MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND INC
485APOS, 1997-06-23
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<PAGE>

                                                               File No. 33-23166
                                                                       811-05624
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                 --------------
                                    FORM N-1A
                      REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. 33-23166)
                                      UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                         Post-Effective Amendment No. 36
                                       and
                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                         INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
                                Amendment No. 37

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

                     MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
             1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York  10020
                     (Address of Principal Executive Office)
                  Registrant's Telephone Number (800) 548-7786

                         Harold J. Schaaff, Jr., Esquire
                      Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.
             1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York  10020
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

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

                                   COPIES TO:
            Michael F. Klein                        Richard W. Grant, Esquire
Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.            Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
       1221 Avenue of the Americas                  2000 One Logan Square
          New York, NY 10020                          Philadelphia, PA 19103

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

          IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS FILING WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE
              (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOX)

          / /  IMMEDIATELY UPON FILING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (b) OF RULE 485
          / /  ON ________________ PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (b) OF RULE 485
          / /  60 DAYS AFTER FILING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (a) OF RULE 485
          /X/  75 DAYS AFTER FILING PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (a) OF RULE 485
          / /  ON _______________ PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (a) OF RULE 485

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

     Registrant has elected to register an indefinite number of shares pursuant
to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  Registrant
filed its Rule 24f-2 notice for the period ended December 31, 1996 on February
21, 1997.

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<PAGE>

                     MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
                              CROSS REFERENCE SHEET

PART A -INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A PROSPECTUS

 
 Form N-1A     Location in Prospectus for the European Real Estate 
Item Number    and Asian Real Estate Portfolios
- -----------    ---------------------------------------------------------

Item 1.   Cover Page -- Cover Page

Item 2.   Synopsis -- Fund Expenses (Estimated)

Item 3.   Condensed Financial Information -- *

Item 4.   General Description of Registrant -- Prospectus Summary; Investment
          Objective and Policies; Additional Investment Information; Investment
          Limitations; General Information

Item 5.   Management of the Fund -- Prospectus Summary; Management of the Fund;
          Portfolio Transactions

Item 5A.  Management's Discussion of Fund Performance**

Item 6.   Capital Stock and Other Securities -- Purchase of Shares; Redemption
          of Shares; Shareholder Services; Valuation of Shares; Dividends and
          Capital Gains Distributions; Taxes; General Information

Item 7.   Purchase of Securities Being Offered -- Prospectus Summary; Cover
          Page; Purchase of Shares; Shareholder Services; Valuation of Shares

Item 8.   Redemption or Repurchase -- Prospectus Summary; Redemption of Shares;
          Shareholder Services

Item 9.   Pending Legal Proceedings -- *


- ------------------------
*      Omitted since the answer is negative or the Item is not applicable. 
**     Information required by Item 5A is not contained in the 1996 Annual 
       Report to Shareholders with respect to the European Real Estate and
       Asian Real Estate Portfolios as they had not yet commenced operations as 
       of the date of the Annual Report.  Information required by Item 5A for 
       the aforementioned portfolios will be contained in the next Report to 
       Shareholders following commencement of operations.

<PAGE>

     The Prospectus for the Global Equity, International Equity, 
International Small Cap, Asian Equity, European Equity, Japanese Equity and 
Latin American Portfolios, included as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 
34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Institutional 
Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated by reference as if set 
forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the Emerging Markets and Emerging Markets Debt 
Portfolios, included as part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the 
Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. 
(File No. 33-23166) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in full 
herein.

     The Prospectus for the China Growth Portfolio, included as part of 
Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of 
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated 
by reference as if set forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the Equity Growth, Emerging Growth, MicroCap and 
Aggressive Equity Portfolios, included as part of Post-Effective Amendment 
No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley 
Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated by reference as 
if set forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the U.S. Real Estate Portfolio, included as part of 
Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A 
of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated 
by reference as if set forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the Technology Portfolio, included as part of 
Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of 
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated 
by reference as if set forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the Fixed Income, Municipal Bond, Mortgage-Backed 
Securities, Money Market and Municipal Money Market Portfolios, included as 
part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form 
N-1A of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby 
incorporated by reference as if set forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the International Magnum Portfolio, included as part of
Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated by
reference as if set forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the Gold Portfolio, included as part of Post-Effective
Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley
Institutional Fund, Inc.  (File No. 33-23166) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated by reference as if set
forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the Small Cap Value, Value Equity, Balanced, Global 
Fixed Income and High Yield Portfolios, included as part of Post-Effective 
Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley 
Institutional Fund, Inc.  (File No. 33-23166) filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated by reference as if 
set forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the Active Country Allocation Portfolio, included as 
part of Post-Effective Amendment No. 34 to the Registration Statement on Form 
N-1A of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.  (File No. 33-23166) filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby incorporated by
reference as if set forth in full herein.

     The Prospectus for the U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio, included as part of 
Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of 
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 1997 is hereby incorporated by 
reference as if set forth in full herein.

<PAGE>

PART B -       INFORMATION REQUIRED IN A STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 Form N-1A     Location in Statement of Additional Information for the European 
Item Number    Real Estate and Asian Real Estate Portfolios
- -----------    -----------------------------------------------------------------

Item 10.  Cover Page -- Cover Page

Item 11.  Table of Contents -- Cover Page

Item 12.  General Information and History -- * 

Item 13.  Investment Objective and Policies -- Investment Objectives and
          Policies; Investment Limitations

Item 14.  Management of the Fund -- Management of the Fund

Item 15.  Control Persons and Principal Holders of Securities -- Management of
          the Fund; General Information

Item 16.  Investment Advisory and Other Services -- Management of the Fund


Item 17.  Brokerage Allocation -- * 

Item 18.  Capital Stock and Other Securities -- General Information

Item 19.  Purchase, Redemption and Pricing of Securities Being Offered --
          Purchase of Shares; Redemption of Shares; Net Asset Value; General
          Information

Item 20.  Tax Status -- Federal Tax Treatment of Forward Currency and Futures
          Contracts

Item 21.  Underwriters -- *

Item 22.  Calculation of Performance Data -- Performance Information

Item 23.  Financial Statements -- Financial Statements

- ------------------------
*    Omitted since the answer is negative or the Item is not applicable.

<PAGE>

     The Statement of Additional Information for the Technology Portfolio, 
included as part of Post-Effective No. 34 to the Registration Statement on 
Form N-1A of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 1997 is hereby 
incorporated by reference as if set forth in full herein.

     The Statement of Additional Information for the Fixed Income, Global 
Fixed Income, Municipal Bond, Mortgage-Backed Securities, High Yield, Money 
Market, Municipal Money Market, Small Cap Value Equity, Value Equity, 
Balanced, Active Country Allocation, Gold, Global Equity, International 
Equity, International Magnum, International Small Cap, Asian Equity, European 
Equity, Japanese Equity, Latin American, Emerging Markets, Emerging Markets 
Debt, China Growth, Equity Growth, Emerging Growth, MicroCap, Aggressive 
Equity, U.S. Real Estate and U.S. Equity Plus Portfolios, included as part 
of Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A 
of Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (File No. 33-23166) filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 1997 is hereby incorporated by 
reference as if set forth in full herein.

<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              P R O S P E C T U S
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                         EUROPEAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO
                          ASIAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO
 
                               PORTFOLIOS OF THE
                    MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
 
                P.O. BOX 2798, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02208-2798
                      FOR INFORMATION CALL 1-800-548-7786
 
                                ----------------
 
    Morgan  Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is a no-load, open-end
management investment company, or mutual fund, which offers redeemable shares in
a   series   of   diversified   and   non-diversified   investment    portfolios
("portfolios").  The  Fund  is  designed  to  provide  clients  with  attractive
alternatives for meeting their investment needs. The Fund currently consists  of
thirty-two  portfolios representing  a broad  range of  investment choices. This
prospectus (the "Prospectus") pertains to the Class A and the Class B shares  of
the  European Real Estate  and Asian Real Estate  Portfolios (each a "Portfolio"
and together,  the "Portfolios").  The  Class A  and  Class B  shares  currently
offered  by the  Portfolios have  different minimum  investment requirements and
fund expenses.  Shares of  the  portfolios are  offered  with no  sales  charge,
exchange  fee  or  redemption  fee, (except  that  the  International  Small Cap
Portfolio may impose a transaction fee).
 
    The Fund is designed  to meet the investment  needs of discerning  investors
who  place a premium on quality and  personal service. With Morgan Stanley Asset
Management  Inc.  as   Adviser  and   Administrator  (the   "Adviser"  and   the
"Administrator"),  and with Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("Morgan Stanley")
as Distributor, the  Fund makes available  to institutional and  high net  worth
individual  investors a series  of portfolios which  benefit from the investment
expertise and commitment to  excellence associated with  Morgan Stanley and  its
affiliates.
 
    This Prospectus is designed to set forth concisely the information about the
Fund  that a prospective investor should know  before investing and it should be
retained for future reference. The  Fund offers additional portfolios which  are
described  in other prospectuses and under  "Prospectus Summary" below. The Fund
currently offers the following portfolios:  (i) GLOBAL AND INTERNATIONAL  EQUITY
- --  Active Country Allocation, Asian  Equity, Emerging Markets, European Equity,
Global Equity, Gold, International  Equity, International Magnum,  International
Small  Cap, Japanese Equity  and Latin American Portfolios;  (ii) U.S. EQUITY --
Aggressive Equity,  Emerging  Growth, Equity  Growth,  Small Cap  Value  Equity,
Technology,  U.S Equity Plus and Value Equity Portfolios; (iii) EQUITY AND FIXED
INCOME -- Balanced Portfolio; (iv) FIXED INCOME -- Emerging Markets Debt,  Fixed
Income,  Global Fixed Income, High Yield and Municipal Bond Portfolios; (v) REAL
ESTATE --  Asian  Real  Estate,  European  Real  Estate  and  U.S.  Real  Estate
Portfolios;  and (vi)  MONEY MARKET --  Money Market and  Municipal Money Market
Portfolios. Additional information about the  Fund is contained in a  "Statement
of Additional Information" dated            , 1997, which is incorporated herein
by  reference.  The Statement  of  Additional Information  and  the prospectuses
pertaining to the other  portfolios of the Fund  are available upon request  and
without  charge by  writing or  calling the  Fund at  the address  and telephone
number set forth above.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES  AND
  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION,  NOR  HAS THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE COMMISSION
     PASSED UPON  THE  ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY
               REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
               THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS            , 1997.
<PAGE>
                                 FUND EXPENSES
 
    The  following table illustrates the expenses and fees that a shareholder of
each Portfolio will incur:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          EUROPEAN       ASIAN
                                                         REAL ESTATE  REAL ESTATE
SHAREHOLDER TRANSACTION EXPENSES                          PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO
- -------------------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                      <C>          <C>
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Purchases
  Class A..............................................     None         None
  Class B..............................................     None         None
Maximum Sales Load Imposed on Reinvested Dividends
  Class A..............................................     None         None
  Class B..............................................     None         None
Deferred Sales Load
  Class A..............................................     None         None
  Class B..............................................     None         None
Redemption Fees
  Class A..............................................     None         None
  Class B..............................................     None         None
Exchange Fees
  Class A..............................................     None         None
  Class B..............................................     None         None
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES
- ----------------------------------------
 (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE NET ASSETS)
<S>                                       <C>         <C>
Management Fee (Net of Fee Waiver)*
  Class A...............................   0.54%+      0.46%+
  Class B...............................   0.54%+      0.46%+
12b-1 Fees
  Class A...............................    None        None
  Class B...............................    0.25%       0.25%
Other Expenses
  Class A...............................   0.46%+      0.54%+
  Class B...............................   0.46%+      0.54%+
                                          ---------
Total Operating Expenses (Net of Fee
 Waivers)*
  Class A...............................   1.00%+      1.00%+
  Class B...............................   1.25%+      1.25%+
                                          ---------   ---------
                                          ---------   ---------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
+Estimated.
*The Adviser  has agreed  to  waive its  management  fees and/or  reimburse  the
 Portfolios,  if necessary, if such fees  would cause the total annual operating
 expenses of the Portfolios to exceed  a specified percentage of its  respective
 average  daily net assets. As a result of these reductions, the Management Fees
 stated above are lower  than the contractual fees  stated under "Management  of
 the  Fund." The Adviser reserves the right  to terminate any of its fee waivers
 and/or expense reimbursements at any time  in its sole discretion. For  further
 information  on Fund expenses,  see "Management of the  Fund." Set forth below,
 for each Portfolio, are the management fees and total operating expenses absent
 such fee waivers  and/or expense  reimbursements as  a percent  of the  average
 daily net assets of the Class A shares and Class B shares, respectively.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          MANAGEMENT     TOTAL OPERATING
                                          FEE               EXPENSES
                                           ABSENT      ABSENT FEE WAIVERS
                                             FEE      ---------------------
PORTFOLIO                                  WAIVERS     CLASS A     CLASS B
- ----------------------------------------  ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                       <C>         <C>         <C>
 
European Real Estate Portfolio..........    0.80%       1.26%       1.51%
Asian Real Estate Portfolio.............    0.80%       1.34%       1.59%
</TABLE>
 
    The  purpose of the table  above is to assist  the investor in understanding
the various expenses that  an investor in the  Portfolios will bear directly  or
indirectly. Expenses and fees for the Portfolios are based on estimates assuming
that  the average daily net assets of both the Class A and Class B shares of the
Portfolios will be $50,000,000. Due to the continuous nature of Rule 12b-1 fees,
long term Class B shareholders may pay  more than the equivalent of the  maximum
front-end  sales  charges otherwise  permitted  by the  National  Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") Conduct Rules.
 
    The following  example illustrates  the expenses  that you  would pay  on  a
$1,000  investment assuming (1) a 5% annual rate of return and (2) redemption at
the end of each time period. As noted in the table above, the Portfolios  charge
no redemption fees of any kind. The example is based on total operating expenses
of the Portfolios after fee waivers.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS     10 YEARS
                                                                     ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                  <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>
European Real Estate Portfolio
  Class A..........................................................  $      10   $      32        *            *
  Class B..........................................................         13          40        *            *
Asian Real Estate Portfolio
  Class A..........................................................         10          32        *            *
  Class B..........................................................         13          40        *            *
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
*Because  the European Real Estate and Asian Real Estate Portfolios are new, the
 Fund has not projected expenses for the Portfolios beyond the three year period
 shown.
 
    THIS EXAMPLE SHOULD  NOT BE CONSIDERED  A REPRESENTATION OF  PAST OR  FUTURE
EXPENSES  OR  PERFORMANCE. ACTUAL  EXPENSES MAY  BE GREATER  OR LESS  THAN THOSE
SHOWN.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
THE FUND
 
    The Fund consists of thirty-two portfolios, offering institutional investors
and  high net  worth individual  investors a  broad range  of investment choices
coupled with the advantages of a no-load mutual fund with Morgan Stanley and its
affiliates  providing  customized   services  as   Adviser,  Administrator   and
Distributor.   Each  portfolio  offers  Class  A  shares  and,  except  for  the
International Small Cap,  Money Market  and Municipal  Money Market  Portfolios,
also  offers Class B shares. Each portfolio has its own investment objective and
policies designed to meet its specific  goals. The investment objective of  each
Portfolio described in this Prospectus is as follows:
 
- -     The  EUROPEAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO  seeks to provide current income
      and long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in  equity
      securities of companies in the European real estate industry.
- -     The  ASIAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO  seeks to provide long-term capital
      appreciation  by  investing  primarily   in  equity  securities   of
      companies in the Asian real estate industry.
 
    The  other portfolios of the Fund  are described in other prospectuses which
may be obtained from the Fund at the address and phone number noted on the cover
page of this Prospectus. The investment objectives of these other portfolios are
listed below:
 
GLOBAL AND INTERNATIONAL EQUITY:
- -     The ACTIVE  COUNTRY  ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO  seeks  long-term  capital
      appreciation  by  investing  in accordance  with  country weightings
      determined by the Adviser in  equity securities of non-U.S.  issuers
      which, in the aggregate, replicate broad country indices.
- -     The  ASIAN EQUITY PORTFOLIO seeks  long-term capital appreciation by
      investing primarily in equity securities of Asian issuers.
- -     The CHINA  GROWTH  PORTFOLIO  seeks  to  provide  long-term  capital
      appreciation  by investing primarily in equity securities of issuers
      in The People's Republic of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
- -     The EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO seeks long-term capital  appreciation
      by  investing  primarily in  equity  securities of  emerging country
      issuers.
- -     The EUROPEAN EQUITY PORTFOLIO  seeks long-term capital  appreciation
      by investing primarily in equity securities of European issuers.
- -     The  GLOBAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation by
      investing primarily in equity  securities of issuers throughout  the
      world, including U.S. issuers.
- -     The GOLD PORTFOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing
      primarily  in  equity  securities of  foreign  and  domestic issuers
      engaged in gold-related activities.
- -     The  INTERNATIONAL   EQUITY   PORTFOLIO  seeks   long-term   capital
      appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of non-U.S.
      issuers.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>   <C>
- -     The   INTERNATIONAL   MAGNUM  PORTFOLIO   seeks   long-term  capital
      appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of non-U.S.
      issuers domiciled in EAFE countries.
- -     The  INTERNATIONAL  SMALL  CAP  PORTFOLIO  seeks  long-term  capital
      appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities of non-U.S.
      issuers with equity market capitalizations of less than $1 billion.
- -     The  JAPANESE EQUITY PORTFOLIO  seeks long-term capital appreciation
      by investing primarily in equity securities of Japanese issuers.
- -     The LATIN AMERICAN PORTFOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation by
      investing primarily in equity  securities of Latin American  issuers
      and,  from time  to time,  debt securities  issued or  guaranteed by
      Latin American governments or governmental entities.
 
U.S. EQUITY:
- -     The  AGGRESSIVE  EQUITY  PORTFOLIO  seeks  capital  appreciation  by
      investing   primarily   in   corporate   equity   and  equity-linked
      securities.
- -     The EMERGING GROWTH PORTFOLIO  seeks long-term capital  appreciation
      by  investing  primarily  in  growth-oriented  equity  securities of
      small- to medium-sized corporations.
- -     The EQUITY GROWTH PORTFOLIO seeks long-term capital appreciation  by
      investing  primarily in growth-oriented  equity securities of medium
      and large capitalization companies.
- -     The MICROCAP  PORTFOLIO  seeks  long-term  capital  appreciation  by
      investing  primarily in  growth-oriented equity  securities of small
      corporations.
- -     The SMALL  CAP VALUE  EQUITY PORTFOLIO  seeks high  long-term  total
      return  by investing in  undervalued equity securities  of small- to
      medium-sized companies.
- -     The TECHNOLOGY  PORTFOLIO seeks  long-term capital  appreciation  by
      investing  primarily in equity securities  of companies that, in the
      opinion of  the  Portfolio's  investment adviser,  are  expected  to
      benefit  from their involvement in technology and technology-related
      industries.
- -     The U.S. EQUITY PLUS PORTFOLIO seeks long-term capital  appreciation
      by  investing primarily in equity  securities of issuers included in
      the S&P 500 Index ("S&P 500").
- -     The VALUE EQUITY PORTFOLIO seeks  high total return by investing  in
      equity  securities  which  the Adviser  believes  to  be undervalued
      relative to the stock market in general at the time of purchase.
 
EQUITY AND FIXED INCOME:
- -     The BALANCED  PORTFOLIO seeks  high  total return  while  preserving
      capital   by  investing  in  a  combination  of  undervalued  equity
      securities and fixed income securities.
 
FIXED INCOME:
- -     The EMERGING  MARKETS  DEBT PORTFOLIO  seeks  high total  return  by
      investing    primarily   in    debt   securities    of   government,
      government-related  and  corporate   issuers  located  in   emerging
      countries.
- -     The  FIXED INCOME  PORTFOLIO seeks  to produce  a high  total return
      consistent with  the  preservation  of capital  by  investing  in  a
      diversified portfolio of fixed income securities.
- -     The  GLOBAL FIXED  INCOME PORTFOLIO  seeks to  produce an attractive
      real rate of return while  preserving capital by investing in  fixed
      income  securities of  issuers throughout the  world, including U.S.
      issuers.
</TABLE>
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>   <C>
- -     The HIGH YIELD PORTFOLIO seeks to maximize total return by investing
      in a diversified  portfolio of  high yield  fixed income  securities
      that offer a yield above that generally available on debt securities
      in  the  four highest  rating  categories of  the  recognized rating
      services.
- -     The MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES PORTFOLIO seeks to produce as high  a
      level  of current income  as is consistent  with the preservation of
      capital by  investing primarily  in  a variety  of  investment-grade
      mortgage-backed securities.
- -     The  MUNICIPAL  BOND  PORTFOLIO seeks  to  produce a  high  level of
      current income consistent with preservation of principal through  by
      investing  in municipal obligations, the interest on which is exempt
      from federal income tax.
 
REAL ESTATE:
- -     The U.S.  REAL  ESTATE  PORTFOLIO seeks  to  provide  above  average
      current  income  and  long-term  capital  appreciation  by investing
      primarily in equity securities of companies in the U.S. real  estate
      industry, including real estate investment trusts.
 
MONEY MARKET:
- -     The  MONEY  MARKET PORTFOLIO  seeks to  maximize current  income and
      preserve capital while maintaining high levels of liquidity  through
      investing  in high  quality money market  instruments with remaining
      maturities of one year or less.
- -     The MUNICIPAL  MONEY  MARKET  PORTFOLIO seeks  to  maximize  current
      tax-exempt income and preserve capital while maintaining high levels
      of   liquidity  through  investing  in  high  quality  money  market
      instruments with remaining maturities of one year or less which  are
      exempt from federal income tax.
</TABLE>
 
    THE  CHINA GROWTH,  MICROCAP AND  MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES  PORTFOLIOS ARE
    CURRENTLY NOT BEING OFFERED.
 
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
 
    Morgan Stanley Asset Management  Inc., a wholly  owned subsidiary of  Morgan
Stanley,  Dean Witter, Discover & Co., which at            , 1997, together with
its affiliated asset  management companies,  had approximately  $    billion  in
assets under management as an investment manager or as a fiduciary adviser, acts
as investment adviser to the Fund and each of its portfolios. See "Management of
the Fund -- Investment Adviser" and "Management of the Fund -- Administrator."
 
HOW TO INVEST
 
    Class  A shares of each  Portfolio are offered directly  to investors at net
asset value with no sales  commission or 12b-1 charges.  Class B shares of  each
Portfolio  are offered at net  asset value with no  sales commission, but with a
12b-1 fee, which  is accrued daily  and paid  quarterly, equal to  0.25% of  the
Class B shares' average daily net assets on an annualized basis. Share purchases
may  be  made  by  sending  investments directly  to  the  Fund  or  through the
Distributor. The minimum initial investment, generally, is $500,000 for Class  A
shares  of each Portfolio and $100,000 for the Class B shares of each Portfolio.
The minimum  initial investment  amount  is reduced  for certain  categories  of
investors.  For additional  information on  how to  purchase shares  and minimum
initial investments, see "Purchase of Shares."
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
HOW TO REDEEM
 
    Class A shares or Class  B shares of each Portfolio  may be redeemed at  any
time, without cost, at the net asset value per share of shares of the applicable
class  next determined after  receipt of the  redemption request. The redemption
price may be  more or  less than the  purchase price.  Certain redemptions  that
cause the value of an account to remain for a continuous 60-day period below the
minimum investment amount for Class A shares or for Class B shares may result in
involuntary  redemption or  automatic conversion. For  additional information on
how to redeem shares and involuntary redemption or conversion, see "Purchase  of
Shares  --  Minimum  Account Sizes  and  Involuntary Redemption  of  Shares" and
"Redemption of Shares."
 
RISK FACTORS
 
    The investment policies of each of  the Portfolios entail certain risks  and
considerations  of which  an investor  should be  aware. Because  the Portfolios
invest primarily in the securities of companies principally engaged in the  real
estate  industry, their investments may be  subject to the risks associated with
the direct ownership of real estate. The Portfolios' share prices and investment
returns fluctuate, and  a shareholder's  investment when redeemed  may be  worth
more  or  less than  his original  cost.  The Portfolios  may invest  in certain
derivatives, including options,  futures, options  on futures  and swaps.  These
investments  entail  certain costs  and  risks, including  imperfect correlation
between the  value of  securities  held by  a Portfolio  and  the value  of  the
particular  derivative instrument, and the risk that a Portfolio could not close
out a derivatives  position when it  would be  most advantageous to  do so.  The
Portfolios  will  invest in  securities  of foreign  issuers,  including issuers
located in emerging markets,  which are subject to  certain risks not  typically
associated  with domestic securities. Securities  of issuers located in emerging
markets  may  pose  greater  liquidity  risks  and  other  risks  not  typically
associated  with investing in  more established markets.  Because the Portfolios
are non-diversified portfolios, the Portfolios will invest a greater  proportion
of  their assets  in the  securities of a  smaller number  of issuers  and, as a
result, will  be subject  to a  greater  risk with  respect to  their  portfolio
securities.  Each of these  investment strategies involves  specific risks which
are described  under  "Investment  Objectives and  Policies"  herein  and  under
"Investment Objectives and Policies" in the Statement of Additional Information.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
 
    The investment objective of each Portfolio is described below, together with
the policies the Portfolios employ in their efforts to achieve these objectives.
Each  Portfolio's investment objective is a  fundamental policy which may not be
changed without the approval of a majority of the Portfolio's outstanding voting
securities. There  is  no  assurance  that  the  Portfolios  will  attain  their
objectives. The investment policies described below are non-fundamental policies
and may be changed without shareholder approval.
 
    Each of the Portfolios invests in equity securities of companies in the real
estate  industry. Equity securities include common stocks, rights or warrants to
purchase common  stocks, securities  convertible into  common stocks,  preferred
stocks,  equity-linked securities and shares or  units of beneficial interest in
specialized ownership vehicles,  such as  property unit trusts  and real  estate
investment   trusts  ("REITs").  For  purposes  of  the  Portfolios'  investment
policies, a company is principally engaged in the real estate industry if (i) it
derives  at  least  50%  of  its   revenues  or  profits  from  the   ownership,
construction,  management,  financing  or  sale  of  residential,  commercial or
industrial real estate; or (ii) it has at least 50% of the fair market value  of
its  assets invested in  residential, commercial or  industrial real estate. For
example, companies in the real estate  industry may include, among others:  real
estate   development  companies,  real  estate  operating  companies,  companies
principally  engaged  in  the  ownership  of  income-producing  real   property,
specialized  ownership  vehicles,  and companies  with  substantial  real estate
holdings, such as hotel companies, residential builders and land-rich companies.
In addition to the  investments and strategies  described below, the  Portfolios
may  invest in  certain securities and  obligations as set  forth in "Additional
Investment Information" below.
 
EUROPEAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO
 
    The investment objective of the European Real Estate Portfolio is to provide
current income  and long-term  capital appreciation  by investing  primarily  in
equity  securities  of  companies  in the  European  real  estate  industry. The
Portfolio seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in securities of
European issuers,  including  those  located in  Germany,  France,  Switzerland,
Belgium,  Italy, Spain, Portugal, Finland,  Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Ireland and
the United  Kingdom.  Investments may  also  be  made in  equity  securities  of
companies located in the smaller and emerging markets of Europe.
 
    The  Portfolio  will  invest primarily  in  securities which  are  traded on
recognized stock  exchanges in  Europe  and in  equity securities  of  companies
organized  under  the laws  of a  European country  whose business  is conducted
principally in Europe. The Portfolio may  also invest in Depositary Receipts  of
European  issuers  and, to  the extent  that they  become available,  REITs that
invest in Europe.  At least 65%  of the total  assets of the  Portfolio will  be
invested  in equity securities of companies  engaged in the European real estate
industry. While  the  Portfolio  is  not  subject  to  any  specific  geographic
diversification  requirements,  it  currently intends  to  diversify investments
among countries to reduce investment risk and currency risk.
 
    The Portfolio's investments may include  securities of companies located  in
emerging countries and traded in emerging markets. These securities pose greater
liquidity  risks  and  other  risks  than  securities  of  companies  located in
developed countries and traded in more established markets. For a description of
special considerations and certain risks  associated with investment in  foreign
issuers, see "Additional Investment Information."
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
ASIAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO
 
    The  investment objective of  the Asian Real Estate  Portfolio is to provide
long-term capital appreciation  by investing primarily  in equity securities  of
companies  in the Asian real estate industry. The Portfolio seeks to achieve its
objective by  investing  primarily in  equity  securities which  are  traded  on
recognized  stock  exchanges  in  Asia and  in  equity  securities  of companies
organized under  the  laws of  an  Asian  country whose  business  is  conducted
principally  in Asia.  The Portfolio may  also invest in  Depositary Receipts of
Asian issuers.
 
    The Portfolio will invest primarily  in the more established Asian  markets,
including   Singapore,  Malaysia,   Hong  Kong  and   Thailand,  but  additional
opportunities are also  sought in  markets such as  South Korea  and Taiwan  and
other  emerging markets  that are open  to foreign investment.  In addition, the
Portfolio may invest in Japan,  Australia and New Zealand.  At least 65% of  the
total assets of the Portfolio will be invested in equity securities of companies
engaged in the Asian real estate industry. While the Portfolio is not subject to
any  specific geographic  diversification requirements, it  currently intends to
diversify investments among  countries to  reduce investment  risk and  currency
risk.  Allocation of investments  will depend on  the relative attractiveness of
the stocks of companies in  the respective countries. Government regulation  and
restrictions in many of the countries of interest may limit the amount, mode and
extent of investment in companies of such countries.
 
    The  Portfolio's investments will include securities of companies located in
emerging countries and traded in emerging markets. These securities pose greater
liquidity risks  and  other  risks  than  securities  of  companies  located  in
developed countries and traded in more established markets. For a description of
special  considerations and certain risks  associated with investment in foreign
issuers, see "Additional Investment Information."
 
                       ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT INFORMATION
 
    CONVERTIBLE  SECURITIES,  WARRANTS  AND   EQUITY-LINKED  SECURITIES.     The
Portfolios  may invest in  securities such as  convertible securities, preferred
stock, warrants or other securities exchangeable under certain circumstances for
shares of common stock. Warrants are  instruments giving holders the right,  but
not  the  obligation, to  buy shares  of a  company  at a  given price  during a
specified period. The  Portfolios may also  invest in equity-linked  securities,
which  are securities that are convertible into,  or the value of which is based
upon the value  of, equity  securities upon  certain terms  and conditions.  The
amount  received by an investor at maturity  of such securities is not fixed but
is based  on the  price of  the underlying  common stock.  It is  impossible  to
predict  whether the  price of  the underlying common  stock will  rise or fall.
Trading prices of the underlying common stock will be influenced by the issuer's
operational results, by complex, interrelated political, economic, financial, or
other factors affecting the  capital markets, the stock  exchanges on which  the
underlying  common stock is traded and the market segment of which the issuer is
a part. In addition, it is not possible to predict how equity-linked  securities
will  trade in the secondary  market, which is fairly  developed and liquid. The
market for such securities may be  shallow, however, and high volume trades  may
be  possible  only with  discounting. In  addition to  the foregoing  risks, the
return on such securities depends on  the creditworthiness of the issuer of  the
securities,  which may  be the  issuer of the  underlying securities  or a third
party investment  banker or  other lender.  The creditworthiness  of such  third
party  issuer  of  equity-linked  securities may,  and  often  does,  exceed the
creditworthiness of the issuer  of the underlying  securities. The advantage  of
using  equity-linked securities over  traditional equity and  debt securities is
that the former are income producing  vehicles that may provide a higher  income
than the dividend income on the underlying equity securities while allowing some
participation
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
in  the  capital  appreciation  of  the  underlying  equity  securities. Another
advantage of using equity-linked securities is that they may be used for hedging
to reduce the risk of investing in the generally more volatile underlying equity
securities.
 
    DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS.    The  European  Real Estate  and  Asian  Real  Estate
Portfolios  may  invest in  Depositary  Receipts, including  American Depositary
Receipts ("ADRs"),  Global  Depositary Receipts  ("GDRs"),  European  Depositary
Receipts ("EDRs") and other Depositary Receipts (which, together with ADRs, GDRs
and EDRs, are hereinafter collectively referred to as "Depositary Receipts"), to
the  extent  that such  Depositary Receipts  are or  become available.  ADRs are
securities, typically issued by a  U.S. financial institution (a  "depositary"),
that  evidence ownership interests in a security  or a pool of securities issued
by a foreign issuer (the "underlying issuer") and deposited with the depositary.
ADRs include  American  Depositary  Shares  and  New  York  Shares  and  may  be
"sponsored"  or  "unsponsored."  Sponsored  ADRs are  established  jointly  by a
depositary  and  the  underlying  issuer,   whereas  unsponsored  ADRs  may   be
established  by a depositary without participation by the underlying issuer. The
issuers of the stock of unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose  material
information  in the United States and therefore,  there may not be a correlation
between such information and the market value  of the ADR. GDRs, EDRs and  other
types  of  Depositary Receipts  are  typically issued  by  foreign depositaries,
although they may also  be issued by U.S.  depositaries, and evidence  ownership
interests  in a security or  pool of securities issued by  either a foreign or a
U.S. corporation. Generally, Depositary Receipts in registered form are designed
for use in the U.S. securities market and Depositary Receipts in bearer form are
designed for use in securities markets outside the United States. The Portfolios
may invest in sponsored and unsponsored Depositary Receipts. For purposes of the
Portfolios' investment  policies,  the  Portfolios'  investments  in  Depositary
Receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities.
 
    FIXED  INCOME SECURITIES.   Under  normal circumstances,  each Portfolio may
invest up to 35% of its total assets in debt securities issued or guaranteed  by
real estate companies or secured by real estate assets which are, at the time of
purchase,  rated investment grade by  a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization ("NRSRO") or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality,
high quality money market instruments, such as notes, certificates of deposit or
bankers' acceptances issued by domestic  or foreign issuers, or high-grade  debt
securities,  consisting  of  corporate  debt  securities  and  U.S.  and foreign
government securities. Investment grade securities are securities that are rated
in one of the four  highest rating categories by  an NRSRO. Securities rated  in
the   lowest   category  of   investment   grade  securities   have  speculative
characteristics. Changes in prevailing interest  rates may inversely affect  the
value  of the debt securities  in which a Portfolio  will invest. Changes in the
value of portfolio securities  will not necessarily  affect cash income  derived
from these securities, but will affect a Portfolio's net asset value.
 
    FOREIGN  INVESTMENT.  Investment  in securities of  foreign issuers involves
somewhat different  investment risks  than those  affecting securities  of  U.S.
domestic  issuers.  There may  be  limited publicly  available  information with
respect to foreign  issuers, and foreign  issuers are not  generally subject  to
uniform  accounting, auditing  and financial  and other  reporting standards and
requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. There may also be
less government  supervision and  regulation  of foreign  securities  exchanges,
brokers  and listed companies than in the United States. Many foreign securities
markets have substantially less volume than U.S. national securities  exchanges,
and  securities of some foreign  issuers are less liquid  and more volatile than
securities of  comparable  domestic  issuers. Brokerage  commissions  and  other
transaction  costs on foreign securities exchanges  are generally higher than in
the   United    States.    Dividends    and    interest    paid    by    foreign
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
issuers  may  be  subject to  withholding  and  other foreign  taxes,  which may
decrease the net  return on  foreign investments  as compared  to dividends  and
interest  paid to the Portfolios  by domestic companies, and  it is not expected
that a Portfolio or its  shareholders would be able to  claim a credit for  U.S.
tax  purposes with respect  to any such foreign  taxes. Additional risks include
future political  and  economic developments,  the  possibility that  a  foreign
jurisdiction  might impose  or change withholding  taxes on  income payable with
respect  to   foreign   securities,   possible   seizure,   nationalization   or
expropriation  of  the  foreign  issuer or  foreign  deposits  and  the possible
adoption of foreign governmental restrictions such as exchange controls. Many of
the emerging countries  may have  less stable political  environments than  more
developed  countries. Also, it may  be more difficult to  obtain a judgment in a
court outside the United States.
 
    Investments in securities of foreign  issuers are frequently denominated  in
foreign  currencies, and the Portfolios may temporarily hold uninvested reserves
in bank deposits in foreign currencies. Therefore, the value of each Portfolio's
assets as measured in U.S. dollars  may be affected favorably or unfavorably  by
changes  in  currency  rates  and  in  exchange  control  regulations,  and  the
Portfolios may  incur  costs  in connection  with  conversions  between  various
currencies.
 
    The  Asian Real Estate Portfolio may invest in securities of issuers located
in Hong Kong. Hong Kong was established  as a British colony in the 1840's  and,
until  recently, has been  ruled by the British  Government through an appointed
Governor. Effective July 1, 1997, Hong Kong reverted to Chinese sovereignty  and
is governed as a Special Administrative Region of China. Although China has made
certain  commitments  to preserve  the  economic and  social  freedoms currently
enjoyed in Hong  Kong, there can  be no assurances  China's commitments will  be
maintained.  Action  taken  by the  Chinese  government which  limits  or causes
uncertainty with regard  to these  economic and  social freedoms  could have  an
adverse  affect on the Portfolio's investments  in securities of issuers located
in Hong Kong.
 
    FUTURES CONTRACTS  AND OPTIONS  ON FUTURES  CONTRACTS.   The Portfolios  may
purchase  and sell futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including
but not limited to securities index futures, foreign currency exchange  futures,
interest  rate futures contracts and  other financial futures. Futures contracts
provide for the sale by one party  and purchase by another party of a  specified
amount  of  a specific  security, instrument  or basket  thereof, at  a specific
future date and at a specified price. An option on a futures contract is a legal
contract that gives the holder  the right to buy or  sell a specified amount  of
futures  contracts at  a fixed  or determinable price  upon the  exercise of the
option.
 
    The Portfolios may  sell securities index  futures contracts and/or  options
thereon  in anticipation of or during a  market decline to attempt to offset the
decrease in market value of investments in its portfolio, or purchase securities
index futures in order to gain market exposure. Subject to applicable laws,  the
Portfolios may engage in transactions in securities index futures contracts (and
options  thereon)  which  are  traded  on  a  recognized  securities  or futures
exchange, or  may purchase  or  sell such  instruments in  the  over-the-counter
market. There currently are limited securities index futures and options on such
futures  in many countries,  particularly emerging countries.  The nature of the
strategies adopted by the Adviser, and the extent to which those strategies  are
used, may depend on the development of such markets.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    The  Portfolios  may  engage  in  transactions  involving  foreign  currency
exchange futures contracts. Such contracts involve an obligation to purchase  or
sell  a specific currency at  a specified future date  and at a specified price.
The Portfolios  may  engage  in  such transactions  to  hedge  their  respective
holdings  and commitments against changes in  the level of future currency rates
or to adjust their exposure to a particular currency.
 
    The  Portfolios  may  engage  in  transactions  in  interest  rate   futures
transactions.  Interest rate futures contracts involve an obligation to purchase
or sell a specific  debt security, instrument or  basket thereof at a  specified
future  date at  a specified price.  The value  of the contract  rises and falls
inversely with changes  in interest  rates. The  Portfolios may  engage in  such
transactions  to hedge their holdings of debt instruments against future changes
in interest rates.
 
    Financial futures are futures  contracts relating to financial  instruments,
such  as  U.S. Government  securities, foreign  currencies, and  certificates of
deposit. Such contracts  involve an obligation  to purchase or  sell a  specific
security, instrument or basket thereof at a specified future date at a specified
price.  Like interest  rate futures  contracts, the  value of  financial futures
contracts rises  and  falls  inversely  with  changes  in  interest  rates.  The
Portfolios may engage in financial futures contracts for hedging and non-hedging
purposes.
 
    Under  rules  adopted  by  the Commodity  Futures  Trading  Commission, each
Portfolio may enter into futures contracts and options thereon for both  hedging
and  non-hedging purposes,  provided that not  more than 5%  of such Portfolio's
total assets at the time of entering the transaction are required as margin  and
option   premiums  to  secure  obligations  under  such  contracts  relating  to
non-hedging activities. No Portfolio  will enter into  futures contracts to  the
extent  that  the  notional value  of  its outstanding  obligations  to purchase
securities under such contracts, in combination with its outstanding obligations
with respect to options transactions  (including options to purchase  securities
or instruments) would exceed 33 1/3% of its total assets.
 
    Gains  and losses  on futures  contracts and  options thereon  depend on the
Adviser's ability  to  predict correctly  the  direction of  securities  prices,
interest  rates and other economic factors.  Other risks associated with the use
of futures  and options  are (i)  imperfect correlation  between the  change  in
market  value of investments held  by a Portfolio and  the prices of futures and
options relating to  investments purchased or  sold by the  Portfolio, and  (ii)
possible  lack  of a  liquid secondary  market  for a  futures contract  and the
resulting inability to close a futures position. The risk that a Portfolio  will
be  unable to close out a futures position or options contract will be minimized
by only entering into futures contracts or options transactions for which  there
appears to be a liquid exchange or secondary market. The risk of loss in trading
on  futures contracts in some strategies can be substantial, due both to the low
margin deposits required and the extremely  high degree of leverage involved  in
futures pricing.
 
    INVESTMENT  FUNDS.  Some  emerging countries have  laws and regulations that
currently  preclude  direct  foreign  investment  in  the  securities  of  their
companies.  However, indirect foreign investment  in the securities of companies
listed and traded  on the  stock exchanges in  these countries  is permitted  by
certain emerging countries through investment funds which have been specifically
authorized. The Asian Real Estate and European Real Estate Portfolios may invest
in  these investment funds subject  to the provisions of  the 1940 Act and other
applicable  laws.  If  a  Portfolio  invests  in  such  investment  funds,   the
Portfolio's  shareholders will  bear not only  their proportionate  share of the
expenses of the  Portfolio (including  operating expenses  and the  fees of  the
Adviser),  but  also will  indirectly bear  similar  expenses of  the underlying
investment funds.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    Certain  of the investment funds referred  to in the preceding paragraph are
advised by the  Adviser. The Portfolio  may, to the  extent permitted under  the
1940  Act and  other applicable  law, invest in  these investment  funds. If the
Portfolio does elect to make an investment  in such an investment fund, it  will
only purchase the securities of such investment fund in the secondary market.
 
    LOANS  OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES.   Each Portfolio may  lend its securities to
brokers, dealers, domestic and foreign banks or other financial institutions for
the purpose of increasing its net investment income. These loans must be secured
continuously by cash or equivalent collateral, or by a letter of credit at least
equal to the  market value  of the securities  loaned plus  accrued interest  or
income.  There may be a risk of delay in recovery of the securities or even loss
of rights  in  the  collateral  should  the  borrower  of  the  securities  fail
financially.  Each Portfolio  will not  enter into  securities loan transactions
exceeding, in the aggregate, 33 1/3% of the market value of its total assets.
 
    MONEY MARKET INSTRUMENTS.  The Portfolios  are permitted to invest in  money
market   instruments,  although  the  Portfolios  intend  to  stay  invested  in
securities  satisfying  their  primary  investment  objectives  to  the   extent
practical.  The  Portfolios  may  make money  market  investments  pending other
investment or settlement  for liquidity,  or in adverse  market conditions.  The
money market investments permitted for the Portfolios include obligations of the
U.S.  Government and its agencies  and instrumentalities, other debt securities,
commercial paper,  bank  obligations  including, certificates  of  deposit,  and
repurchase agreements.
 
    NON-PUBLICLY   TRADED   SECURITIES,   PRIVATE   PLACEMENTS   AND  RESTRICTED
SECURITIES.  Each Portfolio may invest in securities that are neither listed  on
a  stock exchange nor  traded over-the-counter. Such  unlisted equity securities
may involve a higher degree  of business and financial  risk that can result  in
substantial  losses. As a result  of the absence of  a public trading market for
these securities,  they may  be  less liquid  than publicly  traded  securities.
Although  these securities may  be resold in  privately negotiated transactions,
the prices realized from these sales could be less than those originally paid by
the Portfolio  or less  than  what may  be considered  the  fair value  of  such
securities.  Further, companies whose securities are not publicly traded may not
be subject to the  disclosure and other  investor protection requirements  which
might be applicable if their securities were publicly traded. If such securities
are  required  to  be  registered  under the  securities  laws  of  one  or more
jurisdictions before being  resold, the Portfolio  may be required  to bear  the
expenses of registration.
 
    As  a general matter, each Portfolio may not invest more than 15% of its net
assets in  illiquid  securities, including  securities  for which  there  is  no
readily available secondary market. Securities that are not registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), but that can be offered and
sold to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act ("Rule
144A  Securities") will not be included  within the foregoing 15% restriction if
the securities are determined to be  liquid. The Board of Directors has  adopted
guidelines and delegated to the Adviser, subject to the supervision of the Board
of  Directors, the daily function of determining and monitoring the liquidity of
Rule 144A  Securities. Rule  144A Securities  may become  illiquid if  qualified
institutional buyers are not interested in acquiring the securities.
 
    OPTIONS  TRANSACTIONS.  The Portfolios may seek to increase their returns or
may hedge their portfolio investments through options transactions with  respect
to  securities, instruments, indices or baskets thereof in which such Portfolios
may invest, as well as with respect to foreign currency. Purchasing a put option
gives a
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
Portfolio the  right  to  sell  a specified  security,  currency  or  basket  of
securities  or  currencies at  the exercise  price until  the expiration  of the
option. Purchasing  a call  option gives  a Portfolio  the right  to purchase  a
specified  security,  currency  or basket  of  securities or  currencies  at the
exercise price until the expiration of the option.
 
    Each Portfolio  also  may  write  (i.e.,  sell)  put  and  call  options  on
investments  held in its portfolio, as well as with respect to foreign currency.
A Fund  that has  written an  option  receives a  premium, which  increases  the
Portfolio's  return on  the underlying security  or instrument in  the event the
option expires unexercised or is closed out  at a profit. However, by writing  a
call  option, a Portfolio will limit its  opportunity to profit from an increase
in the market value of the underlying security or instrument above the  exercise
price  of the option for as long as  the Portfolio's obligation as writer of the
option continues. The Portfolios  may only write options  that are "covered."  A
covered  call option  means that so  long as  the Portfolio is  obligated as the
writer of the option, it will  earmark or segregate sufficient liquid assets  to
cover  it obligations  under the  option or own  (i) the  underlying security or
instrument subject to the option; (ii) securities or instruments convertible  or
exchangeable  without  the payment  of any  consideration  into the  security or
instrument subject to the option, or (iii) a call option on the same  underlying
security  with a strike price  no higher than the  price at which the underlying
instrument was sold pursuant to a short option position.
 
    By writing (or selling)  a put option, a  Portfolio incurs an obligation  to
buy  the security or instrument underlying the  option from the purchaser of the
put at the option's exercise price at any time during the option period, at  the
purchaser's  election.  The  Portfolios  may  also  write  options  that  may be
excercised by  the purchaser  only on  a  specific date.  A Portfolio  that  has
written a put option will earmark or segregate sufficient liquid assets to cover
its obligations under the option or will own a put option on the same underlying
security with an equal or higher strike price.
 
    The  Portfolios may  engage in transactions  in options which  are traded on
recognized exchanges or  over-the-counter. There currently  are limited  options
markets  in  many  countries,  particularly  emerging  countries  such  as Latin
American countries, and the nature of the strategies adopted by the Adviser  and
the  extent to which those strategies are used will depend on the development of
such option markets. The  primary risks associated with  the use of options  are
(i)  imperfect correlation  between the  change in  market value  of investments
held, purchased or sold  by a Portfolio  and the prices  of options relating  to
such  investments; and (ii)  possible lack of  a liquid secondary  market for an
option.
 
    REAL ESTATE INVESTING.  Each of  the Portfolios invests primarily in  equity
securities of issuers engaged in the real estate industry, which entails certain
risks  and considerations of  which an investor should  be aware. In particular,
securities of  such issuers  may be  subject to  the risks  associated with  the
direct  ownership of  real estate. These  risks include: the  cyclical nature of
real estate  values, risks  related to  general and  local economic  conditions,
overbuilding   and  increased  competition,  increases  in  property  taxes  and
operating expenses, demographic trends and variations in rental income,  changes
in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, environmental risks, regulatory
limitations  on  rents, changes  in  neighborhood values,  related  party risks,
changes in the appeal of properties to tenants, increases in interest rates  and
other  real estate capital  market influences. Generally,  increases in interest
rates will increase the costs of  obtaining financing, which could directly  and
indirectly decrease the value of the Portfolios' investments. In addition, since
the  Asian Real Estate and European  Real Estate Portfolios invest in securities
of  issuers  engaged  in  the   Asian  and  European  real  estate   industries,
respectively,  the  Portfolios'  investments  are  subject  to  additional risks
associated with foreign investing discussed under "Foreign Investment."
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
    REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS.  The Portfolios may enter into repurchase  agreements
with  brokers, dealers or  banks that meet the  credit guidelines established by
the Fund's Board of Directors. In  a repurchase agreement, the Portfolio buys  a
security  from a seller  that has agreed  to repurchase it  at a mutually agreed
upon date and price, reflecting the interest rate effective for the term of  the
agreement.  The term of these agreements is  usually from overnight to one week,
and never  exceeds one  year. Repurchase  agreements may  be viewed  as a  fully
collateralized  loan  of money  by the  Portfolio to  the seller.  The Portfolio
always receives securities, with a market  value at least equal to the  purchase
price  (including accrued interest)  as collateral and  this value is maintained
during the term  of the  agreement. If the  seller defaults  and the  collateral
value  declines, the Portfolio might incur a loss. If bankruptcy proceedings are
commenced with  respect to  the  seller, the  Portfolio's realization  upon  the
collateral  may  be  delayed  or  limited. The  Portfolios  may  not  enter into
repurchase agreements with  more than seven  days to maturity  if, as a  result,
more  than 15% of the market value of the Portfolio's net assets are invested in
these agreements  and other  investments  for which  market quotations  are  not
readily available or which are otherwise illiquid.
 
    SPECIALIZED  OWNERSHIP VEHICLES.   Each Portfolio may  invest in specialized
ownership vehicles  which  pool investors'  funds  for investment  primarily  in
income-producing  real estate  or real estate  related loans  or interests. Such
specialized ownership  vehicles  in  which the  Portfolios  may  invest  include
property  unit trusts, REITs and  other similar specialized investment vehicles.
Investments in  such  specialized  ownership  vehicles  may  have  favorable  or
unfavorable  legal, regulatory or  tax implications for a  Portfolio and, to the
extent such vehicles are structured similar  to investment funds, may cause  the
Portfolios'   shareholders  to  indirectly  bear  certain  additional  operating
expenses.
 
    STRUCTURED NOTES.  Structured Notes are  derivatives on which the amount  of
principal  repayment and/or interest payments is  based upon the movement of one
or more  factors.  These factors  include,  but  are not  limited  to,  currency
exchange  rates, interest rates (such  as the prime lending  rate and LIBOR) and
stock indices  such as  the S&P  500 Index.  In some  cases, the  impact of  the
movements  of  these  factors  may  increase  or  decrease  through  the  use of
multipliers or deflators.  The use  of Structured  Notes allows  a Portfolio  to
tailor  its investments to the specific risks  and returns the Adviser wishes to
accept while avoiding or reducing certain other risks.
 
    SWAPS--SWAP CONTRACTS.  Swaps and Swap Contracts are derivatives in the form
of a contract or other similar instrument in which two parties agree to exchange
the returns generated by a security, instrument, basket or index thereof for the
returns generated by another security, instrument, basket thereof or index.  The
payment  streams are  calculated by reference  to a specific  security, index or
instrument and an agreed upon notional amount. The relevant indices include  but
are not limited to, currencies, fixed interest rates, prices and total return on
interest rate indices, fixed income indices, stock indices and commodity indices
(as  well as amounts  derived from arithmetic operations  on these indices). For
example, a Portfolio may agree  to swap the return  generated by a fixed  income
index  for the  return generated  by a second  fixed income  index. The currency
swaps in which the Portfolios may  enter will generally involve an agreement  to
pay interest streams in one currency, based on a specified index in exchange for
receiving  interest  streams denominated  in  another currency.  Such  swaps may
involve initial and final exchanges that correspond to the agreed upon  notional
amount.
 
    A  Portfolio will  usually enter into  swaps on  a net basis,  i.e., the two
return streams are netted out in a cash settlement on the payment date or  dates
specified  in the instrument, with a Portfolio  receiving or paying, as the case
may be, only the net amount of the two returns. A Portfolio's obligations  under
a swap agreement will be
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
accrued  daily  (offset against  any  amounts owing  to  the Portfolio)  and any
accrued, but unpaid, net amounts owned to a swap counterparty will be covered by
the maintenance of a segregated account consisting of cash or liquid securities.
A Portfolio will not enter into any swap agreement unless the counterparty meets
the rating requirements set forth  in guidelines established by the  Portfolio's
Board of Directors.
 
    Interest  rate and total rate of return swaps do not involve the delivery of
securities, other underlying assets, or principal. Accordingly, the risk of loss
with respect to interest rate and total  rate of return swaps is limited to  the
net  amount of payments that a Portfolio  is contractually obligated to make. If
the other party to  an interest rate  or total rate of  return swap defaults,  a
Portfolio's risk of loss consists of the net amount of payments that a Portfolio
is  contractually entitled to  receive. In contrast,  currency swaps may involve
the delivery  of  the entire  principal  value  of one  designated  currency  in
exchange  for  the other  designated currency.  Therefore, the  entire principal
value of a currency swap may be subject to the risk that the other party to  the
swap will default on its contractual delivery obligations. If there is a default
by  the counterparty, a Portfolio may  have contractual remedies pursuant to the
agreements related to the transaction. The swaps market has grown  substantially
in recent years with a large number of banks and investment banking firms acting
both as principals and as agents utilizing standardized swap documentation. As a
result,  the swaps market has become relatively liquid. Swaps that include caps,
floors  and  collars  are  more   recent  innovations  for  which   standardized
documentation  has not yet been fully  developed and, accordingly, they are less
liquid than "traditional" swaps.
 
    The use of swaps is a highly specialized activity which involves  investment
techniques  and risks  different from  those associated  with ordinary portfolio
securities transactions. If the Adviser is incorrect in its forecasts of  market
values,  interest rates, and currency exchange rates, the investment performance
of the  Portfolios would  be less  favorable than  it would  have been  if  this
investment technique were not used.
 
    TEMPORARY  INVESTMENTS.  For temporary  defensive purposes, when the Adviser
determines that market conditions warrant, each Portfolio may invest up to  100%
of  its assets in dollar and non-dollar denominated money market instruments and
short- and medium-term debt securities that  the Adviser believes to be of  high
quality,  or hold cash. The short- and  medium-term debt securities in which the
Portfolios may invest consist of (a) obligations of the U.S. or foreign  country
governments,  their respective agencies or  instrumentalities; (b) bank deposits
and bank  obligations  (including certificates  of  deposit, time  deposits  and
bankers'  acceptances)  of  U.S. or  foreign  country banks  denominated  in any
currency; (c) floating rate securities and other instruments denominated in  any
currency  issued by international development  agencies; (d) finance company and
corporate commercial paper  and other short-term  corporate debt obligations  of
U.S.  and foreign  country corporations  meeting the  Portfolio's credit quality
standards; and  (e) repurchase  agreements with  banks and  broker-dealers  with
respect to such securities.
 
    WHEN-ISSUED  AND DELAYED DELIVERY  SECURITIES.  The  Portfolios may purchase
securities on a  when-issued or  delayed delivery basis.  In such  transactions,
instruments  are bought with payment and delivery  taking place in the future in
order to secure what is considered to  be an advantageous yield or price at  the
time  of the transaction. Delivery of and  payment for these securities may take
as long as a month or more after  the date of the purchase commitment, but  will
take  place no  more than  120 days  after the  trade date.  The Portfolios will
maintain with the Custodian  a separate account with  a segregated portfolio  of
cash  or liquid securities in an amount at least equal to these commitments. The
payment obligation and the interest rates  that will be received are each  fixed
at  the time the Portfolio enters into the commitment and no interest accrues to
the Portfolio until settlement.  Thus, it is possible  that the market value  at
the    time   of    settlement   could   be    higher   or    lower   than   the
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
purchase price if  the general  level of  interest rates  has changed.  It is  a
current  policy  of the  Portfolios not  to  enter into  when-issued commitments
exceeding, in the aggregate,  15% of the market  value of the Portfolio's  total
assets less liabilities other than the obligations created by these commitments.
 
                             INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
 
    As  non-diversified investment companies, the  Portfolios are not limited by
the 1940 Act  in the  proportion of  their assets that  may be  invested in  the
obligations  of  a single  issuer.  Thus, each  Portfolio  may invest  a greater
proportion of its assets in the securities  of a smaller number of issuers  and,
as  a result,  will be  subject to  greater risk  with respect  to its portfolio
securities. Any economic,  political, or regulatory  developments affecting  the
value  of the securities the Portfolio holds  could have a greater impact on the
total value  of  the  Portfolio's  holdings  than  would  be  the  case  if  the
Portfolio's  securities  were diversified  among  more issuers.  The Portfolios,
however, intend to comply with  the diversification requirements imposed by  the
Code  for  qualification as  regulated investment  companies. In  addition, each
Portfolio may concentrate in the real  estate industry, but may not invest  more
than  25% of its  total assets in the  securities of companies  in any one other
industry  (for  these  purposes  the  U.S.  Government  and  its  agencies   and
instrumentalities  are not considered an industry). See "Investment Limitations"
in the Statement of Additional Information.
 
    Each Portfolio  operates  under  certain investment  restrictions  that  are
deemed  fundamental limitations and may be changed only with the approval of the
holders of a majority  of the Portfolio's outstanding  shares and under  certain
non-fundamental  investment limitations that may  be changed without shareholder
approval.  For  additional  information   on  fundamental  and   non-fundamental
limitations,  see  "Investment  Limitations"  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information.
 
                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
 
    INVESTMENT ADVISER.  Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. is the Adviser and
Administrator of the Fund  and each Portfolio.  The Adviser provides  investment
advice  and portfolio  management services,  pursuant to  an Investment Advisory
Agreement and, subject  to the  supervision of  the Fund's  Board of  Directors,
makes  each  Portfolio's  day-to-day  investment  decisions,  arranges  for  the
execution of  portfolio  transactions  and generally  manages  each  Portfolio's
investments. Set forth below as an annual percentage of average daily net assets
are  the  management fees  payable to  the Adviser  quarterly by  each Portfolio
pursuant to  terms  of  the  Investment Advisory  Agreement.  The  fees  of  the
Portfolios  are higher than those of  most investment companies, but the Adviser
believes the fee  is comparable to  those of investment  companies with  similar
investment objectives and policies. The Adviser has agreed to a reduction in the
fees  payable to it and to reimburse  the Portfolios, if necessary, if such fees
would cause total  annual operating  expenses of  the Portfolios  to exceed  the
maximums set forth in the table below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            MAXIMUM TOTAL OPERATING
                                                                                           EXPENSES AFTER FEE WAIVERS
                                                                                           --------------------------
PORTFOLIO                                                               MANAGEMENT FEE       CLASS A       CLASS B
- --------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------------  ------------  ------------
<S>                                                                   <C>                  <C>           <C>
European Real Estate Portfolio......................................           0.80%             1.00%         1.25%
Asian Real Estate Portfolio.........................................           0.80%             1.00%         1.25%
</TABLE>
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
    The  Adviser, with  principal offices  at 1221  Avenue of  the Americas, New
York, New York  10020, conducts  a worldwide portfolio  management business  and
provides  a broad  range of  portfolio management  services to  customers in the
United States and  abroad. Morgan Stanley,  Dean Witter, Discover  & Co. is  the
direct  parent of the  Adviser and Morgan  Stanley. At               , 1997, the
Adviser,  together  with   its  affiliated  asset   management  companies,   had
approximately  $    billion in  assets under management as an investment adviser
or as a Named Fiduciary  or Fiduciary Adviser. See  "Management of the Fund"  in
the Statement of Additional Information.
 
    PORTFOLIO  MANAGERS.    The  following  individuals  have  primary portfolio
management responsibility for the Portfolios noted below:
 
    EUROPEAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO. -- JAN WILLEM  DE GEUS.  Jan Willem de  Geus
joined  the Adviser  in 1997.  He is responsible  for the  Adviser's real estate
investment management business in Europe, with a focus on real estate securities
research. Before joining the Adviser, he was employed at the Dutch  Metalworkers
Pensionfund  (MPMA), where  he worked for  four years in  the international real
estate department. At the MPMA he was involved in the acquisition of direct real
estate, responsible for selecting REIT managers in the United States, and was  a
portfolio manager of international real estate securities. He graduated from the
University   of  Nijmegen  in  1991  with  a   Drs.  in  City  Planning  with  a
specialization in real  estate and received  an Msc. in  Real Estate  Investment
from  the Pennsylvania State  University in 1993.  He is currently  in the final
stage of finishing his RBA (the Dutch equivalent of an American CFA).
 
    ASIAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO. -- KIAT SENG  SEAH.  Kiat Seng Seah joined  the
Adviser's  Singapore office in 1990  as a portfolio manager/analyst specializing
in the Southeast Asian markets. He  is currently a Principal and is  responsible
for  investments in Taiwan,  Korea and Singapore. He  has had primary management
responsibility for the Portfolio since it commenced operations. Previously, Kiat
Seng worked at Barclays de  Zoete Wedd (BZW), where  he was a senior  investment
analyst,  with particular responsibility for coverage of the real estate sectors
in  Singapore  and  Malaysia,  and  helped  pioneer  BZW's  research  effort  in
Singapore.  Kiat  Seng is  a Chartered  Financial Analyst  and a  qualified real
estate valuer who spent a total of four years as a real estate appraiser,  first
for  the New Zealand Government and then  for the Singapore Ministry of Finance.
He was a Colombo  Plan Scholar at  the University of  Auckland, New Zealand  and
graduated with a degree in Property Administration.
 
    ADMINISTRATOR.   The  Adviser also  provides administrative  services to the
Fund pursuant to an  Administration Agreement. The  services provided under  the
Administration  Agreement are subject to the supervision of the officers and the
Board of Directors of the Fund and include day-to-day administration of  matters
related  to the  corporate existence  of the  Fund, maintenance  of its records,
preparation  of  reports,  supervision  of  the  Fund's  arrangements  with  its
custodian,  and  assistance  in  the  preparation  of  the  Fund's  registration
statements under federal laws. The  Administration Agreement also provides  that
the  Administrator,  through its  agents, will  provide dividend  disbursing and
transfer agent services to the Fund.  For its services under the  Administration
Agreement,  the Fund  pays the Adviser  a monthly  fee which on  an annual basis
equals 0.15% of the average daily net assets of each Portfolio.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
    Under an  agreement  between  the  Adviser  and  The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank
("Chase"),  Chase provides certain  administrative services to  the Fund through
its corporate  affiliate, Chase  Global Funds  Services Company  ("CGFSC").  The
Adviser  supervises and monitors such administrative services provided by CGFSC.
Their services are also subject to the supervision of the Board of Directors  of
the  Fund. CGFSC's business address is  73 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02108-3913.
 
    DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.  Pursuant  to the Fund's Articles of  Incorporation,
the  Board of Directors decides  upon matters of general  policy and reviews the
actions of  the Fund's  Adviser, Administrator,  Distributor and  other  service
providers.  The Officers  of the Fund  conduct and supervise  its daily business
operations.
 
    DISTRIBUTOR.   Morgan Stanley  serves as  the exclusive  Distributor of  the
shares  of  the Fund.  Under its  Distribution Agreement  with the  Fund, Morgan
Stanley sells  shares  of each  Portfolio  upon the  terms  and at  the  current
offering  price described in this Prospectus. Morgan Stanley is not obligated to
sell any certain number of shares of any Portfolio.
 
    The Portfolios currently offer  only the classes of  shares offered by  this
Prospectus. The Portfolios may in the future offer one or more classes of shares
with  features, distribution expenses or other  expenses that are different from
those of the classes currently offered.
 
    The Fund has  adopted a Plan  of Distribution  with respect to  the Class  B
shares  of each  Portfolio pursuant to  Rule 12b-1  under the 1940  Act (each, a
"Plan"). Under  each Plan,  the Distributor  is entitled  to receive  from  each
Portfolio  a distribution  fee, which  is accrued  daily and  paid quarterly, of
0.25% of the Class B  shares' average daily net  assets on an annualized  basis.
The  Distributor  expects  to  reallocate  most of  its  fee  to  its investment
representatives. The Distributor may, in its discretion, voluntarily waive  from
time  to  time all  or  any portion  of  its distribution  fee  and each  of the
Distributor and the Adviser is free to  make additional payments out of its  own
assets  to promote the  sale of Fund shares,  including payments that compensate
financial institutions for distribution services or shareholder services.
 
    Each Plan is designed to compensate the Distributor for its services, not to
reimburse the Distributor for its expenses,  and the Distributor may retain  any
portion  of the fee that it does not expend in fulfillment of its obligations to
the Fund.
 
    EXPENSES.  Each Portfolio is responsible  for payment of certain other  fees
and  expenses  (including legal  fees,  accountant's fees,  custodial  fees, and
printing and mailing  costs) specified  in the  Administration and  Distribution
Agreements.
 
                               PURCHASE OF SHARES
 
    Class  A and Class  B shares of each  Portfolio may be  purchased at the net
asset value per share next determined after receipt of the purchase order by the
Portfolio. See "Valuation of Shares."
 
MINIMUM INVESTMENT AND ACCOUNT SIZES; CONVERSION FROM CLASS A TO CLASS B SHARES
 
    For a  Portfolio  account  opened  on  or after  January  2,  1996  (a  "New
Account"),  the minimum initial investment and minimum account size are $500,000
for Class A shares and  $100,000 for Class B  shares of each Portfolio.  Certain
advisory  or asset allocation accounts, such as Total Funds Management accounts,
managed by Morgan  Stanley or  its affiliates, including  the Adviser  ("Managed
Accounts") may purchase Class A shares
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
without  being subject to any minimum initial investment or minimum account size
requirements for a Portfolio  account. Employees of the  Adviser and certain  of
its  affiliates may purchase  Class A shares subject  to conditions, including a
lower minimum initial investment, established by Officers of the Fund.
 
    If the value of a New Account containing Class A shares falls below $500,000
(but remains at  or above  $100,000) because of  shareholder redemption(s),  the
Fund  will  notify  the shareholder,  and  if  the account  value  remains below
$500,000 (but remains at or above $100,000) for a continuous 60-day period,  the
Class  A shares  in such  account will  convert to  Class B  shares and  will be
subject to the  distribution fee and  other features applicable  to the Class  B
shares.  The Fund, however,  will not convert  Class A shares  to Class B shares
based solely upon  changes in  the market  that reduce  the net  asset value  of
shares.  Under  current tax  law, conversions  between share  classes are  not a
taxable event to the shareholder.
 
    Shares in a Portfolio account opened  prior to January 2, 1996 (a  "Pre-1996
Account")  were  designated Class  A  shares on  January  2, 1996.  Shares  in a
Pre-1996 Account  with  a  value  of  $100,000 or  more  on  March  1,  1996  (a
"Grandfathered  Class A Account") remained Class  A shares regardless of account
size thereafter. Except for  shares in a Managed  Account, shares in a  Pre-1996
Account  with a value of  less than $100,000 on  March 1, 1996 (a "Grandfathered
Class B account") converted  to Class B shares  on March 1, 1996.  Grandfathered
Class A Accounts and Managed Accounts are not subject to conversion from Class A
shares to Class B shares.
 
    Investors  may also invest in the Fund  by purchasing shares through a trust
department, broker, dealer, agent, financial planner, financial services firm or
investment adviser.  An  investor  may  be  charged  an  additional  service  or
transaction fee by that institution.
 
    The minimum investment levels may be waived at the discretion of the Adviser
for  (i) certain employees and customers of Morgan Stanley or its affiliates and
certain  trust  departments,  brokers,  dealers,  agents,  financial   planners,
financial  services  firms, or  investment advisers  that  have entered  into an
agreement with  Morgan  Stanley  or  its affiliates;  and  (ii)  retirement  and
deferred  compensation plans and trusts used  to fund such plans, including, but
not limited to, those defined in Section  401(a), 403(b) or 457 of the Code  and
"rabbi  trusts."  The  Fund  reserves  the  right  to  modify  or  terminate the
conversion features  of the  shares as  stated above  at any  time upon  60-days
notice to shareholders.
 
    The  Adviser reserves the right in its sole discretion to determine which of
such advisory  or  asset allocation  accounts  shall be  Managed  Accounts.  For
information  regarding  Managed  Accounts, please  contact  your  Morgan Stanley
account representative or the Fund at the telephone number provided on the cover
of this Prospectus.
 
MINIMUM ACCOUNT SIZES AND INVOLUNTARY REDEMPTION OF SHARES
 
    If the value of  a New Account falls  below $100,000 because of  shareholder
redemption(s),  the Fund will  notify the shareholder, and  if the account value
remains below  $100,000 for  a  continuous 60-day  period,  the shares  in  such
account  are subject to redemption  by the Fund and,  if redeemed, the net asset
value of  such  shares will  be  promptly paid  to  the shareholder.  The  Fund,
however,  will not redeem  shares based solely  upon changes in  the market that
reduce the net asset value of shares.
 
    Grandfathered Class A Accounts, Grandfathered  Class B Accounts and  Managed
Accounts  are not subject to involuntary redemption. The Fund reserves the right
to modify or  terminate the  involuntary redemption  features of  the shares  as
stated above at any time upon 60-days notice to shareholders.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
CONVERSION FROM CLASS B TO CLASS A SHARES
 
    If the value of Class B shares in a Portfolio account increases, whether due
to  shareholder share  purchases or  market activity,  to $500,000  or more, the
Class B shares  will convert  to Class  A shares.  Under current  tax law,  such
conversion  is not a taxable event to  the shareholder. Class A shares converted
from Class B shares  are subject to the  same minimum account size  requirements
that  are applicable to New Accounts containing Class A shares, as stated above.
The Fund reserves the  right to modify or  terminate this conversion feature  at
any time upon 60-days notice to shareholders.
 
INITIAL PURCHASES DIRECTLY FROM THE FUND
 
    The  Fund's determination of an investor's eligibility to purchase shares of
a given class  will take precedence  over the investor's  selection of a  class.
Assuming  the investor is eligible for the  class, the Fund will select the most
favorable class for the investor, if the investor has not done so.
 
1) BY CHECK.   An account may  be opened  by completing and  signing an  Account
   Registration Form and mailing it, together with a check ($500,000 minimum for
   Class  A shares  of each Portfolio  and $100,000  for Class B  shares of each
   Portfolio, with certain  exceptions for Morgan  Stanley employees and  select
   customers)  payable to "Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. -- [portfolio
   name]", to:
 
      Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.
      P.O. Box 2798
      Boston, Massachusetts 02208-2798
 
  Payment will  be accepted  only in  U.S. dollars,  unless prior  approval  for
  payment  by other currencies is given by  the Fund. The class(es) of shares of
  the  Portfolio(s)  to  be  purchased  should  be  designated  on  the  Account
  Registration  Form. For  purchases by check,  the Fund  is ordinarily credited
  with Federal Funds within one business  day. Thus, your purchase of shares  by
  check  is ordinarily credited to your account at the net asset value per share
  of the relevant Portfolio determined on the next business day after receipt.
 
2) BY FEDERAL  FUNDS WIRE.   Purchases  may be  made by  having your  bank  wire
   Federal  Funds to the Fund's bank account.  In order to ensure prompt receipt
   of your Federal Funds Wire, it is important that you follow these steps:
 
A.  Telephone  the Fund  (toll free: 1-800-548-7786)  and provide  us with  your
    name,  address,  telephone  number, Social  Security  or  Tax Identification
    Number, the  portfolio(s) selected,  the class  selected, the  amount  being
    wired,  and by  which bank.  We will  then provide  you with  a Fund account
    number. (Investors with existing accounts should also notify the Fund  prior
    to wiring funds.)
 
B.    Instruct  your  bank to  wire  the  specified amount  to  the  Fund's Wire
    Concentration Bank Account (be  sure to have your  bank include the name  of
    the  portfolio(s)  selected,  the  class selected,  and  the  account number
    assigned to you) as follows:
 
    The Chase Manhattan Bank
    One Manhattan Plaza
    New York, NY 10081-1000
    ABA #021000021
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    DDA #910-2-733293
    Attn: Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.
    Ref: (Portfolio name, your account number, your account name)
 
    Please call the Fund at 1-800-548-7786 prior to wiring funds.
 
C.  Complete and sign the Account  Registration Form and mail it to the  address
    shown thereon.
 
  The  purchase price of the Class A and Class B shares of each Portfolio is the
  net asset value next determined after the order is received. See "Valuation of
  Shares." An order received prior  to the regular close  of the New York  Stock
  Exchange ("NYSE"), which is currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, will be executed
  at  the price  computed on the  date of  receipt; an order  received after the
  regular close of the NYSE will be  executed at the price computed on the  next
  day  the NYSE is open as long as  the Transfer Agent receives payment by check
  or in Federal Funds prior to the regular close of the NYSE on such day.
 
  Federal Funds purchase orders will be accepted only on a day on which the Fund
  and Chase (the "Custodian Bank") are open for business. Your bank may charge a
  service fee for wiring Federal Funds.
 
3) BY BANK WIRE.   The  same procedure outlined  under "By  Federal Funds  Wire"
   above  must be  followed in  purchasing shares  by bank  wire. However, money
   transferred by bank wire may or may  not be converted into Federal Funds  the
   same  day, depending on the time the  money is received and the bank handling
   the wire. Prior to such conversion, an investor's money will not be  invested
   and, therefore, will not be earning dividends. Your bank may charge a service
   fee for wiring funds.
 
ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS
 
    You  may  add to  your account  at any  time (minimum  additional investment
$1,000 for each portfolio,  except for automatic  reinvestment of dividends  and
capital  gains  distributions for  which there  are  no minimums)  by purchasing
shares at net asset  value by mailing  a check to the  Fund (payable to  "Morgan
Stanley  Institutional Fund, Inc. -- [portfolio  name]") at the above address or
by wiring monies to the Custodian Bank  as outlined above. It is very  important
that  your account name, the portfolio name  and the class selected be specified
in the letter or wire  to assure proper crediting to  your account. In order  to
ensure  that your wire orders are invested promptly, you are requested to notify
one of the Fund's representatives (toll free: 1-800-548-7786) prior to the  wire
date.  Additional investments will  be applied to  purchase additional shares in
the same class held by a shareholder in a Portfolio account.
 
OTHER PURCHASE INFORMATION
 
    Although the legal rights of Class A  and Class B shares will be  identical,
the  different expenses borne by  each class will result  in different net asset
values and dividends. The net  asset value of Class  B shares will generally  be
lower than the net asset value of Class A shares as a result of the distribution
expense  charged to Class B shares. It  is expected, however, that the net asset
value per share of the two classes  will tend to converge immediately after  the
recording  of dividends  which will  differ by  approximately the  amount of the
distribution expense accrual differential between the classes.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
    In the interest  of economy and  convenience, and because  of the  operating
procedures  of the  Fund, certificates  representing shares  of the Portfolio(s)
will not be issued. All  shares purchased are confirmed  to you and credited  to
your  account on the Fund's  books maintained by the  Adviser or its agents. You
will have  the same  rights and  ownership with  respect to  such shares  as  if
certificates had been issued.
 
    To  ensure that checks are collected by the Fund, withdrawals of investments
made by check  are not presently  permitted until payment  for the purchase  has
been  received,  which may  take up  to eight  business days  after the  date of
purchase. As a condition  of this offering,  if a purchase  is cancelled due  to
nonpayment or because your check does not clear, you will be responsible for any
loss  the Fund or its  agents incur. If you are  already a shareholder, the Fund
may redeem shares from your account(s) to  reimburse the Fund or its agents  for
any  loss. In addition, you  may be prohibited or  restricted from making future
investments in the Fund.
 
    Investors may  also invest  in the  Fund by  purchasing shares  through  the
Distributor.
 
EXCESSIVE TRADING
 
    Frequent   trades  involving  either  substantial   portfolio  assets  or  a
substantial portion of your  account or accounts controlled  by you can  disrupt
management  of a Portfolio and raise its expenses. Consequently, in the interest
of all the stockholders of the  Portfolios and the Portfolios' performance,  the
Fund  may in its discretion bar a  stockholder that engages in excessive trading
of shares of any class  of a portfolio from further  purchases of shares of  the
Fund  for an indefinite period. The Fund  considers excessive trading to be more
than one purchase and sale involving shares of the same class of a Portfolio  of
the  Fund  within  any  120-day  period. As  an  example,  exchanging  shares of
portfolios of  the Fund  as  follows amounts  to excessive  trading:  exchanging
shares  of Portfolio  A for  shares of  Portfolio B,  then exchanging  shares of
Portfolio B for shares of Portfolio C and again exchanging shares of Portfolio C
for shares of Portfolio B within a 120-day period. Two types of transactions are
exempt from these excessive trading restrictions: (1) trades exclusively between
money market  portfolios;  and (2)  trades  done  in connection  with  an  asset
allocation  service, such as TFM  Account or accounts managed  or advised by the
Adviser and/or any of its affiliates.
 
INVESTMENT IN FUNDS THROUGH A TOTAL FUNDS MANAGEMENT ("TFM") ACCOUNT
 
    In addition to the considerable diversification among individual  securities
you  receive by investing in a particular Portfolio, you can further reduce risk
by spreading  your assets  among  several different  Portfolios that  each  have
different   risk  and  return  characteristics.  TFM  is  an  active  investment
management service managed by Morgan Stanley or its affiliates, including Morgan
Stanley Asset  Management Inc.  (each,  a "TFM  Adviser"), that  allocates  your
investments  across a combination of either Class A or Class B shares of certain
of the Portfolios selected to meet your long-term investment objectives as  well
as, in certain circumstances, your current income objectives.
 
    The TFM Adviser has developed investment strategies for TFM Accounts to meet
the  diverse financial needs of different investors.  You can open a TFM Account
by meeting with one  of the investment professionals  of a Participating  Dealer
who  will review your situation and  help you identify your long-term investment
and/or current income  objectives. After  using TFM criteria  to determine  your
long-term  investment and/or  current income objectives,  you can  choose one of
several TFM investment strategies. Based  on your chosen strategy, your  initial
investment  will be allocated among a number of the Class A or Class B shares of
the Portfolios. Depending  on market  conditions, the  TFM Adviser  periodically
reallocates  the combination of Portfolios or the percentage amounts invested in
the shares  of each  Portfolio to  implement your  TFM investment  strategy.  In
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
addition,  your TFM Account will be periodically rebalanced to maintain your TFM
strategy's current asset allocation mix, if  and when the performance of one  or
more  of the  Portfolios unbalances  the strategy's  mix. You  will pay  the TFM
Adviser a fee for the  TFM Account service that is  in addition to and  separate
from the fees and expenses you will pay directly or indirectly as an investor in
the Portfolios. See "Fund Expenses."
 
    From  time to time, one or more of the Portfolios used for investment by the
TFM Accounts may experience relatively  large investments or redemptions due  to
the  TFM Account  allocations or  rebalancings recommended  by the  TFM Adviser.
These transactions will affect the Portfolios, since Portfolios that  experience
redemptions  as  a result  of  reallocations or  rebalancings  may have  to sell
portfolio securities and Portfolios  that receive additional  cash will have  to
invest  it in additional portfolio securities. While it is impossible to predict
the overall  impact of  these transactions  over time,  there could  be  adverse
effects on portfolio management to the extent that Portfolios may be required to
sell  securities or invest  cash at times  when they would  not otherwise do so.
These transactions  could also  have  tax consequences  if sales  of  securities
resulted  in  gains  and could  also  increase transaction  costs.  The Adviser,
representing the interests  of the  Portfolios, is committed  to minimizing  the
impact of TFM Account transactions on the Portfolios. The Adviser, however, will
have  a conflict in fulfilling  this responsibility in that  it also serves as a
TFM Adviser. In that  capacity, the Adviser, representing  the interests of  the
TFM  Accounts,  also  is  committed  to minimizing  the  impact  of  TFM Account
transactions on  the  Portfolios to  the  extent consistent  with  pursuing  the
investment  objectives of the TFM Accounts. In addition, an affiliate of the TFM
Adviser, the Distributor is compensated on the sale, and may be compensated  for
distribution  or shareholder services  on the sale of  shares of the Portfolios.
See "Purchase of Shares"  and "Shareholder Services  -- Exchange Features."  The
Adviser will monitor the impact of TFM Account transactions on the Portfolios.
 
                              REDEMPTION OF SHARES
 
    You  may  withdraw all  or  any portion  of the  amount  in your  account by
redeeming shares at any time. Please note  that purchases made by check are  not
permitted to be redeemed until payment of the purchase price has been collected,
which  may take up to  eight business days after  purchase. The Fund will redeem
Class A shares or Class  B shares of each Portfolio  at the next determined  net
asset  value of shares of  the applicable class. On days  that both the NYSE and
the Custodian Bank are open for business, the net asset value per share of  each
of  the Portfolios  is determined at  the regular  close of trading  of the NYSE
(currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Shares of each Portfolio may be redeemed  by
mail  or telephone. No charge is made for redemption. Any redemption may be more
or less  than  the purchase  price  of your  shares  depending on,  among  other
factors, the market value of the investment securities held by a Portfolio.
 
BY MAIL
 
    Each  Portfolio will redeem its  Class A or Class B  shares at the net asset
value determined on the date the request is received, if the request is received
in "good order" before  the regular close  of the NYSE.  Your request should  be
addressed  to Morgan  Stanley Institutional Fund,  Inc., P.O.  Box 2798, Boston,
Massachusetts 02208-2798, except that deliveries by overnight courier should  be
addressed  to Morgan  Stanley Institutional Fund,  Inc., c/o  Chase Global Funds
Services Company, 73 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108-3913.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
    "Good order"  means that  the  request to  redeem  shares must  include  the
following documentation:
 
        (a)   A letter of instruction or a stock assignment specifying the class
    and number  of  shares  or dollar  amount  to  be redeemed,  signed  by  all
    registered  owners  of the  shares  in the  exact  names in  which  they are
    registered;
 
        (b)  Any  required   signature  guarantees   (see  "Further   Redemption
    Information" below); and
 
        (c)    Other supporting  legal documents,  if required,  in the  case of
    estates, trusts,  guardianships, custodianships,  corporations, pension  and
    profit sharing plans and other organizations.
 
    Shareholders who are uncertain of requirements for redemption should consult
with a Fund representative.
 
BY TELEPHONE
 
    Provided  you have previously elected the Telephone Redemption Option on the
Account Registration  Form, you  can  request a  redemption  of your  shares  by
calling  the Fund  and requesting  the redemption proceeds  be mailed  to you or
wired to your bank. Please contact one of the Fund's representatives for further
details. In times of drastic market conditions, the telephone redemption  option
may  be  difficult  to  implement.  If you  experience  difficulty  in  making a
telephone redemption, your request may be  made by regular mail or express  mail
and  it will be implemented  at the net asset value  next determined after it is
received. Redemption requests  sent to  the Fund  through express  mail must  be
mailed to the address of the Dividend Disbursing and Transfer Agent listed under
"General  Information." The  Fund and the  Fund's transfer  agent (the "Transfer
Agent") will  employ  reasonable procedures  to  confirm that  the  instructions
communicated  by telephone are  genuine. These procedures  include requiring the
investor to provide certain personal  identification information at the time  an
account  is  opened  and  prior  to  effecting  each  transaction  requested  by
telephone. In addition, all telephone transaction requests will be recorded  and
investors  may be required to provide additional telecopied written instructions
regarding transaction requests. Neither the Fund nor the Transfer Agent will  be
responsible  for any loss, liability, cost or expense for following instructions
received by telephone that either of them reasonably believes to be genuine.
 
    To change the commercial  bank or account  designated to receive  redemption
proceeds,  a written  request must  be sent  to the  Fund at  the address above.
Requests to change the bank  or account must be  signed by each shareholder  and
each signature must be guaranteed.
 
FURTHER REDEMPTION INFORMATION
 
    Normally  the  Fund will  make payment  for all  shares redeemed  within one
business day of receipt  of the request,  but in no event  will payment be  made
more  than  seven days  after receipt  of  a redemption  request in  good order.
However, payments to investors  redeeming shares which  were purchased by  check
will  not be made until  payment for the purchase  has been collected, which may
take up to eight days after the date of purchase. The Fund may suspend the right
of redemption or postpone the date upon which redemptions are effected at  times
when  the NYSE is closed, or under  any emergency circumstances as determined by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
 
    If the Board  of Directors determines  that it would  be detrimental to  the
best  interests of  the remaining  shareholders of  a Portfolio  to make payment
wholly  or  partly  in   cash,  the  Fund  may   pay  the  redemption   proceeds
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
in  whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by a Portfolio
in lieu  of  cash  in  conformity  with  applicable  rules  of  the  Commission.
Distributions-in-kind  will be made in  readily marketable securities. Investors
may incur brokerage charges on the  sale of portfolio securities so received  in
payment of redemptions.
 
    To  protect  your account,  the Fund  and its  agents from  fraud, signature
guarantees are required for  certain redemptions to verify  the identity of  the
person  who has  authorized a redemption  from your account.  Please contact the
Fund for further information.
 
                              SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
 
EXCHANGE FEATURES
 
    You may exchange  shares that you  own in  any Portfolio for  shares of  any
other  available portfolio(s) of  the Fund (other  than the International Equity
Portfolio, which is  closed to  new investors). In  exchanging for  shares of  a
portfolio  with more  than one  class, the  class of  shares you  receive in the
exchange will be determined in the same  manner as any other purchase of  shares
and  will not  be based  on the  class of  shares surrendered  for the exchange.
Consequently, the same minimum initial  investment and minimum account size  for
determining  the  class  of shares  received  in  the exchange  will  apply. See
"Purchase of  Shares." Shares  of the  portfolios may  be exchanged  by mail  or
telephone.  The privilege to exchange shares  by telephone is automatic and made
available without shareholder election. Before you make an exchange, you  should
read  the prospectus of the portfolio(s) in which you seek to invest. Because an
exchange transaction  is treated  as a  redemption followed  by a  purchase,  an
exchange  would be considered  a taxable event for  shareholders subject to tax.
The exchange privilege may  be modified or  terminated by the  Fund at any  time
upon 60-days notice to shareholders.
 
BY MAIL
 
    In  order to  exchange shares  by mail, you  should include  in the exchange
request the name, class of shares and account number of your current  Portfolio,
the name(s) of the portfolio(s) and class(es) of shares into which you intend to
exchange  shares, and the signatures of all registered account holders. Send the
exchange request to Morgan  Stanley Institutional Fund,  P.O. Box 2798,  Boston,
Massachusetts 02208-2798.
 
BY TELEPHONE
 
    When  exchanging shares by  telephone, have ready the  name, class of shares
and account number of your current Portfolio, the names of the portfolio(s)  and
class(es)  of  shares into  which  you intend  to  exchange shares,  your Social
Security number  or Tax  I.D. number,  and your  account address.  Requests  for
telephone  exchanges received prior to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) are processed at
the close  of business  that  same day  based  on the  net  asset value  of  the
class(es)  of the portfolios involved in the  exchange of shares at the close of
business. Requests received  after 4:00  p.m. (Eastern Time)  are processed  the
next  business  day based  on the  net asset  value determined  at the  close of
business on such  day. For additional  information regarding responsibility  for
the  authenticity of  telephoned instructions, see  "Redemption of  Shares -- By
Telephone" above.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION
 
    You may transfer the registration of any of your Portfolio shares to another
person by writing  to Morgan Stanley  Institutional Fund, Inc.,  P.O. Box  2798,
Boston,  Massachusetts 02208-2798.  As in the  case of  redemptions, the written
request must  be  received  in good  order  before  any transfer  can  be  made.
Transferring  the  registration of  shares may  affect  the eligibility  of your
account for  a  given  class  of  the  Portfolio's  shares  and  may  result  in
involuntary  conversion or redemption  of your shares.  See "Purchase of Shares"
above.
 
                              VALUATION OF SHARES
 
    The net asset value per share of a class of shares of each of the Portfolios
is determined by dividing the total market value of the Portfolio's  investments
and  other assets attributable to such  class, less any liabilities attributable
to such class, by the  total number of outstanding shares  of each class of  the
Portfolio.  Net  asset value  is  calculated separately  for  each class  of the
Portfolios. Net asset value per share is  determined as of the regular close  of
the  NYSE on each day  that the NYSE is open  for business. Price information on
listed securities is  taken from the  exchange where the  security is  primarily
traded.  Securities  listed  on  a U.S.  securities  exchange  for  which market
quotations are available are valued at the last quoted sale price on the day the
valuation is made. Securities listed on  a foreign exchange are valued at  their
closing  price.  Unlisted securities  and listed  securities  not traded  on the
valuation date for which market quotations are readily available are valued at a
price within a range  not exceeding the  current asked price  nor less than  the
current  bid price. The current bid and asked prices are determined based on the
average of the bid and asked prices  quoted on such valuation date by  reputable
brokers.
 
    Bonds and other fixed income securities are valued according to the broadest
and  most representative market,  which will ordinarily  be the over-the-counter
market. Net asset value includes interest  on fixed income securities, which  is
accrued  daily.  In addition,  bonds and  other fixed  income securities  may be
valued on the basis of prices provided by a pricing service when such prices are
believed to  reflect  the fair  market  value  of such  securities.  The  prices
provided  by a pricing service are determined without regard to bid or last sale
prices but take into  account institutional-size, trading  in similar groups  of
securities  and any developments related  to the specific securities. Securities
not priced in this manner are valued  at the most recently quoted bid price  or,
when securities exchange valuations are used, at the latest quoted sale price on
the  day of valuation. If there is no  such reported sale, the latest quoted bid
price will be used. Securities purchased with remaining maturities of 60 days or
less are valued at amortized cost, if it approximates market value. In the event
that amortized  cost  does  not  approximate  market  value,  market  prices  as
determined above will be used.
 
    The  value  of other  assets  and securities  for  which quotations  are not
readily available  (including restricted  and unlisted  foreign securities)  and
those  securities  for which  it  is inappropriate  to  determine the  prices in
accordance with the above-stated procedures are determined in good faith at fair
value using  methods determined  by  the Board  of  Directors. For  purposes  of
calculating  net asset  value per  share, all  assets and  liabilities initially
expressed in foreign currencies will be translated into U.S. dollars at the mean
of the bid  and asked price  for such  currencies against the  U.S. dollar  last
quoted by any major bank.
 
    Although  the legal rights of Class A  and Class B shares will be identical,
the different expenses borne  by each class will  result in different net  asset
values    and   dividends   for   the    class.   Dividends   will   differ   by
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
approximately the amount of the distribution expense accrual differential  among
the  classes. The net asset value of Class B shares will generally be lower than
the net  asset value  of the  Class A  shares as  a result  of the  distribution
expense charged to Class B shares.
 
                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
    The  Fund may from time  to time advertise total return  for each class of a
Portfolio. THESE FIGURES ARE BASED ON  HISTORICAL EARNINGS AND ARE NOT  INTENDED
TO INDICATE FUTURE PERFORMANCE.
 
    Each  of the  Portfolios may  advertise "total  return" which  shows what an
investment in a class of a Portfolio  would have earned over a specified  period
of  time (such as one,  five or ten years),  assuming that all distributions and
dividends by the Portfolio were reinvested in the same class on the reinvestment
dates during the period. Total return does not take into account any federal  or
state  income taxes  that may  be payable on  dividends and  distributions or on
redemption. The Fund  may also  include comparative  performance information  in
advertising  or  marketing the  Portfolios' shares,  including data  from Lipper
Analytical Services, Inc.,  other industry  publications, business  periodicals,
rating services and market indices.
 
    The  performance figures  for Class  B shares  will generally  be lower than
those for Class  A shares because  of the  distribution fee charged  to Class  B
shares.
 
                   DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
 
    All  income dividends and capital gains  distributions for a class of shares
will be automatically reinvested in additional shares at net asset value, except
that, upon written notice to the Fund or by checking off the appropriate box  in
the  Distribution Option Section on the Account Registration Form, a shareholder
may elect to receive income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash.
 
    Each Portfolio expects to  distribute substantially all  of its taxable  net
investment  income  in the  form of  quarterly  dividends. Net  realized capital
gains, if any,  after reduction for  any available tax  loss carryforwards  will
also be distributed annually.
 
    Undistributed  net investment income is included in a Portfolio's net assets
for the purpose  of calculating  net asset value  per share.  Therefore, on  the
"ex-dividend"  date, the net asset value  per share excludes the dividend (i.e.,
is reduced by  the per  share amount of  the dividend).  Dividends paid  shortly
after  the purchase  of shares by  an investor,  although in effect  a return of
capital, are taxable to shareholders subject to income tax.
 
    Because of  the  distribution  fee  and  any  other  expenses  that  may  be
attributable  to the  Class B  shares, the  net income  attributable to  and the
dividends payable  on  Class  B  shares  will  be  lower  than  the  net  income
attributable  to and the dividends  payable on Class A  shares. As a result, the
net asset value per share of the classes of the Portfolios will differ at times.
Expenses of the  Portfolios allocated to  a particular class  of shares will  be
borne on a pro rata basis by each outstanding share of that class.
 
                                     TAXES
 
    The following summary of certain federal income tax consequences is based on
current tax laws and regulations, which may be changed by legislative, judicial,
or administrative action.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
    No  attempt has been made to present  a detailed explanation of the federal,
state, or local income  tax treatment of the  Portfolios or their  shareholders.
Accordingly,  shareholders  are urged  to consult  their tax  advisers regarding
specific questions as to federal, state and local income taxes.
 
    Each Portfolio  is treated  as  a separate  entity  for federal  income  tax
purposes  and is not  combined with the Fund's  other portfolios. Each Portfolio
intends to qualify for the  special tax treatment afforded regulated  investment
companies under Subchapter M of the Code, so that the Portfolio will be relieved
of  federal income tax on that part of its net investment income and net capital
gain that is distributed to shareholders.
 
    Each Portfolio intends to  distribute substantially all  of its taxable  net
investment  income (including,  for this purpose,  the excess  of net short-term
capital gain over net long-term capital loss) to shareholders. Dividends from  a
Portfolio's  net  investment  income  are taxable  to  shareholders  as ordinary
income, whether received in  cash or in additional  shares. Each Portfolio  will
report annually to its shareholders the amount of dividend income qualifying for
the corporate dividend received deduction.
 
    Distributions  of net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain
over net  short-term capital  loss)  are taxable  to shareholders  as  long-term
capital  gain, regardless of how long  shareholders have held their shares. Each
Portfolio will send reports annually to  its shareholders of the federal  income
tax status of all distributions made during the preceding year.
 
    Each   Portfolio  intends   to  make  sufficient   distributions  or  deemed
distributions of its ordinary income and capital gain net income (the excess  of
short-term  and  long-term capital  gain over  short-term and  long-term capital
loss) prior to  the end of  each calendar  year to avoid  liability for  federal
excise tax.
 
    Dividends  and  other  distributions  declared by  a  Portfolio  in October,
November or December of any year and payable to shareholders of record on a date
in such month will be deemed to have been paid by the Portfolio and received  by
the  shareholders in that year if the distributions are paid by the Portfolio at
any time during the following January.
 
    The Fund may be required to withhold  and remit to the U.S. Treasury 31%  of
any  dividends, capital gains distributions and  redemption proceeds paid to any
individual or  certain other  non-corporate shareholder  (1) who  has failed  to
provide  a  correct taxpayer  identification  number (generally  an individual's
social security number  or non-individual's employer  identification number)  on
the  Application Form, (2) who is subject  to backup withholding by the Internal
Revenue Service, or (3) who has not certified to the Fund that such  shareholder
is  not  subject  to  backup  withholding. This  backup  withholding  is  not an
additional  tax,  and  any  amounts   withheld  may  be  credited  against   the
shareholder's ultimate U.S. tax liability.
 
    The  sale, redemption or exchange  of shares will result  in taxable gain or
loss to the selling, exchanging or redeeming shareholder, depending upon whether
the fair market value of the sale, exchange or redemption proceeds exceed or  is
less  than the  shareholder's adjusted tax  basis in the  redeemed, exchanged or
sold shares.  Any  such  taxable gain  or  loss  generally will  be  treated  as
long-term  capital gain or loss  if the shares have been  held for more than one
year and otherwise generally will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.
If capital gain  distributions have been  made with respect  to shares that  are
sold  at a loss after being held for  six months or less, however, then the loss
is treated  as a  long-term  capital loss  to the  extent  of the  capital  gain
distributions.
 
    Conversion  of  shares  between  classes  are  not  taxable  events  to  the
Shareholder.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
    Shareholders are urged  to consult  with their tax  advisers concerning  the
application of state and local income taxes to investments in a Portfolio, which
may differ from the federal income tax consequences described above.
 
    Investment  income  received  by  a Portfolio  from  sources  within foreign
countries may be subject to foreign income taxes withheld at the source. To  the
extent  that a  Portfolio is  liable for foreign  income taxes  so withheld, the
Portfolio intends to operate so as to meet the requirements of the Code to  pass
through  to the shareholders credit for foreign income taxes paid. Although each
Portfolio intends to  meet Code  requirements to  pass through  credit for  such
taxes, there can be no assurance that each Portfolio will be able to do so.
 
    THE TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY.
PROSPECTIVE  INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS WITH RESPECT TO THE
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF AN INVESTMENT IN A PORTFOLIO.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
                             PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
 
    The Adviser selects the brokers or  dealers that will execute the  purchases
and  sales  of investment  securities  for each  of  the Fund's  portfolios. The
Adviser seeks the best execution of all portfolio transactions. A portfolio  may
pay  higher commission rates than the lowest available when the Adviser believes
it is reasonable to do  so in light of the  value of the research,  statistical,
and pricing services provided by the broker effecting the transaction.
 
    It is not the Fund's practice to allocate brokerage or principal business on
the  basis of sales of shares which  may be made through intermediary brokers or
dealers. However, the Adviser may,  consistent with NASD rules, place  portfolio
orders  with qualified broker-dealers who  recommend the applicable portfolio to
their clients or who act  as agents in the purchase  of shares of the  portfolio
for their clients.
 
    Subject  to  the overriding  objective of  obtaining  the best  execution of
orders, the  Fund may  use broker-dealer  affiliates of  the Adviser,  including
Morgan  Stanley,  to effect  portfolio  brokerage transactions  under procedures
adopted by the Fund's Board of Directors. For such transactions, the  commission
rates  and other remuneration paid to Morgan Stanley or other affiliates must be
fair  and  reasonable  in  comparison  to  those  of  other  broker-dealers  for
comparable  transactions involving  similar securities  being purchased  or sold
during a comparable time period.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
    The Portfolios  generally do  not invest  for short-term  trading  purposes,
however,   when  circumstances  warrant,  each  Portfolio  may  sell  investment
securities without regard  to the  length of time  they have  been held.  Market
conditions  in a given year could result in a higher or lower portfolio turnover
rate than expected and the Portfolios will not consider portfolio turnover  rate
a  limiting factor in making investment decisions consistent with its respective
objective  and  policies.  The  European  Real  Estate  and  Asian  Real  Estate
Portfolios  are expected to have portfolio turnover  rates in excess of 100%. As
portfolio turnover increases, the Portfolios  may expect to pay  correspondingly
increased  brokerage and trading costs. In addition to transaction costs, higher
portfolio turnover may result in the realization of capital gains. As  discussed
under  "Taxes," to  the extent  net short-term  capital gains  are realized, any
distributions resulting  from  such gains  are  considered ordinary  income  for
federal income tax purposes.
 
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
 
    The  Fund was  organized as  a Maryland  corporation on  June 16,  1988. The
Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, permit the Fund to issue  up
to  35 billion shares of common stock,  with $.001 par value per share. Pursuant
to the Fund's Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may increase the
number of shares the  Fund is authorized  to issue without  the approval of  the
shareholders  of the Fund. The Board of Directors has the power to designate one
or more classes of  shares of common  stock and to  classify and reclassify  any
unissued shares with respect to such classes. The shares of common stock of each
Portfolio  are currently classified into two classes, the Class A shares and the
Class B shares, except for the  International Small Cap Portfolio, Money  Market
and Municipal Money Market Portfolios which offer only Class A shares.
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
    The   shares  of   each  Portfolio,  when   issued,  will   be  fully  paid,
nonassessable, fully transferable and  redeemable at the  option of the  holder.
The  shares have no preference as to conversion, exchange, dividends, retirement
or other features and have no  pre-emptive rights. The shares of each  Portfolio
have non-cumulative rights, which means that the holders of more than 50% of the
shares  voting for the election of Directors  can elect 100% of the Directors if
they choose  to do  so.  Persons or  organizations owning  25%  or more  of  the
outstanding  shares of the Portfolio may be presumed to "control" (as defined in
the 1940 Act) such Portfolio.  Under Maryland law, the  Fund is not required  to
hold  an annual meeting of  its shareholders unless required  to do so under the
1940 Act.
 
REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
 
    The Fund will  send to  its shareholders annual,  semi-annual and  quarterly
reports;  the financial  statements appearing in  annual reports  are audited by
independent accountants. Monthly unaudited portfolio data is also available from
the Fund upon request.
 
    In addition, the Adviser, or its agent, as Transfer Agent, will send to each
shareholder having an account directly with the Fund a monthly statement showing
transactions in the account, the total number of shares owned, and any dividends
or distributions paid.
 
CUSTODIAN
 
    Chase is the Fund's custodian for domestic and certain foreign assets. Chase
is not an  affiliate of  the Adviser or  the Distributor.  Morgan Stanley  Trust
Company,  Brooklyn,  New York  ("MSTC"),  an affiliate  of  the Adviser  and the
Distributor, acts as  the Fund's custodian  for assets held  outside the  United
States  and employs subcustodians approved by the Board of Directors of the Fund
in accordance with regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for the
purpose of providing  custodial services  for such  assets. MSTC  may also  hold
certain  domestic assets for  the Fund. For more  information on the custodians,
see "General Information -- Custody Arrangements" in the Statement of Additional
Information.
 
DIVIDEND DISBURSING AND TRANSFER AGENT
 
    Chase  Global   Funds  Services   Company,   73  Tremont   Street,   Boston,
Massachusetts 02108-3913, acts as Dividend Disbursing and Transfer Agent for the
Fund.
 
INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
    Price  Waterhouse LLP  serves as  independent accountants  for the  Fund and
audits the annual financial statements of each Portfolio.
 
LITIGATION
 
    The Fund is not involved in any litigation.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
   MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
          EUROPEAN REAL ESTATE AND ASIAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIOS
           P.O. BOX 2798, BOSTON, MA 02208-2798
 
                           ACCOUNT REGISTRATION FORM
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                       <C>
                                                If you need assistance in filling out this form for the
      ACCOUNT INFORMATION                       Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, please contact your
      Fill in where applicable                  Morgan Stanley representative or call us toll free
                                                1-800-548-7786. Please print all items except signature, and
                                                mail to the Fund at the address above.
 
  A)  REGISTRATION
      1. INDIVIDUAL
      2. JOINT TENANTS
        (RIGHTS OF SURVIVORSHIP PRESUMED
      UNLESS
        TENANCY IN COMMON
        IS INDICATED)
</TABLE>
 
1.
                               First
Name                          Initial                               Last Name
 
2.
                               First
Name                          Initial                               Last Name
 
                               First
Name                          Initial                               Last Name
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                       <C>
      3. CORPORATIONS,
        TRUSTS AND OTHERS
        Please call the Fund for additional
      documents that may be required to set up
      account and to authorize transactions.
</TABLE>
 
3.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                   <C>               <C>                  <C>              <C>
Type of               / / INCORPORATED  / / UNINCORPORATED   / / PARTNERSHIP  / / UNIFORM GIFT/TRANSFER TO MINOR
Registration:                           ASSOCIATION                             (ONLY ONE CUSTODIAN AND MINOR PERMITTED)
</TABLE>
 
/ / TRUST ________________________  / / OTHER (Specify) ________________________
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                            <C>
  B)  MAILING ADDRESS
      Please fill in completely, including
      telephone number(s).
</TABLE>
 
/ / United States Citizen  / / Resident Alien
                   Street or P.O. Box
                   City
                   State                   Zip
Home Telephone No.                   Business Telephone No.
 
/ / Non-Resident Alien:
 
Permanent Address (Where you reside permanently for tax purposes)
                   Street Address
                   City
                   Country                   Postal Code
Home Telephone No.                    Business Telephone No.
 
Current Mailing Address (If different from Permanent Address)
                   Street Address
                   City
                   Country
Postal Code
Home Telephone No.                   Business Telephone No.
 
<TABLE>
<S>   <S>                                       <C>                                       <C>
  C)  TAXPAYER                                  Enter  your Taxpayer Identification Number. For most individual taxpayers, this is
      IDENTIFICATION                            your Social Security Number.
      NUMBER
      1. INDIVIDUAL
      2. JOINT TENANTS
        (RIGHTS OF SURVIVORSHIP PRESUMED
      UNLESS
        TENANCY IN COMMON
        IS INDICATED)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S>   <S>                                       <C>                                       <C>
      For Custodian account
      of a minor (Uniform
      Gifts/Transfers to Minor
      Acts), give the Social
      Security Number of
      the minor
                                                1.           TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION      OR               SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
                                                NUMBER ("TIN")                            ("SSN")
                                                2. TIN                                    OR SSN
                                                TIN                                       OR SSN
                                                IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION
                                                You (as a payee) are  required by law to provide  us (as payer) with your  correct
                                                TIN(s)  or SSN(s). Accounts that have a missing or incorrect TIN(s) or SSN(s) will
                                                be subject to  backup withholding at  a 31% rate  on dividends, distributions  and
                                                other  payments. If you have  not provided us with  your correct TIN(s) or SSN(s),
                                                you may be  subject to  a $50  penalty imposed  by the  Internal Revenue  Service.
                                                Backup  withholding is not an additional tax; the tax liability of persons subject
                                                to backup  withholding  will  be  reduced  by  the  amount  of  tax  withheld.  If
                                                withholding  results  in  an  overpayment  of taxes,  a  refund  may  be obtained.
                                                You may  be notified  that you  are subject  to backup  withholding under  Section
                                                3406(a)(1)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code because you have underreported interest
                                                or  dividends or you  were required to, but  failed to, file  a return which would
                                                have included a reportable interest or dividend payment.
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                       <C>                             <C>                   <C>
  D)  PORTFOLIO AND                             For Purchase of the following
      CLASS SECTION                             Portfolio:                      / / Class A Shares $  / / Class B Shares $
      (Class A shares minimum $500,000 for      European Real Estate Portfolio  / / Class A Shares $  / / Class B Shares $
      each Portfolio and Class B shares         Asian Real Estate Portfolio
      minimum $100,000 for each Portfolio).
      Please indicate name of Portfolio, class
      and amount.
                                                                                Total Initial Investment $
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                       <C>
  E)  METHOD OF
      INVESTMENT
      Please indicate portfolio, manner of
      payment.
</TABLE>
 
Payment by:
 
/ / Check (MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND,
INC.--PORTFOLIO NAME)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                 <C>
/ / Exchange $ From                                                                           -- - - - - - - - - - -- - -
                                                      Name of Portfolio             Account No.
/ / Account previously established by:  / / Phone exchange  / / Wire on                       -- - - - - - - - - - -- - -
                                                                                            Account No.               (Check
                                                                                      (Previously assigned by the Fund)     Digit)
                                                                            Date
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                       <C>
  F)  DISTRIBUTION                              Income dividends and capital gains distributions (if any) to
      OPTION                                    be reinvested in additional shares unless either box below
                                                is checked.
                                                / / Income dividends to be paid in cash, capital gains
                                                distributions (if any) in shares.
                                                / / Income dividends and capital gains distributions (if
                                                any) to be paid in cash.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                             <C>
  G)  TELEPHONE                       / / I/we hereby authorize the Fund and
      REDEMPTION                      its agents to honor any telephone
      AND EXCHANGE                    requests to wire redemption proceeds to
      OPTION                          the commercial bank indicated at right
      Please select at time of        and/or mail redemption proceeds to the
      initial application if you      name and address in which my/our fund
      wish to redeem or exchange      account is registered if such requests
      shares by telephone. A          are believed to be authentic.
      SIGNATURE GUARANTEE IS          The Fund and the Fund's Transfer Agent
      REQUIRED IF BANK ACCOUNT IS     will employ reasonable procedures to
      NOT REGISTERED IDENTICALLY TO   confirm that instructions communicated
      YOUR FUND ACCOUNT.              by telephone are genuine. These
      TELEPHONE REQUESTS FOR          procedures include requiring the
      REDEMPTIONS OR EXCHANGE WILL    investor to provide certain personal
      NOT BE HONORED UNLESS THE BOX   identification information at the time
      IS CHECKED.                     an account is opened and prior to
                                      effecting each transaction requested by
                                      telephone. In addition, all telephone
                                      transaction requests will be recorded
                                      and investors may be required to provide
                                      additional telecopied written
                                      instructions of transaction requests.
                                      Neither the Fund nor the Transfer Agent
                                      will be responsible for any loss,
                                      liability, cost or expense for following
                                      instructions received by telephone that
                                      it reasonably believes to be genuine.
 
<CAPTION>
  G)
      Name of COMMERCIAL Bank (Not Savings Bank)
      Bank Account No.
                                                   Bank ABA No.
      Name(s) in which your Bank Account is Established
      Bank's Street Address
      City                           State                           Zip
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                        <C>
  H)  INTERESTED PARTY
      OPTION                                                                                      Name
      In addition to the
      account statement sent to
      my/our registered                                                                          Address
      address, I/we hereby
      authorize the Fund to      City         State         Zip Code
      mail duplicate statements
      to the name and address
      provided at right.
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                       <C>
  I)  DEALER
      INFORMATION
                                                Representative Name                        Representative
                                                No.                            Branch
                                                No.
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<C>   <S>                                       <C>
  J)  SIGNATURE OF
      ALL HOLDERS
      AND TAXPAYER
      CERTIFICATION
      Sign Here ,
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
The undersigned certify that I/we have full authority and legal capacity to purchase and redeem shares of the Fund and
affirm that I/we have received a current Prospectus of the Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. and agree to be bound
by its terms.
  BY SIGNING THIS APPLICATION, I/WE HEREBY CERTIFY UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT THE INFORMATION ON THIS APPLICATION  IS
COMPLETE AND CORRECT AND THAT AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW (PLEASE CHECK APPLICABLE BOXES BELOW):
/ / U.S. CITIZEN(S)/TAXPAYER(S):
       /  / I/WE CERTIFY THAT (1) THE NUMBER(S) SHOWN ABOVE ON  THIS FORM IS/ARE THE CORRECT SSN(S) OR TIN(S) AND (2) I/WE
           ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY BACKUP WITHHOLDING EITHER BECAUSE (A) I/WE ARE EXEMPT FROM BACKUP WITHHOLDING; (B)  I/WE
           HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ("IRS") THAT I/WE ARE SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING AS A
           RESULT  OF A FAILURE TO REPORT ALL INTEREST OR DIVIDENDS; OR (C) THE IRS HAS NOTIFIED ME/US THAT I AM/WE ARE NO
           LONGER SUBJECT TO BACKUP WITHHOLDING.
       / / IF NO TIN(S) OR SSN(S) HAS/HAVE BEEN PROVIDED ABOVE,  I/WE HAVE APPLIED, OR INTEND TO APPLY, TO THE IRS OR  THE
           SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION FOR A TIN OR A SSN AND I/WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF I/WE DO NOT PROVIDE EITHER NUMBER
           TO CHASE GLOBAL FUNDS SERVICES COMPANY ("CGFSC") WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS APPLICATION OR IF I/WE FAIL
           TO  FURNISH MY/OUR CORRECT SSN(S) OR TIN(S),  I/WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO A  PENALTY AND A 31% BACKUP WITHHOLDING ON
           DISTRIBUTIONS AND REDEMPTION PROCEEDS.  (PLEASE PROVIDE EITHER NUMBER  ON IRS FORM W-9).  YOU MAY REQUEST  SUCH
           FORM BY CALLING CGFSC AT 800-282-4404.
/ / NON-U.S. CITIZEN(S)/TAXPAYER(S)
  UNDER  PENALTIES OF  PERJURY, I/WE CERTIFY  THAT I/WE  ARE NOT U.S.  CITIZENS OR  RESIDENTS AND I/WE  ARE EXEMPT FOREIGN
PERSONS AS DEFINED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
 
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DOES NOT REQUIRE YOUR CONSENT TO ANY PROVISION OF THIS DOCUMENT OTHER THAN THE CERTIFICATIONS
REQUIRED TO AVOID BACKUP WITHHOLDING.
 
(X)                                                           (X)
Signature                                                     Date Signature (if joint account, both must sign)   Date
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------
 
  NO  DEALER, SALES  REPRESENTATIVE OR ANY  OTHER PERSON HAS  BEEN AUTHORIZED TO
GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS, OTHER THAN THOSE  CONTAINED
IN THIS PROSPECTUS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF
GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON
AS  HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE FUND  OR THE DISTRIBUTOR. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES
NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER BY THE FUND OR THE DISTRIBUTOR TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY OF  THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY JURISDICTION  TO
ANY  PERSON TO WHOM  IT IS UNLAWFUL TO  MAKE SUCH OFFER  OR SOLICITATION IN SUCH
JURISDICTION.
 
                           --------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    ----
Fund Expenses.....................................    2
Prospectus Summary................................    4
Investment Objectives and Policies................    8
Additional Investment Information.................    9
Investment Limitations............................   17
Management of the Fund............................   17
Purchase of Shares................................   19
Redemption of Shares..............................   24
Shareholder Services..............................   26
Valuation of Shares...............................   27
Performance Information...........................   28
Dividends and Capital Gains Distributions.........   28
Taxes.............................................   28
Portfolio Transactions............................   31
General Information...............................   31
Account Registration Form
</TABLE>
 
                         EUROPEAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO
                          ASIAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO
                               PORTFOLIOS OF THE
                                 MORGAN STANLEY
                            INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
 
                                  Common Stock
                               ($.001 PAR VALUE)
 
                                 -------------
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                 -------------
 
                               Investment Adviser
                                 Morgan Stanley
                             Asset Management Inc.
 
                                  Distributor
                              Morgan Stanley & Co.
                                  Incorporated
 
                                 MORGAN STANLEY
                            INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
                      P.O. BOX 2798, BOSTON, MA 02208-2798
<PAGE>
                    MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") is a no-load, open-end
management investment company with diversified and non-diversified series
("Portfolios"). The Fund currently consists of thirty-two portfolios advised by
Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (the "Adviser") representing a broad range
of investment choices. The Fund is designed to provide clients with attractive
alternatives for meeting their investment needs. This Statement of Additional
Information relates to the Asian Real Estate and European Real Estate Portfolios
(each, a "Portfolio" and together, the "Portfolios"). Each Portfolio offers two
classes of shares, the Class A shares and the Class B shares. The Class A shares
and the Class B shares currently offered by each Portfolio have different
minimum investment requirements and fund expenses. Shares of each portfolio are
offered with no sales charge or exchange or redemption fee (except that the
International Small Cap Portfolio may impose a transaction fee).
 
    This Statement is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with
the prospectus of the Portfolios (the "Prospectus"). To obtain the Prospectus,
please call the Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. Services Group at
1-800-548-7786.
                                 --------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>
                                        PAGE
                                        ----
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES......   2
TAXES...................................  12
GENERAL REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY
  QUALIFICATIONS........................  12
GENERAL TAX TREATMENT OF QUALIFYING RICS
  AND SHAREHOLDERS......................  13
SPECIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO
  FOREIGN INVESTMENTS...................  14
TAXES AND FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS..........  15
PURCHASE OF SHARES......................  15
REDEMPTION OF SHARES....................  15
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES....................  16
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS..................  16
DETERMINING MATURITIES OF CERTAIN
  INSTRUMENTS...........................  17
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND..................  18
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.................  21
GENERAL INFORMATION.....................  27
DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS..................  27
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS....................  28
</TABLE>
 
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED           , 1997
 
    Prospectus for the Asian Real Estate Portfolio and European Real Estate
    Portfolio, dated           , 1997.
 
                                                                           1
<PAGE>
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
 
    The following policies supplement the investment objectives and policies set
forth in the Portfolios' Prospectus:
 
EMERGING COUNTRY EQUITY AND DEBT SECURITIES
 
    GENERAL.  Each of the Portfolios' definition of emerging country equity or
debt securities includes securities of companies that may have characteristics
and business relationships common to companies in a country or countries other
than an emerging country. As a result, the value of the securities of such
companies may reflect economic and market forces applicable to other countries,
as well as to an emerging country. The Adviser believes, however, that
investment in such companies will be appropriate because the Portfolios will
invest only in those companies which, in the Adviser's view, have sufficiently
strong exposure to economic and market forces in an emerging country that their
value will tend to reflect developments in such emerging country to a greater
extent than developments in another country or countries. For example, the
Portfolios may invest in companies organized and located in countries other than
an emerging country, including companies having their entire production
facilities outside of an emerging country, when securities of such companies
meet one or more elements of the Portfolios' definition of an emerging country
equity or debt security and so long as the Adviser believes at the time of
investment that the value of the company's securities principally reflects
conditions in such emerging country.
 
FOREIGN CURRENCY FORWARD CONTRACTS
 
    The U.S. dollar value of the assets of the Portfolios may be affected
favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and
exchange control regulations, and the Portfolios may incur costs in connection
with conversions between various currencies. The Portfolios will conduct their
foreign currency exchange transactions either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at
the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market, or through
entering into forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A
foreign currency forward contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a
specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from
the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time
of the contract. These contracts are traded in the interbank market conducted
directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their
customers. A forward contract generally has no deposit requirement, and no
commissions are charged at any stage for such trades.
 
    The Portfolios may enter into foreign currency forward contracts in several
circumstances. When a Portfolio enters into a contract for the purchase or sale
of a security denominated in a foreign currency, or when a Portfolio anticipates
the receipt in a foreign currency of dividends or interest payments on a
security which it holds, the Portfolio may desire to "lock-in" the U.S. dollar
price of the security or the U.S. dollar equivalent of such dividend or interest
payment, as the case may be. By entering into a forward contract for a fixed
amount of dollars, for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency
involved in the underlying transactions, the Portfolio will be able to protect
itself against a possible loss resulting from an adverse change in the
relationship between the U.S. dollar and the subject foreign currency during the
period between the date on which the security is purchased or sold, or on which
the dividend or interest payment is declared, and the date on which such
payments are made or received.
 
    Additionally, when a Portfolio anticipates that the currency of a particular
foreign country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, it may
enter into a forward contract for a fixed amount of dollars, to sell the amount
of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of such Portfolio's
securities denominated in such foreign currency. The precise matching of the
forward contract amounts and the value of the securities involved will not
generally be possible since the future value of securities in foreign currencies
will change as a consequence of market movements in the value of these
securities between the date on which the forward contract is entered into and
the date it matures. The projection of short-term currency market movement is
extremely difficult, and the successful execution of a short-term hedging
strategy is highly uncertain. None of the Portfolios intend to enter into such
forward contracts to protect the value of portfolio securities on a continuous
basis. The Portfolios will not enter into such forward contracts or maintain a
net exposure to such contracts where the consummation of the contracts would
obligate such Portfolio to deliver an amount of foreign currency in excess of
the value of such Portfolio's securities or other assets denominated in that
currency.
 
    Under normal circumstances, consideration of the prospect for currency
parities will be incorporated into the long-term investment decisions made with
regard to overall diversification strategies. However, the management of the
Fund believes that it is important to have the flexibility to enter into such
forward contracts when it determines that the best interests of the performance
of each Portfolio will thereby be served. Except under circumstances where a
segregated account is not required under the 1940 Act or the rules adopted
thereunder, the Fund's Custodian will place cash or liquid securities into a
segregated account of a Portfolio in an amount equal to the value of such
Portfolio's total assets committed to the consummation of forward currency
exchange contracts. If the value of the securities placed in the segregated
account declines, additional cash or securities will be placed in the account on
a daily basis so that the value of the account will be equal to the amount of
such Portfolio's commitments with respect to such contracts.
 
    2
<PAGE>
    The Portfolios generally will not enter into a forward contract with a term
of greater than one year. At the maturity of a forward contract, a Portfolio may
either sell the portfolio security and make delivery of the foreign currency, or
it may retain the security and terminate its contractual obligation to deliver
the foreign currency by purchasing an "offsetting" contract with the same
currency trader obligating it to purchase, on the same maturity date, the same
amount of the foreign currency.
 
    It is impossible to forecast with absolute precision the market value of a
particular portfolio security at the expiration of the contract. Accordingly, it
may be necessary for a Portfolio to purchase additional foreign currency on the
spot market (and bear the expense of such purchase) if the market value of the
security is less than the amount of foreign currency that such Portfolio is
obligated to deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and make
delivery of the foreign currency.
 
    If a Portfolio retains the portfolio security and engages in an offsetting
transaction, such Portfolio will incur a gain or a loss (as described below) to
the extent that there has been movement in forward contract prices. Should
forward prices decline during the period between a Portfolio entering into a
forward contract for the sale of a foreign currency and the date it enters into
an offsetting contract for the purchase of the foreign currency, such Portfolio
will realize a gain to the extent that the price of the currency it has agreed
to sell exceeds the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase. Should
forward prices increase, such Portfolio would suffer a loss to the extent that
the price of the currency it has agreed to purchase exceeds the price of the
currency it has agreed to sell.
 
    The Portfolios are not required to enter into such transactions with regard
to their foreign currency-denominated securities. It also should be realized
that this method of protecting the value of portfolio securities against a
decline in the value of a currency does not eliminate fluctuations in the
underlying prices of the securities. It simply establishes a rate of exchange
which one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, although such
contracts tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the
hedged currency, at the same time, they tend to limit any potential gain which
might result should the value of such currency increase. For a discussion of the
special risks associated with foreign currency transactions, see "Risks
Associated with Foreign Currency Transactions," below in this SAI.
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS
 
    Transactions in foreign currency forward contracts, foreign currency futures
contracts and options thereon, and options on foreign currencies, are subject to
the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in or the prices of
currencies underlying such contracts, which could restrict or eliminate trading
and could have a substantial adverse effect on the value of positions held by
the Portfolios permitted to engage in such hedging transactions. In addition,
the value of such positions could be adversely affected by a number of other
complex political and economic factors applicable to the countries issuing the
underlying currencies.
 
    Furthermore, unlike trading in most other types of instruments, there is no
systematic reporting of last sale information with respect to the foreign
currencies underlying forward contracts, futures contracts and options. As a
result, the available information on which a Portfolio's trading systems will be
based may not be as complete as the comparable data on which such Portfolio
makes investment and trading decisions in connection with securities and other
transactions. Moreover, because the foreign currency market is a global,
twenty-four hour market, events could occur on that market which will not be
reflected in the forward, futures or options markets until the following day,
thereby preventing a Portfolio from responding to such events in a timely
manner.
 
    Settlement of over-the-counter ("OTC") forward contracts or the exercise of
foreign currency options generally must occur within the country issuing the
underlying currency, which in turn requires parties to such contracts to accept
or make delivery of such currencies in conformity with any U.S. or foreign
restrictions and regulations regarding the maintenance of foreign banking
relationships, fees, taxes or other charges.
 
    Unlike currency futures contracts and exchange-traded options, OTC options
on foreign currencies and foreign currency forward contracts are not traded on
contract markets or national securities exchanges regulated by the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") or the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"), respectively. In an OTC trading environment, many of the
protections associated with transactions on exchanges will not be available.
 
    For example, there are no daily price fluctuation limits, and adverse market
movements could therefore continue to an unlimited extent over a period of time.
Although the purchaser of an option cannot lose more than the amount of the
premium plus related transaction costs, this entire amount could be lost.
Moreover, an option writer could lose amounts substantially in excess of its
initial investment due to the margin and collateral requirements associated with
such option positions. Similarly, there is no limit on the amount of potential
losses on forward contracts to which a Portfolio is a party.
 
                                                                           3
<PAGE>
    In addition, OTC transactions can only be entered into with a financial
institution willing to take the opposite side, as principal, of a Portfolio's
position unless the institution acts as broker and is able to find another
counterparty willing to enter into the transaction with such Portfolio. Where no
such counterparty is available, it will not be possible to enter into a desired
transaction. There also may be no liquid secondary market in the trading of OTC
contracts, and a Portfolio may be unable to close out options purchased or
written, or forward contracts entered into, until their exercise, expiration or
maturity. This in turn could limit a Portfolio's ability to realize profits or
to reduce losses on open positions and could result in greater losses.
 
    Furthermore, OTC transactions are not backed by the guarantee of an
exchange's clearing corporation. A Portfolio will therefore be subject to the
risk of default by, or the bankruptcy of, the financial institution serving as
its counterparty. One or more of such institutions also may decide to
discontinue its role as market-maker in a particular currency, thereby
restricting a Portfolio's ability to enter into desired hedging transactions. A
Portfolio will enter into OTC transactions only with parties whose
creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by the Adviser.
 
    OTC options on foreign currencies are within the exclusive regulatory
jurisdiction of the CFTC. The CFTC currently permits the trading of such
options, but only subject to a number of conditions regarding the commercial
purpose of the purchaser of such options. The Portfolios are not able to
determine at this time whether or to what extent the CFTC may impose additional
restrictions on the trading of over-the-counter options on foreign currencies at
some point in the future, or the effect that any restrictions may have on the
hedging strategies to be implemented by the Portfolios. Forward contracts and
currency swaps are not presently subject to regulation by the CFTC, although the
CFTC may in the future assert or be granted authority to regulate such
instruments. In such event, a Portfolio's ability to utilize forward contracts
and currency swaps in the manner set forth above and in the Prospectus could be
restricted.
 
    Options on foreign currencies traded on a national securities exchange are
within the jurisdiction of the Commission, as are other securities traded on
such exchanges. As a result, many of the protections provided to traders on
organized exchanges will be available with respect to such transactions. In
particular, all foreign currency options positions entered into on a national
securities exchange are cleared and guaranteed by the Options Clearing
Corporation ("OCC"), thereby reducing the risk of counterparty default. Further,
a liquid secondary market in options traded on a national securities exchange
may be more readily available than in the OTC market, potentially permitting a
Portfolio to liquidate open positions at a profit prior to exercise or
expiration, or to limit losses in the event of adverse market movements.
 
    The purchase and sale of exchange-traded foreign currency options, however,
is subject to the risks of the availability of a liquid secondary market
described above, as well as the risks regarding adverse market movements,
margining of options written, the nature of the foreign currency market,
possible intervention by governmental authorities and the effect of other
political and economic events. In addition, exchange-traded options on foreign
currencies involve certain risks not presented by the over-the-counter market.
For example, exercise and settlement of such options must be made exclusively
through the OCC, which has established banking relationships in applicable
foreign countries for this purpose. As a result, the OCC may, if it determines
that foreign governmental restrictions or taxes would prevent the orderly
settlement of foreign currency option exercises, or would result in undue
burdens on the OCC or its clearing member, impose special procedures for
exercise and settlement, such as technical changes in the mechanics of delivery
of currency, the fixing of dollar settlement prices or prohibitions on exercise.
 
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
 
    The Portfolios will invest in securities of foreign issuers. Investors
should recognize that investing in such foreign securities involves certain
special considerations which are not typically associated with investing in U.S.
issuers. For a description of the effect on the Portfolios of currency exchange
rate fluctuation, see "Foreign Currency Forward Contracts" above. As foreign
issuers are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
reporting standards and may have policies that are not comparable to those of
domestic issuers, there may be less information available about certain foreign
companies than about domestic issuers. Securities of some foreign issuers are
generally less liquid and more volatile than securities of comparable domestic
issuers. There is generally less government supervision and regulation of stock
exchanges, brokers and listed issuers than in the United States. In addition,
with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of
expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, or
diplomatic developments which could affect U.S. investments in those countries.
Foreign securities not listed on a recognized domestic or foreign exchange are
regarded as not readily marketable and therefore such investments will be
limited to 15% of a Portfolio's net asset value at the time of purchase.
 
    Although the Portfolios will endeavor to achieve the most favorable
execution costs in their portfolio transactions, fixed commissions on many
foreign stock exchanges are generally higher than negotiated commissions on U.S.
exchanges.
 
    Certain foreign governments levy withholding or other taxes on dividend and
interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are
recoverable, the non-recovered portion of foreign withholding taxes will reduce
the income received from investments in such countries. [It is expected that a
Portfolio or its shareholders would be able to claim a credit for U.S. tax
purposes with respect to any such foreign taxes.]
 
    4
<PAGE>
FUTURES CONTRACTS
 
    The Portfolios may enter into futures contracts and options on futures
contracts. Futures contracts provide for the future sale by one party and
purchase by another party of a specified amount of a specific security at a
specified future time and at a specified price. Futures contracts, which are
standardized as to maturity date and underlying financial instrument, are traded
on national futures exchanges. Futures exchanges and trading are regulated under
the Commodity Exchange Act by the CFTC.
 
    Although futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or
acceptance of the underlying securities or currencies, in most cases the
contracts are closed out before the settlement date without the making or taking
of delivery. Closing out an open futures position is done by taking an opposite
position ("buying" a contract which has previously been "sold" or "selling" a
contract previously "purchased") in an identical contract to terminate the
position. Brokerage commissions are incurred when a futures contract is bought
or sold.
 
    Futures contracts on securities indices or other indices do not require the
physical delivery of securities, but merely provide for profits and losses
resulting from changes in the market value of a contract to be credited or
debited at the close of each trading day to the respective accounts of the
parties to the contract. On the contract's expiration date a final cash
settlement occurs and the futures position is simply closed out. Changes in the
market value of a particular futures contract reflect changes in the level of
the index on which the futures contract is based.
 
    Futures traders are required to make a good faith margin deposit in cash or
government securities with a broker or custodian to initiate and maintain open
positions in futures contracts. A margin deposit is intended to assure
completion of the contract (delivery or acceptance of the underlying security)
if it is not terminated prior to the specified delivery date. Minimal initial
margin requirements are established by the futures exchange and may be changed.
Brokers may establish deposit requirements which are higher than the exchange
minimums. Futures contracts are customarily purchased and sold for prices that
may range upward from less than 5% of the value of the contract being traded.
 
    After a futures contract position is opened, the value of the contract is
marked to market daily. If the futures contract price changes to the extent that
the margin on deposit does not satisfy margin requirements, payment of an
additional "variation" margin will be required. Conversely, a change in the
contract value may reduce the required margin, resulting in a repayment of
excess margin to the contract holder. Variation margin payments are made to and
from the futures broker for as long as the contract remains open. The Portfolios
expect to earn interest income on their margin deposits. With respect to each
long position in a futures contract or option thereon, the underlying commodity
value of such contract will always be covered by cash and cash equivalents set
aside plus accrued profits held at the futures commission merchant.
 
    Portfolios may purchase and write call and put options on futures contracts
which are traded on a U.S. Exchange or on any recognized securities or futures
exchange to the extent permitted by the CFTC and enter into closing transactions
with respect to such options to terminate an existing position. An option on a
futures contract gives the purchaser the right (in return for the premium paid)
to assume a position in futures contract (a long position if the option is a
call and a short position if the option is a put) at a specified exercise price
at any time during the term of the option. Upon exercise of the option, the
delivery of the accumulated balance in the writer's futures margin account,
which represents the amount by which the market price of the futures contract at
the time of exercise exceeds, in the case of a call, or is less than, in the
case of a put, the exercise price of the option on the futures contract.
 
    The Portfolios will purchase and write options on futures contracts for
identical purposes to those set forth above for the purchase of a futures
contract (purchase of a call option or sale of a put option) and the sale of a
futures contract (purchase of a put option or sale of a call option), or to
close out a long or short position in futures contracts.
 
    Traders in futures contracts may be broadly classified as either "hedgers"
or "speculators." Hedgers use the futures markets primarily to offset
unfavorable changes in the value of securities otherwise held for investment
purposes or expected to be acquired by them. Speculators are less inclined to
own the underlying securities with futures contracts which they trade, and use
futures contracts with the expectation of realizing profits from market
fluctuations. The Portfolios intend to use futures contracts only for hedging
purposes.
 
    Regulations of the CFTC applicable to the Portfolios require that all
futures transactions constitute bona fide hedging transactions except that a
Portfolio may engage in futures transactions that do not constitute bona fide
hedging to the extent that not more than 5% of the liquidation value of a
Portfolio's total assets are required as margin deposits or premiums for such
transactions. The Portfolios will only sell futures contracts to protect
securities owned against declines in price or purchase contracts to protect
against an increase in the price of securities intended for purchase. As
evidence of this hedging interest, the Portfolios expect that approximately 75%
of their futures contracts will be "completed"; that is, equivalent amounts of
related securities will have been purchased or are being purchased by the
Portfolios upon sale of open futures contracts.
 
    Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of futures contracts
could be used to control the Portfolios' exposure to market fluctuations, the
use of futures contracts may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure.
While the Portfolios will incur commission expenses in both opening and closing
out futures positions, these costs are lower than transaction costs incurred in
the purchase and sale of the underlying securities.
 
                                                                           5
<PAGE>
    RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF FUTURES CONTRACTS.  None of the Portfolios will
enter into futures contract transactions to the extent that, immediately
thereafter, the sum of its initial margin deposits on open contracts exceeds 5%
of the market value of its total assets. In addition, none of the Portfolios
will enter into futures contracts to the extent that the notional value of its
outstanding obligations to purchase securities under such contracts, in
combination with its outstanding obligations with respect to options
transactions (including options to purchase securities or instruments) would
exceed 33 1/3% of its total assets.
 
    RISK FACTORS IN FUTURES TRANSACTIONS.  Positions in futures contracts may be
closed out only on an exchange which provides a secondary market for such
futures. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will
exist for any particular futures contracts at any specific time. Thus, it may
not be possible to close a futures position. In the event of adverse price
movements, the Portfolios would continue to be required to make daily cash
payments to maintain their required margin. In such situations, if a Portfolio
has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet its
daily margin requirement at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In
addition, a Portfolio may be required to make delivery of the instruments
underlying futures contracts it holds. The inability to close options and
futures positions also could have an adverse impact on the Portfolio's ability
to effectively hedge.
 
    The Portfolios will minimize the risk that they will be unable to close out
a futures contract by generally entering into futures which are traded on
recognized international or national futures exchanges and for which there
appears to be a liquid secondary market, however, the Portfolios may enter into
over-the-counter futures transactions to the extent permitted by applicable law.
 
    The risk of loss in trading futures contracts in some strategies can be
substantial, due both to the low margin deposits required, and the extremely
high degree of leverage involved in futures pricing. As a result, a relatively
small price movement in a futures contract may result in immediate and
substantial loss (as well as gain) to the investor. For example, if, at the time
of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a
subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a
total loss of the margin deposit, before any deduction for the transaction
costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a
loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit if the contract were closed
out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract may result in losses in
excess of the amount invested in the contract. However, because the Portfolios
engage in futures strategies only for hedging purposes, the Adviser does not
believe that the Portfolios are subject to the risks of loss frequently
associated with futures transactions. A Portfolio would presumably have
sustained comparable losses if, instead of the futures contract, it had invested
in the underlying security or currency and sold it after the decline.
 
    Utilization of futures transactions by the Portfolios does involve the risk
of imperfect or no correlation where the securities underlying futures contracts
have different maturities than the portfolio securities or currencies being
hedged. It is also possible that a Portfolio could both lose money on futures
contracts and also experience a decline in value of its portfolio securities.
There is also the risk of loss by a Portfolio of margin deposits in the event of
bankruptcy of a broker with whom the Portfolio has an open position in a futures
contract or related option.
 
    Most futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures
contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the
maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down
from the previous day's settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once
the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may
be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only
price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit
potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable
positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit
for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby
preventing prompt liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some futures
traders to substantial losses. For a discussion of the special risks associated
with foreign currency transactions, see "Risks Associated with Foreign Currency
Transactions" in this SAI.
 
[MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
 
    Mortgage-Backed Securities are securities that, directly or indirectly,
represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, mortgage loans
on real property. Mortgage-backed securities include collateralized mortgage
obligations, pass-through securities issued or guaranteed by agencies or
instrumentalities of the U.S. government or by private sector entities.
 
    COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS.  Collateralized mortgage obligations
("CMOs") are debt obligations or multiclass pass-through certificates issued by
agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government or by private originators
or investors in mortgage loans. They are backed by Mortgage Pass-Through
Securities (discussed below) or whole loans (all such assets, the "Mortgage
Assets") and are evidenced by a series of bonds or certificates issued in
multiple classes or "tranches." The principal and interest on the underlying
Mortgage Assets may be allocated among the several classes of a series of CMOs
in many ways.
 
    CMOs may be issued by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government,
or by private originators of, or investors in, mortgage loans, including savings
and loan associations, mortgage bankers, commercial banks, investment banks and
special purpose subsidiaries of the foregoing. CMOs that are issued by private
sector entities and are backed by assets lacking a guarantee of an entity having
the credit status of a governmental agency or instrumentality are generally
structured with one or
 
    6
<PAGE>
more types of credit enhancement as described below. An issuer of CMOs may elect
to be treated, for federal income tax purposes, as a Real Estate Mortgage
Investment Conduit (a "REMIC"). An issuer of CMOs issued after 1991 must elect
to be treated as a REMIC or it will be taxable as a corporation under rules
regarding taxable mortgage pools.
 
    In a CMO, a series of bonds or certificates are issued in multiple classes.
Each tranche may be issued with a specific fixed or floating coupon rate and has
a stated maturity or final scheduled distribution date. Principal prepayments on
the underlying Mortgage Assets may cause the CMOs to be retired substantially
earlier than their stated maturities or final scheduled distribution dates.
Interest is paid or accrues on CMOs on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual
basis. The principal of and interest on the Mortgage Assets may be allocated
among the several classes of a CMO in many ways. The general goal in allocating
cash flows on Mortgage Assets to the various classes of a CMO is to create
certain tranches on which the expected cash flows have a higher degree of
predictability than the underlying Mortgage Assets. As a general matter, the
more predictable the cash flow is on a particular CMO tranche, the lower the
anticipated yield will be on that tranche at the time of issuance relative to
prevailing market yields on Mortgage Assets. As part of the process of creating
more predictable cash flows on certain tranches of a CMO, one or more tranches
generally must be created that absorb most of the changes in the cash flows on
the underlying Mortgage Assets. The yields on these tranches are generally
higher than prevailing market yields on Mortgage-Backed Securities with similar
average lives. Because of the uncertainty of the cash flows on these tranches,
the market prices of and yields on these tranches are more volatile.
 
    Included within the category of CMOs are PAC Bonds. PAC Bonds are a type of
CMO tranche or series designed to provide relatively predictable payments of
principal provided that, among other things, the actual prepayment experience on
the underlying mortgage loans falls within a predefined range. If the actual
prepayment experience on the underlying mortgage loans is at a rate faster or
slower than the predefined range or if deviations from other assumptions occur,
principal payments on the PAC Bond may be earlier or later than predicted. The
magnitude of the predefined range varies from one PAC Bond to another; a
narrower range increases the risk that prepayments on the PAC Bond will be
greater or smaller than predicted. Because of these features, PAC Bonds
generally are less subject to the risks of prepayment than are other types of
mortgage-backed securities.
 
    MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH SECURITIES.  Mortgage pass-through securities in which
the Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio may invest include pass-through
securities issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.
government or by private sector entities. Mortgage pass-through securities
issued or guaranteed by private sector originators of or investors in mortgage
loans and are structured similarly to governmental pass-through securities.
Because private pass-throughs typically lack a guarantee by an entity having the
credit status of a governmental agency or instrumentality, they are generally
structured with one or more types of credit enhancement described below. Federal
National Mortgage Association ("FNMA" or "Fannie Mae") and Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC" or "Freddie Mac") obligations are not backed by
the full faith and credit of the U.S. government as Government National Mortgage
Association ("GNMA" or "Ginnie Mae") certificates are, but FNMA and FHLMC
securities are supported by the instrumentalities' right to borrow from the U.S.
Treasury. Each of GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC guarantees timely distributions of
interest to certificate holders. Each of GNMA and FNMA also guarantees timely
distributions of scheduled principal. FHLMC has in the past guaranteed only the
ultimate collection of principal of the underlying mortgage loan; however, FHLMC
now issues Mortgage-Backed Securities (FHLMC Gold Pcs) which also guarantee
timely payment of monthly principal reductions. REFCORP obligations are backed,
as to principal payments, by zero coupon U.S. Treasury bonds, and as to interest
payment, ultimately by the U.S. Treasury. Obligations issued by such U.S.
governmental agencies and instrumentalities are described more fully below.
 
    GINNIE MAE CERTIFICATES.  Ginnie Mae is a wholly-owned corporate
instrumentality of the United States within the Department of Housing and Urban
Development. The National Housing Act of 1934, as amended (the "Housing Act"),
authorizes Ginnie Mae to guarantee the timely payment of the principal of and
interest on certificates that are based on and backed by a pool of mortgage
loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration under the Housing Act, or
Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 ("FHA Loans"), or guaranteed by the
Department of Veterans Affairs under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944,
as amended ("VA Loans"), or by pools of other eligible mortgage loans. The
Housing Act provides that the full faith and credit of the United States
government is pledged to the payment of all amounts that may be required to be
paid under any guaranty. In order to meet its obligations under such guaranty,
Ginnie Mae is authorized to borrow from the U.S. Treasury with no limitations as
to amount.
 
    Each Ginnie Mae Certificate will represent a pro rata interest in one or
more of the following types of mortgage loans: (i) fixed rate level payment
mortgage loans; (ii) fixed rate graduated payment mortgage loans; (iii) fixed
rate growing equity mortgage loans; (iv) fixed rate mortgage loans secured by
manufactured (mobile) homes; (v) mortgage loans on multi-family residential
properties under construction; (vi) mortgage loans on completed multi-family
projects; (vii) fixed rate mortgage loans as to which escrowed funds are used to
reduce the borrower's monthly payments during the early years of the mortgage
loans ("buydown" mortgage loans); (viii) mortgage loans that provide for
adjustments in payments based on periodical changes in interest rates or in
other payment terms of the mortgage loans; and (ix) mortgage-backed serial
notes. All of these mortgage loans will be FHA Loans or VA Loans and, except as
otherwise specified above, will be fully-amortizing loans secured by first liens
on one- to four-family housing units.
 
                                                                           7
<PAGE>
    FANNIE MAE CERTIFICATES.  Fannie Mae is a federally chartered and privately
owned corporation organized and existing under the Federal National Mortgage
Association Charter Act of 1938. The obligations of Fannie Mae are not backed by
the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
 
    Each Fannie Mae Certificate will represent a pro rata interest in one or
more pools of FHA Loans, VA Loans or conventional mortgage loans (i.e., mortgage
loans that are not insured or guaranteed by any governmental agency) of the
following types: (i) fixed rate level payment mortgage loans; (ii) fixed rate
growing equity mortgage loans; (iii) fixed rate graduated payment mortgage
loans; (iv) variable rate California mortgage loans; (v) other adjustable rate
mortgage loans; and (vi) fixed rate and adjustable mortgage loans secured by
multi-family projects.
 
    FREDDIE MAC CERTIFICATES.  Freddie Mac is a corporate instrumentality of the
United States created pursuant to the Emergency Home Finance Act of 1970, as
amended (the "FHLMC Act"). The obligations of Freddie Mac are obligations solely
of Freddie Mac and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
government.
 
    Freddie Mac Certificates represent a pro rata interest in a group of
mortgage loans (a "Freddie Mac Certificate group") purchased by Freddie Mac. The
mortgage loans underlying the Freddie Mac Certificates will consist of fixed
rate or adjustable rate mortgage loans with original terms to maturity of
between ten and thirty years, substantially all of which are secured by first
liens on one- to four-family residential properties or multi-family projects.
Each mortgage loan must meet the applicable standards set forth in the FHLMC
Act. A Freddie Mac Certificate group may include whole loans, participation
interests in whole loans and undivided interests in whole loans and
participations comprising another Freddie Mac Certificate group.
 
    CREDIT ENHANCEMENT.  Mortgage-backed securities are often backed by a pool
of assets representing the obligations of a number of different parties. To
lessen the effect of failure by obligors on underlying assets to make payments,
such securities may contain elements of credit support. Such credit support
falls into two categories: (i) liquidity protection and (ii) protection against
losses resulting from ultimate default by an obligor on the underlying assets.
Liquidity protection generally refers to the provision of advances, typically by
the entity administering the pool of assets, to ensure that the pass-through of
payments due on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion. Protection
against losses resulting from ultimate default enhances the likelihood of
ultimate payment of the obligations on at least a portion of the assets in the
pool. Such protection may be provided through guarantees, insurance policies or
letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties (referred
to herein as "third party credit support"), through various means of structuring
the transaction or through a combination of such approaches. The Mortgage-Backed
Securities Portfolio will not pay any additional fees for such credit support,
although the existence of credit support may increase the price the Portfolio
pays for a security.
 
    The ratings of mortgage-backed securities for which third-party credit
enhancement provides liquidity protection or protection against losses from
default are generally dependent upon the continued creditworthiness of the
provider of the credit enhancement. The ratings of such securities could be
subject to reduction in the event of deterioration in the creditworthiness of
the credit enhancement provider even in cases where the delinquency and loss
experience on the underlying pool of assets is better than expected.
 
    Examples of credit support arising out of the structure of the transaction
include "senior-subordinated securities" (multiple class securities with one or
more classes subordinate to other classes as to the payment of principal thereof
and interest thereon, with defaults on the underlying assets being borne first
by the holders of the most subordinated class), creation of "reserve funds"
(where cash or investments, sometimes funded from a portion of the payments on
the underlying assets, are held in reserve against future losses) and
"over-collateralization" (where the scheduled payments on, or the principal
amount of, the underlying assets exceed those required to make payment of the
securities and pay any servicing or other fees). The degree of credit support
provided for each security is generally based on historical information with
respect to the level of credit risk associated with the underlying assets.
Delinquency or loss in excess of that which is anticipated could adversely
affect the return on an investment in such a security.]
 
OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS
 
    GENERAL INFORMATION.  The Portfolios may purchase and sell options on
portfolio securities and securities indices. Additional information with respect
to option transactions is set forth below. Call and put options on equity
securities are listed on various U.S. and foreign securities exchanges ("listed
options") and are written in over-the-counter transactions ("OTC Options").
 
    Listed options are issued or guaranteed by the exchange on which they trade
or by a clearing corporation, such as Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") in
the United States. Ownership of a listed call option gives the fund the right to
buy from the clearing corporation or exchange, the underlying security covered
by the option at the state exercise price (the price per unit of the underlying
security or currency) by filing an exercise notice prior to the expiration date
of the option. The writer (seller) of the option would then have the obligation
to sell to the clearing corporation or exchange, the underlying security or
currency at that exercise price prior to the expiration date of the option,
regardless of the current market price. Ownership of listed put
 
    8
<PAGE>
option would give the Portfolio the right to sell the underlying security or
currency to the clearing corporation or exchange at the state exercise price.
Upon notice of exercise of the put option, the writer of the option would have
the obligation to purchase the underlying security from the clearing corporation
or exchange at the exercise price.
 
    OTC options are purchased from or sold (written) to dealers of financial
institutions which have entered into direct agreements with the Portfolio. With
OTC options, such variables as expiration date, exercise price and premium will
be agreed upon between the Portfolio and the transactions dealer, without the
intermediation of a third party such as a clearing corporation or exchange. If
the transacting dealer fails to make or take delivery of the securities
underlying an option it has written, in accordance with the terms of that
option, the Portfolio would lose the premium paid for the option as well as any
anticipated benefit of the transaction.
 
    COVERED CALL WRITING.  Each of the Portfolios may write (i.e., sell) covered
call options on portfolio securities. By doing so, the Portfolio would become
obligated during the terms of the option to deliver the securities underlying
the option should the option holder choose to exercise the option before the
option's termination date. In return for the call it has written, the Portfolio
will receive from the purchaser (or option holder) a premium which is the price
of the option, less a commission charged by a broker. The Portfolio will keep
the premium regardless of whether the option is exercised. A call option is
"covered" if the Portfolio owns the security underlying the option it has
written or has an absolute or immediate right to acquire the security by holding
a call option on such security, or maintains a sufficient amount of cash, cash
equivalents or liquid securities to purchase the underlying security. When the
Portfolio writes covered call options, it augments its income by the premiums
received and is thereby hedged to the extent of that amount against a decline in
the price of the underlying securities and the premiums received will offset a
portion of the potential loss incurred by the Portfolio if the securities
underlying the options are ultimately sold by the Portfolio at a loss. However,
during the option period, the Portfolio has, in return for the premium on the
option, given up the opportunity for capital appreciation above the exercise
price should the market price of the underlying security increase, but has
retained the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline.
The size of premiums will fluctuate with varying market conditions.
 
    COVERED PUT WRITING.  Each of the Portfolios may write covered put options
on portfolio securities. By doing so, the Portfolio incurs an obligation to buy
the security underlying the option from the purchaser of the put at the option's
exercise price at any time during the option period, at the purchaser's election
(certain listed and OTC options written by the Portfolio will be exercisable by
the purchaser only on a specific date). Generally, a put option is "covered" if
the Portfolio maintains cash or other liquid securities equal to the exercise
price of the option or if the Portfolio holds a put option on the same
underlying security with a similar or higher exercise price.
 
    Each of the Portfolios may write put options to receive the premiums paid by
purchasers; when the Adviser (and also the Sub-Adviser with respect to the Gold
Portfolio) wishes to purchase the security underlying the option at a price
lower than its current market price, in which case it will write the covered put
at an exercise price reflecting the lower purchase price sought; and to close
out long put option positions.
 
    PURCHASE OF PUT AND CALL OPTIONS.  When the Portfolio purchases a call
option it acquires the right to purchase a designated security at a designated
price (the "exercise price"), and when the Portfolio purchases a put option it
acquires the right to sell a designated security at the exercise price, in each
case on or before a specified date (the "termination date"), usually no more
than nine months from the date the option is issued.
 
    The Portfolio may purchase call options to close out a covered call position
or to protect against an increase in the price of a security it anticipates
purchasing. The Portfolio may purchase put options on securities which it holds
in its portfolio only to protect itself against a decline in the value of the
security. If the value of the underlying security were to fall below the
exercise price of the put purchased in an amount greater than the premium paid
for the option, the Portfolio would incur no additional loss. The Portfolio may
also purchase put options to close out written put positions in a manner similar
to call option closing purchase transactions.
 
    The amount the Portfolio pays to purchase an option is called a "premium",
and the risk assumed by the Portfolio when it purchases an option is the loss of
this premium. Because the price of an option tends to move with that of its
underlying security, if the Portfolio is to make a profit, the price of the
underlying security must change and the change must be sufficient to cover the
premium and commissions paid. A price change in the security underlying the
option does not assure a profit since prices in the options market may not
always reflect such a change.
 
    OPTIONS ON SECURITIES INDICES.  The Portfolios may purchase and write put
and call options on securities indices and enter into related closing
transactions in order to hedge against the risk of market price fluctuations or
to increase income to the Portfolio.
 
    Call and put options on indices are similar to options on securities except
that, rather than the right to purchase or sell particular securities at a
specified price, options on an index give the holder the right to receive, upon
exercise of the option, an amount of cash if the closing level of the underlying
index is greater than (or less than, in the case of puts) the exercise price of
 
                                                                           9
<PAGE>
the option. This amount of cash is equal to the difference between the closing
price of the index and the exercise price of the option, expressed in dollars
multiplied by a specified number. Thus, unlike options on individual securities,
all settlements are in cash, and gain or loss depends on price movements in the
particular market represented by the index generally (or in a particular
industry or segment of the market) rather than the price movements in individual
securities.
 
    All options written on indices must be covered. When the Portfolio writes an
option on an index, it will establish a segregated account containing cash or
liquid securities with its custodian in an amount at least equal to the market
value of the option and will maintain the account while the option is open or
will otherwise cover the transaction.
 
    The Portfolio may choose to terminate an option position by entering into a
closing transaction. The ability of the Portfolio to enter into closing
transactions depends upon the existence of a liquid secondary market for such
transactions.
 
    OPTIONS ON CURRENCIES.  The Portfolios may purchase and write put and call
options on foreign currencies (traded on U.S. and foreign exchanges or
over-the-counter markets) to manage the Portfolio's exposure to changes in
dollar exchange rates. Call options on foreign currency written by the Portfolio
will be "covered," which means that the Portfolio will own an equal amount of
the underlying foreign currency. With respect to put options on foreign currency
written by the Portfolio, the Portfolio will establish a segregated account with
the Fund's Custodian consisting of cash or liquid securities in an amount equal
to the amount the Portfolio would be required to pay upon exercise of the put.
 
    RISK FACTORS IN OPTIONS TRANSACTIONS.  The use of options also involves
additional risks. Compared to the purchase or sale of futures contracts, the
purchase of call or put options involves less potential risk to a Portfolio
because the maximum amount of risk is the premium paid for the option. The
writing of a call option generates a premium which may partially offset a
decline in the value of a Portfolio's portfolio assets. By writing a call
option, the Portfolio becomes obligated to sell the underlying instrument, which
may have a value higher than the exercise price. Conversely, the writing of a
put option generates a premium, but the Portfolio becomes obligated to purchase
the underlying instrument, which may have a value lower than the exercise price.
Thus, the loss incurred by a Portfolio in writing options may exceed the amount
of the premium received.
 
    The effective use of options strategies is dependent, among other things, on
a Portfolio's ability to terminate options positions at a time when the
portfolio manager deems it desirable to do so. Although a Portfolio will enter
into options positions only if the portfolio manager believes that a liquid
secondary market exists for such options, there is no assurance that the
Portfolio will be able to effect closing transactions at any particular time or
at an acceptable price.
 
    A Portfolio's purchase or sale of put or call options will be based upon
predictions as to anticipated market trends and/or interest rate movements by
the portfolio manager, which could prove to be inaccurate. Even if the
expectations of the portfolio manager are correct, there may be an imperfect
correlation between the change in the value of the options and of the
Portfolio's portfolio securities.
 
    The writer of an option may have no control over when the underlying
securities must be sold, in the case of a call option, or purchased, in the case
of a put option; the writer may be assigned an exercise notice at any time prior
to the termination of the obligation. Whether or not an option expires
unexercised, the writer retains the amount of the premium. This amount, of
course, may, in the case of a covered call option, be offset by a decline in the
market value of the underlying security during the option period. If a call
option is exercised, the writer experiences a profit or loss from the sale of
the underlying security. If a put option is exercised, the writer must fulfill
the obligation to purchase the underlying security at the exercise price which
will usually exceed the then market value of the underlying security.
 
    The writer of an option that wishes to terminate its obligation may effect a
"closing purchase transaction." This is accomplished by buying an option of the
same series as the option previously written. The effect of the purchase is that
the writer's position will be canceled by the clearing corporation. However, a
writer may not effect a closing purchase transaction after being notified of the
exercise of an option. Likewise, an investor who is the holder of an option may
liquidate its position by effecting a "closing sale transaction." This is
accomplished by selling an option of the same series as the option previously
purchased. There is no guarantee that either a closing purchase or a closing
sale transaction can be effected.
 
    Effecting a closing transaction in the case of a written call option will
permit the Portfolio to write another call option on the underlying security
with either a different exercise price or expiration date or both, in the case
of a written put option, will permit the Portfolio to write another put option
to the extent that the exercise price thereof is secured by depositing liquid
assets. Also, effecting a closing transaction will permit the cash or proceeds
from the concurrent sale of any securities subject to the option to be used for
other Portfolio investments. If the Portfolio desires to sell a particular
security from its portfolio on which it has written a call option, it will
effect a closing transaction prior to or concurrent with the sale of the
security.
 
    A Portfolio will realize a profit from a closing transaction if the price of
the transaction is less than the premium received from writing the option or is
more than the premium paid to purchase the option; the Portfolio will realize a
loss from a closing transaction if the price of the transaction is more than the
premium received from writing the option or is less than the premium paid to
purchase the option. Because increases in the market price of a call option will
generally reflect increases in the market price of the underlying security, any
loss resulting from the repurchase of a call option is likely to be offset in
whole or in part by appreciation of the underlying security owned by the
Portfolio.
 
    10
<PAGE>
    An options position may be closed out only where there exists a secondary
market for an option of the same series. If a secondary market does not exist,
it might be possible to effect a closing transaction in particular options with
the result that the Portfolio would have to exercise the options in order to
realize any profit. If the Portfolio is unable to effect a closing purchase
transaction in a secondary market, it will not be able to sell the underlying
security until the option expires or it delivers the underlying security upon
exercise. Reasons for the absence of a liquid secondary market include the
following: (1) there may be insufficient trading interest in certain options,
(2) restrictions may be imposed by an exchange on opening transactions or
closing transactions, or both, (3) trading halts, suspensions or other
restrictions may be imposed with respect to particular classes or series of
options or underlying securities, (4) unusual or unforeseen circumstances may
interrupt normal operation on an exchange, (5) the facilities of an exchange or
OCC may not at all times be adequate to handle current trading volume, or (6)
one or more exchange could, for economic or other reasons, decide or be
compelled at some future date to discontinue the trading of options (or a
particular class or series of options), in which event the secondary market on
that Exchange (or in that class or series of options) would cease to exist,
although outstanding options on that exchange that had been issued by OCC as a
result of trades on that exchange would continue to be exercisable in accordance
with their terms.
 
    The Portfolios may purchase put options to hedge against a decline in the
value of their portfolios. By using put options in this way, the Portfolios will
reduce any profit they might otherwise have realized in the underlying security
by the amount of the premium paid for the put option and by transaction costs.
 
    The Portfolios may purchase call options to hedge against an increase in the
price of securities that the Portfolios anticipate purchasing in the future. The
premium paid for the call option plus any transaction costs will reduce the
benefit, if any, realized by a Portfolio upon exercise of the option, and,
unless the price of the underlying security rises sufficiently, the option may
expire worthless.
 
    Options may also be traded OTC ("OTC Options"). In an OTC trading
environment, many of the protections afforded to exchange participants will not
be available. For example, there are no daily price fluctuation limits, and
adverse market movements could therefore continue to an unlimited extent over a
period of time. The Portfolios may purchase or write OTC Options deemed
creditworthy by the Adviser. OTC Options are illiquid and it may not be possible
for the Portfolios to dispose of such options they have purchased or terminate
their obligations under an option they have written at a time when the Adviser
and portfolio manager believe it would be advantageous to do so. Accordingly,
OTC Options are subject to the Portfolios' limitation that a maximum of 15% of
its net assets be invested in illiquid securities. In the event of the
bankruptcy of the writer of an OTC Option, the Portfolios could experience a
loss of all or part of the value of the option.
 
    For a discussion regarding the special risks of foreign currency options,
see "Risks Associated with Foreign Currency Transactions," in this SAI.
 
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
 
    The portfolio turnover rate for a year is the lesser of the value of the
purchases or sales for the year divided by the average monthly market value of
the Portfolio for the year, excluding U.S. Government securities and securities
with maturities of one year or less. The portfolio turnover rate for a year is
calculated by dividing the lesser of sales or the average monthly value of the
Portfolio's portfolio purchases of portfolio securities during that year by
securities, excluding money market instruments. The rate of portfolio turnover
will not be a limiting factor when a Portfolio deems it appropriate to purchase
or sell securities. However, the U.S. federal tax requirement that the Portfolio
derive less than 30% of its gross income from the sale or disposition of
securities held less than three months may limit the Portfolio's ability to
dispose of its securities. See "Taxes."
 
SECURITIES LENDING
 
    Each Portfolio may lend its investment securities to qualified institutional
investors who need to borrow securities in order to complete certain
transactions, such as covering short sales, avoiding failures to deliver
securities or completing arbitrage operations. By lending its investment
securities, a Portfolio attempts to increase its net investment income through
the receipt of interest on the loan. Any gain or loss in the market price of the
securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the
account of the Portfolio. Each Portfolio may lend its investment securities to
qualified brokers, dealers, domestic and foreign banks or other financial
institutions, so long as the terms, structure and the aggregate amount of such
loans are not inconsistent with the 1940 Act, or the Rules and Regulations or
interpretations of the Commission thereunder, which currently require that (a)
the borrower pledge and maintain with the portfolio collateral consisting of
cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a domestic U.S. bank, or
securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government having a value
at all times not less than 100% of the value of the securities loaned, (b) the
borrower add to such collateral whenever the price of the securities loaned
rises (i.e., the borrower "marks to the market" on a daily basis), (c) the loan
be made subject to termination by the Portfolio at any time, and (d) the
Portfolio receive reasonable interest on the loan (which may include the
Portfolio investing any cash collateral in interest bearing short-term
investments), any distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in
their market value. There may be risks of delay in recovery of the securities or
even loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities fail
financially. However, loans will only be made to borrowers deemed by the Adviser
to be of good standing and when, in the judgment of the Adviser, the
consideration which can be earned currently from such securities loans
 
                                                                          11
<PAGE>
justifies the attendant risk. All relevant facts and circumstances, including
the creditworthiness of the broker, dealer or institution, will be considered in
making decisions with respect to the lending of securities, subject to review by
the Board of Directors of the Fund.
 
    At the present time, the staff of the Commission does not object if an
investment company pays reasonable negotiated fees in connection with loaned
securities, so long as such fees are set forth in a written contract and
approved by the investment company's Board of Directors. In addition, voting
rights may pass with the loaned securities, but if a material event will occur
affecting an investment on loan, the loan must be called and the securities
voted.
 
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
 
    The term "U.S. Government securities" refers to a variety of securities
which are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, and by various
instrumentalities which have been established or sponsored by the U.S.
Government.
 
    U.S. Treasury securities are backed by the "full faith and credit" of the
United States. Securities issued or guaranteed by Federal agencies and U.S.
Government sponsored instrumentalities may or may not be backed by the full
faith and credit of the United States. In the case of securities not backed by
the full faith and credit of the United States, the investor must look
principally to the agency or instrumentality issuing or guaranteeing the
obligation for ultimate repayment, and may not be able to assert a claim against
the United States itself in the event the agency or instrumentality does not
meet its commitment. Agencies which are backed by the full faith and credit of
the United States include the Export-Import Bank, Farmers Home Administration,
Federal Financing Bank, and others. Certain agencies and instrumentalities, such
as the GNMA, are, in effect, backed by the full faith and credit of the United
States through provisions in their charters that they may make "indefinite and
unlimited" drawings on the Treasury, if needed to service debt. Debt from
certain other agencies and instrumentalities, including the Federal Home Loan
Bank and FNMA, are not guaranteed by the United States, but those institutions
are protected by the discretionary authority for the U.S. Treasury to purchase
certain amounts of their securities to assist the institution in meeting its
debt obligations. However, the U.S. Treasury has no lawful obligation to assume
the financial liabilities of these agencies or others. Finally, other agencies
and instrumentalities, such as the Farm Credit System and the FHLMC, are
federally chartered institutions under Government supervision, but their debt
securities are backed only by the creditworthiness of those institutions, not
the U.S. Government.
 
    Some of the U.S. Government agencies that issue or guarantee securities
include the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Farmers Home
Administration, Federal Housing Administration, Maritime Administration, Small
Business Administration, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
 
    An instrumentality of the U.S. Government is a Government agency organized
under Federal charter with Government supervision. Instrumentalities issuing or
guaranteeing securities include, among others, Federal Home Loan Banks, the
Federal Land Banks, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Immediate Credit
Banks, and the FNMA.
 
                                     TAXES
 
    The following is only a summary of certain additional federal tax
considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that are not
described in the Prospectuses. No attempt is made to present a detailed
explanation of the federal, state or local tax treatment of the Fund or its
shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Fund's Prospectuses is not
intended as a substitute for careful tax planning.
 
    The following discussion of federal income tax consequences is based on the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this Statement of Additional
Information. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court
decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may
have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.
 
    Each Portfolio within the Fund is generally treated as a separate
corporation for federal income tax purposes, and thus the provisions of the Code
generally will be applied to each Portfolio separately, rather than to the Fund
as a whole.
 
              GENERAL REGULATED INVESTMENT COMPANY QUALIFICATIONS
 
    Each Portfolio intends to qualify and elect to be treated for each taxable
year as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Code.
Accordingly, each Portfolio must, among other things, (a) derive at least 90% of
its gross income each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with
respect to securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock,
securities or foreign currencies, and certain other related income, including,
generally, certain gains from options, futures and forward contracts; (b) derive
less than 30% of its gross income each taxable year from the sale or other
disposition of the following items if held less than three months (A) stock or
securities, (B) options, futures or forward contracts (other than options,
futures or forward contracts on foreign currencies), and (C) foreign currencies
(or options, futures, or forward contracts on foreign currencies) that are not
directly related to the Portfolio's principal business of investing in stocks or
securities (or options or futures with respect to stock or securities) (the
"short-short test"); and (c) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each
fiscal quarter of the Portfolio's taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market
value of the Portfolio's total assets is represented by cash and cash items,
United States Government securities, securities of other RICs, and other
securities, with
 
    12
<PAGE>
such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not
greater than 5% of the value of the Portfolio's total assets or 10% of the
outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (ii) not more than 25% of the
value of its total assets is invested in the securities (other than United
States Government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or
two or more issuers which the Portfolio controls and which are engaged in the
same, similar, or related trades or business. For purposes of the 90% of gross
income requirement described above, foreign currency gains which are not
directly related to a Portfolio's principal business of investing in stock or
securities (or options or futures with respect to stock or securities) may be
excluded from income that qualifies under the 90% requirement.
 
    In addition to the requirements described above, in order to qualify as a
RIC, a Portfolio must distribute at least 90% of its net investment income
(which generally includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net
short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses less operating
expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax
year, if any, to its shareholders. If a Portfolio meets all of the RIC
requirements, it will not be subject to federal income tax on any of its net
investment income or capital gains that it distributes to shareholders.
 
    If a Portfolio fails to qualify as a RIC for any year, all of its income
will be subject to tax at corporate rates, and its distributions (including
capital gains distributions) will be taxable as ordinary income dividends to its
shareholders to the extent of the Portfolio's current and accumulated earnings
and profits, and will be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction
for corporate shareholders.
 
           GENERAL TAX TREATMENT OF QUALIFYING RICS AND SHAREHOLDERS
 
    Each Portfolio will decide whether to distribute or to retain all or part of
any net capital gains (the excess of net long-term capital gains over net
short-term capital losses) in any year for reinvestment. If any such gains are
retained, the Portfolio will pay federal income tax thereon, and, if the
Portfolio makes an election, the shareholders will include such undistributed
gains in their income, will increase their basis in Portfolio shares by 65% of
the amount included in their income and will be able to claim their share of the
tax paid by the Portfolio as a refundable credit.
 
    A gain or loss realized by a shareholder on the sale, exchange or redemption
of shares of a Portfolio held as a capital asset will be capital gain or loss,
and such gain or loss will be long-term if the holding period for the shares
exceeds one year, and otherwise will be short-term. Any loss realized on a sale,
exchange or redemption of shares of a Portfolio will be disallowed to the extent
the shares disposed of are replaced within the 61-day period beginning 30 days
before and ending 30 days after the shares are disposed of. Any loss realized by
a shareholder on the disposition of shares held 6 months or less is treated as a
long-term capital loss to the extent of any distributions of net long-term
capital gains received by the shareholder with respect to such shares or any
inclusion of undistributed capital gain with respect to such shares.
 
    The conversion of Class A shares to Class B shares should not be a taxable
event to the shareholder.
 
    Each Portfolio will generally be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal
excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute by the end of any calendar year
at least 98% of its ordinary income for that year and 98% of its capital gain
net income (the excess of short-and long-term capital gains over short- and
long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of that
year, plus certain other amounts.
 
    Each Portfolio is required by federal law to withhold 31% of reportable
payments (which may include dividends, capital gains distributions, and
redemptions) paid to shareholders who have not certified on the Account
Registration Form or on a separate form supplied by the Portfolio, that the
Social Security or Taxpayer Identification Number provided is correct and that
the shareholder is exempt from backup withholding or is not currently subject to
backup withholding.
 
    A Section 1256 position held by a Fund will generally be marked-to-market
(i.e. treated as if it were sold for fair market value) on the last business day
of a Fund's fiscal year, and all gain or loss associated with fiscal year
transactions and mark-to-market positions at fiscal year end (except certain
currency gain or loss covered by Section 988 of the Code) will generally be
treated as 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or
loss. The effect of Section 1256 mark-to-market rules may be to accelerate
income or to convert what otherwise would have been long-term capital gains into
short-term capital gains or short-term capital losses into long-term capital
losses within a Fund. The acceleration of income on Section 1256 positions may
require a Fund to accrue taxable income without the corresponding receipt of
cash. In order to generate cash to satisfy the distribution requirements of the
Code, a Fund may be required to dispose of portfolio securities that they
otherwise would have continued to hold or to use cash flows from other sources
such as the sale of Fund shares. In these ways, any or all of these rules may
affect the amount, character and timing of income earned and in turn distributed
to shareholders by a Fund.
 
    As discussed above, in order for each Portfolio to continue to qualify for
federal income tax treatment as a RIC, at least 90% of its gross income for a
taxable year must be derived from certain qualifying income, including
dividends, interest, income derived from loans of securities, and gains from the
sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other
related income, including gains from options, futures and forward contracts,
derived with respect to its business of investing in stock, securities or
currencies. Any net gain realized from the closing out of futures contracts will
therefore generally be qualifying income for purposes of the 90% requirement.
Qualification as a RIC also requires that less than 30% of a Portfolio's gross
income be derived from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities,
options, futures or forward contracts (including
 
                                                                          13
<PAGE>
certain foreign currencies not directly related to the Fund's business of
investing in stock or securities) held less than three months. In order to avoid
realizing excessive gains on futures contracts held less than three months, the
Portfolio may be required to defer the closing out of futures contracts beyond
the time when it would otherwise be advantageous to do so.
 
    Short sales engaged in by a Portfolio may reduce the holding property held
by a Portfolio which is substantially identical to the property sold short. This
rule may make it more difficult for the Portfolio to satisfy the short-short
test. This rule may also have the effect of converting capital gains recognized
by the Portfolio from long-term to short-term as well as converting capital
losses recognized by the Portfolio from short-term to long-term.
 
    SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS.  In general, gains
from foreign currencies and from foreign currency options, foreign currency
futures and forward foreign exchange contracts relating to investments in stock,
securities or foreign currencies are currently considered to be qualifying
income for purposes of determining whether the Fund qualifies as a regulated
investment company. It is currently unclear, however, who will be treated as the
issuer of certain foreign currency instruments or how foreign currency options,
futures, or forward foreign currency contracts will be valued for purposes of
the regulated investment company diversification requirements applicable to the
Fund. The Fund may request a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service on some or all of these issues.
 
    Under Code Section 988, special rules are provided for certain transactions
in a foreign currency other than the taxpayer's functional currency (i.e.,
unless certain special rules apply, currencies other than the U.S. dollar). In
general, foreign currency gains or losses from forward contracts, from futures
contracts that are not "regulated futures contracts", and from unlisted options
will be treated as ordinary income or loss under Code Section 988. Also, certain
foreign exchange gains or losses derived with respect to foreign fixed-income
securities are also subject to Section 988 treatment. In general, therefore,
Code Section 988 gains or losses will increase or decrease the amount of the
Fund's investment company taxable income available to be distributed to
shareholders as ordinary income, rather than increasing or decreasing the amount
of the Fund's net capital gain.
 
    If the Fund invests in an entity which is classified as a "passive foreign
investment company" ("PFIC") for U.S. tax purposes, the application of certain
technical tax provisions applying to such companies could result in the
imposition of federal income tax with respect to such investments at the Fund
level which could not be eliminated by distributions to shareholders. The U.S.
Treasury issued proposed regulation section 1.1291-8 which establishes a
mark-to-market regime which allows investment companies investing in PFIC's to
avoid most, if not all, of the difficulties posed by the PFIC rules. In any
event, it is not anticipated that any taxes on the Fund with respect to
investments in PFIC's would be significant.
 
    A Fund's investment in options, swaps and related transactions, futures
contracts and forward contracts, options on futures contracts and stock indices
and certain other securities, including transactions involving actual or deemed
short sales or foreign exchange gains or losses are subject to many complex and
special tax rules. For example, over-the-counter options on debt securities and
equity options, including options on stock and on narrow-based stock indexes,
will be subject to tax under Section 1234 of the Code, generally producing a
long-term or short-term capital gain or loss upon exercise, lapse or closing out
of the option or sale of the underlying stock or security. By contrast, a Fund's
treatment of certain other options, futures and forward contracts entered into
by a Fund is generally governed by Section 1256 of the Code. These "Section
1256" positions generally include listed options on debt securities, options on
broad-based stock indexes, options on securities indexes, options on futures
contracts, regulated futures contracts and certain foreign currency contracts
and options thereon.
 
    When a Fund holds options or contracts which substantially diminish their
risk of loss with respect to other positions (as might occur in some hedging
transactions), this combination of positions could be treated as a "straddle"
for tax purposes, resulting in possible deferral of losses, adjustments in the
holding periods of Fund securities and conversion of short-term capital losses
into long-term capital losses. Certain tax elections exist for mixed straddles
i.e., straddles comprised of at least one Section 1256 position and at least one
non-Section 1256 position which may reduce or eliminate the operation of these
straddle rules.
 
           SPECIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
 
    Gains or losses attributable to foreign currency contracts, or to
fluctuations in exchange rates that occur between the time a Portfolio accrues
interest or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities
denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Portfolio actually collects
such receivables or pays such liabilities are treated as ordinary income or
ordinary loss to the Portfolio. Similarly, gains or losses on disposition of
debt securities denominated in a foreign currency attributable to fluctuations
in the value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the
security and the date of disposition also are treated as ordinary gain or loss
to the Portfolio. These gains or losses increase or decrease the amount of a
Portfolio's net investment income available to be distributed to its
shareholders as ordinary income.
 
    It is expected that each Portfolio will be subject to foreign withholding
taxes with respect to its dividend and interest income from foreign countries,
and a Portfolio may be subject to foreign income taxes with respect to other
income. So long as more than 50% in value of a Portfolio's total assets at the
close of the taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign
corporations, the Portfolio may elect to treat certain foreign income taxes
imposed on it for U.S. federal income tax purposes as paid directly by its
shareholders. A Portfolio will make such an election only if it deems it to be
in the best interest of its shareholders and will notify shareholders in writing
each year if it makes an election and of the amount of foreign income taxes, if
any, to be treated as paid by
 
    14
<PAGE>
the shareholders. If a Portfolio makes the election, shareholders will be
required to include in income their proportionate shares of the amount of
foreign income taxes treated as imposed on the Portfolio and will be entitled to
claim either a credit (subject to the limitations discussed below) or, if they
itemize deductions, a deduction, for their shares of the foreign income taxes in
computing their federal income tax liability.
 
    Shareholders who choose to utilize a credit (rather than a deduction) for
foreign taxes will be subject to a number of complex limitations regarding the
availability and utilization of the credit. Because of these limitations,
shareholders may be unable to claim a credit for the full amount of their
proportionate shares of the foreign income taxes paid by a Portfolio.
Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application
of these rules to their particular circumstances.
 
                         TAXES AND FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS
 
    Taxation of a shareholder who, as to the United States, is a nonresident
alien individual, a foreign trust or estate, a foreign corporation, or a foreign
partnership ("Foreign Shareholder") depends on whether the income from the
Portfolio is "effectively connected" with a U.S. trade or business carried on by
such shareholder.
 
    If the income from the Portfolio is not effectively connected with a U.S.
trade or business carried on by a Foreign Shareholder, distributions of net
investment income plus the excess of net short-term capital gains over net
long-term capital losses will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of
30% (or such lower treaty rate as may be applicable) upon the gross amount of
the dividend. Furthermore, Foreign Shareholders will generally be exempt from
U.S. federal income tax on gains realized on the sale of shares of the
Portfolio, distributions of net long-term capital gains, and amounts retained by
the Fund which are designated as undistributed capital gains.
 
    If the income from the Portfolio is effectively connected with a U.S. trade
or business carried on by a Foreign Shareholder, then distributions from the
Portfolio and any gains realized upon the sale of shares of the Portfolio, will
be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. citizens
and residents or domestic corporations.
 
    The Portfolio may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on
distributions that are otherwise exempt from withholding tax (or taxable at a
reduced treaty rate) unless the Foreign Shareholder complies with Internal
Revenue Service certification requirements.
 
    The tax consequences to a Foreign Shareholder entitled to claim the benefits
of an applicable tax treaty may differ from those described here. Furthermore,
Foreign Shareholders are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors with
respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in a
Portfolio, including the potential application of the provisions of the Foreign
Investment in Real Estate Property Tax Act of 1980, as amended.
 
                               PURCHASE OF SHARES
 
    The purchase price of the Class A shares and Class B shares of each
Portfolio is the net asset value next determined after the order is received.
For each Portfolio, an order received prior to the regular close of the New York
Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") will be executed at the price computed on the date
of receipt; and an order received after the regular close of the NYSE will be
executed at the price computed on the next day the NYSE is open as long as the
Fund's transfer agent receives payment by check or in Federal Funds prior to the
regular close of the NYSE on such day. Shares of the Fund may be purchased on
any day the NYSE is open. The NYSE will be closed on the following days: New
Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial
Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
 
    Each Portfolio reserves the right in its sole discretion (i) to suspend the
offering of its shares, (ii) to reject purchase orders when in the judgment of
management such rejection is in the best interest of the Fund, and (iii) to
reduce or waive the minimum for initial and subsequent investments for certain
fiduciary accounts such as employee benefit plans or under circumstances where
certain economies can be achieved in sales of a Portfolio's shares.
 
                              REDEMPTION OF SHARES
 
    Each Portfolio may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of
payment (i) during any period that the NYSE is closed, or trading on the NYSE is
restricted as determined by the Commission, (ii) during any period when an
emergency exists as defined by the rules of the Commission as a result of which
it is not reasonably practicable for a Portfolio to dispose of securities owned
by it, or fairly to determine the value of its assets, and (iii) for such other
periods as the Commission may permit.
 
    No charge is made for redemptions. Any redemption may be more or less than
the shareholder's cost depending on the market value of the securities held by
the Portfolio.
 
    To protect your account and the Fund from fraud, signature guarantees are
required for certain redemptions. Signature guarantees enable the Fund to verify
the identity of the person who has authorized a redemption from your account.
Signature guarantees are required in connection with: (1) all redemptions,
regardless of the amount involved, when the proceeds are to be paid to someone
other than the registered owner(s) and/or registered address; and (2) share
transfer requests.
 
                                                                          15
<PAGE>
    A guarantor must be a bank, a trust company, a member firm of a domestic
stock exchange, or a foreign branch of any of the foregoing. Notaries public are
not acceptable guarantors.
 
    The signature guarantees must appear either: (1) on the written request for
redemption; (2) on a separate instrument for assignment ("stock power") which
should specify the total number of shares to be redeemed; or (3) on all stock
certificates tendered for redemption and, if shares held by the Fund are also
being redeemed, on the letter or stock power.
 
                              SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
 
EXCHANGE FEATURES
 
    Shares of each Portfolio of the Fund may be exchanged for shares of any
other available portfolio (other than the International Equity Portfolio, which
is closed to new investors). In exchanging for shares of a portfolio with more
than one class, the class of shares a shareholder receives in exchange will be
determined in the same manner as any other purchase of shares and will not be
based on the class of shares surrendered for the exchange. Consequently, the
same minimum initial investment and minimum account size for determining the
class of shares received in the exchange will apply.
 
    Any such exchange will be based on the respective net asset values of the
shares involved. There is no sales commission or sales charge of any kind.
Before making an exchange, a shareholder should consider the investment
objectives of the portfolio to be purchased.
 
    Exchange requests may be made either by mail or telephone. Exchange requests
by mail should be sent to Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc., P.O. Box
2798, Boston, Massachusetts 02208-2798. Telephone exchanges will be accepted
only if the certificates for the shares to be exchanged are held by the Fund for
the account of the shareholder and the registration of the two accounts will be
identical. Requests for exchanges received prior to 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)
for the Municipal Money Market Portfolio, 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) for the
Money Market Portfolio, and 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) for the remaining
portfolios will be processed as of the close of business on the same day.
Requests received after these times will be processed on the next business day.
Exchanges may be subject to limitations as to amounts or frequency, and to other
restrictions established by the Board of Directors to assure that such exchanges
do not disadvantage the Fund and its shareholders.
 
    For federal income tax purposes, an exchange between portfolios is a taxable
event for shareholders subject to tax, and, accordingly, a gain or loss may be
realized. The exchange privilege may be modified or terminated by the Fund at
any time upon 60-days notice to shareholders.
 
TRANSFER OF SHARES
 
    Shareholders may transfer shares of the Fund's portfolios to another person
by making a written request to the Fund. The request should clearly identify the
account and number of shares to be transferred, and include the signature of all
registered owners and all stock certificates, if any, which are subject to the
transfer. The signature on the letter of request, the stock certificate or any
stock power must be guaranteed in the same manner as described under "Redemption
of Shares". As in the case of redemptions, the written request must be received
in good order before any transfer can be made. Transferring shares may affect
the eligibility of an account for a given class of the portfolio's shares and
may result in involuntary conversion or redemption of such shares.
 
                             INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
 
    Each Portfolio has adopted the following restrictions which are fundamental
policies and may not be changed without the approval of the lesser of: (1) at
least 67% of the voting securities of the Portfolio present at a meeting if the
holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio
are present or represented by proxy, or (2) more than 50% of the outstanding
voting securities of the Portfolio. Each Portfolio of the Fund will not:
 
     (1) purchase or sell physical commodities unless acquired as a result of
ownership of securities or other instruments (except this shall not prevent the
Portfolio from purchasing or selling options or futures contracts or from
investing in securities or other instruments backed by physical commodities);
 
     (2) purchase or sell real estate, although it may purchase and sell
securities of companies that deal in real estate and may purchase and sell
securities that are secured by interests in real estate;
 
     (3) lend any security or make any other loan if, as a result, more than
33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, but this limitation
does not apply to purchases of debt securities or repurchase agreements;
 
     (4) (i) purchase more than 10% of any class of the outstanding voting
securities of any issuer and (ii) purchase securities of an issuer (except
obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies and instrumentalities) if as
a result, with respect to 75% of its total assets, more than 5% of the
Portfolio's total assets, at market value, would be invested in the securities
of such issuer;
 
     (5) issue senior securities and will not borrow, except from banks and as a
temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes and then, in no event,
in excess of 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) less
liabilities (other than borrowings);
 
    16
<PAGE>
     (6) underwrite securities issued by others, except to the extent that the
Portfolio may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act in
the disposition of restricted securities;
 
     (7) acquire any securities of companies within one industry if, as a result
of such acquisition, more than 25% of the value of the Portfolio's total assets
would be invested in securities of companies within such industry; provided,
however, that there shall be no limitation on the purchase of obligations issued
or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or instrumentalities, except
that (i) each Portfolio may invest more than 25% of its total assets in the
Asian and European real estate industries, respectively, as provided in the
Prospectus; and
 
     (8) write or acquire options or interests in oil, gas or other mineral
exploration or development programs.
 
    In addition, each current Portfolio of the Fund has adopted non-fundamental
investment limitations as stated below and in their respective Prospectuses.
Such limitations may be changed without shareholder approval. Each current
Portfolio of the Fund will not:
 
     (1) purchase on margin or sell short, except (i) that each Portfolio may
enter into option transactions and futures contracts to the extent described in
its Prospectus, and (ii) as specified above in fundamental investment limitation
number (1) above;
 
     (2) purchase or retain securities of an issuer if those Officers and
Directors of the Fund or its investment adviser owning more than 1/2 of 1% of
such securities together own more than 5% of such securities;
 
     (3) pledge, mortgage, or hypothecate any of its assets to an extent greater
than 10% of its total assets at fair market value;
 
     (4) invest for the purpose of exercising control over management of any
company;
 
     (5) invest its assets in securities of any investment company, except as
permitted by the 1940 Act or the rules, regulations, interpretations or orders
of the SEC and its staff thereunder;
 
     [(6) except for the U.S. Real Estate Portfolio, invest in real estate
limited partnership interests, and the U.S. Real Estate Portfolio may not invest
in such interests that are not publicly traded;]
 
     (7) make loans except (i) by purchasing bonds, debentures or similar
obligations (including repurchase agreements, subject to the limitations as
described in the respective Prospectuses) that are publicly distributed, and
(ii) by lending its portfolio securities to banks, brokers, dealers and other
financial institutions so long as such loans are not inconsistent with the 1940
Act or the Rules and Regulations or interpretations of the Commission
thereunder;
 
     (8) borrow money, except from banks for extraordinary or emergency
purposes, and then only in amounts up to 10% of the value of the Portfolio's
total assets, taken at cost at the time of borrowing, or purchase securities
while borrowings exceed 5% of its total assets;
 
     (9) invest in fixed time deposits with a duration of over seven calendar
days or invest in fixed time deposits with a duration of from two business days
to seven calendar days if more than 10% of the Portfolio's total assets would be
invested in these deposits.
 
    Each of the Portfolios will diversify its holdings so that, at the close of
each quarter of its taxable year, (i) at least 50% of the market value of the
Portfolio's total assets is represented by cash (including cash items and
receivables), U.S. Government securities, and other securities, with such other
securities limited, in respect of any one issuer, for purposes of this
calculation to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Portfolio's
total assets and 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer; and
(ii) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested in the
securities of any one issuer (other than U.S. Government securities).
 
    With respect to fundamental investment limitation number (7), the Fund will
determine industry concentration in accordance with the classifications of
industries based on the Industry Numbers from the Standard Industrial
Classification Manual as prepared by the Office of Management and Budget.
 
    The percentage limitations contained in these restrictions apply at the time
of purchase of securities. Future Portfolios of the Fund may adopt different
limitations.
 
                 DETERMINING MATURITIES OF CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS
 
    Generally, the maturity of a portfolio instrument shall be deemed to be the
period remaining until the date noted on the face of the instrument as the date
on which the principal amount must be paid, or in the case of an instrument
called for redemption, the date on which the redemption payment must be made.
However, instruments having variable or floating interest rates or demand
features may be deemed to have remaining maturities as follows: (1) a Government
Obligation with a variable rate of interest readjusted no less frequently than
annually may be deemed to have a maturity equal to the period remaining until
the next readjustment of the interest rate; (b) an instrument with a variable
rate of interest, the principal amount of which is scheduled on the face of the
instrument to be paid in one year or less, may be deemed to have a maturity
equal to the period remaining until the next readjustment of the interest rate;
(c) an instrument with a variable rate of interest that is subject to a demand
feature may be deemed to have a maturity equal to the longer of the period
remaining until the next readjustment of the
 
                                                                          17
<PAGE>
interest rate or the period remaining until the principal amount can be
recovered through demand; (d) an instrument with a floating rate of interest
that is subject to a demand feature may be deemed to have a maturity equal to
the period remaining until the principal amount can be recovered through demand;
and (e) a repurchase agreement may be deemed to have a maturity equal to the
period remaining until the date on which the repurchase of the underlying
securities is scheduled to occur, or where no date is specified, but the
agreement is subject to demand, the notice period applicable to a demand for the
repurchase of the securities.
 
                             MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND
 
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
    The Fund's officers, under the supervision of the Board of Directors, manage
the day-to-day operations of the Fund. The Directors set broad policies for the
Fund and choose its officers. Two Directors and all of the officers of the Fund
are directors, officers or employees of the Fund's adviser, distributor or
administrative services provider. Directors and officers of the Fund are also
directors and officers of some or all of the other investment companies managed,
administered, advised or distributed by MSAM or its affiliates. The other
Directors have no affiliation with the Fund's adviser, distributor or
administrative services provider. A list of the Directors and officers of the
Fund and a brief statement of their present positions and principal occupations
during the past five years is set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, ADDRESS AND DATE OF BIRTH            POSITION WITH FUND    PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ---------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                     <C>
 
Barton M. Biggs*                         Chairman and Director   Chairman and Director of Morgan Stanley Asset
 1221 Avenue of the Americas                                       Management Inc. and Morgan Stanley Asset
 New York, NY 10020                                                Management Limited; Managing Director of Morgan
 11/26/32                                                          Stanley & Co. Incorporated; Director of Morgan
                                                                   Stanley Group Inc.; Member of International
                                                                   Advisory Counsel of the Thailand Fund; Director
                                                                   of Rand McNally Company; Member of the Yale
                                                                   Development Board; Chairman and Director of 16
                                                                   U.S. registered investment companies managed by
                                                                   Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.
 
Michael F. Klein*                        Director and President  Principal of Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.;
 1221 Avenue of the Americas                                       President and Director of four investment
 New York, NY 10020                                                companies and Officer of various other
 12/12/58                                                          investment companies managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                                   Asset Management Inc. Previously practiced law
                                                                   with the New York firm of Rogers & Wells.
 
John D. Barrett, II                      Director                Chairman and Director of Barrett Associates, Inc.
 521 Fifth Avenue                                                  (investment counseling); Director of the
 New York, NY 10135                                                Ashforth Company (real estate); Director of the
 8/21/35                                                           Morgan Stanley Fund, Inc., PCS Cash Fund, Inc.
                                                                   and Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.
 
Gerard E. Jones                          Director                Partner in Richards & O'Neil LLP (law firm);
 43 Arch Street                                                    Director of the Morgan Stanley Fund, Inc., PCS
 Greenwich, CT 06830                                               Cash Fund, Inc. and Morgan Stanley Universal
 1/23/37                                                           Funds, Inc.
 
Andrew McNally IV                        Director                Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rand
 8255 North Central Park Avenue                                    McNally (publication); Director of Allendale
 Skokie, IL 60076                                                  Insurance Co., Mercury Finance (consumer
 11/11/39                                                          finance); Zenith Electronics, Hubbell, Inc.
                                                                   (industrial electronics); Director of the Morgan
                                                                   Stanley Fund, Inc., PCS Cash Fund, Inc. and
                                                                   Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.
 
Samuel T. Reeves                         Director                Chairman of the Board and CEO, Pinacle L.L.C.
 8211 North Fresno Street                                          (investment firm); Director, Pacific Gas and
 Fresno, CA 93720                                                  Electric and PG&E Enterprises (utilities);
 7/28/34                                                           Director of the Morgan Stanley Fund, Inc., PCS
                                                                   Cash Fund, Inc. and Morgan Stanley Universal
                                                                   Funds, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
    18
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME, ADDRESS AND DATE OF BIRTH            POSITION WITH FUND    PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ---------------------------------------  ----------------------  --------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                     <C>
Fergus Reid                              Director                Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LumeLite
 85 Charles Colman Blvd                                            Corporation (injection molding firm); Trustee
 Pawling, NY 12564                                                 and Director of Vista Mutual Fund Group;
 8/12/32                                                           Director of the Morgan Stanley Fund, Inc., PCS
                                                                   Cash Fund, Inc. and Morgan Stanley Universal
                                                                   Funds, Inc.
 
Frederick O. Robertshaw                  Director                Of Counsel, Copple, Chamberlin Boehm, P.C.;
 2800 North Central Avenue                                         Formerly of Counsel, Bryan, Cave LLP; (law
 Phoenix, AZ 85004                                                 firms); Director of the Morgan Stanley Fund,
 1/24/34                                                           Inc., PCS Cash Fund, Inc. and Morgan Stanley
                                                                   Universal Funds, Inc.
 
James W. Grisham*                        Vice President          Principal of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and
 1221 Avenue of the Americas                                       of Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.; Vice
 New York, NY 10020                                                President of 16 U.S. registered investment
 10/24/41                                                          companies managed by Morgan Stanley Asset
                                                                   Management Inc.
 
Harold J. Schaaff, Jr.*                  Vice President          Principal of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and
 1221 Avenue of the Americas                                       of Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.; General
 New York, NY 10020                                                Counsel and Secretary of Morgan Stanley Asset
 6/10/60                                                           Management Inc.; Vice President of 16 U.S.
                                                                   registered investment companies managed by
                                                                   Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.
 
Joseph P. Stadler*                       Vice President          Vice President of Morgan Stanley & Co.
 1221 Avenue of the Americas                                       Incorporated and Morgan Stanley Asset Management
 New York, NY 10020                                                Inc.; Previously with Price Waterhouse LLP
 6/7/54                                                            (accounting); Vice President of 16 U.S.
                                                                   registered investment companies managed by
                                                                   Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.
 
Valerie Y. Lewis*                        Secretary               Vice President of Morgan Stanley & Co.
 1221 Avenue of the Americas                                       Incorporated and Morgan Stanley Asset Management
 New York, NY 10020                                                Inc.; Previously with Citicorp (banking);
 3/26/56                                                           Secretary of 16 U.S. registered investment
                                                                   companies managed by Morgan Stanley Asset
                                                                   Management Inc.
 
Karl O. Hartmann                         Assistant Secretary     Senior Vice President, Secretary and General
 73 Tremont Street                                                 Counsel of Chase Global Funds Services Company;
 Boston, MA 02108-3913                                             Previously, Leland, O'Brien, Rubinstein
 3/7/55                                                            Associates, Inc. (investments).
 
Joanna Haigney                           Treasurer               Manager of Fund Administration and Compliance
 73 Tremont Street                                                 Services, Chase Global Funds Services Company;
 Boston, MA 02108-3913                                             Previously with Coopers & Lybrand LLP; Officer
 10/10/66                                                          of 16 U.S. registered investment companies
                                                                   managed by Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.
 
Rene J. Feuerman                         Assistant Treasurer     Manager of Fund Administration and Compliance
 73 Tremont Street                                                 Services, Chase Global Funds Services Company.
 Boston, MA 02108-3913                                             Fund Administrator and previously, Senior Fund
 1/25/67                                                           Accountant, Chase Global Funds Services Company.
</TABLE>
 
- --------------
* "Interested Person" within the meaning of the 1940 Act.
 
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
    Effective June 28, 1995, the Open-end Fund Complex will pay each of the nine
Directors who is not an "interested person" an annual aggregate fee of $55,000,
plus out-of-pocket expenses. The Open-end Fund Complex will pay each of the
members of the Fund's Audit Committee, which consists of the Fund's Directors
who are not "interested persons," an additional annual aggregate fee of $10,000
for serving on such a committee. The allocation of such fees will be among the
three funds in the Open-end Fund Complex in direct proportion to their
respective average net assets. For the fiscal year December 31, 1996, the Fund
paid approximately $389,000 in Directors' fees and expenses. Directors who are
also officers or affiliated persons receive no remuneration for their services
as Directors. The Fund's officers and employees are paid by the Adviser or its
agents. As of April 7, 1997, to Fund management's knowledge, the Directors and
officers of the Fund, as a group, owned more than 1% of the
 
                                                                          19
<PAGE>
outstanding common stock of the following portfolios of the Fund: 2.0% Asian
Equity Portfolio -- Class A shares; 2.2% Emerging Markets Portfolio -- Class B
shares; 2.6% Latin American Portfolio -- Class A shares and 2.9% Technology
Portfolio -- Class A shares. The following table shows aggregate compensation
paid to each of the Fund's Directors by the Fund and the Fund Complex,
respectively, in the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
 
                               COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               (4)
                                                         (2)                (3)             ESTIMATED           (5)
                                                      AGGREGATE    PENSION OR RETIREMENT     ANNUAL      TOTAL COMPENSATION
                                                    COMPENSATION     BENEFITS ACCRUED       BENEFITS      FROM REGISTRANT
                       (1)                              FROM          AS PART OF FUND         UPON        AND FUND COMPLEX
             NAME OF PERSON, POSITION                REGISTRANT          EXPENSES          RETIREMENT    PAID TO DIRECTORS
- --------------------------------------------------  -------------  ---------------------  -------------  ------------------
<S>                                                 <C>            <C>                    <C>            <C>
Barton M. Biggs,
 Director and Chairman of the Board...............       N/A                N/A                N/A              N/A
Warren J. Olsen,
 Director and President...........................       N/A                N/A                N/A              N/A
John D. Barrett, II
 Director.........................................        59,485            N/A                N/A                68,777
Gerard E. Jones,
 Director.........................................        59,485            N/A                N/A                75,877
Andrew McNally, IV
 Director.........................................        55,023            N/A                N/A                63,195
Samuel T. Reeves,
 Director.........................................        53,287            N/A                N/A                61,331
Fergus Reid,
 Director.........................................        67,434            N/A                N/A                77,220
Frederick O. Robertshaw,
 Director.........................................        50,834            N/A                N/A                58,777
Frederick B. Whittemore,*
 Director.........................................       N/A                N/A                N/A              N/A
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
* As of March 14, 1997, Mr. Whittemore resigned from the Board of Directors.
 
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENTS
 
    Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. ("MSAM" or the "Adviser") is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. The
principal offices of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. are located at
1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. As compensation for advisory services for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1996,
the Adviser earned fees of approximately $34,338,000, $40,534,000 and
$55,465,000, respectively, and from such fees voluntarily waived fees of
$2,640,000, $3,526,000 and $4,340,000, respectively. For the fiscal years ended
December 31, 1994, December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1996, the Fund paid
brokerage commissions of approximately $7,287,293, $10,317,515 and $17,014,335,
respectively. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, December 31, 1995
and December 31, 1996, the Fund paid in the aggregate $796,000, $377,000 and
$826,686, respectively, as brokerage commissions to Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, an affiliated broker-dealer, which represented 11%, 4%, and 5% of
the total amount of brokerage commissions paid in each respective period. For
the fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, December 31, 1995 and December 31,
1996, the Fund paid administrative fees to MSAM of approximately $4,458,000,
$5,238,000 and $7,298,531, respectively.
 
    Pursuant to the MSAM Administration Agreement between the Adviser and the
Fund, the Adviser provides Administrative Services. For its services under the
Administration Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly fee which on an
annual basis equals 0.15 of 1% of the average daily net assets of each
Portfolio.
 
    Under the Agreement between the Adviser and The Chase Manhattan Bank
("Chase"), Chase Global Funds Services Company ("CGFSC," a corporate affiliate
of Chase) provides certain administrative services to the Fund. CGFSC provides
operational and administrative services to investment companies with
approximately $69 billion in assets and having approximately 215,930 shareholder
accounts as of December 31, 1996. CGFSC's business address is 73 Tremont Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02108-3913.
 
DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES
 
    Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (the "Distributor"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Group Inc., serves as the Distributor of the Fund's
shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement for the Fund and a Plan of
Distribution for the Class B shares of the Portfolios pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act (each, a "Plan" and collectively, the "Plans"). Under
 
    20
<PAGE>
each Plan the Distributor is entitled to receive from the Portfolios a
distribution fee, which is accrued daily and paid quarterly, at an annual rate
of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Class B shares of the
Portfolios. The Distributor expects to allocate most of its fee to its
investment representative and investment dealers, banks or financial service
firms that provide distribution services ("Participating Dealers"). The actual
amount of such compensation is agreed upon by the Fund's Board of Directors and
by the Distributor. The Distributor may, in its discretion, voluntarily waive
from time to time all or any portion of its distribution fee and the Distributor
is free to make additional payments out of its own assets to promote the sale of
Fund shares.
 
    The Plans obligate the Portfolios to accrue and pay to the Distributor the
fee agreed to under its Distribution Agreement. The Plans do not obligate the
Portfolios to reimburse the Distributor for the actual expenses the Distributor
may incur in fulfilling its obligations under the Plans. Thus, under each Plan,
even if the Distributor's actual expenses exceed the fee payable to it
thereunder at any given time, the Portfolios will not be obligated to pay more
than that fee. If the Distributor's actual expenses are less than the fee it
receives, the Distributor will retain the full amount of the fee. The Plans for
the Class B shares were most recently approved by the Fund's Board of Directors,
including those directors who are not "interested persons" of the Fund as that
term is defined in the 1940 Act and who have no direct or indirect financial
interest in the operation of a Plan or in any agreements related thereto, on
February 13, 1997.
 
CODE OF ETHICS
 
    The Board of Directors of the Fund has adopted a Code of Ethics under Rule
17j-1 of the 1940 Act which incorporates the Code of Ethics of the Adviser
(together, the "Codes"). The Codes significantly restrict the personal investing
activities of all employees of the Adviser and, as described below, impose
additional, more onerous, restrictions on the Fund's investment personnel.
 
    The Codes require that all employees of the Adviser preclear any personal
securities investment (with limited exceptions, such as government securities).
The preclearance requirement and associated procedures are designed to identify
any substantive prohibition or limitation applicable to the proposed investment.
The substantive restrictions applicable to all employees of the Adviser include
a ban on acquiring any securities in a "hot" initial public offering and a
prohibition from profiting on short-term trading in securities. In addition, no
employee may purchase or sell any security that at the time is being purchased
or sold (as the case may be), or to the knowledge of the employee is being
considered for purchase or sale, by any fund advised by the Adviser.
Furthermore, the Codes provide for trading "blackout periods" that prohibit
trading by investment personnel of the Fund within periods of trading by the
Fund in the same (or equivalent) security.
 
                            PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
 
    The Fund may from time to time quote various performance figures to
illustrate the Portfolios' past performance.
 
    Performance quotations by investment companies are subject to rules adopted
by the Commission, which require the use of standardized performance quotations.
In the case of total return, non-standardized performance quotations may be
furnished by the Fund but must be accompanied by certain standardized
performance information computed as required by the Commission. Current yield
and average annual compounded total return quotations used by the Fund are based
on the standardized methods of computing performance mandated by the Commission.
An explanation of those and other methods used by the Fund to compute or express
performance follows.
 
TOTAL RETURN
 
    From time to time each Portfolio may advertise total return for each class
of shares of the Portfolio. Total return figures are based on historical
earnings and are not intended to indicate future performance. The average annual
total return is determined by finding the average annual compounded rates of
return over 1-, 5-, and 10-year periods (or over the life of the Portfolio) that
would equate an initial hypothetical $1,000 investment to its ending redeemable
value. The calculation assumes that all dividends and distributions are
reinvested when paid. The quotation assumes the amount was completely redeemed
at the end of each 1-, 5-, and 10-year period (or over the life of the
Portfolio) and the deduction of all applicable Fund expenses on an annual basis.
 
    The average annual compounded rates of return (unless otherwise noted) for
the Fund's Portfolios for the one year and five year periods ended December 31,
1996 and for the period from inception through December 31, 1996 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 INCEPTION     ONE     AVERAGE ANNUAL
NAME OF PORTFOLIO                                                                  DATE       YEAR       FIVE YEAR
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------
<S>                                                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
Active Country Allocation
  Class A......................................................................    1/17/92      9.71%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96      9.22%           N/A
Aggressive Equity
  Class A......................................................................    3/08/95     40.90%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     39.72%           N/A
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 AVERAGE ANNUAL
                                                                                     SINCE
NAME OF PORTFOLIO                                                                  INCEPTION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                                                                              <C>
Active Country Allocation
  Class A......................................................................         8.71%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Aggressive Equity
  Class A......................................................................        45.98%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
</TABLE>
 
                                                                          21
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 INCEPTION     ONE     AVERAGE ANNUAL
NAME OF PORTFOLIO                                                                  DATE       YEAR       FIVE YEAR
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------
<S>                                                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
Asian Equity
  Class A......................................................................    7/01/91      3.49%        19.35%
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96      2.92%           N/A
Balanced
  Class A......................................................................    2/20/90     10.93%        10.15%
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     10.24%           N/A
Emerging Growth
  Class A......................................................................   11/01/89      3.72%         4.10%
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96      3.58%           N/A
Emerging Markets
  Class A......................................................................    9/25/92     12.19%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     11.04%           N/A
Emerging Markets Debt
  Class A......................................................................    2/01/94     50.52%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     48.52%           N/A
Equity Growth
  Class A......................................................................    4/02/91     30.97%        16.99%
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     29.92%           N/A
European Equity
  Class A......................................................................    4/02/93     22.29%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     20.76%           N/A
Fixed Income
  Class A......................................................................    5/15/91      4.61%         7.00%
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96      4.35%           N/A
Global Equity
  Class A......................................................................    7/15/92     22.83%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     22.04%           N/A
Global Fixed Income
  Class A......................................................................    5/01/91      6.44%         7.17%
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96      6.12%           N/A
Gold
  Class A......................................................................    2/01/94     16.94%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     13.21%           N/A
High Yield
  Class A......................................................................    9/28/92     15.01%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     14.37%           N/A
International Equity
  Class A......................................................................    8/04/89     19.64%        16.41%
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     18.58%           N/A
International Magnum
  Class A......................................................................    3/15/96     8.25%*           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    3/15/96     7.90%*           N/A
International Small Cap
  Class A......................................................................   12/15/92     16.82%           N/A
Japanese Equity
  Class A......................................................................    4/25/94     -1.40%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     -1.67%           N/A
Latin American
  Class A......................................................................    1/18/95     48.77%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     42.44%           N/A
Municipal Bond
  Class A......................................................................    1/18/95      3.67%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96      3.55%           N/A
Small Cap Value Equity
  Class A......................................................................   12/17/92     22.99%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     22.33%           N/A
U.S. Real Estate
  Class A......................................................................    2/24/95     39.56%           N/A
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     38.23%           N/A
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 AVERAGE ANNUAL
                                                                                     SINCE
NAME OF PORTFOLIO                                                                  INCEPTION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                                                                              <C>
Asian Equity
  Class A......................................................................        18.28%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Balanced
  Class A......................................................................        10.39%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Emerging Growth
  Class A......................................................................        11.96%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Emerging Markets
  Class A......................................................................        12.93%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Emerging Markets Debt
  Class A......................................................................        18.94%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Equity Growth
  Class A......................................................................        17.06%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
European Equity
  Class A......................................................................        19.62%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Fixed Income
  Class A......................................................................         8.35%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Global Equity
  Class A......................................................................        19.22%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Global Fixed Income
  Class A......................................................................         8.50%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Gold
  Class A......................................................................         6.80%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
High Yield
  Class A......................................................................        12.91%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
International Equity
  Class A......................................................................        11.96%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
International Magnum
  Class A......................................................................           N/A
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
International Small Cap
  Class A......................................................................        16.42%
Japanese Equity
  Class A......................................................................        -2.51%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Latin American
  Class A......................................................................        16.98%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Municipal Bond
  Class A......................................................................         6.36%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
Small Cap Value Equity
  Class A......................................................................        14.32%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
U.S. Real Estate
  Class A......................................................................        32.73%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
</TABLE>
 
    22
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 INCEPTION     ONE     AVERAGE ANNUAL
NAME OF PORTFOLIO                                                                  DATE       YEAR       FIVE YEAR
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------
<S>                                                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
Value Equity
  Class A......................................................................    1/31/90     19.73%        14.92%
  Class B......................................................................    1/02/96     18.57%           N/A
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 AVERAGE ANNUAL
                                                                                     SINCE
NAME OF PORTFOLIO                                                                  INCEPTION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                                                                              <C>
Value Equity
  Class A......................................................................        12.95%
  Class B......................................................................           N/A
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
* Cumulative (unannualized) total return since inception of the Portfolio.
 
    These figures were calculated according to the following formula:
 
<TABLE>
<C>         <C>        <S>
   P(1+T)n      =      ERV
</TABLE>
 
    where:
 
<TABLE>
<C>         <C>        <S>
         P      =      a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000
         T      =      average annual total return
         n      =      number of years
       ERV      =      ending redeemable value of hypothetical $1,000 payment made at the beginning
                       of the 1-, 5-, or 10-year periods at the end of the 1-, 5-, or 10-year
                       periods (or fractional portion thereof).
</TABLE>
 
CALCULATION OF YIELD FOR NON-MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIOS
 
    From time to time certain of the Fund's Portfolios may advertise yield.
 
    Current yield reflects the income per share earned by a Portfolio's
investments.
 
    Current yield is determined by dividing the net investment income per share
earned during a 30-day base period by the maximum offering price per share on
the last day of the period and annualizing the result. Expenses accrued for the
period include any fees charged to all shareholders during the base period.
 
    The respective current yields for certain of the Fund's Portfolios for the
30-day period ended December 31, 1996 were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               CLASS A
PORTFOLIO NAME                                                                                                 SHARES
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------
<S>                                                                                                           <C>      <C>
Emerging Markets Debt.......................................................................................     10.46%
Fixed Income................................................................................................      6.39%
Global Fixed Income.........................................................................................      4.91%
High Yield..................................................................................................      9.31%
Municipal Bond..............................................................................................      4.35%
 
<CAPTION>
 
PORTFOLIO NAME                                                                                                CLASS B SHARES
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------
 
<S>                                                                                                           <C>
Emerging Markets Debt.......................................................................................        10.16%
 
Fixed Income................................................................................................         6.27%
 
Global Fixed Income.........................................................................................         4.76%
 
High Yield..................................................................................................         9.05%
 
Municipal Bond..............................................................................................         4.11%
 
</TABLE>
 
    These figures were obtained using the following formula:
 
<TABLE>
<S>        <C>        <C>
  Yield        =       2[(a - b + 1)(6) -
                               1]
                      -------------------
                               cd
</TABLE>
 
    where:
 
<TABLE>
<S>        <C>        <C>
a                  =  dividends and interest earned during the period
b                  =  expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements)
c                  =  the average daily number of shares outstanding during the
                      period that were entitled to receive income distributions
d                  =  the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the
                      period.
</TABLE>
 
CALCULATION OF YIELD FOR MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIOS
 
    The current yield of the Money Market and Municipal Money Market Portfolios
is calculated daily on a base period return for a hypothetical account having a
beginning balance of one share for a particular period of time (generally 7
days). The return is determined by dividing the net change (exclusive of any
capital changes in such account) by its average net asset value for the period,
and then multiplying it by 365/7 to determine the annualized current yield. The
calculation of net change reflects the value of additional shares purchased with
the dividends by the Portfolio, including dividends on both the original share
and on such additional shares. The yields of the Money Market and Municipal
Money Market Portfolios for the 7-day period ended December 31, 1996 were 4.99%
and 3.38%, respectively. An effective yield, which reflects the effects of
compounding and represents an annualization of the current yield with all
dividends reinvested, may also be calculated for each Portfolio by dividing the
base period return by 7, adding 1 to the quotient, raising the sum to the 365th
power, and subtracting 1 from the result. The effective yields of the Money
Market and Municipal Money Market Portfolios for the 7-day period ended December
31, 1996 were 5.11% and 3.43%, respectively.
 
                                                                          23
<PAGE>
    The yield of a Portfolio will fluctuate. The annualization of a week's
dividend is not a representation by the Portfolio as to what an investment in
the Portfolio will actually yield in the future. Actual yields will depend on
such variables as investment quality, average maturity, the type of instruments
the Portfolio invests in, changes in interest rates on instruments, changes in
the expenses of the Fund and other factors. Yields are one basis investors may
use to analyze the Portfolios of the Fund, and other investment vehicles;
however, yields of other investment vehicles may not be comparable because of
the factors set forth in the preceding sentence, differences in the time periods
compared, and differences in the methods used in valuing portfolio instruments,
computing net asset value and calculating yield.
 
                TAXABLE EQUIVALENT YIELD FOR THE MUNICIPAL BOND
                      AND MUNICIPAL MONEY MARKET PORTFOLIO
 
    It is easy to calculate your own taxable equivalent yield if you know your
tax bracket. The formula is:
 
<TABLE>
<C>                   <C>        <S>
   Tax Free Yield
- -------------------       =      Your Taxable Equivalent
1 - Your Tax Bracket             Yield
</TABLE>
 
    For example, if you are in the 28% tax bracket and can earn a tax-free yield
of 7.5%, the taxable equivalent yield would be 10.42%.
 
    The table below indicates the advantages of investments in Municipal Bonds
for certain investors. Tax-exempt rates of interest payable on a Municipal Bond
(shown at the top of each column) are equivalent to the taxable yields set forth
opposite the respective income tax levels, based on income tax rates effective
for the tax year 1996 under the Internal Revenue Code. There can, of course, be
no guarantee that the Municipal Bond Portfolio or Municipal Money Market
Portfolio will achieve a specific yield. Also, it is possible that some portion
of the Portfolio's dividends may be subject to Federal income taxes. A
substantial portion, if not all, of such dividends may be subject to state and
local taxes.
 
                         TAXABLE EQUIVALENT YIELD TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SAMPLE LEVEL OF             FEDERAL
           TAXABLE INCOME              INCOME         TAXABLE EQUIVALENT RATES BASED ON TAX-EXEMPT YIELD OF:
- ------------------------------------    TAX     ------------------------------------------------------------------
  JOINT RETURN       SINGLE RETURN    BRACKETS   3%     4%     5%     6%      7%      8%      9%     10%     11%
- -----------------  -----------------  --------  -----  -----  -----  -----  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
<S>                <C>                <C>       <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
$0-39,000          $0-23,350           15.0%     3.5 %  4.7 %  5.9 %  7.1 %   8.2 %   9.4 %  10.6 %  11.8 %  12.9 %
39,000-94,250      23,350-56,550        28.0     4.2    5.6    6.9    8.3     9.7    11.1    12.5    13.9    15.3
94,250-143,600     56,550-117,950       31.0     4.3    5.8    7.2    8.7    10.1    11.6    13.0    14.5    15.9
143,600-256,500    117,950-256,500      36.0     4.7    6.3    7.8    9.4    10.9    12.5    14.1    15.6    17.2
over 256,500       over 256,500         39.6     5.0    6.6    8.3    9.9    11.6    13.2    14.9    16.6    18.2
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
* Net amount subject to 1996 Federal Income Tax after deductions and exemptions,
  not indexed for 1996 income tax rates.
 
    The taxable equivalent yields for the Municipal Money Market and Municipal
Bond Portfolios for the seven days ended December 31, 1996 assuming a Federal
income tax rate of 39.6% (maximum rate), were 5.60% and 6.44%, respectively. The
taxable equivalent effective yields for the Municipal Money Market and Municipal
Bond Portfolios for the seven days ended December 31, 1996, assuming the same
tax rate, were 5.68% and 6.57%, respectively.
 
COMPARISONS
 
    To help investors better evaluate how an investment in a Portfolio of Morgan
Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. might satisfy their investment objective,
advertisements regarding the Fund may discuss various measures of Fund
performance as reported by various financial publications. Advertisements may
also compare performance (as calculated above) to performance as reported by
other investments, indices and averages. The following publications may be used:
 
    (a) CDA Mutual Fund Report, published by CDA Investment Technologies, Inc.
- -- analyzes price, current yield, risk, total return and average rate of return
(average annual compounded growth rate) over specified time periods for the
mutual fund industry.
 
    (b) Financial publications: Business Week, Changing Times, Financial World,
Forbes, Fortune, Money, Barron's, Consumer's Digest, Financial Times, Global
Investor, Investor's Daily, Lipper Analytical Services, Inc., Morningstar, Inc.,
New York Times, Personal Investor, Wall Street Journal and Weisenberger
Investment Companies Service -- publications that rate fund performance over
specified time periods.
 
    (c) Historical data supplied by the research departments of First Boston
Corporation, the J.P. Morgan companies, Salomon Brothers, Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith, Lehman Brothers and Bloomberg L.P.
 
    (d) Lipper -- Mutual Fund Performance Analysis and Lipper -- Fixed Income
Fund Performance Analysis -- measures total return and average current yield for
the mutual fund industry. Ranks individual mutual fund performance over
specified time periods, assuming reinvestment of all distributions, exclusive of
any applicable sales charges.
 
    24
<PAGE>
    (e) Mutual Fund Source Book, published by Morningstar, Inc. -- analyzes
price, yield, risk and total return for equity funds.
 
    (f) Savings and Loan Historical Interest Rates -- as published in the U.S.
Savings & Loan League Fact Book.
 
    (g) Stocks, Bonds, Bills and Inflation, published by Hobson Associates --
historical measure of yield, price and total return for common and small company
stock, long-term government bonds, U.S. Treasury bills and inflation.
 
    The following indices and averages may also be used:
 
    (a) Composite Indices -- 70% Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and 30%
NASDAQ Industrial Index; 35% Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and 65% Salomon
Brothers High Grade Bond Index; and 65% Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index and
35% Salomon Brothers High Grade Bond Index.
 
    (b) Consumer Price Index (or cost of Living Index), published by the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics -- a statistical measure of change, over time, in the
price of goods and services in major expenditure groups.
 
    (c) Donoghue's Money Fund Average -- an average of all major money market
fund yields, published weekly for 7 and 30-day yields.
 
    (d) Dow Jones Composite Average or its component averages -- an unmanaged
index composed of 30 blue-chip industrial corporation stocks (Dow Jones
Industrial Average), 15 utilities company stocks and 20 transportation stocks.
Comparisons of performance assume reinvestment of dividends.
 
    (e) EMBI+ -- Expanding on the EMBI, which includes only Bradys, the EMBI+
includes a broader group of Brady Bonds, loans, Eurobonds and the U.S. Dollar
local markets instruments. A more comprehensive benchmark than the EMBI, the
EMBI+ covers 49 instruments from 14 countries. At $96 billion, its market cap is
nearly 50% higher than the EMBI's. The EMBI+ is not, however, intended to
replace the EMBI but rather to complement it. The EMBI continues to represent
the most liquid, most easily traded segment of the market, including more of the
assets that investors typically hold in their portfolios. Both of these indices
are published daily.
 
    (f) First Boston High Yield Index -- generally includes over 180 issues with
an average maturity range of seven to ten years with a minimum capitalization of
$100 million. All issues are individually trader-priced monthly.
 
    (g) First Boston Upper/Middle Tier High Yield Index -- an unmanaged index of
bonds rated B to BBB.
 
    (h) Goldman Sachs 100 Convertible Bond Index -- currently includes 67 bonds
and 33 preferred. The original list of names was generated by screening for
convertible issues of 100 million or greater in market capitalization. The index
is priced monthly.
 
    (i) IFC Global Total Return Composite Index -- an unmanaged index of common
stocks and includes 18 developing countries in Latin America, East and South
Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (net of dividends reinvested).
 
    (j) Indata Balanced-Median Index -- an unmanaged index and includes an asset
allocation of 2.5% cash, 38.2% bonds and 59.3% equity based on $52.6 billion in
assets among 579 portfolios for the year ended December 31, 1996 (assumes
dividends reinvested).
 
    (k) Indata Equity-Median Stock Index -- an unmanaged index which includes an
average asset allocation of 7.4% cash and 92.6% equity based on $464.9 billion
in assets among 1,277 portfolios for the year ended December 31, 1996.
 
    (l) J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index -- a market-weighted index
composed of all Brady bonds outstanding and includes Argentina, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland and Venezuela.
 
    (m) J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus -- expanding on the J.P.
Morgan Emerging Markets Bond Index, which only trades Brady Bonds, this index
reflects total returns for external debt instruments which have been traded in
emerging markets. Brady Bonds are included amoung such instruments, as well as
Eurobonds, loans and U.S. dollar denominated local market instruments. Countries
included in the index are Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco,
Nigeria, Panama, Peru, the Phillipines, Poland, Russia, South Africa and
Venezuela.
 
    (n) J.P. Morgan Traded Global Bond Index -- an unmanaged index of securities
and includes Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States.
 
    (o) Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index -- an unmanaged index made up of
the Government/Corporate Index, the Mortgage Backed Securities Index and the
Asset-Backed Securities Index.
 
    (p) Lehman Brothers LONG-TERM Treasury Bond -- composed of all bonds covered
by the Lehman Brothers Treasury Bond Index with maturities of 10 years or
greater.
 
    (q) The Lehman 7 Year Municipal Bond Index -- an unmanaged index which
consists of investment grade bonds with maturities between 6-8 years rated BAA
or better. All bonds have been taken from deals done within the last 5 years,
with assets of $50 million or larger.
 
    (r) Lipper Capital Appreciation Index -- a composite of mutual funds managed
for maximum capital gains.
 
                                                                          25
<PAGE>
    (s) Morgan Stanley Capital International Combined Far East Free ex-Japan
Index -- a market-capitalization weighted index comprising stocks in Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Korea
is included in the MSCI Combined Far East Free ex-Japan Index at 20% of its
market capitalization.
 
    (t) Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index -- an arithmetic, market
value-weighted average of the performance of over 900 securities on the stock
exchanges of countries in Europe, Australia and the Far East.
 
    (u) Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Global Latin
America Index -- an unmanaged, arithmetic market value weighted average of the
performance of over 196 securities on the stock exchanges of Argentina, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela (Assumes reinvestment of dividends).
 
    (v) Morgan Stanley Capital International Europe Index -- an unmanaged index
of common stocks and includes 14 countries throughout Europe.
 
    (w) Morgan Stanley Capital International Japan Index -- an unmanaged index
of common stocks.
 
    (x) Morgan Stanley Capital International Latin America Index -- a
broad-based market capitalization-weighted composite index covering at least 60%
of markets in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela
(assumes dividends reinvested).
 
    (y) Morgan Stanley Capital International World Index -- an arithmetic,
market value-weighted average of the performance of over 1,470 securities listed
on the stock exchanges of countries in Europe, Australia, the Far East, Canada
and the United States.
 
    (z) NASDAQ Composite Index -- an unmanaged index of common stocks.
 
    (aa) NASDAQ Industrial Index -- a capitalization-weighted index composed of
more than 3,000 domestic stocks taken from the following industry sectors:
agriculture, mining, construction, manufacturing, electronic components,
services and public administration enterprises. It is a value-weighted index
calculated on price change only and does not include income.
 
    (bb) National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") Index
- -- an unmanaged market weighted index of tax qualified REITs (excluding
healthcare REITs) listed on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange
and the NASDAQ National Market System including dividends.
 
    (cc) The New York Stock Exchange composite or component indices -- unmanaged
indices of all industrial, utilities, transportation and finance company stocks
listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
    (dd) Philadelphia Gold and Silver Index -- an unmanaged index comprised of
seven leading companies involved in the mining of gold and silver.
 
    (ee) Russell 2000 Growth Index -- comprised of those Russell 2000 Securities
with an above-average growth orientation. Here, securities tend to exhibit
higher price-to-book and price-earnings ratios, lower dividend yields and higher
forecasted growth than the Value universe.
 
    (ff) Russell 2500 Index -- comprised of the bottom 500 stocks in the Russell
1000 Index which represents the universe of stocks from which most active money
managers typically select; and all the stocks in the Russell 2000 Index. The
largest security in the index has a market capitalization of approximately 1.3
billion.
 
    (gg) Salomon Brothers GNMA Index -- includes pools of mortgages originated
by private lenders and guaranteed by the mortgage pools of the Government
National Association.
 
    (hh) Salomon Brothers High Grade Corporate Bond Index -- consists of
publicly issued, non-convertible corporate bonds rated AA or AAA. It a is
value-weighted, total return index, including approximately 800 issues with
maturities of 12 years or greater.
 
    (ii) Salomon Brothers Broad Investment Grade Bond -- a market-weighted index
that contains approximately 4700 individually priced investment grade corporate
bonds rated BBB or better, U.S. Treasury/agency issues and mortgage pass-through
securities.
 
    (jj) Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index or its component indices -- unmanaged
index composed of 400 industrial stocks, 40 financial stocks, 40 utilities
company stocks and 20 transportation stocks. Comparisons of performance assume
reinvestment of dividends.
 
    (kk) Standard & Poor's Small Cap 600 Index -- a capitalization-weighted
index of 600 domestic stocks having market capitalizations which reside within
the 50th and the 83rd percentiles of the market capitalization of the entire
stock market, chosen for certain liquidity characteristics and for industry
representation.
 
    (ll) Wilshire 5000 Equity Index or its component indices -- represents the
return on the market value of all common equity securities for which daily
pricing is available. Comparisons of performance assume reinvestment of
dividends.
 
    26
<PAGE>
    In assessing such comparisons of performance an investor should keep in mind
that the composition of the investments in the reported indices and averages is
not identical to the composition of investments in the Fund's Portfolios, that
the averages are generally unmanaged, and that the items included in the
calculations of such averages may not be identical to the formula used by the
Fund to calculate its futures. In addition, there can be no assurance that the
Fund will continue this performance as compared to such other averages.
 
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS
 
    The Fund's Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, permit the
Directors to issue 35 billion shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share,
from an unlimited number of classes ("Portfolios") of shares. Currently the Fund
consists of shares of thirty-two portfolios (the China Growth, Mortgage-Backed
Securities and MicroCap Portfolios are not currently offering shares).
 
    The shares of each portfolio of the Fund are fully paid and nonassessable,
and have no preference as to conversion, exchange, dividends, retirement or
other features. The shares of each portfolio of the Fund have no pre-emptive
rights. The shares of the Fund have non-cumulative voting rights, which means
that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
Directors can elect 100% of the Directors if they choose to do so. A shareholder
is entitled to one vote for each full share held (and a fractional vote for each
fractional share held), then standing in his name on the books of the Fund.
 
DIVIDENDS AND CAPITAL GAINS DISTRIBUTIONS
 
    The Fund's policy is to distribute substantially all of each Portfolio's net
investment income, if any. The Fund may also distribute any net realized capital
gains in the amount and at the times that will avoid both income (including
taxable gains) taxes on it and the imposition of the federal excise tax on
income and capital gains (see discussion under "Taxes" in this Statement of
Additional Information). However, the Fund may also choose to retain net
realized capital gains and pay taxes on such gains. The amounts of any income
dividends or capital gains distributions cannot be predicted.
 
    Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after the purchase of shares of a
Portfolio by an investor may have the effect of reducing the per share net asset
value of that Portfolio by the per share amount of the dividend or distribution.
Furthermore, such dividends or distributions, although in effect a return of
capital, are subject to income taxes for shareholders subject to tax as set
forth herein and in the applicable Prospectus.
 
    As set forth in the Prospectus, unless the shareholder elects otherwise in
writing, all dividends and capital gains distributions for a class of shares are
automatically received in additional shares of such class of that Portfolio of
the Fund at net asset value (as of the business day following the record date).
This automatic reinvestment of dividends and distributions will remain in effect
until the Fund is notified by the shareholder in writing at least three days
prior to the record date that either the Income Option (income dividends in cash
and capital gains distributions in additional shares at net asset value) or the
Cash Option (both income dividends and capital gains distributions in cash) has
been elected.
 
CUSTODY ARRANGEMENTS
 
    Chase is the Fund's custodian for domestic and certain foreign assets. Chase
is not affiliated with Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated. Morgan Stanley Trust
Company, Brooklyn, NY, acts as the Fund's custodian for foreign assets held
outside the United States and employs subcustodians who were approved by the
Directors of the Fund in accordance with Rule 17f-5 adopted by the Commission
under the 1940 Act. Morgan Stanley Trust Company is an affiliate of Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated. In the selection of foreign subcustodians, the
Directors consider a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the
reliability and financial stability of the institution, the ability of the
institution to provide efficiently the custodial services required for the Fund,
and the reputation of the institution in the particular country or region.
 
                             DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS
 
DESCRIPTION OF COMMERCIAL PAPER AND BOND RATINGS
 
    EXCERPTS FROM MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. ("MOODY'S") DESCRIPTION OF
BOND RATINGS:  Aaa -- Bonds which are rated Aaa are judged to be the best
quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk and are generally
referred to as "gilt-edge." Interest payments are protected by a large or by an
exceptionally stable margin, and principal is secure. While the various
protective elements are likely to change, such changes as can be visualized are
most unlikely to impair the fundamentally strong position of such issues. Aa --
Bonds which are rated Aa are judged to be of high quality by all standards.
Together with the Aaa group they comprise what are generally known as high grade
bonds. They are rated lower than the best bonds because margins of protection
may not be as large as in Aaa securities or fluctuation of protective elements
may be of greater amplitude or there may be other elements present which make
the long-term risks appear somewhat larger than in Aaa securities. Moody's
applies numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 in the Aa and A rating categories. The
modifier 1 indicates that the security ranks at a higher end of the rating
category, modifier 2 indicates a mid-range rating and the modifier 3 indicates
that the issue ranks at the lower end of
 
                                                                          27
<PAGE>
the rating category. A -- Bonds which are rated A possess many favorable
investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade
obligations. Factors giving security to principal and interest are considered
adequate but elements may be present which suggest a susceptibility to
impairment sometime in the future. Baa -- Bonds which are rated Baa are
considered as medium grade obligations, i.e., they are neither highly protected
nor poorly secured. Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for
the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be
characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack
outstanding investment characteristics and in fact have speculative
characteristics as well. Ba -- Bonds which are rated Ba are judged to have
speculative elements; their future cannot be considered as well assured. Often
the protection of interest and principal payments may be very moderate, and
thereby not well safeguarded during both good and bad times over the future.
Uncertainty of position characterizes bonds in this class. B -- Bonds which are
rated B generally lack characteristics of the desirable investment. Assurance of
interest and principal payments or of maintenance of other terms of the contract
over any long period of time may be small. Caa -- Bonds which are rated Caa are
of poor standing. Such issues may be in default or there may be present elements
of danger with respect to principal or interest. Ca -- Bonds which are rated Ca
represent obligations which are speculative in a high degree. Such issues are
often in default or have other marked shortcomings. C -- Bonds which are rated C
are the lowest rated class of bonds, and issues so rated can be regarded as
having extremely poor prospects of ever attaining any real investment standing.
 
    EXCERPTS FROM STANDARD & POOR'S RATINGS GROUP ("S&P") DESCRIPTION OF BOND
RATINGS:  AAA -- Bonds rated AAA have the highest rating assigned by Standard &
Poor's to a debt obligation and indicate an extremely strong capacity to pay
principal and interest. AA -- Bonds rated AA have a very strong capacity to pay
interest and repay principal and differ from the highest rated issues only to a
small degree. A -- Bonds rated A have a strong capacity to pay interest and
repay principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse
effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than bonds in higher
rated categories. BBB -- Debt rated BBB is regarded as having an adequate
capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits
adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing
circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and
repay principal for debt in this category than for debt in higher rated
categories. BB, B, CCC, CC -- Debt rated BB, B, CCC and CC is regarded, on
balance, as predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest
and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation. BB indicates
the lowest degree of speculation and CC the highest degree of speculation. While
such debt will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these
are outweighed by large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse
conditions. C -- The rating C is reserved for income bonds on which no interest
is being paid. D -- Debt rated D is in default, and payment of interest and/or
repayment of principal is in arrears.
 
    DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S RATINGS OF STATE AND MUNICIPAL NOTES:  Moody's
ratings for state and municipal notes and other short-term obligations are
designated Moody's Investment Grade ("MIG"). Symbols used are as follows: MIG-1
- -- best quality, enjoying strong protection from established cash flows of funds
for their servicing or from established broad-based access to the market for
refinancing, or both; MIG-2 -- high quality with margins of protection ample
although not so large as in the preceding group; MIG-3 -- favorable quality,
with all security elements accounted for but lacking the undeniable strength of
the preceding grades.
 
    DESCRIPTION OF MOODY'S HIGHEST COMMERCIAL PAPER RATING:  Prime-1 ("P1") --
Judged to be of the best quality. Their short-term debt obligations carry the
smallest degree of investment risk.
 
    EXCERPT FROM S&P'S RATING OF MUNICIPAL NOTE ISSUES:  S-1+ -- very strong
capacity to pay principal and interest; SP-2 -- strong capacity to pay principal
and interest.
 
    DESCRIPTION OF S&P'S HIGHEST COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS:  A-1+ -- this
designation indicates the degree of safety regarding timely payment is
overwhelming. A-1 -- this designation indicates the degree of safety regarding
timely payment is very strong.
 
                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
    The Portfolios had not commenced operations as of the end of the Fund's
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and therefore no financial statements are
included in this Statement of Additional Information. After the Portfolios
commence operations, the Fund's future annual and semi-annual reports will
contain the Portfolios' financial statements and those reports will be available
to Shareholders free of charge.
 
    28
<PAGE>

                                     PART C

                     Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.
                                Other Information


ITEM 24.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

     (A)  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
          --------------------

          1.   INCLUDED IN PART A (PROSPECTUSES)

               The Registrant's audited financial highlights for the Money 
               Market, Municipal Money Market, Aggressive Equity, Emerging 
               Growth, Equity Growth, Value Equity, Small Cap Value Equity, 
               U.S. Real Estate, Balanced, Active Country Allocation, Global 
               Equity, International Equity, International Small Cap, 
               European Equity, Asian Equity, Emerging Markets, Gold, 
               Japanese Equity, Latin American, Emerging Markets Debt, Fixed 
               Income, Global Fixed Income, High Yield, Municipal Bond, 
               Technology and International Magnum Portfolios, respectively, 
               for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, are included in 
               the prospectuses of the foregoing portfolios which were filed 
               with the SEC as set forth in Part A and are incorporated herein 
               by reference.  The Fund's Mortgage-Backed Securities, China 
               Growth, U.S. Equity Plus, MicroCap, European Real Estate and
               Asian Real Estate Portfolios were not operational as of 
               December 31, 1996.  Accordingly, no audited financial highlights
               are included in the respective prospectus of each of the 
               foregoing portfolios.

          2.   INCORPORTED BY REFERENCE INTO PART B (STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONAL 
               INFORMATION)

               The Registrant's audited financial statements for the Money 
               Market, Municipal Money Market, Aggressive Equity, Emerging 
               Growth, Equity Growth, Value Equity, Small Cap Value Equity, 
               U.S. Real Estate, Balanced, Active Country Allocation, Global 
               Equity, International Equity, International Small Cap, 
               European Equity, Asian Equity, Emerging Markets, Gold, 
               Japanese Equity, Latin American, Emerging Markets Debt, Fixed 
               Income, Global Fixed Income, High Yield, Municipal Bond,
               International Magnum and Technology Portfolios, respectively, for
               the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, including Price 
               Waterhouse LLP's report thereon, are incorporated by reference to
               the Statements of Additional Information from Form N-30D, the
               Annual Report to Shareholders, as filed with the Securities and
               Exchcange Commission on March 11, 1997 with Accession Number
               0000912057-97-008473. 

               Included in such financial statements are the following:

                1. Statement of Net Assets
                2. Statement of Operations
                3. Statement of Changes in Net Assets
                4. Statement of Cash Flows (Emerging Markets Debt
                   Portfolio Only)
                5. Financial Highlights
                6. Notes to Financial Statements
                7. Report of Independent Accountants

               The Fund's Mortgage-Backed Securities, China Growth, U.S. Equity 
               Plus, MicroCap, European Real Estate and Asian Real Estate 
               Portfolios were not operational as of December 31, 1996.  
               Accordingly, no audited financial statements are included in the
               Statements of Additional Information.

<PAGE>

     (B)  EXHIBITS
          --------

     1    (a)  Articles of Amendment and Restatement are incorporated by
               reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
               811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on October 13, 1995.

          (b)  Articles Supplementary to Registrant's Articles of Amendment and 
               Restatement (reclassifying shares) is incorporated by reference 
               to Post-Effective Amendment No. 30 to the Registrant's 
               Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 
               811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on May 24, 1996.

          (c)  Articles Supplementary to Registrant's Articles of Amendment and 
               Restatement (adding new Technology Portfolio) is incorporated by 
               reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 30 to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
               811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on May 24, 1996.

          (d)  Form of Articles Supplementary to Registrant's Articles of 
               Amendment and Restatement (adding U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio), 
               is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 35
               to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File 
               Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on 
               May 7, 1997.

          (e)  Form of Articles Supplementary to Registrant's Articles of
               Amendment and Restatement (adding European Real Estate and 
               Asian Real Estate Portfolios), is filed herewith.

     2    Amended and Restated By-laws are incorporated by reference to 
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the Registrant's Registration 
          Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed
          with the SEC via EDGAR on February 28, 1997.

     3    Not Applicable.

     4    Registrant's Form of Specimen Security was previously filed and is
          incorporated herein by reference.

     5    (a)  Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Morgan
               Stanley Asset Management Inc. is incorporated by reference to
               Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (b)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.  (adding Registrant's
               Value Equity, Balanced and Fixed Income Portfolios) is
               incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to
               the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.
               33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August
               1, 1995.

          (c)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the Global
               Equity, Global Fixed Income, European Equity and Equity Growth
               Portfolios) is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
               Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
               Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the
               SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (d)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the Asian Equity
               Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
               Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
               Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the
               SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (e)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the Active
               Country Allocation Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to
               Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (f)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the Emerging
               Markets, High Yield and International Small Cap Portfolios) is
               incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to
               the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.
               33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August
               1, 1995.

          (g)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the Small Cap
               Value Equity Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to Post-
               Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

                                        C-2
<PAGE>

          (h)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the Emerging
               Markets Debt, Mortgage-Backed Securities, Municipal Bond and
               Japanese Equity Portfolios) is incorporated by reference to Post-
               Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (i)  Sub-Advisory Agreement among Registrant, Morgan Stanley Asset
               Management Inc. and Sun Valley Gold Company (with respect to the
               Gold Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
               Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
               Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the
               SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (j)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the China Growth
               Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
               Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
               Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the
               SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (k)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the Latin
               American Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to Post-
               Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (l)  Withdrawn.

          (m)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the Aggressive
               Equity and U.S. Real Estate Portfolios) is incorporated by
               reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-
               5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (n)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the MicroCap
               Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
               Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
               Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the
               SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (o)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant
               and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the
               International Magnum Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to
               Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on November 3, 1995.

          (p)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
               Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding the
               Technology Portfolio), is incorporated by reference to 
               Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the Registrant's 
               Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 
               811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on February 28, 1997.

          (q)  Form of Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between 
               Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding 
               U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio), is incorporated by reference to
               Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as 
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on May 7, 1997.

          (r)  Form of Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
               Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management, Inc. (adding
               European Real Estate and Asian Real Estate Portfolios), is filed
               herewith.

     6    (a)  Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Morgan Stanley &
               Co. Incorporated is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
               Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
               Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the
               SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (b)  Supplement to Distribution Agreement between Registrant and
               Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is incorporated by reference to
               Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on April 29, 1996.

     8    (a)  Mutual Fund Custody Agreement (Domestic Custody Agreement)
               between Registrant and United States Trust Company of New York
               dated March 10, 1994 is incorporated by reference to Post-
               Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
               Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
               filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          (b)  Registrant's Custody Agreement (International), dated July 31,
               1989, as amended is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
               Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
               Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the
               SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

                                        C-3
<PAGE>

          (c)  Amendment dated April 22, 1996 to Registrant's Custody Agreement
               (International), dated July 31, 1989, is incorporated by 
               reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 30 to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
               811-5624) as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on May 24, 1996.

     9    (a)  Administration Agreement between Registrant and Morgan Stanley
               Asset Management Inc. (the "MSAM Administration Agreement") is
               incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to
               the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.
               33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August
               1, 1995.

          (b)  U.S. Trust Administration Agreement is incorporated by reference
               to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
               Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
               811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

     10   Opinion of Counsel is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
          Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
          N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via
          EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

     11   Consent of Independent Accountants is filed herewith.

     13   Purchase Agreement is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
          Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-
          1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR
          on August 1, 1995.

     15   Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for Class B Shares
          (the "Class B Plan") of the Active Country Allocation Portfolio is
          incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the
          Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166
          and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on February 28, 1997.
          The following Class B Plans have been omitted because
          they are substantially identical to the one incorporated by reference
          herein.  The omitted Class B Plans differ from the Class B Plan
          incorporated by reference herein only with respect to the portfolio
          to which the Class B Plan relates:  Fixed Income, Global Fixed Income,
          Municipal Bond, Mortgage-Backed Securities, High Yield, Money Market,
          Municipal Money Market, Small Cap Value Equity, Value Equity,
          Balanced, Gold, Global Equity, International Equity, International
          Small Cap, Asian Equity, European Equity, Japanese Equity, Latin
          American, Emerging Markets, Emerging Markets Debt, China Growth,
          Equity Growth, Emerging Growth, MicroCap, Aggressive Equity, U.S. Real
          Estate, International Magnum, Technology, U.S. Equity Plus, European
          Real Estate and Asian Real Estate Portfolios.

     16   Schedule of Computation of Performance Information is incorporated by
          reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
          Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624),
          as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

     19   Registrant's Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan is incorporated by
          reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the Registrant's 
          Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 
          811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on February 28, 1997.

     24   Powers of Attorney are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
          Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
          N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via
          EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

     27   Financial data schedules for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
          for Registrant's portfolios in operation during such period (See 
          Item 24(a)), are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
          Amendment No. 35 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
          on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with
          the SEC via EDGAR on May 7, 1997.

ITEM 25.  PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT

          Registrant is not controlled by or under common control with any
          person.

ITEM 26.  NUMBER OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES ON May 30, 1997

     Active Country Allocation Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        65
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         2

                                        C-4
<PAGE>

     Aggressive Equity Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       464
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        96

     Asian Equity Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1,144
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        77

     Balanced Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        61
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        13

     Emerging Growth Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       187
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        31

     Emerging Markets Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1,562
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       131

     Equity Growth Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       744
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        62

     Fixed Income Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       196
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        34

     Global Equity Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       107
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        24

     Global Fixed Income Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       155
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         9

     High Yield Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       647
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        58

     International Equity Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       428
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        51

     International Small Cap Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       151

     Latin American Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       807
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        35

     Money Market Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       591

     Municipal Money Market Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       306

     Small Cap Value Equity Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       500
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        27

     U.S. Real Estate Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       818
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        68

     Value Equity Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       544
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        24

     European Equity Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       810
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        42

     Municipal Bond Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        96
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0

     Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio

                                        C-5
<PAGE>

          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0

     Japanese Equity Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       797
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        34

     Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       593
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        31

     Gold Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       603
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        26

     China Growth Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0

     MicroCap Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0

     International Magnum Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        57
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        32

     Technology Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        83
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        19

     U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0

     European Real Estate Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0

     Asian Real Estate Portfolio
          Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0
          Class B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         0

ITEM 27.  INDEMNIFICATION

          Reference is made to Article TEN of the Registrant's Articles of
Incorporation.  Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

ITEM 28.  BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER

          Reference is made to the caption "Investment Adviser" in the
Prospectuses constituting Part A of this Registration Statement Information
required by this item with respect to each Officer or Director of the Advisor,
together with information as to any other business, profession, vocation or
employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such Officers and Directors
during the past two years is incorporated by reference to Schedules A and D
of Form ADV filed by the Advisors Act (SEC File No. 801-15757).

          Listed below are the officers and Directors of Morgan Stanley Asset
Management Inc. ("MSAM").


DIRECTORS

James M. Allwin                   Director
Barton M. Biggs                   Director
Gordon S. Gray                    Director
Peter A. Nadosy                   Director
Dennis G. Sherva                  Director


OFFICERS

Barton M. Biggs                   Chairman 
                                  Managing Director
Peter A. Nadosy                   Vice Chairman
                                  Managing Director
James M. Allwin                   President
                                  Managing Director
John R. Alkire                    Managing Director (MSAM) - Toyko
P. Dominic Caldecott              Managing Director (MSAM) - UK
A. Macdonald Caputo               Managing Director
Ean Wah Chin                      Managing Director (MSAM) -
                                   Singapore
Garry B. Crowder                  Managing Director
Madhav Dhar                       Managing Director
Kurt A. Feuerman                  Managing Director
Paul B. Ghaffari                  Managing Director
Gordon S. Gray                    Managing Director
Marianne Laing Hay                Managing Director (MSAM) - UK
Gary D. Latainer                  Managing Director
Mahmoud A. Mamdani                Managing Director
Robert L. Meyer                   Managing Director
Russell C. Platt                  Managing Director
Robert A. Sargent                 Managing Director (MSAM) - UK
Bidyut C. Sen                     Managing Director
Vinod R. Sethi                    Managing Director
Dennis G. Sherva                  Managing Director
James L. Tanner                   Managing Director (MSAM) - UK
Richard G. Woolworth, Jr.         Managing Director
Debra M. Aaron                    Principal
Warren Ackerman III               Principal
Robert E. Angevine                Principal
Suzanne S. Akers                  Principal
Gerald P. Barth-Wehrenalp         Principal
Theodore R. Bigman                Principal
Francine J. Bovich                Principal
Stuart J. M. Breslow              Principal
Andrew C. Brown                   Principal (MSAM) - UK
Jeffrey P. Brown                  Principal
Frances Campion                   Principal (MSAM) - UK
Terence P. Carmichael             Principal
Arthur Certosimo                  Principal

                                      C-6
<PAGE>

Stephen C. Cordy                  Principal
Jacqueline A. Day                 Principal (MSAM) - UK
Raye L. Dube                      Principal
Abigail Jones Feder               Principal
Eugene Flood, Jr.                 Principal
Thomas C. Frame                   Principal
James Wayne Grisham               Principal
Perry E. Hall II                  Principal
Ruth A. Hughes-Guden              Principal
Margaret Kinsley Johnson          Principal
Michael F. Klein                  Principal
Michael B. Kushma                 Principal
Khoon-Min Lim                     Principal
Marianne J. Lippmann              Principal
Yvonne Longley                    Principal (MSAM) - UK
Andrew Mack                       Principal (MSAM) - UK
Gary J. Mangino                   Principal
Jeffrey Margolis                  Principal
M. Paul Martin                    Principal
Walter Maynard, Jr.               Principal
Margaret P. Naylor                Principal (MSAM) - UK
Yoshiro Okawa                     Principal (MSAM) - Tokyo
Christopher G. Petrow             Principal
Narayan Ramachandran              Principal
Gail Hunt Reeke                   Principal
Christine I. Reilly               Principal
Stefano Russo                     Principal (MSAM) - Milan
Bruce R. Sandberg                 Principal
Kiat Seng Seah                    Principal (MSAM) - Singapore
Stephen C. Sexauer                Principal
Robert M. Smith                   Principal
Kunihiko Sugio                    Principal (MSAM) - Tokyo
Ann D. Thivierge                  Principal
Philip W. Winters                 Principal
Alford E. Zick, Jr.               Principal
Maryann Savadelis Agre            Vice President
Peter Aliprantis                  Vice President
Jeffrey Alvino                    Vice President
Alistair Anderson                 Vice President
William S. Auslander              Vice President
Kimberly L. Austin                Vice President
Marshall T. Bassett               Vice President
Christopher Blair                 Vice President
Richard Boon                      Vice President
Geraldine Boyle                   Vice President
Paul Boyne                        Vice President
L. Kenneth Brooks                 Vice President
Jonathan Paul Buckeridge          Vice President (MSAM) - Melbourne
Carl Kuo-Wei Chien                Vice President (MSAM) - Hong Kong
Lori A. Cohane                    Vice President
James Colmenares                  Vice President
Kate Cornish-Bowden               Vice President (MSAM) - UK
Nikhil Dhaon                      Vice President
Christine H. du Bois              Vice President
Richard S. Farden                 Vice President
Daniel E. Fox                     Vice President
Karen T. Frost                    Vice President (MSAM) - UK
Lisa Gallo                        Vice President
Josephine M. Glass                Vice President
Charles A. Golden                 Vice President
Dimitri Goulandris                Vice President
James A. Grasselino               Vice President

                                      C-7
<PAGE>

Kenneth John Greig                Vice President (MSAM) - UK
Maureen A. Grover                 Vice President
Michael Hewett                    Vice President
Kenneth R. Holley                 Vice President
Holly D. Hopps                    Vice President
Etsuko Fuseya Jennings            Vice President
Donald B. Johnston                Vice President
Jaideep Khanna                    Vice President
Peter L. Kirby                    Vice President
George Koshy                      Vice President
Paul Koske                        Vice President
Daniel R. Lascano                 Vice President
Arthur J. Lev                     Vice President
Valerie Y. Lewis                  Vice President
Jane Likins                       Vice President (MSAM) - UK
William David Lock                Vice President (MSAM) - UK
Gordon W. Loery                   Vice President
Paula J. Morgan                   Vice President (MSAM) - UK
Nancy Morton                      Vice President
Clare K. Mutone                   Vice President
Terumi Nagata                     Vice President (MSAM) - Tokyo
Bradley Okita                     Vice President
Martin O. Pearce                  Vice President (MSAM) - UK
Alexander A. Pena                 Vice President
Anthony J. Pesce                  Vice President
David J. Polansky                 Vice President
Karen Post                        Vice President
Akash Prakash                     Vice President (MSAM) - Muabai
Gregg A. Robinson                 Vice President
Gerald D. Rubin                   Vice President
Donald P. Ryan                    Vice President
Neil Siegel                       Vice President
Ashutosh Sinha                    Vice President
Andy B. Skov                      Vice President
Michael James Smith               Vice President (MSAM) - UK
Kim I. Spellman                   Vice President
Joseph P. Stadler                 Vice President
Christian K. Stadlinger           Vice President
Catherine Steinhardt              Vice President
Ram K. Sundaram                   Vice President
Keiko Tamaki-Kuroda               Vice President
Shunso Tatsumi                    Vice President
Louise Teeple                     Vice President
Joseph Y.S. Tern                  Vice President (MSAM) Singapore
Landon Thomas                     Vice President
Richard Boon Hwee Toh             Vice President (MSAM) Singapore
K.N. Vaidyanathan                 Vice President (MSAM) Muabai
Dennis J. Walsh                   Vice President
Jacob Walthour                    Vice President
Kevin V. Wasp                     Vice President
Patricia Woo                      Vice President
Harold J. Schaaff, Jr.            Principal
                                  General Counsel and Secretary 
Eileen K. Murray                  Treasurer
Madeline D. Barkhorn              Assistant Secretary
Charlene R. Herzer                Assistant Secretary


          In addition, MSAM acts as investment adviser to the following
registered investment companies:  American Advantage International Equity Fund;
The Brazilian Investment Fund, Inc.; certain portfolios of The Enterprise Group
of Funds, Inc.; Fountain Square International Equity Fund; General American
Capital Co.; The Latin American Discovery Fund, Inc.; certain portfolios of The
Legends Fund, Inc.; The Malaysia Fund, Inc.; Morgan Stanley Africa Investment
Fund, Inc.; Morgan Stanley Asia-Pacific Fund, Inc.; Morgan Stanley Emerging
Markets Debt Fund, Inc.; Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Fund, Inc.; all funds
of the Morgan Stanley Fund, Inc.; Morgan Stanley Global Opportunity Bond Fund,
Inc.; all funds of The Morgan Stanley High Yield Fund, Inc.; Morgan Stanley
India Investment Fund, Inc.; certain portfolios of Morgan Stanley Universal 
Funds, Inc.; The Pakistan Investment

                                        C-8
<PAGE>

Fund, Inc.;  PCS Cash Fund, Inc.; The Thai Fund, Inc.; The Turkish Investment
Fund, Inc.; Principal Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc.; Principal Asset Allocation
Fund, Inc.; certain portfolios of the SunAmerica Series Trust and certain
portfolios of the Fortis Series Fund.

ITEM 29.  PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS
          ----------------------

          Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated ("MS&Co.") is distributor for 
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. The information required by this 
Item 29 with respect to each Director and officer of MS&Co. is incorporated by
reference to Schedule A of Form BD filed by MS&Co. pursuant to the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934 (SEC File No. 8-15869).


ITEM 30.  LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
          --------------------------------

          The books, accounts and other documents required by Section 31(a)
under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules promulgated thereunder
are maintained in the physical possession of the Registrant; Registrant's
Transfer Agent, Chase Global Funds Services Company, P.O. Box 2798, 
Boston, Massachusetts  02208-2798; MSAM; MS&Co.; and the Registrant's 
custodian banks, including sub-custodians.

ITEM 31.  MANAGEMENT SERVICES
          -------------------

          The Registrant has entered into a Service Agreement with The Chase
Manhattan Bank, successor in interest to United States Trust Company of
New York, which was filed as Exhibit No. 9(b) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25
to the Fund's Registration Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 32.  UNDERTAKINGS
          ------------

          1.  Registrant hereby undertakes to file a post-effective amendment 
containing reasonably current financial statements, which need not be 
certified, for the China Growth, U.S. Equity Plus, Mortgage-Backed 
Securities, MicroCap, European Real Estate and Asian Real Estate Portfolios 
within four to six months of their effective date or the commencement of 
operations, whichever is later.

          2.  Registrant hereby undertakes that whenever a Shareholder or
Shareholders who meet the requirements of Section 16(c) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940 inform the Board of Directors of his or their desire to
communicate with other Shareholders of the Fund, the Directors will inform such
Shareholder(s) as to the approximate number of Shareholders of record and the
approximate costs of mailing or afford said Shareholders access to a list of
Shareholders.

                                        C-9
<PAGE>

                                      SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant 
certifies that it has duly caused this Amendment to its Registration 
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly 
authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York, on June 23, 1997.


                              MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.


                              By:  /s/ Michael F. Klein
                                   ----------------------------
                                   Michael F. Klein
                                   President and Director


          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended, this Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below
by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


SIGNATURE                          TITLE                    DATE


/s/ Michael F. Klein               Director, President      June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------    (Principal Executive
Michael F. Klein                   Officer)


* /s/ Barton M. Biggs              Director (Chairman)      June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------
  Barton M. Biggs


* /s/ Fergus Reid                  Director                 June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------
  Fergus Reid


* /s/ Frederick D. Robertshaw      Director                 June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------
  Frederick O. Robertshaw


* /s/ Andrew McNally IV            Director                 June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------
  Andrew McNally IV


* /s/ John D. Barrett II           Director                 June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------
  John D. Barrett II


* /s/ Gerard E. Jones              Director                 June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------
  Gerard E. Jones


* /s/ Samuel T. Reeves             Director                 June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------
  Samuel T. Reeves


* /s/ Joanna M. Haigney            Treasurer                June 23, 1997
- -------------------------------    (Principal
  Joanna M. Haigney                Accounting
                                   Officer)


*By: /s/ Michael F. Klein
   ----------------------------
     Michael F. Klein
     Attorney-In-Fact

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------

  EDGAR
  Exhibit
  Number                      Description

           1(a)     Articles of Amendment and Restatement are incorporated by
                    reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 26 to the
                    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.
                    33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
                    October 13, 1995.

            (b)     Articles Supplementary to Registrant's Articles of
                    Amendment and Restatement (reclassifying shares) is 
                    incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 30
                    to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A 
                    (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via
                    EDGAR on May 24, 1996.

            (c)     Articles Supplementary to Registrant's Articles of 
                    Amendment and Restatement (adding new Technology Portfolio) 
                    is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment 
                    No. 30 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 
                    N-1A (File No. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC
                    via EDGAR on May 24, 1996.

            (d)     Form of Articles Supplementary to Registrant's Articles of 
                    Amendment and Restatement (adding U.S. Equity Plus 
                    Portfolio), is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
                    Amendment No. 35 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
                    on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed 
                    with the SEC via EDGAR on May 7, 1997.
                    
EX-99.B     (e)     Form of Articles Supplementary to Registrant's Articles of
                    Amendment and Restatement (adding European Real Estate and
                    Asian Real Estate Portfolios), is filed herewith.

           2        Amended and Restated By-laws are incorporated by 
                    reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the 
                    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A 
                    (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the 
                    SEC via EDGAR on February 28, 1997.

           4        Registrant's Form of Specimen Security was previously filed
                    and is incorporated herein by reference.

           5   (a)  Investment Advisory Agreement between Registrant and Morgan
                    Stanley Asset Management Inc. is incorporated by reference
                    to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1,
                    1995.

           5   (b)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc.  (adding
                    Registrant's Equity, Balanced and Fixed Income Portfolios)
                    is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No.
                    25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A
                    (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via
                    EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

           5   (c)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Global Equity, Global Fixed Income, European Equity and
                    Equity Growth Portfolios) is incorporated by reference to
                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1,
                    1995.

           5   (d)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Asian Equity Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to
                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1,
                    1995.

           5   (e)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Active Country Allocation Portfolio) is incorporated by
                    reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the
                    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 
<PAGE>

                    N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the 
                    SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

           5   (f)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Emerging Markets, High Yield and International Small Cap
                    Portfolios) is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
                    Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
                    on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed
                    with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

           5   (g)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Small Cap Value Equity Portfolio) is incorporated by
                    reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the
                    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.
                    33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
                    August 1, 1995.

           5   (h)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Emerging Markets Debt, Mortgage-Backed Securities,
                    Municipal Bond and Japanese Equity Portfolios) is
                    incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25
                    to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A
                    (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via
                    EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

           5   (i)  Sub-Advisory Agreement among Registrant, Morgan Stanley
                    Asset Management Inc. and Sun Valley Gold Company (with
                    respect to the Gold Portfolio) is incorporated by reference
                    to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1,
                    1995.

           5   (j)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the China Growth Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to
                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1,
                    1995.

           5   (k)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Latin American Portfolio) is incorporated by reference
                    to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1,
                    1995.

           5   (l)  Withdrawn.

           5   (m)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Aggressive Equity and U.S. Real Estate Portfolios) is
                    incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25
                    to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A
                    (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via
                    EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

                                          2
<PAGE>

           5   (n)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the MicroCap Portfolio) is incorporated by reference to
                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1,
                    1995.

           5   (o)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the International Magnum Portfolio) is incorporated by
                    reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 28 to the
                    Registrant's Registration Statement of Form N-1A (File Nos.
                    33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
                    November 3, 1995.

           5   (p)  Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding
                    the Technology Portfolio), is  incorporated by reference to 
                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the Registrant's 
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
                    February 28, 1997.

           5   (q)  Form of Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between 
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding 
                    U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio), is incorporated by reference to
                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 35 to the Registrant's 
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on May 7, 1997.

EX-99.B    5   (r)  Form of Supplement to Investment Advisory Agreement between 
                    Registrant and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (adding 
                    European Real Estate and Asian Real Estate Portfolios), is 
                    filed herewith.

           6   (a)  Distribution Agreement between Registrant and Morgan Stanley
                    & Co. Incorporated is incorporated by reference to Post-
                    Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
                    Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
                    filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

           6   (b)  Supplement to Distribution Agreement between Registrant and
                    Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is incorporated by
                    reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the
                    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.
                    33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on
                    April 29, 1996.

           8   (a)  Mutual Fund Custody Agreement (Domestic Custody Agreement)
                    between Registrant and United States Trust Company of New
                    York dated March 10, 1994 is incorporated by reference to
                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1,
                    1995.

           8   (b)  Registrant's Custody Agreement (International), dated July
                    31, 1989, as amended is incorporated by reference to Post-
                    Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
                    Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
                    filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

           8   (c)  Amendment dated April 22, 1996 to Registrant's Custody
                    Agreement (International), dated July 31, 1989, is 
                    incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 
                    30 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 
                    N-1A  (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the
                    SEC via EDGAR on May 24, 1996.

           9   (a)  Administration Agreement between Registrant and Morgan
                    Stanley Asset Management Inc. (the "MSAM Administration
                    Agreement") is incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
                    Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
                    on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed
                    with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          9    (b)  U.S. Trust Administration Agreement is incorporated by
                    reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25 to the
                    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos.
                    33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed

                                          3
<PAGE>

                    with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          10        Opinion of Counsel is incorporated by reference to Post-
                    Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
                    Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
                    filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

EX-99.B   11        Consent of Independent Accountants is filed herewith.

          13        Purchase Agreement is incorporated by reference to Post-
                    Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
                    Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
                    filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          15        Plan of Distribution Pursuant to Rule 12b-1 for
                    Class B Shares (the "Class B Plan") of the Active Country
                    Allocation Portfolio is incorporated by reference to 
                    Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the Registrant's 
                    Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 
                    811-5624), as filed with the SEC via EDGAR on 
                    February 28, 1997. The following Class B Plans have been
                    omitted because they are substantially identical to the 
                    one incorporated by reference herein.  The omitted Class B
                    Plans differ from the Class B Plan incorporated by reference
                    herein only with respect to the portfolio to which the 
                    Class B Plan relates:  Fixed Income, Global Fixed Income,
                    Municipal Bond, Mortgage-Backed Securities, High Yield,
                    Money Market, Municipal Money Market, Small Cap Value 
                    Equity, Value Equity, Balanced, Gold, Global Equity,
                    International Equity, International Small Cap, Asian 
                    Equity, European Equity, Japanese Equity, Latin American,
                    Emerging Markets, Emerging Markets Debt, China Growth, 
                    Equity Growth, Emerging Growth, MicroCap, Aggressive Equity,
                    U.S. Real Estate, International Magnum Technology, U.S. 
                    Equity Plus, European Real Estate and Asian Real Estate 
                    Portfolios.

          16        Schedule of Computation of Performance Information is
                    incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 25
                    to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A
                    (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the SEC via
                    EDGAR on August 1, 1995.

          19        Registrant's Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan is incorporated
                    by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 33 to the 
                    Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A 
                    (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed with the 
                    SEC via EDGAR on February 28, 1997.

          24        Powers of Attorney are incorporated by reference to Post-
                    Effective Amendment No. 25 to the Registrant's Registration
                    Statement on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as
                    filed with the SEC via EDGAR on August 1, 1995.


          27        Financial data schedules for the fiscal year ended 
                    December 31, 1996 for Registrant's portfolios in 
                    operation during such period (See Item 24(a)), 
                    are incorporated by reference to Post-Effective
                    Amendment No. 35 to the Registrant's Registration Statement
                    on Form N-1A (File Nos. 33-23166 and 811-5624), as filed 
                    with the SEC via EDGAR on May 7, 1997.



                                          4

<PAGE>



                       MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
                                      FORM OF
                            ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY TO THE
                        ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT


    MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation (the
"Corporation"), pursuant to Section 2-208 and  2-208.1 of the Maryland General
Corporation Law ("MGCL"), hereby certifies to the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

    FIRST, The Corporation is an open-end investment company registered under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

    SECOND, The Board of Directors of the Corporation at a meeting duly
convened and held on May 21, 1997 adopted a resolution adding two new
portfolios, offering Class A and Class B shares of common stock, and increasing
the total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have the
authority to issue from thirty-six billion (36,000,000,000) shares of common
stock, par value $.001 per share, having an aggregate par value of thirty-six
million dollars ($36,000,000) designated and classified in thirty portfolios as
follows:

                                                            NUMBER OF SHARES    
                                                            OF COMMON STOCK     
NAME OF CLASS                                           CLASSIFIED AND ALLOCATED
- -------------                                           ------------------------

Money Market Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .   4,000,000,000 shares
Municipal Money Market Portfolio - Class A . . . . . .   4,000,000,000 shares
Emerging Growth Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Growth Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Equity Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Equity Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Value Equity Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Value Equity Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Fixed Income Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares

<PAGE>

Fixed Income Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Balanced Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Balanced Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Global Equity Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Global Equity Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Global Fixed Income Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Global Fixed Income Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
European Equity Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
European Equity Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Equity Growth Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Equity Growth Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Asian Equity Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Asian Equity Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Active Country Allocation Portfolio - Class A. . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Active Country Allocation Portfolio - Class B. . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Small Cap Portfolio - Class A. . . . . .   1,000,000,000 shares
High Yield Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
High Yield Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Markets Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Markets Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Small Cap Value Equity Portfolio - Class A . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Small Cap Value Equity Portfolio - Class B . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio - Class A . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio - Class B . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Municipal Bond Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Municipal Bond Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Japanese Equity Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Japanese Equity Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Gold Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Gold Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
China Growth Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
China Growth Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Latin American Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Latin American Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Aggressive Equity Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Aggressive Equity Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
U.S. Real Estate Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
U.S. Real Estate Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
MicroCap Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
MicroCap Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Magnum Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
<PAGE>

International Magnum Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Technology Portfolio- Class A. . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Technology Portfolio- Class B  . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares

to thirty-eight billion (38,000,000,000) shares of common stock, par value $.001
per share, having an aggregate par value of thirty-eight million dollars
($38,000,000) and adding two new portfolios, offering Class A and Class B shares
of common stock, so that the common stock par value $.001 per share of the
Corporation authorized to be issued is designated and classified in thirty-two
portfolios as follows:
                                                            NUMBER OF SHARES    
                                                            OF COMMON STOCK     
NAME OF CLASS                                           CLASSIFIED AND ALLOCATED
- -------------                                           ------------------------

Money Market Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .   4,000,000,000 shares
Municipal Money Market Portfolio - Class A . . . . . .   4,000,000,000 shares
Emerging Growth Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Growth Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Equity Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Equity Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Value Equity Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Value Equity Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Fixed Income Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Fixed Income Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Balanced Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Balanced Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Global Equity Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Global Equity Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Global Fixed Income Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Global Fixed Income Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
European Equity Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
European Equity Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Equity Growth Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Equity Growth Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Asian Equity Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Asian Equity Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Active Country Allocation Portfolio - Class A. . . . .     500,000,000 shares

<PAGE>

Active Country Allocation Portfolio - Class B. . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Small Cap Portfolio - Class A. . . . . .   1,000,000,000 shares
High Yield Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
High Yield Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Markets Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Markets Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Small Cap Value Equity Portfolio - Class A . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Small Cap Value Equity Portfolio - Class B . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio - Class A . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Mortgage-Backed Securities Portfolio - Class B . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Municipal Bond Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Municipal Bond Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Japanese Equity Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Japanese Equity Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Gold Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Gold Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
China Growth Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
China Growth Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Latin American Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Latin American Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Aggressive Equity Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Aggressive Equity Portfolio - Class B. . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
U.S. Real Estate Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
U.S. Real Estate Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
MicroCap Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
MicroCap Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Magnum Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
International Magnum Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Technology Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Technology Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
U.S. Equity Plus Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Asian Real Estate Portfolio - Class A. . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
Asian Real Estate Portfolio - Class B  . . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
European Real Estate Portfolio - Class A . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
European Real Estate Portfolio - Class B . . . . . . .     500,000,000 shares
<PAGE>

    THIRD:  Such shares have been duly authorized and classified by the Board
of Directors pursuant to authority and power contained in Section 2-105(c) of
the MGCL and the Corporation's Articles of Amendment and Restatement.

    FOURTH:  The description of the shares of stock of each class designated
and classified as set forth above, including any preferences, conversion and
other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends,
qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption is as set forth in the
Articles of Amendment and Restatement and has not changed in connection with
these Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment and Restatement. 

<PAGE>

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC. has caused
these presents to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and
attested by its Secretary on this ___ day of June, 1997.

                                       MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.



                                       By:                  
                                            -----------------
                                            Michael F. Klein
                                            President
  


Attest:                    
        --------------------
        Valerie Y. Lewis
        Secretary 

<PAGE>

    The undersigned, President of MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC., who
executed on behalf of said corporation the foregoing Articles Supplementary to
the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of which this certificate is made a
part, hereby acknowledges, in the name and on behalf of said corporation, the
foregoing Articles Supplementary to the Articles of Amendment and Restatement to
be the corporate act of said corporation and further certifies that, to the best
of his knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts set forth
therein with respect to the approval thereof are true in all material respects,
under the penalties of perjury.


                                       
                                            -----------------------
                                            Michael F. Klein
                                            President

<PAGE>



                       MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
                                       FORM OF
                      SUPPLEMENT TO INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT

                             ASIAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO
                            EUROPEAN REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO

         SUPPLEMENT TO INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated as
of October 1, 1988 between Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. (the "Fund")
and Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (the "Adviser").

                                       RECITALS

         The Fund has executed and delivered the Investment Advisory Agreement,
dated as of October 1, 1988 (the "Agreement"), between the Fund and the Adviser.
The Agreement sets forth the rights and obligation of the parties with respect
to the management of the Portfolios of the Fund.  The Fund has created two
additional portfolios:  the Asian Real Estate and European Real Estate
Portfolios (the "Additional Portfolios").

                                      AGREEMENTS

         Now, therefore, the parties agree as follows:

         The percentage rate in Paragraph 3 of the Agreement with respect to
the Additional Portfolios will be as set forth below:

         Portfolio                          Percentage Rate
         ---------                          ---------------

         Asian Real Estate Portfolio               0.80%
         European Real Estate Portfolio            0.80%

         This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

         The parties listed below have executed this Agreement as of the __ day
of _______________, 199   .
                                            MORGAN STANLEY ASSET
                                            MANAGEMENT INC.


                                            -------------------------------
                                            Name:
                                            Title:                        
    

                                            MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL
                                            FUND, INC.


                                            ------------------------------
                                            Name:
                                            Title:    

<PAGE>


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the reference to us under the heading "Independent 
Accountants" in the Prospectus and under the heading "Financial Statements" 
in the Statement of Additional Information for the European Real Estate 
Portfolio and the Asian Real Estate Portfolio, constituting parts of this 
Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to the registration statement on Form N-1A of 
Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc.


/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
June 23, 1997


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