UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-Q

 

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

 

Investment Company Act file number

811-7920

 

 

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

55 Water Street, New York, NY

 

10041

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Robert I. Frenkel, Esq.

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(888) 777-0102

 

 

Date of fiscal year end:

September 30

 

 

 

 

Date of reporting period:

December 31, 2010

 

 



 

ITEM 1.                  SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

 



 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

FORM N-Q

DECEMBER 31, 2010

 



 

Schedule of investments (unaudited)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES — 90.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 21.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto Components — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hertz Holdings Netherlands BV, Senior Secured Bonds

 

8.500%

 

7/31/15

 

 

300,000

EUR

$

434,966

(a)

Automobiles — 1.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

 

9.875%

 

8/10/11

 

1,000,000

 

1,041,092

 

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

8/1/12

 

1,785,000

 

1,898,535

 

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

 

12.000%

 

5/15/15

 

1,525,000

 

1,920,051

 

Motors Liquidation Co., Senior Notes

 

7.200%

 

1/15/11

 

2,665,000

 

912,763

(b)

Motors Liquidation Co., Senior Notes

 

7.125%

 

7/15/13

 

2,125,000

 

722,500

(b)

Motors Liquidation Co., Senior Notes

 

8.375%

 

7/15/33

 

3,500,000

 

1,268,750

(b)

Total Automobiles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,763,691

 

Diversified Consumer Services — 1.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realogy Corp., Senior Notes

 

10.500%

 

4/15/14

 

3,230,000

 

3,189,625

 

Sotheby’s, Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

6/15/15

 

1,540,000

 

1,709,400

 

Stonemor Operating LLC/Cornerstone Family Services of WV/Osiris Holding, Senior Notes

 

10.250%

 

12/1/17

 

2,340,000

 

2,474,550

 

Total Diversified Consumer Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,373,575

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 7.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boyd Gaming Corp., Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

12/1/18

 

570,000

 

565,725

(a)

Boyd Gaming Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

7.125%

 

2/1/16

 

665,000

 

600,162

 

CCM Merger Inc., Notes

 

8.000%

 

8/1/13

 

2,255,000

 

2,204,262

(a)

Downstream Development Quapaw, Senior Notes

 

12.000%

 

10/15/15

 

1,695,000

 

1,680,169

(a)

Dunkin Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

9.625%

 

12/1/18

 

490,000

 

497,350

(a)

El Pollo Loco Inc., Senior Notes

 

11.750%

 

11/15/13

 

2,425,000

 

1,976,375

 

El Pollo Loco Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.750%

 

12/1/12

 

945,000

 

968,625

 

Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings LLC/Fontainebleau Las Vegas Capital Corp.

 

10.250%

 

6/15/15

 

445,000

 

3,782

(a)(b)

Harrah’s Operating Co. Inc., Senior Bonds

 

5.625%

 

6/1/15

 

3,732,000

 

3,144,210

 

Harrah’s Operating Co. Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.750%

 

2/1/16

 

2,954,000

 

2,843,225

 

Harrah’s Operating Co. Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.250%

 

6/1/17

 

1,220,000

 

1,378,600

 

Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Senior Notes

 

12.000%

 

11/15/10

 

3,912,000

 

2,058,690

(b)(c)(d)

Landry’s Holdings Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.500%

 

6/1/14

 

990,000

 

975,150

(a)

Landry’s Restaurants Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.625%

 

12/1/15

 

1,140,000

 

1,222,650

 

Landry’s Restaurants Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.625%

 

12/1/15

 

340,000

 

364,650

(a)

MGM MIRAGE Inc., Senior Notes

 

6.750%

 

4/1/13

 

1,810,000

 

1,808,190

 

MGM MIRAGE Inc., Senior Notes

 

5.875%

 

2/27/14

 

400,000

 

371,000

 

MGM Resorts International, Senior Secured Notes

 

10.375%

 

5/15/14

 

150,000

 

169,125

 

MGM Resorts International, Senior Secured Notes

 

11.125%

 

11/15/17

 

360,000

 

415,800

 

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Senior Secured Notes

 

11.500%

 

11/1/17

 

60,000

 

55,650

(a)

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Senior Subordinated Notes

 

8.000%

 

4/1/12

 

3,660,000

 

3,074,400

 

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Senior Subordinated Notes

 

6.875%

 

2/15/15

 

225,000

 

140,062

 

NCL Corp. Ltd., Senior Notes

 

9.500%

 

11/15/18

 

1,230,000

 

1,273,050

(a)

NCL Corp. Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.750%

 

11/15/16

 

2,240,000

 

2,623,600

 

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.625%

 

8/1/17

 

715,000

 

782,925

 

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

7.500%

 

6/15/15

 

330,000

 

332,475

 

Sbarro Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.375%

 

2/1/15

 

1,065,000

 

484,575

 

Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority, Senior Secured Notes

 

4.428%

 

2/1/14

 

890,000

 

765,400

(a)(e)

Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority, Senior Secured Notes

 

9.125%

 

2/1/15

 

165,000

 

157,575

(a)

Station Casinos Inc., Senior Notes

 

6.000%

 

4/1/12

 

1,515,000

 

152

(b)(d)

Station Casinos Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

8/15/16

 

2,265,000

 

227

(b)(d)

Station Casinos Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

6.625%

 

3/15/18

 

85,000

 

9

(b)(d)

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32,937,840

 

Household Durables — 0.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Pacific Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.375%

 

1/15/21

 

1,900,000

 

1,852,500

(a)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

1


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

Internet & Catalog Retail — 0.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Netflix Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.500%

 

11/15/17

 

 

1,340,000

 

$

1,514,200

 

QVC Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

7.375%

 

10/15/20

 

1,990,000

 

2,094,475

(a)

Total Internet & Catalog Retail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,608,675

 

Media — 5.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affinity Group Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.500%

 

12/1/16

 

710,000

 

701,125

(a)

CCH II LLC/CCH II Capital Corp., Senior Notes

 

13.500%

 

11/30/16

 

561,225

 

672,067

 

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

4/30/18

 

1,860,000

 

1,934,400

 

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.125%

 

4/30/20

 

1,840,000

 

1,945,800

 

Cengage Learning Acquisitions Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.500%

 

1/15/15

 

900,000

 

933,750

(a)

Cengage Learning Acquisitions Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

13.250%

 

7/15/15

 

2,100,000

 

2,226,000

(a)

CSC Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

 

8.500%

 

6/15/15

 

190,000

 

207,100

 

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

9/1/19

 

1,260,000

 

1,323,000

 

EN Germany Holdings BV, Senior Secured Notes

 

10.750%

 

11/15/15

 

1,340,000

EUR

1,813,025

(a)

Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co., Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

10/15/18

 

3,650,000

 

3,796,000

(a)

Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co., Senior Subordinated Notes, step bond

 

0.000%

 

8/1/16

 

3,010,000

 

3,175,550

 

Univision Communications Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.500%

 

5/15/21

 

1,830,000

 

1,862,025

(a)

Univision Communications Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

12.000%

 

7/1/14

 

565,000

 

621,500

(a)

Univision Communications Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

7.875%

 

11/1/20

 

1,380,000

 

1,455,900

(a)

UPC Holding BV, Senior Notes

 

9.875%

 

4/15/18

 

675,000

 

742,500

(a)

Virgin Media Finance PLC, Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

8/15/16

 

537,000

 

574,590

 

Total Media

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,984,332

 

Multiline Retail — 0.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Neiman Marcus Group Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

7.125%

 

6/1/28

 

2,460,000

 

2,373,900

 

Specialty Retail — 2.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Greetings Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.375%

 

6/1/16

 

2,885,000

 

3,004,006

 

American Greetings Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.375%

 

6/1/16

 

365,000

 

365,456

 

American Greetings Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.375%

 

6/1/16

 

290,000

 

290,363

 

Michaels Stores Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

11/1/18

 

910,000

 

912,275

(a)

Michaels Stores Inc., Senior Subordinated Bonds

 

11.375%

 

11/1/16

 

1,230,000

 

1,346,850

 

Michaels Stores Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes, step bond

 

0.000%

 

11/1/16

 

3,580,000

 

3,562,100

 

PETCO Animal Supplies Inc., Senior Notes

 

9.250%

 

12/1/18

 

2,280,000

 

2,413,950

(a)

Total Specialty Retail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,895,000

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Express LLC/Express Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.750%

 

3/1/18

 

1,350,000

 

1,441,125

 

Giraffe Acquisition Corp., Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

12/1/18

 

1,730,000

 

1,812,175

(a)

Oxford Industries Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.375%

 

7/15/15

 

2,570,000

 

2,897,675

 

Phillips-Van Heusen Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.375%

 

5/15/20

 

520,000

 

555,100

 

Total Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,706,075

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

98,930,554

 

CONSUMER STAPLES — 1.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Products — 1.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bumble Bee Acquisiton Co., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.000%

 

12/15/17

 

780,000

 

815,100

(a)

Bumble Bee Foods LLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

7.750%

 

12/15/15

 

1,512,000

 

1,736,729

 

Del Monte Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

7.500%

 

10/15/19

 

700,000

 

819,875

 

Simmons Foods Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.500%

 

11/1/17

 

1,290,000

 

1,383,525

(a)

Smithfield Foods Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.000%

 

7/15/14

 

605,000

 

700,287

(a)

Total Food Products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,455,516

 

Tobacco — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alliance One International Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.000%

 

7/15/16

 

300,000

 

309,000

 

TOTAL CONSUMER STAPLES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,764,516

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

2


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

ENERGY — 15.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services — 2.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Energy Services Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.625%

 

8/1/14

 

 

1,865,000

 

$

2,079,475

 

Complete Production Services Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

12/15/16

 

1,150,000

 

1,196,000

 

Frac Tech Services LLC/Frac Tech Finance Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.125%

 

11/15/18

 

1,150,000

 

1,170,125

(a)

GulfMark Offshore Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

7.750%

 

7/15/14

 

1,440,000

 

1,468,800

 

Hercules Offshore LLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

10.500%

 

10/15/17

 

1,695,000

 

1,411,087

(a)

Key Energy Services Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.375%

 

12/1/14

 

2,005,000

 

2,125,300

 

Parker Drilling Co., Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

4/1/18

 

1,480,000

 

1,554,000

 

Precision Drilling Corp., Senior Notes

 

6.625%

 

11/15/20

 

1,080,000

 

1,101,600

(a)

Trinidad Drilling Ltd., Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

1/15/19

 

640,000

 

649,600

(a)

Total Energy Equipment & Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12,755,987

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 12.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alta Mesa Holdings/Alta Mesa Finance Services Corp., Senior Notes

 

9.625%

 

10/15/18

 

480,000

 

468,600

(a)

Belden & Blake Corp., Secured Notes

 

8.750%

 

7/15/12

 

3,892,000

 

3,736,320

 

Berry Petroleum Co., Senior Notes

 

10.250%

 

6/1/14

 

1,155,000

 

1,331,138

 

Berry Petroleum Co., Senior Notes

 

6.750%

 

11/1/20

 

150,000

 

151,125

 

Calfrac Holdings LP, Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

12/1/20

 

800,000

 

812,000

(a)

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.250%

 

12/15/18

 

425,000

 

442,000

 

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Notes

 

6.625%

 

8/15/20

 

1,530,000

 

1,514,700

 

Compagnie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas, Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

5/15/15

 

360,000

 

368,100

 

Compagnie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas, Senior Notes

 

9.500%

 

5/15/16

 

560,000

 

613,200

 

Compagnie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas, Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

5/15/17

 

410,000

 

422,300

 

Concho Resources Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.000%

 

1/15/21

 

1,280,000

 

1,315,200

 

CONSOL Energy Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.250%

 

4/1/20

 

1,410,000

 

1,529,850

(a)

Corral Petroleum Holdings AB, Senior Bonds

 

2.000%

 

9/18/11

 

2,675,321

 

2,488,048

(a)(f)

Crosstex Energy LP/Crosstex Energy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.875%

 

2/15/18

 

350,000

 

376,688

 

Energy Transfer Equity LP, Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

10/15/20

 

1,370,000

 

1,417,950

 

Enterprise Products Operating LLP, Junior Subordinated Notes

 

8.375%

 

8/1/66

 

1,270,000

 

1,365,183

(e)

Enterprise Products Operating LLP, Subordinated Notes

 

7.034%

 

1/15/68

 

850,000

 

883,092

(e)

EXCO Resources Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

9/15/18

 

2,570,000

 

2,531,450

 

Inergy LP/Inergy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.000%

 

10/1/18

 

970,000

 

982,125

(a)

International Coal Group Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.125%

 

4/1/18

 

1,470,000

 

1,594,950

 

Linn Energy LLC/Linn Energy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.625%

 

4/15/20

 

1,360,000

 

1,472,200

(a)

Linn Energy LLC/Linn Energy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

2/1/21

 

750,000

 

772,500

(a)

MarkWest Energy Partners LP/MarkWest Energy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.750%

 

4/15/18

 

480,000

 

522,000

 

MarkWest Energy Partners LP/MarkWest Energy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

6.750%

 

11/1/20

 

690,000

 

693,450

 

Murray Energy Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.250%

 

10/15/15

 

2,020,000

 

2,131,100

(a)

Offshore Group Investments Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.500%

 

8/1/15

 

2,960,000

 

3,226,400

(a)

OPTI Canada Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.000%

 

12/15/12

 

1,180,000

 

1,188,850

(a)

OPTI Canada Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.750%

 

8/15/13

 

530,000

 

532,650

(a)

OPTI Canada Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

7.875%

 

12/15/14

 

345,000

 

245,381

 

OPTI Canada Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

8.250%

 

12/15/14

 

810,000

 

581,175

 

Overseas Shipholding Group Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.125%

 

3/30/18

 

1,485,000

 

1,496,137

 

Peabody Energy Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

11/1/26

 

470,000

 

512,300

 

Petroplus Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

 

6.750%

 

5/1/14

 

1,090,000

 

1,008,250

(a)

Petroplus Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

 

7.000%

 

5/1/17

 

780,000

 

694,200

(a)

Plains Exploration & Production Co., Senior Notes

 

10.000%

 

3/1/16

 

1,305,000

 

1,464,863

 

Plains Exploration & Production Co., Senior Notes

 

8.625%

 

10/15/19

 

1,195,000

 

1,314,500

 

PT Adaro Indonesia, Senior Notes

 

7.625%

 

10/22/19

 

400,000

 

439,000

(a)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

3


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quicksilver Resources Inc., Senior Notes

 

11.750%

 

1/1/16

 

 

2,255,000

 

$

2,638,350

 

Quicksilver Resources Inc., Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

8/15/19

 

340,000

 

374,850

 

Range Resources Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

8.000%

 

5/15/19

 

100,000

 

109,375

 

Regency Energy Partners LP/Regency Energy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

6.875%

 

12/1/18

 

1,360,000

 

1,383,800

 

SandRidge Energy Inc., Senior Toggle Notes

 

8.625%

 

4/1/15

 

1,870,000

 

1,923,762

(f)

Stone Energy Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.625%

 

2/1/17

 

950,000

 

969,000

 

Teekay Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.500%

 

1/15/20

 

2,280,000

 

2,493,750

 

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., Senior Notes

 

8.375%

 

6/15/32

 

3,270,000

 

3,862,570

 

TNK-BP Finance SA, Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

3/13/18

 

1,525,000

 

1,736,670

(a)

Whiting Petroleum Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

7.000%

 

2/1/14

 

85,000

 

89,675

 

Whiting Petroleum Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

6.500%

 

10/1/18

 

1,180,000

 

1,197,700

 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

59,418,477

 

TOTAL ENERGY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

72,174,464

 

FINANCIALS — 8.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Markets — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

 

6.750%

 

10/1/37

 

1,100,000

 

1,128,147

 

Commercial Banks — 2.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAC Capital Trust VI, Capital Securities, Junior Subordinated Notes

 

5.625%

 

3/8/35

 

830,000

 

704,940

 

BankAmerica Institutional Capital A, Junior Subordinated Bonds

 

8.070%

 

12/31/26

 

520,000

 

527,150

(a)

BankAmerica Institutional Capital B, Junior Subordinated Bonds

 

7.700%

 

12/31/26

 

600,000

 

604,500

(a)

CIT Group Inc., Senior Secured Bonds

 

7.000%

 

5/1/16

 

1,130,700

 

1,137,767

 

CIT Group Inc., Senior Secured Bonds

 

7.000%

 

5/1/17

 

4,842,981

 

4,867,196

 

Credit Agricole SA, Subordinated Notes

 

8.375%

 

10/13/19

 

830,000

 

856,975

(a)(e)(g)

NB Capital Trust II, Junior Subordinated Notes

 

7.830%

 

12/15/26

 

770,000

 

775,775

 

NB Capital Trust IV, Junior Subordinated Notes

 

8.250%

 

4/15/27

 

530,000

 

540,600

 

Total Commercial Banks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,014,903

 

Consumer Finance — 2.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ally Financial Inc., Debentures

 

0.000%

 

6/15/15

 

4,300,000

 

3,182,000

 

Ally Financial Inc., Senior Bonds

 

0.000%

 

12/1/12

 

1,800,000

 

1,632,054

 

Ally Financial Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.300%

 

2/12/15

 

70,000

 

77,175

 

Ally Financial Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

9/15/20

 

3,500,000

 

3,688,125

(a)

Ally Financial Inc., Subordinated Notes

 

8.000%

 

12/31/18

 

74,000

 

78,995

 

GMAC International Finance BV, Senior Bonds

 

7.500%

 

4/21/15

 

730,000

EUR

1,014,519

 

SLM Corp., Medium-Term Notes

 

8.000%

 

3/25/20

 

970,000

 

985,079

 

SLM Corp., Medium-Term Notes, Senior Notes

 

8.450%

 

6/15/18

 

965,000

 

1,004,364

 

Total Consumer Finance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,662,311

 

Diversified Financial Services — 2.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bankrate Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.750%

 

7/15/15

 

750,000

 

836,250

(a)

Capital One Capital V, Junior Subordinated Notes, Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities

 

10.250%

 

8/15/39

 

1,120,000

 

1,205,400

 

International Lease Finance Corp., Medium-Term Notes

 

6.375%

 

3/25/13

 

880,000

 

906,400

 

International Lease Finance Corp., Medium-Term Notes, Senior Notes

 

5.625%

 

9/20/13

 

1,670,000

 

1,686,700

 

International Lease Finance Corp., Notes

 

5.875%

 

5/1/13

 

290,000

 

294,713

 

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.875%

 

9/1/17

 

3,810,000

 

4,129,087

 

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.250%

 

12/15/20

 

670,000

 

690,937

 

MBNA Capital A, Junior Subordinated Notes

 

8.278%

 

12/1/26

 

1,250,000

 

1,275,000

 

Midwest Gaming Borrower LLC/Midwest Finance Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.625%

 

4/15/16

 

520,000

 

540,800

(a)

Total Diversified Financial Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,565,287

 

Insurance — 0.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American International Group Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.250%

 

8/15/18

 

1,465,000

 

1,692,661

 

American International Group Inc., Senior Notes

 

6.400%

 

12/15/20

 

910,000

 

956,540

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

4


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

Insurance — continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MetLife Capital Trust IV, Junior Subordinated Notes

 

7.875%

 

12/15/37

 

 

590,000

 

$

626,875

(a)

Total Insurance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,276,076

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Host Hotels & Resorts, LP, Senior Notes

 

6.375%

 

3/15/15

 

425,000

 

433,500

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38,080,224

 

HEALTH CARE — 5.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biomet Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.000%

 

10/15/17

 

420,000

 

460,950

 

Biomet Inc., Senior Notes

 

11.625%

 

10/15/17

 

370,000

 

410,700

 

Biomet Inc., Senior Toggle Notes

 

10.375%

 

10/15/17

 

410,000

 

449,975

(f)

Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,321,625

 

Health Care Providers & Services — 4.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Renal Holdings, Senior Secured Notes

 

8.375%

 

5/15/18

 

1,130,000

 

1,163,900

(a)

CRC Health Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

10.750%

 

2/1/16

 

4,265,000

 

4,296,987

 

Fresenius U.S. Finance II Inc., Senior Notes

 

9.000%

 

7/15/15

 

1,440,000

 

1,656,000

(a)

HCA Inc., Debentures

 

7.500%

 

11/15/95

 

3,920,000

 

3,136,000

 

HCA Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

7.875%

 

2/15/20

 

2,820,000

 

3,031,500

 

inVentiv Health Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.000%

 

8/15/18

 

500,000

 

502,500

(a)

Tenet Healthcare Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.000%

 

5/1/15

 

679,000

 

757,085

 

Tenet Healthcare Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.000%

 

5/1/18

 

1,950,000

 

2,281,500

 

Universal Hospital Services Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

3.834%

 

6/1/15

 

410,000

 

377,200

(e)

Universal Hospital Services Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

8.500%

 

6/1/15

 

1,990,000

 

2,054,675

(f)

US Oncology Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.125%

 

8/15/17

 

2,105,000

 

2,604,938

 

Vanguard Health Holdings Co., II LLC, Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

2/1/18

 

1,185,000

 

1,220,550

 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23,082,835

 

TOTAL HEALTH CARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24,404,460

 

INDUSTRIALS — 11.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerospace & Defense — 1.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FGI Operating Co. Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.250%

 

8/1/15

 

1,965,000

 

2,073,075

 

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.000%

 

6/1/17

 

1,030,000

 

1,145,875

 

Triumph Group Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.625%

 

7/15/18

 

1,580,000

 

1,734,050

 

Wyle Services Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

10.500%

 

4/1/18

 

2,105,000

 

2,057,638

(a)

Total Aerospace & Defense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,010,638

 

Airlines — 2.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

 

9.250%

 

5/10/17

 

170,975

 

189,141

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Subordinated Secured Notes

 

8.312%

 

4/2/11

 

69,686

 

70,383

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Subordinated Secured Notes

 

7.339%

 

4/19/14

 

2,074,905

 

2,074,905

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

6.750%

 

9/15/15

 

960,000

 

993,600

(a)

DAE Aviation Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

 

11.250%

 

8/1/15

 

4,625,000

 

4,810,000

(a)

Delta Air Lines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

 

7.711%

 

9/18/11

 

90,000

 

92,250

 

Delta Air Lines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

 

8.954%

 

8/10/14

 

23,095

 

23,903

 

Delta Air Lines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Secured Notes

 

8.021%

 

8/10/22

 

708,367

 

722,534

 

Delta Air Lines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Subordinated Secured Notes

 

9.750%

 

12/17/16

 

568,131

 

622,103

 

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.500%

 

9/15/14

 

588,000

 

643,125

(a)

United Air Lines Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.875%

 

8/1/13

 

910,000

 

985,075

(a)

Total Airlines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,227,019

 

Building Products — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashton Woods USA LLC/Ashton Woods Finance Co., Senior Subordinated Notes, step bond

 

0.000%

 

6/30/15

 

660,400

 

369,824

(a)(d)

USG Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.375%

 

10/15/18

 

320,000

 

315,200

(a)

Total Building Products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

685,024

 

Commercial Services & Supplies — 2.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCO Brands Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.625%

 

3/15/15

 

1,675,000

 

1,892,750

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

5


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

Commercial Services & Supplies — continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACCO Brands Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

7.625%

 

8/15/15

 

 

620,000

 

$

623,100

 

Altegrity Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

10.500%

 

11/1/15

 

210,000

 

216,563

(a)

Altegrity Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

11.750%

 

5/1/16

 

2,605,000

 

2,673,381

(a)

American Reprographics Co., Senior Notes

 

10.500%

 

12/15/16

 

1,280,000

 

1,347,200

(a)

Garda World Security Corp., Senior Notes

 

9.750%

 

3/15/17

 

720,000

 

775,800

(a)

Geo Group Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

10/15/17

 

1,620,000

 

1,709,100

 

RSC Equipment Rental Inc./RSC Holdings III LLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

10.000%

 

7/15/17

 

635,000

 

717,550

(a)

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,955,444

 

Construction & Engineering — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abengoa Finance SAU, Senior Notes

 

8.875%

 

11/1/17

 

1,310,000

 

1,218,300

(a)

Electrical Equipment — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NES Rentals Holdings Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

12.250%

 

4/15/15

 

1,510,000

 

1,396,750

(a)

Industrial Conglomerates — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leucadia National Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.125%

 

9/15/15

 

1,220,000

 

1,335,900

 

Marine — 0.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Navios Maritime Acquisition Corp./Navios Acquisition Finance U.S. Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

8.625%

 

11/1/17

 

2,390,000

 

2,455,725

(a)

Trico Shipping AS, Senior Secured Notes

 

13.875%

 

11/1/14

 

2,190,000

 

1,784,850

(a)(b)

Total Marine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,240,575

 

Road & Rail — 2.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Cooper Holdings Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

12.750%

 

12/15/15

 

1,974,000

 

1,906,469

(a)(h)

Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Senior Notes

 

12.500%

 

4/1/16

 

681,000

 

834,225

 

Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

2/1/18

 

2,805,000

 

3,050,437

 

Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Senior Notes

 

6.625%

 

12/15/20

 

520,000

 

523,900

(a)

Kansas City Southern Railway, Senior Notes

 

13.000%

 

12/15/13

 

231,000

 

276,045

 

Kansas City Southern Railway, Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

6/1/15

 

285,000

 

307,800

 

Quality Distribution LLC/QD Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.875%

 

11/1/18

 

2,460,000

 

2,453,850

(a)

RailAmerica Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.250%

 

7/1/17

 

1,962,000

 

2,165,558

 

Total Road & Rail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,518,284

 

Trading Companies & Distributors — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashtead Capital Inc., Notes

 

9.000%

 

8/15/16

 

770,000

 

806,575

(a)

Ashtead Holdings PLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

8.625%

 

8/1/15

 

465,000

 

484,181

(a)

H&E Equipment Services Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.375%

 

7/15/16

 

1,370,000

 

1,404,250

 

Total Trading Companies & Distributors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,695,006

 

Transportation — 1.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hapag-Lloyd AG, Senior Notes

 

9.750%

 

10/15/17

 

2,630,000

 

2,860,125

(a)

Syncreon Global Ireland Ltd./Syncreon Global Finance US Inc., Senior Notes

 

9.500%

 

5/1/18

 

1,640,000

 

1,672,800

(a)

Total Transportation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,532,925

 

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

55,815,865

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 3.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Communications Equipment — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucent Technologies Inc., Debentures

 

6.450%

 

3/15/29

 

3,140,000

 

2,496,300

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 0.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

9.750%

 

8/1/18

 

2,990,000

 

3,378,700

(a)

IT Services — 1.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceridian Corp., Senior Notes

 

12.250%

 

11/15/15

 

1,469,700

 

1,491,745

(f)

First Data Corp., Senior Notes

 

5.625%

 

11/1/11

 

250,000

 

249,063

 

First Data Corp., Senior Notes

 

10.550%

 

9/24/15

 

4,319,573

 

4,114,393

(f)

Interactive Data Corp., Senior Notes

 

10.250%

 

8/1/18

 

850,000

 

927,562

(a)

Total IT Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,782,763

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment— 1.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

11.000%

 

10/12/15

 

710,000

 

740,175

 

Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.750%

 

8/1/20

 

520,000

 

569,400

(a)

Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.250%

 

4/15/18

 

860,000

 

950,300

(a)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

6


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

10.125%

 

12/15/16

 

 

1,785,000

 

$

1,887,638

 

Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Senior Toggle Notes

 

9.125%

 

12/15/14

 

381,333

 

400,400

(f)

Spansion LLC, Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

11/15/17

 

240,000

 

238,800

(a)

Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

4,786,713

 

Software — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aspect Software Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.625%

 

5/15/17

 

125,000

 

128,906

(a)

TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17,573,382

 

MATERIALS — 9.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chemicals — 3.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashland Inc., Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

6/1/17

 

3,200,000

 

3,704,000

 

CF Industries Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.125%

 

5/1/20

 

840,000

 

921,900

 

FMC Finance III SA, Senior Notes

 

6.875%

 

7/15/17

 

700,000

 

745,500

 

Georgia Gulf Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.000%

 

1/15/17

 

1,175,000

 

1,280,750

(a)

Hexion U.S. Finance Corp./Hexion Nova Scotia Finance ULC, Senior Secured Notes

 

9.000%

 

11/15/20

 

930,000

 

985,800

(a)

Ineos Finance PLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

9.000%

 

5/15/15

 

1,160,000

 

1,239,750

(a)

Kerling PLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

10.625%

 

1/28/17

 

955,000

EUR

1,384,641

(a)

LBI Escrow Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

8.000%

 

11/1/17

 

1,543,000

 

1,710,801

(a)

Lyondell Chemical Co., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.000%

 

5/1/18

 

480,000

 

546,000

 

Solutia Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.750%

 

11/1/17

 

45,000

 

49,500

 

Solutia Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

3/15/20

 

1,210,000

 

1,300,750

 

Texas Petrochemical Corp. Group LLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

8.250%

 

10/1/17

 

770,000

 

808,500

(a)

Total Chemicals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14,677,892

 

Containers & Packaging — 2.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC, Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

10/15/20

 

2,180,000

 

2,278,100

(a)

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

7.375%

 

10/15/17

 

560,000

EUR

755,811

(a)

Berry Plastics Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.500%

 

5/15/18

 

910,000

 

916,825

 

Berry Plastics Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.750%

 

1/15/21

 

1,150,000

 

1,144,250

(a)

Radnor Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

 

11.000%

 

3/15/10

 

725,000

 

0

(b)(c)(d)(h)

Reynolds Group Issuer Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC, Senior Notes

 

9.000%

 

4/15/19

 

1,950,000

 

2,030,438

(a)

Reynolds Group Issuer Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

7.125%

 

4/15/19

 

520,000

 

531,700

(a)

Solo Cup Co., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.500%

 

11/1/13

 

635,000

 

666,750

 

Viskase Cos. Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.875%

 

1/15/18

 

2,090,000

 

2,189,275

(a)(d)

Viskase Cos. Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.875%

 

1/15/18

 

170,000

 

178,075

(a)(d)

Total Containers & Packaging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,691,224

 

Metals & Mining — 1.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atkore International Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.875%

 

1/1/18

 

1,380,000

 

1,442,100

(a)

FMG Resources (August 2006), Senior Notes

 

6.375%

 

2/1/16

 

830,000

 

834,150

(a)

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty Ltd., Senior Notes

 

7.000%

 

11/1/15

 

780,000

 

803,400

(a)

Novelis Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.750%

 

12/15/20

 

2,040,000

 

2,126,700

(a)

Ryerson Holding Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

0.000%

 

2/1/15

 

2,850,000

 

1,289,625

 

Ryerson Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

12.000%

 

11/1/15

 

30,000

 

31,575

 

Total Metals & Mining

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,527,550

 

Paper & Forest Products — 2.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appleton Papers Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.250%

 

12/15/15

 

3,415,000

 

2,749,075

(a)

Boise Cascade LLC, Senior Subordinated Notes

 

7.125%

 

10/15/14

 

225,000

 

221,062

 

Georgia-Pacific LLC, Senior Notes

 

8.250%

 

5/1/16

 

425,000

 

481,844

(a)

Neenah Paper Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.375%

 

11/15/14

 

530,000

 

544,575

 

NewPage Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.375%

 

12/31/14

 

2,430,000

 

2,296,350

 

PE Paper Escrow GmbH, Senior Secured Notes

 

12.000%

 

8/1/14

 

560,000

 

648,850

(a)

Smurfit Capital Funding PLC, Debentures

 

7.500%

 

11/20/25

 

1,200,000

 

1,113,000

 

Verso Paper Holdings LLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

11.500%

 

7/1/14

 

2,580,000

 

2,844,450

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

7


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

Paper & Forest Products — continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Verso Paper Holdings LLC, Senior Subordinated Notes

 

11.375%

 

8/1/16

 

 

360,000

 

$

362,700

 

Total Paper & Forest Products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,261,906

 

TOTAL MATERIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

43,158,572

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 7.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 4.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cincinnati Bell Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.375%

 

10/15/20

 

1,110,000

 

1,068,375

 

Hawaiian Telcom Communications Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

12.500%

 

5/1/15

 

980,000

 

98

(b)(d)

Inmarsat Finance PLC, Senior Notes

 

7.375%

 

12/1/17

 

2,120,000

 

2,236,600

(a)

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

 

9.500%

 

6/15/16

 

130,000

 

137,800

 

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

 

11.250%

 

6/15/16

 

40,000

 

43,300

 

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

 

11.500%

 

6/15/16

 

5,495,000

 

5,948,337

 

Level 3 Financing Inc., Senior Notes

 

9.250%

 

11/1/14

 

990,000

 

987,525

 

Qwest Communications International Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

10/1/15

 

515,000

 

556,200

(a)

TW Telecom Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

3/1/18

 

1,430,000

 

1,526,525

 

Valor Telecommunications Enterprises LLC/Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

2/15/15

 

190,000

 

196,033

 

West Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.625%

 

10/1/18

 

1,290,000

 

1,373,850

(a)

West Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

1/15/19

 

1,840,000

 

1,876,800

(a)

Wind Acquisition Finance SA, Senior Notes

 

11.750%

 

7/15/17

 

890,000

 

1,007,925

(a)

Wind Acquisition Finance SA, Senior Secured Notes

 

7.250%

 

2/15/18

 

780,000

 

795,600

(a)

Wind Acquisition Holdings Finance SpA, Senior Notes

 

12.250%

 

7/15/17

 

1,610,756

 

1,876,531

(a)(f)

Windstream Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.625%

 

8/1/16

 

190,000

 

200,925

 

Windstream Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

10/15/20

 

780,000

 

807,300

 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,639,724

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 3.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buccaneer Merger Sub Inc., Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

1/15/19

 

1,540,000

 

1,597,750

(a)

MetroPCS Wireless Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

9/1/18

 

1,080,000

 

1,125,900

 

Sprint Capital Corp., Global Notes

 

6.900%

 

5/1/19

 

870,000

 

863,475

 

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

 

6.875%

 

11/15/28

 

750,000

 

660,000

 

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.750%

 

3/15/32

 

8,585,000

 

8,713,775

 

True Move Co., Ltd., Notes

 

10.750%

 

12/16/13

 

2,260,000

 

2,440,800

(a)

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,401,700

 

TOTAL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,041,424

 

UTILITIES — 6.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric Utilities — 2.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AES Red Oak LLC, Secured Notes

 

9.200%

 

11/30/29

 

3,920,000

 

3,851,400

 

Astoria Depositor Corp., Pass-Through Certificates

 

8.144%

 

5/1/21

 

1,550,000

 

1,550,000

(a)

Reliant Energy Mid-Atlantic Power Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

 

9.681%

 

7/2/26

 

2,390,000

 

2,551,325

 

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co. LLC / TCEH Finance Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

15.000%

 

4/1/21

 

2,340,000

 

2,059,200

(a)

Total Electric Utilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,011,925

 

Gas Utilities — 0.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ferrellgas LP/Ferrellgas Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

6.500%

 

5/1/21

 

770,000

 

754,600

(a)

Southern Natural Gas Co., Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

3/1/32

 

60,000

 

69,038

 

Suburban Propane Partners LP/Suburban Energy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.375%

 

3/15/20

 

1,210,000

 

1,297,725

 

Total Gas Utilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,121,363

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders— 3.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calpine Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

7.875%

 

7/31/20

 

460,000

 

468,050

(a)

Calpine Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

7.500%

 

2/15/21

 

2,620,000

 

2,593,800

(a)

Dynegy Inc., Bonds

 

7.670%

 

11/8/16

 

320,000

 

300,800

 

Edison Mission Energy, Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

6/15/16

 

600,000

 

519,000

 

Edison Mission Energy, Senior Notes

 

7.625%

 

5/15/27

 

1,195,000

 

869,363

 

Energy Future Holdings Corp., Senior Notes

 

10.875%

 

11/1/17

 

5,813,000

 

4,069,100

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

8


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT †

 

VALUE

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders— continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy Future Holdings Corp., Senior Notes

 

11.250%

 

11/1/17

 

 

1,558,201

 

$

942,711

(f)

Energy Future Intermediate Holding Co. LLC/EFIH Finance Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

10.000%

 

12/1/20

 

1,340,000

 

1,388,606

 

Foresight Energy LLC/Foresight Energy Corp., Senior Notes

 

9.625%

 

8/15/17

 

3,190,000

 

3,413,300

(a)

Mirant Americas Generation LLC, Senior Notes

 

9.125%

 

5/1/31

 

2,835,000

 

2,806,650

 

Mirant Mid Atlantic LLC, Pass-Through Certificates

 

10.060%

 

12/30/28

 

652,777

 

724,583

 

Total Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

 

 

 

 

 

18,095,963

 

TOTAL UTILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,229,251

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES (Cost — $410,355,045)

 

 

 

 

422,172,712

 

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage Pass-Through Trust, 2004-HYB5 7A1 (Cost - $809,145)

 

2.337%

 

4/20/35

 

1,261,903

 

1,028,740

(e)

COLLATERALIZED SENIOR LOANS — 2.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 0.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auto Components — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allison Transmission Inc., Term Loan B

 

3.020 - 3.040%

 

8/7/14

 

362,182

 

354,637

(i)

Media — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newsday LLC, Term Loan

 

10.500%

 

8/1/13

 

1,500,000

 

1,605,937

(i)

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,960,574

 

ENERGY — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turbo Beta Ltd., Term Loan

 

14.500%

 

3/15/18

 

2,672,623

 

1,276,178

(d)(f)(i)

FINANCIALS — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realogy Corp., Term Loan

 

13.500%

 

10/15/17

 

2,500,000

 

2,739,063

(i)

INDUSTRIALS — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerospace & Defense — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Co. LLC, LC Facility Deposits

 

2.289%

 

3/26/14

 

27,721

 

24,350

(i)

Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Co. LLC, Term Loan

 

2.261 - 2.303%

 

3/26/14

 

462,474

 

406,234

(i)

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

430,584

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 0.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services— 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 3 Communications Inc., Term Loan

 

11.500%

 

3/13/14

 

1,250,000

 

1,354,297

(i)

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vodafone Group PLC, Term Loan

 

6.875%

 

8/11/15

 

2,770,000

 

2,811,550

(f)(h)(i)

TOTAL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,165,847

 

UTILITIES — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy Future Holdings, Term Loan B3

 

3.764%

 

10/10/14

 

1,098,645

 

849,764

(i)

TOTAL COLLATERALIZED SENIOR LOANS (Cost — $12,290,924)

 

 

 

11,422,010

 

CONVERTIBLE BONDS & NOTES — 0.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS — 0.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marine — 0.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horizon Lines Inc., Senior Notes

 

4.250%

 

8/15/12

 

3,455,000

 

3,200,194

 

MATERIALS — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chemicals — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hercules Inc.

 

6.500%

 

6/30/29

 

410,000

 

344,400

 

TOTAL CONVERTIBLE BONDS & NOTES (Cost — $3,460,951)

 

 

 

 

3,544,594

 

SOVEREIGN BONDS — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russia — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Russian Foreign Bond-Eurobond, Senior Bonds (Cost - $1,046,405)

 

7.500%

 

3/31/30

 

958,545

 

1,110,954

(a)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

9


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

 

 

SHARES

 

VALUE

 

COMMON STOCKS — 1.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 1.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media — 1.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charter Communications Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

95,153

 

$

3,705,258

*(h)

Charter Communications Inc., Class A Shares

 

 

 

 

 

39,739

 

1,547,436

*

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,252,694

 

ENERGY — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SemGroup Corp., Class A Shares

 

 

 

 

 

9,017

 

245,004

*

INDUSTRIALS — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Building Products — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashton Woods USA LLC, Class B Membership

 

 

 

 

 

203

 

91,360

(d)(h)

Nortek Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

2,857

 

102,853

*

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

194,213

 

MATERIALS — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chemicals — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia Gulf Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

37,702

 

907,110

*

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost — $4,991,343)

 

 

 

 

 

6,599,021

 

CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIALS — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank of America Corp. (Cost - $3,008,006)

 

7.250%

 

 

 

3,030

 

2,899,619

 

PREFERRED STOCKS — 1.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Automobiles — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corts-Ford Motor Co.

 

7.400%

 

 

 

11,720

 

292,649

 

Motors Liquidation Co.

 

7.250%

 

 

 

900

 

7,211

*

Motors Liquidation Co.

 

7.250%

 

 

 

10,100

 

80,926

*

Motors Liquidation Co.

 

7.375%

 

 

 

2,200

 

17,628

*

Motors Liquidation Co.

 

7.375%

 

 

 

400

 

3,205

*

Motors Liquidation Co.

 

7.500%

 

 

 

31,700

 

253,996

*

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

655,615

 

FINANCIALS — 1.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commercial Banks — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banesto Holdings Ltd.

 

10.500%

 

 

 

53,000

 

1,248,812

(a)

Diversified Financial Services — 1.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citigroup Capital XII

 

8.500%

 

 

 

108,200

 

2,862,972

(e)

Citigroup Capital XIII

 

7.875%

 

 

 

85,025

 

2,288,023

(e)

Total Diversified Financial Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,150,995

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance— 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)

 

8.250%

 

 

 

37,200

 

20,832

*(e)

TOTAL FINANCIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,420,639

 

TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (Cost — $8,097,707)

 

 

 

 

7,076,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPIRATION
DATE

 

WARRANTS

 

 

 

WARRANTS — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buffets Restaurant Holdings

 

 

 

4/28/14

 

1,981

 

20

*(d)(h)

Charter Communications Inc.

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

2,238

 

11,134

*

Jack Cooper Holdings Corp.

 

 

 

12/15/17

 

1,974

 

49,350

*(h)

Nortek Inc.

 

 

 

12/7/14

 

5,518

 

38,628

*(d)(h)

SemGroup Corp.

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

9,492

 

42,714

*(d)

Turbo Beta Ltd.

 

 

 

11/1/14

 

1

 

0

*(d)(h)

TOTAL WARRANTS (Cost — $74,835)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

141,846

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost — $444,134,361)

455,995,750

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

10


 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

December 31, 2010

 

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreements — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morgan Stanley tri-party repurchase agreement dated 12/31/10; Proceeds at maturity - $627,006; (Fully collateralized by U.S. government agency obligations, 3.200% due 9/21/20; Market value - $639,605) (Cost - $627,000)

 

0.120

%

1/3/11

 

627,000

 

$

627,000

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 97.7 % (Cost — $444,761,361#)

 

 

 

456,622,750

 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 2.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,956,930

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

467,579,680

 

 

Face amount denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

*

Non-income producing security.

(a)

Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. This security has been deemed liquid pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Directors, unless otherwise noted.

(b)

The coupon payment on these securities is currently in default as of December 31, 2010.

(c)

The maturity principal is currently in default as of December 31, 2010.

(d)

Illiquid security.

(e)

Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is as of the most recent information available.

(f)

Payment-in-kind security for which part of the income earned may be paid as additional principal.

(g)

Security has no maturity date. The date shown represents the next call date.

(h)

Security is valued in good faith at fair value in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors (See Note 1).

(i)

Interest rates disclosed represent the effective rates on collateralized senior loans. Ranges in interest rates are attributable to multiple contracts under the same loan.

#

Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is substantially the same.

 

 

 

Abbreviation used in this schedule:

 

EUR

- Euro

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

11


 

Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

 

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in Maryland and is registered as a diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek high current income. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective.

 

The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

 

(a) Investment valuation. Debt securities are valued at the mean between the last quoted bid and asked prices provided by an independent pricing service, which are based on transactions in debt obligations, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various other relationships between securities. Publicly traded foreign government debt securities are typically traded internationally in the over-the-counter market, and are valued at the mean between the last quoted bid and asked prices as of the close of business of that market. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. When reliable prices are not readily available, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund values these securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors. Short-term obligations with maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

 

The Fund has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 820 (“ASC Topic 820”). ASC Topic 820 establishes a single definition of fair value, creates a three-tier hierarchy as a framework for measuring fair value based on inputs used to value the Fund’s investments, and requires additional disclosure about fair value. The hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.

 

·                  Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

·                  Level 2—other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

·                  Level 3—significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present value.

 

12


 

Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value:

 

ASSETS

 

DESCRIPTION

 

QUOTED
PRICES

(LEVEL 1)

 

OTHER
SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)

 

SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)

 

TOTAL

 

Long-term investments†:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds & notes

 

 

$

420,266,243

 

$

1,906,469

 

$

422,172,712

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

 

1,028,740

 

 

1,028,740

 

Collateralized senior loans

 

 

8,610,460

 

2,811,550

 

11,422,010

 

Convertible bonds & notes

 

 

3,544,594

 

 

3,544,594

 

Sovereign bonds

 

 

1,110,954

 

 

1,110,954

 

Common stocks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer discretionary

 

$

1,547,436

 

3,705,258

 

 

5,252,694

 

Industrials

 

102,853

 

 

91,360

 

194,213

 

Other common stocks

 

1,152,114

 

 

 

1,152,114

 

Convertible preferred stocks

 

2,899,619

 

 

 

2,899,619

 

Preferred stocks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer discretionary

 

292,649

 

362,966

 

 

 

655,615

 

Financials

 

5,171,827

 

1,248,812

 

 

 

6,420,639

 

Warrants

 

11,134

 

42,714

 

87,998

 

141,846

 

Total long-term investments

 

$

11,177,632

 

$

439,920,741

 

$

4,897,377

 

$

455,995,750

 

Short-term investments†

 

 

627,000

 

 

627,000

 

Total investments

 

$

11,177,632

 

$

440,547,741

 

$

4,897,377

 

$

456,622,750

 

Other financial instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward foreign currency contracts

 

 

$

105,646

 

 

$

105,646

 

Total

 

$

11,177,632

 

$

440,653,387

 

$

4,897,377

 

$

456,728,396

 

 

†See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

 

CORPORATE
BONDS &
NOTES

 

COLLATERALIZED
SENIOR LOANS

 

INDUSTRIALS

 

WARRANTS

 

TOTAL

 

Balance as of September 30, 2010

 

$

911,625

 

$

2,770,000

 

$

91,360

 

$

20

 

$

3,773,005

 

Accrued premiums/discounts

 

183

 

927

 

 

 

1,110

 

Realized gain (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(1)

 

(33,668

)

40,623

 

 

49,350

 

56,305

 

Net purchases (sales)

 

1,955,892

 

 

 

0

*

1,955,892

 

Transfers into Level 3

 

 

 

 

38,628

 

38,628

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

(927,563

)

 

 

 

(927,563

)

Balance as of December 31, 2010

 

$

1,906,469

 

$

2,811,550

 

$

91,360

 

$

87,998

 

$

4,897,377

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for investments in securities still held at December 31, 2010(1)

 

$

(49,606

)

$

40,623

 

 

$

49,350

 

$

40,367

 

 

(1) Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) includes net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from changes in investment values during the reporting period and the reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation (depreciation) when gains or losses are realized.

* Value is less than $1.

 

(b) Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that its investment adviser has determined are creditworthy. Each repurchase agreement is recorded at cost. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Fund acquires a debt security subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and of the Fund to resell, the security at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the yield during the Fund’s holding period. When entering into repurchase agreements, it is the Fund’s policy that its custodian or a third party custodian, acting on the Fund’s behalf, take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the market value of which, at all times, at least equals the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction maturity exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market and measured against the value of the agreement in an effort to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund generally has the right to use the collateral to satisfy the terms of the repurchase transaction. However, if the market value of the collateral declines during the period in which the Fund seeks to assert its rights or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.

 

(c) Forward Foreign Currency Contracts. The Fund enters into a forward foreign currency contract to hedge against foreign currency exchange rate risk on its non-U.S. dollar denominated securities or to facilitate settlement of a foreign

 

13


 

Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

currency denominated portfolio transaction. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set price with delivery and settlement at a future date. The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in value is recorded by the Fund as an unrealized gain or loss. When a forward foreign currency contract is closed, through either delivery or offset by entering into another forward foreign currency contract, the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value of the contract at the time it is closed.

 

(d) Foreign Currency Translation. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates on the date of valuation.  Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of such transactions.

 

Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of lower levels of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability.

 

(e) Credit and Market Risk. The Fund invests in high-yield instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high-yield obligations reflect, among other things, perceived credit and market risks. The Fund’s investment in securities rated below investment grade typically involves risks not associated with higher rated securities including, among others, greater risk related to timely and ultimate payment of interest and principal, greater market price volatility and less liquid secondary market trading.

 

(f) Security Transactions.  Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis.

 

(g) Counterparty Risk and Credit-Risk-Related Contingent Features of Derivative Instruments  The Fund may invest in certain securities or engage in other transactions, where the Fund is exposed to counterparty credit risk in addition to broader market risks. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers, which may also be considered counterparties as trading partners in other transactions. This may increase the risk of loss in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty or if the counterparty otherwise fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Fund’s investment manager attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. Market events and changes in overall economic conditions may impact the assessment of such counterparty risk by the investment manager. In addition, declines in the values of underlying collateral received may expose the Fund to increased risk of loss.

 

The Fund has entered into master agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that provide for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral, events of default or termination and credit related contingent features.  The credit related contingent features include, but are not limited to, a percentage decrease in the Fund’s net assets or NAV over a specified period of time.  If these credit related contingent features were triggered, the derivatives counterparty could terminate the positions and demand payment or require additional collateral.

 

As of December 31, 2010, the Fund did not have any open derivative transactions with credit related contingent features in a net liability position.

 

2.  Investments

 

At December 31, 2010, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

 

$

32,712,264

 

Gross unrealized depreciation

 

(20,850,875

)

Net unrealized appreciation

 

$

11,861,389

 

 

At December 31, 2010, the Fund had the following open forward foreign currency contracts:

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY

 

COUNTERPARTY

 

LOCAL
CURRENCY

 

MARKET
VALUE

 

SETTLEMENT
 DATE

 

UNREALIZED
 GAIN

 

Contracts to Sell:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Euro

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

949,203

 

$

1,268,293

 

2/14/11

 

$

23,478

 

Euro

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

2,000,000

 

2,672,331

 

2/14/11

 

68,159

 

Euro

 

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

 

706,017

 

943,356

 

2/14/11

 

14,009

 

Net unrealized gain on open forward foreign currency contracts

 

$

105,646

 

 

3. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 815 requires enhanced disclosure about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities.

 

The following is a summary of the Fund’s derivative instruments categorized by risk exposure at December 31, 2010.

 

 

 

Forward Foreign
Currency Contracts

 

Primary Underlying Risk Disclosure

 

Unrealized
Appreciation

 

Foreign Exchange Contracts

 

$

105,646

 

 

During the period ended December 31, 2010, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:

 

 

 

Average Market
Value

 

Forward foreign currency contracts (to sell)

 

$

3,234,303

 

 

14

 


 

ITEM 2.                                                   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

(a)                                  The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a- 3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

(b)                                 There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 3.                                                   EXHIBITS.

 

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are attached hereto.

 



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

/s/ R. Jay Gerken

 

R. Jay Gerken

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

February 25, 2011

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

By

 

/s/ R. Jay Gerken

 

R. Jay Gerken

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

February 25, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

/s/ Kaprel Ozsolak

 

Kaprel Ozsolak

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date:

February 25, 2011