Salomon Brothers Emerging Markets Income Fund Inc. Issues Statement
02 December 2003 - 11:48AM
PR Newswire (US)
Salomon Brothers Emerging Markets Income Fund Inc. Issues Statement
NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Salomon Brothers
Emerging Markets Income Fund Inc., which is traded on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol "EMD," issued today the following
statement: The Fund has received the following information from
Citigroup Asset Management ("CAM"), the Citigroup business unit
which includes the Fund's Investment Manager and other investment
advisory companies, all of which are indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiaries of Citigroup. CAM is reviewing its entry, through an
affiliate, into the transfer agent business in the period 1997-
1999. As CAM currently understands the facts, at the time CAM
decided to enter the transfer agent business, CAM sub-contracted
for a period of five years certain of the transfer agency services
to a third party and also concluded a revenue guarantee agreement
with this sub-contractor providing that the sub-contractor would
guarantee certain benefits to CAM or its affiliates (the "Revenue
Guarantee Agreement"). In connection with the subsequent purchase
of the sub-contractor's business by an affiliate of the current
sub-transfer agent (PFPC Inc.) used by CAM on many of the funds it
manages, this Revenue Guarantee Agreement was amended eliminating
those benefits in exchange for arrangements that included a
one-time payment from the sub-contractor. The Boards of CAM-managed
funds (the "Boards") were not informed of the Revenue Guarantee
Agreement with the sub-contractor at the time the Boards considered
and approved the transfer agent arrangements. Nor were the Boards
informed of the subsequent amendment to the Revenue Guarantee
Agreement when that occurred. CAM has begun to take corrective
actions. CAM will pay to the applicable funds $16 million (plus
interest) that CAM and its affiliates received from the Revenue
Guarantee Agreement and its amendment. CAM also plans an
independent review to verify that the transfer agency fees charged
by CAM were fairly priced as compared to competitive alternatives.
CAM is instituting new procedures and making changes designed to
ensure no similar arrangements are entered into in the future. CAM
has briefed the SEC, the New York State Attorney General and other
regulators with respect to this matter, as well as the U.S.
Attorney who is investigating the matter. CAM is cooperating with
governmental authorities on this matter. The Fund's transfer agent,
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, is not affiliated with
either CAM or PFPC Inc. Salomon Brothers Emerging Markets Income
Fund Inc., a non-diversified investment management company, is
managed by Salomon Brothers Asset Management Inc, an indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup Inc. DATASOURCE: Salomon
Brothers Emerging Markets Income Fund Inc. CONTACT: Brenda
Grandell, Director, Closed-End Funds, +1-212-291-3775, or
Investors: 1-888-735-6507
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