N-CSR 1 file1.htm FORM N-CSR

 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-07377

 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
(Address of principal executive offices)

10036        
(Zip code)        


Ronald E. Robison
522 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10036
(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 212-296-6990

Date of fiscal year end: November 30, 2007

Date of reporting period: November 30, 2007

Item 1 - Report to Shareholders

 
 

 

 



Welcome, Shareholder:

In this report, you’ll learn about how your investment in Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust performed during the annual period. We will provide an overview of the market conditions, and discuss some of the factors that affected performance during the reporting period. In addition, this report includes the Fund’s financial statements and a list of Fund investments.

This material must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus for the fund being offered.
Market forecasts provided in this report may not necessarily come to pass. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that market values of securities owned by the Fund will decline and, therefore, the value of the Fund’s shares may be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Fund. Please see the prospectus for more complete information on investment risks.




Fund Report
For the year ended November 30, 2007

Total Return for the 12 Months Ended November 30, 2007


Class A Class B Class C Class D Russell
3000®
Growth
Index1
Lipper
Multi-Cap
Growth Funds
Index2
17.27%   16.33   16.40   17.50   12.04   12.90
The performance of the Fund’s four share classes varies because each has different expenses. The Fund’s total returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions but do not reflect the deduction of any applicable sales charges. Such costs would lower performance. See Performance Summary for standardized performance and benchmark information.

Market Conditions

The financial markets over the 12 months ended November 30, 2007 witnessed strong momentum followed by a steep decline in equity and fixed income securities in the latter months of the reporting period. Early in the period, a favorable economic environment of controlled inflation, solid consumer spending and the continued healthy pace of merger and acquisition and private equity activities bolstered stock prices. However, investors grew concerned about the developing crisis in the subprime mortgage market (i.e., loans given to less creditworthy customers) and its impact on the broader fixed income and equity markets. By the summer, these worries manifested into a bleak reality as the subprime mortgage market suffered a complete collapse under the weight of rising loan defaults and home foreclosures, which in turn lead to the demise of several hedge funds invested in mortgage-backed securities and the bankruptcies of a number of mortgage lenders. Credit significantly tightened during this period as liquidity decreased, and consumers were far more cautious in their expenditures, particularly as gasoline prices once again increased and the housing market continued to languish. In response to this volatility, the Federal Open Market Committee (the ‘‘Fed’’) began a series of cuts to the target federal funds rate and the discount rate (the rate at which member banks borrow from the central bank). While each announced reduction of these rates by the Fed helped to temporarily boost positive sentiment among investors, volatility remained heightened across the markets at the end of the reporting period.

Performance Analysis

All share classes of Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust outperformed the Russell 3000® Growth Index and the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Index for the 12 months ended November 30, 2007, assuming no deduction of applicable sales charges.

The top contributing sectors to performance relative to the Russell 3000 Growth Index were materials and processing, health care and consumer discretionary. Security selection and an overweight allocation in the materials and processing sector had the largest positive impact on the Fund for the period. In particular, a single holding in an agricultural fishing and ranching company yielded strong returns. In the health care sector, investment in medical and dental instruments and supplies was the main driver of positive performance, which helped to offset the negative effect of our underweight position in this sector. Similarly, in

2





the consumer discretionary sector, stock selection in retail hotel/motel and consumer electronic companies more than counteracted the slight detraction caused by an underweight allocation in that sector.

In contrast, there were a few sectors that detracted from overall performance, the largest of these being the financial services, consumer staples and the other energy sectors. Investment in the financial information services and financial data processing services industries were disadvantageous to performance. Moreover, the Fund’s lack of exposure to securities brokerages and services firms also had a detrimental effect. In the other energy sector, stock selection in oil well equipment and an avoidance of offshore drilling and coal companies weakened performance. Lastly, an underweight allocation in the consumer staples sector further detracted from performance for the period.

As of the end of the period, consumer discretionary represented the largest sector weight and overweight in the Fund, followed by the financial services and materials and processing sectors. The financial services sector was underweight versus the Russell 3000 Growth Index, while the materials and processing sector was overweight versus the Russell 3000 Growth Index.

There is no guarantee that any sectors mentioned will continue to perform as discussed herein or that securities in such sectors will be held by the Fund in the future.


TOP 10 HOLDINGS   
Monsanto Co.   8.0
Google Inc. (Class A)   7.8  
Amazon.com, Inc.   5.6  
Ultra Petroleum Corp. (Canada)   5.2  
Brookfield Asset Management Inc.
(Class A) (Canada)
  4.7  
eBay Inc.   4.4  
Research In Motion Ltd. (Canada)   4.2  
Wynn Resorts, Ltd.   3.7  
America Movil SAB de C.V. (Series L) (ADR) (Mexico)   3.3  
Aeroplan Income Fund (Canada) (Units)   3.2  

TOP FIVE INDUSTRIES   
Internet Software/Services   13.3
Oil & Gas Production   8.0  
Chemicals: Agricultural   8.0  
Internet Retail   5.6  
Miscellaneous Commercial Services   5.1  
Data as of November 30, 2007. Subject to change daily. All percentages for top 10 holdings and top five industries are as a percentage of net assets. These data are provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed a recommendation to buy or sell the securities mentioned. Morgan Stanley is a full-service securities firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services.

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Investment Strategy

The Fund will normally invest at least 65 percent of its assets in a portfolio of common stocks of companies with market capitalizations, at the time of purchase, within the capitalization range of the companies comprising the Russell 3000® Growth Index, which, as of December 31, 2006, was between $68 million to $464 billion. The Investment Adviser seeks to invest in high quality companies it believes have sustainable competitive advantages and the ability to redeploy capital at high rates of return. The Investment Adviser typically favors companies with rising returns on invested capital, above average business visibility, strong free cash flow generation and attractive risk/reward. The Investment Adviser generally considers selling an investment when it determines the company no longer satisfies its investment criteria.

For More Information
About Portfolio Holdings

Each Morgan Stanley fund provides a complete schedule of portfolio holdings in its semiannual and annual reports within 60 days of the end of the fund’s second and fourth fiscal quarters. The semiannual reports and the annual reports are filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form N-CSRS and Form N-CSR, respectively. Morgan Stanley also delivers the semiannual and annual reports to fund shareholders and makes these reports available on its public web site, www.morganstanley.com. Each Morgan Stanley fund also files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the fund’s first and third fiscal quarters on Form N-Q. Morgan Stanley does not deliver the reports for the first and third fiscal quarters to shareholders, nor are the reports posted to the Morgan Stanley public web site. You may, however, obtain the Form N-Q filings (as well as the Form N-CSR and N-CSRS filings) by accessing the SEC’s web site, http://www.sec.gov. You may also review and copy them at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room may be obtained by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. You can also request copies of these materials, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the SEC’s e-mail address (publicinfo@sec.gov) or by writing the public reference section of the SEC, Washington, DC 20549-0102.

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures
and Proxy Voting Record

You may obtain a copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures without charge, upon request, by calling toll free (800) 869-NEWS or by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com. It is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

You may obtain information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 without charge by visiting the Mutual Fund Center on our web site at www.morganstanley.com. This information is also available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

4





Householding Notice

To reduce printing and mailing costs, the Fund attempts to eliminate duplicate mailings to the same address. The Fund delivers a single copy of certain shareholder documents, including shareholder reports, prospectuses and proxy materials, to investors with the same last name who reside at the same address. Your participation in this program will continue for an unlimited period of time unless you instruct us otherwise. You can request multiple copies of these documents by calling (800) 869-NEWS, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., ET. Once our Customer Service Center has received your instructions, we will begin sending individual copies for each account within 30 days.

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Performance Summary

Performance of $10,000 Investment — Class B

6





Average Annual Total Returns — Period Ended November 30, 2007


  Class A Shares*
(since 07/28/97)
Class B Shares**
(since 02/27/96)
Class C Shares
(since 07/28/97)
Class D Shares††
(since 07/28/97)
Symbol  CPOAX  CPOBX  CPOCX  CPODX
1 Year   17.27% 3    16.33% 3    16.40% 3    17.50% 3 
    11.11 4    11.33 4    15.40 4              —
5 Years   20.06 3    19.16 3    19.18 3    20.36 3 
    18.77 4    18.96 4    19.18 4              —
10 Years   8.38 3    7.78 3    7.57 3    8.61 3 
    7.80 4    7.78 4    7.57 4              —
Since Inception   8.13 3    7.36 3    7.32 3    8.35 3 
    7.56 4    7.36 4    7.32 4              —
Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be lower or higher than the figures shown. For most recent month-end performance figures, please visit www.morganstanley.com/msim or speak with your Financial Advisor. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate and fund shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The graph and table do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on fund distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Performance for Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D shares will vary due to differences in sales charges and expenses.
* The maximum front-end sales charge for Class A is 5.25%.
** The maximum contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) for Class B is 5.0%. The CDSC declines to 0% after six years. Effective April 2005, Class B shares will generally convert to Class A shares approximately eight years after the end of the calendar month in which the shares were purchased.  Performance for periods greater than eight years reflects this conversion (beginning April 2005).
The maximum contingent deferred sales charge for Class C is 1.0% for shares redeemed within one year of purchase.
†† Class D has no sales charge.
(1) The Russell 3000® Growth Index measures the performance of those companies in the Russell 3000® Index with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Index is unmanaged and its returns do not include any sales charges or fees. Such costs would lower performance. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
(2) The Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds Index is an equally weighted performance index of the largest qualifying funds (based on net assets) in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds classification. The Index, which is adjusted for capital gains distributions and income dividends, is unmanaged and should not be considered an investment. There are currently 30 funds represented in this Index. The Fund is in the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Funds classification as of the date of this report.
(3) Figure shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions and does not reflect the deduction of any sales charges.
(4) Figure shown assumes reinvestment of all distributions and the deduction of the maximum applicable sales charge. See the Fund’s current prospectus for complete details on fees and sales charges.
Ending value assuming a complete redemption on November 30, 2007.

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Expense Example

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments and redemption fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including advisory fees; distribution and service (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period 06/01/07 – 11/30/07.

Actual Expenses

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled ‘‘Expenses Paid During Period’’ to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing cost of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads) and redemption fees. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs, and will not help you determine the relative total cost of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.


  Beginning
Account Value
Ending
Account Value
Expenses Paid
During Period*
  06/01/07 11/30/07 06/01/07 –
11/30/07
Class A            
Actual (5.04% return) $ 1,000.00   $ 1,050.40   $ 6.84  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) $ 1,000.00   $ 1,018.40   $ 6.73  
Class B            
Actual (4.64% return) $ 1,000.00   $ 1,046.40   $ 10.67  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) $ 1,000.00   $ 1,014.64   $ 10.50  
Class C            
Actual (4.66% return) $ 1,000.00   $ 1,046.60   $ 10.67  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) $ 1,000.00   $ 1,014.64   $ 10.50  
Class D            
Actual (5.15% return) $ 1,000.00   $ 1,051.50   $ 5.55  
Hypothetical (5% annual return before expenses) $ 1,000.00   $ 1,019.65   $ 5.47  
* Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratios of 1.33%, 2.08%, 2.08% and 1.08% for Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D shares, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one-half year period).

    

8





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Portfolio of Investments November 30, 2007


NUMBER OF
SHARES
  VALUE
    Common Stocks (97.0%)    
    Air Freight/Couriers (4.6%)
  266,928   C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. $   13,760,138  
  244,111   Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.   11,453,688  
        25,213,826  
    Apparel/Footwear Retail (3.0%)
  202,255   Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (Class A)   16,593,000  
    Biotechnology (4.6%)
  220,449   Illumina, Inc.*   12,739,748  
  192,984   Techne Corp.*   12,572,907  
        25,312,655  
    Casino/Gaming (3.7%)
  160,140   Wynn Resorts, Ltd.*   20,328,172  
    Chemicals: Agricultural (8.0%)
  436,745   Monsanto Co.   43,399,351  
    Computer Processing Hardware (3.0%)
  89,267   Apple Inc.*   16,266,233  
    Construction Materials (2.4%)
  447,291   Cemex SAB de C.V. (Sponsored ADR) (Mexico)*   12,796,996  
    Financial Conglomerates (4.7%)
  714,292   Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (Class A) (Canada)   25,878,799  
    Information Technology Services (1.5%)
  91,314   Vmware, Inc – Class A*   8,343,360  
    Internet Retail (5.6%)
  336,254   Amazon.com, Inc.*   30,451,162  
    Internet Software/
    Services (13.3%)
  45,616   Baidu.com, Inc. (Sponsored ADR) (Cayman Islands)*   17,423,488  
  61,035   Google Inc. (Class A)*   42,297,255  
  1,667,000   Tencent Holdings Ltd. (Hong Kong) (a)   12,535,221  
        72,255,964  
    Investment Banks/Brokers (3.0%)
  227,786   Greenhill & Co., Inc. $   16,466,650  
    Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds (3.2%)
  764,571   Aeroplan Income Fund (Canada) (Units)**   17,586,012  
    Miscellaneous Commercial Services (5.1%)
  202,578   Corporate Executive Board Co. (The)   13,590,958  
  291,740   Costar Group, Inc.*   14,058,951  
        27,649,909  
    Oil & Gas Production (8.0%)
  310,846   Southwestern Energy Co.*   15,470,805  
  434,299   Ultra Petroleum Corp. (Canada)*   28,186,005  
        43,656,810  
    Other Consumer Services (4.4%)
  717,024   eBay Inc.*   24,041,815  
    Personnel Services (1.6%)
  250,493   Monster Worldwide, Inc.*   8,459,149  
    Restaurants (2.9%)
  669,115   Starbucks Corp.*   15,650,600  
    Specialty Telecommunications (2.1%)
  539,471   Cogent Communications Group, Inc.*   11,210,207  
    Telecommunication Equipment (4.2%)
  200,916   Research In Motion Ltd. (Canada)*   22,868,259  
    Water Utilities (2.2%)
  508,952   Nalco Holding Co.   12,194,490  
    Wholesale Distributors (2.6%)
  3,574,000   Li & Fung Ltd. (Hong Kong) (a)   14,269,963  
    Wireless Telecommunications (3.3%)
  291,876   America Movil SAB de C.V. (Series L) (ADR) (Mexico)   17,997,074  
    Total Common Stocks
(Cost $397,865,425)  
  528,890,456  

See Notes to Financial Statements

9





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Portfolio of Investments November 30, 2007 continued

    


NUMBER OF
SHARES (000)
  VALUE
    Short-Term Investment (b) (4.6%)
    Investment Company    
  25,186   Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class
(Cost $25,186,083)  
$   25,186,083  

Total Investments
(Cost $423,051,508) (c)
  101.6  %    554,076,539  
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets   (1.6   (8,967,306
Net Assets   100.0  %  $ 545,109,233  
ADR American Depositary Receipt.
* Non-income producing security.
** Consist of one or more class of securities traded together as a unit; stocks with attached warrants.
(a) Securities with total market value equal to $26,805,184 have been valued at their value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general provision of the Fund’s Trustees.
(b) See Note 4 to the financial statements regarding investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class.
(c) The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $423,367,510. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $155,341,355 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $24,632,326, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $130,709,029.

Summary of Investments


INDUSTRY VALUE PERCENT OF
TOTAL
INVESTMENTS
Internet Software/Services $ 72,255,964     13.0
Oil & Gas Production   43,656,810     7.9  
Chemicals: Agricultural   43,399,351     7.8  
Internet Retail   30,451,162     5.5  
Miscellaneous Commercial Services   27,649,909     5.0  
Financial Conglomerates   25,878,799     4.7  
Biotechnology   25,312,655     4.6  
Air Freight/Couriers   25,213,826     4.6  
Investment Company   25,186,083     4.5  
Other Consumer Services   24,041,815     4.3  
Telecommunication Equipment   22,868,259     4.1  
Casino/Gaming   20,328,172     3.7  
Wireless Telecommunications   17,997,074     3.3  
Investment Trusts/Mutual Funds   17,586,012     3.2  
Apparel/Footwear Retail   16,593,000     3.0  
Investment Banks/Brokers   16,466,650     3.0  
Computer Processing Hardware   16,266,233     2.9  
Restaurants   15,650,600     2.8  
Wholesale Distributors   14,269,963     2.6  
Construction Materials   12,796,996     2.3  
Water Utilities   12,194,490     2.2  
Specialty Telecommunications   11,210,207     2.0  
Personnel Services   8,459,149     1.5  
Information Technology Services   8,343,360     1.5  
  $ 554,076,539     100.0

See Notes to Financial Statements

10





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Financial Statements

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

November 30, 2007


Assets:
Investments in securities, at value
(cost $397,865,425)
$ 528,890,456  
Investment in affiliates, at value (cost $25,186,083)   25,186,083  
Receivable for:    
Dividends   1,162,463  
Shares of beneficial interest sold   170,297  
Dividends from affiliates   92,407  
Prepaid expenses and other assets   45,244  
Total Assets    555,546,950  
Liabilities:    
Payable for:    
Investments purchased   9,175,252  
Shares of beneficial interest redeemed   428,976  
Investment advisory fee   290,303  
Distribution fee   219,439  
Administration fee   35,507  
Transfer agent fee   7,347  
Payable to bank   3,276  
Accrued expenses and other payables   277,617  
Total Liabilities    10,437,717  
Net Assets  $ 545,109,233  
Composition of Net Assets:    
Paid-in-capital $ 1,113,007,296  
Net unrealized appreciation   131,024,800  
Accumulated net investment loss   (112,212
Accumulated net realized loss   (698,810,651
Net Assets  $ 545,109,233  
Class A Shares:    
Net Assets $ 276,064,199  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)   11,614,817  
Net Asset Value Per Share  $ 23.77  
    Maximum Offering Price Per Share,
(net asset value plus 5.54% of net asset value)
$ 25.09  
Class B Shares:    
Net Assets $ 157,413,880  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)   7,128,045  
Net Asset Value Per Share  $ 22.08  
Class C Shares:    
Net Assets $ 40,212,728  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)   1,828,153  
Net Asset Value Per Share  $ 22.00  
Class D Shares:    
Net Assets $ 71,418,426  
Shares Outstanding (unlimited authorized, $.01 par value)   2,938,451  
Net Asset Value Per Share  $ 24.30  

See Notes to Financial Statements

11





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Financial Statements continued

Statement of Operations

For the year ended November 30, 2007


Net Investment Loss:
Income
Dividends (net of $315,601 foreign withholding tax) $ 5,789,953  
Dividends from affiliate   351,248  
Interest   340,659  
Total Income    6,481,860  
Expenses    
Investment advisory fee   3,687,862  
Distribution fee (Class A shares)   579,345  
Distribution fee (Class B shares)   2,018,971  
Distribution fee (Class C shares)   400,400  
Transfer agent fees and expenses   1,313,057  
Administration fee   442,026  
Shareholder reports and notices   296,846  
Professional fees   81,520  
Registration fees   42,096  
Custodian fees   38,954  
Trustees’ fees and expenses   7,963  
Other   62,228  
Total Expenses    8,971,268  
Less: amounts waived/reimbursed   (7,959
Less: expense offset   (8,923
Net Expenses    8,954,386  
Net Investment Loss    (2,472,526
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss):    
Net Realized Gain (Loss) on:    
Investments   97,672,614  
Foreign exchange transactions   (137,669
Net Realized Gain    97,534,945  
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on:    
Investments   (8,981,885
Translation of other assets denominated in foreign currencies   (231
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation    (8,982,116
Net Gain    88,552,829  
Net Increase $ 86,080,303  

See Notes to Financial Statements

12





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Financial Statements continued

Statements of Changes in Net Assets


  FOR THE YEAR
ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 2007
FOR THE YEAR
ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 2006
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets:        
Operations:        
Net investment loss $ (2,472,526 $ (3,908,885
Net realized gain   97,534,945     37,219,062  
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation   (8,982,116   (7,559,657
Net Increase    86,080,303     25,750,520  
Net increase (decrease) from transactions in shares of beneficial interest   136,189,703     (74,339,543
Net Increase (Decrease)    222,270,006     (48,589,023
Net Assets:        
Beginning of period   322,839,227     371,428,250  
End of Period
(Including accumulated net investment losses of $112,212 and $848, respectively)
$ 545,109,233   $ 322,839,227  

See Notes to Financial Statements

13





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 2007

1.   Organization and Accounting Policies

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust (the ‘‘Fund’’) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the ‘‘Act’’), as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The Fund’s investment objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on October 17, 1995 and commenced operations on February 27, 1996. On July 28, 1997, the Fund converted to a multiple class share structure.

The Fund offers Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares and Class D shares. The four classes are substantially the same except that most Class A shares are subject to a sales charge imposed at the time of purchase and some Class A shares, and most Class B shares and Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge imposed on shares redeemed within eighteen months, six years and one year, respectively. Class D shares are not subject to a sales charge. Additionally, Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares incur distribution expenses.

The Fund will assess a 2% redemption fee, on Class A shares, Class B shares, Class C shares, and Class D shares, which is paid directly to the Fund, for shares redeemed or exchanged within seven days of purchase, subject to certain exceptions. The redemption fee is designed to protect the Fund and its remaining shareholders from the effects of short-term trading.

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:

A.   Valuation of Investments — (1) an equity portfolio security listed or traded on the New York Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’) or American Stock Exchange or other exchange is valued at its latest sale price prior to the time when assets are valued; if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked price; (2) an equity portfolio security listed or traded on the Nasdaq is valued at the Nasdaq Official Closing Price; if there were no sales that day, the security is valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked price; (3) all other portfolio securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at the mean between the last reported bid and asked price. In cases where a security is traded on more than one exchange, the security is valued on the exchange designated as the primary market; (4) for equity securities traded on foreign exchanges, the last reported sale price or the latest bid price may be used if there were no sales on a particular day; (5) when market quotations are not readily available including circumstances under which Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the ‘‘Investment Adviser’’), determines that the latest sale price, the bid price or the mean between the last reported bid and asked price do not reflect a security’s market value, portfolio securities are valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund’s Trustees. Occasionally, developments affecting the closing prices of securities and other assets may occur between the times at which valuations of such securities are determined (that is, close of the foreign market on which the securities trade) and the close of business on the NYSE. If developments occur

14





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 2007 continued

during such periods that are expected to materially affect the value of such securities, such valuations may be adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value of such securities as of the close of the NYSE, as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Trustees or by the Investment Adviser using a pricing service and/or procedures approved by the Trustees of the Fund; (6) certain portfolio securities may be valued by an outside pricing service approved by the Fund’s Trustees; (7) investments in open-end mutual funds, including the Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds, are valued at the net asset value as of the close of each business day; and (8) short-term debt securities having a maturity date of more than sixty days at time of purchase are valued on a mark-to-market basis until sixty days prior to maturity and thereafter at amortized cost based on their value on the 61st day. Short-term debt securities having a maturity date of sixty days or less at the time of purchase are valued at amortized cost.

B.   Accounting for Investments — Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to buy or sell is executed). Realized gains and losses on security transactions are determined by the identified cost method. Dividend income and other distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized over the life of the respective securities and are included in interest income. Interest income is accrued daily.

C.   Multiple Class Allocations — Investment income, expenses (other than distribution fees), and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to each class of shares based upon the relative net asset value on the date such items are recognized. Distribution fees are charged directly to the respective class.

D.   Federal Income Tax Policy — It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.

E.   Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders — Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

F.   Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

2.   Investment Advisory/Administration Agreements

Pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser an advisory fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of 0.67% to the portion of the daily net assets not exceeding $500 million; 0.645% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $500 million but not exceeding $2 billion; 0.62% to the portion of the daily net assets exceeding $2 billion, but not exceeding $3 billion; and 0.595% to the portion of the daily net assets in excess of $3 billion.

15





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 2007 continued

Pursuant to an Administration Agreement with Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc. (the ‘‘Administrator’’), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, the Fund pays an administration fee, accrued daily and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of 0.08% to the Fund’s daily net assets.

Under an agreement between the Administrator and State Street Bank and Trust Company (‘‘State Street’’), State Street provides certain administrative services to the Fund. For such services, the Administrator pays State Street a portion of the fee the Administrator receives from the Fund.

Effective December 11, 2006, the Investment Adviser has agreed to cap the total operating expenses for the Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D for the period of one year at 1.39%, 2.15%, 2.15% and 1.15%, respectively.

3.   Plan of Distribution

Shares of the Fund are distributed by Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc. (the ‘‘Distributor’’), an affiliate of the Investment Adviser and Administrator. The Fund has adopted a Plan of Distribution (the ‘‘Plan’’) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Act. The Plan provides that the Fund will pay the Distributor a fee which is accrued daily and paid monthly at the following annual rates: (i) Class A – up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class A shares; (ii) Class B – up to 1.0% of the lesser of: (a) the average daily aggregate gross sales of the Class B shares since the inception of the Fund (not including reinvestment of dividend or capital gain distributions) less the average daily aggregate net asset value of the Class B shares redeemed since the Fund’s inception upon which a contingent deferred sales charge has been imposed or waived; or (b) the average daily net assets of Class B shares; and (iii) Class C – up to 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class C shares.

In the case of Class B shares, provided that the Plan continues in effect, any cumulative expenses incurred by the Distributor but not yet recovered may be recovered through the payment of future distribution fees from the Fund pursuant to the Plan and contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of Class B shares. Although there is no legal obligation for the Fund to pay expenses incurred in excess of payments made to the Distributor under the Plan and the proceeds of contingent deferred sales charges paid by investors upon redemption of shares, if for any reason the Plan is terminated, the Trustees will consider at that time the manner in which to treat such expenses. The Distributor has advised the Fund that such excess amounts totaled $77,519,822 at November 30, 2007.

In the case of Class A shares and Class C shares, expenses incurred pursuant to the Plan in any calendar year in excess of 0.25% or 1.0% of the average daily net assets of Class A or Class C, respectively, will not be reimbursed by the Fund through payments in any subsequent year, except that expenses representing a gross sales credit to Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors and other authorized financial representatives at the time of sale may be reimbursed in the subsequent calendar year. For the year ended November 30, 2007, the distribution fee was accrued for Class A shares and Class C shares at the annual rate of 0.24% and 1.0%, respectively.

16





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 2007 continued

The Distributor has informed the Fund that for the year ended November 30, 2007, it received contingent deferred sales charges from certain redemptions of the Fund’s Class A shares, Class B shares and Class C shares of $808, $202,560 and $6,286, respectively and received $68,785 in front-end sales charges from sales of the Fund’s Class A shares. The respective shareholders pay such charges which are not an expense of the Fund.

4.   Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates

The Fund invests in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class, an open-end management investment company managed by the Investment Adviser. Investment advisory fees paid by the Fund are reduced by an amount equal to the advisory and administrative services fees paid by Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class with respect to assets invested by the Fund in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. For the year ended November 30, 2007, advisory fees paid were reduced by $7,959 relating to the Fund’s investment in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class. Income distributions earned by the Fund are recorded as dividends from affiliate in the Statement of Operations and totaled $351,248 for the year ended November 30, 2007. During the year ended November 30, 2007, cost of purchases and sales in investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class aggregated $142,748,603 and $117,562,520, respectively.

The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended November 30, 2007 aggregated $314,070,651 and $463,640,743, respectively. Included in the aforementioned transactions are purchases and sales of $15,811,641 and $53,774,551, respectively, with other Morgan Stanley funds, including realized gains of $17,618,689.

For the year ended November 30, 2007, the Fund incurred brokerage commissions of $34,923 with Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Administrator and Distributor, for portfolio transactions executed on behalf of the Fund.

Morgan Stanley Trust, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, Administrator and Distributor, is the Fund’s transfer agent.

The Fund has an unfunded Deferred Compensation Plan (the ‘‘Compensation Plan’’) which allows each independent Trustee to defer payment of all, or a portion, of the fees he or she receives for serving on the Board of Trustees. Each eligible Trustee generally may elect to have the deferred amounts credited with a return equal to the total return on one or more of the Morgan Stanley funds that are offered as investment options under the Compensation Plan. Appreciation/depreciation and distributions received from these investments are recorded with an offsetting increase/decrease in the deferred compensation obligation and do not affect the net asset value of the Fund.

17





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 2007 continued

5.   Expense Offset

The expense offset represents a reduction of the fees and expenses for interest earned on cash balances maintained by the Fund with the transfer agent.

6.   Shares of Beneficial Interest

Transactions in shares of beneficial interest were as follows:    


  FOR THE YEAR
ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 2007
FOR THE YEAR
ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 2006
  SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
CLASS A SHARES                
Sold   543,823   $ 11,981,426     698,959   $ 13,487,104  
Conversion from Class B   4,834,523     104,639,365     1,321,853     25,316,322  
Shares issued in connection with the acquisition of
Morgan Stanley Aggressive Equity Fund
  2,393,489     48,642,459  

Redeemed   (2,903,687   (63,036,401   (1,811,031   (34,531,310
Net increase – Class A   4,868,148     102,226,849     209,781     4,272,116  
CLASS B SHARES                
Sold   248,268     5,070,590     754,043     13,691,114  
Conversion to Class A   (5,178,379   (104,639,365   (1,406,849   (25,316,322
Shares issued in connection with the acquisition of
Morgan Stanley Aggressive Equity Fund
  10,109,027     192,368,664  

Redeemed   (3,148,197   (63,152,408   (2,446,319   (43,955,939
Net increase (decrease) – Class B   2,030,719     29,647,481     (3,099,125   (55,581,147
CLASS C SHARES                
Sold   104,332     2,146,045     243,284     4,398,725  
Shares issued in connection with the acquisition of
Morgan Stanley Aggressive Equity Fund
  1,457,606     27,630,711  

Redeemed   (539,672   (10,881,937   (288,854   (5,145,748
Net increase (decrease) – Class C   1,022,266     18,894,819     (45,570   (747,023
CLASS D SHARES                
Sold   208,696     4,610,331     611,185     11,960,884  
Shares issued in connection with the acquisition of
Morgan Stanley Aggressive Equity Fund
  149,300     3,096,859     (1,800,870   (34,244,373
Redeemed   (1,002,264   (22,286,636

Net decrease – Class D   (644,268   (14,579,446   (1,189,685   (22,283,489
Net increase (decrease) in Fund   7,276,865   $ 136,189,703     (4,124,599 $ (74,339,543

18





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 2007 continued

7.   Federal Income Tax Status

The amount of dividends and distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. These ‘‘book/tax’’ differences are either considered temporary or permanent in nature. To the extent these differences are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their federal tax-basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Dividends and distributions which exceed net investment income and net realized capital gains for tax purposes are reported as distributions of paid-in-capital.

As of November 30, 2007, the tax-basis components of accumulated losses were as follows:


Net accumulated earnings
Capital loss carryforward* $ (688,280,138
Post-October losses   (10,323,442
Temporary differences   (3,281
Net unrealized appreciation   130,708,798  
Total accumulated losses $ (567,898,063

* During the year ended November 30, 2007, the Fund utilized $106,095,277 of its net capital loss carryforward. As of November 30, 2007, the Fund had a net capital loss carryforward of $688,280,138, to offset future capital gains to the extent provided by regulations, which will expire according to the following schedule.


AMOUNT EXPIRATION
$231,820,402 November 30, 2009
 456,459,736 November 30, 2010

As part of the Fund’s acquisition of the assets of Morgan Stanley Aggressive Equity Fund (‘‘Aggressive Equity’’), the Fund obtained a net capital loss carryforward of $344,716,275 from Aggressive Equity. Utilization of this carryforward is subject to limitations imposed by the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations, reducing the total carryforward available.

As of November 30, 2007, the Fund had temporary book/tax differences primarily attributable to post-October losses (capital and foreign currency losses incurred after October 31 within the taxable year which are deemed to arise on the first business day of the Fund’s next taxable year) and capital loss deferrals on wash sales.

19





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Notes to Financial Statements November 30, 2007 continued

Permanent differences, due to foreign currency losses, a net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards written off by the Fund due to the merger, resulted in the following reclassifications among the Fund’s components of net assets at November 30, 2007:


ACCUMULATED
NET INVESTMENT
LOSS 
ACCUMULATED
NET REALIZED
LOSS 
PAID-IN-CAPITAL 
$ 2,361,741   $ 238,234,277     $ (240,596,018
   

8.   Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position must meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the effective date. The impact to the Fund’s financial statements, if any, is currently being assessed.

In addition, in September 2006, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), was issued and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of SFAS 157 will have on the Fund’s financial statement disclosures.

9.   Fund Acquisition

On December 11, 2006, the Fund acquired all the net assets of Aggressive Equity based on the respective valuations as of the close of business on December 8, 2006 pursuant to a Plan of Reorganization approved by the shareholders of Aggressive Equity on November 30, 2006. The acquisition was accomplished by a tax-free exchange of 2,393,489 Class A shares of the Fund at a net asset value of $20.33 per share for 3,754,601 Class A shares of Aggressive Equity; 10,109,027 Class B shares of the Fund at a net asset value of $19.03 per share for 15,781,361 Class B shares of Aggressive Equity; 1,457,606 Class C shares of the Fund at a net asset value of $18.95 per share for 2,264,069 Class C shares of Aggressive Equity; and 149,300 Class D shares of the Fund at a net asset value of $20.74 per share for 234,582 Class D shares of Aggressive Equity. The net assets of the Fund and Aggressive Equity immediately before the acquisition were $322,602,363 and $271,738,693, respectively, including unrealized appreciation of $61,283,247 for Aggressive Equity. Immediately after the acquisition, the combined net assets of the Fund amounted to $594,341,056.

20





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Financial Highlights

Selected ratios and per share data for a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout each period:


  FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
  2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Class A Shares
Selected Per Share Data:
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 20.27   $ 18.66   $ 14.76   $ 12.35   $   9.53  
Income (loss) from investment operations: 
Net investment loss‡   (0.02   (0.17   (0.17   (0.12   (0.12
Net realized and unrealized gain   3.52     1.78     4.07     2.53     2.94  
Total income from investment operations   3.50     1.61     3.90     2.41     2.82  
Net asset value, end of period $ 23.77   $ 20.27   $ 18.66   $ 14.76   $ 12.35  
Total Return†   17.27     8.63  %    26.42  %    19.51  %    29.59  % 
Ratios to Average Net Assets(1):
Total expenses (before expense offset)   1.32  %(2)    1.55  %    1.48  %    1.47  %    1.52  % 
Net investment loss   (0.15 )%(2)    (0.88 )%    (1.03 )%    (0.93 )%    (1.22 )% 
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $276,064  $136,788  $121,998  $11,290  $10,826 
Portfolio turnover rate   60     57  %    88  %    120  %    179  % 
The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(2) Reflects waivers of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class during the period. As a result of such waivers the expenses as a percentage of its net assets had an effect of less than 0.005%.

See Notes to Financial Statements

21





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Financial Highlights continued

    


  FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
  2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Class B Shares
Selected Per Share Data:
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 18.98   $ 17.57   $ 14.02   $ 11.83   $   9.19  
Income (loss) from investment operations: 
Net investment loss‡   (0.20   (0.29   (0.26   (0.21   (0.19
Net realized and unrealized gain   3.30     1.70     3.81     2.40     2.83  
Total income from investment operations   3.10     1.41     3.55     2.19     2.64  
Net asset value, end of period $ 22.08   $ 18.98   $ 17.57   $ 14.02   $ 11.83  
Total Return†   16.33     7.84  %    25.53  %    18.51  %    28.73  % 
Ratios to Average Net Assets(1):
Total expenses (before expense offset)   2.08  %(2)    2.30  %    2.23  %    2.24  %    2.29  % 
Net investment loss   (0.91 )%(2)    (1.63 )%    (1.78 )%    (1.70 )%    (1.99 )% 
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $157,414  $96,737  $143,995  $270,955  $296,711 
Portfolio turnover rate   60     57  %    88  %    120  %    179  % 
The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(2) Reflects waivers of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class during the period. As a result of such waivers the expenses as a percentage of its net assets had an effect of less than 0.005%.

See Notes to Financial Statements

22





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Financial Highlights continued

    


  FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
  2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Class C Shares
Selected Per Share Data:                    
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 18.90   $ 17.51   $ 13.96   $ 11.77   $   9.15  
Income (loss) from investment operations:                    
Net investment loss‡   (0.18   (0.29   (0.26   (0.21   (0.19
Net realized and unrealized gain   3.28     1.68     3.81     2.40     2.81  
Total income from investment operations   3.10     1.39     3.55     2.19     2.62  
Net asset value, end of period $ 22.00   $ 18.90   $ 17.51   $ 13.96   $ 11.77  
Total Return†   16.40     7.82  %    25.57  %    18.61  %    28.63  % 
Ratios to Average Net Assets(1):                    
Total expenses (before expense offset)   2.08  %(2)    2.30  %    2.19  %    2.23  %    2.29  % 
Net investment loss   (0.91 )%(2)    (1.63 )%    (1.74 )%    (1.69 )%    (1.99 )% 
Supplemental Data:                    
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $40,213  $15,230  $14,909  $15,837  $16,069 
Portfolio turnover rate   60     57  %    88  %    120  %    179  % 
The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
Does not reflect the deduction of sales charge. Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(2) Reflects waivers of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class during the period. As a result of such waivers the expenses as a percentage of its net assets had an effect of less than 0.005%.

See Notes to Financial Statements

23





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Financial Highlights continued

    


  FOR THE YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 30,
  2007 2006 2005 2004 2003
Class D Shares
Selected Per Share Data:
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 20.68   $ 18.97   $ 14.98   $ 12.51   $   9.62  
Income (loss) from investment operations: 
Net investment income (loss)‡   0.02     (0.12   (0.12   (0.09   (0.10
Net realized and unrealized gain   3.60     1.83     4.11     2.56     2.99  
Total income from investment operations   3.62     1.71     3.99     2.47     2.89  
Net asset value, end of period $ 24.30   $ 20.68   $ 18.97   $ 14.98   $ 12.51  
Total Return†   17.50   8.96  %    26.70  %    19.74  %    30.04  % 
Ratios to Average Net Assets(1):
Total expenses (before expense offset)   1.08 %(2)    1.30  %    1.23  %    1.24  %    1.29  % 
Net investment income (loss)   0.09 %(2)    (0.63 )%    (0.78 )%    (0.70 )%    (0.99 )% 
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period, in thousands $71,418  $74,084  $90,526  $90,844  $98,359 
Portfolio turnover rate   60   57  %    88  %    120  %    179  % 
The per share amounts were computed using an average number of shares outstanding during the period.
Calculated based on the net asset value as of the last business day of the period.
(1) Reflects overall Fund ratios for investment income and non-class specific expenses.
(2) Reflects waivers of certain Fund expenses in connection with the investments in Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Money Market Portfolio – Institutional Class during the period. As a result of such waivers the expenses as a percentage of its net assets had an effect of less than 0.005%.

See Notes to Financial Statements

24





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust (the ‘‘Fund’’), including the portfolio of investments, as of November 30, 2007, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended and changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2007, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; where replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust as of November 30, 2007, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
January 18, 2008

25





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Trustee and Officer Information  (unaudited)

Independent Trustees:


Name, Age and Address of
Independent Trustee
Position(s) Held with Registrant Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served*
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent
Trustee**
Other Directorships
Held by Independent Trustee
Frank L. Bowman (63)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Trustee Since
August 2006
President and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute (policy organization) (since February 2005); Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); Chairperson of the Insurance Sub-Committee of the Valuation, Insurance and Compliance Committee (since February 2007); formerly, variously, Admiral in the U.S. Navy, Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and Deputy Administrator—Naval Reactors in the National Nuclear Security Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy (1996-2004). Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. 171 Director of the National Energy Foundation, the U.S. Energy Association, the American Council for Capital Formation and the Armed Services YMCA of the USA.
Michael Bozic (67)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Trustee
Since
April 1994
Private investor; Chairperson of the Valuation, Insurance and Compliance Committee (since October 2006); Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since April 1994) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); formerly, Chairperson of the Insurance Committee (July 2006-September 2006); Vice Chairman of Kmart Corporation (December 1998-October 2000), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Levitz Furniture Corporation (November 1995-November 1998) and President and Chief Executive Officer of Hills Department Stores (May 1991-July 1995); variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck & Co. 173 Director of various business organizations.

26





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Trustee and Officer Information  (unaudited) continued


Name, Age and Address of
Independent Trustee
Position(s) Held with Registrant Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served*
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent
Trustee**
Other Directorships
Held by Independent Trustee
Kathleen A. Dennis (54)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Trustee Since
August 2006
President, Cedarwood Associates (mutual fund consulting) (since July 2006); Chairperson of the Money Market and Alternatives Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Senior Managing Director of Victory Capital Management (1993-2006). 171 None.
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (58)
c/o Johnson Smick Group, Inc.
888 16th Street, N.W.
Suite 740
Washington, D.C. 20006
Trustee
Since
July 1991
Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc. (consulting firm); Chairperson of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 1991) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C) (international economic commission); formerly, Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 1991-September 2006); Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. 173 Director of NVR, Inc. (home construction); Director of Evergreen Energy.
Joseph J. Kearns (65)
c/o Kearns & Associates LLC
PMB754
23852 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
Trustee
Since
August 1994
President, Kearns & Associates LLC (investment consulting); Chairperson of the Audit Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and the Institutional Funds (since August 1994); formerly, Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee (July 2003- September 2006) and Chairperson of the Audit Committee of the Institutional Funds (October 2001-July 2003); CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. 174 Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing), The Ford Family Foundation, and the UCLA Foundation.

27





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Trustee and Officer Information  (unaudited) continued


Name, Age and Address of
Independent Trustee
Position(s) Held with Registrant Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served*
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex Overseen by Independent
Trustee**
Other Directorships
Held by Independent Trustee
Michael F. Klein (49)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Trustee Since
August 2006
Managing Director, Aetos Capital, LLC (since March 2000) and Co-President, Aetos Alternatives Management, LLC (since January 2004); Chairperson of the Fixed-Income Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management, President, Morgan Stanley Institutional Funds (June 1998-March 2000) and Principal, Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Investment Management (August 1997-December 1999). 171 Director of certain investment funds managed or sponsored by Aetos Capital, LLC. Director of Sanitized AG and Sanitized Marketing AG (specialty chemicals).
Michael E. Nugent (71)
c/o Triumph Capital, L.P.
445 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Chairperson of the Board and Trustee
Chairperson of the Boards since
July 2006
and Trustee since
July 1991
General Partner, Triumph Capital, L.P. (private investment partnership); Chairperson of the Boards of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since July 2006); Director or Trustee
of the Retail Funds (since July 1991)
and the Institutional Funds (since
July 2001); formerly, Chairperson of
the Insurance Committee (until July 2006); Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and BT Capital Corporation (1984-1988).
173 None.
W. Allen Reed (60)
c/o Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Counsel to the Independent Trustees
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Trustee Since
August 2006
Chairperson of the Equity Sub-Committee of the Investment Committee (since October 2006) and Director or Trustee of various Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since August 2006); formerly, President and CEO of General Motors Asset Management; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the GM Trust Bank and Corporate Vice President of General Motors Corporation (August 1994-December 2005). 171 Director of GMAC (financial services) and Temple-Inland Industries (packaging, banking and forest products); Director of Legg Mason, Inc. and Director of the Auburn University Foundation.
Fergus Reid (75)
c/o Lumelite Plastics Corporation
85 Charles Colman Blvd.
Pawling, NY 12564
Trustee
Since
June 1992
Chairman of Lumelite Plastics Corporation; Chairperson of the Governance Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and the Institutional Funds (since June 1992). 174 Trustee and Director of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex managed by J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.

28





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Trustee and Officer Information  (unaudited) continued

Interested Trustee:


Name, Age and Address of
Interested Trustee
Position(s) Held with Registrant Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served*
Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
Number of Portfolios
in Fund Complex Overseen by Interested Trustee**
Other Directorships
Held by Interested Trustee
James F. Higgins (59)
c/o Morgan Stanley Trust
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, NJ 07311
Trustee
Since
June 2000
Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds (since June 2000) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Senior Advisor of Morgan Stanley (since August 2000). 173 Director of AXA Financial, Inc. and The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (financial services).
    * This is the earliest date the Trustee began serving the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the ‘‘Investment Adviser’’) (the ‘‘Retail Funds’’) or the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP (the ‘‘Institutional Funds’’).
    ** The Fund Complex includes all open-end and closed-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Adviser and any funds that have an investment adviser that is an affiliated person of the Investment Adviser (including, but not limited to, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.).

29





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Trustee and Officer Information  (unaudited) continued

Executive Officers:


Name, Age and Address of
Executive Officer
Position(s)
Held with
Registrant
    
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served*
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Ronald E. Robison (69)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
President and Principal Executive Officer
President since September 2005 and Principal Executive Officer since May 2003 President (since September 2005) and Principal Executive Officer (since May 2003) of funds in the Fund Complex; President (since September 2005) and Principal Executive Officer (since May 2003) of the Van Kampen Funds; Managing Director, Director and/or Officer of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Director of Morgan Stanley SICAV (since May 2004). Formerly, Executive Vice President (July 2003-September 2005) of funds in the Fund Complex and the Van Kampen Funds; President and Director of the Institutional Funds (March 2001-July 2003); Chief Administrative Officer of the Investment Adviser; Chief Administrative Officer of Morgan Stanley Services Company Inc.
J. David Germany (53)
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited
20 Bank Street
Canary Wharf,
London, England E14 4AD
Vice President Since February 2006 Managing Director and (since December 2005) Chief Investment Officer – Global Fixed Income of Morgan Stanley Investment Management; Managing Director and Director of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited; Vice President of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since February 2006).
Dennis F. Shea (54)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Vice President Since February 2006 Managing Director and (since February 2006) Chief Investment Officer – Global Equity of Morgan Stanley Investment Management; Vice President of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since February 2006). Formerly, Managing Director and Director of Global Equity Research at Morgan Stanley.
Amy R. Doberman (45)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Vice President Since July 2004 Managing Director and General Counsel, U.S. Investment Management of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since July 2004); Vice President of the Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since July 2004); Vice President of the Van Kampen Funds (since August 2004); Secretary (since February 2006) and Managing Director (since July 2004) of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser. Formerly, Managing Director and General Counsel – Americas, UBS Global Asset Management (July 2000-July 2004).
Carsten Otto (44)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Chief Compliance
Officer
Since October
2004
Managing Director and Global Head of Compliance for Morgan Stanley Investment Management (since April 2007); and Chief Compliance Officer of Morgan Stanley Retail Funds and Institutional Funds (since October 2004). Formerly, U.S. Director of Compliance (October 2004-April 2007) and Assistant Secretary and Assistant General Counsel of the Retail Funds.
Stefanie V. Chang Yu (41)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Vice President
Since December 1997
Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Vice President of the Retail Funds (since July 2002) and the Institutional Funds (since December 1997). Formerly, Secretary of various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser.

30





Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

Trustee and Officer Information  (unaudited) continued


Name, Age and Address of
Executive Officer
Position(s)
Held with
Registrant
    
Term of
Office and
Length of
Time
Served*
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years
Francis J. Smith (42)
c/o Morgan Stanley Trust
Harborside Financial Center
Plaza Two
Jersey City, NJ 07311
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer since July 2003 and Chief Financial Officer since September 2002 Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Retail Funds (since July 2003). Formerly, Vice President of the Retail Funds (September 2002 to July 2003).
Mary E. Mullin (40)
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10036
Secretary
Since June 1999
Executive Director of the Investment Adviser and various entities affiliated with the Investment Adviser; Secretary of the Retail Funds (since July 2003) and the Institutional Funds (since June 1999).
    * This is the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail Funds or Institutional Funds.

    

31





Trustees

Frank L. Bowman
Michael Bozic
Kathleen A. Dennis
James F. Higgins
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson
Joseph J. Kearns
Michael F. Klein
Michael E. Nugent
W. Allen Reed
Fergus Reid

Officers

Michael E. Nugent
Chairperson of the Board

Ronald E. Robison
President and Principal Executive Officer

J. David Germany
Vice President

Dennis F. Shea
Vice President

Amy R. Doberman
Vice President

Carsten Otto
Chief Compliance Officer

Stefanie V. Chang Yu
Vice President

Francis J. Smith
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Mary E. Mullin
Secretary

Transfer Agent

Morgan Stanley Trust
Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Deloitte & Touche LLP
Two World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281

Legal Counsel

Clifford Chance US LLP
31 West 52nd Street
New York, New York 10019

Counsel to the Independent Trustees

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036

Investment Adviser

Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10036

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of the Fund. For more detailed information about the Fund, its fees and expenses and other pertinent information, please read its Prospectus. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund, including its trustees. It is available, without charge, by calling (800) 869-NEWS.

This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by an effective Prospectus. Read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc., member FINRA.

© 2007 Morgan Stanley



CPOANNIU08-00175P-Y11/07
MORGAN STANLEY FUNDS


Morgan Stanley
Capital Opportunities Trust






Annual Report
November 30, 2007















Item 2. Code of Ethics.

(a) The Fund has adopted a code of ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the Fund or a third party.

(b) No information need be disclosed pursuant to this paragraph.

(c) Not applicable.

(d) Not applicable.

(e) Not applicable.

(f)

(1) The Fund’s Code of Ethics is attached hereto as Exhibit 12 A.

(2) Not applicable.

(3) Not applicable.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The Fund’s Board of Trustees has determined that Joseph J. Kearns, an “independent” Trustee, is an “audit committee financial expert” serving on its audit committee. Under applicable securities laws, a person who is determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an “expert” for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification

 

 

2

 



Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

(a)(b)(c)(d) and (g). Based on fees billed for the periods shown:

 

2007

 

 

Registrant

 

 

Covered Entities

(1)

Audit Fees

 

$

40,650

 

$

 

Non-Audit Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

$

(

2)

$

6,121,000

(2)

Tax Fees

 

$

5,837

(3)

$

964,000

(4)

All Other Fees

 

$

 

 

$

 

Total Non-Audit Fees

 

$

5,837

 

$

7,085,000

 

Total

 

$

46,487

 

$

7,085,000

 

 

 

2006

 

 

Registrant

 

 

Covered Entities

(1)

Audit Fees

 

$

39,700

 

 

N/A

 

Non-Audit Fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

$

5,531

(2)

$

5,162,000

(2)

Tax Fees

 

$

5,680

(3)

$

1,389,000

(4)

All Other Fees

 

$

 

 

$

6,551,000

(5)

Total Non-Audit Fees

 

$

11,211

 

 

 

Total

 

$

50,911

 

$

6,551,000

 

 

N/A- Not applicable, as not required by Item 4.

 

(1)

Covered Entities include the Adviser (excluding sub-advisors) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant.

 

(2)

Audit-Related Fees represent assurance and related services provided that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the financial statements of the Covered Entities’ and funds advised by the Adviser or its affiliates, specifically data verification and agreed-upon procedures related to asset securitizations and agreed-upon procedures engagements.

 

(3)

Tax Fees represent tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the preparation and review of the Registrant’s tax returns.

 

(4)

Tax Fees represent tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services provided in connection with the review of Covered Entities’ tax returns.

 

(5)

All other fees represent project management for future business applications and improving business and operational processes.

 

 

3

 



(e)(1) The audit committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures are as follows:

APPENDIX A

AUDIT COMMITTEE

AUDIT AND NON-AUDIT SERVICES

PRE-APPROVAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES

OF THE

MORGAN STANLEY RETAIL AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS

AS ADOPTED AND AMENDED JULY 23, 2004,1

1. Statement of Principles

The Audit Committee of the Board is required to review and, in its sole discretion, pre-approve all Covered Services to be provided by the Independent Auditors to the Fund and Covered Entities in order to assure that services performed by the Independent Auditors do not impair the auditor’s independence from the Fund.

The SEC has issued rules specifying the types of services that an independent auditor may not provide to its audit client, as well as the audit committee’s administration of the engagement of the independent auditor. The SEC’s rules establish two different approaches to pre-approving services, which the SEC considers to be equally valid. Proposed services either: may be pre-approved without consideration of specific case-by-case services by the Audit Committee (“general pre-approval”); or require the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee or its delegate (“specific pre-approval”). The Audit Committee believes that the combination of these two approaches in this Policy will result in an effective and efficient procedure to pre-approve services performed by the Independent Auditors. As set forth in this Policy, unless a type of service has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval authority has been delegated) if it is to be provided by the Independent Auditors. Any proposed services exceeding pre-approved cost levels or budgeted amounts will also require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

The appendices to this Policy describe the Audit, Audit-related, Tax and All Other services that have the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The term of any general pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval, unless the Audit Committee considers and provides a different period and states otherwise. The Audit Committee will annually review and pre-approve the services that may be provided by the Independent Auditors without obtaining specific pre-approval from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will add to or subtract from the list of general pre-approved services from time to time, based on subsequent determinations.

______________

1

This Audit Committee Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy and Procedures (the “Policy”), adopted as of the date above, supersedes and replaces all prior versions that may have been adopted from time to time.

 

 

4

 



The purpose of this Policy is to set forth the policy and procedures by which the Audit Committee intends to fulfill its responsibilities. It does not delegate the Audit Committee’s responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the Independent Auditors to management.

The Fund’s Independent Auditors have reviewed this Policy and believes that implementation of the Policy will not adversely affect the Independent Auditors’ independence.

2. Delegation

As provided in the Act and the SEC’s rules, the Audit Committee may delegate either type of pre-approval authority to one or more of its members. The member to whom such authority is delegated must report, for informational purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.

3. Audit Services

The annual Audit services engagement terms and fees are subject to the specific pre-approval of the Audit Committee. Audit services include the annual financial statement audit and other procedures required to be performed by the Independent Auditors to be able to form an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements. These other procedures include information systems and procedural reviews and testing performed in order to understand and place reliance on the systems of internal control, and consultations relating to the audit. The Audit Committee will approve, if necessary, any changes in terms, conditions and fees resulting from changes in audit scope, Fund structure or other items.

In addition to the annual Audit services engagement approved by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to other Audit services, which are those services that only the Independent Auditors reasonably can provide. Other Audit services may include statutory audits and services associated with SEC registration statements (on Forms N-1A, N-2, N-3, N-4, etc.), periodic reports and other documents filed with the SEC or other documents issued in connection with securities offerings.

The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit services in Appendix B.1. All other Audit services not listed in Appendix B.1 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).

4. Audit-related Services

Audit-related services are assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Fund’s financial statements and, to the extent they are Covered Services, the Covered Entities or that are traditionally performed by the Independent Auditors. Because the Audit Committee believes that the provision of Audit-related services does not impair the independence of the auditor and is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence, the Audit Committee may grant general pre-approval to Audit-related services. Audit-related services include, among others, accounting consultations related to accounting, financial reporting or disclosure matters

 

 

5

 



not classified as “Audit services”; assistance with understanding and implementing new accounting and financial reporting guidance from rulemaking authorities; agreed-upon or expanded audit procedures related to accounting and/or billing records required to respond to or comply with financial, accounting or regulatory reporting matters; and assistance with internal control reporting requirements under Forms N-SAR and/or N-CSR.

The Audit Committee has pre-approved the Audit-related services in Appendix B.2. All other Audit-related services not listed in Appendix B.2 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).

5. Tax Services

The Audit Committee believes that the Independent Auditors can provide Tax services to the Fund and, to the extent they are Covered Services, the Covered Entities, such as tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice without impairing the auditor’s independence, and the SEC has stated that the Independent Auditors may provide such services.

Pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Audit Committee has pre-approved the Tax Services in Appendix B.3. All Tax services in Appendix B.3 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).

6. All Other Services

The Audit Committee believes, based on the SEC’s rules prohibiting the Independent Auditors from providing specific non-audit services, that other types of non-audit services are permitted. Accordingly, the Audit Committee believes it may grant general pre-approval to those permissible non-audit services classified as All Other services that it believes are routine and recurring services, would not impair the independence of the auditor and are consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.

The Audit Committee has pre-approved the All Other services in Appendix B.4. Permissible All Other services not listed in Appendix B.4 must be specifically pre-approved by the Audit Committee (or by any member of the Audit Committee to which pre-approval has been delegated).

7. Pre-Approval Fee Levels or Budgeted Amounts

Pre-approval fee levels or budgeted amounts for all services to be provided by the Independent Auditors will be established annually by the Audit Committee. Any proposed services exceeding these levels or amounts will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is mindful of the overall relationship of fees for audit and non-audit services in determining whether to pre-approve any such services.

8. Procedures

All requests or applications for services to be provided by the Independent Auditors that do not require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and must include a detailed description of the services to be

 

 

6

 



rendered. The Fund’s Chief Financial Officer will determine whether such services are included within the list of services that have received the general pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will be informed on a timely basis of any such services rendered by the Independent Auditors. Requests or applications to provide services that require specific approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the Independent Auditors and the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer, and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC’s rules on auditor independence.

The Audit Committee has designated the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer to monitor the performance of all services provided by the Independent Auditors and to determine whether such services are in compliance with this Policy. The Fund’s Chief Financial Officer will report to the Audit Committee on a periodic basis on the results of its monitoring. Both the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer and management will immediately report to the chairman of the Audit Committee any breach of this Policy that comes to the attention of the Fund’s Chief Financial Officer or any member of management.

9. Additional Requirements

The Audit Committee has determined to take additional measures on an annual basis to meet its responsibility to oversee the work of the Independent Auditors and to assure the auditor’s independence from the Fund, such as reviewing a formal written statement from the Independent Auditors delineating all relationships between the Independent Auditors and the Fund, consistent with Independence Standards Board No. 1, and discussing with the Independent Auditors its methods and procedures for ensuring independence.

10. Covered Entities

Covered Entities include the Fund’s investment adviser(s) and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Fund’s investment adviser(s) that provides ongoing services to the Fund(s). Beginning with non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the Fund’s audit committee must pre-approve non-audit services provided not only to the Fund but also to the Covered Entities if the engagements relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. This list of Covered Entities would include:

Morgan Stanley Retail Funds

Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Morgan Stanley DW Inc.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited

Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company

Van Kampen Asset Management

Morgan Stanley Services Company, Inc.

Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc.

Morgan Stanley Trust FSB

 

 

7

 



Morgan Stanley Institutional Funds

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.

Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Private Limited

Morgan Stanley Asset & Investment Trust Management Co., Limited

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Company

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

Morgan Stanley Distribution, Inc.

Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP

Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners LP

(e)(2) Beginning with non-audit service contracts entered into on or after May 6, 2003, the audit committee also is required to pre-approve services to Covered Entities to the extent that the services are determined to have a direct impact on the operations or financial reporting of the Registrant. 100% of such services were pre-approved by the audit committee pursuant to the Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures (attached hereto).

(f) Not applicable.

(g) See table above.

(h) The audit committee of the Board of Trustees has considered whether the provision of services other than audit services performed by the auditors to the Registrant and Covered Entities is compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence in performing audit services.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

(a)

The Fund has a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act whose members are:

Joseph Kearns, Michael Nugent and Allen Reed.

 

(b)

Not applicable.

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

Refer to Item 1.

 

 

8

 



Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies

Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.

Item 9. Closed-End Fund Repurchases

Applicable only to reports filed by closed-end funds.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Not applicable.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures

(a) The Fund’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Fund’s disclosure controls and procedures are sufficient to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, based upon such officers’ evaluation of these controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits

(a) The Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers is attached hereto.

(b) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant are attached hereto as part of EX-99.CERT.

 

 

9

 



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

 

 

 


/s/ Ronald E. Robison

 

 

Ronald E. Robison
Principal Executive Officer
January 17, 2008

 

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

/s/ Ronald E. Robison

 

 

Ronald E. Robison
Principal Executive Officer
January 17, 2008

 

 

 

 

/s/ Francis Smith

 

 

Francis Smith
Principal Financial Officer
January 17, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

10

 



EXHIBIT 12 A

CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS

ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 28, 2004, AS AMENDED SEPTEMBER 20, 2005

I.

This Code of Ethics (the “Code”) for the investment companies within the Morgan Stanley complex identified in Exhibit A (collectively, “Funds” and each, a “Fund”) applies to each Fund’s Principal Executive Officer, President, Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer (or persons performing similar functions) (“Covered Officers” each of whom are set forth in Exhibit B) for the purpose of promoting:

 

honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships.

 

full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a company files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in other public communications made by the Fund;

 

compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations;

 

prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and

 

accountability for adherence to the Code.

Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest. Any question about the application of the Code should be referred to the General Counsel or his/her designee (who is set forth in Exhibit C).

II.

Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest

Overview. A “conflict of interest” occurs when a Covered Officer’s private interest interferes, or appears to interfere, with the interests of, or his service to, the Fund. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his position with the Fund.

Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the

 

 

11

 



Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment Company Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Investment Advisers Act”). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with the Fund because of their status as “affiliated persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund. The Fund’s and its investment adviser’s compliance programs and procedures are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside the parameters of this Code, unless or until the General Counsel determines that any violation of such programs and procedures is also a violation of this Code.

Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts may arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the Fund and its investment adviser of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the Fund or for the investment adviser, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that will have different effects on the Fund and its investment adviser. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Fund and the investment adviser and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Fund. Thus, if performed in conformity with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Funds’ Boards of Directors/Trustees (“Boards”) that the Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes.

Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the Fund.

Each Covered Officer must not:

 

use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Fund whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally (directly or indirectly);

 

cause the Fund to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer rather than the benefit of the Fund; or

 

use material non-public knowledge of portfolio transactions made or contemplated for, or actions proposed to be taken by, the Fund to trade personally or cause others to trade personally in contemplation of the market effect of such transactions.

 

 

12

 



Each Covered Officer must, at the time of signing this Code, report to the General Counsel all affiliations or significant business relationships outside the Morgan Stanley complex and must update the report annually.

Conflict of interest situations should always be approved by the General Counsel and communicated to the relevant Fund or Fund’s Board. Any activity or relationship that would present such a conflict for a Covered Officer would likely also present a conflict for the Covered Officer if an immediate member of the Covered Officer’s family living in the same household engages in such an activity or has such a relationship. Examples of these include:

 

service or significant business relationships as a director on the board of any public or private company;

 

accepting directly or indirectly, anything of value, including gifts and gratuities in excess of $100 per year from any person or entity with which the Fund has current or prospective business dealings, not including occasional meals or tickets for theatre or sporting events or other similar entertainment; provided it is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise any question of impropriety;

 

any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any of the Fund’s service providers, other than its investment adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person thereof; and

 

a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by the Fund for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or redeeming shares other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s employment, such as compensation or equity ownership.

III.

Disclosure and Compliance

 

Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself/herself with the disclosure and compliance requirements generally applicable to the Funds;

 

each Covered Officer must not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Fund to others, whether within or outside the Fund, including to the Fund’s Directors/Trustees and auditors, or to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations;

 

each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Funds and their investment advisers with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds; and

 

 

13

 



 

it is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

IV.

Reporting and Accountability

Each Covered Officer must:

 

upon adoption of the Code (thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing to the Boards that he has received, read and understands the Code;

 

annually thereafter affirm to the Boards that he has complied with the requirements of the Code;

 

not retaliate against any other Covered Officer, other officer or any employee of the Funds or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith; and

 

notify the General Counsel promptly if he/she knows or suspects of any violation of this Code. Failure to do so is itself a violation of this Code.

The General Counsel is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. However, any waivers2 sought by a Covered Officer must be considered by the Board of the relevant Fund or Funds.

The Funds will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:

 

the General Counsel will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him;

 

if, after such investigation, the General Counsel believes that no violation has occurred, the General Counsel is not required to take any further action;

 

any matter that the General Counsel believes is a violation will be reported to the relevant Fund’s Audit Committee;

 

if the directors/trustees/managing general partners who are not “interested persons” as defined by the Investment Company Act (the “Independent Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners”) of the relevant Fund concur that a violation has occurred, they will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable

______________

2

Item 2 of Form N-CSR defines “waiver” as “the approval by the registrant of a material departure from a provision of the code of ethics.”

 

 

14

 



policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the investment adviser or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer or other appropriate disciplinary actions;

 

the Independent Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners of the relevant Fund will be responsible for granting waivers of this Code, as appropriate; and

 

any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules.

V.

Other Policies and Procedures

This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Funds, the Funds’ investment advisers, principal underwriters, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code unless any provision of this Code conflicts with any applicable federal or state law, in which case the requirements of such law will govern. The Funds’ and their investment advisers’ and principal underwriters’ codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act and Morgan Stanley’s Code of Ethics are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this Code.

VI.

Amendments

Any amendments to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibits A, B or C, must be approved or ratified by a majority vote of the Board of each Fund, including a majority of Independent Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners.

VII.

Confidentiality

All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the Independent Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners of the relevant Fund or Funds and their counsel, the relevant Fund or Funds and their counsel and the relevant investment adviser and its counsel.

 

 

15

 



VIII.

Internal Use

The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the Funds and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of any Fund, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion

I have read and understand the terms of the above Code. I recognize the responsibilities and obligations incurred by me as a result of my being subject to the Code. I hereby agree to abide by the above Code.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

 

16

 



Exhibit A

Fund List

at

October 31, 2007

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 Allocator Fund (“Allocator Fund”)+

13.

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust (“Capital Opportunities”)+

14.

Morgan Stanley Developing Growth Securities Trust (“Developing Growth”)+

15.

Morgan Stanley Diversified Series Fund – International Equity

16.

Morgan Stanley Diversified Series Fund – Large Cap Equity

17.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Growth Securities Inc. (“Dividend Growth”)+

18.

Morgan Stanley Equally-Weighted S&P 500 Fund (“Equally-Weighted S&P 500”)+

19.

Morgan Stanley European Equity Fund Inc. (“European Equity”)+

20.

Morgan Stanley Financial Services Trust (“Financial Services”)+

21.

Morgan Stanley Focus Growth Fund (“Focus Growth”)+

22.

Morgan Stanley Fundamental Value Fund (“Fundamental Value”)+

23.

Morgan Stanley FX Series – FX Alpha Plus Strategy Portfolio (“Alpha Plus”)+

24.

Morgan Stanley FX Series – FX Alpha Strategy Portfolio (“Alpha”)+

 

 

17

 



25.

Morgan Stanley Global Advantage Fund (“Global Advantage”)+

26.

Morgan Stanley Global Dividend Growth Securities (“Global Dividend Growth”)+

27.

Morgan Stanley Health Sciences Trust (“Health Sciences”)+

28.

Morgan Stanley Institutional Strategies Fund (“Institutional Strategies”)+

29.

Morgan Stanley International Fund (“International Fund”)+

30.

Morgan Stanley International SmallCap Fund (“International SmallCap”)+

31.

Morgan Stanley International Value Equity Fund (“International Value”)+

32.

Morgan Stanley Japan Fund (“Japan Fund”)+

33.

Morgan Stanley Mid-Cap Value Fund (#147;Mid-Cap Value”)+

34.

Morgan Stanley Multi-Asset Class Fund (“Multi-Asset Class”)+

35.

Morgan Stanley Nasdaq-100 Index Fund (“Nasdaq-100”)+

36.

Morgan Stanley Natural Resource Development Securities Inc. (“Natural Resource”)+

37.

Morgan Stanley Pacific Growth Fund Inc. (“Pacific Growth”)+

38.

Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund (“Real Estate”)+

39.

Morgan Stanley Small-Mid Special Value Fund (“Small-Mid Special Value”)+

40.

Morgan Stanley S&P 500 Index Fund (“S&P500 Index”)+

41.

Morgan Stanley Special Growth Fund (“Special Growth”)+

42.

Morgan Stanley Special Value Fund (“Special Value”)+

43.

Morgan Stanley Technology Fund (“Technology”)+

44.

Morgan Stanley Total Market Index Fund (“Total Market Index”)+

45.

Morgan Stanley Utilities Fund (“Utilities Fund”)+

46.

Morgan Stanley Value Fund (“Value Fund”)+

Balanced Funds

47.

Morgan Stanley Balanced Fund (“Balanced”)+

Asset Allocation Fund

48.

Morgan Stanley Strategist Fund (“Strategist Fund”)+

Taxable Fixed-Income Funds

49.

Morgan Stanley Convertible Securities Trust (“Convertible Securities”)+

50.

Morgan Stanley Flexible Income Trust (“Flexible Income”)+

51.

Morgan Stanley Income Trust (“Income Trust”)+

52.

Morgan Stanley High Yield Securities Inc. (“High Yield Securities”)+

53.

Morgan Stanley Limited Duration Fund (“Limited Duration Fund”)

54.

Morgan Stanley Limited Duration U.S. Government Trust (“Limited Duration U.S. Government”)

55.

Morgan Stanley Mortgage Securities Trust (“Mortgage Securities”)+

56.

Morgan Stanley U.S. Government Securities Trust (“Government Securities”)+

 

 

18

 



Tax-Exempt Fixed-Income Funds

57.

Morgan Stanley California Tax-Free Income Fund (“California Tax-Free”)+

58.

Morgan Stanley Limited Term Municipal Trust (“Limited Term Municipal”)

59.

Morgan Stanley New York Tax-Free Income Fund (“New York Tax-Free”)+

60.

Morgan Stanley Tax-Exempt Securities Trust (“Tax-Exempt Securities”)+

Special Purpose Funds

61.

Morgan Stanley Select Dimensions Investment Series (“Select Dimensions”)

 

Balanced Growth Portfolio

 

Capital Opportunities Portfolio

 

Developing Growth Portfolio

 

Dividend Growth Portfolio

 

Equally-Weighted S&P 500 Portfolio

 

Flexible Income Portfolio

 

Focus Growth Portfolio

 

Global Equity Portfolio

 

Growth Portfolio

 

Money Market Portfolio

 

Utilities Portfolio

62.

Morgan Stanley Variable Investment Series (“Variable Investment”)

 

Aggressive Equity Portfolio

 

Dividend Growth Portfolio

 

Equity Portfolio

 

European Equity Portfolio

 

Global Advantage Portfolio

 

Global Dividend Growth Portfolio

 

High Yield Portfolio

 

Income Builder Portfolio

 

Limited Duration Portfolio

 

Money Market Portfolio

 

Income Plus Portfolio

 

S&P 500 Index Portfolio

 

Strategist Portfolio

 

Utilities Portfolio

Closed-End Retail Funds

Taxable Fixed-Income Closed-End Funds

63.

Morgan Stanley Income Securities Inc. (“Income Securities”)

64.

Morgan Stanley Prime Income Trust (“Prime Income”)

 

 

19

 



Tax-Exempt Fixed-Income Closed-End Funds

65.

Morgan Stanley California Insured Municipal Income Trust (“California Insured Municipal”)

66.

Morgan Stanley California Quality Municipal Securities (“California Quality Municipal”)

67.

Morgan Stanley Insured California Municipal Securities (“Insured California Securities”)

68.

Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Bond Trust (“Insured Municipal Bond”)

69.

Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust (“Insured Municipal Income”)

70.

Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Securities (“Insured Municipal Securities”)

71.

Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Trust (“Insured Municipal Trust”)

72.

Morgan Stanley Municipal Income Opportunities Trust (“Municipal Opportunities”)

73.

Morgan Stanley Municipal Income Opportunities Trust II (“Municipal Opportunities II”)

74.

Morgan Stanley Municipal Income Opportunities Trust III (“Municipal Opportunities III”)

75.

Morgan Stanley Municipal Premium Income Trust (“Municipal Premium”)

76.

Morgan Stanley New York Quality Municipal Securities (“New York Quality Municipal”)

77.

Morgan Stanley Quality Municipal Income Trust (“Quality Municipal Income”)

78.

Morgan Stanley Quality Municipal Investment Trust (“Quality Municipal Investment”)

79.

Morgan Stanley Quality Municipal Securities (“Quality Municipal Securities”)

+-

Denotes Retail Multi-Class Fund

INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS

Open-End Institutional Funds

1.

Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (“Institutional Fund Inc.”)

Active Portfolios:

 

Active International Allocation Portfolio

 

Emerging Markets Portfolio

 

Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio

 

Focus Equity Portfolio

 

Global Franchise Portfolio

 

Global Real Estate Portfolio

 

Global Value Equity Portfolio

 

International Equity Portfolio

 

International Growth Equity Portfolio

 

International Magnum Portfolio

 

International Real Estate Portfolio

 

International Small Cap Portfolio

 

Large Cap Relative Value Portfolio

 

 

20

 



 

Money Market Portfolio

 

Municipal Money Market Portfolio

 

Small Company Growth Portfolio

 

Systematic Active large Cap Core Portfolio

 

Systematic Active Small Cap Core Portfolio

 

Systematic Active Small Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Systematic Active Small Cap Value Portfolio

 

U.S. Large Cap Growth Portfolio

 

U.S. Real Estate Portfolio

Inactive Portfolios*:

 

China Growth Portfolio

 

Gold Portfolio

 

Large Cap Relative Value Portfolio

 

MicroCap Portfolio

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio

 

Municipal Bond Portfolio

 

U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio

2.

Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund Trust (“Institutional Fund Trust”)

Active Portfolios:

 

Advisory Portfolio

 

Advisory Foreign Fixed Income II Portfolio

 

Advisory Foreign Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Balanced Portfolio

 

Core Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Equity Portfolio

 

Equity Plus Portfolio

 

High Yield Portfolio

 

Intermediate Duration Portfolio

 

International Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Investment Grade Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Limited Duration Portfolio

 

Long Duration Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Municipal Portfolio

 

U.S. Mid-Cap Value Portfolio

______________

*

Have not commenced or have ceased operations

 

 

21

 



 

U.S. Small-Cap Value Portfolio

 

Value Portfolio

Inactive Portfolios*:

 

Balanced Plus Portfolio

 

Growth Portfolio

 

Investment Grade Credit Advisory Portfolio

 

Mortgage Advisory Portfolio

 

New York Municipal Portfolio

 

Targeted Duration Portfolio

 

Value II Portfolio

3.

The Universal Institutional Funds, Inc. (“Universal Funds”)

Active Portfolios:

 

Core Plus Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio

 

Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio

 

Equity and Income Portfolio

 

Equity Growth Portfolio

 

Global Franchise Portfolio

 

Global Real Estate Portfolio

 

Global Value Equity Portfolio

 

High Yield Portfolio

 

International Growth Equity Portfolio

 

International Magnum Portfolio

 

Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio

 

Small Company Growth Portfolio

 

U.S. Mid-Cap Value Portfolio

 

U.S. Real Estate Portfolio

 

Value Portfolio

Inactive Portfolios*:

 

Balanced Portfolio

 

Capital Preservation Portfolio

 

Core Equity Portfolio

 

International Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Investment Grade Fixed Income Portfolio

 

Latin American Portfolio

 

Multi-Asset Class Portfolio

 

Targeted Duration Portfolio

______________

 

 

22

 



4.

Morgan Stanley Institutional Liquidity Funds (“Liquidity Funds”)

Active Portfolios:

 

Government Portfolio

 

Money Market Portfolio

 

Prime Portfolio

 

Tax-Exempt Portfolio

 

Treasury Portfolio

Inactive Portfolios*:

 

Government Securities Portfolio

 

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”)

15.

India Investment Fund (“India Investment”)

Closed-End Fund of Hedge Funds

16.

Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund of Hedge Funds (“Fund of Hedge Funds”)

In Registration

Morgan Stanley Retail Funds

1.

Morgan Stanley American Franchise Fund

Funds of Hedge Funds

1.

Morgan Stanley Absolute Return Fund

2.

Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund of Hedge Funds II

______________

*

Have not commenced or have ceased operations

 

 

23

 



EXHIBIT B

Institutional Funds

Covered Officers

Ronald E. Robison –President and Principal Executive Officer

James W. Garrett – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Retail Funds

Covered Officers

Ronald E. Robison –President and Principal Executive Officer

Francis Smith – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund, Inc.

Covered Officers

Ronald E. Robison – President and Principal Executive Officer

James W. Garrett – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

24

 



EXHIBIT C

General Counsel

Arthur Lev

 

 

25

 



EXHIBIT 12 B1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Ronald E. Robison, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust;

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)

designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

d)

disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

 

26

 



a)

all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Date: January 17, 2008

 

 

 

 

 


/s/ Ronald E. Robison

 

 

 

Ronald E. Robison
Principal Executive Officer

 

 

 

27

 



EXHIBIT 12 B2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Francis Smith, certify that:

1.

I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust;

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.

The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

a)

designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)

designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)

evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and

d)

disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

 

28

 



a)

all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

b)

any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Date: January 17, 2008

 

 

 

 

 


/s/ Francis Smith

 

 

 

Francis Smith
Principal Financial Officer

 

 

29

 



SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

In connection with the Report on Form N-CSR (the “Report”) of the above-named issuer for the period ended November 30, 2007 that is accompanied by this certification, the undersigned hereby certifies that:

1.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer.

 

Date: January 17, 2008

 

 

 

 

 


/s/ Ronald E. Robison

 

 

 

Ronald E. Robison
Principal Executive Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust and will be retained by Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 

30

 



SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust

In connection with the Report on Form N-CSR (the “Report”) of the above-named issuer for the period ended November 30, 2007 that is accompanied by this certification, the undersigned hereby certifies that:

1.

The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer.

 

Date: January 17, 2008

 

 

 

 

 


/s/ Francis Smith

 

 

 

Francis Smith
Principal Financial Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust and will be retained by Morgan Stanley Capital Opportunities Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

 

31