UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811-05497
Western Asset Municipal
High Income Fund Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10018
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Marc A. De Oliveira
Franklin Templeton
100 First Stamford Place
Stamford, CT 06902
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area
code: 1-888-777-0102
Date of fiscal year end: October 31
Date of reporting period: October 31, 2024
| ITEM
1. | REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS. |
The Annual Report to Stockholders is filed
herewith.
Annual Report
October 31, 2024
WESTERN ASSET
MUNICIPAL HIGH INCOME
FUND INC. (MHF)
Fund objective
The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income taxes.
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in intermediate-
and long-term municipal debt securities issued by state and local governments (“municipal obligations”). However, the Fund may invest in municipal obligations of any maturity. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in municipal obligations rated below investment
grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”).
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Letter from the president
Dear Shareholder,
We are pleased to provide the annual report of Western Asset Municipal High Income
Fund Inc. for the twelve-month reporting period ended October 31, 2024. Please read
on for a detailed look at prevailing economic and market conditions during the Fund’s reporting period and to learn how those conditions have affected Fund performance.
Special shareholder notice
Effective March 1, 2024, Michael C. Buchanan and Ryan K. Brist joined the Fund’s portfolio management team.
As always, we remain committed to providing you with excellent service and a full
spectrum of investment choices. We also remain committed to supplementing the support
you receive from your financial advisor. One way we accomplish this is through our
website, www.franklintempleton.com. Here you can gain immediate access to market and investment information, including:
•
Fund prices and performance,
•
Market insights and commentaries from our portfolio managers, and
•
A host of educational resources.
We look forward to helping you meet your financial goals.
Jane Trust, CFA
President and Chief Executive Officer
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(This page intentionally left blank.)
Q. What is the Fund’s investment strategy?
A. The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income taxes. The Fund invests
primarily in intermediate- and long-term municipal debt securities issued by state
and local governments including U.S. territories and possessions, political sub-divisions, agencies
and public authorities (“municipal obligations”). However, the Fund may invest in municipal obligations of any maturity. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in municipal
obligations rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). Investment grade securities are those rated in the Baa/BBB categories or above by
at least one National Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) that provides such a rating or unrated securities that we determined to be of comparable credit quality.
The Fund may invest in non-publicly traded municipal securities, zero-coupon municipal obligations
and non-appropriation or other municipal lease obligations. The Fund may hold securities
or use investment techniques that provide for payments based or “derived” from the performance of an underlying asset, index or other economic benchmark.
At Western Asset Management Company, LLC (Western Asset), the Fund’s subadviser, we utilize a fixed income team approach, with decisions derived from interaction among
various investment management sector specialists. The sector teams are comprised of
Western Asset’s senior portfolio management personnel, research analysts and an in-house economist. Under this team approach, management of client fixed income portfolios
will reflect a consensus of interdisciplinary views within the Western Asset organization.
The individuals responsible for development of investment strategy, day-to-day portfolio
management, oversight and coordination of the Fund are Robert E. Amodeo, Michael C.
Buchanan, Ryan K. Brist, David T. Fare and John Mooney.
Q. What were the overall market conditions during the Fund’s reporting period?
A. The overall U.S. fixed income market experienced periods of volatility but generated
strong results over the twelve-months ended October 31, 2024. The market was driven
by several factors, including resilient economic growth, moderating inflation, shifting
U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) monetary policy, and several geopolitical issues.
Short-term U.S. Treasury yields moved lower as the Fed lowered interest rates in September 2024 — the first reduction since 2020. The two-year Treasury yield began the reporting period at 5.07% (its high for the period) and ended the period at 4.16%.
Its low of 3.49% occurred on September 24, 2024. Long-term U.S. Treasury yields also declined
given easing inflation and loosening Fed monetary policy. The ten-year Treasury yield began
the reporting period at 4.88% (its high for the period) and ended at 4.28%. Its low of
3.63% occurred on September 16, 2024.
The municipal bond market produced a positive absolute return and underperformed its
taxable bond counterpart during the 12-month reporting period. Over that time, the
Bloomberg Municipal Bond Indexi and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Indexii returned 9.70% and 10.55%, respectively. Both the taxable and tax-free bond markets were supported
by falling interest rates.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Q. How did we respond to these changing market conditions?
A. The Fund reduced its overweight duration position by specifically decreasing exposure
to 20-year bonds to align with a steepened yield curve amid expected curve dis-inversion
and rate volatility. Still, the Fund maintained relatively high exposure to short- term
municipal holdings which enhanced liquidity. In terms of credit quality, the Fund increased
its allocations to securities rated AA and BBB and reduced its exposures to securities
rated A and BB. The Fund also increased its exposure to the industrial revenue and transportation
sectors, and reduced exposures to the water & sewer and pre-refunded sectors.
For the twelve months ended October 31, 2024, Western Asset Municipal High Income
Fund Inc. returned 12.52% based on its net asset value (NAV)iii and 22.73% based on its New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) market price per share. The Fund’s unmanaged benchmark, the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index, returned 9.70% for the same period.
Certain investors may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax, and state
and local taxes will apply. Capital gains, if any, are fully taxable. Please consult your personal
tax or legal adviser.
The Fund has a practice of seeking to maintain a relatively stable level of distributions
to shareholders. This practice has no impact on the Fund’s investment strategy and may reduce the Fund’s NAV. The Fund’s manager believes the practice helps maintain the Fund’s competitiveness and may benefit the Fund’s market price and premium/discount to the Fund’s NAV.
During the twelve-month period, the Fund made distributions to shareholders totaling
$0.36 per share.* The performance table shows the Fund’s twelve-month total return based on its NAV and market price as of October 31, 2024. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Performance Snapshot as of October 31, 2024
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All figures represent past performance and are not a guarantee of future results.
** Total returns are based on changes in NAV or market price, respectively. Returns
reflect the deduction of all Fund expenses, including management fees, operating expenses, and
other Fund expenses. Returns do not reflect the deduction of brokerage commissions or taxes that
investors may pay on distributions or the sale of shares.
† Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions at NAV.
*
For the tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended October 31,
2024, please refer to page 39 of this report.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
‡ Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions in additional shares in accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
Q. What were the leading contributors to performance?
A. An overweight to duration contributed to performance as yields moved lower across
the curve. Exposure to higher risk (beta) revenue-backed municipal securities contributed
to performance. An overweight to transportation was also beneficial, as the sector outperformed the broad municipal market. In addition, security selection within the
education sector was rewarded. From a credit quality perspective, overweights to high-yield
and lower investment-grade securities contributed to performance.
Q. What were the leading detractors from performance?
A. The Fund’s modest exposure to Treasury futures used to manage duration positioning, and tender option bond securities detracted from performance.
Looking for additional information?
The Fund is traded under the symbol “MHF” and its closing market price is available in most newspapers under the NYSE listings. The daily NAV is available online under the symbol
“XMHFX” on most financial websites. Barron’s and The Wall Street Journal’s Monday edition both carry closed-end fund tables that provide additional information. In
addition, the Fund issues a quarterly press release that can be found on most major financial
websites as well as www.franklintempleton.com.
In a continuing effort to provide information concerning the Fund, shareholders may
call 1-888-777-0102 (toll free), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Time, for the Fund’s current NAV, market price and other information.
Thank you for your investment in the Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
As always, we appreciate that you have chosen us to manage your assets and we remain
focused on achieving the Fund’s investment goals.
Western Asset Management Company, LLC
RISKS: The Fund is a diversified closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not
intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty inherent in all investments,
there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Similar to stocks, the Fund’s share price will fluctuate with market conditions and, at the time of sale, may be worth more or less than the
original investment. Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset
value. Diversification does not assure against market loss. The Fund’s investments are subject to a number of risks, such as credit risk, inflation risk and interest rate risk. High
yield bonds, known as “junk bonds,” involve greater credit and liquidity risks than investment grade bonds. As
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
interest rates rise, bond prices fall, reducing the value of the Fund’s holdings. Municipal securities purchased by the Fund may be adversely affected by changes in the financial
condition of municipal issuers and insurers, regulatory and political developments, uncertainties
and public perceptions, and other factors. The Fund may invest in securities of other investment
companies. To the extent it does, Fund stockholders will indirectly pay a portion of the operating
costs of such companies, in addition to the expenses that the Fund bears directly in connection
with its own operation. Investing in securities issued by other investment companies, including
exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that invest primarily in municipal securities, involves risks similar to those of investing directly in the securities in which those investment
companies invest. The Fund may use derivatives, such as options and futures, which can be illiquid,
may disproportionately increase losses, and have a potentially large impact on Fund performance.
The market values of securities or other assets will fluctuate, sometimes sharply
and unpredictably, due to changes in general market conditions, overall economic trends
or events, governmental actions or intervention, actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or
foreign central banks, market disruptions caused by trade disputes or other factors, political
developments, armed conflicts, economic sanctions and countermeasures in response
to sanctions, major cybersecurity events, investor sentiment, the global and domestic
effects of a pandemic, and other factors that may or may not be related to the issuer of the security
or other asset. The Fund may also invest in money market funds, including funds affiliated with the Fund’s manager and subadviser. For more information on Fund risks, see Summary of information
regarding the Fund - Principal Risk Factors in this report.
The mention of sector breakdowns is for informational purposes only and should not
be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. The information provided regarding
such sectors is not a sufficient basis upon which to make an investment decision. Investors seeking
financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies
discussed should consult their financial professional. Portfolio holdings are subject to change at
any time and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investments. The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change at any time.
All investments are subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Past
performance is no guarantee of future results. All index performance reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes. Please note that an investor cannot invest directly in an index.
The information provided is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee
of future results or investment advice. Views expressed may differ from those of the firm as
a whole.
i
The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is a market value weighted index of investment
grade municipal bonds with maturities of one year or more.
ii
The Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index is a broad-based bond index comprised of government,
corporate, mortgage- and asset-backed issues, rated investment grade or higher, and having at least one
year to maturity.
iii
Net asset value (NAV) is calculated by subtracting total liabilities, including liabilities
associated with financial leverage (if any), from the closing value of all securities held by the Fund (plus
all other assets) and dividing the result (total net assets) by the total number of the common shares outstanding. The
NAV fluctuates with changes in the market prices of securities in which the Fund has invested. However, the price
at which an investor may buy or sell shares of the Fund is the Fund’s market price as determined by supply of and demand for the Fund’s shares.
Important data provider notices and terms available at www.franklintempletondatasources.com.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Fund at a glance† (unaudited)
Investment breakdown (%) as a percent of total investments
†
The bar graph above represents the composition of the Fund’s investments as of October 31, 2024, and October 31, 2023, and does not include derivatives, such as futures contracts. The
Fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of the Fund’s investments is subject to change at any time.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Fund performance (unaudited)
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Average annual total returns1
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Twelve Months Ended 10/31/24
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Five Years Ended 10/31/24
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Cumulative total returns1
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10/31/14 through 10/31/24
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Average annual total returns2
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Twelve Months Ended 10/31/24
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Five Years Ended 10/31/24
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Cumulative total returns2
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10/31/14 through 10/31/24
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All figures represent past performance and are not a guarantee of future results.
Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do
not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Performance figures may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the
total return would have been lower.
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Assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any,
at net asset value.
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Assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any,
in additional shares in
accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
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Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Value of $10,000 invested in
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. vs. Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index† — October 2014 - October 2024
All figures represent past performance and are not a guarantee of future results.
Returns reflect the deduction of all Fund expenses, including management fees, operating expenses, and other Fund expenses. Returns do not reflect the deduction of brokerage
commissions or taxes that investors may pay on distributions or the sale of shares.
†
Hypothetical illustration of $10,000 invested in the Western Asset Municipal High
Income Fund Inc. on October 31, 2014, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns
of capital, if any, at net asset value and also assuming the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of
capital, if any, in additional shares in accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan through October 31, 2024. The hypothetical illustration also assumes a $10,000 investment in the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index.
The Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (the “Index”) is a market value weighted index of investment grade municipal bonds with maturities of one year or more. The Index is unmanaged and is not subject to the same
management and trading expenses of a regular mutual fund. Please note that an investor cannot invest directly
in an index.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
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Black Belt Energy Gas District, AL, Gas Project
Revenue Bonds, Series D-1, Refunding
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Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Revenue:
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Warrants, Series 2024, Refunding
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Warrants, Series 2024, Refunding
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Warrants, Series 2024, Refunding
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Mobile County, AL, IDA Revenue, Solid Waste
Disposal Facility, Calvert LLC Project, Series A
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Southeast Alabama Gas Supply District, Gas
Supply Revenue, Project No 1, Series A,
Refunding
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Anchorage, AK, Port Revenue, Series A
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Northern Tobacco Securitization Corp., AK,
Tobacco Settlement Revenue:
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Asset Backed Senior Bonds, Class 1, Series
A, Refunding
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Asset Backed Senior Bonds, Class 1, Series
A, Refunding
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Asset Backed Senior Bonds, Class 2, Series
B-1, Refunding
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Arizona, AZ, IDA Revenue, Doral Academy Of
Northern Nevada Project, Series A, Refunding
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Chandler, AZ, IDA Revenue:
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La Paz County, AZ, IDA Revenue, Charter School
Solutions, Harmony Public School Project, Series
A
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Maricopa County, AZ, IDA Revenue, Legacy
Traditional Schools Project, Series 2019,
Refunding
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Navajo Nation, AZ, Revenue, Series A,
Refunding
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See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
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Phoenix, AZ, IDA Revenue:
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Basis School Inc., Refunding
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Great Hearts Academies, Refunding
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Salt Verde, AZ, Financial Corp., Natural Gas
Revenue, Series 2007
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Alameda, CA, Corridor Transportation Authority
Revenue:
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Convertible CAB, Series C, Refunding, AGM
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Second Subordinated Lien, Series B,
Refunding
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California State Community Choice Financing
Authority Revenue:
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Clean Energy Project, Green Bonds, Series B
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Clean Energy Project, Green Bonds, Series
B-1
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Clean Energy Project, Green Bonds, Series E
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Clean Energy Project, Green Bonds,Series C
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California State Community Housing Agency,
Essential Housing Revenue, Stoneridge
Apartments, Series A
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California State MFA Revenue, Senior Lien,
LINXS APM Project, Series A
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California State PCFA Water Furnishing
Revenue, San Diego County Water Authority
Desalination Project, Refunding
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California State Public Finance Authority, Senior
Living Revenue, Enso Village Project, Green
Bond, Series A
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Inland Valley, CA, Development Agency,
Successor Agency Tax Allocation Revenue,
Series A, Refunding
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Mountain House Public Financing Authority, CA,
Utility Systems Revenue, Green Bond, Series A,
BAM
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M-S-R Energy Authority, CA, Natural Gas
Revenue:
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See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments (cont’d)
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
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River Islands, CA, Public Financing Authority,
Special Tax Revenue:
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Community Facilities District No 2003-1,
Series A-1, Refunding, AGM
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Community Facilities District No 2023-1
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San Francisco, CA, City & County Airport
Commission, International Airport Revenue,
Second Series A, Unrefunded
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Tobacco Securitization Authority of Southern
California Revenue, Asset Backed Refunding,
San Diego County Tobacco Asset Securitization
Corporation, Class 1, Series A
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Colorado State Health Facilities Authority
Revenue, Commonspirit Health Initiatives,
Series B-2
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Colorado State High Performance Transportation
Enterprise Revenue, C-470 Express Lanes
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North Range, CO, Metropolitan District No 2,
GO, Series A, Refunding
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Village Metropolitan District, CO, Limited &
Special Revenue, Series 2020, Refunding and
Improvements
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Connecticut State Special Tax Revenue,
Transportation Infrastructure, Series A
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Connecticut State, GO, Series A
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District of Columbia — 0.4%
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Metropolitan Washington, DC, Airports
Authority Aviation Revenue, Series A, Refunding
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Broward County, FL, Port Facilities Revenue:
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Florida State Development Finance Corp.,
Educational Facilities Revenue:
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Mater Academy Projects, Series A
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See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
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Renaissance Charter School Inc. Projects,
Series A
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Renaissance Charter School Inc. Projects,
Series A
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Florida State Development Finance Corp.,
Revenue, Brightline Passenger Rail Project,
Refunding, AGM
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Florida State Mid-Bay Bridge Authority Revenue,
Series A, Refunding
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Fort Pierce, FL, Utilities Authority Revenue,
Series A, Refunding, AGM
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Miami-Dade County, FL, Seaport Revenue,
Senior Bonds, Series A, Refunding
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Orange County, FL, Health Facilities Authority
Revenue, Orlando Health Inc., Series A
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Palm Beach County, FL, Health Facilities
Authority Hospital Revenue:
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Jupiter Medical Center Project, Series A
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Jupiter Medical Center Project, Series A
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Palm Beach County, FL, Health Facilities
Authority Revenue:
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Toby & Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences of
Boca Raton Expansion, Refunding
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Toby & Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences of
Boca Raton Expansion, Series A
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Reunion, FL, East Community Development
District, Special Assessment Bond, Series A-2
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Wildwood, FL, Village Community Development
District No 15, Special Assessment Revenue
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Georgia State Municipal Electric Authority,
Power Revenue:
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Plant Vogtle Units 3&4, Project M, Series A
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Plant Vogtle Units 3&4, Project P, Series A
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Plant Vogtle Units 3&4, Project P, Series A,
Refunding
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Project One, Subordinated, Series A,
Refunding
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See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments (cont’d)
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
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Main Street Natural Gas Inc., GA, Gas Project
Revenue:
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Honolulu, HI, City & County Wastewater System
Revenue:
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First Senior Bond Resolution, Series A
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First Senior Bond Resolution, Series A,
Refunding
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Chicago, IL, Board of Education, Dedicated
Capital Improvement, Special Tax Revenue,
Series 2018
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Chicago, IL, Board of Education, GO:
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Chicago, IL, O’Hare International Airport
Revenue:
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General Senior Lien, Series C, Refunding
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Chicago, IL, Transit Authority, Sales Tax Receipts
Revenue:
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Second Lien, Series A, Refunding
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Chicago, IL, Wastewater Transmission Revenue:
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Second Lien, Series B, Refunding
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Chicago, IL, Waterworks Revenue, Second Lien,
Series 2017-2, Refunding, AGM
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See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
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Illinois State Sports Facilities Authority
Revenue, Sport Facilities Project, Series 2019,
Refunding, BAM
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Illinois State University, Auxiliary Facilities
System Revenue, Series A, Refunding, AGM
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, IL,
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
McCormick Place Expansion Project, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
McCormick Place Expansion Project, Series A,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
McCormick Place Expansion Project, Series A,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
McCormick Place Expansion Project, Series A,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
McCormick Place Expansion Project, Series B,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Regional Transportation Authority, IL, GO, Series
A, Refunding, NATL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indiana State Finance Authority Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
BHI Senior Living Inc., Series A, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Marion General Hospital, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Midwestern Disaster Relief, Ohio Valley
Electric Corp. Project, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Wastewater Utility, First Lien, CWA Authority
Project, Series A, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Valparaiso, IN, Exempt Facilities Revenue, Pratt
Paper LLC Project, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments (cont’d)
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Iowa State Tobacco Settlement Authority
Revenue, Asset Backed Senior Bonds, Class 1,
Series A-2, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kentucky State PEA, Gas Supply Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louisiana State PFA, Lease Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Provident Group, Flagship Properties
|
|
|
|
|
Provident Group, Flagship Properties, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
St. John the Baptist Parish, LA, State Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Marathon Oil Corp. Project, Series A-3,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Marathon Oil Corp. Project, Series B-2,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maryland State EDC Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Morgan State University Project
|
|
|
|
|
Seagirt Marine Terminal Project, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Maryland State Health & Higher EFA Revenue,
Frederick Health System, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Massachusetts State DFA Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Boston Medical Center, Sustainability Bonds,
Series G, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Northeastern University Issue, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Detroit, MI, GO, Unlimited Tax, Series C
|
|
|
|
|
Michigan State Finance Authority Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Henry Ford Health System, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
The Henry Ford Health Detroit South Campus
Central Utility Plant Project, Green Bonds,
Series 2024
|
|
|
|
|
Tobacco Settlement Asset Backed Senior
Bonds, Series B-1, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michigan State Strategic Fund Limited
Obligation Revenue, I-75 Improvement Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Missouri State HEFA Revenue, Series A,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
St. Louis County, MO, IDA, Senior Living
Facilities Revenue, Friendship Village of Sunset
Hills, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Omaha, NE, Public Power District, Electric
System Revenue, Series B, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
State of Nevada Department of Business &
Industry Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Charter School Lease Revenue, Somerset
Academy, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Charter School Lease Revenue, Somerset
Academy, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Finance Authority, NH, Revenue,
Presbyterian Senior Living Project, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gloucester County, NJ, PCFA Revenue, Keystone
Urban Renewal, Logan Generating, Series A,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
New Jersey State EDA Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Private Activity-The Goethals Bridge
Replacement Project
|
|
|
|
|
Special Facility, Port Newark Container
Terminal LLC Project, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
New Jersey State Transportation Trust Fund
Authority Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation Program, Series BB
|
|
|
|
|
New Jersey State Turnpike Authority Revenue,
Series C, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments (cont’d)
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp., NJ,
Revenue, Series A, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Santa Fe, NM, Retirement Facilities Revenue, EL
Castillo Retirement Residences Project, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brookhaven, NY, Local Development Corp., Long
Island Community Hospital Project, Series A,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Build NYC Resource Corp., NY, Revenue, East
Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School
Project
|
|
|
|
|
MTA, NY, Transportation Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Green Bonds, Series E, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Green Bonds, Series E, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York City, NY, GO, Subseries A-1
|
|
|
|
|
New York City, NY, Industrial Development
Agency Revenue, Yankee Stadium Project,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
New York City, NY, TFA, Future Tax Secured
Revenue, Subordinated, Series F, Subseries F-1
|
|
|
|
|
New York State Dormitory Authority Revenue,
Non-State Supported Debt, Memorial Sloan-
Kettering Cancer Center, Series B-1
|
|
|
|
|
New York State Liberty Development Corp.,
Liberty Revenue, 7 World Trade Center Project,
Class 3, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
New York State Liberty Development Corp.,
Revenue, 3 World Trade Center Project, Class 1,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
New York State Thruway Authority General
Revenue, Junior Indebtedness Obligations,
Junior Lien, Series B, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
New York State Transportation Development
Corp., Special Facilities Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Delta Air Lines Inc., LaGuardia Airport
Terminals C and D Redevelopment Project
|
|
|
|
|
Delta Air Lines Inc., LaGuardia Airport
Terminals C and D Redevelopment Project
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Delta Air Lines Inc., LaGuardia Airport
Terminals C and D Redevelopment Project
|
|
|
|
|
Delta Air Lines Inc., LaGuardia Airport
Terminals C and D Redevelopment Project
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Kennedy International Airport New
Terminal One Project, Green Bonds
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Terminal 4 Project, Series C, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Terminal 6 Redevelopment Project,
Convertible Capital Appreciation Bonds,
Series B, Refunding, AGC
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Terminal 6 Redevelopment Project, Green
Bonds, Series A, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
John F. Kennedy International Airport
Terminal 6 Redevelopment Project, Green
Bonds, Series A, Refunding, AGC
|
|
|
|
|
LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Redevelopment
Project, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Redevelopment
Project, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Revenue, Consolidated Series 221
|
|
|
|
|
Troy Capital Resource Corp., NY, Revenue,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Project, Series
A, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North Carolina State Turnpike Authority, Monroe
Expressway Toll Revenue, Series A, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grand Forks, ND, Health Care System Revenue,
Altru Health System, Refunding, AGM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buckeye, OH, Tobacco Settlement Financing
Authority Revenue, Senior Bonds, Series B-2,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments (cont’d)
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ohio State Air Quality Development Authority
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
American Electric Co. Project, Series B,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
American Electric Co. Project, Series D,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Ohio State Private Activity Revenue, Portsmouth
Bypass Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tulsa County, OK, Industrial Authority, Senior
Living Community Revenue, Montereau Inc.
Project, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clackamas County, OR, Hospital Facility
Authority Revenue, Senior Living, Willamette
View Project, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allegheny County, PA, HDA Revenue, University
Pittsburgh Medical Center, Series A, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Cumberland County, PA, Municipal Authority
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries 2015,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries 2015,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries 2015,
Unrefunded
|
|
|
|
|
Lancaster County, PA, IDA Revenue, Willow
Valley Communities Project
|
|
|
|
|
Lancaster County, PA, Convention Center
Authority Revenue, Hotel Room Rental Tax,
Series B, Refunding, County GTD
|
|
|
|
|
Pennsylvania State Economic Development
Financing Authority Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Tax-Exempt Private Activity, The Penndot
Major Bridges Package One Project
|
|
|
|
|
Tax-Exempt Private Activity, The Penndot
Major Bridges Package One Project
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Philadelphia, PA, Authority for IDR:
|
|
|
|
|
Charter School Revenue, A String Theory
Charter School Project, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
City Service Agreement Revenue, Rebuild
Project
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
CAB, Restructured, Series A-1
|
|
|
|
|
CAB, Restructured, Series A-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restructured, Series A-2A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
South Carolina State Jobs-EDA Hospital
Facilities Revenue, Bon Secours Mercy
Health Inc., Series A, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clarksville, TN, Water, Sewer & Gas Revenue,
Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Metropolitan Government of Nashville &
Davidson County, TN, Sports Authority Revenue,
Series A, AGM
|
|
|
|
|
Tennessee State Energy Acquisition Corp.,
Natural Gas Revenue, Series 2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arlington, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp.,
Education Revenue, Uplift Education, Series A,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Arlington, TX, Special Tax Revenue,
Subordinated Lien, Series C, BAM
|
|
|
|
|
Austin, TX, Airport System Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments (cont’d)
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority
Revenue, Senior Lien, Series B
|
|
|
|
|
Galveston, TX, Wharves & Terminal Revenue,
Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Gulf Coast, TX, IDA, Solid Waste Disposal
Revenue, Citgo Petroleum Corp. Project
|
|
|
|
|
Love Field, TX, Airport Modernization Corp.,
General Airport Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Hope Cultural Education Facilities Finance
Corp., TX, Retirement Facility Revenue,
Westminster Manor Project, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
New Hope Cultural Education Facilities Finance
Corp., TX, Retirement Facility Revenue,
Westminster Manor Project, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Newark, TX, Higher Education Finance Corp.,
Education Revenue, TLC Academy, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Tarrant County, TX, Cultural Education Facilities
Finance Corp., Retirement Facility Revenue,
Buckner Retirement Services Inc. Project,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Texas State, Municipal Gas Acquisition & Supply
Corp. I, Gas Supply Revenue, Senior Lien, Series
D
|
|
|
|
|
Texas State Private Activity Bond Surface
Transportation Corp. Revenue, Senior Lien, NTE
Mobility Partners Segments 3 LLC, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Willacy County, TX, Jail Public Facilities Corp.
Project Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salt Lake City, UT, Airport Revenue, Salt Lake
City International Airport, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
Utah State Charter School Finance Authority,
Charter School Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Summit Academy Inc., Series A, Refunding,
UT CSCE
|
|
|
|
|
Syracuse Arts Academy Project, UT CSCE
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Utah State Infrastructure Agency,
Telecommunications Revenue, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia State Port Authority, Port Facilities
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virginia State Small Business Financing
Authority Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
National Senior Campuses, Inc., Series A,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Lien, 95 Express Lanes LLC Project,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Lien, I-495 HOT Lanes Project,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Port of Seattle, WA, Intermediate Lien Revenue,
Series 2022, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Washington State Health Care Facilities
Authority Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Commonspirit Health, Series A-1, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Finance Authority, WI, Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Celanese Project, Series B, Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Carmelite System Inc. Obligated Group,
Refunding
|
|
|
|
|
Public Finance Authority, WI, Student Housing
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
Appalachian State University Project, Series
A, AGM
|
|
|
|
|
CHF Wilmington LLC, University of North
Carolina at Wilmington Project, AGM
|
|
|
|
|
University of Hawai’i Foundation Project,
Green Bonds, Series A-1
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments (cont’d)
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wisconsin State HEFA Revenue, Bellin Memorial
Hospital Inc., Series A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Municipal Bonds (Cost — $143,795,922)
|
|
Municipal Bonds Deposited in Tender Option Bond Trusts(l) — 4.6%
|
|
Florida State Department of Transportation
Turnpike Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York City, NY, Municipal Water Finance
Authority, Water & Sewer System Revenue,
Second General Resolution Fiscal 2023,
Subseries AA-1
|
|
|
|
|
New York State Dormitory Authority, State
Personal Income Tax Revenue, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
New York State, NY, Urban Development State
Sales Revenue, Series A
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Municipal Bonds Deposited in Tender Option Bond Trusts
(Cost — $7,036,829)
|
|
Total Investments before Short-Term Investments (Cost — $150,832,751)
|
|
|
Short-Term Investments — 5.1%
|
|
|
University of Delaware, DE, Revenue,
Series 2005, Refunding, SPA - TD Bank N.A.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hillsborough County, FL, IDA Revenue, Baycare
Health System, Series B, Refunding, LOC - TD
Bank N.A.
|
|
|
|
|
Orange County, FL, Health Facilities Authority
Revenue, Orlando Regional Healthcare System,
Series E, Refunding, LOC - TD Bank N.A.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term Investments — continued
|
|
New Jersey State Health Care Facilities
Financing Authority Revenue, Hospital Capital
Asset Financing Program, Series A, Refunding,
LOC - TD Bank N.A.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New York City, NY, GO, Subseries D-4, LOC - TD
Bank N.A.
|
|
|
|
|
New York City, NY, Municipal Water Finance
Authority, Water & Sewer System Revenue,
Second General Resolution Fiscal 2009, Series
BB-2, Refunding, SPA - UBS AG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Franklin County, OH, Hospital Revenue,
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Project, Series B,
Refunding, SPA - JPMorgan Chase & Co.
|
|
|
|
|
Ohio State, GO, Common Schools, Series C
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oregon State Facilities Authority Revenue,
Peacehealth, Series B, Refunding, LOC - TD Bank
N.A.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Municipal Bonds (Cost — $7,900,000)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Money Market Funds — 0.0%††
|
Western Asset Premier Institutional Government
Reserves, Premium Shares (Cost — $203)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost — $7,900,203)
|
|
Total Investments — 102.2% (Cost — $158,732,954)
|
|
TOB Floating Rate Notes — (2.6)%
|
|
Other Assets in Excess of Other Liabilities — 0.4%
|
|
Total Net Assets — 100.0%
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Schedule of investments (cont’d)
October 31, 2024
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
|
Represents less than 0.1%.
|
|
Non-income producing security.
|
|
Maturity date shown represents the mandatory tender date.
|
|
Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is as of the most recent information
available. Certain variable rate
securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined
by the issuer or agent and
are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference
rate and spread in their
description above.
|
|
Income from this issue is considered a preference item for purposes of calculating
the alternative minimum tax
(“AMT”).
|
|
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.
|
|
Securities traded on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.
|
|
The coupon payment on this security is currently in default as of October 31, 2024.
|
|
Security is fair valued in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors (Note 1).
|
|
Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs (Note 1).
|
|
Bonds are generally escrowed to maturity by government securities and/or U.S. government
agency securities.
|
|
All or a portion of this security is held at the broker as collateral for open futures
contracts.
|
|
Pre-Refunded bonds are generally escrowed with U.S. government obligations and/or
U.S. government agency
securities.
|
|
Represents securities deposited into a special purpose entity, referred to as a Tender
Option Bond (“TOB”) trust
(Note 1).
|
|
Variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”) have a demand feature under which the Fund can tender them back to
the issuer or liquidity provider on no more than 7 days notice. The interest rate
generally resets on a daily or
weekly basis and is determined on the specific interest rate reset date by the remarketing
agent, pursuant to a
formula specified in official documents for the VRDO, or set at the highest rate allowable
as specified in official
documents for the VRDO. VRDOs are benchmarked to the Securities Industry and Financial
Markets Association
(“SIFMA”) Municipal Swap Index. The SIFMA Municipal Swap Index is compiled from weekly interest rate resets
of tax-exempt VRDOs reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s Short-term Obligation Rate
Transparency System.
|
|
Maturity date shown is the final maturity date. The security may be sold back to the
issuer before final maturity.
|
|
Rate shown is one-day yield as of the end of the reporting period.
|
|
In this instance, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, an “Affiliated Company” represents Fund
ownership of at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer, or a company
which is under common
ownership or control with the Fund. At October 31, 2024, the total market value of
investments in Affiliated
Companies was $203 and the cost was $203 (Note 7).
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Abbreviation(s) used in this schedule:
|
|
|
Assured Guaranty Corporation — Insured Bonds
|
|
|
Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation — Insured Bonds
|
|
|
Build America Mutual — Insured Bonds
|
|
|
Capital Appreciation Bonds
|
|
|
Charter School Credit Enhancement
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development Finance Agency
|
|
|
Economic Development Authority
|
|
|
Economic Development Corporation
|
|
|
Educational Facilities Authority
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Housing Development Authority
|
|
|
Health & Educational Facilities Authority
|
|
|
Industrial Development Authority
|
|
|
Industrial Development Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
Municipal Finance Authority
|
|
|
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
|
|
|
National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation — Insured Bonds
|
|
|
Pollution Control Financing Authority
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public Facilities Authority
|
|
|
Standby Bond Purchase Agreement — Insured Bonds
|
|
|
Transitional Finance Authority
|
At October 31, 2024, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. Treasury Ultra Long-Term
Bonds
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Statement of assets and liabilities
October 31, 2024
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated securities, at value (Cost — $158,732,751)
|
|
Investments in affiliated securities, at value (Cost — $203)
|
|
|
|
Receivable for securities sold
|
|
Deposits with brokers for open futures contracts
|
|
Receivable from brokers — net variation margin on open futures contracts
|
|
Dividends receivable from affiliated investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOB Floating Rate Notes (Note 1)
|
|
Payable for securities purchased
|
|
|
|
Investment management fee payable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Par value ($0.01 par value; 21,651,223 shares issued and outstanding; 500,000,000
shares
authorized)
|
|
Paid-in capital in excess of par value
|
|
Total distributable earnings (loss)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Statement of operations
For the Year Ended October 31, 2024
|
|
|
|
Dividends from affiliated investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment management fee (Note 2)
|
|
Interest expense (Note 1)
|
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|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
Stock exchange listing fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (Note 2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Futures Contracts (Notes 1, 3 and 4):
|
|
|
Investment transactions in unaffiliated securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From:
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated securities
|
|
|
|
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)
|
|
Net Gain on Investments and Futures Contracts
|
|
Increase in Net Assets From Operations
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Statements of changes in net assets
For the Years Ended October 31,
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
|
|
|
Increase in Net Assets From Operations
|
|
|
Distributions to Shareholders From (Note 1):
|
|
|
Total distributable earnings
|
|
|
|
|
|
Decrease in Net Assets From Distributions to Shareholders
|
|
|
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
For a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended October 31:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
|
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|
|
|
|
Total income (loss) from operations
|
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|
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|
|
Net asset value, end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market price, end of year
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return, based on NAV2,3
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total return, based on Market Price4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets, end of year (millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratios to average net assets:
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|
Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.
|
|
Performance figures may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or
expense reimbursements.
In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements,
the total
return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
|
|
The total return calculation assumes that distributions are reinvested at NAV. Past
performance is no guarantee of
future results.
|
|
The total return calculation assumes that distributions are reinvested in accordance with the Fund’s dividend
reinvestment plan. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
|
|
The manager has agreed to waive the Fund’s management fee to an extent sufficient to offset the net management
fee payable in connection with any investment in an affiliated money market fund.
|
|
Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Notes to financial statements
1. Organization and significant accounting policies
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in Maryland and is registered as a diversified, closed-end management investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income taxes. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment
objective by investing primarily in intermediate and long-term municipal debt securities
issued by state and local governments. However, the Fund may invest in municipal obligations of any maturity. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in municipal
obligations rated below investment grade (commonly referred to as “junk bonds”). Investment grade securities are those rated in the Baa/BBB categories or above by
at least one National Recognized Statistical Rating Organization that provides such a rating
or unrated securities that the subadviser determined to be of comparable credit quality.
For credit ratings purposes, pre-refunded bonds are deemed to be unrated. The subadviser
determines the credit quality of pre-refunded bonds based on the quality of the escrowed
collateral and such other factors as the subadviser deems appropriate.
The Fund follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards
Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies (“ASC 946”). The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”), including, but not limited to, ASC 946. Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net
assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic
environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these
estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated
through the date the financial statements were issued.
(a) Investment valuation. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized
mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments
are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may
use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and
methodologies. The independent third party pricing services typically use inputs that
are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds,
credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Investments
in open-end funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of each fund on the day
of valuation. Futures contracts are valued daily at the settlement price established
by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded. If independent third party pricing
services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices
supplied are deemed by the manager to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the
manager using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price
if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing
service or pricing broker. When reliable prices are not readily available, 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
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
asset value, the Fund values these securities as determined in accordance with procedures
approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors.
Pursuant to policies adopted by the Board of Directors, the Fund’s manager has been designated as the valuation designee and is responsible for the oversight of the daily
valuation process. The Fund’s manager is assisted by the Global Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Fund’s manager and the Board of Directors. When determining the reliability of third party pricing information for investments owned by the Fund, the Valuation Committee,
among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of pricing vendors, monitors the
daily change in prices and reviews transactions among market participants.
The Valuation Committee will consider pricing methodologies it deems relevant and
appropriate when making fair value determinations. Examples of possible methodologies
include, but are not limited to, multiple of earnings; discount from market of a similar
freely traded security; discounted cash-flow analysis; book value or a multiple thereof;
risk premium/yield analysis; yield to maturity; and/or fundamental investment analysis.
The Valuation Committee will also consider factors it deems relevant and appropriate in
light of the facts and circumstances. Examples of possible factors include, but are not limited
to, the type of security; the issuer’s financial statements; the purchase price of the security; the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time
of purchase; analysts’ research and observations from financial institutions; information regarding any transactions or offers with respect to the security; the existence of
merger proposals or tender offers affecting the security; the price and extent of public
trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable companies; and the existence of a shelf
registration for restricted securities.
For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted
by the Board of Directors, the fair value price is compared against the last available and
next available market quotations. The Valuation Committee reviews the results of such back
testing monthly and fair valuation occurrences are reported to the Board of Directors
quarterly.
The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with
the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the
particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information
generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The
income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present
value.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Notes to financial statements (cont’d)
GAAP establishes a disclosure hierarchy that categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques
used to value assets and liabilities at measurement date. These inputs are summarized
in the three broad levels listed below:
•
Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
•
Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
•
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication
of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities carried at fair value:
|
|
|
Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Municipal Bonds Deposited in
Tender Option Bond Trusts
|
|
|
|
|
Total Long-Term Investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Short-Term Investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
|
Other Financial Instruments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.
|
|
Reflects the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the instruments.
|
(b) Tender option bonds. The Fund may enter into tender option bond (“TOB”) transactions and may invest in inverse floating rate instruments (“Inverse Floaters”) issued in TOB transactions. The Fund may participate either in structuring an Inverse Floater or
purchasing an Inverse Floater in the secondary market. When structuring an Inverse Floater, the
Fund deposits securities (typically municipal bonds or other municipal securities) (the “Underlying Bonds”) into a special purpose entity, referred to as a TOB trust. The TOB trust generally issues floating rate notes (“Floaters”) to third parties and residual interest, Inverse Floaters,
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
to the Fund. The Floaters issued by the TOB trust have interest rates which reset
weekly and provide the holders of the Floaters the option to tender their notes back to the
TOB trust for redemption at par at each reset date. The net proceeds of the sale of the Floaters,
after expenses, are received by the Fund and may be invested in additional securities. The
Inverse Floaters are inverse floating rate debt instruments, as the return on those
bonds is inversely related to changes in a specified interest rate. Distributions on any Inverse
Floaters paid to the Fund will be reduced or, in the extreme, eliminated as short-term
interest rates rise and will increase when such interest rates fall. Floaters issued
by a TOB trust may be senior to the Inverse Floaters held by the Fund. The value and market
for Inverse Floaters can be volatile, and Inverse Floaters can have limited liquidity.
An investment in an Inverse Floater structured by the Fund is accounted for as a secured
borrowing. The Underlying Bonds deposited into the TOB trust are included in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments and a liability for Floaters (TOB floating rate notes) issued
by the TOB trust is recognized in the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The carrying amount of the TOB trust’s floating rate note obligations as reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities approximates its fair value. Interest income, including amortization,
on the Underlying Bonds is recognized in the Fund’s Statements of Operations. Interest paid to holders of the Floaters, as well as other expenses related to administration, liquidity,
remarketing and trustee services of the TOB trust, are recognized in Interest expense
in the Fund’s Statement of Operations. For the year ended October 31, 2024, the average daily amount of floating rate notes outstanding was $2,988,005 and weighted average interest
rate was 3.92%.
(c) Futures contracts. The Fund uses futures contracts generally to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in interest rates or gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes
in certain asset classes. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase
or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit cash or securities
with a broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This is
known as the ‘‘initial margin’’ and subsequent payments (‘‘variation margin’’) are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract.
For certain futures, including foreign denominated futures, variation margin is not settled
daily, but is recorded as a net variation margin payable or receivable. The daily changes
in contract value are recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation in the Statement
of Operations and the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed.
Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, risk of loss in excess of the amounts
reflected in the financial statements. In addition, there is the risk that the Fund may not
be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.
(d) Securities traded on a when-issued and delayed delivery basis. The Fund may trade securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. In when-issued and delayed
delivery transactions, the securities are purchased or sold by the Fund with payment
and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure what is considered to be an
advantageous price and yield to the Fund at the time of entering into the transaction.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Notes to financial statements (cont’d)
Purchasing such securities involves risk of loss if the value of the securities declines
prior to settlement. These securities are subject to market fluctuations and their current
value is determined in the same manner as for other securities.
(e) Credit and market risk. The Fund invests in high-yield instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high-yield obligations reflect, among
other things, perceived credit and market risks. The Fund’s investments 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.
(f) Counterparty risk and credit-risk-related contingent features of derivative instruments. The Fund may invest in certain securities or engage in other transactions where the Fund is exposed to counterparty credit risk in addition to broader market
risks. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers, which may also be considered counterparties
as trading partners in other transactions. This may increase the risk of loss in the
event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty or if the counterparty otherwise fails to
meet its contractual obligations. The Fund’s subadviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring
and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its
assessment and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions.
Market events and changes in overall economic conditions may impact the assessment
of such counterparty risk by the subadviser. In addition, declines in the values of underlying
collateral received may expose the Fund to increased risk of loss.
With exchange traded and centrally cleared derivatives, there is less counterparty
risk to the Fund since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments,
guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer
and the seller of the contract; therefore, the credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse.
While offset rights may exist under applicable law, the Fund does not have a contractual
right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default
of the clearing broker or clearinghouse.
The Fund has entered into master agreements, such as an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement, with certain of its derivative counterparties that govern over-the-counter
(“OTC”) derivatives and provide for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral posting terms, netting provisions in the event of default or termination
and credit related contingent features. The credit related contingent features include, but are
not limited to, a percentage decrease in the Fund’s net assets or net asset value per share over a specified period of time. If these credit related contingent features were triggered,
the derivatives counterparty could terminate the positions and demand payment or require
additional collateral.
Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset
with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. However, absent an
event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the terms of the
ISDA
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Master Agreements do not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets
and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions
between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset
may vary by jurisdiction.
Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements
are set by the broker or exchange clearinghouse for exchange traded derivatives while
collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives. Cash collateral
that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts, if any,
will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged
as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.
As of October 31, 2024, the Fund did not have any open OTC derivative transactions
with credit related contingent features in a net liability position.
(g) Security transactions and investment income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income (including interest income from payment-in-kind
securities) is recorded on the accrual basis. Amortization of premiums and accretion
of discounts on debt securities are recorded to interest income over the lives of the
respective securities, except for premiums on certain callable debt securities, which are amortized
to the earliest call date. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific
identification method. To the extent any issuer defaults or a credit event occurs
that impacts the issuer, the Fund may halt any additional interest income accruals and consider
the realizability of interest accrued up to the date of default or credit event.
(h) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared quarterly and paid on a monthly basis. The Fund intends to satisfy
conditions that will enable interest from municipal securities, which is exempt from
federal and certain state income taxes, to retain such tax-exempt status when distributed
to the shareholders of the Fund. Distributions of net realized gains, if any, are taxable
and are declared at least annually. Distributions to shareholders of the Fund are recorded
on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which
may differ from GAAP.
(i) Compensating balance arrangements. The Fund has an arrangement with its custodian bank whereby a portion of the custodian’s fees is paid indirectly by credits earned on the Fund’s cash on deposit with the bank.
(j) Federal and other taxes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute
its taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with
timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision
is required in the Fund’s financial statements.
Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of October 31, 2024, no provision for income tax
is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Notes to financial statements (cont’d)
excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations
have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments
of revenue.
(k) Reclassification. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. During
the current year, the following reclassifications have been made:
|
Total Distributable
Earnings (Loss)
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
Reclassifications are due to tax net operating loss.
2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates
Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, LLC (“FTFA”) is the Fund’s investment manager and Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”) is the Fund’s subadviser. FTFA and Western Asset are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Resources,
Inc. (“Franklin Resources”).
FTFA provides administrative and certain oversight services to the Fund. The Fund
pays an investment management fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of
0.55% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
FTFA delegates to Western Asset the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. For
its services, FTFA pays Western Asset monthly 70% of the net management fee it receives
from the Fund.
The manager has agreed to waive the Fund’s management fee to an extent sufficient to offset the net management fee payable in connection with any investment in an affiliated
money market fund.
During the year ended October 31, 2024, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed amounted to $73, all of which was an affiliated money market fund waiver.
All officers and one Director of the Fund are employees of Franklin Resources or its
affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Fund.
The Fund is permitted to purchase or sell short-term variable rate demand obligations
from or to certain other affiliated funds or portfolios under specified conditions outlined
in procedures adopted by the Board of Directors. The procedures have been designed to
provide assurance that any purchase or sale of securities by the Fund from or to another
fund or portfolio that is, or could be considered, an affiliate by virtue of having
a common investment manager or subadviser (or affiliated investment manager or subadviser),
common Directors and/or common officers complies with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act.
Further, as defined under the procedures, each transaction is effected at the current
market price. For the year ended October 31, 2024, such purchase and sale transactions (excluding
accrued interest) were $13,505,000 and $10,000,000, respectively.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
3. Investments
During the year ended October 31, 2024, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds
from sales of investments (excluding short-term investments) were as follows:
At October 31, 2024, the aggregate cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized
appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were
as follows:
|
|
Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
|
Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
|
Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of investments for federal income tax purposes includes the value of Inverse
Floaters issued in TOB
transactions (Note 1).
|
4. Derivative instruments and hedging activities
Below is a table, grouped by derivative type, that provides information about the
fair value and the location of derivatives within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at
October 31, 2024.
|
Generally, the balance sheet location for asset derivatives is receivables/net unrealized
appreciation and for
liability derivatives is payables/net unrealized depreciation.
|
|
Includes cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as
reported in the Schedule of
Investments. Only net variation margin is reported within the receivables and/or payables
on the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities.
|
The following tables provide information about the effect of derivatives and hedging
activities on the Fund’s Statement of Operations for the year ended October 31, 2024. The first table provides additional detail about the amounts and sources of gains (losses)
realized on derivatives during the period. The second table provides additional information
about the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from the Fund’s derivatives and hedging activities during the period.
AMOUNT OF NET REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED
|
|
|
|
|
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Notes to financial statements (cont’d)
CHANGE IN NET UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED
|
|
|
|
|
During the year ended October 31, 2024, the volume of derivative activity for the
Fund was as follows:
|
|
Futures contracts (to buy)
|
|
5. Distributions subsequent to October 31, 2024
The following distributions have been declared by the Fund’s Board of Directors and are payable subsequent to the period end of this report:
6. Stock repurchase program
On November 16, 2015, the Fund announced that the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) had authorized the Fund to repurchase in the open market up to approximately 10% of
the Fund’s outstanding common stock when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount to net asset value. The Board has directed management of the Fund to repurchase shares of
common stock at such times and in such amounts as management reasonably believes may
enhance stockholder value. The Fund is under no obligation to purchase shares at any
specific discount levels or in any specific amounts. During the years ended October
31, 2024, and October 31, 2023, the Fund did not repurchase any shares.
7. Transactions with affiliated company
As defined by the 1940 Act, an affiliated company is one in which the Fund owns 5%
or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common ownership
or control with the Fund. The following company was considered an affiliated company
for
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
all or some portion of the year ended October 31, 2024. The following transactions
were effected in such company for the year ended October 31, 2024.
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Affiliate
Value at
October 31,
2023
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Western Asset
Premier
Institutional
Government
Reserves, Premium
Shares
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Net Increase
(Decrease) in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
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Affiliate
Value at
October 31,
2024
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Western Asset Premier
Institutional
Government Reserves,
Premium Shares
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8. Income tax information and distributions to shareholders
The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended October 31,
was as follows:
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Total taxable distributions
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As of October 31, 2024, the components of distributable earnings (loss) on a tax basis
were as follows:
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Other book/tax temporary differences(a)
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Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(b)
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Total distributable earnings (loss) — net
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These capital losses have been deferred in the current year as either short-term or
long-term losses. The losses
will be deemed to occur on the first day of the next taxable year in the same character
as they were originally
deferred and will be available to offset future taxable capital gains.
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Other book/tax temporary differences are attributable to the book/tax differences
in the timing of the
deductibility of various expenses.
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The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
is attributable to the tax
deferral of losses on wash sales, the difference between book and tax accretion methods
for market discount on
fixed income securities and book/tax differences in the accrual of interest income
on securities in default.
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Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Report of independent registered public accounting firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the
schedule of investments, of Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) as of October 31, 2024, the related statement of operations for the year ended October 31, 2024, the statement
of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended October 31, 2024, including the
related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended October 31,
2024 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2024, the
results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in
the period ended October 31, 2024 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period
ended October 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
of America.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal
securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards
of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to
error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement
of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond
to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the
financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October
31, 2024 by correspondence with the custodian, the administrative agent for the tender option
bond trust and brokers. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
December 20, 2024
We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Franklin
Templeton Group of Funds since 1948.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. 2024 Annual Report
Board approval of management and
subadvisory agreements (unaudited)
Background
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), requires that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. (the “Fund”), including a majority of its members who are not considered to be “interested persons” under the 1940 Act (the “Independent Directors”) voting separately, approve on an annual basis the continuation of the investment management agreement (the “Management Agreement”) between the Fund and the Fund’s manager, Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, LLC (formerly, Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC) (“FTFA” or the “Manager”), and the sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) between the Manager and Western Asset Management Company, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”), an affiliate of the Manager, with respect to the Fund.
At an in-person meeting (the “Contract Renewal Meeting”) held on May 20-21, 2024, the Board, including the Independent Directors, considered and approved the continuation
of each of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement for an additional
one-year period. To assist in its consideration of the renewal of each of the Management
Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board received and considered extensive
information (together with the information provided at the Contract Renewal Meeting,
the “Contract Renewal Information”) about the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, as well as the management and sub-advisory arrangements for the Fund and the other closed-end funds
in the same complex under the Board’s purview (the “Franklin Templeton Closed-end Funds”), certain portions of which are discussed below.
A presentation made by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to the Board at the Contract
Renewal Meeting in connection with the Board’s evaluation of each of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement encompassed the Fund and other Franklin Templeton Closed-end Funds. In addition to the Contract Renewal Information, the Board
received performance and other information throughout the year related to the respective
services rendered by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to the Fund. The Board’s evaluation took into account the information received throughout the year and also reflected
the knowledge and experience gained as members of the Boards of the Fund and other Franklin
Templeton Closed-end Funds with respect to the services provided to the Fund by the
Manager and the Sub-Adviser. The information received and considered by the Board
(including its various committees) in conjunction with both the Contract Renewal Meeting
and throughout the year was both written and oral. The contractual arrangements discussed
below are the product of multiple years of review and negotiation and information
received and considered by the Board during each of those years.
At a meeting held on April 26, 2024, the Independent Directors, in preparation for
the Contract Renewal Meeting, met in a private session with their independent legal counsel
to review the Contract Renewal Information regarding the Franklin Templeton Closed-end
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Board approval of management and
subadvisory agreements (unaudited) (cont’d)
Funds, including the Fund, received to date. No representatives of the Manager or
the Sub-Adviser participated in this meeting. Following the April 26, 2024 meeting, the Independent
Directors submitted certain questions and requests for additional information to Fund
management. The Independent Directors also met in private sessions with their independent legal counsel to consider the Contract Renewal Information and Fund management’s responses to the Independent Directors’ questions and requests for additional information in advance of and during the Contract Renewal Meeting. The
discussion below reflects all of these reviews.
The Manager provides the Fund with investment advisory and administrative services
pursuant to the Management Agreement and the Sub-Adviser provides the Fund with investment sub-advisory services pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The discussion
below covers both the advisory and administrative functions being rendered by the
Manager, each such function being encompassed by the Management Agreement, and the
investment sub-advisory functions being rendered by the Sub-Adviser pursuant to the
Sub-Advisory Agreement.
Board Approval of Management Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement
The Independent Directors were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout
the process. Prior to voting, the Independent Directors received a memorandum discussing
the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed continuation of the Management
Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Independent Directors considered the
Management Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement separately during the course of their
review. In doing so, they noted the respective roles of the Manager and the Sub-Adviser
in providing services to the Fund.
In approving the continuation of the Management Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement,
the Board, including the Independent Directors, considered a variety of factors, including
those factors discussed below. No single factor reviewed by the Board was identified
by the Board as the principal factor in determining whether to approve the continuation of
the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement. Each Director may have attributed different weight to the various factors in evaluating the Management Agreement
and the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
After considering all relevant factors and information, the Board, exercising its
reasonable business judgment, determined that the continuation of the Management Agreement and
Sub-Advisory Agreement were in the best interests of the Fund’s stockholders and approved the continuation of each such agreement for an additional one-year period.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services under the Management Agreement and Sub-Advisory Agreement
The Board received and considered Contract Renewal Information regarding the nature,
extent, and quality of services provided to the Fund by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser
under the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, respectively, during
the past year. The Board noted information received at regular meetings throughout
the year related to the services provided by the Manager in its management of the Fund’s affairs and the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Sub-Adviser and the Fund’s other service providers. The Board observed that the scope of services provided by the Manager
and the Sub-Adviser, and of the undertakings required of the Manager and Sub-Adviser
in connection with those services, including maintaining and monitoring their respective
compliance programs as well as the Fund’s compliance programs, had expanded over time as a result of regulatory, market and other developments. The Board also noted that
on a regular basis it received and reviewed information from the Manager and the Sub-Adviser
regarding the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures established pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act. The Board also considered the risks borne by the Manager, the
Sub-Adviser and their respective affiliates on behalf of the Fund, including entrepreneurial,
operational, reputational, litigation and regulatory risks, as well as the Manager’s and the Sub-Adviser’s risk management processes.
The Board reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds, and responsibilities of the Manager’s senior personnel and the Sub-Adviser’s portfolio management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board also considered, based
on its knowledge of the Manager and its affiliates, the financial resources of Franklin
Resources, Inc., the parent organization of the Manager and the Sub-Adviser. The Board
recognized the importance of having a fund manager with significant resources.
The Board considered the division of responsibilities between the Manager and the
Sub-Adviser under the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, respectively, including the Manager’s coordination and oversight of the services provided to the Fund by the Sub-Adviser and other fund service providers. The Management Agreement permits
the Manager to delegate certain of its responsibilities, including its investment advisory
duties thereunder, provided that the Manager, in each case, will supervise the activities
of the delegee.
In reaching its determinations regarding continuation of the Management Agreement
and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board took into account that Fund stockholders, in
pursuing their investment goals and objectives, may have purchased their shares of
the Fund based upon the reputation and the investment style, philosophy and strategy of
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser, as well as the resources available to the Manager and
the Sub-Adviser.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Board approval of management and
subadvisory agreements (unaudited) (cont’d)
The Board concluded that, overall, the nature, extent, and quality of the management
and other services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Fund, under the Management
Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement were satisfactory.
The Board received and considered information regarding Fund performance, including
information and analyses (the “Broadridge Performance Information”) for the Fund, as well as for a group of comparable funds (the “Performance Universe”) selected by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent third-party provider of investment company data. The Board was provided with a description of the methodology Broadridge
used to determine the similarity of the Fund with the funds included in the Performance
Universe. It was noted that while the Board found the Broadridge Performance Information
generally useful, they recognized its limitations, including that the data may vary
depending on the end date selected, and that the results of the performance comparisons may
vary depending on the selection of the peer group and its composition over time. The Board
also noted that Board members had received and discussed with the Manager and the Sub-Adviser information throughout the year at periodic intervals comparing the Fund’s performance against its benchmark and against the Fund’s peers. In addition, the Board considered the Fund’s performance in view of overall financial market conditions.
The Broadridge Performance Information comparing the Fund’s performance to that of its Performance Universe, consisting of the Fund and all closed-end high yield municipal
debt funds classified by Broadridge, regardless of asset size, showed, among other data,
that based on net asset value per share, the Fund’s performance was above the median for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods ended December 31, 2023, and was equal to the median for
the 10-year period ended December 31, 2023. The Board noted the explanations from the
Manager and the Sub-Adviser regarding the Fund’s relative performance versus the Performance Universe for the various periods.
Based on the reviews and discussions of Fund performance and considering other relevant
factors, including those noted above, the Board concluded, under the circumstances,
that continuation of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year period would be consistent with the interests of the Fund and
its stockholders.
Management and Sub-Advisory Fees and Expense Ratios
The Board reviewed and considered the contractual management fee (the “Contractual Management Fee”) and the actual management fee (the “Actual Management Fee”) payable by the Fund to the Manager under the Management Agreement and the sub-advisory fee (the “Sub-Advisory Fee”) payable by the Manager to the Sub-Adviser under the Sub-Advisory Agreement in view of the nature, extent and overall quality of the management, investment advisory and other services provided by the Manager and the
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Sub-Adviser, respectively. The Board noted that the Sub-Advisory Fee is paid by the
Manager, not the Fund, and, accordingly, that the retention of the Sub-Adviser does
not increase the fees or expenses otherwise incurred by the Fund’s stockholders.
In addition, the Board received and considered information and analyses prepared by
Broadridge (the “Broadridge Expense Information”) comparing the Contractual Management Fee and the Actual Management Fee and the Fund’s total actual expenses with those of funds in an expense group (the “Expense Group”), as well as a broader group of funds, each selected and provided by Broadridge. The comparison was based upon the constituent
funds’ latest fiscal years. It was noted that while the Board found the Broadridge Expense Information generally useful, they recognized its limitations, including that the
data may vary depending on the selection of the peer group.
The Broadridge Expense Information showed that the Fund’s Contractual Management Fee was below the median. The Broadridge Expense Information also showed that the Fund’s Actual Management Fee was below the median. The Broadridge Expense Information also
showed that the Fund’s actual total expenses were below the median. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Fund’s expenses and noted the limited size of the Expense Group.
The Board also reviewed Contract Renewal Information regarding fees charged by the
Manager and/or the Sub-Adviser to other U.S. clients investing primarily in an asset
class similar to that of the Fund, including, where applicable, institutional and separate
accounts. The Manager reviewed with the Board the differences in services provided to these
different types of accounts, noting that the Fund is provided with certain administrative
services, office facilities, and Fund officers, and that the Fund is subject not only
to heightened regulatory requirements relative to institutional clients but also to requirements
for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, and that the Manager coordinates and oversees the provision of services to the Fund by other fund service providers. The
Board considered the fee comparisons in view of the different services provided in managing
these other types of clients and funds.
The Board considered the overall management fee, the fees of the Sub-Adviser and the
amount of the management fee retained by the Manager after payment of the subadvisory
fee in each case in view of the services rendered for those amounts. The Board also
received an analysis of complex-wide management fees provided by the Manager, which,
among other things, set out a framework of fees based on asset classes.
Taking all of the above into consideration, as well as the factors identified below,
the Board determined that the management fee and the Sub-Advisory Fee were reasonable in view
of the nature, extent and overall quality of the management, investment advisory and
other
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Board approval of management and
subadvisory agreements (unaudited) (cont’d)
services provided by the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to the Fund under the Management
Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, respectively.
The Board, as part of the Contract Renewal Information, received an analysis of the
profitability to the Manager and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund
for the Manager’s fiscal years ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. The Board also received profitability information with respect to the Franklin Templeton fund complex
as a whole. In addition, the Board received Contract Renewal Information with respect to
the Manager’s revenue and cost allocation methodologies used in preparing such profitability data. It was noted that the allocation methodologies had been reviewed by an outside
consultant. The profitability to the Sub-Adviser was not considered to be a material
factor in the Board’s considerations since the Sub-Advisory Fee is paid by the Manager, not the Fund, although the Board noted the affiliation of the Manager with the Sub-Adviser.
The profitability of the Manager and its affiliates was considered by the Board to be
reasonable in view of the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund.
The Board received and discussed Contract Renewal Information concerning whether the
Manager realizes economies of scale if the Fund’s assets grow. The Board noted that because the Fund is a closed-end fund it has limited ability to increase its assets.
The Board determined that the management fee structure was appropriate under the circumstances.
For similar reasons as stated above with respect to the Sub-Adviser’s profitability and the costs of the Sub-Adviser’s provision of services, the Board did not consider the potential for economies of scale in the Sub-Adviser’s management of the Fund to be a material factor in the Board’s consideration of the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
Other Benefits to the Manager and the Sub-Adviser
The Board considered other benefits received by the Manager, the Sub-Adviser and their
affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund, including the opportunity
to offer additional products and services to the Fund’s stockholders. In view of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund and the ongoing commitment of
the Manager and the Sub-Adviser to the Fund, the Board considered that the ancillary benefits
that the Manager and its affiliates, including the Sub-Adviser, were reasonable.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Additional information (unaudited)
Information about Directors and Officers
The business and affairs of Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) are conducted by management under the supervision and subject to the direction of its
Board of Directors. The business address of each Director is c/o Jane Trust, Franklin Templeton,
280 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10017.
Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below.
The Fund’s annual proxy statement includes additional information about Directors and is
available, without charge, upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-777-0102.
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Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director and Member of Nominating, Audit, Compensation and
Pricing and Valuation Committees, and Compliance Liaison,
Class III
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Member of the Advisory Committee of the Dispute Resolution
Research Center at the Kellogg Graduate School of Business,
Northwestern University (2002 to 2016); formerly, Deputy
General Counsel responsible for western hemisphere matters
for BP PLC (1999 to 2001); Associate General Counsel at Amoco
Corporation responsible for corporate, chemical, and refining
and marketing matters and special assignments (1993 to 1998)
(Amoco merged with British Petroleum in 1998 forming BP PLC)
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director and Member of Nominating, Audit and Compensation
Committees, and Chair of Pricing and Valuation Committee,
Class I
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
President, Colman Consulting Company (consulting)
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
|
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)
Information about Directors and Officers
Independent Directors† (cont’d)
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director and Member of Audit, Compensation and Pricing and
Valuation Committees, and Chair of Nominating Committee,
Class II
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Retired; formerly, Associate General Counsel, Pfizer Inc. (prior to
and including 2004)
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director and Member of Nominating, Audit, and Pricing and
Valuation Committees, and Chair of Compensation Committee,
Class II
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Emeritus Professor of French and Italian (since 2014) and
formerly, Vice President and Dean of The College of Liberal Arts
(1984 to 2009) and Professor of French and Italian (2009 to 2014)
at Drew University
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director and Member of Nominating, Audit, Compensation and
Pricing and Valuation Committees, Class I
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Retired; Founder, Managing Director and Partner of American
Securities Opportunity Funds (private equity and credit firm)
(2006 to 2018); formerly, Senior Managing Director of Evercore
Partners Inc. (investment banking) (2001 to 2004); Senior
Managing Director of Joseph Littlejohn & Levy, Inc. (private
equity firm) (1999 to 2001); Senior Managing Director of The
Blackstone Group L.P. (private equity and credit firm) (1991 to
1999)
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
Director of Littelfuse, Inc. (electronics manufacturing) (since
1991); formerly, Director of Oaktree Acquisition Corp. II (2020
to 2022); Director of Oaktree Acquisition Corp. (2019 to 2021)
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Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Independent Directors† (cont’d)
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Chair and Member of Nominating, Compensation, Pricing and
Valuation and Audit Committees, Class III
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Chief Executive Officer, The Governance Partners, LLC
(consulting firm) (since 2015); National Association of Corporate
Directors Board Leadership Fellow (since 2016, with Directorship
Certification since 2019) and NACD 2022 Directorship 100
honoree; Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Law Center
(since 2021); Adjunct Professor, The University of Chicago Law
School (since 2018); Adjunct Professor, University of Iowa
College of Law (since 2007); formerly, Chief Financial Officer,
Press Ganey Associates (health care informatics company) (2012
to 2014); Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer,
Houlihan Lokey (international investment bank) and President,
Houlihan Lokey Foundation (2010 to 2012)
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
Director, VALIC Company I (since October 2022); Director of ACV
Auctions Inc. (since 2021); Director of Associated Banc-Corp
(financial services company) (since 2007); formerly, Director of
Hochschild Mining plc (precious metals company) (2016
to 2023); formerly Trustee of AIG Funds and Anchor Series Trust
(2018 to 2021)
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director and Member of Nominating, Compensation and Pricing
and Valuation Committees, and Chair of the Audit Committee,
Class II
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Formerly, Managing Director and the Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Compliance Officer of Greenbriar Equity Group, LP (2011
to 2021); formerly, Chief Financial Officer and Chief
Administrative Officer of Rent the Runway, Inc. (2011); Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AOL LLC, a
subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (2007 to 2009); Member of the
Council of Foreign Relations
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
Director of Birkenstock Holding plc (since 2023); Director of The
India Fund, Inc. (since 2016); formerly, Director of Aberdeen
Income Credit Strategies Fund (2017 to 2018); and Director of
The Asia Tigers Fund, Inc. (2016 to 2018)
|
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)
Information about Directors and Officers
Independent Directors† (cont’d)
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director and Member of Nominating, Audit, Compensation and
Pricing and Valuation Committees, Class III
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Arbitrator and Mediator (self-employed) (since 2021); formerly,
Global General Counsel of UNICEF (non-governmental
organization) (1998-2021)
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
Chairman of University of Sydney USA Foundation (since 2020);
Director of the Radio Workshop US, Inc. (since 2023)
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director and Member of Nominating, Audit, Compensation and
Pricing and Valuation Committees, Class II
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Agnes Williams Sesquicentennial Professor of Leadership and
Corporate Governance, Georgetown Law; and Professor of
Management, McDonough School of Business (since 2018);
formerly, Associate Dean for Strategy, Georgetown Law (2020-
2023); National Association of Corporate Directors Board Faculty
Member (since 2021); formerly, a Member of the Board of
Governors of FINRA (2016-2022)
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
CBOE U.S. Securities Exchanges, CBOE Futures Exchange, and
CBOE SEF, Director (since 2022); Advisory Board Member of
Foundation Press (academic book publisher) (since 2019); Chair
of DirectWomen Board Institute (since 2019); formerly, Member
of DirectWomen Board (nonprofit) (2007-2022)
|
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Interested Director and Officer
|
|
|
|
Position(s) held with Fund1
|
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Class I
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Senior Vice President, Fund Board Management, Franklin
Templeton (since 2020); Officer and/or Trustee/Director of 115
funds associated with FTFA or its affiliates (since 2015);
President and Chief Executive Officer of FTFA (since 2015);
formerly, Senior Managing Director (2018 to 2020) and
Managing Director (2016 to 2018) of Legg Mason & Co., LLC
(“Legg Mason & Co.”); and Senior Vice President of FTFA (2015)
|
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director
(including the Fund)
|
Trustee/Director of Franklin Templeton funds consisting of 115
portfolios; Trustee of Putnam Family of Funds consisting of 105
portfolios
|
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five
years
|
|
|
|
|
Franklin Templeton
280 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017
|
|
|
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Position(s) held with Fund1
|
|
Term of office1 and length of time served
|
|
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
|
Director - Global Compliance of Franklin Templeton (since 2020);
Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co. (2006 to 2020); Director
of Compliance, Legg Mason Office of the Chief Compliance
Officer (2006 to 2020); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer of
Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation (prior to 2014); Chief
Compliance Officer of Legg Mason Private Portfolio Group (prior
to 2013); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer of The Reserve
Funds (investment adviser, funds and broker-dealer) (2004) and
Ambac Financial Group (investment adviser, funds and broker-
dealer) (2000 to 2003)
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Franklin Templeton
100 First Stamford Place, 6th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902
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Position(s) held with Fund1
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Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
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Term of office1 and length of time served
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Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
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Associate General Counsel of Franklin Templeton (since 2020);
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of certain funds associated
with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates since 2020); Assistant
Secretary of certain funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or
its affiliates (since 2006); formerly, Managing Director (2016
to 2020) and Associate General Counsel of Legg Mason & Co.
(2005 to 2020)
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Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)
Information about Directors and Officers
Additional Officers (cont’d)
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Franklin Templeton
100 First Stamford Place, 6th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902
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Position(s) held with Fund1
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Term of office1 and length of time served
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Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
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Senior Associate General Counsel of Franklin Templeton
(since 2020); Secretary of FTFA (since 2006); Assistant Secretary
of certain funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its
affiliates (since 2006); Secretary of LM Asset Services, LLC
(“LMAS”) (since 2002) and Legg Mason Fund Asset
Management, Inc. (“LMFAM”) (since 2013) (formerly registered
investment advisers); formerly, Managing Director and Deputy
General Counsel of Legg Mason & Co. (2005 to 2020) and
Assistant Secretary of certain funds in the fund complex (2006
to 2022)
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Franklin Templeton
280 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017
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Position(s) held with Fund1
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Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
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Term of office1 and length of time served
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Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
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Vice President, Fund Administration and Reporting, Franklin
Templeton (since 2020); Treasurer (since 2010) and Principal
Financial Officer (since 2019) of certain funds associated with
Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates; formerly, Managing
Director (2020), Director (2015 to 2020), and Vice President (2011
to 2015) of Legg Mason & Co.
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Franklin Templeton
280 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10017
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Position(s) held with Fund1
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Term of office1 and length of time served
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Principal occupation(s) during the past five years
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U.S. Fund Board Team Manager, Franklin Templeton (since 2020);
Senior Vice President of certain funds associated with Legg
Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2007); Senior Vice President
of FTFA (since 2006); President and Chief Executive Officer of
LMAS and LMFAM (since 2015); formerly, Managing Director of
Legg Mason & Co. (2005 to 2020); Senior Vice President of
LMFAM (2013 to 2015)
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†
Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
*
Effective November 15, 2024, Ms. Sale and Messrs. Grillo and Mason became Directors
of the Fund.
**
Effective November 15, 2024, Ms. Kamerick became Chair of the Board.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
1
The Fund’s Board of Directors is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The terms of office of the Class I, II and III Directors expire at the Annual Meetings of Stockholders in
the year 2027, year 2025 and year 2026, respectively, or thereafter in each case when their respective successors
are duly elected and qualified. The Fund’s executive officers are chosen each year, to hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
2
Ms. Trust is an “interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act because Ms. Trust is an officer of FTFA and certain of its affiliates.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Annual chief executive officer and
principal financial officer certifications (unaudited)
The Fund’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) has submitted to the NYSE the required annual certification and the Fund also has included the Certifications of the Fund’s CEO and Principal Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the Fund’s Form N-CSR filed with the SEC for the period of this report.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Other shareholder communications regarding accounting matters (unaudited)
The Fund’s Audit Committee has established guidelines and procedures regarding the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting
controls or auditing matters (collectively, “Accounting Matters”). Persons with complaints or concerns regarding Accounting Matters may submit their complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”). Persons who are uncomfortable submitting complaints to the CCO, including complaints involving the CCO, may submit complaints directly to the Fund’s Audit Committee Chair. Complaints may be submitted on an anonymous basis.
The CCO may be contacted at:
Franklin Resources Inc.
Compliance Department
280 Park Ave, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Complaints may also be submitted by telephone at 1-800-742-5274. Complaints submitted
through this number will be received by the CCO.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Summary of information regarding the Fund (unaudited)
Investment Objective
The Fund seeks high current income exempt from federal income taxes.
The Fund’s investment objective may be changed only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a “majority of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities,” as defined in the 1940 Act.
Principal Investment Policies and Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in intermediate- and long term municipal debt securities
issued by state and local governments including U.S. territories and possessions, political
sub-divisions, agencies and public authorities (“municipal obligations”). However, the Fund may invest in municipal obligations of any maturity. Under normal conditions, at least
80% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in municipal obligations. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in municipal obligations rated below investment grade (commonly referred
to as “junk bonds”). Investment grade securities are those rated in the Baa/BBB categories or above by at least one National Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”) that provides such a rating or unrated securities that the subadviser determined to be
of comparable credit quality. The Fund may invest in non-publicly traded municipal securities,
zero-coupon municipal obligations and non-appropriation or other municipal lease obligations. The Fund may hold securities or use investment techniques that provide
for payments based or “derived” from the performance of an underlying asset, index or other economic benchmark.
Municipal obligations are debt securities, the interest from which is, in the opinion
of bond counsel to their issuer, excluded from gross income for regular federal income tax
purposes. Municipal obligations may bear fixed, floating or variable rates of interest. Municipal
obligations include “public purpose” obligations, which generate interest that is exempt from regular federal income tax and, for individual taxpayers, is not subject to the
alternative minimum tax (“AMT”). Municipal obligations also include qualified “private activity bonds”, which generate interest that is exempt from regular federal income tax but that is subject to the AMT.
Under normal conditions, the Fund may hold up to 20% of its assets in cash or money
market instruments, including taxable money market instruments (“Taxable Investments”). When the investment manager believes that long-term municipal obligations consistent
with the Fund’s investment objective are unavailable, the Fund may take a temporary defensive posture and invest without limitation in short-term municipal obligations
and Taxable Investments.
The Fund may use a variety of derivative instruments for investment purposes, as well
as for hedging or risk-management purposes.
The Fund may enter into tender option bond (“TOB”) transactions and may invest in inverse floating rate instruments issued in TOB transactions.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
The Fund will make commitments to purchase when-issued municipal obligations only
with the intention of acquiring the securities, but may sell these securities before the
settlement date if the manager deems it advisable. Any gain realized on the sale would be taxable.
The Fund may acquire “stand-by commitments” with respect to municipal obligations held in its portfolio. The Fund will acquire stand-by commitments solely to facilitate
portfolio liquidity and does not intend to exercise its rights thereunder for trading purposes.
To protect against a decline in the value of municipal obligations it owns or an increase
in the price of municipal obligations it proposes to purchase in the future, the Fund
may engage in financial futures and options transactions, subject to applicable regulations
by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. The futures contracts or options on futures
contracts that may be entered into by the Fund will be restricted to those that are
either based on an index of long-term municipal obligations or relate to debt securities
the prices of which are anticipated by the investment manager to correlate with the prices of
the municipal obligations owned or to be purchased by the Fund.
The Fund may enter into interest rate futures contracts in order to protect against
the adverse effect of changing interest rates on its portfolio securities or those to
be purchased by the Fund. The Fund may purchase and sell call and put options on interest rate
futures contracts that are traded on a United States exchange or board of trade. The Fund
may utilize municipal bond index futures to protect against changes in the market value
of the municipal obligations in its portfolio or that it intends to acquire. The Fund may
purchase and sell put and call options on municipal bond indexes and municipal bond index futures
and enter into closing transactions with respect to those options.
The Fund is authorized to lend securities it holds to brokers, dealers and other financial
organizations, so long as the terms and the structure of such loans are not inconsistent
with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
The Fund may borrow money, except for temporary or emergency purposes, and then not
in amounts that are greater than 15% of total assets (including the amount borrowed).
The Fund may not buy more securities if the Fund has borrowed money in amounts greater
than 5% of net assets.
The Fund may enter into repurchase agreement transactions with member banks of the
Federal Reserve System or with certain dealers listed on the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York’s list of reporting dealers. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Fund would acquire an underlying debt obligation for a relatively short period (usually
not more than seven days) subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and the Fund
to resell, the obligation at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the yield during
the Fund’s holding period.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Summary of information regarding the Fund (unaudited) (cont’d)
Principal Risk Factors
There are various risks associated with an investment in the Fund. You should consider
whether the Fund is an appropriate investment for you. The Fund invests substantially
all of its assets in municipal obligations, and circumstances or events that affect the value
of municipal obligations will affect the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may invest primarily in lower-rated securities. An investment in these securities has speculative characteristics
and may involve a substantial risk of loss. The following is intended to provide a summary
of the principal risks of an investment in the Fund.
Investment and Market Risk. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire amount that you invest. Your investment
in the Common Stock represents an indirect investment in the fixed income securities and
other investments owned by the Fund, most of which could be purchased directly. The value
of the Fund’s portfolio securities may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. At any point in time, your Common Stock may be worth less than your original investment,
even after taking into account the reinvestment of Fund dividends and distributions.
Below Investment Grade (High Yield or Junk Bond) Securities Risk. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in municipal obligations of below investment grade quality.
High yield debt securities are generally subject to greater credit risks than higher-grade debt
securities, including the risk of default on the payment of interest or principal.
High yield debt securities are considered speculative, typically have lower liquidity and are
more difficult to value than higher grade bonds. High yield debt securities tend to be
volatile and more susceptible to adverse events, credit downgrades and negative sentiments and
may be difficult to sell at a desired price, or at all, during periods of uncertainty
or market turmoil.
Municipal Securities Risk. Liquidity in the municipal securities market may vary from time to time. At times of decreased liquidity, the ability of the Fund to buy and sell municipal
securities may, with respect to any particular securities, be limited. The amount
of information about the financial condition of an issuer of municipal securities may
not be as extensive as information about corporations whose securities are publicly traded,
and the Fund’s performance may therefore be more dependent on the sub-adviser’s analytical abilities than if the Fund were to invest in stocks or taxable bonds. The secondary
market for municipal securities, particularly the below investment grade municipal securities
in which the Fund may invest, also tends to be less developed or liquid than many other
securities markets, which may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to sell its municipal securities at attractive prices.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Obligations of issuers of municipal securities may be subject to the provisions of
bankruptcy, insolvency and the United States Bankruptcy Code and applicable state
laws, which could limit the ability of the Fund to recover payments of principal or interest
on such securities.
Certain municipal securities which may be held by the Fund may permit the issuer at
its option to “call,” or redeem, its securities. If an issuer were to redeem municipal securities held by the Fund during a time of declining interest rates, the Fund may realize a
capital loss on its investment if the security was purchased at a premium and may not be able
to reinvest the proceeds in municipal securities providing as high a level of investment
return as the securities redeemed.
Inverse Floating Rate Securities and TOBs Risk. Subject to certain limitations, the Fund may invest in inverse floating rate securities. Typically, inverse floating rate securities
represent beneficial interests in a special purpose trust (sometimes called a “tender option bond trust”) formed by a third party sponsor for the purpose of holding municipal bonds purchased from the Fund or from another third party. An investment in an inverse floating
rate security may involve greater risk than an investment in a fixed-rate bond. Because
changes in the interest rate on the underlying security or index inversely affect
the residual interest paid on the inverse floating rate security, the value of an inverse floating
rate security is generally more volatile than that of a fixed-rate bond.
Inverse floating rate securities have interest rate adjustment formulas which generally
reduce or, in the extreme, eliminate the interest paid to the Fund when short-term
interest rates rise, and increase the interest paid to the Fund when short-term interest rates
fall. Inverse floating rate securities have varying degrees of liquidity, and the market
for these securities is relatively volatile. These securities tend to underperform the market
for fixed-rate bonds in a rising interest rate environment, but tend to outperform the market for
fixed-rate bonds when interest rates decline. Shifts in long-term interest rates may, however,
alter this tendency.
During times of reduced market liquidity, such as at the present, the Fund may not
be able to sell municipal securities readily at prices reflecting the values at which the
securities are carried on the Fund’s books. Sales of large blocks of municipal securities by market participants, such as the Fund, that are seeking liquidity can further reduce municipal
security prices in an illiquid market. The Fund may seek to make sales of large blocks
of municipal securities as part of its investment strategy or it may be required to raise
cash to re-collateralize, unwind or “collapse” tender option bond trusts that issued inverse floating rate securities to the Fund or to make payments to such trusts to enable them to pay
for tenders of the short-term securities they have issued if the remarketing agents for
those municipal securities are unable to sell the short-term securities in the marketplace
to other buyers (typically tax-exempt money market funds). The Fund’s potential exposure to losses
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Summary of information regarding the Fund (unaudited) (cont’d)
related to or on inverse floating rate securities may increase beyond the value of the Fund’s inverse floater investments as the Fund may potentially be liable to fulfill all amounts
owed to holders of the floating rate certificates.
Although volatile, inverse floating rate securities typically offer the potential
for yields exceeding the yields available on fixed-rate bonds with comparable credit quality,
coupon, call provisions and maturity. These securities usually permit the investor to convert
the floating rate to a fixed rate (normally adjusted downward), and this optional conversion
feature may provide a partial hedge against rising rates if exercised at an opportune
time.
Investment in inverse floating rate securities may amplify the effects of the Fund’s use of leverage. Any economic effect of leverage through the Fund’s purchase of inverse floating rate securities will create an opportunity for increased Common Stock net income and
returns, but may also result in losses if the cost of leverage exceeds the return
on the inverse floating rate securities purchased by the Fund.
TOB transactions expose the Fund to leverage and credit risk, and generally involve
greater risk than investments in fixed rate municipal bonds, including the risk of loss of
principal. The interest payments that the Fund would typically receive on inverse floaters acquired
in such transactions vary inversely with short-term interest rates and will be reduced
(and potentially eliminated) when short-term interest rates increase. Inverse floaters
will generally underperform the market for fixed rate municipal securities when interest
rates rise. The value and market for inverse floaters can be volatile, and inverse floaters
can have limited liquidity. Investments in inverse floaters issued in TOB transactions are
derivative instruments and, therefore, are also subject to the risks generally applicable to
investments in derivatives.
Insurance Risk. The Fund may purchase municipal securities that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The credit quality of the companies that
provide such credit enhancements will affect the value of those securities. Certain
significant providers of insurance for municipal securities have recently incurred
significant losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime mortgages and other lower credit quality
investments that have experienced recent defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit
deterioration. As a result, such losses have reduced the insurers’ capital and called into question their continued ability to perform their obligations under such insurance
if they are called upon to do so in the future. While an insured municipal security will typically
be deemed to have the rating of its insurer, if the insurer of a municipal security suffers
a downgrade in its credit rating or the market discounts the value of the insurance
provided by the insurer, the rating of the underlying municipal security will be more relevant
and the value of the municipal security would more closely, if not entirely, reflect such
rating. In such a case, the value of insurance associated with a municipal security would decline,
and the insurance may not add any value. The insurance feature of a municipal security
does not
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured
obligation, the market value of the insured obligation or the net asset value of the
Common Stock represented by such insured obligation.
Special Risks Related to Certain Municipal Securities. The Fund may invest in municipal leases and certificates of participation in such leases. Municipal leases and certificates
of participation involve special risks not normally associated with general obligations
or revenue bonds. Leases and installment purchase or conditional sale contracts (which
normally provide for title to the leased asset to pass eventually to the governmental
issuer) have evolved as a means for governmental issuers to acquire property and equipment
without meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements for the issuance of
debt. The debt issuance limitations are deemed to be inapplicable because of the inclusion in
many leases or contracts of “non-appropriation” clauses that relieve the governmental issuer of any obligation to make future payments under the lease or contract unless money is
appropriated for such purpose by the appropriate governmental body on a yearly or
other periodic basis. In addition, such leases or contracts may be subject to the temporary
abatement of payments in the event the governmental issuer is prevented from maintaining
occupancy of the leased premises or utilizing the leased equipment. Although the obligations may be secured by the leased equipment or facilities, the disposition
of the property in the event of non-appropriation or foreclosure might prove difficult, time
consuming and costly, and may result in a delay in recovering or the failure to fully
recover the Fund’s original investment. In the event of non-appropriation, the issuer would be in default and taking ownership of the assets may be a remedy available to the Fund,
although the Fund does not anticipate that such a remedy would normally be pursued. To the
extent that the Fund invests in unrated municipal leases or participates in such leases,
the credit quality rating and risk of cancellation of such unrated leases will be monitored on
an ongoing basis. Certificates of participation, which represent interests in unmanaged
pools of municipal leases or installment contracts, involve the same risks as the underlying
municipal leases. In addition, the Fund may be dependent upon the municipal authority
issuing the certificates of participation to exercise remedies with respect to the
underlying securities. Certificates of participation also entail a risk of default or bankruptcy,
both of the issuer of the municipal lease and also the municipal agency issuing the certificate
of participation.
Alternative Minimum Tax and Taxable Income Risk. The Fund will qualify to pay “exempt-interest dividends,” which are exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax, for any taxable year only if at least 50% of the value of its assets, as of the close of each quarter
of the taxable year, consists of state or local obligations described in Section 103(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Assuming that the Fund qualifies to pay exempt-interest dividends, it is anticipated that certain of the Fund’s distributions will nevertheless constitute taxable income. Moreover, a portion of the Fund’s exempt-interest
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Summary of information regarding the Fund (unaudited) (cont’d)
dividends may be subject to federal alternative minimum tax, and all or a portion
of such dividends may be subject to state and local taxation.
A portion of the Fund’s distributions may be taxable to Common Stockholders. In particular, the Fund may use a variety of derivative instruments and may sell certain fixed-income
securities short including, but not limited to, U.S. Treasuries, for investment and/or
hedging purposes. To the extent that the Fund utilizes these strategies the Fund could generate
taxable income and gains. Distributions of any capital gain or other taxable income
(including gains and “market discount” realized by the Fund on the sale of municipal securities) will be taxable to Common Stockholders. The Fund may not be a suitable
investment for investors subject to the federal alternative minimum tax or who would
become subject to such tax by investing in the Fund. The suitability of an investment
in Common Stock will depend upon a comparison of the after tax yield likely to be provided
from the Fund with that from comparable tax-exempt investments not subject to the
alternative minimum tax, and from comparable fully taxable investments, in light of
each such investor’s tax position. Special considerations apply to corporate investors.
Certain provisions of the Code relating to the issuance of municipal obligations impose
restrictions on the volume of municipal obligations qualifying for federal tax exemption.
One effect of these provisions could be to increase the cost of the municipal securities
available for purchase by the Fund and thus reduce available yield. Legislative proposals that
may further restrict or eliminate the federal income tax exemption for interest on municipal
obligations may be introduced in the future. The value of the Fund’s investments and its net asset value may be adversely affected by changes in tax rates and policies. Because
interest income from municipal securities normally is not subject to regular federal
income taxation, the attractiveness of municipal securities in relation to other investment
alternatives is affected by changes in federal income tax rates or changes in the
tax-exempt status of interest income from municipal securities. Any proposed or actual changes
in such rates or exempt status, therefore, can significantly affect the demand for and supply,
liquidity and marketability of municipal securities. This could in turn affect the Fund’s net asset value and ability to acquire and dispose of municipal securities at desirable
yield and price levels.
Credit Crisis Liquidity and Volatility Risk. The markets for credit instruments, including fixed income securities, have experienced periods of extreme illiquidity and volatility.
General market uncertainty and consequent repricing risk have led to market imbalances of
sellers and buyers, which in turn have also resulted in significant valuation uncertainties
in a variety of debt securities, including certain fixed income securities. These conditions
resulted, and in many cases continue to result in greater volatility, less liquidity,
widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many debt securities remaining
illiquid and of uncertain value. During times of reduced market liquidity, the Fund may not
be able
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
to sell securities readily at prices reflecting the values at which the securities
are carried on the Fund’s books. Sales of large blocks of securities by market participants, such as the Fund, that are seeking liquidity can further reduce security prices in an illiquid
market. These market conditions may make valuation of some of the Fund’s securities uncertain and/or result in sudden and significant valuation increases or decreases in its holdings.
Illiquidity and volatility in the credit markets may directly and adversely affect
the setting of dividend rates on the Common Stock.
Government Intervention in Financial Markets Risk. U.S. federal and state governments and foreign governments, their regulatory agencies or self regulatory organizations may
take additional actions that affect the regulation of the securities in which the Fund
invests, or the issuers of such securities, in ways that are unforeseeable. Issuers of corporate
fixed income securities might seek protection under the bankruptcy laws. Legislation or
regulation may also change the way in which the Fund itself is regulated. Such legislation
or regulation could limit or preclude the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. Western Asset will monitor developments and seek to manage the Fund’s portfolio in a manner consistent with achieving the Fund’s investment objectives, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so.
Derivatives Risk. The Fund may utilize a variety of derivative instruments such as financial futures contracts and options. Using derivatives can increase Fund losses and reduce
opportunities for gains when market prices, interest rates, currencies, or the derivatives
themselves behave in a way not anticipated by the Fund. Using derivatives also can
have a leveraging effect and increase Fund volatility. Certain derivatives have the potential
for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. Derivatives may
not be available at the time or price desired, may be difficult to sell, unwind or value,
and the counterparty may default on its obligations to the Fund. Derivatives are generally
subject to the risks applicable to the assets, rates, indices or other indicators underlying
the derivative. The value of a derivative may fluctuate more than the underlying assets,
rates, indices or other indicators to which it relates. Use of derivatives may have different
tax consequences for the Fund than an investment in the underlying security, and those
differences may affect the amount, timing and character of income distributed to shareholders. The U.S. government and foreign governments are in the process of adopting
and implementing regulations governing derivatives markets, including mandatory clearing
of certain derivatives, margin and reporting requirements. The ultimate impact of
the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives may make derivatives
more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance
or disrupt markets.
Effective August 19, 2022, the Fund began operating under Rule 18f-4 under the 1940
Act which, among other things, governs the use of derivative investments and certain financing
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Summary of information regarding the Fund (unaudited) (cont’d)
transactions (e.g. reverse repurchase agreements) by registered investment companies.
Among other things, Rule 18f-4 requires funds that invest in derivative instruments
beyond a specified limited amount to apply a value at risk (VaR) based limit to their use
of certain derivative instruments and financing transactions and to adopt and implement a derivatives
risk management program. A fund that uses derivative instruments in a limited amount
is not subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. Compliance with Rule 18f-4 by
the Fund could, among other things, make derivatives more costly, limit their availability
or utility, or otherwise adversely affect their performance. Rule 18f-4 may limit the Fund’s ability to use derivatives as part of its investment strategy.
Short Sales Risk. To the extent the Fund makes use of short sales for investment and/or risk management purposes, the Fund may be subject to risks associated with selling short.
Short sales are transactions in which the Fund sells securities or other instruments that
the Fund does not own or otherwise engages in economically similar transactions through the
use of derivatives such as options, forwards or futures contracts. Short sales expose the
Fund to the risk that it will be required to cover its short position at a time when the securities
have appreciated in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. The Fund may engage in
short sales where it does not own or have the right to acquire the security sold short at
no additional cost. The Fund’s loss on a short sale theoretically could be unlimited in a case where the Fund is unable, for whatever reason, to close out its short position. In
addition, the Fund’s short selling strategies may limit its ability to benefit from increases in the markets. Short selling also involves a form of financial leverage that may exaggerate
any losses realized by the Fund. Also, there is the risk that the counterparty to a short
sale may fail to honor its contractual terms, causing a loss to the Fund.
Counterparty Risk. Changes in the credit quality of the companies that serve as the Fund’s counterparties with respect to derivatives or other transactions supported by another party’s credit will affect the value of those instruments. Certain entities that have served
as counterparties in the markets for these transactions have recently incurred significant
financial hardships including bankruptcy and losses as a result of exposure to sub-prime
mortgages and other lower quality credit investments that have experienced recent
defaults or otherwise suffered extreme credit deterioration. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt
or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial
difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery
under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may
obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
Credit Risk. If an issuer or guarantor of a security held by the Fund or a counterparty to a financial contract with the Fund defaults or its credit is downgraded, or is perceived
to be less creditworthy, or if the value of the assets underlying a security declines, the
value of your investment will typically decline. Changes in actual or perceived creditworthiness
may
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
occur quickly. The Fund could be delayed or hindered in its enforcement of rights
against an issuer, guarantor or counterparty. Subordinated securities are more likely to suffer
a credit loss than non-subordinated securities of the same issuer and will be disproportionately
affected by a default, downgrade or perceived decline in creditworthiness.
Interest Rate Risk. The market value of the Fund’s investments will change in response to changes in interest rates and other factors. During periods of declining interest
rates, the values of fixed-income securities generally rise. Conversely, during periods of rising
interest rates, the values of such securities generally decline. The magnitude of these fluctuations
is generally greater for securities with longer maturities. The subadviser’s judgment about interest rate trends may prove to be incorrect.
Prepayment Risk. Prepayments may cause losses on securities purchased at a premium. At times, some of the securities in which the Fund may invest may have higher than market
interest rates and therefore may be purchased at a premium above their par value.
Unscheduled prepayments, which are made at par, may cause the Fund to experience a
loss equal to any unamortized premium. In addition, a reduction in prepayments may increase
the effective maturities of these securities, subjecting them to a greater risk of
decline in market value in response to rising interest rates than traditional debt securities,
and, therefore, potentially increasing the volatility of the Fund.
Inflation/Deflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of certain assets or income from the Fund’s investments will be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the Common Stock and distributions
on the Common Stock can decline. In addition, during any periods of rising inflation,
the dividend rates or borrowing costs associated with the Fund’s use of leverage would likely increase, which would tend to further reduce returns to stockholders. Deflation risk
is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time—the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse affect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make
issuer defaults more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.
Liquidity Risk. The Fund may invest all or a portion of its net assets in illiquid securities. The
term “illiquid securities” for this purpose means securities that cannot be disposed of within seven days in the ordinary course of business at approximately the value at
which the Fund has valued the securities. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount from
comparable, more liquid securities and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market
value. Accordingly, the Fund may be forced to sell these securities at less than fair market
value or may not be able to sell them when the Subadviser believes it is desirable to do so.
Market Events Risk. The market values of securities or other assets will fluctuate, sometimes sharply and unpredictably, due to factors such as economic events, governmental actions or intervention, actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or
foreign
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Summary of information regarding the Fund (unaudited) (cont’d)
central banks, market disruptions caused by trade disputes, labor strikes or other
factors, political developments, armed conflicts, economic sanctions and countermeasures in
response to sanctions, major cybersecurity events, the global and domestic effects
of widespread or local health, weather or climate events, and other factors that may
or may not be related to the issuer of the security or other asset. Economies and financial
markets throughout the world are increasingly interconnected. Economic, financial or political
events, trading and tariff arrangements, public health events, terrorism, wars, natural
disasters and other circumstances in one country or region could have profound impacts
on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not the fund invests in securities
of issuers located in or with significant exposure to the countries or markets directly
affected, the value and liquidity of the fund’s investments may be negatively affected. Ongoing armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and among Israel, Hamas and other militant
groups in the Middle East have caused and could continue to cause significant market
disruptions and volatility. The hostilities and sanctions resulting from those hostilities
have and could continue to have a significant impact on certain fund investments as well
as fund performance and liquidity. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian stocks lost all, or nearly all, of their market value. Other securities or markets could
be similarly affected by past or future geopolitical or other events or conditions. Furthermore,
events involving limited liquidity, defaults, non-performance or other adverse developments
that affect one industry, such as the financial services industry, or concerns or rumors
about any events of these kinds, have in the past and may in the future lead to market-wide
liquidity problems, may spread to other industries, and could negatively affect the value and
liquidity of the fund’s investments.
The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent variants on economies,
markets, industries and individual issuers is not known. The U.S. government and the
Federal Reserve, as well as certain foreign governments and central banks, took extraordinary actions to support local and global economies and the financial markets
in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This and other government intervention into the
economy and financial markets have resulted in a large expansion of government deficits
and debt, the long term consequences of which are not known.
Raising the ceiling on U.S. government debt has become increasingly politicized. Any
failure to increase the total amount that the U.S. government is authorized to borrow could
lead to a default on U.S. government obligations, with unpredictable consequences for economies
and markets in the U.S. and elsewhere. Recently, inflation and interest rates have
been volatile and may increase in the future. These circumstances could adversely affect
the value and liquidity of the fund’s investments, impair the fund’s ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact the fund’s performance.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
The United States and other countries are periodically involved in disputes over trade
and other matters, which may result in tariffs, investment restrictions and adverse impacts
on affected companies and securities. For example, the United States has imposed tariffs
and other trade barriers on Chinese exports, has restricted sales of certain categories
of goods to China, and has established barriers to investments in China. Trade disputes may
adversely affect the economies of the United States and its trading partners, as well
as companies directly or indirectly affected and financial markets generally. The United
States government has prohibited U.S. persons from investing in Chinese companies designated
as related to the Chinese military. These and possible future restrictions could limit the fund’s opportunities for investment and require the sale of securities at a loss or make
them illiquid. Moreover, the Chinese government is involved in a longstanding dispute with
Taiwan that has included threats of invasion. If the political climate between the
United States and China does not improve or continues to deteriorate, if China were
to attempt unification of Taiwan by force, or if other geopolitical conflicts develop
or get worse, economies, markets and individual securities may be severely affected both
regionally and globally, and the value of the fund’s assets may go down.
Market Price Discount from Net Asset Value Risk. Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value. This risk is
separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s net asset value could decrease as a result of its investment activities and may be a greater risk to investors expecting to sell their
Common Stock in a relatively short period following completion of this offering. Whether
investors will realize gains or losses upon the sale of the Common Stock will depend not upon
the Fund’s net asset value but upon whether the market price of the Common Stock at the time of sale is above or below the investor’s purchase price for the Common Stock.
Because the market price of the Common Stock will be determined by factors such as
relative supply of and demand for the Common Stock in the market, general market and
economic conditions and other factors beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot
predict whether the Common Stock will trade at, above or below net asset value or
at, above or below the initial public offering price. The Fund’s Common Stock is designed primarily for long term investors and you should not view the Fund as a vehicle for
trading purposes.
Portfolio Turnover Risk. Changes to the investments of the Fund may be made regardless of the length of time particular investments have been held. A high portfolio turnover
rate may result in increased transaction costs for the Fund in the form of increased dealer
spreads and other transactional costs, which may have an adverse impact on performance. The
portfolio turnover rate of the Fund will vary from year to year, as well as within
a year.
Management Risk. The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The subadviser and each individual portfolio manager
will
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Summary of information regarding the Fund (unaudited) (cont’d)
apply investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the
Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these will produce the desired results.
Anti-Takeover Provisions Risk. The Charter and Bylaws of the Fund include provisions that are designed to limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control
of the Fund for short-term objectives, including by converting the Fund to open-end status or
changing the composition of the Board, that may be detrimental to the Fund’s ability to achieve its primary investment objective of seeking high current income exempt from federal income
taxes. The Bylaws also contain a provision providing that the Board of Directors has
adopted a resolution to opt in the Fund to the provisions of the Maryland Control
Share Acquisition Act (“MCSAA”). There can be no assurance, however, that such provisions will be sufficient to deter professional arbitrageurs that seek to cause the Fund to take
actions that may not be consistent with its investment objective or aligned with the interests
of long-term shareholders, such as liquidating debt investments prior to maturity, triggering
taxable events for shareholders and decreasing the size of the Fund. Such provisions
may limit the ability of shareholders to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing
market prices by discouraging an investor from seeking to obtain control of the Fund.
Temporary Defensive Strategies Risk. When Western Asset anticipates unusual market or other conditions, the Fund may temporarily depart from its principal investment strategies
as a defensive measure and invest all or a portion of its assets in obligations of
the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities; other investment grade debt securities;
investment grade commercial paper; certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances; repurchase agreements with respect to any of the foregoing investments or any other
fixed income securities that Western Asset considers consistent with this strategy. To the
extent that the Fund invests defensively, it may not achieve its investment objectives.
When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Transactions Risk. The Fund may use when-issued and delayed delivery transactions to purchase securities. The value of securities purchased
in these transactions may decrease before they are delivered to the Fund. Also, the yield
on securities purchased in these transactions may be higher in the market when the delivery
takes place.
Operational risk. The valuation of the Fund’s investments may be negatively impacted because of the operational risks arising from factors such as processing errors and
human errors, inadequate or failed internal or external processes, failures in systems and
technology, changes in personnel, and errors caused by third party service providers
or trading counterparties. It is not possible to identify all of the operational risks
that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls that completely eliminate or
mitigate the occurrence of such failures. The Fund and its shareholders could be negatively
impacted as a result.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Cybersecurity risk. Like other funds and business enterprises, the fund, the manager, the subadvisers, Authorized Participants, the relevant listing exchange and their service
providers are subject to the risk of cyber incidents occurring from time to time.
Cybersecurity incidents, whether intentionally caused by third parties or otherwise,
may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, fund or customer data (including
private shareholder information) or proprietary information, cause the fund, the manager,
the subadvisers, Authorized Participants, the relevant listing exchange and/or their
service providers (including, but not limited to, fund accountants, custodians, sub-custodians,
transfer agents and financial intermediaries) to suffer data breaches, data corruption
or loss of operational functionality, or prevent fund investors from purchasing, redeeming
or exchanging shares, receiving distributions or receiving timely information regarding
the fund or their investment in the fund. The fund, the manager, and the subadvisers have
limited ability to prevent or mitigate cybersecurity incidents affecting third party
service providers, and such third party service providers may have limited indemnification
obligations to the fund, the manager, and/or the subadvisers. Cybersecurity incidents
may result in financial losses to the fund and its shareholders, and substantial costs
may be incurred in order to prevent or mitigate any future cybersecurity incidents. Issuers
of securities in which the fund invests are also subject to cybersecurity risks, and
the value of these securities could decline if the issuers experience cybersecurity incidents.
New ways to carry out cyber attacks continue to develop. There is a chance that some
risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which
puts limitations on the fund’s ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack.
For a complete list of the Fund’s fundamental investment restrictions and more detailed descriptions of the Fund’s investment policies, strategies and risks, see the Fund’s registration statement on Form N-2 that was declared effective by the SEC in connection
with the Fund’s initial public offering in November 1988. The Fund’s fundamental investment restrictions may not be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Dividend reinvestment plan (unaudited)
Unless you elect to receive distributions in cash (i.e., opt-out), all dividends,
including any capital gain dividends and return of capital distributions, on your Common Stock will
be automatically reinvested by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as agent for the stock-
holders (the “Plan Agent”), in additional shares of Common Stock under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). You may elect not to participate in the Plan by contacting the Plan Agent. If you do not participate, you will receive all cash distributions
paid by check mailed directly to you by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as dividend paying
agent.
If you participate in the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock you will receive
will be determined as follows:
(1) If the market price of the Common Stock (plus $0.03 per share commission) on the
payment date (or, if the payment date is not a NYSE trading day, the immediately preceding trading day) is equal to or exceeds the net asset value per share of the
Common Stock at the close of trading on the NYSE on the payment date, the Fund will
issue new Common Stock at a price equal to the greater of (a) the net asset value
per share at the close of trading on the NYSE on the payment date or (b) 95% of the market price per share of the Common Stock on the payment date.
(2) If the net asset value per share of the Common Stock exceeds the market price
of the Common Stock (plus $0.03 per share commission) at the close of trading on the
NYSE on the payment date, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution
in cash and will buy Common Stock in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for your account as soon as practicable commencing on the trading day following the payment date and terminating no later than the earlier of (a) 30 days after the dividend or distribution payment date, or (b) the payment date for the next succeeding
dividend or distribution to be made to the stockholders; except when necessary to
comply with applicable provisions of the federal securities laws. If during this period:
(i) the market price (plus $0.03 per share commission) rises so that it equals or
exceeds the net asset value per share of the Common Stock at the close of trading
on the NYSE on the payment date before the Plan Agent has completed the open market purchases or (ii) if the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full amount eligible to
be reinvested in open market purchases, the Plan Agent will cease purchasing Common Stock in the open market and the Fund shall issue the remaining Common Stock at a
price per share equal to the greater of (a) the net asset value per share at the close
of trading on the NYSE on the day prior to the issuance of shares for reinvestment or
(b) 95% of the then current market price per share.
Common Stock in your account will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form.
Any proxy you receive will include all shares of Common Stock you have received under
the Plan. You may withdraw from the Plan (i.e., opt-out) by notifying the Plan Agent in
writing at P.O. Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3078 or by calling the Plan Agent at 1-888-888-0151.
Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if notice is received by the Plan Agent
not less than ten business days prior to any dividend or distribution record date; otherwise
such
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
withdrawal will be effective as soon as practicable after the Plan Agent’s investment of the most recently declared dividend or distribution on the Common Stock.
Plan participants who sell their shares will be charged a service charge (currently
$5.00 per transaction) and the Plan Agent is authorized to deduct brokerage charges actually
incurred from the proceeds (currently $0.05 per share commission). There is no service charge
for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in Common Stock. However, all participants
will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when
it makes open market purchases. Because all dividends and distributions will be automatically
reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock, this allows you to add to your investment
through dollar cost averaging, which may lower the average cost of your Common Stock
over time. Dollar cost averaging is a technique for lowering the average cost per
share over time if the Fund’s net asset value declines. While dollar cost averaging has definite advantages, it cannot assure profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not
have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions. Investors will be
subject to income tax on amounts reinvested under the Plan.
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if, in the judgment of
the Board of Directors, the change is warranted. The Plan may be terminated, amended or supplemented by the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to stockholders at least 30
days prior to the record date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Fund
for which the termination or amendment is to be effective. Upon any termination, you will be
sent cash for any fractional share of Common Stock in your account. You may elect to notify
the Plan Agent in advance of such termination to have the Plan Agent sell part or all
of your Common Stock on your behalf. Additional information about the Plan and your account
may be obtained from the Plan Agent at P.O. Box 43006, Providence, RI 02940-3078 or by
calling the Plan Agent at 1-888-888-0151.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Important tax information (unaudited)
By mid-February, tax information related to a shareholder’s proportionate share of distributions paid during the preceding calendar year will be received, if applicable.
Please also refer to www.franklintempleton.com for per share tax information related to any
distributions paid during the preceding calendar year. Shareholders are advised to
consult with their tax advisors for further information on the treatment of these amounts
on their tax returns.
The following tax information for the Fund is required to be furnished to shareholders
with respect to income earned and distributions paid during its fiscal year.
The Fund hereby reports the following amounts, or if subsequently determined to be
different, the maximum allowable amounts, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2024:
|
|
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Exempt-Interest Dividends Distributed
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Qualified Net Interest Income (QII)
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Section 163(j) Interest Earned
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Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Western Asset
Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Directors
Jane Trust
President and Chief Executive
Officer
Christopher Berarducci
Treasurer and Principal Financial
Officer
Fred Jensen
Chief Compliance Officer
Marc A. De Oliveira
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Thomas C. Mandia
Senior Vice President
Jeanne M. Kelly
Senior Vice President
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
620 Eighth Avenue
47th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, LLC
Western Asset Management Company, LLC
The Bank of New York Mellon
Computershare Inc.
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3078
Independent registered
public accounting firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Baltimore, MD
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
900 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
New York Stock
Exchange Symbol
*
Effective November 15, 2024, Ms. Sale and Messrs. Grillo and Mason became Directors
of the Fund.
**
Effective November 15, 2024, Ms. Kamerick became Chair of the Board.
Franklin Templeton Funds Privacy and Security Notice
Your Privacy and the Security of Your Personal Information is Very Important to Us
This Privacy and Security Notice (the “Privacy Notice”) addresses the Funds’ privacy and data protection practices with respect to nonpublic personal information the Fund receives.
The Legg Mason Funds include the Western Asset Money Market Funds (Funds) sold by the Funds’ distributor, Franklin Distributors, LLC, as well as Legg Mason-sponsored closed-end
funds. The provisions of this Privacy Notice apply to your information both while you are a shareholder
and after you are no longer invested with the Funds.
The Type of Nonpublic Personal Information the Funds Collect About You
The Funds collect and maintain nonpublic personal information about you in connection
with your shareholder account. Such information may include, but is not limited to:
•
Personal information included on applications or other forms;
•
Account balances, transactions, and mutual fund holdings and positions;
•
Bank account information, legal documents, and identity verification documentation;
and
•
Online account access user IDs, passwords, security challenge question responses.
How the Funds Use Nonpublic Personal Information About You
The Funds do not sell or share your nonpublic personal information with third parties
or with affiliates for their marketing purposes, unless you have authorized the Funds to do
so. The Funds do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you except as may be
required to perform transactions or services you have authorized or as permitted or required
by law. The Funds may disclose information about you to:
•
Employees, agents, and affiliates on a “need to know” basis to enable the Funds to conduct
ordinary business or to comply with obligations to government regulators;
•
Service providers, including the Funds’ affiliates, who assist the Funds as part of the
ordinary course of business (such as printing, mailing services, or processing or
servicing
your account with us) or otherwise perform services on the Funds’ behalf, including
companies that may perform statistical analysis, market research and marketing services
•
Permit access to transfer, whether in the United States or countries outside of the
United States to such Funds’ employees, agents and affiliates and service providers as required to enable the Funds to conduct ordinary business, or to comply with obligations
to government regulators;
•
The Funds’ representatives such as legal counsel, accountants and auditors to enable the
Funds to conduct ordinary business, or to comply with obligations to government regulators;
•
Fiduciaries or representatives acting on your behalf, such as an IRA custodian or
trustee of a
NOT PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT
Franklin Templeton Funds Privacy and Security Notice
(cont’d)
Except as otherwise permitted by applicable law, companies acting on the Funds’ behalf, including those outside the United States, are contractually obligated to keep nonpublic
personal information the Funds provide to them confidential and to use the information
the Funds share only to provide the services the Funds ask them to perform.
The Funds may disclose nonpublic personal information about you when necessary to
enforce their rights or protect against fraud, or as permitted or required by applicable law,
such as in connection with a law enforcement or regulatory request, subpoena, or similar legal
process. In the event of a corporate action or in the event a Fund service provider changes,
the Funds may be required to disclose your nonpublic personal information to third parties.
While it is the Funds’ practice to obtain protections for disclosed information in these types of transactions, the Funds cannot guarantee their privacy policy will remain unchanged.
Keeping You Informed of the Funds’ Privacy and Security Practices
The Funds will notify you annually of their privacy policy as required by federal
law. While the Funds reserve the right to modify this policy at any time, they will notify you promptly
if this privacy policy changes.
The Funds’ Security Practices
The Funds maintain appropriate physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed
to guard your nonpublic personal information. The Funds’ internal data security policies restrict access to your nonpublic personal information to authorized employees, who may use
your nonpublic personal information for Fund business purposes only.
Although the Funds strive to protect your nonpublic personal information, they cannot
ensure or warrant the security of any information you provide or transmit to them, and you
do so at your own risk. In the event of a breach of the confidentiality or security of your
nonpublic personal information, the Funds will attempt to notify you as necessary so you can
take appropriate protective steps. If you have consented to the Funds using electronic
communications or electronic delivery of statements, they may notify you under such
circumstances using the most current email address you have on record with them.
In order for the Funds to provide effective service to you, keeping your account information
accurate is very important. If you believe that your account information is incomplete,
not accurate or not current, if you have questions about the Funds’ privacy practices, or our use of your nonpublic personal information, write the Funds using the contact information
on your account statements, email the Funds by clicking on the Contact Us section of the Funds’ website at www.franklintempleton.com, or contact the Funds at 1-877-721-1926 for the
Western Asset Money Market Funds or 1-888-777-0102 for the Legg Mason-sponsored closed-end funds. For additional information related to certain state privacy rights, please
visit https://www.franklintempleton.com/help/privacy-policy.
NOT PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.
620 Eighth Avenue
47th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that from time to time the Fund may purchase, at market prices, shares of its stock.
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. To obtain information on Form N-PORT, shareholders can call the Fund at 1-888-777-0102.
Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-777-0102, (2) at www.franklintempleton.com and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Quarterly performance, semi-annual and annual reports, current net asset value and other information regarding the Fund may be found on Franklin Templeton’s website, which can be accessed at www.franklintempleton.com. Any reference to Franklin Templeton’s website in this report is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Fund and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate Franklin Templeton’s website in this report.
This report is transmitted to the shareholders of Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. for their information. This is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase of shares of the Fund or any securities mentioned in this report.
Computershare Inc.
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3078
The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies
to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller.
| ITEM
3. | AUDIT
COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. |
The Board of Directors of theregistrant has determined that
Eileen A. Kamerick and Nisha Kumar, are the members of the Board’s Audit Committee, possesses the technical attributes identified
in Instruction 2(b) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR to qualify as an “audit committee financial experts”.
| Item
4. | Principal
Accountant Fees and Services. |
(a) Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the
previous fiscal years ending October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2024 (the “Reporting Periods”) for professional services rendered
by the Registrant’s principal accountant (the “Auditor”) for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements,
or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the
Reporting Periods, were $42,168 in October 31, 2023 and $44,698 in October 31, 2024.
(b) Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed
in the Reporting Period for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the Registrant’s
financial statements were $0 in October 31, 2023 and $0 in October 31, 2024.
(c) Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting
Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“Tax Services”)
were $9,750 in October 31, 2023 and $9,750 in October 31, 2024. These services consisted of (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal,
state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory
or administrative developments, and (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments
held or proposed to be acquired or held.
There were no fees billed for tax services by the Auditors
to service affiliates during the Reporting Periods that required pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
(d) All Other Fees. The aggregate fees for other
fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor, other than the services reported in paragraphs
(a) through (c) of this Item for the Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. were $0 in October 31, 2023 and $0 in
October 31, 2024.
All Other Fees. There were no other non-audit services rendered
by the Auditor to Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisors, LLC (“LMPFA”), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common
control with LMPFA that provided ongoing services to Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. requiring pre-approval by the Audit
Committee in the Reporting Period.
(e) Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies
and procedures described in paragraph (c) (7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(1) The Charter for the Audit Committee (the “Committee”)
of the Board of each registered investment company (the “Fund”) advised by LMPFA or one of their affiliates (each, an “Adviser”)
requires that the Committee shall approve (a) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Fund and (b) all permissible
non-audit services to be provided by the Fund’s independent auditors to the Adviser and any Covered Service Providers if the engagement
relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Committee may implement policies and procedures by which
such services are approved other than by the full Committee.
The Committee shall not approve non-audit services that
the Committee believes may impair the independence of the auditors. As of the date of the approval of this Audit Committee Charter, permissible
non-audit services include any professional services (including tax services), that are not prohibited services as described below, provided
to the Fund by the independent auditors, other than those provided to the Fund in connection with an audit or a review of the financial
statements of the Fund. Permissible non-audit services may not include: (i) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records
or financial statements of the Fund; (ii) financial information systems design and implementation; (iii) appraisal or valuation services,
fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports; (iv) actuarial services; (v) internal audit outsourcing services; (vi) management
functions or human resources; (vii) broker or dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services; (viii) legal services and expert
services unrelated to the audit; and (ix) any other service the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation,
is impermissible.
Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit
services is not required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Adviser
and any service providers controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund
(“Covered Service Providers”) constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid to the independent auditors
during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided to (a) the Fund, (b) the Adviser and (c) any entity controlling,
controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund during the fiscal year in which the
services are provided that would have to be approved by the Committee; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by
the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the
Committee and approved by the Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to the completion of the audit.
(2) None of the services described in paragraphs (b) through
(d) of this Item were performed in reliance on paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(f) Not applicable.
(g) Non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services
rendered to Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc., LMPFA and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with LMPFA that provides ongoing services to Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. during the reporting
period were $342,635 in October 31, 2023 and $334,889 in October 31, 2024.
(h) Yes. Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.’s
Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved
(not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Accountant’s independence. All services provided by the Auditor
to the Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. or to Service Affiliates, which were required to be pre-approved, were pre-approved
as required.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Not applicable.
| ITEM
5. | AUDIT
COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS. |
a) Registrant has a separately-designated standing Audit
Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)58(A) of the Exchange Act. The Audit Committee consists of the following
Board members:
Robert D. Agdern
Carol L. Colman
Daniel P. Cronin
Paolo M. Cucchi
Eileen A. Kamerick
Nisha Kumar
b) Not applicable
| ITEM
6. | SCHEDULE
OF INVESTMENTS. |
Included herein under Item 1.
| ITEM
7. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL
HIGLIGHTS FOR OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM
8. | CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH
ACCOUNTANTS FOR OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM
9. | PROXY DISCLOSURES FOR OPEN-END
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM
10. | REMUNERATION PAID TO DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS, AND OTHERS OF OPEN-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM
11. | STATEMENT REGARDING BASIS FOR
APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY CONTRACT. |
The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements
included in Item 1 of this Form N-CSR, as applicable.
| ITEM
12. | DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Western Asset Management Company, LLC
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
NOTE
The policy below relating to proxy voting and corporate
actions is a global policy for Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset” or the “Firm”) and all
Western Asset affiliates, including Western Asset Management Company Limited (“Western Asset Limited”), Western Asset Management
Company Ltd (“Western Asset Japan”) and Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Asset Singapore”),
as applicable. As compliance with the policy is monitored by Western Asset, the policy has been adopted from the US Compliance Manual
and all defined terms are those defined in the US Compliance Manual rather than the compliance manual of any other Western Asset affiliate.
BACKGROUND
An investment adviser is required to adopt and
implement policies and procedures that we believe are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients,
in accordance with fiduciary duties and Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”). The authority
to vote the proxies of our clients is established through investment management agreements or comparable documents. In addition to SEC
requirements governing advisers, long-standing fiduciary standards and responsibilities have been established for ERISA accounts. Unless
a manager of ERISA assets has been expressly precluded from voting proxies, the Department of Labor has determined that the responsibility
for these votes lies with the investment manager.
POLICY
As a fixed income only manager, the occasion to vote
proxies is very rare, for instance, when fixed income securities are converted into equity by their terms or in connection with a bankruptcy
or corporate workout. However, the Firm has adopted and implemented policies and procedures that we believe are reasonably designed to
ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients, in accordance with our fiduciary duties and Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers
Act. In addition to SEC requirements governing advisers, our proxy voting policies reflect the long-standing fiduciary standards and
responsibilities for ERISA accounts. Unless a manager of ERISA assets has been expressly precluded from voting proxies, the Department
of Labor has determined that the responsibility for these votes lies with the investment manager.
While the guidelines included in the procedures are
intended to provide a benchmark for voting standards, each vote is ultimately cast on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration
the Firm’s contractual obligations to our clients and all other relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote (such
that these guidelines may be overridden to the extent the Firm deems appropriate).
In exercising its voting authority, Western Asset
will not consult or enter into agreements with officers, directors or employees of Franklin Resources (Franklin Resources includes Franklin
Resources, Inc. and organizations operating as Franklin Resources) or any of its affiliates (other than Western Asset affiliated companies)
regarding the voting of any securities owned by its clients.
Responsibility and Oversight
The Legal & Compliance Group is responsible for
administering and overseeing the proxy voting process. The gathering of proxies is coordinated through the Corporate Actions team of
the Investment Operations Group (“Corporate Actions”). Research analysts and portfolio managers are responsible for determining
appropriate voting positions on each proxy utilizing any applicable guidelines contained in these procedures.
Client Authority
The Investment Management Agreement for each client
is reviewed at account start-up for proxy voting instructions. If an agreement is silent on proxy voting, but contains an overall delegation
of discretionary authority or if the account represents assets of an ERISA plan, Western Asset will assume responsibility for proxy voting.
The Portfolio Compliance Group maintains a matrix of proxy voting authority.
Proxy Gathering
Registered owners of record, client custodians, client
banks and trustees (“Proxy Recipients”) that receive proxy materials on behalf of clients should forward them to Corporate
Actions. Proxy Recipients for new clients (or, if Western Asset becomes aware that the applicable Proxy Recipient for an existing client
has changed, the Proxy Recipient for the existing client) are notified at start-up of appropriate routing to Corporate Actions of proxy
materials received and reminded of their responsibility to forward all proxy materials on a timely basis. If Western Asset personnel
other than Corporate Actions receive proxy materials, they should promptly forward the materials to Corporate Actions.
Proxy Voting
Once proxy materials are received by Corporate Actions,
they are forwarded to the Portfolio Compliance Group for coordination and the following actions:
Proxies are reviewed to determine accounts impacted.
Impacted accounts are checked to confirm Western
Asset voting authority.
Where appropriate, the Regulatory Affairs Group reviews
the issues presented to determine any material conflicts of interest. (See Conflicts of Interest section of these procedures for
further information on determining material conflicts of interest.)
If a material conflict of interest exists, (i) to
the extent reasonably practicable and permitted by applicable law, the client is promptly notified, the conflict is disclosed and Western
Asset obtains the client’s proxy voting instructions, and (ii) to the extent that it is not reasonably practicable or permitted
by applicable law to notify the client and obtain such instructions (e.g., the client is a mutual fund or other commingled vehicle or
is an ERISA plan client), Western Asset seeks voting instructions from an independent third party.
The Portfolio Compliance Group provides proxy material
to the appropriate research analyst or portfolio manager to obtain their recommended vote. Research analysts and portfolio managers determine
votes on a case-by-case basis taking into account the voting guidelines contained in these procedures. For avoidance of doubt, depending
on the best interest of each individual client, Western Asset may vote the same proxy differently for different clients. The analyst’s
or portfolio manager’s basis for their decision is documented and maintained by the Portfolio Compliance Group.
Portfolio Compliance Group votes the proxy pursuant
to the instructions received in (d) or (e) and returns the voted proxy as indicated in the proxy materials.
Timing
Western Asset’s Legal and Compliance Department
personnel act in such a manner to ensure that, absent special circumstances, the proxy gathering and proxy voting steps noted above can
be completed before the applicable deadline for returning proxy votes.
Recordkeeping
Western Asset maintains records of proxies voted
pursuant to Rule 204-2 of the Advisers Act and ERISA DOL Bulletin 94-2. These records include:
| • | A
copy of Western Asset’s proxy voting policies and procedures. |
Copies of proxy statements received with respect
to securities in client accounts.
A copy of any document created by Western Asset that
was material to making a decision how to vote proxies.
Each written client request for proxy voting records
and Western Asset’s written response to both verbal and written client requests.
A proxy log including:
| 2. | Exchange
ticker symbol of the issuer’s shares to be voted; |
| 3. | Committee
on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (“CUSIP”) number for the shares
to be voted; |
| 4. | A
brief identification of the matter voted on; |
| 5. | Whether
the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a shareholder of the issuer; |
| 6. | Whether
a vote was cast on the matter; |
| 7. | A
record of how the vote was cast; |
| 8. | Whether
the vote was cast for or against the recommendation of the issuer’s management team; |
| 9. | Funds
are required to categorize their votes so that investors can focus on the topics they find
important. Categories include, for example, votes related to director elections, extraordinary
transactions, say-on-pay, shareholder rights and defenses, and the environment or climate,
among others; and |
| 10. | Funds
are required to disclose the number of shares voted or instructed to be cast, as well as
the number of shares loaned but not recalled and, therefore, not voted by the fund. |
Records are maintained in an easily accessible place
for a period of not less than five (5) years with the first two (2) years in Western Asset’s offices.
Disclosure
Western Asset’s proxy policies and procedures
are described in the Firm’s Form ADV Part 2A. Clients are provided with a copy of these policies and procedures upon request. In
addition, clients may receive reports on how their proxies have been voted, upon request.
Conflicts of Interest
All proxiesthat potentially present conflicts of
interest are reviewed by the Regulatory Affairs Group for a materiality assessment . Issues to be reviewed include, but are not limited
to:
1. | Whether
Western Asset (or, to the extent required to be considered by applicable law, its affiliates)
manages assets for the company or an employee group of the company or otherwise has an interest
in the company; |
2. | Whether
Western Asset or an officer or director of Western Asset or the applicable portfolio manager
or analyst responsible for recommending the proxy vote (together, “Voting Persons”)
is a close relative of or has a personal or business relationship with an executive, director
or person who is a candidate for director of the company or is a participant in a proxy contest;
and |
3. | Whether
there is any other business or personal relationship where a Voting Person has a personal
interest in the outcome of the matter before shareholders. |
Voting Guidelines
Western Asset’s substantive voting decisions
are based on the particular facts and circumstances of each proxy vote and are evaluated by the designated research analyst or portfolio
manager. The examples outlined below are meant as guidelines to aid in the decision making process.
Situations can arise in which more than one Western
Asset client invests in instruments of the same issuer or in which a single client may invest in instruments of the same issuer but in
multiple accounts or strategies. Multiple clients or the same client in multiple accounts or strategies may have different investment
objectives, investment styles, or investment professionals involved in making decisions. While there may be differences, votes are always
cast in the best interests of the client and the investment objectives agreed with Western Asset. As a result, there may be circumstances
where Western Asset casts different votes on behalf of different clients or on behalf of the same client with multiple accounts or strategies.
Guidelines are grouped according to the types of
proposals generally presented to shareholders. Part I deals with proposals which have been approved and are recommended by a company’s
board of directors; Part II deals with proposals submitted by shareholders for inclusion in proxy statements; Part III addresses issues
relating to voting shares of investment companies; and Part IV addresses unique considerations pertaining to foreign issuers.
| I. | Board
Approved Proposals |
The vast majority of matters presented to shareholders
for a vote involve proposals made by a company itself that have been approved and recommended by its board of directors. In view of the
enhanced corporate governance practices currently being implemented in public companies, Western Asset generally votes in support of
decisions reached by independent boards of directors. More specific guidelines related to certain board-approved proposals are as follows:
| 1. | Matters
relating to the Board of Directors |
Western Asset votes proxies for the election of the
company’s nominees for directors and for board-approved proposals on other matters relating to the board of directors with the
following exceptions:
| a. | Votes
are withheld for the entire board of directors if the board does not have a majority of independent
directors or the board does not have nominating, audit and compensation committees composed
solely of independent directors. |
| b. | Votes
are withheld for any nominee for director who is considered an independent director by the
company and who has received compensation from the company other than for service as a director. |
| c. | Votes
are withheld for any nominee for director who attends less than 75% of board and committee
meetings without valid reasons for absences. |
| d. | Votes
are cast on a case-by-case basis in contested elections of directors. |
| 2. | Matters
relating to Executive Compensation |
Western Asset generally favors compensation programs
that relate executive compensation to a company’s long-term performance. Votes are cast on a case-by-case basis on board-approved
proposals relating to executive compensation, except as follows:
| a. | Except
where the firm is otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors, Western
Asset votes for stock option plans that will result in a minimal annual dilution. |
| b. | Western
Asset votes against stock option plans or proposals that permit replacing or repricing of
underwater options. |
| c. | Western
Asset votes against stock option plans that permit issuance of options with an exercise price
below the stock’s current market price. |
| d. | Except
where the firm is otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors, Western
Asset votes for employee stock purchase plans that limit the discount for shares purchased
under the plan to no more than 15% of their market value, have an offering period of 27 months
or less and result in dilution of 10% or less. |
| 3. | Matters
relating to Capitalization |
The Management of a company’s capital structure
involves a number of important issues, including cash flows, financing needs and market conditions that are unique to the circumstances
of each company. As a result, Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals involving changes to a company’s
capitalization except where Western Asset is otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors.
| a. | Western
Asset votes for proposals relating to the authorization of additional common stock. |
| b. | Western
Asset votes for proposals to effect stock splits (excluding reverse stock splits). |
| c. | Western
Asset votes for proposals authorizing share repurchase programs. |
| 4. | Matters
relating to Acquisitions, Mergers, Reorganizations and Other Transactions |
Western Asset votes these issues on a case-by-case
basis on board-approved transactions.
| 5. | Matters
relating to Anti-Takeover Measures |
Western Asset votes against board-approved proposals
to adopt anti-takeover measures except as follows:
| a. | Western
Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to ratify or approve shareholder rights
plans. |
| b. | Western
Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to adopt fair price provisions. |
Western Asset votes for board-approved proposals
approving such routine business matters such as changing the company’s name, ratifying the appointment of auditors and procedural
matters relating to the shareholder meeting.
| a. | Western
Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to amend a company’s charter or bylaws. |
| b. | Western
Asset votes against authorization to transact other unidentified, substantive business at
the meeting. |
| 7. | Reporting
of Financially Material Information |
Western Asset generally believes issuers should disclose
information that is material to their business. What qualifies as “material” can vary, so votes are cast on a case -by- case
basis but consistent with the overarching principle.
SEC regulations permit shareholders to submit proposals
for inclusion in a company’s proxy statement. These proposals generally seek to change some aspect of a company’s corporate
governance structure or to change some aspect of its business operations. Western Asset votes in accordance with the recommendation of
the company’s board of directors on all shareholder proposals, except as follows:
| 1. | Western
Asset votes for shareholder proposals to require shareholder approval of shareholder rights
plans. |
| 2. | Western
Asset votes for shareholder proposals that are consistent with Western Asset’s proxy
voting guidelines for board-approved proposals. |
| 3. | Western
Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on other shareholder proposals where the firm is otherwise
withholding votes for the entire board of directors. |
Environmental or social issues that are the subject
of a proxy vote will be considered on a case by case basis. Constructive proposals that seek to advance the health of the issuer and
the prospect for risk-adjusted returns to Western Assets clients are viewed more favorably than proposals that advance a single issue
or limit the ability of management to meet its operating objectives.
| III. | Voting
Shares of Investment Companies |
Western Asset may utilize shares of open or closed-end
investment companies to implement its investment strategies. Shareholder votes for investment companies that fall within the categories
listed in Parts I and II above are voted in accordance with those guidelines.
| 1. | Western
Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals relating to changes in the investment objectives
of an investment company taking into account the original intent of the fund and the role
the fund plays in the clients’ portfolios. |
| 2. | Western
Asset votes on a case-by-case basis all proposals that would result in increases in expenses
(e.g., proposals to adopt 12b-1 plans, alter investment advisory arrangements or approve
fund mergers) taking into account comparable expenses for similar funds and the services
to be provided. |
| IV. | Voting
Shares of Foreign Issuers |
In the event Western Asset is required to vote on
securities held in non-U.S. issuers – i.e. issuers that are incorporated under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction and that are
not listed on a U.S. securities exchange or the NASDAQ stock market, the following guidelines are used, which are premised on the existence
of a sound corporate governance and disclosure framework. These guidelines, however, may not be appropriate under some circumstances
for foreign issuers and therefore apply only where applicable.
| 1. | Western
Asset votes for shareholder proposals calling for a majority of the directors to be independent
of management. |
| 2. | Western
Asset votes for shareholder proposals seeking to increase the independence of board nominating,
audit and compensation committees. |
| 3. | Western
Asset votes for shareholder proposals that implement corporate governance standards similar
to those established under U.S. federal law and the listing requirements of U.S. stock exchanges,
and that do not otherwise violate the laws of the jurisdiction under which the company is
incorporated. |
| 4. | Western
Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals relating to (1) the issuance of common stock
in excess of 20% of a company’s outstanding common stock where shareholders do not
have preemptive rights, or (2) the issuance of common stock in excess of 100% of a company’s
outstanding common stock where shareholders have preemptive rights. |
| V. | Environmental,
Social and Governance (“ESG”) Matters |
Western Asset incorporates ESG considerations, among
other relevant risks, as part of the overall process where appropriate. The Firm seeks to identify and consider material risks to the
investment thesis, including material risks presented by ESG factors. While Western Asset is primarily a fixed income manager, opportunities
to vote proxies are considered on the investment merits of the instruments and strategies involved.
As a general proposition, Western Asset votes to
encourage disclosure of information material to their business. This principle extends to ESG matters. What qualifies as “material”
can vary, so votes are cast on a case by case basis but consistent with the overarching principle. Western Asset recognizes that objective
standards and criteria may not be available or universally agreed and that there may be different views and subjective analysis regarding
factors and their significance.
Targeted environmental or social issues that are
the subject of a proxy vote will be considered on a case by case basis. Constructive proposals that seek to advance the health of the
issuer and the prospect for risk-adjusted returns to Western Assets clients are viewed more favorably than proposals that advance a single
issue or limit the ability of management to meet its operating objectives.
For accounts subject to ERISA, as well as other retirement
accounts, Western Asset is presumed to have the responsibility to vote proxies for the client. The Department of Labor has issued a bulletin
that states that investment managers have the responsibility to vote proxies on behalf of Retirement Accounts unless the authority to
vote proxies has been specifically reserved to another named fiduciary. Furthermore, unless Western Asset is expressly precluded from
voting the proxies, the Department of Labor has determined that the responsibility remains with the investment manager.
In order to comply with the Department of Labor’s
position, Western Asset will be presumed to have the obligation to vote proxies for its retirement accounts unless Western Asset has
obtained a specific written instruction indicating that: (a) the right to vote proxies has been reserved to a named fiduciary of the
client, and (b) Western Asset is precluded from voting proxies on behalf of the client. If Western Asset does not receive such an instruction,
Western Asset will be responsible for voting proxies in the best interests of the retirement account client and in accordance with any
proxy voting guidelines provided by the client.
| ITEM
13. | INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS
OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
(a)(1): As of the date of filing this report:
NAME AND
ADDRESS |
LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S)
DURING
PAST 5 YEARS |
Michael
C. Buchanan
Western Asset
385 East Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101
|
Since 2024 |
Responsible
for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management
team; Co-Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset since 2023; employed by Western Asset
Management as an investment professional for at least the past five years. |
David
Fare
Western Asset
385 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101 |
Since
2006 |
Responsible
for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management
team; portfolio manager at Western Asset since 2005; prior to that time, Mr. Fare was with
Citigroup Asset Management or one of its affiliates since 1989. |
Robert
Amodeo
Western Asset
385 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
91101
|
Since
2007 |
Responsible
for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management
team; portfolio manager at Western Asset since 2005; prior to that time, Mr. Amodeo was a
Managing Director and portfolio manager with Salomon Brothers Asset Management Inc from 1992
to 2005. |
John
Mooney
Western Asset
385 East Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101 |
Since
2023 |
Responsible for the
day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; portfolio manager at Western Asset since
2005; prior to that time, Mr. Mooney was with Citigroup Asset Management, AIG/SunAmerica, and First Investors Management Company. |
Ryan Brist
Western Asset
385 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
91101
|
Since March 1, 2024 |
Responsible
for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management
team; Head of Investment-Grade Credit of Western Asset and has oversight of US credit research
as well as of the Municipal Team; employed by Western Asset Management as an investment professional
for at least the past five years. |
(a)(2): DATA TO BE PROVIDED BY FINANCIAL CONTROL
The following tables set forth certain additional information with respect
to the fund’s investment professionals for the fund. Unless noted otherwise, all information is provided as of October 31, 2024.
Other Accounts Managed by Investment Professionals
The table below identifies the number of accounts (other than the fund)
for which the fund’s investment professionals have day-to-day management responsibilities and the total assets in such accounts,
within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts.
For each category, the number of accounts and total assets in the accounts where fees are based on performance is also indicated.
Name of PM |
Type
of Account |
Number
of Accounts Managed |
Total
Assets Managed |
Number
of Accounts Managed for which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based |
Assets
Managed for which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based |
Michael
C. Buchanan ‡ |
Other
Registered Investment Companies |
73 |
$94.77
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Pooled Vehicles |
253 |
$60.24
billion |
21 |
$2.56
billion |
Other
Accounts |
522 |
$159.71
billion |
17 |
$9.83
billion |
David
T. Fare‡ |
Other
Registered Investment Companies |
16 |
$9.68
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Pooled Vehicles |
3 |
$3.18
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Accounts |
14 |
$4.19
billion |
None |
None |
Robert
Amodeo‡ |
Other
Registered Investment Companies |
17 |
$9.94
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Pooled Vehicles |
3 |
$3.18
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Accounts |
20 |
$7.09
billion |
None |
None |
John
Mooney‡ |
Other
Registered Investment Companies |
16 |
$8.88
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Pooled Vehicles |
3 |
$3.18
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Accounts |
20 |
$7.09
billion |
None |
None |
Ryan
Brist‡ |
Other
Registered Investment Companies |
29 |
$13.57
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Pooled Vehicles |
25 |
$14.62
billion |
None |
None |
Other
Accounts |
156 |
$65.80
billion |
5 |
$1.37
billion |
‡ The numbers above reflect the overall number
of portfolios managed by employees of Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”). Mr. Buchanan is involved in the
management of all the Firm’s portfolios,but not solely responsible for particular portfolios. Western Asset’s investment
discipline emphasizes a team approach that combines the efforts of groups of specialists working in different market sectors. They are
responsible for overseeing implementation of Western Asset’s overall investment ideas and coordinating the work of the various
sector teams. This structure ensures that client portfolios benefit from a consensus that draws on the expertise of all team members.
(a)(3): As of October 31, 2024:
Investment Professional Compensation
Conflicts of Interest
The Subadviser has adopted compliance policies and procedures
to address a wide range of potential conflicts of interest that could directly impact client portfolios. For example, potential conflicts
of interest may arise in connection with the management of multiple portfolios (including portfolios managed in a personal capacity).
These could include potential conflicts of interest related to the knowledge and timing of a portfolio’s trades, investment opportunities
and broker selection. Portfolio managers are privy to the size, timing, and possible market impact of a portfolio’s trades.
It is possible that an investment opportunity may be
suitable for both a portfolio and other accounts managed by a portfolio manager, but may not be available in sufficient quantities for
both the portfolio and the other accounts to participate fully. Similarly, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held
by a portfolio and another account. A conflict may arise where the portfolio manager may have an incentive to treat an account preferentially
as compared to a portfolio because the account pays a performance-based fee or the portfolio manager, the Subadviser or an affiliate
has an interest in the account. The Subadviser has adopted procedures for allocation of portfolio transactions and investment opportunities
across multiple client accounts on a fair and equitable basis over time. Eligible accounts that can participate in a trade generally
share the same price on a pro-rata allocation basis, taking into account differences based on factors such as cash availability, investment
restrictions and guidelines, and portfolio composition versus strategy.
With respect to securities transactions, the Subadviser
determines which broker or dealer to use to execute each order, consistent with their duty to seek best execution of the transaction.
However, with respect to certain other accounts (such as pooled investment vehicles that are not registered investment companies and
other accounts managed for organizations and individuals), the Subadviser may be limited by the client with respect to the selection
of brokers or dealers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker or dealer. In these cases, trades for a portfolio
in a particular security may be placed separately from, rather than aggregated with, such other accounts. Having separate transactions
with respect to a security may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the
possible detriment of a portfolio or the other account(s) involved. Additionally, the management of multiple portfolios and/or other
accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each portfolio and/or other account.
The Subadviser’s team approach to portfolio management and block trading approach seeks to limit this potential risk.
The Subadviser also maintains a gift and entertainment
policy to address the potential for a business contact to give gifts or host entertainment events that may influence the business judgment
of an employee. Employees are permitted to retain gifts of only a nominal value and are required to make reimbursement for entertainment
events above a certain value. All gifts (except those of a de minimis value) and entertainment events that are given or sponsored by
a business contact are required to be reported in a gift and entertainment log which is reviewed on a regular basis for possible issues.
Employees of the Subadviser have access to transactions
and holdings information regarding client accounts and the Subadviser’s overall trading activities. This information represents
a potential conflict of interest because employees may take advantage of this information as they trade in their personal accounts. Accordingly,
the Subadviser maintains a Code of Ethics that is compliant with Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act
to address personal trading. In addition, the Code of Ethics seeks to establish broader principles of good conduct and fiduciary responsibility
in all aspects of the Subadviser’s business. The Code of Ethics is administered by the Legal and Compliance Department and monitored
through the Subadviser’s compliance monitoring program.
The Subadviser may also face other potential conflicts
of interest with respect to managing client assets, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict of interest
that could be deemed to exist. The Subadviser also maintains a compliance monitoring program and engages independent auditors toconduct
a SOC1/ISAE 3402 audit on an annual basis. These steps help to ensure that potential conflicts of interest have been addressed.
Investment Professional Compensation
With respect to the compensation of the Fund’s
investment professionals, the Subadviser’s compensation system assigns each employee a total compensation range, which is derived
from annual market surveys that benchmark each role with its job function and peer universe. This method is designed to reward employees
with total compensation reflective of the external market value of their skills, experience and ability to produce desired results. Standard
compensation includes competitive base salaries, generous employee benefits and a retirement plan.
In addition, the Subadviser’s employees are eligible
for bonuses. These are structured to closely align the interests of employees with those of the Subadviser, and are determined by the
professional’s job function and pre-tax performance as measured by a formal review process. All bonuses are completely discretionary.
The principal factor considered is an investment professional’s investment performance versus appropriate peer groups and benchmarks
(e.g., a securities index and with respect to the Fund, the benchmark set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus to which the Fund’s
average annual total returns are compared or, if none, the benchmark set forth in the Fund’s annual report). Performance is reviewed
on a 1, 3 and 5 year basis for compensation—with 3 and 5 years having a larger emphasis. The Subadviser may also measure an investment
professional’s pre-tax investment performance against other benchmarks, as it determines appropriate. Because investment professionals
are generally responsible for multiple accounts (including the Fund) with similar investment strategies, they are generally compensated
on the performance of the aggregate group of similar accounts, rather than a specific account. Other factors that may be considered when
making bonus decisions include client service, business development, length of service to the Subadviser, management or supervisory responsibilities,
contributions to developing business strategy and overall contributions to the Subadviser’s business.
Finally, in order to attract and retain top talent,
all investment professionals are eligible for additional incentives in recognition of outstanding performance. These are determined based
upon the factors described above and include long-term incentives that vest over a set period of time past the award date.
(a)(4): Investment Professional Securities Ownership
The table below identifies the dollar range of securities
beneficially owned by each investment professional as of October 31, 2024.
|
|
|
Portfolio
Manager(s)
|
|
Dollar
Range of
Portfolio Securities Beneficially Owned
|
Michael Buchanan |
|
A |
David T. Fare |
|
A |
Robert Amodeo |
|
A |
John Mooney |
|
A |
Ryan Brist |
|
A |
Dollar Range ownership is as follows:
A: none
B: $1 - $10,000
C: 10,001 - $50,000
D: $50,001 - $100,000
E: $100,001 - $500,000
F: $500,001 - $1 million
G: over $1 million
| ITEM
14. | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
Not applicable.
| ITEM
15. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE
OF SECURITY HOLDERS. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM
16. | 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 period covered by this report
that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect the registrant’s
internal control over financial reporting. |
| ITEM
17. | DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING
ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM
18. | RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED
COMPENSATION. |
(a) (1) Code of Ethics attached hereto.
Exhibit 99.CODE ETH
(a) (2) Certifications
pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.
Exhibit 99.CERT
(b)
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.
Exhibit 99.906CERT
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,
there unto duly authorized.
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. |
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By: |
/s/ Jane Trust |
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Jane Trust |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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Date: |
December 23, 2024 |
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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/ Jane Trust |
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Jane Trust |
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Chief Executive Officer |
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Date: |
December 23, 2024 |
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By: |
/s/ Christopher
Berarducci |
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Christopher Berarducci |
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Principal Financial Officer |
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Date: |
December 23, 2024 |
|
Code of Conduct
for Principal Executive and Financial Officers (SOX)
Covered Officers and Purpose of the Code
The Funds’ code of ethics (the “Code”)
for investment companies within the Legg Mason family of mutual funds (each a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”)
applies to each Fund’s Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer, and Controller (the “Covered Officers”)
for the purpose of promoting:
| • | honest and ethical conduct, including ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between
personal and professional relationships; |
| • | full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents a registrant files
with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in other public communications made by the Funds; |
| • | compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations; |
| • | prompt internal reporting of Code violations to appropriate persons identified in the Code; and |
| • | accountability for adherence to the Code. |
Each Covered Officer should adhere to a high standard
of business ethics and should be sensitive to situations that may give rise to actual as well as apparent conflicts of interest.
Covered Officers Should Ethically Handle Actual
and Apparent Conflicts of Interest
A “conflict of interest” occurs when a
Covered Officer’s private interest interferes with the interests of, or his or her service to, a Fund. For example, a conflict of
interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his or her family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his or
her position with a Fund.
Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships
between Covered Officers and a Fund and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“Investment
Company Act”) and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Investment Advisers Act”). For example, Covered Officers may
not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property) with a Fund because of
their status as “affiliated persons” of the Fund. The Funds’ and the investment advisers’ compliance programs
and procedures are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended
to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code.
Although typically not presenting an opportunity for
improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between a Fund and an investment adviser
of which Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes Covered Officers will, in the normal course
of their duties (whether formally for a Fund or for the adviser, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and
implementing decisions that will have different effects
on the adviser and the Funds. The participation of Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between
a Fund and an adviser and is consistent with the performance by Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Funds. Thus, if performed
in conformity with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, such activities will be deemed to have
been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Funds’ Boards of Directors/Trustees (“Boards”) that Covered
Officers may also be officers or employees of one or more other investment companies covered by this or other codes and that such service,
by itself does not give rise to a conflict of interest.
Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code,
even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The following
list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind these examples are not exhaustive.
The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of a
Fund.
Each Covered Officer must:
| • | not use his or her personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions
or financial reporting by a Fund; |
| • | not cause a Fund to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered
Officer rather than the benefit the Fund; and, |
| • | not use material non-public knowledge of portfolio transactions made or contemplated for the Trust to
trade personally or cause others to trade personally in contemplation of the market effect of such transactions. |
There are some actual or potential conflict of interest
situations that, if material, should always be discussed with the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) or designate that has been
appointed by the Board of the Funds. Examples of these include:
| • | service as a director on the board of any public company (other than the Funds or their investment advisers
or any affiliated person thereof); |
| • | the receipt of any non-nominal gifts (i.e., in excess of $100); |
| • | the receipt of any entertainment from any company with which a Fund has current or prospective business
dealings unless such entertainment is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to
raise any question of impropriety; |
| • | any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any of the Funds’
service providers (other than their investment advisers, or principal underwriter, or any affiliated person thereof); |
| • | a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by a Fund
for effecting portfolio transactions or for selling or redeeming shares other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer’s
employment, such as compensation or equity ownership. |
Disclosure and Compliance
Each Covered Officer should:
| • | familiarize him or herself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Funds; |
| • | not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about a Fund to others, whether within
or outside the Fund, including to the Fund’s Directors/Trustees and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory
organizations; and |
| • | to the extent appropriate within his or her area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees
of the Funds and the advisers with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and
documents the Funds file with, or submit to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Funds. |
It is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to
promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Reporting and Accountability
Each Covered Officer must:
| • | upon adoption of the Code (or thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing
to the Board that he or she has received, read, and understands the Code; |
| • | annually thereafter affirm to the Board that he or she has complied with the requirements of the Code; |
| • | not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of the Funds or their advisers or any
affiliated persons thereof or service providers of the Funds for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith; |
| • | notify the CCO promptly if he or she knows of any violation of this Code, of which failure to do so is
itself a violation; and |
| • | report at least annually, if necessary, any employment position, including officer or directorships, held
by the Covered Officer or any immediate family member of a Covered Officer with affiliated persons of or Service Providers to the Funds. |
The CCO is responsible for applying this Code to specific
situations in which questions are presented and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. However, approvals
or waivers sought by a Covered Officer will be considered by the Compliance Committee or Audit Committee, (the “Committee”)
responsible for oversight of the Fund’s code of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act. If a Covered Officer seeking
an approval or waiver sits on the Committee, the Covered Person shall recuse him or herself from any such deliberations. Any approval
or waiver granted by the Committee will be reported promptly to the Chair of the Audit Committees of the Funds.
The Funds will follow these procedures in investigating
and enforcing this Code:
| • | the CCO will take all appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him, which
actions may include the use of internal or external counsel, accountants or other personnel; |
| • | if, after such investigation, the CCO believes that no violation has occurred, the CCO is not required
to take any further action; |
| • | any matter that the CCO believes is a violation will be reported to the Committee; |
| • | if the Committee concurs that a violation has occurred, it will inform the Board, which will consider
appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to
appropriate personnel of the investment adviser or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer; |
| • | the Committee will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate; and, |
| • | any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules. |
Other Policies and Procedures
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics
adopted by the Funds for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered
investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Funds, the Funds’ advisers, principal
underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of Covered Officers subject to this
Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. The Funds’ and
their investment advisers’ and principal underwriter’s codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act
are separate requirements applying to Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this Code.
Confidentiality
All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant
to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or
this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the appropriate Board and Fund counsel, and the board of Directors/Trustees
and fund counsel of any other investment company for whom a Covered Officer serves in a similar capacity.
Annual Report
No less than annually, the CCO shall provide the Board
with a written report describing any issues having arisen since the prior year’s report.
Internal Use
This Code is intended solely for the internal use by
the Funds and does not constitute an admission by or on behalf of any Fund, as to any fact, circumstance or legal consideration.
CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 302
EX-99.CERT
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Jane Trust, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this report on
Form N-CSR of Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under
which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other
financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations,
changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant
as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company
Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for
the registrant and have: |
| a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures,
or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to
the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the
period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b) | Designed such internal control over financial
reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s
disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and
procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s
internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officers
and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons
performing the equivalent functions): |
| a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses
in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s
ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and |
| b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Date: |
December 23, 2024 |
|
/s/ Jane Trust |
|
|
|
Jane Trust |
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Christopher Berarducci, certify that:
| 1. | I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of Western
Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc.; |
| 2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
| 3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial information
included in this report, and the financial statements on which the financial information is based, fairly present in all material respects
the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include
a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
| 4. | The registrant’s other certifying officers
and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment
Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940)
for the registrant and have: |
| | |
| a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision,
to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others
within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
| b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under
our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements
for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90
days prior to the filing date of this report based on such evaluation; and |
| d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period
covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting; and |
| 5. | The registrant’s other certifying officers
and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons
performing the equivalent functions): |
| a) | All significant deficiencies and material
weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect
the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and |
| | |
| b) | Any fraud, whether
or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting. |
Date: |
December 23, 2024 |
|
/s/ Christopher Berarducci |
|
|
|
Christopher Berarducci |
|
|
|
Principal Financial Officer |
CERTIFICATIONS
PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
EX-99.906CERT
CERTIFICATION
Jane Trust, Chief Executive Officer, and Christopher
Berarducci, Principal Financial Officer of Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. (the “Registrant”),
each certify to the best of their knowledge that:
1.
The Registrant’s periodic report on Form N-CSR for
the period ended October 31, 2024 (the “Form N-CSR”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of 1934, as amended; and
2.
The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents,
in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant.
Chief Executive Officer |
|
Principal Financial Officer |
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. |
|
Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc. |
|
|
|
/s/ Jane Trust |
|
/s/ Christopher Berarducci |
Jane Trust |
|
Christopher Berarducci |
Date: December 23, 2024 |
|
Date: December 23, 2024 |
This certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission
solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR with the Commission.
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