N-CSR 1 d772834dncsr.htm U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS PORTFOLIO U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio

 

 

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 811-10407

 

 

Master Portfolio Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10018

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Robert I. Frenkel, Esq.

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-877-721-1926

Date of fiscal year end: August 31

Date of reporting period: August 31, 2019

 

 

 


ITEM 1.

REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

The Annual Report to Stockholders is filed herewith.


Schedule of investments

August 31, 2019

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio

 

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount
    Value  
Short-Term Investments — 100.0%                                
U.S. Treasury Bills — 34.0%                                

U.S. Treasury Bills

    2.004     9/5/19       $25,000,000     $ 24,993,205  (a) 

U.S. Treasury Bills

    2.035     9/12/19       50,000,000       49,966,893  (a) 

U.S. Treasury Bills

    2.063     9/24/19       50,000,000       49,932,917  (a) 

U.S. Treasury Bills

    2.388     10/10/19       25,000,000       24,935,420  (a) 

U.S. Treasury Bills

    2.005     10/15/19       50,000,000       49,877,778  (a) 

U.S. Treasury Bills

    2.151     11/21/19       50,000,000       49,761,528  (a) 

Total U.S. Treasury Bills

                            249,467,741  
U.S. Treasury Notes — 13.0%                                

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.033%)

    1.993     4/30/20       25,000,000       24,980,226  (b) 

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.043%)

    2.003     7/31/20       15,000,000       14,999,646  (b) 

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.045%)

    2.005     10/31/20       20,000,000       20,000,464  (b) 

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.115%)

    2.075     1/31/21       15,000,000       14,999,880  (b) 

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.139%)

    2.099     4/30/21       20,000,000       20,001,261  (b) 

Total U.S. Treasury Notes

                            94,981,477  
Repurchase Agreements — 53.0%                                

Bank of Montreal tri-party repurchase agreement dated 8/30/19; Proceeds at maturity — $9,102,022; (Fully collateralized by a U.S. Treasury Note, 1.750% due 2/28/22;
Market value — $9,282,066)

    2.000     9/3/19       9,100,000       9,100,000  

Barclays Capital Inc. tri-party repurchase agreement dated 8/30/19; Proceeds at maturity — $75,017,750; (Fully collateralized by a U.S. Treasury Bond, 3.000% due 11/15/45; Market value — $76,500,085)

    2.130     9/3/19       75,000,000       75,000,000  

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce tri-party repurchase agreement dated 8/30/19; Proceeds at maturity — $50,011,889; (Fully collateralized by various U.S. government obligations, 0.875% to 3.625% due 4/15/21 to 5/15/45;
Market value — $51,012,221)

    2.140     9/3/19       50,000,000       50,000,000  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

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   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report


 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio

 

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount
    Value  
Repurchase Agreements — continued                                

Fixed Income Clearing Corp. tri-party repurchase agreement dated 8/30/19; Proceeds at maturity — $75,017,917; (Fully collateralized by a U.S. Treasury Bill, 0.000% due 2/20/20; Market value — $76,502,623)

    2.150     9/3/19       $75,000,000       $  75,000,000  

ING Financial Markets LLC tri-party repurchase agreement dated 8/8/19; Proceeds at maturity — $30,018,083; (Fully collateralized by various U.S. government obligations, 0.000% to 4.500% due 12/26/19 to 8/15/47; Market value — $30,600,000)

    2.170     9/9/19       30,000,000       30,000,000  

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp. tri-party repurchase agreement dated 8/30/19; Proceeds at maturity — $50,011,722; (Fully collateralized by various U.S. government obligations, 0.875% to 4.625% due 6/30/20 to 11/15/46; Market value — $51,000,019)

    2.110     9/3/19       50,000,000       50,000,000  

Royal Bank of Canada tri-party repurchase agreement dated 8/30/19; Proceeds at maturity — $50,011,722; (Fully collateralized by a U.S. Treasury Note, 2.750% due 4/30/23; Market value — $51,000,079)

    2.110     9/3/19       50,000,000       50,000,000  

Toronto Dominion Bank NY tri-party repurchase agreement dated 8/30/19; Proceeds at maturity — $50,011,833; (Fully collateralized by a U.S. Treasury Note, 2.875% due 11/30/23; Market value — $51,000,096)

    2.130     9/3/19       50,000,000       50,000,000  

Total Repurchase Agreements

                            389,100,000  

Total Investments — 100.0% (Cost — $733,549,218#)

                            733,549,218  

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.0%

                            217,071  

Total Net Assets — 100.0%

                            $733,766,289  

 

(a)  

Rate shown represents yield-to-maturity.

 

(b) 

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.

 

#

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

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report  

 

15


Statement of assets and liabilities

August 31, 2019

 

Assets:         

Investments, at value

   $ 344,449,218  

Repurchase agreements, at value

     389,100,000  

Cash

     8,415  

Interest receivable

     259,263  

Total Assets

     733,816,896  
Liabilities:         

Trustees’ fees payable

     1,666  

Accrued expenses

     48,941  

Total Liabilities

     50,607  
Total Net Assets    $ 733,766,289  
Represented by:         
Paid-in capital    $ 733,766,289  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

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   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report


Statement of operations

For the Year Ended August 31, 2019

 

Investment Income:         

Interest

   $ 15,205,327  
Expenses:         

Fund accounting fees

     52,044  

Audit and tax fees

     42,015  

Custody fees

     40,496  

Legal fees

     36,741  

Trustees’ fees

     16,814  

Interest expense

     5,522  

Miscellaneous expenses

     23,009  

Total Expenses

     216,641  
Net Investment Income      14,988,686  
Net Realized Loss on Investments      (460)  
Increase in Net Assets From Operations    $ 14,988,226  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report  

 

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Statements of changes in net assets

 

For the Years Ended August 31,    2019      2018  
Operations:                  

Net investment income

   $ 14,988,686      $ 9,514,800  

Net realized gain (loss)

     (460)        388  

Increase in Net Assets From Operations

     14,988,226        9,515,188  
Capital Transactions:                  

Proceeds from contributions

     1,430,969,537        1,153,777,615  

Value of withdrawals

     (1,294,858,074)        (1,285,455,239)  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Capital Transactions

     136,111,463        (131,677,624)  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     151,099,689        (122,162,436)  
Net Assets:                  

Beginning of year

     582,666,600        704,829,036  

End of year

   $ 733,766,289      $ 582,666,600  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

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   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report


Financial highlights

 

For the years ended August 31:  
      2019      2018      2017      2016      2015  
Net assets, end of year (millions)      $734        $583        $705        $694        $710  

Total return1

     2.31      1.45      0.59      0.26      0.05
Ratios to average net assets:               

Gross expenses

     0.03      0.04      0.04      0.03      0.03

Net expenses2

     0.03        0.04        0.04        0.03        0.03 3 

Net investment income

     2.29        1.40        0.59        0.27        0.05  

 

1  

Performance figures may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

2 

The investment manager has voluntarily undertaken to limit Portfolio expenses. Such expense limitations may fluctuate daily and are voluntary and temporary and may be terminated by the investment manager at any time without notice.

 

3 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report  

 

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Notes to financial statements

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) is a separate diversified investment series of Master Portfolio Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust, a Maryland statutory trust, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. The Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue beneficial interests in the Portfolio. At August 31, 2019, all investors in the Portfolio were funds advised or administered by the manager of the Portfolio and/or its affiliates.

The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.

(a) Investment valuation. In accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, money market instruments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. This method involves valuing portfolio securities at their cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium. The Portfolio’s use of amortized cost is subject to its compliance with certain conditions as specified by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the valuation process and has delegated the supervision of the daily valuation process to the Legg Mason North Atlantic Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee, pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Portfolio’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Board of Trustees.

The Portfolio 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.

 

 

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   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report


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

 

 

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

 

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

 

 

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

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

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

 

ASSETS  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  
Short-Term Investments†         $ 733,549,218           $ 733,549,218  

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

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

(c) Interest income and expenses. Interest income (including interest income from payment-in-kind securities) consists of interest accrued and discount earned (including both

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report  

 

21


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

original issue and market discount adjusted for amortization of premium) on the investments of the Portfolio. Expenses of the Portfolio are accrued daily. The Portfolio bears all costs of its operations other than expenses specifically assumed by the manager.

(d) Method of allocation. Net investment income of the Portfolio is allocated pro rata, based on respective ownership interests, among the Fund and other investors in the Portfolio (the “Holders”) at the time of such determination. Gross realized gains and/or losses of the Portfolio are allocated to the Holders in a manner such that, the net asset values per share of each Holder, after each such allocation is closer to the total of all Holders’ net asset values divided by the aggregate number of shares outstanding for all Holders.

(e) Compensating balance arrangements. The Portfolio has an arrangement with its custodian bank whereby a portion of the custodian’s fees is paid indirectly by credits earned on the Portfolio’s cash on deposit with the bank.

(f) Income taxes. The Portfolio is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As such, each investor in the Portfolio is treated as owner of its proportionate share of the net assets, income, expenses and realized gains and losses of the Portfolio. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. It is intended that the Portfolio’s assets will be managed so an investor in the Portfolio can satisfy the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.

Management has analyzed the Portfolio’s tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of August 31, 2019, no provision for income tax is required in the Portfolio’s financial statements. The Portfolio’s federal and state income 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.

(g) Other. Purchases, maturities and sales of money market instruments are accounted for on the date of the transaction. Realized gains and losses are calculated on the identified cost basis.

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) is the Portfolio’s investment manager and Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”) is the Portfolio’s subadviser. LMPFA and Western Asset are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Legg Mason, Inc. (“Legg Mason”).

Under the investment management agreement, the Portfolio does not pay an investment management fee.

Expense amounts may be voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed from time to time.

LMPFA is permitted to recapture amounts waived and/or reimbursed to the Portfolio during the same fiscal year under certain circumstances.

 

 

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   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report


All officers and one Trustee of the Trust are employees of Legg Mason or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Trust.

3. Derivative instruments and hedging activities

During the year ended August 31, 2019, the Portfolio did not invest in derivative instruments.

4. Recent accounting pronouncement

The Portfolio has adopted the disclosure provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) Disclosure Framework Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”) which introduces new fair value disclosure requirements as well as eliminates and modifies certain existing fair value disclosure requirements. ASU 2018-13 would be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years; however, management has elected to early adopt ASU 2018-13. The impact of the Portfolio’s adoption was limited to changes in the Portfolio’s financial statement disclosures regarding fair value, primarily those disclosures related to transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report  

 

23


Report of independent registered public accounting firm

 

To the Board of Trustees of Master Portfolio Trust and Investors of U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio (one of the funds constituting Master Portfolio Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2019, the related statement of operations for the year ended August 31, 2019 and the statement of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2019, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of August 31, 2019, the results of its operations for the year then ended, and the changes in its net assets and financial highlights for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The financial statements of the Fund as of and for the year ended August 31, 2017 and the financial highlights for each of the periods ended on or prior to August 31, 2017 (not presented herein, other than the financial highlights) were audited by other auditors whose report dated October 19, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial highlights.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2019 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Baltimore, Maryland

October 17, 2019

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in Legg Mason investment company group since at least 1973. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor.

 

 

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   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio 2019 Annual Report


Additional information (unaudited)

Information about Trustees and Officers

 

The business and affairs of U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) are conducted by management under the supervision and subject to the direction of its Board of Trustees. The business address of each Trustee is c/o Jane Trust, Legg Mason, 100 International Drive, 11th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Information pertaining to the Trustees and officers of the Portfolio is set forth below.

The Portfolio’s registration statement includes additional information about Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1-877-721-1926 or 1-203-703-6002.

 

Independent Trustees
Elliott J. Berv
Year of birth   1943
Position(s) with Trust   Trustee
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 1989
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   President and Chief Executive Officer, Catalyst (consulting) (since 1984); formerly, Chief Executive Officer, Rocket City Enterprises (media) (2000 to 2005)
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   43
Other board memberships held by Trustee during the past five years   None
Jane F. Dasher
Year of birth   1949
Position(s) with Trust   Trustee
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 1999
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Chief Financial Officer, Long Light Capital, LLC, formerly known as Korsant Partners, LLC (a family investment company) (since 1997)
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   43
Other board memberships held by Trustee during the past five years   Director, Visual Kinematics, Inc. (since 2018)
Mark T. Finn
Year of birth   1943
Position(s) with Trust   Trustee
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 1989
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Adjunct Professor, College of William & Mary (since 2002); Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Owner, Vantage Consulting Group, Inc. (investment management) (since 1988); formerly, Principal/Member, Balvan Partners (investment management) (2002 to 2009)
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   43
Other board memberships held by Trustee during the past five years   None

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio  

 

25


Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Trustees and Officers

 

Independent Trustees (cont’d)
Stephen R. Gross*
Year of birth   1947
Position(s) with Trust   Trustee
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 1986
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Chairman Emeritus (since 2011) and formerly, Chairman, HLB Gross Collins, P.C. (accounting and consulting firm) (1979 to 2011); Executive Director of Business Builders Team, LLC (since 2005); Principal, Gross Consulting Group, LLC (since 2011); CEO, Gross Capital Partners, LLC (since 2014); CEO, Trusted CFO Solutions, LLC (since 2011)
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   88
Other board memberships held by Trustee during the past five years   None
Susan M. Heilbron*
Year of birth   1945
Position(s) with Trust   Trustee and Chair
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 1994 (Chair of the Board since 2018)
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Retired; formerly, President, Lacey & Heilbron (communications consulting) (1990 to 2002); General Counsel and Executive Vice President, The Trump Organization (1986 to 1990); Senior Vice President, New York State Urban Development Corporation (1984 to 1986); Associate, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (1980 to 1984) and (1977 to 1979)
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   88
Other board memberships held by Trustee during the past five years   Formerly, Director, Lincoln Savings Bank, FSB (1991 to 1994); Director, Trump Shuttle, Inc. (air transportation) (1989 to 1990); Director, Alexander’s Inc. (department store) (1987 to 1990)
Susan B. Kerley
Year of birth   1951
Position(s) with Trust   Trustee
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 1992
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Investment Consulting Partner, Strategic Management Advisors, LLC (investment consulting) (since 1990)
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   43
Other board memberships held by Trustee during the past five years   Director and Trustee (since 1990) and Chairman (since 2017 and 2005 to 2012) of various series of MainStay Family of Funds (66 funds); formerly, Investment Company Institute (ICI) Board of Governors (2006 to 2014); ICI Executive Committee (2011 to 2014); Chairman of the Independent Directors Council (2012 to 2014)

 

 

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   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio


 

Independent Trustees (cont’d)
R. Richardson Pettit
Year of birth   1942
Position(s) with Trust   Trustee
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 1990
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Retired; formerly, Duncan Professor of Finance Emeritus, University of Houston (1977 to 2006); previous academic or management positions include: University of Washington, University of Pennsylvania and Purdue University
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   43
Other board memberships held by Trustee during the past five years   None
 
Interested Trustee and Officer
Jane Trust, CFA3
Year of birth   1962
Position(s) with Trust   Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 2015
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Senior Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co., LLC (“Legg Mason & Co.”) (since 2018); Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co. (2016 to 2018); Officer and/or Trustee/Director of 141 funds associated with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) or its affiliates (since 2015); President and Chief Executive Officer of LMPFA (since 2015); formerly, Senior Vice President of LMPFA (2015); Director of ClearBridge, LLC (formerly, Legg Mason Capital Management, LLC) (2007 to 2014); Managing Director of Legg Mason Investment Counsel & Trust Co. (2000 to 2007)
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   132
Other board memberships held by Trustee during the past five years   None
 
Additional Officers

Ted P. Becker

Legg Mason

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10018

Year of birth   1951
Position(s) with Trust   Chief Compliance Officer
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 2007
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Director of Global Compliance at Legg Mason (since 2006); Chief Compliance Officer of LMPFA (since 2006); Managing Director of Compliance of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2005); Chief Compliance Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2006)

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio  

 

27


Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Trustees and Officers

 

Additional Officers (cont’d)

Susan Kerr

Legg Mason

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10018

Year of birth   1949
Position(s) with Trust   Chief Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 2013
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Assistant Vice President of Legg Mason & Co. and Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC (“LMIS”) (since 2010); Chief Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2013) and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of LMIS (since 2012); Senior Compliance Officer of LMIS (since 2011); formerly, AML Consultant, DTCC (2010); AML Consultant, Rabobank Netherlands, (2009); First Vice President, Director of Marketing & Advertising Compliance and Manager of Communications Review Group at Citigroup Inc. (1996 to 2008)

Jenna Bailey

Legg Mason

100 First Stamford Place, 5th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902

Year of birth   1978
Position(s) with Trust   Identity Theft Prevention Officer
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 2015
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Identity Theft Prevention Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2015); Compliance Officer of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2013); Assistant Vice President of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2011); formerly, Associate Compliance Officer of Legg Mason & Co. (2011 to 2013)

Robert I. Frenkel

Legg Mason

100 First Stamford Place, 6th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902

Year of birth   1954
Position(s) with Trust   Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 2007
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Legg Mason, Inc. (since 2006); Managing Director and General Counsel — U.S. Mutual Funds for Legg Mason & Co. (since 2006) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (since 1994); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2006) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2006)

 

 

28

   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio


 

Additional Officers (cont’d)    

Thomas C. Mandia

Legg Mason

100 First Stamford Place, 6th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902

 
Year of birth   1962
Position(s) with Trust   Assistant Secretary
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 2007
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2005) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2005); Secretary of LMPFA (since 2006); Assistant Secretary of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2006) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2006); Secretary of LM Asset Services, LLC (“LMAS”) (since 2002) and Legg Mason Fund Asset Management, Inc. (“LMFAM”) (since 2013) (formerly registered investment advisers)

Christopher Berarducci**

Legg Mason

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10018

 
Year of birth   1974
Position(s) with Trust   Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 2019
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Treasurer (since 2010) and Principal Financial Officer (since 2019) of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates; Director of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2015); formerly, Vice President of Legg Mason & Co. (2011 to 2015); Assistant Controller of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (prior to 2010)

Jeanne M. Kelly

Legg Mason

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10018

 
Year of birth   1951
Position(s) with Trust   Senior Vice President
Term of office1 and length of time served2   Since 2007
Principal occupation(s) during the past five years   Senior Vice President of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2007); Senior Vice President of LMPFA (since 2006); President and Chief Executive Officer of LMAS and LMFAM (since 2015); Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2005) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2005); formerly, Senior Vice President of LMFAM (2013 to 2015)

 

Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Portfolio within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

*

Effective February 6, 2019, Mr. Gross and Ms. Heilbron serve as Trustees on this Board and an additional Board within the Legg Mason fund complex, which is reflected in the “Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee”.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio  

 

29


Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Trustees and Officers

 

 

**

Effective September 23, 2019, Mr. Berarducci became Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer.

 

1 

Each Trustee and officer serves until his or her respective successor has been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal.

 

2 

Indicates the earliest year in which the Trustee became a board member for a fund in the Legg Mason fund complex or the officer took such office.

 

3 

Ms. Trust is an “interested person” of the Portfolio, as defined in the 1940 Act, because of her position with LMPFA and/or certain of its affiliates.

 

 

30

   U.S. Treasury Obligations Portfolio


ITEM 2. 

   CODE OF ETHICS.
   The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller.

ITEM 3. 

   AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
   The Board of Trustees of the registrant has determined that Stephen R. Gross and Jane F. Dasher, possess the technical attributes identified in Instruction 2(b) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR to qualify as “audit committee financial experts,” and have designated Mr. Gross and Ms. Dasher as the Audit Committee’s financial experts. Mr. Gross and Ms. Dasher are “independent” Trustees pursuant to paragraph (a) (2) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR.

ITEM 4. 

   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
   a) Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the last two fiscal years ending August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2019 (the “Reporting Periods”) for professional services rendered by the Registrant’s principal accountant (the “Auditor”) for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements, or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $180,150 in August 31, 2018 and $160,335 in August 31, 2019.
   b) Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Period for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the Registrant’s financial statements were $13,865 in August 31, 2018 and $15,000 in August 31, 2019.
   In addition, there were no Audit-Related Fees billed in the Reporting Period for assurance and related services by the Auditor to the Registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Master Portfolio Trust (“service affiliates”), that were reasonably related to the performance of the annual audit of the service affiliates. Accordingly, there were no such fees that required pre-approval by the Audit Committee for the Reporting Period.
   (c) Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“Tax Services”) were $20,500 in August 31, 2018 and $0 in August 31, 2019. These services consisted of (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments, and (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held.
   There were no fees billed for tax services by the Auditors to service affiliates during the Reporting Periods that required pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
   d) All Other Fees. There was no other fee billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) for the Item for the Master Portfolio Trust.
   All Other Fees. There were no other non-audit services rendered by the Auditor to Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisors, LLC (“LMPFA”), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with LMPFA that provided ongoing services to Master Portfolio Trust requiring pre-approval by the Audit Committee in the Reporting Period.
   (e) Audit Committee’s pre–approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c) (7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.


  (1) The Charter for the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of each registered investment company (the “Fund”) advised by LMPFA or one of their affiliates (each, an “Adviser”) requires that the Committee shall approve (a) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Fund and (b) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the Fund’s independent auditors to the Adviser and any Covered Service Providers if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Committee may implement policies and procedures by which such services are approved other than by the full Committee.
                   The Committee shall not approve non-audit services that the Committee believes may impair the independence of the auditors. As of the date of the approval of this Audit Committee Charter, permissible non-audit services include any professional services (including tax services), that are not prohibited services as described below, provided to the Fund by the independent auditors, other than those provided to the Fund in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of the Fund. Permissible non-audit services may not include: (i) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund; (ii) financial information systems design and implementation; (iii) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports; (iv) actuarial services; (v) internal audit outsourcing services; (vi) management functions or human resources; (vii) broker or dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services; (viii) legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit; and (ix) any other service the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible.
  Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Adviser and any service providers controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“Covered Service Providers”) constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid to the independent auditors during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided to (a) the Fund, (b) the Adviser and (c) any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund during the fiscal year in which the services are provided that would have to be approved by the Committee; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to the completion of the audit.
  (2) For the Master Portfolio Trust, the percentage of fees that were approved by the audit committee, with respect to: Audit-Related Fees were 100% and 100% for August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2019; Tax Fees were 100% and 100% for August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2019; and Other Fees were 100% and 100% for August 31, 2018 and August 31, 2019.
  (f) N/A
  (g) Non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to Master Portfolio Trust, LMPFA and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with LMPFA that provides ongoing services to Master Portfolio Trust during the reporting period were $432,645 in August 31, 2018 and $463,263 in August 31, 2019.
  (h) Yes. Master Portfolio Trust’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Accountant’s independence. All services provided by the Auditor to the Master Portfolio Trust or to Service Affiliates, which were required to be pre-approved, were pre-approved as required.


ITEM 5.    AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
  

a)  The independent board members are acting as the registrant’s audit committee as specified in Section 3(a)(58)(B) of the Exchange Act .The Audit Committee consists of the following Board members:

  

Elliott J. Berv

  

Jane F. Dasher

  

Mark T. Finn

  

Stephen R. Gross

  

Susan M. Heilbron

  

Susan B. Kerley

  

R. Richardson Pettit

  

b)  Not applicable

ITEM 6.    SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
   Included herein under Item 1.
ITEM 7.    DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 8.    PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 9.    PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 10.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 11.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
  

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

  

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


ITEM 12.    DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
   Not applicable.
ITEM 13.    EXHIBITS.
   (a) (1) Code of Ethics attached hereto.
   Exhibit 99.CODE ETH
   (a) (2) Certifications pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.
   Exhibit 99.CERT
   (b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.
   Exhibit 99.906CERT


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, there unto duly authorized.

 

Master Portfolio Trust
By:  

/s/ Jane Trust

  Jane Trust
  Chief Executive Officer
Date:   October 24, 2019

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/ Jane Trust

  Jane Trust
  Chief Executive Officer
Date:   October 24, 2019
By:  

/s/ Christopher Berarducci

  Christopher Berarducci
  Principal Financial Officer
Date:   October 24, 2019