Schedule 14A Information required in proxy statement. Schedule 14A Information Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.__) Filed by the Registrant [X] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Preliminary Additional Materials [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [X] Definitive Proxy Statement [X] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.149-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 Morgan Stanley Government Income Trust Morgan Stanley Income Securities Inc. Morgan Stanley Municipal Income Opportunities Trust (Names of Registrants as specified in their charter) Lou Anne D. McInnis ---------------------------------------------------- (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box): [x] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(j)(4) and 0-11. 1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: 2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: 3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11: Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined. 4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: 5) Fee previously paid: [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. 1) Amount Previously Paid 2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: 3) Filing Party: 4) Date Filed: MORGAN STANLEY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST MORGAN STANLEY INCOME SECURITIES INC. MORGAN STANLEY MUNICIPAL INCOME OPPORTUNITIES TRUST NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD DECEMBER 15, 2004 Annual Meetings of Shareholders ("Meeting(s)") of MORGAN STANLEY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST, MORGAN STANLEY INCOME SECURITIES INC. and MORGAN STANLEY MUNICIPAL INCOME OPPORTUNITIES TRUST (individually, a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds"), two unincorporated business trusts organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and one corporation organized under the laws of Maryland, will be held jointly in the North Conference Room, 5th Floor, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020, on December 15, 2004 at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, for the following purposes: 1. For MORGAN STANLEY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST and MORGAN STANLEY MUNICIPAL INCOME OPPORTUNITIES TRUST, to elect two Trustees to serve until the year 2007 Annual Meeting of each Fund; and for MORGAN STANLEY INCOME SECURITIES INC., to elect nine Directors to serve until the year 2005 Annual Meeting, or in each case, until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. 2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meetings or any adjournments thereof. Shareholders of record of each Fund as of the close of business on October 28, 2004 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting. If you cannot be present in person, your management would greatly appreciate your filling in, signing and returning the enclosed proxy promptly in the envelope provided for that purpose. Alternatively, if you are eligible to vote telephonically by touchtone telephone or electronically on the Internet (as discussed in the enclosed Proxy Statement) you may do so in lieu of attending the Meeting in person. In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote required to approve or reject any proposal is not obtained at the Meeting, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the applicable Fund's shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournment those proxies which have been received by the date of the Meeting. MARY E. MULLIN Secretary November 10, 2004 New York, New York IMPORTANT YOU CAN HELP AVOID THE NECESSITY AND EXPENSE OF SENDING FOLLOW-UP LETTERS TO ENSURE A QUORUM BY PROMPTLY RETURNING THE ENCLOSED PROXY. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON, PLEASE FILL IN, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN ORDER THAT THE NECESSARY QUORUM MAY BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING. THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. SHAREHOLDERS WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE TELEPHONICALLY BY TOUCHTONE TELEPHONE OR ELECTRONICALLY ON THE INTERNET BY FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED ON THEIR PROXY CARDS OR ON THE ENCLOSED VOTING INFORMATION CARD. MORGAN STANLEY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST MORGAN STANLEY INCOME SECURITIES INC. MORGAN STANLEY MUNICIPAL INCOME OPPORTUNITIES TRUST 1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020 -------------------- JOINT PROXY STATEMENT -------------------- ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS DECEMBER 15, 2004 This statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Boards of Trustees/ Directors (the "Board(s)") of MORGAN STANLEY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST ("GVT"), MORGAN STANLEY INCOME SECURITIES INC. ("ICB") and MORGAN STANLEY MUNICIPAL INCOME OPPORTUNITIES TRUST ("OIA") (individually, a "Fund" and, collectively, the "Funds") for use at the Annual Meetings of Shareholders of the Funds to be held jointly on December 15, 2004 (the "Meeting(s)"), and at any adjournments thereof. The first mailing of this Proxy Statement is expected to be made on or about November 11, 2004. If the enclosed form of proxy is properly executed and returned in time to be voted at the Meetings, the proxies named therein will vote the shares/stock ("Shares") represented by the proxy in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. Unmarked proxies will be voted for each of the nominees for election as Trustee/Director to be elected by shareholders with respect to each Fund set forth in the attached Notice of Annual Meetings of Shareholders. A proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by any of the following: written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Funds, execution and delivery of a later dated proxy to the Secretary of the Funds (whether by mail or, as discussed below, by touchtone telephone or the Internet) (if returned and received in time to be voted), or attendance and voting at the Meetings. Attendance at the Meetings will not in and of itself revoke a proxy. Shareholders of record ("Shareholders") of each Fund as of the close of business on October 28, 2004, the record date for the determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meetings (the "Record Date"), are entitled to one vote for each share held and a fractional vote for a fractional share. On the Record Date, there were outstanding 33,932,975 shares of beneficial interest of GVT, 10,548,220 shares of common stock of ICB and 20,085,080 shares of beneficial interest of OIA outstanding, all with $0.01 par value. No person was known to own as much as 5% of the outstanding shares of any of the Funds on that date. The percentage ownership of shares of each Fund changes from time to time depending on purchases and sales by Shareholders and the total number of shares outstanding. The cost of soliciting proxies for the Meeting of each Fund, consisting principally of printing and mailing expenses, will be borne by each respective Fund. The solicitation of proxies will be by mail, which may be supplemented by solicitation by mail, telephone or otherwise through Trustees/Directors, officers of the Funds, or officers and regular employees of Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. ("Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors" or the "Investment Adviser"), Morgan Stanley Trust (the "Transfer Agent"), Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. ("Morgan Stanley Services") and/or Morgan Stanley DW Inc. ("Morgan Stanley DW"), without special compensation therefor. In addition, each Fund may employ Alamo Direct Mail Services Inc. ("Alamo") to make telephone calls to Shareholders to remind them to vote. Each Fund may employ Alamo or D.F. King & Co., Inc. ("D.F. King") as proxy solicitor if it appears that the required number of votes to achieve a quorum will not be received. In the event of a solicitation by Alamo or D.F. King, each Fund would pay the solicitor a project management fee not to exceed $3,000 and the expenses outlined below. 2 Shareholders will be able to vote their shares by touchtone telephone or by Internet by following the instructions on the proxy card or on the Voting Information Card accompanying this Proxy Statement. To vote by touchtone telephone or by Internet, Shareholders can access the website or call the toll-free number listed on the proxy card or noted in the enclosed voting instructions. To vote by touchtone telephone or by Internet, Shareholders will need the number that appears on the proxy card in the shaded box. In certain instances, the Transfer Agent, Alamo and/or D.F. King may call Shareholders to ask if they would be willing to have their votes recorded by telephone. The telephone voting procedure is designed to authenticate Shareholders' identities, to allow Shareholders to authorize the voting of their shares in accordance with their instructions and to confirm that their instructions have been recorded properly. No recommendation will be made as to how a Shareholder should vote on any proposal other than to refer to the recommendations of the Board. The Funds have been advised by counsel that these procedures are consistent with the requirements of applicable law. Shareholders voting by telephone in this manner will be asked for their social security number or other identifying information and will be given an opportunity to authorize proxies to vote their shares in accordance with their instructions. To ensure that the Shareholders' instructions have been recorded correctly they will receive a confirmation of their instructions in the mail. A special toll-free number set forth in the confirmation will be available in case the information contained in the confirmation is incorrect. Although a Shareholder's vote may be taken by telephone, each Shareholder will receive a copy of this Proxy Statement and may vote by mail using the enclosed proxy card or by touchtone telephone or the Internet as set forth above. The last proxy vote received in time to be voted, whether by proxy card, touchtone telephone or Internet, will be the vote that is counted and will revoke all previous votes by the Shareholder. With respect to reminder calls by Alamo, expenses would be approximately $1.00 per outbound telephone contact. With respect to the solicitation of a telephonic vote by Alamo or D.F. King, approximate additional expenses range between $3.75 and $6.00 per telephone vote transacted, $2.75 and $3.25 per outbound or inbound telephone contact and costs relating to obtaining Shareholders' telephone numbers and providing additional materials upon Shareholder request, which would be borne by each respective Fund. This Joint Proxy Statement is being used in order to reduce the preparation, printing, handling and postage expenses that would result from the use of a separate proxy statement for each Fund and, because Shareholders may own shares of more than one Fund, to potentially avoid burdening Shareholders with more than one proxy statement. Shares of a Fund are entitled to one vote each at the respective Fund's Meeting. To the extent information relating to common ownership is available to the Funds, a Shareholder that owns record shares in two or more of the Funds will receive a package containing a Joint Proxy Statement and Proxy Cards for the Funds in which such Shareholder is a record owner. If the information relating to common ownership is not available to the Funds, a Shareholder that beneficially owns shares in two or more Funds may receive two or more packages each containing a Joint Proxy Statement and a Proxy Card for each Fund in which such Shareholder is a beneficial owner. If the proposed election of Trustees/Directors is approved by Shareholders of one Fund and disapproved by Shareholders of other Funds, the proposal will be implemented for the Fund that approved the proposal and will not be implemented for any Fund that did not approve the proposal. Thus, it is essential that Shareholders complete, date, sign and return each enclosed Proxy Card or vote by touchtone telephone or Internet as indicated in each Fund's Proxy Card. Only one copy of this Proxy Statement will be delivered to multiple Shareholders sharing an address unless we have received contrary instructions from one or more of the Shareholders. Upon written or oral request, we will deliver a separate copy of this Proxy Statement to a Shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of this Proxy Statement was delivered and provide instructions as to how a Shareholder can notify us that they wish to receive a separate copy of our Proxy Statement. Should any Shareholder wish to receive a separate Proxy Statement or should Shareholders sharing an address wish to receive a single Proxy Statement in the future, please contact (800) 869-NEWS (toll-free). 3 ELECTION OF TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS FOR EACH FUND The number of Trustees/Directors of each Fund has been fixed by the Trustees/Directors, pursuant to each Fund's Declaration of Trust or Articles of Incorporation, at nine. There are presently nine Trustees/Directors for each Fund. At the Meetings, the following nominees are to be elected to each Fund's Board of Trustees/Directors to serve for the following terms, in accordance with each Fund's Declaration of Trust or Articles of Incorporation, as set forth below: ICB -- GVT, OIA Until the year 2005 Until the year 2007 Annual Meeting Annual Meeting ------------------------------------ ----------------------- Edwin J. Garn Michael Bozic Michael E. Nugent Charles A. Fiumefreddo Edwin J. Garn Wayne E. Hedien James F. Higgins Manuel H. Johnson Joseph J. Kearns Michael E. Nugent Fergus Reid Seven of the current nine Trustees/Directors (Michael Bozic, Edwin J. Garn, Wayne E. Hedien, Manuel H. Johnson, Joseph J. Kearns, Michael E. Nugent and Fergus Reid) are "Independent Trustees" or "Independent Directors," that is, Trustees or Directors who are not "interested persons" of the Funds, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). The other two current Trustees/Directors, Charles A. Fiumefreddo and James F. Higgins, are "Interested Trustees/Directors," that is, Trustees/Directors who are "interested persons" (as that term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Funds and Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors and thus, are not Independent Trustees or Independent Directors. The nominees for election as Trustee or Director have been proposed by the Trustees or Directors now serving, or in the case of the nominees for positions as Independent Trustee or Independent Director, by the Independent Trustees or Independent Directors now serving. All of the members of the Boards have previously been elected by the Shareholders of the Funds. The nominees of the Boards of Trustees/Directors for election as Trustee/Director are listed below. It is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, unless instructed by proxy to withhold authority to vote for the nominees, to vote all validly executed proxies for the election of these nominees: for GVT and OIA--Edwin J. Garn and Michael E. Nugent; for ICB--Michael Bozic, Charles A. Fiumefreddo, Edwin J. Garn, Wayne E. Hedien, James F. Higgins, Manuel H. Johnson, Joseph J. Kearns, Michael E. Nugent and Fergus Reid. Should any of the nominees become unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election, the persons named in the proxy will exercise their voting power in favor of such person or persons as the Boards may recommend or, in the case of an Independent Trustee/Director nominee, as the Independent Trustees/ Directors of each Fund may recommend. All of the nominees have consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. The Funds know of no reason why any of the said nominees would be unable or unwilling to accept nomination or election. With respect to each Fund, the election of each Trustee/Director requires the approval of a majority of the shares of the Fund represented and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Pursuant to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of each of GVT and OIA, in certain cases as amended, the Trustees are divided into three separate classes, each class having a term of three years. The term of office of one of each of the three classes will expire each year. 4 The Boards of GVT and OIA previously determined that any nominee for election as Trustee for each Fund will stand for election as Trustee and serve as Trustee in one of the three classes of Trustees as follows: Class I--Messrs. Bozic, Fiumefreddo and Higgins; Class II--Messrs. Hedien, Johnson, Kearns and Reid; and Class III--Messrs. Garn and Nugent. Any nominee will, if elected, serve a term of up to approximately three years running for the period assigned to that class and terminating at the date of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders so designated by the Boards, or any adjournments thereof. As a consequence of this method of election, the replacement of a majority of each of the Boards could be delayed for up to two years. In accordance with the above, the Class III Trustees for GVT and OIA are standing for election at this Meeting and, if elected, will serve until the year 2007 Annual Meeting for each Fund as set forth above or, in each case, until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. Pursuant to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of ICB, the terms of office of each Director will expire each year. Therefore, all of the Directors of the Fund, if elected, will serve until the year 2005 Annual Meeting of ICB, or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The Board of each Fund consists of nine trustees/directors. These same individuals also serve as directors or trustees for all of the funds advised by the Investment Adviser (the "Retail Funds") and certain of the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP (the "Institutional Funds"). The table below sets forth the following information as of October 28, 2004, regarding the nominees for election as Trustee/Director, as well as the executive officers of the Funds, and each of their age, address, term of office and length of time served, their principal business occupations during the past five years, the number of portfolios in the Fund Complex (defined below) overseen by each Trustee/Director or nominee Trustee/Director, and other directorships, if any, held by the Trustees/Directors. 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 advisor that is an affiliated person of the Investment Adviser (including, but not limited to, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc). 5 INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS IN FUND COMPLEX POSITION(S) LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OVERSEEN NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS OF HELD WITH TIME OCCUPATION(S) DURING BY TRUSTEE/ OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR THE FUNDS SERVED* PAST 5 YEARS DIRECTOR BY TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR ------------------------------- -------------- ------------ ---------------------------- -------------- ------------------------- Michael Bozic (63) Trustee/ Since Private Investor; Director or 208 Director of Weirton Steel c/o Kramer Levin Director April 1994 Trustee of the Retail Funds Corporation. Naftalis & Frankel LLP (since April 1994) and the Counsel to the Institutional Funds (since Independent July 2003); formerly Vice Trustees/Directors Chairman of Kmart Corporation 919 Third Avenue (December 1998-October 2000), New York, NY 10022-3902 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); formerly variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck & Co. Edwin J. Garn (72) Trustee/ Since Managing Director of Summit 208 Director of Franklin c/o Summit Ventures LLC Director January 1993 Ventures LLC; Director or Covey (time management One Utah Center Trustee of the Retail Funds systems), BMW Bank of 201 South Main Street (since January 1993) and the North America, Inc. Salt Lake City, UT 84111-2215 Institutional Funds (since (industrial loan July 2003); member of the Utah corporation), United Regional Advisory Board of Space Alliance (joint Pacific Corp., formerly United venture between Lockheed States Senator (R-Utah) Martin and the Boeing (1974-1992) and Chairman, Company) and Nuskin Senate Banking Committee Asia Pacific (multilevel (1980-1986), Mayor of Salt marketing); member of the Lake City, Utah (1971-1974), board of various civic and Astronaut, Space Shuttle charitable organizations. Discovery (April 12-19, 1985), and Vice Chairman, Huntsman Corporation (chemical company). Wayne E. Hedien (70) Trustee/ Since Retired; Director or 208 Director of The PMI c/o Kramer Levin Director September Trustee of the Retail Funds Group Inc. (private Naftalis & Frankel LLP 1997 (since September 1997) and the mortgage insurance); Counsel to the Institutional Funds (since Trustee and Vice Independent July 2003); formerly Chairman of The Field Trustees/Directors associated with the Allstate Museum of Natural 919 Third Avenue Companies (1966-1994), most History; director of New York, NY 10022-3902 recently as Chairman of The various other business and Allstate Corporation (March charitable organizations. 1993-December 1994) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Allstate Insurance Company (July 1989-December 1994). ---------- * The dates referenced below indicating commencement of service as Trustee/Director for the Retail and Institutional Funds reflect the earliest date the Trustee/Director began serving the Retail or Institutional Funds, as applicable. 6 NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS IN FUND COMPLEX POSITION(S) LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OVERSEEN NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS OF HELD WITH TIME OCCUPATION(S) DURING BY TRUSTEE/ OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD INDEPENDENT TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR THE FUNDS SERVED* PAST 5 YEARS DIRECTOR BY TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR ---------------------------- ------------- -------------- -------------------------------- ------------ ------------------------ Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (55) Trustee/ Since Senior Partner, Johnson Smick 208 Director of NVR, Inc. c/o Johnson Smick Director Inception of International, Inc., a (home construction); International, Inc. the Trusts consulting firm; Chairman of Chairman and Trustee of 2099 Pennsylvania Avenue the Audit Committee and the Financial Accounting N.W. Director or Trustee of the Foundation (oversight Suite 950 Retail Funds (since July 1991) organization of the Washington, D.C. 20006 and the Institutional Funds Financial Accounting (since July 2003); Co-Chairman Standards Board); and a founder of the Group of Director of RBS Seven Council (G7C), an Greenwich Capital international economic Holdings (financial commission; formerly Vice holding company). Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. Joseph J. Kearns (62) Trustee/ Since President, Kearns & 209 Director of Electro Rent c/o Kearns & Associates LLC Director July 2003 Associates LLC (investment Corporation (equipment PMB754 consulting); Deputy Chairman leasing), The Ford Family 23852 Pacific Coast of the Audit Committee and Foundation, and the Highway Director or Trustee of the UCLA Foundation. Malibu, CA 90265 Retail Funds (since July 2003) and the Institutional Funds (since August 1994); previously Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Institutional Funds (October 2001-July 2003); formerly CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. Michael E. Nugent (68) Trustee/ Since General Partner of Triumph 208 Director of various c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. Director Inception of Capital, L.P., a private business organizations. 445 Park Avenue the Trusts investment partnership; New York, NY 10022 Chairman of the Insurance Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 1991) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2001); formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and BT Capital Corporation (1984-1988). Fergus Reid (72) Trustee/ Since July Chairman of Lumelite Plastics 209 Trustee and Director of c/o Lumelite Plastics Director 2003 Corporation; Chairman of the certain investment Corporation Governance Committee and companies in the 85 Charles Colman Blvd. Director or Trustee of the JPMorgan Funds complex Pawling, NY 12564 Retail Funds (since July 2003) managed by J.P. Morgan and the Institutional Funds Investment Management (since June 1992). Inc. ---------- * The dates referenced below indicating commencement of service as Trustee/Director for the Retail and Institutional Funds reflect the earliest date the Trustee/Director began serving the Retail or Institutional Funds, as applicable. 7 INTERESTED TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS IN FUND COMPLEX POSITION(S) LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OVERSEEN NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS OF HELD WITH TIME OCCUPATION(S) DURING BY TRUSTEE/ OTHER DIRECTORSHIPS HELD MANAGEMENT TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR THE FUNDS SERVED* PAST 5 YEARS DIRECTOR BY TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR ------------------------------ -------------- ------------- -------------------------- -------------- -------------------------- Charles A. Fiumefreddo (71) Chairman of Since Chairman and Director or 208 None. c/o Morgan Stanley Trust the Board Inception of Trustee of the Retail Funds Harborside Financial Center, and Trustee/ the Trusts (since July 1991) and the Plaza Two, Director Institutional Funds (since Jersey City, NJ 07311 July 2003); formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Retail Funds (until September 2002). James F. Higgins (56) Trustee/ Since June Director or Trustee of the 208 Director of AXA c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Director 2000 Retail Funds (since June 2000) Financial, Inc. and The Harborside Financial Center, and the Institutional Funds Equitable Life Assurance Plaza Two, (since July 2003); Senior Society of the United Jersey City, NJ 07311 Advisor of Morgan Stanley States (financial (since August 2000); Director services). of the Distributor and Dean Witter Realty Inc.; previously President and Chief Operating Officer of the Private Client Group of Morgan Stanley (May 1999-August 2000), and President and Chief Operating Officer of Individual Securities of Morgan Stanley (February 1997-May 1999). ---------- * The dates referenced below indicating commencement of service as Trustee/Director for the Retail and Institutional Funds reflect the earliest date the Trustee/Director began serving the Retail or Institutional Funds, as applicable. 8 OFFICERS OF THE FUNDS POSITION(S) NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS OF HELD WITH LENGTH OF PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) EXECUTIVE OFFICER THE FUNDS TIME SERVED* DURING PAST 5 YEARS ----------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ Mitchell M. Merin (51) President Since May 1999 President and Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley 1221 Avenue of the Americas Investment Management Inc.; President, Director and New York, NY 10020 Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Adviser and Morgan Stanley Services; Chairman and Director of the Distributor; Chairman and Director of the Transfer Agent; Director of various Morgan Stanley subsidiaries; President of the Institutional Funds (since July 2003) and President of the Retail Funds (since May 1999); Trustee (since July 2003) and President (since December 2002) of the Van Kampen Closed-End Funds; Trustee (since May 1999) and President (since October 2002) of the Van Kampen Open-End Funds. Barry Fink (49) Vice President Since February 1997 General Counsel (since May 2000) and Managing Director 1221 Avenue of the Americas (since December 2000) of Morgan Stanley Investment New York, NY 10020 Management; Managing Director (since December 2000), Secretary (since February 1997) and Director (since July 1998) of the Investment Adviser and Morgan Stanley Services; Assistant Secretary of Morgan Stanley DW; Vice President of the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Vice President of the Retail Funds; Managing Director, Secretary and Director of the Distributor; previously Secretary (February 1997-July 2003) and General Counsel (February 1997-April 2004) of the Retail Funds; Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of the Investment Adviser and Morgan Stanley Services (February 1997-December 2001). Ronald E. Robison (65) Executive Vice Since April 2003 Principal Executive Officer -- Office of the Funds 1221 Avenue of the Americas President and (since November 2003); Managing Director of Morgan New York, NY 10020 Principal Executive Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Morgan Stanley Investment Officer Management Inc. and Morgan Stanley; Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of the Investment Adviser and Morgan Stanley Services; Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Transfer Agent; Managing Director and Director of the Distributor; Executive Vice President and Principal Executive Officer of the Institutional Funds (since July 2003) and the Retail Funds (since April 2003); Director of Morgan Stanley SICAV (since May 2004); previously President and Director of the Retail Funds (March 2001-July 2003) and Chief Global Operations Officer and Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. Joseph J. McAlinden (61) Vice President Since July 1995 Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of the 1221 Avenue of the Americas Investment Adviser and Morgan Stanley Investment New York, NY 10020 Management Inc.; Director of the Transfer Agent; Chief Investment Officer of the Van Kampen Funds; Vice President of the Institutional Funds (since July 2003) and the Retail Funds (since July 1995). ---------- * The dates referenced below indicating commencement of service as an Officer for the Retail and Institutional Funds reflect the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail or Institutional Funds, as 9 POSITION(S) NAME, AGE AND ADDRESS OF HELD WITH LENGTH OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER THE FUNDS TIME SERVED* PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST 5 YEARS ------------------------------ --------------- ---------------- -------------------------------------------------------- Amy R. Doberman (42) Vice President Since July 2004 Managing Director and General Counsel, U.S. Investment 1221 Avenue of the Americas Management; Managing Director of Morgan Stanley New York, NY 10020 Investment Management Inc. and the Investment Adviser, Vice President of the Institutional and Retail Funds (since July 2004); Vice President of the Van Kampen Funds; previously, Managing Director and General Counsel -- Americas, UBS Global Asset Management (July 2000-July 2004) and General Counsel, Aeltus Investment Management, Inc. (January 1997-July 2000). Stefanie V. Chang (38) Vice President Since July 2003 Executive Director of Morgan Stanley & Co, Incorporated, 1221 Avenue of the Americas Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and the New York, NY 10020 Investment Adviser; Vice President of the Institutional Funds (since December 1997) and the Retail Funds (since July 2003); formerly practiced law with the New York law firm of Rogers & Wells (now Clifford Chance US LLP). Francis J. Smith (39) Treasurer and Treasurer since Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and Morgan c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Chief Financial July 2003 and Chief Stanley Services (since December 2001); previously, Vice Harborside Financial Center, Officer Financial Officer President of the Retail Funds (September 2002-July 2003); Plaza Two, since September 2002 Vice President of the Investment Adviser and Morgan Jersey City, NJ 07311 Stanley Services (August 2000-November 2001) and Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (January 1998-August 2000). Thomas F. Caloia (58) Vice President Since July 2003 Executive Director (since December 2002) and Assistant c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Treasurer of the Investment Adviser, the Distributor and Harborside Financial Center, Morgan Stanley Services; previously, Treasurer of the Retail Plaza Two, Funds (April 1989-July 2003); First Vice President of the Jersey City, NJ 07311 Investment Manager, the Distributor and Morgan Stanley Services. Mary E. Mullin (37) Secretary Since July 2003 Executive Director of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, 1221 Avenue of the Americas Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and the New York, NY 10020 Investment Adviser; Secretary of the Institutional Funds (since June 1999) and the Retail Funds (since July 2003); formerly practiced law with the New York law firms of McDermott, Will & Emery and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. ---------- * The dates referenced below indicating commencement of service as an Officer for the Retail and Institutional Funds reflect the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail or Institutional Funds, as applicable 10 For each Trustee/Director, the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Trustees in the Funds and in the Family of Investment Companies (Family of Investment Companies includes all of the registered investment companies advised by the Investment Adviser, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP) as of October 28, 2004 is shown below. AGGREGATE DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN ALL REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES OVERSEEN DOLLAR RANGE OF EQUITY SECURITIES IN THE FUNDS BY TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR IN FAMILY OF INVESTMENT NAME OF TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR (AS OF OCTOBER 28, 2004) COMPANIES (AS OF OCTOBER 28, 2004) -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------- INDEPENDENT: Michael Bozic None over $100,000 Edwin J. Garn None over $100,000 Wayne E. Hedien None over $100,000 Dr. Manuel H. Johnson None over $100,000 Joseph J. Kearns(1) None over $100,000 Michael E. Nugent None over $100,000 Fergus Reid(1) None over $100,000 INTERESTED: Charles A. Fiumefreddo None over $100,000 James F. Higgins None over $100,000 ---------- (1) Includes the total amount of compensation deferred by the Trustee/Director at his election pursuant to a deferred compensation plan. Such deferred compensation is placed in a deferral account and deemed to be invested in one or more of the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds (or portfolio thereof) that are offered as investment options under the plan. As of December 31, 2003, Messrs. Kearns and Reid had deferred a total of $430,361 and $600,512, respectively, pursuant to the deferred compensation plan. As to each Independent Trustee/Director and his immediate family members, no person owned beneficially or of record securities in an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds, or a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with an investment adviser or principal underwriter of the Funds as of the record date. THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS AND THE COMMITTEES Law and regulation establish both general guidelines and specific duties for the Independent Trustees/ Directors. Seven Trustees/Directors have no affiliation or business connection with Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors or any of its affiliated persons and do not own stock or other securities issued by Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors' parent company, Morgan Stanley. These are the "disinterested" or "independent" Trustees/Directors. The Retail Funds seek as Independent Trustees/Directors individuals of distinction and experience in business and finance, government service or academia; these are people whose advice and counsel are in demand by others and for whom there is often competition. To accept a position on the Retail Funds' Boards, such individuals may reject other attractive assignments because the Retail Funds make substantial demands on their time. All of the Independent Trustees/Directors serve as members of the Audit Committee. In addition, three Trustees/Directors, including two Independent Trustees/Directors, serve as members of the Insurance Committee, and three Independent Trustees/Directors serve as members of the Governance Committee. The Independent Trustees/Directors are charged with recommending to the full Board approval of management, advisory and administration contracts, and distribution and underwriting agreements; continually reviewing Fund performance; checking on the pricing of portfolio securities, brokerage commissions, transfer agent costs and performance, and trading among funds in the same complex; and approving fidelity bond and related insurance coverage and allocations, as well as other matters that arise from time to time. 11 The Board of Trustees/Directors of each Fund has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Audit Committee is charged with recommending to the full Board the engagement or discharge of the Funds' independent registered public accounting firm; directing investigations into matters within the scope of the independent registered public accounting firm's duties, including the power to retain outside specialists; reviewing with the independent registered public accounting firm the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement; approving professional services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm and other accounting firms prior to the performance of such services; reviewing the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm; considering the range of audit and non-audit fees; reviewing the adequacy of each Fund's system of internal controls; and preparing and submitting Committee meeting minutes to the full Board. Each Fund has adopted a formal, written Audit Committee Charter. The members of the Audit Committee of each Fund are currently Michael Bozic, Edwin J. Garn, Wayne E. Hedien, Dr. Manuel H. Johnson, Joseph J. Kearns, Michael E. Nugent and Fergus Reid. None of the members of the Funds' Audit Committees is an "interested person," as defined under the 1940 Act, of any of the Funds (with such disinterested Trustees/Directors being "Independent Trustees/Directors" or individually, "Independent Trustee/Director"). Each Independent Trustee/Director is also "independent" from each Fund under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (NYSE). The current Chairman of the Audit Committees of all of the Funds is Dr. Manuel H. Johnson. The Board of Trustees/Directors of each Fund has adopted a formal written charter for the Audit Committee which sets forth the Audit Committee's responsibilities. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is attached to this Proxy Statement as Appendix A. The Board of Trustees/Directors of each Fund also has a Governance Committee. The Governance Committee identifies individuals qualified to serve as Independent Trustees/Directors on each Fund's Board and on committees of such Board and recommends such qualified individuals for nomination by the Funds' Independent Trustees/Directors as candidates for election as Independent Trustees/Directors, advises each Fund's Board with respect to Board composition, procedures and committees, develops and recommends to each Fund's Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Funds, monitors and makes recommendations on corporate governance matters and policies and procedures of the Funds' Board of Trustees/Directors and any Board committees and oversees periodic evaluations of the Funds' Board and its committees. The members of the Governance Committee of each Fund are currently Michael Bozic, Edwin J. Garn and Fergus Reid, each of whom is an Independent Trustee/Director. The current Chairman of the Governance Committees of all of the Funds is Fergus Reid. None of the Funds has a separate nominating committee. While each Fund's Governance Committee recommends qualified candidates for nominations as Independent Trustees/Directors, the Board of Trustees of each Fund believes that the task of nominating prospective Independent Trustees/Directors is important enough to require the participation of all current Independent Trustees/Directors, rather than a separate committee consisting of only certain Independent Trustees/Directors. Accordingly, each current Independent Trustee/Director (Michael Bozic, Edwin J. Garn, Wayne E. Hedien, Dr. Manuel H. Johnson, Joseph J. Kearns, Michael E. Nugent and Fergus Reid, for all Funds) participates in the election and nomination of candidates for election as Independent Trustees/Directors for the respective Funds for which the Independent Trustee/ Director serves. Persons recommended by each Fund's Governance Committee as candidates for nomination as Independent Trustees/Directors shall possess such knowledge, experience, skills, expertise and diversity so as to enhance the Board's ability to manage and direct the affairs and business of the Funds, including, when applicable, to enhance the ability of committees of the Board to fulfill their duties and/or to satisfy any independence requirements imposed by law, regulation or any listing requirements of the NYSE. While the Independent Trustees/Directors of each of the Funds expect to be able to continue to identify from their own 12 resources an ample number of qualified candidates for each Fund's Board as they deem appropriate, they will consider nominations from Shareholders to the Board. Nominations from Shareholders should be in writing and sent to the Independent Trustees/Directors as described below. Finally, the Boards have formed an Insurance Committee to review and monitor the insurance coverage maintained by the Funds. The Insurance Committee currently consists of Messrs. Nugent, Fiumefreddo and Hedien. The Derivative Committee was eliminated as of July 31, 2003. The following chart sets forth the number of meetings of the Board, the Independent Trustees/Directors, the Audit Committee, the Insurance Committee and the Governance Committee of each Fund during its most recent fiscal year. For the 2004 fiscal year, each Trustee/Director attended at least seventy-five percent of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and any committee on which he served held during the time such Trustee/Director was a member of the Board. NUMBER OF RETAIL BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS HELD DURING LAST FISCAL YEAR COMMITTEE RETAIL OF THE BOARD OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/ TRUSTEES/ AUDIT INSURANCE GOVERNANCE FISCAL DIRECTORS DIRECTORS COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE NAME OF FUND YEAR-END MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS -------------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- GVT .......... 9/30/04 27 5 9 6 1 ICB .......... 9/30/04 27 5 9 6 1 OIA .......... 5/31/04 14 7 8 5 1 For annual or special shareholder meetings, Trustees/Directors may but are not required to attend the meetings; and for each Fund's last annual shareholder meeting, no Trustees/Directors attended the meeting. AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT At a meeting held on October 28, 2004 (GVT and ICB) and a meeting held on April 21, 2004 (OIA), the Board of Trustees/Directors of each Fund, including a majority of the Trustees/Directors who are not "interested persons," as defined under the 1940 Act, of the Fund acting on the recommendation of the Audit Committee of each Fund, selected Deloitte & Touche LLP to act as the independent registered public accounting firm for each Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 (GVT and ICB) and May 31, 2005 (OIA). The Audit Committee of each Fund has reviewed and discussed the financial statements of each Fund with management as well as with Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm for each Fund. In the course of its discussions, the Audit Committee also discussed with Deloitte & Touche LLP any relevant matters required to be discussed under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61. Based on this review, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Trustees/Directors of each Fund that each Fund's audited financial statements be included in each Fund's Annual Report to Shareholders for the most recent fiscal year for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 13 The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP required under Independence Standards Board No. 1 and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm their independence. The Audit Committee Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (Chairman) Joseph J. Kearns (Deputy Chairman) Michael Bozic Edwin J. Garn Wayne E. Hedien Michael E. Nugent Fergus Reid Representatives from Deloitte & Touche LLP are not expected to be present at the Meetings. Shareholders will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and the representatives from Deloitte & Touche LLP are expected to be available by telephone to respond to appropriate questions. ADVANTAGES OF HAVING SAME INDIVIDUALS AS INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS FOR THE RETAIL FUNDS AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS The Independent Trustees/Directors and the funds' management believe that having the same Independent Trustees for each of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds avoids the duplication of effort that would arise from having different groups of individuals serving as Independent Trustees/Directors for each of the Funds or even of sub-groups of Funds. They believe that having the same individuals serve as Independent Trustees/Directors of all the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds tends to increase their knowledge and expertise regarding matters which affect the Fund Complex generally and enhances their ability to negotiate on behalf of each Fund with the Fund's service providers. This arrangement also precludes the possibility of separate groups of Independent Trustees/Directors arriving at conflicting decisions regarding operations and management of the Funds and avoids the cost and confusion that would likely ensue. Finally, having the same Independent Trustees/Directors serve on all fund boards enhances the ability of each Fund to obtain, at modest cost to each separate Fund, the services of Independent Trustees/Directors of the caliber, experience and business acumen of the individuals who serve as Independent Trustees/Directors of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds. SHAREHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS. Shareholders may send communications to each Fund's Board of Trustees/ Directors. Shareholders should send communications intended for each Fund's Board by addressing the communications directly to that Board (or individual Board members) and/or otherwise clearly indicating in the salutation that the communication is for the Board (or individual Board members) and by sending the communication to either the Fund's office or directly to such Board member(s) at the address specified for each Trustee/Director previously noted. Other shareholder communications received by the Fund not directly addressed and sent to the Boards will be reviewed and generally responded to by management, and will be forwarded to the Board only at the management's discretion based on the matters contained therein. SHARE OWNERSHIP BY TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS The Trustees/Directors have adopted a policy pursuant to which each Trustee/Director and/or his or her spouse is required to invest at least $100,000 in any of the funds in the Morgan Stanley Retail and Institutional Funds on whose boards the Trustee/Director serves. In addition, the policy contemplates that the Trustees/ 14 Directors will, over time, increase their aggregate investment in the funds above the $100,000 minimum requirement. The Trustees/Directors may allocate their investments among specific funds in any manner they determine is appropriate based on their individual investment objectives. Any future Trustee/Director will be given a one year period following his or her election within which to comply with the foregoing. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, each Trustee/Director is in compliance with the policy. As of September 30, 2004, the total value of the investments by the Trustees/Directors and/or their spouses in shares of the Morgan Stanley Retail Funds and Institutional Funds was approximately $32 million. This amount includes compensation deferred by the Trustee/Director at his election pursuant to a deferred compensation plan. Such deferred compensation is placed in a deferral account and deemed to be invested in one or more of the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds (or portfolio thereof) that are offered as investment options under the plan. As of the Record Date for these Meetings, the aggregate number of shares of each Fund owned by the Funds' officers and Trustees/Directors as a group was less than one percent of each Fund's outstanding shares. SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires that each Fund's executive officers and Trustees/Directors, and beneficial owners of more than 10% of its shares, make certain filings on a timely basis under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. Based solely on a review of copies of such reports of ownership furnished to the Funds, the Funds believe that during the past fiscal year all of its officers, Trustees/Directors and greater than 10% beneficial holders complied with all applicable filing requirements. COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS Effective August 1, 2003, each Independent Trustee/Director receives an annual retainer fee of $168,000 for serving the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds. In addition, each Independent Trustee/Director receives $2,000 for attending each of the four quarterly board meetings and two performance meetings that occur each year, so that an Independent Trustee/Director who attended all six meetings would receive total compensation of $180,000 for serving the Funds. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual retainer fee of $60,000. Other Committee Chairmen and the Deputy Chairman of the Audit Committee receive an additional annual retainer fee of $30,000. The aggregate compensation paid to each Independent Trustee/ Director is paid by the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds and is allocated on a pro rata basis among each of the operational funds/portfolios of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds based on the relative net assets of each of the funds/portfolios of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds. Mr. Fiumefreddo receives an annual fee for his services as Chairman of the Boards of the Retail Funds and the Institutional Funds and for administrative services provided to each Board. The Funds also reimburse the Trustees/Directors for travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with attending such meetings. Trustees/Directors and Officers of the Funds who are or have been employed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliated company receive no compensation or expense reimbursement from the Funds for their services as Trustee/Director or Officer. Prior to August 1, 2003, the Funds paid each Independent Trustee/Director an annual fee of $800 plus a per meeting fee of $50 for meetings of the Board of Trustees/Directors, the Independent Trustees/Directors or Committees of the Board of Trustees/Directors attended by the Trustee/Director (the Funds paid the Chairman of the Audit Committee an additional annual fee of $750 and the Chairmen of the Derivatives and Insurance Committees additional annual fees of $500). If a Board meeting and a meeting of the Independent Trustees/Directors or a Committee meeting (except an Audit Committee meeting), or a meeting of the Independent Trustees/Directors and/or more than one Committee meeting (except an Audit Committee meeting), took place on a single day, the Trustees/Directors were paid a single meeting fee by the Funds. 15 Effective April 1, 2004, the Funds began an unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan (the "DC Plan"), which allows each Independent Trustee/Director to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Trustees/Directors throughout the year. Each eligible Trustee/Director generally may elect to have the deferred amounts credited with a return equal to the total return on one or more of the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds (or portfolios thereof) that are offered as investment options under the DC Plan. At the Trustee/Director's election, distributions are either in one lump sum payment, or in the form of equal annual installments over a period of five years. The rights of an eligible Trustee/Director and the beneficiaries to the amounts held under the DC Plan are unsecured and such amounts are subject to the claims of the creditors of the Funds. Prior to April 1, 2004, the Institutional Funds maintained a similar Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Prior DC Plan"), which also allowed each Independent Trustee/Director to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she received for serving on the Board of Trustees/Directors throughout the year. The DC Plan amends and supersedes the Prior DC Plan and all amounts payable under the Prior DC Plan are now subject to the terms of the DC Plan (except for amounts due to be paid during the calendar year 2004 which will remain subject to the terms of the Prior DC Plan). The following tables illustrate the compensation that the Funds paid to its Trustees/Directors for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 (GVT and ICB) and May 31, 2004 (OIA). Messrs. Kearns and Reid began serving as Trustees/Directors of the Funds on July 31, 2003. FUND COMPENSATION NAME OF TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR GVT ICB OIA ------------------------------------- ------- ------- -------- Michael Bozic(1)(3) ................. $434 $225 $ 295 Charles A. Fiumefreddo*(2) .......... 434 225 1,311 Edwin J. Garn(1)(3) ................. 434 225 295 Wayne E. Hedien(1)(2) ............... 579 305 245 James F. Higgins* ................... 0 0 0 Dr. Manuel H. Johnson(1) ............ 505 270 421 Joseph J. Kearns(1)(4) .............. 506 265 210 Michael E. Nugent(1)(2) ............. 506 265 368 Fergus Reid(1)(3) ................... 871 481 210 ---------- (*) Messrs. Fiumefreddo and Higgins are deemed to be "interested persons" of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. (1) Member of the Audit Committee. Dr. Johnson is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and Mr. Kearns is the Deputy Chairman of the Audit Committee. (2) Member of the Insurance Committee. Mr. Nugent is the Chairman of the Insurance Committee. (3) Member of the Governance Committee. Mr. Reid is the Chairman of the Governance Committee. (4) Includes $183 (GVT) and $101 (ICB) of compensation deferred at the election of the Trustees/Directors under the DC Plan. The following table shows aggregate compensation paid to each of the Funds' Trustees/Directors by the Fund Complex (which includes all of the Retail and Institutional Funds) for the calendar year ended December 31, 2003. Because the funds in the Fund Complex have different fiscal year ends, the amounts shown in this table are presented on a calendar-year basis. Messrs. Bozic, Fiumefreddo, Garn, Hedien, Johnson and Higgins began serving as Trustees/Directors of the Institutional Funds on July 31, 2003 and served as Trustees/Directors of the Retail Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 2003. Messrs. Kearns and Reid began serving as Trustees/Directors of the Retail Funds on July 31, 2003 and served as Trustees/Directors 16 of the Institutional Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 2003. Mr. Nugent served as Trustee/Director of both the Institutional Funds and the Retail Funds during the calendar year ended December 31, 2003. CASH COMPENSATION FROM FUND COMPLEX NUMBER OF PORTFOLIOS TOTAL COMPENSATION IN THE FUND COMPLEX FROM THE FUND FROM WHICH THE TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR COMPLEX PAYABLE NAME OF TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR RECEIVED COMPENSATION TO TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS -------------------------------- --------------------------------- ---------------------- Michael Bozic .................. 208 $164,400 Charles A. Fiumefreddo ......... 208 360,000 Edwin J. Garn .................. 208 164,400 Wayne E. Hedien ................ 208 164,300 James F. Higgins ............... 208 0 Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .......... 208 228,213 Joseph J. Kearns(1) ............ 209 166,710 Michael E. Nugent .............. 208 277,441 Fergus Reid(1) ................. 209 149,299 ---------- (1) Includes amounts deferred at the election of the Trustees/Directors under the Prior DC Plan. The total amounts of deferred compensation (including interest) payable or accrued by Messrs. Kearns and Reid are $430,361 and $600,512, respectively. Prior to December 31, 2003, 49 of the Retail Funds (the "Adopting Funds"), including the Funds, had adopted a retirement program under which an Independent Trustee/Director who retired after serving for at least five years as an Independent Trustee/Director of any such fund (an "Eligible Trustee/Director") would have been entitled to retirement payments based on factors such as length of service, upon reaching the eligible retirement age. On December 31, 2003, the amount of accrued retirement benefits for each Eligible Trustee/Director was frozen, and will be payable, together with a return of 8% per annum, at or following each such Eligible Trustee/Director's retirement as shown in the table below. The following tables illustrate the retirement benefits accrued to the Funds' Independent Trustees/Directors by the Funds for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 (GVT and ICB) and May 31, 2004 (OIA) and by the 49 Morgan Stanley Retail Funds for the calendar year ended December 31, 2003, and the estimated retirement benefits for the Independent Trustees, to commence upon their retirement from the Funds as of each Fund's last fiscal year and from the 49 Morgan Stanley Retail Funds as of December 31, 2003. Messrs. Kearns and Reid do not participate in the retirement program. RETIREMENT BENEFITS ACCRUED AS EXPENSES --------------------------------------------- BY BY BY BY ALL NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS GVT ICB OIA ADOPTING FUNDS ---------------------------------------- ------- ------- ------- --------------- Michael Bozic .......................... $416 $416 $422 $19,842 Edwin J. Garn .......................... 626 626 680 35,306 Wayne E. Hedien ........................ 828 828 815 38,649 Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .................. 407 407 410 20,125 Michael E. Nugent ...................... 725 725 739 36,265 17 ESTIMATED ANNUAL BENEFITS UPON RETIREMENT(1) ------------------------------------------------ FROM FROM FROM FROM ALL NAME OF INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS GVT ICB OIA ADOPTING FUNDS ---------------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- --------------- Michael Bozic .......................... $ 997 $ 997 $ 997 $47,838 Edwin J. Garn .......................... 990 990 984 47,877 Wayne E. Hedien ........................ 853 853 843 40,839 Dr. Manuel H. Johnson .................. 1,451 1,451 1,451 70,050 Michael E. Nugent ...................... 1,299 1,299 1,299 62,646 ---------- (1) Total compensation accrued under the retirement plan, together with a return of 8% per annum, will be paid annually commencing upon retirement and continuing for the remainder of the Trustee's/Director's life. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS OF EACH FUND UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE TRUSTEES/DIRECTORS NOMINATED FOR ELECTION. THE INVESTMENT ADVISER Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors serves as each Fund's investment adviser pursuant to investment advisory agreements. Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors maintains its offices at 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020. Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, a preeminent global financial services firm that maintains leading market positions in each of its three primary businesses--securities, asset management and credit services. The Principal Executive Officer and Directors of Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors are Mitchell M. Merin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ronald E. Robison, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer and Barry Fink, Managing Director and Secretary. The principal occupations of Messrs. Merin, Robison and Fink are described under the section "Election of Trustees." The business address of the Executive Officer and other Directors is 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020. Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors' wholly-owned subsidiary, Morgan Stanley Services, pursuant to an Administration Agreement, serves as the Administrator of each Fund. Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors and Morgan Stanley Services, serve in various investment management, advisory, management and administrative capacities to investment companies and pension plans and other institutional and individual investors. The address of Morgan Stanley Services is that of Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors set forth above. Morgan Stanley has its offices at 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036. Morgan Stanley is a full service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, as well as providing investment banking, research and analyses, financing and financial advisory services. There are various lawsuits pending against Morgan Stanley involving material amounts which, in the opinion of its management, will be resolved with no material effect on the consolidated financial position of the company. FEES PAID TO INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM AUDIT FEES The aggregate fees for professional services billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with the annual audit and review of financial statements of GVT and ICB for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2004, and in connection with the annual audit and review of financial statements of OIA for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2003 and May 31, 2004 are set forth below. 18 2003 2004 ---------- ---------- GVT .......... $27,560 $30,116 ICB .......... $27,560 $30,116 OIA .......... $27,560 $28,990 AUDIT-RELATED FEES The aggregate audit-related fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP related to the annual audit of each Fund's financial statements for their respective fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2004 (GVT and ICB) and May 31, 2003 and May 31, 2004 (OIA) for the translation of financial statements for data verification and agreed-upon procedures related to asset securitizations and agreed-upon procedures engagements are set forth below. 2003 2004 --------- ------- GVT .......... $ 684 $452 ICB .......... $ 684 $452 OIA .......... $1,341 $452 TAX FEES The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for each Fund for their respective fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2004 (GVT and ICB) and May 31, 2003 and May 31, 2004 (OIA), which represent fees paid for the review of the Federal, state and local tax returns for each Fund are set forth below. 2003 2004 --------- --------- GVT .......... $4,346 $4,455 ICB .......... $4,876 $4,998 OIA .......... $4,463 $4,134 ALL OTHER FEES There were no fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for any other products and services not set forth above for each Fund for the respective fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2004 (GVT and ICB) and May 31, 2003 and May 31, 2004 (OIA). AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL Each Fund's Audit Committee's policy is to review and pre-approve all auditing and non-auditing services to be provided to the Fund by the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee Audit and Non-Audit Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures requires each Fund's Audit Committee to either generally pre-approve certain services without consideration of specific case-by-case services or requires the specific pre-approval of services by the Audit Committee or its delegate. Under the Policy, unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee if it is to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. Any services that are generally pre-approved may require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee if the services exceed pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts. All of the audit, audit-related and tax services described above for which Deloitte & Touche LLP billed each of the Funds' fees for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2004 (GVT and ICB) and May 31, 2004 (OIA) were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. 19 AGGREGATE NON-AUDIT FEES PAID BY THE INVESTMENT ADVISER AND AFFILIATED ENTITIES The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Deloitte & Touche LLP for all other services provided to the Investment Adviser and to any entities controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Investment Adviser for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and 2004 amounted to approximately $1.34 million and $5.61 million, respectively and for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2003 and 2004 amounted to $3.35 million and $4.02 million, respectively. Such services for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2004 and for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2003 and 2004 included: (i) audit-related fees of approximately $1.09 million, $5.07 million, $2.62 million and $3.36 million, respectively, for the issuance of a report under Statement on Accounting Standards No. 70 titled "Reports on the Processing of Transactions by Service Organizations" and (ii) all other fees for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2003, September 30, 2004, May 31, 2003 and May 31, 2004 of approximately $253,000, $545,000, $726,000 and $653,000, respectively, related to services such as performance attestation, operational control reviews and the provision of educational seminars. The Audit Committee of each Fund has considered whether the provision of non-audit services and the provision of services to affiliates of the Investment Adviser is compatible with maintaining the independence of Deloitte & Touche LLP. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION In the event that the necessary quorum to transact business or the vote required to approve or reject any proposal for any Fund is not obtained at the Meetings, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting of the applicable Fund to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the applicable Fund's shares present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. The persons named as proxies will vote in favor of such adjournment those proxies which have been received by the date of the Meeting. Abstentions and broker "non-votes" will not count in favor of or against any such vote for adjournment. Abstentions and, if applicable, broker "non-votes" will not count as votes in favor of any of the proposals, and broker "non-votes" will not be deemed to be present at the Meeting of any Fund for purposes of determining whether a particular proposal to be voted upon has been approved. Broker "non-votes" are shares held in street name for which the broker indicates that instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or other persons entitled to vote and for which the broker does not have discretionary voting authority. SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS Proposals of security holders intended to be presented at the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders of each respective Fund must be received no later than July 12, 2005 for GVT, ICB and OIA, for inclusion in the proxy statement and proxy for that meeting. The mere submission of a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion in the proxy materials or its presentation at the meeting. Certain rules under the federal securities laws must be met. REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS EACH FUND'S MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT, AND IN THE CASE OF GVT AND ICB, THE MOST RECENT SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT SUCCEEDING THE ANNUAL REPORT, HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY SENT TO SHAREHOLDERS AND ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST FROM NINA WESSEL AT MORGAN STANLEY TRUST, HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER, PLAZA TWO, 2ND FLOOR, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07311 (TELEPHONE 1-800-869-NEWS) (TOLL-FREE). 20 INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors, Morgan Stanley DW, Morgan Stanley Services, and certain of their respective Directors, Officers, and employees, including persons who are Trustees/Directors or Officers of the Funds, may be deemed to have an interest in certain of the proposals described in this Proxy Statement to the extent that certain of such companies and their affiliates have contractual and other arrangements, described elsewhere in this Joint Proxy Statement, pursuant to which they are paid fees by the Funds, and certain of those individuals are compensated for performing services relating to the Funds and may also own shares of Morgan Stanley. Such companies and persons may thus be deemed to derive benefits from the approvals by Shareholders of such proposals. OTHER BUSINESS The management of the Funds knows of no other matters which may be presented at the Meetings. However, if any matters not now known properly come before the Meetings, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy, or their substitutes, to vote all shares that they are entitled to vote on any such matter, utilizing such proxy in accordance with their best judgment on such matters. By Order of the Boards of Trustees/Directors MARY E. MULLIN Secretary 21 APPENDIX A CHARTER OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE MORGAN STANLEY FUNDS The Board of Directors/Trustees (the "Board") of each fund advised or managed by Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. or Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (each, a "Fund," collectively, the "Funds") has adopted and approved this charter for the audit committee of each Fund (the "Audit Committee"). 1. Structure and Membership Requirements: 1.01 The Audit Committee shall consist of at least three "independent" directors/trustees. "Independent" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Standard 303.01(2) and (3). 1.02 Each member of the Audit Committee shall not be an "interested person" of the Funds, as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. 1.03 Each member of the Audit Committee shall be "financially literate," as such term is interpreted by the Fund's Board in its business judgment, or must become financially literate within a reasonable period of time after his or her appointment to the Audit Committee. 1.04 At least one member of the Audit Committee must have accounting or related financial management expertise, as such qualification is interpreted by the Fund's Board in its business judgment. 2. Meetings: 2.01 The Audit Committee shall meet at least twice each calendar year. 3. Duties and Powers: 3.01 Each Fund's outside auditor is ultimately accountable to the Audit Committee and to the Board. The Audit Committee, subject to the Board's approval and oversight, has the authority and responsibility, to select, evaluate and, where appropriate, replace the outside auditor. To the extent required by law, this includes nominating the selected outside auditor to be considered for approval or ratification by shareholders at their next annual meeting. 3.02 The Audit Committee shall approve the scope of professional services to be provided to the Funds by the outside auditor. 3.03 The Audit Committee shall review with the outside auditor the audit plan and results of the auditing engagement. 3.04 The Audit Committee shall review the independence of the outside auditor, including: (a) ensuring that the outside auditor submits to the Audit Committee, at least annually, a letter delineating all relationships between the auditor and the Funds; (b) engaging in a dialogue with the outside auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services that may impact the objectivity and independence of the outside auditor; and A-1 (c) recommending the Board take action in response to the outside auditor's report of any of the relationships discussed in (b) above, to the extent necessary and appropriate for the Audit Committee to satisfy itself of the outside auditor's independence. 3.05 The Audit Committee shall oversee any other aspects of the Funds' audit process as it deems necessary and appropriate. 3.06 The Audit Committee is empowered to review the Funds' system of internal controls. 3.07 The Audit Committee shall have the resources and authority as it deems appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to retain special counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the appropriate Fund(s). 4. Review of Charter: 4.01 The Audit Committee shall review and assess the adequacy of this charter annually. 4.02 Any changes to the charter must be recommended by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board. A-2 APPENDIX B JOINT GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHARTER OF THE MORGAN STANLEY RETAIL AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS AS ADOPTED ON JULY 31, 2003 AND AS AMENDED ON APRIL 22, 2004 B-1 1. MISSION STATEMENT The Governance Committee (the "Governance Committee") is a committee of the Board of Trustees/Directors (referred to herein as the "Trustees" and collectively as the "Board") of each Fund listed in the attached Exhibit A1-. The purpose of the Governance Committee is to: (1) evaluate the suitability of potential candidates for election to the Board and recommend candidates for nomination by the Independent Trustees (as defined below); (2) develop and recommend to the Board a set of corporate governance principles applicable to the Fund, monitor corporate governance matters and make recommendations to the Board and act as the administrative committee with respect to Board policies and procedures, and committee policies and procedures; and (3) oversee periodic evaluations of the Board and any committees of the Board. 2. COMPOSITION The Governance Committee shall be comprised of three or more Trustees of the Board. Governance Committee members shall be designated by the full Board, and the manner of selection of the Governance Committee chair shall also be designated by the full Board. Each member of the Governance Committee shall be an independent director or trustee. A person shall be considered to be independent if he or she: (a) is independent as defined in New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Standard 303.01 (2) and (3); (b) is a "disinterested person" as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and (c) does not accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from any of the Funds or their investment advisor or any affiliated person of the advisor, other than fees from the Funds for serving as a member of the Funds' Boards or Committees of the Boards. Such independent directors or trustees are referred to herein as the "Independent Trustees." 3. MEETING OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE The Governance Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure, which shall be consistent with the Fund's organizational documents and this Governance Committee Charter. The Governance Committee shall meet at such times as may be determined as appropriate by the Committee. The Governance Committee, in its discretion, may ask Trustees, members of management or others, whose advice and counsel are sought by the Governance Committee, to attend its meetings (or portions thereof) and to provide such pertinent information as the Governance Committee requests. The Governance Committee shall cause to be maintained minutes of all meetings and records to those meetings and provide copies of such minutes to the Board and the Fund. 4. AUTHORITY The Governance Committee shall have the authority to carry out its duties and responsibilities as set forth in this Governance Committee Charter. ---------- 1 This Joint Governance Committee Charter has been adopted by each Fund. Solely for the sake of clarity and simplicity, this Joint Governance Committee Charter has been drafted as if there is a single Fund, a single Governance Committee and a single Board. The terms "Governance Committee," "Trustees" and "Board" mean the Governance Committee, Trustees and the Board of each Fund, respectively, unless the context otherwise requires. The Governance Committee, Trustees and the Board of each Fund, however, shall act separately and in the best interests of its respective Fund. B-2 5. GOALS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE In carrying out its duties and responsibilities, the Governance Committee's policies and procedures will remain flexible, so that it may be in a position to react or respond to changing circumstances or conditions. The following are the duties and responsibilities of the Governance Committee: a. Board Candidates and Nominees The Governance Committee shall have the following goals and responsibilities with respect to Board candidates and nominees: i. evaluate the suitability of potential trustee/director candidates proposed by Trustees, shareholders or others; ii. recommend, for nomination by the Independent Trustees, candidates for election as an Independent Trustee by the shareholders or appointment by the Board, as the case may be, pursuant to the Fund's organizational documents. Persons recommended by the Governance Committee shall possess such knowledge, experience, skills, expertise and diversity so as to enhance the Board's ability to manage and direct the affairs and business of the Fund, including, when applicable, to enhance the ability of committees of the Board to fulfill their duties and/or to satisfy any independence requirements imposed by law, regulation or any listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") as applicable to the Fund; and iii. review the suitability for continued service as a trustee/director of each Independent Trustee when his or her term expires and at such other times as the Governance Committee deems necessary or appropriate, and to recommend whether or not the Independent Trustee should be re-nominated by the Independent Trustees. b. Corporate Governance The Governance Committee shall have the following goals and principles with respect to Board corporate governance: i. monitor corporate governance principles for the Fund, which shall be consistent with any applicable laws, regulations and listing standards, considering, but not limited to, the following: (1) trustee/director qualification standards to reflect the independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended ("SOX") and the rules thereunder, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("the 1940 Act"), and the NYSE; (2) trustee/director duties and responsibilities; (3) trustee/director access to management, and, as necessary and appropriate, independent advisers; and (4) trustee/director orientation and continuing education; ii. review periodically the corporate governance principles adopted by the Board to assure that they are appropriate for the Fund and comply with the requirements of SOX, the 1940 Act and the NYSE, and to recommend any desirable changes to the Board; B-3 iii. consider other corporate governance issues that arise from time to time, and to develop appropriate recommendations for the Board; and c. Periodic Evaluations The Governance Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the evaluation of the Board as a whole and each Committee. The Governance Committee shall establish procedures to allow it to exercise this oversight function. In conducting this review, the Governance Committee shall evaluate whether the Board appropriately addresses the matters that are or should be within its scope pursuant to the set of corporate governance principles adopted by the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee shall address matters that the Governance Committee considers relevant to the Board's performance, including at least the following: the adequacy, appropriateness and quality of the information and recommendations presented by management of the Fund to the Board, and whether the number and length of meetings of the Board were adequate for the Board to complete its work in a thorough and thoughtful manner. The Governance Committee shall report to the Board on the results of its evaluation, including any recommended changes to the principles of corporate governance, and any recommended changes to the Fund's or the Board's or a Committee's policies or procedures. This report may be written or oral. 6. EVALUATION OF THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE The Governance Committee shall, on an annual basis, evaluate its performance under this Joint Governance Committee Charter. In conducting this review, the Governance Committee shall evaluate whether this Joint Governance Committee Charter appropriately addresses the matters that are or should be within its scope. The Governance Committee shall address matters that the Governance Committee considers relevant to its performance, including at least the following: the adequacy, appropriateness and quality of the information and recommendations presented by the Governance Committee to the Board, and whether the number and length of meetings of the Governance Committee were adequate for the Governance Committee to complete its work in a thorough and thoughtful manner. The Governance Committee shall report to the Board on the results of its evaluation, including any recommended amendments to this Joint Governance Committee Charter, and any recommended changes to the Fund's or the Board's policies or procedures. This report may be written or oral. 7. INVESTIGATIONS AND STUDIES; OUTSIDE ADVISERS The Governance Committee may conduct or authorize investigations into or studies of matters within the Governance Committee's scope of responsibilities, and may retain, at the Fund's expense, such independent counsel or other advisers as it deems necessary. B-4 EXHIBIT A FUND LIST MORGAN STANLEY RETAIL AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS AT OCTOBER 28, 2004 RETAIL FUNDS OPEN-END RETAIL FUNDS TAXABLE MONEY MARKET FUNDS 1. Active Assets Government Securities Trust ("AA Government") 2. Active Assets Institutional Government Securities Trust ("AA Institutional Government") 3. Active Assets Institutional Money Trust ("AA Institutional Money") 4. Active Assets Money Trust ("AA Money") 5. Morgan Stanley Liquid Asset Fund Inc. ("Liquid Asset") 6. Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Money Market Trust ("Government Money") TAX-EXEMPT MONEY MARKET FUNDS 7. Active Assets California Tax-Free Trust ("AA California") 8. Active Assets Tax-Free Trust ("AA Tax-Free") 9. Morgan Stanley California Tax-Free Daily Income Trust ("California Tax-Free Daily") 10. Morgan Stanley New York Municipal Money Market Trust ("New York Money") 11. Morgan Stanley Tax-Free Daily Income Trust ("Tax-Free Daily") EQUITY FUNDS 12. Morgan Stanley Aggressive Equity Fund ("Aggressive Equity")* 13. Morgan Stanley Allocator Fund ("Allocator Fund")* 14. Morgan Stanley American Opportunities Fund ("American Opportunities")* 15. Morgan Stanley Biotechnology Fund ("Biotechnology Fund")* 16. Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust ("Capital Opportunities")* 17. Morgan Stanley Developing Growth Securities Trust ("Developing Growth")* 18. Morgan Stanley Dividend Growth Securities Inc. ("Dividend Growth")* 19. Morgan Stanley European Growth Fund Inc. ("European Growth")* 20. Morgan Stanley Financial Services Trust ("Financial Services")* 21. Morgan Stanley Fund of Funds ("Fund of Funds")* o Domestic Portfolio 22. Morgan Stanley Fundamental Value Fund ("Fundamental Value")* 23. Morgan Stanley Global Advantage Fund ("Global Advantage")* 24. Morgan Stanley Global Dividend Growth Securities ("Global Dividend Growth")* 25. Morgan Stanley Global Utilities Fund ("Global Utilities")* 26. Morgan Stanley Growth Fund ("Growth Fund")* 27. Morgan Stanley Health Sciences Trust ("Health Sciences")* 28. Morgan Stanley Income Builder Fund ("Income Builder")* B-5 29. Morgan Stanley Information Fund ("Information Fund")* 30. Morgan Stanley International Fund ("International Fund")* 31. Morgan Stanley International SmallCap Fund ("International SmallCap")* 32. Morgan Stanley International Value Equity Fund ("International Value")* 33. Morgan Stanley Japan Fund ("Japan Fund")* 34. Morgan Stanley KLD Social Index Fund ("KLD Social Index")* 35. Morgan Stanley Mid-Cap Value Fund ("Mid-Cap Value")* 36. Morgan Stanley Nasdaq-100 Index Fund ("Nasdaq-100")* 37. Morgan Stanley Natural Resource Development Securities Inc. ("Natural Resource")* 38. Morgan Stanley Pacific Growth Fund Inc. ("Pacific Growth")* 39. Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund ("Real Estate")* 40. Morgan Stanley Small-Mid Special Value Fund ("Small-Mid Special Value")* 41. Morgan Stanley S&P 500 Index Fund ("S&P 500 Index")* 42. Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund ("Small Cap Growth")* 43. Morgan Stanley Special Value Fund ("Special Value")* 44. Morgan Stanley Total Market Index Fund ("Total Market Index")* 45. Morgan Stanley Total Return Trust ("Total Return")* 46. Morgan Stanley Utilities Fund ("Utilities Fund")* 47. Morgan Stanley Value-Added Market Series ("Value Added")* 48. Morgan Stanley Value Fund ("Value Fund")* BALANCED FUNDS 49. Morgan Stanley Balanced Growth Fund ("Balanced Growth") 50. Morgan Stanley Balanced Income Fund ("Balanced Income") ASSET ALLOCATION FUND 51. Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund ("Strategist Fund") TAXABLE FIXED-INCOME FUNDS 52. Morgan Stanley Convertible Securities Trust ("Convertible Securities")* 53. Morgan Stanley Federal Securities Trust ("Federal Securities")* 54. Morgan Stanley Flexible Income Trust ("Flexible Income")* 55. Morgan Stanley High Yield Securities Inc ("High Yield Securities") 56. Morgan Stanley Limited Duration Fund ("Limited Duration Fund") 57. Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Treasury Trust ("Limited Duration Treasury") 58. Morgan Stanley Quality Income Securities ("Quality Income")* 59. Morgan Stanley Total Return Income Securities Fund ("Total Return Income")* 60. Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Securities Trust ("Government Securities")* TAX-EXEMPT FIXED-INCOME FUNDS 61. Morgan Stanley California Tax-Free Income Fund ("California Tax-Free")* 62. Morgan Stanley Limited Term Municipal Trust ("Limited Term Municipal") 63. Morgan Stanley New York Tax-Free Income Fund ("New York Tax-Free")* 64. Morgan Stanley Tax-Exempt Securities Trust ("Tax-Exempt Securities")* SPECIAL PURPOSE FUNDS 65. Morgan Stanley Select Dimensions Investment Series ("Select Dimensions") o American Opportunities Portfolio B-6 o Balanced Growth Portfolio o Capital Opportunities Portfolio o Developing Growth Portfolio o Dividend Growth Portfolio o Flexible Income Portfolio o Global Equity Portfolio o Growth Portfolio o Money Market Portfolio o Utilities Portfolio o Value-Added Portfolio 66. Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series ("Variable Investment") o Aggressive Equity Portfolio o Dividend Growth Portfolio o Equity Portfolio o European Growth Portfolio o Global Advantage Portfolio o Global Dividend Growth Portfolio o High Yield Portfolio o Income Builder Portfolio o Information Portfolio o Limited Duration Portfolio o Money Market Portfolio o Quality Income Plus Portfolio o S&P 500 Index Portfolio o Strategist Portfolio o Utilities Portfolio *- Denotes Retail Multi-Class Fund CLOSED-END RETAIL FUNDS TAXABLE FIXED-INCOME CLOSED-END FUNDS 67. Morgan Stanley Government Income Trust ("Government Income") 68. Morgan Stanley Income Securities Inc. ("Income Securities") 69. Morgan Stanley Prime Income Trust ("Prime Income") TAX-EXEMPT FIXED-INCOME CLOSED-END FUNDS 70. Morgan Stanley California Insured Municipal Income Trust ("California Insured Municipal") 71. Morgan Stanley California Quality Municipal Securities ("California Quality Municipal") 72. Morgan Stanley Insured California Municipal Securities ("Insured California Securities") 73. Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Bond Trust ("Insured Municipal Bond") 74. Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust ("Insured Municipal Income") 75. Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Securities ("Insured Municipal Securities") 76. Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Trust ("Insured Municipal Trust") 77. Morgan Stanley Municipal Income Opportunities Trust ("Municipal Opportunities") 78. Morgan Stanley Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II ("Municipal Opportunities II") 79. Morgan Stanley Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III ("Municipal Opportunities III") 80. Morgan Stanley Municipal Premium Income Trust ("Municipal Premium") B-7 81. Morgan Stanley New York Quality Municipal Securities ("New York Quality Municipal") 82. Morgan Stanley Quality Municipal Income Trust ("Quality Municipal Income") 83. Morgan Stanley Quality Municipal Investment Trust ("Quality Municipal Investment") 84. Morgan Stanley Quality Municipal Securities ("Quality Municipal Securities") INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS OPEN-END INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS 1. Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. ("Institutional Fund Inc.") Active Portfolios: o Active International Allocation Portfolio o Emerging Markets Portfolio o Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio o Equity Growth Portfolio o European Real Estate Portfolio o Focus Equity Portfolio o Global Franchise Portfolio o Global Value Equity Portfolio o International Equity Portfolio o International Magnum Portfolio o International Small Cap Portfolio o Money Market Portfolio o Municipal Money Market Portfolio o Small Company Growth Portfolio o U.S. Real Estate Portfolio o Value Equity Portfolio Inactive Portfolios: o Asian Equity Portfolio o China Growth Portfolio o Gold Portfolio o Micro-Cap Portfolio o Mortgage Backed Securities Portfolio o Municipal Bond Portfolio o U.S. Equity Portfolio 2. Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust ("Institutional Fund Trust") Active Portfolios: o Advisory Foreign Fixed Income Portfolio o Advisory Foreign Fixed Income II Portfolio o Advisory Mortgage Portfolio o Balanced Portfolio o Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio o Equity Portfolio o Investment Grade Fixed Income Portfolio o High Yield Portfolio B-8 o Intermediate Duration Portfolio o International Fixed Income Portfolio o Limited Duration Portfolio o Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio o Municipal Portfolio o U.S. Core Fixed Income Portfolio o U.S. Small-Cap Value Portfolio o U.S. Mid-Cap Value Portfolio o Value Portfolio Inactive Portfolios: o Balanced Plus Portfolio o Growth Portfolio o New York Municipal Portfolio o Targeted Duration Portfolio o Value II Portfolio 3. The Universal Institutional Funds, Inc. ("Universal Funds") Active Portfolios: o Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio o Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio o Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio o Equity and Income Portfolio o Equity Growth Portfolio o Global Franchise Portfolio o Global Value Equity Portfolio o High Yield Portfolio o International Magnum Portfolio o Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio o Money Market Portfolio o Small Company Growth Portfolio o Technology Portfolio o U.S. Mid-Cap Core Portfolio o U.S. Real Estate Portfolio o Value Portfolio Inactive Portfolios: o Asian Equity Portfolio o Balanced Portfolio o Capital Preservation Portfolio o Core Equity Portfolio o International Fixed Income Portfolio o Investment Grade Fixed Income Portfolio o Latin American Portfolio o Multi-Asset Class Portfolio o Targeted Duration Portfolio B-9 4. Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds ("Liquidity Funds") Active Portfolios: o Money Market Portfolio o Prime Portfolio o Tax-Exempt Portfolio Inactive Portfolios: o Government Portfolio o Government Securities Portfolio o Treasury Portfolio o Treasury Securities Portfolio CLOSED-END INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS 5. Morgan Stanley Asia-Pacific Fund, Inc. ("Asia-Pacific Fund") 6. Morgan Stanley Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. ("Eastern Europe") 7. Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund, Inc. ("Emerging Markets Debt") 8. Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Fund, Inc. ("Emerging Markets Fund") 9. Morgan Stanley Global Opportunity Bond Fund, Inc. ("Global Opportunity") 10. Morgan Stanley High Yield Fund, Inc. ("High Yield Fund") 11. The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc. ("Latin American Discovery") 12. The Malaysia Fund, Inc. ("Malaysia Fund") 13. The Thai Fund, Inc. ("Thai Fund") 14. The Turkish Investment Fund, Inc. ("Turkish Investment") CLOSED-END HEDGE FUND 15. Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund of Hedge Funds ("Fund of Hedge Funds") B-10 EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT YOUR PROXY VOTE IS IMPORTANT! AND NOW YOU CAN VOTE YOUR PROXY ON THE PHONE OR THE INTERNET. IT SAVES MONEY! TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING SAVES POSTAGE COSTS. SAVINGS WHICH CAN HELP MINIMIZE FUND EXPENSES. IT SAVES TIME! TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING IS INSTANTANEOUS - 24 HOURS A DAY. IT'S EASY! JUST FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS: 1. READ YOUR PROXY STATEMENT AND HAVE IT AT HAND. 2. CALL TOLL-FREE 1-866-241-6192 OR GO TO WEBSITE: HTTPS://VOTE.PROXY-DIRECT.COM 3. FOLLOW THE RECORDED OR ON-SCREEN DIRECTIONS. 4. DO NOT MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD WHEN YOU VOTE BY PHONE OR INTERNET. Please detach at perforation before mailing. PROXY MORGAN STANLEY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST PROXY ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD DECEMBER 15, 2004 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The undersigned hereby appoints Stefanie V. Chang Yu, Barry Fink, and Joseph J. McAlinden, or any of them, proxies, each with the power of substitution, to vote on behalf of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the above mentioned fund on December 15, 2004 in the North Conference Room, 5th Floor, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, New York 10020 at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, and at any adjournment thereof, on the proposal set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting dated November 10, 2004 as follows: THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE TRUSTEES SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: HTTPS://VOTE.PROXY-DIRECT.COM VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-241-6192 -------------------------------------- 999 9999 9999 999 -------------------------------------- NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. All joint owners should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a minor, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name and indicate the signer's office. If a partner, sign in the partnership name. -------------------------------------- Signature -------------------------------------- Signature (if held jointly) -------------------------------------- Date 14667_MSC_A (Please see reverse side) EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT YOUR PROXY VOTE IS IMPORTANT! AND NOW YOU CAN VOTE YOUR PROXY ON THE PHONE OR THE INTERNET. IT SAVES MONEY! TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING SAVES POSTAGE COSTS. SAVINGS WHICH CAN HELP MINIMIZE FUND EXPENSES. IT SAVES TIME! TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING IS INSTANTANEOUS - 24 HOURS A DAY. IT'S EASY! JUST FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS: 1. READ YOUR PROXY STATEMENT AND HAVE IT AT HAND. 2. CALL TOLL-FREE 1-866-241-6192 OR GO TO WEBSITE: HTTPS://VOTE.PROXY-DIRECT.COM 3. FOLLOW THE RECORDED OR ON-SCREEN DIRECTIONS. 4. DO NOT MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD WHEN YOU VOTE BY PHONE OR INTERNET. Please detach at perforation before mailing. PROXY MORGAN STANLEY MUNICIPAL INCOME OPPORTUNITIES TRUST PROXY ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD DECEMBER 15, 2004 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The undersigned hereby appoints Stefanie V. Chang Yu, Barry Fink, and Joseph J. McAlinden, or any of them, proxies, each with the power of substitution, to vote on behalf of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the above mentioned fund on December 15, 2004 in the North Conference Room, 5th Floor, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, New York 10020 at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, and at any adjournment thereof, on the proposal set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting dated November 10, 2004 as follows: THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE TRUSTEES SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: HTTPS://VOTE.PROXY-DIRECT.COM VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-241-6192 -------------------------------------- 999 9999 9999 999 -------------------------------------- NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. All joint owners should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a minor, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name and indicate the signer's office. If a partner, sign in the partnership name. -------------------------------------- Signature -------------------------------------- Signature (if held jointly) -------------------------------------- Date 14667_MSC_B (Please see reverse side) PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY TODAY Please detach at perforation before mailing. TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS CARD. YOU ALSO MAY VOTE A PROXY BY TOUCH-TONE PHONE OR BY INTERNET (SEE ENCLOSED VOTING INFORMATION CARD FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS). PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE: [X] FOR ALL FOR WITHHOLD EXCEPT 1. Election of two (2) Trustees: [ ] [ ] [ ] 01. Edwin J. Garn 02. Michael E. Nugent To withhold authority to vote for any nominee(s) mark "For All Except" and write the nominee number(s) on the line provided: ------------------------------------------------ 14667_MSC_A-C YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD TODAY EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT YOUR PROXY VOTE IS IMPORTANT! AND NOW YOU CAN VOTE YOUR PROXY ON THE PHONE OR THE INTERNET. IT SAVES MONEY! TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING SAVES POSTAGE COSTS. SAVINGS WHICH CAN HELP MINIMIZE FUND EXPENSES. IT SAVES TIME! TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING IS INSTANTANEOUS - 24 HOURS A DAY. IT'S EASY! JUST FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS: 1. READ YOUR PROXY STATEMENT AND HAVE IT AT HAND. 2. CALL TOLL-FREE 1-866-241-6192 OR GO TO WEBSITE: HTTPS://VOTE.PROXY-DIRECT.COM 3. FOLLOW THE RECORDED OR ON-SCREEN DIRECTIONS. 4. DO NOT MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD WHEN YOU VOTE BY PHONE OR INTERNET. Please detach at perforation before mailing. PROXY MORGAN STANLEY INCOME SECURITIES INC. PROXY ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD DECEMBER 15, 2004 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints Stefanie V. Chang Yu, Barry Fink, and Joseph J. McAlinden, or any of them, proxies, each with the power of substitution, to vote on behalf of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the above mentioned fund on December 15, 2004 in the North Conference Room, 5th Floor, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York City, New York 10020 at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, and at any adjournment thereof, on the proposal set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting dated November 10, 2004 as follows: THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" THE DIRECTORS SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF AND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: HTTPS://VOTE.PROXY-DIRECT.COM VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-241-6192 -------------------------------------- 999 9999 9999 999 -------------------------------------- NOTE: Please sign exactly as your name appears on this proxy card. All joint owners should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian or as custodian for a minor, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name and indicate the signer's office. If a partner, sign in the partnership name. -------------------------------------- Signature -------------------------------------- Signature (if held jointly) -------------------------------------- Date 14667_MSC_D (Please see reverse side) EVERY SHAREHOLDER'S VOTE IS IMPORTANT PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY TODAY Please detach at perforation before mailing. TO VOTE BY MAIL, PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS CARD. YOU ALSO MAY VOTE A PROXY BY TOUCH-TONE PHONE OR BY INTERNET (SEE ENCLOSED VOTING INFORMATION CARD FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS). PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE: [X] FOR ALL FOR WITHHOLD EXCEPT 1. Election of nine (9) Directors: 01. Michael Bozic 02. Charles A. Fiumefreddo 03. Edwin J. Garn 04. Wayne E. Hedien 05. James F. Higgins 06. Manuel H. Johnson [ ] [ ] [ ] 07. Joseph J. Kearns 08. Michael E. Nugent 09. Fergus Reid To withhold authority to vote for any nominee(s) mark "For All Except" and write the nominee number(s) on the line provided: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14667_MSC_D YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD TODAY