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 Filed by registrant [X] Filed by a party other than the registrant[ ] Check the appropriate box: [ ] Preliminary proxy statement [X] Definitive proxy statement [ ] Definitive additional materials [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 The New Germany Fund, Inc. (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) The New Germany Fund, Inc. (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): [x] No fee required. [ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) 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: --------------------------------------------------- THE NEW GERMANY FUND, INC. 31 West 52nd Street New York, New York 10019 -------------------- NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS June 20, 1997 -------------------- To our Stockholders: Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The New Germany Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") will be held at 2:00 P.M., New York time, on June 20, 1997 at the offices of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Inc., 31 West 52nd Street, 5th Floor, New York, New York for the following purposes: 1. To elect six Directors. 2. To ratify the selection by the Board of Directors of Price Waterhouse LLP as independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997. 3. To consider and act upon any other business as may come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Only holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on May 5, 1997 are entitled to notice of and to vote at this meeting or any adjournment thereof. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Morrow & Co., Inc., the Fund's proxy solicitors, at 909 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022, or 1-800-662-5200. Robert R. Gambee Secretary Dated: May 9, 1997 WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND PROMPTLY RETURN IT TO THE FUND. IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE FUND OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE ASK YOUR COOPERATION IN MAILING IN YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY. THE NEW GERMANY FUND, INC. 31 West 52nd Street New York, New York 10019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders June 20, 1997 -------------------- PROXY STATEMENT -------------------- This proxy statement is furnished by the Board of Directors of The New Germany Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") to be held at 2:00 P.M., New York time, on June 20, 1997 at the offices of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Inc., 31 West 52nd Street, 5th Floor, New York, New York. The purpose of the Meeting and the matters to be acted upon are set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. 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. However, if no instructions are specified, shares will be voted FOR the election of Directors and FOR the ratification of the selection of independent accountants. 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 a subsequently executed proxy, or by attendance at the Meeting and voting in person. The close of business on May 5, 1997 has been fixed as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting. On that date, the Fund had 33,073,896 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share will be entitled to one vote on each matter that comes before the Meeting. 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 9, 1997. The Board of Directors of the Fund has nominated six Directors for election at the Meeting (Proposal 1) and approved the selection of Price Waterhouse LLP as independent accountants to the Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997, for ratification by the stockholders at the Meeting (Proposal 2). The election of Directors (Proposal 1) requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares represented at the Meeting. Ratification of the selection of Price Waterhouse LLP (Proposal 2) requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the shares represented at the Meeting. The Fund intends to treat properly executed proxies that are marked "abstain" and broker non-votes (defined below) as present for the purposes of determining whether a quorum has been achieved at the Meeting. Under Maryland law, abstentions do not constitute a vote "for" or "against" a matter and will be disregarded in determining the "votes cast" on an issue. If a proxy is properly executed and returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority to vote, it represents a broker "non-vote" (that is, a proxy from a broker or nominee indicating that such person has not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote shares on a particular matter with respect to which the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power). The shares represented by broker non-votes or proxies marked with an abstention will be considered to be present at the Meeting for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business. Because of the nature of the business to be acted on at the Meeting, the Fund does not anticipate receiving any broker "non-votes". PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The Fund's By-Laws provide that the Board of Directors be divided into three classes of Directors serving staggered three-year terms. The term of office for Directors in Class III expires at the 1997 annual meeting, Class I at the next succeeding annual meeting and Class II at the following succeeding annual meeting. Three Class III nominees are proposed in this Proxy Statement for election. In addition, two Class I nominees and one Class II nominee, elected by Directors to fill vacancies on the Board, are also proposed in this Proxy Statement for election. Should any vacancy occur on the Board of Directors for reasons other than an increase in the number of Directors, the remaining Directors, though less than a quorum, would be able to fill such vacancy by the vote of a majority of their number, as at present. Should any vacancy occur on the Board of Directors as a result of an increase in the number of Directors, a majority of the entire Board of Directors would be able to fill such vacancy. Any Director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy would hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders. If the size of the Board is increased, the additional Directors will be apportioned among the three classes to make all classes as nearly equal as possible. Unless authority is withheld, it is the intention of the persons named in the form of proxy to vote each proxy for the election of the nominees listed below. Each nominee has indicated he will serve if elected, but if any nominee should be unable to serve, proxies will be voted for any other person determined by the persons named in the form of proxy in accordance with their judgment. Each of the nominees is currently a member of the Board of Directors. Information Regarding Directors and Officers The following table shows certain information about the Directors, including beneficial ownership of Common Stock of the Fund. Each has served as a Director of the Fund since the Fund's inception in 1990, except for Mr. Robert H. Wadsworth, who was elected to the Board on June 19, 1992; Dr. Franz Wilhelm Hopp, who was elected to the Board on June 18, 1993; Mr. Ernst-Ulrich Matz, who was elected to the Board on April 24, 1995; Mr. Peter Zuhlsdorff, who was elected to the Board on October 21, 1996; and Dr. Ronaldo H. Schmitz, who was elected to the Board on April 18, 1997. 2 The following Directors have been nominated for election at the 1997 Annual Meeting: Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned, Directly or Position with Principal Occupations During Indirectly, Name Age Fund Past Five Years at May 5, 1997(1) ------ ----- ------------- ------------------------------- ------------------- Dr. Franz Wilhelm 54 Director Member of the Board of Directors of -- Hopp Victoria Holding AG, Victoria Class III Lebensversicherung AG and Victoria Versicherung AG. Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Victoria Kapitalanlagegesellshaft mbH. Former Chairman of the Board of Wurttembergische Lebensversicherung AG, Member of the Board of Wurttembergische AG Versicherungs- Beteiligungsgesellschaft and Wurttembergische Versicherung AG (1990-1995). Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leonberger Bausparkasse AG. Member of the Supervisory Board of Bankhaus Ellwanger & Geiger. Ernst-Ulrich 63 Director Chief Financial Officer and member of the -- Matz(5) Board of Directors of IWKA Class III Aktiengesellschaft. Member of the Board of Directors of KUKA Welding Systems + Robot Corp. Member of the Supervisory Boards of Bopp & Reuther AG, Ex Cell-O Holding AG, Rotring International GmbH & Co. KG, ARO S.A. (Chauteau-du-Loir). Member of the District Advisory Boards of Deutsche Bank AG (Mannheim) and Gerling- Konzern. Chairman of the Rumanian Group in the German East-West Trade Committee. Dr. Frank Tromel 61 Director Chairman of the Board of Managing -- Class III Directors of Delton AG (since 1990). Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ceag AG 3 Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned, Directly or Position with Principal Occupations During Indirectly, Name Age Fund Past Five Years at May 5, 1997(1) ------ ----- ------------- ------------------------------- ------------------- (since 1981). Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors of Altana AG (1987-1990). Member of the Board of Managing Directors of Altana AG (1977-1987). Peter Zuhlsdorff Director Chairman, DIH-German Industrie Holding. -- Class II Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GFK AG. Member of the Supervisory Boards of Deutsche Hypothekenbank AG, Deutz AG, Salamander AG, Merck KGaA and Escada AG. Member of the District Advisory Boards of Melitta Unternehmensgruppe Bentz KG, Diebels GmbH & Co. KG and Deutsche Bank AG. Advisor to McAndrew & Forbes. Chairman of the Board of Wella AG (1991-1995). Dr. Ronaldo H. 58 Chairman, Member of the Board of Managing Directors -- Schmitz President and of Deutsche Bank AG, Chairman of the Class I Director Boards of Managing Directors of Deutsche Bank North America Holding Corp. and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Inc. Chairman of the Supervisory Boards of Metallgesellschaft AG and Tchibo Holding AG. Member of the Supervisory Boards of Bertelsmann AG, Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, Glaxo Wellcome plc and Rohm & Haas Company, Deutsche Pfandbrief- und Hypothekenbank AG (through 1996), Goedecke AG (through 1995), Gruner & Jahr AG (through 1995), Kaufhof Holding AG (through 1996), Villeroy & Boch AG (through 1995). 4 Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned, Directly or Position with Principal Occupations During Indirectly, Name Age Fund Past Five Years at May 5, 1997(1) ------ ----- ------------- ------------------------------- ------------------- Christian H. 53 Director Managing Director of DWS-Deutsche -- Strenger(2)(3)(4) Gesellschaft fur Wertpapiersparen mbH Class I (since 1991). Managing Director of Deutsche Bank Securities Corporation, the predecessor to DMG (1986-1991). The following are Directors whose terms continue: Richard Karl 54 Director Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer 783 Goeltz of American Express Co., Group Chief Class I Financial Officer and Member of the Board of Directors of National Westminster Bank Plc. (1991-1996) Director and Executive Vice President- Finance of Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc. (1976-1991). Executive Vice President-Finance of The Seagram Company Ltd. (1976-1991). John A. Bult(2)(3) 60 Director Chairman of PaineWebber International, 1,278 Class II Director of PaineWebber Group, Inc., Director of The France Growth Fund, Inc. and The Greater China Fund, Inc. John H. Cannon 55 Director Vice President and Treasurer of the 104 Class II Woolworth Corporation. Director of the German American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Robert H. 57 Director President of Robert H. Wadsworth & 592 Wadsworth(2) Associates, Inc. Class II - ------------------ (1) As of May 5, 1997, all Directors and officers as a group owned less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Fund. (2) Indicates that Messrs. Bult, Strenger and Wadsworth and Dr. Schmitz each also serves as a Director of The Central European Equity Fund, Inc. and The Germany Fund, Inc., the two other closed-end registered investment companies for which DMG acts as manager. (3) Indicates "interested" Director, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). Dr. Schmitz is an "interested" Director because of his affiliation with Deutsche Bank AG ("Deutsche Bank"), of which DMG is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary; Mr. Bult is an "interested" Director because of his affiliation with PaineWebber Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer; and Mr. Strenger is an "interested" Director because of his affiliation with DWS-Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Wertpapiersparen ("DWS"), a majority-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank. (4) Indicates that Dr. Schmitz and Mr.Strenger each own shares of Deutsche Bank, of which DBAM and DMG are wholly-owned subsidiaries. As of May 5, 1997, each such Director owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Deutsche Bank. 5 The Board of Directors presently has an Audit Committee composed of Messrs. Cannon, Wadsworth and Wasserman. The Audit Committee makes recommendations to the full Board 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 upon the Fund's financial operations. The Audit Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. In addition, the Board has an Advisory Committee composed of Messrs. Cannon, Wadsworth and Wasserman. The Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the full Board with respect to the Management Agreement between the Fund and DMG and the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Fund and DBAM. The Advisory Committee met once during the past fiscal year. The Board has a Nominating Committee composed of Dr. Schmitz and Mr. Cannon and Dr. Tromel. The Nominating Committee makes recommendations to the full Board with respect to the selection of candidates to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors intended to be filled by persons not affiliated with DMG or DBAM. The Nominating Committee will consider suggestions from stockholders submitted in writing to the Secretary of the Fund. The Nominating Committee met twice during the past fiscal year. During the past fiscal year, the Board of Directors had four regular meetings and one special meeting, and each incumbent Director, with the exception of Dr. Hopp, attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and meetings of Board Committees on which that Director served. Each incumbent Director, with the exception of Dr. Hopp, attended at least 75% of the number of regular meetings of the Board. The Fund pays each of its Directors who is not an interested person of the Fund, the Investment Adviser or the Manager an annual fee of $7,500 plus $750 for each meeting attended. Each such Director who is also a Director of The Germany Fund, Inc. or The Central European Equity Fund, Inc. also receives the same annual and per-meeting fees for services as a Director of each such fund. Each of the Fund, The Germany Fund, Inc. and The Central European Equity Fund, Inc. (which three funds represent the entire Fund Complex advised by the Manager and the Investment Adviser within the meaning of the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission) reimburses the Directors (except for those employed by the Deutsche Bank Group) for travel expenses in connection with Board meetings. The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation from the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, and from the Fund and such other two funds for the year ended December 31, 1996, for each Director who is not an interested person of the Fund, and for all such Directors as a group: Total Compensation From the Fund, Aggregate The Germany Fund, Inc. and The Name of Director Compensation Central European Equity Fund, Inc. - ---------------- ------------ ---------------------------------- John H. Cannon $ 17,250 $ 17,250 Richard Karl Goeltz $ 12,000 $ 12,000 Dr. Franz Wilhelm Hopp $ 9,000 $ 9,000 Ernst-Ulrich Matz $ 10,500 $ 10,500 Dr. Frank Tromel $ 12,000 $ 12,000 Robert H. Wadsworth $ 15,750 $ 48,000 Peter Zuhlsdorff $ 2,625 $ 2,625 --------- --------- Total $ 79,125 $ 111,375 ========= ========= No compensation is paid by the Fund to Directors or officers who are interested persons of the Fund. 6 The officers of the Fund other than as shown above are: Name Age Position with Fund Principal Occupations During Past Five Years ---- --- ------------------ -------------------------------------------- G. Richard Stamberger 50 Chief Executive Officer Managing Director of DMG (since 1993). and Executive Vice President, Deutsche Asset Management President North America Inc. (since 1995). Managing Director of C.J. Lawrence, Inc. (1990-1993). Managing Director of Prudential Equity Management Associates at the Prudential Insurance Co. of America (1984-1989). Robert R. Gambee 54 Vice President, Director of DMG (since 1992). First Vice Secretary and President of DMG (1987-1991). Treasurer Joseph Cheung 38 Assistant Secretary and Vice President (since 1996), Assistant Vice Assistant Treasurer President (1994-1996) and Associate (1991-1994) of DMG. The officers of the Fund are elected annually by the Board of Directors at their meeting following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 1. Required Vote. The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares represented at the Meeting is required for the election of each Director. PROPOSAL 2: SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS A majority of members of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the members of the Board of Directors who are not "interested" Directors (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, have selected Price Waterhouse LLP as independent accountants for the Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997. The ratification of the selection of independent accountants is to be voted upon at the Meeting and it is intended that the persons named in the accompanying Proxy will vote for Price Waterhouse LLP. A representative of Price Waterhouse LLP will be present at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement and is expected to be available to answer appropriate questions concerning the Fund's financial statements. The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2. Required Vote. The affirmative vote of the holders of majority of the shares represented at the Meeting is required for the ratification of the selection by the Board of Directors of Price Waterhouse LLP as independent accountants for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997. 7 ADDRESS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER AND MANAGER The principal office of the Investment Adviser is located at Bockenheimer Landstrasse 42, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Federal Republic of Germany. The corporate office of the Manager is located at 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS As of May 5, 1997, no person, to the knowledge of management, owned of record or beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Fund, other than as set forth below: Amount and Percent of Name and Address Nature of Outstanding of Beneficial Owner Beneficial Ownership Common Stock ------------------- -------------------- ------------ President and Fellows of Harvard College(1) ............................. 1,766,954 5.4 c/o Harvard Management Company, Inc. 600 Atlantic Avenue Boston, MA 02210 Franklin Mutual Advisers, Inc.(1)(2) ... 1,627,400 5.0 51 John F. Kennedy Parkway Short Hills, NJ 07078 - ---------- (1) This information is based exclusively on information provided by such person on a Schedule 13G filed with respect to the Fund on February 12, 1997. To the knowledge of management, no other Schedules 13D or 13G had been filed with respect to the Fund as of May 5, 1997. (2) Such person reported that its beneficial ownership resulted from ownership of shares of the Common Stock of the Fund by one or more open or closed-end investment companies or other managed accounts which are advised by direct and indirect investment advisory subsidiaries of such person. 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 Stockholder proposals intended to be presented at the Fund's Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 1998 must be received by the Fund on or before January 9, 1998, in order to be included in the Fund's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting. EXPENSES OF PROXY SOLICITATION The cost of preparing, assembling and mailing material in connection with this solicitation will be borne by the Fund. In addition to the use of mails, proxies may be solicited personally by regular employees of the Fund or the Manager or by telephone or telegraph. Brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries may be requested to forward proxy solicitation materials to their principals to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies, and they will be reimbursed by the Fund for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in this connection. The Fund has also made arrangements with Morrow & Co., Inc. to assist in the solicitation of proxies, if called upon by the Fund, at an estimated fee of $7,500 plus reimbursement of normal expenses. 8 ANNUAL REPORT DELIVERY The Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 to any stockholder upon request. Such requests should be directed by mail to The New Germany Fund, Inc., 31 West 52nd Street, New York, New York 10019 or by telephone to 1-800-437-6269. Robert R. Gambee Secretary Dated: May 9, 1997 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 TO THE FUND. 9 PROXY THE NEW GERMANY FUND, INC. 31 West 52nd Street New York, New York 10019 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints Robert R. Gambee and Joseph Cheung as Proxies, each with the power of substitution, and hereby authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the shares of common stock of The New Germany Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") held of record by the undersigned on May 5, 1997 at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 20, 1997 or any adjournment thereof. 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. [ ] FOR all nominees [ ] WITHHOLDING listed below AUTHORITY (except as marked to vote for all to the contrary below) nominees listed below (Instruction: To withhold authority for any individual nominee strike a line through the nominee's name in the list below.) CLASS I CLASS II CLASS III (to serve until the (to serve until the (to serve until the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders) 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders) 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders) Dr. Ronaldo H. Schmitz Peter Zuhlsdorff Dr. Franz Wilhelm Hopp Christian H. Strenger Ernst-Ulrich Matz Dr. Frank Tromel 2. TO RATIFY THE SELECTION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP AS INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1997. [ ] APPROVE [ ] DISAPPROVE [ ] ABSTAIN 3. TO CONSIDER AND ACT UPON ANY OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY COME BEFORE THE MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF. 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 Proposals 1 and 2. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please provide the full name of the corporation and the signature of the authorized officer signing on its behalf. ______________________________________ Name (please print) ______________________________________ Name of Corporation (if applicable) (By)________________(Date)______ 1997 (Signature) PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.