WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND (WEA)

 

 

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, 2014

 

 

 


 

ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

FORM N-Q

MARCH 31, 2014


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  
CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES - 77.7%          
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 10.6%          

Automobiles - 2.5%

         

DaimlerChrysler NA Holding Corp., Notes

     8.500     1/18/31         1,000,000      $ 1,485,174   

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

     12.000     5/15/15         1,030,000        1,156,097   

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

     8.000     12/15/16         680,000        795,909   

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

     2.375     1/16/18         1,000,000        1,008,432   
         

 

 

 

Total Automobiles

            4,445,612   
         

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services - 0.0%

         

Service Corp. International, Senior Notes

     7.625     10/1/18         5,000        5,769   

Service Corp. International, Senior Notes

     7.500     4/1/27         60,000        63,600   
         

 

 

 

Total Diversified Consumer Services

            69,369   
         

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 1.1%

         

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

     6.625     9/27/23         120,000        123,000 (a) 

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     9.000     2/15/20         160,000        143,600   

CCM Merger Inc., Senior Notes

     9.125     5/1/19         570,000        607,050 (a) 

Greektown Holdings LLC/Greektown Mothership Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     8.875     3/15/19         280,000        289,100 (a) 

Landry’s Holdings II Inc., Senior Notes

     10.250     1/1/18         720,000        770,400 (a) 
         

 

 

 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

            1,933,150   
         

 

 

 

Household Durables - 0.2%

         

William Lyon Homes Inc., Senior Notes

     8.500     11/15/20         390,000        433,875   
         

 

 

 

Media - 6.6%

         

21st Century Fox America Inc., Notes

     8.875     4/26/23         400,000        522,280   

Comcast Corp., Notes

     5.900     3/15/16         400,000        439,637   

Comcast Corp., Notes

     7.050     3/15/33         1,000,000        1,299,190   

CSC Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

     6.750     11/15/21         1,000,000        1,117,500   

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

     7.875     9/1/19         385,000        455,262   

Nara Cable Funding Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     8.875     12/1/18         1,500,000        1,633,125 (a) 

New Cotai LLC/New Cotai Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     10.625     5/1/19         327,566        360,323 (a)(b) 

Time Warner Cable Inc., Debentures

     7.300     7/1/38         720,000        899,531   

Time Warner Cable Inc., Senior Notes

     5.850     5/1/17         500,000        562,136   

Time Warner Inc., Senior Debentures

     7.700     5/1/32         980,000        1,314,226   

UPC Holding BV, Junior Secured Subordinated Notes

     6.375     9/15/22         1,820,000 EUR      2,691,360 (a) 

WMG Acquisition Corp., Senior Notes

     6.750     4/15/22         530,000        533,312 (a) 
         

 

 

 

Total Media

            11,827,882   
         

 

 

 

Specialty Retail - 0.2%

         

Hot Topic Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     9.250     6/15/21         270,000        291,600 (a) 
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

            19,001,488   
         

 

 

 
CONSUMER STAPLES - 4.7%          

Food & Staples Retailing - 2.2%

         

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Bonds

     5.789     1/10/26         475,632        527,548 (a) 

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

     5.880     1/10/28         475,774        529,080   

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

     6.036     12/10/28         472,097        530,262   

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

     6.943     1/10/30         451,406        533,646   

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

     7.507     1/10/32         437,903        539,439 (a) 

Kroger Co., Senior Notes

     6.400     8/15/17         1,090,000        1,251,167   
         

 

 

 

Total Food & Staples Retailing

            3,911,142   
         

 

 

 

Food Products - 2.5%

         

Ahold Lease USA Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

     8.620     1/2/25         686,921        826,550   

Chiquita Brands International Inc./Chiquita Brands LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     7.875     2/1/21         625,000        697,656   

Marfrig Holding Europe BV, Senior Notes

     11.250     9/20/21         340,000        364,650 (a) 

Simmons Foods Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     10.500     11/1/17         500,000        541,875 (a) 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

1


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  

Food Products - 2.5% (continued)

          

Wells Enterprises Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     6.750     2/1/20         176,000       $ 182,160 (a) 

WM Wrigley Jr. Co., Senior Notes

     2.000     10/20/17         2,000,000         2,004,848 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Total Food Products

             4,617,739   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER STAPLES

             8,528,881   
          

 

 

 
ENERGY - 9.6%           

Energy Equipment & Services - 1.3%

          

CGG, Senior Notes

     6.500     6/1/21         750,000         761,250   

Gulfmark Offshore Inc., Senior Notes

     6.375     3/15/22         410,000         424,350   

Hercules Offshore Inc., Senior Notes

     8.750     7/15/21         410,000         444,850 (a) 

Hercules Offshore Inc., Senior Notes

     7.500     10/1/21         650,000         656,500 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Total Energy Equipment & Services

             2,286,950   
          

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 8.3%

          

Anadarko Finance Co., Senior Notes

     7.500     5/1/31         570,000         725,758   

Arch Coal Inc., Senior Notes

     7.000     6/15/19         1,080,000         834,300   

Atlas Pipeline Partners LP/Atlas Pipeline Finance Corp., Senior Notes

     6.625     10/1/20         170,000         181,050   

Burlington Resources Finance Co., Senior Notes

     7.400     12/1/31         450,000         620,245   

Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP/Calumet Finance Corp., Senior Notes

     6.500     4/15/21         1,180,000         1,188,850 (a) 

Colorado Interstate Gas Co., Senior Notes

     6.800     11/15/15         150,000         164,094   

CONSOL Energy Inc., Senior Notes

     8.250     4/1/20         440,000         477,950   

Devon Energy Corp., Debentures

     7.950     4/15/32         310,000         424,360   

Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes

     1.875     5/15/17         1,000,000         1,007,254   

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

     5.875     9/18/23         55,000         60,088   

El Paso Corp., Medium-Term Notes

     7.800     8/1/31         190,000         202,012   

Halcon Resources Corp., Senior Notes

     9.750     7/15/20         670,000         721,925   

Hess Corp., Notes

     7.875     10/1/29         350,000         459,668   

Magnum Hunter Resources Corp., Senior Notes

     9.750     5/15/20         740,000         819,550   

MEG Energy Corp., Senior Notes

     7.000     3/31/24         840,000         888,300 (a) 

Natural Resource Partners LP, Senior Notes

     9.125     10/1/18         370,000         386,650 (a) 

Petrobras International Finance Co., Senior Notes

     5.375     1/27/21         960,000         970,868   

Plains Exploration & Production Co., Senior Notes

     8.625     10/15/19         125,000         135,781   

Plains Exploration & Production Co., Senior Notes

     6.500     11/15/20         660,000         726,825   

Plains Exploration & Production Co., Senior Notes

     6.875     2/15/23         1,000,000         1,112,500   

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

     5.875     3/1/22         80,000         83,000   

Reliance Holdings USA Inc., Senior Notes

     5.400     2/14/22         250,000         261,808 (a) 

Sanchez Energy Corp., Senior Notes

     7.750     6/15/21         710,000         757,925 (a) 

Summit Midstream Holdings LLC/Summit Mindstream Finance Corp., Senior Notes

     7.500     7/1/21         230,000         246,100 (a) 

Transocean Inc., Senior Notes

     5.050     12/15/16         1,000,000         1,087,682   

Williams Cos. Inc., Debentures

     7.500     1/15/31         413,000         454,490   

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

     8.750     3/15/32         39,000         47,015   
          

 

 

 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

             15,046,048   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL ENERGY

             17,332,998   
          

 

 

 
FINANCIALS - 20.6%           

Banks - 12.6%

          

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

     3.750     7/12/16         1,000,000         1,057,507   

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

     5.000     5/13/21         1,100,000         1,212,910   

Barclays Bank PLC, Subordinated Notes

     10.179     6/12/21         610,000         817,601 (a) 

Barclays Bank PLC, Subordinated Notes

     7.625     11/21/22         2,500,000         2,756,250   

Capital One N.A., Senior Notes

     1.500     3/22/18         1,810,000         1,772,128   

Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes

     1.700     7/25/16         1,000,000         1,011,356   

Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes

     3.500     5/15/23         500,000         471,725   

Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes

     6.625     6/15/32         1,000,000         1,150,087   

Credit Agricole SA, Subordinated Notes

     8.375     10/13/19         1,610,000         1,827,350 (a)(c)(d) 

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Senior Notes

     3.625     8/12/15         300,000         307,797 (a) 

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Senior Notes

     3.875     1/16/18         1,000,000         1,034,997   

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

2


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  

Banks - 12.6% (continued)

          

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Bonds

     6.000     8/1/23         1,910,000       $ 1,881,350 (c)(d) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Subordinated Notes

     5.125     9/15/14         1,300,000         1,327,323   

M&T Bank Corp., Junior Subordinated Bonds

     6.875     6/15/16         760,000         742,900 (d) 

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

     5.050     1/8/15         230,000         235,364   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

     6.100     6/10/23         1,470,000         1,525,888   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

     6.000     12/19/23         150,000         153,593   

Royal Bank of Scotland NV, Subordinated Notes

     7.750     5/15/23         140,000         156,848   

Santander UK PLC, Subordinated Notes

     5.000     11/7/23         510,000         524,686 (a) 

Santander US Debt SA Unipersonal, Senior Notes

     3.724     1/20/15         300,000         305,721 (a) 

Wachovia Capital Trust III, Junior Subordinated Bonds

     5.570     5/16/14         2,530,000         2,431,963 (c)(d) 
          

 

 

 

Total Banks

             22,705,344   
          

 

 

 

Capital Markets - 2.8%

          

Deutsche Bank AG, Subordinated Notes

     4.296     5/24/28         2,000,000         1,884,494 (c) 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes

     6.150     4/1/18         1,000,000         1,143,192   

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes

     5.250     7/27/21         800,000         885,592   

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

     6.750     10/1/37         1,000,000         1,145,519   
          

 

 

 

Total Capital Markets

             5,058,797   
          

 

 

 

Consumer Finance - 1.0%

          

Ally Financial Inc., Senior Notes

     8.000     3/15/20         350,000         421,750   

Capital One Financial Corp., Subordinated Notes

     6.150     9/1/16         500,000         558,005   

SLM Corp., Senior Notes

     6.125     3/25/24         810,000         808,987   
          

 

 

 

Total Consumer Finance

             1,788,742   
          

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services - 2.7%

          

General Electric Capital Corp., Notes

     5.300     2/11/21         450,000         506,137   

General Electric Capital Corp., Subordinated Debentures

     6.375     11/15/67         500,000         550,000 (c) 

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

     8.750     3/15/17         1,380,000         1,619,775   

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

     5.875     8/15/22         750,000         793,125   

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     7.125     9/1/18         400,000         465,000 (a) 

Nationstar Mortgage LLC/Nationstar Capital Corp., Senior Notes

     7.875     10/1/20         290,000         292,900   

ZFS Finance USA Trust II, Bonds

     6.450     12/15/65         500,000         538,750 (a)(c) 
          

 

 

 

Total Diversified Financial Services

             4,765,687   
          

 

 

 

Insurance - 1.1%

          

Liberty Mutual Group Inc., Junior Subordinated Bonds

     7.800     3/15/37         200,000         222,000 (a) 

Metlife Inc., Junior Subordinated Notes

     10.750     8/1/39         500,000         757,500   

XL Capital Ltd., Senior Notes

     5.250     9/15/14         1,000,000         1,020,625   
          

 

 

 

Total Insurance

             2,000,125   
          

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development - 0.4%

          

Howard Hughes Corp., Senior Notes

     6.875     10/1/21         690,000         745,200 (a) 
          

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

             37,063,895   
          

 

 

 
HEALTH CARE - 1.6%           

Health Care Equipment & Supplies - 0.5%

          

ConvaTec Finance International SA, Senior Notes

     8.250     1/15/19         340,000         350,200 (a)(b) 

Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc., Senior Notes

     9.750     5/15/17         610,000         606,950   
          

 

 

 

Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies

             957,150   
          

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services - 1.1%

          

Acadia Healthcare Co. Inc., Senior Notes

     6.125     3/15/21         520,000         542,750 (a) 

HCA Inc., Debentures

     7.500     11/15/95         475,000         415,625   

HCA Inc., Notes

     7.690     6/15/25         90,000         96,075   

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

3


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  

Health Care Providers & Services - 1.1% (continued)

          

IASIS Healthcare LLC/IASIS Capital Corp., Senior Notes

     8.375     5/15/19         230,000       $ 245,525   

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

     6.625     4/1/22         110,000         112,888 (a) 

Tenet Healthcare Corp., Senior Notes

     8.125     4/1/22         480,000         536,400   
          

 

 

 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

             1,949,263   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL HEALTH CARE

             2,906,413   
          

 

 

 
INDUSTRIALS - 11.8%           

Aerospace & Defense - 0.6%

          

Boeing Co., Notes

     6.125     2/15/33         600,000         753,400   

GenCorp Inc., Secured Notes

     7.125     3/15/21         250,000         270,938   
          

 

 

 

Total Aerospace & Defense

             1,024,338   
          

 

 

 

Airlines - 7.4%

          

Air 2 US, Notes

     8.027     10/1/19         1,591,513         1,679,046 (a) 

Air Canada, Senior Secured Notes

     8.750     4/1/20         360,000         390,150 (a) 

America West Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Ambac Assurance Corp.

     8.057     7/2/20         1,654,421         1,910,856   

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

     8.021     8/10/22         128,654         148,273   

Northwest Airlines Corp., Pass-Through Certificates

     7.575     3/1/19         362,043         416,349   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

     6.900     1/2/18         533,354         576,022   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

     6.820     5/1/18         718,890         787,185   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

     6.545     2/2/19         823,076         913,614   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

     8.048     11/1/20         490,116         564,858   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

     6.703     6/15/21         663,211         724,558   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Secured Notes

     6.250     4/11/20         949,324         1,013,403   

US Airways, Pass-Through Trust, Pass-Through Certificates

     6.850     1/30/18         2,082,883         2,228,685   

US Airways, Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

     7.125     10/22/23         1,756,264         2,041,657   
          

 

 

 

Total Airlines

             13,394,656   
          

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies - 0.4%

          

Taylor Morrison Communities Inc./Monarch Communities Inc., Senior Notes

     7.750     4/15/20         590,000         650,475 (a) 

Taylor Morrison Communities Inc./Monarch Communities Inc., Senior Notes

     7.750     4/15/20         72,000         79,380 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

             729,855   
          

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering - 0.9%

          

Ausdrill Finance Pty Ltd., Senior Notes

     6.875     11/1/19         270,000         245,700 (a) 

Michael Baker International LLC/CDL Acquisition Co. Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     8.250     10/15/18         610,000         651,175 (a) 

Modular Space Corp., Secured Notes

     10.250     1/31/19         360,000         374,400 (a) 

OAS Investments GmbH, Senior Notes

     8.250     10/19/19         200,000         201,000 (a) 

Odebrecht Offshore Drilling Finance Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     6.625     10/1/22         200,000         207,321 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Total Construction & Engineering

             1,679,596   
          

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment - 0.2%

          

International Wire Group Holdings Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     8.500     10/15/17         340,000         370,600 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Machinery - 0.5%

          

SPL Logistics Escrow LLC/SPL Logistics Finance Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     8.875     8/1/20         710,000         777,450 (a) 

Waterjet Holdings Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     7.625     2/1/20         170,000         180,200 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Total Machinery

             957,650   
          

 

 

 

Marine - 1.2%

          

Horizon Lines LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     11.000     10/15/16         1,673,000         1,673,000   

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

     8.125     11/15/21         470,000         489,975 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Total Marine

             2,162,975   
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

4


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  

Road & Rail - 0.2%

          

Jurassic Holdings III Inc., Secured Notes

     6.875     2/15/21         280,000       $ 288,400 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors - 0.4%

          

H&E Equipment Services Inc., Senior Notes

     7.000     9/1/22         590,000         649,000   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

             21,257,070   
          

 

 

 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 1.8%           

IT Services - 1.3%

          

Compiler Finance Subordinated Inc., Senior Notes

     7.000     5/1/21         465,000         468,488 (a) 

Electronic Data Systems Corp., Notes

     7.450     10/15/29         500,000         596,602   

First Data Corp., Senior Notes

     12.625     1/15/21         940,000         1,118,600   

First Data Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     6.750     11/1/20         150,000         161,250 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Total IT Services

             2,344,940   
          

 

 

 

Software - 0.2%

          

Interface Security Systems Holdings Inc./Interface Security Systems LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     9.250     1/15/18         340,000         340,000 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals - 0.3%

          

Hewlett-Packard Co., Senior Notes

     4.650     12/9/21         500,000         528,940   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

             3,213,880   
          

 

 

 
MATERIALS - 4.9%           

Chemicals - 0.3%

          

Braskem Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

     5.375     5/2/22         230,000         224,250 (a) 

HIG BBC Intermediate Holdings LLC/HIG BBC Holdings Corp., Senior Notes

     10.500     9/15/18         250,000         255,625 (a)(b) 
          

 

 

 

Total Chemicals

             479,875   
          

 

 

 

Construction Materials - 0.3%

          

Cemex SAB de CV, Senior Secured Notes

     9.000     1/11/18         560,000         609,000 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging - 1.2%

          

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh MP Holdings USA Inc., Senior Notes

     9.125     10/15/20         415,000         460,650 (a) 

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh MP Holdings USA Inc., Senior Notes

     7.000     11/15/20         213,529         224,740 (a) 

Exopack Holdings SA, Senior Notes

     7.875     11/1/19         590,000         625,400 (a) 

Pactiv LLC, Senior Notes

     7.950     12/15/25         50,000         51,375   

Reynolds Group Issuer Inc./Reynolds Group Issuer LLC/Reynolds Group Issuer (Luxembourg) SA, Senior Notes

     9.875     8/15/19         630,000         704,025   
          

 

 

 

Total Containers & Packaging

             2,066,190   
          

 

 

 

Metals & Mining - 2.4%

          

AngloGold Ashanti Holdings PLC, Senior Notes

     8.500     7/30/20         198,000         218,344   

Barminco Finance Pty Ltd., Senior Notes

     9.000     6/1/18         430,000         395,600 (a) 

Barrick Gold Corp., Senior Notes

     6.950     4/1/19         300,000         351,827   

Barrick Gold Corp., Senior Notes

     4.100     5/1/23         100,000         94,864   

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., Senior Notes

     3.950     1/15/18         960,000         964,935   

Molycorp Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     10.000     6/1/20         490,000         485,100   

Prince Mineral Holding Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     11.500     12/15/19         260,000         291,850 (a) 

Ryerson Inc./Joseph T. Ryerson & Son Inc., Senior Notes

     11.250     10/15/18         620,000         694,400   

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

     7.375     2/1/20         200,000         213,500 (a) 

Vedanta Resources PLC, Senior Bonds

     8.250     6/7/21         580,000         614,800 (a) 
          

 

 

 

Total Metals & Mining

             4,325,220   
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

5


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

  RATE     MATURITY
DATE
    FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  

Paper & Forest Products - 0.7%

       

Fibria Overseas Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.750     3/3/21        540,000      $ 594,000 (a) 

Weyerhaeuser Co., Debentures

    7.375     3/15/32        560,000        719,792   
       

 

 

 

Total Paper & Forest Products

          1,313,792   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL MATERIALS

          8,794,077   
       

 

 

 
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES - 9.7%        

Diversified Telecommunication Services - 9.0%

       

AT&T Inc., Senior Notes

    5.625     6/15/16        400,000        440,334   

AT&T Inc., Senior Notes

    5.350     9/1/40        170,000        173,729   

Cincinnati Bell Telephone Co., Senior Debentures

    6.300     12/1/28        25,000        23,562   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Senior Notes

    5.500     8/1/23        750,000        735,000 (a) 

Level 3 Financing Inc., Senior Notes

    8.625     7/15/20        290,000        325,162   

Level 3 Financing Inc., Senior Notes

    6.125     1/15/21        530,000        559,150 (a) 

Orange, Notes

    9.000     3/1/31        600,000        867,688   

Qwest Corp., Senior Notes

    7.500     10/1/14        150,000        154,870   

Qwest Corp., Senior Notes

    6.750     12/1/21        2,000,000        2,233,208   

Telefonica Emisiones SAU, Senior Notes

    5.134     4/27/20        2,000,000        2,162,250   

TW Telecom Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

    6.375     9/1/23        770,000        821,975   

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    5.150     9/15/23        4,330,000        4,738,401   

Wind Acquisition Finance SA, Senior Notes

    11.750     7/15/17        1,500,000        1,580,625 (a) 

Wind Acquisition Finance SA, Senior Secured Notes

    7.250     2/15/18        490,000        515,725 (a) 

Windstream Corp., Senior Notes

    6.375     8/1/23        800,000        780,000   
       

 

 

 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

          16,111,679   
       

 

 

 

Wireless Telecommunication Services - 0.7%

       

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

    6.875     11/15/28        750,000        727,500   

Sprint Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    9.000     11/15/18        500,000        611,250 (a) 
       

 

 

 

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

          1,338,750   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

          17,450,429   
       

 

 

 
UTILITIES - 2.4%        

Electric Utilities - 1.3%

       

Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA, Senior Notes

    5.750     10/27/21        210,000        206,850 (a) 

FirstEnergy Corp., Notes

    7.375     11/15/31        1,770,000        2,033,121   

Southern Co., Senior Notes

    1.950     9/1/16        150,000        153,639   
       

 

 

 

Total Electric Utilities

          2,393,610   
       

 

 

 

Gas Utilities - 0.0%

       

Southern Natural Gas Co., Senior Notes

    8.000     3/1/32        20,000        26,457   
       

 

 

 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers - 1.1%

       

AES Corp., Senior Notes

    8.000     6/1/20        100,000        118,000   

Calpine Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    7.875     1/15/23        559,000        626,080 (a) 

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

    10.000     12/1/20        665,000        699,912   

First Wind Holdings Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    10.250     6/1/18        436,000        473,060 (a) 
       

 

 

 

Total Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers

          1,917,052   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL UTILITIES

          4,337,119   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES

(Cost - $130,347,277)

          139,886,250   
       

 

 

 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES - 20.2%        

AAA Trust, 2005-1A 1A3B

    0.564     2/27/35        472,033        347,681 (a)(c)(e) 

ABFS Mortgage Loan Trust, 2002-3 M1

    5.902     9/15/33        985,607        765,775   

ACE Securities Corp., 2005-WF1 M1

    0.574     5/25/35        470,000        438,977 (c) 

Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., 2004-R1 A1B

    0.954     2/25/34        466,778        431,320 (c) 

Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc., 2004-R9 M1

    1.084     10/25/34        201,548        201,338 (c) 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

6


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES - 20.2% (continued)           

Argent Securities Inc., 2003-W3 M1

     1.279     9/25/33         84,234       $ 81,400 (c) 

Associates Manufactured Housing Pass Through Certificates, 1997-CLB2

     8.900     6/15/28         2,163,410         2,152,592 (e) 

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

     6.900     4/10/28         69,219         73,296 (c) 

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2004-SSRA A1

     0.754     12/25/39         225,910         215,203 (a)(c) 

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A M1

     0.954     3/25/37         1,070,903         888,850 (a)(c) 

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A M3

     1.304     3/25/37         406,205         292,467 (a)(c) 

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A M4

     1.654     3/25/37         110,783         70,901 (a)(c) 

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

     0.000     8/25/36         582,248         376,629   

Centex Home Equity Loan Trust, 2003-B AF4

     3.735     2/25/32         349,152         334,180   

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc., 2006-SHL1 A1

     0.354     11/25/45         105,599         101,580 (a)(c) 

Contimortgage Home Equity Trust, 1997-4 B1F

     7.330     10/15/28         224,073         227,470   

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2004-3 3A3

     0.914     8/25/34         138,840         127,843 (c) 

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2006-3 3A1

     0.274     6/25/36         300,461         288,464 (c) 

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2007-13 2A1

     1.054     10/25/47         969,025         837,658 (c) 

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2007-SEA2 1A1

     1.154     8/25/47         44,528         37,513 (a)(c) 

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC, 2005-CB4 M1

     0.574     7/25/35         2,000,000         1,850,376 (c) 

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

     0.774     1/25/35         391,717         386,562 (a)(c) 

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

     0.624     5/25/44         11,667         11,425 (a)(c) 

Education Funding Capital Trust, 2004-1 B1

     1.910     6/15/43         1,200,000         1,113,000 (c) 

EMC Mortgage Loan Trust, 2003-B A1

     0.704     11/25/41         36,283         35,746 (a)(c) 

Firstfed Corp. Manufactured Housing Contract, 1996-1 B

     8.060     10/15/22         784,083         661,966 (a) 

GMAC Mortgage Corp. Loan Trust, 2004-VF1 A1

     0.904     2/25/31         183,719         175,313 (a)(c) 

Green Tree Financial Corp., 1992-2 B

     9.150     1/15/18         17,687         2,207   

Green Tree Financial Corp., 1993-1 B

     8.450     4/15/18         31,414         20,982   

Green Tree Home Improvement Loan Trust, 1996-D HIB2

     8.000     9/15/27         20,495         16,534   

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 1999-2 A2

     2.913     3/18/29         425,000         370,184 (c) 

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 1999-3 2A2

     3.542     6/19/29         125,000         104,656 (c) 

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 1999-4 A2

     3.655     2/20/30         125,000         103,749 (c) 

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 1999-5 A5

     7.820     12/15/29         378,042         387,237 (c) 

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 2001-2 IA2

     3.657     2/20/32         375,000         341,312 (c) 

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing, 2001-2 IIA2

     3.654     3/13/32         600,000         536,707 (c) 

GSAA Home Equity Trust, 2004-8 A3A

     0.894     9/25/34         160,273         159,239 (c) 

GSAA Home Equity Trust, 2006-19 A3A

     0.394     12/25/36         647,495         377,089 (c) 

GSAMP Trust, 2003-SEA2 A1

     4.422     7/25/33         1,520,502         1,490,987   

GSRPM Mortgage Loan Trust, 2006-1 A1

     0.454     3/25/35         102,939         99,927 (a)(c) 

GSRPM Mortgage Loan Trust, 2006-2 A2

     0.454     9/25/36         165,337         155,302 (a)(c) 

Indymac Manufactured Housing Contract, 1997-1 A5

     6.970     2/25/28         136,887         135,713   

Lehman XS Trust, 2007-1 WF1

     5.064     1/25/37         698,653         416,368 (c) 

Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust, 2004-4 M1

     1.054     10/25/34         1,620,000         1,523,587 (c) 

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, 2003-SD1 A1

     1.154     3/25/33         18,948         17,886 (c) 

Morgan Stanley Capital Inc., 2003-NC9 M

     1.279     9/25/33         1,234,971         1,137,549 (c) 

Morgan Stanley Capital Inc., 2004-HE7 M1

     1.054     8/25/34         1,539,471         1,446,724 (c) 

New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, 2004-2 A2

     0.894     8/25/34         475,320         444,628 (c) 

New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, 2004-3 M1

     1.084     11/25/34         1,480,740         1,361,059 (c) 

Oakwood Mortgage Investors Inc., 2002-B A3

     6.060     6/15/32         192,217         199,108 (c) 

Option One Mortgage Loan Trust, 2003-2 A2

     0.754     4/25/33         310,233         283,954 (c) 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

7


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES - 20.2% (continued)           

Origen Manufactured Housing, 2006-A A2

     2.635     10/15/37         2,321,518       $ 1,987,732 (c) 

Origen Manufactured Housing, 2007-A A2

     2.450     4/15/37         2,676,710         2,248,004 (c) 

PAMCO CLO, 1997-1A B

     7.910     8/6/13         525,066         110,264 (f) 

Park Place Securities Inc., 2004-WCW1 M2

     0.834     9/25/34         1,252,682         1,236,771 (c) 

Park Place Securities Inc., 2004-WHQ2 M2

     1.099     2/25/35         541,770         541,831 (c) 

Pegasus Aviation Lease Securitization, 2000-1 A2

     8.370     3/25/30         1,600,000         516,000 (a) 

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

     1.194     6/25/34         400,842         377,396 (c) 

RAAC Series, 2007-RP1 M1

     0.704     5/25/46         210,000         134,206 (a)(c) 

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust, 2004-2 AF4

     5.392     7/25/34         350,661         357,186   

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust, 2005-2 AF5

     5.201     8/25/35         750,000         611,491   

Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust, 2005-3 AV3

     0.534     11/25/35         567,752         475,686 (c) 

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc., 2004-RZ1 AII

     0.634     3/25/34         348,989         336,675 (c) 

Residential Asset Securities Corp., 2002-KS2 AI6

     6.228     4/25/32         227,337         232,844 (c) 

Residential Asset Securities Corp., 2003-KS8 AI6

     4.830     10/25/33         230,484         228,844 (c) 

Settlement Fee Finance LLC, 2004-1A A

     9.100     7/25/34         632,453         677,351 (a)(e) 

SLM Student Loan Trust, 2001-4 B

     0.739     1/25/21         942,446         938,533 (c) 

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2002-AL1 A3

     3.450     2/25/32         493,241         486,649   

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2003-AL1 A

     3.357     4/25/31         70,531         69,239 (a) 

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

     1.909     3/25/35         412,677         413,836 (c) 

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2006-GEL3 A2

     0.384     7/25/36         813,038         801,754 (a)(c) 
          

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES

(Cost - $31,976,712)

             36,440,505   
          

 

 

 
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS - 15.2%           

American Home Mortgage Investment Trust, 2007-A 4A

     0.604     7/25/46         705,884         251,718 (a)(c) 

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

     2.350     12/20/34         368,964         254,132 (c) 

BCAP LLC Trust, 2009-RR12 2A2

     0.516     3/26/35         1,844,014         856,465 (a)(c) 

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust, 2004-03 A1

     0.794     4/25/34         346,919         347,125 (c) 

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

     2.605     1/25/36         832,563         647,733 (c) 

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust, 2002-AC1 B4

     7.000     1/25/32         609,788         140,930 (a) 

Bella Vista Mortgage Trust, 2004-2 A1

     0.524     2/25/35         1,583,304         1,223,656 (c) 

BlackRock Capital Finance LP, 1997-R2 B5

     4.778     12/25/35         86,638         2,107 (a)(c)(e) 

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

     0.404     8/25/35         1,047,443         947,122 (a)(c) 

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

     0.384     10/25/35         1,522,547         1,379,344 (a)(c) 

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

     0.354     10/25/36         1,315,298         1,153,056 (a)(c) 

Countrywide Home Loans, 2004-R2 1AF1

     0.574     11/25/34         279,683         245,620 (a)(c) 

Countrywide Home Loans, 2005-7 1A1

     0.694     3/25/35         1,110,846         1,053,883 (c) 

Countrywide Home Loans, 2006-HYB4 3B

     2.573     6/20/36         828,899         672,218 (c) 

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

     0.514     3/25/35         466,765         412,749 (a)(c) 

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

     2.526     3/26/35         311,356         300,381 (a)(c) 

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

     1.196     4/25/20         1,273,109         67,913 (c) 

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

     1.663     6/25/20         335,474         26,027 (c) 

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

     1.487     8/25/20         229,514         16,166 (c) 

Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust, 2005-AR5 2A2

     4.351     11/25/46         2,213,006         1,903,185 (c) 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

8


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

  RATE     MATURITY
DATE
    FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS - 15.2% (continued)        

Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust, 2005-AR5 3A2

    0.424     11/25/46        316,280      $ 840,040 (c) 

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust, 2001-2 A

    7.500     6/19/32        1,199,475        1,258,828 (a)(c) 

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, 2004-08 3A2

    0.956     11/19/34        114,207        86,521 (c) 

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, 2004-10 4A

    2.551     1/19/35        294,539        297,100 (c) 

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, 2005-9 B10

    1.907     6/20/35        494,729        5 (c) 

Impac CMB Trust, 2004-9 1A1

    0.914     1/25/35        40,742        36,367 (c) 

Impac CMB Trust, 2005-2 2A2

    0.954     4/25/35        152,781        147,709 (c) 

Impac CMB Trust, 2A-10

    0.794     3/25/35        310,538        261,316 (c) 

Indymac Manufactured Housing Contract, A2-2

    6.170     8/25/29        114,407        113,472   

Jefferies & Co., 2009-B 9A

    0.488     11/21/35        49,004        344,455 (a)(c)(e) 

JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust, 2006-S1 3A4

    6.180     3/25/36        1,026,452        656,315 (c) 

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 2005-A6 3A3

    2.770     9/25/35        630,000        583,785 (c) 

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 2007-A2 4A2

    5.113     4/25/37        214,791        197,725 (c) 

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

    0.498     6/15/36        267,643        671 (a)(c)(g) 

Luminent Mortgage Trust, 2006-6 A1

    0.354     10/25/46        757,225        663,434 (c) 

MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust, 2004-13 3A7

    2.649     11/21/34        1,534,446        1,567,204 (c) 

MASTR ARM Trust, 2004-7 6M1

    0.804     8/25/34        488,343        456,448 (c) 

Merit Securities Corp., 11PA 3A1

    0.773     4/28/27        118,102        102,765 (a)(c) 

Merit Securities Corp., 11PA B3

    2.403     9/28/32        809,822        745,020 (a)(c) 

Metropolitan Asset Funding Inc., 1998-BI B1

    8.000     11/20/24        512,786        404,731 (c) 

Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp., 2004-AR4 1A1

    2.658     12/25/34        246,498        248,780 (c) 

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

    1.743     10/25/32        2,961,959        120,471 (c) 

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

    0.972     7/25/34        5,151,542        4,621 (c) 

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

    1.213     7/25/34        913,592        23,382 (c) 

Regal Trust IV, 1999-1 A

    2.284     9/29/31        45,485        42,349 (a)(c) 

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

    0.000     2/25/32        84,788        80,660   

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2003-2 A2

    1.039     6/20/33        30,759        29,906 (c) 

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2004-10 A1A

    0.467     11/20/34        22,878        22,874 (c) 

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2004-11 A1

    0.457     12/20/34        36,879        36,779 (c) 

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2004-12 A1

    0.427     1/20/35        301,899        276,744 (c) 

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 1998-RF2 A

    6.986     7/15/27        285,788        286,523 (a)(c) 

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2002-9 A2

    0.454     10/25/27        611,856        595,814 (c) 

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

    2.358     3/25/33        180,656        179,048 (c) 

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 2004-NP1 A

    0.954     9/25/33        138,375        129,357 (a)(c) 

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2003-4 A1

    0.794     9/25/43        485,440        461,782 (c) 

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2004-03 A

    0.894     9/25/44        543,175        514,027 (c) 

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2007-4 3A1

    6.095     9/25/37        311,540        325,993 (c) 

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2004-AR06 A

    0.608     5/25/44        466,000        446,482 (c) 

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2004-AR08 A1

    0.608     6/25/44        322,352        296,779 (c) 

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

    6.221     7/25/36        730,547        401,823   

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

    4.906     9/25/36        1,142,664        734,353   

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

    4.906     9/25/36        140,861        86,568   

Washington Mutual Inc., 2004-AR12 A2A

    0.578     10/25/44        381,370        362,800 (c) 

Washington Mutual Inc., 2005-AR8 2A1A

    0.444     7/25/45        326,264        302,647 (c) 

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

    0.444     10/25/45        269,253        247,497 (c) 

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

    1.069     7/25/46        870,461        505,248 (c) 

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

    7.000     3/25/34        21,705        22,793   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS

(Cost - $22,832,456)

          27,451,541   
       

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

9


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

  RATE     MATURITY
DATE
    FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES - 0.2%        

FNMA - 0.2%

       

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), Whole Loan

(Cost - $286,147)

    6.500     8/25/44        280,294      $ 313,830   
       

 

 

 
SENIOR LOANS - 1.1%        
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 0.4%        

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 0.3%

       

Equinox Holdings Inc., Second Lien Term Loan

    8.654     7/31/20        430,000        434,300 (h)(i) 
       

 

 

 

Specialty Retail - 0.1%

       

Gymboree Corp., Initial Term Loan

    5.000     2/23/18        210,000        188,212 (h)(i) 
       

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

          622,512   
       

 

 

 
CONSUMER STAPLES - 0.1%        

Food Products - 0.1%

       

AdvancePierre Foods Inc., Second Lien Term Loan

    9.500     10/10/17        180,000        174,600 (h)(i) 
       

 

 

 
ENERGY - 0.0%        

Energy Equipment & Services - 0.0%

       

FTS International Inc., Term Loan B

    8.500     5/6/16        38,894        39,443 (h)(i) 
       

 

 

 
HEALTH CARE - 0.4%        

CRC Health Corp., Second Lien Term Loan

    —          9/28/21        360,000        360,000 (i)(j) 

Radnet Management Inc., Second Lien Term Loan

    8.000     3/5/21        440,000        437,800 (h)(i) 
       

 

 

 

TOTAL HEALTH CARE

          797,800   
       

 

 

 
MATERIALS - 0.2%        

Chemicals - 0.2%

       

Kronos Inc., Second Lien Term Loan

    9.750     4/30/20        330,000        341,000 (h)(i) 
       

 

 

 

TOTAL SENIOR LOANS

(Cost - $1,955,271)

          1,975,355   
       

 

 

 
SOVEREIGN BONDS - 8.9%        

Argentina - 0.5%

       

Republic of Argentina, Senior Bonds

    7.000     10/3/15        1,010,000        983,740   
       

 

 

 

Brazil - 2.1%

       

Federative Republic of Brazil, Notes

    10.000     1/1/17        8,981,000 BRL      3,744,004   
       

 

 

 

Mexico - 3.3%

       

United Mexican States, Bonds

    8.000     6/11/20        11,147,000 MXN      961,982   

United Mexican States, Bonds

    6.500     6/9/22        60,296,400 MXN      4,759,520   

United Mexican States, Bonds

    10.000     12/5/24        2,750,000 MXN      272,599   
       

 

 

 

Total Mexico

          5,994,101   
       

 

 

 

Poland - 1.5%

       

Republic of Poland, Bonds

    2.500     7/25/18        6,885,000 PLN      2,183,582   

Republic of Poland, Bonds

    4.000     10/25/23        1,740,000 PLN      565,077   
       

 

 

 

Total Poland

          2,748,659   
       

 

 

 

Turkey - 1.1%

       

Republic of Turkey, Senior Bonds

    5.625     3/30/21        210,000        219,030 (a) 

Republic of Turkey, Senior Bonds

    5.750     3/22/24        1,200,000        1,240,500   

Republic of Turkey, Senior Notes

    6.250     9/26/22        400,000        429,800   
       

 

 

 

Total Turkey

          1,889,330   
       

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

10


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

  RATE     MATURITY
DATE
    FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  

Venezuela - 0.4%

       

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Senior Bonds

    9.250     9/15/27        1,060,000      $ 789,700   

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Senior Bonds

    9.375     1/13/34        2,000        1,467   
       

 

 

 

Total Venezuela

          791,167   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL SOVEREIGN BONDS

(Cost - $17,025,581)

          16,151,001   
       

 

 

 
U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS - 3.8%        

U.S. Government Obligations - 3.8%

       

U.S. Treasury Bonds

    3.625     8/15/43        810,000        819,872   

U.S. Treasury Notes

    0.250     2/15/15        2,000,000        2,002,032   

U.S. Treasury Notes

    0.250     2/28/15        4,000,000        4,004,064   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS

(Cost - $6,769,987)

          6,825,968   
       

 

 

 
        SHARES     
COMMON STOCKS - 0.9%        
FINANCIALS - 0.7%        

Banks - 0.7%

       

Citigroup Inc.

        25,131        1,196,236   
       

 

 

 
HEALTH CARE - 0.0%        

Health Care Providers & Services - 0.0%

       

Physiotherapy Associates Holdings Inc.

        1,900        76,000 (e) 
       

 

 

 
INDUSTRIALS - 0.2%        

Building Products - 0.0%

       

Nortek Inc.

        109        8,961
       

 

 

 

Marine - 0.2%

       

DeepOcean Group Holding AS

        8,860        289,889 (e)(g) 
       

 

 

 

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

          298,850   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

(Cost - $1,135,024)

          1,571,086   
       

 

 

 
PREFERRED STOCKS - 1.9%        
FINANCIALS - 1.9%        

Capital Markets - 0.3%

       

State Street Corp.

    5.900       23,328        603,962 (c) 
       

 

 

 

Consumer Finance - 1.0%

       

GMAC Capital Trust I

    8.125       62,722        1,712,311 (c) 
       

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services - 0.6%

       

Citigroup Capital XIII

    7.875       37,975        1,053,426 (c) 

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

    7.375       33,900        136 *(e)(k) 
       

 

 

 

Total Diversified Financial Services

          1,053,562   
       

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance - 0.0%

       

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC)

    0.000       100        1,710 *(c) 

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC)

    5.000       200        3,600
       

 

 

 

Total Thrifts & Mortgage Finance

          5,310   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS

(Cost - $3,263,558)

          3,375,145   
       

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

(Cost - $215,592,013)

          233,990,681   
       

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

11


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    March 31, 2014

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 6.7%           

Repurchase Agreements - 6.7%

          

Bank of America repurchase agreement dated 3/31/14; Proceeds at maturity - $12,000,013; (Fully collateralized by U.S. government obligations, 3.500% due 5/15/20; Market value - $12,240,005) (Cost - $12,000,000)

     0.040     4/1/14         12,000,000       $ 12,000,000   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 136.6%

(Cost - $227,592,013#)

             245,990,681   

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities - 3.4%

             6,085,223   

Liquidation value of Preferred Shares - (40.0)%

             (72,000,000
          

 

 

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.0%

           $ 180,075,904   
          

 

 

 

 

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) Payment-in-kind security for which the issuer has the option at each interest payment date of making interest payments in cash or additional debt securities.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f) The maturity principal is currently in default as of March 31, 2014.

 

(g) Illiquid security.

 

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

 

(i) Senior loans may be considered restricted in that the Fund ordinarily is contractually obligated to receive approval from the agent bank and/or borrower prior to the disposition of a senior loan.

 

(j) All or a portion of this loan is unfunded as of March 31, 2014. The interest rate for fully unfunded term loans is to be determined.

 

(k) The coupon payment on these securities is currently in default as of March 31, 2014.

 

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

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

ARM    — Adjustable Rate Mortgage
BRL    — Brazilian Real
CLO    — Collateral Loan Obligation
CMB    — Cash Management Bill
EUR    — Euro
IO    — Interest Only
MXN    — Mexican Peso
PLN    — Polish Zloty
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 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 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. Futures contracts are valued daily at the settlement price established by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded. 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.

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

 

13


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

   

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 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 Funds’ assets and liabilities 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

     —         $ 139,886,250         —         $ 139,886,250   

Asset-backed securities

     —           34,287,913       $ 2,152,592         36,440,505   

Collateralized mortgage obligations

     —           27,449,434         2,107         27,451,541   

Mortgage-backed securities

     —           313,830         —           313,830   

Senior loans

     —           1,975,355         —           1,975,355   

Sovereign bonds

     —           16,151,001         —           16,151,001   

U.S. government & agency obligations

     —           6,825,968         —           6,825,968   

Common stocks:

           

Financials

   $ 1,196,236         —           —           1,196,236   

Health care

     —           76,000         —           76,000   

Industrials

     8,961         —           289,889         298,850   

Preferred stocks

     3,369,699         5,446         —           3,375,145   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term investments

   $ 4,574,896       $ 226,971,197       $ 2,444,588       $ 233,990,681   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Short-term investments†

     —           12,000,000         —           12,000,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

   $ 4,574,896       $ 238,971,197       $ 2,444,588       $ 245,990,681   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Other financial instruments:

           

Futures contracts

   $ 42,955         —           —         $ 42,955   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,617,851       $ 238,971,197       $ 2,444,588       $ 246,033,636   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

DESCRIPTION

   QUOTED PRICES
(LEVEL 1)
     OTHER SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
     SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS
(LEVEL 3)
     TOTAL  

Other financial instruments:

           

Forward foreign currency contracts

     —         $ 17,846         —         $ 17,846   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

14


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

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

 

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

  ASSET-
BACKED
SECURITIES
    COLLATERALIZED
MORTGAGE
OBLIGATIONS
    COMMON STOCKS     TOTAL  

Balance as of December 31, 2013

  $ 3,293,008      $ 4,756      $ 291,986      $ 3,589,750   

Accrued premiums/discounts

    15,179        580        —          15,759   

Realized gain (loss)

    (34,828     (9,141     —          (43,969

Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)1

    (7,767     5,912        (2,097     (3,952

Purchases

    —          —          —          —     

Sales

    —          —          —          —     

Transfers into Level 3

    —          —          —          —     

Transfers out of Level 32

    (1,113,000     —          —          (1,113,000
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2014

  $ 2,152,592      $ 2,107      $ 289,889      $ 2,444,588   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) for investments in securities still held at March 31, 20141

  $ (27,416   $ 5,912      $ (2,097   $ (23,601
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

 

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.

 

2 

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) Futures contracts. The Fund uses futures contracts generally to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in interest rates or gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in certain asset classes. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date.

Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit cash or cash equivalents with a broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the ‘‘initial margin’’ and subsequent payments (‘‘variation margin’’) are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. For certain futures, including foreign denominated futures, variation margin is not settled daily, but is recorded as a net variation margin payable or receivable. Futures contracts are valued daily at the settlement price established by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded.

Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, risk of loss. In addition, there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.

(d) 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.

 

15


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

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.

(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) Unfunded loan commitments. The Fund may enter into certain credit agreements where 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, 2014, the Fund had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover these commitments.

(g) 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 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.

(h) 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.

(i) 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 investments 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 investments 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.

(j) 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.

(k) 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

 

16


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

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.

Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearing house for exchange traded derivatives while collateral terms are contract specific for over-the-counter traded derivatives. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, to cover the obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts, are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

As of March 31, 2014, the Fund held forward foreign currency with credit related contingent features which had a liability position of $17,846. 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.

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

2. Investments

At March 31, 2014, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 23,306,501   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (4,907,833
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 18,398,668   
  

 

 

 

At March 31, 2014, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:

 

     Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Basis
Value
     Market
Value
     Unrealized
Gain
 
Contracts to Sell:               

U.S. Treasury 10-Year Notes

     98         6/14       $ 12,145,955       $ 12,103,000       $ 42,955   
              

 

 

 

At March 31, 2014, the Fund had the following open forward foreign currency contracts:

 

Foreign Currency

  

Counterparty

   Local
Currency
     Market
Value
     Settlement
Date
     Unrealized
Loss
 
Contracts to Sell:               

Euro

  

JPMorgan Chase Bank

     1,800,000       $ 2,479,565         5/14/14       $ (17,846
              

 

 

 

 

17


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

3. Derivative instruments and hedging activities

GAAP 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, 2014.

 

     Futures Contracts      Forward Foreign Currency
Contracts
       

Primary Underlying Risk

   Unrealized
Appreciation
     Unrealized
Depreciation
    Total  

Interest Rate Risk

   $ 42,955       $ —        $ 42,955   

Foreign Exchange Risk

     —           (17,846     (17,846
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 42,955       $ (17,846   $ 25,109   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

During the period ended March 31, 2014, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:

 

     Average Market Value  

Futures contracts (to sell)

   $ 9,672,215   

Forward foreign currency contracts (to sell)

     2,466,991   

 

18


 

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/    KENNETH D. FULLER        
  Kenneth D. Fuller
  Chief Executive Officer

Date:

 

May 23, 2014

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/    KENNETH D. FULLER        
  Kenneth D. Fuller
  Chief Executive Officer

Date:

 

May 23, 2014

By:   /s/    RICHARD F. SENNETT        
  Richard F. Sennett
  Principal Financial Officer

Date:

 

May 23, 2014