SCHEDULE 14A (Rule 14a-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT 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: / X / Preliminary proxy statement / / Definitive proxy statement / / Definitive additional materials / / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 OPPENHEIMER MULTI-SECTOR INCOME TRUST - ------------------------------------------------------------ (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) OPPENHEIMER MULTI-SECTOR INCOME TRUST - ------------------------------------------------------------ (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box): / / $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1) or 14a-6(j)(2). / / $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: 1 (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: / / 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: - -------------------- 1 - Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined. 11 OPPENHEIMER MULTI-SECTOR INCOME TRUST Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203 Notice Of Annual Meeting Of Shareholders To Be Held April 29, 1999 To The Shareholders of Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust: Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust (the "Fund") will be held at 6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112, at 11:30 A.M., Denver time, on Thursday, April 29, 1999, or any adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"), for the following purposes: (1) To elect three Trustees in Class C to hold office until the term of such class shall expire in 2002, or until their successors are elected and shall qualify; (2) To ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as the independent certified public accountants and auditors of the Fund for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1998 (Proposal No. 1); and (3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting. Shareholders of record at the close of business on February 26, 1999 are entitled to vote at the Meeting. The election of Trustees and the Proposal are more fully discussed in the Proxy Statement. Please read it carefully before telling us, through your proxy or in person, how you wish your shares to be voted. The Board of Trustees of the Fund recommends a vote to elect each of its nominees as Trustee and in favor of the Proposals. WE URGE YOU TO SIGN, DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED PROXY PROMPTLY. By Order of the Board of Trustees, Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary March 5, 1999 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shareholders who do not expect to attend the Meeting are requested to indicate voting instructions on the enclosed proxy and to date, sign and return it in the accompanying postage-paid envelope. To avoid unnecessary expense and duplicate mailings, we ask your cooperation in promptly mailing your proxy no matter how large or small your holdings may be. OPPENHEIMER MULTI-SECTOR INCOME TRUST Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203 PROXY STATEMENT Annual Meeting Of Shareholders To Be Held April 29, 1999 This Proxy Statement is furnished to the shareholders of Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust (the "Fund") in connection with the solicitation by the Fund's Board of Trustees of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112, at 11:30 A.M., Denver time, on Thursday, April 29, 1999 or any adjournments thereof (the "Meeting"). It is expected that the mailing of this Proxy Statement will be made on or about March 5, 1999. For a free copy of the annual report covering the operations of the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998, call the Fund's transfer agent, Shareholder Financial Services, Inc., at 1-800-647-7374. The enclosed proxy, if properly executed and returned, will be voted (or counted as an abstention or withheld from voting) in accordance with the choices specified thereon, and will be included in determining whether there is a quorum to conduct the Meeting. The proxy will be voted in favor of the nominees for Trustee named in this Proxy Statement unless a choice is indicated to withhold authority to vote for all listed nominees or any individual nominee. The proxy will be voted in favor of the Proposal unless a choice is indicated to vote against or to abstain from voting on the Proposal. Shares owned of record by broker-dealers for the benefit of their customers ("street account shares") will be voted by the broker-dealer based on instructions received from its customers. If no instructions are received, the broker-dealer may (if permitted under applicable stock exchange rules), as record holder, vote such shares for the election of Trustees and on the Proposal in the same proportion as that broker-dealer votes street account shares for which voting instructions were timely received. Abstentions will be counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum and will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. If at the time any session of the Meeting is called to order a quorum is not present, in person or by proxy, the persons named as proxies may vote those proxies which have been received to adjourn the Meeting to a later date. In the event that a quorum is present but sufficient votes in favor of the proposal have not been received, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies with respect to any such proposal. All such adjournments will require the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy at the session of the Meeting to be adjourned. The persons names as proxies will vote those proxies which they are entitled to vote in favor of the proposal, in favor of such an adjournment, and will vote those proxies required to be voted against the proposal, against any such adjournment. A vote may be taken on one or more of the proposals in this proxy statement prior to any such adjournment if sufficient votes for its approval have been received and it is otherwise appropriate. Any adjourned session or sessions may be held within 90 days after the date set for the original Meeting without the necessity of further notice. If a shareholder executes and returns a proxy but fails to indicate how the votes should be cast, the proxy will be voted in favor of the election of each of the nominees named herein for Trustee and in favor of the Proposal. The proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the voting by: (1) writing to the Secretary of the Fund at Two World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048-0203; (2) attending the Meeting and voting in person; or (3) signing and returning a new proxy (if returned and received in time to be voted). The cost of the preparation and distribution of these proxy materials is an expense of the Fund. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, proxies may be solicited by officers or employees of the Fund's transfer agent, Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. (a subsidiary of OppenheimerFunds, Inc., the Fund's investment adviser), or by officers or employees of the Fund's investment adviser (the "Adviser"), personally or by telephone or telegraph; any expenses so incurred will also be borne by the Fund. Proxies may also be solicited by a proxy solicitation firm hired at the Fund's expense for such purpose. Brokers, banks and other fiduciaries may be required to forward soliciting material to their principals and to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies. For those services they will be reimbursed by the Fund for their out-of-pocket expenses. Shares Outstanding and Entitled to Vote. As of February 26, 1999 the record date, there were ____________ shares of the Fund issued and outstanding. All shares of the Fund have equal voting rights as to the election of Trustees and as to the Proposal described herein, and the holders of shares are entitled to one vote for each share (and a fractional vote for a fractional share) held of record at the close of business on the record date. As of the record date, the only person know by the management of the Fund to own or be the beneficial owner of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund was - --------------- ELECTION OF TRUSTEES The Fund's Declaration of Trust provides that the Board of Trustees shall consist of three classes of Trustees with overlapping three year terms. One class of Trustees is to be elected each year with terms extending to the third succeeding annual meeting after such election, or until their successors shall be duly elected and shall have qualified. At the Meeting, three Class C Trustees are to be elected for a three year term, as described below, or until their respective successors shall be duly elected and shall have qualified. The persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the enclosed proxy have advised the Fund that unless a proxy instructs them to withhold authority to vote for all listed nominees or any individual nominee, all validly executed proxies will be voted by them for the election of the nominees named below as Trustees of the Fund. The proxies being solicited hereby cannot be voted for more than three nominees. Each of the Class C Nominees, Elizabeth Moynihan, Donald Spiro and Pauline Trigere are presently Trustees of the Fund. All present Trustees of the Fund have been previously elected by the Fund's shareholders. Each nominee has agreed to be nominated and to serve as a Trustee. Class C Trustees to be elected at the Meeting shall serve as such for a three year term and constitute the third class of the Board. The classes of the Board and the expiration dates of their terms of office are shown below. Each of the nominees and other Trustees are Trustees or Directors of the following New York-based Oppenheimer funds1: Oppenheimer California Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Large Cap Growth Fund Oppenheimer Capital Appreciation Fund Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. Oppenheimer Developing Markets Fund Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund Oppenheimer Discovery Fund Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust Oppenheimer Enterprise Fund Oppenheimer Multi-State Municipal Trust Oppenheimer Global Fund Oppenheimer Municipal Bond Fund Oppenheimer Global Growth & Income Fund Oppenheimer New York Municipal Fund Oppenheimer Gold & Special Minerals Fund Oppenheimer Series Fund, Inc. Oppenheimer Growth Fund Oppenheimer U.S. Government Trust Oppenheimer International Growth Fund Oppenheimer World Bond Fund Oppenheimer International Small Company Fund Ms. Macaskill and Messrs. Spiro, Donohue, Bowen, Zack, Bishop and Farrar respectively hold the same offices with the other New York-based Oppenheimer funds as with the Fund. The nominees and other Trustees indicated below by an asterisk (*) are "interested persons" (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the "Investment Company Act") of the Fund due to the positions indicated with the Adviser or its affiliates or other positions described. The year given below indicates when the nominees and the other Trustees first became a trustee or director of any of the New York-based Oppenheimer funds without a break in service. If any of the nominees should be unable to accept nomination or election, it is the intention of the persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy for the election of such other person or persons selected and nominated by disinterested Trustees as the Board of Trustees may, in its discretion, recommend. 1 Ms. Macaskill is not a Director of Oppenheimer Money Market Fund, Inc. As of February 26, 1999 the Trustees held shares of the Fund, as follows: Donald W. Spiro beneficially owned 25,000 shares of the Fund held in an account for which Mr. Spiro is a trustee; Benjamin Lipstein disclaims beneficial ownership of 1,000 shares of the Fund held by his wife, and Robert G. Galli held 3,000 shares of the Fund in a joint tenancy account and disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. Except for the foregoing, no other Trustee and no officers of the Fund beneficially owned any shares of the Fund as of February 26, 1999. Name and Business Experience Term Other Information During the Past Five Years Expires Class A Leon Levy General Partner of Odyssey Partners, L.P. 2000 first became a (investment partnership) (since 1982) and Trustee in 1959 Chairman of Avatar Holdings, Inc. (real estate Age: 73 development). Bridget A. Macaskill* President (since June 1991), Chief Executive 2000 first became a Officer (since September 1995) and a Director Trustee in 1995 (since December 1994) of the Adviser; Age: 50 President and director (since June 1991) of HarbourView; Chairman and a director of SSI (since August 1994), and SFSI (September 1995); President (since September 1995) and a director (since October 1990) of OAC; President (since September 1995) and a director (since November 1989) of Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc., a holding company subsidiary of the Adviser; a director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996); President and a director (since October 1997) of OppenheimerFunds International Ltd., an offshore fund manager subsidiary of the Adviser ("OFIL"); Chairman, President and a director of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997); President and a director or trustee of other Oppenheimer funds; Member, Board of Governors, NASD, Inc.; and a director of Hillsdown Holdings plc (a U.K. food company); formerly a director of NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. Clayton K. Yeutter Of Counsel, Hogan & Hartson (a law firm); a 2000 first became a director of Zurich Financial Services Trustee in 1993 (financial services), Caterpillar, Inc. Age: 68 (machinery), ConAgra, Inc. (food and agricultural products), Farmers Insurance Company (insurance), FMC Corp. (chemicals and machinery) and Texas Instruments, Inc. (electronics); formerly (in descending chronological order), Counsellor to the President (Bush) for Domestic Policy, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Trade Representative; formerly a director of B.A.T. Industries, Ltd. (tobacco and financial services), IMC Global (fertilizer) and Lindsay Mfg. Co. (irrigation equipment). Class B Robert G. Galli A Trustee or Director of other Oppenheimer 2001 first became a funds. Formerly he held the following Trustee in 1993 positions: Vice Chairman of the Adviser, Age: 65 OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (October 1995 to December 1997); Vice President (June 1990 to March 1994) and General Counsel of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp., the Adviser's parent holding company; Executive Vice President (December 1977 to October 1995), General Counsel and a director (December 1975 to October 1993) of the Adviser; Executive Vice President and a director (July 1978 to October 1993) and General Counsel of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.; Executive Vice President and a director (April 1986 to October 1995) of HarbourView Asset Management Corporation; Vice President and a director (October 1988 to October 1993) of Centennial Asset Management Corporation, (HarbourView and Centennial are investment adviser subsidiaries of the Adviser); and an officer of other Oppenheimer funds. Benjamin Lipstein Professor Emeritus of Marketing, Stern 2001 first became a Graduate School of Business Administration, Trustee in 1974 New York University. Age: 75 Kenneth A. Randall A director of Dominion Resources, Inc. 2001 first became a (electric utility holding company), Dominion Trustee in 1980 Energy, Inc. (electric power and oil & gas Age: 71 producer), and Prime Retail, Inc. (real estate investment trust); formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of The Conference Board, Inc. (international economic and business research) and a director of Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Company, American Motorists Insurance Company and American Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Company. Edward V. Regan Chairman of Municipal Assistance Corporation 2001 first became a for the City of New York; Senior Fellow of Trustee in 1993 Jerome Levy Economics Institute, Bard College; Age: 68 a director of RBAsset (real estate manager); a director of OffitBank; Trustee, Financial Accounting Foundation (FASB and GASB); formerly New York State Comptroller and trustee, New York State and Local Retirement Fund. Russell S. Reynolds, Retired Founder Chairman of Russell Reynolds 2001 Jr. Associates, Inc. (executive recruiting); first became a Chairman of Directorship Inc. (corporate Trustee in 1989 governance consulting); a director of Age: 67 Professional Staff Limited (U.K); a trustee of Mystic Seaport Museum, International House, and Greenwich Historical Society. Class C Elizabeth B. Moynihan Author and architectural historian; a trustee 1999 first became a of the Freer Gallery of Art (Smithsonian Trustee in 1992 Institute), Executive Committee of Board of Age: 69 Trustees of the National Building Museum; a member of the Trustees Council, Preservation League of New York State. Donald W. Spiro* Chairman Emeritus (since August 1991) and a 1999 first became a director (since January 1969) of the Adviser; Trustee in 1985 formerly Chairman of the Adviser and Age: 73 OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.. Pauline Trigere Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of P.T. 1999 first became a Concept (design and sale of women's fashions). Trustee in 1977 Age: 86 Vote Required. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting shares of the Fund represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote at the Meeting is required for the election of a nominee as Trustee. The Board of Trustees recommends a vote for the election of each nominee. Functions of the Board of Trustees. The primary responsibility for the management of the Fund rests with the Board of Trustees. The Trustees meet regularly to review the activities of the Fund and of the Adviser, which is responsible for the Fund's day-to-day operations. Six regular meetings of the Trustees were held during the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998. Each of the Trustees was present for at least 75% of the meetings held of the Board and of all committees on which that Trustee served; except that Mr. Galli and Mr. Spiro were present for four out of the six meetings. The Trustees of the Fund have appointed an Audit Committee, comprised of Messrs. Randall (Chairman), Lipstein, and Regan, none of whom is an "interested person" (as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Adviser or the Fund. The functions of the Committee include (i) making recommendations to the Board concerning the selection of independent auditors for the Fund (subject to shareholder ratification); (ii) reviewing the methods, scope and results of audits and the fees charged; (iii) reviewing the adequacy of the Fund's internal accounting procedures and controls; and (iv) establishing a separate line of communication between the Fund's independent auditors and its independent Trustees. The Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998. The Board of Trustees does not have a standing nominating or compensation committee. Remuneration of Trustees The officers of the Fund and certain Trustees of the Fund (Ms. Macaskill and Mr. Spiro) who are affiliated with the Adviser receive no salary or fee from the Fund. The remaining Trustees of the Fund received the compensation shown below. The compensation from the Fund was paid during its fiscal year ended October 31, 1998. The compensation from all of the New York-based Oppenheimer funds (including the Fund) was received as a director, trustee or member of a committee of the boards of those funds during the calendar year 1998. Total Compensation Retirement from all Benefits New York based Aggregate Accrued as Part Oppenheimer Trustee's Name Compensation of Fund Funds (21 and Other Positions from Fund1 Expenses Funds)2 Leon Levy Chairman $17,906 $8,986 $162,600 Robert G. Galli Study Committee Member3 $3,369 None $113,383 Benjamin Lipstein Study Committee Chairman, Audit Committee Member $20,318 $12,608 $140,550 Elizabeth B. Moynihan Study Committee Member $5,431 None $99,000 Kenneth A. Randall Audit Committee Member $10,921 $5,940 $90,800 Edward V. Regan Proxy Committee Chairman, Audit Committee Member $4,926 None $89,800 Russell S. Reynolds, Jr. Proxy Committee Member $5,317 $1,631 $67,200 Pauline Trigere $7,496 $4,204 $60,000 Clayton K. Yeutter Proxy Committee Member $3,6864 None $67,200 1. Aggregate compensation includes fees, deferred compensation, in any, and retirement plan benefits accrued for a trustee. 2. For the 1998 calendar year. 3. Aggregate compensation from the Fund reflects fees from 1/1/98 to 10/31/98. Total compensation for the 1998 calendar year includes amounts received for serving as a Trustee or Director of 11 other Oppenheimer funds 4. Includes $635 deferred under Deferred Compensation Plan described below. |X| Retirement Plan for Trustees. The Fund has adopted a retirement plan that provides for payments to retired Trustees. Payments are up to 80% of the average compensation paid during a Trustee's five years of service in which the highest compensation was received. A Trustee must serve as trustee for any of the New York-based Oppenheimer funds for at least 15 years to be eligible for the maximum payment. Each Trustee's retirement benefits will depend on the amount of the Trustee's future compensation and length of service. Therefore the amount of those benefits cannot be determined at this time, nor can we estimate the number of years of credited service that will be used to determine those benefits. |X| Deferred Compensation Plan for Trustees. The Board of Trustees has adopted a Deferred Compensation Plan for disinterested trustees that enables them to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual fees they are entitled to receive from the Fund. Under the plan, the compensation deferred by a Trustee is periodically adjusted as though an equivalent amount had been invested in shares of one or more Oppenheimer funds selected by the Trustee. The amount paid to the Trustee under the plan will be determined based upon the performance of the selected funds. Deferral of Trustees' fees under the plan will not materially affect the Fund's assets, liabilities or net income per share. The plan will not obligate the Fund to retain the services of any Trustee or to pay any particular level of compensation to any Trustee. Pursuant to an Order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Fund may invest in the funds selected by the Trustee under the plan without shareholder approval for the limited purpose of determining the value of the Trustee's deferred fee account. Officers of the Fund. Each officer of the Fund is elected by the Trustees to serve an annual term. Information is given below about the Fund's executive officers who are not Trustees of the Fund, including their business experience during the past five years. Messrs. Bishop, Bowen, Donohue, Farrar and Zack serve in a similar capacity with the other New York-based Oppenheimer funds. Arthur P. Steinmetz, Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Age:40. Senior Vice President of the Adviser (since March 1993); an officer of other Oppenheimer funds. Caleb Wong, Portfolio Manager, Age: __. Assistant Vice President of the Adviser (since January 1997); worked in fixed-income quantitative research and risk management for the Adviser (Since July 1996) prior to which he was enrolled in the Ph.D. program for Economics at the University of Chicago. Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary; Age: 48 Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203 Executive Vice President (since January 1993), General Counsel (since October 1991) and a Director (since September 1995) of the Adviser; Executive Vice President and General Counsel (since September 1993), and a director (since January 1992) of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and a director of HarbourView, SSI, SFSI and Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc. (since September 1995); President and a director of Centennial (since September 1995); President, General Counsel and a director of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996); General Counsel (since May 1996) and Secretary (since April 1997) of OAC; Vice President and a director of OFIL and Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997); an officer of other Oppenheimer funds. George C. Bowen, Treasurer; Age: 62 6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112 Senior Vice President (since September 1987) and Treasurer (since March 1985) of the Adviser; Vice President (since June 1983) and Treasurer (since March 1985) of OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc.; Vice President (since October 1989) and Treasurer (since April 1986) of HarbourView; Senior Vice President (since February 1992), Treasurer (since July 1991) and a director (since December 1991) of Centennial; President, Treasurer and a director of Centennial Capital Corporation (since June 1989); Vice President and Treasurer (since August 1978) and Secretary (since April 1981) of SSI; Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary of SFSI (since November 1989); Assistant Treasurer of OAC (since March 1998); Treasurer of Oppenheimer Partnership Holdings, Inc. (since November 1989); Vice President and Treasurer of Oppenheimer Real Asset Management, Inc. (since July 1996); Treasurer of OFIL and Oppenheimer Millennium Fund plc (since October 1997); a trustee or director and an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly Treasurer of OAC (June 1990 - March 1998). Robert J. Bishop, Assistant Treasurer; Age: 40 6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112 Vice President of the Adviser/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996); an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President of the Adviser/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund Controller for the Adviser. Scott T. Farrar, Assistant Treasurer; Age: 33 6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112 Vice President of the Adviser/Mutual Fund Accounting (since May 1996); Assistant Treasurer of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc (since October 1997); an officer of other Oppenheimer funds; formerly an Assistant Vice President of the Adviser/Mutual Fund Accounting (April 1994-May 1996), and a Fund Controller for the Adviser. Robert G. Zack, Assistant Secretary; Age: 50 Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048-0203 Senior Vice President (since May 1985) and Associate General Counsel (since May 1981) of the Adviser, Assistant Secretary of SSI (since May 1985), and SFSI (since November 1989); Assistant Secretary of Oppenheimer Millennium Funds plc and OFIL (since October 1997); an officer of other Oppenheimer funds. RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS (Proposal No. 1) The Investment Company Act requires that independent certified public accountants and auditors ("auditors") be selected annually by the Board of Trustees and that such selection be ratified by the shareholders at the next-convened annual meeting of the Fund, if one is held. The Board of Trustees of the Fund, including a majority of the Trustees who are not "interested persons" (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Fund or the Adviser, at a meeting held October 7,1998 selected KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as auditors of the Fund for the fiscal year beginning November 1, 1998. KPMG also serves as auditors for certain other funds for which the Adviser acts as investment adviser. At the Meeting, a resolution will be presented for the shareholders' vote to ratify the selection of KPMG as auditors. Representatives of KPMG are not expected to be present at the Meeting but will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence. The Board of Trustees recommends approval of the selection of KPMG as auditors of the Fund. Additional Information The Adviser and the Transfer Agent. Subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund's business, pursuant to its investment advisory agreement with the Fund. Shareholder Financial Services, Inc. ("SFSI"), a subsidiary of the Adviser, acts as primary transfer agent, shareholder servicing agent and dividend paying agent for the Fund. Fees paid to SFSI are based on the number of shareholder accounts and the number of shareholder transactions, plus out-of-pocket costs and expenses. The Fund incurred approximately $54,062 in expenses for the fiscal year ended October 31, 1998 for services provided by SFSI. The Adviser (including subsidiaries) currently manages investment companies, including other Oppenheimer funds, with assets of more than $95 billion as of December 31, 1998, and with more than 4.0 million shareholder accounts. The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. ("OAC"), a holding company controlled by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company ("MassMutual"). The Adviser and OAC are located at Two World Trade Center 34th Floor, New York, New York 10048. MassMutual is located at 1295 State Street, Springfield, Massachusetts 01111. OAC acquired the Adviser on October 22, 1990. As indicated below, the common stock of OAC is owned by (i) certain officers and/or directors of the Adviser, (ii) MassMutual and (iii) another investor. No institution or person holds 5% or more of OAC's outstanding common stock except MassMutual. MassMutual has engaged in the life insurance business since 1851. The common stock of OAC is divided into three classes. Effective as of August 1, 1997, OAC declared a ten for one stock split. At December 31, 1998, on a post-split basis, MassMutual held (i) all of the 21,600,000 shares of Class A voting stock, (ii) 8,667,670 shares of Class B voting stock, and (iii) 15,022,072 shares of Class C non-voting stock. This collectively represented 89.5% of the outstanding common stock and 85.0% of the voting power of OAC as of that date. Certain officers and/or directors of the Adviser held (i) 2,156,060 shares of the Class B voting stock, representing 7.2% of the outstanding common stock and 10.3% of the voting power, and (ii) options acquired without cash payment which, when they become exercisable, allow the holders to purchase up to 5,170,889 shares of Class C non-voting stock. That group includes persons who serve as officers of the Fund and Ms. Macaskill and Mr. Donald W. Spiro, who serve as Trustees of the Fund. Holders of OAC Class B and Class C common stock may put (sell) their shares and vested options to OAC or MassMutual at a formula price (based on earnings of the Adviser). MassMutual may exercise call (purchase) options on all outstanding shares of both such classes of common stock and vested options at the same formula price. From the period June 30, 1997 to December 31, 1998, the only transactions on a post-split basis by persons who serve as Trustees of the Fund were by Mr. Spiro, who sold 250,000 shares of Class B OAC common stock to MassMutual for an aggregate of $14,955,000 and Robert G. Galli, who sold 40,000 shares of Class B OAC common stock to MassMutual for an aggregate of $8,160,800. Mr. Galli no longer holds any OAC stock or options. The names and principal occupations of the executive officers and directors of the Adviser are as follows: Bridget A. Macaskill, President, Chief Executive Officer and a director; Donald W. Spiro, Chairman Emeritus and a director; James C. Swain, Vice Chairman; George Batejan, Craig Dinsell, O. Leonard Darling, Barbara Hennigar, James Ruff and Loretta McCarthy, Executive Vice Presidents; Andrew J. Donohue, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and a director; Robert C. Doll, Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and a director; Jeremy Griffiths, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; George C. Bowen, Senior Vice President and Treasurer; Charles Albers, Peter M. Antos, Victor Babin, Robert A. Densen, Ronald H. Fielding, Robert B. Grill, Thomas W. Keffer, John S. Kowalik, David Negri, Robert E. Patterson, Russell Read, Richard Rubinstein, Arthur Steinmetz, John Stoma, Jerry A. Webman, William L. Wilby, Robert G. Zack and Arthur J. Zimmer, Senior Vice Presidents. These officers are located at one of the four offices of the Adviser: Two World Trade Center, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10048-0203; 6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, CO 80112; 350 Linden Oaks, Rochester, NY 14625-2807 and One Financial Plaza, 755 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103. The Administrator. Mitchell Hutchins Asset Management Inc. (the "Administrator") serves as the Fund's Administrator pursuant to an Administration Agreement between the Fund and the Administrator. The address of the Administrator, an affiliate of Paine Webber Incorporated, is 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019. RECEIPT OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS Any shareholder who wishes to present a proposal for action at the next annual meeting of shareholders and who wishes to have it set forth in a proxy statement and identified in the form of proxy prepared by the Fund must notify the Fund in such a manner so that such notice is received by the Fund by December 1, 1999 and in such form as is required under the rules and regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. OTHER BUSINESS Management of the Fund knows of no business other than the matters specified above that will be presented at the Meeting. Since matters not known at the time of the solicitation may come before the Meeting, the proxy as solicited confers discretionary authority with respect to such matters as may properly come before the Meeting, including any adjournment or adjournments thereof, and it is the intention of the persons named as attorneys-in-fact in the proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters. By Order of the Board of Trustees, Andrew J. Donohue, Secretary March 5,1999 OPPENHEIMER MULTI-SECTOR INCOME TRUST PROXY FOR ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING TO BE HELD APRIL 29, 1999 Your shareholder vote is important! Your prompt response can save your Fund the expense of another mailing. Please mark your proxy on the reverse side, date and sign it, and return it promptly in the accompanying envelope, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. Please detach at perforation before mailing. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust Proxy for Annual Shareholders Meeting to be held April 29, 1999 The undersigned shareholder of Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust (the "Fund") does hereby appoint Robert Bishop, Andrew J. Donohue and Scott Farrar, and each of them, as attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held April 29, 1999 at 6803 South Tucson Way, Englewood, Colorado 80112 at 11:30 A.M., Denver time, and at all adjournments thereof, and to vote the shares held in the name of the undersigned on the record date for said meeting for the election of Trustees and on the Proposal specified on the reverse side. Said attorneys-in-fact shall vote in accordance with their best judgment as to any other matter. PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, WHICH RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES FOR TRUSTEE AND FOR THE PROPOSAL ON THE REVERSE SIDE. THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL BE VOTED AS INDICATED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OR FOR IF NO CHOICE IS INDICATED. OVER 680 Oppenheimer Multi-Sector Income Trust/Proxy for Annual Shareholders Meeting to be held April 29, 1999. Your shareholder vote is important! Your prompt response can save your Fund money. Please vote, sign and mail your proxy ballot (this card) in the enclosed postage-paid envelope today, no matter how many shares you own. A majority of the Fund's shares must be represented in person or by proxy. Please vote your proxy so your Fund can avoid the expense of another mailing. Please detach at perforation before mailing. 1. Election of Trustees A) Elizabeth B. Moynihan B) Donald W. Spiro C) Pauline Trigere _______FOR all nominees listed ___ WITHHOLD AUTHORITY except as marked to the contrary. to vote for all nominees Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, line out that nominee's name at left. 2. Ratification of selection of KPMG as independent auditors (Proposal No. 1) FOR____ AGAINST____ ABSTAIN____ NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR HEREON. When signing as custodian, attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, etc., please give your full title as such. All joint owners should sign this proxy. If the account is registered in the name of a corporation, partnership or other entity, a duly authorized individual must sign on behalf of such entity and give his or her title. Dated: _____________________, 1999 (Month) (Day) Signature(s) Signature(s) Please read both sides of this ballot. 680 - --------