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: 811-06590 Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Ronald E. Robison 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020 (Name and address of agent for service) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 212-762-4000 Date of fiscal year end: October 31, 2003 Date of reporting period: October 31, 2003 Item 1 - Report to Shareholders
Welcome, Shareholder:
In this report, you'll learn about how your investment in Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income 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 Trust's financial statements and a list of Trust investments.
Market forecasts provided in this report may not necessarily come to pass. There is no assurance that the Trust will achieve its investment objective. The Trust is subject to market risk, which is the possibility that market values of securities owned by the Trust will decline and, therefore, the value of the Trust shares may be less than what you paid for them. Accordingly, you can lose money investing in this Trust. |
Fund Report | |
For the year ended October 31, 2003 | |
Market Conditions
Over the past 12 months the tone of the U.S. economy shifted from weak to accelerating growth culminating in 8.2 percent GDP growth in the third quarter of 2003. One of the most closely watched economic indicators, employment strength, was in negative territory for much of the period. Repeated comments from government and private sector economists suggesting that the U.S. economy might be entering a deflationary period also weighed heavily on investors during much of the year. At the same time, ongoing budgetary and fiscal difficulties at the state and local levels contributed to ratings downgrades for many municipal bonds. The Federal Reserve Board attempted to allay these fears and keep the economy moving forward by cutting the federal funds target rate twice to a level of 1.0 percent.
The uncertain economic climate had an effect on the municipal bond market. While yields on intermediate- and long-term bonds ended the period roughly where they began, the road between those two points was decidedly bumpy. The 12-month period can be divided into two distinct market environments. The first, which lasted from October 2002 to mid-June 2003, saw municipal yields fall by roughly 75 basis points to levels not seen since the late 1960s. Plummeting yields led to a surge in issuance as municipalities moved to lock in new low financing rates and, in the case of older bonds, low refinancing costs. Record levels of supply met with strong demand by investors in search of tax-exempt income to offset low money market rates. Also, the relatively attractive yield of municipal bonds versus Treasuries created demand from institutional taxable investors who "crossed-over" to purchase municipals.
The municipal market reversed abruptly in mid-June, when yields began to climb from their lows and investors shifted their attention to the improving equity market. Participation from cross-over investors also evaporated as taxable yields rose faster than those of tax-exempts. Issuance remained strong through July, but declined over the last three months as yields rose. These forces combined to push municipal-bond yields above their historic lows, ending the fiscal year near where they began.
Performance Analysis
The net asset value (NAV) of Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust (IIM) increased from $15.67 to $15.76 per share for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003. Based on this change plus reinvestment of tax-free dividends totaling $0.9025 per share the Trust's total NAV return was 6.99 percent. IIM's value on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) increased from $14.05 to $14.73 per share during the same period. Based on this change plus reinvestment of tax-free dividends, the Trust's total market return was 11.53 percent. On October 31, 2003, IIM's NYSE market price was at a 6.54 percent discount to its NAV. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Monthly dividends for the fourth quarter of 2003 were declared in September. Beginning with the October
2
payment the monthly payment increased from $0.075 to $0.0775 per share. The new dividend reflects the level of the Trust's undistributed net investment income and projected earnings power. The Trust's level of undistributed net investment income was $0.194 per share on October 31, 2003, versus $0.187 per share as of October 31, 2002.
From a strategic point of view, with interest rates at multi-decade lows, we also became increasingly concerned that the next significant shift in interest rates might be upward. As a result, we began to establish a hedge position by selling Treasury futures to reduce the portfolio's duration (a measure of interest rate sensitivity). This allowed us to maintain an average maturity target range of 20 years in order to take advantage of the steepness of the municipal yield curve. Nevertheless, market yields on new investments were lower than the book yields on portfolio holdings called for redemption. The portfolio's duration adjusted for leverage was 11.6 years. We continued to emphasize revenue bonds in sectors tied to reliable income streams from essential services such as municipal electric, transportation and water and sewer. As of October 31, 2003, the Trust's net assets, including preferred shares, of $537 million were diversified across 82 credits in 12 long-term sectors.
As discussed in previous reports, the total income available for distributon to holders of common shares includes incremental income provided by the Trust's outstanding Auction Rate Preferred Shares (ARPS). ARPS dividends reflect prevailing interest rates on maturities normally ranging from one week to two years. Incremental income to holders of common shares depends on two factors. The first is the amount of ARPS outstanding, the second the spread between the portfolio's cost yield and its ARPS expenses (ARPS auction rate and expenses). The greater the spread and the amount of ARPS outstanding, the greater the amount of incremental income available for distribution to holders of common shares. The level of net investment income available for distribution varies with the level of short-term interest rates. ARPS leverage also increases the price volatility of common shares and has the effect of extending portfolio duration.
During the 12-month period, ARPS leverage contributed approximately $0.19 per share to common share earnings. The Trust has five ARPS series totaling $155 million and representing 29 percent of net assets, including preferred shares. All five series are currently in two-year auction modes with maturities ranging from January 2004 to September 2005. The yields range from 1.20 to 2.47 percent.
The Trust's procedure for reinvesting all dividends and distributions in common shares is through purchases in the open market. This method helps support the market value of the Trust's shares. In addition, we would like to remind you that the Trustees have approved a procedure whereby the Trust may, when appropriate, purchase shares in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions at a price not above market value or net asset value, whichever is lower at the time of purchase. The Trust may also utilize
3
procedures to reduce or eliminate the amount of outstanding ARPS, including their purchase in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. During the 12-month period ended October 31, 2003, the Trust purchased and retired 1,047,375 shares of common stock at a weighted average market discount of 7.9 percent.
LARGEST SECTORS | ||||||
Transportation | 22.0 | % | ||||
General Obligation | 15.2 | |||||
Electric | 14.1 | |||||
Water & Sewer | 13.4 | |||||
Public Facilities | 7.8 | |||||
CREDIT ENHANCEMENTS | ||||||
Ambac | 30.4 | % | ||||
MBIA | 29.4 | |||||
FGIC | 23.7 | |||||
FSA | 16.5 | |||||
Subject to change daily. Largest sectors and credit enhancements are a percentage of total long-term investments. Provided for informational purposes only and should not be deemed as a recommendation to buy or sell the securities mentioned. Morgan Stanley is a full-service firm engaged in securities trading and brokerage activities, investment banking, research and analysis, financing and financial advisory services. |
Results of Annual Shareholder Meeting
On October 29, 2003, an annual meeting of the Trust's shareholders was held for the purpose of voting on the following matter, the results of which were as follows:
(1) Election of Trustees:
Edwin J. Garn | ||||||
For: | 19,238,244 | |||||
Withheld: | 372,841 | |||||
Joseph J. Kearns | ||||||
For: | 19,253,717 | |||||
Withheld: | 357,368 | |||||
Michael E. Nugent | ||||||
For: | 19,248,958 | |||||
Withheld: | 362,127 | |||||
Philip J. Purcell | ||||||
For: | 19,240,232 | |||||
Withheld: | 370,853 | |||||
Fergus Reid | ||||||
For: | 19,240,961 | |||||
Withheld: | 370,124 | |||||
The following Trustees were not standing for reelection at this meeting: Michael Bozic, Charles A. Fiumefreddo, Wayne E. Hedien, James F. Higgins and Dr. Manuel H. Johnson.
4
Distribution by Maturity | |
(% of Long-Term Portfolio) | |
Weighted Average Maturity: 20 Years
Portfolio structure is subject to change. |
Geographic Summary
of Investments
Based on Market Value as a Percent of Total
Investments
Arizona | 1.5 | % | ||||
California | 10.8 | |||||
Colorado | 1.4 | |||||
District of Columbia | 2.9 | |||||
Florida | 9.9 | |||||
Hawaii | 1.1 | |||||
Illinois | 6.6 | |||||
Indiana | 3.4 | |||||
Kentucky | 1.4 | % | ||||
Louisiana | 3.0 | |||||
Massachusetts | 4.9 | |||||
Michigan | 3.6 | |||||
Minnesota | 1.0 | |||||
Missouri | 1.0 | |||||
Nebraska | 0.9 | |||||
Nevada | 4.4 | |||||
New Hampshire | 0.8 | % | ||||
New Jersey | 1.0 | |||||
New York | 8.3 | |||||
North Carolina | 1.2 | |||||
Ohio | 1.4 | |||||
Pennsylvania | 4.6 | |||||
Rhode Island | 1.9 | |||||
South Carolina | 3.6 | |||||
Tennessee | 0.8 | % | ||||
Texas | 12.1 | |||||
Utah | 1.7 | |||||
Virginia | 1.2 | |||||
Washington | 2.5 | |||||
West Virginia | 1.1 | |||||
Total | 100.0 | % | ||||
5
Call and Cost (Book) Yield Structure | |
Years Bonds Callable—Weighted Average Call Protection: 8 Years
(Based on Long-Term Portfolio) As of 10/31/03
Cost (Book) Yield(b)—Weighted Average Book Yield: 5.2%
(Based on Long-Term Portfolio) As of 10/31/03
(a) | May include issues callable in previous years. |
(b) | Cost or "book" yield is the annual income earned on a portfolio investment based on its original purchase price before the Trust's operating expenses. For example, the Trust is earning a book yield of 5.9% on 11% of the long-term portfolio that is callable in 2003. Portfolio structure is subject to change. |
6
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Portfolio of Investments October 31, 2003
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS |
COUPON RATE |
MATURITY DATE |
VALUE | |||||||||||||||
Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds (134.9%) | ||||||||||||||||||
General Obligation (20.5%) | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | 5,000 | Solano
County Community College District, California, Election of 2002, Ser A (MBIA) |
4.75 | % | 08/01/26 | $ | 4,917,650 | |||||||||||
District of Columbia, | ||||||||||||||||||
5,000 | Refg Ser 1993 B (Ambac) | 5.50 | 06/01/09 | 5,665,800 | ||||||||||||||
6,000 | Refg Ser 1993 B (FSA) | 5.50 | 06/01/10 | 6,805,920 | ||||||||||||||
9,000 | Florida
State Board of Education, Capital Outlay Refg 2002 Ser
C (MBIA) |
5.00 | 06/01/19 | 9,403,920 | ||||||||||||||
Aurora West School District 129, Illinois, | ||||||||||||||||||
1,000 | School Building Ser 2002 A (FGIC) | 5.75 | 02/01/20 | 1,104,860 | ||||||||||||||
2,000 | School Building Ser 2002 A (FGIC) | 5.75 | 02/01/21 | 2,200,940 | ||||||||||||||
15,000 | Chicago, Illinois, Neighborhoods Alive 21 Ser 2001 A (FGIC) | 5.50 | 01/01/36 | 15,663,450 | ||||||||||||||
15,000 | Massachusetts, Refg 2003 Ser D (Ambac) | 5.50 | 10/01/19 | 16,965,900 | ||||||||||||||
8,000 | Washoe County, Nevada, Reno - Sparks Convention Ltd Tax Ser 1993 A (FGIC) | 5.75 | 07/01/22 | 8,489,120 | ||||||||||||||
Pennsylvania, | ||||||||||||||||||
995 | First Ser 2003 RITES PA - 1112 A (MBIA) | 8.481 | ‡ | 01/01/18 | 1,107,216 | |||||||||||||
1,555 | First Ser 2003 RITES PA - 1112 B (MBIA) | 8.481 | ‡ | 01/01/19 | 1,703,907 | |||||||||||||
4,000 | Houston, Texas, Public Impr & Refg Ser 2001 B (FSA) | 5.50 | 03/01/17 | 4,401,760 | ||||||||||||||
72,550 | 78,430,443 | |||||||||||||||||
Educational Facilities Revenue (6.1%) | ||||||||||||||||||
2,500 | University of Arizona COPs 2003 Ser B (Ambac) | 5.00 | 06/01/23 | 2,551,425 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | University of California, Ser 2003 B (Ambac) (WI) | 5.00 | 05/15/22 | 4,109,880 | ||||||||||||||
3,000 | District of Columbia, American Association for the Advancement of Science Ser 1997 (Ambac) | 5.125 | 01/01/27 | 3,018,540 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | Illinois
Educational Facilities Authority, DePaul University Refg Ser 1997 (Ambac) |
5.50 | 10/01/19 | 4,360,360 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | New Hampshire Health & Education Facilities Authority, University of New Hampshire Ser 2001 (Ambac) | 5.125 | 07/01/33 | 4,064,080 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, Higher Education Capital Improvement Fund, Ser 2002 A (Ambac)†† | 5.25 | 09/01/21 | 5,292,950 | ||||||||||||||
22,500 | 23,397,235 | |||||||||||||||||
Electric Revenue (19.0%) | ||||||||||||||||||
10,000 | California
Department of Water Resources, Power Supply Ser 2002 A (Ambac) |
5.375 | 05/01/18 | 10,843,200 | ||||||||||||||
3,275 | Massachusetts
Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, 1993 Ser A (Ambac) |
5.00 | 07/01/10 | 3,577,774 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Nebraska Public Power District, 2003 Ser A (Ambac) | 5.00 | 01/01/35 | 5,032,800 | ||||||||||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
7
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Portfolio of Investments October 31, 2003 continued
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS |
COUPON RATE |
MATURITY DATE |
VALUE | |||||||||||||||
$ | 3,000 | Long
Island Power Authority, New York, Electrical System Refg Ser 2003 C (FSA) |
5.00 | % | 09/01/28 | $ | 3,030,690 | |||||||||||
6,000 | North Carolina Municipal Power Agency #1, Catawba Ser 2003 A (MBIA) | 5.25 | 01/01/19 | 6,385,620 | ||||||||||||||
3,000 | Piedmont Municipal Power Agency, South Carolina, Refg Ser 1993 (MBIA) | 5.375 | 01/01/25 | 3,194,430 | ||||||||||||||
10,000 | South Carolina Public Service Authority, Ser 2003 A (Ambac) | 5.00 | 01/01/27 | 10,106,300 | ||||||||||||||
Lower Colorado River Authority, Texas, | ||||||||||||||||||
10,000 | Refg Ser 1999 A (FSA) | 5.875 | 05/15/16 | 11,358,500 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Refg Ser 2001 (FSA) | 5.00 | 05/15/26 | 5,024,850 | ||||||||||||||
8,800 | Refg Ser 2002 (MBIA) | 5.00 | 05/15/31 | 8,839,600 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Intermountain Power Agency, Utah, 2003 Ser A (FSA) | 5.00 | 07/01/21 | 5,138,600 | ||||||||||||||
69,075 | 72,532,364 | |||||||||||||||||
Hospital Revenue (10.1%) | ||||||||||||||||||
5,000 | Mesa Industrial Development Authority, Arizona, Discovery Health Ser 1999 A (MBIA) | 5.875 | 01/01/16 | 5,638,600 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, Florida, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Refg Ser 1998 B (MBIA) | 5.25 | 07/01/24 | 5,252,150 | ||||||||||||||
3,000 | Indiana Health Facilities Financing Authority, Deaconess Hospital Inc Refg Ser 1993 (MBIA) | 5.75 | 03/01/15 | 3,070,800 | ||||||||||||||
5,500 | Massachusetts Health & Educational Facilities Authority, Lahey Clinic Medical Center Ser B (MBIA) | 5.625 | 07/01/15 | 5,629,195 | ||||||||||||||
2,000 | Missouri Health & Educational Facilities Authority, SSM Health Care Ser 1998 A (MBIA) | 5.00 | 06/01/22 | 2,024,520 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | Washington County Hospital Authority, Pennsylvania, Washington Hospital Ser 1993 (Ambac) | 5.625 | 07/01/23 | 4,090,240 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | Chattanooga-Hamilton County Hospital Authority, Tennessee, Erlanger Medical Center Refg Ser 1993 (FSA) | 5.50 | 10/01/13 | 4,093,600 | ||||||||||||||
Amarillo Health Facilities Corporation, Texas, | ||||||||||||||||||
3,020 | Baptist St Anthony's Hospital Ser 1998 (FSA) | 5.50 | 01/01/16 | 3,324,205 | ||||||||||||||
5,075 | Baptist St Anthony's Hospital Ser 1998 (FSA) | 5.50 | 01/01/17 | 5,574,735 | ||||||||||||||
36,595 | 38,698,045 | |||||||||||||||||
Industrial Development/Pollution Control Revenue (8.8%) | ||||||||||||||||||
7,500 | Adams
County, Colorado, Public Service Co of Colorado Refg 1993 Ser A (MBIA) |
5.875 | 04/01/14 | 7,601,850 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaiian Electric Co Ser 1999 C (AMT) (Ambac) | 6.20 | 11/01/29 | 5,593,100 | ||||||||||||||
12,000 | Indiana Development Finance Authority, PSI Energy Inc Ser 1993 B (AMT) (MBIA) | 5.75 | 02/15/28 | 12,279,600 | ||||||||||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
8
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Portfolio of Investments October 31, 2003 continued
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS |
COUPON RATE |
MATURITY DATE |
VALUE | |||||||||||||||
$ | 4,900 | Monroe County, Michigan, Detroit Edison Co Ser CC (AMT) (MBIA) | 6.55 | % | 06/01/24 | $ | 5,019,707 | |||||||||||
3,000 | New
York State Energy Research & Development Authority, Brooklyn Union Gas Co 1991 Ser D (AMT) (MBIA) |
10.074 | ‡ | 07/08/26 | 3,148,920 | |||||||||||||
32,400 | 33,643,177 | |||||||||||||||||
Mortgage Revenue – Multi-Family (0.8%) | ||||||||||||||||||
2,875 | West Virginia Housing Development Fund, Ser A (Ambac) | 5.65 | 11/01/21 | 2,911,455 | ||||||||||||||
Public Facilities Revenue (10.5%) | ||||||||||||||||||
5,000 | San Jose Financing Authority, California, Civic Center Ser 2002 B (Ambac) | 5.00 | 06/01/37 | 5,019,850 | ||||||||||||||
15,000 | Miami-Dade County School Board, Florida, 2003 Ser A (FGIC) | 5.00 | 08/01/29 | 15,125,550 | ||||||||||||||
3,000 | Orange County School Board, Florida, Ser 2001 A COPs (Ambac) | 5.25 | 08/01/14 | 3,309,630 | ||||||||||||||
2,400 | Marion County Convention & Recreational Facilities Authority, Indiana, Refg Ser 2003 A (Ambac) | 5.00 | 06/01/19 | 2,481,144 | ||||||||||||||
Kentucky Property & Building Commission, | ||||||||||||||||||
1,660 | Project #74 Refg Ser 2002 A (FSA) | 5.375 | 02/01/17 | 1,804,353 | ||||||||||||||
1,500 | Project #74 Refg Ser 2002 A (FSA) | 5.375 | 02/01/18 | 1,620,630 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | Project # 79 (MBIA) | 5.00 | 10/01/22 | 4,110,080 | ||||||||||||||
4,200 | New
York State Dormitory Authority, School Districts 2002 Ser E (MBIA) |
5.50 | 10/01/17 | 4,655,154 | ||||||||||||||
2,000 | Pennsylvania Public School Building Authority, Philadelphia School District Ser 2003 (FSA) | 5.00 | 06/01/33 | 2,012,020 | ||||||||||||||
38,760 | 40,138,411 | |||||||||||||||||
Recreational Facilities Revenue (1.9%) | ||||||||||||||||||
Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, Illinois, | ||||||||||||||||||
3,000 | McCormick Place, Refg Ser 2002 B (MBIA) | 0.00 | # | 06/15/18 | 1,981,830 | |||||||||||||
5,000 | McCormick Place, Ser 2002 A (MBIA) | 5.25 | 06/15/42 | 5,117,650 | ||||||||||||||
8,000 | 7,099,480 | |||||||||||||||||
Transportation Facilities Revenue (29.7%) | ||||||||||||||||||
California Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank, | ||||||||||||||||||
5,000 | Bay Area Toll Bridges Seismic Retrofit First Lien Ser 2003 A (FGIC) | 5.00 | 07/01/29 | 5,041,650 | ||||||||||||||
10,000 | Bay Area Toll Bridges Seismic Retrofit First Lien Ser 2003 A (Ambac) | 5.00 | 07/01/33 | 10,052,600 | ||||||||||||||
9,000 | Long Beach California, Harbor Refg Ser 1998 A (AMT) (FGIC) | 6.00 | 05/15/18 | 10,481,490 | ||||||||||||||
8,000 | Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami Int'l Airport Ser 2003 A (AMT) (FGIC) | 5.00 | 10/01/33 | 7,926,080 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | Illinois Toll Highway Authority, Priority Refg 1998 Ser A (FSA) | 5.50 | 01/01/15 | 4,520,480 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Minneapolis-St Paul Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minnesota, Ser 2001 C (FGIC) | 5.25 | 01/01/32 | 5,118,650 | ||||||||||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
9
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Portfolio of Investments October 31, 2003 continued
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS |
COUPON RATE |
MATURITY DATE |
VALUE | |||||||||||||||
$ | 3,250 | St Louis, Missouri, Lambert Int'l Airport Ser 2001 A (MBIA) | 5.00 | % | 07/01/20 | $ | 3,328,780 | |||||||||||
9,000 | Nevada Department of Business & Industry, Las Vegas Monorail 1st Tier Ser 2000 (Ambac) | 5.375 | 01/01/40 | 9,406,080 | ||||||||||||||
Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York, | ||||||||||||||||||
3,000 | Dedicated Tax Fund Ser 2002 A (FSA) | 5.25 | 11/15/24 | 3,122,550 | ||||||||||||||
10,000 | Transportation Refg Ser 2002 A (FGIC) | 5.00 | 11/15/25 | 10,115,800 | ||||||||||||||
10,000 | Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, New York, Refg 2002 E (MBIA) | 5.25 | 11/15/22 | 10,529,000 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank, Ser 1999 A (Ambac) | 5.50 | 10/01/16 | 5,568,700 | ||||||||||||||
10,000 | Dallas-Fort Worth Int'l Airport, Texas, Ser 2003 A (AMT) (FSA) | 5.375 | 11/01/22 | 10,275,700 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Texas Turnpike Authority, Central Texas First Tier Ser 2002 A (Ambac) | 5.50 | 08/15/39 | 5,283,800 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | Salt Lake City, Utah, Airport Refg Ser 1993 B (FGIC) | 5.875 | 12/01/18 | 4,093,800 | ||||||||||||||
3,000 | Richmond Metropolitan Authority, Virginia, Refg Ser 2002 (FGIC) | 5.25 | 07/15/22 | 3,262,380 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Port of Seattle, Washington, Ser 2001 B (AMT) (MBIA) | 5.625 | 02/01/24 | 5,193,550 | ||||||||||||||
108,250 | 113,321,090 | |||||||||||||||||
Water & Sewer Revenue (18.1%) | ||||||||||||||||||
5,000 | San Diego County Water Authority, California, Ser 2002A COPs (MBIA) | 5.00 | 05/01/27 | 5,041,400 | ||||||||||||||
1,000 | Lee County, Florida, Water & Sewer Ser B (MBIA) | 5.00 | 10/01/29 | 1,011,660 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Tampa Bay Water Authority, Florida, Ser 2001 A (FGIC) | 5.00 | 10/01/28 | 5,049,600 | ||||||||||||||
Detroit, Michigan, | ||||||||||||||||||
3,000 | Sewage Refg Ser 2003 A (FSA) | 5.00 | 07/01/26 | 3,029,580 | ||||||||||||||
8,000 | Sewage Refg Ser 2003 A (FSA) | 5.00 | 07/01/28 | 8,065,360 | ||||||||||||||
3,000 | Sewage Disposal System, Ser 2001 A (FGIC) | 5.125 | 07/01/31 | 3,039,630 | ||||||||||||||
5,080 | Las Vegas Water District, Nevada, Impr & Refg Ser 2003 A (FGIC) | 5.25 | 06/01/19 | 5,404,155 | ||||||||||||||
Cleveland, Ohio, | ||||||||||||||||||
1,500 | Waterworks 2002 Ser K (FGIC) | 5.25 | 01/01/20 | 1,586,580 | ||||||||||||||
1,300 | Waterworks 2002 Ser K (FGIC) | 5.25 | 01/01/21 | 1,368,666 | ||||||||||||||
2,000 | Waterworks Impr & Refg 1998 Ser I (FSA) | 5.00 | 01/01/23 | 2,028,460 | ||||||||||||||
2,550 | Hamilton County, Ohio, Sewer System Impr & Refg Ser 2003 A (MBIA) | 4.75 | 12/01/22 | 2,558,007 | ||||||||||||||
4,000 | Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, Pennsylvania, Sewer Ser 2000 (MBIA) | 5.50 | 12/01/24 | 4,253,200 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Water & Wastewater Ser 1998 (Ambac) | 5.25 | 12/15/14 | 5,570,700 | ||||||||||||||
10,000 | Houston, Texas, Water & Sewer Jr Lien Refg Ser 2000 B (FGIC) | 5.25 | 12/01/30 | 10,233,300 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | King County, Washington, Sewer Refg 2001 (FGIC) | 5.00 | 01/01/31 | 5,019,600 | ||||||||||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
10
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Portfolio of Investments October 31, 2003 continued
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS |
COUPON RATE |
MATURITY DATE |
VALUE | |||||||||||||||
Seattle, Washington, | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | 1,445 | RITES - PA -1143 - A (MBIA) | 8.435 | ‡% | 09/01/20 | $ | 1,549,329 | |||||||||||
1,435 | RITES - PA -1143 - B (MBIA) | 8.435 | ‡ | 09/01/23 | 1,483,905 | |||||||||||||
2,900 | West Virginia Water Development Authority, Refg Ser B (Ambac) | 5.25 | 11/01/23 | 3,051,061 | ||||||||||||||
67,210 | 69,344,193 | |||||||||||||||||
Other Revenue (3.4%) | ||||||||||||||||||
5,000 | Nassau County Interim Finance Authority, New York, Sales Tax Ser 2003 A (Ambac) | 4.75 | 11/15/22 | 5,023,700 | ||||||||||||||
New York City Transitional Finance Authority, New York | ||||||||||||||||||
2,000 | 2000 Ser C (Ambac) | 5.25 | 08/01/21 | 2,114,780 | ||||||||||||||
2,500 | 2000 Ser C (Ambac) | 5.25 | 08/01/22 | 2,628,675 | ||||||||||||||
3,000 | Alexandria Industrial Development Authority, Virginia, Institute for Defense Analysis Ser 2000 A (Ambac) | 5.90 | 10/01/30 | 3,341,550 | ||||||||||||||
12,500 | 13,108,705 | |||||||||||||||||
Refunded (6.0%) | ||||||||||||||||||
1,600 | Redding, California, Ser 1993 A COPs (FGIC) | 10.222 | ‡ | 06/30/05† | 1,675,040 | |||||||||||||
5,000 | Miami-Dade County School Board, Florida,Ser 2001 A COPs (MBIA) | 5.00 | 05/01/11† | 5,589,200 | ||||||||||||||
5,000 | Allegheny County Hospital Development Authority, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Mercy Health Ser 1996 (Ambac) (ETM) | 5.625 | 08/15/18 | 5,524,400 | ||||||||||||||
10,000 | Rhode
Island Depositors Economic Protection Corporation Refg 1992 Ser B (MBIA) (ETM), |
6.00 | 08/01/17 | 10,224,700 | ||||||||||||||
21,600 | 23,013,340 | |||||||||||||||||
492,315 | Total Tax-Exempt Municipal Bonds (Cost $496,097,975) | 515,637,938 | ||||||||||||||||
Short-Term Tax-Exempt Municipal Obligations (4.2%) | ||||||||||||||||||
8,600 | East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Exxon Corporation Ser 1993 (Demand 11/03/03) | 1.10 | * | 03/01/22 | 8,600,000 | |||||||||||||
6,850 | Louisiana Public Facilities Authority, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center Ser 1993 D & E (FSA) | 8.386 | ‡ | 05/28/04† | 7,495,270 | |||||||||||||
15,450 | Total Short-Term Tax-Exempt Municipal Obligations (Cost $15,509,953) | 16,095,270 | ||||||||||||||||
$ | 507,765 | Total Investments (Cost $511,607,928) (a) (b) | 139.1 | % | 531,733,208 | |||||||||||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities | 1.5 | 5,640,999 | ||||||||||||||||
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest | (40.6 | ) | (155,228,788 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders | 100.0 | % | $ | 382,145,419 | ||||||||||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
11
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Portfolio of Investments October 31, 2003 continued
Note: |
The categories of investments are shown as a percentage of net assets applicable to common shareholders. |
AMT | Alternative Minimum Tax. |
COPs | Certificates of Participation. |
ETM | Escrowed to maturity. |
RITES | Residual Interest Tax-Exempt Securities. |
WI | Security purchased on a when-issued basis. |
† | Prerefunded to call date shown. |
†† | A portion of this security has been physically segregated in connection with open futures contracts. |
‡ | Current coupon rate for residual interest bond. This rate resets periodically as the auction rate on the related security changes. |
# | Currently a zero coupon security; will convert to 5.30% on June 15, 2012. |
* | Current coupon of variable rate demand obligation. |
(a) | Securities have been designated as collateral in an amount equal to $143,748,846 in connection with the open futures contracts and the purchase of a when-issued security. |
(b) | The aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $511,554,731. The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation is $21,672,573 and the aggregate gross unrealized depreciation is $1,494,096, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $20,178,477. |
Bond Insurance: |
Ambac |
Ambac Assurance Corporation. |
FGIC |
Financial Guaranty Insurance Company. |
FSA |
Financial Security Assurance Inc. |
MBIA |
Municipal Bond Investors Assurance Corporation. |
Futures Contracts Open at October 31, 2003:
NUMBER
OF CONTRACTS |
LONG/SHORT | DESCRIPTION,
DELIVERY MONTH AND YEAR |
UNDERLYING FACE AMOUNT AT VALUE |
UNREALIZED DEPRECIATION |
||||||||||||||
650 | Short | U.S.
Treasury Note 5 Yr December / 2003 |
$(72,678,125) | $ | (1,298,817 | ) | ||||||||||||
650 | Short | U.S.
Treasury Note 10 Yr December / 2003 |
(72,992,972) | (1,539,359 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total unrealized depreciation | $(2,838,176) | |||||||||||||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
12
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Financial Statements
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
October 31, 2003
Assets: | ||||||
Investments
in securities, at value (cost $511,607,928) |
$ | 531,733,208 | ||||
Cash | 1,090,668 | |||||
Interest receivable | 8,526,621 | |||||
Prepaid expenses | 920,976 | |||||
Total Assets | 542,271,473 | |||||
Liabilities: | ||||||
Payable for: | ||||||
Investments purchased | 4,088,120 | |||||
Variation margin | 335,153 | |||||
Investment management fee | 180,262 | |||||
Common shares of beneficial interest repurchased | 175,375 | |||||
Accrued expenses | 118,356 | |||||
Total Liabilities | 4,897,266 | |||||
Preferred shares of beneficial interest (at liquidation value) (1,000,000 shares authorized of non-participating $.01 par value, 3,100 shares outstanding) | 155,228,788 | |||||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders | $ | 382,145,419 | ||||
Composition of Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders: | ||||||
Common shares of
beneficial interest (unlimited shares authorized of $.01 par
value, 24,240,138 shares outstanding) |
$ | 350,384,424 | ||||
Net unrealized appreciation | 17,287,104 | |||||
Accumulated undistributed net investment income | 4,694,906 | |||||
Accumulated undistributed net realized gain | 9,778,985 | |||||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders | $ | 382,145,419 | ||||
Net
Asset Value Per Common Share ($382,145,419 divided by 24,240,138 common shares outstanding) |
$ | 15.76 | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
13
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Financial Statements continued
Statement of Operations
For the year ended October 31, 2003
Net Investment Income: | ||||||
Interest Income | $ | 27,923,273 | ||||
Expenses | ||||||
Investment management fee | 1,919,569 | |||||
Auction commission fees | 610,192 | |||||
Transfer agent fees and expenses | 146,606 | |||||
Professional fees | 71,486 | |||||
Auction agent fees | 38,637 | |||||
Shareholder reports and notices | 36,622 | |||||
Trustees' fees and expenses | 19,471 | |||||
Registration fees | 18,317 | |||||
Custodian fees | 12,458 | |||||
Other | 56,523 | |||||
Total Expenses | 2,929,881 | |||||
Less: expense offset | (12,261 | ) | ||||
Net Expenses | 2,917,620 | |||||
Net Investment Income | 25,005,653 | |||||
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss): | ||||||
Net Realized Gain on: | ||||||
Investments | 4,702,276 | |||||
Futures contracts | 5,523,509 | |||||
Net Realized Gain | 10,225,785 | |||||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on: | ||||||
Investments | (6,396,830 | ) | ||||
Futures contracts | (2,838,176 | ) | ||||
Net Depreciation | (9,235,006 | ) | ||||
Net Gain | 990,779 | |||||
Dividends to preferred shareholders from net investment income | (2,573,199 | ) | ||||
Net Increase | $ | 23,423,233 | ||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
14
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Financial Statements continued
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
FOR
THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2003 |
FOR THE
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2002 |
|||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets: | ||||||||||
Operations: | ||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 25,005,653 | $ | 26,968,728 | ||||||
Net realized gain | 10,225,785 | 5,550,941 | ||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation | (9,235,006 | ) | (2,766,900 | ) | ||||||
Dividends to preferred shareholders from net investment income | (2,573,199 | ) | (3,456,880 | ) | ||||||
Net Increase | 23,423,233 | 26,295,889 | ||||||||
Dividends to common shareholders from net investment income | (22,402,100 | ) | (21,133,899 | ) | ||||||
Decrease from transactions in common shares of beneficial interest | (15,235,304 | ) | (14,028,728 | ) | ||||||
Net Decrease | (14,214,171 | ) | (8,866,738 | ) | ||||||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders: | ||||||||||
Beginning of period | 396,359,590 | 405,226,328 | ||||||||
End
of Period (Including accumulated undistributed net investment income of $4,694,906 and $4,722,041, respectively) |
$ | 382,145,419 | $ | 396,359,590 | ||||||
See Notes to Financial Statements
15
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Notes to Financial Statements October 31, 2003
1. Organization and Accounting Policies
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust (the "Trust") is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Trust's investment objective is to provide current income which is exempt from federal income tax. The Trust was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on March 12, 1992 and commenced operations on February 26, 1993.
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies:
A. Valuation of Investments — (1) portfolio securities are valued by an outside independent pricing service approved by the Trustees. The pricing service uses both a computerized grid matrix of tax-exempt securities and evaluations by its staff, in each case based on information concerning market transactions and quotations from dealers which reflect the bid side of the market each day. The portfolio securities are thus valued by reference to a combination of transactions and quotations for the same or other securities believed to be comparable in quality, coupon, maturity, type of issue, call provisions, trading characteristics and other features deemed to be relevant; (2) futures are valued at the latest sale price on the commodities exchange on which they trade unless it is determined that such price does not reflect their market value, in which case they will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith under procedures established by and under the supervision of the Trustees; and (3) 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. Discounts are accreted and premiums are amortized over the life of the respective securities. Interest income is accrued daily.
C. Futures Contracts — A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell financial instruments or contracts based on financial indices at a set price on a future date. Upon entering into such a contract, the Trust is required to pledge to the broker cash, U.S. Government securities or other liquid portfolio securities equal to the minimum initial margin requirements of the applicable futures exchange. Pursuant to the contract, the Trust agrees to receive from or pay to the broker an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. Such receipts or payments known as variation margin are recorded by the Trust as unrealized gains and losses. Upon closing of the contract, the Trust realizes a gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.
D. Federal Income Tax Policy — It is the Trust'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 and nontaxable income to its shareholders. Accordingly, no federal income tax provision is required.
16
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Notes to Financial Statements October 31, 2003 continued
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 Management Agreement
Pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement with Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the "Investment Manager") the Trust pays a management fee, calculated weekly and payable monthly, by applying the annual rate of 0.35% to the Trust's weekly net assets including preferred shares.
3. Security Transactions and Transactions with Affiliates
The cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended October 31, 2003 aggregated $242,162,880 and $228,243,307, respectively. Included in the aforementioned transactions are purchases and sales of $48,758,820 and $46,433,785, respectively with other Morgan Stanley funds, including a net realized loss of $1,816,452.
Morgan Stanley Trust, an affiliate of the Investment Manager, is the Trust's transfer agent. At October 31, 2003, the Trust had transfer agent fees and expenses payable of approximately $11,300.
The Trust has an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering all independent Trustees of the Trust who will have served as independent Trustees for at least five years at the time of retirement. Benefits under this plan are based on years of service and compensation during the last five years of service. Aggregate pension costs for the year ended October 31, 2003 included in Trustees' fees and expenses in the Statement of Operations amounted to $6,101. At October 31, 2003, the Trust had an accrued pension liability of $49,319 which is included in accrued expenses in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
4. Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest
The Trust is authorized to issue up to 1,000,000 non-participating preferred shares of beneficial interest having a par value of $.01 per share, in one or more series, with rights as determined by the Trustees, without approval of the common shareholders. The Trust has issued Series 1 through 5 Auction Rate Preferred Shares ("Preferred Shares") which have a liquidation value of $50,000 per share plus the redemption premium, if any, plus accumulated but unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, thereon to the date of distribution. The Trust may redeem such shares, in whole or in part, at the original purchase price of $50,000 per share plus accumulated but unpaid dividends, whether or not declared, thereon to the date of redemption.
17
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Notes to Financial Statements October 31, 2003 continued
Dividends, which are cumulative, are reset through auction procedures.
SERIES | SHARES* | AMOUNT
IN THOUSANDS* |
RATE* | RESET DATE |
RANGE
OF DIVIDEND RATES** |
|||||||||||||||||
1 | 400 | $ | 20,000 | 1.36 | % | 01/10/05 | 0.65% – 1.70% | |||||||||||||||
2 | 900 | 45,000 | 1.20 | 07/11/05 | 0.80 – 1.75 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | 1,000 | 50,000 | 2.20 | 07/12/04 | 2.20 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | 400 | 20,000 | 2.47 | 01/05/04 | 2.47 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | 400 | 20,000 | 1.70 | 09/12/05 | 0.64 – 1.70 | |||||||||||||||||
* | As of October 31, 2003. |
** | For the year ended October 31, 2003. |
Subsequent to October 31, 2003 and up through December 5, 2003, the Trust paid dividends to each of the Series 1 through 5 at rates ranging from 1.20% to 2.47% in the aggregate amount of $457,576.
The Trust is subject to certain restrictions relating to the preferred shares. Failure to comply with these restrictions could preclude the Trust from declaring any distributions to common shareholders or purchasing common shares and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of preferred shares at liquidation value.
The preferred shares, which are entitled to one vote per share, generally vote with the common shares but vote separately as a class to elect two Trustees and on any matters affecting the rights of the preferred shares.
5. Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Transactions in common shares of beneficial interest were as follows:
SHARES | PAR VALUE | CAPITAL PAID IN EXCESS OF PAR VALUE |
||||||||||||
Balance, October 31, 2001 | 26,284,013 | $ | 262,840 | $ | 379,385,616 | |||||||||
Treasury shares purchased and retired (weighted average discount 8.17%)* | (996,500 | ) | (9,965 | ) | (14,018,763 | ) | ||||||||
Balance, October 31, 2002 | 25,287,513 | 252,875 | 365,366,853 | |||||||||||
Treasury shares purchased and retired (weighted average discount 7.90%)* | (1,047,375 | ) | (10,474 | ) | (15,224,830 | ) | ||||||||
Balance, October 31, 2003 | 24,240,138 | $ | 242,401 | $ | 350,142,023 | |||||||||
* | The Trustees have voted to retire the shares purchased. |
18
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Notes to Financial Statements October 31, 2003 continued
6. Dividends to Common Shareholders
On September 23, 2003, the Trust declared the following dividends from net investment income:
AMOUNT PER SHARE |
RECORD DATE |
PAYABLE DATE |
||||||||
$0.0775 | November 7, 2003 | November 21, 2003 | ||||||||
$0.0775 | December 5, 2003 | December 19, 2003 | ||||||||
7. Expense Offset
The expense offset represents a reduction of the custodian fees for earnings on cash balances maintained by the Trust.
8. Risks Relating to Certain Financial Instruments
The Trust may invest a portion of its assets in residual interest bonds, which are inverse floating rate municipal obligations. The prices of these securities are subject to greater market fluctuations during periods of changing prevailing interest rates than are comparable fixed rate obligations.
At October 31, 2003, the Trust held positions in residual interest bonds having a total value of $18,163,587, which represents 4.8% of the Trust's net assets applicable to common shareholders.
To hedge against adverse interest rate changes, the Trust may invest in financial futures contracts or municipal bond index futures contracts ("futures contracts").
These futures contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amount reflected in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Trust bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the value of the underlying securities.
At October 31, 2003, the Trust had outstanding futures contracts.
9. 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.
19
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Notes to Financial Statements October 31, 2003 continued
The tax character of distributions paid was as follows:
FOR
THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2003 |
FOR THE
YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 2002 |
|||||||||
Tax-exempt income | $ | 24,879,299 | $ | 24,724,934 | ||||||
As of October 31, 2003, the tax-basis components of accumulated earnings were as follows:
Undistributed tax-exempt income | $ | 4,919,816 | ||||
Undistributed long-term gains | 6,940,809 | |||||
Net accumulated earnings | 11,860,625 | |||||
Temporary differences | (278,107 | ) | ||||
Net unrealized appreciation | 20,178,477 | |||||
Total accumulated earnings | $ | 31,760,995 | ||||
As of October 31, 2003, the Trust had temporary book/tax differences primarily attributable to book amortization of discounts on debt securities, mark-to-market of open futures contracts and dividend payable and permanent book/tax differences attributable to tax adjustments on debt securities sold by the Trust. To reflect reclassifications arising from the permanent differences, accumulated undistributed net investment income was charged and accumulated undistributed net realized gain was credited $57,489.
20
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Financial Highlights
Selected
ratios and per share data for a common share of beneficial interest
outstanding throughout
each
period:
FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||
Selected Per Share Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $ | 15.67 | $ | 15.42 | $ | 14.44 | $ | 13.69 | $ | 15.47 | |||||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income* | 1.01 | 1.04 | 1.03 | 1.01 | 1.01 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | 0.03 | 0.11 | 0.90 | 0.79 | (1.77 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Common
share equivalent of dividends paid to preferred shareholders* |
(0.10 | ) | (0.13 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.22 | ) | (0.19 | ) | |||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from investment operations | 0.94 | 1.02 | 1.71 | 1.58 | (0.95 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Less dividends from net investment income | (0.90 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.78 | ) | (0.86 | ) | (0.84 | ) | |||||||||||||
Anti-dilutive effect of acquiring treasury shares* | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $ | 15.76 | $ | 15.67 | $ | 15.42 | $ | 14.44 | $ | 13.69 | |||||||||||||
Market value, end of period | $ | 14.73 | $ | 14.05 | $ | 14.13 | $ | 12.813 | $ | 13.25 | |||||||||||||
Total Return† | 11.53 | % | 5.35 | % | 16.70 | % | 3.29 | % | (5.17 | )% | |||||||||||||
Ratios to Average Net Assets of Common Shareholders: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Expenses (before expense offset) | 0.75 | % (1) | 0.72 | % | 0.71 | % | 0.73 | % | 0.70 | % | |||||||||||||
Net investment income before preferred stock dividends | 6.38 | % | 6.82 | % | 6.84 | % | 7.27 | % | 6.71 | % | |||||||||||||
Preferred stock dividends | 0.66 | % | 0.87 | % | 1.43 | % | 1.59 | % | 1.26 | % | |||||||||||||
Net investment income available to common shareholders | 5.72 | % | 5.95 | % | 5.41 | % | 5.68 | % | 5.45 | % | |||||||||||||
Supplemental Data: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Net
assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period, in thousands |
$ | 382,145 | $ | 396,360 | $ | 405,226 | $ | 392,513 | $ | 384,277 | |||||||||||||
Asset coverage on preferred shares at end of period | 346 | % | 355 | % | 361 | % | 352 | % | 347 | % | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 43 | % | 17 | % | 13 | % | 11 | % | 5 | % | |||||||||||||
* | The per share amounts were computed using an average number of common shares outstanding during the period. |
† | Total return is based upon the current market value on the last day of each period reported. Dividends are assumed to be reinvested at the prices obtained under the Trust's dividend reinvestment plan. Total return does not reflect brokerage commissions. |
(1) | Does not reflect the effect of expense offset of 0.01%. |
See Notes to Financial Statements
21
Mogan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Independent Auditors' Report
To
the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
Morgan Stanley Insured
Municipal Income Trust:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust (the "Trust"), including the portfolio of investments, as of October 31, 2003, 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 Trust'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 auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2003, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. 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 Insured Municipal Income Trust as of October 31, 2003, 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
December 15,
2003
2003 Federal Tax Notice (unaudited)
For the year ended October 31, 2003, all of the Trust's dividends from net investment income received by both common and preferred shareholder classes were exempt interest dividends, excludable from gross income for Federal income tax purposes.
22
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Trustee and Officer Information
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 Trustee*** |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||||||||||||||||
Michael Bozic
(62) c/o Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 1675 Broadway New York, NY |
Trustee |
Since April 1994 |
Retired; Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since April 1994) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); formerly 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); formerly variously Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chief Operating Officer (1987-1991) of the Sears Merchandise Group of Sears, Roebuck & Co. | 211 | Director of Weirton
Steel Corporation. |
|||||||||||||||||
Edwin J. Garn (71) c/o Summit Ventures LLC 1 Utah Center 201 S. Main Street Salt Lake City, UT |
Trustee |
Since January 1993 | Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since January 1993) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); member of the Utah Regional Advisory Board of Pacific Corp.; formerly United States Senator (R-Utah) (1974-1992) and Chairman, Senate Banking Committee (1980-1986), Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah (1971-1974), Astronaut, Space Shuttle Discovery (April 12-19, 1985), and Vice Chairman, Huntsman Corporation (chemical company). | 211 | Director of Franklin Covey (time
management systems), BMW Bank of North America, Inc. (industrial loan
corporation), United Space Alliance (joint venture between Lockheed
Martin and the Boeing Company) and Nuskin Asia Pacific (multilevel
marketing); member of the board of various civic and charitable
organizations. |
|||||||||||||||||
Wayne E. Hedien (69) c/o Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP Counsel to the Independent Directors 1675 Broadway New York, NY |
Trustee |
Since September 1997 | Retired; Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003; (Since September 1997) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); formerly associated with the Allstate Companies (1966-1994), most recently as Chairman of The Allstate Corporation (March 1993-December 1994) and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Allstate Insurance Company (July 1989-December 1994). | 211 | Director of The PMI Group Inc. (private mortgage insurance); Trustee and Vice Chairman of The Field Museum of Natural History; director of various other business and charitable organizations. | |||||||||||||||||
23
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Trustee and Officer Information 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 Trustee*** |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||||||||||||||||
Dr. Manuel H. Johnson (54) c/o Johnson Smick International, Inc. 2099 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 950 Washington, D.C. |
Trustee |
Since July 1991 |
Chairman of the Audit Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since July 1991) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Senior Partner, Johnson Smick International, Inc., a consulting firm; Co-Chairman and a founder of the Group of Seven Council (G7C), an international economic commission; formerly Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. | 211 | Director of
NVR, Inc. (home construction); Chairman and Trustee of the Financial
Accounting Foundation (oversight organization of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board); Director of RBS Greenwich Capital Holdings
(financial holding company). |
|||||||||||||||||
Joseph J. Kearns
(61) PMB754 23852 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA |
Trustee |
Since July 2003 |
Deputy Chairman of the Audit Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since July 2003) and the Institutional Funds (since August 1994); previously Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Institutional Funds (October 2001-July 2003); President, Kearns & Associates LLC (investment consulting); formerly CFO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. | 212 | Director of Electro Rent Corporation (equipment leasing), The Ford
Family Foundation, and the UCLA
Foundation. |
|||||||||||||||||
Michael E. Nugent (67) c/o Triumph Capital, L.P. 445 Park Avenue New York, NY |
Trustee |
Since July 1991 |
Chairman of the Insurance Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since July 1991) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2001); General Partner of Triumph Capital, L.P., a private investment partnership; formerly Vice President, Bankers Trust Company and BT Capital Corporation (1984-1988). | 211 | Director of various business
organizations. |
|||||||||||||||||
Fergus Reid (71) 85 Charles Colman Blvd. Pawling, NY |
Trustee |
Since July 2003 |
Chairman of the Governance Committee and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since July 2003) and the Institutional Funds (since June 1992); Chairman of Lumelite Plastics Corporation. | 212 | Trustee and Director
of certain investment companies in the JPMorgan Funds complex managed
by JP Morgan Investment Management
Inc. |
|||||||||||||||||
24
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Trustee and Officer Information continued
Interested Trustees:
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 Trustee*** |
Other Directorships Held by Trustee | |||||||||||||||||
Charles A. Fiumefreddo (70) c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, NJ |
Chairman of the Board and
Trustee |
Since July 1991 |
Chairman and Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since July 1991) and the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Retail Funds and the TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (until September 2002). | 211 | None |
|||||||||||||||||
James
F. Higgins (55) c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, NJ |
Trustee |
Since June 2000 |
Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW
Term Trust 2003 (since June 2000) and the Institutional Funds (since
July 2003); Senior Advisor of Morgan Stanley (since August 2000);
Director of the Distributor and Dean Witter Realty Inc.; previously
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Private Client Group of
Morgan Stanley (May 1999-August 2000), and President and Chief
Operating Officer of Individual Securities of Morgan Stanley (February
1997-May 1999). |
211 | Director of AXA Financial,
Inc. and The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States
(financial services). |
|||||||||||||||||
Philip J. Purcell
(60) 1585 Broadway New York, NY |
Trustee |
Since April 1994 |
Director or Trustee of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW
Term Trust 2003 (since April 1994) and the Institutional Funds (since
July 2003); Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
Officer of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley DW Inc.; Director of the
Distributor; Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive
Officer of Novus Credit Services Inc.; Director and/or officer of
various Morgan Stanley subsidiaries. |
211 | Director of American Airlines, Inc. and its parent company, AMR Corporation. | |||||||||||||||||
* | This is the earliest date the Trustee began serving the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc. (the "Investment Manager") (the "Retail Funds"). |
** | The dates referenced below indicating commencement of services as Director/Trustee for the Retail Funds and the funds advised by Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc., Morgan Stanley Investments LP and Morgan Stanley AIP GP LP (the "Institutional Funds") reflect the earliest date the Director/Trustee began serving the Retail or Institutional Funds as applicable. |
*** | The Fund Complex includes all open-end and closed-end funds (including all of their portfolios) advised by the Investment Manager and any funds that have an investment advisor that is an affiliated person of the Investment Manager (including but not limited to Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and Morgan Stanley Investments LP). |
25
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Trustee and Officer Information continued
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** | |||||||||||
Mitchell M. Merin
(50) 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY |
President |
Since May
1999 |
President and Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.; President, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Manager and Morgan Stanley Services; Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Distributor; Chairman and Director of the Transfer Agent; Director of various Morgan Stanley subsidiaries; President Morgan Stanley Investments LP (since February 2003); President of the Institutional Funds (since July 2003) and President of the Retail Funds and TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since May 1999); Trustee (since July 2003) and President (since December 2002) of the Van Kampen Closed-End Funds; Trustee (since May 1999) and President (since October 2002) of the Van Kampen Open-End Funds. | |||||||||||
Ronald E. Robison
(64) 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY |
Executive Vice President and Principal Executive
Officer |
Since April 2003 |
Chief Global Operations Officer and Managing Director of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.; Managing Director of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated; Managing Director of Morgan Stanley; Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer and Director of the Investment Manager and Morgan Stanley Services; Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Transfer Agent; Executive Vice President and Principal Executive Officer of the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); and the TCW/DW Term Trust 2003 (since April 2003); previously President of the Institutional Funds (March 2001-July 2003) and Director of the Institutional Funds (March 2001-July 2003). | |||||||||||
Barry
Fink (48) 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY |
Vice President and General
Counsel |
Since February 1997 |
General Counsel (since May 2000) and Managing Director (since December 2000) of Morgan Stanley Investment Management; Managing Director (since December 2000), Secretary (since February 1997) and Director (since July 1998) of the Investment Manager and Morgan Stanley Services; Assistant Secretary of Morgan Stanley DW; Chief Legal Officer of Morgan Stanley Investments LP (since July 2002); Vice President of the Institutional Funds (since July 2003); Vice President and Secretary of the Distributor; previously Secretary of the Retail Funds (February 1997-July 2003); previously Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of the Investment Manager and Morgan Stanley Services (February 1997-December 2001). | |||||||||||
Joseph J. McAlinden
(60) 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY |
Vice
President |
Since July 1995 |
Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of the Investment Manager, Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and Morgan Stanley Investments LP; Director of the Transfer Agent, Chief Investment Officer of the Van Kampen Funds; Vice President of the Institutional Funds (since July 2003) and the Retail Funds (since July 1995). | |||||||||||
Stefanie V.
Chang (36) 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY |
Vice President |
Since July
2003 |
Executive Director of Morgan Stanley & Co. and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and Vice President of the Institutional Funds (since December 1997) and the Retail Funds (since July 2003); formerly practiced law with the New York law firm of Rogers & Wells (now Clifford Chance LLP). | |||||||||||
26
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust
Trustee and Officer Information 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 (38) c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, NJ |
Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer |
Treasurer since July 2003 and Chief Financial
Officer since September 2002 |
Executive Director of the Investment Manager and Morgan Stanley Services (since December 2001); previously Vice President of the Retail Funds (September 2002-July 2003); previously Vice President of the Investment Manager and Morgan Stanley Services (August 2000-November 2001) and Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (January 1998-August 2000). | |||||||||||
Thomas F. Caloia (57) c/o Morgan Stanley Trust Harborside Financial Center, Plaza Two, Jersey City, NJ |
Vice President |
Since July
2003 |
Executive Director (since December 2002) and
Assistant Treasurer of the Investment Manager, the Distributor and
Morgan Stanley Services; previously Treasurer of the Retail Funds
(April 1989-July 2003); formerly First Vice President of the Investment
Manager, the Distributor and Morgan Stanley
Services. |
|||||||||||
Mary E. Mullin (36) 1221 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY |
Secretary |
Since July
2003 |
Vice President of Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.; Secretary
of the Institutional Funds (since June 1999) and the Retail Funds
(since July 2003); formerly practiced law with the New York law firms
of McDermott, Will & Emery and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom
LLP. |
|||||||||||
* | This is the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail Funds. Each Officer serves an indefinite term, until his or her successor is elected. |
** | The dates referenced below indicating commencement of service as an Officer for the Retail and Institutional Funds reflect the earliest date the Officer began serving the Retail or Institutional Funds as applicable. |
27
Trustees Michael Bozic Officers Charles A.
Fiumefreddo Mitchell M.
Merin Ronald E.
Robison Barry Fink Joseph J. McAlinden Stefanie V. Chang Francis J. Smith Thomas F. Caloia Mary E.
Mullin Transfer Agent Morgan Stanley Trust Independent Auditors Deloitte & Touche LLP Investment Manager Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors
Inc. Investments and services offered through Morgan Stanley DW Inc., member SIPC. © 2003 Morgan Stanley 37958RPT-00-13047L03-0P-12/03 |
MORGAN STANLEY FUNDS | |
Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust Annual Report October 31, 2003 |
||
Item 2. Code of Ethics. (a) The Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust's Code of Ethics is attached hereto as Exhibit A. (2) Not applicable. (3) Not applicable. Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert. The Trust's Board of Trustees has determined that it has two "audit committee financial experts" serving on its audit committee, each of whom are "independent" Trustees: Dr. Manuel H. Johnson and Joseph J. Kearns. Under applicable securities laws, a person who is determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an "expert" for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification. Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services Applicable only for reports covering fiscal years ending on or after December 15, 2003. Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants. Applicable only for reports covering periods ending on or after the earlier of (i) the first annual shareholder meeting after January 15, 2004 or (ii) October 31, 2004. Item 6. [Reserved.] Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. The Trust invests in exclusively non-voting securities and therefore this item is not applicable. Item 8. [Reserved.] Item 9 - Controls and Procedures (a) The Trust's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Trust's disclosure controls and procedures are sufficient to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust 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. There were no significant changes or corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Trust's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect the Trust's internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation. (b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. 2 Item 10 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. 3 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 Insured Municipal Income Trust /s/ Ronald E. Robison Ronald E. Robison Principal Executive Officer December 18, 2003 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 December 18, 2003 /s/ Francis Smith Francis Smith Principal Financial Officer December 18, 2003 4 EXHIBIT 10 A CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS ADOPTED JULY 31, 2003 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: o honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships. o 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; o compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations; o prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and o 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. 5 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 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: o 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) to the detriment of the Fund; 6 o 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 o 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. 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: o service or significant business relationships as a director on the board of any public or private company; o 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; o 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 o 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 o Each Covered Officer should familiarize himself/herself with the disclosure and compliance requirements generally applicable to the Funds; o each Covered Officer must not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Fund to others, whether within or outside the 7 Fund, including to the Fund's Directors/Trustees and auditors, or to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations; o 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 o 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: o 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; o annually thereafter affirm to the Boards that he has complied with the requirements of the Code; o 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 o 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 waivers(1) 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: o the General Counsel will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him; ------------- (1) 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." 8 o if, after such investigation, the General Counsel believes that no violation has occurred, the General Counsel is not required to take any further action; o any matter that the General Counsel believes is a violation will be reported to the relevant Fund's Audit Committee; o 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 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; o the Independent Directors/Trustees/Managing General Partners of the relevant Fund will be responsible for granting waivers of this Code, as appropriate; and o 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. 9 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. 10 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: --------------------- 11 EXHIBIT B INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS COVERED OFFICERS Mitchell M. Merin - President Ronald E. Robison - Executive Vice President and Principal Executive Officer James W. Garrett - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer RETAIL FUNDS COVERED OFFICERS Mitchell M. Merin - President Ronald E. Robison - Executive Vice President and Principal Executive Officer Frank Smith - Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 12 EXHIBIT C GENERAL COUNSEL Barry Fink 13 EXHIBIT 10 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 Insured Municipal Income 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) 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) Omitted.] 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 registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual 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): 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 14 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: December 18, 2003 /s/ Ronald E. Robison Ronald E. Robison Principal Executive Officer 15 EXHIBIT 10 B2 CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATIONS I, Francis Smith, certify that: 6. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust; 7. 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; 8. 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; 9. 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) for the registrant and have: b) 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) Omitted.] e) 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 f) disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year (the registrant's second fiscal half-year in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 10. 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): c) 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 16 d) 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: December 18, 2003 /s/ Francis Smith Francis Smith Principal Financial Officer 17 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 Insured Municipal Income Trust In connection with the Report on Form N-CSR (the "Report") of the above-named issuer for the period ended October 31, 2003 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: December 18, 2003 /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 Insured Municipal Income Trust and will be retained by Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. 18 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 Insured Municipal Income Trust In connection with the Report on Form N-CSR (the "Report") of the above-named issuer for the period ended October 31, 2003 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: December 18, 2003 /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 Insured Municipal Income Trust and will be retained by Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Income Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request. 19