-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, EYBf4GRgPVvdnreYJobY5tLDHM7RCpFV4e9o6AFcL8OdL4+4YasYsnR/hAeYdwHw 4yD6zJLUwd6VgoT8NsBX3w== 0001048703-05-000137.txt : 20050829 0001048703-05-000137.hdr.sgml : 20050829 20050829110816 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001048703-05-000137 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050829 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050829 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SALOMON BROTHERS FUND INC /DE/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000205545 IRS NUMBER: 135200790 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-80682 FILM NUMBER: 051053771 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 399 PARK AVENUE STREET 2: C/O SALOMON BROS. ASSET MANAGEMENT INC. CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10022 BUSINESS PHONE: 1-800-725-6666 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 399 PARK AVENUE STREET 2: C/O SALOMON BROS. ASSET MANAGEMENT INC. CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10022 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: LEHMAN CORP/NEW/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19900916 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: LEHMAN CORP OF MARYLAND INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19900916 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: KARPUS MANAGEMENT INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001048703 IRS NUMBER: 161290550 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NY FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 14 TOBEY VILLAGE OFFICE PARK CITY: PITTSFORD STATE: NY ZIP: 14534 BUSINESS PHONE: 7165864680 SC 13D 1 sbf09-05.txt SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Salomon Brothers Fund, Inc. (SBF) (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 795477108 (CUSIP Number) George W. Karpus, President Karpus Management, Inc. d/b/a Karpus Investment Management 183 Sullys Trail Pittsford, New York 14534 (585) 586-4680 (Name, Address, and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) August 29, 2005 (Date of Event which requires Filing of this Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is subject of this Schedule 13D, and if filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b) (3) or (4), check the following box. [ ] (Page 1 of 7 pages) ITEM 1 Security and Issuer Common Stock Salomon Brothers Fund, Inc. Salomon Brothers Asset Management, Inc. 399 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 ITEM 2 Identity and Background a) Karpus Management, Inc., d/b/a Karpus Investment Management (?KIM?) George W. Karpus, President, Director, and controlling stockholder JoAnn Van Degriff, Vice President and Director Sophie Karpus, Director b) 183 Sullys Trail Pittsford, New York 14534 c) Principal business and occupation - Investment Management for individuals, pension, and profit sharing plans, corporations, endowments, trust, and others, specializing in conservative asset management (i.e. fixed income investments). d) None of George W. Karpus, Jo Ann Van Degriff or Sophie Karpus (?the Principals?) or KIM has been convicted in the past 5 years of any criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations). e) During the last 5 years none of the Principals or KIM has been a party to a civil proceeding as a result of which any of them is subject to a judgment, decree, or final order enjoining future violations of or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. f) Each of the Principals is a United States citizen. KIM is a New York corporation. ITEM 3 Source and Amount of Funds or Other Considerations KIM, an independent investment advisor, has accumulated 1,474,748 shares of SBF on behalf of accounts that are managed by KIM (?the Accounts?) under limited powers of attorney, which represents 1.49% of the outstanding shares. All funds that have been utilized in making such purchases are from such Accounts. ITEM 4 Purpose of Transaction a) KIM has purchased Shares for investment purposes. Being primarily a conservative, fixed income manager, with a specialty focus in the closed end fund sector, the profile of SBF fit the investment guidelines for various Accounts. Shares have been acquired since November 13, 2001. b) Although originally purchased for investment purposes only, a letter was sent to the Board on August 26, 2005. This letter outlines our frustration with the fund?s persistently wide discount to net asset value and our support of other shareholders that seek the Board to address this discount (Exhibit One). ITEM 5 Interest in Securities of the Issuer a) As of the date of this Report, KIM owns 1,474,748 shares, which represent 1.49% of the outstanding shares. George Karpus presently owns 22,280 shares purchased January 12, 2004 at $12.24 (1115 shares), April 26 at $12.19 (20 shares), May 3 at $11.88 (20 shares), July 29 and 30 at $11.79 (605 shares), August 11 at $11.46 (455 shares), August 12 at $11.47 (370 shares), August 18 at $11.57 (305 shares), August 23 at $11.76 (125 shares), August 30 at $11.83 (3000 shares), September 3 at $11.94 (520 shares), November 4 at $12.33 (200 shares), November 5 at $12.42 (45 shares), August 9, 2005 at $14.02 (5000 shares), August 10 and 12 at $14.00 (1500 shares) and August 11 at 14.07 (9000 shares). Jo Ann Van Degriff presently owns 1695 shares purchased on January 9, 2004 at $12.25 (535 shares) and July 8 at $12.01 (1160 shares). Dana Consler presently owns 2120 shares purchased on December 5 and 6, 2001 at $12.68 (180 shares), January 10, 2002 at $12.62 (50 shares), February 19, 26, and 27 at $12.07 (150 shares), March 1 at $12.29 (50 shares), August 19, 20, 26, and 27 at $9.92, September 20 at $8.85 (200 shares), February 11, 2003 at $8.62 (200 shares), August 5 at $10.60 (305 shares), August 15 at $10.75 (75 shares), August 20 at $10.82 (50 shares), April 26, 2004 at $12.19 (20 shares), May 3 at $11.88 (20 shares), July 7 at $12.04 (535 shares) and September 28 at $11.92 (85 shares). Kathy Crane currently holds 100 shares purchased on July 14, 2005 at $13.47. Karpus Investment Management Profit Sharing Plan presently owns 820 shares purchased on November 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, and 29, 2001 at $12.53 (820 shares), December 3 and 27 at $12.35 (300 shares), January 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, and 29, 2002 at $12.50 (1250 shares), February 5, 11, 14, 15, 25, 26, and 28 at $12.11 (375 shares), March 4 at $12.34 (25 shares), June 24 at $10.59 (850 shares), July 11, 15, 17, 18, and 22 at $9.52 (900 shares), August 8, 13, 26, and 27 at $9.64 (300 shares), September 25 at $8.59 (150 shares), March 17 and 19, 2003 at $8.79 (400 shares), July 2 and 3 at $10.73 (1500 shares), October 21 and 22 at $11.29 (3195 shares), April 22, 23, and 26, 2004 at $12.21 (610 shares), May 3 at $11.88 (10 shares), June 21 at $12.09 (410 shares), July 15 and 26 at $11.77 (1000 shares) and October 28 and 29 at $12.04 (620 shares). Karpus Investment Management Defined Benefit Plan currently owns 295 shares purchased September 2 and 3, 2004 at $11.94 (205 shares) and October 18, 19, and 28 at $11.92 (90 shares). None of the other Principals of KIM currently owns shares of SBF. b) KIM has the sole power to dispose of and to vote all such Shares under limited powers of attorney. c) Below are the open market purchases in the last 60 days for the Accounts. There have been no dispositions and no acquisition, other than by such open market purchases, during such period. Date Shares Price Per Date Shares Price Per Share Share 6/22/2005 75 13 7/26/2005 - -215 13.7 6/22/2005 - -4550 13.03 7/27/2005 - -725 13.77 6/23/2005 785 12.95 7/29/2005 25,700 13.91 6/23/2005 - -5000 13.04 8/1/2005 1670 13.92 6/24/2005 - -8000 12.94 8/2/2005 11500 13.94 6/27/2005 - -17,000 12.94 8/2/2005 - -1700 13.93 6/28/2005 - -13,500 12.99 8/3/2005 260 14.02 6/29/2005 70 13.07 8/4/2005 5000 14 6/29/2005 - -6200 13.04 8/5/2005 1150 13.96 6/30/2005 - -3000 13.09 8/9/2005 5000 14.02 7/1/2005 - -7900 13.06 8/10/2005 7560 14.04 7/5/2005 - -7100 13.08 8/11/2005 14000 14.04 7/6/2005 - -2000 13.14 8/12/2005 1000 14 7/7/2005 - -5000 13.09 8/15/2005 - -9000 14.03 7/8/2005 1630 13.22 8/16/2005 - -20500 13.91 7/8/2005 - -4500 13.17 7/11/2005 - -2000 13.26 7/12/2005 - -5000 13.38 7/13/2005 - -5000 13.4 7/14/2005 4170 13.47 7/14/2005 - -4500 13.47 7/15/2005 - -7000 13.53 7/18/2005 800 13.49 7/20/2005 100 13.53 7/20/2005 - -665 13.63 The Accounts have the right to receive all dividends from, and any proceeds from the sale of the Shares. None of the Accounts has an interest in Shares constituting more than 5% of the Shares outstanding. ITEM 6 Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings, or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer Except as described above, there are no contracts, arrangement, understandings or relationships of any kind among the Principals and KIM and between any of them and any other person with respect to any of the SBF securities. ITEM 7 Materials to be Filed as Exhibits Not applicable Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Karpus Management, Inc. August 29 2005 By: _________________________ Date Signature Tom M. Duffy, Client Support Manager Name /Title Exhibit One Letter sent to the Board on August 26th Salomon Brothers Fund, Inc. August 26, 2005 Salomon Brothers Asset Management Attn: R. Jay Gerken, CFA, Chairman 399 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 Members of the Board, I am writing to the Board to express our concurrence with the concerns raised by Elliott International in a recent schedule 13D filed on August 19, 2005. We are beneficial owners of 1,474,748 shares of the Salomon Brothers Fund, Inc. (SBF) as of August 22, 2005 (the record date of the upcoming special meeting of shareholders). As long term shareholders of SBF, we have grown frustrated with the failure of management to adequately address the fund?s wide and persistent discount to net asset value. From December 21, 2001 to August 1, 2005, the fund traded at a double digit discount to net asset value with an average discount of roughly 14 percent. What actions did the Board take during this time frame to narrow the fund?s discount to net asset value? I propose that the recent narrowing of the fund?s discount was brought about by the actions of fund shareholders and not fund management. On July 12, 2005, one of the fund?s largest shareholders, represented by Mr. Arthur Lipson, filed a schedule 13D stating his concern over the fund?s wide discount to net asset value. The filing goes on to state that he would like management to ?take appropriate action to cause the discount to net asset value to be eliminated or reduced?. Since this filing, the fund?s discount has narrowed from approximately 12.5 percent to 8.4 percent (as of August 23). I believe that when investors were presented with a glimmer of hope that someone was going to address the fund?s discount; they regained confidence and bid up the market price. There was no other event that could explain this significant narrowing of discount to net asset value. On August 19th the fund?s largest shareholder, Elliot International, filed a schedule 13D which outlined their frustration with the persistently wide discount and their intention to ?oppose approval of the new investment management agreement? and to consider ?all their options, including meeting with management?..and/or soliciting proxies from other shareholders?..to oppose approval?. The will of fund shareholders should be clear to the Board. Your duty is to enhance the value of our shares and this should be done prior to ?handing the baton? to a new management team. I implore the Board to at least seek the feedback of the fund?s largest shareholders regarding viable means of closing the fund?s discount prior to the approval of a new investment management contract. I urge other shareholders to express their opinions to the Board of SBF. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Cody Bartlett Jr., CFA -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----