SEC Company Response from MORGAN STANLEY GROWTH FUND (CIK 0000883679) — Jul 28, 2005
MORGAN STANLEY GROWTH FUND (CIK 0000883679)
Date: July 28, 2005 · CIK: 0000883679 · Accession: 0000950136-05-004402
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Morgan Stanley Growth Fund
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
July 28, 2005
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attention: Larry Greene, Division of Investment Management
Mail Stop 0505
RE: MORGAN STANLEY GROWTH FUND
(FILE NO. 33-45450)
Dear Mr. Greene:
Thank you for your telephonic comments regarding the registration statement on
Form N-1A for Morgan Stanley Growth Fund (the "Fund") filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on May 27, 2005. Below, we describe the changes made to
the registration statement in response to the Staff's comments and provide any
responses to or any supplemental explanations of such comments, as requested.
These changes will be reflected in post-effective amendment number 17 to the
Fund's registration statement on Form N-1A, which will be filed via EDGAR on or
about July 28, 2005.
GENERAL COMMENTS TO FORM N-1A
-----------------------------
COMMENT 1. PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THE FUND IS COMPLYING WITH THE PRIVACY
POLICY NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRAMM-LEACH-BLILEY ACT AND
DISTRIBUTING ITS PRIVACY POLICY TO INVESTORS.
Response 1. The Fund provides its privacy policy annually in
accordance with the requirements of Regulation S-P.
COMMENT 2. PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT INCLUDES THE
ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND CUSTOMER VERIFICATION DISCLOSURE REQUIRED
BY THE U.S. PATRIOT ACT.
Response 2. The requisite notice of the customer
identification verification policy is disclosed in the
account application form. Anti-money laundering and customer
verification disclosure is also included under the
"Shareholder Information-How to Buy Shares" section of the
Fund's prospectus.
COMMENTS TO PROSPECTUS
----------------------
COMMENT 3. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE FUND INVESTS IN EMERGING MARKET
COUNTRIES, PLEASE INCLUDE THE RELEVANT RISK DISCLOSURE.
Response 3. The Fund does not invest in emerging market
countries.
COMMENT 4. CONSIDER INCLUDING THE ORDER PROCESSING FEE IN THE FEE TABLE OR
AS A FOOTNOTE TO THE FEE TABLE AND IN THE EXAMPLE.
Response 4. The Order Processing Fee is not a fee imposed by
the Fund. It is a fee that Morgan Stanley DW Inc. charges
its clients. Therefore, it should not be included in the fee
table, as a footnote to the fee table or in the Example.
COMMENT 5. IF A DESCRIPTION OF THE FUND'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WITH
RESPECT TO THE DISCLOSURE OF THE FUND'S PORTFOLIO SECURITIES IS
AVAILABLE ON THE FUND'S WEBSITE, PLEASE SO STATE IN THE PROSPECTUS.
Response 5. Such a description does not appear on the Fund's
website.
COMMENT 6. HAVE FUND SHAREHOLDERS APPROVED THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT?
Response 6. The Fund's investment advisory agreement was
amended and restated to remove the administrative services
component from the Management Agreement and to reduce the
investment advisory fee. The administrative services
previously provided to the Fund by the Investment Adviser
are being provided by Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc.
("Administrator") pursuant to a separate administration
agreement entered into by the Fund with the Administrator.
Such change resulted in a reduction in the advisory fee
concurrent with the implementation of an administration fee
equal to the amount of the advisory fee reduction pursuant
to the new administration agreement. Shareholder approval
was not required.
COMMENT 7. CONSIDER ADDING ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE REGARDING FAIR VALUATION
TO THE SECTION "PRICING FUND SHARES".
Response 7. We respectfully acknowledge the comment, but
believe the current disclosure is sufficient.
COMMENT 8. SUPPLEMENTALLY DISCUSS WHETHER WRITTEN NOTICE WITH RESPECT TO
THE FUND'S POLICY "TO REJECT, LIMIT OR PROHIBIT EXCHANGES WITHOUT
PRIOR NOTICE, AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION ..." SET FORTH IN THE
"LIMITATIONS ON EXCHANGES" SECTION OF THE PROSPECTUS HAS BEEN
ADEQUATELY PROVIDED TO INVESTORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 11A-3.
CLARIFY THAT THE FUND WOULD ONLY REJECT THE PURCHASE PORTION OF AN
EXCHANGE REQUEST.
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Response 8. The Fund's ability to reject, limit or prohibit
exchanges is designed to offer the Fund flexibility to
address market timing abuses as they occur. The Release
adopting the rules requiring enhanced market timing
disclosure specifically authorizes such a policy provided it
is disclosed in the Fund's prospectus. Further, written
notice of the policy, as disclosed in the Fund's prospectus,
is consistent with the provisions of Rule 11a-3(b)(6)(ii).
Exchange requests consist of a redemption of Fund shares and
a simultaneous purchase of another fund's shares. The Fund
reserves the right to reject any exchange request for any
reason. The Fund would not reject a valid redemption
request.
COMMENT 9. CONSIDER ADDING ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE REGARDING REVENUE SHARING
TO THE SECTION "ADDITIONAL INFORMATION".
Response 9. We respectfully acknowledge the comment, but
believe the current disclosure is sufficient.
COMMENT 10. IN THE "HOW TO EXCHANGE SHARES - EXCHANGE PROCEDURES" SECTION,
PLEASE REPLACE THE WORD "ACCEPTED" WITH "RECEIVED" OR ANOTHER TERM
TO THAT EFFECT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 22C-1, WITH RESPECT TO THE
FOLLOWING SENTENCE: "AN EXCHANGE TO ANY MORGAN STANLEY FUND (EXCEPT
A MONEY MARKET FUND) IS MADE ON THE BASIS OF THE NEXT CALCULATED
NET ASSET VALUES OF THE FUNDS INVOLVED AFTER THE EXCHANGE
INSTRUCTIONS ARE ACCEPTED." [EMPHASIS ADDED]
Response 10. The disclosure has been so revised.
COMMENT 11. CONFIRM THAT THE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION AND SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
(12B-1) FEES PAYABLE BY THE FUND'S CLASSES WILL NOT EXCEED THE
LIMITATIONS UNDER THE RULES OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
SECURITIES DEALERS (NASD) RELATING TO "SERVICE FEES" AND
"ASSET-BASED SALES CHARGES."
Response 11. The Fund complies with the limitations under
the NASD Rules relating to "service fees" and "asset-based
sales charges."
COMMENT 12. EXPLAIN SUPPLEMENTALLY WHETHER THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE INCLUDED
UNDER "FUND - FUND MANAGEMENT" IS CONSISTENT WITH ITEM 5(A)(2) AND
ITEM 15(A) OF FORM N-1A: "THE COMPOSITION OF THE TEAM MAY CHANGE
WITHOUT NOTICE FROM TIME TO TIME."
Response 12. Item 5(a)(2) requires disclosure of the persons
"primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the
Fund's portfolio ("Portfolio Manager")," and Item 15(a)
requires certain disclosure regarding such persons'
management of other accounts. The Fund is managed by a team
of investment professionals. The team may be comprised both
of persons "primarily responsible for the day-to-day
management of the Fund's portfolio" (any such persons are
disclosed under Item 5(a)(2) and Item 15 (a)) and persons
who are not. The referenced disclosure states that the
composition of the team may change
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without notice from time to time. We note supplementally
that, notwithstanding this disclosure, to the extent that a
team member with primary responsibility for the day-to-day
management of the Fund's portfolio changes, the Fund intends
to supplement its Prospectus and its Statement of Additional
Information with the information required by Item 5(a)(2)
and Item 15(a) for such team member.
COMMENT 13. THE FIRST PARAGRAPH UNDER "THE FUND - PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT
STRATEGIES" ON P. 1 STATES THAT "THE FUND WILL NORMALLY INVEST AT
LEAST 65% OF ITS ASSETS IN COMMON STOCKS PRIMARILY OF COMPANIES
HAVING MARKET VALUES OR CAPITALIZATIONS OF AT LEAST $1 BILLION THAT
THE FUND'S "INVESTMENT ADVISER," MORGAN STANLEY INVESTMENT
ADVISORS, INC., BELIEVES EXHIBIT STRONG EARNINGS AND FREE CASH FLOW
GROWTH. THE INVESTMENT ADVISER SEEKS TO MAXIMIZE LONG-TERM CAPITAL
APPRECIATION BY INVESTING PRIMARILY IN GROWTH-ORIENTED EQUITY
SECURITIES. THE INVESTMENT ADVISER EMPHASIZES INDIVIDUAL SECURITY
SELECTION." THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH OF THE SECTION TALKS ABOUT COMMON
STOCKS, CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES AND DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS. PLEASE
CLARIFY WHETHER THE 65% TEST APPLIES ONLY TO COMMON STOCKS OR
WHETHER IT ACTUALLY APPLIES TO "EQUITY SECURITIES," WHICH MAY
INCLUDE COMMON STOCKS, CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES AND DEPOSITARY
RECEIPTS.
Response 13. The disclosure has been revised accordingly.
COMMENT 14. THE THIRD PARAGRAPH UNDER "PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES"
CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE: "VALUATION IS VIEWED IN THE
CONTEXT OF PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABLE EARNINGS GROWTH AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR POSITIVE EARNINGS SURPRISES." PLEASE CONSIDER WHETHER
THE TERM "SURPRISES" IS CONSISTENT WITH THE STAFF'S POSITION
REGARDING PLAIN ENGLISH DISCLOSURE.
Response 14. We respectfully acknowledge the comment, but
believe the current disclosure is sufficient.
COMMENT 15. TO THE EXTENT THAT THE FUND INVESTS IN CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
RATED BELOW INVESTMENT GRADE, PLEASE INCLUDE THE RELEVANT RISK
DISCLOSURE.
Response 15. The relevant risk disclosure is included in the
Prospectus section entitled "Additional Risk Information."
COMMENT 16. ON P. 6, PLEASE ADD THE APPROPRIATE INTRODUCTORY TEXT BEFORE
THE FEE TABLE.
Response 16. The introductory text appeared on p. 5 in the
485(a) filing. It will appear on the same page as the fee
table in the final document.
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COMMENTS TO SAI
---------------
COMMENT 17. PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT INCLUDES
APPLICABLE DISCLOSURE REGARDING "SEGREGATING ASSETS" IN CONNECTION
WITH THE FUND'S USE OF DERIVATIVES.
Response 17. The disclosure has been so revised.
COMMENT 18. IN THE SECTION ENTITLED "FUND MANAGEMENT - PORTFOLIO MANAGER
COMPENSATION STRUCTURE," INCLUDE ONLY THE DISCRETIONARY
COMPENSATION RECEIVED BY THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF THE FUND DURING
THE LAST YEAR.
Response 18. We believe the current disclosure is in
compliance with SEC Release 2004-89. The Release requires
that the SAI include disclosure regarding the structure of,
and the method used to determine, the compensation of its
portfolio managers. The Release notes that the purpose of
this disclosure is to help investors better understand a
portfolio manager's incentives in managing a fund and shed
light on possible conflicts of interest that could arise
when a portfolio manager manages other accounts. Therefore,
in order to achieve this purpose, the disclosure, in our
view, should include all possible forms of compensation that
are available to the portfolio manager in connection with
managing the portfolio and other accounts.
COMMENT 19. PLEASE REVISE THE "DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS" SECTION TO
(I) CLARIFY WHAT TIME LAG THERE IS WITH RESPECT TO DISSEMINATION OF
PUBLIC PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION, (II) CLARIFY WHICH
EXEMPTIONS AND EXCEPTIONS TO THE POLICY EXIST AND (III) INCLUDE AN
EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF THOSE PERSONS WHO MAY RECEIVE NON-PUBLIC
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION WITHOUT ENTERING INTO A
NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT. PLEASE SUPPLEMENTALLY DISCUSS WHY PERSONS
WHO OWE A DUTY OF TRUST OR CONFIDENCE TO THE FUND MAY RECEIVE
NON-PUBLIC PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS INFORMATION WITHOUT ENTERING INTO A
NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE A LIST OF ALL ONGOING
ARRANGEMENTS.
Response 19. With respect to clause (i), we respectfully
acknowledge the comment, but believe the current disclosure
is sufficient. With respect to clauses (ii) and (iii), the
disclosure has been so revised. Persons who owe a duty of
trust or confidence to the Fund (such as lawyers and
accountants) have non-disclosure obligations with respect to
many kinds of information concerning the Fund, including
non-public portfolio holdings information. Requiring such
persons to enter into a non-disclosure agreement would be
redundant. A current list of all ongoing arrangements has
been added to the definitive SAI.
COMMENT 20. PROVIDE FURTHER FUND SPECIFIC DISCLOSURE PURSUANT TO ITEM
12(B)(10) OF FORM N-1A.
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Response 20. Additional disclosure has been added to the SAI
in compliance with Item 12(b)(10) of Form N-1A.
COMMENT 21. IN THE SECTION ENTITLED "MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND - MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION" IN THE PARAGRAPH THAT BEGINS "THE FUND DOES NOT HAVE A
SEPARATE NOMINATING COMMITTEE....," THE LAST SENTENCE OF SUCH
PARAGRAPH STATES "NOMINATIONS FROM SHAREHOLDERS SHOULD BE IN
WRITING AND SENT TO THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES AS DESCRIBED BELOW."
PLEASE REVISE THE DISCLOSURE TO MAKE CLEAR WHAT IS MEANT BY "AS
DESCRIBED BELOW."
Response 21. The disclosure has been revised to read as
follows: Nominations from shareholders should be in writing
and sent to the Independent Trustees as described below
under the caption "Shareholder Communications."
As you have requested and consistent with SEC Press Release 2004-89, the Fund
hereby acknowledges that:
o the Fund is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in
the filings;
o the Staff's comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments
in the filings reviewed by the Staff do not foreclos