Western Asset Premier Bond

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-10603

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

Address of Principal Executive Offices:   

385 East Colorado Boulevard

Pasadena, CA 91101

Name and address of agent for service:   

Charles A. Ruys de Perez

385 East Colorado Boulevard

Pasadena, CA 91101

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (626) 844-9400

Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2008

Date of reporting period: March 31, 2008

 

 

 


Item 1 – Schedule of Investments

 

Page 2 of 4


Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

March 31, 2008 (Unaudited)

 

     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — 154.7%

          

Corporate Bonds and Notes — 86.6%

          

Aerospace and Defense — 1.7%

          

DRS Technologies Inc.

   6.625 %   2/1/16    $ 300,000    $ 293,250  

L-3 Communications Corp.

   6.375 %   10/15/15      430,000      420,325  

Northrop Grumman Corp.

   7.750 %   2/15/31      1,000,000      1,233,482  

The Boeing Co.

   6.125 %   2/15/33      600,000      635,281  
                
             2,582,338  
                

Airlines — 10.4%

          

America West Airlines Inc.

   8.057 %   7/2/20      3,010,332      2,993,397  

Continental Airlines Inc.

   7.160 %   3/24/13      854,251      790,760  

Continental Airlines Inc.

   6.900 %   1/2/18      947,326      911,801  

Continental Airlines Inc.

   6.820 %   5/1/18      925,698      875,331  

Continental Airlines Inc.

   6.545 %   2/2/19      1,798,467      1,729,909  

Continental Airlines Inc.

   8.048 %   11/1/20      694,535      694,535  

Continental Airlines Inc.

   6.703 %   6/15/21      887,932      852,415  

DAE Aviation Holdings Inc.

   11.250 %   8/1/15      460,000      453,100 A

Northwest Airlines Corp.

   7.575 %   9/1/20      710,141      701,690  

Northwest Airlines Inc.

   3.642 %   8/6/13      2,324,996      2,115,691 B

United Air Lines Inc.

   7.032 %   10/1/10      245,846      243,388  

United Air Lines Inc.

   7.186 %   4/1/11      51,528      51,013  

United Air Lines Inc.

   6.602 %   9/1/13      663,615      660,927  

US Airways Pass-Through Trust

   6.850 %   1/30/18      2,635,578      2,503,799  
                
             15,577,756  
                

Auto Components — 0.4%

          

Visteon Corp.

   8.250 %   8/1/10      645,000      527,287  
                

Automobiles — 1.7%

          

DaimlerChrysler NA Holding Corp.

   7.300 %   1/15/12      1,000,000      1,067,689  

DaimlerChrysler NA Holding Corp.

   8.500 %   1/18/31      1,000,000      1,143,127  

General Motors Corp.

   8.375 %   7/15/33      420,000      296,100  
                
             2,506,916  
                

Building Products — 0.6%

          

Associated Materials Inc.

   0.000 %   3/1/14      675,000      460,687 C

Nortek Inc.

   8.500 %   9/1/14      215,000      159,100  

NTK Holdings Inc.

   0.000 %   3/1/14      500,000      242,500 C
                
             862,287  
                

Capital Markets — 2.7%

          

Credit Suisse USA Inc.

   6.500 %   1/15/12      1,125,000      1,195,833 D

Morgan Stanley

   6.600 %   4/1/12      1,500,000      1,555,167 D

The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

   6.600 %   1/15/12      1,200,000      1,268,770 D
                
             4,019,770  
                

Chemicals — 2.0%

          

Georgia Gulf Corp.

   9.500 %   10/15/14      310,000      239,475  

Huntsman International LLC

   7.875 %   11/15/14      95,000      100,700  

The Dow Chemical Co.

   6.000 %   10/1/12      2,500,000      2,633,395  

 


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Corporate Bonds and Notes — Continued

          

Chemicals — Continued

          

Westlake Chemical Corp.

   6.625 %   1/15/16    $ 70,000    $ 61,250  
                
             3,034,820  
                

Commercial Services and Supplies — 2.1%

          

Allied Security Escrow Corp.

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

Interface Inc.

   10.375 %   2/1/10      400,000      418,000  

Rental Service Corp.

   9.500 %   12/1/14      200,000      167,000  

US Investigations Services Inc.

   10.500 %   11/1/15      310,000      252,650 A

Waste Management Inc.

   7.375 %   5/15/29      2,000,000      2,137,038  

Waste Management Inc.

   7.750 %   5/15/32      40,000      44,064  
                
             3,070,352  
                

Communications Equipment — N.M.

          

Motorola Inc.

   7.625 %   11/15/10      64,000      66,328  
                

Computers and Peripherals — 0.2%

          

International Business Machines Corp.

   4.750 %   11/29/12      240,000      248,390  
                

Consumer Finance — 1.9%

          

Ford Motor Credit Co.

   7.127 %   1/13/12      70,000      51,782 B

GMAC LLC

   6.875 %   8/28/12      150,000      113,989  

GMAC LLC

   8.000 %   11/1/31      1,530,000      1,096,539  

HSBC Finance Corp.

   4.750 %   7/15/13      1,670,000      1,641,727  
                
             2,904,037  
                

Containers and Packaging — 0.3%

          

Graham Packaging Co. Inc.

   9.875 %   10/15/14      273,000      229,320  

Graphic Packaging International Corp.

   9.500 %   8/15/13      210,000      201,600  
                
             430,920  
                

Distributors — 0.2%

          

Keystone Automotive Operations Inc.

   9.750 %   11/1/13      480,000      268,800  
                

Diversified Consumer Services — 0.3%

          

Education Management LLC

   8.750 %   6/1/14      155,000      130,975  

Education Management LLC

   10.250 %   6/1/16      170,000      135,150  

Service Corp. International

   6.750 %   4/1/16      140,000      135,450  

Service Corp. International

   7.625 %   10/1/18      5,000      5,025  

Service Corp. International

   7.500 %   4/1/27      60,000      51,000  
                
             457,600  
                

Diversified Financial Services — 8.0%

          

AAC Group Holding Corp.

   0.000 %   10/1/12      440,000      356,400 C

Air 2 US

   8.027 %   10/1/19      469,607      427,342 A

Bank of America Corp.

   8.000 %   12/29/49      1,360,000      1,361,632 C

Boeing Capital Corp.

   6.500 %   2/15/12      1,000,000      1,085,255  

Boeing Capital Corp.

   5.800 %   1/15/13      400,000      431,658  

CCM Merger Inc.

   8.000 %   8/1/13      140,000      117,600 A

Citigroup Inc.

   6.625 %   6/15/32      1,000,000      942,032  

DI Finance LLC

   9.500 %   2/15/13      502,000      513,295  

Fuji Co. Ltd.

   9.870 %   6/30/08      790,000      793,282 A,C

General Electric Capital Corp.

   3.750 %   12/15/09      740,000      748,534  

General Electric Capital Corp.

   6.000 %   6/15/12      700,000      746,340  


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Corporate Bonds and Notes — Continued

          

Diversified Financial Services — Continued

          

General Electric Capital Corp.

   5.450 %   1/15/13    $ 250,000    $ 261,847  

JPMorgan Chase and Co.

   5.750 %   1/2/13      1,750,000      1,828,169 D

JPMorgan Chase and Co.

   5.125 %   9/15/14      1,300,000      1,284,465 D

TNK-BP Finance SA

   7.875 %   3/13/18      420,000      387,975 A

Vanguard Health Holding Co. II LLC

   9.000 %   10/1/14      735,000      707,438  
                
             11,993,264  
                

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 3.0%

          

AT&T Inc.

   6.250 %   3/15/11      1,000,000      1,047,025  

BellSouth Corp.

   6.000 %   10/15/11      1,000,000      1,046,219  

Cincinnati Bell Inc.

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

Citizens Communications Co.

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

Citizens Communications Co.

   7.875 %   1/15/27      115,000      98,612  

Citizens Communications Co.

   7.050 %   10/1/46      25,000      17,125  

Hawaiian Telcom Communications Inc.

   12.500 %   5/1/15      135,000      48,600  

Level 3 Financing Inc.

   9.250 %   11/1/14      320,000      261,600  

Level 3 Financing Inc.

   6.704 %   2/15/15      50,000      35,000 B

MetroPCS Wireless Inc.

   9.250 %   11/1/14      35,000      32,200  

NTL Cable PLC

   8.750 %   4/15/14      280,000      251,300  

Qwest Communications International Inc.

   7.250 %   2/15/11      160,000      153,600  

Qwest Communications International Inc.

   7.500 %   2/15/14      140,000      131,600  

Qwest Corp.

   7.875 %   9/1/11      390,000      389,025  

Qwest Corp.

   7.500 %   10/1/14      150,000      146,250  

Telcordia Technologies Inc.

   10.000 %   3/15/13      485,000      339,500 A

Windstream Corp.

   8.625 %   8/1/16      330,000      324,225  
                
             4,435,031  
                

Electric Utilities — 5.9%

          

Duke Energy Corp.

   6.250 %   1/15/12      250,000      268,478  

Energy Future Holdings Corp.

   11.250 %   11/1/17      1,580,000      1,564,200 A,E

FirstEnergy Corp.

   6.450 %   11/15/11      610,000      638,522  

FirstEnergy Corp.

   7.375 %   11/15/31      3,040,000      3,306,915  

IPALCO Enterprises Inc.

   8.625 %   11/14/11      130,000      136,825 F

Midwest Generation LLC

   8.560 %   1/2/16      83,480      90,576  

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.

   7.750 %   10/1/08      1,500,000      1,526,328  

Orion Power Holdings Inc.

   12.000 %   5/1/10      150,000      163,875  

Progress Energy Inc.

   7.100 %   3/1/11      117,000      125,941  

Progress Energy Inc.

   6.850 %   4/15/12      750,000      811,520  

TXU Electric Delivery Co.

   7.000 %   9/1/22      250,000      239,438  
                
             8,872,618  
                

Energy Equipment and Services — 1.0%

          

Complete Production Services Inc.

   8.000 %   12/15/16      150,000      144,000  

EEB International Ltd.

   8.750 %   10/31/14      820,000      844,600 A

Gulfmark Offshore Inc.

   7.750 %   7/15/14      270,000      274,050  

Pride International Inc.

   7.375 %   7/15/14      240,000      249,600  
                
             1,512,250  
                

Food and Staples Retailing — 3.7%

          

CVS Caremark Corp.

   6.943 %   1/10/30      1,994,230      2,108,599 A

CVS Corp.

   5.789 %   1/10/26      890,955      864,316 A

CVS Lease Pass-Through Trust

   5.880 %   1/10/28      968,612      891,123 A


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Corporate Bonds and Notes — Continued

          

Food and Staples Retailing — Continued

          

CVS Lease Pass-Through Trust

   6.036 %   12/10/28    $ 971,931    $ 925,910 A

Delhaize America Inc.

   9.000 %   4/15/31      166,000      199,782  

Safeway Inc.

   5.800 %   8/15/12      500,000      524,242  
                
             5,513,972  
                

Food Products — 0.1%

          

Dole Food Co. Inc.

   7.250 %   6/15/10      285,000      219,450  
                

Gas Utilities — 0.7%

          

Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co.

   4.800 %   8/15/08      400,000      400,499  

Southern Natural Gas Co.

   8.000 %   3/1/32      20,000      21,852  

Suburban Propane Partners LP

   6.875 %   12/15/13      580,000      565,500  
                
             987,851  
                

Health Care Providers and Services — 2.9%

          

Community Health Systems Inc.

   8.875 %   7/15/15      460,000      461,725  

DaVita Inc.

   6.625 %   3/15/13      70,000      67,900  

DaVita Inc.

   7.250 %   3/15/15      300,000      292,500  

HCA Inc.

   6.250 %   2/15/13      85,000      73,950  

HCA Inc.

   6.500 %   2/15/16      105,000      88,463  

HCA Inc.

   9.250 %   11/15/16      195,000      202,312  

HCA Inc.

   9.625 %   11/15/16      275,000      285,312 E

HCA Inc.

   7.690 %   6/15/25      90,000      71,329  

HCA Inc.

   7.500 %   11/15/95      185,000      133,608  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

   9.250 %   2/1/15      2,810,000      2,627,350  
                
             4,304,449  
                

Hotels, Restaurants and Leisure — 1.1%

          

Buffets Inc.

   12.500 %   11/1/14      265,000      7,950 G

Denny’s Holdings Inc.

   10.000 %   10/1/12      90,000      82,800  

El Pollo Loco Inc.

   11.750 %   11/15/13      195,000      188,175  

Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino

   12.000 %   11/15/10      530,000      514,100  

MGM MIRAGE

   8.500 %   9/15/10      10,000      10,325  

Pokagon Gaming Authority

   10.375 %   6/15/14      233,000      245,815 A

River Rock Entertainment Authority

   9.750 %   11/1/11      180,000      179,100  

Sbarro Inc.

   10.375 %   2/1/15      100,000      83,000  

Snoqualmie Entertainment Authority

   6.936 %   2/1/14      110,000      89,650 A,B

Station Casinos Inc.

   7.750 %   8/15/16      205,000      165,025  

Station Casinos Inc.

   6.625 %   3/15/18      100,000      55,500  
                
             1,621,440  
                

Household Durables — 0.5%

          

American Greetings Corp.

   7.375 %   6/1/16      20,000      19,850  

K Hovnanian Enterprises Inc.

   8.625 %   1/15/17      260,000      200,200  

Norcraft Cos.

   9.000 %   11/1/11      360,000      362,700  

Norcraft Holdings LP

   0.000 %   9/1/12      155,000      135,625 C
                
             718,375  
                

Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders — 2.9%

          

Dynegy Holdings Inc.

   7.750 %   6/1/19      450,000      420,750  

Edison Mission Energy

   7.750 %   6/15/16      180,000      185,400  

Edison Mission Energy

   7.625 %   5/15/27      20,000      18,800  


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Corporate Bonds and Notes — Continued

          

Independent Power Producers and Energy Traders — Continued

          

Exelon Generation Co. LLC

   6.950 %   6/15/11    $ 2,000,000    $ 2,121,820  

Mirant North America LLC

   7.375 %   12/31/13      350,000      353,500  

NRG Energy Inc.

   7.375 %   2/1/16      505,000      494,900  

NRG Energy Inc.

   7.375 %   1/15/17      225,000      218,813  

The AES Corp.

   8.000 %   10/15/17      525,000      531,562  
                
             4,345,545  
                

IT Services — 1.3%

          

Ceridian Corp.

   12.250 %   11/15/15      130,000      108,550 A,E

Electronic Data Systems Corp.

   7.125 %   10/15/09      700,000      713,940  

Electronic Data Systems Corp.

   7.450 %   10/15/29      500,000      472,927  

SunGard Data Systems Inc.

   10.250 %   8/15/15      630,000      633,150  
                
             1,928,567  
                

Leisure Equipment and Products — 1.2%

          

Eastman Kodak Co.

   7.250 %   11/15/13      1,800,000      1,719,000  
                

Media — 6.8%

          

Affinion Group Inc.

   10.125 %   10/15/13      180,000      178,875  

Affinion Group Inc.

   11.500 %   10/15/15      225,000      217,125  

CCH I Holdings LLC

   12.125 %   1/15/15      115,000      58,650  

CCH I Holdings LLC

   11.000 %   10/1/15      927,000      644,265  

CCH II Holdings LLC

   10.250 %   9/15/10      150,000      136,500  

Charter Communications Holdings LLC

   11.750 %   5/15/11      110,000      66,137  

Charter Communications Holdings LLC

   12.125 %   1/15/12      60,000      35,550  

Charter Communications Operating LLC

   10.875 %   9/15/14      280,000      275,800 A

Clear Channel Communications Inc.

   4.900 %   5/15/15      700,000      469,000  

CMP Susquehanna Corp.

   9.875 %   5/15/14      170,000      117,300  

Comcast Cable Communications Inc.

   6.750 %   1/30/11      500,000      519,831  

Comcast Corp.

   5.900 %   3/15/16      400,000      396,738  

Comcast Corp.

   7.050 %   3/15/33      1,000,000      1,019,725  

CSC Holdings Inc.

   8.125 %   7/15/09      30,000      30,300  

CSC Holdings Inc.

   8.125 %   8/15/09      40,000      40,400  

CSC Holdings Inc.

   7.625 %   4/1/11      50,000      49,437  

CSC Holdings Inc.

   6.750 %   4/15/12      250,000      241,250  

CSC Holdings Inc.

   7.875 %   2/15/18      45,000      41,625  

EchoStar DBS Corp.

   7.000 %   10/1/13      600,000      565,500  

Idearc Inc.

   8.000 %   11/15/16      180,000      116,550  

Lamar Media Corp.

   6.625 %   8/15/15      120,000      105,600  

Liberty Media LLC

   3.750 %   2/15/30      1,860,000      911,400 H

News America Holdings Inc.

   8.875 %   4/26/23      400,000      478,714  

R.H. Donnelley Corp.

   8.875 %   10/15/17      710,000      443,750 A

Time Warner Inc.

   6.875 %   5/1/12      1,400,000      1,445,272  

Time Warner Inc.

   7.700 %   5/1/32      1,150,000      1,210,728  

TL Acquisitions Inc.

   10.500 %   1/15/15      270,000      232,200 A

Tube City IMS Corp.

   9.750 %   2/1/15      185,000      162,800  
                
             10,211,022  
                

Metals and Mining — 2.2%

          

Alcoa Inc.

   5.375 %   1/15/13      750,000      756,380  

CII Carbon LLC

   11.125 %   11/15/15      580,000      516,200 A

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

   8.375 %   4/1/17      960,000      1,018,800  


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†     Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

         

Corporate Bonds and Notes — Continued

         

Metals and Mining — Continued

         

GTL Trade Finance Inc.

   7.250 %   10/20/17    $ 428,000     $ 451,171 A

Metals USA Inc.

   11.125 %   12/1/15      445,000       436,100  

Noranda Aluminium Holding Corp.

   10.488 %   11/15/14      195,000       143,325 A,B,E
               
            3,321,976  
               

Multi-Utilities — 0.7%

         

Dominion Resources Inc.

   5.700 %   9/17/12      770,000       806,342  

MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co.

   5.875 %   10/1/12      250,000       264,179  
               
            1,070,521  
               

Multiline Retail — 0.4%

         

Dollar General Corp.

   11.875 %   7/15/17      325,000       284,375 E

The Neiman-Marcus Group Inc.

   9.000 %   10/15/15      260,000       260,000 E
               
            544,375  
               

Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 11.3%

         

Belden and Blake Corp.

   8.750 %   7/15/12      750,000       751,875  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   6.375 %   6/15/15      480,000       465,600  

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   6.625 %   1/15/16      30,000       29,400  

Colorado Interstate Gas Co.

   6.800 %   11/15/15      150,000       154,651  

ConocoPhillips

   4.750 %   10/15/12      900,000       934,527  

DCP Midstream LP

   7.875 %   8/16/10      750,000       804,031  

Devon Energy Corp.

   7.950 %   4/15/32      1,000,000       1,233,149  

Devon Financing Corp. ULC

   6.875 %   9/30/11      2,000,000       2,182,964  

El Paso Corp.

   6.375 %   2/1/09      333,000       335,259  

El Paso Corp.

   7.750 %   6/15/10      1,496,000       1,558,916  

El Paso Corp.

   7.800 %   8/1/31      190,000       195,080  

Exco Resources Inc.

   7.250 %   1/15/11      275,000       267,438  

Gazprom

   6.790 %   10/29/09      31,200,000  RUB     1,315,328  

Gazprom

   7.000 %   10/27/11      10,400,000  RUB     432,023  

Hess Corp.

   7.875 %   10/1/29      1,640,000       1,946,255  

Hess Corp.

   7.300 %   8/15/31      60,000       67,600  

International Coal Group Inc.

   10.250 %   7/15/14      220,000       210,650  

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP

   7.125 %   3/15/12      500,000       531,211  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

   6.750 %   1/15/12      500,000       553,323  

Parker Drilling Co.

   9.625 %   10/1/13      300,000       315,750  

Petrohawk Energy Corp.

   9.125 %   7/15/13      145,000       148,988  

SemGroup LP

   8.750 %   11/15/15      305,000       279,075 A

Sonat Inc.

   7.625 %   7/15/11      500,000       516,794  

Stone Energy Corp.

   8.250 %   12/15/11      160,000       158,400  

The Williams Cos. Inc.

   7.500 %   1/15/31      902,000       940,335  

The Williams Cos. Inc.

   8.750 %   3/15/32      85,000       98,175  

Valero Energy Corp.

   7.500 %   4/15/32      400,000       416,416  
               
            16,843,213  
               

Paper and Forest Products — 2.7%

         

Appleton Papers Inc.

   8.125 %   6/15/11      5,000       4,813  

Appleton Papers Inc.

   9.750 %   6/15/14      305,000       288,987  

NewPage Corp.

   12.000 %   5/1/13      260,000       260,650  

Weyerhaeuser Co.

   6.750 %   3/15/12      2,400,000       2,523,418 D


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Corporate Bonds and Notes — Continued

          

Paper and Forest Products — Continued

          

Weyerhaeuser Co.

   7.375 %   3/15/32    $ 1,000,000    $ 988,368  
                
             4,066,236  
                

Pharmaceuticals — N.M.

          

Leiner Health Products Inc.

   11.000 %   6/1/12      280,000      350  
                

Real Estate Investment Trusts — 0.2%

          

Ventas Inc.

   6.750 %   4/1/17      260,000      254,150  
                

Real Estate Management and Development — 0.2%

          

Ashton Woods USA LLC

   9.500 %   10/1/15      125,000      66,875  

Realogy Corp.

   12.375 %   4/15/15      495,000      220,275  
                
             287,150  
                

Road and Rail — 2.1%

          

Hertz Corp.

   10.500 %   1/1/16      645,000      603,881  

Kansas City Southern Railway

   7.500 %   6/15/09      150,000      152,250  

Saint Acquisition Corp.

   10.815 %   5/15/15      165,000      65,588 A,B

Saint Acquisition Corp.

   12.500 %   5/15/17      375,000      152,812 A

Union Pacific Corp.

   6.125 %   1/15/12      2,000,000      2,123,394  
                
             3,097,925  
                

Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 0.1%

          

Freescale Semiconductor Inc.

   8.875 %   12/15/14      155,000      121,288  
                

Software — 0.1%

          

Activant Solutions Inc.

   9.500 %   5/1/16      165,000      138,600  
                

Specialty Retail — 0.2%

          

Blockbuster Inc.

   9.000 %   9/1/12      210,000      171,150  

Eye Care Centers of America Inc.

   10.750 %   2/15/15      40,000      40,800  

Michaels Stores Inc.

   11.375 %   11/1/16      90,000      70,650  
                
             282,600  
                

Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods — 0.2%

          

Oxford Industries Inc.

   8.875 %   6/1/11      180,000      171,000  

Simmons Co.

   0.000 %   12/15/14      90,000      58,050 C
                
             229,050  
                

Thrifts and Mortgage Finance — 0.2%

          

Washington Mutual Bank

   5.500 %   1/15/13      440,000      349,800  
                

Tobacco — 0.1%

          

Alliance One International Inc.

   11.000 %   5/15/12      135,000      137,025  
                

Trading Companies and Distributors — 0.5%

          

Ashtead Capital Inc.

   9.000 %   8/15/16      129,000      104,490 A

H&E Equipment Services Inc.

   8.375 %   7/15/16      345,000      284,625  

Penhall International Corp.

   12.000 %   8/1/14      390,000      329,550 A
                
             718,665  
                

Transportation Infrastructure — 0.3%

          

Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Co.

   8.875 %   4/1/15      50,000      51,125 E


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Corporate Bonds and Notes — Continued

          

Transportation Infrastructure — Continued

          

Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Co.

   9.750 %   4/1/17    $ 350,000    $ 348,250  
                
             399,375  
                

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 1.5%

          

AT&T Mobility LLC

   6.500 %   12/15/11      250,000      265,377  

New Cingular Wireless Services Inc.

   8.125 %   5/1/12      500,000      559,546  

Rural Cellular Corp.

   9.875 %   2/1/10      100,000      102,750  

Sprint Capital Corp.

   8.375 %   3/15/12      1,450,000      1,341,250  
                
             2,268,923  
                

Total Corporate Bonds and Notes (Cost — $132,218,812)

             129,071,657  
                

Asset-Backed Securities — 18.0%

          

Fixed Rate Securities — 8.3%

          

ACE Securities Corp. 2002-M Trust

   0.000 %   10/13/17      312,364      8,434 A,I,J

America West Airlines 1996-1 A

   6.850 %   7/2/09      120,198      116,496  

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust 2007-SD1 1A3A

   6.500 %   10/25/36      1,811,250      1,517,828  

Captiva CBO 1997-1A A

   6.860 %   11/30/09      318,016      283,290 A,K

Contimortgage Home Equity Trust 1997-4 B1F

   7.330 %   10/15/28      678,063      343,338  

Firstfed Corp. Manufactured Housing Contract 1996-1 B

   8.060 %   10/15/22      2,100,000      2,935,519 A

Global Franchise Trust 1998-1 A2

   6.659 %   10/10/11      2,007,741      1,647,866 A

Green Tree Financial Corp. 1992-2 B

   9.150 %   1/15/18      361,406      286,514  

Green Tree Financial Corp. 1993-1 B

   8.450 %   4/15/18      475,420      429,637  

Green Tree Home Improvement Loan Trust 1996-D HIB2

   8.000 %   9/15/27      131,332      83,901  

Hertz Vehicle Financing LLC 2005-2A A6

   5.080 %   11/25/11      1,000,000      920,412 A

IndyMac Manufactured Housing Contract 1997-1 A5

   6.970 %   2/25/28      377,875      395,705  

Lehman XS Trust 2007-1 WF1

   7.000 %   1/25/37      1,436,274      1,206,120  

Mutual Fund Fee Trust 2002-2

   9.550 %   4/30/08      561,364      449 A,J

Mutual Fund Fee Trust XIII Series 2000-3

   9.070 %   7/1/08      2,878,850      33,971 J

Pegasus Aviation Lease Securitization 2000-1 A2

   8.370 %   3/25/30      1,300,000      650,774 A

Structured Asset Securities Corp. 2002-AL1 A3

   3.450 %   2/25/32      1,263,745      1,096,467  

Vanderbilt Mortgage Finance 1997-B 1B2

   8.155 %   10/7/26      500,295      514,250  
                
             12,470,971  
                

Indexed SecuritiesB — 6.1%

          

ACE Securities Corp. 2005-SD1 A1

   2.999 %   11/25/50      187,370      184,106  

AmeriCredit Automobile Receivables Trust 2007-CM A3B

   3.110 %   5/7/12      2,500,000      2,365,233  

Bayview Financial Asset Trust 2004-SSRA A1

   3.199 %   12/25/39      638,243      510,506 A

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust Inc. 2006-SHL1 A1

   2.799 %   11/25/45      466,121      403,041 A

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates 2007-13 2A1

   3.499 %   10/25/47      1,542,141      1,267,403  

Countrywide Home Equity Loan Trust 2007-GW A

   3.368 %   11/15/28      2,564,474      2,048,355  

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

   3.069 %   5/25/44      135,759      122,789 A

Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-WL2 3A1

   2.779 %   8/25/35      267,622      257,441  

MSDWCC Heloc Trust 2003-2 A

   2.859 %   4/25/16      292,650      242,090  

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc. 2004-RZ1 AII

   3.079 %   3/25/34      493,618      395,063  

Residential Asset Securities Corp. 2001-KS3 AII

   3.059 %   9/25/31      396,951      384,946  


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Asset-Backed Securities — Continued

          

Indexed Securities — Continued

          

Salomon Brothers Mortgage Securities VII 2002-CIT1

   2.899 %   3/25/32    $ 940,068    $ 911,913  
                
             9,092,886  
                

Stripped Securities — 0.5%

          

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust 2006-SD3 1P0

   0.000 %   8/25/36      1,899,387      664,786 J,L2

Oakwood Mortgage Investors Inc. 2002-C AIO

   6.000 %   8/15/10      659,353      70,365 J,L1
                
             735,151  
                

Variable Rate SecuritiesM — 3.1%

          

BankAmerica Manufactured Housing Contract 1997-2 M

   6.900 %   4/10/28      100,000      138,248  

Conseco Finance Securitizations Corp. 2002-1 A

   6.681 %   12/1/33      720,237      743,197  

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing 1999-5 A5

   7.820 %   12/15/29      706,000      743,711  

GSAMP Trust 2003-SEA2 A1

   4.422 %   7/25/33      2,581,390      2,211,407  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors Inc. 2002-B A3

   6.060 %   3/15/25      358,058      342,343  

Saxon Asset Securities Trust 2000-2 MF1

   8.870 %   7/25/30      415,352      414,622  
                
             4,593,528  
                

Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost — $28,836,537)

             26,892,536  
                

Mortgage-Backed Securities — 20.6%

          

Fixed Rate Securities — 2.0%

          

Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust 2002-AC1 B4

   7.000 %   1/25/32      1,221,784      955,284 A

Enterprise Mortgage Acceptance Co. 1999-1 A1

   6.420 %   10/15/25      35,354      22,647 A

GMAC Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc. 1998-C1 D

   6.974 %   5/15/30      1,000,000      997,793  

Metropolitan Asset Funding Inc. 1998-BI B1

   8.000 %   11/20/24      977,954      913,269  
                
             2,888,993  
                

Indexed SecuritiesB — 14.7%

          

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust 2005-3A A2

   2.999 %   11/25/35      995,173      895,857 A

BlackRock Capital Finance LP 1997-R2 B5

   6.866 %   12/25/35      620,545      155,090 A

CNL Funding 1998-1 C2

   3.525 %   9/18/11      3,360,000      2,807,571 A

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust 2005-J12

   2.869 %   8/25/35      488,424      338,735  

Countrywide Home Loans 2004-HYB5 7A1

   6.089 %   4/20/35      5,040,969      3,025,731  

Countrywide Home Loans 2005-09 1A1

   2.899 %   5/25/35      2,285,539      1,786,598  

Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust 2005-AR5 2A2

   2.869 %   11/25/46      4,350,382      2,474,903  

Greenpoint Mortgage Funding Trust 2005-AR5 3A2

   2.869 %   11/25/46      2,557,681      1,454,051  

Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-8 3A2

   2.959 %   11/19/34      274,384      272,867  

Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-9 B10

   4.286 %   6/20/35      1,258,174      968,794  

IndyMac Index Mortgage Loan Trust 2007-AR15 2A1

   5.995 %   8/25/37      6,932,443      4,367,439  

Merit Securities Corp. 11PA B3

   5.375 %   9/28/32      850,000      117,662 A

Regal Trust IV 1999-1 A

   4.170 %   9/29/31      182,271      181,634 A

Structured Asset Securities Corp. 2002-9 A2

   2.899 %   10/25/27      1,587,138      1,561,548  

Washington Mutual Inc. 2004-AR12 A2A

   3.515 %   10/25/44      281,293      239,375  

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

   5.266 %   7/25/46      1,672,845      1,290,966  
                
             21,938,821  
                

Stripped Securities — 1.1%

          

IndyMac Index Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-AR14 BX

   3.043 %   7/25/35      10,517,081      197,464 L1

LB-UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust 2001-C3 X

   0.936 %   6/15/36      2,644,752      65,689 A,J,L1

Prime Mortgage Trust 2005-2 2XB

   1.743 %   10/25/32      3,990,326      417,823 J,L1


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Mortgage-Backed Securities — Continued

          

Stripped Securities — Continued

          

Prime Mortgage Trust 2005-5 1X

   0.882 %   7/25/34    $ 13,780,099    $ 277,502 J,L1

Prime Mortgage Trust 2005-5 1XB

   1.570 %   7/25/34      3,249,257      184,863 J,L1

Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc. 2005-SL2 AP0

   0.000 %   2/25/32      623,802      544,914 J,L2
                
             1,688,255  
                

Variable Rate SecuritiesM — 2.8%

          

Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Inc. 2005-5 A4

   5.115 %   10/10/45      1,050,000      1,036,646  

Bear Stearns Alt-A Trust 2005 -10 21A1

   5.754 %   1/25/36      1,820,445      1,548,658  

Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Inc. 1998-C1 A3

   6.720 %   11/15/26      1,500,000      1,552,769  
                
             4,138,073  
                

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost — $32,339,732)

             30,654,142  
                

U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities — 6.4%

          

Fixed Rate Securities — 6.4%

          

Fannie Mae

   6.000 %   11/1/37      4,516,610      4,630,925  

Fannie Mae

   5.000 %   12/1/38      3,000,000      2,969,064 N

Fannie Mae

   6.500 %   8/25/44      860,920      908,204  

Freddie Mac

   6.000 %   12/1/37      1,058,471      1,086,394  
                

Total U.S. Government Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (Cost — $9,423,272)

             9,594,587  
                

Yankee BondsK — 15.9%

          

Aerospace and Defense — 0.2%

          

Systems 2001 Asset Trust

   6.664 %   9/15/13      217,504      223,485 A
                

Chemicals — 0.2%

          

Methanex Corp.

   8.750 %   8/15/12      195,000      209,137  

Montell Finance Co. BV

   8.100 %   3/15/27      200,000      133,000 A
                
             342,137  
                

Commercial Banks — 1.4%

          

ATF Capital BV

   9.250 %   2/21/14      660,000      652,476 A

HSBK Europe BV

   7.250 %   5/3/17      600,000      519,000 A

ICICI Bank Ltd.

   6.375 %   4/30/22      284,000      244,239 A,C

TuranAlem Finance BV

   8.250 %   1/22/37      440,000      347,292 A

TuranAlem Finance BV

   8.250 %   1/22/37      440,000      345,092 A
                
             2,108,099  
                

Containers and Packaging — 0.1%

          

Smurfit Kappa Funding PLC

   7.750 %   4/1/15      150,000      131,250  
                

Diversified Financial Services — 0.7%

          

Basell AF SCA

   8.375 %   8/15/15      150,000      109,500 A

Lukoil International Finance BV

   6.356 %   6/7/17      340,000      315,350 A

UFJ Finance Aruba AEC

   6.750 %   7/15/13      500,000      556,187  
                
             981,037  
                

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 2.0%

          

Axtel SA

   11.000 %   12/15/13      221,000      239,785  

Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV

   5.250 %   7/22/13      600,000      592,643  

France Telecom SA

   8.500 %   3/1/31      600,000      743,338 F

Intelsat Bermuda Ltd.

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


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†    Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

          

Yankee Bonds — Continued

          

Diversified Telecommunication Services — Continued

          

Intelsat Bermuda Ltd.

   11.250 %   6/15/16    $ 340,000    $ 344,675  

Nordic Telephone Co. Holdings ApS

   8.875 %   5/1/16      220,000      213,400 A

NTL Cable PLC

   9.125 %   8/15/16      140,000      125,300  

Wind Acquisition Finance SA

   10.750 %   12/1/15      500,000      510,000 A
                
             2,995,828  
                

Electric Utilities — 1.3%

          

Hydro-Quebec

   6.300 %   5/11/11      1,700,000      1,858,447  
                

Energy Equipment and Services — 0.1%

          

Compagnie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas

   7.500 %   5/15/15      210,000      213,150  
                

Foreign Governments — 0.5%

          

Republic of Argentina

   7.000 %   9/12/13      818,000      668,715  

Republic of Honduras

   4.106 %   10/1/11      134,059      129,913 B

Republic of Venezuela

   9.375 %   1/13/34      2,000      1,840  
                
             800,468  
                

Industrial Conglomerates — 2.4%

          

Tyco International Group SA

   6.375 %   10/15/11      1,000,000      996,487  

Tyco International Group SA

   6.875 %   1/15/29      2,615,000      2,556,733  
                
             3,553,220  
                

Insurance — 0.6%

          

XL Capital Ltd.

   5.250 %   9/15/14      1,000,000      910,843  
                

Media — N.M.

          

Sun Media Corp.

   7.625 %   2/15/13      55,000      51,975  
                

Metals and Mining — 0.1%

          

Novelis Inc.

   7.250 %   2/15/15      105,000      92,925  

Vale Overseas Ltd.

   6.875 %   11/21/36      110,000      107,329  
                
             200,254  
                

Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels — 4.2%

          

Anadarko Finance Co.

   6.750 %   5/1/11      750,000      801,080  

Anadarko Finance Co.

   7.500 %   5/1/31      1,000,000      1,125,096  

Burlington Resources Finance Co.

   7.400 %   12/1/31      450,000      529,022  

Gazprom

   6.212 %   11/22/16      280,000      259,000 A

Gazprom

   6.510 %   3/7/22      230,000      204,988 A

OPTI Canada Inc.

   7.875 %   12/15/14      240,000      234,600  

OPTI Canada Inc.

   8.250 %   12/15/14      205,000      202,950  

Petrozuata Finance Inc.

   8.220 %   4/1/17      2,880,000      2,898,000 A
                
             6,254,736  
                

Paper and Forest Products — 0.5%

          

Abitibi-Consolidated Co. of Canada

   13.750 %   4/1/11      520,000      531,700 A

Abitibi-Consolidated Co. of Canada

   8.375 %   4/1/15      350,000      180,250  
                
             711,950  
                

Road and Rail — 0.8%

          

Canadian Pacific Railway Co.

   6.250 %   10/15/11      1,000,000      1,036,144  


     Rate     Maturity
Date
   Par/Shares†     Value  

Long-Term Securities — Continued

         

Yankee Bonds — Continued

         

Road and Rail — Continued

         

Grupo Transportacion Ferroviaria Mexicana SA de CV

   9.375 %   5/1/12    $ 170,000     $ 175,525  
               
            1,211,669  
               

Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment — 0.1%

         

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC

   7.875 %   10/15/14      150,000       137,250  

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC

   9.500 %   10/15/15      45,000       37,012  
               
            174,262  
               

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.7%

         

True Move Co. Ltd.

   10.750 %   12/16/13      590,000       557,190 A

True Move Co. Ltd.

   10.750 %   12/16/13      200,000       188,000 A

Vodafone Group PLC

   7.750 %   2/15/10      250,000       264,942  
               
            1,010,132  
               

Total Yankee Bonds (Cost — $23,281,397)

            23,732,942  
               

Foreign Government Obligations — 0.6%

         

Republic of Argentina

   2.000 %   1/3/10      1,468,401  ARS     931,753 O
               

Total Foreign Government Obligations (Cost — $873,573)

            931,753  
               

Preferred Stocks — 3.5%

         

Fannie Mae

   5.375 %        15  shs     1,003,125 H

Freddie Mac

   5.160 %        100       2,700 B

Freddie Mac

   5.000 %        200       6,800  

Freddie Mac

   8.375 %        20,500       500,200 C

General Motors Corp.

   5.250 %        225,000       3,651,750 H
               

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

            5,164,575  
               

Trust Preferred Securities — 3.1%

         

Corp-Backed Trust Certificates

   7.375 %        33,900       569,859  

Corp-Backed Trust Certificates

   8.000 %        15,600       232,596  

CORTS Trust for Ford Motor Co.

   8.000 %        155,100       2,221,032  

PreferredPlus TR-CCR1

   8.250 %        5,100       79,254  

SATURNS-F 2003-5

   8.125 %        104,100       1,488,630  
               

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

            4,591,371  
               

Total Long-Term Securities (Cost — $237,574,664)

            230,633,563  
               

Short-Term Securities — 1.3%

         

U.S. Government and Agency Obligations — N.M.

         

Fannie Mae

   0.000 %   12/15/08    $ 47,000       46,394 I
               

Foreign Government Obligations — 1.3%

         

Egypt Treasury Bills

   0.000 %   10/28/08      8,725,000  EGP     1,540,417 I

Egypt Treasury Bills

   0.000 %   11/11/08      1,825,000  EGP     313,750 I
               
            1,854,167  
               

Total Short-Term Securities (Cost — $1,872,755)

            1,900,561  
               


Total Investments — 156.0% (Cost — $239,447,419)P

           232,534,124  

Other Assets Less Liabilities — (7.7)%

           (11,484,165 )

Liquidation value of preferred shares — (48.3)%

           (72,000,000 )
              

Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders — 100.0%

         $ 149,049,959  
              

Net Asset Value per Share:

         $ 12.99  
              
     Expiration    Actual
Contracts
   Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Futures Contracts WrittenQ

        

U.S. Treasury Bond Futures

   June 2008    23    $ (90,498 )
              

 

N.M. Not Meaningful.
A Rule 144a Security—A security purchased pursuant to Rule 144a under the Securities Act of 1933 which may not be resold subject to that rule except to qualified institutional buyers. These securities, which the Fund’s investment adviser has determined to be liquid, represent 23.04% of net assets.
B Indexed Security—The rates of interest earned on these securities are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), the Euro Interbank Offered Rate (“EURIBOR”) Index, the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”), the one-year Treasury Bill Rate or the ten-year Japanese Government Bond Rate. The coupon rates are the rates as of March 31, 2008.
C Stepped Coupon Security—A security with a predetermined schedule of interest or dividend rate changes at which time it begins to accrue interest or pay dividends according to the predetermined schedule.
D Position, or a portion thereof, with an aggregate market value of 9,655,822 has been segregated to collateralize reverse repurchase agreements.
E Pay-in-Kind (“PIK”) security—A security in which interest or dividends during the initial few years is paid in additional PIK securities rather than in cash.
F Credit Linked Security—The rates of interest earned on these securities are tied to the credit rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s Rating Service and/or Moody’s Investors Services.
G Bond is in default as of March 31, 2008.
H Convertible Security—Security may be converted into the issuer’s common stock.
I Zero coupon bond—A bond with no periodic interest payments which is sold at such a discount as to produce a current yield to maturity.
J Illiquid security valued at fair value under the procedures approved by the Board of Directors.
K Yankee Bond—A dollar-denominated bond issued in the U.S. by foreign entities.
L Stripped Security—Security with interest-only or principal-only payment streams, denoted by a 1 or 2, respectively. For interest-only securities, the amount shown as principal is the notional balance used to calculate the amount of interest due.
M The coupon rates shown on variable rate securities are the rates at March 31, 2008. These rates vary with the weighted average coupon of the underlying loans.
N When-issued Security—Security purchased on a delayed delivery basis. Final settlement amount and maturity date have not yet been announced.
O Inflation-Protected Security—Security whose principal value is adjusted daily or monthly in accordance with changes to the relevant country’s Consumer Price Index or its equivalent used as an inflation proxy. Interest is calculated on the basis of the current adjusted principal value.
P At March 31, 2008, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 6,845,783  

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (13,759,078 )
        

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (6,913,295 )
        

 

Q Futures are described in more detail in the notes to financial statements.
Securities are denominated in U.S. Dollars, unless otherwise noted. Securities denominated in euro may not have been originally issued in euro, but were converted to euro from their local currencies as of January 1, 2002.

ARS — Argentine Peso

EGP — Egyptian Pound

RUB — Russian Ruble


Investment Valuation

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

 

   

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

   

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

 

   

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

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

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

 

     [3/31/2008]     Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)

Investments in Securities

   $ 232,534,124     $ —       $ 232,534,124     $ —  

Other Financial Instruments*

     (22,962,430 )     (90,498 )     (22,871,932 )     —  
                              

Total

   $ 209,571,694     $ (90,498 )   $ 209,662,192     $ —  
                              

 

* Other financial instruments include options, futures, swaps and forward contracts.


* The realized gain (loss) on other financial instruments for the period ended March 31, 2008 amounted to $ —.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

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

Options, Futures and Swap Agreements

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

Swap Agreements

The Fund may invest in swaps for the purpose of managing their exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. The use of swaps involves risks that are different from those associated with ordinary portfolio transactions.

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

Swaps are marked-to-market daily and changes in value are recorded as unrealized appreciation/(depreciation). Gains or losses are realized upon termination of the swap agreement. Periodic payments and premiums received or made by a Fund are recorded in the accompanying statement of operations as realized gains or losses, respectively. Collateral, in the form of restricted cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the Fund’s custodian in compliance with the terms of the swap contracts. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the statement of assets and liabilities. These risks include changes in the returns of the underlying instruments, failure of the counterparties to perform under the contracts’ terms, and the possible lack of liquidity with respect to the swap agreements.

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

Other information regarding the Fund is available in the Fund’s most recent Report to Shareholders. This information is available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov).


Western Asset Premier Bond

As of March 31, 2008, the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) was 2.70%.

The following is a summary of open credit default swap contracts outstanding as of March 31, 2008.

 

Agreement With:

   Termination
Date
   The Fund
Agrees to Pay
   The Fund
Will Receive
   Contract
Notional
Amount
   Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (AAMES Mortgage Investment Trust 2005-1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 160 bp, due 6/25/35)    June 25, 2035    1.28% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
   $ 43,000    $ 19,772  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (AAMES Mortgage Investment Trust 2005-1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 250 bp, due 6/25/35)    June 25, 2035    2.05% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      23,071  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (ACE Securities Corp. 2005-HE1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 138 bp, due 2/25/35)    February 25, 2035    1.31% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      11,934  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (ACE Securities Corp. 2005-HE1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 220bp, due 2/25/35)    February 25, 2035    2.06% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     28,289      14,059  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Aegis Asset Backed Securities Trust 2004-4 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 190bp, due 10/25/34)    October 25, 2034    1.37% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     33,043      14,783  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Aegis Asset Backed Securities Trust 2005 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 130 bp, due 3/25/35)    March 25, 2035    1.31% Quarterly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      32,205  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Aegis Asset Backed Securities Trust 2005 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 200 bp, due 3/25/35)    March 25, 2035    2.18% Quarterly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      35,998  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Argent Securities Inc. 2004-W11 M10, 1-Month LIBOR + 350bp, due 11/25/34)    November 25, 2034    2.15% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     31,948      5,988  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Argent Securities Inc. 2004-W11 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 225bp, due 11/25/34)    November 25, 2034    1.33% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      7,360  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Argent Securities Inc. 2004-W4 M3, 1-Month LIBOR + 300 bp, due 3/25/34)    March 25, 2034    2.2% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     20,620      10,883  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Finance America Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-3 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 180bp, due 11/25/34)    November 25, 2034    1.31% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     15,633      10,919  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Finance America Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-3 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 315bp, due 11/25/34)    November 25, 2034    2.18% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     15,632      11,670  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Fremont Home Loan Trust 2005-A M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 135 bp, due 1/25/35)    January 25, 2035    1.31% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     17,046      11,871  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Fremont Home Loan Trust 2005-A, 1-Month LIBOR + 100bp, due 1/25/35)    January 25, 2035    2.08% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     17,202      14,183  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (IndyMac Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed, Trust 2004-C M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 190bp, due 3/25/35)    March 25, 2035    1.28% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      14,111  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (IndyMac Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed, Trust 2004-C M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 325bp, due 3/25/35)    March 25, 2035    2.05% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      15,298  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 350bp, due 2/25/34)    February 25, 2034    2.15% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     17,469      7,690  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 170 bp, due 2/25/35)    February 25, 2035    1.31% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      13,653  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2005-1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 275bp, due 2/25/35)    February 25, 2035    2.08% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      16,944  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (MASTR Asset Backed Securities Trust 2005-NC1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 153bp, due 12/25/34)    December 25, 2034    1.31% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      26,909  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (MASTR Asset Backed Securities Trust 2005-NC1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 240bp, due 12/25/34)    December 25, 2034    2.08% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      26,214  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2004-WMC1 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 225bp, due 9/25/35)    September 25, 2035    2.05% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      7,314  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2004-WMC4 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 375bp, due 4/25/35)    April 25, 2035    2.15% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     36,882      8,695  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2005-NC1 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 130bp, due 10/25/35)    October 25, 2035    1.28% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      7,090  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2005-NC1 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 205bp, due 10/25/35)    October 25, 2035    2.05% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      9,753  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc. 2005-WMC1 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 135bp, due 9/25/35)    September 25, 2035    1.28% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      10,172  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I 2005-WMC1 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 130 bp, due 1/25/35)    January 25, 2035    1.31% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     13,639      9,733  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I 2005-WMC1 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 215bp, due 1/25/35)    January 25, 2035    2.18% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     15,932      13,013  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (New Century Home Equity Loan Trust 2004-2 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 325bp, due 8/25/34)    August 25, 2034    2.15% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     21,115      9,112  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (New Century Home Equity Loan Trust 2005-1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 140 bp, due 3/25/35)    March 25, 2035    1.31% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      12,726  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (New Century Home Equity Loan Trust 2005-1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 205 bp, due 3/25/35)    March 25, 2035    2.18% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      14,265  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Novastar Home Equity Loan 2005-1 B2, 1-Month LIBOR + 135 bp, due 6/25/35)    June 25, 2035    1.28% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      16,920  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Novastar Home Equity Loan 2005-4 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 195 bp, due 6/25/35)    June 25, 2035    2.05% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      23,236  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Park Place Securities Inc. 2005-WCH1 M8, 1-Month LIBOR + 155bp, due 1/25/36)    January 25, 2036    1.36% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      21,138  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (Park Place Securities, Inc. 2005-WCH1 M9, 1-Month LIBOR + 250 bp, due 1/25/36)    January 25, 2036    2.18% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      24,392  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (People's Choice Home Loan Securities Trust 2004-1 M6, 1-Month LIBOR + 230bp, due 6/25/34)    June 25, 2034    1.37% Quarterly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     46,139      8,796  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (People's Choice Home Loan Securities Trust 2005-1 B3, 1-Month LIBOR + 260bp, due 1/25/35)    January 25, 2035    2.05% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      20,965  
Credit Suisse First Boston USA (People's Choice Home Loan Securities Trust 2005-1, 1-Month LIBOR + 165bp, due 1/25/35)    January 25, 2035    1.28% Monthly    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
     43,000      18,067  
Deutsche Bank AG (ABX. HE-AAA 06-2)    May 25, 2046    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
   0.11% Monthly      300,000      (60,302 )
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (ABX.HE-AAA 07-2)    January 25, 2038    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
   0.76% Monthly      20,000,000      (9,269,085 )
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (ABX.HE-AAA 06-1)    July 25, 2045    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
   0.18% Monthly      10,000,000      (353,831 )
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (CDX HY 8)    June 20, 2012    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
   0.86% Quarterly      30,000,000      (700,783 )
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (CDX HY 8)    June 20, 2012    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
   1.135%
Quarterly
     10,000,000      (137,059 )
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (CDX HY 8)    June 20, 2012    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
   1.4% Quarterly      15,000,000      (66,055 )
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (iBoxx IG)    June 20, 2010    Specified amount
upon credit event
notice
   0.4% Quarterly      15,000,000      (284,772 )
                    
               $ (10,290,985 )
                    


Item 2 – Controls and Procedures

 

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

 

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

Item 3 – Exhibits

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

 

Page 3 of 4


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Western Asset Premier Bond
By:  

R. Jay Gerken

  R. Jay Gerken
  President
  Western Asset Premier Bond
Date: May 21, 2008

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

 

By:

 

R. Jay Gerken

  R. Jay Gerken
  President
  Western Asset Premier Bond

Date: May 21, 2008

By:

 

Marie K. Karpinski

  Marie K. Karpinski
  Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
  Western Asset Premier Bond

Date: May 21, 2008

 

Page 4 of 4