UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
Investment Company Act file number: 811-00043
Deutsche DWS Investment Trust
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154-0004
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code:(212) 250-2500
Diane Kenneally
One International Place
Boston, MA 02110
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
| Date of fiscal year end: | 7/31 |
| Date of reporting period: | 7/31/2019 |
| ITEM 1. | REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS |
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July 31, 2019
Annual Report
to Shareholders
DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semiannual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s Web site (dws.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a Web site link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically anytime by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank), or if you are a direct investor, by calling (800) 728-3337 or sending an email request to service@dws.com.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with the Fund, you can call (800) 728-3337 or send an email request to service@dws.com to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all funds held with DWS if you invest directly with the Fund.
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This report must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus. To obtain a summary prospectus, if available, or 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 summary prospectus and prospectus contain this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
The Fund may lend securities to approved institutions. Stocks may decline in value. Please read the prospectus for details.
The brand DWS represents DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA and any of its subsidiaries such as DWS Distributors, Inc. which offers investment products or DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. and RREEF America L.L.C. which offer advisory services.
NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE NOT A DEPOSIT NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY
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Dear Shareholder:
Despite shifting political sands — most notably the trade negotiations between China and the United States (the “U.S.”) — the economy continues to be resilient. A robust labor market, strong home sales, consumer confidence and other key metrics indicate that the underpinnings of the economy remain intact.
Looking ahead, while our Americas Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) believes the U.S.-China trade conflict mayde-escalate over the coming months, he notes that it is most likely to weigh on manufacturing activity. Since certain aspects of the conflict, such as intellectual property protection and other China reforms, will not happen quickly, the conflict could prolong into the second half of the year. In any event, uncertainty may well lead to continued market volatility. Against this backdrop, we see little near-term impetus for a resurgence in growth in the emerging markets beyond the stimulus efforts that are already underway in China.
Of course, these issues and their potential implications around the world bear close watching. Our CIO Office and global network of analysts diligently monitor these matters to determine when and what, if any, strategic or tactical adjustments are warranted. We invite you to access these views often to understand the changing landscape and, most important, what it may mean for you.
While our diverse expertise in Active, Passive and Alternatives asset management — as well as our deep environmental, social and governance focus — complement each other when creating targeted investment strategies for our clients, theon-the-ground-knowledge of our economists, research analysts and investment professionals are brought together in one consistent global CIO View, which guides our strategic investment approach. We are local while being one global team with approximately 3,600 employees in offices all over the world. As always, we urge you to visit the “Insights” section of our Web site, dws.com, to review our most current market and economic perspectives.
Best regards,
 |
Hepsen Uzcan
President, DWS Funds |
Assumptions, estimates and opinions contained in this document constitute our judgment as of the date of the document and are subject to change without notice. Any projections are based on a number of assumptions as to market conditions and there can be no guarantee that any projected results will be achieved. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. There is no assurance provided that any investment objective will be achieved.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 3 |
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| Portfolio Management Review | (Unaudited) |
Market Overview and Fund Performance
All performance information below is historical and does not guarantee future results. Returns shown are for Class A shares, unadjusted for sales charges. Investment return and principal fluctuate, so your shares may be worth more or less when redeemed. Current performance may differ from performance data shown. Please visit dws.com for the most recent month-end performance of all share classes. Fund performance includes reinvestment of all distributions. Unadjusted returns do not reflect sales charges and would have been lower if they had. Please refer to pages 9 through 10 for more complete performance information.
DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund returned 13.92% during the12-month period that ended on July 31, 2019, outperforming the 10.82% gain for its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth Index, as well as the 8.98% average return for the funds in its Morningstar peer group, Large Growth. The Fund also outpaced its peers in the three- and five-year periods ended on July 31, 2019.
Management Process
Portfolio management aims to add value through stock selection. In choosing securities, portfolio management employs a risk-balancedbottom-up selection process to identify companies it believes have above average and sustainable growth potential.
While domestic equities produced a double-digit gain in the annual period, the path to achieving the positive return was quite uneven. After registering a solid advance in August and September of 2018, stocks fell sharply in the final three months of the year. The market initially turned lower in early October, when comments by U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell were taken as a sign that several more rate hikes could be on the way in the year ahead. Fed officials quickly made it clear that this was unlikely to be the case, but stocks continued to decline due to the combination of slowing global growth, uncertain U.S. trade policy, and declining corporate earnings estimates for 2019. The market reached its low for the period following a dramatic downturn on December 24, 2018.
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The investment picture began to change as the calendar turned to the New Year, and stocks went on to post an impressive rally that brought the major indexes back into positive territory. A number of developments provided fuel for the market’s advance. First, the Fed communicated its intention to take a much less aggressive approach to its interest rate policy, creating expectations that several rate cuts could be in the offing by mid-2020. Investors also grew more sanguine regarding the prospects for both trade policy and economic growth. Not least, corporate earnings reports came in close to expectations, allaying fears that profits were set to turn sharply lower. These developments, taken together, helped most major indexes finish July near their all-time highs.
“The Fund’s strong performance was almost entirely the result of favorable individual stock selection.”
The growth style outpaced value by a wide margin, as the prospect of slowing global growth led to renewed investor demand for companies with the ability to deliver accelerating profits. The Russell 1000 Growth Index, returned 10.82% and finished well ahead of the 5.20% gain for the Russell 1000 Value Index.
Fund Performance
The Fund’s strong performance was almost entirely the result of favorable individual stock selection. Our stock picks outpaced the corresponding benchmark components in seven out of the ten sectors in which we held a position, with the best results occurring in consumer discretionary, financials, and information technology. Selection in the consumer staples, health care, and industrials sectors made smaller contributions. Communications services was the only area in which our holdings lagged by a meaningful margin.
YETI Holdings, Inc., was the top performer in the consumer discretionary sector. We participated in the initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of 2018 on the belief that the company’s potential for expansion both domestically and overseas would fuel robust growth. After some initial weakness following the IPO, the stock rallied on the combination of improved inventory management, positive earnings results, and continued brand momentum. McDonald’s Corp. and the retailer Dollar General Corp. were also key contributors in the sector.
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The Fund’s two holdings in financials — Progressive Corp. and Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. — both produced gains well in excess of the overall sector. Progressive’s earnings topped analysts’ estimates on the strength of a better-than-expected loss ratio and its ongoing expansion into underpenetrated markets. Intercontinental, for its part, capitalized on elevated market volatility and the associated rise in trading volumes.
Globant SA, a software company based in Latin America, was the top performer in technology. The company beat earnings estimates and raised its guidance thanks to a favorable demand environment. ServiceNow, Inc. and Visa Inc., were additional contributors in the sector.
The video game producer Activision Blizzard, Inc. was the largest detractor in communication services. The stock was hit by concerns that a more crowded field of titles and an evolving industry business model would act as headwinds for growth. A position in Alphabet, Inc. further weighed on performance, as did an underweight in Facebook, Inc.* Outside of communications services, Evolent Health, Inc. was the largest detractor. We purchased the stock on the belief that it was well positioned for the health care industry’s transition to value-based payment models. However, the shares were hit by concerns about contract losses, slower-than-expected contract gains, and an acquisition that was poorly received by the markets. Inogen, Inc., a maker of lightweight portable oxygen concentrators, was an additional detractor of note. The stock came under pressure from mixed earnings results stemming from slower-than expected revenue growth.
Outlook
As a result of the June 2019 rebalancing of the Russell 1000 Growth Index, the Fund finished the period with a meaningful underweight in the information technology sector. Still, we maintained our bottom-up view that technology is a rich source for investment opportunities given the multitude of disruptive forces in the sector, including cloud computing, digitization, software-as-a-service, and electronic payments. However, we stayed disciplined while awaiting more reasonable prices to add from our idea list. We maintained an underweight in semiconductor stocks, as we continued to see better business strength in the technology services and software industries. We were also alert for opportunities created by the
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spread of technological innovation across other segments of the economy, including the industrials, financials, health care, and consumer sectors.
The consumer discretionary sector was the Fund’s largest overweight, with a focus on U.S.-focused and/or defensive businesses such as Home Depot, Inc., CarMax, Inc., Dollar General Corp., and YETI Holdings, Inc.
We made incremental additions to the Fund’s weighting in higher-growth companies over the course of the year. Among these were YETI Holdings, Inc., Medallia, Inc., Eventbrite, Inc., and Pinterest, Inc., all of which came to the market via IPOs in the last 12 to 18 months. Such companies tend to be higher-risk since they are at earlier stages of their corporate lifecycle, so we held a smaller position (about 20% of fund assets) in higher-growth stocks. The majority of the Fund continued to be dedicated to stable growers.
We ended July with a cash position of 4%, which is slightly above the typical level. We preferred to have the flexibility to add to positions in our favored companies if macro-related headlines fuel additional market volatility in the months ahead.
After strong year-to-date performance for U.S. equities, we recognize that the valuations of growth stocks have returned to higher levels. Despite the wider valuation discrepancy versus the value style, we believe companies with dynamic earnings growth continue to offer an attractive proposition relative to “safer” stocks with expensive valuations. With that said, we remain highly disciplined about the price we pay for growth. We maintain a focus on growth that is driven by innovation, operational excellence, and underlying secular change, and thus should be less dependent on the economy.
| * | Not held in the portfolio as of July 31, 2019 |
Portfolio Manager
Sebastian P. Werner, PhD, Director
Portfolio Manager of the Fund. Began managing the Fund in 2016.
| – | Joined DWS in 2008; previously, he served as a Research Assistant for the Endowed Chair of Asset Management at the European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel while earning his PhD. |
| – | Portfolio Manager for Global and US Growth Equities: New York. |
| – | MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management; Masters Degree (“Diplom-Kaufmann”) and PhD in Finance (“Dr.rer.pol.”) from the European Business School, Oestrich-Winkel. |
The views expressed reflect those of the portfolio manager only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. The portfolio manager’s views are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions and should not be construed as a recommendation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 7 |
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Terms to Know
TheRussell 1000® Growth Index is an unmanaged index that consists of those stocks in the Russell 1000® Index that have higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. TheRussell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of stocks in the Russell 1000 Index with lower price/book ratios and lower forecasted growth values. The Russell 1000® Index is an unmanaged price-only index of the 1,000 largest capitalized companies that are domiciled in the U.S. and whose common stocks are traded.
Morningstar Large-Growth Funds invest in big U.S. companies that are projected to grow faster than other large-cap stocks. Stocks in the top 70% of the capitalization of the U.S. equity market are defined as large-cap. Growth is defined based on fast growth (high growth rates for earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow) and high valuations (high price ratios and low dividend yields). Most of these portfolios focus on companies in rapidly expanding industries. The average category returns for the one-, five- and 10-year periods ended 9/30/19 were 8.98%, 15.68% and 14.06%, respectively.
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| Performance Summary | July 31, 2019 (Unaudited) |
| Class A | 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | |||||||||
| Average Annual Total Returnsas of 7/31/19 | ||||||||||||
| Unadjusted for Sales Charge | 13.92% | 13.94% | 13.90% | |||||||||
| Adjusted for the Maximum Sales Charge | ||||||||||||
| (max 5.75% load) | 7.37% | 12.60% | 13.23% | |||||||||
| Russell 1000® Growth Index† | 10.82% | 14.25% | 15.74% | |||||||||
| Class C | 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | |||||||||
| Average Annual Total Returnsas of 7/31/19 | ||||||||||||
| Unadjusted for Sales Charge | 13.07% | 13.09% | 13.05% | |||||||||
| Adjusted for the Maximum Sales Charge | ||||||||||||
| (max 1.00% CDSC) | 13.07% | 13.09% | 13.05% | |||||||||
| Russell 1000® Growth Index† | 10.82% | 14.25% | 15.74% | |||||||||
| Class S | 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | |||||||||
| Average Annual Total Returnsas of 7/31/19 | ||||||||||||
| No Sales Charges | 14.24% | 14.23% | 14.18% | |||||||||
| Russell 1000® Growth Index† | 10.82% | 14.25% | 15.74% | |||||||||
| Institutional Class | 1-Year | 5-Year | 10-Year | |||||||||
| Average Annual Total Returnsas of 7/31/19 | ||||||||||||
| No Sales Charges | 14.18% | 14.22% | 14.24% | |||||||||
| Russell 1000® Growth Index† | 10.82% | 14.25% | 15.74% | |||||||||
Performance in the Average Annual Total Returns table above and the Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment line graph that follows is historical and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal fluctuate, so your shares may be worth more or less when redeemed. Current performance may differ from performance data shown. Please visit dws.com for the Fund’s most recentmonth-end performance. Fund performance includes reinvestment of all distributions. Unadjusted returns do not reflect sales charges and would have been lower if they had.
The gross expense ratios of the Fund, as stated in the fee table of the prospectus dated December 1, 2018 are 1.22%, 1.97%, 0.95% and 0.94% for Class A, Class C, Class S and Institutional Class shares, respectively, and may differ from the expense ratios disclosed in the Financial Highlights tables in this report.
Index returns do not reflect any fees or expenses and it is not possible to invest directly into an index.
Performance figures do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemptions of fund shares.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 9 |
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Generally accepted accounting principles require adjustments to be made to the net assets of the Fund at period end for financial reporting purposes only, and as such, the total return based on the unadjusted net asset value per share may differ from the total return reported in the financial highlights.
| Growth of an Assumed $10,000 Investment (Adjusted for Maximum Sales Charge) |
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.
The growth of $10,000 is cumulative.
Performance of other share classes will vary based on the sales charges and the fee structure of those classes.
| Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class | |||||||||||||
| Net Asset Value |
| |||||||||||||||
| 7/31/19 | $ | 50.70 | $ | 42.00 | $ | 53.11 | $ | 53.83 | ||||||||
| 7/31/18 | $ | 47.19 | $ | 39.84 | $ | 49.22 | $ | 49.88 | ||||||||
| Distribution Informationas of 7/31/19 |
| |||||||||||||||
| Income Dividends, Twelve Months | $ | — | $ | — | $ | .04 | $ | .05 | ||||||||
| Capital Gain Distributions, Twelve Months | $ | 2.52 | $ | 2.52 | $ | 2.52 | $ | 2.52 | ||||||||
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| Ten Largest Equity Holdings at July 31, 2019 (47.1% of Net Assets) | ||||||
| 1 | Microsoft Corp. | 7.6% | ||||
| Develops, manufactures, licenses, sells and supports software products | ||||||
| 2 | Apple, Inc. | 6.1% | ||||
| Designs, manufactures and markets personal computing and mobile communication devices | ||||||
| 3 | Visa, Inc. | 5.5% | ||||
| Operates a retail electronic payments network and manages global financial services | ||||||
| 4 | Amazon.com, Inc. | 5.3% | ||||
| Online retailer offering a wide range of products | ||||||
| 5 | Alphabet, Inc. | 5.0% | ||||
| Holding company with subsidiaries that provideweb-based search, maps, hardware products and various software applications | ||||||
| 6 | Progressive Corp. | 4.5% | ||||
| Provider of property and casualty insurance | ||||||
| 7 | Becton, Dickinson & Co. | 3.9% | ||||
| Provider of medical supplies and devices | ||||||
| 8 | Home Depot, Inc. | 3.3% | ||||
| Home improvement retailer that sells building materials and home improvement products | ||||||
| 9 | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 3.1% | ||||
| Manufacturer of measurement instruments that monitor, collect, and analyze information for various industries | ||||||
| 10 | Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | 2.8% | ||||
| Operator of global commodity and financial products | ||||||
Portfolio holdings and characteristics are subject to change.
For more complete details about the Fund’s investment portfolio, see page 13. A quarterly Fact Sheet is available on dws.com or upon request. Please see the Account Management Resources section on page 48 for contact information.
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| Investment Portfolio | as of July 31, 2019 |
| Shares | Value ($) | |||||||
| Common Stocks 96.2% | ||||||||
| Communication Services 9.9% | ||||||||
Entertainment 2.7% | ||||||||
Activision Blizzard, Inc. | 72,337 | 3,525,705 | ||||||
Netflix, Inc.* | 10,917 | 3,526,082 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
| 7,051,787 | ||||||||
Interactive Media & Services 5.8% |
| |||||||
Alphabet, Inc. “A”* | 10,524 | 12,820,337 | ||||||
Eventbrite, Inc. “A”* | 78,500 | 1,388,665 | ||||||
Pinterest, Inc. “A”* | 23,692 | 686,831 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
| 14,895,833 | ||||||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services 1.4% |
| |||||||
T-Mobile U.S., Inc.* | 45,500 | 3,627,715 | ||||||
| Consumer Discretionary 17.7% |
| |||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 2.6% |
| |||||||
McDonald’s Corp. | 32,426 | 6,832,807 | ||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 5.3% |
| |||||||
Amazon.com, Inc.* | 7,300 | 13,627,494 | ||||||
Leisure Products 1.9% |
| |||||||
YETI Holdings, Inc.* (a) | 143,900 | 5,001,964 | ||||||
Multiline Retail 2.5% |
| |||||||
Dollar General Corp. | 47,393 | 6,351,610 | ||||||
Specialty Retail 5.4% |
| |||||||
CarMax, Inc.* | 46,200 | 4,054,512 | ||||||
Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. “A”* | 33,771 | 1,322,134 | ||||||
Home Depot, Inc. | 40,000 | 8,547,600 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
| 13,924,246 | ||||||||
| Consumer Staples 3.5% |
| |||||||
Food & Staples Retailing 2.2% |
| |||||||
Costco Wholesale Corp. | 20,818 | 5,738,065 | ||||||
Personal Products 1.3% |
| |||||||
Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. “A” | 17,269 | 3,180,777 | ||||||
| Energy 0.3% |
| |||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
| |||||||
Concho Resources, Inc. | 8,123 | 793,455 | ||||||
| Financials 7.3% |
| |||||||
Capital Markets 2.8% |
| |||||||
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | 81,300 | 7,143,018 | ||||||
Insurance 4.5% |
| |||||||
Progressive Corp. | 144,673 | 11,715,620 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 13 |
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| Shares | Value ($) | |||||||
| Health Care 14.5% |
| |||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 8.2% |
| |||||||
Becton, Dickinson & Co. | 40,000 | 10,112,000 | ||||||
DexCom, Inc.* | 27,000 | 4,235,490 | ||||||
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.* | 15,253 | 3,246,601 | ||||||
Inogen, Inc.* | 12,358 | 760,017 | ||||||
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.* | 5,650 | 2,935,231 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
| 21,289,339 | ||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services 0.5% |
| |||||||
PetIQ, Inc.* | 36,300 | 1,242,912 | ||||||
Health Care Technology 0.4% |
| |||||||
Evolent Health, Inc. “A”* | 117,000 | 797,940 | ||||||
Health Catalyst, Inc.* | 5,000 | 221,250 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
| 1,019,190 | ||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services 3.2% |
| |||||||
Personalis, Inc.* | 10,000 | 179,100 | ||||||
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 29,070 | 8,072,158 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
| 8,251,258 | ||||||||
Pharmaceuticals 2.2% |
| |||||||
Zoetis, Inc. | 49,100 | 5,641,099 | ||||||
| Industrials 9.0% |
| |||||||
Aerospace & Defense 2.3% |
| |||||||
Boeing Co. | 17,000 | 5,800,060 | ||||||
Electrical Equipment 2.2% |
| |||||||
AMETEK, Inc. | 63,510 | 5,691,131 | ||||||
Industrial Conglomerates 2.7% |
| |||||||
Roper Technologies, Inc. | 19,475 | 7,082,084 | ||||||
Machinery 0.8% |
| |||||||
Parker-Hannifin Corp. | 12,000 | 2,100,960 | ||||||
Road & Rail 1.0% |
| |||||||
Norfolk Southern Corp. | 14,000 | 2,675,680 | ||||||
| Information Technology 31.0% |
| |||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 1.2% |
| |||||||
Trimble, Inc.* | 75,000 | 3,169,500 | ||||||
IT Services 8.1% |
| |||||||
Fiserv, Inc.* | 56,500 | 5,956,795 | ||||||
Switch, Inc. “A” | 49,000 | 664,930 | ||||||
Visa, Inc. “A” | 79,635 | 14,175,030 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
| 20,796,755 | ||||||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 0.6% |
| |||||||
NVIDIA Corp. | 8,994 | 1,517,468 | ||||||
Software 15.0% |
| |||||||
Crowdstrike Holdings, Inc. “A”* | 5,980 | 532,639 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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| Shares | Value ($) | |||||||
Globant SA* | 49,000 | 5,194,000 | ||||||
Guidewire Software, Inc.* | 42,000 | 4,287,360 | ||||||
Medallia, Inc.* | 23,276 | 927,549 | ||||||
Microsoft Corp. | 144,960 | 19,753,699 | ||||||
salesforce.com, Inc.* | 25,627 | 3,959,371 | ||||||
ServiceNow, Inc.* | 15,000 | 4,160,850 | ||||||
|
| |||||||
| 38,815,468 | ||||||||
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 6.1% |
| |||||||
Apple, Inc. | 74,304 | 15,829,724 | ||||||
| Materials 1.0% |
| |||||||
Construction Materials |
| |||||||
Vulcan Materials Co. | 18,035 | 2,495,142 | ||||||
| Real Estate 2.0% |
| |||||||
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
| |||||||
Equinix, Inc. | 10,480 | 5,262,008 | ||||||
Total Common Stocks(Cost $137,150,875) |
| 248,564,169 | ||||||
| Securities Lending Collateral 2.0% |
| |||||||
DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio “DWS Government Cash Institutional Shares”, | 5,065,880 | 5,065,880 | ||||||
| Cash Equivalents 4.1% |
| |||||||
DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund, 2.39% (b) (Cost $10,610,616) | 10,610,616 | 10,610,616 | ||||||
| % of Net Assets | Value ($) | |||||||
| Total Investment Portfolio(Cost $152,827,371) | 102.3 | 264,240,665 | ||||||
| Other Assets and Liabilities, Net | (2.3 | ) | (5,861,077 | ) | ||||
| ||||||||
| Net Assets | 100.0 | 258,379,588 | ||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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A summary of the Fund’s transactions with affiliated investments during the year ended July 31, 2019 are as follows:
| Value ($) at 7/31/2018 | Pur- chases Cost ($) | Sales Proceeds ($) | Net Real- ized Gain/ (Loss) ($) | Net Change in Unreal- ized Appreci- ation (Depreci- ation) ($) | Income ($) | Capital Gain Distri- butions ($) | Number of Shares at 7/31/2019 | Value ($) at 7/31/2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Securities Lending Collateral 2.0% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio “DWS Government Cash Institutional Shares”, 2.29% (b) (c) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2,904,623 | 2,161,257 (d) | — | — | — | 143,777 | — | 5,065,880 | 5,065,880 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cash Equivalents 4.1% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund, 2.39% (b) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8,885,113 | 54,670,729 | 52,945,226 | — | — | 152,210 | — | 10,610,616 | 10,610,616 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11,789,736 | 56,831,986 | 52,945,226 | — | — | 295,987 | — | 15,676,496 | 15,676,496 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * | Non-income producing security. |
| (a) | All or a portion of these securities were on loan. In addition, “Other Assets and Liabilities, Net” may include pending sales that are also on loan. The value of securities loaned at July 31, 2019 amounted to $4,946,348, which is 1.9% of net assets. |
| (b) | Affiliated fund managed by DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. The rate shown is the annualizedseven-day yield at period end. |
| (c) | Represents cash collateral held in connection with securities lending. Income earned by the Fund is net of borrower rebates. |
| (d) | Represents the net increase (purchase cost) or decrease (sales proceeds) in the amount invested in cash collateral for the year ended July 31, 2019. |
Fair Value Measurements
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk). Level 3 includes significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). The level assigned to the securities valuations may not be an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investing in those securities.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of July 31, 2019 in valuing the Fund’s investments. For information on the Fund’s policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Security Valuation section of Note A in the accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
| Assets | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||||||||||
| Common Stocks (e) | $ | 248,564,169 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 248,564,169 | ||||||||
| Short-Term Investments (e) | 15,676,496 | — | — | 15,676,496 | ||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 264,240,665 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 264,240,665 | ||||||||
| (e) | See Investment Portfolio for additional detailed categorizations. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| 16 | | | DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund |
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Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| as of July 31, 2019 | ||||
| Assets |
| |||
| Investments innon-affiliated securities, at value (cost $137,150,875) — including $4,946,348 of securities loaned | $ | 248,564,169 | ||
| Investment in DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio (cost $5,065,880)* | 5,065,880 | |||
| Investment in DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund (cost $10,610,616) | 10,610,616 | |||
| Cash | 10,000 | |||
| Receivable for investments sold | 150,411 | |||
| Receivable for Fund shares sold | 23,692 | |||
| Dividends receivable | 8,052 | |||
| Interest receivable | 33,167 | |||
| Other assets | 23,565 | |||
| Total assets | 264,489,552 | |||
| Liabilities |
| |||
| Payable upon return of securities loaned | 5,065,880 | |||
| Payable for investments purchased | 652,390 | |||
| Payable for Fund shares redeemed | 65,582 | |||
| Accrued management fee | 126,182 | |||
| Accrued Trustees’ fees | 3,456 | |||
| Other accrued expenses and payables | 196,474 | |||
| Total liabilities | 6,109,964 | |||
| Net assets, at value | $ | 258,379,588 | ||
| Net Assets Consist of |
| |||
| Distributable earnings (loss) | 125,203,162 | |||
| Paid-in capital | 133,176,426 | |||
| Net assets, at value | $ | 258,379,588 | ||
| * | Represents collateral on securities loaned. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 17 |
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| Statement of Assets and Liabilitiesas of July 31, 2019 (continued) |
| Net Asset Value | ||||
Class A | ||||
| Net Asset Value and redemption price per share ($28,642,062 ÷ 564,903 outstanding shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized) | $ | 50.70 | ||
| Maximum offering price per share (100 ÷ 94.25 of $50.70) | $ | 53.79 | ||
Class C | ||||
| Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price (subject to contingent deferred sales charge) per share ($4,964,676 ÷ 118,200 outstanding shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized) | $ | 42.00 | ||
Class S | ||||
| Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share ($222,801,738 ÷ 4,195,149 outstanding shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized) | $ | 53.11 | ||
Institutional Class | ||||
| Net Asset Value, offering and redemption price per share ($1,971,112 ÷ 36,616 outstanding shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value, unlimited number of shares authorized) | $ | 53.83 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| 18 | | | DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund |
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| for the year ended July 31, 2019 | ||||
| Investment Income | ||||
| Income: | ||||
| Dividends | $ | 2,313,297 | ||
| Income distributions — DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund | 152,210 | |||
| Securities lending income, net of borrower rebates | 143,777 | |||
| Total income | 2,609,284 | |||
| Expenses: | ||||
| Management fee | 1,511,997 | |||
| Administration fee | 245,853 | |||
| Services to shareholders | 341,948 | |||
| Distribution and service fees | 116,004 | |||
| Custodian fee | 5,548 | |||
| Professional fees | 84,121 | |||
| Reports to shareholders | 49,709 | |||
| Registration fees | 62,392 | |||
| Trustees’ fees and expenses | 12,674 | |||
| Other | 17,999 | |||
| Total expenses before expense reductions | 2,448,245 | |||
| Expense reductions | (123,079 | ) | ||
| Total expenses after expense reductions | 2,325,166 | |||
| Net investment income (loss) | 284,118 | |||
| Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) | ||||
| Net realized gain (loss) from investments | 14,282,441 | |||
| Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 16,995,681 | |||
| Net gain (loss) | 31,278,122 | |||
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | $ | 31,562,240 | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 19 |
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Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| Years Ended July 31, | ||||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | 2019 | 2018 | ||||||
| Operations: | ||||||||
| Net investment income (loss) | $ | 284,118 | $ | 174,698 | ||||
| Net realized gain (loss) | 14,282,441 | 12,314,333 | ||||||
| Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 16,995,681 | 22,626,981 | ||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 31,562,240 | 35,116,012 | ||||||
| Distributions to shareholders: |
| |||||||
Class A | (1,514,483 | ) | (899,411 | ) | ||||
Class C | (322,278 | ) | (235,670 | ) | ||||
Class S | (10,645,975 | ) | (7,103,376 | ) | ||||
Institutional Class | (501,288 | ) | (302,958 | ) | ||||
| Total distributions | (12,984,024 | ) | (8,541,415 | )* | ||||
| Fund share transactions: |
| |||||||
| Proceeds from shares sold | 17,187,847 | 12,732,564 | ||||||
| Reinvestment of distributions | 12,499,706 | 8,180,279 | ||||||
| Payments for shares redeemed | (40,352,368 | ) | (34,389,610 | ) | ||||
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions | (10,664,815 | ) | (13,476,767 | ) | ||||
| Increase (decrease) in net assets | 7,913,401 | 13,097,830 | ||||||
| Net assets at beginning of period | 250,466,187 | 237,368,357 | ||||||
| Net assets at end of period | $ | 258,379,588 | $ | 250,466,187 | ** | |||
| * | Includes distributions from net investment income of $222,718 and $9,623 for Class S and Institutional Class shares, respectively and distributions from net realized gains of $899,411, $235,670, $6,880,658 and $293,335 for Class A, Class C, Class S and Institutional Class shares, respectively. |
| ** | Includes undistributed net investment income of $166,046. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| 20 | | | DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund |
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| Years Ended July 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $47.19 | $42.39 | $38.46 | $43.94 | $42.26 | |||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)a | (.04 | ) | (.06 | ) | .02 | (.07 | ) | (.03 | ) | |||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 6.07 | 6.46 | 6.61 | .57 | 8.06 | |||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.03 | 6.40 | 6.63 | .50 | 8.03 | |||||||||||||||
| Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains | (2.52 | ) | (1.60 | ) | (2.70 | ) | (5.98 | ) | (6.35 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net asset value, end of period | $50.70 | $47.19 | $42.39 | $38.46 | $43.94 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Return (%)b,c | 13.92 | 15.47 | 18.45 | 1.77 | 21.12 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data |
| |||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 29 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 30 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.22 | 1.22 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1.24 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.15 | 1.22 | 1.21 | 1.17 | 1.16 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.08 | ) | (.15 | ) | .05 | (.17 | ) | (.08 | ) | |||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 26 | 36 | 30 | 55 | 84 | |||||||||||||||
| a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
| b | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
| c | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 21 |
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| Years Ended July 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Class C | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $39.84 | $36.29 | $33.54 | $39.38 | $38.76 | |||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)a | (.32 | ) | (.33 | ) | (.23 | ) | (.31 | ) | (.32 | ) | ||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 5.00 | 5.48 | 5.68 | .45 | 7.29 | |||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 4.68 | 5.15 | 5.45 | .14 | 6.97 | |||||||||||||||
| Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gains | (2.52 | ) | (1.60 | ) | (2.70 | ) | (5.98 | ) | (6.35 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net asset value, end of period | $42.00 | $39.84 | $36.29 | $33.54 | $39.38 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Return (%)b,c | 13.07 | 14.60 | 17.60 | .98 | 20.21 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data |
| |||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.96 | 1.97 | 1.99 | 1.97 | 1.99 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | 1.90 | 1.97 | 1.96 | 1.92 | 1.91 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | (.82 | ) | (.89 | ) | (.70 | ) | (.92 | ) | (.82 | ) | ||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 26 | 36 | 30 | 55 | 84 | |||||||||||||||
| a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
| b | Total return does not reflect the effect of any sales charges. |
| c | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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| Years Ended July 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Class S | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $49.22 | $44.09 | $39.86 | $45.30 | $43.28 | |||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss)a | .08 | .06 | .12 | .03 | .08 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 6.37 | 6.72 | 6.88 | .58 | 8.29 | |||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.45 | 6.78 | 7.00 | .61 | 8.37 | |||||||||||||||
| Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.04 | ) | (.05 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.07 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Net realized gains | (2.52 | ) | (1.60 | ) | (2.70 | ) | (5.98 | ) | (6.35 | ) | ||||||||||
Total distributions | (2.56 | ) | (1.65 | ) | (2.77 | ) | (6.05 | ) | (6.35 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net asset value, end of period | $53.11 | $49.22 | $44.09 | $39.86 | $45.30 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Return (%) | 14.24 | b | 15.75 | 18.77 | b | 1.98 | b | 21.44 | b | |||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data |
| |||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 223 | 209 | 198 | 180 | 189 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | .94 | .95 | .98 | .98 | .98 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .90 | .95 | .96 | .92 | .91 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .16 | .12 | .30 | .08 | .19 | |||||||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 26 | 36 | 30 | 55 | 84 | |||||||||||||||
| a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
| b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
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| Years Ended July 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Institutional Class | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Selected Per Share Data | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period | $49.88 | $44.65 | $40.34 | $45.77 | $43.67 | |||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment incomea | .03 | .06 | .12 | .04 | .06 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 6.49 | 6.82 | 6.96 | .58 | 8.39 | |||||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 6.52 | 6.88 | 7.08 | .62 | 8.45 | |||||||||||||||
| Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (.05 | ) | (.05 | ) | (.07 | ) | (.07 | ) | — | |||||||||||
Net realized gains | (2.52 | ) | (1.60 | ) | (2.70 | ) | (5.98 | ) | (6.35 | ) | ||||||||||
Total distributions | (2.57 | ) | (1.65 | ) | (2.77 | ) | (6.05 | ) | (6.35 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net asset value, end of period | $53.83 | $49.88 | $44.65 | $40.34 | $45.77 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Return (%) | 14.18 | b | 15.78 | 18.76 | b | 1.99 | b | 21.43 | b | |||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets and Supplemental Data |
| |||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets, end of period ($ millions) | 2 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses before expense reductions (%) | 1.01 | .94 | .98 | 1.00 | .93 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of expenses after expense reductions (%) | .90 | .94 | .96 | .91 | .91 | |||||||||||||||
| Ratio of net investment income (loss) (%) | .06 | .13 | .30 | .09 | .14 | |||||||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate (%) | 26 | 36 | 30 | 55 | 84 | |||||||||||||||
| a | Based on average shares outstanding during the period. |
| b | Total return would have been lower had certain expenses not been reduced. |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
| 24 | | | DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund |
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| Notes to Financial Statements |
A. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of Deutsche DWS Investment Trust (the “Trust”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as anopen-end management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust.
The Fund offers multiple classes of shares which provide investors with different purchase options. Class A shares are subject to an initial sales charge. Class C shares are not subject to 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. Effective on August 10, 2018, Class C shares automatically convert to Class A shares in the same fund after 10 years, provided that the fund or the financial intermediary through which the shareholder purchased the Class C shares has records verifying that the Class C shares have been held for at least 10 years. Class S shares are not subject to initial or contingent deferred sales charges and are only available to a limited group of investors. Institutional Class shares are not subject to initial or contingent deferred sales charges and are generally available only to qualified institutions.
Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and certainfund-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 and service fees, services to shareholders and certain otherclass-specific expenses. Differences inclass-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 toclass-specific arrangements.
The Fund’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) which require the use of management estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund qualifies as an investment company under Topic 946 of Accounting Standards Codification of U.S. GAAP. The policies described below are followed consistently by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.
In October 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted amendments to certain disclosure requirements in Securities Act Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, which is intended to facilitate the disclosure of information to investors and simplify compliance without significantly altering the total mix of information
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 25 |
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provided to investors. Effective with the current reporting period, the Fund adopted the amendments with the impacts being that the Fund is no longer required to present components of distributable earnings on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities or the sources of distributable earnings and the amount of undistributed net investment income on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets.
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.
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk). Level 3 includes significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). The level assigned to the securities valuations may not be an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investing in those securities.
Equity securities are valued at the most recent sale price or official closing price reported on the exchange (U.S. or foreign) orover-the-counter market on which they trade. 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. Equity securities are generally categorized as Level 1.
Investments inopen-end investment companies are valued at their net asset value each business day and are categorized as Level 1.
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 Board and are generally categorized as Level 3. In accordance with the Fund’s valuation procedures, factors considered in determining value may include, but are not limited to, the type of the security; the size of the holding; the initial cost of the security; the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies; quotations or evaluated prices frombroker-dealers and/or pricing services; information obtained from the issuer, analysts, and/or the appropriate stock exchange (forexchange-traded securities); an analysis of the company’s or issuer’s financial statements; an evaluation of the forces that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold; and with respect to debt securities, the maturity, coupon, creditworthiness, currency
| 26 | | | DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund |
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denomination and the movement of the market in which the security is normally traded. The value determined under these procedures may differ from published values for the same securities.
Disclosure about the classification of fair value measurements is included in a table following the Fund’s Investment Portfolio.
Securities Lending. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., as lending agent, lends securities of the Fund to certain financial institutions under the terms of its securities lending agreement. During the term of the loans, the Fund continues to receive interest and dividends generated 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 either cash and/or U.S. Treasury Securities having a value at least equal to the value of the securities loaned. When the collateral falls below specified amounts, the lending agent will use its best effort to obtain additional collateral on the next business day to meet required amounts under the securities lending agreement. During the year ended July 31, 2019, the Fund invested the cash collateral into a joint trading account in DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio, an affiliated money market fund managed by DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. receives a management/administration fee (0.11% annualized effective rate as of July 31, 2019) on the cash collateral invested in DWS Government & Agency Securities Portfolio. The Fund receives compensation for lending its securities either in the form of fees or by earning interest on invested cash collateral net of borrower rebates and fees paid to a lending agent. Either the Fund or the borrower may terminate the loan at any time, and the borrower, after notice, is required to return borrowed securities within a standard time period. There may be risks of delay and costs in recovery of securities or even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail financially. If the Fund is not able to recover securities lent, the Fund may sell the collateral and purchase a replacement investment in the market, incurring the risk that the value of the replacement security is greater than the value of the collateral. The Fund is also subject to all investment risks associated with the reinvestment of any cash collateral received, including, but not limited to, interest rate, credit and liquidity risk associated with such investments.
As of July 31, 2019, the Fund had securities on loan, which were classified as common stock in the Investment Portfolio. The value of the related collateral exceeded the value of the securities loaned at period end. As of period end, the remaining contractual maturity of the collateral agreements were overnight and continuous.
Federal Income 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.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 27 |
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The Fund has reviewed the tax positions for the open tax years as of July 31, 2019 and has determined that no provision for income tax and/or uncertain tax positions is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain open subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.
Distribution of Income and Gains. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are 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 Fund may also make additional distributions for tax purposes if necessary.
The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gain 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 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 July 31, 2019, the Fund’s components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a tax basis were as follows:
| Undistributed ordinary income* | $ | 1,394,712 | ||
| Undistributed long-term capital gains | $ | 12,728,122 | ||
| Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | $ | 111,080,328 |
At July 31, 2019, the aggregate cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $153,160,337. The net unrealized appreciation for all investments based on tax cost was $111,080,328. This consisted of aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in which there was an excess of value over tax cost of $116,311,586 and aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in which was an excess of tax cost over value of $5,231,258.
In addition, the tax character of distributions paid to shareholders by the Fund is summarized as follows:
| Years Ended July 31, | ||||||||
| 2019 | 2018 | |||||||
| Distributions from ordinary income* | $ | 539,569 | $ | 1,274,473 | ||||
| Distributions from long-term capital gains | $ | 12,444,455 | $ | 7,266,942 | ||||
| * | For tax purposes, short-term capital gain distributions are considered ordinary income distributions. |
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Expenses. Expenses of the Trust arising in connection with a specific fund are allocated to that fund. Other Trust expenses which cannot be directly attributed to a fund are apportioned among the funds in the Trust based upon the relative net assets or other appropriate measures.
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.
Real Estate Investment Trusts. The Fund periodically recharacterizes distributions received from a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) investment based on information provided by the REIT into the following categories: ordinary income,long-term andshort-term capital gains, and return of capital. If information is not available timely from a REIT, the recharacterization will be estimated for financial reporting purposes and a recharacterization will be made in the following year when such information becomes available. Distributions received from REITs in excess of income are recorded as either a reduction of cost of investments or realized gains.
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 theex-dividend date net of foreign withholding taxes. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis. Proceeds from litigation payments, if any, are included in net realized gain (loss) from investments.
B. Purchases and Sales of Securities
During the year ended July 31, 2019, purchases and sales of investment securities (excludingshort-term investments) aggregated $62,689,745 and $87,365,125, respectively.
C. Related Parties
Management Agreement. Under the Investment Management Agreement with DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA” or the “Advisor”), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA (“DWS Group”), 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.
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Under the Investment Management Agreement with the Advisor, the Fund pays a monthly management fee based on the Fund’s average daily net assets computed and accrued daily and payable monthly, at the following annual rates:
| First $1.5 billion of the Fund’s average daily net assets | .615% | |||
| Next $500 million of such net assets | .565% | |||
| Over $2.0 billion of such net assets | .515% |
Accordingly, for the year ended July 31, 2019, the fee pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement was equivalent to an annual rate (exclusive of any applicable waivers/reimbursements) of 0.615% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
For the period from August 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018, the Advisor had contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual operating expenses (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage and interest) of each class as follows:
| Class A | 1.27% | |||
| Class C | 2.02% | |||
| Class S | 1.02% | |||
| Institutional Class | 1.02% |
Effective October 1, 2018 through November 30, 2019, the Advisor has contractually agreed to waive its fees and/or reimburse certain operating expenses of the Fund to the extent necessary to maintain the total annual operating expenses (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage and interest) of each class as follows:
| Class A | 1.14% | |||
| Class C | 1.89% | |||
| Class S | .89% | |||
| Institutional Class | .89% |
For the year ended July 31, 2019, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed for each class are as follows:
| Class A | $ | 19,404 | ||
| Class C | 2,910 | |||
| Class S | 95,389 | |||
| Institutional Class | 5,376 | |||
| $ | 123,079 |
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Administration Fee. Pursuant to an Administrative Services Agreement, DIMA provides most administrative services to the Fund. For all services provided under the Administrative Services Agreement, the Fund pays the Advisor an annual fee (“Administration Fee”) of 0.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly. For the year ended July 31, 2019, the Administration Fee was $245,853, of which $22,063 is unpaid.
Service Provider Fees. DWS Service Company (“DSC”), an affiliate of the Advisor, is the transfer agent,dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent for the Fund. Pursuant to asub-transfer agency agreement between DSC and DST Systems, Inc. (“DST”), DSC has delegated certain transfer agent,dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent functions to DST. DSC compensates DST out of the shareholder servicing fee it receives from the Fund. For the year ended July 31, 2019, the amounts charged to the Fund by DSC were as follows:
| Services to Shareholders | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at July 31, 2019 | ||||||
| Class A | $ | 11,479 | $ | 1,864 | ||||
| Class C | 1,155 | 181 | ||||||
| Class S | 129,735 | 20,977 | ||||||
| Institutional Class | 290 | 33 | ||||||
| $ | 142,659 | $ | 23,055 | |||||
In addition, for the year ended July 31, 2019, the amounts charged to the Fund for recordkeeping and other administrative services provided by unaffiliated third parties, included in the Statement of Operations under “Services to shareholders,” were as follows:
| Sub-Recordkeeping | Total Aggregated | |||
| Class A | $ | 29,967 | ||
| Class C | 5,612 | |||
| Class S | 103,379 | |||
| Institutional Class | 8,771 | |||
| $ | 147,729 | |||
Distribution and Service Fees. Under the Fund’s Class C12b-1 Plan, DWS Distributors, Inc. (“DDI”), an affiliate of the Advisor, receives a fee (“Distribution Fee”) of 0.75% of average daily net assets of Class C shares. In accordance with the Fund’s Underwriting and Distribution Services Agreement, DDI enters into related selling group agreements
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with various firms at various rates for sales of Class C shares. For the year ended July 31, 2019, the Distribution Fee was as follows:
| Distribution Fee | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at July 31, 2019 | ||||||
| Class C | $ | 36,686 | $ | 3,173 | ||||
In addition, DDI provides information and administrative services for a fee (“Service Fee”) to Class A and C shareholders at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets for each such class. DDI 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 July 31, 2019, the Service Fee was as follows:
| Service Fee | Total Aggregated | Unpaid at July 31, 2019 | Annual Rate | |||||||||
| Class A | $ | 67,377 | $ | 11,430 | .24 | % | ||||||
| Class C | 11,941 | 2,112 | .24 | % | ||||||||
| $ | 79,318 | $ | 13,542 | |||||||||
Underwriting Agreement and Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. DDI is the principal underwriter for the Fund. Underwriting commissions paid in connection with the distribution of Class A shares for the year ended July 31, 2019, aggregated $2,555.
In addition, DDI receives any contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) from 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 1% of the value of the shares redeemed for Class C. For the year ended July 31, 2019, the CDSC for Class C shares aggregated $49. A deferred sales charge of up to 1% is assessed on certain redemptions of Class A shares.
Typesetting and Filing Service Fees. Under an agreement with the Fund, DIMA is compensated for providing certainpre-press and regulatory filing services to the Fund. For the year ended July 31, 2019, the amount charged to the Fund by DIMA included in the Statement of Operations under “Reports to shareholders” aggregated $17,197, of which $7,340 is unpaid.
Trustees’ Fees and Expenses. The Fund paid retainer fees to each Trustee not affiliated with the Advisor, plus specified amounts to the Board Chairperson and to each committee Chairperson.
Affiliated Cash Management Vehicles. The Fund may invest uninvested cash balances in DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund and DWS ESG Liquidity Fund, affiliated money market funds which are managed by the Advisor. Each affiliated money market fund is managed in accordance with Rule2a-7 under the 1940 Act, which governs the quality, maturity, diversity and liquidity of instruments in which a money
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market fund may invest. DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund seeks to maintain a stable net asset value, and DWS ESG Liquidity Fund maintains a floating net asset value. The Fund indirectly bears its proportionate share of the expenses of each affiliated money market fund in which it invests. DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund does not pay the Advisor an investment management fee. To the extent that DWS ESG Liquidity Fund pays an investment management fee to the Advisor, the Advisor will waive an amount of the investment management fee payable to the Advisor by the Fund equal to the amount of the investment management fee payable on the Fund’s assets invested in DWS ESG Liquidity Fund.
D. Line of Credit
The Fund and other affiliated funds (the “Participants”) share in a $400 million revolving credit facility provided by a syndication of banks. The Fund may borrow 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 on net assets, among each of the Participants. Interest is calculated at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Federal Funds Rate plus 1.25 percent plus if theone-month LIBOR exceeds the Federal Funds Rate, the amount of such excess. The Fund may borrow up to a maximum of 33 percent of its net assets under the agreement. The Fund had no outstanding loans at July 31, 2019.
E. Fund Share Transactions
The following table summarizes share and dollar activity in the Fund:
| Year Ended July 31, 2019 | Year Ended July 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars | |||||||||||||
| Shares sold |
| |||||||||||||||
| Class A | 114,253 | $ | 5,336,959 | 62,180 | $ | 2,771,315 | ||||||||||
| Class C | 39,519 | 1,510,294 | 32,239 | 1,227,984 | ||||||||||||
| Class S | 191,938 | 9,328,040 | 158,224 | 7,290,756 | ||||||||||||
| Institutional Class | 19,931 | 1,012,554 | 30,715 | 1,442,509 | ||||||||||||
| $ | 17,187,847 | $ | 12,732,564 | |||||||||||||
| Shares issued to shareholders in reinvestment of distributions |
| |||||||||||||||
| Class A | 34,427 | $ | 1,438,005 | 19,891 | $ | 857,105 | ||||||||||
| Class C | 8,830 | 307,028 | 5,956 | 217,694 | ||||||||||||
| Class S | 234,739 | 10,253,385 | 151,571 | 6,802,522 | ||||||||||||
| Institutional Class | 11,318 | 501,288 | 6,663 | 302,958 | ||||||||||||
| $ | 12,499,706 | $ | 8,180,279 | |||||||||||||
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| Year Ended July 31, 2019 | Year Ended July 31, 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Shares | Dollars | Shares | Dollars | |||||||||||||
| Shares redeemed |
| |||||||||||||||
| Class A | (141,821 | ) | $ | (6,489,855 | ) | (108,547 | ) | $ | (4,786,228 | ) | ||||||
| Class C | (73,448 | ) | (2,888,314 | ) | (59,283 | ) | (2,233,758 | ) | ||||||||
| Class S | (473,295 | ) | (22,915,477 | ) | (565,715 | ) | (25,914,883 | ) | ||||||||
| Institutional Class | (187,676 | ) | (8,058,722 | ) | (31,124 | ) | (1,454,741 | ) | ||||||||
| $ | (40,352,368 | ) | $ | (34,389,610 | ) | |||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) |
| |||||||||||||||
| Class A | 6,859 | $ | 285,109 | (26,476 | ) | $ | (1,157,808 | ) | ||||||||
| Class C | (25,099 | ) | (1,070,992 | ) | (21,088 | ) | (788,080 | ) | ||||||||
| Class S | (46,618 | ) | (3,334,052 | ) | (255,920 | ) | (11,821,605 | ) | ||||||||
| Institutional Class | (156,427 | ) | (6,544,880 | ) | 6,254 | 290,726 | ||||||||||
| $ | (10,664,815 | ) | $ | (13,476,767 | ) | |||||||||||
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Trustees of Deutsche DWS Investment Trust and Shareholders of DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund (the “Fund”) (one of the funds constituting Deutsche DWS Investment Trust) (the “Trust”), including the investment portfolio, as of July 31, 2019, and the related statements of operations and changes in net assets and the financial highlights for the year then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund (one of the funds constituting Deutsche DWS Investment Trust ) at July 31, 2019, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets, and its financial highlights for the year then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The statement of changes in net assets for the year ended July 31, 2018, and the financial highlights for the years ended July 31, 2015, July 31, 2016, July 31, 2017 and July 31, 2018, were audited by another independent registered public accounting firm whose report, dated September 21, 2018, expressed an unqualified opinion on that statement of changes in net assets and those financial highlights.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
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material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of July 31, 2019, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and others or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers and others were not received. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the DWS family of funds since at least 1979, but we are unable to determine the specific year.
Boston, Massachusetts
September 24, 2019
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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) 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; had it not done so, expenses would have been higher. The example in the table is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of thesix-month period and held for the entire period (February 1, 2019 to July 31, 2019).
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. Subject to certain exceptions, an account maintenance fee of $20.00 assessed once per calendar year for Classes A, C and S shares may apply for accounts with balances less than $10,000. This fee is not included in these tables. If it was, the estimate of expenses paid for Classes A, C and S shares during the period would be higher, and account value during the period would be lower, by this amount.
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Expenses and Value of a $1,000 Investment for the six months ended July 31, 2019 (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| Actual Fund Return | Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class | ||||||||||||
| Beginning Account Value 2/1/19 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | ||||||||
| Ending Account Value 7/31/19 | $ | 1,176.10 | $ | 1,171.50 | $ | 1,177.30 | $ | 1,177.40 | ||||||||
| Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $ | 6.15 | $ | 10.18 | $ | 4.80 | $ | 4.80 | ||||||||
| Hypothetical 5% Fund Return | Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class | ||||||||||||
| Beginning Account Value 2/1/19 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,000.00 | ||||||||
| Ending Account Value 7/31/19 | $ | 1,019.14 | $ | 1,015.42 | $ | 1,020.38 | $ | 1,020.38 | ||||||||
| Expenses Paid per $1,000* | $ | 5.71 | $ | 9.44 | $ | 4.46 | $ | 4.46 | ||||||||
| * | 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 181 (the number of days in the most recentsix-month period), then divided by 365. |
| Annualized Expense Ratios | Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class | ||||||||||||
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | 1.14 | % | 1.89 | % | 0.89 | % | 0.89 | % | ||||||||
For more information, please refer to the Fund’s prospectuses.
For an analysis of the fees associated with an investment in the Fund or similar funds, please refer to tools.finra.org/fund_analyzer/.
| Tax Information | (Unaudited) |
The Fund paid distributions of $2.45 per share from net long-term capital gains during its year ended July 31, 2019.
Pursuant to Section 852 of the Internal Revenue Code, the Fund designates $14,661,000 as capital gain dividends for its year ended July 31, 2019.
For corporate shareholders, 100% of the ordinary dividends (i.e., income dividends plus short-term capital gains) paid during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2019, qualified for the dividends received deduction.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund designates $2,594,000 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 (800) 728-3337.
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Advisory Agreement Board Considerations and Fee Evaluation
The Board of Trustees (hereinafter referred to as the “Board” or “Trustees”) approved the renewal of DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment management agreement (the “Agreement”) with DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA”) in September 2018.
In terms of the process that the Board followed prior to approving the Agreement, shareholders should know that:
| – | During the entire process, all of the Fund’s Trustees were independent of DIMA and its affiliates (the “Independent Trustees”). |
| – | The Board met frequently during the past year to discuss fund matters and dedicated a substantial amount of time to contract review matters. Over the course of several months, the Board’s Contract Committee reviewed extensive materials received from DIMA, independent third parties and independent counsel. These materials included an analysis of the Fund’s performance, fees and expenses, and profitability from a fee consultant retained by the Fund’s Independent Trustees (the “Fee Consultant”). Based on its evaluation of the information provided, the Contract Committee presented its findings and recommendations to the Board. The Board then reviewed the Contract Committee’s findings and recommendations. |
| – | The Board also received extensive information throughout the year regarding performance of the Fund. |
| – | The Independent Trustees regularly met privately with counsel to discuss contract review and other matters. In addition, the Independent Trustees were advised by the Fee Consultant in the course of their review of the Fund’s contractual arrangements and considered a comprehensive report prepared by the Fee Consultant in connection with their deliberations. |
| – | In connection with reviewing the Agreement, the Board also reviewed the terms of the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 plan, distribution agreement, administrative services agreement, transfer agency agreement and other material service agreements. |
In connection with the contract review process, the Contract Committee and the Board considered the factors discussed below, among others. The Board also considered that DIMA and its predecessors have managed the Fund since its inception, and the Board believes that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious advisor is in the best interests of the Fund. The Board considered, generally, that shareholders chose to
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invest or remain invested in the Fund knowing that DIMA managed the Fund. DIMA is part of DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA (“DWS Group”). DWS Group is a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including research capabilities in many countries throughout the world. In 2018, approximately 20% of DWS Group’s shares were sold in an initial public offering, with Deutsche Bank AG owning the remaining shares.
As part of the contract review process, the Board carefully considered the fees and expenses of each DWS fund overseen by the Board in light of the fund’s performance. In many cases, this led to the negotiation and implementation of expense caps. As part of these negotiations, the Board indicated that it would consider relaxing these caps in future years following sustained improvements in performance, among other considerations.
While shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, the Fund’s Board considers these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DIMA’s personnel and administrative support services provided by DIMA, such as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures.
Nature, Quality and Extent of Services. The Board considered the terms of the Agreement, including the scope of advisory services provided under the Agreement. The Board noted that, under the Agreement, DIMA provides portfolio management services to the Fund and that, pursuant to a separate administrative services agreement, DIMA provides administrative services to the Fund. The Board considered the experience and skills of senior management and investment personnel and the resources made available to such personnel. The Board reviewed the Fund’s performance over short-term and long-term periods and compared those returns to various agreed-upon performance measures, including market index(es) and a peer universe compiled using information supplied by Morningstar Direct (“Morningstar”), an independent fund data service. The Board also noted that it has put into place a process of identifying “Funds in Review” (e.g., funds performing poorly relative to a peer universe), and receives additional reporting from DIMA regarding such funds and, where appropriate, DIMA’s plans to address underperformance. The Board believes this process is an effective manner of identifying and addressing underperforming funds. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that, for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2017, the Fund’s performance (Class A shares) was in the 3rd quartile, 2nd quartile and 2nd quartile, respectively, of the applicable Morningstar universe (the 1st quartile being the best performers and the 4th quartile being the worst performers). The Board also observed that the Fund has underperformed its benchmark in the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2017.
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Fees and Expenses. The Board considered the Fund’s investment management fee schedule, operating expenses and total expense ratios, and comparative information provided by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) and the Fee Consultant regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisors by similar funds (1st quartile being the most favorable and 4th quartile being the least favorable). With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisors by similar funds, the Board noted that the contractual fee rates paid by the Fund, which include a 0.10% fee paid to DIMA under the Fund’s administrative services agreement, were higher than the median (3rd quartile) of the applicable Broadridge peer group (based on Broadridge data provided as of December 31, 2017). The Board noted that the Fund’s Class A shares total (net) operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees) were expected to be higher than the median (3rd quartile) of the applicable Broadridge expense universe (based on Broadridge data provided as of December 31, 2017, and analyzing Broadridge expense universe Class A (net) expenses less any applicable 12b-1 fees) (“Broadridge Universe Expenses”). The Board also reviewed data comparing other share classes’ total (net) operating expenses to the applicable Broadridge Universe Expenses. The Board noted that the expense limitations agreed to by DIMA were expected to help the Fund’s total (net) operating expenses remain competitive. The Board considered the Fund’s management fee rate as compared to fees charged by DIMA to comparable DWS U.S. registered funds (“DWS Funds”) and considered differences between the Fund and the comparable DWS Funds. The information requested by the Board as part of its review of fees and expenses also included information about institutional accounts (including any sub-advised funds and accounts) and funds offered primarily to European investors (“DWS Europe Funds”) managed by DWS Group. The Board noted that DIMA indicated that DWS Group does not manage any institutional accounts or DWS Europe Funds comparable to the Fund.
On the basis of the information provided, the Board concluded that management fees were reasonable and appropriate in light of the nature, quality and extent of services provided by DIMA.
Profitability. The Board reviewed detailed information regarding revenues received by DIMA under the Agreement. The Board considered the estimated costs to DIMA, and pre-tax profits realized by DIMA, from advising the DWS Funds, as well as estimates of the pre-tax profits attributable to managing the Fund in particular. The Board also received information regarding the estimated enterprise-wide profitability of DIMA and its affiliates with respect to all fund services in totality and by fund. The Board and the Fee Consultant reviewed DIMA’s methodology in allocating its costs to the management of the Fund. Based on the
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information provided, the Board concluded that the pre-tax profits realized by DIMA in connection with the management of the Fund were not unreasonable. The Board also reviewed certain publicly available information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that, while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited (and in some cases is not necessarily prepared on a comparable basis), DIMA and its affiliates’ overall profitability with respect to the DWS Funds (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DIMA and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of most comparable firms for which such data was available.
Economies of Scale. The Board considered whether there are economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund and whether the Fund benefits from any economies of scale. 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 the Fund and DIMA of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels.
Other Benefits to DIMA and Its Affiliates. The Board also considered the character and amount of other incidental or “fall-out” benefits received by DIMA and its affiliates, including any fees received by DIMA for administrative services provided to the Fund, any fees received by an affiliate of DIMA for transfer agency services provided to the Fund and any fees received by an affiliate of DIMA for distribution services. The Board also considered benefits to DIMA related to brokerage and soft-dollar allocations, including allocating brokerage to pay for research generated by parties other than the executing broker dealers, which pertain primarily to funds investing in equity securities. In addition, the Board considered the incidental public relations benefits to DIMA related to DWS Funds advertising and cross-selling opportunities among DIMA products and services. The Board considered these benefits in reaching its conclusion that the Fund’s management fees were reasonable.
Compliance. The Board considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DIMA to its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience, seniority and time commitment of the individuals serving as DIMA’s and the Fund’s chief compliance officers and (ii) the substantial commitment of resources by DIMA and its affiliates to compliance matters, including the retention of compliance personnel.
Based on all of the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board unanimously determined that the continuation of the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund. In making this determination, the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of
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numerous meetings, certain of which were in executive session with only the Independent Trustees and counsel present. It is possible that individual Independent Trustees may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the Agreement.
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The following table presents certain information regarding the Board Members and Officers of the Fund. Each Board Member’s year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Board Member 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 Independent Board Member is c/o Keith R. Fox, DWS Funds Board Chair, c/o Thomas R. Hiller, Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA02199-3600. Except as otherwise noted below, the term of office for each Board Member is until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Board Member sooner dies, resigns, is removed or as otherwise provided in the governing documents of the Fund. Because the Fund does not hold an annual meeting of shareholders, each Board Member will hold office for an indeterminate period. The Board Members may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex.
| Independent Board Members | ||||||||
| Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Fund and Length of Time Served1 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held by Board Member | |||||
Keith R. Fox, CFA (1954)
Chairperson since 2017, and Board Member since 1996 | Managing General Partner, Exeter Capital Partners (a series of private investment funds) (since 1986). Directorships: Progressive International Corporation (kitchen goods importer and distributor); The Kennel Shop (retailer); former Chairman, National Association of Small Business Investment Companies; former Directorships: BoxTop Media Inc. (advertising); Sun Capital Advisers Trust (mutual funds) (2011–2012) | 82 | — | |||||
John W. Ballantine (1946)
Board Member since 1999 | Retired; formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Management Officer, First Chicago NBD Corporation/The First National Bank of Chicago (1996–1998); Executive Vice President and Head of International Banking (1995–1996); former Directorships: Director and Chairman of the Board, Healthways, Inc.2 (population well-being and wellness services) (2003–2014); Stockwell Capital Investments PLC (private equity); Enron Corporation; FNB Corporation; Tokheim Corporation; First Oak Brook Bancshares, Inc. and Oak Brook Bank; Prisma Energy International; Public Radio International. Not-for-Profit Director/Trustee: Palm Beach Civic Association; Window to the World Communications (public media); Life Director of Harris Theater for Music and Dance (Chicago); Life Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago | 82 | Portland General Electric2 (utility company) (2003– present) | |||||
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| Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Fund and Length of Time Served1 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held by Board Member | |||||
Henry P. Becton, Jr. (1943)
Board Member since 1990 | Vice Chair and former President, WGBH Educational Foundation. Directorships: Public Radio International; Public Radio Exchange (PRX); The Pew Charitable Trusts (charitable organization); Massachusetts Humane Society; Overseer of the New England Conservatory; former Directorships: Becton Dickinson and Company2 (medical technology company); Belo Corporation2 (media company); The PBS Foundation; Association of Public Television Stations; Boston Museum of Science; American Public Television; Concord Academy; New England Aquarium; Mass. Corporation for Educational Telecommunications; Committee for Economic Development; Public Broadcasting Service; Connecticut College; North Bennett Street School (Boston); American Documentary, Inc. (public media) | 82 | — | |||||
Dawn-Marie Driscoll (1946)
Board Member since 1987 | Emeritus Executive Fellow, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley University; formerly: Partner, Palmer & Dodge (law firm) (1988–1990); Vice President of Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Filene’s (retail) (1978–1988). Directorships: Advisory Board, Center for Business Ethics, Bentley University; Trustee and former Chairman of the Board, Southwest Florida Community Foundation (charitable organization); former Directorships: ICI Mutual Insurance Company (2007–2015); Sun Capital Advisers Trust (mutual funds) (2007–2012), Investment Company Institute (audit, executive, nominating committees) and Independent Directors Council (governance, executive committees) | 82 | — | |||||
Richard J. Herring (1946)
Board Member since 1990 | Jacob Safra Professor of International Banking and Professor of Finance, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (since July 1972); Director, The Wharton Financial Institutions Center (since 1994); formerly: Vice Dean and Director, Wharton Undergraduate Division (1995–2000) and Director, The Lauder Institute of International Management Studies (2000–2006); Member FDIC Systemic Risk Advisory Committee since 2011, member Systemic Risk Council since 2012 and member of the Advisory Board at the Yale Program on Financial Stability since 2013; Formerly Co-Chair of the Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee (2003–2015), Executive Director of The Financial Economists Roundtable (2008–2015), Director of The Thai Capital Fund (2007–2013), Director of The Aberdeen Singapore Fund (2007–2018), and Nonexecutive Director of Barclays Bank DE (2010–2018) | 82 | Director, Aberdeen Japan Fund (since 2007) | |||||
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 45 |
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| Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Fund and Length of Time Served1 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | Number of Funds in DWS Fund Complex Overseen | Other Directorships Held by Board Member | |||||
William McClayton (1944)
Board Member since 2004 | Private equity investor (since October 2009); previously, Managing Director, Diamond Management & Technology Consultants, Inc. (global consulting firm) (2001–2009); Directorship: Board of Managers, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago; formerly: Senior Partner, Arthur Andersen LLP (accounting) (1966–2001); Trustee, Ravinia Festival | 82 | — | |||||
Rebecca W. Rimel (1951)
Board Member since 1995 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, The Pew Charitable Trusts (charitable organization) (1994–present); formerly: Executive Vice President, The Glenmede Trust Company (investment trust and wealth management) (1983–2004); Board Member, Investor Education (charitable organization) (2004–2005); Trustee, Executive Committee, Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (2001–2007); Director, Viasys Health Care2 (January 2007–June 2007); Trustee, Thomas Jefferson Foundation (charitable organization) (1994–2012) | 82 | Director, Becton Dickinson and Company2 (medical technology company) (2012– present); Director, BioTelemetry Inc.2(health care) (2009– present) | |||||
William N. Searcy, Jr. (1946)
Board Member since 1993 | Private investor since October 2003; formerly: Pension & Savings Trust Officer, Sprint Corporation2(telecommunications) (November 1989–September 2003); Trustee, Sun Capital Advisers Trust (mutual funds) (1998–2012) | 82 | — | |||||
Jean Gleason Stromberg (1943)
Board Member since 1997 | Retired. Formerly, Consultant (1997–2001); Director, Financial Markets U.S. Government Accountability Office (1996–1997); Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright, L.L.P. (law firm) (1978–1996); former Directorships: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (charitable organization) (2000–2015); Service Source, Inc. (nonprofit), Mutual Fund Directors Forum (2002–2004), American Bar Retirement Association (funding vehicle for retirement plans) (1987–1990 and 1994–1996) | 82 | — | |||||
| Officers4 | ||
Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Fund and Length of Time Served5 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | |
Hepsen Uzcan6(1974)
President and Chief Executive Officer, 2017–present | Managing Director,3 DWS; Secretary, DWS USA Corporation (since March 2018); Assistant Secretary, DWS Distributors, Inc. (since June 25, 2018); Director and Vice President, DWS Service Company (since June 25, 2018); Assistant Secretary, DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (since June 25, 2018); and Director and President, DB Investment Managers, Inc. (since June 25, 2018); formerly: Vice President for the Deutsche funds (2016–2017); Assistant Secretary for the DWS funds (2013–2019) |
| 46 | | | DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund |
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Name, Year of Birth, Position with the Fund and Length of Time Served5 | Business Experience and Directorships During the Past Five Years | |
John Millette8(1962)
Vice President and Secretary, 1999–present | Director,3DWS; Chief Legal Officer, DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (2015–present); and Director and Vice President, DWS Trust Company (2016–present); formerly: Secretary, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. (2015–2017) | |
Diane Kenneally8,9(1966)
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, since 2018 | Director,3 DWS; formerly: Assistant Treasurer for the DWS funds (2007–2018) | |
Paul Antosca8(1957)
Assistant Treasurer, 2007–present | Director,3DWS | |
Sheila Cadogan8(1966)
Assistant Treasurer, 2017–present | Director,3DWS; Director and Vice President, DWS Trust Company (since 2018) | |
Scott D. Hogan8(1970)
Chief Compliance Officer, 2016–present | Director,3DWS | |
Caroline Pearson8(1962)
Chief Legal Officer, 2010–present | Managing Director,3DWS; formerly: Secretary, Deutsche AM Distributors, Inc. (2002–2017); and Secretary, Deutsche AM Service Company (2010–2017) | |
Wayne Salit7(1967) Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, 2014–present | Director,3 Deutsche Bank; and AML Officer, DWS Trust Company; formerly: Managing Director, AML Compliance Officer at BNY Mellon (2011–2014); and Director, AML Compliance Officer at Deutsche Bank (2004–2011) | |
Ciara Crawford10 (1984) Assistant Secretary, since February 8, 2019 | Associate, DWS (since 2015); previously, Legal Assistant at Accelerated Tax Solutions. |
| 1 | The length of time served represents the year in which the Board Member joined the board of one or more DWS funds currently overseen by the Board. |
| 2 | A publicly held company with securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| 3 | Executive title, not a board directorship. |
| 4 | As a result of their respective positions held with the Advisor or its affiliates, these individuals are considered “interested persons” of the Advisor within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Interested persons receive no compensation from the Fund. |
| 5 | The length of time served represents the year in which the officer was first elected in such capacity for one or more DWS funds. |
| 6 | Address: 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154. |
| 7 | Address: 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005. |
| 8 | Address: One International Place, Boston, MA 02110. |
| 9 | Appointed Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer effective July 2, 2018. |
| 10 | Address: 5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 400, Jacksonville, FL 32256. |
The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) includes additional information about the Board Members. 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 followingtoll-free number:(800) 728-3337.
| DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund | | | 47 |
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| For More Information | The automated telephone system allows you to access personalized account information and obtain information on other DWS funds using either your voice or your telephone keypad. Certain account types within Classes A, C and S also have the ability to purchase, exchange or redeem shares using this system.
For more information, contact your financial representative. You may also access our automated telephone system or speak with a Shareholder Service representative by calling:
(800)728-3337 | |
| Web Site | dws.com
View your account transactions and balances, trade shares, monitor your asset allocation, subscribe to fund and account updates bye-mail, and change your address, 24 hours a day.
Obtain prospectuses and applications,news about DWS funds, insight from DWS economists and investment specialists and access to DWS fund account information. | |
| Written Correspondence | DWS
PO Box 219151 Kansas City, MO64121-9151 | |
| Proxy Voting | 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 most recent12-month period ended June 30 are available on our Web site — dws.com/en-us/resources/proxy-voting — or on the SEC’s Web site — sec.gov. To obtain a written copy of the Fund’s policies and procedures without charge, upon request, call us toll free at (800)728-3337. | |
| Portfolio Holdings | Following the Fund’s fiscal first and thirdquarter-end, a complete portfolio holdings listing is filed with the SEC on FormN-Q or Form N-PORT (available for filings after March 31, 2019). The Fund’s Form N-Q or Form N-PORT will be available on the SEC’s Web site at sec.gov. The Fund’s portfolio holdings are also posted on dws.com from time to time. Please see the Fund’s current prospectus for more information. | |
| Principal Underwriter | If you have questions, comments or complaints, contact:
DWS Distributors, Inc.
222 South Riverside Plaza Chicago, IL60606-5808 (800)621-1148 |
| 48 | | | DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund |
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| Investment Management | DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA” or the “Advisor”), which is part of the DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA (“DWS Group”), is the investment advisor for the Fund. DIMA and its predecessors have more than 90 years of experience managing mutual funds and DIMA provides a full range of investment advisory services to both institutional and retail clients. DIMA is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of DWS Group.
DWS Group is a global 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. | |||||||
| Class A | Class C | Class S | Institutional Class | |||||
| Nasdaq Symbol | SGGAX | SGGCX | SCQGX | SGGIX | ||||
| CUSIP Number | 25157M 695 | 25157M 737 | 25157M 745 | 25157M 752 | ||||
| Fund Number | 469 | 769 | 2060 | 1469 | ||||
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DLCFGF-2
(R-023513-10 9/19)
| ITEM 2. | CODE OF ETHICS |
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR that applies to its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer.
There have been no amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report that would require disclosure under Item 2.
A copy of the code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. | |
| ITEM 3. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT |
| The fund’s audit committee is comprised solely of trustees who are "independent" (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (the "Regulations")). The fund’s Board of Trustees has determined that there are several "audit committee financial experts" (as such term has been defined by the Regulations) serving on the fund’s audit committee including Mr. William McClayton, the chair of the fund’s audit committee. An “audit committee financial expert” is not an “expert” for any purpose, including for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the designation or identification of a person as an “audit committee financial expert” does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or identification. | |
| ITEM 4. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES |
DWS large cap focus growth fund
form n-csr disclosure re: AUDIT FEES
The following table shows the amount of fees that Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”), the Fund’s current Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, billed to the Fund during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 and the amount of fees that PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (“PwC”), the Fund’s prior Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, billed to the Fund during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2018. The Audit Committee approved in advance all audit services and non-audit services that EY or PwC provided to the Fund while serving as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
Services that the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Billed to the Fund
| Fiscal Year Ended July 31, | Audit Fees Billed to Fund | Audit-Related Fees Billed to Fund | Tax Fees Billed to Fund | All Other Fees Billed to Fund |
| 2019 | $53,933 | $0 | $6,755 | $0 |
| 2018 | $72,036 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Services that the Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Billed to the Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers
The following table shows the amount of fees billed by EY to DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc. (“DIMA” or the “Adviser”), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with DIMA (“Control Affiliate”) that provides ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Fund Service Provider”), for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 and the amount of fees billed by PwC to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service provider for engagements directly related to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting, during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2018.
| Fiscal Year Ended July 31, | Audit-Related Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers | Tax Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers | All Other Fees Billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers |
| 2019 | $0 | $740,482 | $0 |
| 2018 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
The above “Tax Fees” were billed in connection with tax compliance services and agreed upon procedures. EY also billed $470,936 for tax services during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2018.
Non-Audit Services
The following table shows the amount of fees that EY billed during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2019 and the amount of fees that PwC billed during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2018 for non-audit services. The Audit Committee pre-approved all non-audit services that EY or PwC, while serving as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, provided to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider that related directly to the Fund’s operations and financial reporting. The Audit Committee requested and received information from EY and PwC about any non-audit services that EY or PwC rendered to the Adviser and any Affiliated Fund Service Provider. The Committee considered this information in evaluating EY’s and PwC’s independence.
| Fiscal Year Ended July 31, | Total (A) | Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (engagements related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund) (B) | Total Non-Audit Fees billed to Adviser and Affiliated Fund Service Providers (all other engagements) (C) | Total of (A), (B) and (C) |
| 2019 | $6,755 | $740,482 | $0 | $747,237 |
| 2018 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
All other engagement fees were billed for services in connection with agreed upon procedures and tax compliance for DIMA and other related entities.EY also billed $984,066 for tax services during the Fund’s fiscal year ended July 31, 2018.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures. Generally, each Fund’s Audit Committee must pre approve (i) all services to be performed for a Fund by a Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and (ii) all non-audit services to be performed by a Fund’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the DIMA Entities with respect to operations and financial reporting of the Fund, except that the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of each Fund’s Audit Committee may grant the pre-approval for non-audit services described in items (i) and (ii) above for non-prohibited services for engagements of less than $100,000. All such delegated pre approvals shall be presented to each Fund’s Audit Committee no later than the next Audit Committee meeting.
There were no amounts that were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to the de minimis exception under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
According to each principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, substantially all of the principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm's hours spent on auditing the registrant's financial statements were attributed to work performed by full-time permanent employees of the principal Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
***
In connection with the audit of the 2019 financial statements, the Fund entered into an engagement letter with EY. The terms of the engagement letter required by EY, and agreed to by the Audit Committee, include a provision mandating the use of mediation and arbitration to resolve any controversy or claim between the parties arising out of or relating to the engagement letter or services provided thereunder.
***
Pursuant to PCAOB Rule 3526, EY is required to describe in writing to the Fund’s Audit Committee, on at least an annual basis, all relationships between EY, or any of its affiliates, and the DWS Funds, including the Fund, or persons in financial reporting oversight roles at the DWS Funds that, as of the date of the communication, may reasonably be thought to bear on EY’s independence. Pursuant to PCAOB Rule 3526, EY has reported the matters set forth below that may reasonably be thought to bear on EY’s independence. With respect to each reported matter, individually and in the aggregate, EY advised the Audit Committee that, after careful consideration of the facts and circumstances and the applicable independence rules, it concluded that the matters do not and will not impair EY’s ability to exercise objective and impartial judgement in connection with the audits of the financial statements for the Fund and a reasonable investor with knowledge of all relevant facts and circumstances would conclude that EY has been and is capable of exercising objective and impartial judgment on all issues encompassed within EY’s audit engagements. EY also confirmed to the Audit Committee that it can continue act as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Fund.
| · | EY advised the Fund’s Audit Committee that various covered persons within EY’s affiliates held investments in, or had other financial relationships with, entities within the DWS Funds “investment company complex” (as defined in Regulation S-X) (the “DWS Funds Complex”). EY informed the Audit Committee that these investments and financial relationships were inconsistent with Rule 2-01(c)(1) of Regulation S-X. EY reported that all breaches have been resolved and that none of the breaches involved any investments in the Fund or any professionals who were part of the audit engagement team for the Fund or in a position to influence the audit engagement team. In addition, EY noted that the independence breaches did not (i) create a mutual or conflicting interest with the Fund, (ii) place EY in the position of auditing its own work, (iii) result in EY acting as management or an employee of the Fund, or (iv) place EY in a position of being an advocate of the Fund. |
| · | EY advised the Fund’s Audit Committee of certain lending relationships of EY with owners of greater than 10% of the shares of certain investment companies within the DWS Funds Complex that EY had identified as inconsistent with Rule 2-01(c)(l)(ii)(A) of Regulation S-X (referred to as the “Loan Rule”). The Loan Rule specifically provides that an accounting firm would not be independent if it receives a loan from a lender that is a record or beneficial owner of more than ten percent of an audit client’s equity securities. For purposes of the Loan Rule, an audit client includes the Fund as well as all other investment companies in the DWS Funds Complex. EY’s lending relationships affect EY’s independence under the Loan Rule with respect to all investment companies in the DWS Funds Complex. |
EY stated its belief that, in each lending relationship, the lender is or was not able to impact the impartiality of EY or assert any influence over the investment companies in the DWS Funds Complex whose shares the lender owns or owned, or the applicable investment company’s investment adviser. In addition, on June 20, 2016, the SEC Staff issued a “no-action” letter to another mutual fund complex, Fidelity Management & Research Company et al., SEC Staff No-Action Letter (June 20, 2016) (the “Fidelity Letter”), related to similar Loan Rule issues as those described above. In the Fidelity Letter, the SEC Staff confirmed that it would not recommend enforcement action against an investment company that relied on the audit services performed by an audit firm that was not in compliance with the Loan Rule in certain specified circumstances. With respect to each lending relationship identified by EY, the circumstances described in the Fidelity Letter appear to be substantially similar to the circumstances that affected EY’s independence under the Loan Rule with respect to the Fund, and, in each case, EY confirmed to the Audit Committee that it meets the conditions of the Fidelity Letter.
| ITEM 5. | AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS | |
| Not applicable | ||
| ITEM 6. | SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS | |
| Not applicable | ||
| ITEM 7. | DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES | |
| Not applicable | ||
| ITEM 8. | PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES | |
| Not applicable | ||
| ITEM 9. | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS | |
| Not applicable | ||
| ITEM 10. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS | |
| There were no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Fund’s Board. The primary function of the Nominating and Governance Committee is to identify and recommend individuals for membership on the Board and oversee the administration of the Board Governance Guidelines. Shareholders may recommend candidates for Board positions by forwarding their correspondence by U.S. mail or courier service to Keith R. Fox, DWS Funds Board Chair, c/o Thomas R. Hiller, Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199-3600. | ||
| ITEM 11. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | |
| (a) | The Chief Executive and Financial Officers concluded that the Registrant’s Disclosure Controls and Procedures are effective based on the evaluation of the Disclosure Controls and Procedures as of a date within six months of the filing date of this report. | |
| (b) | There have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the six-month period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting. | |
| ITEM 12. | Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies | |
| Not applicable | ||
| ITEM 13. | EXHIBITS | |
| (a)(1) | Code of Ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed and attached hereto as EX-99.CODE ETH. | |
| (a)(2) | Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) is filed and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.CERT. | |
| (a)(3) | Not applicable | |
| (a)(4)(i) | Certification pursuant to Item 4.01 of Form 8-K under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 249.308) is attached hereto. | |
| (a)(4)(ii) | Letter from former accountant pursuant to Item 304(a) under Regulation S-K is attached hereto. | |
| (b) | Certification pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)) is furnished and attached hereto as Exhibit 99.906CERT. | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| Registrant: | DWS Large Cap Focus Growth Fund, a series of Deutsche DWS Investment Trust |
| By: | /s/Hepsen Uzcan Hepsen Uzcan President |
| Date: | 10/3/2019 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By: | /s/Hepsen Uzcan Hepsen Uzcan President |
| Date: | 10/3/2019 |
| By: | /s/Diane Kenneally Diane Kenneally Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
| Date: | 10/3/2019 |