Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. ("HIF") Announces Distribution and Suspends Distribution Reinves

Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. ("HIF") Announces Distribution and Suspends Distribution Reinvestment Program in Anticipation of Approved Merger

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. (NYS: HIF) announced today a distribution from net investment income of $0.0400 per common share, payable on June 18, 2013 to shareholders of record as of June 13, 2013, with an ex-date of June 11, 2013. This distribution is being paid to common shareholders prior to the Fund's merger with and into Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYS: HIO) effective prior to the opening of business on June 24, 2013.

Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. will merge with and into Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. following the close of business on June 21, 2013. Effective with the merger and prior to the opening of business on June 24, 2013, shareholders of Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. will become shareholders of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc.

In order to facilitate this transaction, Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. will suspend its distribution reinvestment plan for the month of June 2013, and distribution reinvestment plan participants will instead receive cash payments. Any shareholder that is a participant in the Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. distribution reinvestment plan will automatically become enrolled in the distribution reinvestment plan for Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. Any investor who is not currently a plan participant but wishes to become one may either contact American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, in writing at 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219 or by telephone at 1-888-888-0151, or speak with his or her financial advisor.

This press release is not for tax reporting purposes but is being provided to announce the amount of the Fund's distributions that have been declared by the Board of Directors. In early 2014, after definitive information is available, the Fund will send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV, if applicable, specifying how the distributions paid by the Fund during the prior calendar year should be characterized for purposes of reporting the distributions on a shareholder's tax return (e.g., ordinary income, long-term capital gain or return of capital).

Western Asset High Income Fund Inc., a diversified, closed-end management investment company, is managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc., and is sub-advised by Western Asset Management Company, an affiliate of the investment manager.

Contact the Fund at 1-888-777-0102 for additional information, or consult the Fund's web site at www.lmcef.com.

Data and commentary provided in this press release are for informational purposes only. Legg Mason and its affiliates do not engage in selling shares of the Fund.

Media:
Western Asset High Income Fund Inc.
Maria Rosati, 212-805-6036
mrosati@leggmason.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:

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