MUNIVEST FLORIDA FUND
DEF 14A, 1996-07-22
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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                     / /

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  / /

Check the appropriate box:
/ / Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
    14a-6(e)(2))
/X/ Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                             MUNIVEST FLORIDA FUND
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (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), 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:

/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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

    (1) Amount Previously Paid:

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

    (3) Filing Party:

    (4) Date Filed:

<PAGE>

                             MUNIVEST FLORIDA FUND
                                 P.O. BOX 9011
                        PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
 
                            ------------------------
 
                 NOTICE OF 1996 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               SEPTEMBER 9, 1996
 
TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF MUNIVEST FLORIDA FUND:
 
     Notice is hereby given that the 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the
'Meeting') of MuniVest Florida Fund (the 'Fund') will be held at the offices of
Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P., 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New
Jersey, on Monday, September 9, 1996 at 9:00 A.M. for the following purposes:
 
          (1) To elect a Board of Trustees to serve for the ensuing year;
 
          (2) To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the selection of
     Deloitte & Touche LLP to serve as independent auditors of the Fund for its
     current fiscal year; and
 
          (3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
     Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
     The Board of Trustees has fixed the close of business on July 15, 1996 as
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
     A complete list of the shareholders of the Fund entitled to vote at the
Meeting will be available and open to the examination of any shareholder of the
Fund for any purpose germane to the Meeting during ordinary business hours from
and after August 26, 1996, at the office of the Fund, 800 Scudders Mill Road,
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536. You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting.
SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON ARE REQUESTED TO
COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED FORM OF PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE
ENVELOPE PROVIDED FOR THIS PURPOSE. The enclosed proxy is being solicited on
behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Fund.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Trustees

                                          MARK B. GOLDFUS
                                          Secretary
 
Plainsboro, New Jersey
Dated: July 22, 1996

<PAGE>

                                PROXY STATEMENT

                            ------------------------
 
                             MUNIVEST FLORIDA FUND
                                 P.O. BOX 9011
                        PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011

                            ------------------------
 
                      1996 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

                            ------------------------
 
                               SEPTEMBER 9, 1996
 
                                  INTRODUCTION
 
     This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies on behalf of the Board of Trustees of MuniVest Florida Fund, a
Massachusetts business trust (the 'Fund'), to be voted at the 1996 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund (the 'Meeting'), to be held at the offices
of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. ('MLAM'), 800 Scudders Mill Road,
Plainsboro, New Jersey, on Monday, September 9, 1996 at 9:00 A.M. The
approximate mailing date of this Proxy Statement is July 24, 1996.
 
     All properly executed proxies received prior to the Meeting will be voted
at the Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon or otherwise
as provided therein. Unless instructions to the contrary are marked, proxies
will be voted for the election of the Board of Trustees to serve for the ensuing
year, and for the ratification of the selection of independent auditors to serve
for the Fund's current fiscal year. Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior
to the exercise thereof by giving written notice to the Secretary of the Fund at
the Fund's address indicated above or by voting in person at the Meeting.
 
     The Board of Trustees has fixed the close of business on July 15, 1996 as
the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Meeting and at any adjournment thereof. Shareholders on the
record date will be entitled to one vote for each share held, with no shares
having cumulative voting rights. As of July 15, 1996, the Fund had outstanding
5,978,662 shares of beneficial interest, par value $.10 per share ('Common
Shares'), and 1,600 shares of auction market preferred stock, par value $.05 per
share and liquidation preference $25,000 per share plus an amount equal to
accumulated but unpaid dividends thereon ('AMPS'). To the knowledge of the Fund,
as of July 15, 1996, no person is the beneficial owner of more than five percent
of the outstanding Common Shares or more than five percent of the outstanding
AMPS.
 
     The Board of Trustees of the Fund knows of no business other than that
mentioned in Items 1 and 2 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.
 
                          ITEM 1. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
 
     At the Meeting, the Board of Trustees will be elected to serve until the
next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are elected and
qualified. It is intended that all properly executed proxies will be voted
(unless such authority has been withheld in the proxy) as follows:
 
          (1) All such proxies of the holders of AMPS, voting separately by
     class, in favor of the two (2) persons designated as Trustees to be elected
     by holders of AMPS; and

<PAGE>

          (2) All such proxies of the holders of AMPS and Common Shares, voting
     together as a single class, in favor of the four (4) persons designated as
     Trustees to be elected by holders of AMPS and Common Shares.
 
     The Board of Trustees of the Fund knows of no reason why any of these
nominees will be unable to serve, but in the event of any such unavailability,
the proxies received will be voted for such substitute nominee or nominees as
the Board of Trustees may recommend.
 
     Certain information concerning the nominees, including their designated
classes, is set forth below:
 
TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF AMPS, VOTING SEPARATELY AS A CLASS:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         SHARES
                                                                                                      BENEFICIALLY
                                                                                                        OWNED AT
                                                                                                      JULY 15, 1996
                                                        PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS                     ---------------------
           NAME AND ADDRESS                            DURING PAST FIVE YEARS           TRUSTEE    COMMON
              OF NOMINEE                 AGE         AND PUBLIC DIRECTORSHIPS(1)         SINCE     SHARES       AMPS
- ---------------------------------------  ----  ---------------------------------------  --------  ---------   ---------
<S>                                      <C>   <C>                                      <C>       <C>         <C>
Donald Cecil(1)(2) ....................   69   Special Limited Partner of Cumberland      1993        0           0
Cumberland Associates                          Partners (an investment partnership)
1114 Avenue of the Americas                    since 1982; Member of Institute of
New York, New York 10036                       Chartered Financial Analysts; Member
                                               and Chairman of Westchester County
                                               (N.Y.) Board of Transportation.

M. Colyer Crum(1)(2) ..................   64   James R. Williston Professor of            1993        0           0
Soldiers Field Road                            Investment Management, Harvard Business
Boston, Massachusetts 02163                    School, since 1971; Director of
                                               Cambridge Bancorp, Copley Properties,
                                               Inc. and Sun Life Assurance Company of
                                               Canada.
 

<CAPTION>
TO BE ELECTED BY HOLDERS OF AMPS AND COMMON SHARES, VOTING TOGETHER AS A SINGLE CLASS:
                                                                                                         SHARES
                                                                                                      BENEFICIALLY
                                                                                                        OWNED AT
                                                                                                      JULY 15, 1996
                                                        PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS                     ---------------------
           NAME AND ADDRESS                            DURING PAST FIVE YEARS           TRUSTEE    COMMON
              OF NOMINEE                 AGE         AND PUBLIC DIRECTORSHIPS(1)         SINCE     SHARES       AMPS
- ---------------------------------------  ----  ---------------------------------------  --------  ---------   ---------
<S>                                      <C>   <C>                                      <C>       <C>         <C>
Edward H. Meyer(1)(2) .................   69   President of Grey Advertising Inc.         1993        0           0
Grey Advertising Inc.                          since 1968, Chief Executive Officer
777 Third Avenue                               since 1970 and Chairman of the Board of
New York, New York 10017                       Directors since 1972; Director of The
                                               May Department Stores Company, Bowne &
                                               Co., Inc. (financial printers), Ethan
                                               Allen Interiors, Inc. and Harman
                                               International Industries, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
                                       2

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         SHARES
                                                                                                      BENEFICIALLY
                                                                                                        OWNED AT
                                                                                                      JULY 15, 1996
                                                        PRINCIPAL OCCUPATIONS                     ---------------------
           NAME AND ADDRESS                            DURING PAST FIVE YEARS           TRUSTEE    COMMON
              OF NOMINEE                 AGE         AND PUBLIC DIRECTORSHIPS(1)         SINCE     SHARES       AMPS
- ---------------------------------------  ----  ---------------------------------------  --------  ---------   ---------
<S>                                      <C>   <C>                                      <C>       <C>         <C>
Jack B. Sunderland(1)(2) ..............   67   President and Director of American         1993        0           0
P.O. Box 7                                     Independent Oil Company, Inc. (an
West Cornwall, Connecticut 06796               energy company) since 1987; Member of
                                               Council on Foreign Relations since
                                               1971.

J. Thomas Touchton(1)(2) ..............   57   Managing Partner of The Witt-Touchton      1993        0           0
Suite 3405                                     Company and its predecessor, The Witt
One Tampa City Center                          Co. (a private investment partnership)
Tampa, Florida 33602                           since 1972; Trustee Emeritus of
                                               Washington and Lee University; Director
                                               of TECO Energy Inc. (an electric
                                               utility holding company).

Arthur Zeikel(1)* .....................   64   President of Fund Asset Management,        1993        0           0
800 Scudders Mill Road                         L.P. ('FAM', which term as used herein
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536                   includes its corporate predecessors)
                                               since 1977; President of MLAM (which

                                               term as used herein includes its
                                               corporate predecessors) since 1977;
                                               President and Director of Princeton
                                               Services, Inc. ('Princeton Services')
                                               since 1993; Executive Vice President of
                                               Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ('ML & Co.')
                                               since 1990; Director of Merrill Lynch
                                               Funds Distributor, Inc. ('MLFD').
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
(1) Each of the nominees is a director, trustee or member of an advisory board
    of certain other investment companies for which FAM or MLAM acts as
    investment adviser. See 'Compensation of Trustees and Officers' below.
 
(2) Member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees.
 
 * Interested person, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
   amended (the 'Investment Company Act'), of the Fund.
 
     Committees and Board of Trustees' Meetings.  The Board of Trustees has a
standing Audit Committee which consists of the Trustees who are not 'interested
persons' of the Fund within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. The
principal purpose of the Audit Committee is to review the scope of the annual
audit conducted by the Fund's independent auditors and the evaluation by such
auditors of the accounting procedures followed by the Fund. The non-interested
Trustees have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection
with these duties. The Board of Trustees does not have a nominating committee.
 
                                       3

<PAGE>

     During the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995, the Board of Trustees held
four meetings and the Audit Committee held four meetings. All of the Trustees
attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the
Board of Trustees and the total number of meetings held by all committees of the
Board on which they served during such period.
 
     Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.  Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
'Exchange Act'), requires the Fund's officers, trustees and persons who own more
than ten percent of a registered class of the Fund's equity securities, to file
reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') and the New York Stock Exchange.
Officers,trustees and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC
regulations to furnish the Fund with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.
 
     Based solely on the Fund's review of the copies of such forms, and
amendments thereto, furnished to it during or with respect to its most recent
fiscal year, and written representations from certain reporting persons that
they were not required to file Form 5 with respect to the most recent fiscal
year, the Fund believes that all of its officers, trustees, greater than ten
percent beneficial owners and other persons subject to Section 16 of the

Exchange Act because of the requirements of Section 30 of the Investment Company
Act (i.e., any advisory board member, investment adviser or affiliated person of
the Fund's investment adviser), have complied with all filing requirements
applicable to them with respect to transactions during the Fund's most recent
fiscal year.
 
     Interested Persons.  The Fund considers Mr. Zeikel to be an 'interested
person' of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment
Company Act because of the positions he holds with FAM and its affiliates. Mr.
Zeikel is the President of the Fund and the President of FAM and MLAM.
 
     Compensation of Trustees and Officers.  FAM, the Fund's investment adviser,
pays all compensation of all officers of the Fund and all Trustees of the Fund
who are affiliated with ML & Co. or its subsidiaries. The Fund pays each Trustee
not affiliated with the investment adviser a fee of $2,500 per year plus $250
per regular meeting attended, together with such Trustee's actual out-of-pocket
expenses relating to attendance at meetings. The Fund also pays each member of
its Audit Committee a fee of $500 per year plus $125 per meeting attended,
together with such Trustee's out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at
meetings. These fees and expenses aggregated $24,660 for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 1995.
 
     The following table sets forth, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1995,
compensation paid by the Fund to the non-affiliated Trustees, and for the
calendar year ended December 31, 1995, the aggregate compensation paid by all
registered investment companies advised by FAM and its affiliate, MLAM
('FAM/MLAM Advised Funds') to the non-affiliated Trustees.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             PENSION OR RETIREMENT     AGGREGATE COMPENSATION FROM FUND AND
                           COMPENSATION     BENEFITS ACCRUED AS PART      FAM/MLAM ADVISED FUNDS PAID TO
NAME OF TRUSTEE             FROM FUND          OF FUND EXPENSES                     TRUSTEES
- ----------------------    -------------    -------------------------    --------------------------------
<S>                       <C>              <C>                          <C>
Donald Cecil(1)             $4,500                  None                           $271,850

M. Colyer Crum(1)           $4,500                  None                           $126,600

Edward H. Meyer(1)          $4,125                  None                           $239,225

Jack B. Sunderland(1)       $4,500                  None                           $134,600

J. Thomas Touchton(1)       $4,500                  None                           $134,600
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------
 
(1) In addition to to the Fund, the Trustees serve on the Boards of other 
    FAM/MLAM Advised Funds as follows:
    Mr. Cecil (34 funds and portfolios), Mr. Crum (17 funds and portfolios),
    Mr. Meyer (34 funds and portfolios), Mr. Sunderland (28 funds and
    portfolios) and Mr. Touchton (28 funds and portfolios).
 

                                       4

<PAGE>

     Officers of the Fund.  The Board of Trustees has elected eight officers of
the Fund. The following sets forth information concerning each of these
officers:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                             OFFICER
                          NAME AND PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                                 OFFICE        AGE     SINCE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------   ---------------   ----   --------
<S>                                                                                 <C>               <C>    <C>
Arthur Zeikel ...................................................................      President       64      1993
  President of FAM since 1977; President of MLAM since 1977; President and
  Director of Princeton Services since 1993; Executive Vice President of ML & Co.
  since 1990; Director of MFLD.

Terry K. Glenn ..................................................................   Executive Vice     55      1993
  Executive Vice President of FAM and MLAM since 1983; Executive Vice President        President
  and Director of Princeton Services since 1993; President of MLFD since 1986 and
  Director thereof since 1991; President of Princeton Administrators, L.P. since 
  1988.

Vincent R. Giordano .............................................................   Vice President     51      1993
  Senior Vice President of FAM and MLAM since 1984 and Vice President of MLAM
  from 1980 to 1984; Senior Vice President of Princeton Services since 1993.

Kenneth A. Jacob ................................................................   Vice President     45      1993
  Vice President of FAM and MLAM since 1984; employed by MLAM since 1978.

Robert A. DiMella ...............................................................      Assistant       29      1993
  Assistant Vice President of MLAM 1995; Assistant Portfolio Manager of MLAM from   Vice President 
  1993 to 1995; Assistant Portfolio Manager with Prudential Investment Advisors
  from 1992 to 1993; Research Associate with Prudential Investment Corporation
  from 1989 to 1992.

Donald C. Burke .................................................................   Vice President     36      1993
  Vice President and Director of Taxation of MLAM since 1990.

Gerald M. Richard ...............................................................      Treasurer       47      1993
  Senior Vice President and Treasurer of FAM and MLAM since 1984; Senior Vice
  President and Treasurer of Princeton Services since 1993; Treasurer of MLFD
  since 1984 and Vice President since 1981.

Mark B. Goldfus .................................................................      Secretary       49      1993
  Vice President of FAM and MLAM since 1985.
</TABLE>
 
     Share Ownership.  At July 15, 1996, the Trustees and officers of the Fund
as a group (13 persons) owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the Common Shares
of the Fund outstanding at such date and owned none of the AMPS outstanding at
such date. At such date, Mr. Zeikel, a Trustee and officer of the Fund, and the

other officers of the Fund owned an aggregate of less than 1% of the outstanding
shares of common stock of ML & Co.
 
                   ITEM 2. SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
     The Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who
are not interested persons of the Fund, has selected the firm of Deloitte &
Touche LLP ('D&T'), independent auditors, to examine the financial statements of
the Fund for the current fiscal year. The Fund knows of no direct or indirect
financial interest of D&T in the Fund. Such appointment is subject to
ratification or rejection by the shareholders of the
 
                                       5

<PAGE>

Fund. Unless a contrary specification is made, the accompanying proxy will be
voted in favor of ratifying the selection of such auditors.
 
     D&T also acts as independent auditors for ML & Co. and all of its
subsidiaries and for most other investment companies for which FAM or MLAM acts
as investment adviser. The fees received by D&T from these other entities are
greater, in the aggregate, than the total fees received by it from the Fund. The
Board of Trustees of the Fund considered the fact that D&T has been retained as
the independent auditors for ML & Co. and the other entities described above, in
its evaluation of the independence of D&T with respect to the Fund.
 
     Representatives of D&T are expected to be present at the Meeting and will
have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and to respond to
questions from shareholders.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
     The expenses of preparation, printing and mailing of the enclosed form of
proxy and accompanying Notice and Proxy Statement will be borne by the Fund. The
Fund will reimburse banks, brokers and others for their reasonable expenses in
forwarding proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the shares of
the Fund. The Fund may also hire proxy solicitors at the expense of the Fund.
 
     In order to obtain the necessary quorum at the Meeting (i.e., a majority of
the shares of each class of the Fund's securities entitled to vote at the
Meeting, present in person or by proxy), supplementary solicitation may be made
by mail, telephone, telegraph or personal interview by officers of the Fund. It
is anticipated that the cost of such supplementary solicitation, if any, will be
nominal.
 
     All shares represented by properly executed proxies, unless such proxies
have previously been revoked, will be voted at the Meeting in accordance with
the directions on the proxies; if no direction is indicated, the shares will be
voted 'FOR' the Trustee nominees and 'FOR' the ratification of D&T as
independent auditors.
 
     The Trustees are to be elected by class vote, two Trustees being elected by
the holders of AMPS and the remaining Trustees by the holders of AMPS and Common

Shares, voting together as a single class. At a meeting at which a quorum is
duly constituted, (i) the affirmative vote of a majority of the AMPS represented
in person or by proxy, voting separately as a class, is required for the
election of the two (2) persons designated as Trustees to be elected by the
holders of AMPS; (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the AMPS and the
Common Shares represented in person or by proxy, voting together as a single
class, is required for the election of the remaining Trustees (Item 1); and
(iii) the proposal to ratify the selection of the Fund's independent auditors
(Item 2) may be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Common
Shares and the AMPS represented in person or by proxy, voting together as a
single class.
 
     Broker-dealer firms, including Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated ('Merrill Lynch'), holding Fund shares in 'street name' for the
benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such
customers and clients on how to vote their shares on each Item before the
Meeting. The Fund understands that, under the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange, such broker-dealer firms may, without instructions from their
customers and clients, grant authority to the proxies designated to vote on the
election of Trustees (Item 1) and ratification of the selection of independent
auditors (Item 2) if no instructions have been received prior to the date
specified in the broker-dealer firm's request for voting instructions. The Fund
will include shares held of record by broker-dealers as to which such authority
has been granted in its tabulation of the total number of votes present for
purposes of determining whether the necessary quorum of shareholders exists.
Proxies which are returned to the Fund but which are marked 'abstain' or
on which a broker-dealer has declined to vote on any proposal ('broker
non-votes') will be counted as present for purposes of a quorum. Merrill
Lynch has advised 

 
                                       6

<PAGE>

the Fund that it intends to exercise discretion over the shares held in its name
for which no instructions have been received by voting such shares on Items 1
and 2 in the same proportion as it has voted shares for which it has received
instructions. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast
and therefore will have the same effect as a vote against on Item 1 and Item 2.
 
ADDRESS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
 
     The principal office of FAM is located at 800 Scudders Mill Road,
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536.
 
ANNUAL REPORT DELIVERY
 
     The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report for the
fiscal year ended October 31, 1995 to any stockholder upon request. Such
requests should be directed to MuniVest Florida Fund, P.O. Box 9011, Princeton,
New Jersey 08543-9011, Attention: Mark B. Goldfus, or to 1-800-456-4587 
ext. 123.
 

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
     If a shareholder intends to present a proposal at the 1997 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders of the Fund, which is anticipated to be held in September 1997,
and desires to have the proposal included in the Fund's proxy statement and form
of proxy for that meeting, the shareholder must deliver the proposal to the
offices of the Fund by March 24, 1997.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Trustees

                                          MARK B. GOLDFUS
                                          Secretary
 
Dated: July 22, 1996
 
                                       7

<PAGE>

                                                                   COMMON SHARES
                             MUNIVEST FLORIDA FUND
                                 P.O. BOX 9011
                        PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
 
                                   P R O X Y
           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
 
                   The undersigned hereby appoints Arthur Zeikel,
              Terry K. Glenn and Mark B. Goldfus as proxies, each
              with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby
              authorizes them to represent and to vote, as
              designated on the reverse hereof, all the Common
              Shares of MuniVest Florida Fund (the 'Fund') held of
              record by the undersigned on July 15, 1996 at the
              annual meeting of shareholders of the Fund to be
              held on September 9, 1996 or any adjournment
              thereof.
 
                   THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED
              IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED
              SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY
              WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
 
                  (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
 
<PAGE>

PLEASE MARK BOXES /X/ OR /X/ IN BLUE OR BLACK INK.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                  <C>                                            <C>
1. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES              FOR all nominees listed below                  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                                     (except as marked to the contrary below) / /   to vote for all nominees listed below / /
</TABLE>
 
   (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, 
   STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.)
   EDWARD H. MEYER, JACK B. SUNDERLAND, J. THOMAS TOUCHTON AND ARTHUR ZEIKEL
 
2. Proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent
   auditors of the Fund to serve for the current fiscal year.

   FOR / /      AGAINST / /      ABSTAIN / /
 
3. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly
   come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
                                                  Please sign exactly as name
                                                  appears hereon. When shares
                                                  are held by joint tenants,
                                                  both should sign. When signing
                                                  as attorney or as executor,
                                                  administrator, trustee or
                                                  guardian, please give full
                                                  title as such. If a
                                                  corporation, please sign in
                                                  full corporate name by
                                                  president or other authorized
                                                  officer. If a partnership,
                                                  please sign in partnership
                                                  name by authorized persons.
 
                                                  Dated: _________________, 1996

                                                  X ____________________________
                                                            Signature
 
                                                  X ____________________________
                                                    Signature, if held jointly
 
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

<PAGE>

                                                                  AUCTION MARKET
                                                                PREFERRED SHARES

                             MUNIVEST FLORIDA FUND
                                 P.O. BOX 9011
                        PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY 08543-9011
 
                                   P R O X Y
           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
 
                   The undersigned hereby appoints Arthur Zeikel,
              Terry K. Glenn and Mark B. Goldfus as proxies, each
              with the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby
              authorizes them to represent and to vote, as
              designated on the reverse hereof, all the Auction
              Market Preferred Shares of MuniVest Florida Fund
              (the 'Fund') held of record by the undersigned on
              July 15, 1996 at the annual meeting of shareholders
              of the Fund to be held on September 9, 1996 or any
              adjournment thereof.
 
                   THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED
              IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED
              SHAREHOLDER. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY
              WILL BE VOTED FOR PROPOSALS 1 AND 2.
 
                  (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side)
 
<PAGE>

PLEASE MARK BOXES /X/ OR /X/ IN BLUE OR BLACK INK.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                   <C>                                            <C>
1. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES               FOR all nominees listed below                  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
                                      (except as marked to the contrary below) / /   to vote for all nominees listed below / /
</TABLE>
 
   (INSTRUCTION: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL NOMINEE, 
   STRIKE A LINE THROUGH THE NOMINEE'S NAME IN THE LIST BELOW.)
   DONALD CECIL, M. COLYER CRUM, EDWARD H. MEYER, JACK B. SUNDERLAND, J. THOMAS
   TOUCHTON AND ARTHUR ZEIKEL
 
2. Proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent
   auditors of the Fund to serve for the current fiscal year.

   FOR / /      AGAINST / /      ABSTAIN / /
 
3. In the discretion of such proxies, upon such other business as may properly
   come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
 
                                                  Please sign exactly as name
                                                  appears hereon. When shares
                                                  are held by joint tenants,
                                                  both should sign. When signing
                                                  as attorney or as executor,
                                                  administrator, trustee or
                                                  guardian, please give full
                                                  title as such. If a
                                                  corporation, please sign in
                                                  full corporate name by
                                                  president or other authorized
                                                  officer. If a partnership,
                                                  please sign in partnership
                                                  name by authorized persons.
 
                                                  Dated: _________________, 1996

                                                  X ____________________________
                                                            Signature
 
                                                  X ____________________________
                                                    Signature, if held jointly
 
SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.



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