Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

 

 

Investment Company Act file number:

   811-10603

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

Name of Registrant:

 

 

385 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91101
Address of Principal Executive Offices:

 

 

Charles A. Ruys de Perez

385 East Colorado Boulevard

Pasadena, CA 91101

Name and address of agent for service:

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (410) 539-0000

 

Date of fiscal year end: 12/31/2008

 

Date of reporting period: 06/30/2008


Item 1. Report to Shareholders.


 

 

Western Asset

Premier Bond Fund

 

Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

June 30, 2008

 

 


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Fund Highlights

(Unaudited)

 

        Six Months Ended
June 30, 2008
     Year Ended
December 31, 2007

Net Asset Value

     $145,441,963      $163,544,023

Per Share

     $12.68      $14.26

Market Value Per Share

     $12.24      $13.13

Net Investment Income

     $8,263,976      $14,571,859

Per Common Share

     $0.72      $1.27

Dividends Paid to Common Shareholders:

         

Ordinary Income

     $6,453,507      $11,156,728

Per Common Share

     $0.56      $0.97

Long-Term Capital Gains

     $304,028      $2,883,791

Per Common Share

     $0.03      $0.25

Dividends Paid to Preferred Shareholders:

         

Ordinary Income

     $1,272,744      $2,907,616

Per Common Share

     $0.11      $0.25

Long-Term Capital Gains

     $190,581      $996,151

Per Common Share

     $0.02      $0.09

 

The Fund

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund (“WEA” or the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company which seeks to provide current income and capital appreciation for its shareholders by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of investment grade bonds. Substantially all of the Fund’s net investment income (after payment of dividends to holders of preferred shares and interest in connection with other forms of leverage (if applicable)) is distributed to the Fund’s common shareholders. A Dividend Reinvestment Plan is available to those common shareholders of record desiring it. The Fund’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) where they trade under the symbol WEA.

 

Investment Policies

Each limitation below applies only at the time a transaction is entered into. Any subsequent change in a rating assigned to a security, or change in the percentage of the Fund’s assets invested in certain securities or other instruments, resulting from market fluctuations or other changes in the Fund’s total assets, will not require the Fund to dispose of an investment.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to:

 

   

Invest substantially all (but at least 80%) of its total managed assets in bonds, including corporate bonds, U.S. government and agency securities and mortgage related securities.

 

   

Invest at least 65% of its total managed assets in bonds that at the time of investment are investment grade quality. The Fund may invest up to 35% of its total managed assets in bonds of below grade quality.

 

The Fund may invest in securities or instruments other than bonds (including preferred stock) and may invest up to 10% of its total managed assets in instruments denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

The Fund and Computershare Trust Company N.A. (“Agent”), as the Transfer Agent and Registrar of the Fund, offer a convenient way to add shares of the Fund to your account. The Fund offers to all common shareholders a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“Plan”). Under the Plan, cash distributions (e.g., dividends and capital gains) on the common shares are automatically invested in shares of the Fund unless the shareholder elects otherwise by contacting the Agent at the address set forth below.

 

As a participant in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan you will automatically receive your dividend or net capital gains distribution in newly issued shares of the Fund if the market price of a share on the date of the distribution is at or above the NAV of a Fund share, minus estimated brokerage commissions that would be incurred upon the purchase of common shares on the open market. The number of shares to be issued to you will be determined by dividing the amount of the cash distribution to which

 

1


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

you are entitled (net of any applicable withholding taxes) by the greater of the NAV per share on such date or 95% of the market price of a share on such date. If the market price of a share on such distribution date is below the NAV, minus estimated brokerage commissions that would be incurred upon the purchase of common shares on the open market, the Agent will, as agent for the participants, buy shares of the Fund through a broker on the open market. The price per share of shares purchased for each participant’s account with respect to a particular dividend or other distribution will be the average price (including brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and any other costs of purchase) of all shares purchased with respect to that dividend or other distribution. All common shares acquired on your behalf through the Plan will be automatically credited to an account maintained on the books of the Agent. Full and fractional shares will be voted by Computershare in accordance with your instructions.

 

Additional Information Regarding the Plan

The Fund will pay all costs applicable to the Plan, except for brokerage commissions for open market purchases by the Agent under the Plan, which will be charged to participants. All shares acquired through the Plan receive voting rights and are eligible for any stock split, stock dividend, or other rights accruing to shareholders that the Board of Trustees may declare.

 

You may terminate participation in the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Agent. Such termination will be effective prior to the record date next succeeding the receipt of such instructions or by a later date of termination specified in such instructions. Upon termination, a participant will receive a certificate for the full shares credited to his or her account or may request the sale of all or part of such shares. Fractional shares credited to a terminating account will be paid for in cash at the current market price at the time of termination.

 

Dividends and other distributions invested in additional shares under the Plan are subject to income tax just as if they had been received in cash. After year end, dividends paid on the accumulated shares will be included in the Form 1099-DIV information return to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and only one Form 1099-DIV will be sent to participants each year.

 

Inquiries regarding the Plan, as well as notices of termination, should be directed to Computershare Trust Company, N.A. P.O. Box 43010, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3010—Investor Relations Telephone number 1-800-426-5523.

 

Schedule of Portfolio Holdings

The Fund files a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. You may obtain a free copy of the Fund’s Form N-Q by calling 1-800-799-4932 or by writing to the Fund, or you may obtain a copy of this report (and other information relating to the Fund) from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website (http://www.sec.gov). Additionally, the Fund’s Form N-Q can be viewed or copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C. Information about the operation of the Public Reference Room can be obtained by calling 1-202-551-8090.

 

Proxy Voting

You may request a free description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how proxies relating to the Fund’s portfolio securities are voted by calling 1-800-799-4932 or by writing to the Fund, or you may obtain a copy of these policies and procedures (and other information relating to the Fund) from the SEC’s web site (http://www.sec.gov). You may request a free report regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 by calling 1-800-799-4932 or by writing to the Fund, or you may obtain a copy of this report (and other information relating to the Fund), from the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov).

 

Quarterly Comparison of Market Price and Net Asset Value (“NAV”), Discount or Premium to NAV and Average Daily Volume of Shares Traded

 

        Market
Price
     Net Asset
Value
     Premium/
(Discount)
    Average
Daily Volume/(Shares)

September 30, 2007

     $ 14.14      $ 14.90      (5.10 )%   23,411

December 31, 2007

     $ 13.13      $ 14.26      (7.92 )%   22,933

March 31, 2008

     $ 12.43      $ 12.99      (4.31 )%   20,549

June 30, 2008

     $ 12.24      $ 12.68      (3.47 )%   18,877

 

2


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio Diversification

June 30, 2008A

 

LOGO

 

The pie and bar charts above represent the composition of the Fund’s portfolio as of June 30, 2008 and do not include derivatives such as Futures Contracts, Options Written, and Credit Default Swaps.

 

 

A

 

The Fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of its portfolio holdings and sectors is subject to change at any time.

B

 

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services provides capital markets with credit ratings for the evaluation and assessment of credit risk.

 

3


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments

June 30, 2008 (Unaudited)

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Long-Term Securities

   157.2%            

Corporate Bonds and Notes

   90.1%            

Aerospace and Defense

   1.9%            

DRS Technologies Inc.

      6.625%    2/1/16    $ 300,000    $ 304,500  

L-3 Communications Corp.

      6.375%    10/15/15      535,000      500,225  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

      7.750%    2/15/31      1,000,000      1,177,335  

Sequa Corp.

      11.750%    12/1/15      90,000      80,100 A

Sequa Corp.

      13.500%    12/1/15      90,000      82,800 A,B

The Boeing Co.

      6.125%    2/15/33      600,000      607,214  
                    
                 2,752,174  
                    

Airlines

   10.0%            

America West Airlines Inc.

      8.057%    7/2/20      3,010,332      3,010,332  

Continental Airlines Inc.

      7.160%    3/24/13      854,251      738,570  

Continental Airlines Inc.

      6.900%    1/2/18      991,534      914,690  

Continental Airlines Inc.

      6.820%    5/1/18      913,728      794,075  

Continental Airlines Inc.

      6.545%    2/2/19      1,798,467      1,645,597  

Continental Airlines Inc.

      8.048%    11/1/20      671,752      631,447  

Continental Airlines Inc.

      6.703%    6/15/21      887,932      773,611  

DAE Aviation Holdings Inc.

      11.250%    8/1/15      460,000      456,550 A

Northwest Airlines Corp.

      7.575%    9/1/20      710,141      677,361  

Northwest Airlines Inc.

      3.264%    8/6/13      2,288,091      1,601,664 C

United Air Lines Inc.

      7.032%    10/1/10      199,585      197,650  

United Air Lines Inc.

      7.186%    4/1/11      41,863      41,444  

United Air Lines Inc.

      6.602%    9/1/13      663,615      655,244  

US Airways Pass-Through Trust

      6.850%    1/30/18      2,635,578      2,371,424  
                    
                 14,509,659  
                    

Auto Components

   0.2%            

Visteon Corp.

      8.250%    8/1/10      122,000      108,580  

Visteon Corp.

      12.250%    12/31/16      313,000      250,400 A
                    
                 358,980  
                    

Automobiles

   1.7%            

DaimlerChrysler NA Holding Corp.

      7.300%    1/15/12      1,000,000      1,058,246  

DaimlerChrysler NA Holding Corp.

      8.500%    1/18/31      1,000,000      1,156,214  

General Motors Corp.

      8.375%    7/15/33      420,000      248,850  
                    
                 2,463,310  
                    

 

4


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

              

Building Products

   0.6%            

Associated Materials Inc.

      0.000%    3/1/14    $ 675,000    $ 445,500 D

Nortek Inc.

      8.500%    9/1/14      215,000      137,600  

NTK Holdings Inc.

      0.000%    3/1/14      500,000      227,500 D
                    
                 810,600  
                    

Capital Markets

   2.7%            

Credit Suisse USA Inc.

      6.500%    1/15/12      1,125,000      1,167,474  

Morgan Stanley

      6.600%    4/1/12      1,500,000      1,525,080  

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

      6.600%    1/15/12      1,200,000      1,233,939  
                    
                 3,926,493  
                    

Chemicals

   2.1%            

Georgia Gulf Corp.

      9.500%    10/15/14      310,000      231,725  

Georgia Gulf Corp.

      10.750%    10/15/16      190,000      114,000  

Huntsman International LLC

      7.875%    11/15/14      95,000      86,925  

The Dow Chemical Co.

      6.000%    10/1/12      2,500,000      2,590,455  

Westlake Chemical Corp.

      6.625%    1/15/16      70,000      58,800  
                    
                 3,081,905  
                    

Commercial Services and Supplies

   2.2%            

Allied Security Escrow Corp.

      11.375%    7/15/11      60,000      51,600  

Interface Inc.

      10.375%    2/1/10      400,000      420,000  

Rental Service Corp.

      9.500%    12/1/14      300,000      250,500  

US Investigations Services Inc.

      10.500%    11/1/15      310,000      285,200 A

Waste Management Inc.

      7.375%    5/15/29      2,000,000      2,101,732  

Waste Management Inc.

      7.750%    5/15/32      40,000      44,501  
                    
                 3,153,533  
                    

Communications Equipment

   N.M.            

Motorola Inc.

      7.625%    11/15/10      64,000      65,240  
                    

Computers and Peripherals

   0.2%            

International Business Machines Corp.

      4.750%    11/29/12      240,000      243,322  
                    

Consumer Finance

   3.5%            

Ford Motor Credit Co.

      5.460%    1/13/12      70,000      49,754 C

Ford Motor Credit Co.

      8.000%    12/15/16      680,000      494,198  

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC

      12.000%    5/15/15      1,030,000      906,057  

GMAC LLC

      6.875%    8/28/12      150,000      102,717  

GMAC LLC

      8.000%    11/1/31      1,530,000      995,384  

 

5


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments—Continued

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Continued

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

              

Consumer Finance—Continued

              

HSBC Finance Corp.

      4.750%    7/15/13    $ 1,670,000    $ 1,595,082  

SLM Corp.

      8.450%    6/15/18      1,020,000      978,523  
                    
                 5,121,715  
                    

Containers and Packaging

   0.3%            

Graham Packaging Co. Inc.

      9.875%    10/15/14      273,000      241,605  

Graphic Packaging International Corp.

      9.500%    8/15/13      210,000      200,550  
                    
                 442,155  
                    

Distributors

   0.2%            

Keystone Automotive Operations Inc.

      9.750%    11/1/13      480,000      230,400  
                    

Diversified Consumer Services

   0.3%            

Education Management LLC

      8.750%    6/1/14      155,000      144,150  

Education Management LLC

      10.250%    6/1/16      170,000      156,400  

Service Corp. International

      6.750%    4/1/16      140,000      132,650  

Service Corp. International

      7.625%    10/1/18      5,000      4,988  

Service Corp. International

      7.500%    4/1/27      60,000      51,000  
                    
                 489,188  
                    

Diversified Financial Services

   8.2%            

AAC Group Holding Corp.

      0.000%    10/1/12      440,000      420,200 D

Air 2 US

      8.027%    10/1/19      434,125      384,201 A

Bank of America Corp.

      8.000%    12/29/49      1,360,000      1,274,143 D

Boeing Capital Corp.

      6.500%    2/15/12      1,000,000      1,061,321  

Boeing Capital Corp.

      5.800%    1/15/13      400,000      419,797  

CCM Merger Inc.

      8.000%    8/1/13      140,000      119,350 A

Citigroup Inc.

      6.625%    6/15/32      1,000,000      912,639  

DI Finance LLC

      9.500%    2/15/13      502,000      502,000  

General Electric Capital Corp.

      3.750%    12/15/09      740,000      741,911  

General Electric Capital Corp.

      6.000%    6/15/12      700,000      723,370  

General Electric Capital Corp.

      5.450%    1/15/13      250,000      255,211  

JPMorgan Chase and Co.

      5.750%    1/2/13      1,750,000      1,761,335  

JPMorgan Chase and Co.

      5.125%    9/15/14      1,300,000      1,264,033  

Liberty Media LLC

      3.750%    2/15/30      1,860,000      950,925 F

TNK-BP Finance SA

      7.875%    3/13/18      420,000      404,250 A

Vanguard Health Holding Co. II LLC

      9.000%    10/1/14      735,000      727,650  
                    
                 11,922,336  
                    

 

6


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

              

Diversified Telecommunication Services

   3.3%            

AT&T Inc.

      6.250%    3/15/11    $ 1,000,000    $ 1,034,023  

BellSouth Corp.

      6.000%    10/15/11      1,000,000      1,029,968  

Cincinnati Bell Inc.

      6.300%    12/1/28      25,000      20,000  

Citizens Communications Co.

      9.250%    5/15/11      90,000      93,150  

Citizens Communications Co.

      7.875%    1/15/27      115,000      100,625  

Citizens Communications Co.

      7.050%    10/1/46      25,000      17,500  

Hawaiian Telcom Communications Inc.

      12.500%    5/1/15      135,000      33,750  

Level 3 Financing Inc.

      9.250%    11/1/14      660,000      600,600  

MetroPCS Wireless Inc.

      9.250%    11/1/14      35,000      33,688  

NTL Cable PLC

      8.750%    4/15/14      50,000      47,000  

Qwest Communications International Inc.

      7.250%    2/15/11      160,000      154,600  

Qwest Communications International Inc.

      7.500%    2/15/14      140,000      133,000  

Qwest Corp.

      7.875%    9/1/11      390,000      390,000  

Qwest Corp.

      7.500%    10/1/14      150,000      144,375  

Telcordia Technologies Inc.

      10.000%    3/15/13      485,000      392,850 A

Windstream Corp.

      8.625%    8/1/16      635,000      633,412  
                    
                 4,858,541  
                    

Electric Utilities

   6.0%            

Duke Energy Corp.

      6.250%    1/15/12      250,000      260,938  

Energy Future Holdings Corp.

      11.250%    11/1/17      1,580,000      1,576,050 A,B

FirstEnergy Corp.

      6.450%    11/15/11      610,000      625,920  

FirstEnergy Corp.

      7.375%    11/15/31      3,040,000      3,305,690  

IPALCO Enterprises Inc.

      8.625%    11/14/11      130,000      135,200 G

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.

      7.750%    10/1/08      1,500,000      1,512,694  

Orion Power Holdings Inc.

      12.000%    5/1/10      150,000      162,000  

Progress Energy Inc.

      7.100%    3/1/11      117,000      123,112  

Progress Energy Inc.

      6.850%    4/15/12      750,000      791,244  

TXU Electric Delivery Co.

      7.000%    9/1/22      250,000      243,779  
                    
                 8,736,627  
                    

Energy Equipment and Services

   1.0%            

Complete Production Services Inc.

      8.000%    12/15/16      150,000      149,813  

EEB International Ltd.

      8.750%    10/31/14      820,000      869,200 A

Gulfmark Offshore Inc.

      7.750%    7/15/14      270,000      272,025  

Pride International Inc.

      7.375%    7/15/14      240,000      239,400  
                    
                 1,530,438  
                    

 

7


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments—Continued

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Continued

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

              

Food and Staples Retailing

   3.6%            

CVS Caremark Corp.

      6.943%    1/10/30    $ 1,984,462    $ 1,907,306 A

CVS Corp.

      5.789%    1/10/26      883,529      813,924 A

CVS Lease Pass-Through Trust

      5.880%    1/10/28      962,103      855,365 A

CVS Lease Pass-Through Trust

      6.036%    12/10/28      965,944      896,908 A

Delhaize America Inc.

      9.000%    4/15/31      166,000      195,416  

Safeway Inc.

      5.800%    8/15/12      500,000      511,258  
                    
                 5,180,177  
                    

Food Products

   0.2%            

Dole Food Co. Inc.

      7.250%    6/15/10      285,000      257,925  
                    

Gas Utilities

   0.7%            

Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co.

      4.800%    8/15/08      400,000      399,902  

Southern Natural Gas Co.

      8.000%    3/1/32      20,000      21,604  

Suburban Propane Partners LP

      6.875%    12/15/13      580,000      548,100  
                    
                 969,606  
                    

Health Care Providers and Services

   3.1%            

Community Health Systems Inc.

      8.875%    7/15/15      200,000      201,250  

DaVita Inc.

      6.625%    3/15/13      70,000      67,200  

DaVita Inc.

      7.250%    3/15/15      300,000      291,750  

HCA Inc.

      6.250%    2/15/13      85,000      73,738  

HCA Inc.

      6.375%    1/15/15      430,000      356,900  

HCA Inc.

      6.500%    2/15/16      105,000      87,412  

HCA Inc.

      9.250%    11/15/16      195,000      200,850  

HCA Inc.

      9.625%    11/15/16      275,000      283,250 B

HCA Inc.

      7.690%    6/15/25      90,000      73,599  

HCA Inc.

      7.500%    11/15/95      185,000      135,565  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

      9.250%    2/1/15      2,810,000      2,753,800  
                    
                 4,525,314  
                    

Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure

   1.6%            

Buffets Inc.

      12.500%    11/1/14      265,000      3,975 H

Caesars Entertainment Inc.

      8.125%    5/15/11      920,000      736,000  

Denny’s Holdings Inc.

      10.000%    10/1/12      90,000      87,300  

El Pollo Loco Inc.

      11.750%    11/15/13      195,000      194,025  

Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino

      12.000%    11/15/10      530,000      455,800  

MGM MIRAGE

      8.500%    9/15/10      10,000      9,875  

Pokagon Gaming Authority

      10.375%    6/15/14      233,000      249,892 A

 

8


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

              

Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure—Continued

              

River Rock Entertainment Authority

      9.750%    11/1/11    $ 180,000    $ 180,000  

Sbarro Inc.

      10.375%    2/1/15      100,000      85,500  

Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority

      6.936%    2/1/14      110,000      80,850 A,C

Station Casinos Inc.

      7.750%    8/15/16      205,000      156,825  

Station Casinos Inc.

      6.625%    3/15/18      100,000      53,500  
                    
                 2,293,542  
                    

Household Durables

   0.4%            

American Greetings Corp.

      7.375%    6/1/16      20,000      19,500  

K Hovnanian Enterprises Inc.

      8.625%    1/15/17      120,000      87,600  

Norcraft Cos.

      9.000%    11/1/11      360,000      361,800  

Norcraft Holdings LP

      0.000%    9/1/12      155,000      144,344 D
                    
                 613,244  
                    

Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders

   3.1%            

Dynegy Holdings Inc.

      7.750%    6/1/19      650,000      591,500  

Edison Mission Energy

      7.750%    6/15/16      180,000      179,100  

Edison Mission Energy

      7.625%    5/15/27      20,000      17,950  

Exelon Generation Co. LLC

      6.950%    6/15/11      2,000,000      2,067,142  

Mirant North America LLC

      7.375%    12/31/13      350,000      346,938  

NRG Energy Inc.

      7.375%    2/1/16      505,000      475,331  

NRG Energy Inc.

      7.375%    1/15/17      225,000      212,625  

The AES Corp.

      8.000%    10/15/17      525,000      514,500  

The AES Corp.

      8.000%    6/1/20      100,000      97,125 A
                    
                 4,502,211  
                    

Internet and Catalog Retail

   0.1%            

Expedia Inc.

      8.500%    7/1/16      90,000      87,975 A
                    

IT Services

   1.4%            

Ceridian Corp.

      12.250%    11/15/15      130,000      117,975 A,B

Electronic Data Systems Corp.

      7.125%    10/15/09      700,000      721,886  

Electronic Data Systems Corp.

      7.450%    10/15/29      500,000      549,369  

SunGard Data Systems Inc.

      10.250%    8/15/15      630,000      633,150  
                    
                 2,022,380  
                    

Leisure Equipment and Products

   1.2%            

Eastman Kodak Co.

      7.250%    11/15/13      1,800,000      1,750,500  
                    

 

9


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments—Continued

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Continued

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

           

Media

   6.6%            

Affinion Group Inc.

      10.125%    10/15/13    $ 180,000    $ 180,450  

Affinion Group Inc.

      11.500%    10/15/15      225,000      224,438  

CCH I Holdings LLC

      11.000%    10/1/15      927,000      687,139  

CCH II Holdings LLC

      10.250%    10/1/13      150,000      135,375  

Charter Communications Holdings LLC

      11.750%    5/15/11      110,000      79,750  

Charter Communications Holdings LLC

      12.125%    1/15/12      60,000      43,500  

Charter Communications Operating LLC

      10.875%    9/15/14      280,000      287,700 A

Clear Channel Communications Inc.

      4.900%    5/15/15      700,000      413,000  

CMP Susquehanna Corp.

      9.875%    5/15/14      170,000      119,000  

Comcast Cable Communications Inc.

      6.750%    1/30/11      500,000      517,989  

Comcast Corp.

      5.900%    3/15/16      400,000      390,835  

Comcast Corp.

      7.050%    3/15/33      1,000,000      1,015,975  

CSC Holdings Inc.

      8.125%    7/15/09      30,000      30,225  

CSC Holdings Inc.

      8.125%    8/15/09      40,000      40,300  

CSC Holdings Inc.

      7.625%    4/1/11      50,000      49,000  

CSC Holdings Inc.

      6.750%    4/15/12      250,000      235,000  

EchoStar DBS Corp.

      7.000%    10/1/13      600,000      571,500  

Echostar DBS Corp.

      7.750%    5/31/15      120,000      116,700 A

Idearc Inc.

      8.000%    11/15/16      850,000      534,437  

News America Holdings Inc.

      8.875%    4/26/23      400,000      449,888  

R.H. Donnelley Corp.

      8.875%    10/15/17      710,000      422,450 A

Time Warner Inc.

      6.875%    5/1/12      1,400,000      1,432,270  

Time Warner Inc.

      7.700%    5/1/32      1,150,000      1,177,373  

TL Acquisitions Inc.

      10.500%    1/15/15      270,000      233,550 A

Tube City IMS Corp.

      9.750%    2/1/15      160,000      147,600  
                    
                 9,535,444  
                    

Metals and Mining

   2.2%            

Alcoa Inc.

      5.375%    1/15/13      750,000      737,142  

CII Carbon LLC

      11.125%    11/15/15      580,000      571,300 A

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

      8.375%    4/1/17      820,000      865,100  

GTL Trade Finance Inc.

      7.250%    10/20/17      428,000      429,999 A

Metals USA Inc.

      11.125%    12/1/15      445,000      462,800  

Noranda Aluminium Holding Corp.

      8.578%    11/15/14      195,000      159,900 B,C
                    
                 3,226,241  
                    

Multi-Utilities

   0.7%            

Dominion Resources Inc.

      5.700%    9/17/12      770,000      781,812  

MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co.

      5.875%    10/1/12      250,000      257,134  
                    
                 1,038,946  
                    

 

10


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
    VALUE  
             

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

          

Multiline Retail

   0.6%           

Dollar General Corp.

      11.875%    7/15/17    $ 325,000     $ 307,125 B

The Neiman-Marcus Group Inc.

      9.000%    10/15/15      260,000       256,750 B

The Neiman-Marcus Group Inc.

      7.125%    6/1/28      330,000       292,050  
                   
                855,925  
                   

Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels

   11.8%           

Belden and Blake Corp.

      8.750%    7/15/12      750,000       766,875  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

      6.375%    6/15/15      480,000       453,600  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

      6.625%    1/15/16      30,000       28,800  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

      7.250%    12/15/18      255,000       247,988  

Colorado Interstate Gas Co.

      6.800%    11/15/15      150,000       153,218  

ConocoPhillips

      4.750%    10/15/12      900,000       903,746  

DCP Midstream LP

      7.875%    8/16/10      750,000       787,096  

Devon Energy Corp.

      7.950%    4/15/32      1,000,000       1,186,521  

Devon Financing Corp. ULC

      6.875%    9/30/11      2,000,000       2,122,718  

El Paso Corp.

      6.375%    2/1/09      333,000       333,458  

El Paso Corp.

      7.750%    6/15/10      1,496,000       1,535,972  

El Paso Corp.

      7.800%    8/1/31      190,000       191,342  

Exco Resources Inc.

      7.250%    1/15/11      275,000       270,188  

Gazprom

      6.790%    10/29/09      31,200,000  RUB     1,318,797  

Gazprom

      7.000%    10/27/11      10,400,000  RUB     438,268  

Hess Corp.

      7.875%    10/1/29      1,640,000       1,880,927  

Hess Corp.

      7.300%    8/15/31      60,000       67,011  

International Coal Group Inc.

      10.250%    7/15/14      220,000       223,850  

KazMunaiGaz Exploration Production—GDR

      8.375%    7/2/13      330,000       328,928 A

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP

      7.125%    3/15/12      500,000       521,955  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

      6.750%    1/15/12      500,000       537,015  

Parker Drilling Co.

      9.625%    10/1/13      300,000       315,000  

Petrohawk Energy Corp.

      9.125%    7/15/13      145,000       148,625  

SemGroup LP

      8.750%    11/15/15      305,000       295,850 A,H

Sonat Inc.

      7.625%    7/15/11      500,000       504,734  

Stone Energy Corp.

      8.250%    12/15/11      160,000       156,000  

The Williams Cos. Inc.

      7.500%    1/15/31      902,000       912,147  

The Williams Cos. Inc.

      8.750%    3/15/32      85,000       96,475  

Valero Energy Corp.

      7.500%    4/15/32      400,000       404,827  
                   
                17,131,931  
                   

Paper and Forest Products

   2.7%           

Appleton Papers Inc.

      8.125%    6/15/11      5,000       4,725  

Appleton Papers Inc.

      9.750%    6/15/14      305,000       283,650  

 

11


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments—Continued

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Continued

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

           

Paper and Forest Products—Continued

           

NewPage Corp.

      9.123%    5/1/12    $ 250,000    $ 251,250 C

Weyerhaeuser Co.

      6.750%    3/15/12      2,400,000      2,471,810  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

      7.375%    3/15/32      1,000,000      991,871  
                    
                 4,003,306  
                    

Pharmaceuticals

   N.M.            

Leiner Health Products Inc.

      11.000%    6/1/12      280,000      5,600 H,I
                    

Real Estate Investment Trusts

   0.2%            

Ventas Inc.

      6.750%    4/1/17      260,000      249,600  
                    

Real Estate Management and Development

   0.2%            

Ashton Woods USA LLC

      9.500%    10/1/15      125,000      72,500  

Realogy Corp.

      12.375%    4/15/15      495,000      242,550  
                    
                 315,050  
                    

Road and Rail

   2.2%            

Hertz Corp.

      10.500%    1/1/16      645,000      586,950  

Kansas City Southern Railway

      7.500%    6/15/09      150,000      151,500  

Kansas City Southern Railway

      8.000%    6/1/15      200,000      202,000  

Saint Acquisition Corp.

      10.426%    5/15/15      135,000      43,200 A,C

Saint Acquisition Corp.

      12.500%    5/15/17      375,000      127,500 A

Union Pacific Corp.

      6.125%    1/15/12      2,000,000      2,063,374  
                    
                 3,174,524  
                    

Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment

   N.M.            

Freescale Semiconductor Inc.

      8.875%    12/15/14      25,000      20,313  
                    

Software

   0.1%            

Activant Solutions Inc.

      9.500%    5/1/16      165,000      130,350  
                    

Specialty Retail

   0.2%            

Blockbuster Inc.

      9.000%    9/1/12      210,000      171,675  

Eye Care Centers of America Inc.

      10.750%    2/15/15      40,000      41,400  

Michaels Stores Inc.

      11.375%    11/1/16      90,000      71,550  
                    
                 284,625  
                    

Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods

   0.1%            

Oxford Industries Inc.

      8.875%    6/1/11      180,000      173,700  
                    

 

12


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Corporate Bonds and Notes—Continued

           

Thrifts and Mortgage Finance

   0.2%            

Washington Mutual Bank

      5.500%    1/15/13    $ 440,000    $ 352,000  
                    

Tobacco

   0.1%            

Alliance One International Inc.

      11.000%    5/15/12      205,000      211,150  
                    

Trading Companies and Distributors

   0.5%            

Ashtead Capital Inc.

      9.000%    8/15/16      129,000      113,520 A

H&E Equipment Services Inc.

      8.375%    7/15/16      345,000      301,875  

Penhall International Corp.

      12.000%    8/1/14      390,000      292,500 A
                    
                 707,895  
                    

Transportation Infrastructure

   0.3%            

Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Co.

      8.875%    4/1/15      50,000      50,250 B

Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Co.

      9.750%    4/1/17      350,000      350,000  
                    
                 400,250  
                    

Wireless Telecommunication Services

   1.6%            

AT&T Mobility LLC

      6.500%    12/15/11      250,000      259,848  

New Cingular Wireless Services Inc.

      8.125%    5/1/12      500,000      547,648  

Rural Cellular Corp.

      9.875%    2/1/10      100,000      101,750  

Sprint Capital Corp.

      8.375%    3/15/12      1,450,000      1,435,500  
                    
                 2,344,746  
                    

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes
(Cost—$136,817,271)

                           131,061,086  

Asset-Backed Securities

   17.7%            

Fixed Rate Securities

   8.3%            

America West Airlines 1996-1 A

      6.850%    7/2/09      120,198      119,037  

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust 2007-SD1 1A3A

      6.500%    10/25/36      1,789,047      1,413,748  

Captiva CBO 1997-1A A

      6.860%    11/30/09      295,627      274,933 A,E

Contimortgage Home Equity Trust 1997-4 B1F

      7.330%    10/15/28      641,772      328,528  

Firstfed Corp. Manufactured Housing Contract 1996-1 B

      8.060%    10/15/22      2,100,000      3,124,612 A

Global Franchise Trust 1998-1 A2

      6.659%    10/10/11      1,162,774      1,045,196 A

Green Tree Financial Corp. 1992-2 B

      9.150%    1/15/18      338,465      235,325  

Green Tree Financial Corp. 1993-1 B

      8.450%    4/15/18      447,177      397,523  

Green Tree Home Improvement Loan Trust 1996-D HIB2

      8.000%    9/15/27      119,862      81,171  

 

13


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments—Continued

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Continued

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Asset-Backed Securities—Continued

              

Fixed Rate Securities—Continued

              

Green Tree Recreational Equiptment & Consumer Trust 1996-C CTFS

      7.650%    10/15/17    $ 467,788    $ 442,331  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC 2005-2A A6

      5.080%    11/25/11      1,000,000      937,256 A

Indymac Manufactured Housing Contract 1997-1 A5

      6.970%    2/25/28      367,829      340,226  

Lehman XS Trust 2007-1 WF1

      7.000%    1/25/37      1,399,297      1,143,925  

Mutual Fund Fee Trust XIII Series 2000-3

      9.070%    7/1/08      2,878,850      1,439 I

Pegasus Aviation Lease Securitization 2000-1 A2

      8.370%    3/25/30      1,300,000      611,662 A

Structured Asset Securities Corp. 2002-AL1 A3

      3.450%    2/25/32      1,217,415      1,030,664  

Vanderbilt Mortgage Finance 1997-B 1B2

      8.155%    10/7/26      476,760      470,599  
                    
                 11,998,175  
                    

Indexed SecuritiesC

   6.0%            

ACE Securities Corp. 2005-SD1 A1

      2.793%    11/25/50      154,194      151,129  

AmeriCredit Automobile Receivables Trust 2007-CM A3B

      2.480%    5/7/12      2,500,000      2,355,526  

Bayview Financial Asset Trust 2004-SSRA A1

      2.993%    12/25/39      604,388      489,339 A

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc. 2006-SHL1 A1

      2.593%    11/25/45      431,288      343,225 A

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates 2007-13 2A1

      3.383%    10/25/47      1,480,132      1,213,634  

Countrywide Home Equity Loan Trust 2007-GW A

      3.021%    11/15/28      2,361,532      1,648,298  

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

      2.863%    5/25/44      135,759      125,141 A

GSAA Home Equity Trust 2006-19 A3A

      2.633%    12/25/36      1,000,000      475,200  

Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-WL2 3A1

      2.663%    8/25/35      215,814      210,672  

MSDWCC Heloc Trust 2003-2 A

      2.653%    4/25/16      292,533      224,304  

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc. 2004-RZ1 AII

      2.873%    3/25/34      493,618      390,343  

Residential Asset Securities Corp. 2001-KS3 AII

      2.943%    9/25/31      379,429      338,523  

Salomon Brothers Mortgage Securities VII 2002-CIT1

      2.693%    3/25/32      789,508      772,873  
                    
                 8,738,207  
                    

 

14


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Asset-Backed Securities—Continued

              

Stripped Securities

   0.5%            

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust 2006-SD3 1P0

      0.000%    8/25/36    $ 1,851,776    $ 649,965 I,J2

Oakwood Mortgage Investors Inc. 2002-C AIO

      6.000%    8/15/10      635,971      45,472 I,J1
                    
                 695,437  
                    

Variable Rate SecuritiesK

   2.9%            

BankAmerica Manufactured Housing Contract 1997-2 M

      6.900%    4/10/28      100,000      131,086  

Conseco Finance Securitizations Corp. 2002-1 A

      6.681%    12/1/33      670,070      658,974  

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing 1999-5 A5

      7.820%    12/15/29      706,000      684,340  

GSAMP Trust 2003-SEA2 A1

      4.422%    7/25/33      2,499,985      2,097,349  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors Inc. 2002-B A3

      6.060%    3/15/25      348,747      320,735  

Saxon Asset Securities Trust 2000-2 MF1

      8.870%    7/25/30      343,130      342,724  
                    
                 4,235,208  
                    

Total Asset-Backed Securities
(Cost—$27,081,814)

                           25,667,027  

Mortgage-Backed Securities

   20.0%            

Fixed Rate Securities

   1.3%            

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust 2002-AC1 B4

      7.000%    1/25/32      1,172,024      795,163 A

Enterprise Mortgage Acceptance Co. 1999-1 A1

      6.420%    10/15/25      33,410      20,380 A

GMAC Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc. 1998-C1 D

      6.974%    5/15/30      705,198      704,120  

Metropolitan Asset Funding Inc. 1998-BI B1

      8.000%    11/20/24      975,577      364,848  
                    
                 1,884,511  
                    

Indexed SecuritiesC

   15.0%            

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust 2005-3A A2

      2.793%    11/25/35      936,043      841,933 A

BlackRock Capital Finance LP 1997-R2 B5

      6.650%    12/25/35      603,886      150,975 A

CNL Funding 1998-1 C2

      3.231%    9/18/11      3,360,000      2,350,410 A

 

15


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments—Continued

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Continued

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Mortgage-Backed Securities—Continued

           

Indexed SecuritiesC—Continued

              

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust 2005-J12

      2.663%    8/25/35    $ 453,583    $ 290,482  

Countrywide Home Loans 2004-HYB5 7A1

      4.853%    4/20/35      4,844,307      2,923,597  

Countrywide Home Loans 2005-09 1A1

      2.693%    5/25/35      2,123,772      1,647,855  

Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust 2005-AR5 2A2

      2.663%    11/25/46      4,245,779      2,597,076  

Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust 2005-AR5 3A2

      2.663%    11/25/46      2,495,368      1,605,021  

Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-8 3A2

      2.883%    11/19/34      246,303      243,221  

Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-9 B10

      4.232%    6/20/35      1,238,061      680,934  

Impac CMB Trust 2A-10

      2.713%    3/25/35      670,477      314,619  

IndyMac Index Mortgage Loan Trust 2007-AR15 2A1

      5.987%    8/25/37      6,718,965      5,130,136  

Merit Securities Corp. 11PA B3

      4.633%    9/28/32      850,000      105,406 A

Regal Trust IV 1999-1 A

      5.060%    9/29/31      175,287      174,884 A

Structured Asset Securities Corp. 2002-9 A2

      2.693%    10/25/27      1,522,983      1,402,235  

Washington Mutual Inc. 2004-AR12 A2A

      2.828%    10/25/44      267,641      228,275  

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

      4.734%    7/25/46      1,654,067      1,173,095  
                    
                 21,860,154  
                    

Stripped Securities

   1.0%            

Indymac Index Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-AR14 BX

      0.000%    7/25/35      10,517,081      144,610 I,J2

LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 2001-C3 X

      1.153%    6/15/36      2,574,537      59,305 A,I,J1

Prime Mortgage Trust 2005-2 2XB

      2.388%    10/25/32      3,954,035      323,828 I,J1

Prime Mortgage Trust 2005-5 1X

      0.889%    7/25/34      13,557,454      275,058 I,J1

Prime Mortgage Trust 2005-5 1XB

      1.568%    7/25/34      3,233,001      167,559 I,J1

Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc. 2005-SL2 AP0

      0.000%    2/25/32      592,152      449,045 I,J2
                    
                 1,419,405  
                    

Variable Rate SecuritiesK

   2.7%            

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Inc. 2005-5 A4

      5.115%    10/10/45      1,050,000      1,001,534  

 

16


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Mortgage-Backed Securities—Continued

           

Variable Rate SecuritiesK—Continued

           

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust 2005-10 21A1

      5.728%    1/25/36    $ 1,724,810    $ 1,292,468  

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Inc. 1998-C1 A3

      6.720%    11/15/26      1,500,000      1,555,511  
                    
                 3,849,513  
                    

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost—$31,566,884)

                           29,013,583  

U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities

   5.9%            

Fixed Rate Securities

   5.9%            

Fannie Mae

      6.000%    11/1/37      4,230,206      4,272,848  

Fannie Mae

      5.000%    12/1/38      2,600,000      2,491,939 L

Fannie Mae

      6.500%    8/25/44      823,517      842,892  

Freddie Mac

      6.000%    12/1/37      1,017,300      1,028,725  
                    

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities
(Cost—$8,724,351)

                           8,636,404  

Yankee BondsE

   16.8%            

Aerospace and Defense

   0.1%            

Systems 2001 Asset Trust

      6.664%    9/15/13      209,496      207,359 A
                    

Chemicals

   0.2%            

Methanex Corp.

      8.750%    8/15/12      195,000      206,212  

Montell Finance Co. BV

      8.100%    3/15/27      200,000      120,000 A
                    
                 326,212  
                    

Commercial Banks

   1.5%            

ATF Capital BV

      9.250%    2/21/14      660,000      663,300 A

HSBK Europe BV

      7.250%    5/3/17      600,000      522,000 A

ICICI Bank Ltd.

      6.375%    4/30/22      284,000      254,513 A,D

TuranAlem Finance BV

      8.250%    1/22/37      440,000      367,950 A

TuranAlem Finance BV

      8.250%    1/22/37      440,000      367,400 A
                    
                 2,175,163  
                    

Containers and Packaging

   0.1%            

Smurfit Kappa Funding PLC

      7.750%    4/1/15      150,000      136,500  
                    

Diversified Financial Services

   0.7%            

Basell AF SCA

      8.375%    8/15/15      150,000      95,250 A

 

17


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments—Continued

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Continued

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Yankee BondsE —Continued

              

Diversified Financial Services—Continued

           

Lukoil International Finance BV

      6.356%    6/7/17    $ 340,000    $ 320,450 A

UFJ Finance Aruba AEC

      6.750%    7/15/13      500,000      525,270  
                    
                 940,970  
                    

Diversified Telecommunication Services

   2.5%            

Axtel SA

      11.000%    12/15/13      221,000      235,365  

Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV

      5.250%    7/22/13      600,000      588,629  

France Telecom SA

      8.500%    3/1/31      600,000      726,264 G

Intelsat Bermuda Ltd.

      9.250%    6/15/16      225,000      226,687  

Intelsat Bermuda Ltd.

      11.250%    6/15/16      340,000      344,250  

Nordic Telephone Co. Holdings ApS

      8.875%    5/1/16      220,000      215,600 A

NTL Cable PLC

      9.125%    8/15/16      740,000      693,750  

Wind Acquisition Finance SA

      10.750%    12/1/15      500,000      525,000 A
                    
                 3,555,545  
                    

Electric Utilities

   1.2%            

Hydro-Quebec

      6.300%    5/11/11      1,700,000      1,808,198  
                    

Energy Equipment and Services

   0.2%            

Compagnie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas

      7.500%    5/15/15      210,000      209,475  
                    

Foreign Governments

   0.5%            

Republic of Argentina

      7.000%    9/12/13      818,000      635,586  

Republic of Honduras

      2.576%    10/1/11      117,426      120,662 C

Republic of Venezuela

      9.375%    1/13/34      2,000      1,817  
                    
                 758,065  
                    

Industrial Conglomerates

   2.5%            

Tyco International Group SA

      6.375%    10/15/11      1,000,000      1,023,331  

Tyco International Group SA

      6.875%    1/15/21      2,615,000      2,613,818 A
                    
                 3,637,149  
                    

Insurance

   0.6%            

XL Capital Ltd.

      5.250%    9/15/14      1,000,000      907,098  
                    

Media

   N.M.            

Sun Media Corp.

      7.625%    2/15/13      55,000      53,213  
                    

 

18


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
   VALUE  
              

Yankee BondsE —Continued

              

Metals and Mining

   0.4%            

Evraz Group SA

      8.875%    4/24/13    $ 100,000    $ 100,120 A

Novelis Inc.

      7.250%    2/15/15      105,000      99,225  

Vedanta Resources PLC

      8.750%    1/15/14      330,000      331,241 A
                    
                 530,586  
                    

Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels

   4.2%            

Anadarko Finance Co.

      6.750%    5/1/11      750,000      779,600  

Anadarko Finance Co.

      7.500%    5/1/31      1,000,000      1,071,939  

Burlington Resources Finance Co.

      7.400%    12/1/31      450,000      520,512  

Gazprom

      6.212%    11/22/16      280,000      261,604 A

Gazprom

      6.510%    3/7/22      130,000      116,675 A

OPTI Canada Inc.

      7.875%    12/15/14      240,000      237,000  

OPTI Canada Inc.

      8.250%    12/15/14      205,000      203,975  

Petrozuata Finance Inc.

      8.220%    4/1/17      2,851,721      2,957,805 A
                    
                 6,149,110  
                    

Paper and Forest Products

   0.4%            

Abitibi-Consolidated Co. of Canada

      13.750%    4/1/11      520,000      548,600 A
                    

Road and Rail

   0.8%            

Canadian Pacific Railway Co.

      6.250%    10/15/11      1,000,000      1,015,077  

Grupo Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana SA de CV

      9.375%    5/1/12      170,000      176,800  
                    
                 1,191,877  
                    

Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment

   0.2%            

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC

      7.875%    10/15/14      150,000      138,000  

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC

      9.500%    10/15/15      175,000      152,250  
                    
                 290,250  
                    

Wireless Telecommunication Services

   0.7%            

True Move Co. Ltd.

      10.750%    12/16/13      590,000      514,653 A

True Move Co. Ltd.

      10.750%    12/16/13      200,000      174,250 A

Vodafone Group PLC

      7.750%    2/15/10      250,000      261,242  
                    
                 950,145  
                    

Total Yankee Bonds
(Cost—$23,846,839)

                           24,375,515  

 

19


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Portfolio of Investments—Continued

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund—Continued

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   RATE    MATURITY
DATE
   PAR/
SHARES
    VALUE  
             

Foreign Government Obligations

   0.6%           

Republic of Argentina

      4.286%    1/3/10      1,268,862  ARS   $ 827,293 M
                   

Total Foreign Government Obligations
(Cost—$757,494)

                               

Preferred Stocks

   3.1%           

Fannie Mae

      5.375%         15 shs     900,000 F

Freddie Mac

      8.375%         20,500       498,150 D

Freddie Mac

      5.160%         100       3,519 C

Freddie Mac

      5.000%         200       6,158  

General Motors Corp.

      5.250%         225,000       3,082,500 F
                   

Total Preferred Stocks
(Cost—$5,567,740)

                            4,490,327  

Trust Preferred Securities

   3.0%           

Corp-Backed Trust Certificates

      7.375%         33,900       418,665  

Corp-Backed Trust Certificates

      8.000%         15,600       224,173  

CORTS Trust for Ford Motor Co.

      8.000%         155,100       2,171,400  

PreferredPlus TR-CCR1

      8.250%         5,100       74,919  

SATURNS-F 2003-5

      8.125%         104,100       1,500,081  
                   

Total Trust Preferred Securities
(Cost—$5,033,601)

                4,389,238  
                   

Total Long-Term Securities
(Cost—$239,395,994)

                            228,460,473  

Short-Term Securities

   1.5%           

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations

   N.M.           

Fannie Mae

      0.000%    12/15/08    $ 47,000       46,607 N
                   

Foreign Government Obligations

   1.3%           

Egypt Treasury Bills

      0.000%    10/28/08      8,725,000  EGP     1,597,451 N

Egypt Treasury Bills

      0.000%    11/11/08      1,825,000  EGP     320,365 N
                   
                1,917,816  
                   

Repurchase Agreement

   0.2%           

Merrill Lynch Government Securities Inc. 2.00%, dated 6/30/08, to be repurchased at $321,018 on 7/1/08 (Collateral: $330,000 Federal Home Loan Bank bond, 2.275%, due 4/24/09, value $327,420)

              321,000       321,000  
                   

Total Short-Term Securities
(Cost—$2,222,615)

                            2,285,423  

 

20


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

 

 

     % OF
NET ASSETS
   VALUE  
     

Total Investments (Cost—$241,618,609)O

   158.7%    $ 230,745,896  

Other Assets Less Liabilities

   (9.2)%      (13,303,933 )

Liquidation value of preferred shares

   (49.5)%      (72,000,000 )
           

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

   100.0%    $ 145,441,963  
           
               

N.M. Not Meaningful.

A

 

Rule 144A Security – A security purchased pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 which may not be resold subject to that rule except to qualified institutional buyers. These securities, which the Fund’s investment adviser has determined to be liquid, represent 24.75% of net assets.

B

 

Pay-in-Kind (“PIK”) security – A security in which interest or dividends during the initial few years is paid in additional PIK securities rather than in cash.

C

 

Indexed Security – The rates of interest earned on these securities are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”) Index, the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”), the one-year Treasury Bill Rate or the ten-year Japanese Government Bond Rate. The coupon rates are the rates as of June 30, 2008.

D

 

Stepped Coupon Security – A security with a predetermined schedule of interest or dividend rate changes at which time it begins to accrue interest or pay dividends according to the predetermined schedule.

E

 

Yankee Bond – A dollar-denominated bond issued in the U.S. by foreign entities.

F

 

Convertible Security – Security may be converted into the issuer’s common stock.

G

 

Credit Linked Security – The rates of interest earned on these securities are tied to the credit rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s Rating Service and/or Moody’s Investors Services.

H

 

Bonds are in default.

I

 

Illiquid security valued at fair value under the procedures approved by the Board of Directors.

J

 

Stripped Security – Security with interest-only or principal-only payment streams, denoted by a 1 or 2, respectively. For interest-only securities, the amount shown as principal is the notional balance used to calculate the amount of interest due.

K

 

The coupon rates shown on variable rate securities are the rates at June 30, 2008. These rates vary with the weighted average coupon of the underlying loans.

L

 

When-issued Security – Security purchased on a delayed delivery basis. Final settlement amount and maturity date have not yet been announced.

M

 

Inflation-Protected Security – Security whose principal value is adjusted daily or monthly in accordance with changes to the relevant country’s Consumer Price Index or its equivalent used as an inflation proxy. Interest is calculated on the basis of the current adjusted principal value.

N

 

Zero coupon bond – A bond with no periodic interest payments which is sold at such a discount as to produce a current yield to maturity.

O

 

Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is substantially the same as book cost. At June 30, 2008, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation    $ 6,924,298  
Gross unrealized depreciation      (17,797,011 )
        
Net unrealized depreciation    $ (10,872,713 )
        

 

  Securities are denominated in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise noted.

ARS—Argentine Peso

EGP—Egyptian Pound

RUB—Russian Ruble

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

21


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

June 30, 2008 (Unaudited)

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

 

 

 

Assets:

     

Investment securities at market value (Cost—$239,395,994)

      $ 228,460,473  

Short-term securities at value (Cost—$2,222,615)

        2,285,423  

Cash

        24,069  

Foreign currency at value (Cost—$458,431)

        477,790  

Interest and dividends receivable

        3,605,888  

Receivable for securities sold

        550,305  

Restricted cash pledged for swaps

        13,472,237  

Other assets

        15,753  
           

Total assets

        248,891,938  
           

Liabilities:

     

Payable for open reverse repurchase agreement

   $ 15,381,000   

Swap contracts at value

     11,952,059   

Payable for securities purchased

     3,685,731   

Accrued advisory fee

     77,040   

Income distribution payable to common shareholders

     100,889   

Accrued administration fee

     22,766   

Accrued expenses

     230,490   
         

Total liabilities

        31,449,975  
           

Preferred Shares:

     

No par value, 2,880 shares authorized, issued and outstanding,
$25,000 liquidation value per share (Note 5)

        72,000,000  
           

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

      $ 145,441,963  
           

Composition of Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders:

     

Common shares, no par value, unlimited number of shares authorized,
11,474,540 shares issued and outstanding (Note 4)

      $ 162,552,301  

Undistributed net investment income

        351,749  

Accumulated net realized gain on investments, futures, swaps and foreign
currency transactions

        4,181,973  

Net unrealized depreciation on investments, swaps and foreign currency
translations

        (21,644,060 )
           

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders

      $ 145,441,963  
           

Net Asset Value Per Common Share:

     

($145,441,963 ÷ 11,474,540 common shares issued and outstanding)

      $ 12.68  
           
                 

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

22


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008 (Unaudited)

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

 

 

 

Investment Income:

    

Interest

   $ 9,000,134    

Dividends

     525,847    
          

Total income

     $ 9,525,981  

Expenses:

    

Management fee

     479,339    

Administration fee

     140,982    

Audit and legal fees

     261,414    

Custodian fees

     31,252    

Trustees’ fees and expenses

     2,295    

Registration fees

     21,711    

Reports to shareholders

     18,864    

Transfer agent and shareholder servicing expense

     12,953    

Other expenses

     12,691    

Preferred shares rating agency fees

     6,250    

Preferred shares auction agent fee expense

     90,923    
          
     1,078,674    

Less: Compensating balance credits

     (3,560 )  

Interest expense

     186,891    
          

Net expenses

       1,262,005  
          

Net Investment Income

       8,263,976  
          

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments:

    

Net realized gain on:

    

Investments

     3,960,568    

Futures

     74,857    

Swaps

     370,995    

Foreign currency transactions

     36,042    
          
       4,442,462  

Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of:

    

Investments, swaps and foreign currency translations

     (22,645,010 )  

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency

     (4,282 )  
          
       (22,649,292 )
          

Net realized and unrealized loss on investments

       (18,206,830 )
          

Change in net assets resulting from operations

       (9,942,854 )
          

Dividends to Preferred Shareholders from:

    

Net investment income

     (1,272,744 )  

Net realized gain on investments

     (190,581 )  
          
       (1,463,325 )
          

Change in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders Resulting From Operations

     $ (11,406,179 )
          
                  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

23


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

 

      FOR THE
SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 2008
    FOR THE
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2007
 
Change in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders:    (Unaudited)         

Net investment income

   $ 8,263,976     $ 14,571,859  

Net realized gain

     4,442,462       3,450,921  

Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)

     (22,649,292 )     (10,332,943 )
                

Change in net assets resulting from operations

     (9,942,854 )     7,689,837  
                

Dividends to Preferred Shareholders from:

    

Net investment income

     (1,272,744 )     (2,907,616 )

Net realized gain on investments

     (190,581 )     (996,151 )
                

Change in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders Resulting from Operations

     (11,406,179)       3,786,070  
                

Distributions to Common Shareholders from:

    

Net investment income

     (6,453,507 )     (11,156,728 )

Net realized gain on investments

     (304,028 )     (2,883,791 )

Capital Transactions:

    

Reinvestment of dividends resulting in the issuance of 4,597 and 6,014 common shares, respectively

     61,654       91,824  
                

Change in net assets

     (18,102,060 )     (10,162,625 )
                

Net Assets:

    

Beginning of period

     163,544,023       173,706,648  
                

End of period

   $ 145,441,963     $ 163,544,023  
                

Undistributed/(Overdistributed) net investment income

   $ 351,749     $ (185,976 )
                
                  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

24


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Financial Highlights

 

Contained below is per share operating performance data for a share of common stock outstanding throughout each period shown, total investment return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data. This information has been derived from information in the financial statements.

 

    SIX MONTHS
ENDED
JUNE 30, 2008
    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,  
       2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
Investment Operations:   (Unaudited)                                     

Net asset value per common share, beginning of period

  $ 14.26     $ 15.15     $ 14.93     $ 15.52     $ 15.00     $ 13.57  
                                               

Net investment incomeA

    .72       1.27       1.37       1.37       1.33       1.32  

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)

    (1.58 )     (.60 )     .45       (.55 )     .56       1.51  

Dividends paid to preferred shareholders from:

           

Net investment income

    (.11 )     (.25 )     (.30 )     (.21 )     (.09 )     (.08 )

Net realized gain on investments

    (.02 )     (.09 )     (.01 )                  
                                               

Total from investment operations applicable to common shareholders

    (.99 )     .33       1.51       .61       1.80       2.75  
                                               

Distributions paid to common shareholders from:

           

Net investment income

    (.56 )     (.97 )     (1.10 )     (1.20 )     (1.28 )     (1.31 )

Net realized gain on investments

    (.03 )     (.25 )     (.19 )                  
                                               

Total distributions paid to shareholders

    (.59 )     (1.22 )     (1.29 )     (1.20 )     (1.28 )     (1.31 )
                                               

Offering costs charged to paid in capital

                                  (.01 )
                                               

Net asset value per common share, end of period

  $ 12.68     $ 14.26     $ 15.15     $ 14.93     $ 15.52     $ 15.00  
                                               

Market value, end of period

  $ 12.24     $ 13.13     $ 15.15     $ 13.72     $ 16.14     $ 15.85  
                                               

Total investment return based on:

           

Market Value

    (2.55 )%B     (5.79 )%     20.43 %     (7.83 )%     10.79 %     21.56 %

Net Asset Value

    (7.08 )%B     2.17 %     10.67 %     4.31 %     12.57 %     20.81 %

Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders:C

           

Total expenses (including interest expense)

    1.67 %D     1.72 %     1.86 %     1.63 %     1.17 %     1.24 %

Expenses (including interest expense) net of waivers, if any

    1.67 %D     1.71 %     1.86 %     1.63 %     1.17 %     1.24 %

Expenses (including interest expense) net of all reductions

    1.67 %D     1.71 %     1.86 %     1.63 %     1.17 %     1.24 %

Expenses (excluding interest expense) net of all reductions

    1.42 %D     1.15 %     1.15 %     1.13 %     1.13 %     1.24 %

Net investment incomeE

    9.23 %D     6.76 %     7.18 %     7.58 %     8.22 %     8.55 %

Supplemental Data:

           

Portfolio turnover rate

    29.4 %     90.3 %     65.0 %     41.0 %     39.0 %     38.0 %

Net assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period (in thousands)

  $ 145,442     $ 163,544     $ 173,707     $ 171,010     $ 177,288     $ 169,772  

Preferred share information at end of the period:

           

Aggregate amount outstanding (in thousands)

  $ 72,000     $ 72,000     $ 72,000     $ 72,000     $ 72,000     $ 72,000  

Asset coverage on preferred shares, end of periodF

    303 %     327 %     341 %     337 %     346 %     336 %

Liquidation and market value per share (in thousands)

  $ 25     $ 25     $ 25     $ 25     $ 25     $ 25  
                                                 

A

 

Computed using average daily shares outstanding.

B

 

Not annualized.

C

 

Total expenses reflects operating expenses prior to any voluntary expense waivers and/or compensating balance credits. Expenses net of waivers reflects total expenses before compensating balance credits but net of any voluntary expense waivers. Expenses net of all reductions reflects expenses less any compensating balance credits and/or voluntary expense waivers.

D

 

Annualized.

E

 

Ratios are calculated on the basis of income and expenses applicable to both the common and preferred shares relative to the average net assets of common shareholders. Ratios of net investment income before preferred share dividends to average net assets of common shareholders are 10.91%,8.46%,8.45%,9.21%,8.99% and 8.85%, respectively.

F

 

Asset coverage on preferred shares equals net assets of common shares plus the redemption value of the preferred shares divided by the amount to which holders of such shares would be entitled upon redemption of the preferred shares.

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

25


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Notes to Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1. 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.

 

Preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements:

 

Investment Valuation

The Fund’s securities are valued under policies approved by and under the general oversight of the Board of Trustees. Effective January 1, 2008, the Fund adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“FAS 157”). FAS 157 establishes a single definition of fair value, creates a three-tier hierarchy as a framework for measuring fair value based on inputs used to value the Fund’s investments, and requires additional disclosure about fair value. The hierarchy of inputs is summarized below.

 

   

Level 1—quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

   

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

   

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

 

Debt securities are valued at the last quoted bid prices provided by an independent pricing service that are based on transactions in debt obligations, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various other relationships between securities. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last sale price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. Publicly traded foreign government debt securities are typically traded internationally in the over-the-counter market and are valued at the bid price as of the close of business of that market. When prices are not readily available, or are determined not to reflect fair value, 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 may value these securities at fair value as determined in accordance with the procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

 

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

 

       06/30/2008      Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
     Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

Investments in Securities

     $ 230,745,896      $ 8,879,564      $ 221,866,322      $

Other Financial Instruments:*

               

Derivatives

       (10,786,423 )             (10,786,423 )     

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

       (15,381,000 )             (15,381,000 )     
                                   

Total Value

     $ 204,578,473      $ 8,879,564      $ 195,698,909      $
                                   

 

*   Other financial instruments include reverse repurchase agreements and derivatives, e.g. swaps contracts.

 

26


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

 

Security Transactions

Security transactions are accounted for as of the trade date. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are reported on an identified cost basis for both financial reporting and federal income tax purposes.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, security transactions (excluding short-term investments) were as follows:

 

Purchases

     

Proceeds from Sales

U.S. Gov’t. Securities

  Other      

U.S. Gov’t. Securities

  Other
$28,465,125   $ 40,607,400     $49,028,313   $ 21,840,187

 

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities initially expressed in non-U.S. currencies are translated into U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates determined prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange, usually at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time. Purchases and sales of securities and income and expenses are translated into U.S. dollars at the prevailing market rates on the dates of such transactions. The effects of changes in non-U.S. currency exchange rates on investment securities and other assets and liabilities are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investment securities.

 

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, a fund takes possession of an underlying debt obligation subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and a fund to resell, the obligation at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the yield during the fund’s holding period. This arrangement results in a fixed rate of return that is not subject to market fluctuations during the fund’s holding period. The value of the collateral is at all times at least equal to the total amount of the repurchase obligation, including interest. In the event of counterparty default, a fund has the right to use the collateral to satisfy the terms of the repurchase agreement. However, there could be potential loss to the fund in the event the fund is delayed or prevented from exercising its right to dispose of the collateral securities, including the risk of a possible decline in the value of the collateral securities during the period in which the fund seeks to assert its rights. The Fund’s investment adviser reviews the value of the collateral and the creditworthiness of those banks and dealers with which the Fund enters into repurchase agreements to evaluate potential risks.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Under the terms of a typical reverse repurchase agreement, a fund sells a security subject to an obligation to repurchase the security from the buyer at an agreed-upon time and price, thereby determining the yield to the buyer during the buyer’s holding period. A reverse repurchase agreement involves the risk, among others, that the market value of the collateral retained by the fund may decline below the price of the securities the fund has sold but is obligated to repurchase under the agreement. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the fund’s use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the party, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities. In entering into reverse repurchase agreements, the Fund will maintain cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid debt obligations at least equal in value to its obligations with respect to reverse repurchase agreements or will take other actions permitted by law to cover its obligations.

 

Options, Futures and Swap Agreements

The current market value of an exchange traded option is the last sale price or, in the absence of a sale, the mean between the closing bid and asked price. Futures contracts are valued daily at the settlement price established by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded. Futures contracts are marked-to-market on a daily basis. As the contract’s value fluctuates, payments known as variation margin are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. The daily changes in contract value are recorded as unrealized gains or losses, and the Fund recognizes a gain or loss when the contract is closed. Swap agreements are generally priced daily based upon valuations furnished by an independent pricing service and the change, if any, is recorded as unrealized appreciation or depreciation.

 

Forward Currency Exchange Contracts

As part of its investment program, the Fund may utilize forward currency exchange contracts. Forward foreign exchange contracts are marked-to-market daily using foreign currency exchange rates supplied by an independent pricing service. The change

 

27


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Notes to Financial Statements—Continued

 

in the contract’s market value is recorded by the Fund as an unrealized gain or loss. When a contract is closed or delivery is taken, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contact at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

 

The use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the Fund’s securities, but it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. These forward foreign currency exchange contracts involve market risk in excess of amounts reflected in the financial statements. Although forward foreign currency exchange contracts used for hedging purposes limit the risk of loss due to the decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase. In addition, the Fund could be exposed to risks if the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts.

 

The Fund had no outstanding forward foreign currency exchange contracts as of June 30, 2008.

 

Short Sales

The Fund may sell a security it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market price of that security. The Fund must then borrow the security sold short and deliver it to the dealer that brokered the short sale. A gain, limited to the price at which the security was sold short, or a loss, potentially unlimited in size, will be recognized upon the termination of the short sale. With respect to each short sale, the Fund must maintain collateral in a segregated account consisting of liquid assets with a value at least equal to the current market value of the shorted securities, marked-to-market daily, or take other actions permitted by law to cover its obligations. Dividend expenses and fees paid to brokers to borrow securities in connection with short sales are considered part of the cost of short sale transactions. Dividends declared on securities sold short are recorded as an expense on the ex-dividend date.

 

The Fund had no open short sales as of June 30, 2008.

 

Distributions to Common Shareholders

Investment income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Dividends from net investment income are declared and paid monthly. Net capital gain distributions are declared and paid after the end of the tax year in which the gain is realized. An additional distribution may be made in December to the extent necessary in order to comply with federal excise tax requirements. Distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from those determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; accordingly, periodic reclassifications are made within the Fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution under federal income tax regulations. Interest income and expenses are recorded on the accrual basis. Bond discounts and premiums are amortized and included in interest income for financial reporting and federal income tax purposes.

 

Compensating Balance Credits

The Fund has an arrangement with its custodian bank, whereby a portion of the custodian’s fee is paid indirectly by credits earned on the Fund’s cash on deposit with the bank. This deposit arrangement is an alternative to purchasing overnight investments.

 

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Credit and Market Risk

Investments in structured securities 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 accrued interest and principal on these investments may be doubtful. Such market conditions may significantly impair the value of these investments resulting in a lack of correlation between their credit ratings and values.

 

 

28


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

Other

In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent upon claims that may be made against the Fund in the future and, therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.

 

2. Federal Income Taxes:

It is the Fund’s policy to continue to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its in-come and net realized gains on investments, if any, to shareholders each year. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

 

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal income tax returns for all open tax years and has con-cluded that as of June 30, 2008 no provision for income tax would be required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

 

The amount and character of tax-basis distributions and composition of net assets are finalized at fiscal year-end; accordingly, tax basis balances have not been determined as of June 30, 2008.

 

3. Financial Instruments:

 

Option Transactions

As part of its investment program, the Fund may utilize options. Options may be written (sold) or purchased by the Fund. When the Fund purchases a put or call option, the premium paid is recorded as an investment and its value is marked-to-market daily. When the Fund writes a put or call option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability and its value is marked-to-market daily.

 

When options, whether written or purchased, expire, are exercised or are closed (by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction), the Fund realizes a gain or loss as described in the chart below:

 

Purchased option:    Impact on the Fund:
The option expires    Realize a loss in the amount of the cost of the option.
The option is closed through a closing sale transaction    Realize a gain or loss depending on whether the proceeds from the closing sale transaction are greater or less than the cost of the option.
The Fund exercises a call option    The cost of the security purchased through the exercise of the option will be increased by the premium originally paid to purchase the option.
The Fund exercises a put option    Realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security. The proceeds of that sale will be reduced by the premium originally paid to purchase the put option.
Written option:    Impact on the Fund:
The option expires    Realize a gain equal to the amount of the premium received.
The option is closed through a closing purchase transaction    Realize a gain or loss without regard to any unrealized gain or loss on the underlying security and eliminate the option liability. The Fund will realize a loss in this transaction if the cost of the closing purchase exceeds the premium received when the option was written.
A written call option is exercised by the option purchaser    Realize a gain or loss from the sale of the underlying security. The proceeds of that sale will be increased by the premium originally received when the option was written.
A written put option is exercised by the option purchaser    The amount of the premium originally received will reduce the cost of the security that the Fund purchased when the option was exercised.

 

 

29


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Notes to Financial Statements—Continued

 

The risk associated with purchasing options is limited to the premium originally paid. Options written by the Fund involve, to varying degrees, risk of loss in excess of the option value reflected in the statement of assets and liabilities. The risk in writing a covered call option is that the Fund may forgo the opportunity of profit if the market price of the underlying security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in writing a put option is that the Fund may incur a loss if the market price of the underlying security decreases and the option is exercised. In addition, there is the risk the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market or, for over-the-counter options, because of the counterparty’s inability to perform.

 

There was no activity in written options during the six months ended June 30, 2008.

 

Futures

Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit with the broker cash or cash equivalents in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the “initial margin.” Subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. The daily changes in contract value are recorded as unrealized gains or losses and the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed. Futures contracts are valued daily at the settlement price established by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded.

 

The Fund may enter into futures contracts as a hedge against anticipated changes in interest rates. There are several risks in connection with the use of futures contracts as a hedging device. Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, risk of loss in excess of the amounts reflected in the financial statements. The change in the value of futures contracts primarily corresponds with the value of their underlying instruments, which may not correlate with the change in the value of the hedged instruments. In addition, there is the risk that a Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.

 

Open futures positions and related appreciation or depreciation at June 30, 2008, if any, are listed at the end of the Fund’s portfolio of investments.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

As of June 12, 2008, the Fund had entered into a reverse repurchase agreement (“Reverse Repurchase Agreement”) with Deutsche Bank. The Reverse Repurchase Agreement, which matured on July 17, 2008 at an interest rate of 2.75%, was recorded at cost of $15,381,000 and was collateralized by U.S. Government securities and corporate bonds with a par value of $16,125,000 and a market value as of June 30, 2008, of $15,422,123.

 

For the six months ended June 30, 2008, the average amount of Reverse Repurchase Agreements outstanding was $5,960,367 and the daily weighted average interest rate was 3.13%.

 

Swap Agreements

The Fund may invest in swaps for the purpose of managing their 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 ordinary portfolio transactions.

 

Credit default swaps involve the exchange of a fixed rate premium for protection against the loss in value of an underlying debt instrument in the event of a defined credit event (such as payment default or bankruptcy). Under the terms of the swap, one party acts as a “guarantor,” receiving a periodic payment that is a fixed percentage applied to a notional principal amount. In return, the party agrees to purchase the notional amount of the underlying instrument, at par, if a credit event occurs during the term of the swap. The Fund may enter into credit default swaps in which the Fund or its counterparty act as guarantors. By acting as the guarantor of a swap, the Fund assumes the market and credit risk of the underlying instrument, including liquidity and loss of value.

 

Swaps 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. Periodic payments and premiums received or made by a Fund are recorded in the accompanying statement of operations as realized gains or losses, respectively. Collateral, in the form of restricted

 

30


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

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. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the statement of assets and liabilities. These risks include changes in the returns of the underlying instruments, failure of the counterparties to perform under the contracts’ terms, and the possible lack of liquidity with respect to the swap agreements.

 

If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of the particular swap agreement, the Fund will pay to the buyer of the protection an amount up to the notional value of the swap and in certain instances, take delivery of the security.

 

As of June 30, 2008, the annualized one- and three-month London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”) were 2.46% and 2.78%, respectively.

 

The following is a summary of open credit default swap contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2008.

 

Agreement With:

 

Termination Date

 

The Fund
Agrees to PayD

 

The Fund
Will ReceiveD

  Contract
Notional Amount
  Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
Credit Default Swaps                         

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (AAMES Mortgage Investment Trust 2005-1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 160 bpC, due 6/25/35)

  April 25, 2035   1.28%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice   $        43,000   $         22,617

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (AAMES Mortgage Investment Trust 2005-1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 250 bp, due 6/25/35)

  April 25, 2035   2.05%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     26,491

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (ACE Securities Corp. 2005-HE1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 138 bp, due 2/25/35)

  February 25, 2035   1.31%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     39,539

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (ACE Securities Corp. 2005-HE1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 220bp, due 2/25/35)

  February 25, 2035   2.06%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     28,289     26,860

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Aegis Asset Backed Securities Trust 2004-4 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 190bp, due 10/25/34)

  October 25, 2034   1.37%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     32,243     30,292

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Aegis Asset Backed Securities Trust 2005 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 130 bp, due 3/25/35)

  March 25, 2035   1.31%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     40,816

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Aegis Asset Backed Securities Trust 2005 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 200 bp, due 3/25/35)

  March 25, 2035   2.18%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     41,587

 

C

 

100 basis points = 1.00%

D

 

The rates indicated are annual rates, which are paid or received monthly, quarterly or upon a credit event notice as noted in the table.

 

31


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Notes to Financial Statements—Continued

 

Agreement With:

 

Termination Date

 

The Fund
Agrees to Pay

 

The Fund
Will Receive

  Contract
Notional Amount
  Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Argent Securities Inc. 2004-W11 M10, 1-Month LIBOR + 350bp, due 11/25/34)

  November 25, 2034   2.15%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice   $        16,920   $         14,223

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Argent Securities Inc. 2004-W11 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 225bp, due 11/25/34)

  November 25, 2034   1.33%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     17,475     14,223

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Argent Securities Inc. 2004-W4 M3, 1-Month LIBOR + 300 bp, due 3/25/34)

  March 25, 2034   2.2%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     20,620     19,341

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Finance America Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-3 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 180bp, due 11/25/34)

  November 25, 2034   1.31%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     15,633     10,243

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Finance America Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-3 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 315bp, due 11/25/34)

  November 25, 2034   2.18%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     15,632     12,607

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Fremont Home Loan Trust 2005-A M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 135 bp, due 1/25/35)

  January 25, 2035   1.31%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     17,046     14,814

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Fremont Home Loan Trust 2005-A, 1-Month LIBOR + 100bp, due 1/25/35)

  January 25, 2035   2.08%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     17,202     15,770

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (IndyMac Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed, Trust 2004-C M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 190bp, due 3/25/35)

  March 25, 2035   1.28%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     13,293

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (IndyMac Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed, Trust 2004-C M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 325bp, due 3/25/35)

  March 25, 2035   2.05%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     33,303     13,557

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 350bp, due 2/25/34)

  February 25, 2034   2.15%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     15,534     9,584

32


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

Agreement With:

 

Termination Date

 

The Fund
Agrees to Pay

 

The Fund
Will Receive

  Contract
Notional Amount
  Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 170 bp, due 2/25/35)

  February 25, 2035   1.31%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice   $        43,000   $         13,033

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 275bp, due 2/25/35)

  February 25, 2035   2.08%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     30,884     13,028

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (MASTR Asset Backed Securities Trust 2005-NC1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 153bp, due 12/25/34)

  December 25, 2034   1.31%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     13,346

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (MASTR Asset Backed Securities Trust 2005-NC1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 240bp, due 12/25/34)

  December 25, 2034   2.08%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     23,661

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2004-WMC1 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 225bp, due 9/25/35)

  September 25, 2035   2.05%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     9,623

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2004-WMC4 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 375bp, due 4/25/35)

  April 25, 2035   2.15%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     19,993     10,070

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2005-NC1 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 130bp, due 10/25/35)

  October 25, 2035   1.28%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     9,648

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2005-NC1 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 205bp, due 10/25/35)

  October 25, 2035   2.05%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     13,648

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2005-WMC1 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 135bp, due 9/25/35)

  September 25, 2035   1.28%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     12,603

 

33


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Notes to Financial Statements—Continued

 

Agreement With:

 

Termination Date

 

The Fund
Agrees to Pay

 

The Fund
Will Receive

  Contract
Notional Amount
  Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I 2005-WMC1 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 130 bp, due 1/25/35)

  January 25, 2035   1.31%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice   $        13,639   $         12,362

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I 2005-WMC1 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 215bp, due 1/25/35)

  January 25, 2035   2.18%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     15,932     14,951

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (New Century Home Equity Loan Trust 2004-2 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 325bp, due 8/25/34)

  August 25, 2034   2.15%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     20,483     16,283

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (New Century Home Equity Loan Trust 2005-1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 140 bp, due 3/25/35)

  March 25, 2035   1.31%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     16,644

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (New Century Home Equity Loan Trust 2005-1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 205 bp, due 3/25/35)

  March 25, 2035   2.18%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     18,169

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Novastar Home Equity Loan 2005-1 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 135 bp, due 6/25/35)

  June 25, 2035   1.28%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     28,710

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Novastar Home Equity Loan 2005-4 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 195 bp, due 6/25/35)

  June 25, 2035   2.05%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     36,055

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Park Place Securities Inc. 2005-WCH1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 155bp, due 1/25/36)

  January 25, 2036   1.36%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     38,868

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Park Place Securities, Inc. 2005-WCH1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 250 bp, due 1/25/36)

  January 25, 2036   2.18%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     41,462     38,087

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (People’s Choice Home Loan Securities Trust 2004-1 M6, 1-Month LIBOR + 230bp, due 6/25/34)

  June 25, 2034   1.37%
Quarterly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     35,860     33,632

 

34


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

Agreement With:

 

Termination Date

 

The Fund
Agrees to Pay

 

The Fund
Will Receive

  Contract
Notional Amount
  Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (People’s Choice Home Loan Securities Trust 2005-1 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 260bp, due 1/25/35)

  January 25, 2035   2.05%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice   $        21,540   $         20,696  

Credit Suisse First Boston USA (People’s Choice Home Loan Securities Trust 2005-1, 1-Month LIBOR + 165bp, due 1/25/35)

  January 25, 2035   1.28%
Monthly
  Specified amount upon credit event notice     43,000     40,787  

Deutsche Bank AG
(ABX. HE-AAA 06-2)

  May 25, 2046   Specified amount upon credit event notice   0.11%
Monthly
    300,000     (78,274 )

JP Morgan Chase & Co. (ABX.HE-AAA 07-2)

  January 25, 2038   Specified amount upon credit event notice   0.76%
Monthly
    20,000,000     (10,442,301 )

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (ABX.HE-AAA 06-1)

  July 25, 2045   Specified amount upon credit event notice   0.18%
Monthly
    10,000,000     (127,479 )

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
(CDX HY 8)

  June 20, 2012   Specified amount upon credit event notice   0.86%
Quarterly
    30,000,000     (584,986 )

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
(CDX HY 8)

  June 20, 2012   Specified amount upon credit event notice   1.135%
Quarterly
    10,000,000     (103,985 )

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
(CDX HY 8)

  June 20, 2012   Specified amount upon credit event notice   1.4%
Quarterly
    15,000,000     (24,431 )

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
(iBoxx IG)

  June 20, 2010   Specified amount upon credit event notice   0.4%
Quarterly
    15,000,000     (224,728 )
               
    Total Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation)   $ (10,786,423 )
               

 

4. Common Shares:

Of the 11,474,540 shares of common stock outstanding at June 30, 2008, Western Asset owns 11,975 shares.

 

5. Preferred Shares:

There are 2,880 shares of Auction Market Preferred Shares (“Preferred Shares”) authorized. The Preferred Shares have rights as set forth in the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, as amended to date, and its Bylaws, as amended to date (the “Bylaws”), or as otherwise determined by the Trustees. The 2,880 Preferred Shares outstanding consist of two series, 1,440 shares of Series M and 1,440 shares of Series W. The Preferred Shares have a liquidation value of $25,000 per share, plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends whether or not earned or declared.

 

 

35


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

Notes to Financial Statements—Continued

 

Dividends on the Series M and Series W Preferred Shares are cumulative and are paid at a rate typically reset every seven and twenty-eight days, respectively, based on the results of an auction. Dividend rates ranged from 2.91% to 5.60% between January 1, 2008 to June 30, 2008. Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund may not declare dividends or make other distributions on common shares or purchase any such shares if, at the time of the declaration, distribution or purchase, asset coverage with respect to the outstanding Preferred Shares would be less than 200%.

 

The Preferred Shares are redeemable at the option of the Fund, in whole or in part, on the second business day preceding any dividend payment date at $25,000 per share plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends. The Preferred Shares are also subject to mandatory redemption at $25,000 per share plus any accumulated but unpaid dividends, whether or not earned or declared, if certain requirements relating to the composition of the assets and liabilities of the Fund as set forth in the Bylaws are not satisfied.

 

Preferred shareholders, who are entitled to one vote per Preferred Share, generally vote as a single class with the common shareholders, but will vote separately as a class (and, in certain circumstances, vote separately by series) with respect to certain matters set forth in the Bylaws. The preferred shareholders are entitled to elect two Trustees of the Fund.

 

6. Securities Lending:

Subject to applicable restrictions in the Fund’s Bylaws, the Fund may lend its securities to approved brokers to earn additional income, and will receive cash and U.S. government securities as collateral against the loans. Cash collateral received is invested in a money market pooled account by the Fund’s lending agent. Collateral is maintained over the life of the loan in an amount not less than 100% of the value of the loaned securities. As of June 30, 2008, there were no securities on loan.

 

7. Transactions with Affiliates:

The Fund has a management agreement with Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”). Pursuant to the terms of the management agreement, the Fund pays Western Asset an annual fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 0.55% of the average weekly value of the Fund’s total managed assets. “Total managed assets” means the total assets of the Fund (including any assets attributable to leverage) minus accrued liabilities. The liquidation preference of any Preferred Shares outstanding is not considered a liability. Pursuant to a Portfolio Management Agreement between Western Asset and Western Asset Management Company Limited (“WAML”), Western Asset pays a portion of the fees it receives from the Fund to WAML at an annual rate of 0.425% of the average weekly value of the Fund’s total managed assets that WAML manages. Western Asset and WAML are wholly owned subsidiaries of Legg Mason, Inc.

 

On May 1, 2007, Legg Mason Fund Adviser, Inc. replaced Princeton Administrators, LLC (“Princeton”) as administrator for the Fund. Under the terms of the Administration Agreement among the Fund, Western Asset and Legg Mason Fund Adviser, Inc. (“LMFA”), Western Asset pays LMFA, a monthly fee at an annual rate of 0.125% of the Fund’s average weekly total managed assets, subject to a monthly minimum fee of $12,500. The compensation arrangements between the Fund and LMFA are identical to the previous arrangements between the Fund and Princeton.

 

8. Trustee Compensation:

Each Independent Trustee receives an aggregate fee of $70,000 annually for serving on the combined Board of Trustees/Directors of the Fund, Western Asset Income Fund and Western Asset Funds, Inc. Each Trustee also receives a fee of $7,500 and related expenses for each meeting of the Board attended in-person and a fee of $2,500 for participating in each telephonic meeting. The Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Audit Committee each receive an additional $25,000 per year for serving in such capacities. Each member of the Audit Committee receives a fee of $6,000 for serving as a member of the Audit Committee. Other committee members receive $3,000 for serving as a member of each committee upon which they serve. Committee members also receive a fee of $2,500 for participating in each telephonic committee meeting. All such fees are allocated among the Fund, Western Asset Income Fund and Western Asset Funds, Inc. according to each such investment company’s average annual net assets. Trustee Ronald Olson receives from Western Asset an aggregate fee of $70,000 annually for serving on the combined Board of Trustees/Directors of the Fund, Western Asset Income Fund and Western Asset Funds, Inc., as well as a fee of $7,500 and related expenses for each meeting of the Board attended in person and a fee of $2,500 for participating in each telephonic meeting.

 

 

36


Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders

 

9. Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation 48 (“FIN 48”), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement 109. FIN48 supplements FASB Statement 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, and establishes financial reporting rules regarding recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure in its financial statements of tax positions that a fund has taken or expects to take on a tax return. FIN 48 became effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2006. Effective January 1, 2007, the Fund adopted FIN48. There was no material impact to the financial statements or disclosure related thereto as a result of this adoption.

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“FAS 161”). FAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. FAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about a fund’s derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on a fund’s financial position, performance and cash flows. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of FAS 161 will have on the Fund’s financial statements and related disclosures.

 

10. Shareholder Meeting Results:

The Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders was held on May 6, 2008. Of the 11,471,348 common shares outstanding, the following shares were voted at the meeting:

 

Election of Trustees:

    

For

     Withheld

Ronald J. Arnault

     11,127,136      121,430

Anita L. DeFrantz

     11,125,996      122,570

R. Jay Gerken

     11,133,374      115,192

Ronald L. Olsen

     11,130,580      117,986

Avedick B. Poladian

     11,127,449      121,117

 

Of the 2,880 preferred shares outstanding, the following shares were voted at the meeting:

 

Election of Trustees:

    

For

     Withheld

Ronald J. Arnault

     2,505      114

Anita L. DeFrantz

     2,507      112

R. Jay Gerken

     2,505      114

Ronald L. Olson

     2,505      114

Avedick B. Poladian

     2,505      114

William E.B. Siart

     2,505      114

Jaynie Miller Studenmund

     2,507      112

 

37


Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

The Board of Trustees

William E. B. Siart, Chairman

R. Jay Gerken

Ronald J. Arnault

Anita L. DeFrantz

Ronald L. Olson

Avedick B. Poladian

Jaynie Miller Studenmund

 

Officers

R. Jay Gerken, President

D. Daniel Fleet, Vice President

Gavin L. James, Vice President

S. Kenneth Leech, Vice President

Stephen A. Walsh, Vice President

Marie K. Karpinski, Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

Todd F. Kuehl, Chief Compliance Officer

Erin K. Morris, Treasurer

Susan C. Curry, Assistant Treasurer

Richard M. Wachterman, Secretary

Peter J. Ciliberti, Assistant Secretary

 

Investment Advisers

Western Asset Management Company

385 East Colorado Boulevard

Pasadena, California 91101

 

Western Asset Management Company Limited

10 Exchange Place

London, England EC2A2EN

 

Custodian

State Street Bank & Trust Company

P.O. Box 1031

Boston, Massachusetts 02103

 

Counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

100 East Pratt Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

 

Transfer Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43010

Providence, RI 02940-3010

 

 

This report is transmitted to the shareholders of Western Asset Premier Bond Fund for their information. This is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase of shares of the Fund or any securities mentioned in this report.

 

In accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Fund hereby gives notice that it may, from time to time, repurchase its shares in the open market at the option of the Board of Trustees and on such terms as the Board of Trustees shall determine.

 

LMF-WEA/S(08/08)TN08-2800


Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 6. Schedule of Investments

The schedule of investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

 

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable.

 

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Directors that have been implemented since the Registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of this Item 10.

 

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a) The Registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded, based on their evaluation of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods in the SEC’s rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed by the Registrant in the reports that it files or submits on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting during the Registrant’s second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12. Exhibits.

 

  (a) (1) Not applicable for semiannual reports.

 

  (a) (2) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 – filed as an exhibit hereto.

 

  (a) (3) Not applicable.

 

  (b) Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 – filed as an exhibit 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
  Western Asset Premier Bond Fund
Date:   September 5, 2008

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
  Western Asset Premier Bond Fund
Date:   September 5, 2008
By:  

/s/ Marie K. Karpinski

  Marie K. Karpinski
  Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
  Western Asset Premier Bond Fund
Date:   September 5, 2008