SINGAPORE FUND INC/MD/
DEF 14A, 1996-04-11
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<PAGE>
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )
 
   
    Filed by the Registrant /X/
    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
 
    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    /X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant  to  Section  240.14a-11(c)  or  Section
         240.14a-12
 
    
 
   
                                    THE SINGAPORE FUND, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
    
 
   
/ /  $125 per  Exchange Act  Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii),  14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2)  or
     Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ /  $500  per  each party  to  the controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).
/ /  Fee  computed  on   table  below   per  Exchange   Act  Rules   14a-6(i)(4)
     and 0-11.
     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     5) Total fee paid:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
/X/  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2)  and identify the  filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement  number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     1) Amount Previously Paid:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Filing Party:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Date Filed:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
    
<PAGE>
                            THE SINGAPORE FUND, INC.
                       C/O DAIWA SECURITIES TRUST COMPANY
                              ONE EVERTRUST PLAZA
                         JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07302
                                 (800) 933-3440
 
   
                                                                  April 11, 1996
    
 
Dear Stockholders:
 
    The  Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Singapore Fund, Inc. (the "Fund")
will be held  at 9:30  A.M., New York  time, on  Thursday, June 6,  1996 at  the
offices  of Daiwa Securities  America Inc., Financial Square,  32 Old Slip, 14th
Floor, New York,  New York  10005. A Notice  and Proxy  Statement regarding  the
meeting,  a  proxy card  for your  vote at  the meeting,  and a  postage prepaid
envelope in which to return your proxy are enclosed.
 
   
    At the Annual Meeting, the stockholders will (i) elect one Class I  director
and  two Class II directors, (ii) consider  the ratification of the selection of
Price Waterhouse LLP as  independent accountants and  (iii) consider whether  to
approve a change in the Fund's investment restrictions to allow the Fund to lend
portfolio  securities. In addition, the stockholders  who will be present at the
Annual Meeting will  hear an  investment report  on the  Fund and  will have  an
opportunity to discuss matters of interest to them.
    
 
    If  you will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person, please take
the time now to  review the enclosed  materials and vote  your shares by  proxy.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
 
    The  Board recommends  that the  stockholders vote in  favor of  each of the
foregoing matters.
 
   
                                          Respectfully,
    
 
                                                     [SIGNATURE]
                                          James McCarthy
                                          PRESIDENT
 
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO SIGN AND  MAIL THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE  ENCLOSED
RETURN ENVELOPE TO INSURE A QUORUM AT THE MEETING.
<PAGE>
 
                            THE SINGAPORE FUND, INC.
                                   ----------
 
                  NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  JUNE 6, 1996
                            ------------------------
 
To the Stockholders of
The Singapore Fund, Inc.:
 
    NOTICE  IS  HEREBY GIVEN  that  the Annual  Meeting  of Stockholders  of The
Singapore Fund,  Inc.  (the  "Fund")  will  be held  at  the  offices  of  Daiwa
Securities  America Inc., Financial  Square, 32 Old Slip,  14th Floor, New York,
New York 10005, on Thursday, June 6, 1996, at 9:30 A.M., New York time, for  the
following purposes:
 
    1. To elect one Class I director to serve for a term expiring on the date on
       which the Annual Meeting of Stockholders is held in 1998 and two Class II
       directors  to serve for a  term expiring on the  date on which the Annual
       Meeting of Stockholders is held in 1999.
 
    2. To ratify or reject the selection of Price Waterhouse LLP as  independent
       accountants of the Fund for its fiscal year ending October 31, 1996.
 
    3. Approve  or disapprove a change in  the Fund's investment restrictions to
       permit the Fund to lend portfolio securities.
 
    4. To transact such other business as  may properly come before the  meeting
       or any adjournments thereof.
 
    The  Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 18, 1996 as
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of  and
to vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof.
 
    You  are cordially  invited to attend  the meeting. Stockholders  who do not
expect to attend the meeting in person are requested to complete, date and  sign
the  enclosed form of proxy and return  it promptly in the envelope provided for
that purpose. You may nevertheless vote in  person at the meeting if you  choose
to  attend. The enclosed proxy  is being solicited by  the Board of Directors of
the Fund.
 
                                          By order of the Board of Directors,
                                          Lawrence Jacob
                                          SECRETARY
 
   
April 11, 1996
    
<PAGE>
                            THE SINGAPORE FUND, INC.
                                   ----------
 
   
                                PROXY STATEMENT
    
                            ------------------------
 
                                  INTRODUCTION
 
    This  Proxy Statement  is furnished in  connection with  the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of  THE SINGAPORE FUND, INC. (the "Fund")  for
use  at the Annual Meeting  of Stockholders, to be held  at the offices of Daiwa
Securities America Inc., Financial  Square, 32 Old Slip,  14th Floor, New  York,
New  York 10005, on Thursday, June 6, 1996,  at 9:30 A.M., New York time, and at
any adjournments thereof.
 
   
    This Proxy Statement and the form of proxy are being mailed to  stockholders
on  or about April  11, 1996. Any stockholder  giving a proxy  in advance of the
Annual Meeting has the power to revoke  it by mail (addressed to the  Secretary,
The  Singapore Fund,  Inc., c/o  Daiwa Securities  Trust Company,  One Evertrust
Plaza, 9th Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302) or in person at the meeting, by
executing a superseding  proxy or by  submitting a notice  of revocation to  the
Fund.  All properly executed  proxies received in  time for the  meeting will be
voted as  specified in  the proxy  or, if  no specification  is made,  for  each
proposal  referred to in this Proxy  Statement. Abstentions and broker non-votes
are each included in the  determination of the number  of shares present at  the
meeting.
    
 
    THE  FUND WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A  COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR ITS
FISCAL YEAR ENDED OCTOBER  31, 1995 TO ANY  STOCKHOLDER REQUESTING SUCH  REPORT.
REQUESTS  FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT SHOULD BE MADE BY WRITING TO THE SINGAPORE FUND,
INC., C/O DAIWA SECURITIES TRUST COMPANY, ONE EVERTRUST PLAZA, 9TH FLOOR, JERSEY
CITY, NEW JERSEY 07302,  ATTENTION: SHAREHOLDER RELATIONS,  OR BY CALLING  (800)
933-3440 OR (201) 915-3020.
 
    The  Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 18, 1996 as
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of  and
to  vote at  the meeting  and at any  adjournments thereof.  Stockholders on the
record date will be  entitled to one  vote for each share  held, with no  shares
having cumulative voting rights. As of the record date, the Fund had outstanding
9,184,963  shares of common stock. To the knowledge of the Fund's management, no
person owned beneficially more  than 5% of the  Fund's outstanding shares as  of
March 18, 1996.
 
    Management  of the Fund  knows of no  business other than  that mentioned in
Items 1,  2  and  3 of  the  Notice  of  Meeting which  will  be  presented  for
consideration  at the meeting. If any other  matter is properly presented, it is
the intention of the persons named in  the enclosed proxy to vote in  accordance
with their best judgment.
 
    The  Board recommends  that the  stockholders vote in  favor of  each of the
matters mentioned in Items 1, 2 and 3 of the Notice of Meeting.
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
                           (1)  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
    Persons named in  the accompanying form  of proxy intend  in the absence  of
contrary instructions to vote all proxies for the election of the three nominees
listed below as directors of the Fund:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      CLASS I               CLASS II
- --------------------  --------------------
<S>                   <C>
David G. Harmer          James McCarthy
                        Alfred C. Morley
</TABLE>
 
to  serve  for terms  expiring on  the  dates of  subsequent Annual  Meetings of
Stockholders as follows  -- Class I  in 1998 and  Class II in  1999 -- or  until
their successors are elected and qualified. If any such nominee should be unable
to  serve, an event that  is not now anticipated, the  proxies will be voted for
such person, if any, as shall be designated by the Board of Directors to replace
any such nominee.  The election of  each director will  require the  affirmative
vote  of  a  majority  of the  votes  cast  at the  meeting.  For  this purpose,
abstentions and  broker non-votes  will not  be  counted as  votes cast  at  the
meeting.
 
    At  their March 7, 1996 meeting, the Board of Directors elected Mr. David G.
Harmer to fill the vacancy created by the death of Mr. K.S. Wu in December 1995.
Mr. Wu had served as a Class I director and Mr. Harmer is therefore standing for
election as  a  Class I  director.  Although the  term  of the  Fund's  Class  I
directors  does  not  expire until  the  date  on which  the  Annual  Meeting of
Stockholders is held  in 1998,  Maryland law and  the Fund's  By-laws require  a
director,  regardless of  Class, elected  by the  Board of  Directors to  fill a
vacancy to stand for election at the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING NOMINEES AND DIRECTORS
 
    The following table sets forth  information concerning each of the  nominees
as  a director of the Fund, as well  as the other current directors of the Fund.
Each of the nominees is now a director of the Fund and each has consented to  be
named in this Proxy Statement and to serve as a director of the Fund if elected.
 
NOMINEES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            PRESENT OFFICE WITH THE FUND, IF ANY,
                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
                                                  OR EMPLOYMENT DURING PAST                          SHARES
                                                        FIVE YEARS AND                            BENEFICIALLY
         NAME (AGE) AND ADDRESS                        DIRECTORSHIPS IN               DIRECTOR   OWNED FEBRUARY  PERCENT OF
               OF NOMINEES                         PUBLICLY HELD COMPANIES             SINCE      29, 1996(+)       CLASS
- -----------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ----------  --------------  -----------
<S>   <C>                                  <C>                                       <C>         <C>             <C>
*     James McCarthy (43)                  President of the Fund; Director and            1994        None          --
      24 Raffles Place #10-00              Chief Investment Officer, DBS Asset
      Clifford Centre                      Management (United States) Pte. Ltd.,
      Singapore 0104                       since 1994; General Manager, DBS Asset
                                           Management Ltd., since 1994; Executive
                                           Director, Pierson Asia Singapore, from
                                           1988 to 1992; Director, Halim Capital
                                           Management Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, from 1992
                                           to 1994.
</TABLE>
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            PRESENT OFFICE WITH THE FUND, IF ANY,
                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
                                                  OR EMPLOYMENT DURING PAST                          SHARES
                                                        FIVE YEARS AND                            BENEFICIALLY
         NAME (AGE) AND ADDRESS                        DIRECTORSHIPS IN               DIRECTOR   OWNED FEBRUARY  PERCENT OF
               OF NOMINEES                         PUBLICLY HELD COMPANIES             SINCE      29, 1996(+)       CLASS
- -----------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ----------  --------------  -----------
<S>   <C>                                  <C>                                       <C>         <C>             <C>
      Alfred C. Morley (69)                Financial Consultant, since 1991; Senior       1990       4,102          **
      119 Falcon Drive                     Director, Old Dominion Capital
      Charlottesville, VA 22901            Management, since 1991; Senior Adviser,
                                           from 1990 to 1991 and President and
                                           Chief Executive Officer, 1990,
                                           Association for Investment Management
                                           and Research; Senior Adviser, since 1990
                                           and President and Chief Executive
                                           Officer, from 1986 to 1990, Financial
                                           Analysts Federation; Senior Adviser,
                                           since 1990 and President and Chief
                                           Executive Officer, from 1984 to 1990,
                                           Institute of Chartered Financial
                                           Analysts; Director, The Thai Capital
                                           Fund, Inc., since 1990.
      David G. Harmer (52)                 Vice President and Chief Financial             1996        None          --
      1 Oxford Centre                      Officer of Armco Inc. since April 1993;
      301 Grant Street                     Vice President and Corporate Controller
      Pittsburgh, PA 15219-1415            of FMC Corporation from 1987 to 1993.
</TABLE>
 
OTHER CURRENT DIRECTORS
 
<TABLE>
<S>   <C>                                  <C>                                       <C>         <C>             <C>
*     Shuichi Komori (52)                  Chairman, since 1994, The Taiwan Equity        1995        None           --
      Financial Square                     Fund, Inc.; Chairman, since 1994, The
      32 Old Slip, 14th Floor              Thai Capital Fund, Inc.; Chairman and
      New York, NY 10005                   Chief Executive Officer, Daiwa
                                           Securities America Inc., since 1994;
                                           Director, Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd.,
                                           from 1991 to 1994; General Manager,
                                           Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd., from 1989 to
                                           1991.
</TABLE>
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            PRESENT OFFICE WITH THE FUND, IF ANY,
                                                     PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
                                                  OR EMPLOYMENT DURING PAST                          SHARES
                                                        FIVE YEARS AND                            BENEFICIALLY
         NAME (AGE) AND ADDRESS                        DIRECTORSHIPS IN               DIRECTOR   OWNED FEBRUARY  PERCENT OF
              OF DIRECTORS                         PUBLICLY HELD COMPANIES             SINCE      29, 1996(+)       CLASS
- -----------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------  ----------  --------------  -----------
<S>   <C>                                  <C>                                       <C>         <C>             <C>
      Frederick W. Zuckerman (61)          Private Investor and Financial                 1990        None           --
      605 Park Avenue                      Consultant; Vice President and
      Apartment 20-A                       Treasurer, IBM Corp., from 1993 to 1995;
      New York, NY 10021                   Senior Vice President and Treasurer, RJR
                                           Nabisco, Inc., from 1991 to 1993;
                                           Financial Consultant, from 1990 to 1991;
                                           Director, Olympic Financial, Ltd., since
                                           1995; Director, Northeast Savings Bank,
                                           from 1989 to 1995; Trustee, Meditrust,
                                           since 1990; Director, Northeast Federal
                                           Corp., from 1990 to 1995; Director,
                                           Anacomp, Inc., since 1990; Director,
                                           System Industries, Inc., from 1983 to
                                           1992; Director, Drexel Burnham Lambert
                                           Group, Inc., from 1990 to 1992;
                                           Director, The Turner Corporation, since
                                           1992; Director, The Japan Equity Fund,
                                           Inc., since 1992; Director, NVR, Inc.,
                                           since 1993; Director, Caere Corporation,
                                           since 1995.
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 +  The  information as to beneficial ownership is based on statements furnished
    to the Fund by the nominees and directors.
 
   
 *  Directors and  nominees so  noted are  deemed by  the Fund's  counsel to  be
    "interested persons" (as defined in the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940,
    as  amended  (the "1940  Act"))  of the  Fund  or of  the  Fund's investment
    manager, DBS Asset  Management (United  States) Pte.  Ltd. (the  "Investment
    Manager")  or  the Fund's  investment  adviser, Daiwa  International Capital
    Management (Singapore) Limited (the  "Investment Adviser"). Mr. McCarthy  is
    deemed  an interested person because of  his affiliation with the Investment
    Manager, or because he  is an officer  of the Fund, or  both. Mr. Komori  is
    deemed an interested person because of his affiliation with Daiwa Securities
    America  Inc., an affiliate of  the Investment Adviser, or  because he is an
    officer of the Fund, or both.
    
 
**  Represented less than 1% of the outstanding shares at February 29, 1996.
 
    The Fund's Board of Directors held  four regular meetings and three  special
meetings  during the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995. Each incumbent director
attended at least seventy-five  percent of the aggregate  number of meetings  of
the  Board of  Directors and any  committee on  which he served  held during the
period for which he was a director.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
    The Fund's Board of  Directors has an Audit  Committee which is  responsible
for reviewing financial and accounting matters. The current members of the Audit
Committee  are Messrs.  Zuckerman, Morley  and Harmer.  The Audit  Committee met
twice during the fiscal year ended October  31, 1995. All of the members of  the
Committee  attended  the meetings  held  during the  fiscal  year. The  Fund has
neither a compensation nor a nominating committee.
 
    Section 16(a)  of the  U.S. Securities  Exchange Act  of 1934,  as  amended,
requires  the Fund's officers and  directors, and persons who  own more than ten
percent of a registered class of  the Fund's equity securities, to file  reports
of  ownership  and  changes  in  ownership  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission and the  New York  Stock Exchange, Inc.  The Fund  believes that  its
officers and directors have complied with all applicable filing requirements.
 
OFFICERS OF THE FUND
 
    Mr.  McCarthy (age 43) has been President of the Fund since August 1994 (see
information provided above).
 
    Daniel F. Barry (age 49),  Vice President of the  Fund since June 1992,  was
also  Treasurer of the Fund  from September 1991 to  September 1994 and has been
Senior Vice  President of  Daiwa Securities  Trust Company  ("DST"), the  Fund's
Administrator,  since  June 1993.  From  June 1990  to  June 1993,  he  was Vice
President, Mutual Fund Administration  of DST and  from 1986 to  1990, he was  a
First  Vice President and Director of Mutual Fund Reporting of Mitchell Hutchins
Asset Management, Inc.
 
    Lawrence Jacob (age  51), Secretary of  the Fund since  July 1990, has  been
Senior  Vice  President  since  November  1985,  and  Assistant  Secretary since
February 1986, of Daiwa Securities America Inc.
 
    Edward J. Grace (age  49), Treasurer of the  Fund since September 1994,  was
Assistant  Treasurer of the  Fund from July  1990 to September  1994, has been a
Vice President of DST  since December 1992 and  Assistant Vice President of  DST
from November 1989 to December 1992.
 
    John  J. O'Keefe (age  36), Assistant Treasurer of  the Fund since September
1994, has been an Assistant Vice President  of DST since January 1994 and was  a
Senior  Accountant of DST from July 1990 to  January 1994. From 1986 to 1990, he
was an Account Executive at Fahnestock & Co. Inc.
 
    Laurence E. Cranch  (age 49),  Assistant Secretary  of the  Fund since  July
1990, has been a partner in the law firm of Rogers & Wells since 1980.
 
TRANSACTIONS WITH AND REMUNERATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
   
    The  aggregate  fee  remuneration  for  directors  not  affiliated  with the
Investment Manager or the Investment Adviser was U.S. $34,350 during the  fiscal
year  ended  October  31,  1995.  Each  such  non-affiliated  director currently
receives fees,  paid by  the Fund,  of  U.S. $750  for each  directors'  meeting
attended  in person or by telephone, U.S.  $600 for each audit committee meeting
attended in  person or  by  telephone and  an annual  fee  of U.S.  $5,000.  The
officers  and interested directors of the Fund received no compensation from the
Fund.
    
 
    DST, which pays the compensation and certain expenses of the officers of DST
who serve as officers of the Fund, receives administration and custodian fees.
 
    Set forth below is  a chart showing the  aggregate fee compensation paid  by
the Fund (in U.S. dollars) to each of its directors during the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1995, as well as the total fee
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
compensation  paid  to  each director  of  the Fund  by  the Fund  and  by other
investment companies advised by the  Investment Manager, the Investment  Adviser
or  their  respective affiliates  (collectively, the  "Fund Complex")  for their
services as  directors  of such  investment  companies during  their  respective
fiscal years:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       TOTAL
                                                  PENSION OR        COMPENSATION
                                                  RETIREMENT       FROM FUND AND
                                  AGGREGATE    BENEFITS ACCRUED     FUND COMPLEX
                                COMPENSATION      AS PART OF          PAID TO
       NAME OF DIRECTOR           FROM FUND      FUND EXPENSES       DIRECTORS
- ------------------------------  -------------  -----------------  ----------------
<S>                             <C>            <C>                <C>
Shuichi Komori+                   $       0             None         $        0
James McCarthy+                           0             None                  0
Alfred C. Morley*                    11,450             None             20,650
Frederick W. Zuckerman*              11,450             None             21,400
K.S. Wu*                             11,450             None             21,400
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
   
*   Also  serves as  a director  of one  other investment  company for  which an
    affiliate  of  the  Investment  Adviser  serves  as  investment  manager  or
    investment adviser.
    
 
+   Mr. McCarthy, who is affiliated with the Investment Manager, and Mr. Komori,
    who  is affiliated with the  Investment Adviser, are, therefore, "interested
    persons" of the Fund and do not  receive any fee compensation from the  Fund
    for their services as directors.
 
     (2)  RATIFICATION OR REJECTION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
    At a meeting to be held on June 6, 1996, the Board of Directors of the Fund,
including  a majority of the  directors who are not  "interested persons" of the
Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), will consider selecting Price Waterhouse  LLP
to  act  as independent  accountants for  the  Fund for  the fiscal  year ending
October 31, 1996.  The Fund knows  of no direct  financial interest or  material
indirect   financial  interest   of  that  firm   in  the  Fund.   One  or  more
representatives of Price Waterhouse LLP are expected to be present at the Annual
Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire. Such
representatives are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions
from stockholders.
 
    This selection of independent accountants is subject to the ratification  or
rejection  of  the  Fund's  stockholders at  the  meeting.  Ratification  of the
selection of the independent accountants will require the affirmative vote of  a
majority  of the votes  cast at the  meeting. For this  purpose, abstentions and
broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast at the meeting.
 
(3) APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE FUND'S INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS TO PERMIT THE
             FUND TO ENGAGE IN THE LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
 
    The Board of  Directors of the  Fund has unanimously  approved and  directed
that  there be submitted to the stockholders  for their approval an amendment to
the Fund's investment restrictions  to permit the Fund  to engage in lending  of
portfolio  securities. If approved by the  stockholders, the Fund would be able,
from time to time, to lend securities (but not in excess of 33 1/3% of its total
assets) from  its portfolio  of investments  to brokers,  dealers and  financial
institutions  and, in turn, receive collateral in cash or securities believed by
the Investment Manager to be equivalent to securities rated investment grade  by
Standard  &  Poor's  Rating Group  ("S&P")  or Moody's  Investors  Services, Inc
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
("Moody's"). While  the  loan is  outstanding,  the  Fund will  be  required  to
maintain  collateral at  all times in  an amount equal  to at least  100% of the
current market value of the securities loaned by the Fund, including any accrued
interest or  dividends receivable  from these  securities. Any  cash  collateral
received  by  the  Fund  would  be invested  in  short-term,  high  quality debt
securities, the income  from which would  increase the return  to the Fund.  The
Fund  would retain all rights of beneficial ownership as to the loaned portfolio
securities,  including  voting   rights  and   rights  to   interest  or   other
distributions,  and would  have the right  to regain record  ownership of loaned
securities to exercise such beneficial rights. Such loans would be terminable at
any time by either  the Fund or the  borrower. The Fund may  be required to  pay
finders, administrative and custodial fees to persons unaffiliated with the Fund
in  connection with the arranging of such loans and, if permitted under the 1940
Act or pursuant  to an  exemptive order  thereunder, such  fees may  be paid  to
persons affiliated with the Fund. In the event of a default by the borrower, the
Fund  might suffer time delays and incur  costs or possible losses in connection
with the Fund's disposition of the collateral.
 
    The Board of  Directors believes  that the proposed  change is  in the  best
interest of the Fund. Accordingly, the directors recommend that the stockholders
vote to approve the proposed amendment to the Fund's investment restrictions.
 
    Currently, the Fund's investment restrictions state:
 
        "The Fund may not ...
 
           (5) make   loans,  except  through   repurchase  agreements  and  the
               purchasing of debt securities."
   
    The text of the proposed amendment is as follows:
    
 
        "The Fund may not ...
 
           (5) make loans, except through repurchase agreements, the  purchasing
               of debt securities AND THE LENDING OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES."
 
    Approval  of the  proposed amendment  to the  Fund's investment restrictions
will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding shares
of Common Stock. As defined in the 1940 Act, a "majority of outstanding  shares"
means  the lesser of 67% of the  voting securities present at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders,  if a  quorum is  present,  or 50%  of the  outstanding  voting
securities.  For this purpose,  both abstentions and  broker non-votes will have
the effect of a vote to disapprove the proposed amendent. The Fund will continue
under its current investment restrictions without change if this proposal is not
approved by the stockholders.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
    Proxies will be  solicited by  mail and  may be  solicited in  person or  by
telephone or telegraph by officers of the Fund or personnel of DST. The Fund has
retained  Corporate  Investor  Communications,  Inc.  to  assist  in  the  proxy
solicitation. The  fee for  such  services is  estimated  at U.S.  $3,250,  plus
reimbursement of expenses. The expenses connected with the solicitation of these
proxies  and  with any  further proxies  which  may be  solicited by  the Fund's
officers or agents in person, by telephone or by telegraph will be borne by  the
Fund.  The Fund  will reimburse  banks, brokers,  and other  persons holding the
Fund's shares registered in their  names or in the  names of their nominees  for
their  expenses incurred in sending proxy material to and obtaining proxies from
the beneficial owners of such shares.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
    In the event that sufficient votes in favor of any proposal set forth in the
Notice of this meeting are  not received by June 6,  1996, the persons named  as
attorneys  in the  enclosed proxy  may propose one  or more  adjournments of the
meeting to permit  further solicitation  of proxies. Any  such adjournment  will
require  the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present
in person or by proxy at the session of the meeting to be adjourned. The persons
named as attorneys in the enclosed proxy will vote in favor of such  adjournment
those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the proposal for which
further  solicitation of proxies is to be  made. They will vote against any such
adjournment those proxies required to be voted against such proposal. The  costs
of  any such additional solicitation and of  any adjourned session will be borne
by the Fund.
 
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
   
    Any proposal by a stockholder  of the Fund intended  to be presented at  the
1997 meeting of stockholders of the Fund must be received by the Fund, c/o Daiwa
Securities  Trust  Company, One  Evertrust Plaza,  9th  Floor, Jersey  City, New
Jersey 07302, not later than December 14, 1996.
    
 
                                          By order of the Board of Directors,
                                          Lawrence Jacob
                                          SECRETARY
 
   
One Evertrust Plaza
Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
April 11, 1996
    
 
                                       8
<PAGE>

                            THE SINGAPORE FUND, INC.
                       C/O DAIWA SECURITIES TRUST COMPANY
                ONE EVERTRUST PLAZA, JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07302

  PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING
                         OF STOCKHOLDERS ON JUNE 6, 1996

The undersigned stockholder of The Singapore Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") hereby 
appoints Daniel F. Barry, Lawrence Jacob and Edward J. Grace, or any of them, 
proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote and act 
for and in the name and stead of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of 
Stockholders of the Fund, to be held at the offices of Daiwa Securities 
America Inc., Financial Square, 32 Old Slip, 14th Floor, New York, New York 
10005, on June 6, 1996, at 9:30 A.M., New York time, and at any and all 
adjournments thereof, according to the number of votes the undersigned would 
be entitled to cast if personally present.
   
The shares represented by this proxy will be voted in accordance with 
instructions given by the undersigned stockholder, but if no instructions are 
given, this proxy will be voted IN FAVOR of proposals 1, 2 and 3 as set forth 
in this proxy. The undersigned hereby revokes any and all proxies with respect
to such shares heretofore given by the undersigned. The undersigned
acknowledges receipt of the Proxy Statement dated April 11, 1996.
    
                PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON OTHER SIDE AND
                     RETURN PROMPTLY IN ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

Please sign this proxy exactly as your name appears on the books of the Fund. 
Joint owners should each sign. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate 
the capacity in which they sign and, where more than one name appears, a 
majority must sign. If a corporation, this signature should be that of an 
authorized officer who should state his or her title.

HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?              DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?

__________________________________     ________________________________________

__________________________________     ________________________________________

__________________________________     ________________________________________

<PAGE>


/X/ PLEASE MARK VOTES
    AS IN THIS EXAMPLE

THE SINGAPORE FUND, INC.

1) Election of one Class I director to serve for a term expiring on the date
  on which the Annual Meeting of Shareholders is held in 1998 and two Class II 
  directors to serve for a term expiring on the date on which the Annual 
  Meeting of Stockholders is held in 1999.

                      CLASS I              CLASS II
                      -------              -------- 
                  David G. Harmer       James McCarthy
                                        Alfred C. Morley

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

              For / /       Withhold / /       For All Except / /

2) The ratification of the selection of Price Waterhouse LLP as independent 
   accountants of the Fund for its fiscal year ending October 31, 1996.

              For / /       Against / /        Abstain / /

3) The approval of an amendment to the Fund's investment restrictions to permit
   the Fund to lend portfolio securities. 
     
              For / /       Against / /        Abstain / /

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

Be sure to sign and date this Proxy.               Date ________________

__________________________________     _________________________________
    Shareholder sign here                    Co-owner sign here

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

RECORD DATE SHARES:




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