LATIN AMERICAN DISCOVERY FUND INC
DEF 14A, 1996-05-10
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<PAGE>   1
 
                            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:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
/ /  Preliminary Proxy Statement                / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission
                                                only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
/X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
/X/  Definitive Additional Materials
/ /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to sec.240.14a-11(c) or sec.240.14a-12
</TABLE>
 
                    The Latin American Discovery 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):
 
/X/  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), or 14a-6(i)(1), or 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:
 
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
/ /  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>   2
 
                    THE LATIN AMERICAN DISCOVERY FUND, INC.
 
                    C/O MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
                          1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020
 
                            ------------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
                            ------------------------
 
To Our Stockholders:
 
     Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The Latin
American Discovery Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") will be held on Wednesday, June 5,
1996, at 1:00 P.M. (New York time), in Conference Room 2 at 1221 Avenue of the
Americas, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10020, for the following purposes:
 
          1. To elect three Class I Directors for a term of three years.
 
          2. To ratify or reject the selection by the Board of Directors of
     Price Waterhouse LLP as independent accountants for the Fund for the fiscal
     year ending December 31, 1996.
 
          3. To consider and act upon any other business as may properly come
     before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
     Only stockholders of record at the close of business on April 26, 1996 are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, this Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
                                              VALERIE Y. LEWIS
                                              Secretary
 
Dated: May 10, 1996
 
     IF YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN
THE ENCLOSED PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. IN ORDER TO AVOID
THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE FUND OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE ASK YOUR
COOPERATION IN MAILING IN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY.
<PAGE>   3
 
                    THE LATIN AMERICAN DISCOVERY FUND, INC.
 
                    C/O MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
                          1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10020
                            ------------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            ------------------------
 
     This statement is furnished by the Board of Directors of The Latin American
Discovery Fund,
Inc. (the "Fund") in connection with the solicitation of Proxies for use at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") to be held on Wednesday, June 5,
1996, at 1:00 P.M. (New York time), in Conference Room 2 at the principal
executive office of Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc. (hereinafter "MSAM" or
the "Manager"), 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 22nd Floor, New York, New York
10020. The purpose of the Meeting and the matters to be acted upon are set forth
in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. It is expected
that the Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement and form of Proxy will first
be mailed to stockholders on or about May 10, 1996.
 
     If the accompanying form of Proxy is executed properly and returned, shares
represented by it will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with the
instructions on the Proxy. A Proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the time
it is voted by written notice to the Secretary of the Fund or by attendance at
the Meeting. If no instructions are specified, shares will be voted FOR the
election of the nominees for Directors and FOR ratification of Price Waterhouse
LLP as independent accountants of the Fund for the fiscal year ending December
31, 1996. Abstentions and broker non-votes are each included in the
determination of the number of shares present at the Meeting.
 
     The close of business on April 26, 1996 has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. On that date, the Fund had 11,617,984
shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share will be
entitled to one vote at the Meeting.
 
     The expense of solicitation will be borne by the Fund and will include
reimbursement to brokerage firms and others for expenses in forwarding proxy
solicitation materials to beneficial owners. The solicitation of Proxies will be
largely by mail, but may include, without cost to the Fund, telephonic,
telegraphic or oral communications by regular employees of the Manager. The
solicitation of Proxies is also expected to include communications by employees
of Shareholder Communications Corporation, a proxy solicitation firm to be
engaged by the Fund at a cost not expected to exceed $5,000 plus expenses.
 
     THE FUND WILL FURNISH, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR ITS
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, TO ANY STOCKHOLDER REQUESTING SUCH REPORT.
REQUESTS FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT SHOULD BE MADE IN WRITING TO THE LATIN AMERICAN
DISCOVERY FUND, INC., C/O CHASE GLOBAL FUNDS SERVICES COMPANY, P.O. BOX 2798,
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02208-2798, OR BY CALLING 1-800-221-6726.
 
     Chase Global Funds Services Company is an affiliate of the Fund's
administrator, The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. ("Chase Bank"), and provides
administrative services to the Fund. The business address of Chase Bank is One
Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, New York 10081, and the business address of
Chase Global Funds Services Company is 73 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts
02108.
 
     The Board recommends that the stockholders vote in favor of each of the
matters mentioned in Items 1 and 2 of the Notice of Annual Meeting.
<PAGE>   4
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
                                (PROPOSAL NO. 1)
 
     At the Meeting, three Directors will be elected to hold office for a term
of three years and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. It is
the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of Proxy to vote, on
behalf of the stockholders, for the election of Peter J. Chase, David B. Gill
and Warren J. Olsen as Class I Directors.
 
     On or about the same date as the Meeting, each of the other closed-end,
U.S. registered investment companies advised by MSAM (except Morgan Stanley
India Investment Fund, Inc.) also is holding a meeting of stockholders at which,
among other things, such stockholders are considering a proposal to elect as
Class I directors of such other investment companies the same people nominated
to be Class I Directors of the Fund. Accordingly, if elected, all of the
nominees for Directors of the Fund also will act as directors of The Brazilian
Investment 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., Morgan
Stanley Global Opportunity Bond Fund, Inc., The Morgan Stanley High Yield Fund,
Inc., The Pakistan Investment Fund, Inc., The Thai Fund, Inc. and The Turkish
Investment Fund, Inc. (collectively, with the Fund, the "MSAM closed-end
funds"). The Board believes that this arrangement enhances the ability of the
Directors to deal expeditiously with administrative matters common to the MSAM
closed-end funds, such as evaluating the performance of common service
providers, including MSAM and the administrators, transfer agents, custodians
and accountants for the MSAM closed-end funds.
 
     Pursuant to the Fund's By-Laws, the terms of office of the Directors are
staggered. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes, designated
Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class having a term of three years.
Each year the term of one class expires. Class I consists of Peter J. Chase,
David B. Gill and Warren J. Olsen. Class II consists of John W. Croghan, Graham
E. Jones and Frederick B. Whittemore. Class III consists of Barton M. Biggs,
John A. Levin and William G. Morton, Jr. Only the Directors in Class I are being
considered for election at this Meeting.
 
     Pursuant to the Fund's By-Laws, each Director holds office until (i) the
expiration of his term and until his successor has been elected and qualified,
(ii) his death, (iii) his resignation, (iv) December 31 of the year in which he
reaches seventy-three years of age, or (v) his removal as provided by statute or
the Articles of Incorporation.
 
     The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee. The Audit Committee makes
recommendations to the full Board of Directors with respect to the engagement of
independent accountants and reviews with the independent accountants the plan
and results of the audit engagement and matters having a material effect on the
Fund's financial operations. The members of the Audit Committee are currently
John W. Croghan, John A. Levin and William G. Morton, Jr., none of whom is an
"interested person," as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act"). The Chairman of the Audit Committee is Mr. Levin. The
Audit Committee met twice during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995. The
Board of Directors does not have nominating or compensation committees or other
committees performing similar functions.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
     There were five meetings of the Board of Directors held during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1995. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, each
current Director, during his tenure, attended at least seventy-five percent of
the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and of any committee on which he
served, except Barton M. Biggs.
 
     Each of the nominees for Director has consented to be named in this Proxy
Statement and to serve as a director if elected. The Board of Directors has no
reason to believe that any of the nominees named above will become unavailable
for election as a director, but if that should occur before the Meeting, Proxies
will be voted for such persons as the Board of Directors may recommend.
 
     Certain information regarding the Directors and executive officers of the
Fund is set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      COMMON
                                                                                       STOCK         SHARE
                                                                                    BENEFICIALLY  EQUIVALENTS
                                                                                    OWNED AS OF   OWNED UNDER
                                 POSITION WITH      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS            APRIL 26,    DEFERRED FEE
NAME AND ADDRESS                   THE FUND        AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS     AGE     1996**      ARRANGEMENTS+  PERCENTAGE
- ------------------------------- --------------- ----------------------------- ---   -----------   ------------   ----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>                           <C>   <C>           <C>            <C>
Barton M. Biggs*............... Director and    Chairman, Director and        63            0           --           ***
  1221 Avenue of the Americas     Chairman of     Managing Director of Morgan
  New York, New York 10020        the Board       Stanley Asset Management
                                  since 1995      Inc. and Chairman and
                                                  Director of Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Limited;
                                                  Managing Director of Morgan
                                                  Stanley & Co. Incorporated;
                                                  Director of Morgan Stanley
                                                  Group Inc.; Member of the
                                                  Investment Advisory Council
                                                  of The Thailand Fund;
                                                  Director of the Rand
                                                  McNally Company; Member of
                                                  the Yale Development Board;
                                                  Director and Chairman of
                                                  the Board of sixteen U.S.
                                                  registered investment
                                                  companies managed by Morgan
                                                  Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc.
Peter J. Chase................. Nominee;        Chairman and Chief Financial  63          500            0           ***
  1441 Paseo De Peralta           Director        Officer, High Mesa
  Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501      since 1995      Technologies, LLC; Chairman
                                                  of CGL, Inc.; Director of
                                                  twelve U.S. registered
                                                  investment companies
                                                  managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.;
                                                  Member of the Investment
                                                  Advisory Council of The
                                                  Thailand Fund.
</TABLE>
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      COMMON
                                                                                       STOCK         SHARE
                                                                                    BENEFICIALLY  EQUIVALENTS
                                                                                    OWNED AS OF   OWNED UNDER
                                 POSITION WITH      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS            APRIL 26,    DEFERRED FEE
NAME AND ADDRESS                   THE FUND        AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS     AGE     1996**      ARRANGEMENTS+  PERCENTAGE
- ------------------------------- ---------------                                        -----      ------------   ----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>                           <C>   <C>           <C>            <C>
John W. Croghan................ Director since  Chairman of Lincoln Capital   65        1,000          149           ***
  200 South Wacker Drive          1995            Management Company;
  Chicago, Illinois 60606                         Director of St. Paul
                                                  Bancorp, Inc. and Lindsay
                                                  Manufacturing Co.; Director
                                                  of twelve U.S. registered
                                                  investment companies
                                                  managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.
                                                  Previously Director of
                                                  Blockbuster Entertainment
                                                  Corporation.
David B. Gill.................. Nominee;        Director of twelve U.S.       69        1,646          683           ***
  3042 Cambridge Place, N.W.      Director        registered investment
  Washington, D.C. 20007          since 1995      companies managed by Morgan
                                                  Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc.; Director of the
                                                  Mauritius Fund Limited;
                                                  Director of Moneda Chile
                                                  Fund Limited; Member of the
                                                  Investment Advisory Council
                                                  of The Thailand Fund;
                                                  Chairman of the Advisory
                                                  Board of Advent Latin
                                                  American Private Equity
                                                  Fund; Chairman and Director
                                                  of Norinvest Bank; Director
                                                  of Surinvest International
                                                  Limited; Director of
                                                  National Registry Company.
                                                  Previously Director of
                                                  Capital Markets Department
                                                  of the International
                                                  Finance Corporation;
                                                  Trustee, Batterymarch
                                                  Finance Management;
                                                  Chairman and Director of
                                                  Equity Fund of Latin
                                                  America S.A. and Director
                                                  of Commonwealth Equity Fund
                                                  Limited; and Director of
                                                  Global Securities, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      COMMON
                                                                                       STOCK         SHARE
                                                                                    BENEFICIALLY  EQUIVALENTS
                                                                                    OWNED AS OF   OWNED UNDER
                                 POSITION WITH      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS            APRIL 26,    DEFERRED FEE
NAME AND ADDRESS                   THE FUND        AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS     AGE     1996**      ARRANGEMENTS+  PERCENTAGE
- ------------------------------- ---------------                                        -----      ------------   ----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>                           <C>   <C>           <C>            <C>
Graham E. Jones................ Director        Senior Vice President of BGK  63          500            0           ***
  P.O. Box 428                    since 1995      Properties; Trustee of nine
  Arroyo Seco, New Mexico 87514                   funds managed by Weiss,
                                                  Peck & Greer; Trustee of
                                                  eleven funds managed by
                                                  Morgan Grenfell Capital
                                                  Management Incorporated;
                                                  Director of twelve U.S.
                                                  registered investment
                                                  companies managed by Morgan
                                                  Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc.; Member of the
                                                  Investment Advisory Council
                                                  of The Thailand Fund.
                                                  Previously Chief Financial
                                                  Officer of Practice
                                                  Management Systems, Inc.
John A. Levin.................. Director        President of John A. Levin &  57        2,667            0           ***
  One Rockefeller Plaza           since 1995      Co., Inc.; Director of
  New York, New York 10020                        thirteen U.S. registered
                                                  investment companies
                                                  managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.
William G. Morton, Jr.......... Director        Chairman and Chief Executive  59          224            0           ***
  1 Boston Place                  since 1995      Officer of Boston Stock
  Boston, Massachusetts 02108                     Exchange; Director of Tandy
                                                  Corporation; Director of
                                                  twelve U.S. registered
                                                  investment companies
                                                  managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.
Warren J. Olsen*............... Nominee;        Principal of Morgan Stanley & 39            0           --           ***
  1221 Avenue of the Americas     Director        Co. Incorporated and Morgan
  New York, New York 10020        and President   Stanley Asset Management
                                  since 1995      Inc.; Director and
                                                  President of sixteen U.S.
                                                  registered investment
                                                  companies managed by Morgan
                                                  Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc.
Frederick B. Whittemore*....... Director and    Advisory Director of Morgan   65            0           --           ***
  1585 Broadway                   Vice- Chairman   Stanley & Co. Incorporated;
  New York, New York 10036        since 1995      Chairman for the United
                                                  States National Committee
                                                  for Pacific Economic
                                                  Cooperation; Director and
                                                  Vice-Chairman of fifteen
                                                  U.S. registered investment
                                                  companies managed by Morgan
                                                  Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc. Previously Managing
                                                  Director of Morgan Stanley
                                                  & Co. Incorporated.
</TABLE>
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      COMMON
                                                                                       STOCK         SHARE
                                                                                    BENEFICIALLY  EQUIVALENTS
                                                                                    OWNED AS OF   OWNED UNDER
                                 POSITION WITH      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS            APRIL 26,    DEFERRED FEE
NAME AND ADDRESS                   THE FUND        AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS     AGE     1996**      ARRANGEMENTS+  PERCENTAGE
- ------------------------------- ---------------                                        -----      ------------   ----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>                           <C>   <C>           <C>            <C>
James W. Grisham*.............. Vice President  Principal of Morgan Stanley & 54            0           --           ***
  1221 Avenue of the Americas     since 1994      Co. Incorporated and Morgan
  New York, New York 10020                        Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc.; Officer of various
                                                  investment companies
                                                  managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.
Harold J. Schaaff, Jr.*........ Vice President  Principal of Morgan Stanley & 35            0           --           ***
  1221 Avenue of the Americas     since 1994      Co. Incorporated and Morgan
  New York, New York 10020                        Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc.; General Counsel and
                                                  Secretary of Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.;
                                                  Officer of various
                                                  investment companies
                                                  managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.
Joseph P. Stadler*............. Vice President  Vice President of Morgan      41            0           --           ***
  1221 Avenue of the Americas     since 1994      Stanley & Co. Incorporated
  New York, New York 10020                        and Morgan Stanley Asset
                                                  Management Inc.; Officer of
                                                  various investment
                                                  companies managed by Morgan
                                                  Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc. Previously with Price
                                                  Waterhouse LLP.
Valerie Y. Lewis*.............. Secretary       Vice President of Morgan      40            0           --           ***
  1221 Avenue of the Americas     since 1994      Stanley & Co. Incorporated
  New York, New York 10020                        and Morgan Stanley Asset
                                                  Management Inc.; Officer of
                                                  various investment
                                                  companies managed by Morgan
                                                  Stanley Asset Management
                                                  Inc. Previously with
                                                  Citicorp.
James R. Rooney................ Treasurer       Assistant Vice President and  37            0           --           ***
  73 Tremont Street               since 1994      Manager of Fund
  Boston, Massachusetts 02108                     Administration, Chase
                                                  Global Funds Services
                                                  Company; Officer of various
                                                  investment companies
                                                  managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.
                                                  Previously Assistant Vice
                                                  President and Manager of
                                                  Fund Compliance and
                                                  Control, Scudder Stevens &
                                                  Clark Inc. and Audit
                                                  Manager, Ernst & Young LLP.
</TABLE>
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      COMMON
                                                                                       STOCK         SHARE
                                                                                    BENEFICIALLY  EQUIVALENTS
                                                                                    OWNED AS OF   OWNED UNDER
                                 POSITION WITH      PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS            APRIL 26,    DEFERRED FEE
NAME AND ADDRESS                   THE FUND        AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS     AGE     1996**      ARRANGEMENTS+  PERCENTAGE
- ------------------------------- --------------- ----------------------------- ---   -----------   ------------   ----------
<S>                             <C>             <C>                           <C>   <C>           <C>            <C>
Joanna M. Haigney.............. Assistant       Supervisor, Fund              29            0           --           ***
  73 Tremont Street               Treasurer     Administration, Chase Global
  Boston, Massachusetts 02108     since 1995      Funds Services Company;
                                                  Officer of various
                                                  investment companies
                                                  managed by Morgan Stanley
                                                  Asset Management Inc.
                                                  Previously Audit
                                                  Supervisor, Coopers &
                                                  Lybrand LLP.
                                                                                        -----          ---           ---
All Directors and Officers as a Group........................................           6,537          832           ***
                                                                                        =====          ===           ===
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
  * "Interested person" within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Mr. Biggs is
    chairman, director and managing director of the Manager, and Messrs. Olsen,
    Grisham, Schaaff and Stadler and Ms. Lewis are officers of the Manager. Mr.
    Whittemore is an Advisory Director of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, an
    affiliate of the Manager and a registered broker-dealer, and he owns a
    beneficial interest in Morgan Stanley Group Inc.
 
 ** This information has been furnished by each Director and officer.
 
*** Less than 1%.
 
  + Indicates share equivalents owned by the Directors and held in bookkeeping
    accounts by the Fund on behalf of the Directors in connection with the
    deferred fee arrangements described below.
 
     Each officer of the Fund will hold such office until a successor has been
duly elected and qualified.
 
     The Fund pays each of its Directors who is not a director, officer or
employee of MSAM or its affiliates, in addition to certain out-of-pocket
expenses, an annual fee of $3,000. Each of the members of the Fund's Audit
Committee receives an additional fee of $500 for serving on such committee.
Aggregate fees and expenses paid or payable to the Board of Directors for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 were approximately $40,000.
 
     Each of the Directors who is not an "affiliated person" of MSAM within the
meaning of the 1940 Act may enter into a deferred fee arrangement (the "Fee
Arrangement") with the Fund, pursuant to which such Director defers to a later
date the receipt of his Director's fees. The deferred fees owed by the Fund are
credited to a bookkeeping account maintained by the Fund on behalf of such
Director and accrue income from and after the date of credit in an amount equal
to the amount that would have been earned had such fees (and all income earned
thereon) been invested and reinvested either (i) in shares of the Fund or (ii)
at a rate equal to the prevailing rate applicable to 90-day United States
Treasury Bills at the beginning of each calendar quarter for which this rate is
in effect, whichever method is elected by the Director.
 
     Under the Fee Arrangement, deferred Director's fees (including the return
accrued thereon) will become payable in cash upon such Director's resignation
from the Board of Directors in generally equal annual installments over a period
of five years (unless the Fund has agreed to a longer or shorter payment period)
beginning on the first day of the year following the year in which such
Director's resignation occurred. In the event of a Director's death, remaining
amounts payable to him under the Fee Arrangement will thereafter be payable to
his designated beneficiary; in all other events, a Director's right to receive
payments is non-transferable. Under the Fee Arrangement, the Board of Directors
of the Fund, in its sole discretion, has reserved the right, at
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
the request of a Director or otherwise, to accelerate or extend the payment of
amounts in the deferred fee account at any time after the termination of such
Director's service as a director. In addition, in the event of liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of the Fund or the distribution of all or
substantially all of the Fund's assets and property to its stockholders (other
than in connection with a reorganization or merger into another fund advised by
MSAM), all unpaid amounts in the deferred fee account maintained by the Fund
will be paid in a lump sum to the Directors participating in the Fee Arrangement
on the effective date thereof.
 
     Currently, John W. Croghan, David B. Gill and John A. Levin are the only
Directors who have entered into the Fee Arrangement with the Fund.
 
     Set forth below is a table showing the aggregate compensation paid or
payable by the Fund to each of its Directors, as well as the total compensation
paid to each Director by the Fund and by other U.S. registered investment
companies advised by MSAM or its affiliates (collectively, the "Fund Complex"),
for their services as Directors of such investment companies for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1995.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              PENSION OR                               NUMBER OF
                                              RETIREMENT      TOTAL COMPENSATION        FUNDS IN
                            AGGREGATE      BENEFITS ACCRUED     FROM FUND AND         FUND COMPLEX
                          COMPENSATION      AS PART OF THE    FUND COMPLEX PAID        FOR WHICH
   NAME OF DIRECTOR      FROM FUND(2)(3)   FUND'S EXPENSES    TO DIRECTOR(2)(4)    DIRECTOR SERVES(5)
- -----------------------  ---------------   ----------------   ------------------   ------------------
<S>                      <C>               <C>                <C>                  <C>
Barton M. Biggs(1)           $     0             None              $      0                16
Frederick B.
  Whittemore(1)                    0             None                28,254                15
Warren J. Olsen(1)                 0             None                     0                16
Peter J. Chase                 1,500             None                47,300                12
John W. Croghan                1,750             None                48,645                12
Allerton Cushman,
  Jr.(6)                           0             None                     0                 1
David B. Gill                  7,319             None                46,719                12
Graham E. Jones                1,500             None                47,673                12
John A. Levin                  1,750             None                49,546                13
Andrew McNally, IV(6)          5,288             None                40,031                 5
William G. Morton, Jr.         1,750             None                48,400                12
Fergus Reid(6)                 5,288             None                56,388                 5
Victor Savanti(6)              1,750             None                 1,750                 1
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) "Interested persons" of the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Messrs.
    Biggs and Olsen do not receive any compensation from the Fund or any other
    investment company in the Fund Complex for their services as a director of
    such investment companies.
 
(2) The amounts reflected in this table include amounts payable by the Fund and
    the Fund Complex for services rendered during the fiscal year ended December
    31, 1995, regardless of whether such amounts were actually received by the
    Directors during such fiscal year.
 
(3) Mr. Croghan earned $875 and Mr. Gill earned $7,319 in deferred compensation
    from the Fund, pursuant to the deferred fee arrangements, including any
    capital gains or losses or interest associated therewith, during the fiscal
    year ended December 31, 1995. Such amounts are included in these Directors'
    respective aggregate compensation from the Fund reported in this table.
 
(4) Mr. Croghan earned $35,657, Mr. Gill earned $26,719, Mr. Jones earned
    $21,723 and Mr. Levin earned $21,796 in deferred compensation from the Fund
    and the Fund Complex, pursuant to the deferred fee arrangements, including
    any capital gains or losses or interest associated therewith, during the
    fiscal year ended December 31, 1995. Such amounts are included in these
    Directors' respective aggregate compensations from the Fund and the Fund
    Complex reported in this table.
 
(5) Indicates the total number of boards of directors of investment companies in
    the Fund Complex on which the Director served at any time during the fiscal
    year ended December 31, 1995.
 
(6) Mr. Reid served as Director of the Fund until the expiration of his term on
    June 26, 1995. Messrs. Cushman, McNally and Savanti served as Directors of
    the Fund until they resigned from the Fund effective June 26, 1995. As of
    the date hereof, Mr. McNally serves as a director on three, Mr. Reid serves
    as a director on four, and Messrs. Cushman and Savanti do not serve as
    directors on any, boards of directors of investment companies in the Fund
    Complex.
 
     Section 16(a) of the 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 (the
"Commission") and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
Certain Forms 3--Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities,
4--Statement of Changes of Beneficial Ownership of Securities and 5--Annual
Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities were filed late by management of
the Fund, which had undertaken to file such forms on behalf of the Directors and
officers of the Fund. A Form 3 was filed late for each of Messrs. Chase,
Croghan, Jones, Levin, Morton and Whittemore. A Form 5 was filed late for each
of Mr. Biggs with respect to four transactions in the Fund's shares (including
one transaction which was not reported on a Form 4) and Messrs. Gill and Morton,
each with respect to two transactions in the Fund's shares.
 
     The election of Messrs. Chase, Gill and Olsen requires the affirmative vote
of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Under
the Fund's By-Laws, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled
to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast thereat shall constitute a
quorum. For this purpose, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted in
determining whether a quorum is present at the Meeting, but will not be counted
as votes cast at the Meeting.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THE
ELECTION OF THE THREE NOMINEES AS DIRECTORS.
 
                      SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                                (PROPOSAL NO. 2)
 
     The Board of Directors of the Fund, including a majority of the Directors
who are not interested persons of the Fund, has selected Price Waterhouse LLP as
independent accountants for the Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31,
1996. The ratification of the selection of independent accountants is to be
voted on at the Meeting, and it is intended that the persons named in the
accompanying Proxy will vote for Price Waterhouse LLP. Price Waterhouse LLP acts
as the independent accountants for certain of the other investment companies
advised by MSAM. Although it is not expected that a representative of Price
Waterhouse LLP will attend the Meeting, a representative will be available by
telephone to respond to stockholder questions, if any.
 
     The Board's policy regarding engaging independent accountants' services is
that management may engage the Fund's principal independent accountants to
perform any services normally provided by independent accounting firms, provided
that such services meet any and all of the independence requirements of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Commission. In
accordance with this policy, the Audit Committee reviews and approves all
services provided by the independent accountants prior to their being rendered.
The Board of Directors also receives a report from its Audit Committee relating
to all services that have been performed by the Fund's independent accountants.
 
     The ratification of the selection of independent accountants requires the
affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum
is present. For this purpose, abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted
in determining whether a quorum is present at the Meeting, but will not be
counted as votes cast at the Meeting.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FUND RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" THIS
PROPOSAL NO. 2.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
                SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
 
     To the knowledge of the Fund's management, the following person owned
beneficially more than 5% of the Fund's outstanding shares at April 26, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      NAME AND ADDRESS OF                 AMOUNT AND NATURE OF            PERCENT
        BENEFICIAL OWNER                  BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP           OF CLASS
- --------------------------------  -------------------------------------  ---------
<S>                               <C>                                    <C>
Morgan Stanley Group Inc.*......  420,484 shares, with shared voting       8.45%
1585 Broadway                     power and shared dispositive power;
New York, New York 10036          561,584 shares, with no voting power
                                  and shared dispositive power.**
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
 * Includes 561,584 shares held by Morgan Stanley Asset Management Inc., which
   comprise 4.83% of shares outstanding.
 
** Based on a Schedule 13G filed by Morgan Stanley Group Inc. with the
   Commission on February 14, 1996.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
     No business other than as set forth herein is expected to come before the
Meeting, but should any other matter requiring a vote of stockholders arise,
including any question as to an adjournment of the Meeting, the persons named in
the enclosed Proxy will vote thereon according to their best judgment in the
interests of the Fund.
 
                 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 1997 ANNUAL MEETING
 
     A stockholders' proposal intended to be presented at the Fund's Annual
Meeting of Stockholders in 1997 must be received by the Fund on or before
January 10, 1997, in order to be included in the Fund's proxy statement and form
of proxy relating to that meeting.
 
                                              VALERIE Y. LEWIS
                                              Secretary
 
Dated: May 10, 1996
 
     STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE MEETING AND WHO WISH TO
HAVE THEIR SHARES VOTED ARE REQUESTED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND
RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
                         THE LATIN AMERICAN DISCOVERY FUND, INC.

P                        C/O MORGAN STANLEY ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
                               1221 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
R                               NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10020

O              THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

X         The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints WARREN J. OLSEN,
     VALERIE Y. LEWIS and HAROLD J. SCHAAFF, JR., and each of them, as proxies
Y    for the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, 
     and hereby authorizes said proxies, and each of them, to represent and 
     vote, as designated on the reverse side, all stock of the above Company 
     held of record by the undersigned on April 26, 1996 at the Annual Meeting 
     of Stockholders to be held on June 5, 1996, and at any adjournment thereof.

          The undersigned hereby revokes any and all proxies with respect to
     such stock heretofore given by the undersigned. The undersigned
     acknowledges receipt of the Proxy Statement dated May 10, 1996.

            (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED AND DATED ON REVERSE SIDE.)

                                  -----------
                                  SEE REVERSE
                                      SIDE
                                  -----------
<PAGE>   15
[X] PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE

                                                          FOR  WITHHELD
1.  Election of the following nominees as Directors:      [ ]    [ ]

    Class I Nominees: Peter J. Chase, David B. Gill and Warren J. Olsen

    [ ]
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
    For all nominees except as noted above

                                                          FOR  AGAINST  ABSTAIN

2.  Ratification of the selection of Price Waterhouse     [ ]    [ ]      [ ]
    LLP as independent accountants.

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

                            MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT [ ]

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the undersigned stockholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be
voted FOR the election of the three Class I Nominees and in favor of Proposal
No. 2. Please sign exactly as your name appears. When shares are held by joint 
tenants, each joint tenant should sign.

SIGNATURE(S)                                           DATE              , 1996
             --------------------------------------         -------------

When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or
custodian, please sign full title as such. If a corporation, please sign full
corporate name by authorized officer and indicate the signer's office. If a
partnership, please sign in partnership name. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND
RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.



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