WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  
CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES - 111.1%           
COMMUNICATION SERVICES - 12.1%           

Diversified Telecommunication Services - 3.8%

          

Altice Financing SA, Senior Secured Notes

     5.000     1/15/28        420,000      $ 359,219 (a) 

Altice Financing SA, Senior Secured Notes

     5.750     8/15/29        590,000        484,277 (a)  

Altice France Holding SA, Senior Notes

     6.000     2/15/28        620,000        307,483 (a)  

Altice France Holding SA, Senior Secured Notes

     10.500     5/15/27        710,000        443,797 (a)  

Altice France SA, Senior Secured Notes

     5.125     7/15/29        200,000        142,481 (a)  

Lumen Technologies Inc., Senior Notes

     7.600     9/15/39        1,050,000        316,124 (b)  

Orange SA, Senior Notes

     9.000     3/1/31        600,000        709,063  

Telecom Italia SpA, Senior Notes

     5.303     5/30/24        250,000        246,042 (a)  

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

     3.875     2/8/29        1,670,000        1,530,171  

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

     2.355     3/15/32        500,000        381,622  
          

 

 

 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

 

        4,920,279  
          

 

 

 

Entertainment - 0.5%

          

Banijay Entertainment SASU, Senior Secured Notes

     8.125     5/1/29        340,000        337,697 (a)  

Netflix Inc., Senior Notes

     6.375     5/15/29        310,000        320,418  
          

 

 

 

Total Entertainment

 

        658,115  
          

 

 

 

Interactive Media & Services - 0.1%

          

Match Group Holdings II LLC, Senior Notes

     3.625     10/1/31        200,000        158,015 (a)  
          

 

 

 

Media - 4.2%

          

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

     4.250     1/15/34        800,000        589,862 (a)(b) 

Charter Communications Operating LLC/ Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     6.384     10/23/35        420,000        391,587 (b)  

Charter Communications Operating LLC/ Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     6.484     10/23/45        1,130,000        987,503 (b)  

Comcast Corp., Senior Notes

     7.050     3/15/33        1,000,000        1,092,109 (b) 

DirecTV Financing LLC/DirecTV Financing Co-Obligor Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     5.875     8/15/27        760,000        672,942 (a)(b) 

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

     5.875     11/15/24        70,000        65,267  

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

     7.375     7/1/28        620,000        391,694  

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

     5.125     6/1/29        990,000        550,316 (b)  

Time Warner Cable LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     5.875     11/15/40        720,000        597,043  
          

 

 

 

Total Media

 

        5,338,323  
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

1


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  

Wireless Telecommunication Services - 3.5%

         

CSC Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

     11.250     5/15/28        900,000     $ 897,761 (a) 

CSC Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

     5.750     1/15/30        230,000       129,206 (a)  

CSC Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

     4.625     12/1/30        1,130,000       602,209 (a)  

CSC Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

     5.000     11/15/31        310,000       166,535 (a)  

Millicom International Cellular SA, Senior Notes

     4.500     4/27/31        500,000       357,523 (a)  

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

     6.875     11/15/28        420,000       434,016 (b)  

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

     8.750     3/15/32        30,000       34,732 (b)  

T-Mobile USA Inc., Senior Notes

     3.500     4/15/31        1,140,000       965,077 (b)  

Vmed O2 UK Financing I PLC, Senior Secured Notes

     4.500     7/15/31        500,000 GBP      479,665 (a)  

Vmed O2 UK Financing I PLC, Senior Secured Notes

     4.750     7/15/31        540,000       436,897 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

            4,503,621  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMUNICATION SERVICES

            15,578,353  
         

 

 

 
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 17.5%          

Automobile Components - 2.5%

         

Adient Global Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

     4.875     8/15/26        580,000       547,691 (a)  

American Axle & Manufacturing Inc., Senior Notes

     6.500     4/1/27        900,000       855,441 (b)  

American Axle & Manufacturing Inc., Senior Notes

     5.000     10/1/29        350,000       283,548  

JB Poindexter & Co. Inc., Senior Notes

     7.125     4/15/26        1,320,000       1,285,620 (a)(b) 

ZF North America Capital Inc., Senior Notes

     7.125     4/14/30        280,000       274,700 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Total Automobile Components

            3,247,000  
         

 

 

 

Automobiles - 3.7%

         

Ford Motor Co., Senior Notes

     3.250     2/12/32        1,700,000       1,311,794 (b) 

General Motors Co., Senior Notes

     6.125     10/1/25        130,000       129,915 (b)  

General Motors Co., Senior Notes

     4.200     10/1/27        750,000       699,532 (b)  

General Motors Co., Senior Notes

     6.600     4/1/36        140,000       136,166 (b)  

Mercedes-Benz Finance North America LLC, Senior Notes

     8.500     1/18/31        1,000,000       1,185,163  

Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC, Senior Notes

     2.750     3/9/28        1,570,000       1,315,353 (a)(b) 
         

 

 

 

Total Automobiles

            4,777,923  
         

 

 

 

Broadline Retail - 0.5%

         

Marks & Spencer PLC, Senior Notes

     7.125     12/1/37        650,000       613,074 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Distributors - 0.5%

         

Ritchie Bros Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

     7.750     3/15/31        610,000       619,913 (a)  
         

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

2

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  

Diversified Consumer Services - 1.4%

         

APCOA Parking Holdings GmbH, Senior Secured Notes

     4.625     1/15/27        130,000 EUR    $ 125,605 (c)  

APCOA Parking Holdings GmbH, Senior Secured Notes

     4.625     1/15/27        910,000 EUR      879,232 (a)  

Carriage Services Inc., Senior Notes

     4.250     5/15/29        310,000       265,488 (a)  

StoneMor Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     8.500     5/15/29        340,000       280,517 (a)  

WW International Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     4.500     4/15/29        320,000       225,283 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Total Diversified Consumer Services

            1,776,125  
         

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 8.3%

         

888 Acquisitions Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     7.558     7/15/27        600,000 EUR      586,792 (a)  

Carnival PLC, Senior Notes

     1.000     10/28/29        1,210,000 EUR      821,613  

Carrols Restaurant Group Inc., Senior Notes

     5.875     7/1/29        150,000       126,040 (a)  

IRB Holding Corp., Senior Secured Notes

     7.000     6/15/25        430,000       430,593 (a)  

Las Vegas Sands Corp., Senior Notes

     3.900     8/8/29        2,610,000       2,230,724 (b) 

Marston’s Issuer PLC, Secured Notes (SONIA + 2.669%)

     7.819     7/16/35        540,000 GBP      485,588 (c)(d) 

NCL Corp. Ltd., Senior Notes

     3.625     12/15/24        860,000       826,563 (a)(b) 

NCL Corp. Ltd., Senior Notes

     7.750     2/15/29        130,000       120,802 (a)  

NCL Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

     6.125     3/15/28        700,000       618,565 (a)  

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Senior Notes

     5.375     7/15/27        1,150,000       1,065,402 (a)(b) 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Senior Notes

     5.500     4/1/28        720,000       660,842 (a)  

Saga PLC, Senior Notes

     5.500     7/15/26        140,000 GBP      136,296 (c)  

Sands China Ltd., Senior Notes

     3.100     3/8/29        410,000       339,536  

Sands China Ltd., Senior Notes

     4.875     6/18/30        240,000       207,413  

Sands China Ltd., Senior Notes

     3.500     8/8/31        1,340,000       1,061,467  

Wheel Bidco Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     6.750     7/15/26        250,000 GBP      255,244 (a)  

Wynn Macau Ltd., Senior Notes

     5.625     8/26/28        200,000       173,609 (a)  

Wynn Macau Ltd., Senior Notes

     5.125     12/15/29        620,000       512,272 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

            10,659,361  
         

 

 

 

Household Durables - 0.5%

         

Lennar Corp., Senior Notes

     5.000     6/15/27        430,000       418,528  

Lennar Corp., Senior Notes

     4.750     11/29/27        250,000       240,982  
         

 

 

 

Total Household Durables

            659,510  
         

 

 

 

Specialty Retail - 0.1%

         

Michaels Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

     7.875     5/1/29        190,000       124,304 (a)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

            22,477,210  
         

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

3


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  
CONSUMER STAPLES - 3.2%          

Beverages - 1.1%

         

Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC/Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., Senior Notes

     4.700     2/1/36        1,540,000     $ 1,412,403 (b) 
         

 

 

 

Food Products - 1.4%

         

Bellis Acquisition Co. PLC, Senior Secured Notes

     3.250     2/16/26        140,000 GBP      148,886 (c)  

JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Food Co./JBS USA Finance Inc., Senior Notes

     3.750     12/1/31        500,000       400,950  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co., Senior Notes

     5.500     6/1/50        340,000       310,284 (b)  

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Senior Notes

     5.875     9/30/27        920,000       933,961 (a)(b) 
         

 

 

 

Total Food Products

            1,794,081  
         

 

 

 

Tobacco - 0.7%

         

Altria Group Inc., Senior Notes

     2.450     2/4/32        1,000,000       754,879  

Reynolds American Inc., Senior Notes

     5.850     8/15/45        260,000       215,642  
         

 

 

 

Total Tobacco

            970,521  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER STAPLES

            4,177,005  
         

 

 

 
ENERGY - 21.0%          

Energy Equipment & Services - 0.6%

         

Noble Finance II LLC, Senior Notes

     8.000     4/15/30        280,000       283,918 (a)  

Sunnova Energy Corp., Senior Notes

     11.750     10/1/28        500,000       482,062 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Total Energy Equipment & Services

            765,980  
         

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 20.4%

         

Anadarko Finance Co., Senior Notes

     7.500     5/1/31        570,000       572,718  

Burlington Resources LLC, Senior Notes

     7.400     12/1/31        450,000       503,121  

Cheniere Energy Partners LP, Senior Notes

     4.000     3/1/31        500,000       428,000  

Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes

     3.800     6/1/24        560,000       551,122  

Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes

     4.375     1/15/28        210,000       194,879  

Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes

     4.900     6/1/44        250,000       183,939  

Diamondback Energy Inc., Senior Notes

     3.500     12/1/29        400,000       355,238  

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

     4.625     11/2/31        750,000       573,279  

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

     5.875     5/28/45        390,000       257,347  

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

     5.875     11/2/51        2,400,000       1,531,716  

Energy Transfer LP, Junior Subordinated Notes (6.625% to 2/15/28 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 4.155%)

     6.625     2/15/28        490,000       392,350 (d)(e) 

EOG Resources Inc., Senior Notes

     3.150     4/1/25        2,250,000       2,170,136 (b) 

EQM Midstream Partners LP, Senior Notes

     4.500     1/15/29        230,000       204,941 (a)  

EQM Midstream Partners LP, Senior Notes

     7.500     6/1/30        280,000       281,499 (a)  

EQT Corp., Senior Notes

     3.900     10/1/27        1,050,000       972,036 (b)  

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

4

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - (continued)

          

EQT Corp., Senior Notes

     5.000     1/15/29        1,260,000      $ 1,185,597 (b) 

KazMunayGas National Co. JSC, Senior Notes

     3.500     4/14/33        1,120,000        840,140 (a)  

Kinder Morgan Inc., Senior Notes

     7.750     1/15/32        190,000        206,167  

Kinder Morgan Inc., Senior Notes

     5.550     6/1/45        1,500,000        1,290,703 (b) 

NGPL PipeCo LLC, Senior Notes

     7.768     12/15/37        490,000        505,067 (a)  

Occidental Petroleum Corp., Senior Notes

     6.200     3/15/40        250,000        238,580  

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

     5.999     1/27/28        710,000        705,168  

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

     6.750     1/27/41        920,000        861,656  

Petroleos del Peru SA, Senior Notes

     4.750     6/19/32        1,270,000        898,851 (a)  

Petroleos Mexicanos, Senior Notes

     5.500     6/27/44        360,000        199,210  

Range Resources Corp., Senior Notes

     4.875     5/15/25        190,000        184,448  

Range Resources Corp., Senior Notes

     8.250     1/15/29        300,000        307,809  

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, Senior Notes

     7.500     7/15/38        350,000        331,016 (a)  

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     5.000     3/15/27        1,850,000        1,795,619 (b) 

Southern Natural Gas Co. LLC, Senior Notes

     4.800     3/15/47        800,000        614,287 (a)  

Summit Midstream Holdings LLC/Summit Midstream Finance Corp., Secured Notes

     9.000     10/15/26        280,000        269,227 (a)  

Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., Senior Notes

     6.500     7/15/27        250,000        252,177  

Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., Senior Notes

     6.875     1/15/29        20,000        20,037  

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, Senior Notes

     7.850     2/1/26        1,000,000        1,040,038 (b) 

Transportadora de Gas del Peru SA, Senior Notes

     4.250     4/30/28        750,000        709,384 (a)  

Venture Global LNG Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     8.375     6/1/31        250,000        246,011 (a)  

Western Midstream Operating LP, Senior Notes

     4.050     2/1/30        2,200,000        1,925,401 (b) 

Western Midstream Operating LP, Senior Notes

     5.300     3/1/48        100,000        78,176  

Western Midstream Operating LP, Senior Notes

     5.250     2/1/50        1,680,000        1,310,701 (b) 

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

     4.550     6/24/24        60,000        59,365  

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

     7.500     1/15/31        443,000        472,005  

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

5


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - (continued)

          

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

     8.750     3/15/32        39,000      $ 44,379  

YPF SA, Senior Notes

     8.500     7/28/25        630,000        563,623 (a)  
          

 

 

 

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

             26,327,163  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL ENERGY

             27,093,143  
          

 

 

 
FINANCIALS - 27.8%           

Banks - 19.4%

          

Banco Mercantil del Norte SA, Junior Subordinated Notes (6.625% to 1/24/32 then 10 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 5.034%)

     6.625     1/24/32        490,000        384,772 (a)(d)(e) 

Bank of America Corp., Subordinated Notes

     4.250     10/22/26        1,000,000        950,325 (b)  

Barclays PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (8.000% to 6/15/24 then 5 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 5.672%)

     8.000     6/15/24        550,000        542,152 (b)(d)(e) 

Barclays PLC, Subordinated Notes

     5.200     5/12/26        1,000,000        963,750 (b)  

BBVA Bancomer SA, Subordinated Notes (5.125% to 1/17/28 then 5 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.650%)

     5.125     1/18/33        300,000        258,543 (a)(d)  

BNP Paribas SA, Junior Subordinated Notes (7.375% to 8/19/25 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 5.150%)

     7.375     8/19/25        1,010,000        990,289 (a)(d)(e) 

BPCE SA, Subordinated Notes

     5.150     7/21/24        1,000,000        984,343 (a)  

Citigroup Inc., Junior Subordinated Notes (5.950% to 5/15/25 then 3 mo. Term SOFR + 4.167%)

     5.950     5/15/25        900,000        859,852 (b)(d)(e) 

Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes

     4.125     7/25/28        800,000        728,392 (b)  

Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes

     6.625     6/15/32        1,000,000        1,010,293 (b)  

Comerica Bank, Senior Notes

     2.500     7/23/24        410,000        392,595  

Credit Agricole SA, Junior Subordinated Notes (8.125% to 12/23/25 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 6.185%)

     8.125     12/23/25        1,080,000        1,075,405 (a)(d)(e) 

HSBC Holdings PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (6.000% to 5/22/27 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 3.746%)

     6.000     5/22/27        400,000        356,640 (d)(e)  

HSBC Holdings PLC, Senior Notes (3.973% to 5/22/29 then 3 mo. Term SOFR + 1.872%)

     3.973     5/22/30        1,130,000        994,362 (d)  

HSBC Holdings PLC, Subordinated Notes

          

(8.113% to 11/3/32 then SOFR + 4.250%)

     8.113     11/3/33        700,000        736,712 (d)  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Notes

     5.017     6/26/24        1,120,000        1,093,604 (a)  

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Notes

     5.710     1/15/26        1,260,000        1,203,481 (a)  

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

6

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  

Banks - (continued)

          

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Notes (4.198% to 6/1/31 then 1 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.600%)

     4.198     6/1/32        810,000      $ 597,528 (a)(d) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Notes (3 mo. Term SOFR + 3.562%)

     8.934     11/1/23        2,600,000        2,615,319 (b)(d)(e) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Notes (6.100% to 10/1/24 then 3 mo. Term SOFR + 3.592%)

     6.100     10/1/24        400,000        395,540 (b)(d)(e) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Subordinated Notes

     4.950     6/1/45        500,000        428,029 (b)  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (7.500% to 9/27/25 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 4.496%)

     7.500     9/27/25        500,000        468,388 (d)(e)  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

     4.650     3/24/26        1,500,000        1,436,848  

NatWest Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

     6.000     12/19/23        150,000        149,612  

PNC Financial Services Group Inc., Senior Notes

     2.550     1/22/30        750,000        609,055  

PNC Financial Services Group Inc., Senior Notes (5.812% to 6/12/25 then SOFR + 1.322%)

     5.812     6/12/26        750,000        744,224 (d)  

Santander UK Group Holdings PLC, Subordinated Notes

     5.625     9/15/45        1,000,000        730,334 (a)  

UniCredit SpA, Subordinated Notes (7.296% to 4/2/29 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 4.914%)

     7.296     4/2/34        880,000        829,694 (a)(b)(d) 

Wells Fargo & Co., Junior Subordinated Notes

     5.900     6/15/24        2,500,000        2,456,138 (b)(d)(e) 
          

 

 

 

Total Banks

             24,986,219  
          

 

 

 

Capital Markets - 4.6%

          

Charles Schwab Corp., Junior Subordinated Notes (4.000% to 12/1/30 then 10 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.079%)

     4.000     12/1/30        2,000,000        1,413,642 (b)(d)(e) 

Credit Suisse AG AT1 Claim

     —         1/1/50        2,560,000        0 *(f)(g)(h)  

Credit Suisse AG, Senior Notes

     7.500     2/15/28        400,000        418,622  

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes (2.640% to 2/24/27 then SOFR + 1.114%)

     2.640     2/24/28        2,000,000        1,784,116 (d)  

UBS Group AG, Junior Subordinated Notes (6.875% to 8/7/25 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 4.590%)

     6.875     8/7/25        680,000        643,548 (c)(d)(e) 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

7


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  

Capital Markets - (continued)

         

UBS Group AG, Junior Subordinated Notes (7.000% to 1/31/24 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 4.344%)

     7.000     1/31/24        820,000     $ 810,061 (a)(b)(d)(e) 

UBS Group AG, Senior Notes (6.537% to 8/12/32 then SOFR + 3.920%)

     6.537     8/12/33        770,000       761,481 (a)(d) 
         

 

 

 

Total Capital Markets

            5,831,470  
         

 

 

 

Financial Services - 3.3%

         

AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, Senior Notes

     3.400     10/29/33        2,500,000       1,935,081  

Ahold Lease USA Inc. Pass-Through-Trust, Senior Secured Notes

     8.620     1/2/25        45,508       46,333  

Global Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd., Senior Notes (6.500% Cash or 7.250% PIK)

     6.500     9/15/24        2,049,728       1,955,553 (a)(i) 

GTCR W-2 Merger Sub LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     7.500     1/15/31        220,000       220,589 (a)(j) 

GTCR W-2 Merger Sub LLC/GTCR W Dutch Finance Sub BV, Senior Secured Notes

     8.500     1/15/31        100,000 GBP      124,900 (a)(j) 
         

 

 

 

Total Financial Services

            4,282,456  
         

 

 

 

Insurance - 0.5%

         

MetLife Inc., Junior Subordinated Notes

     10.750     8/1/39        500,000       639,577  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

            35,739,722  
         

 

 

 
HEALTH CARE - 7.8%          

Biotechnology - 0.4%

         

AbbVie Inc., Senior Notes

     2.950     11/21/26        500,000       464,205  
         

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services - 5.5%

         

Centene Corp., Senior Notes

     3.375     2/15/30        2,940,000       2,455,509 (b) 

CVS Health Corp., Senior Notes

     3.750     4/1/30        1,000,000       884,320 (b)  

CVS Pass-Through Trust

     5.789     1/10/26        114,394       112,533 (a)  

CVS Pass-Through Trust

     7.507     1/10/32        267,805       274,523 (a)(b) 

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Trust

     5.880     1/10/28        191,718       186,449  

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Secured Trust

     6.943     1/10/30        240,412       240,760 (b)  

CVS Pass-Through Trust, Senior Secured Trust

     6.036     12/10/28        214,096       211,894 (b)  

HCA Inc., Senior Notes

     4.500     2/15/27        1,000,000       955,013 (b)  

HCA Inc., Senior Notes

     3.500     9/1/30        1,000,000       846,392  

Legacy LifePoint Health LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     4.375     2/15/27        360,000       310,039 (a)  

Tenet Healthcare Corp., Secured Notes

     6.250     2/1/27        670,000       648,941  
         

 

 

 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

            7,126,373  
         

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

8

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  

Pharmaceuticals - 1.9%

         

Par Pharmaceutical Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     7.500     4/1/27        330,000     $ 235,614 *(a)(k) 

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV, Senior Notes

     6.000     4/15/24        760,000       756,926 (b)  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV, Senior Notes

     3.150     10/1/26        780,000       695,846  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV, Senior Notes

     5.125     5/9/29        846,000       765,736  
         

 

 

 

Total Pharmaceuticals

            2,454,122  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL HEALTH CARE

            10,044,700  
         

 

 

 
INDUSTRIALS - 13.0%          

Aerospace & Defense - 4.4%

         

Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., Senior Notes

     3.250     2/15/27        750,000       668,589 (a)  

Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., Senior Notes

     2.750     2/21/28        1,000,000       848,291 (a)  

Boeing Co., Senior Notes

     3.200     3/1/29        750,000       659,151 (b)  

Boeing Co., Senior Notes

     3.625     2/1/31        2,550,000       2,204,207 (b) 

Boeing Co., Senior Notes

     6.125     2/15/33        600,000       604,640 (b)  

Boeing Co., Senior Notes

     3.750     2/1/50        500,000       340,244 (b)  

Bombardier Inc., Senior Notes

     7.500     2/1/29        310,000       294,580 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Total Aerospace & Defense

            5,619,702  
         

 

 

 

Building Products - 0.8%

         

Standard Industries Inc., Senior Notes

     4.375     7/15/30        1,278,000       1,059,774 (a) 
         

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies - 0.7%

         

CoreCivic Inc., Senior Notes

     8.250     4/15/26        930,000       944,340 (b)  
         

 

 

 

Machinery - 0.5%

         

Cellnex Finance Co. SA, Senior Notes

     2.000     2/15/33        500,000 EUR      408,777 (c)  

Titan International Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     7.000     4/30/28        210,000       196,472  
         

 

 

 

Total Machinery

            605,249  
         

 

 

 

Passenger Airlines - 4.6%

         

American Airlines Group Inc., Senior Notes

     3.750     3/1/25        570,000       540,582 (a)(b) 

American Airlines Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP

         

Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     5.500     4/20/26        394,167       385,319 (a)(b) 

American Airlines Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP

         

Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     5.750     4/20/29        550,000       511,981 (a)(b) 

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Notes

     2.900     10/28/24        310,000       298,226 (b)  

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Notes

     7.375     1/15/26        260,000       263,422 (b)  

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     7.000     5/1/25        1,490,000       1,506,693 (a)(b)(l) 

Mileage Plus Holdings LLC/Mileage Plus Intellectual Property Assets Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     6.500     6/20/27        690,000       684,340 (a)(b) 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

9


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  

Passenger Airlines - (continued)

          

Spirit Loyalty Cayman Ltd./Spirit IP Cayman Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     8.000     9/20/25        1,169,999      $ 1,170,451 (a)(b) 

Spirit Loyalty Cayman Ltd./Spirit IP Cayman Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

     8.000     9/20/25        220,000        220,100 (a)  

United Airlines Pass-Through Trust

     4.875     1/15/26        433,155        419,656 (b)  
          

 

 

 

Total Passenger Airlines

             6,000,770  
          

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors - 2.0%

          

Ashtead Capital Inc., Senior Notes

     2.450     8/12/31        1,230,000        934,393 (a)  

H&E Equipment Services Inc., Senior Notes

     3.875     12/15/28        750,000        641,261 (a)(b) 

United Rentals North America Inc., Secured Notes

     3.875     11/15/27        1,000,000        906,195 (b)  

United Rentals North America Inc., Senior Notes

     5.500     5/15/27        80,000        77,825  
          

 

 

 

Total Trading Companies & Distributors

             2,559,674  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

             16,789,509  
          

 

 

 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 2.0%           

Communications Equipment - 0.2%

          

CommScope Inc., Senior Notes

     7.125     7/1/28        20,000        12,000 (a)  

CommScope Inc., Senior Secured Notes

     4.750     9/1/29        10,000        7,369 (a)  

CommScope Technologies LLC, Senior Notes

     5.000     3/15/27        150,000        85,372 (a)  

Viasat Inc., Senior Notes

     7.500     5/30/31        250,000        165,437 (a)  
          

 

 

 

Total Communications Equipment

             270,178  
          

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment - 0.4%

          

Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

     3.125     1/15/25        500,000        482,257  
          

 

 

 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals - 1.4%

          

Seagate HDD Cayman, Senior Notes

     4.750     1/1/25        1,220,000        1,191,225 (b) 

Seagate HDD Cayman, Senior Notes

     4.875     6/1/27        260,000        245,837  

Western Digital Corp., Senior Notes

     4.750     2/15/26        430,000        410,127  
          

 

 

 

Total Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

             1,847,189  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

             2,599,624  
          

 

 

 
MATERIALS - 4.7%           

Chemicals - 1.2%

          

Braskem America Finance Co., Senior Notes

     7.125     7/22/41        920,000        803,804 (c)  

Sasol Financing USA LLC, Senior Notes

     8.750     5/3/29        700,000        673,729 (a)  
          

 

 

 

Total Chemicals

             1,477,533  
          

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging - 0.0%††

          

Pactiv LLC, Senior Notes

     7.950     12/15/25        50,000        49,844  
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

10

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  

Metals & Mining - 2.1%

         

ArcelorMittal SA, Senior Notes

     7.000     10/15/39        430,000     $ 431,650  

Arsenal AIC Parent LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     8.000     10/1/30        100,000       99,627 (a)  

First Quantum Minerals Ltd., Senior Notes

     8.625     6/1/31        350,000       348,751 (a)  

Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Senior Notes

     5.400     11/14/34        220,000       201,658  

Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Senior Notes

     5.450     3/15/43        580,000       495,262  

Teck Resources Ltd., Senior Notes

     6.000     8/15/40        210,000       188,178  

Vale Overseas Ltd., Senior Notes

     6.875     11/10/39        940,000       941,768 (b)  
         

 

 

 

Total Metals & Mining

            2,706,894  
         

 

 

 

Paper & Forest Products - 1.4%

         

Suzano Austria GmbH, Senior Notes

     5.750     7/14/26        950,000       939,567 (a)(b)  

Suzano Austria GmbH, Senior Notes

     3.750     1/15/31        1,000,000       822,836  
         

 

 

 

Total Paper & Forest Products

            1,762,403  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL MATERIALS

            5,996,674  
         

 

 

 
REAL ESTATE - 0.6%          

Hotel & Resort REITs - 0.2%

         

Service Properties Trust, Senior Notes

     4.375     2/15/30        290,000       208,401  
         

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development - 0.4%

         

Cushman & Wakefield US Borrower LLC, Senior Secured Notes

     8.875     9/1/31        120,000       116,207 (a)  

Samhallsbyggnadsbolaget i Norden AB, Senior Notes

     2.375     9/4/26        600,000 EUR      451,467 (c)  
         

 

 

 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

            567,674  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL REAL ESTATE

            776,075  
         

 

 

 
UTILITIES - 1.4%          

Electric Utilities - 0.8%

         

FirstEnergy Corp., Senior Notes

     7.375     11/15/31        700,000       764,659 (b)  

Vistra Operations Co. LLC, Senior Notes

     7.750     10/15/31        300,000       295,803 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Total Electric Utilities

            1,060,462  
         

 

 

 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers - 0.6%

 

    

Minejesa Capital BV, Senior Secured Notes

     4.625     8/10/30        810,000       722,723 (a)  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL UTILITIES

            1,783,185  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS & NOTES
(Cost - $144,476,488)

            143,055,200  
         

 

 

 
SOVEREIGN BONDS - 9.1%          

Angola - 0.2%

         

Angolan Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     8.000     11/26/29        400,000       330,209 (a)  
         

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

11


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
    VALUE  

Argentina - 0.6%

         

Argentine Republic Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     1.000     7/9/29        43,394     $ 12,151  

Provincia de Buenos Aires, Senior Notes, Step bond (6.375% to 9/1/24 then 6.625%)

     6.375     9/1/37        468,827       154,312 (a)  

Provincia de Cordoba, Senior Notes

     6.875     12/10/25        166,668       139,484 (a)  

Provincia de Cordoba, Senior Notes

     6.990     6/1/27        560,000       421,608 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Total Argentina

            727,555  
         

 

 

 

Colombia - 1.0%

         

Colombia Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     3.250     4/22/32        1,750,000       1,261,563  
         

 

 

 

Dominican Republic - 0.2%

         

Dominican Republic International Bond, Senior Notes

     4.875     9/23/32        380,000       309,637 (a)  
         

 

 

 

Indonesia - 1.4%

         

Indonesia Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     3.850     7/18/27        300,000       284,246 (a)  

Indonesia Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     3.500     1/11/28        1,670,000       1,550,726 (b)  
         

 

 

 

Total Indonesia

            1,834,972  
         

 

 

 

Mexico - 2.7%

         

Mexican Bonos, Bonds

     7.750     5/29/31        34,280,000 MXN      1,733,621  

Mexico Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     3.750     1/11/28        500,000       463,707  

Mexico Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     2.659     5/24/31        1,560,000       1,234,793  
         

 

 

 

Total Mexico

            3,432,121  
         

 

 

 

Panama - 1.9%

         

Panama Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     4.500     5/15/47        3,400,000       2,394,572  
         

 

 

 

Peru - 1.0%

         

Peruvian Government International Bond, Senior Notes

     2.783     1/23/31        1,540,000       1,264,930  
         

 

 

 

Russia - 0.1%

         

Russian Federal Bond - OFZ

     7.050     1/19/28        30,286,000 RUB      98,861 *(k)  

Russian Federal Bond - OFZ

     6.900     5/23/29        6,010,000 RUB      19,618 *(k)  
         

 

 

 

Total Russia

            118,479  
         

 

 

 

TOTAL SOVEREIGN BONDS
(Cost - $12,469,626)

            11,674,038  
         

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

12

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  
SENIOR LOANS - 7.8%           
COMMUNICATION SERVICES - 0.4%           

Media - 0.4%

          

Charter Communications Operating LLC, Term Loan B2 (3 mo. Term SOFR + 1.750%)

     7.116     2/1/27        481,203      $ 481,234 (d)(m)(n) 
          

 

 

 
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 3.4%           

Diversified Consumer Services - 0.1%

          

WW International Inc., Initial Term Loan (1 mo. Term SOFR + 3.614%)

     8.931     4/13/28        200,000        152,084 (d)(m)(n) 
          

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 3.3%

          

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Refinance Term Loan B2 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 1.850%)

     7.170     6/22/26        3,273,291        3,275,910 (d)(m)(n) 

Scientific Games International Inc., Initial Term Loan B (1 mo. Term SOFR + 3.100%)

     8.434     4/13/29        992,462        993,703 (d)(m)(n) 
          

 

 

 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

             4,269,613  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

             4,421,697  
          

 

 

 
FINANCIALS - 1.7%           

Financial Services - 1.7%

          

Citadel Securities LP, Term Loan B (1 mo. Term SOFR + 2.614%)

     7.931     7/29/30        2,232,953        2,231,390 (d)(m)(n) 
          

 

 

 
INDUSTRIALS - 1.5%           

Passenger Airlines - 1.5%

          

Delta Air Lines Inc., Initial Term Loan (3 mo. Term SOFR + 3.750%)

     9.076     10/20/27        552,500        572,702 (d)(m)(n) 

Mileage Plus Holdings LLC, Initial Term Loan (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 5.400%)

     10.798     6/21/27        1,327,500        1,381,204 (d)(m)(n) 
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

             1,953,906  
          

 

 

 
MATERIALS - 0.8%           

Paper & Forest Products - 0.8%

          

Asplundh Tree Expert LLC, 2021 Refinancing Term Loan (1 mo. Term SOFR + 1.850%)

     7.166     9/7/27        992,328        992,392 (d)(m)(n) 
          

 

 

 

TOTAL SENIOR LOANS
(Cost - $9,915,299)

             10,080,619  
          

 

 

 
U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS - 3.5%

 

       

U.S. Government Obligations - 3.5%

          

U.S. Treasury Notes

     3.250     8/31/24        2,395,000        2,347,484  

U.S. Treasury Notes

     4.125     1/31/25        1,450,000        1,427,741  

U.S. Treasury Notes

     0.750     4/30/26        850,000        765,830  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL U.S. GOVERNMENT & AGENCY OBLIGATIONS
(Cost - $4,589,104)

 

        4,541,055  
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

13


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES - 1.8%           

American Home Mortgage Investment Trust, 2007-A 4A (1 mo. Term SOFR + 1.014%)

     6.338     7/25/46        437,070      $ 115,204 (a)(d) 

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A M1 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 0.914%)

     6.234     3/25/37        305,670        297,144 (a)(d) 

Bayview Financial Asset Trust, 2007-SR1A M4 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 1.614%)

     6.934     3/25/37        31,621        31,636 (a)(d) 

CWABS Asset Backed Notes Trust, 2007- SEA2 1A1 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 1.114%)

     7.434     8/25/47        433        432 (a)(d)  

Financial Asset Securities Corp. Trust, 2005-1A 1A3B (1 mo. Term SOFR + 0.524%)

     5.842     2/27/35        154,314        139,619 (a)(d) 

GSAMP Trust, 2003-SEA2 A1

     5.421     7/25/33        376,748        355,836  

Indymac Manufactured Housing Contract Pass-Through Certificates, 1997-1 A5

     6.970     2/25/28        6,460        6,407  

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital Inc. Trust, 2003- SD1 A1 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 1.114%)

     6.434     3/25/33        4,816        4,690 (d)  

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital Inc. Trust, 2004- HE7 M1 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 1.014%)

     6.334     8/25/34        785,199        753,812 (d) 

Oakwood Mortgage Investors Inc., 2002-B A3

     6.060     6/15/32        1,606        1,601 (d)  

Origen Manufactured Housing Contract Trust, 2006-A A2

     6.850     10/15/37        281,473        247,622 (d) 

Origen Manufactured Housing Contract Trust, 2007-A A2

     7.134     4/15/37        361,295        331,499 (d) 
          

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES
(Cost - $2,171,408)

             2,285,502  
          

 

 

 
CONVERTIBLE BONDS & NOTES - 1.4%           
COMMUNICATION SERVICES - 1.0%           

Media - 1.0%

          

DISH Network Corp., Senior Notes

     2.375     3/15/24        370,000        356,587  

DISH Network Corp., Senior Notes

     0.000     12/15/25        1,020,000        685,950  

DISH Network Corp., Senior Notes

     3.375     8/15/26        415,000        251,490  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMUNICATION SERVICES

             1,294,027  
          

 

 

 
INDUSTRIALS - 0.4%           

Passenger Airlines - 0.4%

          

Spirit Airlines Inc., Senior Notes

     1.000     5/15/26        550,000        460,075  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL CONVERTIBLE BONDS & NOTES
(Cost - $1,891,988)

             1,754,102  
          

 

 

 

COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS(o) - 0.9%

          

Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust, 2004-3 A1 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 0.754%)

     6.074     4/25/34        33,981        32,167 (d)  

CHL Mortgage Pass-Through Trust, 2005-7 1A1 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 0.654%)

     5.974     3/25/35        176,227        159,619 (d)  

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

14

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

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

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), 2004-W15 1A2

     6.500     8/25/44        46,623      $ 46,730  

Impac CMB Trust, 2004-10 2A (1 mo. Term SOFR + 0.754%)

     6.074     3/25/35        45,595        41,176 (d)  

Impac CMB Trust, 2005-2 2A2 (1 mo. Term SOFR + 0.914%)

     6.234     4/25/35        11,784        10,846 (d)  

MAFI II Remic Trust, 1998-BI B1

     5.219     11/20/24        113,115        92,036 (d)  

MERIT Securities Corp., 2011-PA B3 (1 mo. USD LIBOR + 2.250%)

     7.683     9/28/32        441,302        390,940 (a)(d)  

Prime Mortgage Trust, 2005-2 2XB, IO

     1.743     10/25/32        897,579        52,017 (d)  

Prime Mortgage Trust, 2005-5 1X, IO

     1.098     7/25/34        1,198,840        33,836 (d)  

RAMP Trust, 2005-SL2 APO, STRIPS, PO

     0.000     2/25/32        1,864        1,498  

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2003-2 A2 (6 mo. USD LIBOR + 0.680%)

     6.105     6/20/33        4,053        3,838 (d)  

Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 2004-10 A1A (1 mo. Term SOFR + 0.734%)

     6.059     11/20/34        3,507        3,190 (d)  

Structured Asset Securities Corp., 1998-RF2 A

     4.739     7/15/27        60,113        60,017 (a)(d)  

Structured Asset Securities Corp. Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2003-9A 2A2

     6.010     3/25/33        21,536        20,641 (d)  

UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2018-C15 C

     5.323     12/15/51        285,000        227,667 (d)  

WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Trust, 2004-AR6 A (1 mo. Term SOFR + 0.954%)

     6.274     5/25/44        5,154        5,142 (d)  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS
(Cost - $1,063,174)

 

        1,181,360  
          

 

 

 
           EXPIRATION
DATE
     WARRANTS         
WARRANTS - 0.0%††           
FINANCIALS - 0.0%††           

Capital Markets - 0.0%††

          

EG Acquisition Corp., Class A Shares (Cost - $9,613)

       5/28/28        10,040        1,715
          

 

 

 
                  SHARES         
PREFERRED STOCKS - 0.0%††           
FINANCIALS - 0.0%††           

Financial Services - 0.0%††

          

Corporate Backed Trust Certificates (Cost - $0)

     7.375        33,900        10 *(f)(g)(k)  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost - $176,586,700)

             174,573,601  
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

15


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT†
     VALUE  
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 1.3%           
U.S. TREASURY BILLS - 0.8%           

U.S. Treasury Bills
(Cost - $999,708)

     1.792     10/3/23        1,000,000      $ 999,854 (p)  
          

 

 

 
                  SHARES         
MONEY MARKET FUNDS - 0.5%           

Western Asset Premier Institutional Government Reserves, Premium Shares
(Cost - $706,871)

     5.259        706,871        706,871 (q)(r)  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost - $1,706,579)

             1,706,725  
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 136.9%
(Cost - $178,293,279)

             176,280,326  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (36.9)%

             (47,500,671
          

 

 

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.0%

           $ 128,779,655  
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

16

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

 

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

 

††

Represents less than 0.1%.

 

*

Non-income producing security.

 

(a)

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

 

(b)

All or a portion of this security is pledged as collateral pursuant to the loan agreement.

 

(c)

Security is exempt from registration under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. Regulation S applies to securities offerings that are made outside of the United States and do not involve direct selling efforts in the United States. This security has been deemed liquid pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees.

 

(d)

Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is as of the most recent information available. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description above.

 

(e)

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

 

(f)

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

 

(g)

Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs (Note 1).

 

(h)

Value is less than $1.

 

(i)

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

 

(j)

Securities traded on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.

 

(k)

The coupon payment on this security is currently in default as of September 30, 2023.

 

(l)

All or a portion of this security is held by the counterparty as collateral for open reverse repurchase agreements.

 

(m)

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

 

(n)

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

 

(o)

Collateralized mortgage obligations are secured by an underlying pool of mortgages or mortgage pass-through certificates that are structured to direct payments on underlying collateral to different series or classes of the obligations. The interest rate may change positively or inversely in relation to one or more interest rates, financial indices or other financial indicators and may be subject to an upper and/or lower limit.

 

(p)

Rate shown represents yield-to-maturity.

 

(q)

Rate shown is one-day yield as of the end of the reporting period.

 

(r)

In this instance, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, an “Affiliated Company” represents Fund ownership of at least 5% of the outstanding voting securities of an issuer, or a company which is under common ownership or control with the Fund. At September 30, 2023, the total market value of investments in Affiliated Companies was $706,871 and the cost was $706,871 (Note 2).

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report    

 

 

 

17


WESTERN ASSET PREMIER BOND FUND

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    September 30, 2023

 

Abbreviation(s) used in this schedule:

 

EUR    — Euro
GBP    — British Pound
ICE    — Intercontinental Exchange
IO    — Interest Only
JSC    — Joint Stock Company
LIBOR    — London Interbank Offered Rate
MXN    — Mexican Peso
OFZ    — Obligatsyi Federal’novo Zaima (Russian Federal Loan Obligation)
PIK    Payment-In-Kind
PO    — Principal Only
RUB    — Russian Ruble
SOFR    — Secured Overnight Financing Rate
SONIA    — Sterling Overnight Index Average
STRIPS    — Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal Securities
USD    — United States Dollar

At September 30, 2023, the Fund had the following open reverse repurchase agreements:

 

Counterparty

   Rate     Effective
Date
   Maturity
Date
   Face Amount
of Reverse
Repurchase
Agreements
     Asset Class of
Collateral*
   Collateral
Value**
 

Goldman Sachs & Co.

     5.720   9/28/2023    10/31/2023    $ 1,467,423      Corporate Bonds &
Notes
   $ 1,550,151  

 

*

Refer to the Schedule of Investments for positions held at the counterparty as collateral for reverse repurchase agreements.

 

**

Including accrued interest.

At September 30, 2023, the Fund had the following open forward foreign currency contracts:

 

Currency
Purchased
     Currency
Sold
    

Counterparty

   Settlement
Date
     Unrealized
Appreciation
 
USD      3,213,089        EUR        2,910,037      Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc.      10/20/23      $ 133,724  
USD      1,180,149        GBP        918,767      Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc.      10/20/23        59,013  
                 

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation on open forward foreign currency contracts

      $ 192,737  
                 

 

 

 

Abbreviation(s) used in this table:

 

EUR    — Euro
GBP    — British Pound
USD    — United States Dollar

This Schedule of Investments is unaudited and is intended to provide information about the Fund’s investments as of the date of the schedule. Other information regarding the Fund is available in the Fund’s most recent annual or semi-annual shareholder report.

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

 

18

 

    Western Asset Premier Bond Fund 2023 Quarterly Report

 


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund commenced investment operations on March 28, 2002. The Fund’s investment objective is to provide current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of investment grade bonds.

The Fund follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies (“ASC 946”). The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), including, but not limited to, ASC 946.

(a) Investment valuation. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services typically use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Investments in open-end funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of each fund on the day of valuation. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will normally use the currency exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). If independent third party pricing services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices supplied are deemed by the adviser to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the adviser using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing service or pricing broker. When reliable prices are not readily available, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund values these securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.

Pursuant to policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Fund’s adviser has been designated as the valuation designee and is responsible for the oversight of the daily valuation process. The Fund’s adviser is assisted by the Global Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Fund’s adviser and the Board of Trustees. When determining the reliability of third party

 

   

 

 

19


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

pricing information for investments owned by the Fund, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of pricing vendors, monitors the daily change in prices and reviews transactions among market participants.

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

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

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

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

 

   

Level 1– unadjusted 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)

 

 

 

20

   


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

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

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

 

ASSETS

 

DESCRIPTION

   QUOTED PRICES
(LEVEL 1)
     OTHER SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS

(LEVEL 2)
     SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS

(LEVEL 3)
    TOTAL  

Long-Term Investments†:

          

Corporate Bonds & Notes

     —        $ 143,055,200      $ 0   $ 143,055,200  

Sovereign Bonds

     —          11,674,038        —         11,674,038  

Senior Loans

     —          10,080,619        —         10,080,619  

U.S. Government & Agency

          

Obligations

     —          4,541,055        —         4,541,055  

Asset-Backed Securities

     —          2,285,502        —         2,285,502  

Convertible Bonds & Notes

     —          1,754,102        —         1,754,102  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

     —          1,181,360        —         1,181,360  

Warrants

   $ 1,715        —          —         1,715  

Preferred Stocks

     —          —          10       10  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Investments

     1,715        174,571,876        10       174,573,601  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Short-Term Investments†:

          

U.S. Treasury Bills

     —          999,854        —         999,854  

Money Market Funds

     706,871        —          —         706,871  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Short-Term Investments

     706,871        999,854        —         1,706,725  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $ 708,586      $ 175,571,730      $ 10     $ 176,280,326  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Financial Instruments:

          

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts††

     —        $ 192,737        —       $ 192,737  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 708,586      $ 175,764,467      $ 10     $ 176,473,063  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

*

Amount represents less than $1.

 

††

Reflects the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the instruments.

2. Transactions with affiliated company    

As defined by the 1940 Act, an affiliated company is one in which the Fund owns 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, or a company which is under common ownership or control with the Fund. The following company was considered an affiliated company for

 

   

 

 

21


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

all or some portion of the period ended September 30, 2023. The following transactions were effected in such company for the period ended September 30, 2023.

 

     Affiliate
Value at

December 31,
2022
     Purchased      Sold  
   Cost      Shares      Proceeds      Shares  
Western Asset Premier Institutional Government Reserves, Premium Shares    $ 2,364,791      $ 23,980,826        23,980,826      $ 25,638,746        25,638,746  

 

(cont’d)

   Realized
Gain (Loss)
     Dividend
Income
     Net Increase
(Decrease) in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
     Affiliate
Value at
September 30,
2023
 
Western Asset Premier Institutional Government Reserves, Premium Shares      —        $ 53,109        —        $ 706,871  

 

 

 

22

   

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