Salomon Brothers Worldwide Income Fund Inc. Issues Statement
02 December 2003 - 11:56AM
PR Newswire (US)
Salomon Brothers Worldwide Income Fund Inc. Issues Statement NEW
YORK, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Salomon Brothers Worldwide
Income Fund Inc., which is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol "SBW," 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 Worldwide 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 Worldwide
Income Fund Inc. CONTACT: Brenda Grandell, Director, Closed-End
Funds of Citigroup Asset Management, +1-212-291-3775, or Investor
Relations - 1-888-777-0102
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