HIGH YIELD PLUS FUND INC
DEF 14A, 1996-09-10
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                         THE HIGH YIELD PLUS FUND, INC.
                                One Seaport Plaza
                            New York, New York 10292
                                 ---------------
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                 ---------------
                                October 30, 1996

To our Stockholders:

    NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders  ("Annual
Meeting") of The High Yield Plus Fund, Inc. ("Fund") will be held on October 30,
1996 at 9:30 a.m., at One Seaport  Plaza,  199 Water Street,  New York, New York
10292 for the following purposes:

    (1) To elect one Class I director  and one Class II  director to serve until
1998 and 1999, respectively;

    (2) To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as  independent  public
accountants of the Fund for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997; and

    (3) To consider and act upon any other  business as may properly come before
the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

    Only  holders of common  stock of record at the close of  business on August
16,  1996 are  entitled  to notice of and to vote at the  Annual  Meeting or any
adjournment thereof.

                              By order of the Board of Directors,





                              ARTHUR J. BROWN 
                              Secretary


Dated: September 6, 1996


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT-PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD PROMPTLY

    STOCKHOLDERS  ARE  INVITED  TO ATTEND THE  ANNUAL  MEETING  IN  PERSON.  ANY
STOCKHOLDER  WHO DOES NOT  EXPECT  TO  ATTEND  THE  ANNUAL  MEETING  IS URGED TO
INDICATE VOTING  INSTRUCTIONS  ON THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY,  DATE AND SIGN IT,
AND RETURN IT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED,  WHICH NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES.  IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL  EXPENSE TO THE FUND OF FURTHER
SOLICITATION,  WE ASK YOUR COOPERATION IN MAILING YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY, NO MATTER
HOW LARGE OR SMALL YOUR HOLDINGS MAY BE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                       
<PAGE>




                         THE HIGH YIELD PLUS FUND, INC.
                               One Seaport Plaza
                            New York, New York 10292
                              -------------------
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                              -------------------
                         Annual Meeting of Stockholders
                                October 30, 1996

                                  INTRODUCTION

    This Proxy Statement is furnished to the stockholders of The High Yield Plus
Fund, Inc. ("Fund") by the Board of Directors of the Fund in connection with the
solicitation  of  Proxies  to be voted at the  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders
("Meeting")  to be held on October 30,  1996 at 9:30 a.m. at One Seaport  Plaza,
New York,  New York  10292.  The matters to be acted upon at the Meeting are set
forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting.

    If the  enclosed  form of Proxy is executed  properly and  returned,  shares
represented  by it  will  be  voted  at  the  Meeting  in  accordance  with  the
instructions on the Proxy. A Proxy may nevertheless be revoked at any time prior
to its use by written  notification  received by the Fund, by the execution of a
later dated Proxy or by attending the Meeting and voting in person.  However, if
no instructions are specified on a Proxy,  shares will be voted FOR the election
of the nominees for director and FOR the other proposal.

    The close of  business  on August 16, 1996 has been fixed as the record date
for the  determination of stockholders  entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Meeting.  On  that  date,  the  Fund  had  11,188,095  shares  of  common  stock
outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share will be entitled to one vote at the
Meeting.  It is expected that the Notice of Annual Meeting,  Proxy Statement and
form of Proxy  first will be mailed to  stockholders  on or about  September 10,
1996.

    The  solicitation  is made primarily by the mailing of this Proxy  Statement
and the accompanying  Proxy.  Supplementary  solicitations may be made,  without
cost to the Fund, by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal interview by regular
employees of Prudential Mutual Fund Management,  Inc., the Fund's  administrator
("Administrator")  or  the  Administrator's  affiliate,   Prudential  Securities
Incorporated  ("Prudential   Securities").   All  expenses  in  connection  with
preparing this Proxy Statement and its enclosures,  and additional  solicitation
expenses  including  reimbursement  of  brokerage  firms  and  others  for their
expenses in forwarding proxy  solicitation  material to the beneficial owners of
shares,  will be borne by the Fund. The presence at the Meeting, in person or by
proxy, of stockholders  entitled to cast a majority of the shares outstanding is
required for a quorum.  In the event that a quorum is present at the Meeting but
sufficient  votes to approve one or more of the proposed items are not received,
the  persons  named as proxies  may  propose  one or more  adjournments  of such
Meeting to permit further  solicitation  of Proxies with respect to those items.
Any such  adjournment  will require the affirmative  vote of a majority of those
shares present at the Meeting or represented by proxy. In such case, the persons
named as proxies will vote those Proxies which they are entitled to vote for any
such item in favor of such an adjournment,  and will vote those Proxies required
to be voted  against any such item against any such  adjournment.  A stockholder
vote may be taken on one or more of the items in this Proxy  Statement  prior to
any such  adjournment if sufficient votes have been received and it is otherwise
appropriate.

    Broker  non-votes  are  shares  held in street  name for  which  the  broker
indicates that instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or
other  persons  entitled  to vote and with  respect to which the broker does not
have  discretionary  voting authority.  Abstentions and broker non-votes will be
counted  as shares  present  for  purposes  of  determining  whether a quorum is
present  but will not be voted  for or  against  any  adjournment.  Accordingly,
abstentions and broker non-votes  effectively will be a vote against adjournment
or against any proposal  where the 




                                       1
<PAGE>

required  vote is a percentage  of the shares  present.  Abstentions  and broker
non-votes  will  not  be  counted,  however,  as  votes  cast  for  purposes  of
determining whether sufficient votes have been received to approve a proposal.

    Management does not know of any person or group who owned beneficially 5% or
more of the Fund's outstanding common stock on the record date.

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

                                 Proposal No. 1

    The Fund's Board of Directors has nominated the individuals identified below
for election to the Fund's  Board.  The  nomination of this group of nominees to
serve as Board Members of the Fund  reflects an overall plan to  coordinate  and
enhance  the  efficiency  of the  governance  of the Fund and of  certain  other
investment   companies   that  are   administered   or  managed  by  the  Fund's
Administrator  (collectively referred to as the "Investment  Companies").  Under
this plan,  four board  clusters  will be created for the  Investment  Companies
allowing  for the  Investment  Companies in each cluster to hold joint board and
shareholder meetings.  Specifically,  such an arrangement will allow the Fund to
hold joint board and shareholder  meetings with certain of the other  Investment
Companies that would, if this proposal is approved, be served by the same Boards
of  Directors.  This plan was  developed  by the Advisory  Group of  Independent
Directors/Trustees ("Advisory Group"), comprised of current board members of the
Investment  Companies,  who are not "interested  persons" of such companies,  as
defined  in the 1940 Act,  with the advice of their  counsel,  and  assisted  by
representatives  of the  Administrator.  The Advisory Group  considered  various
matters related to the management and governance of the Investment Companies and
made recommendations to their Boards,  including proposals concerning the number
of mutual fund  boards,  the size and  composition  of such  boards,  retirement
policies  and related  matters.  These  proposals  were  considered  and actions
consistent  with them were  adopted by the Fund's Board at a meeting on February
8, 1996.

    The Fund's Board  believes that  coordinated  governance  through this Board
restructuring  will benefit the Fund.  Despite some recent  consolidations,  the
Investment  Companies  have grown  substantially  in size in the years since the
current Board structures were created.  This growth has been due to the creation
of new  Investment  Companies  intended  to serve a wide  variety of  investment
needs. The Advisory Group concluded that the Investment Companies, including the
Fund,  would operate more effectively and  economically  with fewer boards.  The
Administrator  currently  administers  or manages 70  portfolios of open-end and
closed-end  funds having a wide variety of  investment  objectives  and policies
with  over  12  different  board  structures  (clusters).   The  Advisory  Group
recommended  that the number of Board clusters be reduced from the present level
to four.  The Fund  would be part of a  cluster  including  funds  with  outside
(non-Prudential)   advisers  or  subadvisers.   Wellington   Management  Company
("Wellington   Management"  or  "Investment   Adviser")  serves  as  the  Fund's
investment  adviser.  The Board  believes that adoption of the Advisory  Group's
recommendation would result in greater efficiencies through the holding of joint
board and  shareholder  meetings.  Also,  the Board  believes  that  coordinated
governance  reduces the  possibility  that the separate boards of the Investment
Companies  might arrive at  conflicting  decisions  regarding the operations and
management  of  the  Investment   Companies  and  avoids  costs  resulting  from
conflicting decisions.

    Moreover,  the Fund's  Board  believes  that the Fund will  benefit from the
diversity and  experience of the nominees that would  comprise the  restructured
Board.  These  nominees  have had  distinguished  careers in business,  finance,
government  and other  areas and will  bring a wide  range of  expertise  to the
Board. Two of the three nominees have no affiliation  with the  Administrator or
Wellington Management and would be independent Board members.  Independent Board
members are charged  with  special  responsibilities,  among  other  things,  to
approve  advisory  and  similar  agreements  between  the Fund  and  management.
Currently,  they also constitute the members of the Board's audit committee.  In
the course of their  duties,  Board  members  must review and  understand  large
amounts  of  technical  and  financial  material  and must be  willing to devote
substantial amounts of time to their duties. Due to the demands of





                                       2
<PAGE>

service on the Boards,  independent nominees may need to reject other attractive
opportunities. Each of the independent nominees already serves as an independent
Board member for one or more funds within the Prudential Mutual Fund complex and
understands the operation of the complex.

    Under the plan,  the Fund's Board of Directors  will  continue to be divided
into three  classes with the director of each class  serving for a term of three
years  and  until  his  or  her  successor  is  elected  and   qualified.   Such
classification of the Fund's directors generally helps to promote the continuity
and  stability  of the  Fund's  management  and  policies.  Although  the  Board
recognized  that the nomination of new directors,  together with the anticipated
resignation of certain  current  directors could detract from the achievement of
this  objective,  the  Board  considered  the fact  that,  if this  proposal  is
approved,  only one new individual would be added to the Board, and the terms of
two sitting  directors  would  continue.  The Board members  concluded that this
ensured sufficient continuity and stability.

    The following  persons have been  designated a board cluster with respect to
this Fund under the plan:  Eugene C. Dorsey,  Douglas H. McCorkindale and Thomas
T. Mooney.  Because Mr. Mooney  currently  serves as a Class III director with a
term  expiring in 1997,  he will not be up for election as a Fund  director this
year. Mr. Mooney has served on the Fund's Board since inception. Mr. Dorsey, who
was appointed to the Fund's Board on February 8, 1996 to fill a vacancy  created
by the  resignation  of Mr.  Daniel S. Ahearn,  and has served in that  capacity
since that time,  is a Class I director  with a term expiring in 1998. He is the
nominee for election as a Class I director at this meeting.  In accordance  with
the plan, Robin B. Smith, a Class II director with a term expiring in 1996, will
not stand for re-election.  Consequently,  Mr.  McCorkindale is the sole nominee
for election as a Class II director at this  meeting.  Edward D. Beach,  a Class
III  director  with a term  expiring in 1997,  will step down from his  position
following the election of the nominees, as listed above.

    It is the intention of the persons  named in the enclosed form of Proxy,  in
accordance  with the  plan,  to vote in  favor of the  election  of  Douglas  H.
McCorkindale  as  nominee  for a Class II  director  and  Eugene C.  Dorsey as a
nominee for a Class I director.  Messrs.  McCorkindale and Dorsey have consented
to serve as  directors,  if  elected.  The Board of  Directors  has no reason to
believe that the  nominees  will become  unavilable  for  election,  but if that
should  occur  before  the  meeting,  the  proxies  will be voted for such other
nominees as the Board of Directors may recommend.

    No nominee or  director  is related to any other  nominee or  director.  The
following  tables  set forth  certain  information  regarding  each  nominee  or
director of the Fund.  Unless  otherwise  noted,  each  nominee or director  has
engaged in the principal  occupation listed in the following table for five year
or more.

                         INFORMATION REGARDING NOMINEES
                       FOR ELECTION AT 1996 ANNUAL MEETING

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                                      Shares of
                                                                                                                    common stock
                    Name, age, business experience                                                                    owned on
            during the past five years and other directorships                     Position with the Fund         August 30, 1996(a)
            --------------------------------------------------                     ----------------------         ------------------

CLASS II (term expiring in 1999, if elected)                                              

<S>                                                                                                                        <C>
*Douglas H. McCorkindale (57), Vice Chairman,  Gannett Co. Inc.  (publishing and            Nominee                        0
 media) (since March 1984);  Director of Gannett Co. Inc., Frontier Corporation,
 Continental Airlines, Inc., Prudential Distressed Securities,  Inc., Prudential
 Global  Genesis  Fund,  Inc.,   Prudential  Global  Natural  Resources,   Inc.,
 Prudential  Multi-Sector  Fund, Inc. and The Global Government Plus Fund, Inc.;
 Trustee of  Prudential  Allocation  Fund,  Prudential  Equity  Income  Fund and
 Prudential Municipal Bond Fund.

</TABLE>  

                                       3
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                                                      Shares of
                                                                                                                    common stock
                    Name, age, business experience                                                                    owned on
            during the past five years and other directorships                     Position with the Fund         August 30, 1996(a)
            --------------------------------------------------                     ----------------------         ------------------
CLASS I (term expiring in 1998)

<S>                                                                                        <C>                             <C>
Eugene C. Dorsey (69), Retired president, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of           Director                        0
the Gannett  Foundation  (now Freedom Forum);  former  Publisher of four Gannett
newspapers and Vice  President of Gannett  Company;  past chairman,  Independent
Sector,  Washington,  D.C. (national coalition of philanthropic  organizations);
former  Chairman  of  the  American  Council  for  the  Arts;  Director  of  the
AdvisoryBoard  of Chase  Manhattan  Bank of  Rochester;  Director of  Prudential
Diversified Bond Fund, Inc.,  Prudential  Equity Fund, Inc.,  Prudential  Europe
Growth  Fund,  Inc.,  Prudential   Institutional   Liquidity  Portfolio,   Inc.,
Prudential Jennison Fund, Inc.,  Prudential Mortgage Income Fund, Inc., The High
Yield Income Fund, Inc. and First Financial  Fund,  Inc.;  Trustee of Prudential
California  Municipal  Fund,  Prudential  Municipal  Series  Fund and The Target
Portfolio Trust.



                                                       INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTOR
                                                              WHOSE TERM CONTINUES

CLASS III (term expiring in 1997)

Thomas T. Mooney  (54),  President  of the Greater  Rochester  Metro  Chamber of           Director                      2,293
Commerce;  former  Rochester  City Manager;  Trustee of Center for  Governmental
Research,  Inc.;  Director  of Blue  Cross of  Rochester,  Monroe  County  Water
Authority,  Rochester Jobs, Inc.,  Executive Service Corps of Rochester,  Monroe
County Industrial  Development  Corporation,  Northeast Midwest  Institute,  The
Business  Council of New York  State,  Global  Utility  Fund,  Inc.,  Prudential
Distressed  Securities Fund,  Inc.,  Prudential  Equity Fund,  Inc.,  Prudential
Global Genesis Fund,  Prudential  Global  Natural  Resources,  Inc.,  Prudential
Government Income Fund, Inc.,  Prudential Mortgage Income Fund, Inc., Prudential
Multi-Sector  Fund, Inc., First Financial Fund, Inc., The Global Government Plus
Fund,  Inc.,  The Global Total  Return Fund,  Inc. and The High Yield Plus Fund,
Inc.; Trustee of Prudential  Allocation Fund,  Prudential  California  Municipal
Fund,  Prudential  Equity  Income  Fund,  Prudential  Municipal  Bond  Fund  and
Prudential Municipal Series Fund.

<FN>
- ------------------

  * Indicates  "interested  person"  of the Fund as  defined  in the  Investment
    Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"). Mr.  McCorkindale is deemed to
    be an "interested person" by reason of his limited  partnership  holdings in
    two investment vehicles managed by an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.

(a) For this purpose, "beneficial ownership" is defined in the regulations under
    Section  13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 ("1934  Act").  The
    information is based on  statements  furnished  by  Prudential  Mutual  Fund
    Management, Inc. and the nominees.
</FN>
</TABLE>



                                       4
<PAGE>


    The  directors  and  officers  of the Fund as a group  (six  persons)  owned
beneficially  less than 1% of the  outstanding  shares of the Fund, as of August
30, 1996.  This includes  shares shown with respect to current  directors in the
tables above.

    Under  Section  16(a) of the  1934  Act,  Section  30(f) of the 1940 Act and
Securities and Exchange  Commission ("SEC") regulations  thereunder,  the Fund's
officers and directors,  persons owning more than 10% of the Fund's common stock
and certain  officers  and  partners of the  Investment  Adviser are required to
report their  transactions in the Fund's common stock to the SEC, New York Stock
Exchange and the Fund.  Based solely on the Fund's  review of the copies of such
reports  received by it, the Fund  believes  that,  during its fiscal year ended
March 31, 1996, all filing requirements applicable to such persons were complied
with.

Board of Directors and Committee Meetings.

    The Board of Directors  met four times  during the Fund's  fiscal year ended
March 31, 1996, and each director, during the time he or she served, attended at
least 75% of the total  number of meetings of the Board and of any  committee of
which he or she was a member.  The  Board of  Directors  has an Audit  Committee
currently composed of Messrs. Beach*, Dorsey and Mooney and Ms. Smith. Mr. Beach
is deemed to be an  "interested  person" of the Fund because he is an officer of
the  Fund.  The  Audit  Committee  also  reviews  with  the  independent  public
accountants  the plan and results of the audit  engagement  and matters having a
material effect upon the Fund's  financial  operations.  The Audit Committee met
twice during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.  The Board of Directors  does
not have a standing nominating or compensation committee.  

Officers of the Fund.

    The  officers  of the Fund,  other  than as shown  above  who also  serve as
directors, are:

    Arthur J. Brown (age 47)-Secretary; Partner, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP (law
firm).  Kirkpatrick  & Lockhart  serves as counsel to the Fund and to Wellington
Management Company on certain matters.

    Stephanie A. Djinis (age  32)-Assistant  Secretary;  Partner,  Kirkpatrick &
Lockhart, LLP.

    Mr. Brown has held office since February 3, 1988. Ms. Djinis has held office
since  February 14, 1990.  The officers of the Fund are elected  annually by the
Board  of  Directors  at its  next  meeting  following  the  annual  meeting  of
stockholders.

Compensation of Directors.  

    As recommended by the Advisory  Group,  the  compensation  paid to the Board
members will change. The Advisory Group has recommended that,  initially,  under
the new  structure,  each Board  member who is not an officer or employee of the
Investment  Adviser  receive  annual fees in the  aggregate  of $25,000 for this
Board cluster,  which also includes four other investment  companies not subject
to this proxy statement. There will be no additional compensation for serving on
committees  or for  attending  meetings.  For the most  part,  on a Fund by Fund
basis,  Directors'  fees in the  aggregate  will  not be  higher  than  they are
currently.  Board  members  will  continue  to be  reimbursed  for any  expenses
incurred in attending  meetings and for other  incidental  expenses.  The annual
Board  fees per Fund and per  cluster  are  subject to the  approval  of the new
Boards upon their  election.  Shareholders  are not being asked to vote on these
fees. Thereafter,  annual Board fees may be reviewed periodically and changed by
each Fund's Board.

    The table below includes certain information relating to the compensation of
the Fund's  directors  paid by the Fund for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996
as well as  information  regarding  compensation  from the  "Fund  Complex,"  as
defined below, for the calendar year ended December 31, 1995.



                                       5
<PAGE>



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

                                                         Compensation Table

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       Pension or                           Total
                                                                                       Retirement                       Compensation
                                                                                        Benefits        Estimated         From the
                                                                                       Accrued as         Annual          Fund and
                                                                    Aggregate          Part of the       Benefits         the Fund
                                                                  Compensation           Fund's            Upon         Complex Paid
Name of Director                                                  From the Fund         Expenses        Retirement      to Directors
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>                  <C>              <C>           <C>
Edward D. Beach                                                      $8,000               NONE             N/A           $24,000(3)*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eugene C. Dorsey+                                                     NONE                NONE             N/A            10,000(1)*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas T. Mooney                                                     $9,500               NONE             N/A            28,500(3)*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robin B. Smith+                                                      $8,000               NONE             N/A            34,000(4)*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
* Parenthetical Indicates  number of funds in the Fund Complex  (including   the
  Fund) to which aggregate compensation relates.

+ All  compensation  from the Fund and Fund Complex for the calendar  year ended
  December 31, 1995 represents deferred compensation. Aggregate compensation for
  that period from the Fund Complex, including  accrued  interest,  amounted  to 
  approximately  $11,355.09  for  Mr. Dorsey  and  $38,639.35 for Ms. Smith. Ms.
  Smith's compensation from the Fund for its fiscal year ended March  31,  1996, 
  including accrued interest,      amounted to $8,615.71.
</FN>

</TABLE>
    Directors  must be  elected by a vote of the  holders  of a majority  of the
shares  present  at the  Meeting  in  person or by proxy  and  entitled  to vote
thereon.

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 1.

                      SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

                                 Proposal No. 2

    The Board of Directors,  including a majority of those directors who are not
interested  persons (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the
Investment Adviser  ("Independent  Directors"),  unanimously selected Deloitte &
Touche LLP as  independent  accountants  for the Fund for the fiscal year ending
March 31, 1997. Such  appointment is now subject to ratification or rejection by
stockholders of the Fund. In addition,  as required by the 1940 Act, the vote of
the Board of  Directors  is subject  to the right of the Fund,  by the vote of a
majority of its outstanding voting  securities,  (as such term is defined in the
1940 Act) to terminate such engagement without penalty at any meeting called for
the purposes of voting thereon. Deloitte & Touche LLP has informed the Fund that
it has no  material  direct or  indirect  financial  interest  in the  Fund.  No
representative  of  Deloitte  & Touche  LLP is  expected  to be  present  at the
Meeting.

    The Fund's  financial  statements  for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996,
were  examined  by  Deloitte  & Touche  LLP,  as the Fund's  independent  public
accountants.  The Audit Committee will review and approve  services  provided by
the independent  accountants  prior to their being rendered,  and will report to
the  Board of  Directors  concerning  all such  services  after  they  have been
performed.

    The affirmative  vote of a majority of the shares  present,  in person or by
proxy, at the Meeting is required for ratification.

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2.


                                       6
<PAGE>

                                  OTHER MATTERS

    No business,  other than as set forth above,  is expected to come before the
Meeting.   Should  either  of  the  nominees  named  above  unexpectedly  become
unavailable  for  election,  or should  any other  matters  requiring  a vote of
stockholders properly come before the Meeting, the persons named in the enclosed
Proxy will vote thereon in accordance  with their best judgment in the interests
of the Fund.

                          WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMPANY

    Wellington Management Company, 75 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109,
is the Fund's  Investment  Adviser.  The Investment  Adviser is a  Massachusetts
general partnership of which the following persons are managing partners: Robert
M. Doran,  Duncan M.  McFarland and John R. Ryan.  The  Investment  Adviser is a
professional  investment  counseling firm which provides  investment services to
investment companies,  employee benefit plans, endowment funds,  foundations and
other institutions and individuals. As of March 31, 1996, the Investment Adviser
held  discretionary  investment  authority  over  approximately  $114 billion of
assets. The Investment  Adviser and its predecessor  organizations have provided
investment  advisory  services  to  investment   companies  since  1933  and  to
investment  counseling  clients  since  1960.  The  Investment  Adviser  is  not
affiliated with the Administrator.  Prudential Mutual Fund Management, Inc., the
Fund's Administrator, is located at One Seaport Plaza, New York, New York 10292.

                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

    If a stockholder  intends to present a proposal at the Fund's annual meeting
of stockholders in 1997 and desires to have the proposal  included in the Fund's
proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting, the stockholder must deliver
the proposal to the offices of the Fund at One Seaport Plaza, New York, New York
10292 by January 30, 1997.  Stockholder proposals that are submitted in a timely
manner will not necessarily be included in the Fund's proxy materials. Inclusion
of such proposal is subject to limitation under the federal securities laws.

     NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER-DEALERS AND VOTING TRUSTEES AND THEIR NOMINEES

    Please  advise the Fund,  at One Seaport  Plaza,  New York,  New York 10292,
whether  other  persons are  beneficial  owners of shares for which  Proxies are
being  solicited and if so, the number of copies of the Proxy Statement you wish
to  receive in order to supply  copies to the  beneficial  owners of shares.  

                                             By Order of the Board of Directors,




                                             ARTHUR J. BROWN
                                               Secretary


Dated: September 6, 1996



                                       7
<PAGE>



The High Yield Plus Fund, Inc.



Proxy 
Statement


- --------------------------------
The High
Yield Plus
Fund, Inc.
- --------------------------------


Notice of
Annual Meeting
to be held on
October 30, 1996
and
Proxy Statement



<PAGE>



                                      PROXY

                          THE HIGH YIELD PLUS FUND, INC.
                                One Seaport Plaza
                            New York, New York 10292

           This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors

The undersigned  hereby appoints Edward D. Beach and Arthur J. Brown as Proxies,
each with the power of  substitution,  and hereby  authorizes  each of them,  to
represent  and vote,  as  designated  on the reverse side of this card,  all the
shares of common  stock of The High  Yield Plus  Fund,  Inc.  (the Fund) held of
record on August 16, 1996 at the Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held on
October 30, 1996, or any adjournment thereof.



HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?                DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?


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

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

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


                                      PROXY

                          THE HIGH YIELD PLUS FUND, INC.
                                One Seaport Plaza
                            New York, New York 10292

           This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors

The undersigned  hereby appoints Edward D. Beach and Arthur J. Brown as Proxies,
each with the power of  substitution,  and hereby  authorizes  each of them,  to
represent  and vote,  as  designated  on the reverse side of this card,  all the
shares of common  stock of The High  Yield Plus  Fund,  Inc.  (the Fund) held of
record on August 16, 1996 at the Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held on
October 30, 1996, or any adjournment thereof.



HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?                DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?


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

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

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

                                    
<PAGE>


(Left Column)


- --
X  PLEASE MARK VOTES
- -- AS IN THIS EXAMPLE


                               THE HIGH YIELD PLUS
                                    FUND, INC.

This Proxy, when properly executed,  will be voted in the manner directed by the
undersigned  shareholder.  If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted for
Proposals 1, 2, and 3.


                                                           ---------------------
Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy.                Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Shareholder sign here                                 Co-owner sign here
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(Right Column)


The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote "FOR" each of the nominees and "FOR"
each of the following Proposals:



                                                             With-      For All
                                                    For      hold        Except
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS                           -----     -----       -----
   Nominees:
                                                   -----     -----       -----

                  Eugene C. Dorsey and Douglas H. McCorkindale

If you do not wish your shares voted "For" a particular  nominee,  mark the "For
All Except" box and strike a line through the nominees name. Your shares will be
voted for the remaining nominee(s).


                                                    For      Against     Abstain

2. To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche    -----      -----       -----
   LLP as independent  public  accountants  for
   the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997.          -----      -----       -----


3. To consider and act upon such other business    -----      -----       -----
   as may properly  come before the meeting and
   any adjournments thereof.                       -----      -----       -----


Mark box at right if comments  or address  change have been               -----
noted on the reverse side of this card.
                                                                          -----


RECORD DATE SHARES:


(Left Column)


- --
X  PLEASE MARK VOTES
- -- AS IN THIS EXAMPLE


                               THE HIGH YIELD PLUS
                                    FUND, INC.

This Proxy, when properly executed,  will be voted in the manner directed by the
undersigned  shareholder.  If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted for
Proposals 1, 2, and 3.


                                                           ---------------------
Please be sure to sign and date this Proxy.                Date
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Shareholder sign here                                 Co-owner sign here
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


(Right Column)


The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote "FOR" each of the nominees and "FOR"
each of the following Proposals:



                                                             With-      For All
                                                    For      hold        Except
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS                           -----     -----       -----
   Nominees:
                                                   -----     -----       -----

                  Eugene C. Dorsey and Douglas H. McCorkindale

If you do not wish your shares voted "For" a particular  nominee,  mark the "For
All Except" box and strike a line through the nominees name. Your shares will be
voted for the remaining nominee(s).


                                                    For      Against     Abstain

2. To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche    -----      -----       -----
   LLP as independent  public  accountants  for
   the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997.          -----      -----       -----


3. To consider and act upon such other business    -----      -----       -----
   as may properly  come before the meeting and
   any adjournments thereof.                       -----      -----       -----


Mark box at right if comments  or address  change have been               -----
noted on the reverse side of this card.
                                                                          -----


RECORD DATE SHARES:





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