N-CSR 1 d462977dncsr.htm WESTERN ASSET GLOBAL MULTI-SECTOR PORTFOLIO Western Asset Global Multi-Sector 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 811-06110

 

 

Western Asset Funds, Inc.

(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: December 31

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2012

 

 

 


ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

The Annual Report to Stockholders is filed herewith.


December 31, 2012

 

LOGO

 

Annual

Repor t

Western Asset

Global Multi-Sector

Fund

 

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE


 

II   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund
What’s inside    
Letter from the president   II
Investment commentary   IV
Fund overview   1
Fund at a glance   6
Fund expenses   7
Fund performance   8
Spread duration   10
Effective duration   11
Schedule of investments   12
Statement of assets and liabilities   20
Statement of operations   22
Statements of changes in net assets   23
Financial highlights   24
Notes to financial statements   30
Report of independent registered public accounting firm   47
Board approval of management and advisory agreements   48
Additional information   51
Important tax information   55

 

Fund objective

The Fund seeks to maximize return through income and capital appreciation.

Fund name change

Prior to May 1, 2012, the Fund was known as Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Portfolio. There was no change in the Fund’s investment objective or investment policies as a result of the name change.

 

Letter from the president

 

LOGO

 

Dear Shareholder,

We are pleased to provide the annual report of Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund for the twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2012. Please read on for a detailed look at prevailing economic and market conditions during the Fund’s reporting period and to learn how those conditions have affected Fund performance.

Special shareholder notice

Effective September 1, 2012, the individuals responsible for day-to-day portfolio management, development of investment strategy, oversight and coordination of the Fund are Stephen A. Walsh, S. Kenneth Leech, Michael C. Buchanan, Ian R. Edmonds, Keith J. Gardner, Andrew J. Belshaw, Gordon S. Brown and Christopher Orndorff. Messrs. Walsh, Leech, Buchanan, Edmonds, and Gardner have been responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund since it commenced operations in 2011. Messrs. Belshaw, Brown and Orndorff have been responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund since September 2012. Messrs. Walsh, Leech, Buchanan, Edmonds and Gardner have been employed by Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”) as investment professionals for at least the past five years. Mr. Belshaw has been employed by Western Asset in the capacity of investment professional since 2009 and was Managing Director, Head of Investment Management at BlackRock Investment Management from 2004 to 2009. Mr. Orndorff has been employed by Western Asset in the capacity of investment professional since 2010. Prior to joining Western Asset, Mr. Orndorff was Managing Principal and Executive Committee Member at Payden & Rygel for over 19 years. Mr. Brown has been employed by Western Asset in the capacity of investment professional since 2011 and was Senior Investment Manager, Emerging Market Rates and Currencies at Baillie Gifford & Co. from 2001 to 2011. These individuals work together with the broader Western Asset investment management team on portfolio structure, duration weighting and term structure decisions.

As always, we remain committed to providing you with excellent service and a full spectrum of investment choices. We also remain committed to supplementing the support you receive from your financial advisor. One way we accomplish


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund     III   

this is through our website, www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors. Here you can gain immediate access to market and investment information, including:

 

Ÿ  

Fund prices and performance,

 

Ÿ  

Market insights and commentaries from our portfolio managers, and

 

Ÿ  

A host of educational resources.

We look forward to helping you meet your financial goals.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

R. Jay Gerken, CFA

President

January 31, 2013


 

IV   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

Investment commentary

 

Economic review

The U.S. economy continued to grow over the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, but it did so at an uneven pace. U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”)i growth, as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce, was 2.0% in the first quarter of 2012. The economy then slowed in the second quarter, as GDP growth was a tepid 1.3%. Economic growth accelerated to 3.1% in the third quarter, partially due to increased private inventory investment, higher federal government spending and moderating imports. However, this was a temporary uptick, as the Commerce Department’s initial estimate showed that fourth quarter GDP contracted 0.1%. This was the first negative reading since the second quarter of 2009, and was driven by a reversal of the above factors, as private inventory investment and federal government spending weakened.

While there was some improvement in the U.S. job market, unemployment remained elevated throughout the reporting period. When the period began, unemployment, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, was 8.3%. Unemployment then generally declined and was 7.8% in September 2012, the lowest rate since January 2009, but still high by historical standards. The unemployment rate then rose to 7.9% in October, before falling to 7.8% in November, where it remained in December. The number of longer-term unemployed continued to be a headwind for the economy, as roughly 39% of the 12.2 million people without a job have been out of work for more than six months.

Meanwhile, the housing market brightened, as sales generally improved and home prices continued to rebound. According to the National Association of Realtors (“NAR”), while existing-home sales dipped 1.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis in December 2012 versus the previous month, they were still 12.8% higher than in December 2011. In addition, the NAR reported that the median existing-home price for all housing types was $180,800 in December 2012, up 11.5% from December 2011. This marked the tenth consecutive month that home prices rose compared to the same period a year earlier. Furthermore, the inventory of homes available for sale fell 8.5% in December, which represents a 4.4 month supply at the current sales pace. This represents the lowest inventory since May 2005.

The manufacturing sector expanded during much of the reporting period, although it experienced several soft patches. Based on the Institute for Supply Management’s PMI (“PMI”)ii, after expanding 34 consecutive months, the PMI fell to 49.7 in June 2012, which represented the first contraction in the manufacturing sector since July 2009 (a reading below 50 indicates a contraction, whereas a reading above 50 indicates an expansion). Manufacturing continued to contract in July and August before ticking up to 51.5 in September and 51.7 in October. The PMI fell back to contraction territory with a reading of 49.5 in November, its lowest level since July 2009. However, manufacturing again expanded in December, with the PMI increasing to 50.7.

Growth generally moderated overseas and, in some cases, fell back into a recession. But in its January 2013 World Economic Outlook Update, after the reporting period ended, the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”) stated that “Global growth is projected to increase during 2013, as the factors underlying soft global activity are expected to subside. However, this upturn is projected to be more gradual than in the October 2012 World Economic Outlook projections.” The IMF projects that global growth will increase from 3.2% in 2012 to 3.5% in 2013. From a regional perspective, the IMF anticipates 2013 growth will be -0.2% in the Eurozone. Growth in emerging market countries is expected to remain


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund     V   

higher than in their developed country counterparts, and the IMF projects that emerging market growth will increase from 5.1% in 2012 to 5.5% in 2013. In particular, China’s economy is expected to grow 8.2% in 2013, versus 7.8% in 2012. Elsewhere, the IMF projects that growth in India will increase from 4.5% in 2012 to 5.9% in 2013.

The Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”)iii took a number of actions as it sought to meet its dual mandate of fostering maximum employment and price stability. As has been the case since December 2008, the Fed kept the federal funds rateiv at a historically low range between zero and 0.25%. In January 2012, the Fed extended the period it expects to keep rates on hold until at least through late 2014. At its June 2012 meeting, the Fed announced that it would continue its program of purchasing longer-term Treasury securities and selling an equal amount of shorter-term Treasury securities (often referred to as “Operation Twist”) until the end of 2012. In September, the Fed announced a third round of quantitative easing (“QE3”), which involves purchasing $40 billion each month of agency mortgage-backed securities on an open-end basis. In addition, the Fed further extended the duration that it expects to keep the federal funds rate on hold, until at least mid-2015. Finally, at its meeting in December, the Fed announced that it would continue purchasing $40 billion per month of agency mortgage-backed securities, as well as initially purchasing $45 billion a month of longer-term Treasuries. The Fed also said that it would keep the federal funds rate on hold “…as long as the unemployment rate remains above 6.5%, inflation between one and two years ahead is projected to be no more than a half percentage point above the Committee’s 2.0% longer-run goal, and longer-term inflation expectations continue to be well anchored.”

Given the economic challenges in the Eurozone, the European Central Bank (“ECB”)v lowered interest rates from 1.50% to 1.25% in November 2011 and to 1.00% the following month. In July 2012, the ECB cut rates from 1.00% to 0.75%, a record low. In September the ECB introduced its Outright Monetary Transactions program (“OMT”). With the OMT, the ECB can purchase an unlimited amount of bonds that are issued by troubled Eurozone countries, provided the countries formally ask to participate in the program and agree to certain conditions. In other developed countries, the Bank of England kept rates on hold at 0.50% during the reporting period, as did Japan at a range of zero to 0.10%, its lowest level since 2006. In September, the Bank of Japan announced that it would increase its asset-purchase program and extend its duration by six months until the end of 2013. Elsewhere, with growth rates declining, both China and India lowered their cash reserve ratio for banks. China also cut its key interest rate in early June and again in July.

As always, thank you for your confidence in our stewardship of your assets.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

R. Jay Gerken, CFA

President

January 31, 2013

All investments are subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Forecasts and predictions are inherently limited and should not be relied upon as an indication of actual or future performance.

 


 

VI   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

Investment commentary (cont’d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

i 

Gross domestic product (“GDP”) is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time.

 

ii 

The Institute for Supply Management’s PMI is based on a survey of purchasing executives who buy the raw materials for manufacturing at more than 350 companies. It offers an early reading on the health of the manufacturing sector.

 

iii 

The Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”) is responsible for the formulation of policies designed to promote economic growth, full employment, stable prices and a sustainable pattern of international trade and payments.

 

iv 

The federal funds rate is the rate charged by one depository institution on an overnight sale of immediately available funds (balances at the Federal Reserve) to another depository institution; the rate may vary from depository institution to depository institution and from day to day.

 

v 

The European Central Bank (“ECB”) is responsible for the monetary system of the European Union and the euro currency.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     1   

Fund overview

 

Q. What is the Fund’s investment strategy?

A. The Fund’s investment objective is to maximize return through income and capital appreciation. To achieve its investment objective, the Fund invests primarily in various types of U.S. dollar denominated and non-U.S. dollar denominated fixed-income securities.

The Fund may invest up to 70% of its net assets in securities not rated Baa or BBB or above at the time of purchase by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (“NRSROs”) or unrated securities that we determine to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase. Securities rated Baa or BBB or above by one or more NRSROs or unrated securities of comparable quality are known as “investment grade securities.” Securities rated below investment grade are commonly known as “junk bonds” or “high-yield securities.” Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets in securities of issuers representing at least three countries (one of which may be the U.S.).

The Fund may also enter into various derivative transactions for both hedging and non-hedging purposes, including for purposes of enhancing returns. These derivative transactions include, but are not limited to, futures, options, swaps and forwards.

In particular, the Fund may use interest rate swaps, credit default swaps (on individual securities and/or baskets of securities), futures contracts, options, corporate loans and/or mortgage-backed securities to a significant extent, although the amounts invested in these instruments may change from time to time. Other instruments may also be used to a significant extent from time to time.

At Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”), the Fund’s subadviser, we utilize a fixed-income team approach, with decisions derived from interaction among various investment management sector specialists. The sector teams are comprised of Western Asset’s senior portfolio management personnel, research analysts and an in-house economist. Under this team approach, management of client fixed-income portfolios will reflect a consensus of interdisciplinary views within the Western Asset organization.

Q. What were the overall market conditions during the Fund’s reporting period?

A. The spread sectors (non-Treasuries) overcame several periods of heightened risk aversion and outperformed equal-durationi Treasuries over the twelve months ended December 31, 2012. To a great extent, demand for the spread sectors was robust during the first two months of the reporting period. This was due to several factors, including signs that the U.S. economy was gathering momentum and some progress in the European sovereign debt crisis. However, concerns that the economy may be experiencing a soft patch and contagion fears from Europe led to flights to quality during portions of March, April and May 2012. The spread sectors then generally rallied over the last seven months of the period as investor sentiment was largely positive.

Short-term U.S. Treasury yields fluctuated in 2012, but ended the year where they began. In contrast, 10-year Treasury yields fell from 1.89% to 1.78% during the twelve months ended December 31, 2012. On July 25, 2012, ten-year Treasuries closed at an all-time low of 1.43%. U.S. yields then moved higher due to some positive developments in Europe and additional Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”)ii actions to stimulate the economy. In Europe, the European Central Bank (“ECB”)iii cut its official lending rate by 0.25% to 0.75% during the third quarter of 2012 and announced details of


 

2   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Fund overview (cont’d)

 

its Outright Monetary Transactions (“OMT”) program aimed at driving down rates in peripheral countries. German government bond yields declined from 0.82% at the start of the reporting period to 0.30% at the end of 2012, and they outperformed their U.S. counterparts during the year as a whole.

All told, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Indexiv returned 4.22% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2012. Comparatively, riskier fixed-income securities, including high-yield bonds and emerging market debt, produced superior results. Over the fiscal year, the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield — 2% Issuer Cap Indexv, gained 15.78%. During this period, as measured by the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield — 2% Issuer Cap Index, lower-quality CCC-rated bonds outperformed higher-quality BB-rated securities, as they returned 18.34% and 14.49%, respectively. The emerging market debt asset class, as measured by the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus (“EMBI+”)vi, returned 18.04% over the same period.

Q. How did we respond to these changing market conditions?

A. A number of adjustments were made to the Fund during the reporting period. The primary adjustments were taking advantage of the strong returns in the credit markets to reduce our allocations to investment grade corporate bonds and U.S. dollar-denominated high-yield bonds. In contrast, we increased our exposure to select European high-yield issuers, as well as U.S. dollar-denominated emerging market sovereign and corporate debt. We also added to the Fund’s exposure to select emerging market local currency bonds, such as South Africa, and increased our allocation to higher yielding emerging market currencies, including the Indian rupee, the Brazilian real and the Mexican peso. Within the U.S., we increased our allocation to agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”). We reduced our exposure to U.S. Treasuries in favor of German government bonds in anticipation of more accommodative monetary policy from the ECB. Within the currency market, we moved to an underweight position in the Japanese yen. Finally, the Fund’s allocation to cash position was decreased during the reporting period.

The Fund used U.S. Treasury futures to manage our duration and yield curvevii exposure. The use of these instruments detracted from performance. Currency forwards, which were used to manage our foreign currency exposure, were also negative for results. We used credit default swaps to hedge out some of the high-yield exposure in the Fund. These also detracted from performance. Currency put options were also used, which had a positive impact on performance.

Performance review

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2012, Class I shares of Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund returned 9.78%. The Fund’s unmanaged benchmarks, the Barclays Global Aggregate Indexviii, the EMBI+ and the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield — 2% Issuer Cap Index, returned 4.32%, 18.04% and 15.78%, respectively, for the same period. The Lipper Multi-Sector Income Funds Category Average1 returned 11.21% over the same time frame.

 

1 

Lipper, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reuters, provides independent insight on global collective investments. Returns are based on the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2012, including the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, calculated among the 229 funds in the Fund’s Lipper category, and excluding sales charges.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     3   
Performance Snapshot as of December 31, 2012
(unaudited)
 
(excluding sales charges)   6 months     12 months  
Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund:   

Class A

    5.67     N/A   

Class C

    5.29     N/A   

Class FI

    5.82     9.41

Class R

    5.58     N/A   

Class I

    5.92     9.78

Class IS

    6.00     9.80
Barclays Global Aggregate Index     2.78     4.32
EMBI+     10.41     18.04
Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield — 2% Issuer Cap Index     7.97     15.78
Lipper Multi-Sector Income Funds1     5.99     11.21

The performance shown represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown above. Principal value, investment returns and yields will fluctuate and investors’ shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. To obtain performance data current to the most recent month-end, please visit our website at www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors.

All share class returns assume the reinvestment of all distributions at net asset value and the deduction of all Fund expenses. Returns have not been adjusted to include sales charges that may apply or the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions. If sales charges were reflected, the performance quoted would be lower. Performance figures for periods shorter than one year represent cumulative figures and are not annualized.

Fund performance figures reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, without which the performance would have been lower.

The 30-Day SEC Yields for the period ended December 31, 2012 for Class A, Class C, Class FI, Class R, Class I and Class IS shares were 2.03%, 1.38%, 2.17%, 1.93%, 2.87% and 2.62%, respectively. Absent fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the 30-Day SEC Yields for Class A, Class C, Class R and Class IS shares would have been 1.26%, 0.46%, 0.92% and 1.73%, respectively. The 30-Day SEC Yield is subject to change and is based on the yield to maturity of the Fund’s investments over a 30-day period and not on the dividends paid by the Fund, which may differ.

 

Total Annual Operating Expenses (unaudited)

As of the Fund’s current prospectus dated May 1, 2012, as supplemented on May 31, 2012, the gross total annual operating expense ratios for Class A, Class C, Class FI, Class R, Class I and Class IS shares were 1.78%, 2.53%, 2.86%, 2.08%, 2.61% and 1.38%, respectively.

Actual expenses may be higher. For example, expenses may be higher than those shown if average net assets decrease. Net assets are more likely to decrease and Fund expense ratios are more likely to increase when markets are volatile.

As a result of expense limitation arrangements, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions, taxes, extraordinary expenses and deferred organizational expenses, to average net assets is not expected to exceed 1.25% for Class A shares, 2.00% for Class C shares, 1.20% for Class FI shares, 1.45% for Class R shares, 0.85% for Class I shares and 0.75% for Class IS shares. These expense limitation arrangements cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without the Board of Directors’ consent.

The manager is permitted to recapture amounts waived and/or reimbursed to a class within two years after the fiscal year in which the manager earned the fee or incurred the expense if the class’ total annual operating expenses have fallen to a level below the expense limitation (“expense cap”) in effect at the time the fees were earned or the expenses incurred. In no case will the manager recapture any amount that would result, on any particular business day of the Fund, in the class’ total annual operating expenses exceeding the expense cap or any other lower limit then in effect.

 

1 

Lipper, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reuters, provides independent insight on global collective investments. Returns are based on the period ended December 31, 2012, including the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, calculated among the 249 funds for the six-month period and among the 229 funds for the twelve-month period in the Fund’s Lipper category, and excluding sales charges.


 

4   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Fund overview (cont’d)

 

Q. What were the leading contributors to performance?

A. The largest contributor to the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period was our duration positioning in the U.S. and Europe. We increased our short duration position in the U.S. during the first half of the year. This was beneficial as U.S. rates moved higher during the second half of the period. Increasing duration in Europe was also beneficial, as their rates declined during the reporting period as a whole.

Also contributing to performance was our underweight to Japanese government bonds given their weak performance. An overweight to local emerging market government bonds was also rewarded during the period.

Currency positioning, overall, was another area of strength for the Fund. Adding the most value was our underweight position in the yen. It fell sharply in December as newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed to take “truly meaningful measures” to weaken the yen to help boost the country’s weakening economy.

Q. What were the leading detractors from performance?

A. The largest detractor from the Fund’s relative performance for the period was our underweight to U.S.-denominated emerging market sovereign bonds, as they outperformed both emerging market corporate bonds within the EMBI+.

Our yield curve positioning was a slight negative for results. In particular, our focus on the long end of the U.S. curve was detrimental, as those rates moved higher compared to shorter dated bonds during the reporting period.

Elsewhere, moving to an overweight to agency mortgage-backed securities during the second half of the year detracted from performance as they performed poorly over that period.

Thank you for your investment in Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund. As always, we appreciate that you have chosen us to manage your assets and we remain focused on achieving the Fund’s investment goals.

Sincerely,

Western Asset Management Company

January 18, 2013

RISKS: Fixed-income securities involve interest rate, credit, inflation and reinvestment risks. As interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities falls. High-yield securities possess greater price volatility, illiquidity and possibility of default. Asset-backed, mortgage-backed or mortgage-related securities are subject to prepayment and extension risks. International investments are subject to special risks, including currency fluctuations and social, economic and political uncertainties, which could increase volatility. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Derivatives, such as options and futures, can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses and have a potentially large impact on Fund performance. The Fund is a “non-diversified” fund. As a result, the value of its shares will be more susceptible to any single economic, political or regulatory event affecting one or a small umber of issuers than shares of a “diversified fund.” Please see the Fund’s prospectus for a more complete discussion of these and other risks, and the Fund’s investment strategies.

Portfolio holdings and breakdowns are as of December 31, 2012 and are subject to change and may not be representative of the Portfolio managers’ current or future investments. Please refer to pages 12 through 19 for a list and percentage breakdown of the Fund’s holdings.

The mention of sector breakdowns is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     5   

sell any securities. The information provided regarding such sectors is not a sufficient basis upon which to make an investment decision. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional. Portfolio holdings are subject to change at any time and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investments. The Fund’s top five sector holdings (as a percentage of net assets) as of December 31, 2012 were: Sovereign Bonds (29.8%), Energy (10.3%), Financials (9.6%), Mortgage-Backed Securities (9.1%) and Materials (8.2%). The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change at any time.

All investments are subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. Please note that an investor cannot invest directly in an index.

The information provided is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Views expressed may differ from those of the firm as a whole.

 

 

 

 

i 

Duration is the measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income security to an interest rate change of 100 basis points. Calculation is based on the weighted average of the present values for all cash flows.

 

ii 

The Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”) is responsible for the formulation of policies designed to promote economic growth, full employment, stable prices and a sustainable pattern of international trade and payments.

 

iii 

The European Central Bank is responsible for the monetary system of the European Union and the euro currency.

 

iv 

The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index is a broad-based bond index comprised of government, corporate, mortgage- and asset-backed issues, rated investment grade or higher, and having at least one year to maturity.

 

v 

The Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield — 2% Issuer Cap Index is an index of the 2% Issuer Cap component of the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index, which covers the U.S. dollar-denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market.

 

vi 

The JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus (“EMBI+”) is a total return index that tracks the traded market for U.S. dollar-denominated Brady and other similar sovereign restructured bonds traded in the emerging markets.

 

vii 

The yield curve is the graphical depiction of the relationship between the yield on bonds of the same credit quality but different maturities.

 

viii 

The Barclays Global Aggregate Index is an index comprised of several other Barclays indices that measure fixed-income performance of regions around the world.


 

6   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Fund at a glance (unaudited)

 

Investment breakdown (%) as a percent of total investments

 

LOGO

 

The bar graph above represents the composition of the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and does not include derivatives such as futures contracts, swap contracts and forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of the Fund’s investments is subject to change at any time.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     7   

Fund expenses (unaudited)

 

Example

As a shareholder of the Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including front-end and back-end sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; service and/or distribution (12b-1) fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested on July 1, 2012 and held for the six months ended December 31, 2012.

Actual expenses

The table below titled “Based on Actual Total Return” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information provided in this table, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. To estimate the expenses you paid on your account, divide your ending account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 ending account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period”.

Hypothetical example for comparison purposes

The table below titled “Based on Hypothetical Total Return” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use the information provided in this table to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare the 5.00% hypothetical example relating to the Fund with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as front-end or back-end sales charges (loads). Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

 

Based on actual total return1         Based on hypothetical total return1  
     Actual
Total Return
Without
Sales
Charge2
    Beginning
Account
Value
    Ending
Account
Value
    Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Expenses
Paid
During
the
Period3
             Hypothetical
Annualized
Total Return
    Beginning
Account
Value
    Ending
Account
Value
    Annualized
Expense
Ratio
    Expenses
Paid
During
the
Period3
 

Class A

    5.67   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,056.70        1.25   $ 6.46       

Class A

    5.00   $ 1,000.00      $ 1,018.85        1.25   $ 6.34   

Class C

    5.29        1,000.00        1,052.90        2.00        10.32       

Class C

    5.00        1,000.00        1,015.08        2.00        10.13   

Class FI

    5.82        1,000.00        1,058.20        1.20        6.21        Class FI     5.00        1,000.00        1,019.10        1.20        6.09   

Class R

    5.58        1,000.00        1,055.80        1.44        7.44       

Class R

    5.00        1,000.00        1,017.90        1.44        7.30   

Class I

    5.92        1,000.00        1,059.20        0.79        4.09       

Class I

    5.00        1,000.00        1,021.17        0.79        4.01   

Class IS

    6.00        1,000.00        1,060.00        0.75        3.88       

Class IS

    5.00        1,000.00        1,021.37        0.75        3.81   

 

1 

For the six months ended December 31, 2012.

 

2 

Assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at net asset value and does not reflect the deduction of the applicable sales charge with respect to Class A shares or the applicable contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”) with respect to Class C shares. Total return is not annualized, as it may not be representative of the total return for the year. 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.

 

3 

Expenses (net of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are equal to each class’ respective annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 366.


 

8   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Fund performance (unaudited)

 

Average annual total returns                                 
Without sales charges1   Class A†      Class C†     Class FI     Class R†     Class I     Class IS  
Twelve Months Ended 12/31/12     N/A         N/A        9.41     N/A        9.78     9.80
Inception* through 12/31/12     5.38      4.88     6.31        5.26     6.65        6.74   
With sales charges2   Class A†      Class C†     Class FI     Class R†     Class I     Class IS  
Twelve Months Ended 12/31/12     N/A         N/A        9.41     N/A        9.78     9.80
Inception* through 12/31/12     0.94      3.88     6.31        5.26     6.65        6.74   

 

Cumulative total returns       
Without sales charges1        
Class A (Inception date of 4/30/12 through 12/31/12)      5.38
Class C (Inception date of 4/30/12 through 12/31/12)      4.88   
Class FI (Inception date of 7/29/11 through 12/31/12)      9.12   
Class R (Inception date of 4/30/12 through 12/31/12)      5.26   
Class I (Inception date of 7/29/11 through 12/31/12)      9.62   
Class IS (Inception date of 7/29/11 through 12/31/12)      9.75   

All figures represent past performance and are not a guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. 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.

 

Not annualized.

 

1 

Assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at net asset value and does not reflect the deduction of the applicable sales charge with respect to Class A shares or the applicable contingent deferred sales charges (“CDSC”) with respect to Class C shares.

 

2 

Assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at net asset value. In addition, Class A shares reflect the deduction of the maximum initial sales charge of 4.25%. Class C shares reflect the deduction of a 1.00% CDSC, which applies if shares are redeemed within one year from purchase payment.

 

* Inception dates for Class A, C, FI, R, I and IS shares are April 30, 2012, April 30, 2012, July 29, 2011, April 30, 2012, July 29, 2011 and July 29, 2011, respectively.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     9   

Historical performance

Value of $1,000,000 invested in

Class FI, I and IS Shares of Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund vs. Barclays Global Aggregate Index, JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus and Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield – 2% Issuer Cap Index† — July 29, 2011 - December 2012

LOGO

All figures represent past performance and are not a guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The value of your investment in the Fund, as well as the amount of return you receive on your investment, may fluctuate significantly. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. 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.

 

Hypothetical illustration of $1,000,000 invested in Class FI, I and IS shares of Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund on July 29, 2011 (inception date), assuming the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at net asset value through December 31, 2012. The hypothetical illustration also assumes a $1,000,000 investment the Barclays Global Aggregate Index, the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus and the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield – 2% Issuer Cap Index. The Barclays Capital Global Aggregate Index is an index comprised of several other Barclays indices that measure fixed-income performance of regions around the world. The JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus (“EMBI+”) is a total return index that tracks the traded market for U.S. dollar-denominated Brady and other similar sovereign restructured bonds traded in the emerging markets. The Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield – 2% Issuer Cap Index is an index of the 2% Issuer Cap component of the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index, which covers the U.S. dollar-denominated, non-investment grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bond market. The Indices are unmanaged and not subject to the same management and trading expenses as a mutual fund. Please note that an investor cannot invest directly in an index. The performance of the Fund’s other classes may be greater or less than the performance of Class IS, I and FI shares indicated on this chart, depending on whether greater or lesser sales charges and fees were incurred by shareholders investing in the other classes.


 

10   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Spread duration (unaudited)

 

Economic exposure — December 31, 2012

 

LOGO

Spread duration measures the sensitivity to changes in spreads. The spread over Treasuries is the annual risk-premium demanded by investors to hold non-Treasury securities. Spread duration is quantified as the % change in price resulting from a 100 basis points change in spreads. For a security with positive spread duration, an increase in spreads would result in a price decline and a decline in spreads would result in a price increase. This chart highlights the market sector exposure of the Fund’s sectors relative to the selected benchmark sectors as of the end of the reporting period.

 

ABS   — Asset-Backed Securities
Benchmark  

— 50% Barclays Global Aggregate Index, 25% JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus and 25% Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield — 2% Issuer Cap Index

EM   — Emerging Markets
HY   — High Yield
IG Credit   — Investment Grade Credit
MBS   — Mortgage-Backed Securities
WAGMS   — Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     11   

Effective duration (unaudited)

 

Interest rate exposure — December 31, 2012

 

LOGO

Effective duration measures the sensitivity to changes in relevant interest rates. Effective duration is quantified as the % change in price resulting from a 100 basis points change in interest rates. For a security with positive effective duration, an increase in interest rates would result in a price decline and a decline in interest rates would result in a price increase. This chart highlights the interest rate exposure of the Fund’s sectors relative to the selected benchmark sectors as of the end of the reporting period.

 

ABS  

— Asset-Backed Securities

Benchmark  

— 50% Barclays Global Aggregate Index, 25% JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Plus and 25% Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield — 2% Issuer Cap Index

EM   — Emerging Markets
HY   — High Yield
IG Credit   — Investment Grade Credit
MBS   — Mortgage-Backed Securities
WAGMS   — Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund


 

12   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Schedule of investments

December 31, 2012

 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
  Face
Amount†
    Value  
Corporate Bonds & Notes — 45.3%                            
Consumer Discretionary — 5.6%                            

Auto Components — 0.5%

                           

Continental Rubber of America Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    4.500   9/15/19     150,000      $ 153,509  (a) 

Automobiles — 1.3%

                           

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

    8.125   1/15/20     100,000        128,138   

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

    5.875   8/2/21     250,000        291,134   

Total Automobiles

                        419,272   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 0.4%

                           

Codere Finance Luxembourg SA, Senior Secured Notes

    8.250   6/15/15     50,000  EUR      54,448  (a) 

Marstons Issuer PLC, Secured Bonds

    5.177   7/15/32     50,000  GBP      75,681  (b) 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

                        130,129   

Media — 2.8%

                           

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

    7.000   1/15/19     100,000        107,875   

Comcast Corp., Senior Notes

    5.150   3/1/20     50,000        59,263   

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

    6.750   6/1/21     100,000        114,000   

Grupo Televisa SA, Senior Bonds

    6.625   1/15/40     100,000        127,579   

Nara Cable Funding Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    8.875   12/1/18     80,000        81,400  (a) 

Time Warner Cable Inc., Senior Notes

    4.125   2/15/21     50,000        54,756   

Time Warner Inc., Senior Notes

    4.000   1/15/22     20,000        21,894   

UPCB Finance III Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    6.625   7/1/20     150,000        160,687  (a) 

Virgin Media Finance PLC, Senior Notes

    5.125   2/15/22     100,000  GBP      164,882   

Total Media

                        892,336   

Specialty Retail — 0.6%

                           

Edcon Proprietary Ltd., Senior Notes

    3.433   6/15/14     70,000  EUR      88,701  (a)(b) 

Gymboree Corp., Senior Notes

    9.125   12/1/18     100,000        89,000   

Total Specialty Retail

                        177,701   

Total Consumer Discretionary

                        1,772,947   
Consumer Staples — 1.1%                            

Beverages — 0.6%

                           

Pernod-Ricard SA, Senior Notes

    4.450   1/15/22     150,000        165,897  (a) 

Food Products — 0.1%

                           

Ahold Finance USA LLC

    6.500   3/14/17     21,000  GBP      39,661   

Tobacco — 0.4%

                           

Alliance One International Inc., Senior Notes

    10.000   7/15/16     70,000        73,675   

Altria Group Inc., Senior Notes

    4.750   5/5/21     50,000        56,664   

Total Tobacco

                        130,339   

Total Consumer Staples

                        335,897   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     13   

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
  Face
Amount†
    Value  
Energy — 10.3%                            

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.3%

                           

Key Energy Services Inc., Senior Notes

    6.750   3/1/21     100,000      $ 100,000   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 10.0%

                           

Anadarko Finance Co., Senior Notes

    7.500   5/1/31     50,000        66,153   

Arch Coal Inc., Senior Notes

    7.000   6/15/19     250,000        232,500   

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    6.775   3/15/19     40,000        40,050   

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    6.625   8/15/20     20,000        21,450   

Compagnie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas, Senior Notes

    9.500   5/15/16     300,000        321,750   

Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    5.600   7/15/41     50,000        59,392   

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

    7.625   7/23/19     100,000        129,250   

Enterprise Products Operating LLP, Subordinated Notes

    7.034   1/15/68     80,000        91,600  (b) 

EXCO Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    7.500   9/15/18     100,000        97,000   

Hiland Partners LP/Hiland Partners Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    7.250   10/1/20     30,000        32,100  (a) 

LUKOIL International Finance BV, Bonds

    6.656   6/7/22     200,000        243,500  (a) 

Pan American Energy LLC, Senior Notes

    7.875   5/7/21     92,000        79,350  (a) 

Peabody Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    6.500   9/15/20     100,000        107,250   

Pemex Project Funding Master Trust, Senior Bonds

    6.625   6/15/35     220,000        279,400   

Petrobras International Finance Co., Senior Notes

    6.875   1/20/40     10,000        12,704   

Petrobras International Finance Co., Senior Notes

    6.750   1/27/41     200,000        253,418   

Petroleos Mexicanos, Senior Notes

    6.500   6/2/41     30,000        37,650   

Plains Exploration & Production Co., Senior Notes

    8.625   10/15/19     100,000        113,750   

QEP Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    5.375   10/1/22     190,000        203,775   

Quicksilver Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    11.750   1/1/16     30,000        29,625   

Range Resources Corp., Senior Notes

    5.000   8/15/22     120,000        125,400   

Range Resources Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

    5.750   6/1/21     10,000        10,700   

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

    6.500   7/15/21     150,000        164,250   

Southern Gas Networks PLC, Senior Notes

    4.875   12/21/20     80,000  GBP      147,093   

Tesoro Logistics LP/Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875   10/1/20     60,000        62,250  (a) 

TNK-BP Finance SA, Senior Notes

    7.875   3/13/18     110,000        133,529  (a) 

WPX Energy Inc., Senior Notes

    6.000   1/15/22     40,000        43,100   

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                        3,137,989   

Total Energy

                        3,237,989   
Financials — 9.6%                            

Capital Markets — 1.9%

                           

Boparan Finance PLC, Senior Notes

    9.875   4/30/18     100,000  GBP      183,563  (a) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

14   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Schedule of investments (cont’d)

December 31, 2012

 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
  Face
Amount†
    Value  

Capital Markets — continued

                           

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

    4.750   10/12/21     50,000  EUR    $ 70,179   

Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., Notes

    5.500   11/22/21     60,000  GBP      103,934   

Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes

    4.375   10/12/16     50,000  EUR      71,400   

Thames Water Kemble Finance PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    7.750   4/1/19     100,000  GBP      176,253  (a) 

Total Capital Markets

                        605,329   

Commercial Banks — 2.6%

                           

Abbey National Treasury Services PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    5.125   4/14/21     100,000  GBP      192,037   

Barclays Bank PLC, Senior Notes

    6.000   1/14/21     160,000  EUR      238,724  (a) 

HSBC Capital Funding LP, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.369   3/24/14     100,000  EUR      131,731  (b)(c) 

Lloyds TSB Bank PLC, Subordinated Notes

    6.500   3/24/20     100,000  EUR      150,765   

Wachovia Capital Trust III, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.570   2/19/13     100,000        99,500  (b)(c) 

Total Commercial Banks

                        812,757   

Consumer Finance — 1.8%

                           

Ally Financial Inc., Senior Notes

    8.300   2/12/15     100,000        111,375   

Ally Financial Inc., Senior Notes

    5.500   2/15/17     90,000        96,279   

Ally Financial Inc., Senior Notes

    8.000   3/15/20     200,000        245,000   

SLM Corp., Medium-Term Notes

    8.000   3/25/20     100,000        114,250   

Total Consumer Finance

                        566,904   

Diversified Financial Services — 2.3%

                           

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

    5.000   5/13/21     100,000        114,165   

Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes

    7.375   9/4/19     100,000  EUR      173,249   

General Electric Capital Corp., Senior Notes

    6.875   1/10/39     100,000        135,930   

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    8.625   9/15/15     20,000        22,475   

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Senior Notes

    4.250   10/15/20     100,000        111,213   

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Senior Notes

    4.500   1/24/22     150,000        169,686   

Total Diversified Financial Services

                        726,718   

Insurance — 1.0%

                           

American International Group Inc., Senior Notes

    6.400   12/15/20     90,000        111,672   

ELM BV

    5.252   5/25/16     100,000  EUR      135,295  (b)(c) 

Hannover Finance Luxembourg SA, Bonds

    5.750   9/14/40     50,000  EUR      75,735  (b) 

Total Insurance

                        322,702   

Total Financials

                        3,034,410   
Health Care — 2.2%                            

Biotechnology — 0.3%

                           

Amgen Inc., Senior Notes

    3.875   11/15/21     75,000        82,364   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     15   

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
  Face
Amount†
    Value  

Health Care Providers & Services — 1.2%

                           

Acadia Healthcare Co. Inc., Senior Notes

    12.875   11/1/18     40,000      $ 48,400   

HCA Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    6.500   2/15/20     200,000        225,000   

Tenet Healthcare Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    8.875   7/1/19     100,000        112,000   

Total Health Care Providers & Services

                        385,400   

Pharmaceuticals — 0.7%

                           

ConvaTec Healthcare E SA, Senior Notes

    10.875   12/15/18     100,000  EUR      149,154  (a) 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Senior Notes

    6.375   10/15/20     60,000        64,350  (a) 

Total Pharmaceuticals

                        213,504   

Total Health Care

                        681,268   
Industrials — 2.4%                            

Aerospace & Defense — 0.3%

                           

Wyle Services Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes

    10.500   4/1/18     100,000        109,000  (a) 

Airlines — 0.5%

                           

Continental Airlines Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    6.750   9/15/15     140,000        147,000  (a) 

Building Products — 0.5%

                           

Spie BondCo 3 SCA, Senior Notes

    11.000   8/15/19     100,000  EUR      144,204  (a) 

Construction & Engineering — 0.7%

                           

Odebrecht Finance Ltd.

    6.000   4/5/23     200,000        231,250  (a) 

Road & Rail — 0.4%

                           

Kansas City Southern de Mexico SA de CV, Senior Notes

    6.125   6/15/21     100,000        113,000   

Total Industrials

                        744,454   
Materials — 8.2%                            

Chemicals — 0.4%

                           

Braskem Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

    7.000   5/7/20     100,000        112,750  (a) 

Construction Materials — 0.7%

                           

Cemex SAB de CV, Senior Secured Notes

    9.000   1/11/18     200,000        216,500  (a) 

Containers & Packaging — 1.3%

                           

Ardagh Glass Finance PLC, Senior Bonds

    7.125   6/15/17     70,000  EUR      94,360  (a) 

Ball Corp., Senior Notes

    7.375   9/1/19     100,000        111,250   

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

    9.000   4/15/19     100,000        104,000   

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

    5.750   10/15/20     10,000        10,325  (a) 

Suzano Trading Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.875   1/23/21     100,000        104,000  (a) 

Total Containers & Packaging

                        423,935   

Metals & Mining — 4.3%

                           

ArcelorMittal, Senior Notes

    4.250   2/25/15     30,000        30,302   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

16   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Schedule of investments (cont’d)

December 31, 2012

 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
  Face
Amount†
    Value  

Metals & Mining — continued

                           

ArcelorMittal, Senior Notes

    4.250   8/5/15     40,000      $ 40,403   

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    3.950   1/15/18     60,000        60,389   

CSN Resources SA, Senior Bonds

    6.500   7/21/20     100,000        108,500  (a) 

Evraz Group SA, Senior Notes

    9.500   4/24/18     110,000        125,400  (a) 

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.375   2/1/16     100,000        103,500  (a) 

Gerdau Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

    7.000   1/20/20     100,000        116,250  (a) 

Mirabela Nickel Ltd., Senior Notes

    8.750   4/15/18     200,000        172,000  (a) 

Southern Copper Corp., Senior Notes

    6.750   4/16/40     120,000        144,465   

Southern Copper Corp., Senior Notes

    5.250   11/8/42     70,000        70,058   

Vale Overseas Ltd., Notes

    6.875   11/21/36     110,000        136,354   

Vedanta Resources PLC, Senior Notes

    9.500   7/18/18     200,000        230,760  (a) 

Total Metals & Mining

                        1,338,381   

Paper & Forest Products — 1.5%

                           

Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion SA, Senior Notes

    7.250   7/29/19     100,000        118,641   

Fibria Overseas Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.750   3/3/21     200,000        221,500  (a) 

Inversiones CMPC SA, Senior Notes

    4.750   1/19/18     130,000        137,047  (a) 

Total Paper & Forest Products

                        477,188   

Total Materials

                        2,568,754   
Telecommunication Services — 3.2%                            

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 1.9%

                           

AT&T Inc., Senior Notes

    5.350   9/1/40     100,000        116,455   

Axtel SAB de CV, Senior Notes

    9.000   9/22/19     80,000        42,400  (a) 

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Senior Notes

    7.250   4/1/19     100,000        107,500   

Telemar Norte Leste SA, Senior Notes

    5.500   10/23/20     100,000        104,000  (a) 

UBS Luxembourg SA for OJSC Vimpel Communications, Loan Participation Notes

    8.250   5/23/16     200,000        225,760  (a) 

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    4.600   4/1/21     10,000        11,672   

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                        607,787   

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 1.3%

                           

Phones4u Finance PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    9.500   4/1/18     100,000  GBP      169,755  (a) 

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

    8.750   3/15/32     200,000        244,500   

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

                        414,255   

Total Telecommunication Services

                        1,022,042   
Utilities — 2.7%                            

Electric Utilities — 0.2%

                           

FirstEnergy Corp., Notes

    7.375   11/15/31     50,000        64,579   

Gas Utilities — 0.7%

                           

Empresa de Energia de Bogota SA, Senior Notes

    6.125   11/10/21     200,000        224,500  (a) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     17   

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Security   Rate    

Maturity

Date

  Face
Amount†
    Value  

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders — 1.2%

  

                   

AES Corp., Senior Notes

    7.750   10/15/15     20,000      $ 22,450   

AES Corp., Senior Notes

    9.750   4/15/16     20,000        23,900   

AES Gener SA, Notes

    5.250   8/15/21     100,000        110,985  (a) 

Atlantic Power Corp., Senior Notes

    9.000   11/15/18     70,000        73,150   

Calpine Construction Finance Co. LP and CCFC Finance Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    8.000   6/1/16     150,000        159,375  (a) 

Total Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders

            389,860   

Water Utilities — 0.6%

                           

Anglian Water Osprey Financing PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    7.000   1/31/18     100,000  GBP      176,009   

Total Utilities

                        854,948   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes (Cost — $13,309,157)

            14,252,709   
Mortgage-Backed Securities — 9.1%                            

FHLMC — 0.4%

                           

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (FHLMC)

    3.500   8/1/42     99,052        105,723   

FNMA — 7.7%

                           

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)

    3.000   1/17/28-1/14/43     1,400,000        1,469,235  (d) 

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)

    3.500   1/17/28-1/14/43     700,000        745,222  (d) 

Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA)

    4.000   1/14/43     200,000        214,375  (d) 

Total FNMA

                        2,428,832   

GNMA — 1.0%

                           

Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) I

    3.000   1/22/43     300,000        318,891  (d) 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost — $2,854,849)

            2,853,446   
Sovereign Bonds — 29.8%                            

Argentina — 0.3%

                           

Republic of Argentina, Senior Bonds

    7.000   10/3/15     100,000        89,269   

Brazil — 0.8%

                           

Federative Republic of Brazil, Senior Notes

    4.875   1/22/21     200,000        241,000   

Colombia — 0.8%

                           

Republic of Colombia, Senior Notes

    7.375   3/18/19     200,000        262,900   

Germany — 16.4%

                           

Bundesobligation

    0.750   2/24/17     850,000  EUR      1,148,134   

Bundesobligation, Bonds

    2.000   2/26/16     500,000  EUR      700,864   

Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonds

    3.250   1/4/20     1,045,000  EUR      1,611,515   

Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonds

    3.250   7/4/21     1,100,000  EUR      1,706,569   

Total Germany

                        5,167,082   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

18   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Schedule of investments (cont’d)

December 31, 2012

 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Security   Rate    

Maturity

Date

  Face
Amount†
    Value  

India — 0.3%

                           

ICICI Bank Ltd., Subordinated Bonds

    6.375   4/30/22     100,000      $ 100,875  (a)(b) 

Indonesia — 0.7%

                           

Republic of Indonesia, Notes

    5.250   1/17/42     200,000        232,250  (a) 

Malaysia — 1.1%

                           

Government of Malaysia, Senior Bonds

    4.262   9/15/16     990,000  MYR      336,469   

Mexico — 1.7%

                           

Mexican Bonos, Bonds

    8.000   6/11/20     5,680,000  MXN      515,654   

Mexican Bonos, Bonds

    6.500   6/9/22     361,400  MXN      30,250   

Total Mexico

                        545,904   

Panama — 0.1%

                           

Republic of Panama

    6.700   1/26/36     16,000        22,720   

Peru — 1.3%

                           

Republic of Peru

    8.750   11/21/33     130,000        225,875   

Republic of Peru, Bonds

    7.840   8/12/20     396,000  PEN      195,525   

Total Peru

                        421,400   

Russia — 1.8%

                           

Russian Federation

    5.625   4/4/42     200,000        248,500  (a) 

Russian Foreign Bond — Eurobond, Senior Bonds

    7.500   3/31/30     232,500        298,623  (a) 

Total Russia

                        547,123   

South Africa — 1.8%

                           

Republic of South Africa, Bonds

    10.500   12/21/26     3,770,000  ZAR      569,618   

Turkey — 0.4%

                           

Republic of Turkey, Senior Bonds

    5.625   3/30/21     100,000        118,750   

Venezuela — 2.3%

                           

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Senior Bonds

    9.250   9/15/27     158,000        158,000   

Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Senior Notes

    7.750   10/13/19     588,000        554,190  (a) 

Total Venezuela

                        712,190   

Total Sovereign Bonds (Cost — $8,934,074)

                        9,367,550   
U.S. Government & Agency Obligations — 1.8%                            

U.S. Government Obligations — 1.8%

                           

U.S. Treasury Bonds

    3.500   2/15/39     340,000        384,360   

U.S. Treasury Notes

    0.750   10/31/17     30,000        30,098   

U.S. Treasury Notes

    1.250   10/31/19     50,000        50,414   

U.S. Treasury Notes

    2.000   2/15/22     110,000        113,756   

Total U.S. Government & Agency Obligations (Cost — $492,989)

  

                578,628   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     19   

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Security          Expiration
Date
  Contracts     Value  
Purchased Options — 0.2%                            

U.S. Dollar/Eurodollar, Put @ $1.25

          2/4/13     2,088,000      $ 913   

U.S. Dollar/Japanese Yen, Put @ $83.00

          2/4/13     1,490,000        60,979   

Total Purchased Options (Cost — $23,422)

                        61,892   

Total Investments before Short-Term Investments (Cost — $25,614,491)

            27,114,225   
     Rate     Maturity
Date
  Face
Amount†
        
Short-Term Investments — 16.9%                            

Time Deposits — 7.3%

                           

Commerzbank AG

    0.100   1/2/13     500,647        500,647   

ING Bank

    0.130   1/2/13     300,525        300,525   

Rabobank London

    0.060   1/2/13     500,297        500,297   

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC

    0.080   1/2/13     500,534        500,534   

UBS AG London

    0.020   1/2/13     500,359        500,359   

Total Time Deposits (Cost — $2,302,362)

                        2,302,362   

Repurchase Agreements — 9.6%

                           

Barclays Capital Inc. repurchase agreement dated 12/31/12; Proceeds at maturity — $3,000,027; (Fully collateralized by U.S. government obligations, 0.250% due 9/15/15; Market value — $3,060,092)
(Cost — $3,000,000)

    0.160   1/2/13     3,000,000        3,000,000   

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost — $5,302,362)

                        5,302,362   

Total Investments — 103.1% (Cost — $30,916,853#)

                        32,416,587   

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (3.1)%

                        (987,283

Total Net Assets — 100.0%

                      $ 31,429,304   

 

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

 

(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 Directors, unless otherwise noted.

 

(b)

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

 

(c)

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

 

(d) 

This security is traded on a to-be-announced (“TBA”) basis (See Note 1).

 

# Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $30,917,429.

 

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

EUR   — Euro
GBP   — British Pound
MXN   — Mexican Peso
MYR   — Malaysian Ringgit
OJSC   — Open Joint Stock Company
PEN   — Peruvian Nuevo Sol
ZAR   — South African Rand

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

20   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Statement of assets and liabilities

December 31, 2012

 

Assets:         

Investments, at value (Cost — $30,916,853)

   $ 32,416,587   

Foreign currency, at value (Cost — $140,581)

     141,218   

Cash

     885,157   

Interest receivable

     408,860   

Receivable for securities sold

     604,962   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     43,421   

Deposits with brokers for open futures contracts

     40,009   

Receivable from broker — variation margin on open futures contracts

     7,766   

Receivable from investment manager

     6,220   

Receivable for Fund shares sold

     2,500   

Foreign currency collateral for open futures contract, at value (Cost — $69,381)

     71,054   

Prepaid expenses

     46,566   

Total Assets

     34,674,320   
Liabilities:         

Payable for securities purchased

     2,853,527   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     331,821   

Payable for offering and organization costs

     9,720   

Swaps, at value (premiums paid — $16,163)

     3,923   

Payable for open swap contracts

     937   

Service and/or distribution fees payable

     39   

Accrued expenses

     45,049   

Total Liabilities

     3,245,016   
Total Net Assets    $ 31,429,304   
Net Assets:         

Par value (Note 7)

   $ 3,009   

Paid-in capital in excess of par value

     30,253,883   

Overdistributed net investment income

     (11,035)   

Accumulated net realized loss on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions

     (30,537)   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments, futures contracts, swap contracts and foreign currencies

     1,213,984   
Total Net Assets    $ 31,429,304   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     21   

 

 

Shares Outstanding:         

Class A

     1,394   

Class C

     1,002   

Class FI

     10,422   

Class R

     1,005   

Class I

     10,470   

Class IS

     2,985,081   
Net Asset Value:         

Class A (and redemption price)

     $10.47   

Class C*

     $10.47   

Class FI (and redemption price)

     $10.47   

Class R (and redemption price)

     $10.47   

Class I (and redemption price)

     $10.47   

Class IS (and redemption price)

     $10.44   
Maximum Public Offering Price Per Share:         

Class A (based on maximum initial sales charge of 4.25%)

     $10.93   

 

* Redemption price per share is NAV of Class C shares reduced by 1.00% CDSC, if shares are redeemed within one year from purchase payment (See Note 2).

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

22   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Statement of operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

Investment Income:         

Interest

   $ 1,124,303   
Expenses:         

Investment management fee (Note 2)

     176,825   

Registration fees

     58,230   

Legal fees

     43,964   

Audit and tax

     42,615   

Shareholder reports (Note 5)

     38,251   

Fees recaptured by investment manager (Note 2)

     29,637   

Fund accounting fees

     21,455   

Custody fees

     17,310   

Transfer agent fees (Note 5)

     3,132   

Directors’ fees

     1,144   

Insurance

     459   

Service and/or distribution fees (Notes 2 and 5)

     382   

Miscellaneous expenses

     4,517   

Total Expenses

     437,921   

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (Notes 2 and 5)

     (233,178)   

Net Expenses

     204,743   
Net Investment Income      919,560   
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Futures Contracts, Swap Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions (Notes 1, 3 and 4):         

Net Realized Gain (Loss) From:

        

Investment transactions

     230,006   

Futures contracts

     (47,400)   

Swap contracts

     (64,313)   

Foreign currency transactions

     62,830   

Net Realized Gain

     181,123   

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From:

        

Investments

     1,743,772   

Futures contracts

     16,346   

Swap contracts

     (20,086)   

Foreign currencies

     (374,398)   

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

     1,365,634   
Net Gain on Investments, Futures Contracts, Swap Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions      1,546,757   
Increase in Net Assets from Operations    $ 2,466,317   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     23   

Statements of changes in net assets

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2012
and the Period Ended December 31, 2011
   2012      2011†  
Operations:                  

Net investment income

   $ 919,560       $ 271,073   

Net realized gain (loss)

     181,123         (134,482)   

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     1,365,634         (151,650)   

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations

     2,466,317         (15,059)   
Distributions to Shareholders From (Notes 1 and 6):                  

Net investment income

     (914,453)         (268,912)   

Net realized gains

     (134,059)           

Decrease in Net Assets From Distributions to Shareholders

     (1,048,512)         (268,912)   
Fund Share Transactions (Note 7):                  

Net proceeds from sale of shares

     9,025,765         20,000,000   

Reinvestment of distributions

     1,048,512         268,912   

Cost of shares repurchased

     (47,719)           

Increase in Net Assets From Fund Share Transactions

     10,026,558         20,268,912   

Increase in Net Assets

     11,444,363         19,984,941   
Net Assets:                  

Beginning of year

     19,984,941           

End of year*

   $ 31,429,304       $ 19,984,941   

*   Includes overdistributed net investment income of:

     $(11,035)         $(20,661)   

 

For the period July 29, 2011 (inception date) to December 31, 2011.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

24   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Financial highlights

 

For a share of each class of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended December 31,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class A Shares1    20122  
Net asset value, beginning of period      $10.23   
Income from operations:   

Net investment income

     0.19   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     0.36   

Total income from operations

     0.55   
Less distributions from:   

Net investment income

     (0.26)   

Net realized gains

     (0.05)   

Total distributions

     (0.31)   
Net asset value, end of period      $10.47   

Total return3

     5.38
Net assets, end of period (000s)      $15   
Ratios to average net assets:   

Gross expenses4

     2.11

Net expenses4,5,6,7

     1.25   

Net investment income4

     2.75   
Portfolio turnover rate8      49

 

1 

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2 

For the period April 30, 2012 (inception date) to December 31, 2012.

 

3 

Performance figures, exclusive of sales charges, 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. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Annualized.

 

5 

The impact of compensating balance arrangements, if any, was less than 0.01%.

 

6 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

7 

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions, taxes, extraordinary expenses and deferred organizational expenses, to average net assets of Class A shares did not exceed 1.25%. This expense limitation arrangement cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without the Board of Directors’ consent.

 

8 

Excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions. If mortgage dollar roll transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 196% for the period ended December 31, 2012.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     25   
For a share of each class of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended December 31,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class C Shares1    20122  
Net asset value, beginning of period      $10.23   
Income from operations:   

Net investment income

     0.14   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     0.36   

Total income from operations

     0.50   
Less distributions from:   

Net investment income

     (0.21)   

Net realized gains

     (0.05)   

Total distributions

     (0.26)   
Net asset value, end of period      $10.47   

Total return3

     4.88
Net assets, end of period (000s)      $10   
Ratios to average net assets:   

Gross expenses4

     2.87

Net expenses4,5,6,7

     2.00   

Net investment income4

     2.02   
Portfolio turnover rate8      49

 

1 

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2 

For the period April 30, 2012 (inception date) to December 31, 2012.

 

3 

Performance figures, exclusive of CDSC, 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. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Annualized.

 

5 

The impact of compensating balance arrangements, if any, was less than 0.01%.

 

6 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

7 

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions, taxes, extraordinary expenses and deferred organizational expenses, to average net assets of Class C shares did not exceed 2.00%. This expense limitation arrangement cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without the Board of Directors’ consent.

 

8 

Excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions. If mortgage dollar roll transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 196% for the period ended December 31, 2012.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

26   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Financial highlights (cont’d)

 

For a share of each class of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended December 31,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class FI Shares1    2012      20112  
Net asset value, beginning of year      $9.88         $10.00   
Income (loss) from operations:      

Net investment income

     0.30         0.12   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     0.63         (0.15)   

Total income (loss) from operations

     0.93         (0.03)   
Less distributions from:      

Net investment income

     (0.29)         (0.09)   

Net realized gains

     (0.05)           

Total distributions

     (0.34)         (0.09)   
Net asset value, end of year      $10.47         $9.88   

Total return3

     9.41      (0.26)
Net assets, end of year (000s)      $109         $100   
Ratios to average net assets:      

Gross expenses

     2.75 %4       4.06 %5 

Net expenses6,7,8

     1.20 4       1.20 5 

Net investment income

     2.94         2.85 5 
Portfolio turnover rate9      49      13

 

1 

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2 

For the period July 29, 2011 (inception date) to December 31, 2011.

 

3 

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. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Reflects recapture of expenses waived/reimbursed from prior fiscal years.

 

5 

Annualized.

 

6 

The impact of compensating balance arrangements, if any, was less than 0.01%.

 

7 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

8 

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions, taxes, extraordinary expenses and deferred organizational expenses, to average net assets of Class FI shares did not exceed 1.20%. This expense limitation arrangement cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without the Board of Directors’ consent.

 

9 

Excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions. If mortgage dollar roll transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 196% and 62% for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the period ended December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     27   
For a share of each class of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended December 31,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class R Shares1    20122  
Net asset value, beginning of period      $10.23   
Income from operations:   

Net investment income

     0.18   

Net realized and unrealized gain

     0.36   

Total income from operations

     0.54   
Less distributions from:   

Net investment income

     (0.25)   

Net realized gains

     (0.05)   

Total distributions

     (0.30)   
Net asset value, end of period      $10.47   

Total return3

     5.26
Net assets, end of period (000s)      $11   
Ratios to average net assets:   

Gross expenses4

     2.37

Net expenses4,5,6,7

     1.45   

Net investment income4

     2.57   
Portfolio turnover rate8      49

 

1 

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2 

For the period April 30, 2012 (inception date) to December 31, 2012.

 

3 

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. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Annualized.

 

5 

The impact of compensating balance arrangements, if any, was less than 0.01%.

 

6 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

7 

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions, taxes, extraordinary expenses and deferred organizational expenses, to average net assets of Class R shares did not exceed 1.45%. This expense limitation arrangement cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without the Board of Directors’ consent.

 

8 

Excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions. If mortgage dollar roll transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 196% for the period ended December 31, 2012.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

28   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Financial highlights (cont’d)

 

For a share of each class of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended December 31,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class I Shares1    2012      20112  
Net asset value, beginning of year      $9.88         $10.00   
Income (loss) from operations:      

Net investment income

     0.34         0.13   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     0.62         (0.15)   

Total income (loss) from operations

     0.96         (0.02)   
Less distributions from:      

Net investment income

     (0.32)         (0.10)   

Net realized gains

     (0.05)           

Total distributions

     (0.37)         (0.10)   
Net asset value, end of year      $10.47         $9.88   

Total return3

     9.78      (0.14)
Net assets, end of year (000s)      $109         $100   
Ratios to average net assets:      

Gross expenses

     2.49 %4       3.80 %5 

Net expenses6,7,8

     0.82 4       0.85 5 

Net investment income

     3.33         3.21 5 
Portfolio turnover rate9      49      13

 

1 

Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2 

For the period July 29, 2011 (inception date) to December 31, 2011.

 

3 

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. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Reflects recapture of expenses waived/reimbursed from prior fiscal years.

 

5 

Annualized.

 

6 

The impact of compensating balance arrangements, if any, was less than 0.01%.

 

7 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

8 

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions, taxes, extraordinary expenses and deferred organizational expenses, to average net assets of Class I shares did not exceed 0.85%. This expense limitation arrangement cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without the Board of Directors’ consent.

 

9 

Excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions. If mortgage dollar roll transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 196% and 62% for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the period ended December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     29   
For a share of each class of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended December 31,
unless otherwise noted:
 
Class IS Shares1    2012      20112  
Net asset value, beginning of year      $9.86         $10.00   
Income (loss) from operations:      

Net investment income

     0.35         0.14   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

     0.61         (0.15)   

Total income (loss) from operations

     0.96         (0.01)   
Less distributions from:      

Net investment income

     (0.33)         (0.13)   

Net realized gains

     (0.05)           

Total distributions

     (0.38)         (0.13)   
Net asset value, end of year      $10.44         $9.86   

Total return3

     9.80      (0.04)
Net assets, end of year (000s)      $31,175         $19,785   
Ratios to average net assets:      

Gross expenses

     1.60 %4       2.58 %5 

Net expenses6,7,8

     0.75 4       0.75 5 

Net investment income

     3.38         3.30 5 
Portfolio turnover rate9      49      13

 

1 Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method.

 

2 

For the period July 29, 2011 (inception date) to December 31, 2011.

 

3 

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. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

4 

Reflects recapture of expenses waived/reimbursed from prior fiscal years.

 

5 

Annualized.

 

6 

The impact of compensating balance arrangements, if any, was less than 0.01%.

 

7 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

8 

As a result of an expense limitation arrangement, the ratio of expenses, other than interest, brokerage commissions, taxes, extraordinary expenses and deferred organizational expenses, to average net assets of Class IS shares did not exceed 0.75%. This expense limitation arrangement cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without the Board of Directors’ consent.

 

9 

Excluding mortgage dollar roll transactions. If mortgage dollar roll transactions had been included, the portfolio turnover rate would have been 196% and 62% for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the period ended December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.


 

30   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund (formerly, Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Portfolio) (the “Fund”) is a separate non-diversified investment series of Western Asset Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”). The Corporation, a Maryland corporation, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company.

The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds 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. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Short-term fixed income securities that will mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, unless it is determined that using this method would not reflect an investment’s fair value. Futures contracts are valued daily at the settlement price established by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will normally use the currency exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). If independent third party pricing services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices supplied are deemed by the manager to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the manager using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing service or pricing broker. When reliable prices are not readily available, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund values these securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the valuation process and has delegated the supervision of the daily valuation process to the Legg Mason North American Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee, pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Directors, is responsible for making


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     31   

fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Board of Directors. When determining the reliability of third party pricing information for investments owned by the Fund, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of pricing vendors, monitors the daily change in prices and reviews transactions among market participants.

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

For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Directors, 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 Directors 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:

 

Ÿ  

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

Ÿ  

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

 

Ÿ  

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

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


 

32   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

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

 

ASSETS  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  
Long-term investments†:                                

Corporate bonds & notes

         $ 14,252,709             $ 14,252,709   

Mortgage-backed securities

           2,853,446               2,853,446   

Sovereign bonds

           9,367,550               9,367,550   

U.S. government & agency obligations

           578,628               578,628   

Purchased options

           61,892               61,892   
Total long-term investments          $ 27,114,225             $ 27,114,225   
Short-term investments†            5,302,362               5,302,362   
Total investments          $ 32,416,587             $ 32,416,587   
Other financial instruments:                                

Futures contracts

  $ 17,321                      17,321   

Forward foreign currency contracts

            43,421               43,421   
Total other financial instruments   $ 17,321      $ 43,421             $ 60,742   
Total   $ 17,321      $ 32,460,008             $ 32,477,329   

 

LIABILITIES  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  
Other financial instruments:                                

Forward foreign currency contracts

         $ 331,821             $ 331,821   

Credit default swaps on credit indices — sell protection‡

           3,923               3,923   
Total           $ 335,744             $ 335,744   

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

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

(b) Repurchase agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that its investment adviser has determined are creditworthy. Each repurchase agreement is recorded at cost. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Fund acquires a debt security subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and of the Fund to resell, the security at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the yield during the Fund’s holding period. When entering into repurchase agreements, it is the Fund’s policy that its custodian or a third party custodian, acting on the Fund’s behalf, take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the market value of which, at all times, at least equals the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction maturity exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market and measured against the value of the agreement in


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     33   

an effort to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund generally has the right to use the collateral to satisfy the terms of the repurchase transaction. However, if the market value of the collateral declines during the period in which the Fund seeks to assert its rights or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.

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

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

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

(d) Forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund enters into a forward foreign currency contract to hedge against foreign currency exchange rate risk on its non-U.S. dollar denominated securities or to facilitate settlement of a foreign currency denominated portfolio transaction. A forward foreign currency contract is an agreement between two parties to buy and sell a currency at a set price with delivery and settlement at a future date. The contract is marked-to-market daily and the change in value is recorded by the Fund as an unrealized gain or loss. When a forward foreign currency contract is closed, through either delivery or offset by entering into another forward foreign currency contract, the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value of the contract at the time it is closed.

Forward foreign currency contracts involve elements of market risk in excess of the amounts reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The Fund bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the foreign exchange rate underlying the forward foreign currency contract. Risks may also arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of the counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.

(e) Foreign currency translation. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based


 

34   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

upon prevailing exchange rates on the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of such transactions.

The Fund does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investments.

Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, including gains and losses on forward foreign currency contracts, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, on the date of valuation, resulting from changes in exchange rates.

Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of U.S. dollar denominated transactions as a result of, among other factors, the possibility of lower levels of governmental supervision and regulation of foreign securities markets and the possibility of political or economic instability.

(f) Securities traded on a to-be-announced basis. The Fund may trade securities on a to-be-announced (“TBA”) basis. In a TBA transaction, the Fund commits to purchasing or selling securities which have not yet been issued by the issuer and for which specific information, such as the face amount, maturity date and underlying pool of investments in U.S. government agency mortgage pass-through securities, is not announced. Securities purchased on a TBA basis are not settled until they are delivered to the Fund. Beginning on the date the Fund enters into a TBA transaction, cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid high-grade debt obligations are segregated in an amount equal in value to the purchase price of the TBA security. These securities are subject to market fluctuations and their current value is determined in the same manner as for other securities.

(g) Mortgage dollar rolls. The Fund may enter into mortgage dollar rolls in which the Fund sells mortgage-backed securities for delivery in the current month, realizing a gain or loss, and simultaneously contracts to repurchase substantially similar (same type, coupon and maturity) securities to settle on a specified future date.

The Fund executes its mortgage dollar rolls entirely in the TBA market, whereby the Fund makes a forward commitment to purchase a security and, instead of accepting delivery, the position is offset by a sale of the security with a simultaneous agreement to repurchase at a future date. The Fund accounts for mortgage dollar rolls as purchases and sales.

The risk of entering into mortgage dollar rolls is that the market value of the securities the Fund is obligated to repurchase under the agreement may decline below


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     35   

the repurchase price. In the event the buyer of securities under a mortgage dollar roll files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the mortgage dollar roll may be restricted pending a determination by the counterparty, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities.

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

Swap contracts are marked-to-market daily and changes in value are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). Gains or losses are realized upon termination of the swap agreement. Collateral, in the form of restricted cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the Fund’s custodian in compliance with the terms of the swap contracts. Securities posted as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is identified on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risks may exceed amounts recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These risks include changes in the returns of the underlying instruments, failure of the counterparties to perform under the contracts’ terms, and the possible lack of liquidity with respect to the swap agreements.

Payments received or made at the beginning of the measurement period are reflected as a premium or deposit, respectively, on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These upfront payments are amortized over the life of the swap and are recognized as realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Fund are recognized as a realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations.

The Fund’s maximum exposure in the event of a defined credit event on a credit default swap to sell protection is the notional amount. As of December 31, 2012, the total notional value of all credit default swaps to sell protection is $425,000. This amount would be offset by the value of the swap’s reference entity, upfront premiums received on the swap and any amounts received from the settlement of a credit default swap where the Fund bought protection for the same referenced security/entity.

For average notional amounts of swaps held during the year ended December 31, 2012, see Note 4.

Credit default swaps

The Fund enters into credit default swap (“CDS”) contracts for investment purposes, to manage its credit risk or to add leverage. CDS agreements involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a default by a third party, typically corporate or sovereign issuers, on a specified obligation, or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index. The Fund may use a CDS to provide protection against


 

36   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

defaults of the issuers (i.e., to reduce risk where the Fund has exposure to an issuer) or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default. As a seller of protection, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a stream of payments throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Fund could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. These amounts of potential payments will be partially offset by any recovery of values from the respective referenced obligations. As a seller of protection, the Fund effectively adds leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.

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

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

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


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     37   

(i) Credit and market risk. The Fund invests in high-yield and emerging market instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high-yield and emerging market debt obligations reflect, among other things, perceived credit and market risks. The Fund’s investments in securities rated below investment grade typically involve risks not associated with higher rated securities including, among others, greater risk related to timely and ultimate payment of interest and principal, greater market price volatility and less liquid secondary market trading. The consequences of political, social, economic or diplomatic changes may have disruptive effects on the market prices of investments held by the Fund. The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may also result in foreign currency losses caused by devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations.

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

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

(k) Counterparty risk and credit-risk-related contingent features of derivative instruments. The Fund may invest in certain securities or engage in other transactions, where the Fund is exposed to counterparty credit risk in addition to broader market risks. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers, which may also be considered counterparties as trading partners in other transactions. This may increase the risk of loss in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty or if the counterparty otherwise fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Fund’s investment manager attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. Market events and changes in overall economic conditions may impact the assessment of such counterparty risk by the investment manager. In addition, declines in the values of underlying collateral received may expose the Fund to increased risk of loss.


 

38   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

The Fund has entered into master agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that provide for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral, events of default or termination and credit related contingent features. The credit related contingent features include, but are not limited to, a percentage decrease in the Fund’s net assets or NAV over a specified period of time. If these credit related contingent features were triggered, the derivatives counterparty could terminate the positions and demand payment or require additional collateral.

As of December 31, 2012, the Fund held forward foreign currency contracts and credit default swaps with credit related contingent features which had a liability position of $335,744. If a contingent feature in the master agreements would have been triggered, the Fund would have been required to pay this amount to its derivatives counterparties.

(l) Security transactions and investment income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Foreign dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or as soon as practicable after the Fund determines the existence of a dividend declaration after exercising reasonable due diligence. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method. To the extent any issuer defaults or a credit event occurs that impacts the issuer, the Fund may halt any additional interest income accruals and consider the realizability of interest accrued up to the date of default or credit event.

(m) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid on a quarterly basis. Distributions of net realized gains, if any, are declared at least annually. Distributions to shareholders of the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

(n) Share class accounting. Investment income, common expenses and realized/unrealized gains (losses) on investments are allocated to the various classes of the Fund on the basis of daily net assets of each class. Fees relating to a specific class are charged directly to that share class.

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

(p) Federal and other taxes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute its taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of December 31, 2012, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal and


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     39   

state income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

Under the applicable foreign tax laws, a withholding tax may be imposed on interest, dividends and capital gains at various rates.

(q) Reclassification. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. During the current year, the following reclassifications have been made:

 

        Overdistributed Net
Investment Income
       Accumulated Net
Realized Loss
 
(a)      $ 4,519         $ (4,519)   

 

(a) 

Reclassifications are primarily due to foreign currency transactions treated as ordinary income for tax purposes, losses from mortgage backed securities treated as capital losses for tax purposes, and book/tax differences in the treatment of swap contracts.

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

The Fund has an investment management agreement with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”). Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”) is the investment adviser. Western Asset Management Company Limited (“Western Asset Limited”), Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Singapore”) and Western Asset Management Company Ltd (“Western Japan”) share advisory responsibilities with Western Asset. LMPFA, Western Asset, Western Asset Limited, Western Singapore and Western Japan are wholly owned subsidiaries of Legg Mason, Inc (“Legg Mason”).

LMPFA provides the Fund with investment management and administrative services for which the Fund pays a fee calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.65% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

The investment manager has agreed to waive fees and/or reimburse operating expenses (other than interest, broker commissions, taxes, extraordinary expenses and deferred organizational expenses) so that total operating expenses are not expected to exceed 1.25%, 2.00%, 1.20%, 1.45%, 0.85% and 0.75% for Class A, Class C, Class FI, Class R, Class I and Class IS shares, respectively. Western Asset, Western Asset Limited, Western Singapore and Western Japan also agreed to waive their advisory fees (which are paid by LMPFA and not the Fund) under corresponding amounts under the Fee Cap. These arrangements cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2014 without the Board of Directors’ consent.

During the year ended December 31, 2012, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed amounted to $233,178.

The investment manager is permitted to recapture amounts waived or reimbursed to a class within three years after the day on which the investment manager earned the fee or incurred the expense if the class’ total annual operating expenses have fallen to a level below the lower of the limit described above or the limit then in effect.


 

40   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

Effective July 1, 2012, the investment manager is permitted to recapture amounts waived and/or reimbursed to a class within two years after the fiscal year in which the investment manager earned the fee or incurred the expense if the class’ total annual operating expenses have fallen to a level below the lower of the limit described above. In no case will the investment manager recapture any amount that would result, on any particular business day of the Fund, in the class’ total annual expenses exceeding this limit or any other lower limit then in effect.

Pursuant to the new arrangements, at December 31, 2012, the Fund had remaining fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements subject to recapture by LMPFA and respective dates of expiration as follows:

 

     Class A     Class C     Class FI     Class R     Class I     Class IS  
Expires December 31, 2013                 $ 265            $ 315     $ 120,227   
Expires December 31, 2014   $ 64      $ 59        1,615      $ 64        1,750        229,626   
Total fee waivers/expense reimbursements subject to recapture   $ 64      $ 59      $ 1,880      $ 64      $ 2,065      $ 349,853   

For the year ended December 31, 2012, LMPFA recaptured $906, $898 and $27,833 for Class FI, I and IS shares, respectively.

Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC (“LMIS”), a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Legg Mason, serves as the Fund’s sole and exclusive distributor.

There is a maximum initial sales charge of 4.25% for Class A shares. Class C shares have a 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge (“CDSC”), which applies if redemption occurs within 12 months from purchase payment. In certain cases, Class A shares have a 1.00% CDSC, which applies if redemption occurs within 18 months from purchase payment. This CDSC only applies to those purchases of Class A shares, which, when combined with current holdings of other shares of funds sold by LMIS, equal or exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate. These purchases do not incur an initial sales charge.

For the year ended December 31, 2012, LMIS and its affiliates did not receive sales charges on sales of the Fund’s Class A shares. In addition, there were no CDSC’s paid to LMIS and its affiliates for the year ended December 31, 2012.

3. Investments

During the year ended December 31, 2012, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding short-term investments) and U.S Government & Agency Obligations were as follow:

 

        Investments        U.S. Government & Agency Obligations  
Purchases      $ 12,009,743         $ 41,652,590   
Sales        3,995,855           40,170,885   

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

 

Gross unrealized appreciation      $ 1,683,693   
Gross unrealized depreciation        (184,535)   
Net unrealized appreciation      $ 1,499,158   


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     41   

At December 31, 2012, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:

 

      Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Basis
Value
     Market
Value
     Unrealized
Gain
 
Contracts to Sell:                                             
U.S. Treasury 5-Year Notes      2         3/13       $ 248,970       $ 248,828       $ 142   
U.S. Treasury 10-Year Notes      25         3/13         3,331,340         3,319,531         11,809   
U.S. Treasury 30-Year Bonds      4         3/13         595,370         590,000         5,370   
Net unrealized gain on open futures contracts       $ 17,321   

At December 31, 2012, the Fund held TBA securities with a total cost of $2,749,105.

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

 

Foreign Currency   Counterparty   Local
Currency
    Market
Value
    Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Gain (Loss)
 
Contracts to Buy:                                    
Brazilian Real   JPMorgan Chase Bank     1,112,278      $ 540,472        2/8/13      $ (705)   
Brazilian Real   JPMorgan Chase Bank     200,000        97,183        2/8/13        3,286   
Indian Rupee   JPMorgan Chase Bank     15,250,000        276,174        2/8/13        (2,110)   
Malaysian Ringgit   Citibank N.A.     120,000        39,134        2/8/13        (82)   
Russian Ruble   Deutsche Bank AG     8,880,000        288,682        2/8/13        10,939   
South Korean Won   JPMorgan Chase Bank     115,000,000        107,153        2/8/13        2,864   
Australian Dollar   Barclays Bank PLC     120,000        124,190        2/15/13        (16)   
Canadian Dollar   JPMorgan Chase Bank     640,004        642,800        2/15/13        (3,173)   
Euro   Deutsche Bank AG     347,153        458,408        2/15/13        12,227   
Japanese Yen   Citibank N.A.     19,551,875        225,764        2/15/13        (18,876)   
Japanese Yen   JPMorgan Chase Bank     85,899,900        991,878        2/15/13        (78,139)   
Japanese Yen   UBS AG     84,451,580        975,154        2/15/13        (76,692)   
Mexican Peso   Citibank N.A.     2,462,000        189,667        2/15/13        3,060   
South African Rand   Deutsche Bank AG     823,000        96,466        2/15/13        5,264   
Swedish Krona   UBS AG     1,266,572        194,555        2/15/13        5,124   
                                  (137,029)   
Contracts to Sell:                                    
Malaysian Ringgit   Citibank N.A.     120,000      $ 39,134        2/8/13        (132)   
Russian Ruble   Deutsche Bank AG     8,880,000        288,682        2/8/13        (12,413)   
Australian Dollar   JPMorgan Chase Bank     120,000        124,190        2/15/13        323   
British Pound   Barclays Bank PLC     170,000        276,120        2/15/13        (4,420)   
British Pound   JPMorgan Chase Bank     504,736        819,809        2/15/13        (11,983)   
Euro   Barclays Bank PLC     600,000        792,285        2/15/13        (23,159)   
Euro   Citibank N.A.     145,645        192,320        2/15/13        (6,658)   
Euro   HSBC Bank     237,560        313,692        2/15/13        334   
Euro   HSBC Bank     1,000,000        1,320,476        2/15/13        (26,316)   
Euro   JPMorgan Chase Bank     1,701,460        2,246,737        2/15/13        (58,322)   
Mexican Peso   Deutsche Bank AG     2,466,665        190,026        2/15/13        (1,118)   
South African Rand   Deutsche Bank AG     2,523,217        295,753        2/15/13        (7,507)   
                                $ (151,371)   
Net unrealized loss on open forward foreign currency contracts      $ (288,400)   


 

42   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

At December 31, 2012, the Fund held the following open swap contracts:

 

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS ON CREDIT INDICES — SELL PROTECTION1  
Swap Counterparty
(Reference Entity)
  Notional
Amount2
    Termination
Date
    Periodic
Payments
Received By
The Fund†
  Market
Value3
    Upfront
Premiums
Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Depreciation
 
Barclays Capital Inc.
(MARKIT ITRX.EUR.XOVER Index)
  $ 425,000        12/20/17      5.000% quarterly   $ (3,923)      $ 16,163      $ (20,086)   

 

1 

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

 

2 

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

 

3 

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

 

Percentage shown is an annual percentage rate.

4. Derivative instruments and hedging activities

GAAP requires enhanced disclosure about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities.

Below is a table, grouped by derivative type, that provides information about the fair value and the location of derivatives within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at December 31, 2012.

 

ASSET DERIVATIVES1  
      Interest Rate
Risk
     Foreign
Exchange Risk
     Total  
Purchased options2            $ 61,892       $ 61,892   
Futures contracts3    $ 17,321                 17,321   
Forward foreign currency contracts              43,421         43,421   
Total    $ 17,321       $ 105,313       $ 122,634   

 

LIABILITY DERIVATIVES1  
      Foreign
Exchange Risk
     Credit
Risk
     Total  
Swap contracts4            $ 3,923       $ 3,923   
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 331,821                 331,821   
Total    $ 331,821       $ 3,923       $ 335,744   

 

1 

Generally, the balance sheet location for asset derivatives is receivables/net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and for liability derivatives is payables/net unrealized appreciation (depreciation).

 

2 

Market value of purchased options is reported in Investments at value in the Statement of assets and Liabilities.

 

3

Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the footnotes. Only variation margin is reported within the receivables and/or payables of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

4

Values include premiums paid (received) on swap contracts which are shown separately in the Statement of assets and Liabilities.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     43   

The following tables provide information about the effect of derivatives and hedging activities on the Fund’s Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2012. The first table provides additional detail about the amounts and sources of gains (losses) realized on derivatives during the period. The second table provides additional information about the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from the Fund’s derivatives and hedging activities during the period.

 

AMOUNT OF REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED  
      Interest Rate
Risk
     Foreign
Exchange Risk
     Credit
Risk
     Total  
Purchased options1    $ (14,824)       $ (5,827)               $ (20,651)   
Futures contracts      (47,400)                         (47,400)   
Swap contracts                    $ (64,313)         (64,313)   
Forward foreign currency contracts              61,668                 61,668   
Total    $ (62,224)       $ 55,841       $ (64,313)       $ (70,696)   

 

1 

Net realized gain (loss) from purchased options is reported in net realized gain (loss) from investment transactions in the Statement of Operations.

 

CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED  
      Interest Rate
Risk
     Foreign
Exchange Risk
     Credit
Risk
     Total  
Purchased options1            $ 38,470               $ 38,470   
Futures contracts    $ 16,346                         16,346   
Swap contracts                    $ (20,086)         (20,086)   
Forward foreign currency contracts              (393,402)                 (393,402)   
Total    $ 16,346       $ (354,932)       $ (20,086)       $ (358,672)   

 

1 

The change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from purchased options is reported in the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from investments in the Statement of Operations.

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

 

        Average Market
Value
 
Purchased options      $ 14,293   
Futures contracts (to buy)†        334,855   
Futures contracts (to sell)        2,643,655   
Forward foreign currency contracts (to buy)        5,133,100   
Forward foreign currency contracts (to sell)        4,998,884   
        Average Notional
Balance
 
Credit default swap contracts (to sell protection)      $ 261,538   

 

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

5. Class specific expenses, waivers and/or expense reimbursements

The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 distribution plan and under that plan the Fund pays a service and/or distribution fee with respect to its Class A, Class C, Class FI and Class R shares calculated at the annual rate of 0.25%, 1.00%, 0.25% and 0.50% of the


 

44   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

average daily net assets of each respective class. Service and distribution fees are accrued and paid monthly.

The Rule 12b-1 plan for Class FI shares provides for payment of distribution and service fees to LMIS at an annual rate of up to 0.40% of the class’ average net assets, subject to the authority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation to set a lower amount. The Board of Directors has currently approved payments under the plan of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Class FI shares.

For the year ended December 31, 2012, class specific expenses were as follows:

 

        Service and/or
Distribution Fees
       Transfer Agent
Fees
       Shareholder  Reports1  
Class A2      $ 19         $ 17         $ 1   
Class C2        68           17           1   
Class FI        261           13           143   
Class R2        34           18           1   
Class I                  13           143   
Class IS                  3,054           6,355   
Total      $ 382         $ 3,132         $ 6,644   

 

1 

For the period January 1, 2012 through May 31, 2012 (unless otherwise noted). Subsequent to May 31, 2012, the expenses were accrued as common fund expenses.

 

2 

For the period April 30, 2012 (inception date) to December 31, 2012.

For the year ended December 31, 2012, waivers and/or expense reimbursements by class were as follows:

 

        Waivers/Expense
Reimbursements
 
Class A1      $ 64   
Class C1        59   
Class FI        1,615   
Class R1        64   
Class I        1,750   
Class IS        229,626   
Total      $ 233,178   

 

1 

For the period April 30, 2012 (inception date) to December 31, 2012.

6. Distributions to shareholders by class

 

        Year Ended
December 31, 2012
       Period Ended
December 31, 20111
 
Net Investment Income:                      
Class A2      $ 287             
Class C2        206             
Class FI        2,921         $ 932   
Class R2        243             
Class I        3,296           1,048   
Class IS        907,500           266,932   
Total      $ 914,453         $ 268,912   


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     45   
        Year Ended
December 31, 2012
       Period Ended
December 31, 20111
 
Net Realized Gains:                      
Class A2      $ 62             
Class C2        45             
Class FI        464             
Class R2        45             
Class I        466             
Class IS        132,977             
Total      $ 134,059             

 

1 

For the period July 29, 2011 (inception date) to December 31, 2011.

 

2 

For the period April 30, 2012 (inception date) to December 31, 2012.

7. Capital shares

At December 31, 2012, the Corporation had 37.5 billion shares of capital stock authorized with a par value of $0.001 per share. Transactions in shares of each class were as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2012
     Period Ended
December 31, 20111
 
      Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Class A2                                    
Shares sold      1,360       $ 14,000                   
Shares issued on reinvestment      34         349                   
Net increase      1,394       $ 14,349                   
Class C2                                    
Shares sold      977       $ 10,000                   
Shares issued on reinvestment      25         251                   
Net increase      1,002       $ 10,251                   
Class FI                                    
Shares sold                      10,000       $ 100,000   
Shares issued on reinvestment      327       $ 3,385         95         932   
Net increase      327       $ 3,385         10,095       $ 100,932   
Class R2                                    
Shares sold      977       $ 10,000                   
Shares issued on reinvestment      28         288                   
Net increase      1,005       $ 10,288                   
Class I                                    
Shares sold                      10,000       $ 100,000   
Shares issued on reinvestment      363       $ 3,762         107         1,048   
Net increase      363       $ 3,762         10,107       $ 101,048   


 

46   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report

Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

     Year Ended
December 31, 2012
     Period Ended
December 31, 20111
 
      Shares      Amount      Shares      Amount  
Class IS                                    
Shares sold      881,387       $ 8,991,765         1,980,000       $ 19,800,000   
Shares issued on reinvestment      101,074         1,040,477         27,262         266,932   
Shares repurchased      (4,642)         (47,719)                   
Net increase      977,819       $ 9,984,523         2,007,262       $ 20,066,932   

 

1 

For the period July 29, 2011 (inception date) to December 31, 2011.

 

2 

For the period April 30, 2012 (inception date) to December 31, 2012.

8. Income tax information and distributions to shareholders

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended December 31, were as follows:

 

        2012        2011  
Distributions Paid From:                      
Ordinary income      $ 1,002,934         $ 268,912   
Net long-term capital gains        45,578             
Total taxable distributions      $ 1,048,512         $ 268,912   

As of December 31, 2012, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income — net      $ 9,343   
Undistributed long-term capital gains — net        47,380   
Total undistributed earnings      $ 56,723   
Other book/tax temporary differences(a)        (97,719)   
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(b)        1,213,408   
Total accumulated earnings (losses) — net      $ 1,172,412   

During the taxable year ended December 31, 2012, the Fund utilized $35,708 of its capital loss carryforward available from prior years.

 

(a) 

Other book/tax temporary differences are attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on straddles, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains (losses) on certain options, futures and foreign currency contracts, the late year loss deferral for tax purposes and book/tax differences in the timing of the deductibility of various expenses.

 

(b) 

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund 2012 Annual Report     47   

Report of independent registered public accounting firm

 

To the Board of Directors of Western Asset Funds Inc. and to the Shareholders of Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund:

In our opinion, the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets and the financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund (the “Fund”) at December 31, 2012, the results of its operations, the changes in its net assets, and the financial highlights for each of the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements and financial highlights (hereafter referred to as “financial statements”) are the responsibility of the Fund’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits, which included confirmation of securities at December 31, 2012 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Baltimore, Maryland

February 21, 2013


 

48   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

Board approval of management and advisory agreements (unaudited)

 

The Executive and Contracts Committee of the Board of Directors considered the Investment Management Agreement between the Corporation and LMPFA with respect to the Fund and the Investment Advisory Agreements between LMPFA and Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”), Western Asset Management Company Limited in London (“WAML”), Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. in Singapore (“Western Singapore”) and Western Asset Management Company Ltd in Japan (“Western Japan,” and together with Western Singapore and WAML the “Non-U.S. Advisers” and together with Western Asset, the “Advisers”) (collectively, the “Agreements”) with respect to the Fund at meetings held on September 10, October 18 and October 25, 2012. At a meeting held on November 13, 2012, the Executive and Contracts Committee reported to the full Board of Directors its considerations and recommendation with respect to the Agreements, and the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors, considered and approved renewal of the Agreements.

The Directors noted that although Western Asset’s business is operated through separate legal entities, such as the Non-U.S. Advisers, its business is highly integrated and senior investment personnel at Western Asset have supervisory oversight responsibility over the investment decisions made by the Non-U.S. Advisers. Therefore, in connection with their deliberations noted below, the Directors primarily focused on the information provided by Western Asset when considering the approval of the Investment Advisory Agreements between LMPFA and the Non-U.S. Advisers with respect to the Fund. The Directors also noted that the Fund does not pay any management fees directly to Western Asset or to any of the Non-U.S. Advisers because LMPFA pays the Advisers for services provided to the Fund out of the management fee LMPFA receives from the Fund.

In arriving at their decision to renew the Agreements, the Directors met with representatives of Western Asset, including relevant investment advisory personnel, as well as representatives of LMPFA; reviewed a variety of information prepared by LMPFA and Western Asset and materials provided by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) and counsel to the Independent Directors; reviewed performance and expense information for the Fund’s peer group of comparable funds selected and prepared by Lipper and for certain other comparable products available from Western Asset, including separate accounts managed by Western Asset; and requested and reviewed additional information as necessary. These reviews were in addition to information obtained by the Directors at their regular quarterly meetings with respect to the Fund’s performance and other relevant matters, and related discussions with Western Asset’s personnel.

As part of their review, the Directors examined LMPFA’s ability to provide high quality oversight and administrative and shareholder support services to the Fund, and the Advisers’ ability to provide high quality investment management services to the Fund. The Directors considered the experience of LMPFA’s personnel in providing the types of services that LMPFA is responsible for providing to the Fund; the ability of LMPFA to attract and retain capable personnel; the capability and integrity of LMPFA’s senior management and staff; and the level of skill required to provide


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund     49   

 

such services to the Fund. The Directors considered the investment philosophy and research and decision-making processes of the Advisers; the experience of their key advisory personnel responsible for management of the Fund; the ability of the Advisers to attract and retain capable research and advisory personnel; the capability and integrity of the Advisers’ senior management and staff; and the level of skill required to manage the Fund. In addition, the Directors reviewed the quality of LMPFA’s and the Advisers’ services with respect to regulatory compliance and compliance with the investment policies of the Fund and conditions that might affect LMPFA’s or an Adviser’s ability to provide high quality services to the Fund in the future under the Agreements, including its business reputation, financial condition and operational stability. Based on the foregoing, the Directors concluded that the Advisers’ investment process, research capabilities and philosophy were well suited to the Fund given the Fund’s investment objectives and policies, and that LMPFA and each of the Advisers would be able to meet any reasonably foreseeable obligations under the Agreements.

In reviewing the quality of the services provided to the Fund, the Directors also reviewed comparisons of the performance of the Fund to the performance of certain comparable funds in its peer group and to its investment benchmark over the one-year period ended August 31, 2012. In that connection, the Directors noted that the performance of the Fund was slightly higher than its peer average performance for the one-year period. With respect to the Fund, the Directors considered the factors involved in its performance relative to the performance of its investment benchmark and peer group.

The Directors also considered the management fee payable by the Fund to LMPFA, the total expenses payable by the Fund and the fact that LMPFA pays to the Advisers the entire management fee it receives from the Fund. They reviewed information concerning management fees paid to investment advisers of similarly-managed funds, as well as fees paid by the Advisers’ other clients, including separate accounts managed by one or more of the Advisers. The Directors observed that the contractual management fee rate paid by the Fund to LMPFA was slightly higher than the average of the contractual fee rate paid by funds in its peer group and that total expenses for the Fund were slightly higher than the average of the funds in its peer group. The Directors noted that the management fee paid by the Fund was generally higher than the fees paid by other clients of the Advisers for accounts with similar investment strategies, but that the administrative and operational responsibilities for the Advisers with respect to the Fund were also relatively higher. In light of this difference, the Directors concluded that the management fee paid by the Fund relative to the fees paid by the Advisers’ other clients was reasonable.

The Directors further evaluated the benefits of the advisory relationship to LMPFA and the Advisers, including, among others, the profitability of the relationship to LMPFA and the Advisers; the direct and indirect benefits that LMPFA and each Adviser may receive from its relationship with the Fund, including any “fallout benefits,” such as reputational value derived from serving as investment manager or adviser to the Fund; and the affiliations between LMPFA, the Advisers and certain


 

50   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

Board approval of management and advisory agreements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

service providers for the Fund. In that connection, the Directors concluded that LMPFA and each Adviser’s profitability was consistent with levels of profitability that had been determined by courts not to be excessive. The Directors noted that Western Asset does not have soft dollar arrangements.

Finally, the Directors considered, in light of the profitability information provided by LMPFA and Western Asset, the extent to which economies of scale would be realized by the Advisers as the assets of the Fund grow. The Directors determined that the lack of breakpoints was appropriate and that the management fee structure for the Fund is reasonable.

In their deliberations with respect to these matters, the Independent Directors were advised by their independent counsel, who is independent of LMPFA and the Advisers within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding the independence of counsel. The Independent Directors weighed each of the foregoing matters in light of the advice given to them by their independent counsel as to the law applicable to the review of investment advisory contracts. In arriving at a decision, the Directors, including the Independent Directors, did not identify any single matter as all-important or controlling, and the foregoing summary does not detail all the matters considered. The Directors judged the terms and conditions of the Agreements, including the investment advisory fees, in light of all of the surrounding circumstances.

Based upon their review, the Directors, including all of the Independent Directors, determined, in the exercise of their business judgment, that they were generally satisfied with the quality of services being provided by LMPFA and the Advisers, but would continue to closely monitor the performance of LMPFA and the Advisers; that the fees to be paid to the Advisers and LMPFA under the relevant Agreements were fair and reasonable, given the scope and quality of the services rendered by the Advisers and LMPFA; and that approval of the Agreements was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund     51   

Additional information (unaudited)

Information about Directors and Officers

 

The business and affairs of Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund (the “Fund”) are conducted by management under the supervision and subject to the direction of its Board of Directors. The business address of each Director is 100 International Drive, Attn: Fund Secretary, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Information pertaining to the Directors and Officers of the Fund is set forth below.

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about Directors and is available, without charge, upon request by calling the Fund at 1-877-721-1926.

 

Independent Directors†    
Ronald J. Arnault  
Year of birth   1943
Position(s) held with Fund   Director
Term of office and length of time served1   Served since 1997
Principal occupations during the past five years   Retired.
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen2   12
Other directorships held   None

Anita L. DeFrantz

 

Year of birth

 

1952

Position(s) held with Fund

 

Director

Term of office and length of time served1

 

Served since 1998

Principal occupations during the past five years

 

President (1987-present) and Director (1990-present) of LA84 (formerly Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles); Director of Kids in Sports (1994-present); Vice President, International Rowing Federation (1995-present); Member of the International Olympic Committee (1986-present).

Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen2

 

12

Other directorships held

 

OBN Holdings, Inc. (film, television and media company)

Avedick B. Poladian  
Year of birth   1951
Position(s) held with Fund   Director
Term of office and length of time served1   Served since 2007
Principal occupations during the past five years   Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Lowe Enterprises, Inc. (real estate and hospitality firm) (2002-present); Partner, Arthur Andersen, LLP (1974-2002).
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen2   12
Other directorships held  

Occidental Petroleum Corporation

and Public Storage.


 

52   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Directors and Officers

 

Independent Directors cont’d    
William E. B. Siart  
Year of birth   1946
Position(s) held with Fund   Director and Chairman
Term of office and length of time served1   Served since 1997
Principal occupations during the past five years   Trustee of The Getty Trust (2005-present); Chairman of Walt Disney Concert Hall, Inc. (1998-2006); Chairman of Excellent Education Development (2000-present).
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen2   12
Other directorships held   None

Jaynie Miller Studenmund

 

Year of birth

 

1954

Position(s) held with Fund

 

Director

Term of office and length of time served1

 

Served since 2004

Principal occupations during the past five years

 

Director of Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (2007-present) (online travel company); Director of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (2012-present) (gaming and hospitality company); Director of Core Logic, Inc. (2012-present) (information, analytics and business services). Formerly: Director of MarketTools, Inc. (2010-2012) (market research software provider); Director of eHarmony, Inc. (2005-2011) (online dating company).

Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen2

 

12

Other directorships held

 

Orbitz Worldwide (global on-line travel company); Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (gaming and hospitality company); Core Logic, Inc. (information, analytics and business services).

Interested Directors    

R. Jay Gerken3

Legg Mason

620 Eighth Avenue, New York NY 10018

 
Year of birth   1951
Position(s) with Fund   President and Trustee
Term of office and length of time served2  

Served as Director since 2006 and as President since 2007

Principal occupation(s) during past five years  

Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co., LLC (“Legg Mason & Co.”) (since 2005); Officer and Trustee/Director of 161 funds associated with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) or its affiliates (since 2006) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2006); President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of LMPFA (since 2006); President and CEO of Smith Barney Fund Management LLC (“SBFM”) (formerly a registered investment adviser) (since 2002)

Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Trustee   161
Other directorships held by Trustee during past five years   None


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund     53   

 

Interested Directors cont’d    
Ronald L. Olson4  
Year of birth   1941
Position(s) held with Fund   Director
Term of office and length of time served1   Served since 2005
Principal occupations during the past five years   Senior Partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (a law partnership) (1968-present).
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen2   12
Other directorships held   Edison International, City National Corporation (financial services company), The Washington Post Company, and Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
Officers5    

Richard F. Sennett

Legg Mason

100 International Drive, Baltimore, MD 21202

 
Year of birth   1970
Position(s) with Fund   Principal Financial Officer
Term of office and length of time served2   Since 2011
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Principal Financial Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2011); Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co. and Senior Manager of the Treasury Policy group for Legg Mason & Co.’s Global Fiduciary Platform (since 2011); formerly, Chief Accountant within the SEC’s Division of Investment Management (2007 to 2011); formerly, Assistant Chief Accountant within the SEC’s Division of Investment Management (2002 to 2007)

Erin K. Morris

100 International Drive, Baltimore, MD 21202

 

Year of birth

 

1966

Position(s) held with Fund

 

Treasurer

Term of office and length of time served1

 

Served since 2006

Principal occupations during the past five years

 

Vice President Legg Mason & Co., LLC (since 2005); Treasurer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2006); formerly, Assistant Treasurer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (prior to 2009)

Todd F. Kuehl

100 International Drive, Baltimore, MD 21202

 

Year of birth

 

1969

Position(s) held with Fund

  Chief Compliance Officer

Term of office and length of time served1

 

Served since 2007

Principal occupations during the past five years

 

Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2011); Chief Compliance Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2006); formerly, Chief Compliance Officer of Legg Mason Private Portfolio Group (prior to 2010); Branch Chief, Division of Investment Management, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (2002 to 2006)


 

54   Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Directors and Officers

 

Officers cont’d    

Robert I. Frenkel

100 First Stamford Place Stamford, CT 06902

 
Year of birth   1954
Position(s) held with Fund   Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Term of office and length of time served1   Served since 2009
Principal occupations during the past five years   Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Legg Mason, Inc. (since 2006); Managing Director and General Counsel of Global 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).

 

Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.

 

1

Each officer holds office until his or her respective successor is chosen and qualified, or in each case until he or she sooner dies, resigns, is removed with or without cause or becomes disqualified. Each of the Directors of the Fund holds office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and shall qualify, subject to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removed from office and applicable law and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

 

2

In addition to overseeing the ten portfolios of the Corporation each Director also serves as a Trustee of Western Asset Premier Bond Fund and as a Director of Western Asset Income Fund, Inc. (closed-end investment companies), which are considered part of the same Fund Complex as the Fund. In addition, Mr. Gerken serves as Director/Trustee to 149 other portfolios associated with Legg Mason & Co., LLC or its affiliates. Legg Mason & Co., LLC is an affiliate of Western Asset Management Co. (“WAM”).

 

3

Mr. Gerken is an “Interested person” (as defined in section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of each Fund because of his positions with subsidiaries of, and ownership of shares of common stock of, Legg Mason, Inc., the parent company of WAM.

 

4 

Mr. Olson is an “Interested person” (as defined above) of each Fund because his law firm has provided legal services to WAM.

 

5 

Each officer of the Fund is an “Interested person” (as defined above) of the Fund.


 

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund     55   

Important tax information (unaudited)

 

3.22% of the net investment income distributions paid by the Fund during the taxable year ended December 31, 2012 were attributable to Federal obligations.

Additionally, the Fund paid a long term capital gain distribution of $ 0.01534 per share on December 13, 2012 to shareholders of record on December 12, 2012.

The law varies in each state as to whether and what percentage of dividend income attributable to Federal obligations is exempt from state income tax. We recommend that you consult with your tax adviser to determine if any portion of the dividends you received is exempt from state income taxes.

The following information is applicable to non-U.S. resident shareholders:

The entire short-term capital gain distribution of $ 0.02978 per share paid on December 13, 2012 to shareholders of record on December 12, 2012 represents Qualified Short-Term Capital Gains eligible for exemption from U.S. withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations.

Please retain this information for your records.


Western Asset

Global Multi-Sector Fund

 

Directors

William E. B. Siart, Chairman

R. Jay Gerken

President

Ronald J. Arnault

Anita L. DeFrantz

Ronald L. Olson

Avedick B. Poladian

Jaynie Miller Studenmund

Investment manager

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC

Investment advisers

Western Asset Management Company

Western Asset Management Company Limited

Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.

Western Asset Management Company Ltd

Transfer agent

Boston Financial Data Services

2000 Crown Colony Drive

Quincy, MA 02169

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

Independent registered public accounting firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Baltimore, MD

Legal counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

The Fund is a separate investment series of Western Asset Funds, Inc.

Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund

Legg Mason Funds

620 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. To obtain information on Form N-Q, shareholders can call the Fund at 1-877-721-1926.

Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-877-721-1926, (2) on the Fund’s website at www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Western Asset Global Multi-Sector Fund. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

Investors should consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors

©2013 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC

Member FINRA, SIPC


Legg Mason Funds Privacy and Security Notice

 

Your Privacy and the Security of Your Personal Information is Very Important to the Legg Mason Funds

This Privacy and Security Notice (the “Privacy Notice”) addresses the Legg Mason Funds’ privacy and data protection practices with respect to nonpublic personal information the Funds receive. The Legg Mason Funds include any funds sold by the Funds’ distributor, Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, as well as Legg Mason-sponsored closed-end funds and certain closed-end funds managed or sub-advised by Legg Mason or its affiliates. The provisions of this Privacy Notice apply to your information both while you are a shareholder and after you are no longer invested with the Funds.

The Type of Nonpublic Personal Information the Funds Collect About You

The Funds collect and maintain nonpublic personal information about you in connection with your shareholder account. Such information may include, but is not limited to:

 

Ÿ  

Personal information included on applications or other forms;

Ÿ  

Account balances, transactions, and mutual fund holdings and positions;

Ÿ  

Online account access user IDs, passwords, security challenge question responses; and

Ÿ  

Information received from consumer reporting agencies regarding credit history and creditworthiness (such as the amount of an individual’s total debt, payment history, etc.).

How the Funds Use Nonpublic Personal Information About You

The Funds do not sell or share your nonpublic personal information with third parties or with affiliates for their marketing purposes, or with other financial institutions or affiliates for joint marketing purposes, unless you have authorized the Funds to do so. The Funds do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you except as may be required to perform transactions or services you have authorized or as permitted or required by law. The Funds may disclose information about you to:

 

Ÿ  

Employees, agents, and affiliates on a “need to know” basis to enable the Funds to conduct ordinary business or comply with obligations to government regulators;

Ÿ  

Service providers, including the Funds’ affiliates, who assist the Funds as part of the ordinary course of business (such as printing, mailing services, or processing or servicing your account with us) or otherwise perform services on the Funds’ behalf, including companies that may perform marketing services solely for the Funds;

Ÿ  

The Funds’ representatives such as legal counsel, accountants and auditors; and

Ÿ  

Fiduciaries or representatives acting on your behalf, such as an IRA custodian or trustee of a grantor trust.

 

NOT PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT


Legg Mason Funds Privacy and Security Notice (cont’d)

 

Except as otherwise permitted by applicable law, companies acting on the Funds’ behalf are contractually obligated to keep nonpublic personal information the Funds provide to them confidential and to use the information the Funds share only to provide the services the Funds ask them to perform.

The Funds may disclose nonpublic personal information about you when necessary to enforce their rights or protect against fraud, or as permitted or required by applicable law, such as in connection with a law enforcement or regulatory request, subpoena, or similar legal process. In the event of a corporate action or in the event a Fund service provider changes, the Funds may be required to disclose your nonpublic personal information to third parties. While it is the Funds’ practice to obtain protections for disclosed information in these types of transactions, the Funds cannot guarantee their privacy policy will remain unchanged.

Keeping You Informed of the Funds’ Privacy and Security Practices

The Funds will notify you annually of their privacy policy as required by federal law. While the Funds reserve the right to modify this policy at any time they will notify you promptly if this privacy policy changes.

The Funds’ Security Practices

The Funds maintain appropriate physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to guard your nonpublic personal information. The Funds’ internal data security policies restrict access to your nonpublic personal information to authorized employees, who may use your nonpublic personal information for Fund business purposes only.

Although the Funds strive to protect your nonpublic personal information, they cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you provide or transmit to them, and you do so at your own risk. In the event of a breach of the confidentiality or security of your nonpublic personal information, the Funds will attempt to notify you as necessary so you can take appropriate protective steps. If you have consented to the Funds using electronic communications or electronic delivery of statements, they may notify you under such circumstances using the most current email address you have on record with them.

In order for the Funds to provide effective service to you, keeping your account information accurate is very important. If you believe that your account information is incomplete, not accurate or not current, or if you have questions about the Funds’ privacy practices, write the Funds using the contact information on your account statements, email the Funds by clicking on the Contact Us section of the Funds’ website at www.leggmason.com, or contact the Fund at 1-877-721-1926.

Revised April 2011

 

NOT PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT


LOGO

 

Western Asset Management Company

Legg Mason, Inc. Subsidiaries

www.leggmason.com/individualinvestors

©2013 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC Member FINRA, SIPC

WASX014334 2/13 SR13-1877


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 Directors of the registrant has determined that Mr. Ronald J. Arnault possesses the technical attributes identified in Instruction 2(b) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR to qualify as “audit committee financial expert,” and have designated Mr. Arnault as the Audit Committee’s financial expert. Mr. Arnault is “independent” Directors 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 December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012 (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 $468,601 in December 31, 2011 and $354,434 in December 31, 2012.

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 $0 in December 31, 2011 and $0 in December 31, 2012.

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 Western Asset Funds, Inc. (“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 Periods.

(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 $42,600 in December 31, 2011 and $57,000 in December 31, 2012. 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. The aggregate other fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor were $0 in December 31, 2011 and $13,130 in December 31, 2012, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) for the Item for the Western Asset Funds, Inc.

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 Western Asset Funds, Inc. 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 Western Asset Funds, Inc., the percentage of fees that were approved by the audit committee, with respect to: Audit-Related Fees were 100% and 100% for December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012; Tax Fees were 100% and 100% for December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012; and Other Fees were 100% and 100% for December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012.

(f) N/A

(g) Non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to Western Asset Funds, Inc., LMPFA and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with LMPFA that provides ongoing services to Western Asset Funds, Inc. during the reporting period were $0 in December 31, 2012.

(h) Yes. Western Asset Funds, Inc.’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 Western Asset Funds, Inc. 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:

Ronald J. Arnault

Anita L. DeFrantz

Avedick B. Poladian

William E.B. Siart

Jaynie Miller Studenmund

 

  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. 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.

Western Asset Funds, Inc.

 

By:  

/s/ R. Jay Gerken

  (R. Jay Gerken)
  President
  Western Asset Funds, Inc.
Date:   February 25, 2013

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:  

/s/ R. Jay Gerken

  (R. Jay Gerken)
  President
  Western Asset Funds, Inc.
Date:   February 25, 2013
By:  

/s/ Richard F. Sennett

  (Richard F. Sennett)
  Principal Financial Officer
  Western Asset Funds, Inc.
Date:   February 25, 2013