EX- 99.(A)(5)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE
MEXICO EQUITY AND INCOME FUND ANNOUNCES
IN-KIND REPURCHASE OFFER FOR PREFERRED
SHARES, STATUS OF OPEN
MARKET REPURCHASE PROGRAM AND EARNINGS FOR THE NINE MONTHS
ENDED APRIL 30, 2008.
May 28, 2008 — The Mexico Equity and Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: MXE) (the “Fund”) announced today
that it will offer to repurchase from holders of the Fund’s preferred stock (“Preferred
Stockholders”) up to 25% of the Fund’s issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock in exchange
for portfolio securities of the Fund valued at 99% of the Fund’s per share net asset value at the
close of business on the expiration date of the repurchase offer (the “Offer”). The expiration date
of the Offer is June 27, 2008 at 5:00 P.M., New York City time (the “Expiration Date”), unless
extended. The Fund intends to announce preliminary results of the Offer prior to the opening for
trading on the day following the Expiration Date and to make delivery of the applicable portfolio
securities as promptly as possible.
Preferred Stockholders desiring to participate in the Offer must comply with the terms of the
Offer which includes establishment or availability of a brokerage or custodial account in Mexico,
submission of information regarding the account and submission of information necessary for tax
purposes. The Offer will generally be a taxable transaction for participating Preferred
Stockholders.
The Fund has received an order from the SEC permitting any holder of voting securities of the
Fund, who may be deemed an “affiliated person” of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3)
of the 1940 Act solely as a consequence of such stockholder’s ownership of 5% or more of the
outstanding voting securities of the Fund to participate in this Offer and future in-kind tender
offers.
The Fund anticipates that the next such repurchase offer will commence in the last quarter of 2008
unless the Fund obtains the regulatory approvals necessary to issue Put Warrants to all
stockholders in which case, as previously announced, each share of preferred stock will convert to
a share of common stock on a one-for-one basis.
The terms and conditions of the Offer are set forth in the Fund’s Offer to Repurchase dated May 30,
2008 and the related Letter of Transmittal.
This announcement is not an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of the
Fund. The Offer is made only by the Offer to Repurchase and the related Letter of Transmittal.
Holders of Fund preferred shares are urged to read these documents carefully because they contain
important information. These and other filed documents will be available to investors free of
charge both at www.sec.gov And from the Fund. The Offer is not being made to, nor will
submissions be accepted from, or on behalf of, holders of preferred shares in any jurisdiction in
which making or accepting the Offer would violate that jurisdiction’s laws.
Participating stockholders are reminded in the Offer to Repurchase and the related Letter of
Transmittal that certain Mexican securities brokers or custodians might choose not to accept
repurchase offer proceeds (portfolio securities of the Fund) on behalf of participating stockholder
clients or might delay acceptance of proceeds until certain additional instructions and
confirmations required by such Mexican securities brokers or custodians were received.
Participating stockholders are advised to consult with their Mexican securities broker or custodian
and to submit any additional instructions or confirmations before the Expiration Date or as quickly
as possible thereafter to avoid any delay in payment. In order to transfer all of the repurchase
offer proceeds on the Expiration Date, the Fund has established a segregated account with the
Fund’s sub-custodian to hold the repurchase offer proceeds for the benefit of the participating
stockholders who had not submitted any additional instructions or confirmations sought by their
Mexican securities broker or custodian. The proceeds for each such stockholder will be held in this
segregated custodial account until his or her Mexican securities broker or custodian notifies the
Fund that the required documentation has been received and that the repurchase offer proceeds will
be accepted for their participating stockholder customer. At this point, the Fund will transfer the
proceeds for that stockholder to his or her Mexican securities broker or custodian, for the account
of the stockholder.
The Fund is neither responsible nor liable in any manner for any delay participating stockholders
may experience (as well as any possible fluctuations in the value of the proceeds) in the receipt
of their repurchase offer proceeds as a result of these additional requirements imposed by certain
Mexican securities brokers or custodians. Participating stockholders whose shares were accepted
for repurchase by the Fund and who are affected by this additional documentation requirement are
urged to confirm with their Mexican securities broker or custodian the receipt of their repurchase
offer proceeds.
Separately, the Fund announced that it has repurchased approximately 84,357 of its common shares in
open market transactions since April 1, 2008. Subject to price and market conditions, the Fund may
make additional open market purchases.
On April 30, 2008, total net assets of the Fund were $149,659,383 and the net asset value (“NAV”)
for common and preferred stock was $30.22 per share, based on 3,879,241 and 1,072,002 shares
outstanding, respectively. The Fund’s common stock closed at $25.70 per share and its preferred
stock closed at $26.90 per share on the New York Stock Exchange on April 30, 2008.
For the nine month period ended April 30, 2008, the Fund’s net realized and unrealized gains
totaled $57,433,684 and the Fund’s net investment loss was $184,883.
On April 30, 2008, the Fund’s investments in securities of Mexican companies totaled $143,310,937
(or 95.8% of the Fund’s net assets), while cash and cash equivalents (including foreign currency)
totaled $1,079,905 (or 0.7% of the Fund’s net assets). Other assets in excess of liabilities
totaled $5,268,541 (or 3.5% of the Fund’s net assets). Additional information regarding the Fund’s
investments may be obtained by calling the Fund’s Administrator at (414) 765-4255.
As of April 30, 2008, the Fund’s 10 largest common stock investments represented 66.4% of the
Fund’s net assets and are listed below in descending order:
| |
|
|
|
|
1
Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura, S.A. de C.V. |
|
|
10.6 |
% |
2
Grupo Mexico, S.A. - Series B |
|
|
9.7 |
% |
3 Mexichem, S.A. de C.V. |
|
|
8.8 |
% |
4 Empresas ICA Sociedad Conroladora, S.A. de C.V. |
|
|
8.8 |
% |
5 Grupe, S.A. de C.V. |
|
|
7.3 |
% |
6 Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A. de C.V. |
|
|
4.7 |
% |
7
Industrias CH, S.A. - Class B |
|
|
4.7 |
% |
8 Consorcio ARA, S.A. de C.V. |
|
|
4.3 |
% |
9 Promotora Ambiental, S.A. de C.V. |
|
|
3.8 |
% |
10 Grupo Televisa, S.A. CPO |
|
|
3.7 |
% |
The Fund is a closed-end management investment company that seeks high total return through
capital appreciation and current income by investing primarily in equity and convertible debt
securities issued by Mexican companies and debt securities of Mexican issuers. Pichardo Asset
Management, S.A. de C.V. is the investment adviser to the Fund. The Fund’s common and preferred
stocks are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “MXE” and “MXEPR”,
respectively.
Periodically updated information on the Fund can be obtained by calling the Fund’s dedicated
telephone line. Information includes a recorded update providing the Fund’s net asset value. The
Fund’s toll free number is (866) 700-6104. Inquiries regarding change of address, transfer of
shares, lost certificates, and non-receipt of dividend checks or reinvestment statements should
be directed to Computershare Investor Services, P.O. Box A35014, Chicago, IL 60690-3504;
(888) 294-8217.
CONTACT:
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC – John Buckel (414) 765-4255