UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-Q

 

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

 

Investment Company Act file number

811-8338

 

 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

125 Broad Street, New York, NY

 

10004

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Robert I. Frenkel, Esq.

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

300 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

1-800-451-2010

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

February 29

 

 

 

 

Date of reporting period:

November 30, 2007

 

 



 

WESTERN ASSET EMERGING MARKETS
FLOATING RATE FUND INC.

 

 

FORM N-Q

November 30, 2007

 



 

ITEM 1.                  SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

 



 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

 

November 30, 2007

 

Face
Amount†

 

 

 

Security

 

Value

 

SOVEREIGN BONDS — 51.5%

 

 

 

Argentina — 4.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic of Argentina:

 

 

 

1,174,000

 

 

 

Bonds, Series VII, 7.000% due 9/12/13

 

$

1,004,194

 

1,625,341

 

 

 

Discount Notes, 8.280% due 12/31/33

 

1,576,580

 

 

 

 

 

Total Argentina

 

2,580,774

 

Brazil — 7.8%

 

 

 

3,355,000

 

 

 

Federative Republic of Brazil, 11.000% due 8/17/40 (a)

 

4,508,281

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colombia — 4.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic of Colombia:

 

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

 

9.244% due 3/17/13 (b)(c)

 

1,621,875

 

1,010,000

 

 

 

6.678% due 11/16/15 (b)

 

1,050,400

 

 

 

 

 

Total Colombia

 

2,672,275

 

Ecuador — 1.5%

 

 

 

865,000

 

 

 

Republic of Ecuador, 10.000% due 8/15/30 (c)

 

839,050

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indonesia — 2.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic of Indonesia:

 

 

 

3,745,000,000

 

IDR

 

Series FR40, 11.000% due 9/15/25

 

392,680

 

3,057,000,000

 

IDR

 

Series FR42, 10.250% due 7/15/27

 

298,597

 

4,774,000,000

 

IDR

 

Series FR43, 10.250% due 7/15/22

 

481,718

 

3,610,000,000

 

IDR

 

Series FR45, 9.750% due 5/15/37

 

329,328

 

 

 

 

 

Total Indonesia

 

1,502,323

 

Mexico — 12.5%

 

 

 

7,200,000

 

 

 

United Mexican States, Medium-Term Notes, Series A, 5.943% due 1/13/09 (a)(b)

 

7,218,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Panama — 3.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic of Panama:

 

 

 

1,038,000

 

 

 

7.250% due 3/15/15

 

1,143,876

 

647,000

 

 

 

6.700% due 1/26/36

 

680,968

 

 

 

 

 

Total Panama

 

1,824,844

 

Peru — 0.3%

 

 

 

186,000

 

 

 

Republic of Peru, Bonds, 6.550% due 3/14/37

 

194,370

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russia — 2.9%

 

 

 

1,625,072

 

 

 

Russian Federation, 8.250% due 3/31/10 (c)

 

1,690,075

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey — 6.4%

 

 

 

3,778,000

 

 

 

Republic of Turkey, Notes, 6.875% due 3/17/36 (a)

 

3,721,330

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uruguay — 0.4%

 

 

 

200,134

 

 

 

Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Bonds, 7.625% due 3/21/36

 

220,648

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venezuela — 4.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela:

 

 

 

270,000

 

 

 

5.750% due 2/26/16

 

211,612

 

2,780,000

 

 

 

Collective Action Securities, 6.180% due 4/20/11 (b)(c)

 

2,543,702

 

 

 

 

 

Total Venezuela

 

2,755,314

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SOVEREIGN BONDS
(Cost — $29,505,332)

 

29,727,284

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COLLATERALIZED SENIOR LOANS — 0.2%

 

 

 

United States — 0.2%

 

 

 

17,403

 

 

 

Ashmore Energy International, Synthetic Revolving Credit Facility, 8.260% due 3/30/14 (b)

 

16,794

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

1



 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

 

November 30, 2007

 

Face
Amount†

 

 

 

Security

 

Value

 

United States — 0.2% (continued)

 

 

 

131,178

 

 

 

Ashmore Energy International, Term Loan, 8.198% due 3/30/14 (b)

 

$

126,587

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL COLLATERALIZED SENIOR LOANS
(Cost — $148,242)

 

143,381

 

CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES — 43.0%

 

 

 

Brazil — 5.6%

 

 

 

410,000

 

 

 

Globo Communicacoes e Participacoes SA, Bonds, 7.250% due 4/26/22 (c)

 

397,700

 

299,000

 

 

 

GTL Trade Finance Inc., 7.250% due 10/20/17 (c)

 

306,521

 

150,000

 

 

 

Odebrecht Finance Ltd., 7.500% due 10/18/17 (c)

 

151,875

 

 

 

 

 

Vale Overseas Ltd., Notes:

 

 

 

471,000

 

 

 

8.250% due 1/17/34

 

564,230

 

1,732,000

 

 

 

6.875% due 11/21/36

 

1,809,091

 

 

 

 

 

Total Brazil

 

3,229,417

 

Colombia — 0.2%

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

EEB International Ltd., Senior Bonds, 8.750% due 10/31/14 (c)

 

101,850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India — 0.2%

 

 

 

114,000

 

 

 

ICICI Bank Ltd., Subordinated Bonds, 6.375% due 4/30/22 (b)(c)

 

101,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kazakhstan — 3.9%

 

 

 

330,000

 

 

 

ATF Capital BV, Senior Notes, 9.250% due 2/21/14 (c)

 

334,537

 

310,000

 

 

 

HSBK Europe BV, 7.250% due 5/3/17 (c)

 

269,313

 

 

 

 

 

TuranAlem Finance BV, Bonds:

 

 

 

1,520,000

 

 

 

6.550% due 1/22/09 (b)(c)

 

1,393,460

 

310,000

 

 

 

8.250% due 1/22/37 (c)

 

247,225

 

 

 

 

 

Total Kazakhstan

 

2,244,535

 

Mexico — 12.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Axtel SAB de CV:

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

7.625% due 2/1/17 (c)

 

9,900

 

280,000

 

 

 

Senior Notes, 7.625% due 2/1/17 (c)

 

277,200

 

100,000

 

 

 

Grupo Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana SA de CV, Senior Notes, 9.375% due 5/1/12

 

106,000

 

 

 

 

 

Pemex Project Funding Master Trust:

 

 

 

910,000

 

 

 

6.994% due 6/15/10 (b)(c)

 

921,375

 

527,000

 

 

 

6.994% due 6/15/10 (b)(c)

 

533,930

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes:

 

 

 

3,379,000

 

 

 

6.180% due 12/3/12 (a)(b)(c)

 

3,349,434

 

2,110,000

 

 

 

6.180% due 12/3/12 (b)(c)

 

2,091,537

 

 

 

 

 

Total Mexico

 

7,289,376

 

Russia — 9.9%

 

 

 

150,000

 

 

 

Gazprom, Loan Participation Notes, Senior Notes, 6.510% due 3/7/22 (c)

 

144,345

 

150,000

 

 

 

LUKOIL International Finance BV, 6.356% due 6/7/17 (c)

 

142,875

 

2,000,000

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley Bank AG for OAO Gazprom, Loan Participation Notes, 9.625% due 3/1/13 (c)

 

2,299,492

 

 

 

 

 

TNK-BP Finance SA:

 

 

 

490,000

 

 

 

7.500% due 7/18/16 (c)

 

474,761

 

540,000

 

 

 

Senior Notes, 7.875% due 3/13/18 (c)

 

533,925

 

140,000

 

 

 

UBS Luxembourg SA for OJSC Vimpel Communications, Loan Participation Notes, 8.250% due 5/23/16 (c)

 

142,128

 

2,000,000

 

 

 

VTB Capital SA for Vneshtorgbank, Loan Participation Notes, 5.494% due 8/1/08 (b)(c)

 

1,981,154

 

 

 

 

 

Total Russia

 

5,718,680

 

Thailand — 2.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

True Move Co., Ltd.:

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

2



 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

 

November 30, 2007

 

Face
Amount†

 

 

 

Security

 

Value

 

Thailand — 2.0% (continued)

 

 

 

570,000

 

 

 

10.750% due 12/16/13 (c)

 

$

580,313

 

550,000

 

 

 

10.750% due 12/16/13 (c)

 

569,250

 

 

 

 

 

Total Thailand

 

1,149,563

 

United Kingdom — 4.1%

 

 

 

2,306,683

 

 

 

HSBC Bank PLC, 7.000% due 11/1/11

 

2,391,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States — 1.1%

 

 

 

610,000

 

 

 

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Senior Notes, 8.375% due 4/1/17

 

660,325

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venezuela — 3.4%

 

 

 

1,869,000

 

 

 

Petrozuata Finance Inc., 8.220% due 4/1/17 (c)

 

1,934,415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES
(Cost — $25,054,679)

 

24,820,812

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost — $54,708,253)

 

54,691,477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 5.3%

 

 

 

Sovereign Bonds — 4.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Egypt Treasury Bills, Series 364:

 

 

 

14,200,000

 

EGP

 

Zero coupon bond to yield 8.290% due 8/26/08

 

2,433,882

 

2,150,000

 

EGP

 

Zero coupon bond to yield 7.600% due 11/25/08 (d)

 

361,212

 

 

 

 

 

Total Sovereign Bonds
(Cost — $2,729,145)

 

2,795,094

 

U.S. Government Agency — 0.4%

 

 

 

245,000

 

 

 

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Discount Notes, 5.111% - 5.203% due 3/17/08 (e)(f) (Cost - $241,428)

 

242,024

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost — $2,970,573)

 

3,037,118

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%
(Cost — $57,678,826#)

 

57,728,595

 

 


Face amount denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

(a)

All or a portion of this security is segregated for swap contracts and open futures contracts.

(b)

Variable rate security.  Interest rate disclosed is that which is in effect at November 30, 2007.

(c)

Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.  This security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.  This security has been deemed liquid pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Directors, unless otherwise noted.

(d)

Security is valued in good faith at fair value by or under the direction of the Board of Directors (See Note 1).

(e)

Rate shown represents yield-to-maturity.

(f)

All or a portion of this security is held at the broker as collateral for open futures contracts.

#

Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is substantially the same.

 

 

 

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

 

EGP - Egyptian Pound

 

IDR - Indonesian Rupiah

 

OJSC - Open Joint Stock Company

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

3



 

Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in Maryland on January 21, 1994 and is registered as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund seeks to maintain a high level of current income by investing at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes in floating rate debt securities of emerging market sovereign and corporate issuers, including fixed rate securities with respect to which the Fund has entered into interest rate swaps to effectively convert the fixed rate interest payments received into floating rate interest payments. As a secondary objective, the Fund seeks capital appreciation.

 

The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

 

(a) Investment Valuation.  Debt securities are valued at the mean between the last quoted bid and asked prices provided by an independent pricing service that are based on transactions in debt obligations, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various other relationships between securities. Publicly traded foreign government debt securities are typically traded internationally in the over-the-counter market, and are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices as of the close of business of that market. When prices are not readily available, or are determined not to reflect fair value, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund may value these securities at fair value as determined in accordance with the procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors. Short-term obligations with maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

 

(b) Financial Futures Contracts.  The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts typically to hedge a portion of the portfolio.  Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit cash or securities as initial margin, equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount (initial margin deposit). Additional securities are also segregated up to the current market value of the financial futures contracts. Subsequent payments, known as “variation margin,” are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the value of the underlying financial instruments.  Foreign denominated futures, variation margins are not settled daily.  The Fund recognizes an unrealized gain or loss equal to the fluctuation in value.  When the financial futures contracts are closed, a realized gain or loss is recognized equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transactions and the Fund’s basis in the contracts.

 

The risks associated with entering into financial futures contracts include the possibility that a change in the value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in the value of the underlying financial instruments. In addition, investing in financial futures contracts involves the risk that the Fund could lose more than the initial margin deposit and subsequent payments required for a futures transaction. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

 

(c) Interest Rate Swaps. In order to manage interest rate sensitivity (duration), the Fund has entered into interest rate swap agreements with JPMorgan Chase Bank (counterparty) pursuant to which, the Fund has guaranteed to make semi-annual payments to the counterparty at predetermined fixed rates, in exchange for floating payments from the counterparty at the 3-month and 6-month LIBOR, based on notional principal amount for each swap agreement.

 

(d) Foreign Currency Translation. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates at the date of valuation.  Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of such transactions.

 

Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of lower levels of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability.

 

(e) Credit and Market Risk.  The Fund invests in high-yield and emerging market instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high-yield and emerging market debt obligations reflect, among other things, perceived credit and market risks. The Fund’s investment in securities rated below investment grade typically involves risks not associated with higher rated securities including, among others, greater risk related to timely and ultimate payment of interest and principal, greater market price volatility and less liquid secondary market trading. The consequences of political, social, economic or diplomatic changes may have

 

4



 

Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

disruptive effects on the market prices of investments held by the Fund. The Fund’s investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may also result in foreign currency losses caused by devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations.

 

(f) Security Transactions.  Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis.

 

2.  Investments

 

At November 30, 2007, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

 

$

1,389,276

 

Gross unrealized depreciation

 

(1,339,507

)

Net unrealized appreciation

 

$

49,769

 

 

At November 30, 2007, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:

 

 

 

Number of
Contracts

 

Expiration Date

 

Basis
Value

 

Market
Value

 

Unrealized Loss

 

Contracts to Sell:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Treasury, 10-Year Notes

 

87

 

03/08

 

$

9,839,260

 

$

9,848,672

 

$

(9,412

)

U.S. Treasury, 10-Year Notes

 

59

 

12/07

 

6,442,275

 

6,721,390

 

(279,115

)

Net Unrealized Loss on Open Futures Contracts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(288,527

)

 

At November 30, 2007, the Fund held the following interest rate swap contracts:

 

Swap Counterparty:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA

Effective Date:

 

12/29/04

Notional Amount:

 

$16,000,000

Payments Made by Fund:

 

Fixed Rate 6.130%

Payments Received by Fund:

 

Floating Rate (6 month LIBOR)

Termination Date:

 

12/28/10

Unrealized Depreciation

 

$(996,069)

 

 

 

 

Swap Counterparty:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA

Effective Date:

 

3/3/05

Notional Amount:

 

$4,120,000

Payments Made by Fund:

 

Fixed Rate 4.805%

Payments Received by Fund:

 

Floating Rate (6 month LIBOR)

Termination Date:

 

3/3/15

Unrealized Depreciation

 

$(99,795)

 

 

 

 

Swap Counterparty:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA

Effective Date:

 

8/22/07

Notional Amount:

 

$5,000,000

Payments Made by Fund:

 

Fixed Rate 5.063%

Payments Received by Fund:

 

Floating Rate (3 month LIBOR)

Termination Date:

 

8/22/12

Unrealized Depreciation

 

$(195,050)

 

 

 

5



 

ITEM 2.                                                     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a)                                The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a- 3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

(b)                               There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 3.                  EXHIBITS.

 

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are attached hereto.

 



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.

 

By

/s/ R. Jay Gerken

 

R. Jay Gerken

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Date:  January 28, 2008

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

By

/s/ R. Jay Gerken

 

R. Jay Gerken

Chief Executive Officer

 

Date:  January 28, 2008

 

 

By

/s/ Kaprel Ozsolak

 

Kaprel Ozsolak

Chief Financial Officer

 

Date:  January 28, 2008