UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number | 811-06711 | |||||||
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Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund | ||||||||
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) | ||||||||
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522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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Sara Furber 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036 | ||||||||
(Name and address of agent for service) | ||||||||
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 212-296-6990 |
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Date of fiscal year end: | February 28, 2011 |
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Date of reporting period: | February 28, 2011 |
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Item 1 - Report to Shareholders
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Welcome, Shareholder:
In this report, you'll learn about how your investment in Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund performed during the annual period. We will provide an overview of the market conditions, and discuss some of the factors that affected performance during the reporting period. In addition, this report includes the Fund's financial statements and a list of Fund investments.
This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus for the fund being offered.
Market forecasts provided in this report may not necessarily come to pass. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and, therefore, the value of the Fund's shares may be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Fund. Please see the prospectus for more complete information on investment risks.
Fund Report
For the year ended February 28, 2011
Total Return for the 12 Months Ended February 28, 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Class A | Class B | Class C | Class I | Russell 2000® Growth Index1 | Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds Index2 | ||||||||||||||||||
35.10 | % | 34.04 | % | 34.12 | % | 35.46 | % | 36.33 | % | 33.93 | % |
The performance of the Fund's four share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Fund's total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any applicable sales charges. Such costs would lower performance. See Performance Summary for standardized performance and benchmark information.
Market Conditions
Improved investor sentiment encouraged renewed interest in riskier assets, resulting in strong performance for the broad stock market in the 12-month period ended February 28, 2011. The period was not without volatility, especially caused by debt concerns in Europe and at the state and local level in the U.S., the lack of meaningful improvement in the employment situation and housing market, and rising inflationary pressures in the emerging markets. Yet, the market was buoyed by a number of factors. Most notably, the Federal Reserve's widely anticipated Treasury bond buying program (known as the second round of quantitative easing, or QE2) was a major driver of a rally beginning in the late summer of 2010. Other positive influences during the period included gains in manufacturing and consumer data as well as the better-than-expected corporate earnings reported by many companies.
Small-cap stocks performed particularly well, rising 36.33 percent in this reporting period as measured by the Russell 2000® Growth Index (the "Index"), likely due to the expectation that this segment of the market tends to lead early in an economic expansion phase. Within the Index, the best performing sectors were energy, technology, and materials and processing. Health care, consumer staples, and utilities had the smallest gains, although all sectors in the Index had double-digit returns during the period.
Performance Analysis
All share classes of Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund underperformed the Russell 2000® Growth Index (the "Index") and outperformed the Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds Index for the 12 months ended February 28, 2011, assuming no deduction of applicable sales charges.
The main detractors from relative performance included stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector, where the Fund was hurt by the negative returns of several diversified retail holdings. An overweight in the sector was slightly disadvantageous as well. An underweight in the technology sector also dampened relative gains, as the sector was among the best performers in the Index during the period, and stock selection also was a negative influence. Both an overweight and stock selection in the financial services sector hampered relative returns, with weakness from a financial data and systems holding and a multi-line insurance holding.
2
Negative performance relative to the Index was offset by the materials and processing sector. The sector was by far the largest positive contributor, with both stock selection and an overweight adding to gains. In particular, a holding in the diversified metals and mining industry performed very well, and all of the portfolio's other holdings within the sector also had positive returns. Stock selection in producer durables was another source of relative strength, bolstered by good performance from several holdings in the back office support, human resources, and consulting industry. Stock selection in utilities was beneficial to performance, although an overweight there hurt slightly. The portfolio held only three utilities stocks (in the electrical utilities, miscellaneous utilities, and telecommunications industries), all of which had positive returns during the period.
There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed herein or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future.
TOP 10 HOLDINGS as of 02/28/11 | |||||||
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (Bermuda) | 4.6 | % | |||||
Lynas Corp. Ltd. (Australia) | 4.5 | ||||||
Youku.com, Inc. (ADR) (Cayman Islands) | 3.7 | ||||||
Techne Corp. | 3.3 | ||||||
PF Chang's China Bistro, Inc. | 3.1 | ||||||
Blue Nile, Inc. | 3.0 | ||||||
MSCI, Inc. (Class A) | 2.9 | ||||||
Advisory Board Co. (The) | 2.8 | ||||||
Solera Holdings, Inc. | 2.8 | ||||||
Greenhill & Co., Inc. | 2.7 | ||||||
TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES as of 02/28/11 | |||||||
Internet Software & Services | 13.4 | % | |||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 8.4 | ||||||
Professional Services | 7.6 | ||||||
Software | 6.3 | ||||||
Electric Utilities | 4.6 |
Subject to change daily. Provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as a recommendation to buy or sell the securities mentioned above. Top 10 holdings and top five industries are as a percentage of net assets. Morgan Stanley is a full-service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services.
3
Investment Strategy
The Fund will normally invest at least 65 percent of its assets in a diversified portfolio of common stocks and other equity securities of small companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, within the capitalization range of securities comprising the Russell 2000® Growth Index (approximately $15 million to $4.5 billion as of May 31, 2010). The Fund's "Investment Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc., generally seeks to invest in high quality companies it believes have sustainable competitive advantages and the ability to redeploy capital at high rates of return. The Investment Adviser typically favors companies with rising returns on invested capital, above average business visibility, strong free cash flow generation and an attractive risk/reward profile. The Fund may also use derivative instruments as discussed in the Fund's prospectus. These derivative instruments will be counted toward the 65 percent policy discussed above to the extent they have economic characteristics similar to the securities included within that policy.
For More Information About Portfolio Holdings
Each Morgan Stanley fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings in its semiannual and annual reports within 60 days of the end of the fund's second and fourth fiscal quarters. The semiannual reports and the annual reports are filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSRS and Form N-CSR, respectively. Morgan Stanley also delivers the semiannual and annual reports to fund shareholders and makes these reports available on its public web site, www.morganstanley.com. Each Morgan Stanley fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the fund's first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. Morgan Stanley does not deliver the reports for the first and third fiscal quarters to shareholders, nor are the reports posted to the Morgan Stanley public web site. You may, however, obtain the Form N-Q filings (as well as the Form N-CSR and N-CSRS filings) by accessing the SEC's web site, http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy them at the SEC's public reference room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the SEC's public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC's e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing the public reference section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-1520.
Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures and Proxy Voting Record
You may obtain a copy of the Fund's Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures without charge, upon request, by calling toll free (800) 869-NEWS or by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com. It is also available on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.
You may obtain information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 without charge by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com. This information is also available on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.
Householding Notice
To reduce printing and mailing costs, the Fund attempts to eliminate duplicate mailings to the same address. The Fund delivers a single copy of certain shareholder documents, including shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxy materials, to investors with the same last name who reside at the same address. Your participation in this program will continue for an unlimited period of time unless you instruct us otherwise. You can request multiple copies of these documents by calling (800) 869-NEWS, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., ET. Once our Customer Service Center has received your instructions, we will begin sending individual copies for each account within 30 days.
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Performance Summary
Performance of $10,000 Investment—Class B
Over 10 Years
6
Average Annual Total Returns—Period Ended February 28, 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||
Symbol | Class A Shares* (since 07/28/97) SMPAX | Class B Shares** (since 08/02/93) SMPBX | Class C Shares† (since 07/28/97) SMPCX | Class I Shares†† (since 07/28/97) SMPDX | |||||||||||||||
1 Year | 35.10 28.00 4 | %3 | 34.04 29.04 4 | %3 | 34.12 33.12 4 | %3 | 35.46 — | %3 | |||||||||||
5 Years | 3.58 3 2.47 4 | 2.81 3 2.45 4 | 2.82 3 2.82 4 | 3.83 3 — | |||||||||||||||
10 Years | 0.35 3 –0.19 4 | –0.26 3 –0.26 4 | –0.37 3 –0.37 4 | 0.59 3 — | |||||||||||||||
Since Inception | 3.32 3 2.92 4 | 5.74 3 5.74 4 | 2.56 3 2.56 4 | 3.56 3 — |
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please visit www.morganstanley.com/im or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate and fund shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Performance for Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class I shares will vary due to differences in sales charges and expenses. See the Fund's current prospectus for complete details on fees and sales charges.
* The maximum front-end sales charge for Class A is 5.25%.
** The maximum contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) for Class B is 5.0%. The CDSC declines to 0% after six years. Effective April 2005, Class B shares will generally convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shares were purchased. Performance for periods greater than eight years reflects this conversion (beginning April 2005).
† The maximum contingent deferred sales charge for Class C is 1.0% for shares redeemed within one year of purchase.
†† Class I has no sales charge.
(1) The Russell 2000® Growth Index measures the performance of the small-cap growth segment of the U.S. equity universe. It includes those Russell 2000® Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 2000® Index is a subset of the Russell 3000® Index representing approximately 10% of the total market capitalization of that index. It includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market capitalization and current index membership. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
(2) The Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds classification. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in this Index. The Fund was in the Lipper Small-Cap Growth Funds classification as of the date of this report.
(3) Figure shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions and does not reflect the deduction of any sales charges.
(4) Figure shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions and the deduction of the maximum applicable sales charge. See the Fund's current prospectus for complete details on fees and sales charges.
‡ Ending value assuming a complete redemption on February 28, 2011.
7
Expense Example
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including advisory fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period 09/01/10 – 02/28/11.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During Period" to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical expenses based on the Fund's actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund's actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs, and will not help you determine the relative total cost of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Beginning Account Value | Ending Account Value | Expenses Paid During Period@ | |||||||||||||
09/01/10 | 02/28/11 | 09/01/10 – 02/28/11 | |||||||||||||
Class A | |||||||||||||||
Actual (35.60% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,356.00 | $ | 11.45 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,015.08 | $ | 9.79 | |||||||||
Class B | |||||||||||||||
Actual (35.15% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,351.50 | $ | 15.80 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,011.36 | $ | 13.52 | |||||||||
Class C | |||||||||||||||
Actual (35.15% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,351.50 | $ | 15.63 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,011.50 | $ | 13.37 | |||||||||
Class I | |||||||||||||||
Actual (35.81% return) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,358.10 | $ | 10.00 | |||||||||
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | $ | 1,000.00 | $ | 1,016.31 | $ | 8.55 |
@ Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratios of 1.96%, 2.71%, 2.68% and 1.71% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class I shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).
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Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Portfolio of Investments n February 28, 2011
NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE | ||||||||||
Common Stocks (94.9%) | |||||||||||
Biotechnology (1.9%) | |||||||||||
69,988 | Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a)(b) | $ | 855,953 | ||||||||
Capital Markets (3.6%) | |||||||||||
1,025 | Capital Southwest Corp. | 102,439 | |||||||||
21,003 | CETIP SA - Balcao Organizado de Ativos e Derivativos (Brazil) | 312,432 | |||||||||
17,158 | Greenhill & Co., Inc. | 1,232,459 | |||||||||
1,647,330 | |||||||||||
Chemicals (4.2%) | |||||||||||
20,488 | Intrepid Potash, Inc. (a) | 790,837 | |||||||||
24,031 | Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (a) | 1,118,643 | |||||||||
1,909,480 | |||||||||||
Commercial Services & Supplies (1.2%) | |||||||||||
33,223 | Covanta Holding Corp. | 562,133 | |||||||||
Construction Materials (3.6%) | |||||||||||
30,195 | Eagle Materials, Inc. | 975,902 | |||||||||
16,378 | Texas Industries, Inc. | 667,895 | |||||||||
1,643,797 | |||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services (3.4%) | |||||||||||
37,719 | MSCI, Inc. (Class A) (a) | 1,339,024 | |||||||||
6,939 | Pico Holdings, Inc. (a) | 206,158 | |||||||||
1,545,182 | |||||||||||
Diversified Telecommunication Services (1.4%) | |||||||||||
43,817 | Cogent Communications Group, Inc. (a) | 645,863 | |||||||||
Electric Utilities (4.6%) | |||||||||||
178,449 | AET&D Holdings No 1 Ltd. (Australia) (a)(c)(d)(f) | 0 | |||||||||
92,827 | Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (Bermuda) | 2,096,046 | |||||||||
2,096,046 |
NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE | ||||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.1%) | |||||||||||
15,118 | Gen-Probe, Inc. (a) | $ | 950,620 | ||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services (1.9%) | |||||||||||
9,962 | HMS Holdings Corp. (a) | 752,729 | |||||||||
18,404 | LCA-Vision, Inc. (a) | 130,116 | |||||||||
882,845 | |||||||||||
Health Care Technology (3.0%) | |||||||||||
23,700 | athenahealth, Inc. (a) | 1,074,558 | |||||||||
20,956 | MedAssets, Inc. (a) | 296,947 | |||||||||
1,371,505 | |||||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (8.4%) | |||||||||||
16,711 | BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (a) | 600,760 | |||||||||
13,654 | Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co. Ltd. (ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a) | 290,557 | |||||||||
8,889 | Gaylord Entertainment Co. (a) | 320,271 | |||||||||
33,430 | Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (a) | 89,592 | |||||||||
30,865 | PF Chang's China Bistro, Inc. | 1,433,371 | |||||||||
22,969 | Vail Resorts, Inc. (a) | 1,120,887 | |||||||||
3,855,438 | |||||||||||
Household Durables (3.1%) | |||||||||||
114,621 | Brookfield Incorporacoes SA (Brazil) | 529,083 | |||||||||
33,452 | Gafisa SA (ADR) (Brazil) | 422,499 | |||||||||
15,589 | iRobot Corp. (a) | 447,716 | |||||||||
1,399,298 | |||||||||||
Information Technology Services (3.6%) | |||||||||||
36,255 | Acxiom Corp. (a) | 621,411 | |||||||||
25,401 | Forrester Research, Inc. | 919,008 | |||||||||
53,680 | Information Services Group, Inc. (a) | 120,243 | |||||||||
1,660,662 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
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Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Portfolio of Investments n February 28, 2011 continued
NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE | ||||||||||
Insurance (2.2%) | |||||||||||
34,537 | Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (Class A) (Cayman Islands) (a) | $ | 999,501 | ||||||||
Internet & Catalog Retail (4.3%) | |||||||||||
23,821 | Blue Nile, Inc. (a) | 1,362,085 | |||||||||
16,016 | E-Commerce China Dangdang, Inc. (ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a) | 407,607 | |||||||||
6,518 | Makemytrip Ltd. (a) | 172,401 | |||||||||
1,942,093 | |||||||||||
Internet Software & Services (12.0%) | |||||||||||
11,870 | comScore, Inc. (a) | 326,781 | |||||||||
27,677 | GSI Commerce, Inc. (a) | 575,405 | |||||||||
11,662 | MercadoLibre, Inc. (a) | 767,126 | |||||||||
11,202 | OpenTable, Inc. (a) | 995,522 | |||||||||
5,600 | Sohu.com, Inc. (a) | 456,736 | |||||||||
13,051 | VistaPrint N.V. (Netherlands) (a) | 668,342 | |||||||||
40,299 | Youku.com, Inc. (ADR) (Cayman Islands) (a) | 1,676,035 | |||||||||
5,465,947 | |||||||||||
Leisure Equipment & Products (1.8%) | |||||||||||
25,800 | Universal Entertainment Corp. (Japan) (a) | 825,826 | |||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services (3.3%) | |||||||||||
20,808 | Techne Corp. | 1,491,726 | |||||||||
Media (1.7%) | |||||||||||
12,884 | Morningstar, Inc. | 756,033 | |||||||||
Metals & Mining (4.5%) | |||||||||||
1,023,557 | Lynas Corp. Ltd. (Australia) (a) | 2,061,744 | |||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (2.7%) | |||||||||||
33,462 | Brigham Exploration Co. (a) | 1,224,040 |
NUMBER OF SHARES | VALUE | ||||||||||
Professional Services (7.6%) | |||||||||||
24,763 | Advisory Board Co. (The) (a) | $ | 1,266,875 | ||||||||
25,452 | Corporate Executive Board Co. (The) | 1,019,862 | |||||||||
21,268 | CoStar Group, Inc. (a) | 1,205,257 | |||||||||
3,491,994 | |||||||||||
Real Estate Management & Development (0.2%) | |||||||||||
3,110 | Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. | 106,611 | |||||||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (1.4%) | |||||||||||
37,568 | Tessera Technologies, Inc. (a) | 654,059 | |||||||||
Software (6.3%) | |||||||||||
9,230 | Blackboard, Inc. (a) | 323,142 | |||||||||
18,426 | NetSuite, Inc. (a) | 552,964 | |||||||||
24,653 | Solera Holdings, Inc. | 1,259,275 | |||||||||
21,182 | SuccessFactors, Inc. (a) | 760,646 | |||||||||
2,896,027 | |||||||||||
Specialty Retail (0.9%) | |||||||||||
19,072 | Citi Trends, Inc. (a) | 419,393 | |||||||||
Total Common Stocks (Cost $37,161,117) | 43,361,146 | ||||||||||
Non-Convertible Preferred Stocks (2.8%) | |||||||||||
Finance (0.6%) | |||||||||||
51,797 | Ning, Inc. Ser D (a)(c) | 301,458 | |||||||||
Internet Software & Services (1.4%) | |||||||||||
14,426 | Twitter, Inc. Ser E (a)(c)(e) | 660,786 | |||||||||
Medical - Biomedical/ Genetics (0.8%) | |||||||||||
46,575 | Pacific Biosciences Ser E (a)(c)(d) | 354,436 | |||||||||
Total Non-Convertible Preferred Stocks (Cost $926,935) | 1,316,680 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
10
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Portfolio of Investments n February 28, 2011 continued
NUMBER OF SHARES (000) | VALUE | ||||||||||
Short-Term Investment (2.5%) | |||||||||||
Investment Company | |||||||||||
1,121 | Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds - Money Market Portfolio - Institutional Class (See Note 5) (Cost $1,121,404) | $ | 1,121,404 | ||||||||
Total Investments (Cost $39,209,456) (g)(h) | 100.2 | % | 45,799,230 | ||||||||
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets | (0.2 | ) | (105,925 | ) | |||||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $ | 45,693,305 |
ADR American Depositary Receipt.
(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) Super voting rights at a ratio of 10:1.
(c) At February 28, 2011, the Fund held fair valued securities valued at $1,316,680, representing 2.9% of net assets. These securities have been fair valued as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees.
(d) Illiquid security.
(e) Illiquid security. Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.
(f) Non-voting shares.
(g) The market value and percentage of net assets, $2,887,570 and 6.3%, respectively, represent the securities that have been fair valued under the fair valuation policy for international investments as described in Note 1A within the Notes to Financial Statements.
(h) The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $40,650,683. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $9,144,538 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $3,995,991 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $5,148,547.
Summary of Investments
INDUSTRY | VALUE | PERCENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENTS | |||||||||
Internet Software & Services | $ | 6,126,733 | 13.4 | % | |||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 3,855,438 | 8.4 | |||||||||
Professional Services | 3,491,994 | 7.6 | |||||||||
Software | 2,896,027 | 6.3 | |||||||||
Electric Utilities | 2,096,046 | 4.6 | |||||||||
Metals & Mining | 2,061,744 | 4.5 | |||||||||
Internet & Catalog Retail | 1,942,093 | 4.2 | |||||||||
Chemicals | 1,909,480 | 4.2 | |||||||||
Information Technology Services | 1,660,662 | 3.6 | |||||||||
Capital Markets | 1,647,330 | 3.6 | |||||||||
Construction Materials | 1,643,797 | 3.6 | |||||||||
Diversified Financial Services | 1,545,182 | 3.4 | |||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 1,491,726 | 3.3 | |||||||||
Household Durables | 1,399,298 | 3.1 | |||||||||
Health Care Technology | 1,371,505 | 3.0 | |||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 1,224,040 | 2.7 | |||||||||
Investment Company | 1,121,404 | 2.4 | |||||||||
Insurance | 999,501 | 2.2 | |||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 950,620 | 2.1 | |||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services | 882,845 | 1.9 | |||||||||
Biotechnology | 855,953 | 1.9 | |||||||||
Leisure Equipment & Products | 825,826 | 1.8 | |||||||||
Media | 756,033 | 1.6 | |||||||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 654,059 | 1.4 | |||||||||
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 645,863 | 1.4 | |||||||||
Commercial Services & Supplies | 562,133 | 1.2 | |||||||||
Specialty Retail | 419,393 | 0.9 | |||||||||
Medical - Biomedical/ Genetics | 354,436 | 0.8 | |||||||||
Finance | 301,458 | 0.7 | |||||||||
Real Estate Management & Development | 106,611 | 0.2 | |||||||||
$ | 45,799,230 | 100.0 | % |
See Notes to Financial Statements
11
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
February 28, 2011
Assets: | |||||||
Investments in securities, at value (cost $38,088,052) | $ | 44,677,826 | |||||
Investment in affiliate, at value (cost $1,121,404) | 1,121,404 | ||||||
Receivable for: | |||||||
Shares of beneficial interest sold | 82,070 | ||||||
Dividends | 47,329 | ||||||
Dividends from affiliate | 239 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 4,005 | ||||||
Total Assets | 45,932,873 | ||||||
Liabilities: | |||||||
Payable for: | |||||||
Shares of beneficial interest redeemed | 95,229 | ||||||
Investment advisory fee | 31,779 | ||||||
Transfer agent fee | 28,447 | ||||||
Distribution fee | 12,235 | ||||||
Administration fee | 2,787 | ||||||
Accrued expenses and other payables | 69,091 | ||||||
Total Liabilities | 239,568 | ||||||
Net Assets | $ | 45,693,305 | |||||
Composition of Net Assets: | |||||||
Paid-in-capital | $ | 42,530,329 | |||||
Net unrealized appreciation | 6,589,774 | ||||||
Accumulated net investment loss | (101,520 | ) | |||||
Accumulated net realized loss | (3,325,278 | ) | |||||
Net Assets | $ | 45,693,305 | |||||
Class A Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 39,136,094 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value) | 1,547,277 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 25.29 | |||||
Maximum Offering Price Per Share, (net asset value plus 5.54% of net asset value) | $ | 26.69 | |||||
Class B Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 3,797,028 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value) | 166,516 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 22.80 | |||||
Class C Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 2,394,868 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value) | 105,048 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 22.80 | |||||
Class I Shares: | |||||||
Net Assets | $ | 365,315 | |||||
Shares Outstanding (unlimited shares authorized, $.01 par value) | 14,004 | ||||||
Net Asset Value Per Share | $ | 26.09 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
12
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Financial Statements continued
Statement of Operations
For the year ended February 28, 2011
Net Investment Loss: | |||||||
Income | |||||||
Dividends (net of $286 foreign withholding tax) | $ | 495,504 | |||||
Dividends from affiliate | 2,052 | ||||||
Total Income | 497,556 | ||||||
Expenses | |||||||
Investment advisory fee | 392,551 | ||||||
Distribution fee (Class A shares) | 89,220 | ||||||
Distribution fee (Class B shares) | 43,118 | ||||||
Distribution fee (Class C shares) | 23,068 | ||||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses | 124,662 | ||||||
Professional fees | 78,840 | ||||||
Registration fees | 49,427 | ||||||
Shareholder reports and notices | 49,136 | ||||||
Administration fee | 34,135 | ||||||
Custodian fees | 17,483 | ||||||
Trustees' fees and expenses | 1,775 | ||||||
Other | 17,407 | ||||||
Total Expenses | 920,822 | ||||||
Less: rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliated cash sweep (Note 5) | (1,383 | ) | |||||
Net Expenses | 919,439 | ||||||
Net Investment Loss | (421,883 | ) | |||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss): Realized Loss on: | |||||||
Investments | (169,330 | ) | |||||
Foreign currency translation | (5,118 | ) | |||||
Net Realized Loss | (174,448 | ) | |||||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation | 13,533,699 | ||||||
Net Gain | 13,359,251 | ||||||
Net Increase | $ | 12,937,368 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
13
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Financial Statements continued
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2011 | FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2010 | ||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: Operations: | |||||||||||
Net investment loss | $ | (421,883 | ) | $ | (683,781 | ) | |||||
Net realized loss | (174,448 | ) | (141,437 | ) | |||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | 13,533,699 | 19,675,188 | |||||||||
Net Increase | 12,937,368 | 18,849,970 | |||||||||
Net decrease from transactions in shares of beneficial interest | (9,262,460 | ) | (7,439,387 | ) | |||||||
Net Increase | 3,674,908 | 11,410,583 | |||||||||
Net Assets: | |||||||||||
Beginning of period | 42,018,397 | 30,607,814 | |||||||||
End of Period (Including accumulated net investment loss of $101,520 and accumulated undistributed net investment income of $70,348, respectively) | $ | 45,693,305 | $ | 42,018,397 |
See Notes to Financial Statements
14
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011
1. Organization and Accounting Policies
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund (the "Fund") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Act"), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund's investment objective is capital appreciation. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on March 11, 1992 and commenced operations on August 2, 1993. On July 28, 1997, the Fund converted to a multiple class share structure.
The Fund offers Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Class I shares. The four classes are substantially the same except that most Class A shares are subject to a sales charge imposed at the time of purchase and some Class A shares, and most Class B shares and Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge imposed on shares redeemed within eighteen months, six years and one year, respectively. Class I shares are not subject to a sales charge. Additionally, Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares incur distribution expenses.
The Fund will assess a 2% redemption fee, on Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, and Class I shares, which is paid directly to the Fund, for shares redeemed or exchanged within thirty days of purchase, subject to certain exceptions. The redemption fee is designed to protect the Fund and its remaining shareholders from the effects of short-term trading.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. Valuation of Investments — (1) An equity portfolio security listed or traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") or American Stock Exchange or other domestic exchange is valued at its last sale price prior to the time when assets are valued; if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price; (2) an equity portfolio security listed or traded on the Nasdaq is valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price; if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price; (3) all other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask price. In cases where a security is traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as the primary market; (4) for equity securities traded on foreign exchanges, the last reported sale price or the latest bid price may be used if there were no sales on a particular day; (5) when market quotations are not readily available including circumstances under which Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the "Investment Adviser"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, determines that the latest sale price, the bid price or the mean between the last reported bid and ask price do not reflect a security's market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees. Occasionally, developments affecting the closing prices of securities and other assets may occur between the times at which valuations of such securities are determined (that is, close of the foreign market on which the securities trade) and the close of business on the NYSE. If developments
15
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
occur during such periods that are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, such valuations may be adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value of such securities as of the close of the NYSE, as determined in good faith by the Fund's Trustees or by the Investment Adviser using a pricing service and/or procedures approved by the Trustees of the Fund; (6) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside pricing service approved by the Fund's Trustees; (7) investments in open-end mutual funds, including the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds, are valued at the net asset value as of the close of each business day; and (8) short-term debt securities having a maturity date of more than sixty days at time of purchase are valued on a mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior to maturity and thereafter at amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
B. Accounting for Investments — Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method. Dividend income and other distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized over the life of the respective securities and are included in interest income. Interest income is accrued daily as earned.
C. Multiple Class Allocations — Investment income, expenses (other than distribution fees), and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative net asset value on the date such items are recognized. Distribution fees are charged directly to the respective class.
D. Foreign Currency Translation — The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency market value of investment securities, other assets and liabilities and foreign currency exchange contracts are translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the end of the period; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the exchange rates prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The resultant exchange gains and losses are recorded as realized and unrealized gains/losses on foreign currency exchange contracts and foreign currency translations. Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, certain foreign exchange gains/losses included in realized and unrealized gains/losses are included in or are a reduction of ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations arising as a result of changes in the foreign exchange rates from the changes in the market prices of the securities held.
E. Federal Income Tax Policy — It is the Fund's policy to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, New York State
16
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
and New York City. The Fund recognizes the tax effects of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return only if it is more likely than not to be sustained based solely on its technical merits as of the reporting date. The more-likely-than-not threshold must continue to be met in each reporting period to support continued recognition of the benefit. The difference between the tax benefit recognized in the financial statements for a tax position taken and the tax benefit claimed in the income tax return is referred to as an unrecognized tax benefit. There are no unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. If applicable, the Fund recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in other expenses in the Statement of Operations. Each of the tax years filed in the four-year period ended February 28, 2011 remains subject to examination by taxing authorities.
F. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
G. Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
H. Indemnifications — The Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
2. Fair Valuation Measurements
Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures ("ASC 820"), defines fair value as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an investment or pay to transfer a liability in a timely transaction with an independent buyer in the principal market, or in the absence of a principal market the most advantageous market for the investment or liability. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy to distinguish between (1) inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs) and (2) inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances (unobservable inputs) and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments. The inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
• Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
17
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
• Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
• Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs including the Fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments. Factors considered in making this determination may include, but are not limited to, information obtained by contacting the issuer, analysts, or the appropriate stock exchange (for exchange-traded securities), analysis of the issuer's financial statements or other available documents and, if necessary, available information concerning other securities in similar circumstances
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities and the determination of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to each security.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of February 28, 2011 in valuing the Fund's investments carried at fair value:
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT FEBRUARY 28, 2011 USING | |||||||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT TYPE | TOTAL | UNADJUSTED QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL INVESTMENTS (LEVEL 1) | OTHER SIGNIFICANT OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2) | SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3) | |||||||||||||||
Common Stocks | |||||||||||||||||||
Biotechnology | $ | 855,953 | $ | 855,953 | — | — | |||||||||||||
Capital Markets | 1,647,330 | 1,647,330 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Chemicals | 1,909,480 | 1,909,480 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Commercial Services & Supplies | 562,133 | 562,133 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Construction Materials | 1,643,797 | 1,643,797 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services | 1,545,182 | 1,545,182 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Diversified Telecommunication Services | 645,863 | 645,863 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Electric Utilities | 2,096,046 | 2,096,046 | — | $ | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 950,620 | 950,620 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services | 882,845 | 882,845 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Health Care Technology | 1,371,505 | 1,371,505 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | 3,855,438 | 3,855,438 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Household Durables | 1,399,298 | 1,399,298 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Information Technology Services | 1,660,662 | 1,660,662 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Insurance | 999,501 | 999,501 | — | — |
18
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AT FEBRUARY 28, 2011 USING | |||||||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT TYPE | TOTAL | UNADJUSTED QUOTED PRICES IN ACTIVE MARKETS FOR IDENTICAL INVESTMENTS (LEVEL 1) | OTHER SIGNIFICANT OBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 2) | SIGNIFICANT UNOBSERVABLE INPUTS (LEVEL 3) | |||||||||||||||
Internet & Catalog Retail | $ | 1,942,093 | $ | 1,942,093 | — | — | |||||||||||||
Internet Software & Services | 5,465,947 | 5,465,947 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Leisure Equipment & Products | 825,826 | — | $ | 825,826 | — | ||||||||||||||
Life Sciences Tools & Services | 1,491,726 | 1,491,726 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Media | 756,033 | 756,033 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Metals & Mining | 2,061,744 | — | 2,061,744 | — | |||||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 1,224,040 | 1,224,040 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Professional Services | 3,491,994 | 3,491,994 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Real Estate Management & Development | 106,611 | 106,611 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 654,059 | 654,059 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Software | 2,896,027 | 2,896,027 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Specialty Retail | 419,393 | 419,393 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total Common Stocks | 46,361,146 | 40,473,576 | 2,887,570 | — | |||||||||||||||
Non-Convertible Preferred Stocks | 1,316,680 | — | — | $ | 1,316,680 | ||||||||||||||
Short-Term Investment - Investment Company | 1,121,404 | 1,121,404 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 45,799,230 | $ | 41,594,980 | $ | 2,887,570 | $ | 1,316,680 |
Transfers between investment levels may occur as the markets fluctuate and/or the availability of data used in an investment's valuation changes. The Fund recognizes transfers between the Levels as of the end of the period. As of February 28, 2011, securities with a total value of $2,887,570 transferred from Level 1 to Level 2. At February 28, 2011, the fair market value of certain securities were adjusted due to developments which occurred between the time of the close of the foreign markets on which they trade and the close of business on the NYSE which resulted in their Level 2 classification.
19
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
Following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES | |||||||
Beginning Balance | $ | 1,831,778 | |||||
Net purchases (sales) | — | ||||||
Amortization of discount | — | ||||||
Transfers in* | 0 | ||||||
Transfers out** | (855,953 | ) | |||||
Change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | 340,855 | ||||||
Realized gains (losses) | — | ||||||
Ending Balance | $ | 1,316,680 | |||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation/ depreciation from investments still held as of February 28, 2011 | $ | 303,762 |
* A security, that was valued using an unadjusted quoted price at February 28, 2010, was fair valued under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees at February 28, 2011.
** A security that was fair valued under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Trustees at February 28, 2010 was valued using an unadjusted quoted price at February 28, 2011.
3. Investment Advisory/Administration Agreements
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Investment Adviser, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser an advisory fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the following annual rates to the net assets of the Fund determined as of the close of each business day: 0.92% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $1 billion; 0.85% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; and 0.80% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion.
Pursuant to an Administration Agreement with Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (the "Administrator"), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, the Fund pays an administration fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of 0.08% to the Fund's daily net assets.
Under a Sub-Administration Agreement between the Administrator and State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street"), State Street provides certain administrative services to the Fund. For such services, the Administrator pays State Street a portion of the fee the Administrator receives from the Fund.
20
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
4. Plan of Distribution
Shares of the Fund are distributed by Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc. (the "Distributor"), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser and Administrator. The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the "Plan") pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The Plan provides that the Fund will pay the Distributor a fee which is accrued daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates: (i) Class A — up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares; (ii) Class B — up to 1.00% of the average daily net assets of Class B shares; and (iii) Class C — up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.
In the case of Class B shares, provided that the Plan continues in effect, any cumulative expenses incurred by the Distributor but not yet recovered may be recovered through the payment of future distribution fees from the Fund pursuant to the Plan and contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of Class B shares. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. The Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess amounts totaled $22,680,959 at February 28, 2011.
In the case of Class A shares and Class C shares, expenses incurred pursuant to the Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25% or 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class A or Class C, respectively, will not be reimbursed by the Fund through payments in any subsequent year, except that expenses representing a gross sales credit to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financial Advisors and other authorized financial representatives at the time of sale may be reimbursed in the subsequent calendar year. For the year ended February 28, 2011, the distribution fee was accrued for Class A shares and Class C shares at the annual rate of 0.25% and 0.99%, respectively.
The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the year ended February 28, 2011, it received contingent deferred sales charges from certain redemptions of the Fund's Class B shares and Class C shares of $3,664 and $209, respectively and received $1,026 in front-end sales charges from sales of the Fund's Class A shares. The respective shareholders pay such charges which are not an expense of the Fund.
5. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates
The Fund invests in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class, an open-end management investment company managed by an affiliate of the Investment Adviser. Investment advisory fees paid by the Fund are reduced by an amount equal to the advisory and administrative service fees paid by Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class with respect to assets invested by the Fund in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. For the year ended February 28, 2011,
21
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
advisory fees paid were reduced by $1,383 relating to the Fund's investment in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. Income distributions earned by the Fund are recorded as "dividends from affiliate" in the Statement of Operations and totaled $2,052 for the year ended February 28, 2011. During the year ended February 28, 2011, the cost of purchases and sales of investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds – Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class aggregated $13,532,370 and $12,780,265, respectively.
For the year ended February 28, 2011, the Fund incurred brokerage commissions of $140 with Citigroup, Inc., and its affiliated broker/dealers which are affiliates of the Investment Adviser, Administrator and Distributor, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended February 28, 2011 aggregated $9,952,871 and $19,416,653, respectively. Included in the aforementioned transactions are purchases and sales of $543,045 and $532,310, respectively, with other Morgan Stanley funds, resulting in net realized gains of $260,856.
Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser and Distributor, is the Fund's transfer agent.
The Fund has an unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Compensation Plan") which allows each independent Trustee to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Trustees. Each eligible Trustee generally may elect to have the deferred amounts credited with a return equal to the total return on one or more of the Morgan Stanley funds that are offered as investment options under the Compensation Plan. Appreciation/depreciation and distributions received from these investments are recorded with an offsetting increase/decrease in the deferred compensation obligation and do not affect the net asset value of the Fund.
6. Expense Offset
The Fund has entered into an arrangement with State Street Bank and Trust Company, (the "Custodian"), whereby credits realized on uninvested cash balances were used to offset a portion of the Fund's expenses. If applicable, these custodian credits are shown as "Expense Offset" in the Statement of Operations.
22
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
7. Shares of Beneficial Interest+++
Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2011 | FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||
SHARES | AMOUNT | SHARES | AMOUNT | ||||||||||||||||
CLASS A SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 70,939 | $ | 1,449,381 | 139,638 | $ | 2,385,309 | |||||||||||||
Conversion from Class B | 36,666 | 816,316 | 16,761 | 284,695 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (369,892 | ) | (7,925,266 | ) | (354,500 | ) | (5,851,528 | ) | |||||||||||
Net decrease — Class A | (262,287 | ) | (5,659,569 | ) | (198,101 | ) | (3,181,524 | ) | |||||||||||
CLASS B SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 3,139 | 59,465 | 3,321 | 49,793 | |||||||||||||||
Conversion to Class A | (40,553 | ) | (816,316 | ) | (18,386 | ) | (284,695 | ) | |||||||||||
Redeemed | (110,660 | ) | (2,033,282 | ) | (238,726 | ) | (3,603,313 | ) | |||||||||||
Net decrease — Class B | (148,074 | ) | (2,790,133 | ) | (253,791 | ) | (3,838,215 | ) | |||||||||||
CLASS C SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 418 | 7,798 | 2,776 | 34,503 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (41,475 | ) | (781,962 | ) | (31,408 | ) | (459,124 | ) | |||||||||||
Net decrease — Class C | (41,057 | ) | (774,164 | ) | (28,632 | ) | (424,621 | ) | |||||||||||
CLASS I SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 973 | 21,808 | 1,311 | 23,413 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (2,748 | ) | (60,402 | ) | (1,066 | ) | (18,440 | ) | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) — Class I | (1,775 | ) | (38,594 | ) | 245 | 4,973 | |||||||||||||
Net decrease in Fund | (453,193 | ) | $ | (9,262,460 | ) | (480,279 | ) | $ | (7,439,387 | ) |
+++ On August 25, 2005, the Fund suspended the offering of its shares to new investors with certain exceptions. The Fund may recommence offering its shares to new investors at such time as the Investment Adviser determines that it would be consistent with prudent portfolio management.
8. Federal Income Tax Status
The amount of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These "book/tax" differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of paid-in-capital.
23
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Notes to Financial Statements n February 28, 2011 continued
As of February 28, 2011, the tax-basis components of accumulated earnings were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income | $ | 1,132,354 | |||||||||
Undistributed long-term gains | — | ||||||||||
Net accumulated earnings | 1,132,354 | ||||||||||
Capital loss carryforward | (3,117,440 | ) | |||||||||
Temporary differences | (485 | ) | |||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation | 5,148,547 | ||||||||||
Total accumulated earnings | $ | 3,162,976 |
As of February 28, 2011, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $3,117,440, to offset future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations, which will expire according to the following schedule.
AMOUNT | EXPIRATION | ||||||
$ | 2,665,487 | February 28, 2018 | |||||
451,953 | February 28, 2019 |
As of February 28, 2011, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences primarily attributable to capital loss deferrals on wash sales, mark-to-market of passive foreign investment companies ("PFICs") and tax adjustments on a partnership investment held by the Fund.
Permanent differences, primarily due to foreign currency losses, tax adjustments on PFICs sold by the Fund and an expired capital loss carryforward, resulted in the following reclassifications among the Fund's components of net assets at February 28, 2011:
ACCUMULATED NET INVESTMENT LOSS | ACCUMULATED NET REALIZED LOSS | PAID-IN-CAPITAL | |||||||||
$ | 250,015 | $ | 159,230,870 | $ | (159,480,885 | ) |
9. Accounting Pronouncement
On January 21, 2010, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2010-06. The ASU amends ASC 820 to add new requirements for disclosures about significant transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2, which the Fund has adopted and made the required disclosures in the Fair Valuation Measurements footnote. In addition, separate disclosures for purchases, sales, issuances and settlements relating to Level 3 measurements are required for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2010.
24
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Financial Highlights
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008(1) | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||
Class A Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 18.72 | $ | 11.32 | $ | 19.91 | $ | 22.12 | $ | 21.21 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(2) | (0.18 | ) | (0.25 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.23 | ) | (0.29 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 6.75 | 7.65 | (8.40 | ) | (1.98 | ) | 1.20 | ||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 6.57 | 7.40 | (8.59 | ) | (2.21 | ) | 0.91 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 25.29 | $ | 18.72 | $ | 11.32 | $ | 19.91 | $ | 22.12 | |||||||||||||
Total Return(3) | 35.10 | % | 65.37 | % | (43.14 | )% | (9.99 | )% | 4.29 | % | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets(4): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 2.04 | %(5) | 2.21 | %(5) | 2.02 | %(5) | 1.79 | %(5) | 1.77 | %(6) | |||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (0.87 | )%(5) | (1.50 | )%(5) | (1.11 | )%(5) | (1.01 | )%(5) | (1.37 | )%(6) | |||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | — | ||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 39,136 | $ | 33,880 | $ | 22,729 | $ | 43,992 | $ | 55,358 | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 24 | % | 29 | % | 25 | % | 54 | % | 56 | % |
(1) For the year ended February 29.
(2) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(3) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(4) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(5) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(6) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were waived by the Investment Adviser and Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
February 28, 2007 | 1.78 | % | (1.38 | )% |
(7) Amount is less than 0.005%.
See Notes to Financial Statements
25
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Financial Highlights continued
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008(1) | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||
Class B Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 17.01 | $ | 10.36 | $ | 18.36 | $ | 20.55 | $ | 19.85 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(2) | (0.31 | ) | (0.34 | ) | (0.30 | ) | (0.37 | ) | (0.42 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 6.10 | 6.99 | (7.70 | ) | (1.82 | ) | 1.12 | ||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 5.79 | 6.65 | (8.00 | ) | (2.19 | ) | 0.70 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 22.80 | $ | 17.01 | $ | 10.36 | $ | 18.36 | $ | 20.55 | |||||||||||||
Total Return(3) | 34.04 | % | 64.19 | % | (43.57 | )% | (10.66 | )% | 3.53 | % | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets(4): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 2.79 | %(5) | 2.96 | %(5) | 2.77 | %(5) | 2.54 | %(5) | 2.53 | %(6) | |||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (1.62 | )%(5) | (2.25 | )%(5) | (1.86 | )%(5) | (1.76 | )%(5) | (2.13 | )%(6) | |||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | — | ||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 3,797 | $ | 5,350 | $ | 5,888 | $ | 20,675 | $ | 39,042 | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 24 | % | 29 | % | 25 | % | 54 | % | 56 | % |
(1) For the year ended February 29.
(2) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(3) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(4) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(5) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(6) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were waived by the Investment Adviser and Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
February 28, 2007 | 2.54 | % | (2.14 | )% |
(7) Amount is less than 0.005%.
See Notes to Financial Statements
26
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Financial Highlights continued
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008(1) | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||
Class C Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 17.00 | $ | 10.36 | $ | 18.35 | $ | 20.54 | $ | 19.84 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(2) | (0.31 | ) | (0.35 | ) | (0.29 | ) | (0.37 | ) | (0.42 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 6.11 | 6.99 | (7.70 | ) | (1.82 | ) | 1.12 | ||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 5.80 | 6.64 | (7.99 | ) | (2.19 | ) | 0.70 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 22.80 | $ | 17.00 | $ | 10.36 | $ | 18.35 | $ | 20.54 | |||||||||||||
Total Return(3) | 34.12 | % | 64.09 | % | (43.54 | )% | (10.66 | )% | 3.53 | % | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets(4): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 2.78 | %(5) | 2.96 | %(5) | 2.77 | %(5) | 2.54 | %(5) | 2.53 | %(6) | |||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (1.61 | )%(5) | (2.25 | )%(5) | (1.86 | )%(5) | (1.76 | )%(5) | (2.13 | )%(6) | |||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | — | ||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 2,395 | $ | 2,484 | $ | 1,810 | $ | 3,842 | $ | 5,365 | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 24 | % | 29 | % | 25 | % | 54 | % | 56 | % |
(1) For the year ended February 29.
(2) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(3) Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(4) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(5) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(6) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were waived by the Investment Adviser and Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
February 28, 2007 | 2.54 | % | (2.14 | )% |
(7) Amount is less than 0.005%.
See Notes to Financial Statements
27
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Financial Highlights continued
FOR THE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008(1) | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||
Class I Shares | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 19.26 | $ | 11.62 | $ | 20.40 | $ | 22.61 | $ | 21.62 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment loss(2) | (0.14 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.15 | ) | (0.18 | ) | (0.24 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 6.97 | 7.86 | (8.63 | ) | (2.03 | ) | 1.23 | ||||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 6.83 | 7.64 | (8.78 | ) | (2.21 | ) | 0.99 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 26.09 | $ | 19.26 | $ | 11.62 | $ | 20.40 | $ | 22.61 | |||||||||||||
Total Return(3) | 35.46 | % | 65.75 | % | (43.04 | )% | (9.77 | )% | 4.58 | % | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets(4): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 1.79 | %(5) | 1.96 | %(5) | 1.77 | %(5) | 1.54 | %(5) | 1.53 | %(6) | |||||||||||||
Net investment loss | (0.62 | )%(5) | (1.25 | )%(5) | (0.86 | )%(5) | (0.76 | )%(5) | (1.13 | )%(6) | |||||||||||||
Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | 0.00 | %(7) | — | ||||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net assets, end of period, in thousands | $ | 365 | $ | 304 | $ | 181 | $ | 5,078 | $ | 7,377 | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 24 | % | 29 | % | 25 | % | 54 | % | 56 | % |
(1) For the year ended February 29.
(2) The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
(3) Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(4) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(5) The ratios reflect the rebate of certain Fund expenses in connection with investments in a Morgan Stanley affiliate during the period. The effect of the rebate on the ratios is disclosed in the above table as "Rebate from Morgan Stanley affiliate."
(6) If the Fund had borne all of its expenses that were reimbursed or waived by the Investment Adviser and Administrator, the annualized expense and net investment loss ratios, would have been as follows:
PERIOD ENDED | EXPENSE RATIO | NET INVESTMENT LOSS RATIO | |||||||||
February 28, 2007 | 1.54 | % | (1.14 | )% |
(7) Amount is less than 0.005%.
See Notes to Financial Statements
28
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund (the "Fund"), including the portfolio of investments, as of February 28, 2011, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of February 28, 2011, by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund as of February 28, 2011, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
April 28, 2011
29
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited)
We are required by federal law to provide you with a copy of our privacy policy ("Policy") annually.
This Policy applies to current and former individual clients of Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc., as well as current and former individual investors in Morgan Stanley mutual funds and related companies.
This Policy is not applicable to partnerships, corporations, trusts or other non-individual clients or account holders, nor is this Policy applicable to individuals who are either beneficiaries of a trust for which we serve as trustee or participants in an employee benefit plan administered or advised by us. This Policy is, however, applicable to individuals who select us to be a custodian of securities or assets in individual retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, 529 Educational Savings Accounts, accounts subject to the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, or similar accounts. We may amend this Policy at any time, and will inform you of any changes to this Policy as required by law.
We Respect Your Privacy
We appreciate that you have provided us with your personal financial information and understand your concerns about safeguarding such information. We strive to maintain the privacy of such information while we help you achieve your financial objectives. This Policy describes what nonpublic personal information we collect about you, how we collect it, when we may share it with others, and how others may use it. It discusses the steps you may take to limit our sharing of information about you with affiliated Morgan Stanley companies ("affiliated companies"). It also discloses how you may limit our affiliates' use of shared information for marketing purposes. Throughout this Policy, we refer to the nonpublic information that personally identifies you or your accounts as "personal information."
1. What Personal Information Do We Collect About You?
To better serve you and manage our business, it is important that we collect and maintain accurate information about you. We obtain this information from applications and other forms you submit to us, from your dealings with us, from consumer reporting agencies, from our websites and from third parties and other sources.
For example:
• We collect information such as your name, address, e-mail address, telephone/fax numbers, assets, income and investment objectives through application forms you submit to us.
• We may obtain information about account balances, your use of account(s) and the types of products and services you prefer to receive from us through your dealings and transactions with us and other sources.
30
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
• We may obtain information about your creditworthiness and credit history from consumer reporting agencies.
• We may collect background information from and through third-party vendors to verify representations you have made and to comply with various regulatory requirements.
• If you interact with us through our public and private Web sites, we may collect information that you provide directly through online communications (such as an e-mail address). We may also collect information about your Internet service provider, your domain name, your computer's operating system and Web browser, your use of our Web sites and your product and service preferences, through the use of "cookies." "Cookies" recognize your computer each time you return to one of our sites, and help to improve our sites' content and personalize your experience on our sites by, for example, suggesting offerings that may interest you. Please consult the Terms of Use of these sites for more details on our use of cookies.
2. When Do We Disclose Personal Information We Collect About You?
To provide you with the products and services you request, to better serve you, to manage our business and as otherwise required or permitted by law, we may disclose personal information we collect about you to other affiliated companies and to nonaffiliated third parties.
a. Information We Disclose to Our Affiliated Companies. In order to manage your account(s) effectively, including servicing and processing your transactions, to let you know about products and services offered by us and affiliated companies, to manage our business, and as otherwise required or permitted by law, we may disclose personal information about you to other affiliated companies. Offers for products and services from affiliated companies are developed under conditions designed to safeguard your personal information.
b. Information We Disclose to Third Parties. We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to nonaffiliated third parties except to enable them to provide marketing services on our behalf, to perform joint marketing agreements with other financial institutions, and as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, some instances where we may disclose information about you to third parties include: for servicing and processing transactions, to offer our own products and services, to protect against fraud, for institutional risk control, to respond to judicial process or to perform services on our behalf. When we share personal information with a nonaffiliated third party, they are required to limit their use of personal information about you to the particular purpose for which it was shared and they are not allowed to share personal information about you with others except to fulfill that limited purpose or as may be required by law.
31
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
3. How Do We Protect the Security and Confidentiality of Personal Information We Collect About You?
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural security measures to help safeguard the personal information we collect about you. We have internal policies governing the proper handling of client information. Third parties that provide support or marketing services on our behalf may also receive personal information about you, and we require them to adhere to confidentiality standards with respect to such information.
4. How Can You Limit Our Sharing of Certain Personal Information About You With Our Affiliated Companies for Eligibility Determination?
We respect your privacy and offer you choices as to whether we share with our affiliated companies personal information that was collected to determine your eligibility for products and services such as credit reports and other information that you have provided to us or that we may obtain from third parties ("eligibility information"). Please note that, even if you direct us not to share certain eligibility information with our affiliated companies, we may still share your personal information, including eligibility information, with those companies under circumstances that are permitted under applicable law, such as to process transactions or to service your account. We may also share certain other types of personal information with affiliated companies — such as your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and account number(s), and information about your transactions and experiences with us.
5. How Can You Limit the Use of Certain Personal Information About You by Our Affiliated Companies for Marketing?
You may limit our affiliated companies from using certain personal information about you that we may share with them for marketing their products or services to you. This information includes our transactions and other experiences with you such as your assets and account history. Please note that, even if you choose to limit our affiliated companies from using certain personal information about you that we may share with them for marketing their products and services to you, we may still share such personal information about you with them, including our transactions and experiences with you, for other purposes as permitted under applicable law.
32
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
6. How Can You Send Us an Opt-Out Instruction?
If you wish to limit our sharing of certain personal information about you with our affiliated companies for "eligibility purposes" and for our affiliated companies' use in marketing products and services to you as described in this notice, you may do so by:
• Calling us at (800) 869-6397
Monday–Friday between 8a.m. and 6p.m. (EST)
• Writing to us at the following address:
Morgan Stanley Privacy Department
Harborside Financial Center
201 Plaza Two, 3rd Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07311
If you choose to write to us, your written request should include: your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-out applies and should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your request, we require that the request be provided by you directly and not through a third party. Once you have informed us about your privacy preferences, your opt-out preference will remain in effect with respect to this Policy (as it may be amended) until you notify us otherwise. If you are a joint account owner, we will accept instructions from any one of you and apply those instructions to the entire account. Please allow approximately 30 days from our receipt of your opt-out for your instructions to become effective.
Please understand that if you opt-out, you and any joint account holders may not receive certain Morgan Stanley or our affiliated companies' products and services that could help you manage your financial resources and achieve your investment objectives.
If you have more than one account with us or our affiliates, you may receive multiple privacy policies from us, and would need to follow the directions stated in each particular policy for each account you have with us.
7. What If an Affiliated Company Becomes a Nonaffiliated Third Party?
If, at any time in the future, an affiliated company becomes a nonaffiliated third party, further disclosures of personal information made to the former affiliated company will be limited to those described in Section 2(b) above relating to nonaffiliated third parties. If you elected under Section 6 to limit disclosures we make to affiliated companies, or use of personal information by affiliated companies, your election will not apply to use by any former affiliated company of your personal information in their possession once it becomes a nonaffiliated third party.
33
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
Special Notice to Residents of Vermont
This section supplements our Policy with respect to our individual clients who have a Vermont address and supersedes anything to the contrary in the above Policy with respect to those clients only.
The State of Vermont requires financial institutions to obtain your consent prior to sharing personal information that they collect about you with affiliated companies and nonaffiliated third parties other than in certain limited circumstances. Except as permitted by law, we will not share personal information we collect about you with nonaffiliated third parties or other affiliated companies unless you provide us with your written consent to share such information ("opt-in").
If you wish to receive offers for investment products and services offered by or through other affiliated companies, please notify us in writing at the following address:
Morgan Stanley Privacy Department
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two, 3rd Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07311
Your authorization should include: your name, address, telephone number and account number(s) to which the opt-in applies and should not be sent with any other correspondence. In order to process your authorization, we require that the authorization be provided by you directly and not through a third-party.
Special Notice to Residents of California
The following section supplements our Policy with respect to our individual clients who have a California address and supersedes anything to the contrary in the above Policy with respect to those clients only.
In response to a California law, if your account has a California home address, your personal information will not be disclosed to nonaffiliated third parties except as permitted by applicable California law, and we will limit sharing such personal information with our affiliates to comply with California privacy laws that apply to us.
34
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited)
Independent Trustees:
Name, Age and Address of Independent Trustee | Position(s) Held with Registrant | Term of Office and Length of Time Served* | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Trustee** | Other Directorships Held by Independent Trustee*** | ||||||||||||||||||
Frank L. Bowman (66) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | Trustee | Since August 2006 | President, Strategic Decisions, LLC (consulting) (since February 2009); Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); Chairperson of the Insurance Sub-Committee of the Compliance and Insurance Committee (since February 2007); served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute (policy organization) through November 2008; retired as Admiral, U.S. Navy after serving 38 years on active duty including 8 years as Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program in the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Department of Energy (1996-2004); Knighted as Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire; Awarded the Officer de l'Orde National du Mérite by the French Government; elected to the National Academy of Engineering (2009). | 102 | Director of BP p.l.c.; Director of Naval and Nuclear Technologies LLP; Director of the Armed Services YMCA of the USA and the Naval Submarine League. | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael Bozic (70) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | Trustee | Since April 1994 | Private investor; Chairperson of the Compliance and Insurance Committee (since October 2006); Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since April 1994) and Institutional Funds (since July 2003); formerly, Chairperson of the Insurance Committee (July 2006-September 2006); Vice Chairman of Kmart Corporation (December 1998-October 2000), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture Corporation (November 1995-November 1998) and President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (May 1991-July 1995); variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck & Co. | 104 | Director of various business organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||
35
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
Name, Age and Address of Independent Trustee | Position(s) Held with Registrant | Term of Office and Length of Time Served* | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Trustee** | Other Directorships Held by Independent Trustee*** | ||||||||||||||||||
Kathleen A. Dennis (57) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | Trustee | Since August 2006 | President, Cedarwood Associates (mutual fund and investment management consulting) (since July 2006); Chairperson of the Money Market and Alternatives Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Senior Managing Director of Victory Capital Management (1993-2006). | 102 | Director of various non-profit organizations. | ||||||||||||||||||
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (62) c/o Johnson Smick Group, Inc. 888 16th Street, N.W. Suite 740 Washington, D.C. 20006 | Trustee | Since July 1991 | Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc. (consulting firm); Chairperson of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 1991) and Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C) (international economic commission); formerly, Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 1991-September 2006), Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. | 104 | Director of NVR, Inc. (home construction); Director of Evergreen Energy; Director of Greenwich Capital Holdings. | ||||||||||||||||||
Joseph J. Kearns (68) c/o Kearns & Associates LLC PMB754 22631 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265 | Trustee | Since August 1994 | President, Kearns & Associates LLC (investment consulting); Chairperson of the Audit Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since August 1994); formerly, Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 2003-September 2006) and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Institutional Funds (October 2001-July 2003 and since August 1994 for certain predecessor Funds); CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. | 105 | Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing) and The Ford Family Foundation. | ||||||||||||||||||
36
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
Name, Age and Address of Independent Trustee | Position(s) Held with Registrant | Term of Office and Length of Time Served* | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Trustee** | Other Directorships Held by Independent Trustee*** | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael F. Klein (52) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | Trustee | Since August 2006 | Managing Director, Aetos Capital, LLC (since March 2000) and Co-President, Aetos Alternatives Management, LLC (since January 2004); Chairperson of the Fixed Income Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management, President, Morgan Stanley Institutional Funds (June 1998-March 2000) and Principal, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management (August 1997-December 1999). | 102 | Director of certain investment funds managed or sponsored by Aetos Capital, LLC. Director of Sanitized AG and Sanitized Marketing AG (specialty chemicals). | ||||||||||||||||||
Michael E. Nugent (74) c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. 445 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 | Chairperson of the Board and Trustee | Chairperson of the Boards since July 2006 and Trustee since July 1991 | General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P. (private investment partnership); Chairperson of the Boards of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since July 2006); Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 1991) and Institutional Funds (since July 2001); formerly, Chairperson of the Insurance Committee (until July 2006). | 104 | None. | ||||||||||||||||||
37
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
Name, Age and Address of Independent Trustee | Position(s) Held with Registrant | Term of Office and Length of Time Served* | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent Trustee** | Other Directorships Held by Independent Trustee*** | ||||||||||||||||||
W. Allen Reed (64) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | Trustee | Since August 2006 | Chairperson of the Equity Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, President and CEO of General Motors Asset Management; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the GM Trust Bank and Corporate Vice President of General Motors Corporation (August 1994-December 2005). | 102 | Director of Temple-Inland Industries (packaging and forest products); Director of Legg Mason, Inc. and Director of the Auburn University Foundation; formerly, Director of iShares, Inc. (2001-2006). | ||||||||||||||||||
Fergus Reid (78) c/o Joe Pietryka, Inc. 85 Charles Colman Blvd. Pawling, NY 12564 | Trustee | Since June 1992 | Chairman, Joe Pietryka, Inc.; Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since June 1992). | 105 | Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex managed by JP Morgan Investment Management Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||
Interested Trustee:
Name, Age and Address of Interested Trustee | Position(s) Held with Registrant | Term of Office and Length of Time Served* | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Interested Trustee** | Other Directorships Held by Interested Trustee*** | ||||||||||||||||||
James F. Higgins (63) c/o Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. Harborside Financial Center 201 Plaza Two Jersey City, NJ 07311 | Trustee | Since June 2000 | Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since June 2000) and Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Senior Advisor of Morgan Stanley (since August 2000). | 103 | Director of AXA Financial, Inc. and The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (financial services). | ||||||||||||||||||
* This is the earliest date the Trustee began serving the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the "Investment Adviser") (the "Retail Funds") or the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP (the "Institutional Funds").
** The Fund Complex includes all open-end and closed-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Adviser (as of December 31, 2010) and any funds that have an investment adviser that is an affiliated person of the Investment Adviser (including, but not limited to, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.).
*** This includes any directorships at public companies and registered investment companies held by the Trustee at any time during the past five years.
38
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
Trustee and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
Executive Officers:
Name, Age and Address of Executive Officer | Position(s) Held with Registrant | Term of Office and Length of Time Served* | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||||
Sara Furber (36) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | President and Principal Executive Officer – Equity and Fixed Income Funds | Since September 2010 | President and Principal Executive Officer (since September 2010) of the Equity and Fixed Income Funds in the Fund Complex; Managing Director and Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser (since July 2010). Formerly, Chief Operating Officer for Global Corporate and Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (January 2009 to April 2010); Head of Merrill Lynch & Co. Investor Relations (July 2007 to December 2008); with senior roles in Strategy and Business Development as well as within Merrill Lynch's Global Credit & Commitments organization prior to July 2007. | ||||||||||||
Mary Ann Picciotto (37) c/o Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. Harborside Financial Center 201 Plaza Two Jersey City, NJ 07311 | Chief Compliance Officer | Since May 2010 | Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Chief Compliance Officer of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since May 2010); Chief Compliance Officer of the Investment Adviser and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. (since April 2007). | ||||||||||||
Stefanie V. Chang Yu (44) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | Vice President | Since December 1997 | Managing Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Vice President of the Retail Funds (since July 2002) and Institutional Funds (since December 1997). Formerly, Secretary of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser. | ||||||||||||
Francis J. Smith (45) c/o Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. Harborside Financial Center 201 Plaza Two Jersey City, NJ 07311 | Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer | Treasurer since July 2003 and Principal Financial Officer since September 2002 | Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since March 2010). | ||||||||||||
Mary E. Mullin (44) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | Secretary | Since June 1999 | Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Secretary of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since June 1999). | ||||||||||||
* This is the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds.
39
Trustees
Frank L. Bowman
Michael Bozic
Kathleen A. Dennis
James F. Higgins
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Joseph J. Kearns
Michael F. Klein
Michael E. Nugent
W. Allen Reed
Fergus Reid
Officers
Michael E. Nugent
Chairperson of the Board
Sara Furber
President and Principal Executive Officer
Mary Ann Picciotto
Chief Compliance Officer
Stefanie V. Chang Yu
Vice President
Francis J. Smith
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
Mary E. Mullin
Secretary
Transfer Agent
Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc.
P.O. Box 219886
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9886
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Co.
One Lincoln Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02111
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Two World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
Legal Counsel
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Investment Adviser
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Morgan Stanley
Special Growth Fund
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. For more detailed information about the Fund, its fees and expenses and other pertinent information, please read its Prospectus. The Fund's Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund, including its trustees. It is available, without charge, by calling (800) 869-NEWS.
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective Prospectus. Read the Prospectus carefully before investing.
Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc., member FINRA.
© 2011 Morgan Stanley
Annual Report
February 28, 2011
SMPANN
IU11-00713P-Y02/11
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
(a) The Fund has adopted a code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Fund or a third party.
(b) No information need be disclosed pursuant to this paragraph.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Not applicable.
(f)
(1) The Fund’s Code of Ethics is attached hereto as Exhibit 12 A.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has determined that Joseph J. Kearns, an “independent” Trustee, is an “audit committee financial expert” serving on its audit committee. Under applicable securities laws, a person who is determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an “expert” for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
(a)(b)(c)(d) and (g). Based on fees billed for the periods shown:
2011
|
| Registrant |
| Covered Entities(1) |
| ||
Audit Fees |
| $ | 35,250 |
| N/A |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Non-Audit Fees |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Audit-Related Fees |
| $ |
| (2) | $ | 6,501,000 | (2) |
Tax Fees |
| $ | 6,015 | (3) | $ | 1,350,000 | (4) |
All Other Fees |
| $ |
|
| $ |
|
|
Total Non-Audit Fees |
| $ | 6,015 |
| $ | 7,851,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total |
| $ | 41,265 |
| $ | 7,851,000 |
|
2010
|
| Registrant |
| Covered Entities(1) |
| ||
Audit Fees |
| $ | 32,250 |
| N/A |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Non-Audit Fees |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Audit-Related Fees |
| $ | — | (2) | $ | 6,418,000 | (2) |
Tax Fees |
| $ | 5,726 | (3) | $ | 881,000 | (4) |
All Other Fees |
| $ |
|
| $ |
| (5) |
Total Non-Audit Fees |
| $ | 5,726 |
| $ | 7,299,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Total |
| $ | 40,976 |
| $ | 7,299,000 |
|
N/A- Not applicable, as not required by Item 4.
(1) | Covered Entities include the Adviser (excluding sub-advisors) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant. |
(2) | Audit-Related Fees represent assurance and related services provided that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the financial statements of the Covered Entities’ and funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates, specifically data verification and agreed-upon procedures related to asset securitizations and agreed-upon procedures engagements. |
(3) | Tax Fees represent tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the preparation and review of the Registrant’s tax returns. |
(4) | Tax Fees represent tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the review of Covered Entities’ tax returns. |
(5) | All other fees represent project management for future business applications and improving business and operational processes. |
(e)(1) The audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures are as follows:
APPENDIX A
AUDIT COMMITTEE
AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES
PRE-APPROVAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES
OF THE
MORGAN STANLEY RETAIL AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS
AS ADOPTED AND AMENDED JULY 23, 2004,(1)
1. Statement of Principles
The Audit Committee of the Board is required to review and, in its sole discretion, pre-approve all Covered Services to be provided by the Independent Auditors to the Fund and Covered Entities in order to assure that services performed by the Independent Auditors do not impair the auditor’s independence from the Fund.
The SEC has issued rules specifying the types of services that an independent auditor may not provide to its audit client, as well as the audit committee’s administration of the engagement of the independent auditor. The SEC’s rules establish two different approaches to pre-approving services, which the SEC considers to be equally valid. Proposed services either: may be pre-approved without consideration of specific case-by-case services by the Audit Committee (“general pre-approval”); or require the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee or its delegate (“specific pre-approval”). The Audit Committee believes that the combination of these two approaches in this Policy will result in an effective and efficient procedure to pre-approve services performed by the Independent Auditors. As set forth in this Policy, unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval authority has been delegated) if it is to be provided by the Independent Auditors. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
The appendices to this Policy describe the Audit, Audit-related, Tax and All Other services that have the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee considers and provides a different period and states otherwise. The Audit Committee will annually review and pre-approve the services that may be provided by the Independent Auditors without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will add to or subtract from the list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations.
(1) This Audit Committee Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures (the “Policy”), adopted as of the date above, supersedes and replaces all prior versions that may have been adopted from time to time.
The purpose of this Policy is to set forth the policy and procedures by which the Audit Committee intends to fulfill its responsibilities. It does not delegate the Audit Committee’s responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the Independent Auditors to management.
The Fund’s Independent Auditors have reviewed this Policy and believes that implementation of the Policy will not adversely affect the Independent Auditors’ independence.
2. Delegation
As provided in the Act and the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee may delegate either type of pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
3. Audit Services
The annual Audit services engagement terms and fees are subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. Audit services include the annual financial statement audit and other procedures required to be performed by the Independent Auditors to be able to form an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements. These other procedures include information systems and procedural reviews and testing performed in order to understand and place reliance on the systems of internal control, and consultations relating to the audit. The Audit Committee will approve, if necessary, any changes in terms, conditions and fees resulting from changes in audit scope, Fund structure or other items.
In addition to the annual Audit services engagement approved by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to other Audit services, which are those services that only the Independent Auditors reasonably can provide. Other Audit services may include statutory audits and services associated with SEC registration statements (on Forms N-1A, N-2, N-3, N-4, etc.), periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit services in Appendix B.1. All other Audit services not listed in Appendix B.1 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
4. Audit-related Services
Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Fund’s financial statements and, to the extent they are Covered Services, the Covered Entities or that are traditionally performed by the Independent Auditors. Because the Audit Committee believes that the provision of Audit-related services does not impair the independence of the auditor and is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to Audit-related services. Audit-related services include, among others, accounting consultations related to accounting, financial reporting or disclosure matters
not classified as “Audit services”; assistance with understanding and implementing new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking authorities; agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures related to accounting and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters; and assistance with internal control reporting requirements under Forms N-SAR and/or N-CSR.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit-related services in Appendix B.2. All other Audit-related services not listed in Appendix B.2 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
5. Tax Services
The Audit Committee believes that the Independent Auditors can provide Tax services to the Fund and, to the extent they are Covered Services, the Covered Entities, such as tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice without impairing the auditor’s independence, and the SEC has stated that the Independent Auditors may provide such services.
Pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the Tax Services in Appendix B.3. All Tax services in Appendix B.3 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
6. All Other Services
The Audit Committee believes, based on the SEC’s rules prohibiting the Independent Auditors from providing specific non-audit services, that other types of non-audit services are permitted. Accordingly, the Audit Committee believes it may grant general pre-approval to those permissible non-audit services classified as All Other services that it believes are routine and recurring services, would not impair the independence of the auditor and are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.
The Audit Committee has pre-approved the All Other services in Appendix B.4. Permissible All Other services not listed in Appendix B.4 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).
7. Pre-Approval Fee Levels or Budgeted Amounts
Pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for all services to be provided by the Independent Auditors will be established annually by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding these levels or amounts will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is mindful of the overall relationship of fees for audit and non-audit services in determining whether to pre-approve any such services.
8. Procedures
All requests or applications for services to be provided by the Independent Auditors that do not require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and must include a detailed description of the services to be
rendered. The Fund’s Chief Financial Officer will determine whether such services are included within the list of services that have received the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will be informed on a timely basis of any such services rendered by the Independent Auditors. Requests or applications to provide services that require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the Independent Auditors and the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer, and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.
The Audit Committee has designated the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer to monitor the performance of all services provided by the Independent Auditors and to determine whether such services are in compliance with this Policy. The Fund’s Chief Financial Officer will report to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis on the results of its monitoring. Both the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and management will immediately report to the chairman of the Audit Committee any breach of this Policy that comes to the attention of the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer or any member of management.
9. Additional Requirements
The Audit Committee has determined to take additional measures on an annual basis to meet its responsibility to oversee the work of the Independent Auditors and to assure the auditor’s independence from the Fund, such as reviewing a formal written statement from the Independent Auditors delineating all relationships between the Independent Auditors and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board No. 1, and discussing with the Independent Auditors its methods and procedures for ensuring independence.
10. Covered Entities
Covered Entities include the Fund’s investment adviser(s) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Fund’s investment adviser(s) that provides ongoing services to the Fund(s). Beginning with non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund’s audit committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the Covered Entities if the engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. This list of Covered Entities would include:
Morgan Stanley Retail Funds
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Morgan Stanley DW Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited
Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company
Morgan Stanley Services Company, Inc.
Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc.
Morgan Stanley Trust FSB
Morgan Stanley Institutional Funds
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited
Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc.
Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP
Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners LP
(e)(2) Beginning with non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the audit committee also is required to pre-approve services to Covered Entities to the extent that the services are determined to have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the Registrant. 100% of such services were pre-approved by the audit committee pursuant to the Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures (attached hereto).
(f) Not applicable.
(g) See table above.
(h) The audit committee of the Board of Trustees has considered whether the provision of services other than audit services performed by the auditors to the Registrant and Covered Entities is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence in performing audit services.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
(a) The Fund has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act whose members are: Joseph Kearns, Michael Nugent and Allen Reed.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 6. Schedule of Investments
(a) Refer to Item 1.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies
Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.
Item 9. Closed-End Fund Repurchases
Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not applicable.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
(a) The Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures are sufficient to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, based upon such officers’ evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits
(a) The Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers is attached hereto.
(b) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant are attached hereto as part of EX-99.CERT.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund
/s/ Sara Furber |
|
Sara Furber |
|
Principal Executive Officer |
|
April 19, 2011 |
|
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Sara Furber |
|
Sara Furber |
|
Principal Executive Officer |
|
April 19, 2011 |
|
|
|
/s/ Francis Smith |
|
Francis Smith |
|
Principal Financial Officer |
|
April 19, 2011 |
|