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

811-10603

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

620 Eighth Avenue ,49th Floor, New York, NY

 

10018

(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:

December 31

 

 

Date of reporting period:

March 31, 2012

 

 



 

ITEM 1.                             SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

 



 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

FORM N-Q

MARCH 31, 2012

 


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES — 42.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 5.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Automobiles — 1.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DaimlerChrysler NA Holding Corp., Notes

 

8.500%

 

1/18/31

 

1,000,000

 

$

1,455,665

 

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

 

12.000%

 

5/15/15

 

1,030,000

 

1,272,050

 

Total Automobiles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,727,715

 

Diversified Consumer Services — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service Corp. International, Senior Notes

 

7.625%

 

10/1/18

 

5,000

 

5,750

 

Service Corp. International, Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

4/1/27

 

60,000

 

60,750

 

Total Diversified Consumer Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66,500

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 0.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.750%

 

2/1/16

 

300,000

 

261,750

 

El Pollo Loco Inc., Secured Notes

 

17.000%

 

1/1/18

 

388,122

 

349,795

(a)

Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, Senior Secured Notes

 

8.750%

 

11/30/20

 

113,000

 

110,457

(a)

Landry’s Acquisition Co., Secured Notes

 

11.625%

 

12/1/15

 

20,000

 

22,275

(a)

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Secured Notes

 

11.500%

 

11/1/17

 

170,000

 

173,825

(a)

NCL Corp. Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.750%

 

11/15/16

 

170,000

 

196,775

 

Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority, Senior Secured Notes

 

4.532%

 

2/1/14

 

110,000

 

103,400

(a)(b)

Station Casinos Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

6.625%

 

3/15/18

 

100,000

 

0

(c)(d)(e)(f)

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,218,277

 

Media — 3.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

13.500%

 

11/30/16

 

61,940

 

70,612

 

Cengage Learning Acquisitions Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.500%

 

1/15/15

 

270,000

 

203,175

(a)

Comcast Corp.

 

5.900%

 

3/15/16

 

400,000

 

461,850

 

Comcast Corp., Notes

 

7.050%

 

3/15/33

 

1,000,000

 

1,223,679

 

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.000%

 

10/1/13

 

600,000

 

640,500

 

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.875%

 

9/1/19

 

385,000

 

442,750

 

EchoStar DBS Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.125%

 

2/1/16

 

120,000

 

132,750

 

News America Inc.

 

8.875%

 

4/26/23

 

400,000

 

502,820

 

Time Warner Inc., Senior Debentures

 

7.700%

 

5/1/32

 

980,000

 

1,278,155

 

Total Media

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,956,291

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oxford Industries Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.375%

 

7/15/15

 

255,000

 

275,719

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,244,502

 

CONSUMER STAPLES — 5.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing — 5.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CVS Corp., Pass-Through Trust

 

9.350%

 

1/10/23

 

1,050,000

 

1,103,571

(a)

CVS Corp., Pass-Through Trust, Secured Bonds

 

5.789%

 

1/10/26

 

758,248

 

817,012

(a)

CVS Corp., Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

 

6.943%

 

1/10/30

 

1,614,529

 

1,857,968

 

CVS Pass-Through Trust

 

7.507%

 

1/10/32

 

1,917,266

 

2,296,482

(a)

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

 

5.880%

 

1/10/28

 

868,789

 

923,314

 

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

 

6.036%

 

12/10/28

 

752,059

 

824,550

 

Delhaize Group, Senior Notes

 

5.700%

 

10/1/40

 

235,000

 

217,226

 

Safeway Inc., Notes

 

5.800%

 

8/15/12

 

500,000

 

508,272

 

Total Food & Staples Retailing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,548,395

 

Food Products — 0.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahold Lease USA Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

 

8.620%

 

1/2/25

 

714,462

 

893,078

(f)

Tobacco — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alliance One International Inc., Senior Notes

 

10.000%

 

7/15/16

 

160,000

 

160,800

 

TOTAL CONSUMER STAPLES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9,602,273

 

ENERGY — 4.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compagnie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas, Senior Notes

 

6.500%

 

6/1/21

 

750,000

 

765,000

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

1


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

Energy Equipment & Services — continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hercules Offshore LLC, Senior Secured Notes

 

10.500%

 

10/15/17

 

155,000

 

$

162,362

(a)

Total Energy Equipment & Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

927,362

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 4.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anadarko Finance Co., Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

5/1/31

 

570,000

 

704,146

 

Arch Coal Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.000%

 

6/15/19

 

750,000

 

691,875

(a)

Berry Petroleum Co., Senior Notes

 

10.250%

 

6/1/14

 

160,000

 

184,800

 

Burlington Resources Finance Co.

 

7.400%

 

12/1/31

 

450,000

 

608,778

 

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.250%

 

12/15/18

 

270,000

 

288,225

 

Colorado Interstate Gas Co., Senior Notes

 

6.800%

 

11/15/15

 

150,000

 

172,397

 

CONSOL Energy Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.250%

 

4/1/20

 

440,000

 

459,800

 

Devon Energy Corp., Debentures

 

7.950%

 

4/15/32

 

310,000

 

435,615

 

El Paso Corp., Medium-Term Notes

 

7.800%

 

8/1/31

 

190,000

 

215,956

 

EXCO Resources Inc., Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

9/15/18

 

500,000

 

445,000

 

Hess Corp., Notes

 

7.875%

 

10/1/29

 

350,000

 

465,771

 

Plains Exploration & Production Co., Senior Notes

 

8.625%

 

10/15/19

 

125,000

 

140,313

 

Quicksilver Resources Inc., Senior Notes

 

11.750%

 

1/1/16

 

185,000

 

195,638

 

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

 

6.500%

 

7/15/21

 

750,000

 

795,000

 

Teekay Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.500%

 

1/15/20

 

310,000

 

321,625

 

Williams Cos. Inc., Debentures

 

7.500%

 

1/15/31

 

413,000

 

495,670

 

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.750%

 

3/15/32

 

39,000

 

51,414

 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,672,023

 

TOTAL ENERGY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,599,385

 

FINANCIALS — 7.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Finance — 1.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ally Financial Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

3/15/20

 

350,000

 

389,375

 

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

12/15/16

 

680,000

 

788,395

 

HSBC Finance Corp.

 

4.750%

 

7/15/13

 

1,670,000

 

1,731,441

 

Total Consumer Finance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,909,211

 

Diversified Financial Services — 4.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Air 2 US, Notes

 

8.027%

 

10/1/19

 

2,339,552

 

2,327,855

(a)

Citigroup Inc.

 

6.625%

 

6/15/32

 

1,000,000

 

1,025,984

 

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.750%

 

3/15/17

 

1,380,000

 

1,535,250

 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Subordinated Notes

 

5.125%

 

9/15/14

 

1,300,000

 

1,393,055

 

Liberty Media LLC

 

3.750%

 

2/15/30

 

1,860,000

 

1,009,050

 

UFJ Finance Aruba AEC

 

6.750%

 

7/15/13

 

500,000

 

530,660

 

Unitymedia GmbH, Senior Secured Bonds

 

8.125%

 

12/1/17

 

100,000

 

108,000

(a)

Total Diversified Financial Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,929,854

 

Insurance — 0.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XL Capital Ltd.

 

5.250%

 

9/15/14

 

1,000,000

 

1,059,297

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11,898,362

 

HEALTH CARE — 0.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services — 0.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Health Systems Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.875%

 

7/15/15

 

99,000

 

102,589

 

HCA Inc., Debentures

 

7.500%

 

11/15/95

 

185,000

 

147,075

 

HCA Inc., Notes

 

6.375%

 

1/15/15

 

430,000

 

453,650

 

HCA Inc., Notes

 

7.690%

 

6/15/25

 

90,000

 

86,737

 

HCA Inc., Senior Notes

 

6.250%

 

2/15/13

 

85,000

 

87,231

 

HCA Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

6.500%

 

2/15/20

 

310,000

 

325,500

 

Vanguard Health Holdings Co., II LLC, Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

2/1/18

 

215,000

 

219,300

 

TOTAL HEALTH CARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,422,082

 

INDUSTRIALS — 11.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerospace & Defense — 0.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boeing Co., Notes

 

6.125%

 

2/15/33

 

600,000

 

745,698

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

2


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

Airlines — 10.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

America West Airlines Inc., Ambac Assurance Corp.

 

8.057%

 

7/2/20

 

2,224,781

 

$

2,302,648

 

Continental Airlines Inc.

 

7.160%

 

9/24/14

 

136,535

 

138,242

 

Continental Airlines Inc.

 

6.820%

 

5/1/18

 

913,728

 

950,277

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

 

6.900%

 

1/2/18

 

748,727

 

795,522

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

 

6.545%

 

2/2/19

 

1,027,875

 

1,106,199

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

 

6.703%

 

6/15/21

 

674,732

 

721,963

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, 2000-1 A-1

 

8.048%

 

11/1/20

 

522,656

 

584,068

 

Continental Airlines Inc., Secured Notes

 

6.250%

 

10/22/21

 

1,000,000

 

1,015,000

 

DAE Aviation Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

 

11.250%

 

8/1/15

 

250,000

 

260,625

(a)

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

 

8.021%

 

8/10/22

 

156,259

 

159,181

 

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.500%

 

9/15/14

 

59,000

 

62,835

(a)

JetBlue Airways Corp., Pass-Through Certificates

 

0.953%

 

11/15/16

 

1,050,000

 

840,000

(b)

Northwest Airlines Corp., Pass-Through Certificates

 

7.575%

 

9/1/20

 

458,537

 

500,951

 

Northwest Airlines Inc.

 

0.758%

 

2/6/15

 

2,433,923

 

2,306,142

(b)(f)

US Airways Pass-Through Trust

 

6.850%

 

1/30/18

 

2,586,615

 

2,483,150

 

US Airways Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

 

7.125%

 

10/22/23

 

2,000,000

 

2,100,000

 

Total Airlines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,326,803

 

Building Products — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

11.000%

 

6/30/15

 

65,000

 

53,625

(a)(d)

Commercial Services & Supplies — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Altegrity Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

10.500%

 

11/1/15

 

310,000

 

294,500

(a)

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

 

10.000%

 

7/15/17

 

170,000

 

197,200

(a)

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

491,700

 

Road & Rail — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kansas City Southern de Mexico, Senior Notes

 

12.500%

 

4/1/16

 

111,000

 

127,927

 

RailAmerica Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

9.250%

 

7/1/17

 

24,000

 

25,290

 

Total Road & Rail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

153,217

 

Trading Companies & Distributors — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ashtead Capital Inc., Notes

 

9.000%

 

8/15/16

 

129,000

 

134,644

(a)

H&E Equipment Services Inc., Senior Notes

 

8.375%

 

7/15/16

 

245,000

 

252,350

 

Total Trading Companies & Distributors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

386,994

 

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18,158,037

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 0.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT Services — 0.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electronic Data Systems Corp., Notes

 

7.450%

 

10/15/29

 

500,000

 

595,997

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

 

10.125%

 

12/15/16

 

28,000

 

29,890

 

TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

625,887

 

MATERIALS — 1.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chemicals — 0.6%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dow Chemical Co.

 

6.000%

 

10/1/12

 

1,000,000

 

1,025,025

 

Metals & Mining — 0.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metals USA Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.125%

 

12/1/15

 

445,000

 

463,912

 

Vedanta Resources PLC, Senior Notes

 

8.750%

 

1/15/14

 

130,000

 

133,575

(a)

Total Metals & Mining

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

597,487

 

Paper & Forest Products — 0.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appleton Papers Inc., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.250%

 

12/15/15

 

235,000

 

217,963

 

NewPage Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

11.375%

 

12/31/14

 

595,000

 

398,650

(c)

PE Paper Escrow GmbH, Senior Secured Notes

 

12.000%

 

8/1/14

 

100,000

 

108,500

(a)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

3

 


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

Paper & Forest Products — continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weyerhaeuser Co., Debentures

 

7.375%

 

3/15/32

 

560,000

 

$

596,560

 

Total Paper & Forest Products

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,321,673

 

TOTAL MATERIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,944,185

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES — 1.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 1.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AT&T Inc., Senior Notes

 

5.350%

 

9/1/40

 

170,000

 

180,763

 

Cincinnati Bell Telephone Co., Senior Debentures

 

6.300%

 

12/1/28

 

25,000

 

20,000

 

Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV

 

5.250%

 

7/22/13

 

600,000

 

631,417

 

France Telecom SA, Notes

 

8.500%

 

3/1/31

 

600,000

 

850,866

 

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

 

9.500%

 

6/15/16

 

35,000

 

36,575

 

Intelsat Jackson Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

 

11.250%

 

6/15/16

 

340,000

 

357,850

 

Qwest Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.500%

 

10/1/14

 

150,000

 

167,231

 

TOTAL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,244,702

 

UTILITIES — 3.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electric Utilities — 0.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FirstEnergy Corp., Notes

 

7.375%

 

11/15/31

 

1,020,000

 

1,255,685

 

MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., Senior Notes

 

5.875%

 

10/1/12

 

250,000

 

256,440

 

Total Electric Utilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,512,125

 

Gas Utilities — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern Natural Gas Co., Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

3/1/32

 

20,000

 

24,763

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders — 2.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AES Corp., Senior Notes

 

9.750%

 

4/15/16

 

360,000

 

421,200

 

AES Corp., Senior Notes

 

8.000%

 

6/1/20

 

100,000

 

114,750

 

AES Corp., Senior Notes

 

7.375%

 

7/1/21

 

660,000

 

729,300

(a)

Calpine Corp., Senior Secured Notes

 

7.875%

 

1/15/23

 

700,000

 

756,000

(a)

Edison Mission Energy, Senior Notes

 

7.750%

 

6/15/16

 

320,000

 

220,800

 

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

 

10.000%

 

12/1/20

 

885,000

 

964,650

 

Total Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

 

 

 

 

 

3,206,700

 

Multi-Utilities — 0.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dominion Resources Inc., Senior Notes

 

5.700%

 

9/17/12

 

770,000

 

787,478

 

TOTAL UTILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5,531,066

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES (Cost — $65,052,436)

 

 

 

69,270,481

 

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES — 37.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AAA Trust, 2005-1A 1A3B

 

0.651%

 

2/27/35

 

498,597

 

331,489

(a)(b)

ABFS Mortgage Loan Trust, 2002-3 M1

 

5.902%

 

9/15/33

 

1,118,227

 

775,874

 

ACE Securities Corp., 2005-WF1 M1

 

0.662%

 

5/25/35

 

470,000

 

403,834

(b)

Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., 2004-R1 A1B

 

0.642%

 

2/25/34

 

618,339

 

487,009

(b)

Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., 2004-R9 M1

 

0.862%

 

10/25/34

 

400,000

 

344,476

(b)

Amortizing Residential Collateral Trust, 2004-1 A5

 

0.742%

 

10/25/34

 

238,850

 

207,513

(b)

Argent Securities Inc., 2003-W3 M1

 

1.367%

 

9/25/33

 

185,729

 

170,165

(b)

Associates Manufactured Housing Pass Through Certificates, 1997-CLB2

 

8.900%

 

6/15/28

 

2,615,337

 

2,615,337

(f)

Associates Manufactured Housing Pass-Through Certificates, 1997-1 B1

 

7.600%

 

6/15/28

 

333,312

 

358,365

(b)(d)

Associates Manufactured Housing Pass-Through Certificates, 1997-2 B1

 

7.150%

 

3/15/28

 

1,275,979

 

1,214,027

(b)

Bank of America Manufactured Housing Contract Trust, 1997-2M

 

6.900%

 

4/10/28

 

100,000

 

125,129

(b)

Bayview Financial Acquisition Trust, 2007-B 2A1

 

0.541%

 

8/28/47

 

258,467

 

252,274

(b)

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2004-SSRA A1

 

0.842%

 

12/25/39

 

335,213

 

266,494

(a)(b)

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A A

 

0.692%

 

3/25/37

 

2,012,034

 

1,383,273

(a)(b)

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A M1

 

1.042%

 

3/25/37

 

1,323,106

 

856,711

(a)(b)

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A M3

 

1.392%

 

3/25/37

 

501,868

 

265,990

(a)(b)

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A M4

 

1.742%

 

3/25/37

 

136,873

 

62,962

(a)(b)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

4


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES —  continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust, 2006-SD3 1P0, STRIPS, PO

 

0.000%

 

8/25/36

 

928,804

 

$

644,693

 

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust, 2007-SD1 1A3A

 

6.500%

 

10/25/36

 

1,264,504

 

835,701

 

Centex Home Equity Loan Trust, 2003-B AF4

 

3.735%

 

2/25/32

 

349,152

 

305,089

 

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc., 2006-SHL1 A1

 

0.442%

 

11/25/45

 

173,908

 

126,292

(a)(b)

Contimortgage Home Equity Trust, 1997-4 B1F

 

7.330%

 

10/15/28

 

356,413

 

375,981

 

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2004-3 3A3

 

0.622%

 

8/25/34

 

295,845

 

267,724

(b)

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2006-3 3A1

 

0.362%

 

6/25/36

 

763,670

 

498,508

(b)

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2007-13 2A1

 

1.142%

 

10/25/47

 

1,102,518

 

752,144

(b)

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2007-SEA2 1A1

 

1.242%

 

8/25/47

 

54,333

 

36,273

(a)(b)(f)

Countrywide Home Equity Loan Trust, 2006-HW 2A1B

 

0.392%

 

11/15/36

 

1,212,040

 

890,018

(b)

Credit-Based Asset Servicing & Securitization, 2005-CB4 M1

 

0.662%

 

8/25/35

 

2,000,000

 

1,388,706

(b)

Credit-Based Asset Servicing & Securitization LLC, 2004-CB2 M1

 

1.022%

 

7/25/33

 

2,209,205

 

1,585,498

(b)

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC, 2005-RP1 M1

 

0.862%

 

1/25/35

 

780,000

 

712,694

(a)(b)

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC, 2007-SP1 A4

 

6.020%

 

12/25/37

 

900,000

 

729,222

(a)

CS First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp., 2004-CF2 2A1

 

0.712%

 

5/25/44

 

27,768

 

26,944

(a)(b)

Educap Student Loan Asset-Backed Notes, 2004-1 B

 

1.400%

 

6/25/38

 

1,491,262

 

1,312,311

(b)(f)

Education Funding Capital Trust, 2004-1 B1

 

1.990%

 

6/15/43

 

1,200,000

 

1,044,000

(b)(f)

Ellington Loan Acquisition Trust, 2007-1 A2A1

 

1.242%

 

5/26/37

 

122,096

 

118,002

(a)(b)

EMC Mortgage Loan Trust, 2003-B A1

 

0.792%

 

11/25/41

 

76,020

 

67,597

(a)(b)

Firstfed Corp. Manufactured Housing Contract, 1996-1 B

 

8.060%

 

10/15/22

 

1,528,937

 

1,314,296

(a)

Fremont Home Loan Trust, 2006-2 2A2

 

0.352%

 

2/25/36

 

58,493

 

58,141

(b)

GMAC Mortgage Corp. Loan Trust, 2004-VF1 A1

 

0.992%

 

2/25/31

 

375,923

 

328,287

(a)(b)

Green Tree Financial Corp., 1992-2 B

 

9.150%

 

1/15/18

 

59,828

 

18,840

 

Green Tree Financial Corp., 1993-1 B

 

8.450%

 

4/15/18

 

99,478

 

78,353

 

Green Tree Home Improvement Loan Trust, 1996-D HIB2

 

8.000%

 

9/15/27

 

35,425

 

25,852

 

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 1999-2 A2

 

3.007%

 

3/18/29

 

425,000

 

330,995

(b)

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 1999-3 2A2

 

3.731%

 

6/19/29

 

125,000

 

90,212

(b)

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 1999-4 A2

 

3.746%

 

2/20/30

 

125,000

 

90,774

(b)

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 1999-5 A5

 

7.820%

 

12/15/29

 

706,000

 

761,464

(b)

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 2000-4 A3

 

2.246%

 

8/21/31

 

800,000

 

677,503

(b)

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 2000-6 A3

 

2.277%

 

11/22/31

 

1,075,000

 

893,763

(b)

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 2001-2 IA2

 

3.755%

 

2/20/32

 

525,000

 

398,070

(b)

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 2001-2 IIA2

 

3.751%

 

3/13/32

 

900,000

 

678,646

(b)

GSAA Home Equity Trust, 2004-8 A3A

 

0.612%

 

9/25/34

 

219,989

 

208,380

(b)

GSAA Home Equity Trust, 2006-19 A3A

 

0.482%

 

12/25/36

 

773,723

 

369,025

(b)

GSAMP Trust, 2003-SEA2 A1

 

4.422%

 

7/25/33

 

1,868,471

 

1,572,963

 

GSRPM Mortgage Loan Trust, 2006-1 A1

 

0.542%

 

3/25/35

 

141,970

 

115,660

(a)(b)

GSRPM Mortgage Loan Trust, 2006-2 A2

 

0.542%

 

9/25/36

 

277,337

 

218,540

(a)(b)

Indymac Manufactured Housing Contract, 1997-1 A5

 

6.970%

 

2/25/28

 

201,994

 

201,215

 

Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corp., 2011-1 A

 

1.822%

 

6/25/42

 

972,176

 

918,133

(b)

Keycorp Student Loan Trust, 2002-A 1A2

 

0.681%

 

8/27/31

 

2,232,106

 

1,994,564

(b)

Keycorp Student Loan Trust, 2003-A 1A2

 

0.820%

 

10/25/32

 

1,040,582

 

971,239

(b)

Lehman XS Trust, 2007-1 WF1

 

5.569%

 

1/25/37

 

873,137

 

482,676

(b)

Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust, 2004-4 M1

 

1.142%

 

10/25/34

 

1,620,000

 

1,300,205

(b)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

5


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES —  continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merit Securities Corp., 13 A4

 

7.905%

 

12/28/33

 

2,345,465

 

$

2,512,970

(b)

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, 2003-SD1 A1

 

1.242%

 

3/25/33

 

20,491

 

17,567

(b)

Morgan Stanley Capital Inc., 2003-NC9 M

 

1.367%

 

9/25/33

 

1,837,241

 

1,324,820

(b)

MSDWCC Heloc Trust, 2003-2 A

 

0.762%

 

4/25/16

 

82,773

 

76,992

(b)

New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, 2004-2 A2

 

0.612%

 

8/25/34

 

475,320

 

362,822

(b)

New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, 2004-3 M1

 

1.172%

 

11/25/34

 

1,480,740

 

1,012,260

(b)

Oakwood Mortgage Investors Inc., 2002-B A3

 

6.060%

 

3/15/25

 

245,283

 

222,721

(b)

Option One Mortgage Loan Trust, 2003-2 A2

 

0.842%

 

4/25/33

 

395,255

 

320,801

(b)

Origen Manufactured Housing, 2006-A A2

 

3.748%

 

10/15/37

 

2,700,000

 

1,566,000

(b)

Origen Manufactured Housing, 2007-A A2

 

3.748%

 

4/15/37

 

3,417,731

 

1,948,107

(b)

PAMCO CLO, 1997-1A B

 

7.910%

 

8/6/09

 

738,195

 

258,368

(f)(g)

Park Place Securities Inc., 2004-WCW1 M2

 

0.922%

 

9/25/34

 

1,900,000

 

1,720,758

(b)

Park Place Securities Inc., 2004-WHQ2 M2

 

0.872%

 

2/25/35

 

750,000

 

640,752

(b)

Pegasus Aviation Lease Securitization, 2000-1 A2

 

8.370%

 

3/25/30

 

1,600,000

 

632,000

(a)

Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, 2003-1 B1

 

2.430%

 

7/25/42

 

3,000,000

 

2,490,000

(b)

People’s Choice Home Loan Securities Trust, 2004-1 A3

 

1.282%

 

6/25/34

 

400,842

 

333,597

(b)

RAAC Series, 2007-RP1 M1

 

0.792%

 

5/25/46

 

210,000

 

29,954

(a)(b)

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust, 2004-2 AF4

 

5.392%

 

7/25/34

 

541,902

 

553,216

 

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust, 2005-2 AF5

 

5.201%

 

8/25/35

 

750,000

 

435,655

 

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust, 2005-3 AV3

 

0.622%

 

11/25/35

 

721,380

 

525,131

(b)

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc., 2004-RZ1 AII

 

0.722%

 

3/25/34

 

375,050

 

251,868

(b)

Residential Asset Securities Corp., 2001-KS3 AII

 

0.702%

 

9/25/31

 

291,600

 

216,505

(b)

Residential Asset Securities Corp., 2002-KS2 AI6

 

6.228%

 

4/25/32

 

457,896

 

470,341

(b)

Residential Asset Securities Corp., 2003-KS8 AI6

 

4.830%

 

10/25/33

 

644,981

 

624,118

(b)

Settlement Fee Finance LLC, 2004-1A A

 

9.100%

 

7/25/34

 

874,306

 

902,228

(a)

SLM Student Loan Trust, 2001-4 B

 

1.060%

 

1/25/21

 

1,000,000

 

933,385

(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2002-AL1 A3

 

3.450%

 

2/25/32

 

707,639

 

639,153

 

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2003-AL1 A

 

3.357%

 

4/25/31

 

102,912

 

99,584

(a)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2005-4XS 2A1A

 

1.992%

 

3/25/35

 

492,998

 

385,373

(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2006-GEL3 A2

 

0.472%

 

7/25/36

 

1,580,609

 

1,371,298

(a)(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2007-BC1 A2

 

0.292%

 

2/25/37

 

296,686

 

287,945

(b)

Vanderbilt Mortgage Finance, 2000-B IB2

 

9.250%

 

7/7/30

 

740,398

 

744,732

(b)

TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (Cost — $57,731,359)

 

 

 

59,847,136

 

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS — 35.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Home Mortgage Investment Trust, 2007-A 4A

 

0.692%

 

7/25/46

 

769,291

 

215,429

(a)(b)

Banc of America Funding Corp., 2004-B 6A1

 

2.949%

 

12/20/34

 

546,479

 

313,846

(b)

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust, 2005-3A A2

 

0.642%

 

11/25/35

 

599,391

 

395,843

(a)(b)

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust, 2005-4A A1

 

0.542%

 

1/25/36

 

334,364

 

211,472

(a)(b)

BCAP LLC Trust, 2009-RR12 2A2

 

0.604%

 

3/26/35

 

1,844,014

 

832,808

(a)(b)

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, 2004-1 23A1

 

5.362%

 

4/25/34

 

177,816

 

175,770

(b)

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust, 2004-03 A1

 

0.882%

 

4/25/34

 

439,358

 

385,773

(b)

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust, 2004-08 1A

 

0.942%

 

9/25/34

 

225,937

 

193,855

(b)

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust, 2005-10 21A1

 

2.979%

 

1/25/36

 

1,075,322

 

607,891

(b)

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust, 2002-AC1 B4

 

7.000%

 

1/25/32

 

798,005

 

280,143

(a)

Bella Vista Mortgage Trust, 2004-2 A1

 

0.612%

 

2/25/35

 

1,899,821

 

1,008,522

(b)

BlackRock Capital Finance LP, 1997-R2 B5

 

6.188%

 

12/25/35

 

230,774

 

9,577

(b)(f)

CBA Commercial Small Balance Commercial Trust, 2005-1A

 

0.562%

 

7/25/35

 

1,427,825

 

765,854

(a)(b)

Chevy Chase Mortgage Funding Corp., 2004-3A A1

 

0.492%

 

8/25/35

 

1,353,528

 

958,551

(a)(b)

Chevy Chase Mortgage Funding Corp., 2004-4A A1

 

0.472%

 

10/25/35

 

1,894,035

 

1,322,627

(a)(b)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

6


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS —  continued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chevy Chase Mortgage Funding Corp., 2005-4A A1

 

0.442%

 

10/25/36

 

1,697,562

 

$

1,083,428

(a)(b)

Countrywide Home Loan Mortgage Pass-Through Trust, 2004-HYB5 7A1

 

2.423%

 

4/20/35

 

2,642,242

 

2,091,520

(b)

Countrywide Home Loans, 2004-R1 1AF

 

0.642%

 

11/25/34

 

1,421,941

 

1,180,128

(a)(b)

Countrywide Home Loans, 2004-R2 1AF1

 

0.662%

 

11/25/34

 

430,537

 

341,346

(a)(b)

Countrywide Home Loans, 2004-R2 1AF2

 

0.662%

 

11/25/34

 

968,708

 

768,028

(a)(b)

Countrywide Home Loans, 2005-7 1A1

 

0.512%

 

3/25/35

 

1,352,739

 

1,108,032

(b)

Countrywide Home Loans, 2005-R2 2A1

 

7.000%

 

6/25/35

 

1,277,944

 

1,245,658

(a)

Countrywide Home Loans, 2006-HYB4 3B

 

5.190%

 

6/20/36

 

1,200,578

 

683,544

(b)

Countrywide Home Loans Mortgage Pass-Through Trust, 2005-R1 1AF1

 

0.602%

 

3/25/35

 

726,894

 

569,012

(a)(b)

Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, 2007-C3 A4

 

5.714%

 

6/15/39

 

242,000

 

261,210

(b)

Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, 2009-16R 4A1

 

2.728%

 

3/26/35

 

399,967

 

371,526

(a)(b)

Extended Stay America Trust, 2010-ESHA XB1, IO

 

1.165%

 

1/5/16

 

20,500,000

 

170,847

(a)(b)

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC), Multi-Family Structured Pass-Through Certificates, K007 X1, IO

 

1.236%

 

4/25/20

 

11,161,083

 

804,279

(b)

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC), Multi-Family Structured Pass-Through Certificates, K008 X1, IO

 

1.681%

 

6/25/20

 

986,478

 

98,427

(b)

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC), Multi-Family Structured Pass-Through Certificates, K009 X1, IO

 

1.514%

 

8/25/20

 

5,828,934

 

511,891

(b)

GMAC Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc., 1998-C2 F

 

6.500%

 

5/15/35

 

892,990

 

935,454

(a)

Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust, 2005-AR5 2A2

 

0.512%

 

11/25/46

 

1,177,760

 

553,783

(b)

Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust, 2005-AR5 3A2

 

0.512%

 

11/25/46

 

1,256,232

 

602,991

(b)

GS Mortgage Securities Corp., 2010-C1 X, IO

 

1.561%

 

8/10/43

 

12,746,297

 

1,092,230

(a)(b)

GS Mortgage Securities Corp., IO

 

2.168%

 

2/10/21

 

6,193,228

 

181,121

(a)(b)

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust, 2001-2 A

 

7.500%

 

6/19/32

 

1,445,394

 

1,462,697

(a)(b)

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust, 2004-4 1AF

 

0.642%

 

6/25/34

 

904,859

 

781,938

(a)(b)

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust, 2005-RP1 2A1

 

3.625%

 

1/25/35

 

1,424,808

 

1,296,893

(a)(b)

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust, 2005-RP3 1AF

 

0.592%

 

9/25/35

 

1,178,128

 

923,682

(a)(b)

Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust, 2004-08 3A2

 

0.642%

 

11/19/34

 

149,353

 

90,834

(b)

Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust, 2004-10 4A

 

2.776%

 

1/19/35

 

390,585

 

378,342

(b)

Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust, 2005-9 B10

 

1.992%

 

6/20/35

 

1,079,207

 

56,245

(b)

Impac CMB Trust, 2004-9 1A1

 

1.002%

 

1/25/35

 

49,197

 

37,162

(b)

Impac CMB Trust, 2005-2 2A2

 

0.642%

 

4/25/35

 

254,770

 

217,532

(b)

Impac CMB Trust, 2A-10

 

0.882%

 

3/25/35

 

404,480

 

291,074

(b)

Indymac Index Mortgage Loan Trust, 2007-AR15 2A1

 

4.914%

 

8/25/37

 

4,065,237

 

2,786,562

(b)

Indymac Manufactured Housing Contract, A2-2

 

6.170%

 

8/25/29

 

207,810

 

207,005

 

Jefferies & Co., 2009-B 9A

 

0.902%

 

11/21/35

 

135,095

 

295,318

(a)(b)(f)

JP Morgan Mortgage Trust, 2005-A6 3A3

 

2.780%

 

9/25/35

 

630,000

 

415,811

(b)

JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust, 2006-S1 3A4

 

6.180%

 

3/25/36

 

1,100,000

 

488,705

(b)

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 2007-A2 4A2

 

5.756%

 

4/25/37

 

296,436

 

249,379

(b)

LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2001-C3 X, IO, STRIPS

 

0.752%

 

6/15/36

 

390,798

 

342

(a)(b)(d)

Luminent Mortgage Trust, 2006-6 A1

 

0.442%

 

10/25/46

 

976,556

 

632,092

(b)

MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust, 2004-13 3A7

 

2.718%

 

11/21/34

 

2,000,000

 

1,955,882

(b)

MASTR Alternative Loans Trust, PAC, 2003-7 7A1

 

0.642%

 

11/25/33

 

95,492

 

93,697

(b)

MASTR ARM Trust, 2004-7 6M1

 

0.892%

 

8/25/34

 

800,000

 

630,734

(b)

Merit Securities Corp., 11PA 3A1

 

0.861%

 

4/28/27

 

153,627

 

118,709

(a)(b)

Merit Securities Corp., 11PA B3

 

2.491%

 

9/28/32

 

850,000

 

546,214

(a)(b)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

7

 


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS — continued

 

 

 

 

 

Metropolitan Asset Funding Inc., 1998-BI B1

 

8.000%

 

11/20/24

 

773,449

 

$

482,641

(b)

Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp., 2004-AR4 1A1

 

2.447%

 

12/25/34

 

417,169

 

405,079

(b)

Prime Mortgage Trust, 2005-2 2XB, STRIPS, IO

 

1.743%

 

10/25/32

 

3,423,596

 

110,650

(b)

Prime Mortgage Trust, 2005-5 1X, STRIPS, IO

 

0.905%

 

7/25/34

 

7,014,704

 

90,463

(b)

Prime Mortgage Trust, 2005-5 1XB, STRIPS, IO

 

1.248%

 

7/25/34

 

2,159,531

 

20,478

(b)

Regal Trust IV, 1999-1 A

 

2.721%

 

9/29/31

 

78,450

 

69,365

(a)(b)

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc., 2004-SL4 A5

 

7.500%

 

7/25/32

 

1,160,394

 

1,101,748

 

Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc., 2005-SL2 AP0, STRIPS, PO

 

0.010%

 

2/25/32

 

187,661

 

165,851

 

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2003-2 A2

 

1.278%

 

6/20/33

 

45,120

 

38,497

(b)

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2004-10 A1A

 

0.552%

 

11/20/34

 

28,320

 

25,776

(b)

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2004-11 A1

 

0.542%

 

12/20/34

 

41,865

 

36,531

(b)

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2004-12 A1

 

0.512%

 

1/20/35

 

333,801

 

260,680

(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 1998-RF2 A

 

7.688%

 

7/15/27

 

394,412

 

396,683

(a)(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2002-9 A2

 

0.542%

 

10/25/27

 

864,815

 

802,620

(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2003-9A 2A2

 

2.716%

 

3/25/33

 

234,419

 

215,523

(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2004-NP1 A

 

0.642%

 

9/25/33

 

233,081

 

200,650

(a)(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2005-4XS 3A4

 

4.790%

 

3/25/35

 

617,780

 

619,991

 

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2005-RF2 A

 

0.592%

 

4/25/35

 

1,165,425

 

899,932

(a)(b)

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2005-RF3 2A

 

3.655%

 

6/25/35

 

1,921,052

 

1,686,597

(a)(b)

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2003-4 A1

 

0.882%

 

9/25/43

 

799,752

 

774,409

(b)

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2004-03 A

 

0.982%

 

9/25/44

 

780,672

 

717,089

(b)

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2007-4 3A1

 

6.155%

 

9/25/37

 

537,139

 

537,923

(b)

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2004-AR06 A

 

0.670%

 

5/25/44

 

669,727

 

546,789

(b)

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2004-AR08 A1

 

0.670%

 

6/25/44

 

417,118

 

296,330

(b)

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2004-AR13 A2A

 

0.620%

 

11/25/34

 

1,766,632

 

1,456,284

(b)

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2007-HY7 2A3

 

5.006%

 

7/25/37

 

1,583,817

 

992,928

(b)

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2007-OA3 2A

 

0.929%

 

4/25/47

 

1,056,554

 

642,227

(b)

Washington Mutual Alternative Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2006-5 3A3

 

6.221%

 

7/25/36

 

805,854

 

363,697

 

Washington Mutual Alternative Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2006-7 A2A

 

5.667%

 

9/25/36

 

1,315,611

 

763,833

 

Washington Mutual Alternative Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2006-7 A3

 

6.081%

 

9/25/36

 

161,096

 

92,406

 

Washington Mutual Inc., 2004-AR11

 

2.492%

 

10/25/34

 

472,234

 

454,385

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., 2004-AR12 A2A

 

0.640%

 

10/25/44

 

510,588

 

399,331

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., 2005-AR8 2A1A

 

0.532%

 

7/25/45

 

413,538

 

329,817

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2004-AR02 A

 

1.559%

 

4/25/44

 

292,447

 

235,638

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2004-AR13 A1A

 

0.610%

 

11/25/34

 

1,256,202

 

1,034,266

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2005-AR08 1A1A

 

0.512%

 

7/25/45

 

27,821

 

22,191

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2005-AR09 A1A

 

0.562%

 

7/25/45

 

180,959

 

143,176

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2005-AR13 A1A1

 

0.532%

 

10/25/45

 

340,030

 

271,607

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2005-AR19 A1A1

 

0.512%

 

12/25/45

 

693,002

 

565,655

(b)

Washington Mutual Inc., MSC Pass-Through Certificates, 2004-RA1 2A

 

7.000%

 

3/25/34

 

38,899

 

41,442

 

Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2006-AR5 3A

 

1.122%

 

7/25/46

 

1,243,111

 

507,015

(b)

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

8


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS — continued

 

 

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Mortgage Loan Trust, 2010-RR2 1A2

 

5.109%

 

9/27/35

 

2,418,992

 

$

1,924,698

(a)(b)

TOTAL COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS (Cost — $54,560,380)

 

57,032,156

 

COLLATERALIZED SENIOR LOANS — 5.0%

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 2.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carmike Cinemas Inc., Term Loan

 

5.500%

 

1/27/16

 

838,932

 

840,190

(h)

Getty Images Inc., Term Loan B

 

5.250%

 

11/7/16

 

980,689

 

984,980

(h)

Las Vegas Sands LLC, Delayed Draw Term Loan

 

2.750%

 

11/23/16

 

164,833

 

158,858

(h)

Las Vegas Sands LLC, Term Loan B

 

2.750%

 

11/23/16

 

820,129

 

791,040

(h)

Univision Communications Inc.

 

4.491%

 

3/31/17

 

990,478

 

917,699

(h)

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,692,767

 

HEALTH CARE — 1.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Health Systems Inc., Term Loan B

 

2.491 - 2.739%

 

7/25/14

 

1,147,073

 

1,131,438

(h)

MedAssets Inc., Term Loan B

 

5.250%

 

11/16/16

 

908,760

 

912,168

(h)

TOTAL HEALTH CARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,043,606

 

INDUSTRIALS — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trico Shipping AS, Term Loan A

 

10.000%

 

5/13/14

 

18,802

 

18,708

(d)(h)

Trico Shipping AS, Term Loan B

 

 

5/13/14

 

33,104

 

32,938

(d)(i)

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

51,646

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY — 1.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Data Corp., Term Loan B

 

4.242%

 

3/23/18

 

424,158

 

386,182

(h)

First Data Corp., Term Loan B2

 

2.992%

 

9/24/14

 

514,436

 

495,148

(h)

Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Term Loan

 

4.494%

 

12/1/16

 

1,478,386

 

1,437,731

(h)

TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,319,061

 

TOTAL COLLATERALIZED SENIOR LOANS (Cost — $8,132,099)

 

 

 

8,107,080

 

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FNMA — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Whole Loan (Cost - $435,004)

 

6.500%

 

8/25/44

 

423,939

 

475,514

 

MUNICIPAL BONDS — 8.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florida — 1.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Florida Educational Loan Marketing Corp., 2002-1 B

 

0.543%

 

12/1/36

 

700,000

 

549,500

(b)(f)(j)

Florida Educational Loan Marketing Corp., Education Loan Revenue

 

0.495%

 

12/1/18

 

2,400,000

 

1,800,000

(b)(j)

Total Florida

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,349,500

 

Kentucky — 0.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carroll County, KY, PCR, Kentucky Utilities Co. Project, AMBAC

 

0.222%

 

10/1/32

 

1,800,000

 

1,422,000

(b)

Nevada — 0.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Washoe County, NV, Pollution Control, Gas & Water Facilities Revenue, Sierra Pacific Power Co., AMBAC

 

0.665%

 

3/1/36

 

1,700,000

 

1,343,000

(b)(j)

New York — 0.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York State Energy Research & Development Authority Facilities Revenue, Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc., AMBAC

 

0.245%

 

10/1/36

 

1,600,000

 

1,120,000

(b)(j)

New York State Energy Research & Development Authority, Gas Facilities Revenue, Brooklyn Union Gas Project, NATL-RE

 

0.455%

 

12/1/20

 

200,000

 

156,000

(b)(f)

Total New York

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,276,000

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

9


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

VALUE

 

Pennsylvania — 4.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pennsylvania State Higher Education Assistance Agency

 

13.263%

 

5/1/46

 

1,300,000

 

$

1,202,500

(b)(f)

Pennsylvania State Higher Education Assistance Agency, Student Loan Revenue

 

2.049%

 

6/1/47

 

4,150,000

 

3,797,250

(b)(f)

Pennsylvania State Higher Education Assistance Agency, Student Loan Revenue

 

13.448%

 

5/1/46

 

2,525,000

 

2,335,625

(b)(f)

Pennsylvania State Higher Education Assistance Agency, Student Loan Revenue

 

3.127%

 

5/1/46

 

650,000

 

601,250

(b)(f)

Total Pennsylvania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,936,625

 

TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS (Cost — $14,821,101)

 

 

 

 

 

14,327,125

 

NON-U.S. TREASURY INFLATION PROTECTED SECURITIES — 6.0%

 

 

 

 

 

Brazil Nota do Tesouro Nacional

 

6.000%

 

5/15/45

 

4,700,000

BRL

6,164,908

 

Brazil Nota do Tesouro Nacional, Notes

 

6.000%

 

8/15/50

 

5,547,190

BRL

3,421,279

 

TOTAL NON-U.S. TREASURY INFLATION PROTECTED SECURITIES (Cost — $8,129,454)

 

9,586,187

 

SOVEREIGN BONDS — 1.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brazil — 0.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brazil Nota do Tesouro Nacional, Notes

 

10.000%

 

1/1/14

 

280,000

BRL

154,263

 

Brazil Nota do Tesouro Nacional, Notes

 

10.000%

 

1/1/17

 

1,348,000

BRL

719,291

 

Total Brazil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

873,554

 

India — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ICICI Bank Ltd., Junior Subordinated Bonds

 

6.375%

 

4/30/22

 

184,000

 

172,960

(a)(b)

Malaysia — 0.4%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government of Malaysia, Senior Bonds

 

3.835%

 

8/12/15

 

1,500,000

MYR

498,720

 

Government of Malaysia, Senior Bonds

 

4.262%

 

9/15/16

 

290,000

MYR

98,224

 

Total Malaysia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

596,944

 

Mexico — 0.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican Bonos, Bonds

 

8.000%

 

6/11/20

 

11,147,000

MXN

982,584

 

United Mexican States, Bonds

 

10.000%

 

12/5/24

 

2,750,000

MXN

280,947

 

Total Mexico

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,263,531

 

Venezuela — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Collective Action Securities, Global Senior Bonds

 

9.375%

 

1/13/34

 

2,000

 

1,665

 

TOTAL SOVEREIGN BONDS (Cost — $3,000,366)

 

2,908,654

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHARES

 

 

 

COMMON STOCKS — 0.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Automobiles — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Motors Co.

 

 

 

 

 

64

 

1,642

*

INDUSTRIALS — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marine — 0.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DeepOcean Group Holding AS

 

 

 

 

 

8,860

 

148,405

(f)

MATERIALS — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chemicals — 0.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Georgia Gulf Corp.

 

 

 

 

 

8,950

 

312,176

*

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost — $472,904)

 

 

 

 

 

462,223

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

10


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

SECURITY

 

RATE

 

 

 

SHARES

 

VALUE

 

CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCKS  — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIALS  — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)
(Cost - $1,357,500)

5.375%

 

 

 

15

 

$

43,500

*

PREFERRED STOCKS — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Automobiles — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Escrow GCB General Motors

 

 

 

 

55,025

 

18,158

*

FINANCIALS — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate-Backed Trust Certificates, Series 2001-8, Class A-1

 

7.375%

 

 

 

33,900

 

13,560

*(c)(d)

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC)

 

0.000%

 

 

 

100

 

171

*(b)

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC)

 

5.000%

 

 

 

200

 

366

*

Total Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

537

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

 

 

 

 

 

14,097

 

TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS (Cost — $12,240)

 

 

 

 

 

32,255

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPIRATION
DATE

 

WARRANTS

 

 

 

WARRANTS — 0.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buffets Restaurant Holdings

 

 

 

4/28/14

 

223

 

2

*(d)(f)

Charter Communications Inc.

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

265

 

5,099

*(d)

CMP Susquehanna Radio Holdings Co.

 

 

 

3/23/19

 

3,624

 

19,569

*(a)(d)(f)

Nortek Inc.

 

 

 

12/7/14

 

576

 

1,325

*(d)(f)

SemGroup Corp.

 

 

 

11/30/14

 

830

 

6,159

*(d)

TOTAL WARRANTS (Cost — $7,974)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32,154

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost — $213,712,817)

 

222,124,465

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATURITY
DATE

 

FACE
AMOUNT

 

 

 

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS  — 5.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repurchase Agreements  — 5.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barclays Capital Inc. tri-party repurchase agreement dated 3/30/12; Proceeds at maturity $9,250,046; (Fully collateralized by U.S. government obligations, 1.500% due 6/30/16; Market value $9,434,391) (Cost - $9,250,000)

 

0.060%

 

4/2/12

 

9,250,000

 

9,250,000

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS —  143.4% (Cost — $222,962,817#)

 

 

 

231,374,465

 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 1.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,934,857

 

Liquidation value of Preferred Shares — (44.6)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

(72,000,000)

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

161,309,322

 

 

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 Trustees, unless otherwise noted.

(b)

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

(c)

The coupon payment on these securities is currently in default as of March 31, 2012.

(d)

Illiquid security.

(e)

Value is less than $1.

(f)

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

(g)

The maturity principal is currently in default as of March 31, 2012.

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

11


 

WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

March 31, 2012

 

(h)

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

(i)

All or a portion of this loan is unfunded as of March 31, 2012.

(j)

Income from this issue is considered a preference item for purposes of calculating the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”).

#

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

 

 

 

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

 

ARM

- Adjustable Rate Mortgage

 

BRL

- Brazilian Real

 

CMB

- Cash Management Bill

 

IO

- Interest Only

 

MXN

- Mexican Peso

 

MYR

- Malaysian Ringgit

 

PAC

- Planned Amortization Class

 

PO

- Principal Only

 

STRIPS

- Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal Securities

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

12

 


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund commenced investment operations on March 28, 2002.

 

The Fund’s investment objective is to provide current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of investment grade bonds. The Fund currently seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing substantially all of its assets in bonds, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and agency securities and mortgage-related securities. The ability of the issuers of the securities held by the Fund to meet their obligations might be affected by, among other things, economic developments in a specific state, industry or region.

 

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. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services’ internal models use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities.  Short-term fixed income securities that will mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, unless it is determined that using this method would not reflect an investment’s fair value. 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 the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will normally use the currency exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). If independent third party pricing services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices supplied are deemed by the manager to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the manager using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing service or pricing broker. 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 Trustees.

 

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the valuation process and has delegated the supervision of the daily valuation process to the Legg Mason North American Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee, pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Board of Trustees. When determining the reliability of third party pricing information for investments owned by the Fund, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of pricing vendors, monitors the daily change in prices and reviews transactions among market participants.

 

The Valuation Committee will consider pricing methodologies it deems relevant and appropriate when making fair value determinations. Examples of possible methodologies include, but are not limited to, multiple of earnings; discount from market of a similar freely traded security; discounted cash-flow analysis; book value or a multiple thereof; risk premium/yield analysis; yield to maturity; and/or fundamental investment analysis. The Valuation Committee will also consider factors it deems relevant and appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances.  Examples of possible factors include, but are not limited to, the type of security; the issuer’s financial statements; the purchase price of the security; the discount from market value of unrestricted securities of the same class at the time of purchase; analysts’ research and observations from financial institutions; information regarding any transactions or offers with respect to the security; the existence of merger proposals or tender offers affecting the security; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or comparable companies; and the existence of a shelf registration for restricted securities.

 

For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, the fair value price is compared against the last available and next available market quotations.  The Valuation Committee reviews the results of such back testing monthly and fair valuation occurrences are reported to the Board of Trustees quarterly.

 

13


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

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.

 

GAAP establishes a disclosure hierarchy that categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to value assets and liabilities at measurement date.  These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

 

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

·                  Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest

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

 

The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

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

 

ASSETS

 

 

QUOTED
PRICES

 

OTHER
SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE
INPUTS

 

SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION

 

(LEVEL 1)

 

(LEVEL 2)

 

(LEVEL 3)

 

TOTAL

 

Long-term investments†:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds & notes

 

 

$

68,377,403

 

$

893,078

 

$

69,270,481

 

Asset-backed securities

 

 

55,661,120

 

4,186,016

 

59,847,136

 

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

 

57,022,579

 

9,577

 

57,032,156

 

Collateralized senior loans

 

 

8,107,080

 

 

8,107,080

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

 

475,514

 

 

475,514

 

Municipal bonds

 

 

14,171,125

 

156,000

 

14,327,125

 

Non-U.S. treasury inflation protected securities

 

 

9,586,187

 

 

9,586,187

 

Sovereign bonds

 

 

2,908,654

 

 

2,908,654

 

Common stocks

 

$

313,818

 

148,405

 

 

462,223

 

Convertible preferred stocks

 

 

43,500

 

 

43,500

 

Preferred stocks

 

 

32,255

 

 

32,255

 

Warrants

 

 

30,827

 

1,327

 

32,154

 

Total long-term investments

 

$

313,818

 

$

216,564,649

 

$

5,245,998

 

$

222,124,465

 

Short-term investments†

 

 

9,250,000

 

 

9,250,000

 

Total investments

 

$

313,818

 

$

225,814,649

 

$

5,245,998

 

$

231,374,465

 

Other financial instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward foreign currency contracts

 

 

$

126,907

 

 

$

126,907

 

Credit default swaps on corporate issues - buy protection‡

 

 

7,116

 

 

 

7,116

 

Credit default swaps on credit indices - sell protection

 

 

21,065

 

 

21,065

 

Credit default swaps on credit indices - buy protection‡

 

 

13,945

 

 

13,945

 

Total other financial instruments

 

 

$

169,033

 

 

$

169,033

 

Total

 

$

313,818

 

$

225,983,682

 

$

5,245,998

 

$

231,543,498

 

 

14


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

QUOTED
PRICES

 

OTHER

SIGNIFICANT

OBSERVABLE

INPUTS

 

SIGNIFICANT

UNOBSERVABLE

INPUTS

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION

 

(LEVEL 1)

 

(LEVEL 2)

 

(LEVEL 3)

 

TOTAL

 

Other financial instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit default swaps on corporate issues - buy protection‡

 

 

$

156,560

 

 

$

156,560

 

Credit default swaps on credit indices - sell protection‡

 

 

14,714

 

 

14,714

 

Total

 

 

$

171,274

 

 

$

171,274

 

†See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

‡Values include any premiums paid or received with respect to swap contracts.

 

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

 

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

 

CORPORATE

BONDS &

NOTES

 

ASSET-

BACKED

SECURITIES

 

COLLATERALIZED

MORTGAGE

OBLIGATIONS

 

MUNICIPAL

BONDS

 

Balance as of December 31, 2011

 

$

3,155,267

 

$

4,034,660

 

$

11,655

 

$

154,000

 

Accrued premiums/discounts

 

25,613

 

18,169

 

(5,274

)

1,030

 

Realized gain (loss)(1)

 

 

(45,104

)

(18,978

)

 

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(2)

 

70,126

 

(71,339

)

22,174

 

970

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

(51,786

)

(8,738

)

 

 

Transfers into Level 3(3)

 

 

258,368

 

 

 

Transfers out of Level 3(4)

 

(2,306,142

)

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2012

 

$

893,078

 

$

4,186,016

 

$

9,577

 

156,000

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for investments in securities still held at March 31, 2012(2)

 

$

82,268

 

$

(71,339

)

$

22,174

 

$

970

 

 

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

 

COMMON

STOCKS

 

WARRANTS

 

TOTAL

 

Balance as of December 31, 2011

 

$

141,760

 

$

6,197

 

$

7,503,539

 

Accrued premiums/discounts

 

 

 

39,538

 

Realized gain (loss)(1)

 

 

 

(64,082

)

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(2)

 

6,645

 

1,289

 

29,865

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

(60,524

)

Transfers into Level 3(3)

 

 

 

258,368

 

Transfers out of Level 3(4)

 

(148,405

)

(6,159

)

(2,460,706

)

Balance as of March 31, 2012

 

 

$

1,327

 

$

5,245,998

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for investments in securities still held at March 31, 2012(2)

 

 

$

(230

)

$

33,843

 

 

15


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

The Fund’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels as of the end of the reporting period.

(1) This amount is included in net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions.

(2) 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.

(3) Transferred into Level 3 as a result of the unavailability of a quoted price in an active market for an identical investment or the unavailability of other significant observable inputs.

(4) Transferred out of Level 3 as a result of the availability of a quoted price in an active market for an identical investment or the availability of other significant observable inputs.

 

(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) Loan participations. The Fund may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Fund’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement related to the loan, or any rights of off-set against the borrower and the Fund may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation.

 

The Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower, the lender that is selling the participation and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any off-set between the lender and the borrower.

 

(d) Unfunded loan commitments. The Fund may enter into certain credit agreements all or a portion of which may be unfunded. The Fund is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion. The commitments are disclosed in the accompanying Schedule of Investments. At March 31, 2012, the Fund had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover these commitments.

 

(e) Stripped securities. The Fund may invest in ‘‘Stripped Securities,’’ a term used collectively for components, or strips, of fixed income securities. Stripped securities can be principal only securities (“PO”), which are debt obligations that have been stripped of unmatured interest coupons or, interest only securities (“IO”), which are unmatured interest coupons that have been stripped from debt obligations. The market value of Stripped Securities will fluctuate in response to changes in economic conditions, rates of pre-payment, interest rates and the market’s perception of the securities. However, fluctuations in response to interest rates may be greater in Stripped Securities than for debt obligations of comparable maturities that pay interest currently. The amount of fluctuation may increase with a longer period of maturity.

 

The yield to maturity on IO’s is sensitive to the rate of principal repayments (including prepayments) on the related underlying debt obligation and principal payments may have a material effect on yield to maturity. If the underlying debt obligation experiences greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may not fully recoup its initial investment in IO’s.

 

(f) Inflation-indexed bonds. Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed-income securities whose principal value or interest rate is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. As the index measuring inflation changes, the principal value or interest rate of inflation-indexed bonds will be adjusted accordingly. Repayment of the original bond principal upon

 

16


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of U.S. Treasury inflation-indexed bonds. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

 

(g) Swap agreements. The Fund invests in swaps for the purpose of managing its exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. The use of swaps involves risks that are different from those associated with other portfolio transactions.

 

Swap contracts are marked-to-market daily and changes in value are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Gains or losses are realized upon termination of the swap agreement. Collateral, in the form of restricted cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the Fund’s custodian in compliance with the terms of the swap contracts. Securities posted as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments.

 

The Fund’s maximum exposure in the event of a defined credit event on a credit default swap to sell protection is the notional amount.  As of March 31, 2012, the total notional value of all credit default swaps to sell protection is $21,441,577.  This amount would be offset by the value of the swap’s reference entity, upfront premiums received on the swap and any amounts received from the settlement of a credit default swap where the Fund bought protection for the same referenced security/entity.

 

For the average notional amounts of swaps held during the period ended March 31, 2012, see Note 3.

 

Credit default swaps

 

The Fund enters into credit default swap (“CDS”) contracts for investment purposes, to manage its credit risk or to add leverage.  CDS agreements involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a default by a third party, typically corporate or sovereign issuers, on a specified obligation, or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index. The Fund may use a CDS to provide protection against defaults of the issuers (i.e., to reduce risk where the Fund has exposure to an issuer) or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default. As a seller of protection, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a stream of payments throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Fund could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. These amounts of potential payments will be partially offset by any recovery of values from the respective referenced obligations. As a seller of protection, the Fund effectively adds leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.

 

Implied spreads are the theoretical prices a lender receives for credit default protection. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. Credit spreads utilized in determining the period end market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate or sovereign issues are disclosed in the Notes to the Schedule of Investments and serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for credit derivatives. For credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, particularly in relation to the notional amount of the contract as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/performance risk.

 

The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk, as the protection buyer, is the fair value of the contract (this risk is mitigated by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty). As the protection seller, the Fund’s maximum risk is the notional amount of the contract. Credit default swaps are considered to have credit risk-related contingent features since they require payment by the protection seller to the protection buyer upon the occurrence of a defined credit event.

 

Entering into a CDS agreement involves, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreement, and that there will be unfavorable changes in net interest rates.

 

17


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

Total return swaps

 

The Fund may enter into total return swaps for investment purposes. Total return swaps are agreements to exchange the return generated by one instrument for the return generated by another instrument. For example, the agreement to pay a predetermined or fixed interest rate in exchange for a market-linked return based on a notional amount. To the extent the total return of a referenced index or instrument exceeds the offsetting interest obligation, the Fund will receive a payment from the counterparty. To the extent it is less, the Fund will make a payment to the counterparty.

 

(h) Forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund may enter 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 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.

 

When entering into a forward foreign currency contract, the Fund bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the foreign exchange rate underlying the forward foreign currency contract. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

 

(i) 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.

 

(j) Credit and market risk. The Fund invests in high-yield and emerging market instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high-yield and emerging market debt obligations reflect, among other things, perceived credit and market risks. The Fund’s investment in securities rated below investment grade typically involve 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. The consequences of political, social, economic or diplomatic changes may have disruptive effects on the market prices of investments held by the Fund. The Fund’s investment in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may also result in foreign currency losses caused by devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations.

 

Investments in securities that are collateralized by residential real estate mortgages are subject to certain credit and liquidity risks. When market conditions result in an increase in default rates of the underlying mortgages and the foreclosure values of underlying real estate properties are materially below the outstanding amount of these underlying mortgages, collection of the full amount of accrued interest and principal on these investments may be doubtful. Such market conditions may significantly impair the value and liquidity of these investments and may result in a lack of correlation between their credit ratings and values.

 

(k) Foreign investment risks.  The Fund’s investments in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Since securities may be denominated in foreign currencies, may require settlement in foreign currencies or pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of the Fund. Foreign investments may also subject the Fund to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments.

 

(l) 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 March 31, 2012, the Fund held credit default swaps with credit related contingent features which had a liability position of $171,274. If a contingent feature in the master agreements would have been triggered, the Fund would have been required to pay this amount to its derivatives counterparties.  As of March 31, 2012, the Fund had posted with its

 

18


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

counterparties cash and/or securities as collateral to cover the net liability of these derivatives amounting to $100,000, which could be used to reduce the required payment.

 

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

 

2.  Investments

 

At March 31, 2012, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

 

$

19,872,414

 

Gross unrealized depreciation

 

(11,460,766

)

Net unrealized appreciation

 

$

8,411,648

 

 

At March 31, 2012, the Fund had the following open forward foreign currency contracts:

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY

 

COUNTERPARTY

 

LOCAL

CURRENCY

 

MARKET

VALUE

 

SETTLEMENT

DATE

 

UNREALIZED

GAIN

 

Contracts to Sell:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brazilian Real

 

Citibank N.A.

 

9,020,000

 

$

4,922,072

 

4/16/12

 

$

126,907

 

 

At March 31, 2012, the Fund held the following credit default swap contracts:

 

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS ON CORPORATE ISSUES - BUY PROTECTION(1)

SWAP COUNTERPARTY

(REFERENCE ENTITY)

 

NOTIONAL
AMOUNT
(2)

 

TERMINATION
DATE

 

PERIODIC
PAYMENTS
MADE BY
THE FUND

 

MARKET
VALUE

 

UPFRONT
PREMIUMS
PAID
(RECEIVED)

 

UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION
(DEPRECIATION)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Citigroup Inc., 6.125%, due 5/15/18)

 

$

1,700,000

 

3/20/14

 

4.700% Quarterly

 

$

(110,551

)

 

$

(110,551

)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (CVS Corporation, 4.875%, due 9/15/14)

 

2,000,000

 

12/20/14

 

0.680% Quarterly

 

(42,755

)

$

(13,705

)

(29,050

)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., 0.480% due 11/15/13)

 

100,000

 

3/20/15

 

5.000% Quarterly

 

(573

)

579

 

(1,152

)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., 0.480% due 11/15/13)

 

130,000

 

3/20/20

 

5.000% Quarterly

 

5,139

 

2,728

 

2,411

 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., 0.480%, due 11/15/13)

 

70,000

 

3/20/13

 

5.000% Quarterly

 

(930

)

(149

)

(781

)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., 0.480%, due 11/15/13)

 

80,000

 

3/20/13

 

5.000% Quarterly

 

(1,063

)

(102

)

(961

)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., 0.480%, due 11/15/13)

 

120,000

 

3/20/15

 

5.000% Quarterly

 

(688

)

970

 

(1,658

)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., 0.480%, due 11/15/13)

 

50,000

 

3/20/20

 

5.000% Quarterly

 

1,977

 

1,272

 

705

 

Total

 

$

4,250,000

 

 

 

 

 

$

(149,444

)

$

(8,407

)

$

(141,037

)

 

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS ON CREDIT INDICES - SELL PROTECTION(3)

SWAP COUNTERPARTY

(REFERENCE ENTITY)

 

NOTIONAL

AMOUNT(2)

 

TERMINATION

DATE

 

PERIODIC

PAYMENTS

RECEIVED

BY THE

FUND

 

MARKET

VALUE(4)

 

UPFRONT

PREMIUMS

PAID

(RECEIVED)

 

UNREALIZED

APPRECIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banc of America Securities LLC (CDX HY 8)

 

$

21,255,577

 

6/20/12

 

0.860% Quarterly

 

$

21,065

 

 

$

21,065

 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (CMBX NA AM 1)

 

186,000

 

10/12/52

 

0.500% Monthly

 

(14,714

)

$

(16,926

)

2,212

 

Total

 

$

21,441,577

 

 

 

 

 

$

6,351

 

$

(16,926

)

$

23,277

 

 

19


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS ON CREDIT INDICES - BUY PROTECTION(1)

SWAP COUNTERPARTY

(REFERENCE ENTITY)

 

NOTIONAL

AMOUNT(2)

 

TERMINATION

DATE

 

PERIODIC

PAYMENTS

MADE BY

THE FUND

 

MARKET

VALUE(4)

 

UPFRONT

PREMIUMS

PAID

(RECEIVED)

 

UNREALIZED

DEPRECIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (CMBX 1 2006-1 AAA)

 

$

449,000

 

10/12/52

 

0.100% Monthly

 

$

13,945

 

$

18,221

 

$

(4,276

)

 

(1) If the Fund is a buyer of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) receive from the seller of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and deliver the underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) receive a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the underlying securities comprising the referenced index.

(2) The maximum potential amount the Fund could be required to pay as a seller of credit protection or receive as a buyer of credit protection if a credit event occurs as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement.

(3) If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index.

(4) The quoted market prices and resulting values for credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood of an expected liability (or profit) for the credit derivative should the notional amount of the swap agreement been closed/sold as of the period end. Decreasing market values (sell protection) or increasing market values (buy protection) when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement.

 

‡  Percentage shown is an annual percentage rate.

 

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 March 31, 2012.

 

 

 

Forward Foreign Currency

Contracts

 

 

 

 

 

Primary Underlying Risk

Disclosure

 

Unrealized
Appreciation

 

Swap Contracts, at

value

 

Total

 

Foreign Exchange Risk

 

$

126,907

 

 

$

126,907

 

Credit Risk

 

 

$

(129,148

)

(129,148

)

Total

 

$

126,907

 

$

(129,148

)

$

(2,241

)

 

During the period ended March 31, 2012, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:

 

 

 

Average Market

Value

 

 

Forward foreign currency contracts (to sell)

 

$

2,538,883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Notional

Balance

 

 

Credit default swap contracts (to buy protection)

 

$

4,699,000

 

 

Credit default swap contracts (to sell protection)

 

21,482,899

 

 

Total return swap contracts†

 

500,000

 

 

†At March 31, 2012, there were no open positions held in this derivative.

 

20


 

Notes to schedule of investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

4. Recent accounting pronouncement

 

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standard Update No. 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) - Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (“ASU No. 2011-04”).  ASU No. 2011-04 establishes common requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. ASU No. 2011-04 is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Management has evaluated ASU No. 2011-04 and concluded that it does not materially impact the financial statement amounts; however, as required, additional disclosure has been included about fair value measurement.

 

21


 

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 Premier Bond Fund

 

By

/s/ R. Jay Gerken

 

 

R. Jay Gerken

 

 

President

 

 

Date:  May 29, 2012

 

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

 

 

President

 

 

Date:  May 29, 2012

 

By

/s/ Richard F. Sennett

 

 

Richard F. Sennett

 

 

Principal Financial Officer

 

 

Date:  May 29, 2012