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:
    / /  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  Section  240.14a-11(c)  or  Section
         240.14a-12
                              BEA Income Fund, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/X/  $125 per  Exchange Act  Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii),  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:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                             BEA INCOME FUND, INC.
                              ONE CITICORP CENTER
                              153 EAST 53RD STREET
                                   57TH FLOOR
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
 
                              -------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                      TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1996
                                 --------------
 
TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS:
 
    NOTICE  IS  HEREBY  GIVEN  that  the  Annual  Meeting  of  Stockholders (the
"Meeting") of BEA Income Fund, Inc. (the  "Fund") will be held on Thursday,  May
16,  1996, at 10:30 a.m., New  York City time, at the  offices of Willkie Farr &
Gallagher, One Citicorp Center, 153 East 53rd Street, 47th Floor, New York,  New
York 10022. The purpose of the Meeting is to consider and act upon the following
proposals  and to consider and act upon  such other matters as may properly come
before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof:
 
         1.  To elect four (4) Directors for the ensuing year.
 
         2.   To  ratify  the selection  by  the  Board of  Directors  of  Price
    Waterhouse  LLP  as  independent  public  accountants  for  the  year ending
    December 31, 1996.
 
    The close of business on April 4, 1996 has been fixed as the record date for
the determination of the stockholders of the Fund entitled to notice of, and  to
vote at, the Meeting.
 
    This  notice and related proxy  material are first being  mailed on or about
April 12, 1996.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                                 /s/ Hal Liebes
                                                 HAL LIEBES
                                                 SECRETARY
 
WHETHER OR NOT YOU EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND PROMPTLY RETURN
THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE  ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE  IS
REQUIRED  IF  MAILED IN  THE UNITED  STATES.  IN ORDER  TO AVOID  THE ADDITIONAL
EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE ASK  YOUR COOPERATION IN MAILING YOUR  PROXY
CARD PROMPTLY.
 
Dated: April 12, 1996

                             BEA INCOME FUND, INC.
                              ONE CITICORP CENTER
                              153 EAST 53RD STREET
                                   57TH FLOOR
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
 
                              -------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                                    FOR THE
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                 TO BE HELD ON
                             THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1996
 
                              -------------------
 
    This  statement is furnished by the Board  of Directors (the "Board") of BEA
Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation  (the "Fund"), in connection with  the
solicitation by it of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the
"Meeting")  to be held on Thursday,  May 16, 1996 at 10:30  a.m. , New York City
time, at the offices of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, One Citicorp Center, 153  East
53rd  Street, 47th Floor, New  York, New York 10022.  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  proxy card  (the  "Proxy") is  properly  executed 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
and the Proxy is signed, shares will  be voted FOR the election of each  nominee
for Director, FOR Proposal 2 stated in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting
and FOR any other matters that may properly come before the Meeting and that are
deemed  appropriate. A Proxy may be revoked at  any time prior to the time it is
voted by written  notice to  the Secretary  of the  Fund or  by requesting  such
action at the Meeting.
 
    The close of business on April 4, 1996 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  24,385,367  shares  of  Common  Stock
outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share will be entitled to one vote at the
Meeting  and fractional shares are entitled to proportionate shares of one vote.
It is expected that the  Notice of Annual Meeting,  Proxy Statement and form  of
Proxy will first be mailed to stockholders on or about April 12, 1996.
 
    BEA  Associates ("BEA") is the investment adviser to the Fund. The principal
executive office of BEA is located at One Citicorp Center, 153 East 53rd Street,
57th Floor,  New York,  New York  10022.  The Fund  employs Chase  Global  Funds
Services  Company (formerly Mutual Funds  Service Company) (the "Administrator")
under an Administration Agreement to provide certain administrative services  to
the  Fund. The  principal business  address of  the Administrator  is 73 Tremont
Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108-3913.
 
    The Fund's Annual  Report containing  audited financial  statements for  the
year  ended December 31, 1995 has  previously been furnished to all stockholders
of the Fund. It  is not to  be regarded as  proxy-soliciting material. The  Fund
will  furnish, without charge,  a copy of its  most recent unaudited Semi-Annual
Report
 
                                       1

and audited Annual Report, upon written or oral request to the Fund c/o BEA, One
Citicorp Center, 153  East 53rd Street,  57th Floor, New  York, New York  10022,
toll-free telephone number (800) 293-1232. These requests will be honored within
three business days of receipt.
 
    The  holders of one-third of the shares of the Fund outstanding at the close
of business on the record date, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a
quorum for the Meeting. Shares represented by properly executed Proxies that are
marked "ABSTAIN" and broker non-votes will be treated as shares that are present
for determining whether a quorum has been achieved at the Meeting. In the  event
that  a quorum is not  present or represented, the holders  of a majority of the
shares present in  person or by  proxy may adjourn  the Meeting, without  notice
other  than announcement  at the Meeting,  until the requisite  number of shares
entitled to vote at the  Meeting shall be present. If  a quorum is present,  but
sufficient  votes to approve one or more of the proposed items are not received,
the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting
to permit further solicitations  of Proxies. Any  such adjournment will  require
the  affirmative vote of  a majority of  those shares present  at the Meeting or
represented by proxy. When voting on  a proposed adjournment, the persons  named
as  proxies will  vote FOR  the proposed  adjournment all  shares that  they are
entitled to vote with respect to each proposal, unless directed to vote  against
such  proposal, in  which case  such shares will  be voted  AGAINST the proposed
adjournment.
 
    The election  of  Directors  (Proposal  No. 1)  requires  for  approval  the
affirmative  vote  of  a  plurality  of the  shares  cast  at  the  Meeting. The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares cast at the  Meeting
is  required for the  ratification of the  selection of Price  Waterhouse LLP as
independent  public  accountants  for  the   Fund  (Proposal  No.  2).   Because
abstentions   and  broker  non-votes  are  not  treated  as  shares  voted,  any
abstentions and broker non-votes would have no impact on such proposals.
 
    The expense  of solicitation  will be  borne by  the Fund  and will  include
reimbursement  to brokerage  firms and others  for expenses  in forwarding proxy
solicitation material to beneficial owners. The Fund has also retained MacKenzie
Partners, Inc. ("MacKenzie"), a  proxy solicitation firm, for  a fee payable  by
the Fund of approximately $5,000 plus reimbursement for its reasonable expenses.
The  solicitation  of proxies  will be  made  largely by  mail, but  may include
telephonic, telegraphic or  oral communications by  employees of MacKenzie  and,
without additional cost to the Fund, BEA.
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
                                (PROPOSAL NO. 1)
 
    At  the Meeting, four (4) Directors will be elected to hold office until the
next annual meeting  of stockholders  following their election  and until  their
respective  successors are  elected and  qualified. It  is the  intention of the
persons named in the accompanying Proxy to  vote for the election of Enrique  R.
Arzac,  Lawrence J.  Fox, James S.  Pasman, Jr. and  Daniel H. Sigg.  All of the
nominees are currently members of the  Board of Directors. Each of the  nominees
has  consented to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve as a Director if
elected.
 
    The Board of Directors  has no reason  to believe that  any of the  nominees
named  above will  become unavailable  for election as  a Director,  but if that
should occur before the Meeting, Proxies will  be voted for such persons as  the
Board may recommend.
 
                                       2

    The  following table sets forth  certain information regarding the Directors
of the Fund, each  of whom has  been nominated for re-election  to the Board  of
Directors.  Each Director who is  deemed an "interested person"  of the Fund, as
defined in the Investment Company Act of  1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),  is
indicated  by an asterisk in the table  below. Each Director has sole voting and
investment power  with  respect to  the  shares  shown. Each  Director  and  the
officers  and Directors of the Fund as a group owns less than one percent of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Fund.
 


                                SHARES
                                BENEFICIALLY
                                OWNED                                                                 MEMBERSHIPS ON BOARDS
                                ON                                                                     OF OTHER REGISTERED
                                APRIL  CURRENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION                                    INVESTMENT COMPANIES
                                4,       AND PRINCIPAL EMPLOYMENT                                       AND PUBLICLY HELD
          NAME (AGE)            1996    DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS    LENGTH OF SERVICE AS DIRECTOR         COMPANIES
- ------------------------------  ---   ------------------------------  ------------------------------  ----------------------
                                                                                          
Prof. Enrique R. Arzac (54) .   1,500 Professor of Finance and         Since 1990.                    Director of nine other
  Columbia University                 Director of the Financial                                       BEA-advised investment
  Graduate School of                  Management Program, Graduate                                    companies; Director of
  Business                            School of Business, Columbia                                    The Adam Express
  New York, NY 10027                  University (1971-present).                                      Company; Director of
                                                                                                      Petroleum and
                                                                                                      Resources Corporation.
Lawrence J. Fox (52) .........   0    Managing Partner and Chairman   Since 1990.                     Director of one other
  110 PNB Building                    of Professional Responsibility                                  BEA-advised investment
  Broad and Chestnut Streets          Committee of Drinker Biddle &                                   company.
  Philadelphia, PA 19107              Reath (1/92-present); Partner
                                      of Drinker Biddle & Reath
                                      (since 1976).
James S. Pasman, Jr. (65) ....  1,000 Currently retired; President    Since 1987.                     Director of one other
  29 The Trillium                     and Chief Operating Officer of                                  BEA-advised investment
  Pittsburgh, PA 15238                National InterGroup, Inc.                                       company; Director of
                                      (4/89-3/91).                                                    ADT, Ltd.
Daniel H. Sigg* (40) .........   0    Member of the Executive         Since 1995.                     Director of ten other
  153 East 53rd Street                Committee, Chief Financial                                      BEA-advised investment
  New York, NY 10022                  Officer and Executive Di-                                       companies.
                                      rector of BEA (5/95-present);
                                      Member of the Executive
                                      Committee and Managing
                                      Director of BEA (2/92-4/95);
                                      Vice President of Marketing of
                                      BEA (1/91-1/92); President of
                                      Credit Suisse Advisors Cor-
                                      poration (12/95-present);
                                      President of Credit Suisse
                                      Capital Corporation
                                      (12/94-present); Director and
                                      Vice President of Credit
                                      Suisse Capital Corporation
                                      (12/90-11/94).
 
Directors and officers as a     3,075
  group (11)..................

 
- --------------
*    Mr. Sigg is an interested person of  the Fund by virtue of his position  as
     an officer of BEA.
 
                                       3

    The  Fund pays annual compensation of  $10,000, plus $500 for attendance per
meeting, other than telephonic meetings, of the Board of Directors or Committees
thereof, plus  certain out-of-pocket  expenses,  to each  Director that  is  not
affiliated  with BEA, its investment adviser (three Directors are not affiliated
with BEA). Each such Director is also  a director of BEA Strategic Income  Fund,
Inc.,  and in that capacity receives the  same annual and per-meeting fees, plus
certain out-of-pocket expenses, for services as a director of such fund.
 
    The following  table shows  certain compensation  information for  the  year
ended  December 31, 1995 for  each Director who is  not affiliated with BEA. The
Fund has no bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plans.


                                                                                                      PENSION OR RETIREMENT
                                                                             AGGREGATE COMPENSATION    BENEFITS ACCRUED AS
                             NAME OF DIRECTOR                                      FROM FUND          PART OF FUND EXPENSE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------   ---------------------
                                                                                                
Enrique R. Arzac+..........................................................         $13,000                 $       0
Lawrence J. Fox............................................................         $13,000                 $       0
James S. Pasman, Jr........................................................         $13,000                 $       0
 

 
                                                                               ESTIMATED ANNUAL
                                                                                 BENEFITS UPON      TOTAL COMPENSATION FROM
                             NAME OF DIRECTOR                                     RETIREMENT         FUND AND FUND COMPLEX
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------  -----------------------
                                                                          
Enrique R. Arzac+..........................................................        $       0                $26,000
Lawrence J. Fox............................................................        $       0                $26,000
James S. Pasman, Jr........................................................        $       0                $26,000
 

                                                                               TOTAL NUMBER OF
                                                                                  BOARDS OF
                                                                                 BEA-ADVISED
                                                                                 INVESTMENT
                             NAME OF DIRECTOR                                 COMPANIES SERVED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------------
Enrique R. Arzac+..........................................................              10
Lawrence J. Fox............................................................               2
James S. Pasman, Jr........................................................               2

 
- ------------------
+    On February 13, 1996, Prof. Arzac was elected as a director of eight  other
     BEA-advised investment companies. Because the election took place after the
     1995  fiscal year-end,  Prof. Arzac did  not receive  any compensation with
     respect to  these  BEA-advised  investment companies  for  the  year  ended
     December 31, 1995.
 
    The  Board of  Directors has an  Audit Committee. The  Audit Committee makes
recommendations to the full  Board with respect to  the selection of the  Fund's
independent   public  accountants  and  reviews   with  the  independent  public
accountants the plan and  results of the audit  engagement and matters having  a
material effect upon the Fund's financial operations. As of the date hereof, the
members  of the  Audit Committee  are Messrs. Arzac,  Fox and  Pasman. The Board
performs the functions of  a nominating committee. The  Board will not  consider
nominees  recommended by  shareholders. The  Fund does  not have  a compensation
committee.
 
    During 1995, there  were seven meetings  of the Board  of Directors and  two
meetings  of the  Audit Committee.  Each Director  attended 75%  or more  of the
aggregate number of  the meetings of  the Board of  Directors and committees  on
which he served held during the period for which he was a Director.
 
                                       4

    The  following table  shows certain information  about officers  of the Fund
other than Mr. Sigg,  who is described  above. Mr. Sigg  is the Chief  Executive
Officer of the Fund and has served in such position since April 1995.
 


                                        SHARES
                                     BENEFICIALLY                                   CURRENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND
                                    OWNED ON APRIL                                  PRINCIPAL EMPLOYMENT DURING THE
            NAME (AGE)                  4, 1996           POSITION WITH FUND                PAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------  ---------------  ----------------------------  ----------------------------------
                                                                          
Robert Moore (39) ................           575     President and Chief           Member of the Executive Committee,
  153 East 53rd Street                               Investment Officer since      Executive Director and Chief
  New York, NY 10022                                 1995                          Operating Officer at BEA
                                                                                   (12/95-present); Managing Director
                                                                                   and Portfolio Manager of BEA
                                                                                   (2/92-12/95); Vice President and
                                                                                   Portfolio Manager of BEA
                                                                                   (12/90-1/92).
Richard J. Lindquist (35) ........         0         Vice President since 1990     Managing Director of BEA
  153 East 53rd Street                                                             (4/95-present); Managing Director
  New York, NY 10022                                                               of CS First Boston Investment
                                                                                   Management Corporation ("CSFBIM")
                                                                                   (3/93-3/95); Director of CSFBIM
                                                                                   (4/92-2/93); Vice President of
                                                                                   CSFBIM (7/89-3/92).
Hal Liebes (31) ..................         0         Secretary since 1994          Vice President and Legal Counsel
  153 East 53rd Street                                                             of BEA (6/95-present); Chief
  New York, NY 10022                                                               Compliance Officer of CSFBIM
                                                                                   (5/94-6/95); Assistant Vice
                                                                                   President of CS First Boston
                                                                                   Corporation (3/94-6/95); Staff
                                                                                   Attorney in the Enforcement
                                                                                   Division of the Securities and
                                                                                   Exchange Commission (3/91-3/94).
Harvey M. Rosen (38) .............         0         Treasurer since 1993          Senior Vice President and Director
  73 Tremont Street                                                                of New Product Development of the
  Boston, MA 02108                                                                 Administrator (10/95-present);
                                                                                   Senior Vice President and Director
                                                                                   of Fund Accounting and Fund
                                                                                   Administration of
                                                                                   the Administrator (5/88-10/95);
                                                                                   Vice President of The Chase
                                                                                   Manhattan Bank (9/95-present).

 
                                       5



                                        SHARES
                                     BENEFICIALLY                                   CURRENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND
                                    OWNED ON APRIL                                  PRINCIPAL EMPLOYMENT DURING THE
            NAME (AGE)                  4, 1996           POSITION WITH FUND                PAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------  ---------------  ----------------------------  ----------------------------------
                                                                          
Paul P. Stamler (35) .............         0         Assistant Treasurer since     Vice President of BEA
  153 East 53rd Street                               1995                          (6/93-present); self-employed as a
  New York, NY 10022                                                               certified public accountant
                                                                                   (4/92-5/93); Vice President of
                                                                                   Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
                                                                                   (6/88-3/92).
Michael A. Pignataro (36) ........         0         Assistant Vice President and  Vice President of BEA
  153 East 53rd Street                               Assistant Secretary since     (12/95-present); Assistant Vice
  New York, NY 10022                                 1995                          President and Chief Administrative
                                                                                   Officer for Investment Companies
                                                                                   of BEA (9/89-12/95).
John M. Corcoran (31) ............         0         Assistant Treasurer since     Second Vice President and Senior
  73 Tremont Street                                  1994                          Manager of Fund Administration of
  Boston, MA 02108-3913                                                            the Administrator (10/93-present);
                                                                                   Audit Manager of Ernst & Young
                                                                                   (8/87-9/93).

 
    By  virtue of  the responsibilities assumed  by its  investment adviser, the
Fund itself  requires no  employees other  than its  officers, and  none of  its
officers  devotes full-time  responsibilities to  the affairs  of the  Fund. All
officers are employees of and are compensated by BEA or the Administrator and do
not receive any compensation from the Fund.
 
    Section 16(a) of the  Securities Exchange Act of  1934 and Section 30(f)  of
the  1940 Act require the Fund's  officers and directors, officers and directors
of the  Fund's investment  adviser,  certain affiliated  persons of  the  Fund's
investment  adviser, and persons  who beneficially own more  than ten percent of
the Fund's shares, to file reports of ownership with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the New York  Stock Exchange, Inc. and  the Fund. Based solely  upon
its   review  of  the  copies   of  such  forms  received   by  it  and  written
representations from such persons, the Fund  believes that, for the fiscal  year
ended December 31, 1995, all filing requirements applicable to such persons were
complied  with, except that an Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership on Form
3 was  filed late  by  each of  the following  persons:  Harvey Rosen  and  John
Corcoran (officers of the Fund) and BEA.
 
THE  BOARD OF  DIRECTORS, INCLUDING  THE "NON-INTERESTED"  DIRECTORS, RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 1.
 
                                       6

                  SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                                (PROPOSAL NO. 2)
 
    The Directors, a majority of whom  are not "interested persons" of the  Fund
(as  defined  in the  1940 Act),  have selected  and unanimously  approved Price
Waterhouse LLP  as independent  public accountants  for the  Fund for  the  year
ending  December 31, 1996. Price Waterhouse  LLP has been the independent public
accountants of  the  Fund  since  its  organization.  The  ratification  of  the
selection  of independent public accountants is to be voted upon at the Meeting.
It is the intention of the persons  named in the accompanying Proxy to vote  for
the  selection of Price Waterhouse LLP. A representative of Price Waterhouse LLP
is expected to be present at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a
statement if such representative so desires  and is expected to be available  to
respond to appropriate questions.
 
THE  BOARD OF  DIRECTORS, INCLUDING  THE "NON-INTERESTED"  DIRECTORS, RECOMMENDS
THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" PROPOSAL NO. 2.
 
                                 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  in accordance with their best judgment  in
the interest of the Fund.
 
                            STOCKHOLDER'S PROPOSALS
 
    A stockholder proposal intended to be presented at the Fund's Annual Meeting
of  Stockholders in 1997 must be received by  the Fund on or before December 14,
1996 in order to  be included in  the Fund's proxy statement  and form of  proxy
relating  to that meeting. A stockholder desiring to submit a proposal must be a
record or beneficial owner of  at least 1% of  the outstanding shares or  shares
with  a market value of $1,000 entitled to be voted at the meeting and must have
held such shares for at least one year. Further, the stockholders must  continue
to  hold such shares through the date  on which the meeting is held. Documentary
support regarding the foregoing must be provided along with the proposal.  There
are  additional  requirements regarding  proposals  of the  stockholders,  and a
stockholder contemplating submission  of a  proposal is referred  to Rule  14a-8
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
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 CARD AND
RETURN IT IN  THE ENCLOSED SELF-ADDRESSED  ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE  IS REQUIRED  IF
MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
 
                                       7

                             BEA INCOME FUND, INC.
                                     PROXY
          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    The  undersigned hereby appoints Paul P. Stamler and Michael A. Pignataro as
Proxies, each with the  power to appoint his  substitute, and hereby  authorizes
them to represent and to vote, as designated on the other side and in accordance
with  their  judgment on  such other  matters  as may  properly come  before the
meeting or any adjournments  thereof, all shares of  BEA Income Fund, Inc.  (the
"Fund")  that  the undersigned  is entitled  to  vote at  the annual  meeting of
stockholders on May 16, 1996, and at any adjournment thereof.
 
     (CONTINUED--SIGNATURE REQUIRED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS PROXY CARD)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE NOMINEES IN PROPOSAL 1 AND
                               "FOR" PROPOSAL 2.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

                                                                                     
PROPOSAL 1--ELECTION OF THE FOLLOWING NOMINEES AS                FOR nominees listed          WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
DIRECTORS:                                                    (except as marked to the     to vote for the nominees
              Enrique R. Arzac            James S. Pasman          contrary below)
                                                                         / /                          / /
              Lawrence J. Fox            Daniel H. Sigg

 
(Instruction: To withhold authority for any individual, write the individual's
name on the line provided below.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

                                                                      
PROPOSAL 2--TO RATIFY THE SELECTION OF PRICE WATERHOUSE      FOR     AGAINST   ABSTAIN
LLP AS INDEPENDENT PUBLIC  ACCOUNTANTS OF THE FUND  FOR      / /       / /       / /
THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1996:

 
    PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY USING THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
 
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.
 
                        When shares are held by joint tenants, both should sign.
 
                                When signing as attorney, 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
                                person.
                                Date: __________________________________________
                                _______________________   ______________________
                                Signature          Print Name
                                _______________________   ______________________
                                Signature if held  Print Name
                                jointly