Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. (“HIF”) Sets New Rate & Announces Distributions for the Months of December 2011, Janu...

Western Asset High Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: HIF) announced today monthly distributions of $0.0625 per common share for December 2011, and January and February 2012. The Fund had previously paid a monthly distribution of $0.0675 per share.

The distribution schedule appears below:

Month

Ex-Date

Record Date

Payable Date

Amount

Type

        
      
      
        
          December
        
        
        
        
          12/14/2011
        
        
        
        
          12/16/2011
        
        
        
        
          12/23/2011
        
        
        
        
          $0.0625
        
        
        
        
          Income
        
      
      
        
          January
        
        
        
        
          01/18/2012
        
        
        
        
          01/20/2012
        
        
        
        
          01/27/2012
        
        
        
        
          $0.0625
        
        
        
        
          Income
        
      
      
        
          February
        
        
        
        
          02/15/2012
        
        
        
        
          02/17/2012
        
        
        
        
          02/24/2012
        
        
        
        
          $0.0625
        
        
        
        
          Income
        
      
    
    

The Fund has decreased its distribution to a level that better approximates the current level of net investment income generated by its investment portfolio. As the Fund reinvests principal and income, it reinvests at lower levels relative to current distribution rates as interest rates remain low.

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 2012 and early 2013, 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.leggmason.com/cef.

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.