As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2002
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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Schedule TO
Tender Offer Statement under Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
The Emerging Markets Telecommunications Fund, Inc.
(Name of Subject Company (issuer))
The Emerging Markets Telecommunications Fund, Inc.
(Names of Filing Persons (offerer and issuer))
Common Stock, Par Value $.001 Per Share
(Title of Class of Securities)
290890102
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Hal Liebes, Esq.
Senior Vice President
The Emerging Markets Telecommunications Fund, Inc.
466 Lexington Avenue
16th Floor
New York, New York 10017
(212) 875-3500
(Name,address, and telephone number of person authorized to receive
notices and communications on behalf of filing persons)
With a copy to:
Daniel Schloendorn, Esq.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019-6099
[X] Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications
made before the commencement of a tender offer.
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which
the statement relates:
[ ] third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.
[X] issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.
[ ] going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.
[ ] amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the
results of the tender offer: [ ]
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The Emerging Markets Telecommunications Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ETF)
The Latin America Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: LAQ)
October 1, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Contact: Investor Relations
Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC
1-800-293-1232
NYSE-Listed Closed-End Equity Funds Managed by Credit
Suisse Asset Management Announce Tender Offers
New York, October 1, 2002 -- The Boards of Directors of The Emerging
Markets Telecommunications Fund, Inc. (NYSE: ETF) and The Latin America Equity
Fund, Inc. (NYSE: LAQ) announced today the unanimous approval of tender offers
to acquire up to fifteen percent (15%) of the outstanding shares of common stock
of each fund respectively at a per share cash purchase price equal to
ninety-five percent (95%) of net asset value as of the expiration date of the
tender offer period. In the event that shares tendered exceed 15% of the shares
outstanding, the amount of shares accepted will be pro-rated in accordance with
the number of shares tendered by each shareholder. The tender offers will be
accretive to the net asset value of each fund.
The tender offers are expected to commence on or about October 8, 2002 and
to expire on or about November 6, 2002, unless extended.
The tender offers by ETF and LAQ are being made in furtherance of the
self-tender programs announced June 2000 by the funds, whereby: (i) each fund
will make a tender offer to acquire up to 15% or more of its outstanding shares
during each calendar year of its program; and (ii) the per share purchase price
will be at least 95% of the fund's net asset value per share.
In implementing the program, the directors considered the extent to which
they should reserve flexibility with respect to the timing and the terms of
specific tenders, subject to adherence to the overall quantity and price terms
described above. As previously announced, the Board of Directors of each fund
intends to continue its self-tender program indefinitely, subject to changes in
economic or market conditions or other factors. For example, a sustained
reduction in the market discount at which a fund's shares are trading, a risk of
material adverse tax consequences, or a risk of a fund becoming subject to
de-listing may lead a Board to conclude in the future that it is appropriate to
suspend its self-tender program. In addition, the self-tender programs are
likely to reduce the funds' asset levels over time. Absent substantial
appreciation in a fund's portfolio or opportunities to raise additional funds,
this could lead to higher expense ratios, the absence of reasonable
diversification or investment opportunities or other factors that adversely
affect the fund and possibly the continued viability of the fund as a closed-end
fund. The Boards will reevaluate the programs from time to time in light of
their effect on the respective funds.
Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC (New York), the funds' investment
adviser, is part of Credit Suisse Asset Management (CSAM), the institutional and
mutual-fund asset-management arm of Credit Suisse First Boston. As of June 30,
2002, CSAM managed over $66 billion in the U.S. and, together with its global
affiliates, managed assets of over $13 billion in 14 countries. Credit Suisse
Funds is the U.S. mutual-fund family of CSAM.
This announcement is not an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an
offer to sell shares of either fund. The tender offers will be made only by the
Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. Shareholders should
read these documents carefully when they are available to investors for free
both at the Web site of the Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov) and
of each participating fund (www.cefsource.com). Neither the offer to purchase
shares will be made to, nor will tenders pursuant to the Offer to Purchase be
accepted from or on behalf of, holders of shares in any jurisdiction in which
making or accepting the offer to purchase would violate that jurisdiction's
laws.
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