-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Sc5TTBAgzCt7lRuECOifhY81R2CscJQuB682S6hhS7H+flINRqMrNzmzHHEKrJor Hsx1pFXYQjLUxXjr/cvrMw== 0000938077-98-000133.txt : 19981230 0000938077-98-000133.hdr.sgml : 19981230 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000938077-98-000133 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: DFAN14A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19981229 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AUSTRIA FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000843615 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] IRS NUMBER: 133529777 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DFAN14A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-05736 FILM NUMBER: 98776842 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1345 AVE OF THE AMERICAS CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 BUSINESS PHONE: 2129691000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ALLIANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP STREET 2: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 31ST FL CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DEEP DISCOUNT ADVISORS INC /NC/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000938077 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [] IRS NUMBER: 561827546 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: DFAN14A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE WEST PACK SQU STREET 2: SUITE 777 CITY: ASHEVILLE STATE: NC ZIP: 28801 BUSINESS PHONE: 7042741863 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE WEST PACK SQUARE STREET 2: SUITE 777 CITY: ASHEVILLE STATE: NC ZIP: 28801 DFAN14A 1 SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Filed by Registrant [ ] Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ X ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) [ ] Definitive Proxy Statement [ X ] Definitive Additional Materials [ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Sec. 240.14a-11(c) or Sec. 240.14a-12 THE AUSTRIA FUND, INC. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) Deep Discount Advisors, Inc. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [X] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(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: _______________________________________ DEEP DISCOUNT ADVISORS INC. Enhanced Performance through Closed-End Fund Investments One West Pack Square, Suite 777, Asheville, NC 28801 828-274-1863 Fax: 828-255-4834 E-mail: ddainc@msn.com December 28, 1998 Dear Fellow Austria Fund Stockholder: We have been very pleased by the response of fellow Austria Fund shareholders to our proxy and to the choices we are providing them in the upcoming annual meeting. Don't be fooled by the name calling and scare tactics put out by Alliance and the current Board. Our Board candidates are committed to delivering full Net Asset Value to shareholders who want it, as soon as possible, as well as maximizing the ongoing return of shareholders who remain in the Fund. Our Board candidates own 141,820 shares of Austria Fund and represent clients who own an additional 1,255,588 shares. Our interests are the same as yours. By almost any objective standard, this has not been a good investment for shareholders, but has been a great investment for Alliance Capital, the Fund's manager. From inception through 2/28/98, when the market price of the Fund's shares was $11.44, the shareholders had collectively made about $12 million on their $138 million investment over eight years while paying out $25 million in advisory fees, director fees, underwriting fees and other expenses. The elimination of the discount (over $16 million on 11/13/98) would substantially improve the investment results of the shareholders. The Chairman of the Board of Alliance Capital is the Chairman and President of the Austria Fund. He and three other incumbent Board members are up for election. They are AGAINST open-ending the Fund. They are AGAINST getting rid of staggered Board terms and making Directors responsible to shareholders every year. In our opinion, they are AGAINST the best interests of the shareholders. They personify the "status quo" which has not served shareholders well. If our Board candidates and our promises to deliver full Net Asset Value to shareholders are rejected at the meeting, we believe the Fund may well return to the 20% or more discount levels recorded as recently as last August. Give us your [GREEN] proxy and let us go to work for you. You may vote on all proposals contained in the Fund's white proxy card by using the enclosed [GREEN] proxy card. If you have already returned the white proxy card sent to you by the Fund, you may revoke that proxy and vote for our nominees and proposals by marking, signing, dating, and mailing a later dated [GREEN] proxy card. AFTER SUBMITTING A [GREEN] PROXY CARD, PLEASE DO NOT RETURN A [WHITE] PROXY CARD. ALSO, DO NOT GIVE YOUR PROXY OVER THE PHONE TO A TELEPHONE SOLICITOR. DOING EITHER OF THESE WILL REVOKE YOUR EARLIER DATED [GREEN] PROXY CARD. Vote to get rid of the discount. Vote your pocketbook. Vote with those who truly share your interests. Vote the enclosed [GREEN] proxy card. If you have any questions, please call me at (828) 274-1863. The Annual Meeting is only a few days away, January 13, 1998. Please date and vote the [GREEN] proxy today! Sincerely, Ron Olin -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----