Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)
1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
The Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. (the “Fund”), a Maryland corporation, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”), as amended, as a non-diversified, open-end management investment company.
The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). 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.
(a) Investment Valuation. Securities are valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices provided by an independent pricing service that are based on transactions in municipal obligations, quotations from municipal bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available or are determined not to reflect fair value, will be valued in good faith by or under the direction of the Fund’s Board of Directors. Short-term obligations with maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates value.
(b) Financial Futures Contracts. The Fund may enter into financial futures contracts typically to hedge a portion of its portfolio. Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit cash or securities as initial margin. Additional securities are also segregated up to the current market value of the financial futures contracts. Subsequent payments, known as variation margin, are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation in the value of the underlying financial instruments. The Fund recognizes an unrealized gain or loss equal to the daily variation margin. When the financial futures contracts are closed, a realized gain or loss is recognized equal to the difference between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transactions and the Fund’s basis in the contracts.
The risks associated with entering into financial futures contracts include the possibility that a change in the value of the contract may not correlate with the changes in the value of the underlying instruments. In addition, investing in financial futures contracts involves the risk that the Fund could lose more than the original margin deposit and subsequent payments required for a futures transaction. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
(c) Fund Concentration. Since the Fund invests primarily in obligations of issuers within California, it is subject to possible concentration risks associated with the economic, political, or legal developments or industrial or regional matters specifically affecting California.
(d) Security Transactions and Investment Income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method. To the extent any issuer defaults on an expected interest payment, the Fund’s policy is to generally halt any
26 | Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report |
additional interest income accruals and consider the realizability of interest accrued up to the date of default.
Smith Barney Fund Management LLC (“SBFM”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Citigroup Inc. (“Citigroup”), acts as investment adviser to the Fund. The Fund pays SBFM an advisory fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.
SBFM also acts as the Fund’s administrator for which the Fund pays a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.20% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to $500 million and 0.18% of the Fund’s average daily net assets in excess of $500 million. This fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.
Citicorp Trust Bank, fsb. (“CTB”), another subsidiary of Citigroup, acts as the Fund’s transfer agent. PFPC Inc. (“PFPC”) and Primerica Shareholder Services (“PSS”), another subsidiary of Citigroup, act as the Fund’s sub-transfer agents. CTB receives account fees and asset-based fees that vary according to the size and type of account. PFPC and PSS are responsible for shareholder recordkeeping and financial processing for all shareholder accounts and are paid by CTB. For the six months ended August 31, 2005, the Fund paid transfer agent fees of $62,486 to CTB.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGM”) and PFS Distributors, Inc., both of which are subsidiaries of Citigroup, act as the Fund’s distributors.
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
There is a maximum sales charge of 4.00% for Class A shares. There is a contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) of 4.50% on Class B shares, which applies if redemption occurs within one year from purchase payment. This CDSC declines by 0.50% the first year after purchase payment and thereafter by 1.00% per year until no CDSC is incurred. Class C shares have a 1.00% CDSC, which applies if redemption occurs within one year from purchase payment. In addition, Class A shares have a 1.00% CDSC, which applies if redemption occurs within one year from purchase payment. This CDSC only applies to those purchases of Class A shares, which, when combined with current holdings of Class A shares, equal or exceed $500,000 in the aggregate. These purchases do not incur an initial sales charge.
For the six months ended August 31, 2005, CGM and its affiliates received sales charges of approximately $153,000 on sales of the Fund’s Class A shares. In addition, for the six months ended August 31, 2005, CDSCs paid to CGM and its affiliates were approximately:
| Class A | Class B | Class C |
CDSCs | $5,000 | $60,000 | $2,000 |
Certain officers and one Director of the Fund are employees of Citigroup or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Fund.
3. Investments
During the six months ended August 31, 2005, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding short-term investments) were as follows:
| |
Purchases | $34,786,045 |
Sales | 64,351,558 |
At August 31, 2005, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:
| |
Gross unrealized appreciation | $99,067,475 |
Gross unrealized depreciation | (10,974) |
Net unrealized appreciation | $99,056,501 |
At August 31, 2005, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:
| | Number of Contracts | | Expiration Date | | Basis Value | | Market Value | | Unrealized Loss |
Contracts to Sell: U.S.Treasury Bond | | 2,355 | | 9/05 | | $273,915,938 | | $278,773,125 | | $(4,857,187) |
28 | Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
4. Class Specific Expenses
Pursuant to a Rule 12b-1Distribution Plan, the Fund pays a service fee with respect to its Class A, B and C shares calculated at the annual rate of 0.15% of the average daily net assets of each respective class. The Fund also pays a distribution fee with respect to its Class B and C shares calculated at the annual rate of 0.50% and 0.55% of the average daily net assets of each class, respectively. For the six months ended August 31, 2005, total Distribution fees, which are accrued daily and paid monthly, were as follows:
| | | | | | Class A | | Class B | | Class C | |
Distribution Fees | | | | | | $526,962 | | $303,224 | | $205,801 | |
For the six months ended August 31, 2005, total Transfer Agent fees were as follows:
| | | | | | Class A | | Class B | | Class C | |
Transfer Agent Fees | | | | | | $76,183 | | $21,574 | | $9,184 | |
For the six months ended August 31, 2005, total Shareholder Reports expenses were as follows:
| | | | | | Class A | | Class B | | Class C | |
Shareholder Reports Expenses | | | | | | $36,807 | | $9,761 | | $3,901 | |
5. Distributions to Shareholders by Class
| | Six Months Ended August 31, 2005 | | Year Ended February 28, 2005 | |
| | | | | |
Net Investment Income | | | | | | | | |
Class A | | | $ | 14,931,512 | | | | $ | 30,742,424 | | |
Class B | | | | 1,725,439 | | | | | 4,416,197 | | |
Class C† | | | | 1,084,397 | | | | | 2,255,827 | | |
Total | | | $ | 17,741,348 | | | | $ | 37,414,448 | | |
† On April 29, 2004, Class L shares were renamed as Class C shares.
6. Capital Shares
At August 31, 2005, the Fund had 500 million shares of capital stock authorized with a par value of $0.001 per share. The Fund has the ability to issue multiple classes of shares. Each share of a class represents an identical interest in the Fund and has the same rights, except that each class bears certain expenses specifically related to the distribution of its shares.
Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report | 29 |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
Transactions in shares of each class were as follows:
| | Six Months Ended August 31, 2005 | | Year Ended February 28, 2005 | |
| | Shares | | Amount | | Shares | | Amount | |
Class A | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 4,223,404 | | $ | 69,410,976 | | 5,034,785 | | $ | 83,488,925 | |
Shares issued on reinvestment | | 474,980 | | | 7,786,974 | | 963,842 | | | 15,939,163 | |
Shares repurchased | | (4,660,397 | ) | | (76,367,839) | | (6,331,224 | ) | | (104,908,970) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) | | 37,987 | | $ | 830,111 | | (332,597) | | $ | (5,480,882) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Class B | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 82,597 | | $ | 1,354,036 | | 264,137 | | $ | 4,370,175 | |
Shares issued on reinvestment | | 52,192 | | | 854,399 | | 133,699 | | | 2,208,346 | |
Shares repurchased | | (1,067,202 | ) | | (17,488,204) | | (2,161,676) | | | (35,795,842) | |
Net Decrease | | (932,413 | ) | $ | (15,279,769) | | (1,763,840) | | $ | (29,217,321) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Class C† | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | 177,249 | | $ | 2,900,729 | | 441,889 | | $ | 7,311,161 | |
Shares issued on reinvestment | | 40,724 | | | 665,975 | | 85,626 | | | 1,412,600 | |
Shares repurchased | | (241,846 | ) | | (3,962,686 | ) | (525,240) | | | (8,684,105) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) | | (23,873 | ) | $ | (395,982 | ) | 2,275 | | $ | 39,656 | |
† On April 29, 2004, Class L shares were renamed as Class C shares.
7. Regulatory Matters and Related Litigation
On May 31, 2005, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued an order in connection with the settlement of an administrative proceeding against Smith Barney Fund Management LLC (“SBFM”) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”) relating to the appointment of an affiliated transfer agent for the Smith Barney family of mutual funds (the “Funds”).
The SEC order finds that SBFM and CGMI willfully violated Section 206(1) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”). Specifically, the order finds that SBFM and CGMI knowingly or recklessly failed to disclose to the boards of the Funds in 1999 when proposing a new transfer agent arrangement with an affiliated transfer agent that: First Data Investors Services Group (“First Data”), the Funds’ then-existing transfer agent, had offered to continue as transfer agent and do the same work for substantially less money than before; and that Citigroup Asset Management (“CAM”), the Citigroup business unit that includes the fund’s investment manager and other investment advisory companies, had entered into a side letter with First Data under which CAM agreed to recommend the appointment of First Data as sub-transfer agent to the affiliated transfer agent in exchange, among other things, for a guarantee by First Data of specified amounts of asset management and investment banking fees to CAM and CGMI. The order also finds that SBFM and CGMI willfully violated Section 206(2) of the Advisers Act by virtue of the omissions discussed above and other misrepresentations and omissions in the materials provided to the Funds’ boards, including the failure to make clear that the
30 | Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
affiliated transfer agent would earn a high profit for performing limited functions while First Data continued to perform almost all of the transfer agent functions, and the suggestion that the proposed arrangement was in the Funds’ best interests and that no viable alternatives existed. SBFM and CGMI do not admit or deny any wrongdoing or liability. The settlement does not establish wrongdoing or liability for purposes of any other proceeding.
The SEC censured SBFM and CGMI and ordered them to cease and desist from violations of Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act. The order requires Citigroup to pay $208.1 million, including $109 million in disgorgement of profits, $19.1 million in interest, and a civil money penalty of $80 million. Approximately $24.4 million has already been paid to the Funds, primarily through fee waivers. The remaining $183.7 million, including the penalty, has been paid to the U.S. Treasury and will be distributed pursuant to a plan prepared by Citigroup and submitted for approval by the SEC. The order also requires that transfer agency fees received from the Funds since December 1, 2004 less certain expenses be placed in escrow and provides that a portion of such fees may be subsequently distributed in accordance with the terms of the order.
The order requires SBFM to recommend a new transfer agent contract to the Fund boards within 180 days of the entry of the order; if a Citigroup affiliate submits a proposal to serve as transfer agent or sub-transfer agent, an independent monitor must be engaged at the expense of SBFM and CGMI to oversee a competitive bidding process. Under the order, Citigroup also must comply with an amended version of a vendor policy that Citigroup instituted in August 2004. That policy, as amended, among other things, requires that when requested by a Fund board, CAM will retain at its own expense an independent consulting expert to advise and assist the board on the selection of certain service providers affiliated with Citigroup.
At this time, there is no certainty as to how the proceeds of the settlement will be distributed, to whom such distributions will be made, the methodology by which such distributions will be allocated, and when such distributions will be made. Although there can be no assurance, Citigroup does not believe that this matter will have a material adverse effect on the Funds.
Beginning in August 2005, five class action lawsuits alleging violations of federal securities laws and state law were filed against CGMI. and SBFM, (collectively, the “Defendants”) based on the May 31, 2005 settlement order issued against the Defendants by the SEC. The complaints seek injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages, removal of SBFM as the advisor for the Smith Barney family of funds, rescission of the Funds’ management and other contracts with SBFM, recovery of all fees paid to SBFM pursuant to such contracts, and an award of attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses.
On October 5, 2005, a motion to consolidate the five actions and any subsequently-filed, related action was filed. That motion contemplates that a consolidated amended complaint alleging substantially similar causes of action will be filed in the future.
As of the date of this report, CAM believes that resolution of the pending lawsuit will not have a material effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Funds or the ability of the Advisers and their affiliates to continue to render services to the Funds under their respective contracts.
Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report | 31 |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
8. Legal Matters
Beginning in June 2004, class action lawsuits alleging violations of the federal securities laws were filed against Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (the “Distributor”) and a number of its affiliates, including Smith Barney Fund Management LLC and Salomon Brothers Asset Management Inc (the “Advisers”), substantially all of the mutual funds managed by the Advisers, including the Fund (the “Funds”), and directors or trustees of the Funds (collectively, the “Defendants”). The complaints alleged, among other things, that the Distributor created various undisclosed incentives for its brokers to sell Smith Barney and Salomon Brothers funds. In addition, according to the complaints, the Advisers caused the Funds to pay excessive brokerage commissions to the Distributor for steering clients towards proprietary funds. The complaints also alleged that the defendants breached their fiduciary duty to the Funds by improperly charging Rule l2b-1 fees and by drawing on fund assets to make undisclosed payments of soft dollars and excessive brokerage commissions. The complaints also alleged that the Funds failed to adequately disclose certain of the allegedly wrongful conduct. The complaints sought injunctive relief and compensatory and punitive damages, rescission of the Funds’ contracts with the Advisers, recovery of all fees paid to the Advisers pursuant to such contracts and an award of attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses.
On December 15, 2004, a consolidated amended complaint (the “Complaint”) was filed alleging substantially similar causes of action. While the lawsuit is in its earliest stages, to the extent that the Complaint purports to state causes of action against the Funds, Citigroup Asset Management believes the Funds have significant defenses to such allegations, which the Funds intend to vigorously assert in responding to the Complaint.
Additional lawsuits arising out of theses circumstances and presenting similar allegations and requests for relief may be filed against the Defendants in the future.
As of the date of this report, Citigroup Asset Management and the Funds believe that the resolution of the pending lawsuit will not have a material effect on the financial position or results of operations of the Funds or the ability of the Advisers and their affiliates to continue to render services to the Funds under their respective contracts.
9. Other Matters
On June 24, 2005, Citigroup announced that it has signed a definitive agreement under which Citigroup will sell substantially all of its worldwide asset management business to Legg Mason, Inc. (“Legg Mason”).
As part of this transaction, SBFM (the “Manager”), currently an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Citigroup, would become an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. The Manager is the investment adviser to the Fund.
The transaction is subject to certain regulatory approvals, as well as other customary conditions to closing. Subject to such approvals and the satisfaction of the other conditions, Citigroup expects the transaction to be completed later this year.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, consummation of the transaction will result in the automatic termination of the investment advisory contract with the manager. Therefore, the Fund’s Board has approved a new investment advisory contract between
32 | Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
the Fund and the Manager to become effective upon the closing of the sale to Legg Mason. The new investment advisory contract has been presented to the shareholders of the Fund for their approval.
10. Subsequent Event
The Fund has received information from Citigroup Asset Management (“CAM”) concerning Smith Barney Fund Management LLC (“SBFM”), an investment advisory company that is part of CAM. The information received from CAM is as follows:
On September 16, 2005, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) informed SBFM that the staff is considering recommending that the Commission institute administrative proceedings against SBFM for alleged violations of Sections 19(a) and 34(b) of the Investment Company Act (and related Rule 19a-1). The notification is a result of an industry wide inspection undertaken by the Commission and is based upon alleged deficiencies in disclosures regarding dividends and distributions paid to shareholders of certain funds. In connection with the contemplated proceedings, the staff may seek a cease and desist order and/or monetary damages from SBFM.
Although there can be no assurance, SBFM believes that this matter is not likely to have a material adverse effect on the Fund or SBFM’s ability to perform investment advisory services relating to the Fund.
The Commission staff’s recent notification will not affect the sale by Citigroup Inc. of substantially all of CAM’s worldwide business to Legg Mason, Inc., which Citigroup continues to expect will occur in the fourth quarter of this year.
Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report | 33 |
Board Approval of Management Agreement (unaudited)
Background
At separate meetings of the Fund’s Board of Directors, the Board considered the re-approval for an annual period of the Fund’s Investment Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement, pursuant to which Smith Barney Fund Management LLC (the “Manager”) provides the Fund with investment advisory and administrative services. The Board members who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Independent Directors”)) of the Fund were assisted in their review by Fund counsel and independent legal counsel and met with independent legal counsel in executive sessions separate from representatives of the Manager. The Independent Directors requested and received information from the Manager they deemed reasonably necessary for their review of the Agreements and the Manager’s performance. This information was initially reviewed by a special committee of the Independent Directors and then by the full Board. Prior to the Board’s deliberations, Citigroup had announced an agreement to sell the Manager to Legg Mason, which, subject to certain approvals, was expected to be effective later in the year. Consequently, representatives of Legg Mason discussed with the Board Legg Mason’s intentions regarding the preservation and strengthening of the Manager’s business. The Independent Directors also requested and received certain assurances from senior management of Legg Mason regarding the continuation of the Fund’s portfolio management team and of the level of other services provided to the Fund and its stockholders should the sale of the Manager be consummated.
In voting to approve the Agreements, the Independent Directors considered whether the approval of the Agreements would be in the best interests of the Fund and its stockholders, an evaluation based on several factors including those discussed below.
Analysis of the Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services provided to the Fund
The Board received a presentation from representatives of the Manager regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund and other funds in the Citigroup Asset Management (“CAM”) fund complex. In addition, the Independent Directors received and considered other information regarding the services provided to the Fund by the Manager under the Agreements during the past year, including a description of the administrative and other services rendered to the Fund and its shareholders by the Manager. The Board noted information received at regular meetings throughout the year related to the services rendered by the Manager about the management of the Fund’s affairs and the Manager’s role in coordinating the activities of the Fund’s other service providers. The Board’s evaluation of the services provided by the Manager took into account the Board’s knowledge and familiarity gained as Board members of funds in the CAM fund complex, including the scope and quality of the Manager’s investment management and other capabilities and the quality of its administrative and other services. The Board observed that the scope of services provided by the Manager had expanded over time as a result of regulatory and other developments, including maintaining and monitoring its own and the Fund’s expanded compliance programs. The Board also
34 | Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report |
Board Approval of Management Agreement (unaudited) (continued)
considered the Manager’s response to recent regulatory compliance issues affecting it and the CAM fund complex. The Board reviewed information received from the Manager and the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding the implementation to date of the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures established pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
The Board reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the Fund’s senior personnel and the portfolio management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board also considered the willingness of the Manager to consider and implement organizational changes to improve investment results and the services provided to the CAM fund complex. The Board noted that the Manager had recently changed the reporting structure for the Fund’s portfolio management team in an effort to improve the Fund’s performance over time. The Board also noted that the Manager’s Office of the Chief Investment Officer, comprised of the senior officers of the investment teams managing the funds in the CAM complex, participates in reporting to the Board on investment matters. The Board also considered, based on its knowledge of the Manager and its affiliates, the financial resources available to CAM and its parent organization, Citigroup Inc.
The Board also considered the Manager’s brokerage policies and practices, the standards applied in seeking best execution, the Manager’s policies and practices regarding soft dollars, the use of a broker affiliated with the Manager and the existence of quality controls applicable to brokerage allocation procedures. In addition, management also reported to the Board on, among other things, its business plans, recent organizational changes and portfolio manager compensation plan.
The Board concluded that, overall, it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) under the Agreements by the Manager.
Fund Performance
The Board received and reviewed performance information for the Fund and for a group of comparable funds (the “Performance Universe”) selected by Lipper Inc., an independent provider of investment company data. The Board was provided with a description of the methodology Lipper used to determine the similarity of the Fund with the funds included in the Performance Universe. The Board also was provided with information comparing the Fund’s performance to the Lipper category averages over various time periods. The Board members noted that they had also received and discussed with management information throughout the year at periodic intervals comparing the Fund’s performance against its benchmark index. The information comparing the Fund’s performance to that of its Performance Universe, consisting of all retail and institutional funds classified as California municipal debt funds by Lipper, was for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended March 31, 2005. The Fund performed better than the median for the ten-year period, and performed slightly below the median for the one-year period. However, the Fund’s performance for the three- and five-year periods was below the median and, in fact, was in the 5th quintile of the Performance Universe for the
Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report | 35 |
Board Approval of Management Agreement (unaudited) (continued)
three-year period. The Board also reviewed performance information provided by the Manager for periods ended May 2005, which showed the Fund’s short-term performance lagging that of its benchmark index and Lipper category averages. The Board members discussed with the Fund’s primary portfolio managers the reasons for the Fund’s recent underperformance compared to its benchmark index and Lipper category averages. It was noted that the portfolio managers had taken a cautious approach to managing interest rate risk which impacted the Fund’s performance as compared to the benchmark and Lipper category. The Board members noted that the portfolio managers are very experienced with a superior long-term track record, and expressed their confidence in the portfolio management team. Based on their review, the Board generally was satisfied with the Fund’s performance, particularly the Fund’s long-term performance record and the Manager’s efforts to improve the Fund’s recent performance while maintaining a prudent investment approach.
Management Fees and Expense Ratios
The Board reviewed and considered the contractual management fee (the “Contractual Management Fee”) payable by the Fund to the Manager for investment advisory and administrative services in light of the nature, extent and quality of the management services provided by the Manager. The Board also reviewed and considered the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement arrangements currently in place for the Fund and considered the actual fee rate (after taking the waivers and/or reimbursements into account) (the “Actual Management Fee”) and whether the fee waivers and reimbursements could be discontinued.
Additionally, the Board received and considered information comparing the Fund’s Contractual Management Fees and Actual Management Fee and the Fund’s overall expenses with those of funds in both the relevant expense group (the “Expense Group”) and a broader group of funds, each selected and provided by Lipper. The Board also reviewed information regarding fees charged by the Manager to other U.S. clients investing primarily in an asset class similar to that of the Fund including, where applicable, separate accounts. The Manager reviewed with the Board the significant differences in scope of services provided to the Fund and to these other clients, noting that the Fund is provided with administrative services, office facilities, fund officers (including the Fund’s chief executive, chief financial and chief compliance officers), and that the Manager coordinates and oversees the provision of services to the Fund by other fund providers. The Board considered the fee comparisons in light of the differences required to manage these different types of accounts. The Board received an analysis of complex-wide management fees provided by the Manager, which, among other things, set out a proposed framework of fees based on asset classes.
Management also discussed with the Board the Fund’s distribution agreements. The Board was provided with information concerning reviews received by and certain expenses incurred by the Fund’s affiliated distributors and how the amounts received by the distributors are expended.
36 | Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report |
Board Approval of Management Agreement (unaudited) (continued)
The information comparing the Fund’s Contractual and Actual Management Fees as well as its actual total expense ratio to its Expense Group, consisting of 11 retail front-end load funds (including the Fund) classified as “California municipal debt funds” by Lipper, showed that the Fund’s Contractual Management Fee was at the median of management fees paid by the other funds in the Expense Group and that the Actual Management Fee was lower than the median of management fees paid by the funds in the Expense Group. The Board noted that the Fund’s actual total expense ratio also was lower than the median of total expense ratios of the funds in the Expense Group.
Taking all of the above into consideration, the Board determined that the management fee was reasonable in light of the comparative performance and expense information and the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund under the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement.
Manager Profitability
The Board received and considered a profitability analysis of the Manager and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund. The Board also received profitability information with respect to the CAM fund complex as a whole. In addition, the Board received information with respect to the Manager’s allocation methodologies used in preparing this profitability data as well as a report from an outside consultant that had reviewed the Manager’s methodology. The Board also noted the profitability percentage ranges determined by appropriate court cases to be reasonable given the services rendered to investment companies. The Board also considered the Manager’s voluntary waiver of a portion of its management fee and the effect such waiver had on the Manager’s profitability. The Board determined that the Manager’s profitability was not excessive in light of the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund.
Economies of Scale
The Board received and considered information regarding whether there have been economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund, whether the Fund has appropriately benefited from any economies of scale, and whether there is potential for realization of any further economies of scale. The Board considered whether economies of scale in the provision of services to the Fund were being passed along to the shareholders. The Board also considered whether alternative fee structures (such as with additional breakpoints at lower asset levels) would be more appropriate or reasonable taking into consideration economies of scale or other efficiencies.
The Board noted that the Fund’s asset level had exceeded the specified asset level at which the breakpoint to its Contractual Management Fee was triggered. Accordingly, the Fund and its shareholders have realized economies of scale because the total expense ratio of the Fund was lower than if no breakpoints had been in place. The Board also noted that as the Fund’s assets have increased over time, the Fund and its shareholders have realized other economies of scale as certain expenses, such as fixed Fund fees, become a smaller percentage of overall assets. The Board noted that it appeared that the benefits of
Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. 2005 Semi-Annual Report | 37 |
Board Approval of Management Agreement (unaudited) (continued)
any economies of scale also would be appropriately shared with shareholders through increased investment in fund management and administration resources.
Based on such factors, and in light of the Manager’s profitability data, the Board believed that the Manager’s sharing of any economies of scale with the Fund was adequate.
Other Benefits to the Manager
The Board considered other benefits received by the Manager and its affiliates as a result of the Manager’s relationship with the Fund, including soft dollar arrangements, receipt of brokerage commissions and the opportunity to offer additional products and services to Fund shareholders.
In light of the costs of providing investment management and other services to the Fund and the Manager’s ongoing commitment to the Fund, the profits and other ancillary benefits that the Manager and its affiliates received were considered reasonable.
Based on their discussions and considerations, including those described above, the Board members approved the Investment Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement to continue for another year.
No single factor reviewed by the Board was identified by the Board as the principal factor in determining whether to approve the Investment Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement.
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| | Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. |
| | DIRECTORS
Dwight B. Crane Burt N. Dorsett R. Jay Gerken, CFA Chairman Elliot S. Jaffe Stephen E. Kaufman Cornelius C. Rose, Jr. OFFICERS R. Jay Gerken, CFA President and Chief Executive Officer Andrew B. Shoup Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Kaprel Ozsolak Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Joseph P. Deane Vice President and Investment Officer David T. Fare Vice President and Investment Officer Andrew Beagley Chief Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Chief Compliance Officer Robert I. Frenkel Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
| INVESTMENT ADVISER
AND ADMINISTRATOR Smith Barney Fund Management LLC DISTRIBUTORS Citigroup Global Markets Inc. PFS Distributors, Inc. CUSTODIAN State Street Bank and Trust Company TRANSFER AGENT Citicorp Trust Bank, fsb. 125 Broad Street, 11th Floor New York, New York 10004 SUB-TRANSFER AGENTS PFPC Inc. P.O. Box 9699 Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9699 Primerica Shareholder Services P.O. Box 9662 Providence, Rhode Island 02940-9662 INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM KPMG, LLP 345 Park Avenue New York, NY 10154 |
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Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc.
SMITH BARNEY CALIFORNIA MUNICIPALS FUND INC.
Smith Barney Mutual Funds
125 Broad Street
10th Floor, MF-2
New York, New York 10004
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the Commission's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. To obtain information on Form N-Q from the Fund, shareholders can call 1-800-451-2010.
Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-451-2010, (2) on the Fund’s website at www.citigroupam.com and (3) on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Smith Barney California Municipals Fund Inc. but it may also be used as sales literature.
This report must be preceded or accompanied by a free prospectus. Investors should consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
www.citigroupam.com
©2005 Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Member NASD, SIPC
FD0434 9/05 05-9158