MUNIVEST FUND INC
DEF 14A, 1998-08-11
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<PAGE>
 
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 1998

          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 Commission Only
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement                 (as permitted by Rule           
                                               14a-6(e)(2))
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12


                              MUNIVEST FUND, INC.
                                 P.O. Box 9011
                       Princeton, New Jersey 08543-9011

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (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 14a-6(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 price 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>
 
                              MUNIVEST FUND, INC.
                                 P.O. BOX 9011
                       PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
                               ----------------
 
                 NOTICE OF 1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                               ----------------
 
                              SEPTEMBER 24, 1998
 
To The Stockholders of MuniVest Fund, Inc.:
 
  Notice is hereby given that the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
"Meeting") of MuniVest Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") will be held at the offices of
Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P., 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New
Jersey, on Thursday, September 24, 1998 at 9:15 a.m. for the following
purposes:
 
    (1) To elect a Board of Directors to serve for the ensuing year;
 
    (2) To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the selection of
  Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as independent auditors of the Fund for its
  current fiscal year; and
 
    (3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
  Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
  The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 24, 1998 as
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
  A complete list of the stockholders of the Fund entitled to vote at the
Meeting will be available and open to the examination of any stockholder of
the Fund for any purpose germane to the Meeting during ordinary business hours
from and after September 10, 1998, at the office of the Fund, 800 Scudders
Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey. You are cordially invited to attend the
Meeting. STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON ARE
REQUESTED TO COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY AND RETURN IT
PROMPTLY IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED FOR THIS PURPOSE. The enclosed proxy is
being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Fund.
 
                                       By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                       Patrick D. Sweeney
                                       Secretary
 
Plainsboro, New Jersey
Dated: August 11, 1998
<PAGE>
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                               ----------------
 
                              MUNIVEST FUND, INC.
                                 P.O. BOX 9011
                       PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
                               ----------------
 
                      1998 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                               ----------------
 
                              SEPTEMBER 24, 1998
 
                                 INTRODUCTION
 
  This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of MuniVest Fund, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the "Fund"), to be voted at the 1998 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Fund (the "Meeting"), to be held at the offices of Merrill
Lynch Asset Management, L.P. ("MLAM"), 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New
Jersey, on Thursday, September 24, 1998 at 9:15 a.m. The approximate mailing
date of this Proxy Statement is August 13, 1998.
 
  All properly executed proxies received prior to the Meeting will be voted at
the Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon or otherwise as
provided therein. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked, proxies will
be voted for the election of the Board of Directors to serve for the ensuing
year and for the ratification of the selection of independent auditors to
serve for the Fund's current fiscal year. Any proxy may be revoked at any time
prior to the exercise thereof by giving written notice to the Secretary of the
Fund at the Fund's address indicated above or by voting in person at the
Meeting.
 
  The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on July 24, 1998 as
the record date (the "Record Date") for the determination of stockholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment
thereof. Stockholders on the record date will be entitled to one vote for each
share held, with no shares having cumulative voting rights. As of the Record
Date, the Fund had outstanding 61,123,140 shares of common stock, par value
$.10 per share ("Common Stock"), and 11,000 shares of auction market preferred
stock, par value $.025 per share and liquidation preference of $25,000 per
share plus an amount equal to accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon
("AMPS"). To the knowledge of the Fund, as of the Record Date, no person is
the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock or five percent of the outstanding AMPS.
 
  Approval of Items 1 and 2 will require the affirmative vote of a majority of
votes cast by the Fund's stockholders, voting in person or by proxy at a
meeting at which a quorum is present and duly constituted. The Board of
Directors of the Fund knows of no business other than that mentioned in Items
1 and 2 of the Notice of
<PAGE>
 
Meeting that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting. If any other
matter is properly presented, it is the intention of the persons named in the
enclosed proxy to vote in accordance with their best judgment.
 
                         ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
  At the Meeting, the Board of Directors will be elected to serve until the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and
qualified. It is intended that all properly executed proxies will be voted
(unless such authority has been withheld in the proxy) as follows:
 
    (1) All such proxies of the holders of AMPS, voting separately as a
  class, in favor of the two (2) persons designated as Directors to be
  elected by holders of AMPS; and
 
    (2) All such proxies of the holders of Common Stock, voting separately as
  a class in favor of the four (4) persons designated as Directors to be
  elected by holders of Common Stock.
 
  The Board of Directors of the Fund knows of no reason why any of these
nominees will be unable to serve, but in the event of any such unavailability,
the proxies received will be voted for such substitute nominee or nominees as
the Board of Directors may recommend.
 
  Certain information concerning the nominees, including their designated
classes, is set forth as follows:
 
TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF AMPS, VOTING SEPARATELY AS A CLASS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               SHARES
                                                                            BENEFICIALLY
                                                                              OWNED AT
                                                                           THE RECORD DATE
                                      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS                -----------------
                                      DURING PAST FIVE YEARS      DIRECTOR  COMMON
NAME AND ADDRESS OF NOMINEE  AGE  AND PUBLIC DIRECTORSHIPS(/1/)    SINCE    STOCK     AMPS
- ---------------------------  --- -------------------------------- -------- --------  -------
<S>                          <C> <C>                              <C>      <C>       <C>
Ronald W.                     57 Professor of Finance, School of    1988        867     0
 Forbes(/1/)(/2/).......          Business, State University of
 1400 Washington Avenue           New York at Albany, since 1989;
 Albany, New York 12222           Consultant, Urban Institute,
                                  Washington, D.C. since 1995.
Richard R.                    60 Professor of Finance since 1984,   1988          0     0
 West(/1/)(/2/).........          and Dean from 1984 to 1993, and
 Box 604                          currently Dean Emeritus of New
 Genoa, Nevada 89411              York University, Leonard N.
                                  Stern School of Business
                                  Administration; Director of
                                  Bowne & Co., Inc. (financial
                                  printers), Vornado Realty
                                  Trust, Inc. (real estate
                                  holding company) and
                                  Alexander's Inc. (real estate
                                  company).
</TABLE>
                                                  (Footnotes on following page)
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK, VOTING SEPARATELY AS A CLASS:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               SHARES
                                                                            BENEFICIALLY
                                                                              OWNED AT
                                                                           THE RECORD DATE
                                      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS                -----------------
                                      DURING PAST FIVE YEARS      DIRECTOR  COMMON
NAME AND ADDRESS OF NOMINEE  AGE  AND PUBLIC DIRECTORSHIPS(/1/)    SINCE    STOCK     AMPS
- ---------------------------  --- -------------------------------- -------- --------  -------
<S>                          <C> <C>                              <C>      <C>       <C>
Cynthia A.                    46 Professor, Harvard Business        1993          0        0
 Montgomery(/1/)(/2/)...          School since 1989; Associate
 Harvard Business School          Professor, J.L. Kellogg
 Soldiers Field Road              Graduate School of Management,
 Boston, Massachusetts            Northwestern University from
 02163                            1985 to 1989; Assistant
                                  Professor, Graduate School of
                                  Business Administration, The
                                  University of Michigan from
                                  1979 to 1985; Director, UNUM
                                  Corporation since 1990 and
                                  Director of Newell Co. since
                                  1995.
Charles C.                    67 Self-employed financial            1990          0        0
 Reilly(/1/)(/2/).......          consultant since 1990;
 9 Hampton Harbor Road            President and Chief Investment
 Hampton Bays, New York           Officer of Verus Capital, Inc.
 11946                            from 1979 to 1990; Senior Vice
                                  President of Arnhold and S.
                                  Bleichroeder, Inc. from 1973 to
                                  1990; Adjunct Professor,
                                  Columbia University Graduate
                                  School of Business from 1990 to
                                  1991; Adjunct Professor,
                                  Wharton School, The University
                                  of Pennsylvania from 1989 to
                                  1990.
Kevin A.                      65 Founder and current Director of    1992          0        0
 Ryan(/1/)(/2/).........          The Boston University Center
 127 Commonwealth Avenue          for the Advancement of Ethics
 Chestnut Hill,                   and Character; Professor of
 Massachusetts 02167              Education at Boston University
                                  since 1982; formerly taught on
                                  the faculties of The University
                                  of Chicago, Stanford University
                                  and Ohio State University.
</TABLE>
                                                   (Footnotes on following page)
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK, VOTING SEPARATELY AS A CLASS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               SHARES
                                                                            BENEFICIALLY
                                                                              OWNED AT
                                                                           THE RECORD DATE
                                      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS                -----------------
                                      DURING PAST FIVE YEARS      DIRECTOR  COMMON
NAME AND ADDRESS OF NOMINEE  AGE  AND PUBLIC DIRECTORSHIPS(/1/)    SINCE    STOCK     AMPS
- ---------------------------  --- -------------------------------- -------- --------  -------
<S>                          <C> <C>                              <C>      <C>       <C>
Arthur Zeikel(/1/)*.....      66 Chairman of Fund Asset             1988          0        0
 P.O. Box 9011                    Management, L.P. ("FAM") and
 Princeton, New Jersey            MLAM (which terms as used
 08543-9011                       herein include their corporate
                                  predecessors) since 1997;
                                  President of FAM and MLAM from
                                  1977 to 1997; Chairman of
                                  Princeton Services, Inc.
                                  ("Princeton Services") since
                                  1997 and Director thereof since
                                  1993; President of Princeton
                                  services from 1993 to 1997;
                                  Executive Vice President of
                                  Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML
                                  & Co.") since 1990.
</TABLE>
 
- --------
(1) Each of the nominees is a director, trustee or member of an advisory board
    of certain other investment companies for which FAM or MLAM acts as
    investment adviser. See "Compensation of Directors" below.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
* Interested person, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
  amended, of the Fund.
 
  Committee's and Board of Directors' Meetings. The Board of Directors has a
standing Audit Committee, which consists of the Directors who are not
"interested persons" of the Fund within the meaning of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The principal purpose
of the Audit Committee is to review the scope of the annual audit conducted by
the Fund's independent auditors and the evaluation by such auditors of the
accounting procedures followed by the Fund. The non-interested Directors have
retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with these
duties. The Board of Directors does not have a nominating committee.
 
  During the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997, the Board of Directors held
five meetings and the Audit Committee held four meetings. All of the Directors
attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of
Directors and, if a member, the total number of meetings of the Audit
Committee held during such period.
 
  Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), requires the Fund's officers, directors and persons who own
more than ten percent of a registered class of the Fund's equity securities,
to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the New York Stock
Exchange. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are
required by SEC regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all Forms 3, 4
and 5 they file.
 
  Based solely on the Fund's review of the copies of such forms, and
amendments thereto, furnished to it during or with respect to its most recent
fiscal year, and written representations from certain reporting persons
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
that they were not required to file Form 5 with respect to the most recent
fiscal year, the Fund believes that, except as noted below, all of its
officers, directors, greater than ten percent beneficial owners and other
persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act because of the requirements
of Section 30 of the Investment Company Act (i.e., any advisory board member,
investment adviser or affiliated person of the Fund's investment adviser) have
complied with all filing requirements applicable to them with respect to
transactions during the Fund's most recent fiscal year, except that Michael J.
Hennewinkel inadvertently made a late Form 3 filing reporting his election as
a Senior Vice President of FAM, which report indicated that he owned no shares
of any of the Funds and Patrick D. Sweeney inadvertently failed to make a
timely Form 3 filing to report his appointment as an officer of the Fund.
 
  Interested Persons. The Fund considers Mr. Zeikel to be an "interested
person" of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment
Company Act because of the positions he holds with FAM and its affiliates. Mr.
Zeikel is the President of the Fund and the President of FAM and MLAM.
 
  Compensation of Directors. FAM pays all compensation of all officers of the
Fund and all Directors of the Fund who are affiliated with ML & Co. or its
subsidiaries. The Fund pays each Director not affiliated with FAM (each an
"unaffiliated Director") a fee of $2,000 per year plus $200 per meeting
attended, together with such Director's actual out-of-pocket expenses relating
to attendance at meetings. The Fund also pays each member of its Audit
Committee, which consists of all of the unaffiliated Directors, a fee of $800
per year, together with such Director's out-of-pocket expenses relating to
attendance at meetings. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an
additional annual fee of $1,000. These fees and expenses aggregated $32,783
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997.
 
  The following table sets forth for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1997
compensation paid by the Fund to the unaffiliated Directors and, for the
calendar year ended December 31, 1997, the aggregate compensation paid by all
investment companies advised by FAM and its affiliate, MLAM ("FAM/MLAM Advised
Funds"), to the unaffiliated Directors.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                AGGREGATE COMPENSATION
                                        PENSION OR RETIREMENT   FROM FUND AND FAM/MLAM
                          COMPENSATION BENEFITS ACCRUED AS PART ADVISED FUNDS PAID TO
    NAME OF DIRECTOR       FROM FUND       OF FUND EXPENSES           DIRECTORS
    ----------------      ------------ ------------------------ ----------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>                      <C>
Ronald W. Forbes(/1/)...     $6,700              None                  $153,500
Cynthia A. Montgom-
 ery(/1/)...............     $6,700              None                  $153,500
Charles C. Reilly(/1/)..     $7,600              None                  $313,000
Kevin A. Ryan(/1/)......     $6,700              None                  $153,500
Richard R. West(/1/)....     $6,700              None                  $299,000
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The Directors serve on the boards of FAM/MLAM Advised Funds as follows:
  Mr. Forbes (28 registered investment companies consisting of 41 portfolios);
  Ms. Montgomery (28 registered investment companies consisting of 41
  portfolios); Mr. Reilly (46 registered investment companies consisting of 59
  portfolios); Mr. Ryan (28 registered investment companies consisting of 41
  portfolios); and Mr. West (47 registered investment companies consisting of
  59 portfolios).
 
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
  Officers of the Fund. The Board of Directors has elected eight officers of
the Fund. The following sets forth information concerning each of these
officers:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         OFFICER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                         OFFICE         AGE  SINCE
- -----------------------------                         ------         --- -------
<S>                                                   <C>            <C> <C>
Arthur Zeikel.......................................  President       66  1988
 Chairman of MLAM and its affiliate FAM since 1997;
 President of FAM and MLAM from 1977 to 1997;
 Chairman of Princeton Services since 1997 and
 Director thereof since 1993; President of Princeton
 Services from 1993 to 1997; Executive Vice
 President of ML & Co. since 1990.
Terry K. Glenn......................................  Executive Vice  57  1988
 Executive Vice President of FAM and MLAM since        President
 1983; President of Princeton Funds Distributor,
 Inc. since 1986 and Director thereof since 1991;
 Executive Vice President and Director of Princeton
 Services since 1993; President of Princeton
 Administrators, L.P. since 1988.
Vincent R. Giordano.................................  Vice President  53  1988
 Portfolio Manager of FAM and MLAM since 1977;
 Senior Vice President of FAM and MLAM since 1984;
 Senior Vice President of Princeton Services since
 1993; Vice President of MLAM from 1980 to 1984.
Kenneth A. Jacob....................................  Vice President  47  1988
 First Vice President of FAM and MLAM since 1997;
 Vice President of FAM and MLAM from 1984 to 1997.
Fred K. Stuebe......................................  Vice President  47  1989
 Director of MLAM Tax-Exempt since 1998; Vice
 President of MLAM from 1989 to 1998.
Donald C. Burke.....................................  Vice President  38  1993
 First Vice President of MLAM since 1997; Vice
 President of MLAM from 1990 to 1997; and Director
 of Taxation of MLAM since 1990.
Gerald M. Richard...................................  Treasurer       49  1988
 Senior Vice President and Treasurer of FAM and MLAM
 since 1984; Senior Vice President and Treasurer of
 Princeton Services since 1993; Vice President of
 Princeton Funds Distributor, Inc. since 1981 and
 Treasurer thereof since 1984.
Patrick D. Sweeney..................................  Secretary       44  1997
 First Vice President of MLAM since 1997; Vice
 President of MLAM from 1990 to 1997.
</TABLE>
 
  Stock Ownership. At the Record Date, the Directors and officers of the Fund
as a group (13 persons) owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the Common Stock
of the Fund outstanding at such date and owned none of the AMPS outstanding at
such date. At such date, Mr. Zeikel, an officer and a Director of the Fund,
and the other officers of the Fund owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the
outstanding shares of common stock of ML & Co.
 
                   ITEM 2. SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
  The Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Directors
who are not interested persons of the Fund, has selected the firm of Deloitte
& Touche LLP ("D&T"), independent auditors, to examine the
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
financial statements of the Fund for the current fiscal year. The Fund knows
of no direct or indirect financial interest of such firm in the Fund. Such
appointment is subject to ratification or rejection by the stockholders of the
Fund. Unless a contrary specification is made, the accompanying proxy will be
voted in favor of ratifying the selection of such auditors.
 
  D&T also acts as independent auditors for ML & Co. and all of its
subsidiaries and for most other investment companies for which FAM acts as an
investment adviser. The fees received by D&T from these other entities are
substantially greater, in the aggregate, than the fees received by it from the
Fund. The Board of Directors of the Fund considered the fact that D&T has been
retained as the independent auditors for such other entities in its evaluation
of the independence of D&T with respect to the Fund.
 
  Representatives of D&T are expected to be present at the Meeting and will
have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and to respond to
questions from stockholders.
 
                            ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
  The expenses of preparation, printing and mailing of the enclosed form of
proxy and accompanying Notice and Proxy Statement will be borne by the Fund.
The Fund will reimburse banks, brokers and others for their reasonable
expenses in forwarding proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of
the shares of the Fund. The Fund may also hire proxy solicitors at the expense
of the Fund.
 
  In order to obtain the necessary quorum at the Meeting (i.e., a majority of
the shares of each class of the Fund's securities entitled to vote at the
Meeting, present in person or by proxy), supplementary solicitation may be
made by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal interview by officers of the
Fund. It is anticipated that the cost of such supplementary solicitation, if
any, will be nominal.
 
  Approval of Items 1 and 2 will require the affirmative vote of a majority of
votes cast by the Fund's stockholders, voting in person or by proxy, at a
meeting in which a quorum is duly constituted.
 
  All shares represented by properly executed proxies, unless such proxies
have previously been revoked, will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with
the directions on the proxies; if no direction is indicated, the shares will
be voted "FOR" the Director nominees and "FOR" the ratification of D&T as
independent auditors.
 
  With respect to Item 1, "Election of Directors", holders of AMPS are
entitled to elect the two Directors designated above and holders of Common
Stock are entitled to elect the remaining Directors. Assuming a quorum is
present, (i) election of the two Directors to be elected by the holders of
AMPS, voting separately as a class, will require the affirmative vote of a
majority of the AMPS, represented at the Meeting and entitled to vote; (ii)
election of the remaining Directors will require the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the Common Stock, voting separately as a single
class, represented at the meeting and entitled to vote; and (iii) approval of
Item 2, "Selection of Independent Auditors", will require the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock and the AMPS represented at
the Meeting and entitled to vote, voting together as a single class.
 
  Broker-dealer firms, including Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated ("MLPF&S"), holding Fund shares in "street name" for the benefit
of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
customers and clients on how to vote their shares on each Item before the
Meeting. The Fund understands that, under the rules of the American Stock
Exchange, such broker-dealer firms may, without instructions from their
customers and clients, grant authority to the proxies designated to vote on
the election of Directors (Item 1) and ratification of the selection of
independent auditors (Item 2) if no instructions have been received prior to
the date specified in the broker-dealer firm's request for voting
instructions. Accordingly, the Fund will include shares held of record by
broker-dealers as to which such authority has been granted in its tabulation
of the total number of votes present for purposes of determining whether the
necessary quorum of shareholders exists. Proxies that are returned but that
are marked "abstain" or on which a broker-dealer has declined to vote on any
proposal ("broker non-votes") will be counted as present for purposes of a
quorum. MLPF&S has advised the Fund that it intends to exercise discretion
over shares held in its name for which no instructions have been received by
voting such shares in the same proportion as it has voted shares for which it
has received instructions. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be
counted as votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes, therefore, will not
have an effect on the vote on Item 1 or Item 2.
 
ADDRESS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
 
  The principal office of FAM is located at 800 Scudders Mill Road,
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536.
 
ANNUAL REPORT DELIVERY
 
  THE FUND WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1997 AND A COPY OF ITS SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE
SIX MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 1998 TO ANY STOCKHOLDER UPON REQUEST. Such
requests should be directed to MuniVest Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 9011, Princeton,
New Jersey 08543-9011, Attention: Patrick D. Sweeney, Secretary or to 1-800-
456-4587 ext. 123.
 
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
  It is currently intended that the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Fund will be held in May, 1999. If a stockholder intends to present a proposal
at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund, 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
by December 16, 1999.
 
                                       By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                       Patrick D. Sweeney
                                       Secretary
 
Dated: August 11, 1998
 
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                                                                  AUCTION MARKET
                                                                 PREFERRED STOCK
                              MUNIVEST FUND, INC.
                                 P.O. BOX 9011
                       PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY  08543-9011

                                     PROXY

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The undersigned hereby appoints Arthur Zeikel, Terry K. Glenn and
Patrick D. Sweeney as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute,
and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on
the reverse hereof, all the shares of Auction Market Preferred Stock of MuniVest
Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") held of record by the undersigned on July 24, 1998 at
the annual meeting of stockholders of the Fund to be held on September 24, 1998
or any adjournment thereof.

     THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER.  IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.

                                (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
<PAGE>
 
 
Please mark boxes [_] or [X] in blue or black ink.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                  <C> 
1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS            FOR all nominees listed below                      WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                                     (except as marked to the contrary below)  [_]      to vote for all nominees listed below  [_]

    (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST
    BELOW.) 
    RONALD W. FORBES, RICHARD R. WEST

2.  Proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditors of the Fund to serve for the current
    fiscal year.

    FOR [_]  AGAINST [_]  ABSTAIN [_]

3.  In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

                                                              Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are held by
                                                              joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney or as
                                                              executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title
                                                              as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by
                                                              president or other authorized officer. If a partnership, please sign
                                                              in partnership name by authorized person.
 
                                                              Dated:___________________________________________, 1998
 
 
                                                              X______________________________________________________
                                                                                        Signature
 
 
                                                              X______________________________________________________
                                                                                Signature, if held jointly
</TABLE> 

   SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    COMMON STOCK
                              MUNIVEST FUND, INC.
                                 P.O. BOX 9011
                       PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY  08543-9011

                                     PROXY

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The undersigned hereby appoints Arthur Zeikel, Terry K. Glenn and
Patrick D. Sweeney as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute,
and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on
the reverse hereof, all the shares of Common Stock of MuniVest Fund, Inc. (the
"Fund") held of record by the undersigned on July 24, 1998 at the annual meeting
of stockholders of the Fund to be held on September 24, 1998 or any adjournment
thereof.

     THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED
HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER.  IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.

                                (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
<PAGE>
 
Please mark boxes [_] or [X] in blue or black ink.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                  <C> 
1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS            FOR all nominees listed below                      WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                                     (except as marked to the contrary below)  [_]      to vote for all nominees listed below  [_]

    (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST
    BELOW.) CHARLES C. REILLY, KEVIN A. RYAN, CYNTHIA A. MONTGOMERY AND ARTHUR ZEIKEL

2.  Proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent
    auditors of the Fund to serve for the current fiscal year.

    FOR [_]  AGAINST [_]  ABSTAIN [_]

3.  In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly
    come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

                                                                     Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are
                                                                     held by joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as
                                                                     attorney or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian,
                                                                     please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign
                                                                     in full corporate name by president or other authorized
                                                                     officer. If a partnership, please sign in partnership name by
                                                                     authorized person.
 
                                                                     Dated:_____________________________________, 1998
 

                                                                     X________________________________________________
                                                                                          Signature
 
 
                                                                     X________________________________________________
                                                                                  Signature, if held jointly
</TABLE> 

  SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.



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