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 | 811-02575 |
|
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
|
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York | | 10036 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip code) |
|
Randy Takian 522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
|
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 212-296-6990 | |
|
Date of fiscal year end: | August 31, 2008 | |
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Date of reporting period: | August 31, 2008 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Item 1 - Report to Shareholders
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSR/0001104659-08-069565/j08240102_ba012.jpg)
Welcome, Shareholder:
In this report, you'll learn about how your investment in Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc. 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 a mutual fund will achieve its investment objective. An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of an investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund. Please see the prospectus for more complete information on investment risks.
Fund Report
For the year ended August 31, 2008
Market Conditions
The U.S. economy showed signs of weakening during the 12-month review period. Although gross domestic product (GDP) rose 3.3 percent in the second quarter of 2008, it measured just 0.9 percent in the first quarter after dipping into negative territory in the fourth quarter of 2007. Employment data was disappointing, with non-farm payrolls contracting in every month of 2008. As of the end of August, the unemployment rate stood at 6.1 percent, its highest level in five years. At the same time, the residential housing market remained depressed, as home sales and prices continued to decline. These factors led to increasing concerns about a recession while rising food and energy prices put upward pressure on inflation.
The weakening economic outlook, coupled with credit and liquidity constraints and mortgage defaults, made for an extremely volatile market throughout the period under review. The Federal Reserve (the "Fed") made considerable efforts to support both the market and the economy, including aggressively reducing the federal funds target rate a total of 325 basis points to 2.0 percent by the end of April. Although the Fed was increasingly concerned about inflationary pressures, they left interest rates unchanged for the remainder of the period due to continued weakness in the economy, a weak job market, and turbulence in the financial markets.
Performance Analysis
As of August 31, 2008, Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc. had net assets of approximately $7.1 billion and an average portfolio maturity of 54 days. For the 12-month period ended August 31, 2008, the Fund provided a total return of 3.56 percent. For the seven-day period ended August 31, 2008, the Fund provided an effective annualized yield of 2.48 percent and a current yield of 2.45 percent, while its 30-day moving average yield for August was 2.34 percent. Yield quotations more closely reflect the current earnings of the Fund. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Our strategy in managing the Fund remained consistent with its long-term focus on maintaining preservation of capital and liquidity. As the Fed began aggressively reducing short-term interest rates, we diversified the maturity structure of the portfolio and lengthened its weighted average maturity in order to lock in higher returns. However, as the turmoil and uncertainty in the financial markets increased, we concentrated on building liquidity by investing in higher than usual levels of short-maturing assets. We will continue to focus closely on this strategy in an effort to ensure adequate liquidity for the Fund going forward.
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.
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PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION as of 08/31/08 | |
Commercial Paper | | | 50.3 | % | |
Certificates of Deposit | | | 38.8 | | |
Floating Rate Notes | | | 7.3 | | |
Repurchase Agreements | | | 2.1 | | |
U.S. Governments Agencies — Discount Notes | | | 1.5 | | |
MATURITY SCHEDULE as of 08/31/08 | |
1 - 30 Days | | | 30.5 | % | |
31 - 60 Days | | | 27.0 | | |
61 - 90 Days | | | 28.5 | | |
91 - 120 Days | | | 11.0 | | |
121 + Days | | | 3.0 | | |
Subject to change daily. Provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed a recommendation to buy or sell the securities mentioned above. Portfolio composition and maturity schedule are as a percentage of total investments. 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.
Investment Strategy
The Fund invests in high quality, short-term debt obligations. In selecting investments, the Fund's "Investment Adviser," Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc., seeks to maintain the Fund's share price at $1.00. The share price remaining stable at $1.00 means that the Fund would preserve the principal value of your investment.
An investment in the Fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.
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
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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 20549-0102.
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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Expense Example
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur ongoing costs, including advisory fees; distribution and shareholder servicing 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 03/01/08 – 08/31/08.
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. 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 that have transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), and redemption fees, or exchange fees.
| | Beginning Account Value | | Ending Account Value | | Expenses Paid During Period@ | |
| | 03/01/08 | | 08/31/08 | | 03/01/08 – 08/31/08 | |
Actual (1.29% return) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,012.90 | | | $ | 2.95 | | |
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) | | $ | 1,000.00 | | | $ | 1,021.93 | | | $ | 2.97 | | |
@ Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 0.59% multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/366 (to reflect the one-half year period).
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Investment Advisory Agreement Approval
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
The Board reviewed and considered the nature and extent of the investment advisory services provided by the Adviser (as defined herein) under the advisory agreement, including portfolio management, investment research and fixed income securities trading. The Board also reviewed and considered the nature and extent of the non-advisory, administrative services provided by the Adviser under the administration agreement, including accounting, clerical, bookkeeping, compliance, business management and planning, and the provision of supplies, office space and utilities at the Adviser's expense. (The Adviser and the administrator together are referred to as the "Adviser" and the advisory and administration agreements together are referred to as the "Management Agreement.") The Board also compared the nature of the services provided by the Adviser with similar services provided by non-affiliated advisers as reported to the Board by Lipp er Inc. ("Lipper").
The Board reviewed and considered the qualifications of the portfolio managers, the senior administrative managers and other key personnel of the Adviser who provide the advisory and administrative services to the Fund. The Board determined that the Adviser's portfolio managers and key personnel are well qualified by education and/or training and experience to perform the services in an efficient and professional manner. The Board concluded that the nature and extent of the advisory and administrative services provided were necessary and appropriate for the conduct of the business and investment activities of the Fund. The Board also concluded that the overall quality of the advisory and administrative services was satisfactory.
Performance Relative to Comparable Funds Managed by Other Advisers
On a regular basis, the Board reviews the performance of all funds in the Morgan Stanley Fund Complex, including the Fund, compared to their peers, paying specific attention to the underperforming funds. In addition, the Board specifically reviewed the Fund's performance for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2007, as shown in a report provided by Lipper (the "Lipper Report"), compared to the performance of comparable funds selected by Lipper (the "performance peer group"). The Board also discussed with the Adviser the performance goals and the actual results achieved in managing the Fund. The Board concluded that the Fund's performance was competitive with that of its performance peer group.
Fees Relative to Other Proprietary Funds Managed by the Adviser with Comparable Investment Strategies
The Board noted that the Adviser did not manage any other proprietary funds with investment strategies substantially comparable to those of the Fund.
Fees and Expenses Relative to Comparable Funds Managed by Other Advisers
The Board reviewed the advisory and administrative fee (together, the "management fee") rate paid by the Fund under the Management Agreement and total expense ratio of the Fund as compared to the average management
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fee rate and average total expense ratio for funds, selected by Lipper (the "expense peer group"), managed by other advisers with investment strategies comparable to those of the Fund, as shown in the Lipper Report. The Board concluded that the Fund's total expense ratio, although higher than the peer group average, was acceptable as the management fee rate was competitive with that of its expense peer group.
Breakpoints and Economies of Scale
The Board reviewed the structure of the Fund's management fee schedule under the Management Agreement and noted that it includes breakpoints. The Board also reviewed the level of the Fund's management fee and noted that the fee, as a percentage of the Fund's net assets, would decrease as net assets increase because the management fee includes breakpoints. The Board concluded that the Fund's management fee would reflect economies of scale as assets increase.
Profitability of the Adviser and Affiliates
The Board considered information concerning the costs incurred and profits realized by the Adviser and affiliates during the last year from their relationship with the Fund and during the last two years from their relationship with the Morgan Stanley Fund Complex and reviewed with the Adviser the cost allocation methodology used to determine the profitability of the Adviser and affiliates. Based on its review of the information it received, the Board concluded that the profits earned by the Adviser and affiliates were not excessive in light of the advisory, administrative and other services provided to the Fund.
Fall-Out Benefits
The Board considered so-called "fall-out benefits" derived by the Adviser and affiliates from their relationship with the Fund and the Morgan Stanley Fund Complex, such as "float" benefits derived from handling of checks for purchases and sales of Fund shares, through a broker-dealer affiliate of the Adviser. The Board also considered that, from time to time, the Adviser may, directly or indirectly, effect trades on behalf of certain Morgan Stanley Funds through various electronic communications networks or other alternative trading systems in which the Adviser's affiliates have ownership interests and/or board seats. The Board also considered that a broker-dealer affiliate of the Adviser receives from the Fund 12b-1 fees for distribution and shareholder services. The Board concluded that the fall-out benefits were relatively small and the 12b-1 fees were competitive with those of other broker-dealers.
Soft Dollar Benefits
The Board considered whether the Adviser realizes any benefits from commissions paid to brokers who execute securities transactions for the Fund ("soft dollars"). The Board noted that the Fund invests only in fixed income securities, which do not generate soft dollars.
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Adviser Financially Sound and Financially Capable of Meeting the Fund's Needs
The Board considered whether the Adviser is financially sound and has the resources necessary to perform its obligations under the Management Agreement. The Board concluded that the Adviser has the financial resources necessary to fulfill its obligations under the Management Agreement.
Historical Relationship Between the Fund and the Adviser
The Board also reviewed and considered the historical relationship between the Fund and the Adviser, including the organizational structure of the Adviser, the policies and procedures formulated and adopted by the Adviser for managing the Fund's operations and the Board's confidence in the competence and integrity of the senior managers and key personnel of the Adviser. The Board concluded that it is beneficial for the Fund to continue its relationship with the Adviser.
Other Factors and Current Trends
The Board considered the controls and procedures adopted and implemented by the Adviser and monitored by the Fund's Chief Compliance Officer and concluded that the conduct of business by the Adviser indicates a good faith effort on its part to adhere to high ethical standards in the conduct of the Fund's business.
General Conclusion
After considering and weighing all of the above factors, the Board concluded that it would be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders to approve renewal of the Management Agreement for another year.
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Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Portfolio of Investments n August 31, 2008
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS | | DESCRIPTION | | ANNUALIZED YIELD ON DATE OF PURCHASE | | MATURITY DATE | | VALUE | |
| | Commercial Paper (50.3%) | |
| | Asset-Backed - Consumer (3.5%) | |
$ | 110,000 | | | CAFCO LLC (a) | | | 2.87 | % | | 10/07/08 | | $ | 109,669,664 | | |
| 40,000 | | | CRC Funding (a) | | | 2.83 | | | 11/17/08 | | | 39,753,344 | | |
| 73,407 | | | Gemini Securitization Corp., LLC (a) | | | 2.73 - 2.90 | | | 09/10/08 - 09/22/08 | | | 73,327,831 | | |
| 10,163 | | | Old Line Funding, LLC (a) | | | 2.92 | | | 09/19/08 | | | 10,146,626 | | |
| 17,749 | | | Park Avenue Rec Co LLC (a) | | | 2.47 | | | 09/08/08 | | | 17,738,084 | | |
| | | 250,635,549 | | |
| | Asset-Backed - Corporate (6.4%) | |
| 139,000 | | | Amsterdam Funding Corp. (a) | | | 2.46 - 2.48 | | | 09/11/08 - 09/15/08 | | | 138,864,853 | | |
| 50,000 | | | Atlantis One Funding (a) | | | 2.92 | | | 12/15/08 | | | 49,570,514 | | |
| 80,000 | | | CIESCO LLC (a) | | | 2.82 | | | 10/14/08 - 11/05/08 | | | 79,660,111 | | |
| 16,037 | | | Tulip Funding Corp (a) | | | 2.55 | | | 09/05/08 | | | 16,030,184 | | |
| 176,185 | | | Variable Funding Capital Co (a) | | | 2.82 - 2.85 | | | 11/20/08 - 11/25/08 | | | 175,024,278 | | |
| | | 459,149,940 | | |
| | Asset-Backed - Diversified (4.2%) | |
| 43,000 | | | Charta LLC (a) | | | 2.82 - 2.83 | | | 11/05/08 - 11/24/08 | | | 42,738,647 | | |
| 10,000 | | | Clipper Receiving Co LLC (a) | | | 2.66 | | | 09/24/08 | | | 9,981,597 | | |
| 27,001 | | | Kitty Hawk Funding Corp (a) | | | 2.47 | | | 09/12/08 | | | 26,977,014 | | |
| 100,000 | | | Sheffield Receiving Corp (a) | | | 2.50 | | | 09/24/08 - 09/26/08 | | | 99,820,167 | | |
| 34,000 | | | Thames Asset Global Securities (a) | | | 2.55 | | | 09/09/08 | | | 33,975,917 | | |
| 25,000 | | | Three Pillars Funding LLC (a) | | | 2.51 | | | 09/15/08 | | | 24,972,222 | | |
| 60,155 | | | Yorktown Capital LLC (a) | | | 2.82 | | | 11/18/08 - 11/19/08 | | | 59,779,135 | | |
| | | 298,244,699 | | |
| | Asset-Backed - Securities (1.2%) | |
| 49,000 | | | Cancara Asset Securitisation LLC (a) | | | 2.87 | | | 11/17/08 | | | 48,693,546 | | |
| 37,000 | | | Solitaire Funding LLC (a) | | | 2.88 | | | 09/30/08 | | | 36,909,196 | | |
| | | 85,602,742 | | |
| | Banking (7.7%) | |
| 211,000 | | | Bank of America Corp. | | | 2.85 - 2.90 | | | 10/22/08 - 12/11/08 | | | 209,813,258 | | |
| 344,000 | | | Citigroup Funding Inc. | | | 2.93 - 2.96 | | | 09/29/08 - 12/05/08 | | | 341,674,073 | | |
| | | 551,487,331 | | |
| | Finance - Auto (0.6%) | |
| 43,000 | | | Toyota Motor Credit Corp. | | | 2.79 | | | 10/22/08 | | | 42,825,910 | | |
| | Financial Conglomerates (4.2%) | |
| 300,000 | | | General Electric Capital Corp. | | | 2.48 - 4.00 | | | 09/05/08 - 12/30/08 | | | 298,734,261 | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
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Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Portfolio of Investments n August 31, 2008 continued
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS | | DESCRIPTION | | ANNUALIZED YIELD ON DATE OF PURCHASE | | MATURITY DATE | | VALUE | |
| | Insurance (1.1%) | |
$ | 50,000 | | | AIG Funding Inc | | | 2.76 | % | | 09/24/08 | | $ | 49,904,514 | | |
| 31,500 | | | ING America Insurance Holding Inc | | | 2.78 | | | 12/05/08 | | | 31,265,745 | | |
| | | 81,170,259 | | |
| | International Banks (21.4%) | |
| 126,000 | | | Allied Irish Bank N.A. (a) | | | 2.87 | | | 09/16/08 - 11/14/08 | | | 125,475,442 | | |
| 115,000 | | | Bank of Ireland (a) | | | 2.78 - 2.82 | | | 09/17/08 - 09/29/08 | | | 114,789,958 | | |
| 45,000 | | | BNP Paribas Finance Inc | | | 2.90 | | | 12/23/08 | | | 44,587,006 | | |
| 64,425 | | | Danske Corp (a) | | | 2.70 | | | 09/25/08 | | | 64,300,302 | | |
| 310,000 | | | Dexia Delaware LLC | | | 2.67 - 2.82 | | | 09/29/08 - 10/14/08 | | | 309,024,250 | | |
| 32,925 | | | Fortis Banque Luxembourg | | | 2.77 | | | 09/26/08 | | | 32,856,845 | | |
| 23,000 | | | Intesa Funding LLC | | | 2.92 | | | 12/08/08 | | | 22,815,361 | | |
| 25,000 | | | KBC Financial Products International (a) | | | 2.82 | | | 11/14/08 | | | 24,852,222 | | |
| 15,000 | | | Natexis Banques Populaires U.S. Finance Co., LLC | | | 2.94 | | | 11/03/08 | | | 14,921,458 | | |
| 100,000 | | | Raiffeisen Zentralbank (a) | | | 2.92 | | | 09/25/08 | | | 99,790,556 | | |
| 80,000 | | | Royal Bank of Scotland Group (a) | | | 2.88 - 3.07 | | | 10/28/08 - 11/14/08 | | | 79,551,493 | | |
| 25,000 | | | Societe Generale N.A., Inc. | | | 2.90 | | | 11/14/08 | | | 24,849,320 | | |
| 306,500 | | | Swedbank AB | | | 2.83 - 3.09 | | | 09/25/08 - 11/14/08 | | | 305,346,169 | | |
| 50,000 | | | Swedbank Mortgage AB | | | 2.81 | | | 09/29/08 | | | 49,883,333 | | |
| 209,950 | | | UBS Finance (Delaware) LLC | | | 2.83 - 2.92 | | | 09/02/08 - 11/24/08 | | | 209,059,618 | | |
| | | 1,522,103,333 | | |
| | Total Commercial Paper (Cost $3,589,954,024) | | | 3,589,954,024 | | |
| | Certificates of Deposit (38.8%) | |
| | Domestic Banks (5.2%) | |
| 78,500 | | | Branch Banking & Trust Co., Inc. | | | 2.76 | | | 11/25/08 | | | 78,500,000 | | |
| 79,000 | | | Chase Bank | | | 2.67 | | | 10/29/08 | | | 79,000,000 | | |
| 75,000 | | | JPMorgan Chase Bank | | | 2.64 | | | 10/23/08 | | | 75,000,000 | | |
| 100,000 | | | Wachovia Bank, NA | | | 2.80 | | | 10/16/08 | | | 100,000,000 | | |
| 41,000 | | | Wells Fargo Bank NA | | | 2.70 | | | 11/25/08 | | | 41,000,000 | | |
| | | 373,500,000 | | |
| | International Banks (33.6%) | |
| 100,000 | | | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria | | | 2.90 | | | 12/12/08 | | | 100,046,077 | | |
| 92,000 | | | Banco Santander Central Hispano SA | | | 2.68 - 3.01 | | | 09/30/08 - 12/18/08 | | | 91,999,824 | | |
| 371,000 | | | Bank of Scotland - NY Branch | | | 2.65 - 3.04 | | | 09/05/08 - 11/12/08 | | | 371,001,077 | | |
| 127,000 | | | Barclays Bank PLC | | | 2.95 - 3.06 | | | 10/21/08 - 11/24/08 | | | 127,000,000 | | |
| 300,000 | | | Calyon - NY | | | 2.72 - 3.17 | | | 10/10/08 - 01/30/09 | | | 300,000,000 | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
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Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Portfolio of Investments n August 31, 2008 continued
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS | | DESCRIPTION | | ANNUALIZED YIELD ON DATE OF PURCHASE | | MATURITY DATE | | VALUE | |
$ | 150,000 | | | Depfa Bank PLC | | | 2.43 - 2.46 | % | | 09/09/08 - 09/16/08 | | $ | 150,000,000 | | |
| 35,000 | | | Dexia Credit Local S.A. | | | 2.84 | | | 11/13/08 | | | 35,000,000 | | |
| 123,000 | | | Fortis Bank - New York | | | 2.90 - 3.02 | | | 09/30/08 - 11/24/08 | | | 123,000,000 | | |
| 90,000 | | | Intesa Bank Ireland PLC | | | 2.82 | | | 11/25/08 | | | 90,000,000 | | |
| 210,000 | | | Intesa Sanpaolo SPA | | | 2.91 - 2.92 | | | 10/08/08 - 12/09/08 | | | 210,000,000 | | |
| 220,000 | | | NATIXIS | | | 2.92 - 2.98 | | | 11/12/08 - 11/18/08 | | | 220,000,000 | | |
| 115,500 | | | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | | | 2.88 - 3.15 | | | 11/03/08 - 02/23/09 | | | 115,495,820 | | |
| 71,000 | | | Skandinaviska Enskilda | | | 2.75 | | | 10/31/08 | | | 71,000,000 | | |
| 208,300 | | | Societe Generale | | | 2.83 - 2.86 | | | 09/29/08 - 10/30/08 | | | 208,300,000 | | |
| 99,000 | | | Toronto Dominion Bank | | | 2.64 - 2.75 | | | 09/15/08 - 09/29/08 | | | 99,000,000 | | |
| 85,000 | | | UBS AG | | | 2.90 | | | 09/19/08 | | | 85,000,000 | | |
| | | 2,396,842,798 | | |
| | Total Certificates of Deposit (Cost $2,770,342,798) | | | 2,770,342,798 | | |
| | Floating Rate Notes (7.4%) | |
| | Domestic Banks (0.6%) | |
| 41,000 | | | Wachovia Bank, NA | | | 3.00 | (b) | | 10/06/08(c) | | | 41,000,000 | | |
| | Finance - Auto (1.2%) | |
| 85,000 | | | Toyota Motor Credit Corp. | | | 2.47 | (b) | | 09/10/08(c) | | | 85,000,000 | | |
| | International Banks (5.6%) | |
| 50,000 | | | Bank of Nova Scotia - NY | | | 3.20 | (b) | | 11/06/08(c) | | | 50,000,000 | | |
| 165,000 | | | Barclays Bank PLC | | | 2.92 - 3.13 | (b) | | 09/09/08 - 09/22/08(c) | | | 165,000,000 | | |
| 43,000 | | | Deutsche Bank AG | | | 3.01 | (b) | | 09/22/08(c) | | | 43,000,000 | | |
| 63,000 | | | KBC Bank NV - NY | | | 2.82 | (b) | | 09/16/08(c) | | | 63,000,000 | | |
| 78,000 | | | Royal Bank of Scotland PLC | | | 2.87 | (b) | | 09/09/08(c) | | | 78,001,847 | | |
| | | 399,001,847 | | |
| | Total Floating Rate Notes (Cost $525,001,847) | | | 525,001,847 | | |
| | Repurchase Agreement (2.1%) | |
| 148,000 | | | Barclays Capital, Inc. (dated 08/29/08; proceeds $148,035,356; fully collateralized by Federal National Mortgage Assoc. 3.605% - 7.50% due 05/01/13 - 08/01/38, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp 4.00% - 7.50% due 101/01/14 - 07/01/38, Government National Mortgage Assoc. 3.75% due 05/20/36, value at $152,440,001.) (Cost $148,000,000) | | | 2.15 | | | 09/02/08 | | | 148,000,000 | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
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Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Portfolio of Investments n August 31, 2008 continued
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS | | DESCRIPTION | | ANNUALIZED YIELD ON DATE OF PURCHASE | | MATURITY DATE | | VALUE | |
| | U.S Government Agencies - Discount Notes (1.5%) | |
$ | 75,650 | | | Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp | | | 2.08 - 2.43 | % | | 09/29/08 - 10/20/08 | | $ | 75,486,184 | | |
| 30,000 | | | Federal National Mortgage Association | | | 2.42 | | | 10/27/08 | | | 29,884,000 | | |
| | Total U.S Government Agencies - Discount Notes (Cost $105,370,184) | | | 105,370,184 | | |
| | Total Investments (Cost $7,138,668,853) (d) | | | | | 100.1 | % | | | 7,138,668,853 | | |
| | Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets | | | | | (0.1 | ) | | | (8,009,363 | ) | |
| | Net Assets | | | | | 100.0 | % | | $ | 7,130,659,490 | | |
(a) Resale is restricted to qualified institutional investors.
(b) Rate shown is the rate in effect at August 31, 2008.
(c) Date of next interest rate reset.
(d) Cost is the same for federal income tax purposes.
See Notes to Financial Statements
12
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
August 31, 2008
Assets: | |
Investments in securities, at value (cost $7,138,668,853) | | $ | 7,138,668,853 | | |
Cash | | | 639,744 | | |
Receivable for: | |
Interest | | | 15,430,609 | | |
Capital stock sold | | | 151,970 | | |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | | | 192,163 | | |
Total Assets | | | 7,155,083,339 | | |
Liabilities: | |
Payable for: | |
Capital stock redeemed | | | 20,706,528 | | |
Investment advisory fee | | | 1,377,106 | | |
Distribution fee | | | 572,177 | | |
Administration fee | | | 286,089 | | |
Transfer agent fee | | | 284,771 | | |
Accrued expenses and other payables | | | 1,197,178 | | |
Total Liabilities | | | 24,423,849 | | |
Net Assets | | $ | 7,130,659,490 | | |
Composition of Net Assets: | |
Paid-in-capital | | $ | 7,130,041,305 | | |
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | | | 678,104 | | |
Accumulated net realized loss | | | (59,919 | ) | |
Net Assets | | $ | 7,130,659,490 | | |
Net Asset Value Per Share 7,130,708,067 shares outstanding (50,000,000,000 shares authorized of $.01 par value) | | $ | 1.00 | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
13
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Financial Statements continued
Statement of Operations
For the year ended August 31, 2008
Net Investment Income: | |
Interest Income | | $ | 355,900,649 | | |
Expenses | |
Investment advisory fee | | | 19,743,116 | | |
Transfer agent fees and expenses | | | 17,598,495 | | |
Distribution fee | | | 8,410,834 | | |
Administration fee | | | 4,205,417 | | |
Shareholder reports and notices | | | 1,276,861 | | |
Custodian fees | | | 285,987 | | |
Directors' fees and expenses | | | 148,841 | | |
Registration fees | | | 132,867 | | |
Professional fees | | | 96,620 | | |
Other | | | 773,248 | | |
Total Expenses | | | 52,672,286 | | |
Less: expense offset | | | (48,513 | ) | |
Net Expenses | | | 52,623,773 | | |
Net Investment Income | | | 303,276,876 | | |
Net Realized Loss on investments | | | (9,056,722 | ) | |
Net increase from payments by affiliate (Note 4) | | | 8,996,803 | | |
Net Increase | | $ | 303,216,957 | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
14
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Financial Statements continued
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| | FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2008 | | FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2007 | |
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: Operations: | |
Net investment income | | $ | 303,276,876 | | | $ | 598,842,169 | | |
Net realized gain (loss) | | | (9,056,722 | ) | | | 1,500 | | |
Net increase from payments by affiliate (Note 4) | | | 8,996,803 | | | | — | | |
Net Increase | | | 303,216,957 | | | | 598,843,669 | | |
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders from: | |
Net investment income | | | (303,281,003 | ) | | | (598,839,959 | ) | |
Net realized gain | | | — | | | | (1,500 | ) | |
Total Dividends and Distributions | | | (303,281,003 | ) | | | (598,841,459 | ) | |
Net decrease from capital stock transactions | | | (3,320,693,657 | ) | | | (6,434,503,553 | ) | |
Net Decrease | | | (3,320,757,703 | ) | | | (6,434,501,343 | ) | |
Net Assets: | |
Beginning of period | | | 10,451,417,193 | | | | 16,885,918,536 | | |
End of Period (Including accumulated undistributed net investment income of $678,104 and $682,231, respectively) | | $ | 7,130,659,490 | | | $ | 10,451,417,193 | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements
15
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements n August 31, 2008
1. Organization and Accounting Policies
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc. (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 objectives are high current income, preservation of capital and liquidity. The Fund was incorporated in Maryland on September 3, 1974 and commenced operations on September 22, 1975.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. Valuation of Investments — Portfolio securities are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value, in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the Act.
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. 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.
C. Repurchase Agreements — The Fund may invest directly with institutions in repurchase agreements. The Fund's custodian receives the collateral, which is marked-to-market daily to determine that the value of the collateral does not decrease below the repurchase price plus accrued interest.
D. 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 provision for federal income taxes is required. The Fund files tax returns with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, New York State and New York City. The Fund adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Interpretation No. 48 ("FIN 48") Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes on February 28, 2008. FIN 48 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The implementation of FIN 48 did not result in any 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 in the four year period ended August 31, 2008, remains subject to examination by taxing authorities.
E. Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — The Fund records dividends and distributions to shareholders as of the close of each business day.
F. Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
16
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements n August 31, 2008 continued
2. Investment Advisory/Administration Agreements
Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (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: 0.45% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $250 million; 0.375% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $250 million but not exceeding $750 million; 0.325% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $750 million but not exceeding $1.25 billion; 0.30% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.25 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; 0.275% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.5 billion but not exceeding $1.75 billion; 0.25% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $1.75 billion but not exceeding $2.25 billion; 0.225% to the portion of the daily n et assets exceeding $2.25 billion but not exceeding $2.75 billion; 0.20% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2.75 billion but not exceeding $15 billion; 0.199% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $15 billion but not exceeding $17.5 billion; 0.198% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $17.5 billion but not exceeding $25 billion; 0.197% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $25 billion but not exceeding $30 billion; and 0.196% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $30 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 0.05% to the Fund's daily net assets.
Under an 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.
3. Shareholder Services Plan
Pursuant to a Shareholder Service Plan (the "Plan"), the Fund may pay the Distributor as compensation for the provision of services to shareholders a service fee up to the rate of 0.15% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of the Fund.
Reimbursements for these expenses are made in monthly payments by the Fund to the Distributor, which will in no event exceed an amount equal to a payment at the annual rate of 0.15% of the Fund's average daily net assets during the month. Expenses incurred by the Distributor pursuant to the Plan in any fiscal year will not be reimbursed by the Fund through payments accrued in any subsequent fiscal year. For the year ended August 31, 2008, the distribution fee was accrued at the annual rate of 0.10%.
4. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales/maturities of portfolio securities for the year ended August 31, 2008, aggregated $93,851,142,353 and $97,468,303,512, respectively.
17
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements n August 31, 2008 continued
On October 23, 2007, a security owned by the Fund was subject to a credit downgrade by a rating agency. As a result of this downgrade, the Adviser determined that the security was no longer an eligible security for the Fund to own. As a result, the Adviser purchased this security from the Fund at amortized cost plus accrued interest. Prior to the purchase, the Fund owned $90,000,000 par value of this security. Had this security been sold to a third party, the Fund would have realized a loss of approximately $8,996,803. As a result, this estimated loss along with an offsetting payment from the Adviser has been reflected in the Statement of Operations and Statement of Changes in Net Assets. The net result of this transaction, including the purchase of the security at amortized cost by the Adviser, had no impact on the Fund's net assets, net asset value per share or net investment income.
Morgan Stanley Trust, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Administrator and Distributor, is the Fund's transfer agent.
The Fund has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering certain independent Directors of the Fund who will have served as independent Directors for at least five years at the time of retirement. Benefits under this plan are based on factors which include years of service and compensation. The Directors voted to close the plan to new participants and eliminate the future benefits growth due to increases to compensation after July 31, 2003. Aggregate pension costs for the year ended August 31, 2008, included in Directors' fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations amounted to $6,010. At August 31, 2008, the Fund had an accrued pension liability of $60,682 which is included in accrued expenses in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Fund has an unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Compensation Plan") which allows each independent Director to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Directors. Each eligible Director 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.
5. Capital Stock
Transactions in capital stock, at $1.00 per share, were as follows:
| | FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2008 | | FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2007 | |
Shares sold | | | 10,543,187,318 | | | | 24,966,716,052 | | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of dividends and distributions | | | 301,781,732 | | | | 597,670,096 | | |
| | | 10,844,969,050 | | | | 25,564,386,148 | | |
Shares redeemed | | | (14,165,662,707 | ) | | | (31,998,894,113 | ) | |
Net decrease | | | (3,320,693,657 | ) | | | (6,434,507,965 | ) | |
18
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements n August 31, 2008 continued
6. Expense Offset
The expense offset represents a reduction of the fees and expenses for interest earned on cash balances maintained by the Fund with the transfer agent.
7. 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 generally accepted accounting principles. 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.
The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:
| | FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2008 | | FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2007 | |
Ordinary income | | $ | 303,281,003 | | | $ | 598,841,459 | | |
As of August 31, 2008, the tax-basis components of accumulated earnings were as follows:
Undistributed ordinary income | | $ | 855,768 | | | | |
Undistributed long-term gains | | | — | | | | |
Net accumulated earnings | | | 855,768 | | | | |
Capital loss carryforward* | | | (5,164 | ) | | | |
Post-October losses | | | (46,531 | ) | | | |
Temporary differences | | | (185,888 | ) | | | |
Net unrealized appreciation | | | 0 | | | | |
Total accumulated earnings | | $ | 618,185 | | | | |
*As of August 31, 2008, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $5,164 which will expire on August 31, 2016 to offset future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations.
As of August 31, 2008, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences primarily attributable to post-October losses (capital losses incurred after October 31 within the taxable year which are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund's next taxable year).
8. Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements ("SFAS 157"), was issued and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair
19
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements n August 31, 2008 continued
value measurements. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on the Fund's financial statement disclosures.
On March 19, 2008, FASB released Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB statement No. 133 ("SFAS 161"). SFAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk related contingent features in derivative agreements. The application of SFAS 161 is required for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of SFAS 161 and its impact on the financial statements has not yet been determined.
9. Subsequent Event
On September 29,2008, the Morgan Stanley Fund's Board of Directors approved the participation of its money market funds in the U.S. Treasury's Temporary Guarantee Program ("Program"). Under the Program, the U.S Treasury will guarantee the share price of any publicly offered eligible money market mutual fund that applies for and pays a fee to participate in the Program. The Fund applied to be insured under the Program. The Program provides coverage to shareholders for amounts that they held in the money market fund as of the close of business on September 19, 2008. The guarantee will be triggered if the Fund's net asset value falls below $0.995, commonly referred to as breaking the buck.
20
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Financial Highlights
Selected ratios and per share data for a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each period:
| | FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, | |
| | 2008 | | 2007 | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2004 | |
Selected Per Share Data: | |
Net asset value, beginning of period | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | | |
Net income from investment operations | | | 0.035 | | | | 0.047 | | | | 0.040 | | | | 0.020 | | | | 0.006 | | |
Less dividends from net investment income | | | (0.035 | ) | | | (0.047 | )(1) | | | (0.040 | ) | | | (0.020 | )(1) | | | (0.006 | )(1) | |
Net asset value, end of period | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | $ | 1.00 | | |
Total Return | | | 3.56 | %(2) | | | 4.86 | % | | | 4.10 | % | | | 2.03 | % | | | 0.58 | % | |
Ratios to Average Net Assets: | |
Total expenses (before expense offset) | | | 0.63 | % | | | 0.67 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.59 | % | | | 0.58 | % | |
Net investment income | | | 3.61 | % | | | 4.73 | % | | | 3.99 | % | | | 1.98 | % | | | 0.57 | % | |
Supplemental Data: | |
Net assets, end of period, in millions | | $ | 7,131 | | | $ | 10,451 | | | $ | 16,886 | | | $ | 18,072 | | | $ | 20,475 | | |
(1) Includes capital gain distribution of less than $0.001.
(2) The Investment Adviser fully reimbursed the Fund for losses incurred resulting from the disposal of investments. Without this reimbursement, the total return was 3.47%. (See Note 4.)
See Notes to Financial Statements
21
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc. (the "Fund"), including the portfolio of investments, as of August 31, 2008, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended and 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 August 31, 2008, 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 Liquid Asset Fund Inc. as of August 31, 2008, 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
October 27, 2008
22
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
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 annually.
The following Policy applies to current and former individual investors in Morgan Stanley Advisor funds. This Policy is not applicable to partnerships, corporations, trusts or other non-individual clients or account holders. Please note that 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. We strive to maintain the privacy of such information while we help you achieve your financial objectives. This Policy describes what non-public personal information we collect about you, why we collect it, and when we may share it with others. We hope this Policy will help you understand how we collect and share non-public personal information that we gather about you. Throughout this Policy, we refer to the non-public information that personally identifies you or your accounts as "personal information."
1. What Personal Information Do We Collect About You?
To serve you better and manage our business, it is important that we collect and maintain accurate information about you. We may obtain this information from applications and other forms you submit to us, from your dealings with us, from consumer reporting agencies, from our Web sites and from third parties and other sources.
For example:
n We may collect information such as your name, address, e-mail address, telephone/fax numbers, assets, income and investment objectives through applications and other forms you submit to us.
n 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.
n We may obtain information about your creditworthiness and credit history from consumer reporting agencies.
n We may collect background information from and through third-party vendors to verify representations you have made and to comply with various regulatory requirements.
n 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
23
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
An Important Notice Concerning Our U.S. Privacy Policy (unaudited) continued
preferences, through the use of "cookies." "Cookies" recognize your computer each time your 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 serve you better and to manage our business, we may disclose personal information we collect about you to our affiliated companies and to non-affiliated third parties as required or permitted by law.
A. Information We Disclose to Our Affiliated Companies. We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to our affiliated companies except to enable them to provide services on our behalf or as otherwise required or permitted by law.
B. Information We Disclose to Third Parties. We do not disclose personal information that we collect about you to non-affiliated third parties except to enable them to provide services on our behalf, to perform joint marketing agreements with other financial institutions, or as otherwise required or permitted by law. For example, some instances where we may disclose information about you to nonaffiliated 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 these companies, they are required to limit their use of personal information to the particular purpose for which it was shared and they are not allowed to share personal informatio n with others except to fulfill that limited purpose.
3. How Do We Protect the Security and Confidentiality of Personal Information We Collect About You?
We maintain physical, electronic and procedural security measures to help safeguard the personal information we collect about you. We have internal policies governing the proper handling of client information. Third parties that provide support or marketing services on our behalf may also receive personal information, and we require them to adhere to confidentiality standards with respect to such information.
24
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Director and Officer Information (unaudited)
Independent Directors:
Name, Age and Address of Independent Director | | 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 Director** | | Other Directorships Held by Independent Director | |
Frank L. Bowman (63) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | | Director | | Since August 2006 | | President and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute (policy organization) (since February 2005); Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); Chairperson of the Insurance Sub-Committee of the Insurance, Valuation and Compliance Committee (since February 2007); formerly, variously, Admiral in the U.S. Navy, Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and Deputy Administrator – Naval Reactors in the National Nuclear Security Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy (1996-2004). Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. | | | 180 | | | Director of the National Energy Foundation, the U.S. Energy Association, the American Council for Capital Formation and the Armed Services YMCA of the USA. | |
|
Michael Bozic (67) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | | Director | | Since April 1994 | | Private investor; Chairperson of the Insurance, Valuation and Compliance 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. | | | 182 | | | Director of various business organizations. | |
|
25
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Director and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
Name, Age and Address of Independent Director | | 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 Director** | | Other Directorships Held by Independent Director | |
Kathleen A. Dennis (55) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | | Director | | Since August 2006 | | President, Cedarwood Associates (mutual fund and investment management) (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). | | | 180 | | | Director of various non-profit organizations. | |
|
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (59) c/o Johnson Smick Group, Inc. 888 16th Street, N.W. Suite 740 Washington, D.C. 20006 | | Director | | 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. | | | 182 | | | Director of NVR, Inc. (home construction); Director of Evergreen Energy. | |
|
Joseph J. Kearns (66) c/o Kearns & Associates LLC PMB754 23852 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265 | | Director | | 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 the 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); CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. | | | 183 | | | Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing) and The Ford Family Foundation. | |
|
26
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Director and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
Name, Age and Address of Independent Director | | 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 Director** | | Other Directorships Held by Independent Director | |
Michael F. Klein (49) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | | Director | | 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). | | | 180 | | | 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 (72) c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. 445 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 | | Chairperson of the Board and Director | | Chairperson of the Boards since July 2006 and Director 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). | | | 182 | | | None. | |
|
27
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Director and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
Name, Age and Address of Independent Director | | 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 Director** | | Other Directorships Held by Independent Director | |
W. Allen Reed (61) c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036 | | Director | | 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). | | | 180 | | | Director of Temple-Inland Industries (packaging and forest products); Director of Legg Mason, Inc. and Director of the Auburn University Foundation. | |
|
Fergus Reid (76) c/o Lumelite Plastics Corporation 85 Charles Colman Blvd. Pawling, NY 12564 | | Director | | Since June 1992 | | Chairman of Lumelite Plastics Corporation; Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and Institutional Funds (since June 1992). | | | 183 | | | Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc. | |
|
28
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Director and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
Interested Director:
Name, Age and Address of Interested Director | | 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 Director** | | Other Directorships Held by Interested Director | |
James F. Higgins (60) c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Harborside Financial Center Plaza Two Jersey City, NJ 07311 | | Director | | 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). | | | 181 | | | Director of AXA Financial, Inc. and The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (financial services). | |
|
* This is the earliest date the Director 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 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.).
29
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Director 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 | |
Randy Takian (34) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | President and Principal Executive Officer | | President and Principal Executive Officer (since September 2008) | | President and Principal Executive Officer (since September 2008) of funds in the Fund Complex; President and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (since September 2008). President of the Investment Adviser (since July 2008). Head of the Retail and Intermediary business within Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since July 2008). Head of Liquidity and Bank Trust business (since July 2008) and the Latin American franchise (since July 2008) at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Managing Director, Director and/or Officer of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser. Formerly Head of Strategy and Product Development for the Alternatives Group and Senior Loan Investment Management. Formerly with Bank of America (July 1996-March 2006), most recently as Head of the Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions team for Global Wealth and Investment Management. | |
|
Kevin Klingert (46) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | Vice President | | Since June 2008 | | Chief Operating Officer of the Global Fixed Income Group of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and the Investment Adviser (since March 2008). Head of Global Liquidity Portfolio Management and co-Head of Liquidity Credit Research of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since December 2007). Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and the Investment Adviser (since December 2007). Previously, Managing Director on the Management Committee and head of Municipal Portfolio Management and Liquidity at BlackRock (October 1991 to January 2007). | |
|
Dennis F. Shea (55) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | Vice President | | Since February 2006 | | Managing Director and (since February 2006) Chief Investment Officer – Global Equity of Morgan Stanley Investment Management; Vice President of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since February 2006). Formerly, Managing Director and Director of Global Equity Research at Morgan Stanley. | |
|
Amy R. Doberman (46) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | Vice President | | Since July 2004 | | Managing Director and General Counsel, U.S. Investment Management of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since July 2004); Vice President of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since July 2004); Vice President of the Van Kampen Funds (since August 2004); Secretary (since February 2006) and Managing Director (since July 2004) of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser. Formerly, Managing Director and General Counsel – Americas, UBS Global Asset Management (July 2000-July 2004). | |
|
Carsten Otto (44) 522 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 | | Chief Compliance Officer | | Since October 2004 | | Managing Director and Global Head of Compliance for Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since April 2007); and Chief Compliance Officer of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since October 2004). Formerly, U.S. Director of Compliance (October 2004-April 2007) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of the Retail Funds. | |
|
Stefanie V. Chang Yu (41) 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 various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser. | |
|
30
Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
Director and Officer Information (unaudited) continued
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 | |
Francis J. Smith (43) c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Harborside Financial Center Plaza Two Jersey City, NJ 07311 | | Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer | | Treasurer since July 2003 and Chief Financial Officer since September 2002 | | Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Retail Funds (since July 2003). Formerly, Vice President of the Retail Funds (September 2002-July 2003). | |
|
Mary E. Mullin (41) 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 the Institutional Funds (since June 1999). | |
|
* This is the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds.
2008 Federal Tax Notice (unaudited)
For Federal income tax purposes, the following information is furnished with respect to the distributions paid by the Fund during its taxable year ended August 31, 2008. 1.09% of the Fund's dividends was attributable to qualifying U.S. Government obligations. (Please consult your tax advisor to determine if any portion of the dividends you received is exempt from state income tax.)
In January, the Fund provides tax information to shareholders for the preceding calendar year.
31
Directors
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
Randy Takian
President and Principal Executive Officer
Kevin Klingert
Vice President
Dennis F. Shea
Vice President
Amy R. Doberman
Vice President
Carsten Otto
Chief Compliance Officer
Stefanie V. Chang Yu
Vice President
Francis J. Smith
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Mary E. Mullin
Secretary
Transfer Agent
Morgan Stanley Trust
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Two World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281
Legal Counsel
Clifford Chance US LLP
31 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019
Counsel to the Independent Directors
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
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 directors. 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.
© 2008 Morgan Stanley
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ILANN
IU08-05256P-Y08/08
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INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
Morgan Stanley
Liquid Asset Fund Inc.
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Annual Report
August 31, 2008
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:
2008
| | Registrant | | Covered Entities(1) | |
Audit Fees | | $ | 32,850 | | N/A | |
| | | | | |
Non-Audit Fees | | | | | |
Audit-Related Fees | | $ | 325 | (2) | $ | 4,555,000 | (2) |
Tax Fees | | $ | 5,435 | (3) | $ | 747,000 | (4) |
All Other Fees | | $ | — | | $ | | (5) |
Total Non-Audit Fees | | $ | 5,760 | | $ | 5,302,000 | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | 38,610 | | $ | 5,302,000 | |
2007
| | Registrant | | Covered Entities(1) | |
Audit Fees | | $ | 33,450 | | N/A | |
| | | | | |
Non-Audit Fees | | | | | |
Audit-Related Fees | | $ | — | (2) | $ | 5,041,000 | (2) |
Tax Fees | | $ | 4,800 | (3) | $ | 761,000 | (4) |
All Other Fees | | $ | — | | $ | | (5) |
Total Non-Audit Fees | | $ | 4,800 | | $ | 5,802,000 | |
| | | | | |
Total | | $ | 38,250 | | $ | 5,802,000 | |
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
Van Kampen Asset Management
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 Liquid Asset Fund
/s/ Randy Takian | |
Randy Takian |
Principal Executive Officer |
October 23, 2008 |
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/ Randy Takian | |
Randy Takian |
Principal Executive Officer |
October 23, 2008 |
/s/ Francis Smith | |
Francis Smith |
Principal Financial Officer |
October 23, 2008 |