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 28

 

 

 

 

Date of reporting period:

November 30, 2006

 

 



 

WESTERN ASSET EMERGING MARKETS

FLOATING RATE FUND INC.

 

FORM N-Q

November 30, 2006

 



 

ITEM 1.                  SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS


 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments  (unaudited)

November 30, 2006

 

Face
Amount

 

Security

 

Value

 

SOVEREIGN BONDS — 73.6%

 

 

 

 

 

Argentina — 3.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic of Argentina:

 

 

 

$

1,012,500

 

 

5.590% due 8/3/12 (a)

 

$

945,967

 

1,557,492

 

 

Discount Notes, 8.280% due 12/31/33

 

1,590,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Argentina

 

2,536,167

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brazil — 14.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federative Republic of Brazil:

 

 

 

6,848,000

 

 

11.000% due 8/17/40

 

9,109,552

 

1,182,791

 

 

MYDFA, 6.250% due 9/15/07 (a)(b)

 

1,182,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Brazil

 

10,292,343

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colombia — 4.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic of Colombia:

 

 

 

2,000,000

 

 

8.940% due 3/17/13 (a)(b)

 

2,210,000

 

740,000

 

 

7.175% due 11/16/15 (a)

 

765,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Colombia

 

2,975,900

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecuador — 1.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

865,000

 

 

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

 

808,775

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico — 12.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Mexican States:

 

 

 

479,000

 

 

7.500% due 1/14/12

 

527,259

 

 

 

 

Medium-Term Notes:

 

 

 

800,000

 

 

5.625% due 1/15/17

 

804,800

 

 

 

 

Series A:

 

 

 

7,200,000

 

 

6.073% due 1/13/09 (a)(c)

 

7,268,400

 

60,000

 

 

7.500% due 4/8/33

 

71,235

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Mexico

 

8,671,694

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Panama — 3.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,010,000

 

 

Republic of Panama, 7.250% due 3/15/15

 

2,169,795

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peru — 4.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,929,800

 

 

Republic of Peru, PDI, 5.000% due 3/7/17 (a)

 

2,907,827

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philippines — 1.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic of the Philippines:

 

 

 

510,000

 

 

10.625% due 3/16/25 (c)

 

720,375

 

370,000

 

 

7.750% due 1/14/31

 

411,394

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Philippines

 

1,131,769

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russia — 13.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russian Federation:

 

 

 

2,566,707

 

 

8.250% due 3/31/10 (b)

 

2,693,759

 

6,022,000

 

 

5.000% due 3/31/30 (b)

 

6,853,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Russia

 

9,547,548

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey — 3.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Republic of Turkey:

 

 

 

1,125,000

 

 

11.500% due 1/23/12

 

1,375,313

 

800,000

 

 

11.875% due 1/15/30 (c)

 

1,220,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Turkey

 

2,595,313

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uruguay — 1.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,182,134

 

 

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

 

1,267,839

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

1



 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

November 30, 2006

 

Face
Amount

 

Security

 

Value

 

Venezuela — 8.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela:

 

 

 

$

322,000

 

 

7.650% due 4/21/25

 

$

340,273

 

 

 

 

Collective Action Securities:

 

 

 

2,500,000

 

 

6.374% due 4/20/11 (a)(b)

 

2,490,625

 

1,119,000

 

 

9.375% due 1/13/34

 

1,428,963

 

1,785,500

 

 

DCB, Series DL, 6.438% due 12/18/07 (a)

 

1,787,732

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Venezuela

 

6,047,593

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL SOVEREIGN BONDS
(Cost — $48,561,404)

 

50,952,563

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES — 14.1%

 

 

 

Brazil — 0.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

471,000

 

 

Vale Overseas Ltd., Notes, 8.250% due 1/17/34

 

561,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany — 4.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,450,000

 

 

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

 

2,930,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico — 5.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

160,000

 

 

Banco Mercantil del Norte SA, Bonds, 6.135% due 10/13/16 (a)(b)

 

162,957

 

 

 

 

Grupo Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana SA de CV, Senior Notes:

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

9.375% due 5/1/12

 

107,500

 

20,000

 

 

12.500% due 6/15/12

 

21,850

 

3,310,000

 

 

Pemex Project Funding Master Trust, Senior Notes, 5.991% due 12/3/12 (a)(b)

 

3,324,067

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Mexico

 

3,616,374

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russia — 2.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

160,000

 

 

Gazprom, Loan Participation Notes, 6.212% due 11/22/16 (b)

 

161,400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,230,000

 

 

Russian Agricultural Bank, Notes, 7.175% due 5/16/13 (b)

 

1,305,337

 

490,000

 

 

TNK-BP Finance SA, 7.500% due 7/18/16 (b)

 

518,661

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Russia

 

1,985,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Venezuela — 1.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

710,000

 

 

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

 

692,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES
(Cost — $9,615,304)

 

9,785,488

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT (Cost — $58,176,708)

 

60,738,051

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT — 12.3%

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreement — 12.3%

 

 

 

 

 

8,480,000

 

 

Nomura Securities International Inc. tri-party repurchase agreement dated 11/30/06, 5.280% due 12/1/06; Proceeds at maturity - $8,481,244; (Fully collateralized by U.S. government agency and U.S. Treasury obligations, 3.875% to 8.750% due 11/03/09 to 4/15/29;
Market value - $8,649,649) (Cost — $8,480,000) (d)

 

8,480,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.0%
(Cost — $66,656,708#)

 

$

69,218,051

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

2



 

Western Asset Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments  (unaudited) (continued)

November 30, 2006


(a)

Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is that which is in effect at November 30, 2006.

(b)

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.

(c)

All or a portion of this security is held by the counterparty as collateral for open reverse repurchase agreements.

(d)

All or a portion of this security is segregated for swap contracts and reverse repurchase agreements.

 

#

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

 

 

 

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

 

DCB - Debt Conversion Bond

 

MYDFA - Multi-Year Depository Facility Agreement

 

PDI - Past Due Interest

 

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. (formerly known as Salomon Brothers Emerging Markets Floating Rate Fund Inc.) (the “Fund”) was incorporated in 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 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. 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. 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s policy that its custodian or a third party custodian take 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 defaults, 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 Fund’s 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) Interest Rate Swaps. In order to manage interest rate sensitivity (duration), the Fund has entered into an interest rate swap agreement 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 6-month LIBOR, based on notional principal amount. During the term of the outstanding swap agreement, changes in the underlying value of the swap are recorded as unrealized gains or losses.

 

(e) Loan Participations. The Fund may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Fund’s 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.

 

(f) 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.

 



 

(g) 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 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 Fund’s investment in non-dollar denominated securities may also result in foreign currency losses caused by devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations.

 

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

 

2. Investments

 

At November 30, 2006, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

 

$2,712,382

 

Gross unrealized depreciation

 

(151,039

)

Net unrealized appreciation

 

$2,561,343

 

 

Transactions in reverse repurchase agreements for the Fund during the period ended November 30, 2006 were as follows:

 

Average

 

Weighted

 

Maximum

 

Daily

 

Average

 

Amount

 

Balance

 

Interest Rate

 

Outstanding

 

$

6,809,196

 

4.03

%

$

10,260,000

 

 

Interest rates on reverse repurchase agreements ranged from 0.20% to 5.00% during the period ended November 30, 2006.

 

At November 30, 2006, the Fund had the following open reverse repurchase agreements:

 

Face

 

 

 

 

 

Amount

 

Security

 

Value

 

$

644,946

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreement with Credit Suisse First Boston, dated 11/01/06 bearing 5.000% to be repurchased at $649,425 on 12/20/06, collateralized by: $510,000 Republic of the Philippines, 10.625% due 03/16/25; Market value (including accrued interest) - $724,866

 

$

644,946

 

1,118,817

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreement with Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., dated 11/16/06 bearing 2.750% to be repurchased at a date and an amount to be determined, collateralized by: $800,000 Republic of Turkey, 11.875% due 01/15/30; Market value (including accrued interest) - $1,227,745

 

1,118,817

 

5,665,379

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreement with JPMorgan Chase & Co., dated 10/17/06 bearing 4.850% to be repurchased at a date and an amount to be determined, collateralized by: $5,600,000 United Mexican States, Medium-Term Notes, 6.073% due 01/13/09; Market value (including accrued interest) - $5,681,543

 

5,665,379

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Reverse Repurchase Agreements
(Proceeds — $7,429,142)

 

$

7,429,142

 

 

4



 

At November 30, 2006, 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

$(750,981)

 

Swap Counterparty:

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA

Effective Date:

3/3/05

Notional Amount:

$17,000,000

Payments Made by Fund:

Fixed Rate 4.805%

Payments Received by Fund:

Floating Rate (6 Month LIBOR)

Termination Date:

3/3/15

Unrealized Appreciation

$110,668

 


 


 

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 29, 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:

January 29, 2007

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Frances M. Guggino

 

Frances M. Guggino

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Date:

January 29, 2007