Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. Announces Change in Duration Policy

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. EMD (the "Fund") announced today that the Board of Directors of the Fund has approved a change to the Fund's policy on duration. Effective today, the Fund will seek to maintain an average portfolio duration between 20% above and 20% below the average duration of the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global Diversified, the Fund's benchmark. The Fund's prior duration policy was to maintain an average portfolio duration within one to nine years, based on management's forecast for interest rates. Fund management believes this policy change provides appropriate flexibility when managing portfolio duration.

The Fund's primary investment objective is to seek high current income and its secondary investment objective is to seek capital appreciation. The Fund invests primarily in U.S. dollar and non-U.S. dollar denominated debt securities of issuers in emerging market countries. The Fund, a non-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, LLC, an affiliate of the adviser.

This press release may contain statements regarding plans and expectations for the future that constitute forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the Fund's current plans and expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning such risks and uncertainties are contained in the Fund's filings with the SEC. An investment in the Fund involves risk, including loss of principal. Investment return and the value of shares will fluctuate. Any data and commentary provided in this press release are for informational purposes only. Legg Mason, Inc. and its affiliates do not engage in selling shares of the Fund.

For more information, please call Investor Relations: 1-888-777-0102, or consult the Fund's web site at www.lmcef.com. The information contained on the Fund's web site is not part of this press release. Hard copies of the Fund's complete audited financial statements are available free of charge upon request.

Category: Fund Announcement

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