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 |
811-7686 |
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Western Asset Emerging Markets Income Fund II Inc. |
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
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125 Broad Street, New York, NY |
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10004 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip code) |
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Robert I. Frenkel, Esq. |
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(Name and address of agent for service) |
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code: |
1-800-451-2010 |
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Date of fiscal year end: |
May 31, |
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Date of reporting period: |
February 28, 2007 |
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WESTERN ASSET EMERGING
MARKETS
INCOME FUND II INC.
ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
WESTERN ASSET EMERGING MARKETS INCOME FUND II INC.
Schedule of Investments (unaudited) |
February 28, 2007 |
Face |
|
|
Security |
|
Value |
|||
SOVEREIGN BONDS 61.9% |
|
|
||||||
Argentina 4.4% |
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|
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|
|
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Republic of Argentina: |
|
|
||
2,000,000 |
|
DEM |
|
10.250% due 2/6/03 (a) |
|
$ |
487,731 |
|
1,000,000 |
|
DEM |
|
9.000% due 9/19/03 (a) |
|
229,153 |
||
3,000,000 |
|
DEM |
|
7.000% due 3/18/04 (a) |
|
705,215 |
||
3,875,000 |
|
DEM |
|
8.500% due 2/23/05 (a) |
|
927,286 |
||
5,400,000 |
|
DEM |
|
11.250% due 4/10/06 (a) |
|
1,305,916 |
||
1,000,000 |
|
DEM |
|
11.750% due 5/20/11 (a) |
|
239,299 |
||
591,000 |
|
|
|
5.475% due 8/3/12 (b) |
|
560,476 |
||
8,800,000 |
|
DEM |
|
12.000% due 9/19/16 (a) |
|
2,031,424 |
||
4,119,321 |
|
ARS |
|
Bonds, 2.000% due 1/3/10 (b) |
|
2,756,233 |
||
3,396,971 |
|
ARS |
|
Discount Bonds, 5.830% due 12/31/33 (b) |
|
1,462,691 |
||
|
|
|
|
GDP Linked Securities: |
|
|
||
2,705,000 |
|
|
|
0.624% due 12/15/35 (b) |
|
359,359 |
||
57,059,503 |
|
ARS |
|
0.649% due 12/15/35 (b) |
|
2,052,172 |
||
3,200,000 |
|
EUR |
|
0.662% due 12/15/35 (b) |
|
533,454 |
||
|
|
|
|
Medium-Term Notes: |
|
|
||
6,000,000,000 |
|
ITL |
|
7.000% due 3/18/04 (a) |
|
1,383,647 |
||
3,000,000,000 |
|
ITL |
|
5.002% due 7/13/05 (a) |
|
650,861 |
||
1,000,000,000 |
|
ITL |
|
7.625% due 8/11/07 (a)(c) |
|
225,487 |
||
625,000 |
|
DEM |
|
8.000% due 10/30/09 (a) |
|
141,635 |
||
|
|
|
|
Total Argentina |
|
16,052,039 |
||
Brazil 14.5% |
|
|
|
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|
|
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Federative Republic of Brazil: |
|
|
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8,991,000 |
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|
|
11.000% due 8/17/40 (d) |
|
12,011,976 |
||
|
|
|
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Collective Action Securities: |
|
|
||
3,980,000 |
|
|
|
8.750% due 2/4/25 |
|
5,024,750 |
||
32,355,000 |
|
|
|
Notes, 8.000% due 1/15/18 (e) |
|
36,237,600 |
||
|
|
|
|
Total Brazil |
|
53,274,326 |
||
Colombia 3.3% |
|
|
|
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||||
|
|
|
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Republic of Colombia: |
|
|
||
4,029,000 |
|
|
|
10.375% due 1/28/33 (e) |
|
5,771,543 |
||
5,970,000 |
|
|
|
7.375% due 9/18/37 (e) |
|
6,386,407 |
||
|
|
|
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Total Colombia |
|
12,157,950 |
||
Ecuador 1.1% |
|
|
|
|
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4,840,000 |
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|
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Republic of Ecuador, 10.000% due 8/15/30 (f) |
|
4,138,200 |
||
El Salvador 0.9% |
|
|
|
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2,627,000 |
|
|
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Republic of El Salvador, 8.250% due 4/10/32 (f) |
|
3,191,805 |
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Indonesia 0.5% |
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|
|
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1,600,000 |
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Republic of Indonesia, 8.500% due 10/12/35 (f) |
|
1,961,920 |
||
Malaysia 1.9% |
|
|
|
|
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3,953,000 |
|
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Federation of Malaysia, 8.750% due 6/1/09 |
|
4,266,476 |
||
2,653,000 |
|
|
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Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad, 5.625% due 3/15/16 (f) |
|
2,723,371 |
||
|
|
|
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Total Malaysia |
|
6,989,847 |
||
Mexico 10.8% |
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|
|
|
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|
|
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United Mexican States: |
|
|
||
1,185,000 |
|
|
|
11.375% due 9/15/16 |
|
1,697,513 |
||
|
|
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Medium-Term Notes: |
|
|
||
13,360,000 |
|
|
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5.625% due 1/15/17 |
|
13,420,120 |
||
2,395,000 |
|
|
|
8.300% due 8/15/31 |
|
3,080,569 |
||
See Notes to Schedule of Investments.
1
WESTERN ASSET EMERGING MARKETS INCOME FUND II INC.
Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) |
February 28, 2007 |
Face |
|
|
Security |
|
Value |
|||
Mexico 10.8% (continued) |
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
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Series A: |
|
|
||
4,090,000 |
|
|
|
6.625% due 3/3/15 |
|
$ |
4,391,637 |
|
13,840,000 |
|
|
|
8.000% due 9/24/22 |
|
16,884,800 |
||
|
|
|
|
Total Mexico |
|
39,474,639 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Panama 2.5% |
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|
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|
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Republic of Panama: |
|
|
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6,735,000 |
|
|
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9.375% due 4/1/29 |
|
9,016,481 |
||
258,000 |
|
|
|
6.700% due 1/26/36 |
|
269,610 |
||
|
|
|
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Total Panama |
|
9,286,091 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Peru 1.9% |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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Republic of Peru: |
|
|
||
169,000 |
|
|
|
8.750% due 11/21/33 |
|
220,503 |
||
6,836,200 |
|
|
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PDI, 5.000% due 3/7/17 (b) |
|
6,819,109 |
||
|
|
|
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Total Peru |
|
7,039,612 |
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|
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|
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|
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Philippines 1.1% |
|
|
|
|
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3,467,000 |
|
|
|
Republic of the Philippines, 7.750% due 1/14/31 |
|
3,911,123 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Russia 6.7% |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
Russian Federation: |
|
|
||
2,333,370 |
|
|
|
8.250% due 3/31/10 (f) |
|
2,432,538 |
||
4,175,000 |
|
|
|
11.000% due 7/24/18 (f) |
|
6,038,094 |
||
2,930,000 |
|
|
|
12.750% due 6/24/28 (f) |
|
5,325,275 |
||
9,610,000 |
|
|
|
5.000% due 3/31/30 (f) |
|
10,895,337 |
||
|
|
|
|
Total Russia |
|
24,691,244 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
South Africa 1.0% |
|
|
|
|
||||
3,475,000 |
|
|
|
Republic of South Africa, 6.500% due 6/2/14 |
|
3,683,500 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Turkey 3.9% |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
Republic of Turkey: |
|
|
||
368,000 |
|
|
|
11.000% due 1/14/13 |
|
448,962 |
||
2,500,000 |
|
|
|
7.250% due 3/15/15 |
|
2,587,500 |
||
3,519,000 |
|
|
|
11.875% due 1/15/30 (d) |
|
5,375,273 |
||
5,150,000 |
|
|
|
Collective Action Securities, Notes, 9.500% due 1/15/14 |
|
5,980,437 |
||
|
|
|
|
Total Turkey |
|
14,392,172 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Uruguay 1.3% |
|
|
|
|
||||
4,277,557 |
|
|
|
Republic of Uruguay, Benchmark Bonds, 7.875% due 1/15/33 (g) |
|
4,774,823 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Venezuela 6.1% |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela: |
|
|
||
800,000 |
|
|
|
5.375% due 8/7/10 (f) |
|
780,600 |
||
7,751,000 |
|
|
|
8.500% due 10/8/14 |
|
8,595,859 |
||
5,834,000 |
|
|
|
5.750% due 2/26/16 |
|
5,451,873 |
||
716,000 |
|
|
|
7.650% due 4/21/25 |
|
762,182 |
||
|
|
|
|
Collective Action Securities: |
|
|
||
1,892,000 |
|
|
|
9.375% due 1/13/34 (d) |
|
2,459,600 |
||
3,500,000 |
|
|
|
Notes, 10.750% due 9/19/13 |
|
4,258,625 |
||
|
|
|
|
Total Venezuela |
|
22,308,739 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
TOTAL SOVEREIGN BONDS |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
(Cost $209,168,354) |
|
227,328,030 |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES 28.6% |
|
|
||||||
Brazil 4.1% |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
Vale Overseas Ltd., Notes: |
|
|
||
1,479,000 |
|
|
|
6.250% due 1/23/17 |
|
1,527,748 |
||
See Notes to Schedule of Investments.
2
WESTERN ASSET EMERGING MARKETS INCOME FUND II INC.
Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) |
February 28, 2007 |
Face |
|
|
Security |
|
Value |
||||
2,635,000 |
|
|
|
8.250% due 1/17/34 |
|
$ |
3,237,450 |
||
9,894,000 |
|
|
|
6.875% due 11/21/36 |
|
10,455,544 |
|||
|
|
|
|
Total Brazil |
|
15,220,742 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Chile 1.3% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
Enersis SA, Notes: |
|
|
|||
3,932,000 |
|
|
|
7.375% due 1/15/14 |
|
4,307,836 |
|||
337,000 |
|
|
|
7.400% due 12/1/16 |
|
376,064 |
|||
|
|
|
|
Total Chile |
|
4,683,900 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
India 0.1% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
340,000 |
|
|
|
ICICI Bank Ltd., Bonds, 6.375% due 4/30/22 (b)(f) |
|
346,399 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Kazakhstan 0.9% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
1,920,000 |
|
|
|
ATF Capital BV, 9.250% due 2/21/14 (f) |
|
1,915,200 |
|||
1,400,000 |
|
|
|
TuranAlem Finance BV, 8.250% due 1/22/37 (f) |
|
1,422,750 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,337,950 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Malaysia 0.2% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
809,000 |
|
|
|
Sarawak International Inc., Senior Bonds, 5.500% due 8/3/15 |
|
809,075 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Mexico 6.2% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
Axtel SA de CV: |
|
|
|||
190,000 |
|
|
|
11.000% due 12/15/13 |
|
212,800 |
|||
1,220,000 |
|
|
|
Senior Notes, 7.625% due 2/1/17 (f) |
|
1,226,100 |
|||
900,000 |
|
|
|
Banco Mercantil del Norte SA, Subordinated Bonds, 6.135% due 10/13/16 (b)(f) |
|
917,411 |
|||
|
|
|
|
Grupo Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana SA de CV, Senior Notes: |
|
|
|||
220,000 |
|
|
|
9.375% due 5/1/12 |
|
237,050 |
|||
100,000 |
|
|
|
12.500% due 6/15/12 |
|
108,375 |
|||
|
|
|
|
Pemex Project Funding Master Trust: |
|
|
|||
15,125,000 |
|
|
|
7.375% due 12/15/14 |
|
16,705,563 |
|||
1,333,000 |
|
|
|
Bonds, 6.625% due 6/15/35 |
|
1,381,321 |
|||
24,000,000 |
|
MXN |
|
Telefonos de Mexico SA de CV, Senior Notes, 8.750% due 1/31/16 |
|
2,162,310 |
|||
|
|
|
|
Total Mexico |
|
22,950,930 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Panama 0.4% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
1,481,000 |
|
|
|
MMG Fiduciary Trust Corp., 6.750% due 2/1/16 (f) |
|
1,506,836 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Russia 11.2% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
11,090,000 |
|
|
|
Gaz Capital SA, Notes, 8.625% due 4/28/34 (f) |
|
14,211,835 |
|||
|
|
|
|
Gazprom: |
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
Bonds: |
|
|
|||
217,870,000 |
|
RUB |
|
Series A7, 6.790% due 10/29/09 |
|
8,354,365 |
|||
72,620,000 |
|
RUB |
|
Series A8, 7.000% due 10/27/11 |
|
2,779,099 |
|||
1,140,000 |
|
|
|
Loan Participation Notes, 6.212% due 11/22/16 (f) |
|
1,142,280 |
|||
96,030,000 |
|
RUB |
|
Gazprom OAO, Series A6, 6.950% due 8/6/09 |
|
3,707,224 |
|||
6,070,000 |
|
|
|
Russian Agricultural Bank, Notes, 7.175% due 5/16/13 (f) |
|
6,365,912 |
|||
3,340,000 |
|
|
|
TNK-BP Finance SA, 7.500% due 7/18/16 (f) |
|
3,540,400 |
|||
840,000 |
|
|
|
UBS Luxembourg SA for OJSC Vimpel Communications, Loan Participation Notes, 8.250% due 5/23/16 (f) |
|
896,700 |
|||
|
|
|
|
Total Russia |
|
40,997,815 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Thailand 1.0% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
3,570,000 |
|
|
|
True Move Co., Ltd., 10.750% due 12/16/13 (f) |
|
3,659,250 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Venezuela 3.2% |
|
|
|
|
|||||
11,586,000 |
|
|
|
Petrozuata Finance Inc., 8.220% due 4/1/17 (f) |
|
11,613,610 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
(Cost $102,820,454) |
|
105,126,507 |
|||
See Notes to Schedule of Investments.
3
WESTERN ASSET EMERGING MARKETS INCOME FUND II INC.
Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) |
February 28, 2007 |
Warrants |
|
|
Security |
|
Value |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
WARRANT 0.1% |
|
|
|
|
||||
10,000 |
|
|
|
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Oil-linked payment obligations, Expires 4/15/20 |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
(Cost - $310,000) |
|
$ |
362,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
(Cost $312,298,808) |
|
332,817,037 |
||
Face |
|
|
|
||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 9.4% |
|
|
|||||
Credit Linked Note 1.0% |
|
|
|
|
|||
3,600,000 |
|
|
|
UBS AG Jersey Branch, Medium-Term Notes, 7.684% due 4/12/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost - $3,612,960) (b)(e) |
|
3,612,960 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sovereign Bonds 4.8% |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
Egypt Treasury Bills: |
|
|
|
16,375,000 |
|
EGP |
|
Zero coupon bond to yield 9.646% due 4/17/07 |
|
2,840,401 |
|
85,400,000 |
|
EGP |
|
Zero coupon bond to yield 9.543% due 10/30/07 |
|
14,107,966 |
|
4,475,000 |
|
EGP |
|
Zero coupon bond to yield 9.491% due 11/6/07 |
|
738,245 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Sovereign Bonds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $17,579,815) |
|
17,686,612 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. Government Agency 0.1% |
|
|
|||||
500,000 |
|
|
|
Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Discount Notes, 5.197% due 6/25/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost - $491,945) (h)(i) |
|
491,807 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repurchase Agreement 3.5% |
|
|
|||||
12,895,000 |
|
|
|
Nomura Securities International Inc. repurchase agreement dated 2/28/07, 5.300% due 3/1/07; Proceeds at maturity - $12,896,898; (Fully collateralized by various U.S. Treasury obligations, 3.875% to 4.875% due 7/15/08 to 12/15/16; Market value - $13,153,710) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost - $12,895,000) (e) |
|
12,895,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $34,579,720) |
|
34,686,379 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS 100.0% (Cost $346,878,528#) |
|
$ |
367,503,416 |
|
Face amount denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted. |
(a) |
Security is currently in default. |
(b) |
Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is that which is in effect at February 28, 2007. |
(c) |
Illiquid security. |
(d) |
All or a portion of this security is held by the counterparty as collateral for open reverse repurchase agreements. |
(e) |
All or a portion of this security is segregated for open futures contracts and reverse repurchase agreements. |
(f) |
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. |
(g) |
Payment-in-kind security for which part of the income earned may be paid as additional principal. |
(h) |
All or a portion of this security is held as collateral for open futures contracts. |
(i) |
Rate shown represents yield-to-maturity. |
# |
Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is substantially the same. |
Abbreviations used in this schedule: |
|
|
ARS - Argentine Peso |
|
DEM - German Mark |
|
EGP - Egyptian Pound |
|
EUR - Euro |
|
GDP - Gross Domestic Product |
|
ITL - Italian Lira |
See Notes to Schedule of Investments.
4
WESTERN ASSET EMERGING MARKETS INCOME FUND II INC.
Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) |
February 28, 2007 |
MXN - Mexican Peso |
|
|
PDI - Past Due Interest |
|
RUB - Russian Ruble |
See Notes to Schedule of Investments.
5
Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited)
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Western Asset Emerging Markets Income Fund II Inc. (the Fund) (formerly known as Salomon Brothers Emerging Markets Income Fund II Inc.) was incorporated in Maryland 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 Funds primary objective is to seek high current income. As a secondary objective, the Fund seeks capital appreciation. In pursuit of these objectives, the Fund under normal conditions invests at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes in debt securities of government and government related issuers located in emerging market countries (including participating in loans between government and financial institutions), and of entities organized to restructure the outstanding debt of such issuers, and in debt securities of corporate issuers located in emerging market countries.
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 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. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last sale price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. Publicly traded foreign government debt securities are typically traded internationally on the over-the-counter market, and are valued at the mean between the bid and asked price 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 investments at fair value as determined in accordance with the procedures approved by the Funds Board of Directors. Short-term obligations with maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
(b) Repurchase Agreements. When entering into repurchase agreements, it is the Funds policy that its custodian or a third party custodian takes possession of the underlying collateral securities, the market value of which at least equals the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. If the seller default and the market value of the collateral declines or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.
(c) Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements in which the Fund sells portfolio securities and agrees to repurchase them from the buyer at a specified date and price. Whenever the Fund enters into a reverse repurchase agreement, the Funds custodian delivers liquid assets to the counterparty in an amount at least equal to the repurchase price (including accrued interest). The Fund pays interest on amounts obtained pursuant to reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are considered to be borrowings, which may create leverage risk to the Fund.
(d) Loan Participations. The Fund may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Funds investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower and the Fund may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation.
The Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower, the lender that is selling the participation and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any set-off between the lender and the borrower.
(e) 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. 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 fluctuation in the value of the underlying financial instruments. The Fund recognizes an unrealized gain or loss equal to the daily variation margin. When the financial futures contracts are closed, a realized gain or loss is recognized
6
Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)
equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transactions and the Funds 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 instruments. In addition, investing in financial futures contracts involves the risk that the Fund could lose more than the original 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.
(f) 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 Funds investment in securities rated below investment grade typically involve 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 disruptive effects on the market prices of investments held by the Fund. The Funds investment in non-dollar denominated securities may also result in foreign currency losses caused by devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations.
(g) 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 on 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.
(h) Security Transactions. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis.
2. Investments
At February 28, 2007, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:
Gross unrealized appreciation |
|
$ |
21,510,752 |
|
Gross unrealized depreciation |
|
(885,864 |
) |
|
Net unrealized appreciation |
|
$ |
20,624,888 |
|
At February 28, 2007, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:
|
|
Number of |
|
Expiration |
|
Basis |
|
Market |
|
Unrealized |
|
|||
Contracts to Sell: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Notes |
|
14 |
|
3/07 |
|
$ |
1,518,735 |
|
$ |
1,519,875 |
|
$ |
(1,140 |
) |
U.S. Treasury 10 Year Notes |
|
486 |
|
6/07 |
|
52,236,961 |
|
52,776,563 |
|
(539,602 |
) |
|||
Net Unrealized Loss on Open Futures Contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(540,742 |
) |
||
Transactions in reverse repurchase agreements for the Fund during the period ended February 28, 2007 were as follows:
Average |
|
Weighted |
|
Maximum |
|
Daily |
|
Average |
|
Amount |
|
Balance |
|
Interest Rate |
|
Outstanding |
|
$ 8,087,843 |
|
2.76 |
% |
$ 16,599,288 |
|
7
Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)
Interest rates on reverse repurchase agreements ranged from 0.20% to 5.25% during the period ended February 28, 2007.
At February 28, 2007, the Fund had the following reverse repurchase agreements outstanding:
FACE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
AMOUNT |
|
SECURITY |
|
VALUE |
|
|
$ 437,636 |
|
Reverse Repurchase Agreement with Credit Suisse First Boston, dated 2/2/07 bearing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.900% to be repurchased at a date and amount to be determined, collateralized |
|
|
|
|
|
|
by: $319,000 Republic of Turkey, 11.875% due 1/15/30; Market value |
|
$ |
437,636 |
|
|
|
(including accrued interest) - $491,982 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,702,600 |
|
Reverse Repurchase Agreement with Credit Suisse First Boston, dated 2/5/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
bearing 5.250% to be repurchased at $3,722,039 on 3/13/07, collateralized by: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$3,000,000 Federative Republic of Brazil, 11.000% due 8/17/40; Market |
|
3,702,600 |
|
|
|
|
value (including accrued interest) - $4,018,939. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,580,304 |
|
Reverse Repurchase Agreement with Credit Suisse First Boston, dated 2/13/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
bearing 0.750% to be repurchased at $1,581,654 on 3/26/07, collateralized by: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$1,353,000 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 9.375% due 1/13/34; Market |
|
1,580,304 |
|
|
|
|
value (including accrued interest) - $1,775,369. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,440,200 |
|
Reverse Repurchase Agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., dated 2/13/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
bearing 2.500% to be repurchased at $4,450,684 on 3/19/07, collateralized by: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$3,200,000 Republic of Turkey, 11.875% due 1/15/30; Market value |
|
4,440,200 |
|
|
|
|
(including accrued interest) - $4,935,238. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Reverse Repurchase Agreements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Proceeds - $10,160,740) |
|
$ |
10,160,740 |
|
8
ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
(a) The registrants principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrants 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 registrants internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the registrants last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect the registrants 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.
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 Market Income Fund II Inc.
By |
/s/ R. Jay Gerken |
|
R. Jay Gerken |
||
Chief Executive Officer |
||
|
||
|
||
Date: April 26, 2007 |
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: April 26, 2007 |
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
By |
/s/ Frances M. Guggino |
|
||
Frances M. Guggino |
|
|||
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|||
|
|
|||
Date: April 26, 2007 |
|
|||