CIGNA HIGH INCOME SHARES
DEF 14A, 1998-03-16
Previous: OREGON STEEL MILLS INC, DEF 14A, 1998-03-16
Next: ENHANCED SERVICES CO INC, 8-K, 1998-03-16



<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                     Information Required in Proxy Statement

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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 Commission 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

                            CIGNA HIGH INCOME SHARES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

                                 Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11.

    1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3) Per unit or other underlying value of transaction  computed pursuant to
       Exchange Act Rule 0- 11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
       calculated and state how it was determined):

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

    4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

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

    5) Total fee paid:

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

[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange  Act
    Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
    paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement
    number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing:

    1) Amount Previously Paid:

       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    3) Filing Party:

       -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    4) Date Filed:

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

<PAGE>


                            CIGNA HIGH INCOME SHARES



                                                          Waltham, Massachusetts
                                                                   March 6, 1998

To Our Shareholders:, 

  The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of CIGNA High Income Shares will be held at
The Colony  Club,  6th Floor,  Baystate  West,  1500 Main  Street,  Springfield,
Massachusetts  01115 on  Tuesday,  April 28,  1998 at 1:00 p.m.,  Eastern  Time.
Formal  notice of the  meeting  appears on the next page and is  followed by the
proxy statement.

  We hope you will find it convenient to attend the meeting,  but we urge you in
any event to  complete  and  return  the  enclosed  proxy  card in the  envelope
provided.  It is very  important  that your  proxy card be  received  as soon as
possible so that the necessary quorum will be represented at the meeting. If you
do attend, you may vote in person if you so desire.

  The Annual Report of CIGNA High Income Shares for the year ended  December 31,
1997 has previously been mailed to you.



                                                 Sincerely,


                                                 /s/ R. Bruce Albro

                                                 R. Bruce Albro
                                                 Chairman



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

                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

    SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO INDICATE THEIR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED
PROXY CARD, DATE AND SIGN IT,  AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE.  YOUR
PROMPT ATTENTION IS APPRECIATED.

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


<PAGE>




                            CIGNA HIGH INCOME SHARES


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS





To Shareholders of CIGNA High Income Shares:

  The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of CIGNA High Income Shares (the "Fund")
will be held at The Colony Club, 6th  Floor, Baystate  West, 1500  Main  Street,
Springfield,  Massachusetts  01115 on  Tuesday,  April  28,  1998 at 1:00  p.m.,
Eastern Time, for the following purposes:

(1)         To elect five  Trustees to serve  until the next  Annual  Meeting of
            Shareholders  or  until  the  election  and  qualification  of their
            successors.

(2)         To  ratify  the  appointment  by the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Price
            Waterhouse LLP as independent accountants of the Fund for the fiscal
            year ending December 31, 1998.

(3)         To  transact  such other  business as may  properly  come before the
            meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

  Holders of record of the shares of the Fund at the close of business on  March
4, 1998 are entitled to vote at the meeting.



                                               /s/ Jeffrey S. Winer

                                               Jeffrey S. Winer
                                               Secretary





Waltham, Massachusetts
March 6, 1998


<PAGE>



                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                        ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
                            CIGNA HIGH INCOME SHARES

  This proxy  statement is  furnished in  connection  with the  solicitation  of
proxies by the Trustees of CIGNA High Income  Shares (the "Fund") for use at the
Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  of the Fund to be held at The Colony Club, 6th
Floor,  Baystate West,  1500 Main Street,  Springfield,  Massachusetts  01115 on
Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at  1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at  any postponement or
adjournment thereof.

  Any  person  executing  a proxy may  revoke it at any time prior to its use by
executing a new proxy or by  registering  with the  Secretary of the Fund at the
meeting and requesting a revocation.  Executed proxies received by the Fund will
be voted in accordance with the directions  specified therein. A majority of the
outstanding  shares of the Fund must be present  at the  meeting in person or by
proxy to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

  For purposes of determining the presence of a quorum for transacting  business
at the meeting and determining  whether  sufficient votes have been cast FOR the
proposals,  abstentions  (that is, votes that are marked  "withheld") and broker
"non-votes"  (that is,  proxies  from brokers or nominees  indicating  that such
persons  have  not  received  instructions  from the  beneficial  owner or other
persons entitled to vote the shares on a particular matter with respect to which
the  brokers or  nominees  do not have  discretionary  power) will be treated as
shares which are present and entitled to vote,  but which have not voted on such
matter.  For this reason,  abstentions and broker non-votes will assist the Fund
in obtaining a quorum;  however,  abstentions and broker  non-votes will have no
effect on the outcome of the vote.

  The Board of Trustees  recommends  a vote FOR the election of Trustees and FOR
the  ratification  of Price  Waterhouse  LLP as independent  accountants.  If no
specification  is made,  the proxy will be voted FOR the election of Trustees as
listed,  FOR the  ratification of the appointment of Price Waterhouse LLP and at
the  discretion  of the proxy  holders,  on any other matters which may properly
come before the meeting or at any postponement or adjournment thereof. The Board
of Trustees  does not know of any actions to be  considered at the meeting other
than those referred to above.

  Costs of  soliciting  proxies  will be  borne  by the  Fund.  In  addition  to
solicitation  of proxies by use of the mails,  some of the  officers of the Fund
and persons  affiliated  with CIGNA  Corporation  ("CIGNA")  and its  affiliated
companies may, without remuneration,  solicit proxies in person or by telephone,
telegram or cable.

  At the  close  of  business  on  March  4,  1998,  the  record  date  for  the
determination  of  shareholders  entitled  to vote at the  meeting,  there  were
50,079,536  outstanding  shares.  Each share is entitled to one vote. This proxy
statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and form
of proxy are being mailed on or about March 10, 1998 to  shareholders  of record
on the record date.


<PAGE>


  The  principal  executive  offices of the Fund are located at (and its mailing
address is) 950 Winter Street, Suite 1200, Waltham, Massachusetts 02154.

  THE FUND WILL FURNISH TO A SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF
THE ANNUAL REPORT. REQUESTS  MAY  BE  MADE  BY  WRITING TO THE  FUND, 950 WINTER
STREET,  SUITE  1200,  WALTHAM, MA  02154,  ATTN: ALFRED  A. BINGHAM  III, OR BY
CALLING 1-800-426-5523.


                                   PROPOSAL 1

                              ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

  At  the  meeting, five  Trustees are to  be elected by the shareholders of the
Fund. The Board of Trustees has nominated and recommends the election of Messrs.
R. Bruce  Albro,  Hugh R. Beath,  Russell H. Jones,  Thomas C. Jones and Paul J.
McDonald.  Each of the nominees is  currently  serving on the Board of Trustees.
Shareholders  are asked to elect Messrs.  Albro,  Beath,  R. Jones, T. Jones and
McDonald  as Trustees  of the Fund,  each to hold  office  until the next Annual
Meeting  of  Shareholders  or  until  the  election  and  qualification  of  his
successor.

  Each of  the Trustees of  the Fund also serves as a Director of INA Investment
Securities,  Inc. ("IIS"). CIGNA Investments,  Inc. ("CII"), an indirect, wholly
owned  subsidiary of CIGNA,  serves as  investment  adviser to both the Fund and
IIS.  IIS  will  also  hold an  annual  meeting  on  April  28,  1998,  at which
shareholders will be asked to elect Messrs. Albro, Beath, R. Jones, T. Jones and
McDonald as Directors.

  All shares  represented  by valid  proxies  will be voted in the  election  of
Trustees for the nominees unless  authority to vote for a particular  nominee is
withheld.  Proxies  cannot  be voted for a greater  number of  persons  than the
nominees named in the proxy statement. If any nominee should be unable to serve,
an event not now  anticipated,  proxies  will be voted for such other  person as
shall be  designated  by the  Board of  Trustees  of the  Fund,  or the Board of
Trustees may reduce the number of Trustees,  as authorized by the Declaration of
Trust. All of the nominees have agreed to serve if elected.

  Mr. Beath was first elected to the Board in 1987. Mr. Albro was  first elected
in 1988.  Messrs. R. Jones and McDonald were first elected in 1995. Mr. T. Jones
was appointed to the Board in 1997.  Messrs. Albro, Beath, R. Jones and McDonald
were last elected by shareholders on April 29, 1997.

  The following  table sets forth the number of shares of the Fund and shares of
CIGNA  beneficially  owned by those who served on the Board of  Trustees  during
1997  and by the  Fund's  Trustees  and  officers  as a group.  The  information
provided is as of  December  31,  1997.  As of December  31,  1997,  neither the
Trustees as a group nor the Trustees and officers as a group owned  beneficially
more than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund or of CIGNA.


                                        2

<PAGE>



    Name                                                 Fund       CIGNA
    ----                                                ------      ------
R. Bruce Albro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .             0       11,165(1)
Hugh R. Beath  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           339            0
Russell H. Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           200            0
Thomas C. Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .             0       57,464(1)
Paul J. McDonald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .             0            0
Arthur C. Reeds, III(2). . . . . . . . . . . . .             0       89,912(1)
Trustees and Officers As a Group . . . . . . . .           539      160,262(1)
_________________
(1)  Includes shares of  CIGNA  which may  be acquired  within 60 days upon  the
     exercise of outstanding stock options, as follows: Mr. Albro--8,281, Mr. T.
     Jones--44,915 and Mr. Reeds--55,632.
(2)  Mr. Reeds retired from CIGNA and resigned from the Board in 1997.

  Section  16(a)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as  amended  (the
"Exchange  Act"),  requires the Fund's  Trustees  and  executive  officers,  and
persons  who own  more  than 10% of a  registered  class  of the  Fund's  equity
securities,  to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the
New York Stock Exchange reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership
of common stock and other equity securities of the Fund. Officers,  Trustees and
greater than 10%  shareholders  are required by SEC  regulations  to furnish the
Fund with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based solely on review of
the copies of such reports received by the Fund, or written representations from
certain  persons  that no such  reports  were  required  to be filed  for  those
persons,  the Fund believes all Section 16(a) filing requirements  applicable to
officers, Trustees and greater than 10% beneficial owners were satisfied.

  The following section sets forth as to each nominee his age, present position,
his principal occupation or employment during the last five years, his principal
affiliations,  including any  directorships he presently holds in companies that
have  issued   publicly-held   securities  and  any  material   interest  in  or
relationship with CII and any of its affiliated persons presently and during the
preceding  five  years.  The  Fund  does  not have a  principal  underwriter  or
administrator.  Each nominee  currently  serves as a Trustee of the Fund,  CIGNA
Funds Group, CIGNA Institutional Funds Group, CIGNA Variable Products Group, and
as a Director of INA Investment Securities, Inc.


NOMINEES:

  R. BRUCE ALBRO*, 55,  Senior  Managing  Director  and   Division  Head,  CIGNA
Portfolio  Advisors,  a section of CII; Senior Managing Director,  CII and CIGNA
Investment  Advisory  Company,  Inc.;  Vice  President and  Investment  Officer,
Connecticut  General Life Insurance  Company and Life Insurance Company of North
America;  Chairman  of  the  Board  and  President,  CIGNA  Funds  Group,  CIGNA
Institutional  Funds Group,  CIGNA  Variable  Products  Group and INA Investment
Securities,  Inc.  Mr.  Albro is also an officer or  director  of various  other
entities  which are  subsidiaries  or affiliates of CIGNA;  previously  Managing
Director - Division Head, CII.
__________
*  Nominee is an "interested person" of the Fund and CII within  the meaning  of
   the Investment Company Act of 1940.

                                        3
<PAGE>

  HUGH R. BEATH, 66,  Advisory   Director,  AdMedia  Corporate  Advisors,  Inc.;
previously Managing Director, AdMedia Corporate Advisors, Inc.; Chairman of  the
Board of Directors, Beath Advisors, Inc.

  RUSSELL  H.  JONES,  53,  Vice  President  and  Treasurer,  Kaman  Corporation
(helicopters  and  aircraft  components,   industrial  products  and  services);
Corporator,  Hartford Seminary;  Trustee and Senior Fellow,  American Leadership
Forum; previously Vice President, Kaman Corporation.

  THOMAS C. JONES*,  51,  President,  CIGNA Investment Management, a division of
CIGNA;  President and Director,  CII and CIGNA Investment Group, Inc.; Director,
CIGNA  International  Investment  Advisors,  Ltd.;  President,  CIGNA Investment
Advisory Company,  Inc.; President,  Connecticut General Life Insurance Company.
Mr.  Jones is also an officer or director of various  other  entities  which are
subsidiaries  or affiliates of CIGNA;  previously  President,  CIGNA  Individual
Insurance,  a division  of CIGNA;  President,  CIGNA  Reinsurance  - Property  &
Casualty;  a division of CIGNA;  Executive Vice  President and Director,  NAC RE
Corporation.

  PAUL J. MCDONALD, 54, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative
Officer, Friendly Ice Cream Corporation (family restaurants and dairy products);
Chairman,  Dean's  Advisory  Council,  University  of  Massachusetts  School  of
Management;  Director,  Springfield  YMCA;  Trustee,  Basketball  Hall of  Fame;
Regional Director - Western Massachusetts,  Bank of Boston; previously Executive
Vice  President,  Finance  and  Chief  Financial  Officer,  Friendly  Ice  Cream
Corporation.
____________
* Nominee is an  "interested  person" of the Fund and CII within the  meaning of
  the Investment Company Act of 1940.


                                        4

<PAGE>

  No officer of the Fund and no Trustee of the Fund  received  any  remuneration
from the Fund during 1997 at the same time he was serving as a Director, officer
or  employee  of  CII,  CIGNA  or any of its  subsidiaries.  The  other  current
Trustees,  taken as a group, were paid or accrued Trustee fees for 1997 from the
Fund  in  the  aggregate   amount  of  $31,200.   Under   current   compensation
arrangements,  such Trustees will be entitled to receive from the Fund an annual
retainer of $8,600 plus a fee of $200 for each Board  meeting  attended and $200
for each  Committee  meeting  attended.  These Trustees will also be entitled to
receive, as compensation for their services as Trustees or Directors,  an annual
retainer of $2,000,  a $200 Board meeting fee, and a $200 Committee  meeting fee
from  each of CIGNA  Funds  Group,  CIGNA  Institutional  Funds  Group and CIGNA
Variable Products Group, except that the annual retainer for CIGNA Institutional
Funds Group is being  waived  while the net assets of its sole series of shares,
CIGNA International  Stock Fund, are below $25,000,000,  and the annual retainer
for CIGNA Funds Group is also being waived. In addition,  these Trustees will be
entitled to receive an annual retainer of $6,600,  a $200 Board meeting fee, and
a $200 Committee meeting fee from INA Investment  Securities,  Inc. All Trustees
are entitled to receive  reimbursements for expenses incurred in connection with
each Board and Committee meeting attended.  These reimbursements of expenses are
allocated among the Fund, each series of CIGNA Funds Group, CIGNA  Institutional
Funds Group, CIGNA Variable Products Group, and INA Investment Securities,  Inc.
so that each entity pays an amount  based on its net assets as a  percentage  of
the  aggregate  net  assets of such  entities.  The  following  table sets forth
compensation paid by the Fund and by the CIGNA fund complex to Trustees in 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                      Pension or                                      Total
                                                                      Retirement                                   Compensation
                                                                      Benefits              Estimated              from Fund
                                                                      Accrued As            Annual                 and CIGNA
                                              Aggregate               Part of               Benefits               Fund Complex
Name of Person,                               Compensation            Fund                  Upon                   Paid to
Position with Fund                            from Fund               Expenses              Retirement             Trustees (c)
- ------------------                            ---------               --------              ----------             ------------
<S>                                           <C>                     <C>                   <C>                    <C>
R. Bruce Albro, Trustee,
  Chairman and President. . . . . . . . . . .  $      0               $ -                   $   -                  $      0
Hugh R. Beath, Trustee (a). . . . . . . . . .    10,400                 -                       -                    24,600
Russell H. Jones, Trustee . . . . . . . . . .    10,400                 -                       -                    24,600
Thomas C. Jones, Trustee. . . . . . . . . . .         0                 -                       -                         0
Paul J. McDonald, Trustee (b) . . . . . . . .    10,400                 -                       -                    24,600
Arthur C. Reeds, III, Trustee (d) . . . . . .         0                 -                       -                         0
                                              ------------            --------              ---------              --------
                                              $  31,200               $ -                   $   -                  $ 73,800
                                              ============            ========              =========              ========
</TABLE>
________________
 (a)     All but $403 of Mr. Beath's 1997 compensation was deferred under a plan
         for all CIGNA funds in which he had an aggregate balance of $167,185 as
         of December 31, 1997.

 (b)     All but $403 of Mr.  McDonald's 1997  compensation was deferred under a
         plan  for all  CIGNA  funds in which  he had an  aggregate  balance  of
         $80,886 as of December 31, 1997.

 (c)     There were four  (4) investment  companies  other than the Fund in  the
         CIGNA fund complex.

 (d)     Mr. Reeds retired from CIGNA and resigned from the Board in 1997.


                                        5

<PAGE>



  The Board of Trustees  held seven Board  meetings  during  1997.  Each Trustee
attended more than 75% of the aggregate  meetings of the Board and Committees on
which such  Trustee  served  during the year.  The Board of  Trustees  has three
standing committees as follows:


AUDIT COMMITTEE

  The Audit  Committee  reviews the  accounting  controls and procedures and the
quality of accounting services rendered to the Fund by independent  accountants,
and inquires into the work of management and of the independent  accountants and
the working  relationships between them. It has direct access to the independent
accountants,  and to financial officers and such other officers as the Committee
deems  desirable.  The Committee  also has the authority to approve the scope of
the annual audit and reports the results of its work to the Board of Trustees on
an  appropriate  schedule.  The Committee  held one meeting in 1997. The current
members of the Committee are Messrs.  Beath,  R. Jones and McDonald  (Chairman),
none of whom are interested persons of the Fund.


CONTRACTS COMMITTEE

  The Contracts  Committee reviews the performance of the investment adviser for
the Fund,  and makes  recommendations  to the Board of Trustees  concerning  the
renewal of the Investment  Advisory Agreement.  In performing its function,  the
Committee  obtains from CII such  information as it deems  necessary to evaluate
the terms of the  Investment  Advisory  Agreement  and any changes or amendments
thereto or  replacements  thereof.  The Committee  held one meeting in 1997. The
current  members of the Committee are Messrs.  Beath,  R. Jones  (Chairman)  and
McDonald, none of whom are interested persons of the Fund.


NOMINATING COMMITTEE

  The  Nominating  Committee  manages the  development  and  maintenance  of the
Board's  membership,   organization  and  compensation  and  it  identifies  and
recommends to the Board individuals to be nominated for election as Trustees. No
policy or procedure has been  established  as to the  recommendation  of Trustee
nominees by  shareholders.  The Committee held two meetings in 1997. The current
members of the Committee are Messrs.  Beath  (Chairman),  R. Jones and McDonald,
none of whom are interested persons of the Fund.


REQUIRED VOTE

  Each nominee for Trustee  receiving the affirmative  vote of a majority of the
votes cast for election of Trustees shall be elected.

  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  RECOMMENDS THAT  SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE
NOMINEES.


                                        6

<PAGE>


                                   PROPOSAL 2

                     RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

  The firm of Price Waterhouse LLP has been selected by the Board of Trustees of
the Fund as  independent  accountants  for the Fund for the fiscal  year  ending
December 31, 1998. Shareholders are asked to ratify the selection of independent
accountants at the meeting.

  For the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1997,  Price  Waterhouse LLP performed
both audit and  non-audit  services for the Fund.  Audit  services  consisted of
examinations of the Fund's  financial  statements and review and consultation in
connection with filings with the SEC.  Non-audit services included reviewing tax
returns of the Fund and providing tax planning advice.

  Price Waterhouse LLP also serves as independent accountants for INA Investment
Securities,  Inc.  and for each of the  series of shares of CIGNA  Funds  Group,
CIGNA  Institutional  Funds Group and CIGNA Variable Products Group and performs
services for all such entities  similar to the services  performed for the Fund.
Price Waterhouse LLP also serves as independent accountants for CIGNA.

  Representatives of Price Waterhouse LLP are expected to attend the meeting and
will  be  provided  an  opportunity  to  make  a  statement  and to  respond  to
appropriate questions from shareholders.

  THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL 2.



                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND

  Information  concerning  the names,  positions  held with the Fund,  principal
occupation or employment during the last five years, and current affiliations of
the executive  officers of the Fund,  other than for Mr. Albro,  Chairman of the
Board and President of the Fund, is set out below.  Information  concerning  Mr.
Albro is set out in  Proposal  1 under the  caption  "Nominees".  The  executive
officers are elected annually by the Board of Trustees. As of December 31, 1997,
executive  officers of the Fund owned beneficially less than 1% of the shares of
the Fund and of CIGNA.

  ALFRED A. BINGHAM  III, 53,  Vice   President   and   Treasurer,  CIGNA  Funds
Group,  CIGNA  Institutional  Funds Group,  CIGNA Variable Products Group, CIGNA
High  Income  Shares  and  INA  Investment  Securities,   Inc.;  Assistant  Vice
President, CII.

  ALAN C. PETERSEN, 47,  Managing   Director, CII;  Vice President,  CIGNA  High
Income Shares.

  JEFFREY S. WINER, 40,  Counsel, CIGNA;  Vice President  and  Secretary,  CIGNA
Funds Group,  CIGNA  Institutional  Funds Group,  CIGNA Variable Products Group,
CIGNA High Income Shares and INA Investment  Securities,  Inc.;  Vice President,
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company; previously Attorney, CIGNA.

                                        7

<PAGE>


                                 OTHER BUSINESS

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1999

  Shareholders  may propose  matters for  inclusion in the proxy  statement  and
action at next year's annual meeting,  subject to certain  conditions.  Any such
shareholder  proposals  intended to be presented at the 1999 annual meeting must
be received by management of the Fund prior to November 9, 1998.

  The  management  of the Fund does not know of any other  matters to be brought
before  the  meeting.  If any other  matters  are  properly  brought  before the
meeting,  proxies not limited to the contrary will be voted in  accordance  with
the best judgment of the person or persons acting thereunder.


                                                    /s/ Jeffrey S. Winer

                                                    Jeffrey S. Winer
                                                    Secretary




Waltham, Massachusetts
March 6, 1998


                                        8


<PAGE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           CIGNA HIGH INCOME SHARES

                THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The  undersigned  hereby appoints R. Bruce Albro and Jeffrey S. Winer and either
one of them, proxies of the undersigned, with the power of substitution, to vote
the shares of the  undersigned  at the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  of CIGNA
High  Income  Shares  (the  "Fund"),  on  Tuesday,  April 28, 1998 at 1:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, at The Colony Club, 6th Floor,  Baystate  West,  1500 Main Street,
Springfield,  Massachusetts,  and  at any  adjournment  thereof,  in the  manner
directed  herein  with  respect  to the  matters  described  in the  notice  and
accompanying  proxy statement for said meeting.  The Trustees recommend that you
vote "FOR" each of the proposals.  As to any other matter, or if any nominee for
the office of Trustee is not available for election,  said proxies shall vote in
accordance with their best judgment.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE  VOTE,  DATE,  AND SIGN ON REVERSE AND RETURN  PROMPTLY IN  THE  ENCLOSED
ENVELOPE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please  sign this proxy  exactly as your name  appears on the books of the Fund.
Joint owners should each sign personally. Trustees and  other fiduciaries should
indicate the capacity in which they sign, and  where more than one name appears,
a majority  must sign. If a  corporation,  this  signature  should be that of an
authorized officer who should state his or her title.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?               DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?

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

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

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


<PAGE>



[X]   PLEASE MARK VOTES 
      AS IN THIS EXAMPLE

- ---------------------------
 CIGNA HIGH INCOME SHARES
- ---------------------------


THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED.  IF NO SPECIFICATION  IS MADE, THE  PROXY
WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSALS SHOWN ON THIS PROXY CARD.


1) Election of Trustees.
                                              For All     With-        For All 
                                              Nominees    hold         Except
                  Messrs.                      _           _            _
   Albro, Beath, R. Jones, T. Jones and       [_]         [_]          [_]
   McDonald

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


                                               For        Against      Abstain
2) Ratification of the selection of Price       _          _            _
   Waterhouse LLP as independent accountants   [_]        [_]          [_]
   for the Fund for fiscal year 1998.


3) In their discretion upon such other matters as may properly come before the
   meeting.


   Mark box at right if an address change or comment has been noted on  _
   the reverse side of this card.                                      [_]


 RECORD DATE SHARES:




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

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




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission