction in order to obtain research and brokerage services. The Advisor, however, does not as a matter of policy execute transactions with broker-dealers for the fund in order to obtain research from such broker-dealers that is prepared by third parties (i.e., “third party research”). However, the Advisor may from time to time, in reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, obtain proprietary research prepared by the executing broker-dealer in connection with a transaction or transactions through that broker-dealer (i.e., “proprietary research”). Consistent with the Advisor’s policy regarding best execution, where more than one broker is believed to be capable of providing best execution for a particular trade, the Advisor may take into consideration the receipt of proprietary research in selecting the broker-dealer to execute the trade. Proprietary research provided by broker-dealers may include, but is not limited to, information on the economy, industries, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, accounting and tax law interpretations, political developments, legal developments affecting portfolio securities, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance analysis and measurement and analysis of corporate responsibility issues. Proprietary research is typically received in the form of written reports, telephone contacts and personal meetings with security analysts, but may also be provided in the form of access to various computer software and associated hardware, and meetings arranged with corporate and industry representatives.
In reliance on Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act, the Advisor may also select broker-dealers and obtain from them brokerage services in the form of software and/or hardware that is used in connection with executing trades.
38
Table of Contents
Typically, this computer software and/or hardware is used by the Advisor to facilitate trading activity with those broker-dealers.
Proprietary research and brokerage services received from a broker-dealer chosen to execute a particular trade may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to clients other than the fund making the trade, and not all such information is used by the Advisor in connection with such fund. Conversely, such information provided to the Advisor by broker-dealers through which other clients of the Advisor effect securities transactions may be useful to the Advisor in providing services to the fund.
The Advisor will monitor regulatory developments and market practice in the use of client commissions to obtain research and brokerage services, whether proprietary or third party.
Investment decisions for each fund and for other investment accounts managed by the Advisor are made independently of each other in light of differing conditions. However, the same investment decision may be made for two or more of such accounts. In such cases, simultaneous transactions are inevitable. To the extent permitted by law, the Advisor may aggregate the securities to be sold or purchased for a fund with those to be sold or purchased for other accounts in executing transactions. Purchases or sales are then averaged as to price and commission and allocated as to amount in a manner deemed equitable to each account. While in some cases this practice could have a detrimental effect on the price paid or received by, or on the size of the position obtained or disposed of for, the fund, in other cases it is believed that the ability to engage in volume transactions will be beneficial to the fund.
Deutsche Bank AG or one of its affiliates (or in the case of a sub-adviser, the sub-adviser or one of its affiliates) may act as a broker for the funds and receive brokerage commissions or other transaction-related compensation from the funds in the purchase and sale of securities, options or futures contracts when, in the judgment of the Advisor, and in accordance with procedures approved by the funds’ Boards, the affiliated broker will be able to obtain a price and execution at least as favorable as those obtained from other qualified brokers and if, in the transaction, the affiliated broker charges the fund a rate consistent with that charged to comparable unaffiliated customers in similar transactions.
DWS Europe Equity Fund: For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, DWS Europe Equity Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $2,882,087, $1,669,940 and $1,050,810, respectively.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of October 31, 2005, the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of (in thousands) | ||
BNP Paribas | $ | 14,490 | |
Allianz AG | $ | 10,130 | |
Standard Charter PLC | $ | 4,670 |
DWS Latin America Equity Fund: For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, DWS Latin America Equity Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $1,368,936, $975,647 and $399,308, respectively.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of October 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
39
Table of Contents
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of (in thousands) | ||
Banco Bradesco SA | $ | 16,314 | |
Banco Santander Central Hispano SA | $ | 5,565 |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund: For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund paid aggregate brokerage commissions of $671,364, $541,906 and $529,889, respectively.
The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund has acquired during the most recent fiscal year. As of October 31, 2005 the Fund held the following securities of its regular brokers or dealers:
Name of Regular Broker or Dealer or Parent (Issuer) | Value of Securities Owned as of (in thousands) | ||
Hang Seng Bank Ltd. | $ | 1,618 | |
DBS Group Holdings Ltd. | $ | 1,430 | |
Hong Kong Exchange & Clearing Ltd. | $ | 1,323 | |
Korea Exchange Bank | $ | 1,310 | |
Sinopac Financial Holdings | $ | 780 |
Fund | Percentage of Commissions Paid to Affiliated Brokers | Percentage of Transactions Involving Commissions Paid to Affiliated Brokers | Dollar Amount of Commissions Paid to Brokers for Research Services | ||||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 | |||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 | |||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 0 | % | 0 | % | $ | 0 |
Portfolio Turnover
Portfolio turnover rate is defined by the SEC as the ratio of the lesser of sales or purchases to the monthly average value of securities owned during the year, excluding all securities whose remaining maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less.
Portfolio turnover rates for the two most recent fiscal periods are as follows:
2005 | 2004 | |||||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | 168 | % | 104 | % | ||
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | 73 | % | 62 | % | ||
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 100 | % | 80 | % |
Higher levels of activity by a Fund result in higher transaction costs and may also result in taxes on realized capital gains to be borne by the Fund’s shareholders. Purchases and sales are made whenever necessary, in the Advisor’s discretion, to meet a Fund’s objective.
40
Table of Contents
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES
General Information
Policies and procedures affecting transactions in Fund shares can be changed at any time without notice, subject to applicable law. Transactions may be contingent upon proper completion of application forms and other documents by shareholders and their receipt by a fund’s agents. Transaction delays in processing (and changing account features) due to circumstances within or beyond the control of a fund and its agents may occur. Shareholders (or their financial service firms) are responsible for all losses and fees resulting from bad checks, cancelled orders or the failure to consummate transactions effected pursuant to instructions reasonably believed to be genuine.
A distribution will be reinvested in shares of the same Fund and class if the distribution check is returned as undeliverable.
Orders will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value of a fund next determined after receipt in good order by DWS-SDI of the order accompanied by payment. However, orders received by dealers or other financial services firms prior to the determination of net asset value and received in good order by DWS-SDI prior to the close of its business day will be confirmed at a price based on the net asset value effective on that day (“trade date”).
Class M shares (DWS Latin America Equity Fund only). Class M shares received in connection with the acquisition of The Argentina Fund, Inc. (the “Acquisition”) are not subject to an initial sales charge. Class M shares were created for the sole purpose of the Acquisition and holders of Class M shares will not be able to acquire additional Class M shares, except upon reinvestment of dividends and distributions. However, former shareholders of The Argentina Fund, Inc. may purchase Class A, Class B or Class C shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, subject to an initial sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge, as applicable.
Certificates. Share certificates will not be issued. Share certificates now in a shareholder’s possession may be sent to the transfer agent for cancellation and book-entry credit to such shareholder’s account. Certain telephone and other procedures require book-entry holdings. Shareholders with outstanding certificates bear the risk of loss.
Use of Financial Services Firms. Investment dealers and other firms provide varying arrangements for their clients to purchase and redeem a Fund’s shares, including higher minimum investments, and may assess transaction or other fees. Firms may arrange with their clients for other investment or administrative services. Such firms may independently establish and charge additional amounts to their clients for such services. Firms also may hold the Fund’s shares in nominee or street name as agent for and on behalf of their customers. In such instances, a Fund’s transfer agent, DWS Scudder Investments Service Company (the “Transfer Agent”), will have no information with respect to or control over the accounts of specific shareholders. Such shareholders may obtain access to their accounts and information about their accounts only from their firm. Certain of these firms may receive compensation from a Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for record-keeping and other expenses relating to these nominee accounts. In addition, certain privileges with respect to the purchase and redemption of shares or the reinvestment of dividends may not be available through such firms. Some firms may participate in a program allowing them access to their clients’ accounts for servicing including, without limitation, transfers of registration and dividend payee changes; and may perform functions such as generation of confirmation statements and disbursement of cash dividends. Such firms, including affiliates of DWS-SDI, may receive compensation from the Fund through the Shareholder Service Agent for these services.
The Fund has authorized one or more financial service institutions, including certain members of the NASD other than the Distributor (“financial institutions”), to accept purchase and redemption orders for a Fund’s shares. Such financial institutions may also designate other parties, including plan administrator intermediaries, to accept purchase and redemption orders on a Fund’s behalf. Orders for purchases or redemptions will be deemed to have been received by a Fund when such financial institutions or, if applicable, their authorized designees accept the orders. Subject to the terms of the contract between a Fund and the financial institution, ordinarily orders will be priced at a Fund’s net asset value next computed after acceptance by such financial institution or its authorized designees and accepted by a Fund. Further, if purchases or redemptions of a Fund’s shares are arranged and settlement is made at an investor’s election through any other authorized financial institution, that financial
41
Table of Contents
institution may, at its discretion, charge a fee for that service. The Board of Directors and the Distributor, also the Funds’ principal underwriter, each has the right to limit the amount of purchases by, and to refuse to sell to, any person. The Directors and the Distributor may suspend or terminate the offering of shares of a Fund at any time for any reason.
Telephone and Electronic Transaction Procedures. Shareholders have various telephone, Internet, wire and other electronic privileges available. Each Fund or its agents may be liable for any losses, expenses or costs arising out of fraudulent or unauthorized instructions pursuant to these privileges unless the Fund or its agents reasonably believe, based upon reasonable verification procedures, that the instructions were genuine. Verification procedures may include recording instructions, requiring certain identifying information before acting upon instructions and sending written confirmations. During periods when it is difficult to contact the Shareholder Service Agent, it may be difficult to use telephone, wire and other privileges.
QuickBuy (not applicable to Class M shares) and QuickSell. QuickBuy and QuickSell permits the transfer of money via the Automated Clearing House System (minimum $50 and maximum $250,000) from or to a shareholder’s bank, savings and loan, or credit union account in connection with the purchase or redemption of Fund shares. Shares purchased by check or through QuickBuy and QuickSell or Direct Deposit may not be redeemed under this privilege until such Shares have been owned for at least 10 days. QuickBuy and QuickSell cannot be used with passbook savings accounts or for certain tax-deferred plans such as IRAs.
Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. The Shareholder Service Agent provides retirement plan services and documents and DWS-SDI can establish investor accounts in any of the following types of retirement plans:
• | Traditional, Roth and Education IRAs. This includes Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (“SIMPLE”), Simplified Employee Pension Plan (“SEP”) IRA accounts and prototype documents. |
• | 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts. This type of plan is available to employees of most non-profit organizations. |
• | Prototype money purchase pension and profit-sharing plans may be adopted by employers. |
Brochures describing these plans as well as model defined benefit plans, target benefit plans, 457 plans, 401(k) plans, simple 401(k) plans and materials for establishing them are available from the Shareholder Service Agent upon request. Additional fees and transaction policies and procedures may apply to such plans. Investors should consult with their own tax advisors before establishing a retirement plan.
Purchases
The Funds reserve the right to withdraw all or any part of the offering made by its prospectus and to reject purchase orders for any reason. Also, from time to time, the Funds may temporarily suspend the offering of any class of their shares to new investors. During the period of such suspension, persons who are already shareholders of such class of such Fund may be permitted to continue to purchase additional shares of such class and to have dividends reinvested.
The Funds reserve the right to reject new account applications without a correct certified Social Security or tax identification number. The Funds also reserve the right, following 30 days’ notice, to redeem all shares in accounts without a correct certified Social Security or tax identification number.
The Funds may waive the minimum for purchases by trustees, directors, officers or employees of a Trust or the Advisor and its affiliates.
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. For more information, please see “Policies You Should Know About” in the Funds’ prospectus.
42
Table of Contents
Class M shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund are not available for additional purchase, except through dividend reinvestment. Shareholders who wish to purchase additional shares must purchase Class A, Class B or Class C shares, which are offered in a separate prospectus. Purchase of Class A, Class B or Class C shares may be subject to an initial sales charge or contingent deferred sales charge depending upon the class of shares purchased.
Financial Services Firms’ Compensation. Banks and other financial services firms may provide administrative services related to order placement and payment to facilitate transactions in shares of the Fund for their clients, and DWS-SDI may pay them a transaction fee up to the level of the discount or commission allowable or payable to dealers.
DWS-SDI may, from time to time, pay or allow to firms a 1% commission on the amount of shares of the Fund sold under the following conditions: (i) the purchased shares are held in a DWS Scudder IRA account, (ii) the shares are purchased as a direct “roll over” of a distribution from a qualified retirement plan account maintained on the subaccount record keeping system maintained for Scudder-branded plans by ADP, Inc. under an alliance with DWS-SDI and its affiliates, (iii) the registered representative placing the trade is a member of ProStar, a group of persons designated by DWS-SDI in acknowledgment of their dedication to the employee benefit plan area; and (iv) the purchase is not otherwise subject to a commission.
In addition to the discounts or commissions described herein and in the prospectus, DWS-SDI, the Advisor, or its affiliates may pay or allow additional discounts, commissions or promotional incentives, in the form of cash, to firms that sell shares of the Fund. In some instances, such amounts may be offered only to certain firms that sell or are expected to sell during specified time periods certain minimum amounts of shares of the Fund, or other Funds underwritten by DWS-SDI.
Upon notice to all dealers, DWS-SDI may re-allow to dealers up to the full applicable Class A sales charge during periods and for transactions specified in such notice and such re-allowances may be based upon attainment of minimum sales levels. During periods when 90% or more of the sales charge is re-allowed, such dealers may be deemed to be underwriters as that term is defined in the 1933 Act.
DWS-SDI may at its discretion compensate investment dealers or other financial services firms in connection with the sale of Class A shares of the Fund in accordance with the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege and one of the five compensation schedules up to the following amounts:
Compensation Schedule #1: | Compensation Schedule #2: | Compensation Schedule #3: | ||||||||||
Retail Sales and DWS Scudder Flex Plan(1) | DWS Scudder Premium Plan(2) | DWS Scudder Mid-Market Plan(2) | ||||||||||
Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of | Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | |||||||
$1 million to $3 million (equity funds) | 1.00 | % | Under $15 million | 0.50 | % | Over $15 million | 0.25% - 0.50% | |||||
Over $3 million to $50 million | 0.50 | % | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Over $50 million | 0.25 | % | — | — | — | — |
43
Table of Contents
Compensation Schedule #4: | |||
DWS Scudder Choice Plan(3) | |||
Amount of Shares Sold | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value | ||
All amounts (equity funds) | 1.00 | % |
(1) | The commission schedule will be reset on a calendar year basis for sales of shares pursuant to the Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege to employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount recordkeeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with DWS-SDI and its affiliates. For purposes of determining the appropriate commission percentage to be applied to a particular sale under the foregoing schedule, DWS-SDI will consider the cumulative amount invested by the purchaser in a Fund and other Funds listed under “Special Features — Class A Shares — Combined Purchases,” including purchases pursuant to the “Combined Purchases,” “Letter of Intent” and “Cumulative Discount” features referred to above. |
(2) | Compensation Schedules 2 and 3 apply to employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the OmniPlus subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with DWS-SDI and its affiliates. The Compensation Schedule will be determined based on the value of the conversion assets. Conversion from “Compensation Schedule #2” to “Compensation Schedule #3” is not an automatic process. When a plan’s assets grow to exceed $15 million, the Plan Sponsor must contact their Client Relationship Manager to discuss a conversion to Compensation Schedule #3. |
(3) | DWS-SDI compensates UBS Financial in accordance with Premium Plan Compensation Schedule #2. |
DWS-SDI compensates firms for sales of Class B shares at the time of sale at a commission rate of up to 3.75% of the amount of Class B shares purchased. DWS-SDI is compensated by the Fund for services as distributor and principal underwriter for Class B shares. Except as provided below, for sales of Class C shares, DWS-SDI advances to firms the first year distribution fee at a rate of 0.75% of the purchase price of such shares, and, for periods after the first year, DWS-SDI currently pays firms for sales of Class C shares a distribution fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of net assets attributable to Class C shares maintained and serviced by the firm. For sales of Class C shares to employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the OmniPlus subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with DWS-SDI and its affiliates, DWS-SDI does not advance the first year distribution fee and for periods after the date of sale, DWS-SDI currently pays firms a distribution fee, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 0.75% based on net assets as of the last business day of the month attributable to Class C shares maintained and serviced by the firm. DWS-SDI is compensated by the Fund for services as distributor and principal underwriter for Class C shares.
Class A Purchases. The sales charge scale is applicable to purchases made at one time by any “purchaser” which includes: an individual; or such individual, his or her spouse and children under the age of 21; or a trustee or other fiduciary of a single trust estate or single fiduciary account; or an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) or (13) of the Code; or a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan whether or not qualified under Section 401 of the Code; or other organized group of persons whether incorporated or not, provided the organization has been in existence for at least six months and has some purpose other than the purchase of redeemable securities of a registered investment company at a discount. In order to qualify for a lower sales charge, all orders from an organized group will have to be placed through a single investment dealer or other firm and identified as originating from a qualifying purchaser.
The public offering price of Class A shares for purchasers choosing the initial sales charge alternative is the net asset value plus a sales charge, as set forth below.
44
Table of Contents
Sales Charge | |||||||||
Amount of Purchase | As a Percentage of Offering Price* | As a Percentage of Net Asset Value** | Allowed to Dealers as a Percentage of Offering Price | ||||||
Less than $50,000 | 5.75 | % | 6.10 | % | 5.20 | % | |||
$50,000 but less than $100,000 | 4.50 | 4.71 | 4.00 | ||||||
$100,000 but less than $250,000 | 3.50 | 3.63 | 3.00 | ||||||
$250,000 but less than $500,000 | 2.60 | 2.67 | 2.25 | ||||||
$500,000 but less than $1 million | 2.00 | 2.04 | 1.75 | ||||||
$1 million and over | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .00 | **** |
* | The Offering Price includes the sales charge. |
** | Rounded to the nearest one-hundredth percent. |
*** | Redemption of shares may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge as discussed below. |
**** | Commission is payable by DWS-SDI as discussed below. |
Class A Quantity Discounts. An investor or the investor’s dealer or other financial services firm must notify the Shareholder Service Agent or DWS-SDI whenever a quantity discount or reduced sales charge is applicable to a purchase. In order to qualify for a lower sales charge, all orders from an organized group will have to be placed through a single investment dealer or other firm and identified as originating from a qualifying purchaser.
Combined Purchases. The Fund’s Class A shares may be purchased at the rate applicable to the sales charge discount bracket attained by combining same day investments in Class A shares of any DWS Funds that bear a sales charge.
Letter of Intent. The reduced sales charges for Class A shares, as shown in the applicable prospectus, also apply to the aggregate amount of purchases of Class A shares of DWS Funds that bear a sales charge made by any purchaser within a 24-month period under a written Letter of Intent (“Letter”) provided by DWS-SDI. The Letter, which imposes no obligation to purchase or sell additional Class A shares, provides for a price adjustment depending upon the actual amount purchased within such period. The Letter provides that the first purchase following execution of the Letter must be at least 5% of the amount of the intended purchase, and that 5% of the amount of the intended purchase normally will be held in escrow in the form of shares pending completion of the intended purchase. If the total investments under the Letter are less than the intended amount and thereby qualify only for a higher sales charge than actually paid, the appropriate number of escrowed shares are redeemed and the proceeds used toward satisfaction of the obligation to pay the increased sales charge. The Letter for an employer-sponsored employee benefit plan maintained on the subaccount record keeping system available through the Shareholder Service Agent may have special provisions regarding payment of any increased sales charge resulting from a failure to complete the intended purchase under the Letter. A shareholder may include the value (at the maximum offering price, which is determined by adding the maximum applicable sales load charged to the net asset value) of all Class A shares of such DWS Funds held of record as of the initial purchase date under the Letter as an “accumulation credit” toward the completion of the Letter, but no price adjustment will be made on such shares.
Class A Cumulative Discount. Class A shares of a Fund may also be purchased at the rate applicable to the discount bracket attained by adding to the cost of shares being purchased, the value of all Class A shares of DWS Funds that bear a sales charge (computed at the maximum offering price at the time of the purchase for which the discount is applicable) already owned by the investor or his or her immediate family member.
For purposes of the Combined Purchases, Letter of Intent and Cumulative Discount features described above, employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the Flex subaccount record keeping system may include: (a) Money Market Funds as “DWS Funds”, (b) all classes of shares of any DWS Fund and (c) the value of any other plan investments, such as guaranteed investment contracts and employer stock, maintained on such subaccount record keeping system.
45
Table of Contents
Class A NAV Sales. Class A shares may be sold at net asset value to:
(a) | a current or former director or trustee of Deutsche or Scudder mutual funds; |
(b) | an employee (including the employee’s spouse or life partner and children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates or of a subadvisor to any fund in the Scudder family of funds or of a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of the Fund or service agents of the Funds; |
(c) | certain professionals who assist in the promotion of Scudder mutual funds pursuant to personal services contracts with SDI, for themselves or members of their families. SDI in its discretion may compensate financial services firms for sales of Class A shares under this privilege at a commission rate of 0.50% of the amount of Class A shares purchased; |
(d) | any trust, pension, profit-sharing or other benefit plan for only such persons listed under the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b); |
(e) | persons who purchase such shares through bank trust departments that process such trades through an automated, integrated mutual fund clearing program provided by a third party clearing firm; |
(f) | selected employees (including their spouses or life partners and children or stepchildren age 21 or younger) of banks and other financial services firms that provide administrative services related to order placement and payment to facilitate transactions in shares of the Fund for their clients pursuant to an agreement with SDI or one of its affiliates. Only those employees of such banks and other firms who as part of their usual duties provide services related to transactions in Fund shares qualify; |
(g) | unit investment trusts sponsored by Ranson & Associates, Inc. and unitholders of unit investment trusts sponsored by Ranson & Associates, Inc. or its predecessors through reinvestment programs described in the prospectuses of such trusts that have such programs; |
(h) | through certain investment advisors registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and other financial services firms acting solely as agent for their clients, that adhere to certain standards established by SDI, including a requirement that such shares be sold for the benefit of their clients participating in an investment advisory program or agency commission program under which such clients pay a fee to the investment advisor or other firm for portfolio management or agency brokerage services. Such shares are sold for investment purposes and on the condition that they will not be resold except through redemption or repurchase by the Fund; |
(i) | employer sponsored employee benefit plans using the Flex subaccount recordkeeping system (“Flex Plans”) made available through ADP under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates, established prior to October 1, 2003, provided that the Flex Plan is a participant-directed plan that has not less than 200 eligible employees; |
(j) | investors investing $1 million or more, either as a lump sum or through the “Combined Purchases,” “Letter of Intent” and “Cumulative Discount” features referred to above (collectively, the “Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege”). The Large Order NAV Purchase Privilege is not available if another net asset value purchase privilege is available; |
(k) | in connection with the acquisition of the assets of or merger or consolidation with another investment company, or to shareholders in connection with the investment or reinvestment of income and capital gain dividends, and under other circumstances deemed appropriate by SDI and consistent with regulatory requirements; and |
46
Table of Contents
(l) | in connection with a direct “roll over” of a distribution from a Flex Plan or from participants in employer sponsored employee benefit plans maintained on the OmniPlus subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with SDI and its affiliates into a Scudder IRA. |
Class A shares also may be purchased at net asset value in any amount by members of the plaintiff class in the proceeding known as Howard and Audrey Tabankin, et al. v. Kemper Short-Term Global Income Fund, et al., Case No. 93 C 5231 (N.D. IL). This privilege is generally non-transferable and continues for the lifetime of individual class members and for a ten-year period for non-individual class members. To make a purchase at net asset value under this privilege, the investor must, at the time of purchase, submit a written request that the purchase be processed at net asset value pursuant to this privilege specifically identifying the purchaser as a member of the “Tabankin Class.” Shares purchased under this privilege will be maintained in a separate account that includes only shares purchased under this privilege. For more details concerning this privilege, class members should refer to the Notice of (i) Proposed Settlement with Defendants; and (ii) Hearing to Determine Fairness of Proposed Settlement, dated August 31, 1995, issued in connection with the aforementioned court proceeding. For sales of Fund shares at net asset value pursuant to this privilege, SDI may in its discretion pay investment dealers and other financial services firms a concession, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of net assets attributable to such shares maintained and serviced by the firm. A firm becomes eligible for the concession based upon assets in accounts attributable to shares purchased under this privilege in the month after the month of purchase and the concession continues until terminated by SDI. The privilege of purchasing Class A shares of the Fund at net asset value under this privilege is not available if another net asset value purchase privilege also applies.
Class C Purchases. Class C shares of the Funds are offered at net asset value. No initial sales charge will be imposed, which will allow the full amount of the investor’s purchase payment to be invested in Class C shares for his or her account. Class C shares will continue to be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% (for shares sold within one year of purchase) and Rule 12b-1 fees, as described in each prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
DWS-SDI has established the following procedures regarding the purchase of Class A, Class B and Class C shares. Orders to purchase Class B shares of $100,000 or more and orders to purchase Class C shares of $500,000 or more will be declined with the exception of orders received from financial representatives acting for clients whose shares are held in an omnibus account and employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount record keeping system (“System”) maintained for Scudder-branded plans under an alliance with DWS-SDI and its affiliates (“Scudder DWS Flex Plans” and “DWS Scudder Choice Plans”).
The following provisions apply to DWS Scudder Flex Plans and DWS Scudder Choice Plans.
a. | Class B Share DWS Scudder Flex Plans. Class B shares have not been sold to DWS Scudder Flex Plans that were established on the System after October 1, 2003. Orders to purchase Class B shares for a DWS Scudder Flex Plan established on the System prior to October 1, 2003 that has regularly been purchasing Class B shares will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in DWS Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is $100,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for the first purchase after eligible plan assets reach the $100,000 threshold. A later decline in assets below the $100,000 threshold will not affect the plan’s ability to continue to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. |
b. | Class C Share DWS Scudder Flex Plans. Orders to purchase Class C shares for a DWS Scudder Flex Plan, regardless of when such plan was established on the System, will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in DWS Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is $1,000,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for the first purchase after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold. A later decline in assets below the $1,000,000 threshold will not affect the plan’s ability to continue to purchase Class A shares at net asset value. |
c. | Class C Share DWS Scudder Choice Plans. Orders to purchase Class C shares for a DWS Scudder Choice Plan that has been regularly purchasing Class C shares will be invested instead in Class A shares at net asset value when the combined subaccount value in DWS Funds or other eligible assets held by the plan is |
47
Table of Contents
$1,000,000 or more. This provision will be imposed for purchases made beginning in the month after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold. In addition, as a condition to being permitted to use the Choice Plan platform, plans must agree that, within one month after eligible plan assets reach the $1,000,000 threshold, all existing Class C shares held in the plan will be automatically converted to Class A shares.
The procedures described in (a), (b) and (c) above do not reflect in any way the suitability of a particular class of shares for a particular investor and should not be relied upon as such. A suitability determination must be made by investors with the assistance of their financial advisor.
Purchase of Institutional Class Shares. Information on how to buy Institutional Class shares is set forth in the section entitled “Buying and Selling Shares” in each Fund’s prospectus. The following supplements that information. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class shares is $1,000,000. The minimum initial investment requirement is waived for shareholders with existing accounts prior to August 13, 2004 who met the previous minimum investment eligibility requirement. There is no minimum subsequent investment requirement for the Institutional Class shares. This minimum amount may be changed at any time in management’s discretion.
Investors may invest in Institutional Class shares by setting up an account directly with a Fund’s transfer agent or through an authorized service agent. Investors who establish shareholder accounts directly with the Fund’s transfer agent should submit purchase and redemption orders as described in the prospectus. Additionally, each Fund has authorized brokers to accept purchase and redemption orders for Institutional Class shares, as well as Class A, B, C and R shares of the applicable Fund. Brokers, including authorized brokers of service organizations, are, in turn, authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on a Fund’s behalf. Investors who invest through brokers, service organizations or their designated intermediaries may be subject to minimums established by their broker, service organization or designated intermediary.
Investors who invest through authorized brokers, service organizations or their designated intermediaries should submit purchase and redemption orders directly to their broker, service organization or designated intermediary. The broker or intermediary may charge you a transaction fee. Each Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker, service organization or, if applicable, an authorized designee, accepts the order. Shares of a Fund may be purchased or redeemed on any Business Day at the net asset value next determined after receipt of the order, in good order, by a Fund’s transfer agent.
To sell shares in a retirement account, your request must be made in writing, except for exchanges to other eligible funds in the DWS Scudder family of funds, which can be requested by phone or in writing. For information on retirement distributions, contact your Service Agent or call DWS Scudder Investments Service Company at 1-800-621-1048. To sell shares by bank wire you will need to sign up for these services in advance when completing your account application.
A Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized broker, service organization or, if applicable, an authorized designee, accepts the order. Shares of a Fund may be purchased or redeemed on any Business Day at the net asset value next determined after receipt of the order, in good order, by DWS Scudder Investments Service Company. Investors who invest through authorized brokers, service organizations or their designated intermediaries should submit purchase and redemption orders directly to their broker, service organization or designated intermediary. The broker or intermediary may charge you a transaction fee.
To sell shares by bank wire you will need to sign up for these services in advance when completing your account application.
48
Table of Contents
Automatic Investment Plan. A shareholder may purchase additional shares of each Fund through an automatic investment program. With the Direct Deposit Purchase Plan (“Direct Deposit”), investments are made automatically (minimum $50 and maximum $250,000 for both initial and subsequent investments) from the shareholder’s account at a bank, savings and loan or credit union into the shareholder’s Fund account. Termination by a shareholder will become effective within thirty days after the Shareholder Service Agent has received the request. A Fund may immediately terminate a shareholder’s Direct Deposit in the event that any item is unpaid by the shareholder’s financial institution.
Payroll Investment Plans. A shareholder may purchase shares through Payroll Direct Deposit or Government Direct Deposit. Under these programs, all or a portion of a shareholder’s net pay or government check is invested each payment period. A shareholder may terminate participation in these programs by giving written notice to the shareholder’s employer or government agency, as appropriate. (A reasonable time to act is required.) A Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the employer or government agency making the payment or any financial institutions transmitting payments.
It is our policy to offer purchase privileges to current or former directors or trustees of the Deutsche or Scudder mutual funds, employees, their spouses or life partners and children or step-children age 21 or younger of Deutsche Bank or its affiliates or a sub-adviser to any fund in the DWS family of funds or a broker-dealer authorized to sell shares of the funds. Qualified individuals will generally be allowed to purchase shares in the class with the lowest expense ratio, usually the Institutional Class shares. If a fund does not offer Institutional Class shares, these individuals will be allowed to buy Class A shares at NAV. The funds also reserve the right to waive the minimum account balance requirement for employee and director accounts. Fees generally charged to IRA accounts will be charged to accounts of employees and directors.
Redemptions
Redemption fee. Each fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value, without regard to the effect of any contingent deferred sales charge; any contingent deferred sales charge is also assessed on the total redemption amount without regard to the assessment of the 2% redemption fee) on all fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to the fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last. The redemption fee is applicable to fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the fund. For this reason, the fund has undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the fund. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from a Fund’s.
General. A Fund may suspend the right of redemption or delay payment for more than seven days (a) during any period when the Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday closings or during any period in which trading on the Exchange is restricted, (b) during any period when an emergency exists as a result of which (i) disposal of the Fund’s investments is not reasonably practicable, or (ii) it is not reasonably practicable for a Fund to determine the value of its net assets, or (c) for such other periods as the SEC may by order permit for the protection of a Fund’s shareholders.
A request for repurchase (confirmed redemption) may be communicated by a shareholder through a financial services firm to DWS-SDI; firms must promptly submit orders to be effective.
Redemption requests must be unconditional. Redemption requests (and a stock power for certificated shares) must be duly endorsed by the account holder. As specified in the prospectus, signatures may need to be guaranteed by a
49
Table of Contents
commercial bank, trust company, savings and loan association, federal savings bank, member firm of a national securities exchange or other financial institution permitted by SEC rule. Additional documentation may be required, particularly from institutional and fiduciary account holders, such as corporations, custodians (e.g., under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act), executors, administrators, trustees or guardians.
If the proceeds of the redemption (prior to the imposition of any contingent deferred sales charge) are $100,000 or less and the proceeds are payable to the shareholder of record at the address of record, normally a telephone request or a written request by any one account holder without a signature guarantee is sufficient for redemptions by individual or joint account holders, and trust, executor and guardian account holders, provided the trustee, executor or guardian is named in the account registration. Other institutional account holders may exercise this special privilege of redeeming shares by telephone request or written request without signature guarantee subject to the same conditions as individual account holders, provided that this privilege has been pre-authorized by the institutional account holder by written instruction to the Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed. This privilege may not be used to redeem shares held in certificated form and may not be used if the shareholder’s account has had an address change within 15 days of the redemption request.
Wires. Delivery of the proceeds of a wire redemption of $250,000 or more may be delayed by a Fund for up to seven days if a Fund or the Shareholder Service Agent deems it appropriate under then-current market conditions. The ability to send wires is limited by the business hours and holidays of the firms involved. A Fund is not responsible for the efficiency of the federal wire system or the account holder’s financial services firm or bank. The account holder is responsible for any charges imposed by the account holder’s firm or bank. To change the designated account to receive wire redemption proceeds, send a written request to a Fund Shareholder Service Agent with signatures guaranteed as described above or contact the firm through which Fund shares were purchased.
Automatic Withdrawal Plan. An owner of $5,000 or more of a class of a Fund’s shares at the offering price (net asset value plus, in the case of Class A and Class C shares, the initial sales charge) may provide for the payment from the owner’s account of any requested dollar amount to be paid to the owner or a designated payee monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually. The $5,000 minimum account size is not applicable to IRAs. The minimum periodic payment is $50. The maximum annual rate at which shares subject to CDSC may be redeemed is 12% of the net asset value of the account. Shares are redeemed so that the payee should receive payment approximately on the first of the month. Investors using this Plan must reinvest Fund distributions.
The purchase of Class A shares while participating in a systematic withdrawal plan will ordinarily be disadvantageous to the investor because the investor will be paying a sales charge on the purchase of shares at the same time that the investor is redeeming shares upon which a sales charge may have already been paid. Therefore, a Fund will not knowingly permit additional investments of less than $2,000 if the investor is at the same time making systematic withdrawals.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (CDSC). The following example will illustrate the operation of the CDSC. Assume that an investor makes a single purchase of $10,000 of the Fund’s Class B shares and that 16 months later the value of the shares has grown by $1,000 through reinvested dividends and by an additional $1,000 of share appreciation to a total of $12,000. If the investor were then to redeem the entire $12,000 in share value, the CDSC would be payable only with respect to $10,000 because neither the $1,000 of reinvested dividends nor the $1,000 of share appreciation is subject to the charge. The charge would be at the rate of 3.00% ($300) because it was in the second year after the purchase was made.
The rate of the CDSC is determined by the length of the period of ownership. Investments are tracked on a monthly basis. The period of ownership for this purpose begins the first day of the month in which the order for the investment is received. For example, an investment made in March of the year of investment will be eligible for the second year’s charge if redeemed on or after March of the following year. In the event no specific order is requested when redeeming shares subject to a CDSC, the redemption will be made first from shares representing reinvested dividends and then from the earliest purchase of shares. DWS-SDI receives any CDSC directly. The charge will not be imposed upon redemption of reinvested dividends or share appreciation.
50
Table of Contents
The Class A CDSC will be waived in the event of:
(a) | redemptions by a participant-directed qualified retirement plan described in Code Section 401(a), a participant-directed non-qualified deferred compensation plan described in Code Section 457 or a participant-directed qualified retirement plan described in Code Section 403(b)(7) which is not sponsored by a K-12 school district; |
(b) | redemptions by employer-sponsored employee benefit plans using the subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP, Inc. under an alliance with DWS-SDI and its affiliates; |
(c) | redemption of shares of a shareholder (including a registered joint owner) who has died; |
(d) | redemption of shares of a shareholder (including a registered joint owner) who after purchase of the shares being redeemed becomes totally disabled (as evidenced by a determination by the federal Social Security Administration); |
(e) | redemptions under the Fund’s Automatic Withdrawal Plan at a maximum of 12% per year of the net asset value of the account; and |
(f) | redemptions of shares whose dealer of record at the time of the investment notifies DWS-SDI that the dealer waives the discretionary commission applicable to such Large Order NAV Purchase. |
The Class B CDSC will be waived for the circumstances set forth in items (c), (d) and (e) for Class A shares. In addition, this CDSC will be waived:
(g) | for redemptions made pursuant to any IRA systematic withdrawal based on the shareholder’s life expectancy including, but not limited to, substantially equal periodic payments described in Internal Revenue Code Section 72(t)(2)(A)(iv) prior to age 59 1/2; |
(h) | for redemptions to satisfy required minimum distributions after age 70 1/2 from an IRA account (with the maximum amount subject to this waiver being based only upon the shareholder’s DWS Scudder IRA accounts); and |
(i) | in connection with the following redemptions of shares held by employer sponsored employee benefit plans maintained on the subaccount record keeping system made available through ADP under an alliance with DWS-SDI and its affiliates: (1) to satisfy participant loan advances (note that loan repayments constitute new purchases for purposes of the CDSC and the conversion privilege), (2) in connection with retirement distributions (limited at any one time to 12% of the total value of plan assets invested in the Fund), (3) in connection with distributions qualifying under the hardship provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, (4) representing returns of excess contributions to such plans and (5) in connection with direct “roll over” distributions from a Flex Plan into a DWS Scudder IRA under the Class A net asset value purchase privilege. |
The Class C CDSC will be waived for the circumstances set forth in items (b),(c), (d) and (e) for Class A shares and for the circumstances set forth in items(g) and (h) for Class B shares. In addition, this CDSC will be waived for:
(j) | redemption of shares by an employer sponsored employee benefit plan that offers funds in addition to DWS Funds and whose dealer of record has waived the advance of the first year administrative service and distribution fees applicable to such shares and agrees to receive such fees quarterly, and |
(k) | redemption of shares purchased through a dealer-sponsored asset allocation program maintained on an omnibus record-keeping system provided the dealer of record had waived the advance of the first year administrative services and distribution fees applicable to such shares and has agreed to receive such fees quarterly. |
51
Table of Contents
In-kind Redemptions. Each Fund reserves the right to honor any request for redemption or repurchase by making payment in whole or in part in readily marketable securities. These securities will be chosen by the fund and valued as they are for purposes of computing a Fund’s net asset value. A shareholder may incur transaction expenses in converting these securities to cash.
Exchanges
Shareholders may request a taxable exchange of their shares for shares of the corresponding class of other DWS Funds without imposition of a sales charge, subject to the provisions below. For purposes of calculating any CDSC, amounts exchanged retain their original cost and purchase date.
Shares of money market funds that were acquired by purchase (not including shares acquired by dividend reinvestment) are subject to the applicable sales charge on exchange. Series of DWS Target Fund are available on exchange only during the Offering Period for such series as described in the applicable prospectus. Cash Management Fund Investment, Tax Free Money Fund Investment, New York Tax Free Money Fund Investment, Treasury Money Fund Investment, Money Market Fund Investment, Cash Management Fund Institutional, Cash Reserves Fund Institutional, Treasury Money Fund Institutional, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. -- Prime Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. -- Treasury Series, Cash Reserve Fund, Inc. -- Tax-Free Series, Tax-Exempt California Money Market Fund, Cash Account Trust, Investors Municipal Cash Fund and Investors Cash Trust are available on exchange but only through a financial services firm having a services agreement with DWS-SDI. All exchanges among money funds must meet applicable investor eligibility and investment requirements. Exchanges may only be made for funds that are available for sale in the shareholder’s state of residence. Currently, Tax-Exempt California Money Market Fund is available for sale only in California and the portfolios of Investors Municipal Cash Fund are available for sale in certain states.
Shareholders must obtain prospectuses of the Funds they are exchanging into from dealers, other firms or DWS-SDI.
Automatic Exchange Plan. The owner of $1,000 or more of any class of shares of a Scudder Fund may authorize the automatic exchange of a specified amount ($50 minimum) of such shares for shares of the same class of another such Scudder Fund. Exchanges will be made automatically until the shareholder or a Fund terminates the privilege. Exchanges are subject to the terms and conditions described above.
Multi-Class Conversions. For purposes of conversion to Class A shares, shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends and other distributions paid with respect to Class B shares in a shareholder’s Fund account will be converted to Class A shares on a pro rata basis.
DIVIDENDS
Each Fund intends to follow the practice of distributing substantially all of its investment company taxable income, which includes any excess of net realized short-term capital gains over net realized long-term capital losses. A Fund may follow the practice of distributing the entire excess of net realized long-term capital gains over net realized short-term capital losses. However, each Fund may retain all or part of such gain for reinvestment, after paying the related federal taxes for which shareholders may then be able to claim a credit against their federal tax liability. If a Fund does not distribute the amount of capital gain and/or ordinary income required to be distributed by an excise tax provision of the Code, a Fund may be subject to that excise tax. In certain circumstances, a Fund may determine that it is in the interest of shareholders to distribute less than the required amount.
Each Fund intends to distribute dividends from its net investment income excluding short-term capital gains annually in December. Each Fund intends to distribute net realized capital gains after utilization of capital loss carryforwards, if any, in December to prevent application of a federal excise tax. An additional distribution may be made, if necessary.
52
Table of Contents
Any dividends or capital gains distributions declared in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid during the following January will be treated by shareholders for federal income tax purposes as if received on December 31 of the calendar year declared.
The level of income dividends per share (as a percentage of net asset value) will be lower for Class B and Class C shares than for Class A shares primarily as a result of the distribution services fee applicable to Class B and Class C shares. Distributions of capital gains, if any, will be paid in the same amount for each class.
Income and capital gain dividends, if any, of a Fund will be credited to shareholder accounts in full and fractional shares of the same class of a Fund at net asset value on the reinvestment date, except that, upon written request to the Shareholder Service Agent, a shareholder may select one of the following options:
1. | To receive income and short-term capital gain dividends in cash and long-term capital gain dividends in shares of the same class at net asset value; or |
2. | To receive income and capital gain dividends in cash. |
Dividends will be reinvested in shares of the same class of a Fund unless shareholders indicate in writing that they wish to receive them in cash or in shares of other Scudder Funds with multiple classes of shares or Scudder Funds as provided in the prospectus. See “Combined Purchases” for a list of such other Funds. To use this privilege of investing dividends of a Fund in shares of another Scudder or Scudder Fund, shareholders must maintain a minimum account value of $1,000 in a Fund distributing the dividends. A Fund will reinvest dividend checks (and future dividends) in shares of that same Fund and class if checks are returned as undeliverable. Dividends and other distributions of a Fund in the aggregate amount of $10 or less are automatically reinvested in shares of a Fund unless the shareholder requests that such policy not be applied to the shareholder’s account.
If an investment is in the form of a retirement plan, all dividends and capital gains distributions must be reinvested into the shareholder’s account.
If a shareholder has elected to reinvest any dividends and/or other distributions, such distributions will be made in shares of that Fund and confirmations will be mailed to each shareholder. If a shareholder has chosen to receive cash, a check will be sent. Distributions of investment company taxable income and net realized capital gains are taxable, whether made in shares or cash.
Each distribution is accompanied by a brief explanation of the form and character of the distribution. The characterization of distributions on such correspondence may differ from the characterization for federal tax purposes. In January of each year each Fund issues to each shareholder a statement of the federal income tax status of all distributions in the prior calendar year.
Each Fund may at any time vary its foregoing dividend practices and, therefore, reserves the right from time to time to either distribute or retain for reinvestment such of its net investment income and its net short-term and long-term capital gains as its Board determines appropriate under the then current circumstances. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, a Fund may make additional distributions of net investment income or capital gain net income in order to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements contained in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
The following is intended to be a general summary of certain federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds. It is not intended as a complete discussion of all such consequences, nor does it purport to deal with all categories of investors. Investors are therefore advised to consult with their tax advisors before making an investment in a Fund.
53
Table of Contents
The Funds intend to elect to be treated and to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to qualify for the special tax treatment accorded regulated investment companies and their shareholders, each Fund must, among other things:
(a) derive at least 90% of its gross income for each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies;
(b) distribute with respect to each taxable year at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code without regard to the deduction for dividends paid--generally, taxable ordinary income and the excess, if any, of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses) and net tax-exempt interest income, for such year; and
(c) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other regulated investment companies, and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to a value not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested (x) in the securities (other than those of the U.S. Government or other regulated investment companies) of any one issuer or of two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same, similar, or related trades or businesses, or (y) in the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (as defined below).
In general, for purposes of the 90% gross income requirement described in paragraph (a) above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership which would be qualifying income if realized by the regulated investment company. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (defined as a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof and (ii) that derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income described in paragraph (a) above) is now treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to regulated investment companies, such rules do apply to a regulated investment company with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership. Finally, for purposes of paragraph (c) above, the term “outstanding voting securities of such issuer” will include the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership.
If a Fund qualifies as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment, the Fund will not be subject to federal income tax on income distributed in a timely manner to its shareholders in the form of dividends (including Capital Gain Dividends, as defined below).
If for any taxable year a Fund does not qualify for the special federal income tax treatment afforded regulated investment companies, all of its taxable income will be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates (without any deduction for distributions to its shareholders), and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. Such distributions would be eligible (i) to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of shareholders taxed as individuals and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
Each Fund is subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on amounts that have been retained rather than distributed, as required, under a prescribed formula. The formula requires payment to shareholders during a calendar year of distributions representing at least 98% of the Fund’s taxable ordinary income for the calendar year and at least 98% of the excess of its capital gains over capital losses realized during the one-year period ending October 31 (in most cases) of such year as well as amounts that were neither distributed nor taxed to the Fund during the prior calendar year. Although each Fund’s distribution policies should enable it to avoid excise tax liability, a Fund may retain (and be subject to income or excise tax on) a portion of its capital gain or other income if it appears to be in the interest of such Fund.
54
Table of Contents
Taxation of Fund Distributions. For federal income tax purposes, distributions of investment income are generally taxable as ordinary income. Taxes on distributions of capital gains are determined by how long the Funds owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned his or her shares. Distributions of net capital gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for more than one year and that are properly designated by the Fund as capital gain dividends (“Capital Gain Dividends”) will be taxable as long-term capital gains. Distributions of gains from the sale of investments that a Fund owned for one year or less will be taxable as ordinary income. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, distributions of investment income designated by a Fund as derived from “qualified dividend income” will be taxed in the hands of individuals at the rates applicable to long-term capital gain, provided holding period and other requirements are met at both the shareholder and Fund level.
Distributions are taxable to shareholders even if they are paid from income or gains earned by the Fund before a shareholder’s investment (and thus were included in the price the shareholder paid). Distributions are taxable whether shareholders receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares through the reinvestment privilege. A shareholder whose distributions are reinvested in shares will be treated as having received a dividend equal to the fair market value of the new shares issued to the shareholder. Any gain resulting from the sale or exchange of Fund shares generally will be taxable as capital gains.
Long-term capital gain rates applicable to individuals have been temporarily reduced — in general, to 15% with lower rates applying to taxpayers in the 10% and 15% rate brackets — for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009.
In order for some portion of the dividends received by a Fund shareholder to be “qualified dividend income,” the Fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to some portion of the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to each Fund’s shares. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income (at either the Fund or shareholder level) (1) if the dividend is received with respect to any share of stock held for fewer than 61 days during the 121-day period beginning on the date which is 60 days before the date on which such share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend (or, in the case of certain preferred stock, 91 days during the 181-day period beginning 90 days before such date), (2) to the extent that the recipient is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property, (3) if the recipient elects to have the dividend income treated as investment interest, or (4) if the dividend is received from a foreign corporation that is (a) not eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States (with the exception of dividends paid on stock of such a foreign corporation readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States) or (b) treated as a passive foreign investment company.
In general, distributions of investment income designated by each Fund as derived from qualified dividend income will be treated as qualified dividend income by a shareholder taxed as an individual provided the shareholder meets the holding period and other requirements described above with respect to the Fund’s shares. If the aggregate qualified dividends received by a Fund during any taxable year are 95% or more of its gross income, then 100% of the Fund’s dividends (other than dividends properly designated as Capital Gain Dividends) will be eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. For this purpose, the only gain included in the term “gross income” is the excess of net short-term capital gain over net long-term capital loss.
If dividends from domestic corporations constitute a substantial portion of a Fund’s gross income, a portion of the income distributions of such Fund may be eligible for the 70% deduction for dividends received by corporations. Shareholders will be informed of the portion of dividends which so qualify. The dividends-received deduction is reduced to the extent the shares of a Fund with respect to which the dividends are received are treated as debt-financed under federal income tax law and is eliminated if either those shares or the shares of a fund are deemed to have been held by the Fund or the shareholder, as the case may be, for less than 46 days during the 90-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend.
55
Table of Contents
Capital gains distributions may be reduced if Fund capital loss carryforwards are available. Any capital loss carryforwards to which a Fund is entitled are disclosed in a Fund’s annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders.
All distributions by a Fund result in a reduction in the net asset value of that Fund’s shares. Should a distribution reduce the net asset value below a shareholder’s cost basis, such distribution would nevertheless be taxable to the shareholder as ordinary income or capital gain as described above, even though, from an investment standpoint, it may constitute a partial return of capital. In particular, investors should be careful to consider the tax implications of buying shares just prior to a distribution. The price of shares purchased at that time includes the amount of the forthcoming distribution. Those purchasing just prior to a distribution will receive a partial return of capital upon the distribution, which will nevertheless be taxable to them.
Transactions in Fund Shares. The sale, exchange or redemption of shares of a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months. Otherwise, the gain or loss on the taxable disposition of shares of a Fund will be treated as short-term gain or loss. However, any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by the shareholder with respect to the shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares of the Fund will be disallowed if other substantially identical shares of a Fund are purchased within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.
Foreign Taxation. Foreign withholding or other foreign taxes with respect to income (possibly including, in some cases, capital gains) on certain foreign securities may occur. These taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of an applicable US income tax treaty. If more than 50% of the fund’s assets at year end consist of the securities of foreign corporations, the fund may elect to permit shareholders to claim a credit or deduction on their income tax returns for their pro rata portion the qualified taxes paid by the fund to foreign countries in respect of foreign securities the fund has held for at least the minimum period specified in the Code. In such a case, shareholders will include in gross income from foreign sources their pro rata shares of such taxes. A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, as a result of which a shareholder may not get a full credit or deduction for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes.
Taxation of Certain Investments. Equity investments by a Fund in certain “passive foreign investment companies” (“PFICs”) could potentially subject the Fund to a US federal income tax (including interest charges) on distributions received from the company or on proceeds received from the disposition of shares in the company, which tax cannot be eliminated by making distributions to Fund shareholders. However, such Fund may elect to avoid the imposition of that tax. For example, the Fund may elect to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” (a “QEF election”), in which case the Fund would be required to include its share of the company’s income and net capital gains annually, regardless of whether it receives any distribution from the company. Such Fund also may make an election to mark the gains (and to a limited extent losses) in such holdings “to the market” as though it had sold and repurchased its holdings in those PFICs on the last day of the Fund’s taxable year. Such gains and losses are treated as ordinary income and loss. The QEF and mark-to-market elections may accelerate the recognition of income (without the receipt of cash) and increase the amount required to be distributed by the Fund to avoid taxation. Making either of these elections therefore may require such Fund to liquidate other investments (including when it is not advantageous to do so) to meet its distribution requirement, which also may accelerate the recognition of gain and affect the Fund’s total return. Dividends paid by PFICs will not be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividend income.”
A Fund’s use of options, futures contracts, forward contracts (to the extent permitted) and certain other Strategic Transactions will be subject to special tax rules (including mark-to-market, constructive sale, straddle, wash sale, short sale and other rules), the effect of which may be to accelerate the Fund’s income, defer losses, cause adjustments in the holding periods of portfolio securities, convert
56
Table of Contents
capital gains into ordinary income and convert short-term capital losses into long-term capital losses. These rules could therefore affect the amount, timing and character of distributions to investors.
Certain of the Fund’s hedging activities (including transactions, if any, in foreign currencies or foreign currency-denominated instruments) are likely to produce a difference between its book income and its taxable income. If the Fund’s book income exceeds its taxable income, the distribution (if any) of such excess will be treated as (i) a dividend to the extent of the Fund’s remaining earnings and profits (including earnings and profits arising from tax-exempt income), (ii) thereafter as a return of capital to the extent of the recipient’s basis in the shares, and (iii) thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset .If the Fund’s book income is less than its taxable income, the Fund could be required to make distributions exceeding book income to qualify as a regulated investment company that is accorded special tax treatment.
A Fund’s investment in zero coupon bonds and other debt obligations having original issue discount may cause the Fund to recognize taxable income in excess of any cash received from the investment. A portion of the difference between the issue price of zero coupon securities and their face value (“original issue discount”) is considered to be income to the Fund each year, even though the Fund will not receive cash interest payments from these securities. This original issue discount imputed income will comprise a part of the investment company taxable income of the Fund, which must be distributed to shareholders in order to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a regulated investment company and to avoid federal income tax at the Fund’s level.
In addition, if a Fund invests in certain high yield original issue discount obligations issued by corporations (including tax-exempt obligations), a portion of the original issue discount accruing on the obligation may be treated as taxable dividend income. In such event, dividends of investment company taxable income received from the Fund by its shareholders, to the extent attributable to such portion of accrued original issue discount, would be taxable. Any such dividends received by the Fund’s corporate shareholders may be eligible for the deduction for dividends received by corporations.
Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below its redemption value (or its adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount). Absent an election to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income (instead of capital gain) to the extent of accrued market discount.
Withholding and Other Tax Considerations. Under the backup withholding provisions of the Code, redemption proceeds as well as distributions may be subject to federal income tax withholding for certain shareholders, including those who fail to furnish a Fund with their taxpayer identification numbers and certifications as to their tax status.
Non-U.S. Shareholders. In general, dividends (other than Capital Gain Dividends) paid by each Fund to a shareholder that is not a “U.S. person” within the meaning of the Code (such shareholder, a “foreign person”) are subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) even if they are funded by income or gains (such as portfolio interest, short-term capital gains, or foreign-source dividend and interest income) that, if paid to a foreign person directly, would not be subject to withholding. However, before January 1, 2008, each Fund will not be required to withhold any amounts (i) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to a foreign person (w) that has not provided a satisfactory statement that the beneficial owner is not a U.S. person, (x) to the extent that the dividend is attributable to certain interest on an obligation if the foreign person is the issuer or is a 10% shareholder of the issuer, (y) that is within certain foreign countries that have inadequate information exchange with the United States, or (z) to the extent the dividend is attributable to interest paid by a person that is a related person of the foreign person and the foreign person is a controlled foreign corporation) from U.S.-source interest income that would not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if earned directly by an individual foreign person, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by each Fund, and (ii) with respect to distributions (other than distributions to an individual foreign person who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the distribution) of net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, to the extent such distributions are properly designated by the Fund. The Funds intend to designate distributions as interest-related dividends or as short-term capital gain dividends.
57
Table of Contents
If a beneficial holder who is a foreign person has a trade or business in the United States, and the dividends are effectively connected with the conduct by the beneficial holder of a trade or business in the United States, the dividend will be subject to U.S. federal net income taxation at regular income tax rates.
Recent legislation modifies the tax treatment of distributions from each Fund that are paid to a foreign person and are attributable to gain from “U.S. real property interests” (“USRPIs”), which the Code defines to include direct holdings of U.S. real property and interests (other than solely as a creditor) in “U.S. real property holding corporations” such as REITs. The Code deems any corporation that holds (or held during the previous five-year period) USRPIs with a fair market value equal to 50% or more of the fair market value of the corporation’s U.S. and foreign real property assets and other assets used or held for use in a trade or business to be a U.S. real property holding corporation; however, if any class of stock of a corporation is traded on an established securities market, stock of such class shall be treated as a USRPI only in the case of a person who holds more than 5% of such class of stock at any time during the previous five-year period. For dividends paid or deemed paid until January 1, 2008, distributions to foreign persons attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs will give rise to an obligation for those foreign persons to file a U.S. tax return and pay tax, and may well be subject to withholding under future regulations.
Under U.S. federal tax law, a beneficial holder of shares who is a foreign person is not, in general, subject to U.S. federal income tax on gains (and is not allowed a deduction for losses) realized on the sale of shares of a Fund or on Capital Gain Dividends unless (i) such gain or Capital Gain Dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business carried on by such holder within the United States, (ii) in the case of an individual holder, the holder is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the year of the sale or Capital Gain Dividend and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) the shares constitute USRPIs or the Capital Gain Dividends are paid or deemed paid before January 1, 2008 and are attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of USRPIs. Effective until January 1, 2008, if a Fund is a U.S. real property holding corporation (as described above) the Fund’s shares will nevertheless not constitute USRPIs if the Fund is a “domestically controlled qualified investment entity,” which is defined to include a RIC that, at all times during the shorter of the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period during which the RIC was in existence, had less than 50 percent in value of its stock held directly or indirectly by foreign persons.
Shareholders of a Fund may be subject to state and local taxes on distributions received from the Fund and on redemptions of a Fund’s shares.
Special tax rules apply to investments though defined contribution plans and other tax-qualified plans. Shareholders should consult their tax adviser to determine the suitability of shares of a fund as an investment through such plans and the precise effect of and investment on their particular tax situation.
Under recently promulgated Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to the Fund’s shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the Internal Revenue Service a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a regulated investment company are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all regulated investment companies. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
The net asset value of shares of each Fund is computed as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) on each day the Exchange is open for trading (the “Value Time”). The Exchange is scheduled to be closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and on the preceding Friday or subsequent Monday when one of these holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, respectively. Net asset value per share is determined separately for each class of shares by dividing the value of the total assets of the
58
Table of Contents
Fund attributable to the shares of that class, less all liabilities attributable to that class, by the total number of shares of that class outstanding. The net asset value may be lower for certain classes of the Fund because of higher expenses borne by these classes.
An equity security is valued at its most recent sale price on the security’s primary exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. Lacking any sales, the security is valued at the calculated mean between the most recent bid quotation and the most recent asked quotation (the “Calculated Mean”) on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the security is valued at the most recent bid quotation on such exchange or OTC market as of the Value Time. In the case of certain foreign exchanges or OTC markets, the closing price reported by the exchange or OTC market (which may sometimes be referred to as the “official close” or the “official closing price” or other similar term) will be considered the most recent sale price.
Debt securities are valued as follows. Money market instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of 60 days or less, maturing at par, are valued at amortized cost. Other money market instruments are valued based on information obtained from an approved pricing agent or, if such information is not readily available, by using matrix pricing techniques (formula driven calculations based primarily on current market yields). Bank loans are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the mean of the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices, as applicable, based on quotations or evaluated prices obtained from one or more broker-dealers. Privately placed debt securities, other than Rule 144A debt securities, initially are valued at cost and thereafter based on all relevant factors including type of security, size of holding and restrictions on disposition. Municipal debt securities are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent (which are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices), if available, and otherwise at the average of the means based on the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated prices obtained from two broker-dealers. Other debt securities are valued at prices supplied by an approved pricing agent, if available, and otherwise at the most recent bid quotation or evaluated price, as applicable, obtained from one or more broker-dealers. If it is not possible to value a particular debt security pursuant to the above methods, the security is valued on the basis of factors including (but not limited to) maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency denomination, and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded.
An exchange-traded option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments is valued at its most recent sale price on the relevant exchange. Lacking any sales, the option contract is valued at the Calculated Mean. If it is not possible to determine the Calculated Mean, the option contract is valued at the most recent bid quotation in the case of a purchased option contract or the most recent asked quotation in the case of a written option contract, in each case as of the Value Time. An option contract on securities, currencies and other financial instruments traded in the OTC market is valued on the Value Date at the evaluated price provided by the broker-dealer with which it was traded. Futures contracts (and options thereon) are valued at the most recent settlement price, if available on the exchange on which they are traded most extensively. With the exception of stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement times are prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. For stock index futures contracts which trade on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, closing settlement prices are normally available at approximately 4:20 Eastern time. If no settlement price is available, the last traded price on such exchange will be used.
If market quotations for portfolio assets are not readily available or the value of a portfolio asset as determined in accordance with Board approved procedures does not represent the fair market value of the portfolio asset, the value of the portfolio asset is taken to be an amount which, in the opinion of the Fund’s Pricing Committee (or, in some cases, the Board’s Valuation Committee), represents fair market value. The value of other portfolio holdings owned by the Fund is determined in a manner which is intended to fairly reflect the fair market value of the asset on the valuation date, based on valuation procedures adopted by the Fund’s Board and overseen primarily by the Fund’s Pricing Committee.
59
Table of Contents
DWS International Fund, Inc.
The following table presents certain information regarding the Directors and Officers of the Corporation as of March 1, 2006. Each individual’s year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Director has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity, and (ii) the address of each Director is c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each Officer is Two International Place, Boston, MA 02110. The term of office for each Director is until the next meeting of shareholders called for the purpose of electing Directors and until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed as provided in the governing documents of the Corporation. Because the Funds do not hold annual meetings of shareholders, each Director will hold office for an indeterminate period. The Directors of the Corporation may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex.
The following individuals hold the same position with the Funds and the Corporation.
Independent Directors
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946) Chairman since 2004 and Director, 1987-present | President, Driscoll Associates (consulting firm); Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; formerly, Partner, Palmer & Dodge (1988-1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene's (1978-1988). Directorships: Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley College; Board of Governors, Investment Company Institute; Member, Executive Committee of the Independent Directors Council of the Investment Company Institute, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization); Director, DWS Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), DWS Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005) | 43 | ||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. (1943) Director, 1990-present | President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Becton Dickinson and Company (medical technology company); Belo Corporation (media company); Concord Academy; Boston Museum of Science; Public Radio International; DWS Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2005), DWS Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2005). Former Directorships: American Public Television; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service | 43 | ||
Keith R. Fox (1954) Director, 1996-present | Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (private equity funds). Directorships: Progressive Holding Corporation (kitchen importer and distributor); Cloverleaf Transportation Inc. (trucking); Natural History, Inc. (magazine publisher); Box Top Media Inc. (advertising); DWS Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since October 2005), DWS Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since October 2005) | 43 |
60
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Kenneth C. Froewiss (1945) Director 2005-present | Clinical Professor of Finance, NYU Stern School of Business; Director, DWS Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since 2001), DWS Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since 2004), Scudder New Asia Fund, Inc. (since 1999), The Brazil Fund, Inc. (since 2000) and The Korea Fund, Inc. (since 2000); Member, Finance Committee, Association for Asian Studies (2002-present); Director, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group (US) (2004-present); prior thereto, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan (investment banking firm) (until 1996) | 46 | ||
Jean Gleason Stromberg (1943) Director, 1999-present | Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997-2001); Director, US Government Accountability Office (1996-1997); Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978-1996). Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Service Source, Inc.; DWS Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since October 2005), DWS Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since October 2005); Former Directorships: Mutual Fund Directors Forum (2002-2004), American Bar Retirement Association (funding vehicle for retirement plans) (1987-1990 and 1994-1996) | 43 | ||
Carl W. Vogt (1936) Director, 2002-present | Senior Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski, L.L.P (law firm); formerly, President (interim) of Williams College (1999-2000); President, certain funds in the Deutsche Asset Management Family of Funds (formerly, Flag Investors Family of Funds) (registered investment companies) (1999-2000). Directorships: Yellow Corporation (trucking); American Science & Engineering (x-ray detection equipment); ISI Family of Funds (registered investment companies; 4 funds overseen); National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak); formerly, Chairman and Member, National Transportation Safety Board; DWS Global High Income Fund, Inc. (since October 2005), DWS Global Commodities Stock Fund, Inc. (since October 2005) | 43 |
Officers(2) |
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | ||
Vincent J. Esposito(4) (1956) President, 2005-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2003); President and Chief Executive Officer of The Central Europe and Russia Fund, Inc., The European Equity Fund, Inc., The New Germany Fund, Inc. (since 2003) (registered investment companies); Vice Chairman and Director of The Brazil Fund, Inc. (2004-present); formerly, Managing Director, Putnam Investments (1991-2002) | n/a |
61
Table of Contents
Name, Year of Birth, Position(s) Held with the Corporation and Length of Time Served(1) | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years and Other Directorships Held | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | ||
John Millette (1962) Vice President and Secretary, 1999-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Paul H. Schubert(4) (1963) Chief Financial Officer, 2004-present Treasurer, since 2005 | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since July 2004); formerly, Executive Director, Head of Mutual Fund Services and Treasurer for UBS Family of Funds (1998-2004); Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Finance at UBS Global Asset Management (1994-1998) | n/a | ||
Patricia DeFilippis(4) (1963) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management (since June 2005); Counsel, New York Life Investment Management LLC (2003-2005); legal associate, Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (1998-2003) | n/a | ||
Elisa D. Metzger(4) (1962) Assistant Secretary, 2005-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since September 2005); Counsel, Morrison and Foerster LLP (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Caroline Pearson (1962) Assistant Secretary, 1997-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Scott M. McHugh (1971) Assistant Treasurer, 2005-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
Kathleen Sullivan D'Eramo (1957) Assistant Treasurer, 2003-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management | n/a | ||
John Robbins(4) (1966) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2005-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (since 2005); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer for GE Asset Management (1999-2005) | n/a | ||
Philip Gallo(4) (1962) Chief Compliance Officer, 2004-present | Managing Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (2003-present); formerly, Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management Legal (1994-2003) | n/a | ||
A. Thomas Smith(4) (1956) Managing Chief Legal Officer, 2005-present | Director(3), Deutsche Asset Management (2004-present); formerly, General Counsel, Morgan Stanley and Van Kampen and Investments (1999-2004); Vice President and Associate General Counsel, New York Life Insurance Company (1994-1999); senior attorney, The Dreyfus Corporation (1991-1993); senior attorney, Willkie Farr & Gallagher (1989-1991); staff attorney, US Securities & Exchange Commission and the Illinois Securities Department (1986-1989) | n/a |
(1) | Length of time served represents the date that each Director was first elected to the common board of Directors which oversees a number of investment companies, including the Funds, managed by the Advisor. For the officers of the Corporation, the length of time served represents the date that each officer was first elected to serve as an officer of any fund overseen by the aforementioned common board of Directors. |
(2) | As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Funds. |
(3) | Executive title, not a board directorship. |
(4) | Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. |
62
Table of Contents
Officer’s Role with Principal Underwriter: DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc.
Vincent J. Esposito: | Director, Chairman of the Board, CEO and Vice President | |
Paul H. Schubert: | Vice President | |
Caroline Pearson: | Secretary |
Directors’ Responsibilities. The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to represent the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and to provide oversight of the management of the Fund. Currently, six of the Board’s members are “Independent Directors;” that is, they are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Corporation or the Advisor.
The Directors meet multiple times during the year to review the investment performance of the Fund and other operational matters, including policies and procedures designed to assure compliance with regulatory and other requirements. In 2005, the Directors conducted over 55 meetings to deal with fund issues (including regular and special board and committee meetings). These meetings were held over the course of 17 different days. In addition, various Directors participated as members of the Board’s Valuation Committee throughout the year. Furthermore, the Independent Directors review the fees paid to the Advisor and its affiliates for investment advisory services and other administrative and shareholder services. The Directors have adopted specific policies and guidelines that, among other things, seek to further enhance the effectiveness of the Independent Directors in performing their duties. Many of these are similar to those suggested in the Investment Company Institute’s 1999 Report of the Advisory Group on Best Practices for Fund Directors. For example, the Independent Directors select independent legal counsel to work with them in reviewing fees, advisory and other contracts and overseeing fund matters. The Directors are also assisted in this regard by the Fund’s independent public accountants and other independent experts retained from time to time for this purpose. The Independent Directors regularly meet privately with their counsel and other advisors. In addition, the Independent Directors from time to time have appointed task forces and subcommittees from their members to focus on particular matters such as investment, accounting and shareholders servicing issues.
Board Committees. The Board oversees a number of investment companies managed by the Advisor. Information shown below represents meetings held on behalf of all such funds. The common Board has the following standing committees:
Audit Committee: The Audit Committee makes recommendations regarding the selection of independent registered public accounting firms for the Fund, reviews the independence of such firm, reviews the scope of audit and internal controls, considers and reports to the Board on matters relating to the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting practices, and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary or appropriate. The Audit Committee receives annual representations from the independent registered public accounting firm as to their independence. The members of the Audit Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Audit Committee held six meetings during the calendar year 2005.
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee: The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (i) selects and nominates candidates to serve as Independent Directors*; (ii) oversees all other fund governance-related matters, including Board compensation practices, retirement policies, self-evaluations of effectiveness and allocations of assignments and functions of committees of the Board. The members of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee (previously known as the Committee on Independent Directors) held five meetings during the calendar year 2005.
Valuation Committee: The Valuation Committee oversees fund valuation matters, reviews Valuation Procedures adopted by the Board, determines fair value of the Fund’s securities as needed in accordance with the Valuation Procedures when actual market values are unavailable and performs such other tasks as the full Board deems necessary. The members of the Valuation Committee are Keith R. Fox (Chair), Kenneth C. Froewiss and Henry P. Becton, Jr. (alternate). The Valuation Committee held six meetings for each of the following funds: DWS Europe Equity Fund and DWS Latin America Equity Fund; and the Valuation Committee held 12 meetings for the following fund: DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund.
63
Table of Contents
Investment Oversight Committee: The Board has established two Investment Oversight Committees, one focusing on funds primarily investing in equity securities (the “Equity Oversight Committee”) and one focusing on funds primarily investing in fixed income securities (the “Fixed Income Oversight Committee”). These Committees meet regularly with fund portfolio managers and other investment personnel to review the relevant funds’ investment strategies and investment performance. The members of the Equity Oversight Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr. (Chair) and Carl W. Vogt. The members of the Fixed Income Oversight Committee are Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox, Kenneth C. Froewiss and Jean Gleason Stromberg (Chair). Each Investment Oversight Committee held six meetings during the calendar year 2005.
Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee: The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee oversees (i) the quality, costs and types of shareholder services provided to the Funds and their shareholders, and (ii) the distribution-related services provided to the Fund and their shareholders. The members of the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee are Carl W. Vogt (Chair) and Jean Gleason Stromberg. The Marketing/Shareholder Service Committee (previously known as the Shareholder Servicing and Distribution Committee) held six meetings during the calendar year 2005.
Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee: The Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee oversees (i) the significant legal affairs of the Fund, including the handling of pending or threatened litigation or regulatory action involving the Fund, and (ii) general compliance matters relating to the Fund. The members of the Legal/Regulatory/Compliance Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Jean Gleason Stromberg and Carl Vogt (Chair). This committee met six times in 2005.
Expense/Operations Committee: The Expense/Operations Committee (i) monitors the Fund’s total operating expense levels, (ii) oversees the provision of administrative services to the Funds, including the Fund’s custody, fund accounting and insurance arrangements, and (iii) reviews the Fund’s investment advisers’ brokerage practices, including the implementation of related policies. The members of the Expense/Operations Committee are Henry P. Becton, Jr., Dawn-Marie Driscoll, Keith R. Fox (Chair) and Kenneth C. Froewiss. The Expense/Operations Committee held six meetings during the calendar year 2005.
* | 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 33904. |
Remuneration. Each Independent Director receives compensation from the Fund for his or her services, which includes an annual retainer and an attendance fee for each meeting attended. No additional compensation is paid to any Independent Director for travel time to meetings, attendance at directors’ educational seminars or conferences, service on industry or association committees, participation as speakers at directors’ conferences or service on special director task forces or subcommittees. Independent Directors do not receive any employee benefits such as pension or retirement benefits or health insurance.
Members of the Board of Directors who are officers, directors, employees or stockholders of the Advisor or its affiliates receive no direct compensation from the Fund, although they are compensated as employees of the Advisor, or its affiliates, and as a result may be deemed to participate in fees paid by the Fund. The following table shows compensation received by each Director from the Fund and aggregate compensation from all of the funds in the fund complex during the calendar year 2005.
Name of Director | Compensation from DWS Europe Equity Fund | Compensation from DWS Latin America Equity Fund | Compensation from DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | Pension or Fund Expenses | Total Compensation Paid to Director from the Fund Complex (2)(3)(4) | ||||||||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $ | 1,947 | $ | 1,948 | $ | 859 | $ | 0 | $ | 164,000 | |||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll(1) | $ | 2,330 | $ | 2,393 | $ | 958 | $ | 0 | $ | 203,829 |
64
Table of Contents
Name of Director | Compensation from DWS Europe Equity Fund | Compensation from DWS Latin America Equity Fund | Compensation from DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | Pension or Fund Expenses | Total Compensation Paid to Director from the Fund Complex (2)(3)(4) | ||||||||||
Keith R. Fox | $ | 2,141 | $ | 2,198 | $ | 908 | $ | 0 | $ | 184,829 | |||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss(5) | $ | 558 | $ | 552 | $ | 241 | $ | 0 | $ | 129,687 | |||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | $ | 2,090 | $ | 2,130 | $ | 891 | $ | 0 | $ | 178,549 | |||||
Carl W. Vogt | $ | 1,916 | $ | 1,967 | $ | 851 | $ | 0 | $ | 162,049 |
(1) | Includes $19,000 in annual retainer fees in Ms. Driscoll’s role as Chairman of the Board. |
(2) | For each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, total compensation includes compensation for service on the boards of 20 trusts/corporations comprised of 48 funds/portfolios. Each Director, except Mr. Froewiss, currently serves on the boards of 20 trusts/corporations comprised of 43 funds/portfolios. Mr. Froewiss currently serves on the boards of 23 trusts/corporations comprised of 46 funds/portfolios. |
(3) | Aggregate compensation reflects amounts paid to the Directors, except Mr. Froewiss, for special meetings of ad hoc committees of the Boston Board in connection with the possible consolidation of the various DWS Fund Boards and Funds, meetings for considering Fund expense simplification, and with respect to legal and regulatory matters. Such amounts totaled $5,500 for Mr. Becton, $26,280 for Ms. Driscoll, $25,280 for Mr. Fox, $18,000 for Ms. Stromberg and $3,500 for Mr. Vogt. These meeting fees were borne by the Funds. |
(4) | Aggregate compensation also reflects amounts paid to the Directors for special meetings of the Boston Board in connection with reviewing the Funds’ rebranding initiatives to change to the DWS Family of Funds. Such amounts totaled $1,000 for Ms. Driscoll, $1,000 for Mr. Fox, $1,000 for Mr. Froewiss, $1,000 for Ms. Stromberg and $1,000 for Mr. Vogt. These meeting fees were borne by the Advisor. |
(5) | Mr. Froewiss was appointed to the Boston Board on September 15, 2005. His compensation includes fees received as a member of five DWS closed-end funds in 2005, for which he served on the Board. |
Director Fund Ownership of Independent and Interested Directors
The following sets forth ranges of Director beneficial share ownership as of December 31, 2005.
Name of Director | Dollar Range of in DWS Europe | Dollar Range of in DWS Latin Equity Fund | Dollar Range of in DWS Pacific | Aggregate Dollar Range of in All Funds in the Fund Complex | ||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | $10,001-$ 50,000 | $10,001-$ 50,000 | $1-$ 10,000 | Over $ 100,000 | ||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | $10,001-$ 50,000 | $0 | $0 | Over $ 100,000 | ||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss | $ 0 | $0 | $0 | Over $ 100,000 | ||||
Keith R. Fox | $50,001-$ 100,000 | $50,001-$ 100,000 | $50,001-$ 100,000 | Over $ 100,000 | ||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | $10,001- $ 50,000 | $0 | $0 | Over $ 100,000 | ||||
Carl W. Vogt | $ 0 | $0 | $0 | Over $ 100,000 |
Securities Beneficially Owned
As of February 20, 2006, all Directors and Officers of each Fund as a group owned beneficially (as that term is defined is section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) less than 1% of each class of each Fund.
65
Table of Contents
To the best of each Fund’s knowledge, as of February 20, 2006, no person owned of record or beneficially 5% or more of any class of each Fund’s outstanding shares, except as noted below:
As of February 20, 2006, 21,602.18 shares in the aggregate, or 7.28% of the outstanding shares of DWS Europe Equity Fund, Class B were held in the name of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Attn: Peter Booth 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001-2402, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 264,512.91 shares in the aggregate, or 48.24% of the outstanding shares of DWS Europe Equity Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Co. Cust. FBO Scudder Pathway Series Growth Portfolio, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 189,877.26 shares in the aggregate, or 34.63% of the outstanding shares of DWS Europe Equity Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Co. Cust. FBO Scudder Pathway Series Balanced Portfolio, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 78,028.65 shares in the aggregate, or 14.23% of the outstanding shares of DWS Europe Equity Fund, Institutional Class were held in the name of State Street Bank & Trust Co. Cust. FBO Scudder Pathway Series Conservative Portfolio, Quincy, MA 02171-2105, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 1,942,592.84 shares in the aggregate, or 17.33% of the outstanding shares of DWS Europe Equity Fund, Class S were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Attn: Mutual Funds Department, San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 36,262.86 shares in the aggregate, or 14.17% of the outstanding shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, Class B were held in the name of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Attn: Peter Booth 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001-2402, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 13,040.94 shares in the aggregate, or 5.09% of the outstanding shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, Class B were held in the name of MLPF&S for the sole benefit of its customers, Attn: Fund Administration #XXXXX, Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 21,786.32 shares in the aggregate, or 9.62% of the outstanding shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, Class C were held in the name of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Attn: Peter Booth 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001-2402, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 14,781.02 shares in the aggregate, or 6.53% of the outstanding shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, Class C were held in the name of MLPF&S for the sole benefit of its customers, Attn: Fund Administration #XXXXX, Jacksonville, FL 32246-6484, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 435,019.89 shares in the aggregate, or 7.10% of the outstanding shares of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, Class S were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., Attn: Mutual Funds Department, San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 82,979.36 shares in the aggregate, or 7.58% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class A were held in the name of Nationwide Trust Co., Cust. FBO FSB, c/o IPO Portfolio Accounting, Columbus, OH 43218-2029, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 62,148.23 shares in the aggregate, or 5.68% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class A were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., Special Custody Account for
66
Table of Contents
the Exclusive Benefit of Customers, Attn: Mutual Funds, San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 55,504.88 shares in the aggregate, or 5.07% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class A were held in the name of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Attn: Peter Booth, New York, NY 10001-2402, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 54,752.61 shares in the aggregate, or 5.00% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class A were held in the name of FTC & Co., A/C #XXXX, Datalynx, Denver, CO 80217-3736, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 11,318.63 shares in the aggregate, or 6.55% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class B were held in the name of Morgan Stanley DW, Attn: Mutual Fund Operations, Jersey City, NJ 07311-3907, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 9,071.47 shares in the aggregate, or 5.25% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class B were held in the name of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Attn: Peter Booth, New York, NY 10001-2402, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 28,098.59 shares in the aggregate, or 12.35% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class C were held in the name of Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., Attn: Peter Booth, 333 W. 34th St., New York, NY 10001-2402, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 16,091.41 shares in the aggregate, or 7.07% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class C were held in the name of Morgan Stanley DW, Attn: Mutual Fund Operations, Jersey City, NJ 07311-3907, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 1,221,854.33 shares in the aggregate, or 9.52% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class S were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., Reinvest Account, San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 44,208.98 shares in the aggregate, or 12.20% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class M were held in the name of Charles Schwab & Co. Inc., Special Custody Account for the Exclusive Benefit of Customers, Attn: Mutual Funds, San Francisco, CA 94104-4122, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 31,909.23 shares in the aggregate, or 8.80% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class M were held in the name of MLPF&S, 3rd floor Mutual Funds, Jacksonville, FL 32246, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
As of February 20, 2006, 19,465.08 shares in the aggregate, or 5.37% of the outstanding shares of DWS Latin America Equity Fund, Class M were held in the name of National Investor Services, Inc. Account #XXX-XXXXX-XX, who may be deemed as the beneficial owner of certain of these shares.
Ownership in Securities of the Advisor and Related Companies
As reported to the Fund, the information in the following table reflects ownership by the Independent Directors and their immediate family members of certain securities as of December 31, 2005. An immediate family member can be a spouse, children residing in the same household including step and adoptive children and any dependents. The securities represent ownership in an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund and any persons (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with an investment advisor or principal underwriter of the Fund (including Deutsche Bank AG).
67
Table of Contents
Independent Director | Owner and Relationship to Director | Company | Title of Class | Value of Securities on Basis | Percent of Class on an Basis | |||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. | None | |||||||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll | None | |||||||||
Keith R. Fox | None | |||||||||
Kenneth C. Froewiss | None | |||||||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg | None | |||||||||
Carl W. Vogt | None |
Agreement to Advance Certain Independent Director Expenses
In connection with litigation or regulatory action related to possible improper market timing or other improper trading activity or possible improper marketing and sales activity in the Funds, DeIM has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the Funds against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense, arising from market timing or marketing and sales matters alleged in any enforcement actions brought by governmental authorities involving or potentially affecting DeIM (“Enforcement Actions”) or that are the basis for private actions brought by shareholders of the Funds against the Funds, their directors and officers, DeIM and/or certain other parties (“Private Litigation”), or any proceedings or actions that may be threatened or commenced in the future by any person (including governmental authorities), arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. In recognition of its undertaking to indemnify the Funds and in light of the rebuttable presumption generally afforded to independent directors/Directors of investment companies that they have not engaged in disabling conduct, DeIM has also agreed to indemnify the Independent Directors against certain liabilities the Independent Directors may incur from the matters alleged in any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation or arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation, and advance expenses that may be incurred by the Independent Directors in connection with any Enforcement Actions or Private Litigation. DeIM is not, however, required to provide indemnification and advancement of expenses: (1) with respect to any proceeding or action which the Funds’ Boards determines that the Independent Director ultimately would not be entitled to indemnification or (2) for any liability of the Independent Director to the Funds or their shareholders to which the Independent Director would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the Independent Director’s duties as a Director of the Funds as determined in a final adjudication in such action or proceeding. The estimated amount of any expenses that may be advanced to the Independent Directors or indemnity that may be payable under the indemnity agreements is currently unknown. This undertaking by DeIM will survive the termination of the investment management agreements between DeIM and the Funds.
DWS International Fund, Inc. was organized as Scudder Fund of Canada Ltd. in Canada in 1953 by the investment management firm of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Inc. On March 16, 1964, the name of this Corporation was changed to Scudder International Investments Ltd. On July 31, 1975, the corporate domicile of this Corporation was changed to the US through the transfer of its net assets to a newly formed Maryland corporation, Scudder International Fund, Inc., in exchange for shares of the Corporation which then were distributed to the shareholders of the Corporation. On February 6, 2006, the name of the Corporation was changed from Scudder International Fund, Inc. to DWS International Fund, Inc.
The authorized capital stock of DWS International Fund, Inc. consists of 2,247,923,888 shares of a par value of $.01 each, which capital stock has been divided into five series: DWS International Fund, the original series; DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund, both organized in December 1992, DWS Europe Equity Fund, organized in October 1994, and DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund, organized in May 1996. Each series consists of 320 million shares except for International Fund which consists of 620,595,597 shares and DWS Latin America Equity Fund which consists of 340 million shares. DWS International Fund is further divided into six classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A (formerly known as Class R
68
Table of Contents
Shares), Class B, Class C, and Institutional Class shares. DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund and DWS Emerging Markets Equity Fund are each further divided into five classes of shares, Class AARP, Class S, Class A, Class B and Class C. DWS Latin America Equity Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Class M. DWS Europe Equity Fund is divided into six classes of shares, Class S, Class AARP, Class A, Class B, Class C and Institutional Class.
The Directors have the authority to create additional Funds and to designate the relative rights and preferences as between the different Funds. The Directors also may authorize the division of shares of a Fund into different classes, which may bear different expenses. All shares issued and outstanding are fully paid and non-assessable, transferable, have no pre-emptive or conversion rights and are redeemable as described in this SAI and in each Fund’s prospectus. Each share has equal rights with each other share of the same class of the Fund as to voting, dividends, exchanges, conversion features and liquidation. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each full share held and fractional votes for fractional shares held. The Directors may also terminate any Fund or class by notice to the shareholders without shareholder approval.
Maryland corporate law provides that a Director of the Corporation shall not be liable for actions taken in good faith, in a manner he or she reasonable believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use in similar circumstances. In so acting, a Director shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon reports made to the Corporation by persons selected in good faith by the Directors as qualified to make such reports.
The Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and By-Laws provide that the Corporation will indemnify Directors and officers of the Corporation against liabilities and expenses actually incurred in connection with litigation in which they may be involved because of their positions with the Corporation. However, nothing in the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the By-Laws protects or indemnifies a Director or officer against any liability to which he or she would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Each Director serves until the next meeting of shareholders, if any, called for the purpose of electing directors and until the election and qualification of a successor or until such director sooner dies, resigns, retires or is removed.
Subject to the limits of the 1940 Act and unless otherwise provided by the By-laws, a Director may be removed with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares that entitle its holders to cast votes for the election of directors.
The Directors of the Corporation, in their discretion, may authorize the additional division of shares of a series into different classes permitting shares of different classes to be distributed by different methods. Although shareholders of different classes of a series would have an interest in the same portfolio of assets, shareholders of different classes may bear different expenses in connection with different methods of distribution.
The assets of the Corporation received for the issue or sale of the shares of each series and all income, earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, subject only to the rights of creditors, are specifically allocated to such series and constitute the underlying assets of such series. The underlying assets of each series are segregated on the books of account, and are charged with the liabilities in respect to such series and with a share of the general liabilities of the Corporation. If a series were unable to meet its obligations, the assets of all other series may in some circumstances be available to creditors for that purpose, in which case the assets of such other series could be used to meet liabilities which are not otherwise properly chargeable to them. Expenses with respect to any two or more series are to be allocated in proportion to the asset value of the respective series except where allocations of direct expenses can otherwise be fairly made. The officers of the Corporation, subject to the general supervision of the Directors, have the power to determine which liabilities are allocable to a given series, or which are general or allocable to two or more series. In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or any series, the holders of the shares of any series are entitled to receive as a class the underlying assets of such shares available for distribution to shareholders.
69
Table of Contents
Shares of the Corporation entitle their holders to one vote per share; however, separate votes are taken by each series on matters affecting an individual series and by class on matters affecting an individual class. For example, a change in investment policy for a series would be voted upon only by shareholders of the series involved. Additionally, approval of the investment advisory agreement is a matter to be determined separately by each series. Approval by the shareholders of one series is effective as to that series whether or not enough votes are received from the shareholders of the other series to approve such agreement as to the other series.
Pursuant to the approval of a majority of stockholders, the Corporation’s Directors have the discretion to retain the current distribution arrangement while investing in a master fund in a master/feeder fund structure if the Board determines that the objectives of the Fund would be achieved more efficiently thereby.
The Corporation’s Board of Directors supervises the Funds’ activities. The Corporation adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act (the “Plan”) to permit the Corporation to establish a multiple class distribution system for its Funds.
Under the Plan, each class of shares will represent interests in the same portfolio of investments of the Series, and be identical in all respects to each other class, except as set forth below. The only differences among the various classes of shares of the Series will relate solely to: (a) different distribution fee payments or service fee payments associated with any Rule 12b-1 Plan for a particular class of shares and any other costs relating to implementing or amending such Rule 12b-1 Plan (including obtaining shareholder approval of such Rule 12b-1 Plan or any amendment thereto) which will be borne solely by shareholders of such class; (b) different service fees; (c) different account minimums; (d) the bearing by each class of its Class Expenses, as defined below; (e) the voting rights related to any Rule 12b-1 Plan affecting a specific class of shares; (f) separate exchange privileges; (g) different conversion features and (h) different class names and designations. Expenses currently designated as “Class Expenses” by the Corporation’s Board of Directors under the Plan include, for example, transfer agency fees attributable to a specific class and certain securities registration fees.
Shares of the Corporation have non-cumulative voting rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Directors can elect 100% of the Directors if they choose to do so, and, in such event, the holders of the remaining less than 50% of the shares voting for the election of Directors will not be able to elect any person or persons to the Board of Directors.
The Funds have delegated proxy voting responsibilities to the Advisor, subject to the Board’s general oversight. The Funds have delegated proxy voting to the Advisor with the direction that proxies should be voted consistent with the Funds’ best economic interests. The Advisor has adopted its own Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Policies”), and Proxy Voting Guidelines (“Guidelines”) for this purpose. The Policies address, among other things, conflicts of interest that may arise between the interests of the Funds, and the interests of the Advisor and its affiliates, including the Funds’ principal underwriter. The Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general position on various proposals, such as:
• | Shareholder Rights — The Advisor generally votes against proposals that restrict shareholder rights. |
• | Corporate Governance — The Advisor generally votes for confidential and cumulative voting and against supermajority voting requirements for charter and bylaw amendments. |
• | Anti-Takeover Matters — The Advisor generally votes for proposals that require shareholder ratification of poison pills or that request boards to redeem poison pills, and votes against the adoption of poison pills if they are submitted for shareholder ratification. The Advisor generally votes for fair price proposals. |
• | Compensation Matters — The Advisor generally votes for executive cash compensation proposals, unless they are unreasonably excessive. The Advisor generally votes against stock option plans that do not meet the Advisor’s criteria. |
70
Table of Contents
• | Routine Matters — The Advisor generally votes for the ratification of auditors, procedural matters related to the annual meeting and changes in company name, and against bundled proposals and adjournment. |
The general provisions described above do not apply to investment companies. The Advisor generally votes proxies solicited by investment companies in accordance with the recommendations of an independent third party, except for proxies solicited by or with respect to investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as the Advisor or principal underwriter (“affiliated investment companies”). The Advisor votes affiliated investment company proxies in the same proportion as the vote of the investment company’s other shareholders (sometimes called “mirror” or “echo” voting). Master fund proxies solicited from feeder funds are voted in accordance with applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Although the Guidelines set forth the Advisor’s general voting positions on various proposals, the Advisor may, consistent with the Funds’ best interests, determine under some circumstances to vote contrary to those positions.
The Guidelines on a particular issue may or may not reflect the view of individual members of a Board or of a majority of a Board. In addition, the Guidelines may reflect a voting position that differs from the actual practices of the public companies within the Deutsche Bank organization or of the investment companies for which the Advisor or an affiliate serves as investment advisor or sponsor.
The Advisor may consider the views of a portfolio company’s management in deciding how to vote a proxy or in establishing general voting positions for the Guidelines, but management’s views are not determinative.
As mentioned above, the Policies describe the way in which the Advisor resolves conflicts of interest. To resolve conflicts, the advisor, under normal circumstances, votes proxies in accordance with its Guidelines.
If the Advisor departs from the Guidelines with respect to a particular proxy or if the Guidelines do not specifically address a certain proxy proposal, a proxy voting committee established by the advisor will vote the proxy. Before voting any such proxy, however, the Advisor’s conflicts review committee will conduct an investigation to determine whether any potential conflicts of interest exist in connection with the particular proxy proposal. If the conflicts review committee determines that the Advisor has a material conflict of interest, or certain individuals on the proxy voting committee should be recused from participating in a particular proxy vote, it will inform the proxy voting committee. If notified that the Advisor has a material conflict, or fewer than three voting members are eligible to participate in the proxy vote, typically the Advisor will engage an independent third party to vote the proxy or follow the proxy voting recommendations of an independent third party.
Under certain circumstances, the Advisor may not be able to vote proxies or the Advisor may find that the expected economic costs from voting outweigh the benefits associated with voting. For example, the Advisor may not vote proxies on certain foreign securities due to local restrictions or customs. The Advisor generally does not vote proxies on securities subject to share blocking restrictions.
You may obtain information about how a Fund voted proxies related to its portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Web site at www.sec.gov or by visiting our Web site at: www.dws-scudder.com (type “proxy voting” in the search field).
The financial statements, including the portfolio of investments, of each Fund, together with the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, the Financial Highlights and notes to financial statements in the Annual Report to Shareholders of the Funds dated October 31, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference and are hereby deemed to be a part of this combined Statement of Additional Information.
The fiscal year end of each Fund is October 31.
71
Table of Contents
The CUSIP number for each class of DWS Europe Equity Fund offered in this Statement of Additional Information is:
Class A: | 23337R 60 1 | |
Class B: | 23337R 70 0 | |
Class C: | 23337R 80 9 | |
Institutional Class: | 23337R 86 6 |
The CUSIP number for each class of DWS Latin America Equity Fund offered in this Statement of Additional Information is:
Class A: | 23337R 77 5 | |
Class B: | 23337R 76 7 | |
Class C: | 23337R 75 9 | |
Class M: | 23337R 73 4 |
The CUSIP number for each class of DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund offered in this Statement of Additional Information is:
Class A: | 23337R 71 8 | |
Class B: | 23337R 69 2 | |
Class C: | 23337R 68 4 |
This Statement of Additional Information contains the information of DWS Europe Equity Fund, DWS Latin America Equity Fund and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund. Each Fund, through its combined prospectuses, offers only its own share classes, yet it is possible that one Fund might become liable for a misstatement regarding one of the other Funds.
The Funds’ prospectuses and this Statement of Additional Information omit certain information contained in the Registration Statement which the Funds have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 and reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect to each Fund and the securities offered hereby. This Registration Statement and its amendments are available for inspection by the public at the SEC in Washington, D.C.
72
Table of Contents
The following is a description of the ratings given by Moody’s and S&P to corporate bonds.
Ratings of Corporate Bonds
S&P:
Debt rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. Capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong. Debt rated AA has a very strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal and differs from the highest rated issues only in small degree. Debt rated A has a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories. Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories.
Debt rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C is regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these are outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.
Debt rated BB has less near-term vulnerability to default than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions which could lead to inadequate capacity to meet timely interest and principal payments. The BB rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BBB- rating. Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal repayments. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair capacity or willingness to pay interest and repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied BB or BB- rating.
Debt rated CCC has a currently identifiable vulnerability to default, and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC rating category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied B or B- rating. The rating CC typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC rating. The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior debt, which is assigned an actual or implied CCC- debt rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a bankruptcy petition has been filed, but debt service payments are continued. The rating C1 is reserved for income bonds on which no interest is being paid. Debt rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when interest payments or principal payments are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period had not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.
Moody’s:
Bonds, which are rated Aaa, are judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally referred to as “gilt edge.” Interest payments are protected by a large or by an exceptionally stable margin and principal is secure. While the various protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high-grade bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements may be of greater amplitude or there may be other
73
Table of Contents
elements present which make the long term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities. Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to impairment sometime in the future.
Bonds which are rated Baa are considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative characteristics as well. Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate and thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future. Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class. Bonds which are rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract over any long period of time may be small.
Bonds which are rated Caa are of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements of danger with respect to principal or interest. Bonds which are rated Ca represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are often in default or have other marked shortcomings. Bonds which are rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and issues so rated can be regarded as having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
74
Table of Contents
MARCH 1, 2006
PROSPECTUS
CLASS AARP AND CLASS S SHARES
DWS Europe Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Greater Europe Fund)
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Latin America Fund)
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund)
As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) does not approve or disapprove these shares or determine whether the information in this prospectus is truthful or complete. It is a criminal offense for anyone to inform you otherwise.
ONE GLOBAL FORCE. ONE FOCUS. YOU. [DWS SCUDDER Logo]
Deutsche Bank Group
Table of Contents
How the Funds Work | ||
4 | ||
12 | ||
19 | ||
26 | ||
28 | ||
35 | ||
42 | ||
44 | ||
56 |
Table of Contents
On the next few pages, you’ll find information about each fund’s investment goal, the main strategies it uses to pursue that goal and the main risks that could affect performance.
Whether you are considering investing in a fund or are already a shareholder, you’ll want to look this information over carefully. You may want to keep it on hand for reference as well.
Remember that mutual funds are investments, not bank deposits. They’re not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. Their share prices will go up and down and you could lose money by investing in them.
You can find DWS prospectuses on the Internet at www.dws-scudder.com.
Table of Contents
Class AARP | Class S | |||||||
ticker symbol | SGEGX | SCGEX | ||||||
fund number | 177 | 077 |
(formerly Scudder Greater Europe Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing at least 80% of its total assets in European common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on European markets or are issued by companies organized under the laws of Europe or do more than half of their business there). Although the fund may invest in equities of any size or European country, it tends to focus on common stocks of multinational companies in industrialized Western and Southern European countries such as France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
Growth orientation. The manager generally looks for companies that he believes have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of total assets in European debt securities, including junk bonds (i.e., grade BB and below). Compared to investment grade bonds, junk bonds may pay higher yields and have higher volatility and higher risk of default on payments.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
4
Table of Contents
Analysis of regional themes. The manager looks for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The manager may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The manager will normally sell a stock when he believes its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or in the course of adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
Securities Lending. The fund may lend its investment securities in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets to approved institutional borrowers who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain transactions.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case, the European markets. When European stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. For example, European companies could be hurt by such factors as regional economic downturns or difficulties with the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eastern European companies can be very sensitive to political and economic developments. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to these risks as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who are interested in gaining exposure to Europe’s established markets.
5
Table of Contents
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
6
Table of Contents
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Non-Diversification Risk. The fund is classified as “non-diversified.” This means that it may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. Thus, the performance of one or a small number of fund holdings can affect overall performance more than if the fund invested in a larger number of issuers.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Securities Lending Risk. Any loss in the market price of securities loaned by the fund that occurs during the term of the loan would be borne by the fund and would adversely affect the fund’s performance. Also, there may be delays in recovery of securities loaned or even a loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially while the loan is outstanding. However, loans will be made only to borrowers selected by the fund’s delegate after a review of relevant facts and circumstances, including the creditworthiness of the borrower.
7
Table of Contents
Other factors that could affect performance include:
• | the manager could be incorrect in his analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
8
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how performance has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class AARP shares is October 2, 2000. Performance figures before that date reflect the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S).
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class S only and will vary for Class AARP. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Europe Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class S
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 30.88 | |
1997 | 23.99 | |
1998 | 29.20 | |
1999 | 34.58 | |
2000 | -9.11 | |
2001 | -25.69 | |
2002 | -21.15 | |
2003 | 32.46 | |
2004 | 16.99 | |
2005 | 12.89 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 30.92%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -25.02%, Q3 2002 |
9
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | |||||
Class S | |||||||
Return before Taxes | 12.89 | 0.50 | 10.15 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 12.54 | 0.48 | 9.71 | ||||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 9.08 | 0.58 | * | 8.91 | |||
Class AARP (Return before Taxes) | 12.74 | 0.47 | 10.13 | ||||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 9.42 | 3.68 | 9.38 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Europe Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure developed market equity performance in 16 stock markets in Europe.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
* | Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares is higher than other return figures for the same period due to a capital loss occurring upon redemption resulting in an assumed tax deduction for the shareholder. |
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-728-3337 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
10
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
The fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares have no sales charges or other shareholder fees other than a short-term redemption/exchange fee. The fund does have annual operating expenses and as a shareholder of either Class AARP or Class S shares you pay them indirectly.
Fee Table | Class AARP | Class S | ||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | None | None | ||||
Redemption/Exchange Fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(1) | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||||
Management Fee(2) | 0.74 | % | 0.74 | % | ||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||||
Other Expenses(3) | 0.70 | 0.49 | ||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(4) | 1.44 | 1.23 | ||||
(1) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(2) | Management fees have been restated to reflect the new fee schedule effective March 14, 2005. |
(3) | On March 11, 2005, Scudder New Europe Fund merged into the fund. In connection with the merger, certain fees that compose Other Expenses have been renegotiated. Accordingly, the expenses have been restated to reflect the anticipated result of the merger. Actual expenses may be different. |
(4) | Through March 13, 2008, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.45% for Class AARP shares and 1.20% for Class S shares, respectively, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns, reinvested all dividends and distributions and sold your shares at the end of each period. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Class AARP | $ | 147 | $ | 456 | $ | 787 | $ | 1,724 | ||||
Class S | 125 | 390 | 676 | 1,489 |
11
Table of Contents
Class AARP | Class S | |||||||
ticker symbol | SLAMX | SLAFX | ||||||
fund number | 174 | 074 |
(formerly Scudder Latin America Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Latin American common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on Latin American markets, issued or guaranteed by a Latin American government or issued by a company organized under the laws of a Latin American country or any company with more than half of its business in Latin America). Latin America is defined as Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking islands of the Caribbean. Although the fund may invest in any Latin American country, it expects to invest primarily in the common stocks of established companies in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Peru.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio managers use a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The managers look for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in debt securities including junk bonds (i.e., grade BB and below), 10% of which may include securities rated B or lower. Compared to investment-grade bonds, junk bonds may pay higher yields and have higher volatility and higher risk of default.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the managers believe they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
12
Table of Contents
Growth orientation. The managers generally look for companies that they believe have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
Analysis of regional themes. The managers look for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The managers may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The managers will normally sell a stock when they believe its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or when adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case, the Latin American markets. When Latin American stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to this risk as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who can accept above-average risks to their investments and are interested in investing for long-term growth and who seek exposure to Latin American markets.
13
Table of Contents
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above, are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency
14
Table of Contents
devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Non-Diversification Risk. The fund is classified as “non-diversified.” This means that it may invest in securities of relatively few issuers. Thus, the performance of one or a small number of fund holdings can affect overall performance more than if the fund invested in a larger number of issuers.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Other factors that could affect fund performance include:
• | the managers could be incorrect in their analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
15
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how performance has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The performance of both the fund and the index vary over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class AARP shares is October 2, 2000. Performance figures before that date reflect the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S).
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class S only and will vary for Class AARP. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class S
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 28.32 | |
1997 | 31.30 | |
1998 | -29.70 | |
1999 | 47.16 | |
2000 | -15.64 | |
2001 | -0.82 | |
2002 | -18.28 | |
2003 | 54.86 | |
2004 | 34.09 | |
2005 | 52.45 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 34.08%, Q4 1999 | Worst Quarter: -22.14%, Q3 1998 |
16
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||
Class S | ||||||
Return before Taxes | 52.45 | 20.74 | 14.20 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 51.12 | 20.36 | 13.45 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | 36.59 | 18.43 | 12.44 | |||
Class AARP (Return before Taxes) | 52.42 | 20.75 | 14.21 | |||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 50.42 | 23.02 | 14.58 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) EM (Emerging Markets) Latin America Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index that is designed to measure equity market performance in seven Latin American markets.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-728-3337 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
17
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
The fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares have no sales charges or other shareholder fees other than a short-term redemption/exchange fee. The fund does have annual operating expenses and as a shareholder of either Class AARP or Class S shares you pay them indirectly.
Fee Table | Class AARP | Class S | ||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | None | None | ||
Redemption/Exchange Fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(1) | 2.00% | 2.00% | ||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||
Management Fee | 1.23% | 1.23% | ||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||
Other Expenses | 0.43 | 0.39 | ||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(2),(3) | 1.66 | 1.62 | ||
(1) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(2) | Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.75% for Class AARP and Class S shares excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(3) | Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.839% for Class AARP and Class S shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns and reinvested all dividends and distributions and sold your shares at the end of each period. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Class AARP | $ | 169 | $ | 523 | $ | 902 | $ | 1,965 | ||||
Class S | 165 | 511 | 881 | 1,922 |
18
Table of Contents
Class AARP | Class S | |||||||
ticker symbol | SPOPX | SCOPX | ||||||
fund number | 173 | 073 |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund)
The Fund’s Main Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the fund seeks long-term growth of capital by investing at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Pacific Basin common stocks and other equities (equities that are traded mainly on Pacific Basin markets, issued by companies organized under the laws of a Pacific Basin country or issued by any company with more than half of its business in the Pacific Basin). Pacific Basin countries include: the People’s Republic of China, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Thailand, as well as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan — the so-called “four tigers.” The fund generally intends to focus on common stocks from the region’s smaller emerging markets and does not invest in Japan.
In choosing stocks, the portfolio manager uses a combination of three analytical disciplines:
Bottom-up research. The manager looks for individual companies with a history of above-average growth, strong competitive positioning, attractive prices relative to potential growth, sound financial strength and effective management, among other factors.
OTHER INVESTMENTS While most of the fund’s equities are common stocks, some may be other types of equities, such as convertible stocks or preferred stocks. The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in foreign or domestic debt securities in the top three credit grades. The fund may invest up to 20% of total assets in non-Pacific Basin equities, excluding Japan.
The fund is permitted, but not required, to use various types of derivatives (contracts whose value is based on, for example, indexes, currencies or securities). The fund may use derivatives in circumstances where the manager believes they offer an economical means of gaining exposure to a particular asset class or to keep cash on hand to meet shareholder redemptions or other needs while maintaining exposure to the market (see “Secondary risks” for more information).
19
Table of Contents
Growth orientation. The manager generally looks for companies that he believes have above-average potential for sustainable growth of revenue or earnings and whose market value appears reasonable in light of their business prospects.
Analysis of regional themes. The manager looks for significant social, economic, industrial and demographic changes, seeking to identify stocks that may benefit from them.
The manager may focus on the securities of particular issuers or industries at different times.
The manager will normally sell a stock when they believe its price is unlikely to go much higher, its fundamentals have deteriorated, other investments offer better opportunities or when adjusting the fund’s exposure to a given country.
The Main Risks of Investing in the Fund
There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund’s performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund’s performance to trail that of other investments.
Stock Market Risk. As with most stock funds, an important factor with this fund is how stock markets perform — in this case Pacific Basin markets. When Pacific Basin stock prices fall, you should expect the value of your investment to fall as well. To the extent that the fund invests in smaller-sized companies, it will be more susceptible to this risk as smaller-sized companies have limited business lines and financial resources, making them especially vulnerable to business risks and economic downturns.
Foreign Investment Risk. Foreign investments involve certain special risks, including:
• | Political Risk. Some foreign governments have limited the outflow of profits to investors abroad, imposed restrictions on the exchange or export of foreign currency, extended diplomatic disputes to include trade and financial relations, seized foreign investment and imposed high taxes. |
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
This fund is designed for investors who are interested in investing for long-term growth who can accept above-average risks to their investments and who seek exposure to higher risk markets in the Pacific region.
20
Table of Contents
• | Information Risk. Companies based in foreign markets are usually not subject to accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices as stringent as those in the US. Therefore, their financial reports may present an incomplete, untimely or misleading picture of a foreign company, as compared to the financial reports of US companies. |
• | Liquidity Risk. Investments that trade less can be more difficult or more costly to buy, or to sell, than more liquid or active investments. This liquidity risk is a factor of the trading volume of a particular investment, as well as the size and liquidity of the entire local market. On the whole, foreign exchanges are smaller and less liquid than the US market. This can make buying and selling certain investments more difficult and costly. Relatively small transactions in some instances can have a disproportionately large effect on the price and supply of securities. In certain situations, it may become virtually impossible to sell an investment in an orderly fashion at a price that approaches the managers’ estimate of its value. For the same reason, it may at times be difficult to value the fund’s foreign investments. |
• | Regulatory Risk. There is generally less government regulation of foreign markets, companies and securities dealers than in the US. |
• | Currency Risk. The fund invests in securities denominated in foreign currencies. This creates the possibility that changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the US dollar will affect the US dollar value of foreign securities or the income or gain received on these securities. |
• | Limited Legal Recourse Risk. Legal remedies for investors may be more limited than the remedies available in the US. |
• | Trading Practice Risk. Brokerage commissions and other fees may be higher for foreign investments than for US investments. The procedures and rules governing foreign transactions and custody may also involve delays in payment, delivery or recovery of money or investments. |
• | Taxes. Foreign withholding and certain other taxes may reduce the amount of income available to distribute to shareholders of the fund. In addition, special US tax considerations may apply to the fund’s foreign investments. |
21
Table of Contents
Emerging Market Risk. All of the risks of investing in foreign securities, as discussed above, are increased in connection with investments in emerging markets securities. In addition, profound social changes and business practices that depart from norms in developed countries’ economies have hindered the orderly growth of emerging economies and their markets in the past and have caused instability. High levels of debt tend to make emerging economies heavily reliant on foreign capital and vulnerable to capital flight. These countries are also more likely to experience high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, which could also hurt their economies and securities markets. For these and other reasons, investments in emerging markets are often considered speculative.
Regional Focus Risk. Focusing on a single country or region involves increased currency, political, regulatory and other risks. To the extent the fund concentrates its investments in a particular country or region, market swings in such a targeted country or region will be likely to have a greater effect on fund performance than they would in a more geographically diversified equity fund.
Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the fund has valued its securities too highly, you may end up paying too much for fund shares when you buy into the fund. If the fund underestimates their price, you may not receive the full market value for your fund shares when you sell.
Security Selection Risk. A risk that pervades all investing is the risk that the securities in the fund’s portfolio will decline in value.
Other factors that could affect fund performance include:
• | the manager could be wrong in his analysis of foreign governments, industries, companies, economic trends, the relative attractiveness of different sizes of stocks, geographical trends or other matters; |
• | a bond could fall in credit quality or go into default; this risk is greater with junk bonds and foreign bonds; and |
• | derivatives could produce disproportionate losses due to a variety of factors, including the unwillingness or inability of the counterparty to meet its obligations or unexpected price or interest rate movements (see “Secondary risks” for more information). |
22
Table of Contents
The Fund’s Performance History
While a fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) isn’t necessarily a sign of how it will do in the future, it can be valuable for an investor to know.
The bar chart shows how performance has varied from year to year, which may give some idea of risk. The table on the following page shows how fund performance compares with a broad-based market index (which, unlike the fund, does not have any fees or expenses). The performance of both the fund and the index varies over time. All figures assume reinvestment of dividends and distributions (in the case of after-tax returns, reinvested net of assumed tax rates).
The inception date for Class AARP shares is October 2, 2000. Performance figures before that date reflect the historical performance of the fund’s original share class (Class S).
The table shows returns on a before-tax and after-tax basis. After-tax returns are shown for Class S only and will vary for Class AARP. After-tax returns are estimates calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown in the table. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31 each year — Class S
THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT CONTAINS A BAR CHART HERE
BAR CHART DATA:
1996 | 6.45 | |
1997 | -37.72 | |
1998 | -12.63 | |
1999 | 75.62 | |
2000 | -39.14 | |
2001 | -6.97 | |
2002 | -8.63 | |
2003 | 44.12 | |
2004 | 15.59 | |
2005 | 23.68 |
For the periods included in the bar chart:
Best Quarter: 39.72%, Q2 1999 | Worst Quarter: -27.16%, Q4 1997 |
23
Table of Contents
Average Annual Total Returns (%) as of 12/31/2005
1 Year | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||
Class S | ||||||
Return before Taxes | 23.68 | 11.86 | 0.81 | |||
Return after Taxes on Distributions | 23.49 | 11.98 | 0.76 | |||
Return after Taxes on | 15.65 | 10.58 | 0.71 | |||
Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ||||||
Class AARP (Return before Taxes) | 23.52 | 11.85 | 0.81 | |||
Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes) | 23.17 | 13.44 | 1.96 |
Index: The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Asia Free (ex-Japan) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of stock markets in the Pacific Region, excluding Japan.
Total returns would have been lower if operating expenses hadn’t been reduced.
Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted above. For more recent performance information, call your financial advisor or 1-800-728-3337 or visit our Web site at www.dws-scudder.com.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions assumes that an investor holds fund shares at the end of the period. The number only represents the fund’s taxable distributions, not a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
The Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares assumes that an investor sold his or her fund shares at the end of the period. The number reflects both the fund’s taxable distributions and a shareholder’s gain or loss from selling fund shares.
24
Table of Contents
How Much Investors Pay
The fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares have no sales charges or other shareholder fees other than a short-term redemption/exchange fee. The fund does have annual operating expenses and as a shareholder of either Class AARP or Class S shares you pay them indirectly.
Fee Table | Class AARP | Class S | ||||
Shareholder Fees, paid directly from your investment | ||||||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases | None | None | ||||
Redemption/Exchange Fee, on shares owned less than 30 days (as % of redemption proceeds)(1) | 2.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||
Annual Operating Expenses, deducted from fund assets | ||||||
Management Fee | 0.85 | % | 0.85 | % | ||
Distribution/Service (12b-1) Fees | None | None | ||||
Other Expenses | 1.06 | 0.85 | ||||
Total Annual Operating Expenses(2),(3) | 1.91 | 1.70 | ||||
(1) | This fee is charged on applicable redemptions or exchanges. Please see “Policies about transactions” for further information. |
(2) | Through May 31, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at 1.75% for Class AARP and Class S shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, director and director counsel fees, and organizational and offering expenses. |
(3) | Effective June 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006, the advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fee and reimburse or pay operating expenses of the fund to the extent necessary to maintain the fund’s operating expenses at ratios no higher than 1.75% for Class AARP and Class S shares, excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest, and organizational and offering expenses. |
Based on the costs above, this example helps you compare the expenses of each share class to those of other mutual funds. This example assumes the expenses above remain the same. It also assumes that you invested $10,000, earned 5% annual returns, reinvested all dividends and distributions and sold your shares at the end of each period. This is only an example; actual expenses will be different.
Example | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||||||
Class AARP | $ | 194 | $ | 600 | $ | 1,032 | $ | 2,233 | ||||
Class S | 173 | 536 | 923 | 2,009 |
25
Table of Contents
Other Policies and Secondary Risks
While the previous pages describe the main points of each fund’s strategy and risks, there are a few other issues to know about:
• | Although major changes tend to be infrequent, a fund’s Board could change that fund’s investment goal without seeking shareholder approval. Each fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days’ notice prior to making any changes to its 80% investment policy. |
• | As a temporary defensive measure, each fund could shift up to 100% of assets into investments such as money securities or other short-term instruments that offer comparable levels of risk. This could prevent losses but, while engaged in a temporary defensive position, a fund will not be pursuing its investment objective. However, the portfolio managers may choose not to use these strategies for various reasons, even in very volatile market conditions. |
• | Each fund’s equity investments are mainly common stocks, but may also include other types of equities such as preferred stocks or convertible securities. |
• | Each fund may trade securities actively. This could could raise transaction costs (thus lowering return) and could mean higher taxable distributions. |
Secondary risks
Derivatives Risk. Although not one of its principal investment strategies, each fund may invest in certain types of derivatives. Risks associated with derivatives include: the risk that a derivative is not well correlated with the security, index or currency to which it relates; the risk that derivatives used for risk management may not have the intended effects and may result in losses or missed opportunities; the risk that a fund will be unable to sell the derivative because of an illiquid secondary market; and the risk that the derivatives transaction could expose a fund to the effects of leverage, which could increase a fund’s exposure to the market and magnify potential losses. There is no guarantee that derivatives activities will be employed or that they will work, and their use could cause lower returns or even losses to a fund.
26
Table of Contents
Credit Risk. A fund purchasing bonds faces the risk that the creditworthiness of the issuer may decline, causing the value of its bonds to decline. In addition, an issuer may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments on the interest and principal on the bonds it has issued. Because the issuers of high yield (or junk) bonds (rated below the fourth highest category) may be in uncertain financial health, the prices of their bonds are generally more vulnerable to bad economic news or even the expectation of bad news, than those of investment-grade bonds. In some cases, bonds, particularly junk bonds, may decline in credit quality or go into default.
For more information
This prospectus doesn’t tell you about every policy or risk of investing in the funds.
If you want more information on a fund’s allowable securities and investment practices and the characteristics and risks of each one, you may want to request a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (the back cover tells you how to do this).
Keep in mind that there is no assurance that any mutual fund will achieve its goal.
Each fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of each calendar month are posted on www.dws-scudder.com ordinarily on the 15th day of the following calendar month, or the first business day thereafter. This posted information generally remains accessible at least until a fund files its Form N-CSR or N-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period that includes the date as of which the www.dws-scudder.com information is current (expected to be at least three months). Each fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes a description of the policies and procedures with respect to the disclosure of the funds’ portfolio holdings.
27
Table of Contents
Who Manages and Oversees the Funds
DWS Scudder is part of Deutsche Asset Management (“DeAM”), which is the marketing name in the US for the asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (“DeIM”), Deutsche Asset Management, Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and DWS Trust Company.
Deutsche Asset Management is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts and an office network that reaches the world’s major investment centers. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.
DeIM is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.
The investment advisor
DeIM is the investment advisor for each fund. Under the supervision of the Board of Directors, DeIM, with headquarters at 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154, or the subadvisor, makes each fund’s investment decisions, buys and sells securities for each fund and conducts research that leads to these purchase and sale decisions. DeIM and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds and DeIM provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients. DeIM, or the subadvisor, is also responsible for selecting brokers and dealers and for negotiating brokerage commissions and dealer charges.
DeIM receives a management fee from each fund. Below are the actual rates paid by each fund for the most recent fiscal year, as a percentage of each fund’s average daily net assets:
Fund Name | Fee Paid | ||
DWS Europe Equity Fund | 0.81 | % | |
DWS Latin America Equity Fund | 1.23 | % | |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 0.85 | % |
28
Table of Contents
Effective March 14, 2005, DWS Europe Equity Fund pays DeIM a monthly fee at the annual rates shown below:
Average Daily Net Assets | Fee Rate | ||
$0 - $250 million | 0.750 | % | |
$250 million - $1 billion | 0.720 | % | |
$1 billion - $2.5 billion | 0.700 | % | |
$2.5 billion - $5 billion | 0.680 | % | |
$5 billion - $7.5 billion | 0.650 | % | |
$7.5 billion - $10 billion | 0.640 | % | |
$10 billion - $12.5 billion | 0.630 | % | |
Over $12.5 billion | 0.620 | % |
Each fund’s shareholder report for the fiscal year, ended October 31, 2005, contains a discussion regarding the basis for the Board of Directors’ renewal of each fund’s investment management agreement and DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund’s subadvisory agreement (see “Shareholder reports” on the back cover).
AARP shares
Through December 31, 2005, AARP through its affiliate, AARP Services, Inc., monitored and approved the AARP Investment Program from Scudder Investments, but did not act as an investment advisor or recommend specific mutual funds. The contractual relationship between Scudder Investments and AARP ended on December 31, 2005. As a result, the fund is no longer part of the AARP Investment Program and the AARP name and logo will be phased out in 2006.
29
Table of Contents
The subadvisor
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited (“DeAM Asia”), 20 Raffles Place, #27-01, Ocean Towers, Singapore, an affiliate of DeIM, is the subadvisor for DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund. DeAM Asia renders investment advisory and management services including services related to foreign securities, foreign currency transactions and related investments with regard to the portion of the fund’s portfolio that is allocated to it by DeIM from time to time for management. DeIM compensates DeAM Asia out of the management fee it receives from the fund.
The portfolio managers
The following people handle the day-to-day management of each fund.
DWS Europe Equity Fund
Paras Anand
Vice President of Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund.
• | Portfolio Manager for European Equity: New York. |
• | Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 2003 and the fund in 2004. |
• | Prior experience includes seven years of experience managing a pan-European hedge fund at HSBC and as a fund manager for UK equities at INVESCO. |
• | BA, Bristol University. |
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
Joseph Wat
Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Portfolio Manager of the fund.
• | Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 2004 and the fund in 2005. |
• | Manages Asian portfolios, specializing in South Asian market research. |
• | Prior to that, over 12 years of investment industry experience, including as an analyst at INVESCO Asset Management, specializing in South Asian markets; analyst at Schroders Securities; Assistant Treasurer at DBS Bank; and auditor at Arthur Andersen. |
• | Graduated from National University of Singapore. |
30
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who each play an important role in the fund’s management process. The team works for DeIM or its affiliates and is supported by a large staff of economists, research analysts, traders and other investment specialists. DeIM or its affiliates believe(s) its team approach benefits fund investors by bringing together many disciplines and leveraging its extensive resources.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who collaborate to implement the fund’s investment strategy. Each portfolio manager on the team has authority over all aspects of the fund’s investment portfolio, including, but not limited to, purchases and sales of individual securities, portfolio construction techniques, portfolio risk assessment and the management of daily cash flows in accordance with the portfolio holdings.
DWS Latin America Equity Fund
Tara C. Kenney
Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Co-Manager of the fund.
• | Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1995 and the fund in 1996. |
• | Over 21 years of investment industry experience. |
• | BA, University of Notre Dame; MBA, New York University. |
Paul H. Rogers, CFA
Managing Director of Deutsche
Asset Management and Co-Manager of the fund.
• | Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1994 and the fund in 1995. |
• | Over 20 years of investment industry experience. |
• | BA, University of Vermont; MBA, New York University. |
The funds’ Statement of Additional Information provides additional information about the portfolio managers’ investments in a fund, a description of their compensation structure and information regarding other accounts they manage.
31
Table of Contents
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 industrywide 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 early 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
32
Table of Contents
$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.
33
Table of Contents
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. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements 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.
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. Additional information announced by DeAM regarding the terms of the expected settlements 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.
34
Table of Contents
These tables are designed to help you understand each fund’s financial performance in recent years. The figures in the first part of each table are for a single share. The total return figures represent the percentage that an investor in a fund would have earned (or lost), assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The information for each fund has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose reports, along with each fund’s financial statements, are included in that fund’s annual report (see “Shareholder reports” on the back cover).
DWS Europe Equity Fund — Class AARP
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 24.81 | $ | 21.21 | $ | 18.10 | $ | 22.17 | $ | 31.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .60 | ^c | .27 | .23 | .11 | .06 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 3.50 | 3.61 | 3.00 | (4.11 | ) | (7.82 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 4.10 | 3.88 | 3.23 | (4.00 | ) | (7.76 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.47 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (1.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.47 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | (1.21 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 28.44 | $ | 24.81 | $ | 21.21 | $ | 18.10 | $ | 22.17 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 16.61 | ^b | 18.36 | ^b | 17.93 | ^b | (18.10 | ) | (26.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.48 | 1.65 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.37 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.42 | 1.47 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.37 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 2.15 | 1.15 | 1.22 | .53 | .24 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 168 | 104 | 71 | 89 | 104 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^c | Net investment income per share includes nonrecurring dividend income amounting to $.14 per share. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
35
Table of Contents
DWS Europe Equity Fund — Class S
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 24.82 | $ | 21.21 | $ | 18.11 | $ | 22.17 | $ | 31.14 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .63 | ^c | .27 | .23 | .11 | .06 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 3.51 | 3.62 | 2.99 | (4.10 | ) | (7.82 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 4.14 | 3.89 | 3.22 | (3.99 | ) | (7.76 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.47 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.01 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (1.20 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.47 | ) | (.28 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | (1.21 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | .00 | * | — | |||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 28.49 | $ | 24.82 | $ | 21.21 | $ | 18.11 | $ | 22.17 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 16.77 | ^b | 18.41 | ^b | 17.87 | ^b | (18.09 | ) | (25.97 | ) | ||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 328 | 347 | 369 | 421 | 721 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.29 | 1.53 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.37 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.28 | 1.46 | 1.45 | 1.38 | 1.37 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 2.29 | 1.16 | 1.22 | .53 | .24 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 168 | 104 | 71 | 89 | 104 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
^c | Net investment income per share includes nonrecurring dividend income amounting to $.14 per share. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
36
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund — Class AARP
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 27.87 | $ | 21.65 | $ | 15.25 | $ | 17.40 | $ | 22.75 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .54 | .58 | .26 | .21 | .27 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 17.09 | 6.08 | 6.28 | (2.11 | ) | (3.95 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 17.63 | 6.66 | 6.54 | (1.90 | ) | (3.68 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.43 | ) | (.44 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.33 | ) | (.18 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (1.49 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.43 | ) | (.44 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.33 | ) | (1.67 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | — | .00 | * | .08 | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 45.07 | $ | 27.87 | $ | 21.65 | $ | 15.25 | $ | 17.40 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 63.67 | 31.10 | ^b | 43.20 | ^b | (10.83 | ) | (17.08 | ) | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 14 | 3 | .93 | .17 | .18 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.64 | 1.90 | 1.91 | 1.91 | 1.90 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.64 | 1.77 | 1.88 | 1.91 | 1.90 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.57 | 2.38 | 1.55 | 1.10 | 1.33 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 73 | 62 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
37
Table of Contents
DWS Latin America Equity Fund — Class S
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 27.84 | $ | 21.62 | $ | 15.23 | $ | 17.39 | $ | 22.74 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .58 | .59 | .26 | .21 | .27 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 16.99 | 6.06 | 6.27 | (2.12 | ) | (3.95 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 17.57 | 6.65 | 6.53 | (1.91 | ) | (3.68 | ) | |||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | (.43 | ) | (.43 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.33 | ) | (.18 | ) | ||||||||||
Net investment income | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains on investment transactions | — | — | — | — | (1.49 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (.43 | ) | (.43 | ) | (.14 | ) | (.33 | ) | (1.67 | ) | ||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | — | .00 | * | .08 | — | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 44.98 | $ | 27.84 | $ | 21.62 | $ | 15.23 | $ | 17.39 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 63.76 | 31.09 | ^b | 43.19 | ^b | (10.89 | ) | (17.08 | ) | |||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 543 | 351 | 298 | 228 | 294 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.60 | 1.81 | 1.92 | 1.91 | 1.90 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.60 | 1.75 | 1.90 | 1.91 | 1.90 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.61 | 2.40 | 1.53 | 1.10 | 1.33 | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 73 | 62 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
38
Table of Contents
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class AARP
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 12.04 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | $ | 10.08 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .20 | .12 | .10 | (.01 | ) | .01 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 2.05 | 1.03 | 2.87 | .63 | (2.73 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 2.25 | 1.15 | 2.97 | .62 | (2.72 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.12 | ) | (.10 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .01 | .00 | * | .01 | .02 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 14.17 | $ | 12.04 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 18.69 | ^b | 10.71 | ^b | 37.08 | 8.54 | (26.79 | ) | ||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 2 | 1 | .388 | .167 | .064 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.84 | 1.70 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.75 | 1.69 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.48 | .95 | 1.19 | (.05 | ) | .19 | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
39
Table of Contents
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class S
Years Ended October 31, | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 12.03 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | $ | 10.09 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)^a | .22 | .12 | .10 | (.01 | ) | .01 | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 2.05 | 1.02 | 2.87 | .63 | (2.74 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 2.27 | 1.14 | 2.97 | .62 | (2.73 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.12 | ) | (.10 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | * | .01 | .00 | * | .01 | .02 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 14.18 | $ | 12.03 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | ||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 18.87 | 10.62 | ^b | 37.08 | 8.54 | (26.86 | ) | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 87 | 82 | 80 | 66 | 65 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.63 | 1.71 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.63 | 1.65 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | 1.60 | .99 | 1.19 | (.05 | ) | .19 | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
^a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
^b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
* | Amount is less than $.005. |
40
Table of Contents
The following pages tell you how to invest in these funds and what to expect as a shareholder. If you’re investing directly with DWS Scudder, all of this information applies to you.
If you’re investing through a “third party provider” — for example, a workplace retirement plan, financial supermarket or financial advisor — your provider may have its own policies or instructions and you should follow those.
41
Table of Contents
How to Buy, Sell and Exchange Shares
Buying Shares: Use these instructions to invest directly. Make out your check to “DWS Scudder.”
First investment | Additional investments | |
Regular accounts: | $50 or more for regular accounts and IRA accounts | |
Class S: $2,500 or more | $50 or more with an Automatic | |
Class AARP: $1,000 or more | Investment Plan | |
IRA accounts and Automatic Investment Plan: | ||
Class S: $1,000 or more | ||
Class AARP: $500 or more |
By mail or express mail (see below)
• Fill out and sign an application | Send a DWS Scudder investment slip or short note that includes: | |
• Send it to us at the appropriate address, along with an investment check | • fund and class name | |
• account number | ||
• check payable to "DWS Scudder" |
By wire
• Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | • Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions |
By phone
Not available | • Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions |
With an automatic investment plan
• Fill in the information on your application and include a voided check | • To set up regular investments from a bank checking account, call 1-800-728-3337 |
Using QuickBuy
Not available | • Call 1-800-728-3337 to speak to a representative | |
• or, to use QuickBuy on SAILa, call 1-800-343-2890 and follow the instructions on how to purchase shares |
On the Internet
• Go to “funds and prices” at www.dws-scudder.com | • Call 1-800-728-3337 to ensure you have electronic services | |
• Print out a prospectus and a new account application | • Register at www.dws-scudder.com | |
• Complete and return the application with your check | • Follow the instructions for buying shares with money from your bank account |
Regular mail:
First Investment: DWS Scudder, PO Box 219669, Kansas City, MO 64121-9669 Additional Investments: DWS Scudder, PO Box 219664, Kansas City, MO 64121-9664
Express, registered or certified mail:
DWS Scudder, 210 West 10th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105-1614
42
Table of Contents
Exchanging or Selling Shares: Use these instructions to exchange or sell shares in an account opened directly with DWS Scudder.
Exchanging into another fund | Selling shares | |
Class S: $2,500 or more to open a new account ($1,000 or more for IRAs)
Class AARP: $1,000 or more to open a new account ($500 or more for IRAs)
$50 or more for exchanges between existing accounts | Some transactions, including most for over $100,000, can only be ordered in writing with a signature guarantee; if you're in doubt, see page 51 | |
By phone or wire | ||
• Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | • Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | |
Using SAILa | ||
• Call 1-800-343-2890 for instructions | • Call 1-800-343-2890 for instructions | |
By mail or express mail (see previous page) | ||
Your instructions should include: | Your instructions should include: | |
• the fund, class and account number you're exchanging out of | • the fund, class and account number from which you want to sell shares | |
• the dollar amount or number of shares you want to exchange | • the dollar amount or number of shares you want to sell | |
• the name and class of the fund you want to exchange into | • your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account | |
• your name(s), signature(s) and address, as they appear on your account o a daytime telephone number | • a daytime telephone number | |
With an automatic withdrawal plan | ||
Not available | • To set up regular cash payments from a DWS fund account, call 1-800-728-3337 | |
Using QuickSell | ||
Not available | • Call 1-800-728-3337 for instructions | |
On the Internet | ||
• Register at www.dws-scudder.com | • Register at www.dws-scudder.com | |
• Follow the instructions for making on-line exchanges | • Follow the instructions for making on-line redemptions |
To reach us: | Web site: www.dws-scudder.com | |
Telephone representative: 1-800-728-3337, M-F, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET | ||
TDD line: 1-800-972-3006, M-F, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET |
43
Table of Contents
Policies You Should Know About
Along with the instructions on the previous pages, the policies below may affect you as a shareholder. Some of this information, such as the section on dividends and taxes, applies to all investors, including those investing through a financial advisor.
If you are investing through a financial advisor or through a retirement plan, check the materials you received from them about how to buy and sell shares because particular financial advisors or other intermediaries may adopt policies, procedures or limitations that are separate from those described by the funds. Please note that a financial advisor may charge fees separate from those charged by a fund.
In either case, keep in mind that the information in this prospectus applies only to each fund’s Class AARP and Class S shares. The funds have other share classes, which are described in a separate prospectus and which have different fees, requirements and services.
In order to reduce the amount of mail you receive and to help reduce expenses, we generally send a single copy of any shareholder report and prospectus to each household. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call 1-800-728-3337.
Policies about transactions
Each fund is open for business each day the New York Stock Exchange is open. Each fund calculates its share price for each class every business day, as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (typically 4 p.m. Eastern time, but sometimes earlier, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading). You can place an order to buy or sell shares at any time.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Questions? You can speak to a DWS Scudder representative between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern time on any fund business day by calling 1-800-728-3337.
44
Table of Contents
To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. What this means to you: when you open an account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. Some or all of this information will be used to verify the identity of all persons opening an account.
We might request additional information about you (which may include certain documents, such as articles of incorporation for companies) to help us verify your identity, and in some cases the information and/or documents may be required to conduct the verification. The information and documents will be used solely to verify your identity.
We will attempt to collect any missing required and requested information by contacting you or your financial advisor. If we are unable to obtain this information within the time frames established by the fund then we may reject your application and order.
The funds will not invest your purchase until all required and requested identification information has been provided and your application has been submitted in “good order.” After we receive all the information, your application is deemed to be in good order and we accept your purchase, you will receive the net asset value per share next calculated. In addition, while we attempt to verify your identity, we may limit your ability to purchase or exchange fund shares.
If we are unable to verify your identity within time frames established by the fund, after a reasonable effort to do so, you will receive written notification.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
The DWS Scudder Web site can be a valuable resource for shareholders with Internet access. To get up-to-date information, review balances or even place orders for exchanges go to www.dws-scudder.com.
45
Table of Contents
The funds generally will not accept new account applications to establish an account with a non-US address (APO/FPO and US territories are acceptable) or for a non-resident alien.
Because orders placed through a financial advisor must be forwarded to the transfer agent before they can be processed, you’ll need to allow extra time. Your financial advisor should be able to tell you approximately when your order will be processed. It is the responsibility of your financial advisor to forward your order to the transfer agent in a timely manner.
Market Timing Policies and Procedures. Short-term and excessive trading of fund shares may present risks to a fund’s long-term shareholders, including potential dilution in the value of fund shares, interference with the efficient management of a fund’s portfolio (including losses on the sale of investments), taxable gains to remaining shareholders and increased brokerage and administrative costs. These risks may be more pronounced for funds investing in certain securities such as those that trade in foreign markets, are illiquid or do not otherwise have “readily available market quotations.” Certain investors may seek to employ short-term trading strategies aimed at exploiting variations in portfolio valuation that arise from the nature of the securities held by a fund (e.g., “time zone arbitrage”).
The funds discourage short-term and excessive trading. Each fund will take steps to detect and deter short-term and excessive trading pursuant to each fund’s policies as described in this prospectus and approved by the Board. The funds generally define short-term trading as purchase and redemption activity, including exchanges, that occurs within the time period for imposition of redemption fees. Each fund may also take trading activity that occurs over longer periods into account if the fund reasonably believes such activity is of an amount or frequency that may be harmful to long-term shareholders or disruptive to portfolio management.
46
Table of Contents
Each fund’s policies include:
• | a 2% redemption fee on fund shares held for less than a specified holding period (subject to certain exceptions noted in the discussion of redemption fees); |
• | each fund reserves the right to reject or cancel a purchase or exchange order for any reason when, in the opinion of the advisor, there appears to be a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity by a shareholder or any other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to the fund; and |
• | each fund has adopted certain fair valuation practices reasonably designed to protect the fund from “time zone arbitrage” with respect to its foreign securities holdings and other trading practices that seek to exploit variations in portfolio valuation that arise from the nature of the securities held by the fund. (See “How the funds calculate share price.”) |
When a pattern of short-term or excessive trading activity or other trading activity deemed harmful or disruptive to a fund by an investor is detected, the advisor may determine to prohibit that investor from future purchases in the funds or to limit or terminate the investor’s exchange privilege. The detection of these patterns and the banning of further trading are inherently subjective and therefore involve some selectivity in their application. The advisor seeks to make such determinations in a manner consistent with the interests of the funds’ long-term shareholders.
There is no assurance that these policies and procedures will be effective in limiting short-term and excessive trading in all cases. For example, the advisor may not be able to effectively monitor, detect or limit short-term or excessive trading by underlying shareholders that occurs through omnibus accounts maintained by broker-dealers or other financial intermediaries. Depending on the amount of fund shares held in such omnibus accounts (which may represent most of a fund’s shares) short-term and/or excessive trading of fund shares could adversely affect long-term shareholders in a fund. It is important to note that shareholders that invest through omnibus accounts also may be subject to the policies and procedures of their financial intermediaries with respect to short-term and excessive trading in the funds.
47
Table of Contents
Each fund’s policies and procedures may be modified or terminated at any time.
Redemption fees. Each fund imposes a redemption fee of 2% of the total redemption amount (calculated at net asset value), on all fund shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of buying them (either by purchase or exchange). The redemption fee is paid directly to a fund, and is designed to encourage long-term investment and to offset transaction and other costs associated with short-term or excessive trading. For purposes of determining whether the redemption fee applies, shares held the longest time will be treated as being redeemed first and shares held the shortest time will be treated as being redeemed last.
The redemption fee is applicable to fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the funds on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. These purchase and sale transactions are generally netted against one another and placed on an aggregate basis; consequently the identities of the individuals on whose behalf the transactions are placed generally are not known to the funds. For this reason, the funds have undertaken to notify financial intermediaries of their obligation to assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and to collect and remit the proceeds to the funds. However, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the funds’. Subject to approval by DeAM or each fund’s Board, intermediaries who transact business on an omnibus basis may implement the redemption fees according to their own operational guidelines (which may be different than the funds’ policies) and remit the fees to the funds. In addition, certain intermediaries that do not currently have the capacity to collect redemption fees at an account level may be granted a temporary waiver from the funds’ policies until such time as they can develop and implement a system to collect the redemption fees.
48
Table of Contents
The redemption fee will not be charged in connection with the following exchange or redemption transactions: (i) transactions on behalf of participants in certain research wrap programs; (ii) transactions on behalf of participants in certain group retirement plans and financial intermediaries whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (iii) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to return any excess IRA contributions to the shareholder; (iv) transactions on behalf of a shareholder to effect a required minimum distribution on an IRA; (v) transactions on behalf of any mutual fund advised by the funds’ investment advisor and its affiliates (e.g., “funds of funds”) or, in the case of a master/feeder relationship, redemptions by the feeder fund from the master portfolio; (vi) transactions following death or disability of any registered shareholder, beneficial owner or grantor of a living trust with respect to shares purchased before death or disability; (vii) transactions involving hardship of any registered shareholder; (viii) systematic transactions with predefined trade dates for purchases, exchanges or redemptions, such as automatic account rebalancing, or loan origination and repayments; (ix) transactions involving shares purchased through the reinvestment of dividends or other distributions; (x) transactions involving shares transferred from another account in the same fund or converted from another class of the same fund (e.g., shares converting from Class B to Class A) (the redemption fee period will carry over to the acquired shares); (xi) transactions initiated by a fund or administrator (e.g., redemptions for not meeting account minimums, to pay account fees funded by share redemptions, or in the event of the liquidation or merger of a fund); or (xii) transactions in cases when there are legal or contractual limitations or restrictions on the imposition of the redemption fee (as determined by the fund or its agents in their sole discretion).
49
Table of Contents
The funds expect that the waiver for certain group retirement plans and financial intermediaries will be eliminated over time as their respective operating systems are improved. Until such time that these operating systems are improved, the funds’ investment advisor will attempt to monitor the trading activity in these accounts and will take appropriate corrective action if it appears that a pattern of short-term or excessive trading or other harmful or disruptive trading by underlying shareholders exists. The funds reserve the right to withdraw waivers, and to modify or terminate these waivers or the redemption fee at any time.
Automated phone information is available 24 hours a day. You can use your automated phone services to get information on DWS funds generally and on accounts held directly at DWS Scudder. If you signed up for telephone services, you can also use this service to make exchanges and sell shares.
For Class S shares
Call SAIL(TM), the Shareholder Automated Information Line, at 1-800-343-2890
QuickBuy and QuickSell let you set up a link between a DWS Scudder account and a bank account. Once this link is in place, you can move money between the two with a phone call. You’ll need to make sure your bank has Automated Clearing House (ACH) services. Transactions take two to three days to be completed and there is a $50 minimum and a $250,000 maximum. To set up QuickBuy or QuickSell on a new account, see the account application; to add it to an existing account, call 1-800-728-3337.
Telephone and electronic transactions. Generally, you are automatically entitled to telephone and electronic transaction privileges, but you may elect not to have them when you open your account or by contacting Shareholder Services at 1-800-728-3337 at a later date.
50
Table of Contents
Since many transactions may be initiated by telephone or electronically, it’s important to understand that as long as we take reasonable steps to ensure that an order to purchase or redeem shares is genuine, such as recording calls or requesting personalized security codes or other information, we are not responsible for any losses that may occur as a result. For transactions conducted over the Internet, we recommend the use of a secure Internet browser. In addition, you should verify the accuracy of your confirmation statements immediately after you receive them.
Each fund accepts payment for shares only in US dollars by check, bank or Federal Funds wire transfer, or by electronic bank transfer. Please note that the funds cannot accept cash, traveler’s checks, starter checks, money orders, third party checks, checks drawn on foreign banks or checks issued by credit card companies or Internet-based companies.
When you ask us to send or receive a wire, please note that while we don’t charge a fee to send or receive wires, it’s possible that your bank may do so. Wire transactions are generally completed within 24 hours. The funds can only send wires of $1,000 or more and accept wires of $50 or more.
We do not issue share certificates. However, if you currently have shares in certificated form, you must include the share certificates properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock power when exchanging or redeeming shares. You may not exchange or redeem shares in certificate form by telephone or via the Internet.
When you want to sell more than $100,000 worth of shares or send proceeds to a third party or to a new address, you’ll usually need to place your order in writing and include a signature guarantee. However, if you want money wired to a bank account that is already on file with us, you don’t need a signature guarantee. Also, you don’t need a signature guarantee for an exchange, although we may require one in certain other circumstances.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
If you ever have difficulty placing an order by phone or Internet, you can send us your order in writing.
51
Table of Contents
A signature guarantee is simply a certification of your signature — a valuable safeguard against fraud. You can get a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution, including commercial banks, savings and loans, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. Note that you can’t get a signature guarantee from a notary public, and we must be provided the original guarantee.
Selling shares of trust accounts and business or organization accounts may require additional documentation. Please contact your financial advisor for more information.
Money from shares you sell is normally sent out within one business day of when your order is processed (not when it is received), although it could be delayed for up to seven days. There are also two circumstances when it could be longer: when you are selling shares you bought recently by check and that check hasn’t cleared yet (maximum delay: 10 days) or when unusual circumstances prompt the SEC to allow further delays. Certain expedited redemption processes may also be delayed when you are selling recently purchased shares.
You may obtain additional information about other ways to sell your shares by contacting your financial advisor.
52
Table of Contents
How the funds calculate share price
To calculate net asset value per share, or NAV, each share class of each fund uses the following equation:
TOTAL ASSETS - TOTAL LIABILITIES | = NAV | |||
TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING |
The price at which you buy and sell shares is the NAV.
Each fund charges a short-term redemption fee equal to 2.00% of the value of shares redeemed or exchanged within 30 days of purchase. Please see “Policies about transactions — Redemption fees” for further information.
We typically value securities using information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations, where appropriate. However, we may use methods approved by a fund’s Board, such as a fair valuation model, which are intended to reflect fair value when pricing service information or market quotations are not readily available or when a security’s value or a meaningful portion of the value of a fund’s portfolio is believed to have been materially affected by a significant event, such as a natural disaster, an economic event like a bankruptcy filing, or a substantial fluctuation in domestic or foreign markets, that has occurred between the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded (for example, a foreign exchange or market) and the close of the New York Stock Exchange. In such a case, a fund’s value for a security is likely to be different from the last quoted market price or pricing service information. In addition, due to the subjective and variable nature of fair value pricing, it is possible that the value determined for a particular asset may be materially different from the value realized upon such asset’s sale. It is expected that the greater the percentage of fund assets that is invested in non-US securities, the more extensive will be a fund’s use of fair value pricing. This is intended to reduce a fund’s exposure to “time zone arbitrage” and other harmful trading practices. (See “Market Timing Policies and Procedures.”)
53
Table of Contents
Because each fund invests in securities that are traded primarily in foreign markets, the value of their holdings could change at a time when you aren’t able to buy or sell fund shares. This is because some foreign markets are open at times and on days or at times when the funds don’t price their shares.
Other rights we reserve
You should be aware that we may do any of the following:
• | withdraw or suspend the offering of shares at any time |
• | withhold a portion of your distributions as federal income tax if we have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding or if you fail to provide us with a correct taxpayer ID number or certification that you are exempt from backup withholding |
• | reject a new account application if you don’t provide any required or requested identifying information, or for other reasons |
• | refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; freeze any account (meaning you will not be able to purchase fund shares in your account); suspend account services; and/or involuntarily redeem your account if we think that the account is being used for fraudulent or illegal purposes; one or more of these actions will be taken when, at our sole discretion, they are deemed to be in the fund’s best interest or when the fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental authority or by applicable law |
• | close and liquidate your account if we are unable to verify your identity, or for other reasons; if we decide to close your account, your fund shares will be redeemed at the net asset value per share next calculated after we determine to close your account (less any applicable redemption fees); you may be subject to gain or loss on the redemption of your fund shares and you may incur tax liability |
54
Table of Contents
• | close your account and send you the proceeds if your balance falls below $1,000 for Class AARP shareholders ($500 with an Automatic Investment Plan funded with $50 or more per month in subsequent investments), $2,500 for Class S shareholders ($1,000 with an Automatic Investment Plan funded with $50 or more per month in subsequent investments) or $250 for Class S retirement accounts; we will give you 60 days’ notice (90 days for retirement accounts) so you can either increase your balance or close your account (these policies don’t apply to investors with $100,000 or more in DWS fund shares or, in any case where a fall in share price created the low balance) |
• | pay you for shares you sell by “redeeming in kind,” that is, by giving you marketable securities (which typically will involve brokerage costs for you to liquidate) rather than cash; the funds generally won’t make a redemption in kind unless your requests over a 90-day period total more than $250,000 or 1% of the value of a fund’s net assets, whichever is less |
• | change, add or withdraw various services, fees and account policies (for example, we may change or terminate the exchange privilege or adjust a fund’s investment minimum at any time) |
• | suspend or postpone redemptions as permitted pursuant to Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Generally, those circumstances are when: 1) the New York Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend or holiday closings; 2) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted; 3) an emergency exists which makes the disposal of securities owned by a fund or the fair determination of the value of a fund’s net assets not reasonably practicable; or 4) the SEC, by order, permits the suspension of the right of redemption. Redemption payments by wire may also be delayed in the event of a nonroutine closure of the Federal Reserve wire payment system. |
55
Table of Contents
Understanding Distributions and Taxes
Each fund intends to distribute to its shareholders virtually all of its net earnings. A fund can earn money in two ways: by receiving interest, dividends or other income from securities it holds and by selling securities for more than it paid for them. (A fund’s earnings are separate from any gains or losses stemming from your own purchase and sale of shares.) A fund may not always pay a distribution for a given period.
Each fund intends to pay dividends and distributions to their shareholders in November or December and if necessary may do so at other times as well.
For federal income tax purposes, income and capital gains distributions are generally taxable. Dividends and distributions received by retirement plans qualifying for tax-exempt treatment under federal income tax laws will not be taxable. Similarly, there will be no tax consequences when a qualified retirement plan buys or sells fund shares.
You can choose how to receive your dividends and distributions. You can have them all automatically reinvested in fund shares (at NAV), all deposited directly to your bank account or all sent to you by check, have one type reinvested and the other sent to you by check or have them invested in a different fund. Tell us your preference on your application. If you don’t indicate a preference, your dividends and distributions will all be reinvested. Dividends are taxable whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares. For retirement plans, reinvestment (at NAV) is the only option.
Buying and selling fund shares will usually have tax consequences for you (except in an IRA or other tax-advantaged account). Your sales of shares may result in a capital gain or loss for you. The gain or loss will be long-term or short-term depending on how long you owned the shares that were sold. For federal income tax purposes, an exchange is treated the same as a sale.
THE FOLLOWING SIDEBAR TEXT APPEARS NEXT TO THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPHS.
Because each shareholder’s tax situation is unique, ask your tax professional about the tax consequences of your investments, including any state and local tax consequences.
56
Table of Contents
The tax status of a fund’s earnings you receive and your own portfolio transactions, generally depends on their type:
Generally taxed at long-term capital gain rates: | Generally taxed at ordinary income rates: | |
Distributions from a fund | ||
• gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for more than one year | • gains from the sale of securities held by a fund for one year or less | |
• qualified dividend income | • all other taxable income | |
Transactions involving fund shares | ||
• gains from selling fund shares held for more than one year | • gains from selling fund shares held for one year or less |
Any investments in foreign securities may be subject to foreign withholding or other taxes. In that case, a fund’s yield on those securities would generally be decreased. A fund may elect to pass through to its shareholders a credit or deduction for foreign taxes it has paid if, at the end of its fiscal year, more than 50% of a fund’s total assets are stock or securities of foreign corporations and the fund meets its distribution requirements for that year. In addition, any investments in foreign securities or foreign currencies may increase or accelerate a fund’s recognition of ordinary income and may affect the timing or amount of a fund’s distributions.
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, distributions of investment income designated by a fund as derived from qualified dividend income are eligible for taxation in the hands of individuals at long-term capital gain rates. Qualified dividend income generally includes dividends from domestic and some foreign corporations. It does not include income from investments in fixed-income securities. In addition, a fund must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to the dividend paying stocks in its portfolio and the shareholder must meet holding period and other requirements with respect to a fund’s shares for the lower tax rates to apply.
57
Table of Contents
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2009, the maximum federal long-term capital gain rate applicable to individuals has been reduced to 15%. For more information, see the Statement of Additional Information, under “Taxes.”
A fund’s investments in certain debt obligations may cause the fund to recognize taxable income in excess of the cash generated by such obligations. Thus, the fund could be required at times to liquidate other investments in order to satisfy its distribution requirements.
Your fund will send you detailed tax information every January. These statements tell you the amount and the tax category of any dividends or distributions you received. They also have certain details on your purchases and sales of shares. The tax status of dividends and distributions is the same whether you reinvest them or not. Dividends or distributions declared in the last quarter of a given year are taxed in that year, even though you may not receive the money until the following January.
If you invest right before a fund pays a dividend, you’ll be getting some of your investment back as a taxable dividend. You can avoid this, if you want, by investing after the fund declares a dividend. In tax-advantaged retirement accounts you don’t need to worry about this.
Corporations may be able to take a dividends-received deduction for a portion of income dividends they receive from a fund.
The above discussion is applicable to shareholders who are US persons. If you are a non-US person, please consult your own tax advisor with respect to the US tax consequences of an investment in a fund. Additional information may be found in the funds’ Statement of Additional Information.
58
Table of Contents
Notes
59
Table of Contents
Notes
60
Table of Contents
Notes
61
Table of Contents
Notes
62
Table of Contents
Notes
63
Table of Contents
To Get More Information
Shareholder reports — These include commentary from each fund’s management team about recent market conditions and the effects of a fund’s strategies on its performance. They also have detailed performance figures, a list of everything each fund owns and its financial statements. Shareholders get these reports automatically.
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) — This tells you more about each fund’s features and policies, including additional risk information. The SAI is incorporated by reference into this document (meaning that it’s legally part of this prospectus).
For a free copy of any of these documents or to request other information about a fund,call (800) 728-3337 or contact DWS Scudder at the address listed below. Each fund’s SAI and shareholder reports are also available through the DWS Scudder Web site at www.dws-scudder.com. These documents and other information about each fund are available from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. If you like, you may obtain copies of this information, after paying a copying fee, by e-mailing a request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing the SEC at the address listed below. You can also review and copy these documents and other information about a fund, including each fund’s SAIs, 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 (202) 942-8090.
DWS Scudder | SEC | Distributor | ||
PO Box 219669 | Public Reference Section | DWS Scudder Distributors, Inc. | ||
Kansas City, MO 64121-9669 | Washington, D.C. 20549 | 222 South Riverside Plaza | ||
www.dws-scudder.com | www.sec.gov | Chicago, IL 60606-5808 | ||
1-800-728-3337 | 1-202-942-8090 | 1-800-621-1148 |
SEC File Numbers:
DWS International Fund, Inc. | 811-642 |
[Logo]DWS
SCUDDER
Deutsche Bank Group
64
Table of Contents
APRIL 30, 2006
Semiannual Report
to Shareholders
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund
(formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund)
Table of Contents
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. Investments in securities of foreign issuers present greater risks than investments in domestic securities. Foreign security markets generally exhibit greater price volatility and are less liquid than the US market. Additionally, this fund focuses its investments in certain geographical regions, thereby increasing its vulnerability to developments in that region and potentially subjecting the fund’s shares to greater 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
Table of Contents
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.
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 during all periods shown for Class B shares and the 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods shown for Class A and C 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 for the periods prior to their inception on May 29, 2001 are derived from the historical performance of Class S shares of the DWS Pacific Opportunities 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 Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 6-Month* | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||||
Class A | 35.87 | % | 46.17 | % | 36.87 | % | 16.14 | % | 1.48 | % | |||||
Class B | 35.20 | % | 44.76 | % | 35.79 | % | 15.21 | % | .67 | % | |||||
Class C | 35.34 | % | 44.91 | % | 35.78 | % | 15.24 | % | .69 | % | |||||
MSCI All Country Asia Free (excluding Japan) Index+ | 33.12 | % | 43.51 | % | 37.79 | % | 18.10 | % | 2.23 | % |
Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
* | Total returns shown for periods less than one year are not annualized. |
Table of Contents
Net Asset Value and Distribution Information
Class A | Class B | Class C | |||||||
Net Asset Value: | |||||||||
4/30/06 | $ | 18.93 | $ | 18.63 | $ | 18.65 | |||
10/31/05 | $ | 14.05 | $ | 13.78 | $ | 13.78 | |||
Distribution Information: | |||||||||
Six Months: | |||||||||
Income Dividends as of 4/30/06 | $ | .13 | $ | — | $ | — |
Class A Lipper Rankings — Pacific Ex Japan Funds Category as of 4/30/06
Period | Rank | Number of Funds Tracked | Percentile Ranking (%) | |||||
1-Year | 19 | of | 51 | 37 | ||||
3-Year | 25 | of | 48 | 52 |
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 Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class A
[] MSCI All Country Asia Free (excluding Japan) Index+
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 Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||||||||
Class A | Growth of $10,000 | $ | 13,777 | $ | 24,165 | $ | 19,918 | $ | 10,920 | |||||||||
Average annual total return | 37.77 | % | 34.19 | % | 14.78 | % | .88 | % | ||||||||||
Class B | Growth of $10,000 | $ | 14,176 | $ | 24,840 | $ | 20,198 | $ | 10,692 | |||||||||
Average annual total return | 41.76 | % | 35.43 | % | 15.10 | % | .67 | % | ||||||||||
Class C | Growth of $10,000 | $ | 14,491 | $ | 25,034 | $ | 20,320 | $ | 10,717 | |||||||||
Average annual total return | 44.91 | % | 35.78 | % | 15.24 | % | .69 | % | ||||||||||
MSCI All Country Asia Free (excluding Japan) Index+ | Growth of $10,000 | $ | 14,351 | $ | 26,161 | $ | 22,970 | $ | 12,467 | |||||||||
Average annual total return | 43.51 | % | 37.79 | % | 18.10 | % | 2.23 | % |
The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.
+ | The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Asia Free (excluding Japan) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of stock markets in the Pacific Region, excluding Japan. The Index is calculated using closing local market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index. |
Table of Contents
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.
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 during the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods shown for Class AARP shares and the 3-year, 5-year and 10-year 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 for the periods prior to its inception on October 2, 2000 are derived from the historical performance of Class S shares of the DWS Pacific Opportunities 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 Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 6-Month* | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||||
Class S | 35.97 | % | 46.39 | % | 37.21 | % | 16.44 | % | 1.75 | % | |||||
Class AARP | 36.04 | % | 46.37 | % | 37.20 | % | 16.47 | % | 1.75 | % | |||||
MSCI All Country Asia Free (excluding Japan) Index+ | 33.12 | % | 43.51 | % | 37.79 | % | 18.10 | % | 2.23 | % |
Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
* | Total returns shown for periods less than one year are not annualized. |
Table of Contents
Net Asset Value and Distribution Information
Class AARP | Class S | |||||
Net Asset Value: | ||||||
4/30/06 | $ | 19.10 | $ | 19.08 | ||
10/31/05 | $ | 14.17 | $ | 14.18 | ||
Distribution Information: | ||||||
Six Months: | ||||||
Income Dividends as of 4/30/06 | $ | .15 | $ | .17 |
Class S Lipper Rankings — Pacific Ex Japan Funds Category as of 4/30/06
Period | Rank | Number of Funds Tracked | Percentile Ranking (%) | |||||
1-Year | 17 | of | 51 | 33 | ||||
3-Year | 22 | of | 48 | 45 | ||||
5-Year | 24 | of | 41 | 58 | ||||
10-Year | 20 | of | 24 | 80 |
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 Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund — Class S
[] MSCI All Country Asia Free (excluding Japan) Index+
Yearly periods ended April 30
Comparative Results as of 4/30/06
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 1-Year | 3-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | ||||||||||||||
Class S | Growth of $10,000 | $ | 14,639 | $ | 25,831 | $ | 21,408 | $ | 11,900 | |||||||||
Average annual total return | 46.39 | % | 37.21 | % | 16.44 | % | 1.75 | % | ||||||||||
Class AARP | Growth of $10,000 | $ | 14,637 | $ | 25,827 | $ | 21,428 | $ | 11,898 | |||||||||
Average annual total return | 46.37 | % | 37.20 | % | 16.47 | % | 1.75 | % | ||||||||||
MSCI All Country Asia Free (excluding Japan) Index+ | Growth of $10,000 | $ | 14,351 | $ | 26,161 | $ | 22,970 | $ | 12,467 | |||||||||
Average annual total return | 43.51 | % | 37.79 | % | 18.10 | % | 2.23 | % |
The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.
+ | The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Asia Free (excluding Japan) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of stock markets in the Pacific Region, excluding Japan. The Index is calculated using closing local market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns, unlike Fund returns, do not reflect any fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest directly into an index. |
Table of Contents
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, the Fund limited these expenses for Class B shares; 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 | $ | 1,358.70 | $ | 1,352.00 | $ | 1,353.40 | $ | 1,360.40 | $ | 1,359.70 | |||||
Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $ | 10.76 | $ | 16.33 | $ | 15.35 | $ | 9.54 | $ | 9.77 | |||||
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 | $ | 1,015.67 | $ | 1,010.91 | $ | 1,011.75 | $ | 1,016.71 | $ | 1,016.51 | |||||
Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $ | 9.20 | $ | 13.96 | $ | 13.12 | $ | 8.15 | $ | 8.35 |
* | 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 Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund | 1.84 | % | 2.80 | % | 2.63 | % | 1.63 | % | 1.67 | % |
For more information, please refer to the Fund’s prospectus.
Table of Contents
In the following interview, Portfolio Manager Joseph Wat discusses DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund’s strategy and the market environment during the six-month period ended April 30, 2006.
Q: How did the Asian markets perform during the past six months?
A: Stocks in Asia continued to deliver strong gains during the fund’s semiannual reporting period. Investors were encouraged by a litany of positive factors, including hearty economic growth, robust corporate earnings and the improving fiscal health of the region’s governments. Additionally, a recovery in the technology sector during the past half-year provided support to two of Asia’s largest markets, Korea and Taiwan. Liquidity also was a key factor, as low interest rates worldwide continue to fuel investors’ appetites for risk — a distinct positive for both China and India.
With this as a backdrop, the fund’s benchmark — the MSCI All Country Asia Free (ex-Japan) Index — delivered a return of 33.12%.1 In comparison, the MSCI World Index (an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted measure of global stock markets, including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and the Far East.) gained 16.01%.2 Notably, the stretch of outperformance for the Asian markets extends over the past five years, as well.
1 | The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) All Country Asia Free (ex-Japan) Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted measure of stock markets in the Pacific Region, excluding Japan. The Index is calculated using closing local market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. |
2 | 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. |
MSCI indices are calculated using closing market prices and translates into US dollars using the London close foreign exchange rates. Index returns assume reinvestment of dividends 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 All Country Asia Free (ex-Japan) Index | 43.51 | % | 37.79 | % | 18.10 | % | |||
MSCI World Index | 24.32 | % | 21.12 | % | 5.51 | % |
Table of Contents
Q: How did the fund perform in comparison with its benchmark and peer group?
A: The total return of the fund’s Class A shares for the six months ended April 30, 2005, was 35.87%. (Returns are unadjusted for sales charges. If sales charges had been included, return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please see pages 4 through 8 for complete performance information.)
We are pleased to report that the fund outperformed both the 33.12% return of the benchmark and the 31.83% average return of the 51 funds in its Lipper peer group, Pacific ex-Japan Funds.3 The fund’s one-year return of 46.17% also is ahead of the 43.51% return of the benchmark and the 45.24% category average. While one year is still a short time to measure performance, we believe the improvement in the fund’s results helps illustrate the effectiveness of our use of bottom-up, fundamental company research to find values in areas of the market that are out of favor.
3 | The Lipper Pacific ex-Japan Funds category comprises funds that concentrate their investments in equity securities with primary trading markets or operations concentrated in the Pacific region (including Asian countries) and that specifically do not invest in Japan. Category returns assume reinvestment of all distributions and, unlike fund returns, do not reflect fees or expenses. It is not possible to invest into a Lipper category. |
Q: What factors helped fund performance during the period?
A: The fund’s performance was boosted by strong stock selection across the board. In terms of relative performance, our stock picks outperformed the stocks in the benchmark in seven of the 10 major industry sectors, and in two of the three in which the fund lagged — health care and telecommunications — the underperformance was very slight.
The sector in which we added the most value was technology, almost entirely through stock selection. The largest individual contributor in this sector — and in the fund as a whole — was High Tech Computer Corp., a manufacturer of smart phones (cell phones with data capabilities). South Korea’s Hynix Semiconductor also contributed positively to performance as the market’s focus moved from short-term seasonal weakness to the company’s long-term growth potential and excessive valuation discount relative to its global peers. (As of April 30, 2006, the position in Hynix Semiconductor was sold.) Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., an outsourcing play, performed well during the period. While US-based companies in the electronic manufacturing services industry are burdened by high costs that make them less competitive, Hon Hai has a lower cost base due to its location in China. As a result, it has been taking business away from its American peers.
Also contributing to performance were the fund’s strategic moves in China. An overweight to this market in the first half of the period paid off, since signs of a resumption of growth in the country’s economy led to a rally in stock prices.4 Our investments in China are largely designed to take advantage of the growth in the domestic economy. For instance, we held a large overweight in China Life Insurance Co. Ltd., which we believe will benefit as the country’s growing middle class begins to spend more money on insurance. The stock performed well during the period, and was the third-largest contributor to the fund’s return. Outside of domestic plays, a top holding is PetroChina Co. Ltd., which surged on the strength of the rising prices for oil and gas.
4 | “Overweight” means the fund holds a higher weighting in a given sector or security than the benchmark. “Underweight” means the fund holds a lower weighting. |
We also added value through our investments in Hong Kong, where a strong economy supported continued gains in property prices. Key contributors included Kerry Properties Ltd., Hong Kong Land Holdings Ltd. and Sun Hung Kai Properties, Ltd. An overweight position in Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Co., Ltd. also helped fund performance.
Table of Contents
The stock has benefited significantly from investors use of the Hong Kong exchanges to gain exposure to China’s stock market. Outside of Hong Kong, rising trading volume also boosted shares of Singapore Exchange Ltd. — another substantial overweight for the fund.
Our investments in India also contributed positively as we had been overweight in infrastructure-related stocks such as the cement companies Grasim Industries Ltd. and Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd., as well as contractors such as Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
Q: What elements of the fund’s positioning detracted from performance?
A: A key detractor was the fund’s positions in CLP Holdings Ltd., a Hong Kong utility that was among the few holdings to post a negative total return. (As of April 30, 2006, the position in CLP Holdings was sold.) BOC (Bank of China) Hong Kong Holdings Ltd. posted a return that underperformed in the context of a strong market, so the fund’s overweight in the stock detracted. We had bought this stock on expectations that lower interest rates would boost loan growth, but lower rates did not in fact materialize. Several other financial stocks in the fund underperformed due to concerns that rising interest rates worldwide would crimp net interest margins (the difference between the rates at which banks lend and borrow). In total, however, our stock selection in financials was additive to performance.
Hyundai Motor Co. weighed on performance as well. We hold a weighting in the stock almost double that of the benchmark due to its improving global brand and concurrent rise in sales. However, Hyundai underperformed in the short-term due to rising input costs and investors’ concerns that the rising value of the Korean won would make its products more expensive for overseas consumers.
Also detracting was an underweight in the materials sector, which performed well on the strength of soaring commodities prices. We have taken a step back from the commodities sector, where the high level of speculation at work in the market makes it very hard to assess fundamentals and determine what the true value of commodity-oriented stocks actually are. Rather than investing in this area and be at the mercy of a speculative market, we are instead focusing more of our attention on sectors where we believe we can add more value through fundamental research.
Q: What notable changes did you make to the fund’s positioning?
A: In the first half of the reporting period, the fund was overweight in China, but we reduced this position due to our belief that the higher interest rates in the country will begin to take a toll on growth. We also reduced the fund’s position in Korea from an overweight to neutral, as we opted to take profits in some technology stocks that had performed well and in our view were due for a breather. Along the same line, we took profits in some of our technology holdings in Taiwan, and rotated assets into stocks that are more sensitive to the domestic economy.
Table of Contents
We reinvested the proceeds of these various sales into the smaller South Asian markets: the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In the Philippines, we believe the macroeconomic environment is much improved in the past two to three years. The government has been able to boost revenues and control expenses, and in the process reduce the budget deficit. Interest rates have come down as a result, and this has led to us to invest in property-related stocks. Similarly, our investments in Indonesia are domestic plays in banks such as Bank International Indonesia Tbk and the property developer Kawasan Industries Jababeka Tbk. We believe the government has made the right moves to stabilize the economy, and we feel that stocks such as these represent a direct way to take advantage of the positive trend. In Malaysia, meanwhile, the fund has been underweight for some time as we awaited the results of the government’s economic restructuring. Now, two years into the initiative, the efforts appear to be paying off. In addition, we are finding valuations in the market to be compelling.5 Top holdings in the country include Digi.com Bhd, a mobile telecommunications operator that was among the top contributors to fund performance during the period, and Telekom Malaysia Tbk, which is benefiting from its overseas investments in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
5 | “Valuation” refers to the price investors pay for a given security. An asset can be undervalued, meaning that it trades for less than its intrinsic value, or overvalued, which means that it trades at a more expensive price than its underlying worth. |
India, meanwhile, has generated a great deal of interest among investors, and this was reflected in the enormous level of cash that has poured into the country’s stock market during the past year. The fund’s investments in India are largely concentrated in domestic plays and infrastructure stocks. An example of the former is Bharti Tele-ventures Ltd., which has generated substantial earnings gains from the explosive growth in Internet subscribers in India. With respect to the latter, infrastructure investment has been lagging the growth in the economy, but the government that came into place last year has made this an area of focus and has begun to spend more money on airports, bridges and roads. Examples of stocks we own that should allow us to take advantage of this theme include Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd., Larsen & Toubro Ltd.
Q: What is your broad view of the asset class as we head into the second half of the year?
A: Given the strong run-up in the Asian markets during the past six months, and indeed the past three years, it would not be surprising to see stocks pause for a breather in the months ahead. That said, we believe the foundation for continued long-term outperformance remains in place. From a technical standpoint, the continued strength in investment flows and the possibility of a pause in US interest rate hikes both should lend support to the region’s markets. From a fundamental standpoint, the themes driving Asia’s growth — China’s rapid growth, Japan’s recovery, the expansion of the middle class and a robust global economy — all remain firmly in place. We encourage investors to stay focused on these long-term trends in the event that the global markets begin to experience greater short-term volatility.
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.
Table of Contents
Geographical (Excludes Cash Equivalents) | 4/30/06 | 10/31/05 | ||||
Korea | 26 | % | 29 | % | ||
Taiwan | 20 | % | 20 | % | ||
Hong Kong | 16 | % | 21 | % | ||
India | 10 | % | 7 | % | ||
Singapore | 9 | % | 9 | % | ||
China | 8 | % | 5 | % | ||
Malaysia | 4 | % | 5 | % | ||
Indonesia | 3 | % | 1 | % | ||
Thailand | 3 | % | 2 | % | ||
Philippines | 1 | % | 1 | % | ||
100 | % | 100 | % | |||
Sector Diversification (As a % of Common Stocks) | 4/30/06 | 10/31/05 | ||||
Financials | 33 | % | 31 | % | ||
Information Technology | 21 | % | 23 | % | ||
Industrials | 10 | % | 8 | % | ||
Telecommunication Services | 9 | % | 10 | % | ||
Consumer Staples | 8 | % | 7 | % | ||
Materials | 6 | % | 4 | % | ||
Energy | 5 | % | 4 | % | ||
Consumer Discretionary | 4 | % | 7 | % | ||
Utilities | 4 | % | 5 | % | ||
Other | — | 1 | % | |||
100 | % | 100 | % | |||
Geographical and sector diversification are subject to change.
Table of Contents
Ten Largest Equity Holdings at April 30, 2006 (29.4% of Net Assets)
1. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Korea | 6.7 | % | ||
Manufacturer of electronic parts | |||||
2. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Manufacturer of electronic products | Taiwan | 3.6 | % | ||
3. Kookmin Bank Provider of commercial banking services | Korea | 2.8 | % | ||
4. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Manufacturer of integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices | Taiwan | 2.8 | % | ||
5. PetroChina Co., Ltd. Explores, develop and produces crude oil and natural gas | China | 2.6 | % | ||
6. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd Provider of insurance products | Korea | 2.6 | % | ||
7. Hyundai Motor Co. Sells and exports cars, trucks and commercial vehicles | Korea | 2.2 | % | ||
8. Chungwha Telecom Co., Ltd Provides local, domestic, and international long distance services | Korea | 2.1 | % | ||
9. China Life Insurance Co., Ltd. Offers a wide range of insurance products and services | China | 2.0 | % | ||
10. BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd. Provider of financial products and services to retail corporate customers | Hong Kong | 2.0 | % |
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.
Table of Contents
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)
Shares | Value ($) | |||
Common Stocks 97.9% | ||||
China 8.3% | ||||
China Construction Bank “H”* | 6,641,000 | 2,869,404 | ||
China Life Insurance Co., Ltd. “H”* | 2,278,000 | 3,085,009 | ||
China Telecom Corp., Ltd. “H” | 5,479,000 | 1,925,667 | ||
Golden Eagle Retail Group Ltd.* | 500,000 | 278,913 | ||
PetroChina Co., Ltd. “H” | 3,684,000 | 4,062,554 | ||
ZTE Corp. “H” | 192,000 | 656,237 | ||
(Cost $9,498,986) | 12,877,784 | |||
Hong Kong 16.1% | ||||
BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Ltd. | 1,490,000 | 3,074,820 | ||
Cheung Kong (Holdings) Ltd. | 268,000 | 3,021,062 | ||
China Mengniu Dairy Co., Ltd. | 2,103,000 | 2,400,468 | ||
China Mobile (Hong Kong) Ltd. | 289,000 | 1,681,078 | ||
CNOOC Ltd. | 2,262,000 | 1,823,417 | ||
Dah Sing Banking Group Ltd. | 886,000 | 1,742,677 | ||
Fittec International Group | 1,888,000 | 675,738 | ||
Hang Seng Bank Ltd. | 103,700 | 1,341,508 | ||
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. | 394,000 | 2,840,674 | ||
Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd. | 391,000 | 1,532,720 | ||
Kerry Properties Ltd. | 448,000 | 1,589,001 | ||
Shangri-La Asia Ltd. | 868,000 | 1,539,345 | ||
Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. (REIT) | 138,000 | 1,575,200 | ||
(Cost $20,026,033) | 24,837,708 | |||
India 9.3% | ||||
Bajaj Hindusthan Ltd. (GDR) 144A | 50,000 | 572,694 | ||
Bharti Tele-Ventures Ltd.* | 157,800 | 1,479,838 | ||
Grasim Industries Ltd. | 16,388 | 859,549 | ||
Gujarat Ambuja Cements Ltd. | 476,775 | 1,235,474 | ||
Hindustan Lever Ltd. | 273,000 | 1,770,548 | ||
Infosys Technologies Ltd. | 10,950 | 766,988 | ||
ITC Ltd. | 150,000 | 672,661 | ||
Larsen & Toubro Ltd. | 19,900 | 1,190,033 | ||
National Thermal Power Corp., Ltd. | 477,600 | 1,446,628 | ||
Reliance Capital Ventures Ltd.* | 45,611 | 26,462 | ||
Reliance Communication Ventures Ltd.* | 45,611 | 311,861 | ||
Reliance Industries Ltd. | 45,611 | 1,025,994 | ||
State Bank of India | 61,944 | 1,399,883 | ||
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. | 36,216 | 1,605,119 | ||
(Cost $8,904,180) | 14,363,732 | |||
Indonesia 2.7% | ||||
PT Bank International Indonesia Tbk | 40,888,000 | 861,045 | ||
PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk | 7,388,000 | 950,306 | ||
PT Kawasan Industri Jababeka Tbk* | 52,000,000 | 917,473 | ||
PT Matahari Putra Prima Tbk | 4,405,000 | 486,380 | ||
PT United Tractors Tbk | 1,647,000 | 1,021,759 | ||
(Cost $3,304,310) | 4,236,963 | |||
Korea 25.3% | ||||
Amorepacific Corp. | 4,800 | 1,763,359 | ||
Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. | 96,000 | 1,659,033 | ||
Hyundai Motor Co. | 38,400 | 3,375,064 | ||
Kookmin Bank | 48,810 | 4,372,821 | ||
Korea Electric Power Corp. | 45,800 | 2,034,584 | ||
Korea Exchange Bank* | 118,140 | 1,521,841 | ||
LG Chem Ltd. | 30,000 | 1,323,155 | ||
LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.* | 32,800 | 1,380,577 | ||
LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd. | 23,500 | 889,472 | ||
NHN Corp.* | 3,500 | 1,243,108 | ||
POSCO | 6,050 | 1,686,970 | ||
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | 15,278 | 10,431,544 | ||
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd. | 28,000 | 4,022,477 | ||
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. | 25,400 | 1,144,508 | ||
Shinsegae Co., Ltd. | 4,700 | 2,297,180 | ||
(Cost $24,600,442) | 39,145,693 | |||
Malaysia 4.1% | ||||
Digi.com Bhd.* | 488,000 | 1,507,752 | ||
Telekom Malaysia Bhd. | 1,119,000 | 3,009,724 | ||
Tenaga Nasional Bhd. | 788,500 | 1,859,772 | ||
(Cost $5,500,719) | 6,377,248 | |||
Philippines 1.1% | ||||
Manila Water Co. | 4,054,000 | 508,952 | ||
Universal Robina Corp. | 2,700,000 | 1,186,384 | ||
(Cost $1,378,627) | 1,695,336 | |||
Singapore 9.0% | ||||
Capitaland Ltd. | 884,000 | 2,739,958 | ||
City Developments Ltd. | 250,000 | 1,597,192 | ||
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., Ltd. | 292,600 | 1,258,574 | ||
SembCorp Marine Ltd. | 753,000 | 1,457,512 | ||
Singapore Airlines Ltd. | 164,000 | 1,473,085 | ||
Singapore Exchange Ltd. | 881,000 | 2,396,293 | ||
SMRT Corp., Ltd. | 1,943,000 | 1,388,823 | ||
United Overseas Bank Ltd. | 155,000 | 1,598,140 | ||
(Cost $9,767,015) | 13,909,577 | |||
Taiwan 19.4% | ||||
Cathay Financial Holding Co., Ltd. | 1,261,000 | 2,825,848 | ||
China Steel Corp. | 1,629,000 | 1,590,401 | ||
Chungwha Telecom Co., Ltd. | 1,674,000 | 3,216,204 | ||
Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp. | 918,000 | 1,490,391 | ||
High Tech Computer Corp. | 78,000 | 2,493,575 | ||
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | 816,870 | 5,542,918 | ||
King Slide Works Co., Ltd. | 128,000 | 758,227 | ||
Largan Precision Co., Ltd. | 46,000 | 970,288 | ||
MediaTek, Inc. | 248,800 | 2,904,720 | ||
Nan Ya Plastics Corp. | 744,000 | 1,086,642 | ||
Shin Zu Shing Co., Ltd. | 85,000 | 586,097 | ||
SinoPac Financial Holdings Co., Ltd. | 2,021,000 | 1,121,159 | ||
Taiwan Green Point Enterprises Co., Ltd. | 353,000 | 1,020,078 | ||
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | 2,031,865 | 4,336,802 | ||
(Cost $24,043,416) | 29,943,350 | |||
Thailand 2.6% | ||||
Airports of Thailand PCL (Foreign Registered) | 583,000 | 908,752 | ||
Bangkok Bank PCL (Foreign Registered) | 168,000 | 532,694 | ||
Krungthai Card PCL (Foreign Registered) | 1,429,000 | 879,560 | ||
PTT PCL (Foreign Registered) | 178,800 | 1,229,161 | ||
The Siam Cement PCL (Foreign Registered) | 59,000 | 399,307 | ||
(Cost $3,199,093) | 3,949,474 | |||
Total Common Stocks (Cost $110,222,821) | 151,336,865 | |||
Cash Equivalents 1.2% | ||||
United States | ||||
Cash Management QP Trust, 4.78% (a) (Cost $1,836,041) | 1,836,041 | 1,836,041 | ||
% of Net Assets | Value ($) | |||
Total Investment Portfolio (Cost $112,058,862)+ | 99.1 | 153,172,906 | ||
Other Assets and Liabilities, Net | 0.9 | 1,453,773 | ||
Net Assets | 100.0 | 154,626,679 | ||
* | Non-income producing security |
+ | The cost for federal income tax purposes was $112,101,713. At April 30, 2006, net unrealized appreciation for all securities based on tax cost was $41,071,193. This consisted of aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of value over tax cost of $41,525,980 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all securities in which there was an excess of tax cost over value of $454,787. |
(a) | 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.
GDR: Global Depositary Receipt
REIT: Real Estate Investment Trust
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of April 30, 2006 (Unaudited)
Assets | ||||
Investments: | ||||
Investments in securities, at value (cost $110,222,821) | $ | 151,336,865 | ||
Investment in Cash Management QP Trust (cost $1,836,041) | 1,836,041 | |||
Total investments in securities, at value (cost $112,058,862) | 153,172,906 | |||
Cash | 280 | |||
Foreign currency, at value (cost $1,120,116) | 1,141,454 | |||
Dividends receivable | 430,373 | |||
Interest receivable | 12,001 | |||
Receivable for Fund shares sold | 348,292 | |||
Foreign taxes recoverable | 115,601 | |||
Receivable for investments sold | 91,084 | |||
Other assets | 55,714 | |||
Total assets | 155,367,705 | |||
Liabilities | ||||
Payable for Fund shares redeemed | 94,122 | |||
Deferred foreign taxes payable | 266,371 | |||
Accrued management fee | 97,879 | |||
Other accrued expenses and payables | 282,654 | |||
Total liabilities | 741,026 | |||
Net assets, at value | $ | 154,626,679 | ||
Net Assets | ||||
Net assets consist of: | ||||
Accumulated distributions in excess of net investment income | (98,811 | ) | ||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: | ||||
Investments (net of deferred foreign taxes of $266,371) | 40,847,673 | |||
Foreign currency related transactions | 24,387 | |||
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) | (8,240,531 | ) | ||
Paid-in capital | 122,093,961 | |||
Net assets, at value | $ | 154,626,679 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
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 ($23,918,332 ÷ 1,263,550 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 18.93 | |
Maximum offering price per share (100 ÷ 94.25 of $18.93) | $ | 20.08 | |
Class B | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($5,021,951 ÷ 269,520 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 18.63 | |
Class C | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($5,321,702 ÷ 285,393 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 18.65 | |
Class AARP | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) per share ($4,201,066 ÷ 219,983 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 19.10 | |
Class S | |||
Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price(a) per share ($116,163,628 ÷ 6,087,715 shares of capital stock outstanding, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized) | $ | 19.08 |
(a) | Redemption price per share for shares held less than 30 days is equal to net asset value less a 2% redemption fee. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
Statement of Operations for the six months ended April 30, 2006 (Unaudited)
Investment Income | ||||
Income: | ||||
Dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $139,260) | $ | 1,136,172 | ||
Interest — Cash Management QP Trust | 68,156 | |||
Total Income | 1,204,328 | |||
Expenses: | ||||
Management fee | 561,960 | |||
Services to shareholders | 230,900 | |||
Custodian and accounting fees | 173,899 | |||
Distribution service fees | 63,020 | |||
Auditing | 43,354 | |||
Legal | 7,147 | |||
Directors fees and expenses | 997 | |||
Reports to shareholders | 19,145 | |||
Registration fees | 13,325 | |||
Other | 90,962 | |||
Total expenses before expense reductions | 1,204,709 | |||
Expense reductions | (4,462 | ) | ||
Total expenses after expense reductions | 1,200,247 | |||
Net investment income (loss) | 4,081 | |||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investment Transactions | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) from: | ||||
Investments (net of deferred foreign taxes of $38,041) | 8,434,624 | |||
Foreign currency related transactions | 23,603 | |||
8,458,227 | ||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) during the period on: | ||||
Investments (net of deferred foreign taxes of $238,586) | 31,358,277 | |||
Foreign currency related transactions | 26,638 | |||
31,384,915 | ||||
Net gain (loss) on investment transactions | 39,843,142 | |||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ | 39,847,223 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
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) | $ | 4,081 | $ | 1,673,444 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 8,458,227 | 17,048,537 | ||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investment transactions during the period | 31,384,915 | (73,346 | ) | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 39,847,223 | 18,648,635 | ||||||
Distributions to shareholders from: | ||||||||
Net investment income: | ||||||||
Class A | (140,135 | ) | (124,444 | ) | ||||
Class AARP | (21,483 | ) | (11,129 | ) | ||||
Class S | (1,008,308 | ) | (804,555 | ) | ||||
Fund share transactions: | ||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 24,741,181 | 21,687,565 | ||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 1,116,937 | 895,861 | ||||||
Cost of shares redeemed | (19,679,735 | ) | (33,432,011 | ) | ||||
Redemption fees | 14,008 | 5,968 | ||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | 6,192,391 | (10,842,617 | ) | |||||
Increase (decrease) in net assets | 44,869,688 | 6,865,890 | ||||||
Net assets at beginning of period | 109,756,991 | 102,891,101 | ||||||
Net assets at end of period (including distributions in excess of net investment income and undistributed net investment income of $98,811 and $1,067,034, respectively) | $ | 154,626,679 | $ | 109,756,991 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
Table of Contents
Class A
Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001b | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 14.05 | $ | 11.95 | $ | 10.90 | $ | 7.97 | $ | 7.37 | $ | 9.37 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)c | (.01 | ) | .19 | .07 | .08 | (.03 | ) | (.01 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 5.02 | 2.03 | 1.04 | 2.85 | .62 | (2.00 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 5.01 | 2.22 | 1.11 | 2.93 | .59 | (2.01 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.13 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.07 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .01 | .00 | *** | .01 | .01 | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 18.93 | $ | 14.05 | $ | 11.95 | $ | 10.90 | $ | 7.97 | $ | 7.37 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (%)d | 35.87 | ** | 18.63 | 10.32 | e | 36.76 | 8.14 | (21.34 | )** | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 24 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 7 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.84 | * | 1.83 | 1.89 | 1.76 | 1.79 | 1.80 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.84 | * | 1.83 | 1.88 | 1.76 | 1.79 | 1.80 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.02 | )* | 1.40 | .76 | .94 | (.33 | ) | (.09 | )* | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 95 | * | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
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. |
Table of Contents
Class B
Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001b | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 13.78 | $ | 11.69 | $ | 10.69 | $ | 7.88 | $ | 7.35 | $ | 9.37 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)c | (.08 | ) | .08 | (.00 | )*** | .01 | (.10 | ) | (.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 4.93 | 2.01 | .99 | 2.80 | .62 | (2.00 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 4.85 | 2.09 | .99 | 2.81 | .52 | (2.03 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .01 | .00 | *** | .01 | .01 | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 18.63 | $ | 13.78 | $ | 11.69 | $ | 10.69 | $ | 7.88 | $ | 7.35 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (%)d | 35.20e | ** | 17.88 | e | 9.35 | e | 35.66 | 7.21 | (21.56 | )** | ||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.90 | * | 2.88 | 2.83 | 2.59 | 2.59 | 2.61 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.80 | * | 2.74 | 2.67 | 2.59 | 2.59 | 2.61 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.98 | )* | .49 | (.04 | ) | .11 | (1.13 | ) | (.90 | )* | ||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 95 | * | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
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. |
Table of Contents
Class C
Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001b | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 13.78 | $ | 11.71 | $ | 10.70 | $ | 7.89 | $ | 7.35 | $ | 9.37 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)c | (.07 | ) | .08 | .00 | *** | .02 | (.10 | ) | (.03 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 4.94 | 1.99 | 1.00 | 2.79 | .63 | (2.00 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 4.87 | 2.07 | 1.00 | 2.81 | .53 | (2.03 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .01 | .00 | *** | .01 | .01 | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 18.65 | $ | 13.78 | $ | 11.71 | $ | 10.70 | $ | 7.89 | $ | 7.35 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (%)d | 35.34 | ** | 17.68 | 9.44 | e | 35.61 | 7.35 | (21.56 | )** | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 2.63 | * | 2.69 | 2.79 | 2.55 | 2.56 | 2.57 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 2.63 | * | 2.69 | 2.67 | 2.55 | 2.56 | 2.57 | * | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.81 | )* | .54 | .04 | .15 | (1.10 | ) | (.86 | )* | |||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 95 | * | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
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. |
Table of Contents
Class AARP
Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 14.17 | $ | 12.04 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | $ | 10.08 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)b | .01 | .20 | .12 | .10 | (.01 | ) | .01 | |||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 5.07 | 2.05 | 1.03 | 2.87 | .63 | (2.73 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 5.08 | 2.25 | 1.15 | 2.97 | .62 | (2.72 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.15 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.10 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .01 | .00 | *** | .01 | .02 | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 19.10 | $ | 14.17 | $ | 12.04 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 36.04 | ** | 18.69 | c | 10.71 | c | 37.08 | 8.54 | (26.79 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 4 | 2 | 1 | .388 | .167 | .064 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.63 | * | 1.84 | 1.70 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.63 | * | 1.75 | 1.69 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .19 | * | 1.48 | .95 | 1.19 | (.05 | ) | .19 | ||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 95 | * | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
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. |
Table of Contents
Class S
Years Ended October 31, | 2006a | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 14.18 | $ | 12.03 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | $ | 10.09 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)b | .01 | .22 | .12 | .10 | (.01 | ) | .01 | |||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 5.06 | 2.05 | 1.02 | 2.87 | .63 | (2.74 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 5.07 | 2.27 | 1.14 | 2.97 | .62 | (2.73 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.17 | ) | (.12 | ) | (.10 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Redemption fees | .00 | *** | .00 | *** | .01 | .00 | *** | .01 | .02 | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 19.08 | $ | 14.18 | $ | 12.03 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 8.01 | $ | 7.38 | ||||||||||||
Total Return (%) | 35.97 | ** | 18.87 | 10.62 | c | 37.08 | 8.54 | (26.86 | ) | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 116 | 87 | 82 | 80 | 66 | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.67 | * | 1.63 | 1.71 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.67 | * | 1.63 | 1.65 | 1.51 | 1.51 | 1.67 | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .15 | * | 1.60 | .99 | 1.19 | (.05 | ) | .19 | ||||||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 95 | * | 100 | 80 | 109 | 77 | 212 |
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. |
Table of Contents
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
A. Significant Accounting Policies
DWS Pacific Opportunities Equity Fund (formerly Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund) (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of DWS International Fund, Inc. (the “Corporation”) (formerly Scudder International Fund, Inc.) 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 to investors 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 were designed for members of AARP (see Note C, under the caption Other Related Parties). 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.
Table of Contents
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.
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.
At October 31, 2005, the Fund had a net tax basis capital loss carryforward of approximately $16,609,000 which may be applied against any realized net taxable capital gains of each succeeding year until fully utilized or until October 31, 2008 ($2,173,000) and October 31, 2009 ($14,436,000), the respective expiration dates, whichever occurs first, of which $2,173,000 may be subject to certain limitations under Sections 382-384 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Table of Contents
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 all 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.
Table of Contents
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 $66,909,335 and $61,303,998, 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 equal to an annual rate of 0.85% of the first $250,000,000 of the Fund’s average daily net assets, 0.82% of the next $750,000,000 of such net assets, 0.80% of the next $1,500,000,000 of such net assets, 0.78% of the next $2,500,000,000 of such net assets, 0.75% of the next $2,500,000,000 of such net assets, 0.74% of the next $2,500,000,000 of such net assets, 0.73% of the next $2,500,000,000 of such net assets and 0.72% of such net assets in excess of $12,500,000,000, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly. Accordingly, for the six months ended April 30, 2006, the fee pursuant to the Management Agreement was equivalent to an annualized effective rate of 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
Under the Management Agreement, the Advisor has entered into an Investment Advisory, Management and Administration Agreement with Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited (“DeAM Asia”). The Advisor compensates DeAM Asia out of the management fee it receives from the Fund.
Effective October 1, 2003 through May 31, 2006, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive all or 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 and interest, Rule 12b-1 distribution and/or service fees and director and director counsel fees).
Table of Contents
Service Provider Fees. DWS 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”), a subsidiary 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 | $ | 22,160 | $ | — | $ | 5,515 | |||
Class B | 10,572 | 2,035 | 9,152 | ||||||
Class C | 4,965 | — | 385 | ||||||
Class AARP | 3,334 | — | 1,116 | ||||||
Class S | 133,972 | — | 54,099 | ||||||
$ | 175,003 | $ | 2,035 | $ | 70,267 | ||||
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 $54,664, of which $9,111 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 | $ | 15,807 | $ | 3,037 | ||
Class C | 15,424 | 3,038 | ||||
$ | 31,231 | $ | 6,075 | |||
Table of Contents
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 | $ | 21,594 | $ | 4,798 | .22 | % | |||
Class B | 5,181 | 904 | .25 | % | |||||
Class C | 5,014 | 1,174 | .24 | % | |||||
$ | 31,789 | $ | 6,876 | ||||||
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 $8,463.
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 C shares aggregated $5,915 and $35, respectively. A deferred sales charge of up to 1% is assessed on certain redemptions of Class A.
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 $12,240, of which $7,080 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 his/her 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 the Advisor a management fee for the affiliated funds’ investments in the QP Trust.
Table of Contents
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
For the six months ended April 30, 2006, the Advisor agreed to reimburse the Fund $2,427, 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
Investments in securities of foreign issuers present greater risks than investments in domestic securities, including currency fluctuations and changes in political/economic conditions. Foreign security markets generally exhibit greater price volatility and are less liquid than the US market. Additionally, this Fund focuses its investments in certain geographic regions, thereby increasing its vulnerability to developments in a particular region and potentially subjecting the Fund’s shares to greater price volatility. Please read this Fund’s prospectus for specific details regarding its risk profile.
F. Line of Credit
The Fund and several other affiliated funds (the “Participants”) share in a $750 million revolving credit facility administered by J.P. Morgan Chase Bank 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.
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 | 645,861 | $ | 10,990,872 | 636,631 | $ | 8,642,003 | ||||||||
Class B | 72,771 | 1,236,106 | 97,171 | 1,302,243 | ||||||||||
Class C | 168,892 | 2,753,889 | 234,973 | 3,129,420 | ||||||||||
Class AARP | 114,397 | 1,988,266 | 77,379 | 1,075,446 | ||||||||||
Class S | 453,734 | 7,772,048 | 549,957 | 7,538,453 | ||||||||||
$ | 24,741,181 | $ | 21,687,565 | |||||||||||
Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions | ||||||||||||||
Class A | 8,461 | $ | 133,766 | 9,169 | $ | 117,186 | ||||||||
Class AARP | 1,292 | 20,601 | 814 | 10,479 | ||||||||||
Class S | 60,425 | 962,570 | 59,689 | 768,196 | ||||||||||
$ | 1,116,937 | $ | 895,861 | |||||||||||
Shares redeemed | ||||||||||||||
Class A | (416,863 | ) | $ | (7,165,478 | ) | (794,196 | ) | $ | (10,611,919 | ) | ||||
Class B | (70,660 | ) | (1,154,513 | ) | (154,915 | ) | (2,056,363 | ) | ||||||
Class C | (106,474 | ) | (1,739,502 | ) | (192,882 | ) | (2,564,193 | ) | ||||||
Class AARP | (34,187 | ) | (586,269 | ) | (28,614 | ) | (396,855 | ) | ||||||
Class S | (536,146 | ) | (9,033,973 | ) | (1,303,650 | ) | (17,802,681 | ) | ||||||
$ | (19,679,735 | ) | $ | (33,432,011 | ) | |||||||||
Redemption fees |
| $ | 14,008 | $ | 5,968 | |||||||||
Net increase (decrease) | ||||||||||||||
Class A | 237,459 | $ | 3,970,641 | (148,396 | ) | $ | (1,852,425 | ) | ||||||
Class B | 2,111 | 81,725 | (57,744 | ) | (754,119 | ) | ||||||||
Class C | 62,418 | 1,014,442 | 42,091 | 565,230 | ||||||||||
Class AARP | 81,502 | 1,422,644 | 49,579 | 689,070 | ||||||||||
Class S | (21,987 | ) | (297,061 | ) | (694,004 | ) | (9,490,373 | ) | ||||||
$ | 6,192,391 | $ | (10,842,617 | ) | ||||||||||
Table of Contents
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.
Table of Contents
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.
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 Pacific Opportunities 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 Trustees. (“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 |
Table of Contents
II-A. Approval of an Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement:
Number of Votes: | ||||||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes* | |||
3,763,378.157 | 224,697.972 | 169,017.597 | 615,806.000 |
II-B. Approval of a Subadvisor Approval Policy:
Number of Votes: | ||||||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes* | |||
3,722,826.913 | 262,131.058 | 172,135.755 | 615,806.000 |
III. Approval of a Revised Fundamental Investment Restriction Regarding Commodities:
Number of Votes: | ||||||
For | Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes* | |||
3,720,174.977 | 257,206.037 | 179,712.712 | 615,806.000 |
The Meeting was reconvened on June 1, 2006, at which time the following matter was voted upon by the shareholders (the resulting votes are presented below):
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. |
Table of Contents
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 Kansas City, MO 64121-9356 | |
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 Chicago, IL 60606-5808 (800) 621-1148 |
Class A | Class B | Class C | ||||
Nasdaq Symbol | SPAOX | SBPOX | SPCCX | |||
CUSIP Number | 23337R 718 | 23337R 692 | 23337R 684 | |||
Fund Number | 473 | 673 | 773 |
Table of Contents
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 Kansas City, MO 64121-9669 | |
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 Chicago, IL 60606-5808 (800) 621-1148 |
Class AARP | Class S | |||
Nasdaq Symbol | SPOPX | SCOPX | ||
Fund Number | 2173 | 2073 |
Table of Contents
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
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Notes
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC.
FORM N-14
PART C: OTHER INFORMATION
Item 15. Indemnification
Article FOURTH of the Registrant’s articles of amendment and restatement provides in effect that the Registrant will indemnify its officers and directors under certain circumstances. However, in accordance with Section 17(h) and 17(i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and its own terms, such articles of amendment and restatement do not protect any person against any liability to the Registrant or its shareholders to which such Director would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Each of the directors who is not an “interested person” (as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940) of Registrant (a “Non-Interested Director”) has entered into an indemnification agreement with Registrant, which agreement provides that the Registrant shall indemnify the Non-Interested Director against certain liabilities which such director may incur while acting in the capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Registrant to the fullest extent permitted by law, now or in the future, and requires indemnification and advancement of expenses unless prohibited by law. The indemnification agreement cannot be altered without the consent of the Non-Interested Director and is not affected by amendment of the articles of amendment and restatement. In addition, the indemnification agreement adopts certain presumptions and procedures which may make the process of indemnification and advancement of expenses more timely, efficient and certain. In accordance with Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the indemnification agreement does not protect a Non-Interested Director against any liability to the Registrant or its shareholders to which such director would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
The Registrant has purchased insurance policies insuring its officers and directors against certain liabilities which such officers and directors may incur while acting in such capacities and providing reimbursement to the Registrant for sums which it may be permitted or required to pay to its officers and directors by way of indemnification against such liabilities, subject to certain deductibles.
ARTICLE FOURTH of the Registrant’s charter provides as follows:
ARTICLE FOURTH: Limitation of Liability; Indemnification.
Section 4.1. Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the 1940 Act and the Maryland General Corporation Law, no director or former director and no officer or former officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its Shareholders for money damages. No amendment to the Charter or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the benefits provided by this Section 4.1 to directors or former directors or officers or former
Table of Contents
officers with respect to any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 4.2. Indemnification.
(a) Any word or words used in this Section 4.2 that are defined in Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “Indemnification Section”) shall have the same meaning as defined in the Indemnification Section.
(b) The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to a director or officer (which includes, with respect to any such person, any person who is or was an officer of the Corporation and any person who, while an officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, or employee benefit plan) of the Corporation in connection with a proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by and in accordance with the Indemnification Section and the 1940 Act. The foregoing rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled.
(c) No amendment to this Charter or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the protection afforded by this Section 4.2 to a director or officer (as that term is described in subsection (b) above) with respect to any act or omission that occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.
Section 4.3. Reliance on Experts. Subject to any requirements of the 1940 Act and the Maryland General Corporation Law, the appointment, designation or identification of a director as the chairperson of the Board of Directors, as a member or chairperson of a committee of the Board of Directors, an expert on any topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), or the lead independent director, or any other special appointment, designation or identification of a director, shall not impose on that person any standard of care or liability that is greater than that imposed on that person as a director in the absence of the appointment, designation or identification, and no director who has special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof. In addition, and subject to any contrary requirements of the 1940 Act and the Maryland General Corporation Law, no appointment, designation or identification of a director as aforesaid shall affect in any way that director’s rights or entitlement to indemnification.
On April 5, 2002, Zurich Scudder Investments, Inc. (“Scudder”), the Registrant’s investment adviser, now known as Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., was acquired by Deutsche Bank AG, not including certain U.K. Operations (the “Transaction”). In connection with the directors’ evaluation of the Transaction, Deutsche Bank agreed to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Registrant and the directors who were not “interested persons” of Scudder,
Table of Contents
Deutsche Bank or Registrant (the “Independent Directors”) for and against any liability and claims and expenses based upon or arising from, whether in whole or in part, or directly or indirectly, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact made to the Independent Directors by Deutsche Bank in connection with the Independent Directors’ consideration of the Transaction, or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact necessary in order to make statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (hereafter, “DeIM”), the Registrant’s investment adviser, has agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify and hold harmless the Registrant against any loss, damage, liability and expense, including, without limitation, the advancement and payment, as incurred, of reasonable fees and expenses of counsel (including counsel to the Registrant and counsel to the Independent Directors) and consultants, whether retained by the Registrant or the Independent Directors, and other customary costs and expenses incurred by the Registrant in connection with any litigation or regulatory action related to possible improper market timing or other improper trading activity or possible improper marketing and sales activity in the Registrant (“Private Litigation and Enforcement Actions”). In the event that this indemnification is unavailable to the Registrant for any reason, then DeIM has agreed to contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Registrant as a result of any loss, damage, liability or expense in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of DeIM and the Registrant with respect to the matters which resulted in such loss, damage, liability or expense, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, that if no final determination is made in such action or proceeding as to the relative fault of DeIM and the Registrant, then DeIM shall pay the entire amount of such loss, damage, liability or expense.
In recognition of its undertaking to indemnify the Registrant, and in light of the rebuttable presumption generally afforded to non-interested board members of an investment company that they have not engaged in disabling conduct, DeIM has also agreed, subject to applicable law and regulation, to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Independent Directors against any and all loss, damage, liability and expense, including without limitation the advancement and payment as incurred of reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and consultants, and other customary costs and expenses incurred by the Independent Directors, arising from the matters alleged in any Private Litigation and Enforcement Actions or matters arising from or similar in subject matter to the matters alleged in the Private Litigation and Enforcement Actions (collectively, “Covered Matters”), including without limitation:
1. | all reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by the Independent Directors in connection with the Private Litigation and Enforcement Actions, and any actions that may be threatened or commenced in the future by any person (including any governmental authority), arising from or similar to the matters alleged in the Private Litigation and Enforcement Actions, including without limitation expenses related to the defense of, service as a witness in, or monitoring of such proceedings or actions; |
Table of Contents
2. | all liabilities and reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by any Independent Director in connection with any judgment resulting from, or settlement of, any such proceeding, action or matter; |
3. | any loss or reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by any Independent Director as a result of the denial of, or dispute about, any insurance claim under, or actual or purported rescission or termination of, any policy of insurance arranged by DeIM (or by a representative of DeIM acting as such, acting as a representative of the Registrant or of the Independent Directors or acting otherwise) for the benefit of the Independent Director, to the extent that such denial, dispute or rescission is based in whole or in part upon any alleged misrepresentation made in the application for such policy or any other alleged improper conduct on the part of DeIM, any of its corporate affiliates, or any of their directors, officers or employees; |
4. | any loss or reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by any Independent Director, whether or not such loss or expense is incurred with respect to a Covered Matter, which is otherwise covered under the terms of any specified policy of insurance, but for which the Independent Director is unable to obtain advancement of expenses or indemnification under that policy of insurance, due to the exhaustion of policy limits which is due in whole or in part to DeIM or any affiliate thereof having received advancement of expenses or indemnification under that policy for or with respect to any Covered Matter; provided, that the total amount that DeIM will be obligated to pay under this provision for all loss or expense shall not exceed the amount that DeIM and any of its affiliates actually receive under that policy of insurance for or with respect to any and all Covered Matters; and |
5. | all liabilities and reasonable legal and other expenses incurred by any Independent Director in connection with any proceeding or action to enforce his or her rights under the agreement, unless DeIM prevails on the merits of any such dispute in a final, nonappealable court order. |
DeIM is not required to pay costs or expenses or provide indemnification to or for any individual Independent Director (i) with respect to any particular proceeding or action as to which the board of directors of the Registrant has determined that such Independent Director ultimately would not be entitled to indemnification with respect thereto, or (ii) for any liability of the Independent Director to the Registrant or its shareholders to which such Independent Director would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Independent Director’s duties as a director of the Registrant as determined in a final adjudication in such proceeding or action. In addition, to the extent that DeIM has paid costs or expenses under the agreement to any individual Independent Director with respect to a particular proceeding or action, and there is a final adjudication in such proceeding or action of the Independent Director’s liability to the Registrant or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of the Independent Director’s duties as a director of the Registrant, such Independent Director has undertaken to repay such costs or expenses to DeIM.
Table of Contents
Item 16. Exhibits
1. | Articles of Amendment and Restatement dated June 23, 2006 are filed herein as Exhibit 1. |
2. | Amended and Restated Bylaws dated June 27, 2006 are filed herein as Exhibit 2. |
3. | Not applicable. |
4. | Form of Agreement and Plan of Conversion constitutes Exhibit A to Part A hereof. |
5. | (a) Articles V, VI, VII and VIII of the Articles of Amendment and Restatement included in response to Item 16(1) of this Part C. |
(b) Articles 5, 8 and 9 of the Bylaws of the Registrant included in response to Item 16(2) of this Part C. |
6. | (a) Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., dated June 1, 2006 is filed herein as Exhibit 6(a). |
(b) Research and Advisory Agreement between Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. and Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited, dated April 8, 2002, on behalf of Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 93 to the registration statement of the Registrant on Form N-1A (the “Registration Statement”), as filed on February 7, 2003.) |
(c) Amendment to Research and Advisory Agreement between Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. and Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited, dated April 23, 2003, on behalf of the Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 96 to the Registration Statement, as filed on December 29, 2003.) |
(d) Subadvisory agreement between the Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc., in regards to DWS International Value Opportunities Fund and Deutsche Asset Management International GmbH is to be filed by post-effective amendment. |
7. | Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Scudder Distributors, Inc. dated September 30, 2002. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 89 to the Registration Statement, as filed on November 1, 2002.) |
8. | Not applicable. |
9. | (a) Custodian Contract between the Registrant, on behalf of Scudder Latin America Fund, and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. dated November 25, 1992. |
Table of Contents
(Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registration Statement, as filed on July 31, 1997.) |
(b) Custodian Contract between the Registrant, on behalf of Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund, and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. dated November 25, 1992. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registration Statement, as filed on July 31, 1997.) |
(c) Custodian Contract between the Registrant, on behalf of Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund, and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. dated October 10, 1994. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 44 to the Registration Statement, as filed on February 17, 1995.) |
(d) Custodian Contract between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. dated March 7, 1995. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registration Statement, as filed on June 4, 1997.) |
10. | (a) Rule 12b-1 Plan for Scudder International Fund—Classes A, B and C shares, dated December 29, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registration Statement, as filed on March 1, 2001.) |
(b) Rule 12b-1 Plan for Scudder Emerging Markets Growth Fund—Classes A, B and C shares, dated December 29, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registration Statement, as filed on March 1, 2001.) |
(c) Rule 12b-1 Plan for Scudder Greater Europe Growth Fund—Classes A, B and C shares, dated December 29, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registration Statement, as filed on March 1, 2001.) |
(d) Rule 12b-1 Plan for Scudder Latin America Fund—Classes A, B and C shares, dated December 29, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registration Statement, as filed on March 1, 2001.) |
(e) Rule 12b-1 Plan for Scudder Pacific Opportunities Fund—Classes A, B and C shares, dated December 29, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registration Statement, as filed on March 1, 2001.) |
(f) Rule 12b-1 Plan for DWS International Value Opportunities Fund—Classes A and C shares, dated July 1, 2006 (to be filed by amendment). |
(g) Amended and Restated Multi-Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3, dated June 27, 2005 is filed herein as Exhibit 10(g). |
11. | Form of Opinion of Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver, a Professional Corporation, including consent, is filed herein as Exhibit 11. |
12. | Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as to tax matters, including consent, is to be filed by post-effective amendment. |
Table of Contents
13. | (a) Administrative Services Agreement dated June 1, 2006, is filed herein as Exhibit 13(a). |
(b) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement between the Registrant and Scudder Service Corporation dated October 2, 1989. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 56 to the Registration Statement, as filed on July 31, 1997.) |
(c) Agency Agreement between the Registrant and Kemper Service Company, dated November 13, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registration Statement, as filed on March 1, 2001.) |
(d) Shareholder Services Agreement between the Registrant, for Classes A, B and C shares, and Kemper Distributors, Inc., dated December 29, 2000. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registration Statement, as filed on March 1, 2001.) |
(e) Shareholder Services Agreement between the Registrant, for Classes A, B and C shares, and Scudder Distributor, Inc. dated April 5, 2002. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 84 to the Registration Statement, as filed on March 1, 2001.) |
(f) Amendment No. 1 to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement dated June 11, 2002. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 91 to the Registration Statement, as filed on December 27, 2002.) |
(g) Letter of Indemnity to the Scudder Funds dated October 13, 2004. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 to the Registration Statement, as filed on December 2, 2005.) |
(h) Letter of Indemnity to the Scudder Funds dated October 13, 2004. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 to the Registration Statement, as filed on December 2, 2005.) |
(i) Letter of Indemnity to the Independent Directors dated October 13, 2004. (Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 102 to the Registration Statement, as filed on December 2, 2005.) |
14. | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, is filed herein as Exhibit 14. |
15. | Not Applicable. |
16. | Power of Attorney is filed herein as Exhibit 16. |
17. | Not Applicable. |
Item 17. Undertakings
Table of Contents
(1) The undersigned Registrant agrees that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered through the use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, the reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form for reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.
(2) The undersigned Registrant agrees that every prospectus that is filed under paragraph (1) above will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until the amendment is effective, and that, in determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement for the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering of them.
(3) The undersigned Registrant undertakes to file an opinion of counsel supporting the tax consequences of the proposed reorganization as an amendment to this registration statement within a reasonable time after receipt of such opinion.
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed on behalf of the Registrant, in the City of Boston and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 10th day of August, 2006.
DWS INTERNATIONAL FUND, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Michael Clark | |
Michael Clark President |
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Michael Clark Michael Clark | President | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ Paul H. Schubert Paul H. Schubert | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ HENRY P. BECTON, JR.* Henry P. Becton, Jr. | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ DAWN-MARIE DRISCOLL* Dawn-Marie Driscoll | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ KEITH R. FOX* Keith R. Fox | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ KENNETH C. FROEWISS* Kenneth C. Froewiss | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ MARTIN J. GRUBER* Martin J. Gruber | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ RICHARD J. HERRING* Richard J. Herring | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
Graham E. Jones | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ REBECCA W. RIMEL* Rebecca W. Rimel | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ PHILIP SAUNDERS, JR.* Philip Saunders, Jr. | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
William N. Searcy, Jr. | Director | August 10, 2006 |
Table of Contents
/s/ JEAN GLEASON STROMBERG* Jean Gleason Stromberg | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ CARL W. VOGT* Carl W. Vogt | Director | August 10, 2006 | ||
/s/ AXEL SCHWARZER* Axel Schwarzer | Director | August 10, 2006 |
*By: | /s/ John Millette | |
John Millette** Vice President and Secretary August 10, 2006 |
** | Attorney-in-fact pursuant to Power of Attorney filed herein as Exhibit 16. |
Table of Contents
Exhibit List
EXHIBIT NUMBER | EXHIBIT TITLE | |
1 | Articles of Amendment and Restatement | |
2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws | |
6(a) | Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. | |
10(g) | Amended and Restated Plan pursuant to Rule 18f-3 | |
11 | Form of Opinion of Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver, a Professional Corporation, including consent | |
13(a) | Administrative Services Agreement | |
14 | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
16 | Power of Attorney |