VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST
DEFS14A, 1999-07-29
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<PAGE>   1

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION


           PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )


Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement         [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commis-
                                            sion Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-
                                            6(e)(2))

[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12


                   VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST (811-04424)

          (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Declaration of Trust)



Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

<PAGE>   2
                                  - July 1999 -

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 IMPORTANT NOTICE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                TO VAN KAMPEN
                             LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST--
                     EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO SHAREHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTIONS
 & ANSWERS

Q

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although we recommend that you read the complete Proxy Statement, for your
convenience, we have provided a brief overview of the issues to be voted on.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q    Why am I receiving this proxy statement?

A    The primary purpose of this proxy statement is to seek approval to replace
the Fund's fundamental investment policies regarding investment in small- and
medium-sized companies with a non-fundamental policy. You also are asked to
ratify the selection of the Fund's independent accountants. Please refer to the
proxy statement for a detailed explanation of the proposed items.

Q    How will approval of these proposals affect my account?

A    You can expect the same level of high-quality management expertise and
shareholder service you've grown accustomed to. The changes to the fundamental
investment policies are intended to increase the flexibility of the Fund's
investment adviser in managing your Fund.

Q    Will my vote make a difference?

A    Yes. Your vote is needed to ensure that the proposals can be acted upon.
Your immediate response will help save on the costs of any further solicitations
for a shareholder vote. We encourage you to participate in the governance of the
Fund.

Q    How do the trustees of my Fund suggest that I vote?

A    After careful consideration, the trustees of your Fund recommend that you
vote "FOR" each of the items proposed.

Q    Who is paying for expenses related to the shareholders meeting?

A    The Fund will bear the costs relating to the proxy statement preparation,
printing, mailing and solicitation and the shareholder meeting.

<PAGE>   3
Q    Who do I call if I have questions?

A    We will be happy to answer your questions about the proxy solicitation.
Please call us at 1-800-341-2911 (TDD users call 1-800-421-2833) between 7:00
a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday.

Q    Where do I mail my proxy card?

A    You may use the enclosed postage-paid envelope or mail your proxy card(s)
to:

Proxy Tabulator P.O. Box 9121 Hingham, MA 02043

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              ABOUT THE PROXY CARD
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please vote on each issue using blue or black ink to mark an X in one of the
boxes provided on the proxy card.

Approval of Replacing the Fund's Fundamental Investing Policies Regarding
investment in Small- and Medium-sized Companies with a Non-Fundamental
Investment Policy - mark "For," "Against" or "Abstain"

Ratification of Independent Accountants - mark "For," "Against" or "Abstain"

Please sign, date and return the proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid
envelope. All registered owners of an account, as shown in the address, must
sign the card. When signing as attorney, trustee, executor, administrator,
custodian, guardian or corporate officer, please indicate your full title.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[]  PROXY SOLICITED ON  VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST--                PROXY
    BEHALF OF THE          EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO
    BOARD OF TRUSTEES   SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                                     SAMPLE

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                      For   Against   Abstain                                            For   Against   Abstain
<S>                                   <C>                             <C>                                <C>
1. The proposal to approve            [ ]     [ ]       [ ]           2. The proposal to ratify          [ ]     [ ]       [ ]
   replacing the Fund's fundamental                                      the selection of
   investment policies regarding                                         PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
   investment in small- and medium-                                      as the Fund's independent
   sized companies with a                                                accountants.
   non-fundamental investment policy.


Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy.   Date                    3. To transact such other
                                                                         business as may properly
Shareholder sign here                     Co-owner sign here             come before the Meeting.
</TABLE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   4

                        VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST

                           EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO

                        1 PARKVIEW PLAZA, P.O. BOX 5555
                     OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS 60181-5555
                            TELEPHONE (800) 341-2911

                   NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                        TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1999

  Notice is hereby given to the holders of shares of beneficial interest, par
value $0.01 per share (collectively, the "Shares"), of the Emerging Growth
Portfolio (the "Fund"), a series of Van Kampen Life Investment Trust, that a
Special Meeting of the Shareholders of the Fund (the "Meeting") will be held at
the offices of Van Kampen Investments Inc., 1 Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace,
Illinois 60181-5555, on September 22, 1999, at 4:00 p.m., for the following
purposes:

1.  To approve replacing the Fund's fundamental investment policies regarding
    investments in small- and medium-sized companies with a non-fundamental
    investment policy.

2.  To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Fund's
    independent accountants.

3.  To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting.

  Holders of record of the Shares of the Fund at the close of business on July
9, 1999 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting and any
adjournment thereof.

                                    A. THOMAS SMITH III
                                    Vice President and Secretary

July 29, 1999
<PAGE>   5

  THE FUND WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT
AND THE MOST RECENT SEMIANNUAL REPORT SUCCEEDING THE ANNUAL REPORT (WHEN
AVAILABLE) TO A SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST. ANY SUCH REQUEST SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO
VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST -- EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO BY CALLING (800)
341-2911 OR BY WRITING TO THE FUND AT 1 PARKVIEW PLAZA, P.O. BOX 5555, OAKBROOK
TERRACE, ILLINOIS 60181-5555.

  SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. IF YOU
DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ON
THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD, DATE AND SIGN THE CARD AND, RETURN IT IN THE ENVELOPE
PROVIDED, WHICH IS ADDRESSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE AND NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED
IN THE UNITED STATES.

  IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE ASK THAT
YOU VOTE PROMPTLY.

  The Board of Trustees of the Fund recommends that you cast your vote:

  - FOR approval of replacing the Fund's fundamental investment policies
    regarding investment in small- and medium-sized companies with a
    non-fundamental investment policy.

  - FOR ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Fund's independent
    accountants.

                            YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
                        PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES PROMPTLY
                       NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN.
<PAGE>   6

                        VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST

                           EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO

                        1 PARKVIEW PLAZA, P.O. BOX 5555
                     OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS 60181-5555
                            TELEPHONE (800) 341-2911

                            PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE
                        SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                        TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1999

  This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the
Board of Trustees (the "Trustees" or "Board of Trustees") of the Van Kampen Life
Investment Trust (the "Trust") on behalf of the Van Kampen Emerging Growth
Portfolio (the "Fund" or the "Portfolio"), a series of the Trust, of proxies to
be voted at a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund, and all adjournments
thereof (the "Meeting"), to be held at the offices of Van Kampen Investments
Inc., 1 Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-5555, on September 22,
1999, at 4:00 p.m. The approximate mailing date of this Proxy Statement and
accompanying form of proxy is August 2, 1999.

  Participating in the Meeting are the holders of record of shares of beneficial
interest, par value $0.01 per share (collectively, the "Shares"), of the Fund as
of the close of business on July 9, 1999 (the "Record Date"). The number of
issued and outstanding Shares of the Fund as of the Record Date was
3,061,881.740. Shareholders of the Fund on the Record Date are entitled to one
vote per Share with respect to each proposal submitted to the shareholders of
the Fund, with no Share having cumulative voting rights.

  THE FUND WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS MOST RECENT ANNUAL REPORT
AND THE MOST RECENT SEMIANNUAL REPORT SUCCEEDING THE ANNUAL REPORT (WHEN
AVAILABLE) TO A SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST. ANY SUCH REQUEST SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO
THE FUND BY CALLING (800) 341-2911 OR BY WRITING TO THE FUND AT 1 PARKVIEW
PLAZA, P.O. BOX 5555, OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS 60181-5555.

SUMMARY OF THE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

  The primary purpose of the Meeting is to seek shareholder approval to replace
the Fund's fundamental investment policies regarding investment in small- and
medium-sized companies with a non-fundamental policy. Shareholders also are
asked to ratify the selection of the Fund's independent accountants.
<PAGE>   7

  The Board of Trustees of the Fund recommends that you cast your vote:

  - FOR approval of replacing the Fund's fundamental investment policy regarding
    investment in small- and medium-sized companies with a non-fundamental
    investment policy.

  - FOR ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Fund's independent
    accountants.

SUMMARY OF VOTING AND MEETING REQUIREMENTS

  The voting requirement for passage of a particular proposal depends on the
nature of the particular proposal. With respect to Proposal 1, the voting
requirement is the "vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities" of
the Fund, which is defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act"), as the lesser of: (i) 67% or more of the voting securities of
the Fund present in person or by proxy at the Meeting, if the holders of more
than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund are present in person
or by proxy at the Meeting or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund. With respect to Proposal 2, the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Shares of the Fund present in person or by proxy at the Meeting
and entitled to vote is required to ratify the selection of the Fund's
independent accountants.

  All Shares of the Fund will vote together as a single class on each proposal.
An unfavorable vote on one proposal by the shareholders of the Fund will not
affect the Fund's implementation of the other proposal if that proposal receives
a favorable vote.

  Shareholders who execute proxies may revoke them at any time prior to the
meeting by filing with the Fund a written notice of revocation, by executing
another proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Meeting and voting in
person.

  All properly executed proxies received prior to the Meeting will be voted at
the Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. Proxies received
prior to the Meeting on which no vote is indicated will be voted "For" each
proposal as to which it is entitled to vote. Abstentions do not constitute votes
"For" a proposal and will have the same effect as votes "Against" a proposal.
Broker non-votes (i.e., where a nominee, such as a broker, holding shares for
beneficial owners votes on certain matters pursuant to discretionary authority
or instructions from beneficial owners but with respect to one or more proposals
does not receive instructions from beneficial owners or does not exercise
discretionary authority) do not constitute votes "For" or "Against" a proposal
and are disregarded in determining the votes cast when the voting requirement
for a proposal is based on achieving a percentage of the voting securities
present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Broker non-votes do not constitute
votes "For" and will have the same effect as votes "Against" when the voting
requirement for a proposal is based on achieving a percentage of
                                        2
<PAGE>   8

the outstanding voting securities. A majority of the outstanding Shares entitled
to vote must be present in person or by proxy to have a quorum to conduct
business at the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will be deemed present
for quorum purposes.

  Shares of the Fund are sold to and held by separate accounts (the "Accounts")
of various insurance companies to fund the benefits of variable annuity or
variable life insurance policies (the "Contracts") offered by the insurance
companies. The Accounts invest in shares of the Fund in accordance with
instructions from Contract owners ("Contract Owners"). Except as might otherwise
be provided by applicable law, the Accounts provide pass-through voting to
Contract Owners and the Contract Owners have the right to instruct the Account
provider on how to vote Shares held by the Account under their Contract. The
Account provider will mirror vote Shares it holds of the Fund for which the
Contract Owner fails to provide voting instructions in proportionately the same
manner as Shares for which it does receive instructions from Contract Owners.

  The Fund knows of no business other than that mentioned in Proposals 1 and 2
of the Notice that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting. If any
other matters are properly presented, it is the intention of the persons named
on the enclosed proxy to vote proxies in accordance with their best judgment. In
the event a quorum is present at the Meeting but sufficient votes to approve
either of the proposals is not received, the persons named as proxies may
propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation
of proxies on such proposal, provided they determine that such an adjournment
and additional solicitation is reasonable and in the interest of shareholders
based on a consideration of all relevant factors, including the nature of the
relevant proposal, the percentage of votes then cast, the percentage of negative
votes then cast, the nature of the proposed solicitation activities and the
nature of the reasons for such further solicitation.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL 1: APPROVAL OF REPLACING THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES
            REGARDING INVESTMENT IN SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES WITH A
            NON-FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The Fund currently has certain fundamental investment policies which may be
amended only with shareholder approval. At meetings of the Board of Trustees on
May 26, 1999 and June 23, 1999, Asset Management recommended to the Board of
Trustees that the Fund replace its fundamental investment policies relating to,
among other things, investment in small- and medium-sized companies with a non-
fundamental investment policy. A non-fundamental investment policy may be

                                        3
<PAGE>   9

changed by the Fund's Board of Trustees without shareholder approval and
therefore provides the Fund with more flexibility to respond efficiently to
changing market, legal, regulatory or industry conditions. Asset Management
believes the current fundamental investment policies regarding investment in
small- and medium-sized companies are not in the best interests of the Fund or
its shareholders.

  The Fund currently has a fundamental investment objective and a fundamental
investment policy which provide, among other things, that the Fund will invest
at least 65% of its total assets in small- and medium-sized companies. The
prospectus currently states the fundamental policies and a related definition of
small- and medium-sized companies as follows:

         The investment objective of the Emerging Growth Portfolio is to seek
         capital appreciation by investing in a portfolio of securities
         consisting principally of common stocks of small- and medium-sized
         companies considered by the Portfolio's investment adviser to be
         emerging growth companies.  . . .  As a fundamental investment policy,
         the Portfolio under normal conditions invests at least 65% of its total
         assets in common stocks of small- and medium-sized companies both
         domestic and foreign in the early stages of their life cycles that the
         Portfolio's investment adviser believes have the potential to become
         major enterprises. The Portfolio's investment adviser, under current
         market conditions, generally defines small- and medium-sized companies
         by reference to the Standard & Poor's Midcap 400 Index (which consists
         of companies in the capitalization range of approximately $170 million
         to $14 billion as of March 31, 1999).

  Asset Management has recommended replacing the fundamental investment
objective to simply state that the Fund seeks capital appreciation and replacing
the fundamental investment policies regarding small- and medium-sized companies
with a non-fundamental investment policy that deletes the limitation to small-
and medium-sized companies while retaining the Fund's emphasis on emerging
growth companies as follows:

         The investment objective of the Emerging Growth Portfolio is to seek
         capital appreciation.  . . .  Under normal market conditions, the
         Portfolio's investment adviser seeks to achieve the Portfolio's
         investment objective by investing at least 65% of the Portfolio's total
         assets in common stocks of emerging growth companies. Emerging growth
         companies are those companies in the early stages of their life cycles
         that the Portfolio's investment adviser believes have the potential to
         become major enterprises.

  Asset Management recommends the proposed change to provide the Fund with
greater flexibility in seeking to achieve the investment objective of capital
appreciation. Asset Management intends to continue to invest primarily in
companies in the early stages of their life cycles that are believed to have the
potential to become

                                        4
<PAGE>   10

major enterprises. Asset Management has concluded that recent market conditions
make the policies of investing principally or at least 65% of total assets in
small- and medium-sized companies, based on market capitalization, unnecessarily
restrictive on the Fund. Recent increases in the valuations of companies in
various industries, and in particular in the technology sector, have placed many
companies that are in the early stages of development, and which Asset
Management believes have attractive growth potential, outside of the
capitalization limits placed on the Fund's investments by the current
fundamental investment policies.

  Asset Management stated to the Board that, in selecting companies for
investment by the Fund, it employs a disciplined investment approach which
primarily focuses on rising earnings expectations and rising valuations of
companies and other factors believed by Asset Management to be indicative of the
growth potential of such companies, and that it does not emphasize the market
capitalization of such companies in its stock selection process for the Fund. It
is the intention of Asset Management, in recommending the proposed changes, to
provide the Fund with greater flexibility in changing markets to maintain its
disciplined investment approach and allow the Fund to continue to invest in
companies that Asset Management believes are emerging growth companies without
being limited by the market capitalization of such companies. Asset Management
believes that under current market conditions, companies meeting the Fund's
investment criteria cross all capitalization ranges even though historically the
population of companies meeting the Fund's investment criteria may have been
predominantly in the small-or medium-capitalization range. If this proposal is
approved by shareholders, the average capitalization of the Fund's investments
will vary reflecting the companies meeting Asset Management's investment
criteria and investments will not be precluded because of a company's market
capitalization.

  Asset Management also discussed other potential impacts on the Fund of the
proposal such as potentially changing the Fund's market position relative to
other Van Kampen funds and the industry. Asset Management also reviewed
similarly situated funds in the industry faced with portfolio capitalization
constraints. Asset Management believes the fundamental investment policies
limitation is not in the best interests of the Fund or its shareholders as
market capitalization is not a controlling indicator of emerging growth
companies.

SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL

  To become effective, the proposed replacement of the Fund's fundamental
investment policies must be approved by a vote of a majority of the Fund's
outstanding voting securities. The vote of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities means the lesser of the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Shares of the
Fund present in person or by proxy at the Meeting, if the holders of more than
50% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund are present in person or by proxy at
the Meeting or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding Shares of the Fund. The
proposed deletions

                                        5
<PAGE>   11

and adoption of a non-fundamental investment policy as described above was
approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund after consideration of all the
factors they determined to be relevant to their deliberations, including those
discussed above. The Board of Trustees also determined to submit the proposed
replacement of the Fund's fundamental investment policies for consideration by
the Fund's shareholders. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS A VOTE
"FOR" APPROVAL OF REPLACING OF THE FUND'S FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES
REGARDING INVESTMENT IN SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES WITH A NON-FUNDAMENTAL
INVESTMENT POLICY.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL 2: RATIFICATION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE FUND'S INDEPENDENT
            ACCOUNTANTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who
are not "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined by the 1940 Act), has
selected the firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants,
to serve as the Fund's independent accountants and to examine the Fund's
financial statements. The Fund knows of no direct or indirect financial interest
of such firm in the Fund. The appointment is subject to ratification or
rejection by the shareholders of the Fund.

  Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are expected to be present at
the Meeting and will be available to respond to questions from shareholders and
will have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire.

SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL

  The shareholders of the Fund, voting as a single class, are entitled to vote
on this proposal. An affirmative vote of a majority of the Shares of the Fund
present in person or by proxy at the Meeting and voting is required to ratify
the selection of the independent public accountants for such Fund. THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" RATIFICATION OF
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS THE FUND'S INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER INFORMATION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The Fund is advised by Van Kampen Asset Management Inc. ("Asset Management").
The Fund is one of more than 50 open-end investment companies advised by Asset
Management or its affiliate, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp. ("Advisory
Corp."), and distributed by Van Kampen Funds Inc. (the "Distributor"). The
Fund's transfer agent is Van Kampen Investor Services Inc. ("Investor
Services"). Asset Management, Advisory Corp., the Distributor and Investor

                                        6
<PAGE>   12

Services are wholly owned subsidiaries of Van Kampen Investments Inc. ("Van
Kampen Investments"). Van Kampen Investments is an indirect wholly owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. ("Morgan Stanley Dean Witter").
The principal business address of Van Kampen Investments, Asset Management,
Advisory Corp. and the Distributor is located at 1 Parkview Plaza, P.O. Box
5555, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-5555. The principal business address of
Investor Services is located at P.O. Box 418256, Kansas City, Missouri
64141-9256. The principal business address of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter is
located at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.

  The Fund will bear the costs of preparing, printing, and mailing and
soliciting the enclosed form of proxy, the accompanying Notice and this Proxy
Statement and the Meeting. In order to obtain the necessary quorum at the
Meeting, additional solicitation may be made by mail, telephone, telegraph,
facsimile or personal interview by representatives of the Fund or Asset
Management (or its affiliates), or by dealers or their representatives, or by
First Data Investor Services Group ("First Data"), a solicitation firm located
in Boston, Massachusetts that has been engaged to assist in proxy solicitations.
The estimated costs of First Data for mailing, solicitation and tabulation of
shareholder votes are approximately $50,000.

                                        7
<PAGE>   13

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION AND PROPOSALS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The persons who, to the knowledge of the Fund, owned beneficially more than 5%
of a class of a Fund's outstanding Shares as of July 9, 1999 are set forth
below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  AMOUNT OF
                                                OWNERSHIP AT    PERCENTAGE
          NAME AND ADDRESS OF HOLDER            JULY 9, 1999    OWNERSHIP
          --------------------------            -------------   ----------
<S>                                             <C>             <C>
Northbrook Life Insurance Company.............   1,463,107.08    47.785%
MSDWVA II
3100 Sanders Rd Station N4A
Northbrook, IL 60062-7156
Van Kampen American Capital...................   1,065,571.51    34.801%
Generations Variable Annuities
c/o American General Life Ins. Co.
P.O. Box 1591
Houston, TX 77251-1591
Nationwide Life Insurance Co..................     204,284.38     6.672%
Nationwide Variable Account 3
c/o IPO Portfolio Accounting
P.O. Box 182029
Columbus, OH 43218-2029
The Travelers SEPACCT for.....................     153,780.09     5.022%
Variable Annuities of
The Travelers Insurance Co.
One Tower Square 5MS
Hartford, CT 06183-0002
</TABLE>

  For regulatory reasons, shares of the Fund are only available to Accounts of
participating insurance companies, thus the Trustees and officers of the Fund do
not own Shares of the Fund.

  As a general matter, the Fund does not hold regular annual meetings of
shareholders. Any shareholder who wishes to submit proposals for consideration
at a meeting of the Fund should send such proposal to the Fund at 1 Parkview
Plaza, P.O. Box 5555, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-5555. To be considered
for presentation at a shareholders' meeting, rules promulgated by the Securities
and Exchange Commission require that, among other things, a shareholder's
proposal must be received at the offices of the Fund a reasonable time before a
solicitation is made. Timely submission of a proposal does not necessarily mean
that such proposal will be included.

                                        8
<PAGE>   14

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Management of the Fund does not intend to present and does not have reason to
believe that others will present any other items of business at the Meeting.
However, if other matters are properly presented to the Meeting for a vote, the
proxies will be voted upon such matters in accordance with the judgment of the
persons acting under the proxies.

  A list of shareholders of the Fund entitled to be present and vote at the
Meeting will be available at the offices of the Fund, 1 Parkview Plaza, P.O. Box
5555, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-5555, for inspection by any shareholder
during regular business hours for ten days prior to the date of the Meeting.

  Failure of a quorum to be present at the Meeting may necessitate adjournment
and may subject the Fund to additional expense.

  IF YOU CANNOT BE PRESENT IN PERSON, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO FILL IN, SIGN AND
RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES.

                                          A. THOMAS SMITH III
                                          Vice President and Secretary
July 29, 1999

                                        9
<PAGE>   15

                                     [LOGO]


                                                                             LIT
<PAGE>   16

                                         PROXY
                           VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST

                               EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO

                            SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                  PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

           The undersigned holder of Shares of the EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO
           (the "Fund"), a series of VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST, a
           Delaware business trust, hereby appoints Dennis J. McDonnell and
           A. Thomas Smith, III, and each of them, with full power of
           substitution and revocation, as proxies to represent the
           undersigned at the Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the
           offices of Van Kampen Investments Inc., 1 Parkview Plaza,
           Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181-5555, on September 22, 1999 at
           4:00 p.m., and any and all adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"),
           and thereat to vote all Shares which the undersigned would be
           entitled to vote, with all powers the undersigned would possess
           if personally present, in accordance with the following
           instructions.
<PAGE>   17

<TABLE>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

           <S>  <C>                                                           <C>   <C>        <C>
           1.   The proposal to approve replacing the Fund's fundamental      FOR    AGAINST   ABSTAIN
                investment policies regarding investment in small- and        [ ]      [ ]       [ ]
                medium-sized companies with a non-fundamental investment
                policy.
           2.   The proposal to ratify the selection of                       FOR    AGAINST   ABSTAIN
                PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Fund's independent          [ ]      [ ]       [ ]
                accountants.
           3.   To transact such other business as may properly come before
                the Meeting.
</TABLE>

           If more than one of the proxies, or their substitutes, are
           present at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, they jointly
           (or, if only one is present and voting then that one) shall have
           authority and may exercise all powers granted hereby. This Proxy,
           when properly executed, will be voted in accordance with the
           instructions marked hereon by the undersigned. IF NO
           SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED "FOR" EACH OF THE
           PROPOSALS DESCRIBED HEREIN AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES
           UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.

           THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THE ACCOMPANYING
           NOTICE OF MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE MEETING TO BE HELD
           ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1999.

                                                Date  , 1999

                                                Please sign this Proxy
                                                exactly as your name or
                                                names appear on the books of
                                                the Fund. When signing as
                                                attorney, trustee, executor,
                                                administrator, custodian,
                                                guardian or corporate
                                                officer, please give full
                                                title. If shares are held
                                                jointly, each holder should
                                                sign.
                                        --------------------------------------

                                        --------------------------------------
                                                Signature(s) Title(s) if
                                                applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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