WESTERN ASSET INCOME FUND

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-02351

 

 

Western Asset Income Fund

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, N.Y. 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: (888)777-0102

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2014

 

 

 


ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

The Annual Report to Stockholders is filed herewith.


LOGO

 

 

Annual Report   December 31, 2014

WESTERN ASSET

INCOME FUND (PAI)

 

 

 

LOGO

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


What’s inside  
Letter from the president     II   
Investment commentary     III   
Fund overview     1   
Fund at a glance     5   
Spread duration     6   
Effective duration     7   
Schedule of investments     8   
Statement of assets and liabilities     19   
Statement of operations     20   
Statements of changes in net assets     21   
Financial highlights     22   
Notes to financial statements     23   
Report of independent registered public accounting firm     32   
Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements     33   
Additional information     35   
Annual principal executive officer and principal financial officer certifications     39   
Other shareholder communications regarding accounting matters     40   
Dividend reinvestment plan     41   
Important tax information     43   

 

Fund objectives

The Fund seeks a high level of current income, consistent with prudent investment risk. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective.

 

Letter from the president

LOGO

 

Dear Shareholder,

We are pleased to provide the annual report of Western Asset Income Fund for the twelve-month reporting period ended December 31, 2014. 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.

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 this is through our website, www.lmcef.com. 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

Kenneth D. Fuller

President and Chief Executive Officer

January 30, 2015

 

II    Western Asset Income Fund


Investment commentary

Economic review

Despite weakness in early 2014, the U.S. economy expanded at a solid pace during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 (the “reporting period”). The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that in the first quarter of 2014, U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”)i contracted 2.1%. This was the first negative GDP report in three years and partially attributed to severe winter weather. Thankfully, this setback was very brief, as second quarter GDP growth was 4.6%. The rebound in GDP growth was driven by several factors, including an acceleration in personal consumption expenditures (“PCE”), increased private inventory investment and exports, as well as an upturn in state and local government spending. The economy then gained further momentum as third quarter GDP growth was 5.0%, its strongest reading since the third quarter of 2003. This was driven by contributions from PCE, exports, nonresidential fixed investment and government spending. After the reporting period ended, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s initial estimate showed that fourth quarter 2014 GDP growth was 2.6%. Moderating growth was due to several factors, including an upturn in imports, a downturn in federal government spending and decelerations in nonresidential fixed investment and in exports.

The U.S. manufacturing sector was another tailwind for the economy. Based on figures for the Institute for Supply Management’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (“PMI”)ii, U.S. manufacturing expanded during all twelve months of the reporting period (a reading below 50 indicates a contraction, whereas a reading above 50 indicates an expansion). After a reading of 56.5 in December 2013, the PMI fell to 51.3 in January 2014, but generally rose over the next several months, reaching a high of 59.0 in August, its best reading since March 2011. While the PMI dipped to 56.6 in September, it rose back to 59.0 in October. Manufacturing activity then moderated over the last two months of the year and the PMI was 55.5 in December. However, for 2014 as a whole the PMI averaged 55.8, the best annual reading since 2010.

The improving U.S. job market was another factor supporting the overall economy during the reporting period. When the period began, unemployment, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, was 6.6%. Unemployment generally declined throughout the reporting period and reached a low of 5.6% in December 2014, the lowest level since June 2008.

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 it has since December 2008, the Fed kept the federal funds rateiv at a historically low range between zero and 0.25%. The Fed also ended its asset purchase program that was announced in December 2012. At that time, the Fed said it would continue purchasing $40 billion per month of agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), as well as $45 billion per month of longer-term Treasuries. Following the meeting that concluded on December 18, 2013, the Fed announced that it would begin reducing its monthly asset purchases, saying “Beginning in January 2014, the Committee will add to its holdings of agency MBS at a pace of $35 billion per month rather than $40 billion per month, and will add to its holdings of longer-term Treasury securities at a pace of $40 billion per month rather than $45 billion

 

Western Asset Income Fund   III


Investment commentary (cont’d)

per month.” At each of the Fed’s next six meetings (January, March, April, June, July and September 2014), it announced further $10 billion tapering of its asset purchases. At its meeting that ended on October 29, 2014, the Fed announced that its asset purchase program had concluded. During its last meeting of the year that concluded on December 17, 2014, the Fed said that “Based on its current assessment, the Committee judges that it can be patient …to maintain the 0 to 1/4 percent target range for the federal funds rate for a considerable time….” Finally, at its meeting that ended on January 28, 2015, after the reporting period ended, the Fed said “Based on its current assessment, the Committee judges that it can be patient in beginning to normalize the stance of monetary policy.”

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Kenneth D. Fuller

President and Chief Executive Officer

January 30, 2015

All investments are subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

 

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 U.S. 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.

 

IV    Western Asset Income Fund


Fund overview

Q. What is the Fund’s investment strategy?

A. The Fund seeks a high level of current income, consistent with prudent investment risk, through investment in a diversified portfolio of debt securities. To a lesser extent, the Fund may also invest in privately placed debt securities and in certain equity securities. Capital appreciation is a secondary investment objective.

The Fund’s investment policies provide that its portfolio be invested as follows: at least 75% in debt securities rated within the four highest grades, and in government securities, bank debt, commercial paper, cash or cash equivalents; up to 25% in other fixed-income securities, convertible bonds, convertible preferred and preferred stock; and not more than 25% in securities restricted as to resale.

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. The individuals responsible for development of investment strategy, day-to-day portfolio management, oversight and coordination of the Fund are S. Kenneth Leech, Ryan K. Brist and Michael C. Buchanan.

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

A. The U.S. spread sectors (non-Treasuries) generated positive results and largely outperformed equal-durationi Treasuries over the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. Risk aversion was prevalent at times given mixed economic data, questions surrounding the outlook for global growth, changing monetary policy by the Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”)ii, and numerous geopolitical issues. However, these factors were largely overshadowed by solid demand from investors looking to generate incremental yield in the low interest rate environment.

Short-term Treasury yields moved higher, whereas longer-term Treasury yields declined during the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. Two-year Treasury yields rose from 0.38% at the beginning of the period to 0.67% at the end of the period. Their peak of 0.73% occurred on December 23, December 24 and December 26, 2014, and they were as low as 0.30% in early February 2014. Ten-year Treasury yields were at a peak of 3.04% when the reporting period began and reached a low of 2.07% on December 16, 2014. They ended the reporting period at 2.17%.

All told, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Indexiii returned 5.97% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014. The overall credit market, as represented by the Barclays U.S. Credit Index (the “Index”),iv returned 7.49% over the same period. During this period, as measured by the Index, lower-rated BBB-rated bonds significantly outperformed

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   1


Fund overview (cont’d)

highly-rated AAA-rated securities, returning 8.34% and 3.71%, respectively. Comparatively, riskier fixed-income securities, including high-yield bonds, produced weaker results. Over the fiscal year, the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield — 2% Issuer Cap Indexv gained 2.46%.

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

A. A number of adjustments were made to the Fund’s portfolio during the reporting period. We reduced the Fund’s underweight to the Utilities sector. Additionally, we reduced the Fund’s exposure to cash, as well as its allocation to the Financials sector. From a credit quality perspective, we added to the Fund’s allocation to securities rated BBB and pared its exposure to below investment-grade securities. We actively participated in the new issue market and purchased securities that we felt were attractively valued.

During the reporting period, Treasury futures, which were used to manage the Fund’s duration and yield curvevi positioning, detracted from performance.

Performance review

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, Western Asset Income Fund returned 7.57% based on its net asset value (“NAV”)vii and 7.44% based on its New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) market price per share. The Fund’s unmanaged benchmarks, the Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Indexviii and the Barclays U.S. Credit Index, returned 2.45% and 7.49%, respectively, for the same period. The Lipper Corporate Debt Closed-End Funds BBB-Rated Category Averageix returned 5.84% over the same time frame. Please note that Lipper performance returns are based on each fund’s NAV.

During the twelve-month period, the Fund made distributions to shareholders totaling $0.69 per share*. The performance table shows the Fund’s twelve-month total return based on its NAV and market price as of December 31, 2014. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

Performance Snapshot as of December 31, 2014  
Price per share   12-month
total
return**
 
$14.84 (NAV)     7.57 %† 
$13.45 (Market Price)     7.44 %‡ 

All figures represent past performance and are not a guarantee of future results.

** Total returns are based on changes in NAV or market price, respectively. Returns reflect the deduction of all Fund expenses, including management fees, operating expenses, and other Fund expenses. Returns do not reflect the deduction of brokerage commissions or taxes that investors may pay on distributions or the sale of shares.

† Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions at NAV.

‡ Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions in additional shares in accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

Q. What were the leading contributors to performance?

A. The largest contributor to the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period was security selection. In particular, overweight positions in Citigroup, Bank of America and Verizon Communications were

 

* For the tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, please refer to page 31 of this report.

 

2    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


additive for results. Citigroup and Bank of America performed well as investor sentiment, overall, improved due to continued balance sheet and capital ratio improvement, as well as strengthening fundamental prospects. Fundamental performance at Verizon Communications continued to strengthen, increasing the value of the Fund’s positions.

Sector positioning, overall contributed to the Fund performance during the reporting period. An underweight to Energy, the worst performing sector in the Index during the period, enhanced the Fund’s results. Overweights to the Communications and Financials sectors were rewarded as they outperformed the Index during the year.

Q. What were the leading detractors from performance?

A. Although the Fund outperformed the Index, the largest detractor from its relative performance during the reporting period was it positioning in a number of sectors. Having underweights to Utilities and Non-Corporates were drags on results given their outperformance versus the Index.

Overweights to a number of individual securities also detracted from performance, including Cliffs Natural Resources. This U.S.-based company specializes in the mining and processing of iron ore and the mining of coal. It was negatively impacted by falling iron ore prices, as well as investor concerns regarding a large amount of debt on the company’s books that is set to mature in the near future.

Looking for additional information?

The Fund is traded under the symbol “PAI” and its closing market price is available in most newspapers under the NYSE listings. The daily NAV is available on-line under the symbol “XPAIX” on most financial websites. Barron’s and the Wall Street Journal’s Monday edition both carry closed-end fund tables that provide additional information. In addition, the Fund issues a quarterly press release that can be found on most major financial websites as well as www.lmcef.com.

In a continuing effort to provide information concerning the Fund, shareholders may call 1-888-777-0102 (toll free), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, for the Fund’s current NAV, market price and other information.

Thank you for your investment in Western Asset Income 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 20, 2015

RISKS: Bonds are subject to a variety of risks, including interest rate, credit and inflation risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall, reducing the value of a fixed-income investment’s price. The Fund may invest in high-yield bonds, which are rated below investment grade and carry more risk than higher-rated securities. To the extent that the Fund invests in asset-backed, mortgage-backed or mortgage related securities, its exposure to prepayment and extension risks may be greater than investments in other fixed-income securities. Leverage may result in greater volatility of NAV and the market price of common shares and increases a shareholder’s risk of loss. The Fund may invest, to a limited extent, in foreign securities, including emerging markets, which are subject

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   3


Fund overview (cont’d)

to additional risks. The Fund may make significant investments in derivative instruments. Derivative instruments can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses, and have a potentially large impact on Fund performance.

Portfolio holdings and breakdowns are as of December 31, 2014 and are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investments. Please refer to pages 8 through 18 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 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, 2014 were: Financials (40.1%), Energy (15.2%), Consumer Discretionary (9.1%), Telecommunication Services (8.0%) and Materials (5.4%). 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 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.

 

iv 

The Barclays U.S. Credit Index is an index composed of corporate and non-corporate debt issues that are investment grade (rated Baa3/BBB- or higher).

 

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

 

vii 

Net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated by subtracting total liabilities and outstanding preferred stock (if any) from the closing value of all securities held by the Fund (plus all other assets) and dividing the result (total net assets) by the total number of the common shares outstanding. The NAV fluctuates with changes in the market prices of securities in which the Fund has invested. However, the price at which an investor may buy or sell shares of the Fund is the Fund’s market price as determined by supply of and demand for the Fund’s shares.

 

viii 

The Barclays U.S. Corporate High Yield Index covers the universe of fixed-rate, non-investment grade debt, including corporate and non-corporate sectors. Pay-in-kind (“PIK”) bonds, Eurobonds and debt issues from countries designated as emerging markets are excluded, but Canadian and global bonds (SEC registered) of issuers in non-emerging market countries are included. Original issue zero coupon bonds, step-up coupon structures and 144-A securities are also included.

 

ix 

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, 2014, including the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, calculated among the 10 funds in the Fund’s Lipper category.

 

4    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


Fund at a glance (unaudited)

Investment breakdown (%) as a percent of total investments

 

LOGO

 

The bar graph above represents the Fund’s portfolio as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and does not include derivatives such as futures contracts. The Fund’s portfolio is actively managed. As a result, the composition of its portfolio holdings and sectors is subject to change at any time.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   5


Spread duration (unaudited)

Economic exposure — December 31, 2014

 

LOGO

 

Total Spread Duration

PAI   — 7.75 years
Benchmark   — 6.99 years

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   — Barclays U.S. Credit Index
EM   — Emerging Markets
HY   — High Yield
IG Credit   — Investment Grade Credit
MBS   — Mortgage-Backed Securities
PAI   — Western Asset Income Fund

 

6    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


Effective duration (unaudited)

Interest rate exposure — December 31, 2014

 

LOGO

 

Total Effective Duration

PAI   — 6.76 years
Benchmark   — 7.07 years

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.

 

Benchmark   — Barclays U.S. Credit Index
EM   — Emerging Markets
HY   — High Yield
IG Credit   — Investment Grade Credit
PAI   — Western Asset Income Fund

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   7


Schedule of investments

December 31, 2014

Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  
Corporate Bonds & Notes — 91.3%                                
Consumer Discretionary — 9.1%                                

Automobiles — 1.1%

                               

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

    7.000     4/15/15      $ 610,000      $ 620,497   

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

    8.125     1/15/20        410,000        507,850   

General Motors Co., Senior Notes

    5.200     4/1/45        310,000        327,050   

Total Automobiles

                            1,455,397   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 0.6%

                               

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC/Hilton Worldwide Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    5.625     10/15/21        100,000        104,500   

Paris Las Vegas Holding LLC/Harrah’s Las Vegas LLC/Flamingo Las Vegas Holding LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    8.000     10/1/20        500,000        490,000  (a) 

Wynn Macau Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.250     10/15/21        290,000        272,600  (a) 

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

                            867,100   

Household Durables — 0.1%

                               

Toll Brothers Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    6.750     11/1/19        90,000        100,800   

Internet & Catalog Retail — 0.5%

                               

Amazon.com Inc., Senior Notes

    4.950     12/5/44        670,000        692,113   

Media — 6.1%

                               

21st Century Fox America Inc., Senior Notes

    6.550     3/15/33        545,000        707,919   

21st Century Fox America Inc., Senior Notes

    7.750     12/1/45        130,000        195,559   

Comcast Corp., Bonds

    6.400     5/15/38        950,000        1,268,445   

Comcast Corp., Notes

    6.450     3/15/37        220,000        292,692   

Comcast Corp., Senior Notes

    6.950     8/15/37        160,000        225,423   

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875     7/15/22        500,000        512,500   

TCI Communications Inc., Senior Debentures

    8.750     8/1/15        160,000        167,389   

Time Warner Cable Inc., Senior Notes

    8.750     2/14/19        690,000        854,119   

Time Warner Entertainment Co., LP, Senior Notes

    8.375     7/15/33        410,000        615,301   

Time Warner Inc., Senior Debentures

    7.700     5/1/32        595,000        840,639   

Time Warner Inc., Senior Notes

    4.900     6/15/42        150,000        158,043   

UBM PLC, Notes

    5.750     11/3/20        570,000        621,791  (a) 

Virgin Media Finance PLC, Senior Notes

    6.375     4/15/23        1,000,000        1,047,500  (a) 

WPP Finance 2010, Senior Notes

    4.750     11/21/21        840,000        918,459   

WPP Finance 2010, Senior Notes

    5.625     11/15/43        150,000        171,382   

Total Media

                            8,597,161   

Specialty Retail — 0.7%

                               

American Greetings Corp., Senior Notes

    7.375     12/1/21        160,000        167,200   

Gap Inc., Senior Notes

    5.950     4/12/21        730,000        830,744   

Total Specialty Retail

                            997,944   

Total Consumer Discretionary

                            12,710,515   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

8    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


 

Western Asset Income Fund

 

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  
Consumer Staples — 3.9%                                

Beverages — 1.1%

                               

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., Senior Notes

    5.375     1/15/20      $ 260,000      $ 294,486   

Constellation Brands Inc., Senior Notes

    4.250     5/1/23        80,000        79,400   

Pernod-Ricard SA, Senior Bonds

    5.750     4/7/21        350,000        402,037  (a) 

Pernod-Ricard SA, Senior Notes

    5.500     1/15/42        670,000        779,311  (a) 

Total Beverages

                            1,555,234   

Food Products — 0.2%

                               

Kraft Foods Group Inc., Senior Notes

    5.000     6/4/42        200,000        220,160   

Tobacco — 2.6%

                               

Altria Group Inc., Senior Notes

    9.950     11/10/38        680,000        1,163,244   

Altria Group Inc., Senior Notes

    10.200     2/6/39        230,000        400,462   

Lorillard Tobacco Co., Senior Notes

    8.125     6/23/19        330,000        400,068   

Lorillard Tobacco Co., Senior Notes

    8.125     5/1/40        270,000        377,264   

Lorillard Tobacco Co., Senior Notes

    7.000     8/4/41        320,000        404,049   

Philip Morris International Inc., Senior Notes

    4.500     3/20/42        260,000        274,498   

Reynolds American Inc., Senior Notes

    4.750     11/1/42        720,000        698,797   

Total Tobacco

                            3,718,382   

Total Consumer Staples

                            5,493,776   
Energy — 15.2%                                

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.3%

                               

Baker Hughes Inc., Senior Notes

    7.500     11/15/18        370,000        441,646   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 14.9%

                               

Anadarko Finance Co., Senior Notes

    7.500     5/1/31        465,000        611,514   

Apache Corp., Senior Notes

    6.900     9/15/18        100,000        115,025   

Apache Corp., Senior Notes

    6.000     1/15/37        190,000        206,757   

Apache Corp., Senior Notes

    5.100     9/1/40        80,000        78,363   

Apache Corp., Senior Notes

    5.250     2/1/42        90,000        90,054   

ConocoPhillips, Notes

    6.500     2/1/39        810,000        1,076,203   

ConocoPhillips, Senior Notes

    6.000     1/15/20        310,000        360,202   

Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    5.600     7/15/41        310,000        344,378   

Devon Financing Corp. LLC, Debentures

    7.875     9/30/31        380,000        518,376   

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

    5.875     5/28/45        176,000        162,800   

El Paso Corp., Medium-Term Notes

    7.800     8/1/31        2,000,000        2,435,262   

Enbridge Energy Partners LP, Senior Notes

    9.875     3/1/19        120,000        151,804   

Energy Transfer Equity LP, Senior Notes

    7.500     10/15/20        250,000        277,500   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC, Senior Notes

    6.125     10/15/39        320,000        386,539   

EOG Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    5.875     9/15/17        540,000        597,536   

Hess Corp., Notes

    7.875     10/1/29        1,180,000        1,509,962   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   9


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

December 31, 2014

Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — continued

                               

Hess Corp., Senior Bonds

    6.000     1/15/40      $ 300,000      $ 331,334   

Kerr-McGee Corp., Notes

    6.950     7/1/24        1,080,000        1,319,994   

Kinder Morgan Inc., Senior Bonds

    5.550     6/1/45        700,000        716,960   

Kinder Morgan Inc., Senior Notes

    5.300     12/1/34        340,000        345,119   

LUKOIL International Finance BV, Senior Notes

    3.416     4/24/18        300,000        255,000  (a) 

LUKOIL International Finance BV, Senior Notes

    4.563     4/24/23        200,000        160,000  (a) 

MEG Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    6.375     1/30/23        600,000        535,500  (a) 

Murray Energy Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    8.625     6/15/21        350,000        334,250  (a) 

Noble Energy Inc., Senior Notes

    6.000     3/1/41        390,000        428,624   

Noble Energy Inc., Senior Notes

    5.250     11/15/43        150,000        152,332   

Pemex Project Funding Master Trust, Senior Bonds

    6.625     6/15/35        2,635,000        3,043,425   

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

    4.875     3/17/20        140,000        130,971   

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

    7.250     3/17/44        280,000        276,500   

Petrobras International Finance Co., Senior Notes

    6.750     1/27/41        525,000        477,524   

Phillips 66, Senior Notes

    5.875     5/1/42        160,000        184,255   

Plains Exploration & Production Co., Senior Notes

    6.875     2/15/23        267,000        297,038   

Shell International Finance BV, Senior Notes

    6.375     12/15/38        250,000        335,955   

Sinopec Group Overseas Development Ltd., Senior Notes

    4.375     4/10/24        490,000        513,981  (a) 

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co., LLC, Senior Notes

    5.400     8/15/41        310,000        335,533   

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co., LLC, Senior Notes

    4.450     8/1/42        450,000        421,117   

Williams Cos. Inc., Debentures

    7.500     1/15/31        47,000        49,870   

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    4.550     6/24/24        680,000        632,387   

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    7.750     6/15/31        37,000        39,624   

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    8.750     3/15/32        610,000        711,911   

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                            20,951,479   

Total Energy

                            21,393,125   
Financials — 38.3%                                

Banks — 19.3%

                               

Bank of America Corp., Junior Subordinated

    6.250     9/5/24        170,000        168,034  (b)(c) 

Bank of America Corp., Junior Subordinated

    6.500     10/23/24        650,000        661,635  (b)(c) 

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

    6.500     8/1/16        70,000        75,413   

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

    7.625     6/1/19        70,000        84,603   

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

    5.625     7/1/20        30,000        34,158   

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875     2/7/42        320,000        400,436   

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

    4.875     4/1/44        840,000        928,020   

Barclays Bank PLC, Subordinated Notes

    10.179     6/12/21        240,000        322,221  (a) 

BPCE SA, Subordinated Notes

    5.150     7/21/24        410,000        422,493  (a) 

CIT Group Inc., Senior Notes

    5.000     8/1/23        200,000        205,500   

Citigroup Inc., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.300     5/15/24        280,000        275,800  (b)(c) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

10    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


 

Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  

Banks — continued

                               

Citigroup Inc., Junior Subordinated Notes

    5.950     1/30/23      $ 200,000      $ 197,000  (b)(c) 

Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes

    6.010     1/15/15        142,000        142,202   

Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes

    8.500     5/22/19        1,280,000        1,594,966   

Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes

    8.125     7/15/39        450,000        688,920   

Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes

    5.875     1/30/42        240,000        301,881   

Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes

    5.500     9/13/25        750,000        829,879   

Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes

    6.125     8/25/36        550,000        655,639   

Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes

    6.675     9/13/43        370,000        478,430   

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA, Junior Subordinated Notes

    11.000     6/30/19        708,000        911,196  (a)(b)(c) 

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA, Senior Notes

    5.250     5/24/41        570,000        681,728   

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA, Subordinated Notes

    5.750     12/1/43        450,000        537,058   

Credit Agricole SA, Subordinated Notes

    8.375     10/13/19        560,000        645,400  (a)(b)(c) 

HSBC Finance Capital Trust IX, Junior Subordinated Notes

    5.911     11/30/35        1,350,000        1,366,875  (b) 

HSBC Holdings PLC, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.375     9/17/24        1,430,000        1,444,300  (b)(c) 

HSBC Holdings PLC, Subordinated Notes

    5.250     3/14/44        410,000        459,264   

ING Bank NV, Subordinated Notes

    5.800     9/25/23        600,000        665,567  (a) 

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Senior Notes

    3.625     8/12/15        1,240,000        1,256,747  (a) 

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Bonds

    5.017     6/26/24        250,000        242,629  (a) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.150     5/1/23        410,000        386,220  (b)(c) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.000     8/1/23        260,000        256,750  (b)(c) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.125     4/30/24        290,000        289,272  (b)(c) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Subordinated Notes

    6.125     6/27/17        720,000        794,476   

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Subordinated Notes

    5.625     8/16/43        440,000        511,677   

M&T Bank Corp., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.875     6/15/16        880,000        899,800  (c) 

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    7.648     9/30/31        1,360,000        1,584,400  (b)(c) 

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

    5.050     1/8/15        170,000        170,034   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

    6.125     12/15/22        310,000        337,406   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

    6.100     6/10/23        1,010,000        1,095,441   

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

    6.000     12/19/23        350,000        378,839   

Royal Bank of Scotland NV, Subordinated Notes

    7.750     5/15/23        480,000        563,056   

Societe Generale SA, Junior Subordinated Notes

    6.000     1/27/20        690,000        626,962  (a)(b)(c) 

Standard Chartered PLC, Subordinated Notes

    5.700     3/26/44        410,000        426,479  (a) 

Wachovia Capital Trust III, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.569     2/17/15        1,190,000        1,148,945  (b)(c) 

Wells Fargo & Co., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.900     6/15/24        370,000        373,700  (b)(c) 

Wells Fargo & Co., Subordinated Notes

    5.375     11/2/43        430,000        489,217   

Wells Fargo Capital X, Capital Securities

    5.950     12/15/36        130,000        132,275   

Total Banks

                            27,142,943   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   11


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

December 31, 2014

Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  

Capital Markets — 5.9%

                               

Credit Suisse Group AG, Junior Subordinated Notes

    6.250     12/18/24      $ 1,170,000      $ 1,117,350  (a)(b)(c) 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes

    5.375     3/15/20        270,000        302,588   

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes

    5.250     7/27/21        510,000        575,618   

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes

    6.250     2/1/41        570,000        720,562   

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

    6.750     10/1/37        640,000        804,720   

KKR Group Finance Co. III LLC, Senior Bonds

    5.125     6/1/44        620,000        668,545  (a) 

Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., Senior Notes

    6.400     8/28/17        300,000        334,250   

Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., Subordinated Notes

    5.700     5/2/17        1,000,000        1,081,006   

Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., Subordinated Notes

    6.110     1/29/37        320,000        377,841   

Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., Subordinated Notes

    7.750     5/14/38        900,000        1,271,074   

Morgan Stanley, Medium-Term Notes

    6.625     4/1/18        100,000        113,903   

Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes

    5.500     7/24/20        100,000        112,823   

Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes

    6.375     7/24/42        90,000        119,523   

Morgan Stanley, Subordinated Notes

    5.000     11/24/25        230,000        245,436   

UBS AG Stamford CT, Subordinated Notes

    7.625     8/17/22        340,000        400,301   

Total Capital Markets

                            8,245,540   

Consumer Finance — 2.6%

                               

Ally Financial Inc., Subordinated Notes

    8.000     12/31/18        201,000        228,135   

American Express Co., Subordinated Debentures

    6.800     9/1/66        370,000        387,575  (b) 

Capital One Financial Corp., Senior Notes

    6.750     9/15/17        230,000        259,477   

HSBC Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    6.676     1/15/21        1,300,000        1,542,393   

SLM Corp., Senior Notes

    7.250     1/25/22        830,000        900,550   

SLM Corp., Senior Notes

    6.125     3/25/24        290,000        284,925   

Total Consumer Finance

                            3,603,055   

Diversified Financial Services — 6.6%

                               

AerCap Ireland Capital Ltd./AerCap Global Aviation Trust, Senior Notes

    3.750     5/15/19        410,000        405,900  (a) 

Beaver Valley Funding Corp., Senior Secured Bonds

    9.000     6/1/17        20,000        21,600   

Carlyle Holdings II Finance LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    5.625     3/30/43        220,000        254,447  (a) 

CME Group Inc., Senior Notes

    5.300     9/15/43        440,000        533,140   

General Electric Capital Corp., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.250     12/15/22        600,000        653,250  (b)(c) 

General Electric Capital Corp., Notes

    5.300     2/11/21        480,000        548,154   

General Electric Capital Corp., Senior Notes

    6.875     1/10/39        440,000        622,383   

General Electric Capital Corp., Subordinated Debentures

    6.375     11/15/67        750,000        804,375  (b) 

ILFC E-Capital Trust I, Junior Subordinated Notes

    4.370     12/21/65        470,000        437,100  (a)(b) 

ILFC E-Capital Trust II, Bonds

    6.250     12/21/65        790,000        762,350  (a)(b) 

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    8.750     3/15/17        190,000        210,425   

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    8.875     9/1/17        470,000        529,925   

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    6.250     5/15/19        130,000        142,025   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  

Diversified Financial Services — continued

                               

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    8.250     12/15/20      $ 190,000      $ 228,950   

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    7.125     9/1/18        700,000        784,000  (a) 

Voya Financial Inc., Senior Notes

    5.500     7/15/22        760,000        858,508   

ZFS Finance USA Trust II, Bonds

    6.450     12/15/65        1,440,000        1,517,285  (a)(b) 

Total Diversified Financial Services

                            9,313,817   

Insurance — 3.5%

                               

AIA Group Ltd., Senior Notes

    4.875     3/11/44        400,000        452,981  (a) 

Allstate Corp., Junior Subordinated Debentures

    6.500     5/15/57        480,000        528,000  (b) 

American Equity Investment Life Holding Co., Senior Notes

    6.625     7/15/21        60,000        63,600   

American International Group Inc., Junior Subordinated Debentures

    6.250     3/15/37        80,000        89,276   

American International Group Inc., Senior Notes

    6.400     12/15/20        90,000        107,322   

AXA SA, Subordinated Bonds

    8.600     12/15/30        200,000        271,706   

Delphi Financial Group Inc., Senior Notes

    7.875     1/31/20        170,000        204,018   

Fidelity & Guaranty Life Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

    6.375     4/1/21        190,000        199,500  (a) 

Liberty Mutual Group Inc., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    7.800     3/15/37        190,000        222,300  (a) 

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., Subordinated Notes

    7.875     10/15/26        490,000        617,495  (a) 

MetLife Inc., Junior Subordinated Debentures

    6.400     12/15/36        1,150,000        1,282,250   

Prudential Financial Inc., Junior Subordinated Debentures

    8.875     6/15/38        340,000        396,950  (b) 

Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America —College Retirement Equity Fund, Notes

    6.850     12/16/39        400,000        546,332  (a) 

Total Insurance

                            4,981,730   

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 0.1%

                               

Health Care REIT Inc., Senior Notes

    5.875     5/15/15        130,000        132,426   

Real Estate Management & Development — 0.3%

                               

Security Capital Group Inc., Senior Notes

    7.700     6/15/28        280,000        375,986   

Total Financials

                            53,795,497   
Health Care — 1.3%                                

Biotechnology — 0.8%

                               

Amgen Inc., Senior Notes

    5.150     11/15/41        420,000        473,403   

Gilead Sciences Inc., Senior Notes

    5.650     12/1/41        60,000        74,291   

Gilead Sciences Inc., Senior Notes

    4.500     2/1/45        590,000        630,591   

Total Biotechnology

                            1,178,285   

Health Care Providers & Services — 0.4%

                               

Anthem Inc., Notes

    5.875     6/15/17        290,000        318,752   

Catholic Health Initiatives, Secured Bonds

    4.350     11/1/42        30,000        29,784   

Humana Inc., Senior Notes

    8.150     6/15/38        80,000        116,501   

UnitedHealth Group Inc., Senior Notes

    6.000     11/15/17        31,000        34,686   

Total Health Care Providers & Services

                            499,723   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   13


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

December 31, 2014

Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  

Pharmaceuticals — 0.1%

                               

Zoetis Inc., Senior Notes

    4.700     2/1/43      $ 160,000      $ 162,844   

Total Health Care

                            1,840,852   
Industrials — 5.3%                                

Aerospace & Defense — 1.1%

                               

Esterline Technologies Corp., Senior Notes

    7.000     8/1/20        750,000        787,500   

Exelis Inc., Senior Notes

    5.550     10/1/21        520,000        561,204   

Textron Inc., Senior Notes

    4.300     3/1/24        250,000        261,214   

Total Aerospace & Defense

                            1,609,918   

Airlines — 1.5%

                               

Air Canada, Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

    6.625     5/15/18        280,000        285,992  (a) 

American Airlines, Pass-Through Trust, Senior Secured Bonds

    5.600     7/15/20        300,252        306,257  (a) 

Delta Air Lines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Secured Notes

    8.021     8/10/22        85,199        98,404   

Delta Air Lines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Senior Secured Notes

    7.750     12/17/19        174,998        202,561   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates

    6.545     2/2/19        106,288        116,715   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Secured Notes

    9.750     1/15/17        75,549        83,859   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Secured Notes

    9.250     5/10/17        123,010        134,388   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Secured Notes

    6.250     4/11/20        144,155        151,363   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Senior Secured Notes

    7.250     11/10/19        170,423        196,839   

United Airlines Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Senior Secured Notes

    7.256     3/15/20        136,432        150,757   

US Airways, Pass-Through Trust, Senior Secured Bonds

    5.900     10/1/24        321,953        358,978   

Total Airlines

                            2,086,113   

Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.1%

                               

Republic Services Inc., Senior Notes

    5.500     9/15/19        130,000        146,455   

Republic Services Inc., Senior Notes

    5.250     11/15/21        330,000        373,654   

Taylor Morrison Communities Inc./Monarch Communities Inc., Senior Notes

    5.250     4/15/21        600,000        591,000  (a) 

Waste Management Inc., Senior Notes

    7.750     5/15/32        250,000        364,281   

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

                            1,475,390   

Industrial Conglomerates — 0.2%

                               

United Technologies Corp., Senior Notes

    6.125     2/1/19        200,000        232,204   

Machinery — 0.8%

                               

Caterpillar Inc., Senior Notes

    4.750     5/15/64        220,000        239,386   

Valmont Industries Inc., Senior Notes

    6.625     4/20/20        790,000        927,168   

Total Machinery

                            1,166,554   

Marine — 0.2%

                               

Horizon Lines LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    11.000     10/15/16        286,000        287,430  (d)  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


 

Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  

Road & Rail — 0.4%

                               

Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC, Senior Notes

    4.900     4/1/44      $ 460,000      $ 517,196   

Total Industrials

                            7,374,805   
Information Technology — 1.6%                                

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 0.2%

                               

Interface Security Systems Holdings Inc./Interface Security Systems LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    9.250     1/15/18        290,000        292,900   

IT Services — 0.4%

                               

Electronic Data Systems Corp., Notes

    7.450     10/15/29        420,000        530,665   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 0.8%

                               

KLA-Tencor Corp., Senior Notes

    4.650     11/1/24        910,000        942,075   

National Semiconductor Corp., Senior Notes

    6.600     6/15/17        110,000        123,771   

Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

                            1,065,846   

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 0.2%

                               

Hewlett-Packard Co., Senior Notes

    4.650     12/9/21        310,000        331,937   

Total Information Technology

                            2,221,348   
Materials — 5.4%                                

Chemicals — 0.9%

                               

Dow Chemical Co., Debentures

    7.375     11/1/29        800,000        1,064,974   

Ecolab Inc., Senior Notes

    5.500     12/8/41        140,000        168,522   

LYB International Finance BV, Senior Bonds

    4.875     3/15/44        100,000        102,877   

Total Chemicals

                            1,336,373   

Containers & Packaging — 0.2%

                               

Rock-Tenn Co., Senior Notes

    4.450     3/1/19        230,000        244,818   

Metals & Mining — 3.9%

                               

Alcoa Inc., Senior Notes

    5.125     10/1/24        320,000        339,126   

Barrick Gold Corp., Senior Notes

    4.100     5/1/23        790,000        768,826   

BHP Billiton Finance USA Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.000     9/30/43        100,000        113,352   

Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Senior Notes

    5.450     3/15/43        120,000        113,469   

Rio Tinto Finance USA Ltd., Senior Notes

    9.000     5/1/19        660,000        835,007   

Southern Copper Corp., Senior Notes

    5.375     4/16/20        150,000        163,356   

Southern Copper Corp., Senior Notes

    5.250     11/8/42        470,000        419,873   

Steel Dynamics Inc., Senior Notes

    6.125     8/15/19        140,000        147,000   

Vale Overseas Ltd., Notes

    6.875     11/21/36        1,148,000        1,210,210   

Vedanta Resources PLC, Senior Notes

    6.750     6/7/16        310,000        320,075  (a) 

Vedanta Resources PLC, Senior Notes

    6.000     1/31/19        350,000        341,250  (a) 

Xstrata Finance Canada Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.900     11/15/37        430,000        489,701  (a) 

Yamana Gold Inc., Senior Notes

    4.950     7/15/24        280,000        273,274   

Total Metals & Mining

                            5,534,519   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   15


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

December 31, 2014

Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  

Paper & Forest Products — 0.4%

                               

Fibria Overseas Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.250     5/12/24      $ 200,000      $ 198,700   

Georgia-Pacific Corp., Senior Bonds

    7.375     12/1/25        250,000        324,629   

Total Paper & Forest Products

                            523,329   

Total Materials

                            7,639,039   
Telecommunication Services — 8.0%                                

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 6.6%

                               

AT&T Inc., Senior Notes

    5.550     8/15/41        300,000        334,290   

British Telecommunications PLC, Bonds

    9.625     12/15/30        330,000        518,117   

Deutsche Telekom International Finance BV, Senior Notes

    5.750     3/23/16        160,000        168,960   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Senior Bonds

    5.500     8/1/23        750,000        745,425   

Koninklijke KPN NV, Senior Notes

    8.375     10/1/30        200,000        281,198   

Qwest Corp., Debentures

    6.875     9/15/33        1,000,000        1,003,066   

Telecom Italia Capital SA, Senior Notes

    7.175     6/18/19        360,000        412,200   

Telecom Italia SpA, Senior Notes

    5.303     5/30/24        450,000        455,625  (a) 

Telefonica Emisiones SAU, Senior Notes

    3.729     4/27/15        230,000        232,027   

Telefonica Emisiones SAU, Senior Notes

    7.045     6/20/36        60,000        78,929   

Turk Telekomunikasyon AS, Senior Notes

    4.875     6/19/24        330,000        331,735  (a) 

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    5.150     9/15/23        1,790,000        1,976,577   

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    6.550     9/15/43        1,316,000        1,685,992   

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    5.012     8/21/54        1,059,000        1,095,587  (a) 

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                            9,319,728   

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 1.4%

                               

America Movil SAB de CV, Senior Notes

    6.125     3/30/40        850,000        1,005,729   

Sprint Capital Corp., Global Notes

    6.900     5/1/19        330,000        336,600   

Sprint Corp., Senior Notes

    7.875     9/15/23        300,000        296,160   

Telefonica Europe BV, Senior Notes

    8.250     9/15/30        230,000        319,717   

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

                            1,958,206   

Total Telecommunication Services

                            11,277,934   
Utilities — 3.2%                                

Electric Utilities — 2.0%

                               

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric LLC, Senior Secured Bonds

    4.500     4/1/44        210,000        234,388   

Enersis SA, Notes

    7.400     12/1/16        452,000        493,048   

FirstEnergy Corp., Notes

    7.375     11/15/31        830,000        1,004,604   

Pacific Gas & Electric Co., First Mortgage Bonds

    6.050     3/1/34        140,000        178,234   

PNPP II Funding Corp., Senior Bonds

    9.120     5/30/16        287,000        296,336   

Virginia Electric and Power Co., Senior Notes

    8.875     11/15/38        390,000        653,226   

Total Electric Utilities

                            2,859,836   

Gas Utilities — 0.1%

                               

Southern Natural Gas Co., Senior Notes

    5.900     4/1/17        170,000        182,791  (a)  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  

Multi-Utilities — 1.1%

                               

CenterPoint Energy Inc., Senior Notes

    6.850     6/1/15      $ 1,150,000      $ 1,178,111   

DTE Energy Co., Senior Notes

    6.350     6/1/16        260,000        279,044   

Total Multi-Utilities

                            1,457,155   

Total Utilities

                            4,499,782   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes (Cost — $114,854,283)

                            128,246,673   
Asset-Backed Securities — 1.2%                                

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, 2004-6 1A1

    0.710     12/25/34        514,490        486,645  (b) 

Dryden Senior Loan Fund, 2014-31A C

    3.081     4/18/26        250,000        241,656  (a)(b) 

Madison Park Funding Ltd., 2013-11A C

    2.981     10/23/25        250,000        238,393  (a)(b) 

Morgan Stanley Capital Inc., 2005-WMC2 M2

    0.815     2/25/35        218,724        216,352  (b) 

SLM Student Loan Trust, 2011-A A3

    2.661     1/15/43        330,000        350,993  (a)(b) 

Whitehorse Ltd., 2013-1A A3L

    3.233     11/24/25        200,000        193,715  (a)(b) 

Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost — $1,699,106)

                            1,727,754   
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 0.1%                                

Thornburg Mortgage Securities Trust, 2007-4 3A1
(Cost — $93,443)

    6.038     9/25/37        94,626        97,718  (b) 
Municipal Bonds — 0.5%                                

Alabama — 0.1%

                               

Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Revenue

    6.000     10/1/42        190,000        211,305   

California — 0.1%

                               

University of California Revenue

    4.062     5/15/33        150,000        153,663   

Illinois — 0.3%

                               

Chicago, IL, GO, Taxable Project

    7.781     1/1/35        10,000        11,868   

Illinois State, GO, Build America Bonds-Taxable

    6.725     4/1/35        310,000        346,803   

Total Illinois

                            358,671   

Total Municipal Bonds (Cost — $696,972)

                            723,639   
Sovereign Bonds — 1.3%                                

Canada — 0.8%

                               

Quebec Province, Notes

    7.970     7/22/36        650,000        1,041,588   

Colombia — 0.2%

                               

Republic of Colombia, Senior Bonds

    5.625     2/26/44        290,000        326,250   

Mexico — 0.0%

                               

United Mexican States, Senior Notes

    4.750     3/8/44        30,000        31,275   

Turkey — 0.3%

                               

Republic of Turkey, Notes

    4.875     4/16/43        420,000        418,354   

Total Sovereign Bonds (Cost — $1,424,886)

                            1,817,467   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   17


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

December 31, 2014

Western Asset Income Fund

Security   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount

    Value  
U.S. Government & Agency Obligations — 2.4%                                

U.S. Government Obligations — 2.4%

                               

U.S. Treasury Bonds

    3.125     8/15/44      $ 1,500,000      $ 1,614,843   

U.S. Treasury Notes

    1.625     12/31/19        1,030,000        1,028,472   

U.S. Treasury Notes

    2.250     11/15/24        740,000        744,972   

Total U.S. Government & Agency Obligations (Cost — $3,371,348)

  

            3,388,287   
                   Shares         
Preferred Stocks — 1.8%                                
Financials — 1.8%                                

Banks — 0.0%

                               

U.S. Bancorp

    5.150             2,117        49,601   

Capital Markets — 0.2%

                               

State Street Corp.

    5.900             10,107        261,367  (b) 

Consumer Finance — 1.3%

                               

GMAC Capital Trust I

    8.125             67,500        1,780,650  (b) 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.3%

                               

Citigroup Capital XIII

    7.875             15,253        405,425  (b) 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost — $2,316,851)

  

            2,497,043   

Total Investments — 98.6% (Cost — $124,456,889#)

  

            138,498,581   

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 1.4%

                            1,941,181   

Total Net Assets — 100.0%

  

          $ 140,439,762   

 

(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) 

Illiquid security (unaudited).

 

# Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $124,571,343.

 

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

GO   — General Obligation
REIT   — Real Estate Investment Trust

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


Statement of assets and liabilities

December 31, 2014

Assets:         

Investments, at value (Cost—$124,456,889)

   $ 138,498,581   

Cash

     1,031,797   

Interest and dividends receivable

     1,702,482   

Deposits with brokers for open futures contracts

     346,106   

Receivable for securities sold

     130,777   

Prepaid expenses

     11,396   

Other receivables

     13,944   

Total Assets

     141,735,083   
Liabilities:         

Payable for securities purchased

     1,146,938   

Investment management fee payable

     59,865   

Payable to broker—variation margin on open futures contracts

     28,734   

Directors’ fees payable

     1,350   

Accrued expenses

     58,434   

Total Liabilities

     1,295,321   
Total Net Assets    $ 140,439,762   
Net Assets:         

Par value ($0.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized, 9,462,123 shares issued and outstanding)

   $ 94,621   

Paid-in capital in excess of par value

     142,816,553   

Undistributed net investment income

     1,060,008   

Accumulated net realized loss on investments and futures contracts

     (16,767,185)   

Net unrealized appreciation on investments and futures contracts

     13,235,765   
Total Net Assets    $ 140,439,762   
Shares Outstanding      9,462,123   
Net Asset Value      $14.84   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   19


Statement of operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2014

Investment Income:         

Interest

   $ 7,694,349   

Dividends

     182,200   

Less: Foreign taxes withheld

     (421)   

Total Investment Income

     7,876,128   
Expenses:         

Investment management fee (Note 2)

     743,820   

Franchise taxes

     53,617   

Transfer agent fees

     51,344   

Audit and tax fees

     39,468   

Legal fees

     30,096   

Shareholder reports

     27,359   

Fund accounting fees

     26,514   

Stock exchange listing fees

     24,828   

Directors’ fees

     19,228   

Custody fees

     2,731   

Miscellaneous expenses

     9,038   

Total Expenses

     1,028,043   

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

     (24,000)   

Net Expenses

     1,004,043   
Net Investment Income      6,872,085   
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments and Futures Contracts (Notes 1, 3 and 4):         

Net Realized Gain (Loss) From:

        

Investment transactions

     1,094,321   

Futures contracts

     (1,783,133)   

Net Realized Loss

     (688,812)   

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From:

        

Investments

     4,974,675   

Futures contracts

     (872,744)   

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

     4,101,931   
Net Gain on Investments and Futures Contracts      3,413,119   
Increase in Net Assets From Operations    $ 10,285,204   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


Statements of changes in net assets

 

For the Years Ended December 31,    2014      2013  
Operations:                  

Net investment income

   $ 6,872,085       $ 6,946,411   

Net realized gain (loss)

     (688,812)         1,228,103   

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     4,101,931         (7,319,217)   

Increase in Net Assets from Operations

     10,285,204         855,297   
Distributions To Shareholders From (Note 1):                  

Net investment income

     (6,528,879)         (6,528,738)   

Decrease in Net Assets from Distributions to Shareholders

     (6,528,879)         (6,528,738)   
Fund Share Transactions:                  

Reinvestment of distributions (0 and 2,329 shares issued, respectively)

             34,889   

Increase in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions

             34,889   

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     3,756,325         (5,638,552)   
Net Assets:                  

Beginning of year

     136,683,437         142,321,989   

End of year*

   $ 140,439,762       $ 136,683,437   

*Includesundistributed net investment income of:

     $1,060,008         $716,802   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   21


Financial highlights

For a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended December 31:  
     20141     20131     20121     20111     20101  
Net asset value, beginning of year     $14.45        $15.04        $13.76        $ 13.82        $ 13.21   
Income (loss) from operations:          

Net investment income

    0.73        0.73        0.73        0.77        0.79   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.35        (0.63)        1.27        (0.08)        0.61   

Total income from operations

    1.08        0.10        2.00        0.69        1.40   
Less distributions from:          

Net investment income

    (0.69)        (0.69)        (0.72)        (0.75)        (0.79)   

Total distributions

    (0.69)        (0.69)        (0.72)        (0.75)        (0.79)   
Net asset value, end of year     $14.84        $14.45        $15.04        $13.76        $13.82   
Market price, end of year     $13.45        $13.17        $14.82        $13.81        $12.89   

Total return, based on NAV2,3

    7.57     0.73     14.84     5.04     10.86

Total return, based on Market Price4

    7.44     (6.47)     12.76     13.32     7.28
Net assets, end of year (000s)     $140,440        $136,683        $142,322        $129,895        $130,458   
Ratios to average net assets:          

Gross expenses

    0.73     0.75     0.72     0.76     0.78

Net expenses5,6

    0.71        0.73        0.70        0.74        0.76   

Net investment income

    4.87        5.02        5.06        5.55        5.78   
Portfolio turnover rate     38     70     90     56     42

 

1 

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

 

2 

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 

The total return calculation assumes that distributions are reinvested at NAV. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

4 

The total return calculation assumes that distributions are reinvested in accordance with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

5 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

6 

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

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


Notes to financial statements

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

Western Asset Income Fund (the “Fund”) is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), as a closed-end diversified investment company.

The Fund seeks high level of current income, consistent with prudent investment risk. Capital appreciation is a secondary investment objective.

The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund 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 fair value determinations,

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   23


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

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.

 

24    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


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

         $ 128,246,673             $ 128,246,673   

Asset-backed securities

           1,727,754               1,727,754   

Collateralized mortgage obligations

           97,718               97,718   

Municipal bonds

           723,639               723,639   

Sovereign bonds

           1,817,467               1,817,467   

U.S. government & agency obligations

           3,388,287               3,388,287   

Preferred stocks

  $ 2,497,043                      2,497,043   
Total investments   $ 2,497,043      $ 136,001,538             $ 138,498,581   
Other financial instruments:                                

Futures contracts

  $ 11,284                    $ 11,284   
Total   $ 2,508,327      $ 136,001,538             $ 138,509,865   
LIABILITIES  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  
Other financial instruments:                                

Futures contracts

  $ 817,211                    $ 817,211   

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

(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 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.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   25


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

(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) Credit and market risk. The Fund invests in high-yield instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high-yield 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.

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.

(e) 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. 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.

(f) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared quarterly and paid on a monthly basis. Distributions of net realized gains, if

 

26    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


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.

(g) 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.

(h) 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, 2014, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

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

(i) 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 values per share. During the current year, the Fund had no reclassifications.

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

The Fund has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with Western Asset Management Company (“Adviser”), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc., pursuant to which the Adviser provides investment advice and administrative services to the Fund. In return for its services, the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly fee at an annual rate of 0.70% of the average monthly net assets of the Fund up to $60,000,000 and 0.40% of such net assets in excess of $60,000,000. If expenses (including the Adviser’s fee but excluding interest, taxes, brokerage fees, the expenses of any offering by the Fund of its securities, and extraordinary expenses beyond the control of the Fund) borne by the Fund in any fiscal year exceed 1.5% of average net assets up to $30,000,000 and 1% of average net assets over $30,000,000, the Adviser has contractually agreed to reimburse the Fund for any excess.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed amounted to $24,000.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   27


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

Western Asset Management Company Limited (“WAML”) provides the Fund with investment research, advice, management and supervision and a continuous investment program for the Fund’s portfolio of non-dollar securities consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and policies. As compensation, the Adviser pays WAML a fee based on the pro rata assets of the Fund managed by WAML during the month.

Under the terms of an administrative services agreement among the Fund, the Adviser, and Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”), Western Asset (not the Fund) pays LMPFA a monthly fee of $3,000 (an annual rate of $36,000).

LMPFA and WAML are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Legg Mason, Inc.

3. Investments

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding short-term investments) and U.S. Government & Agency Obligations were as follows:

 

        Investments        U.S. Government &
Agency Obligations
 
Purchases      $ 36,290,797         $ 16,452,842   
Sales        39,358,529           13,909,196   

At December 31, 2014, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation      $ 14,652,659   
Gross unrealized depreciation        (725,421)   
Net unrealized appreciation      $ 13,927,238   

At December 31, 2014, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:

 

     Number of
Contracts
    Expiration
Date
    Basis
Value
    Market
Value
     Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Contracts to Buy:                                         
U.S. Treasury 2-Year Notes     17        3/15      $ 3,719,602      $ 3,716,094       $ (3,508)   
U.S. Treasury 5-Year Notes     112        3/15        13,308,841        13,320,125         11,284   
U.S. Treasury 10-Year Notes     10        3/15        1,269,423        1,267,969         (1,454)   
                                       6,322   
Contracts to Sell:                                         
U.S. Treasury Long-Term Bonds     175        3/15        24,486,189        25,298,438         (812,249)   
Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts               $ (805,927)   

 

28    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


4. Derivative instruments 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, 2014.

 

ASSET DERIVATIVES1  
      Interest
Rate Risk
 
Futures contracts 2    $ 11,284   

 

LIABILITY DERIVATIVES1  
      Interest
Rate Risk
 
Futures contracts 2    $ 817,211   

 

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 

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

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, 2014. 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
 
Futures contracts    $ (1,783,133)   

 

CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED  
      Interest
Rate Risk
 
Futures contracts    $ (872,744)   

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:

 

        Average Market
Value
 
Futures contracts (to buy)      $ 20,440,771   
Futures contracts (to sell)        26,106,334   

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   29


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

The following table presents by financial instrument, the Fund’s derivative liabilities net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund at December 31, 2014:

 

      Gross Amount of Derivative
Liabilities in the Statement  of
Assets and Liabilities1
     Collateral
Pledged2,3
     Net
Amount
 
Futures contracts4    $ 28,734       $ (28,734)           

 

1 

Absent an event of default or early termination, derivative assets and liabilities are presented gross and not offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

2 

Gross amounts are not offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

3 

In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.

 

4 

Amount represents the current day’s variation margin as reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. It differs from the cumulative appreciation (depreciation) presented in the previous table.

5. Director compensation

Each Director of the Fund who is not an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund, Western Asset or WAML receives an aggregate fee of $75,000 annually for serving on the combined Board of Directors/Trustees of the Fund, Western Asset Funds, Inc. and Western Asset Premier Bond Fund. Each Director also receives a fee of $7,500 and related expenses for each meeting of the Board or of a committee attended in-person and a fee of $2,500 for participating in each telephonic meeting. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional $30,000 per year for serving in such capacity. The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional $25,000 per year for serving in such capacity. Each member of the Audit Committee receives a fee of $6,000 for serving as a member of the Audit Committee. Other committee members receive a fee of $3,000 for serving as a member of each committee upon which they serve. All such fees are allocated among the Fund, Western Asset Funds, Inc. and Western Asset Premier Bond Fund according to each such investment company’s average annual net assets.

Director Ronald Olson receives from Western Asset an aggregate fee of $75,000 annually for serving on the combined Board of Directors/Trustees of the Fund, Western Asset Funds, Inc. and Western Asset Premier Bond Fund, as well as a fee of $7,500 and related expenses for each meeting of the Board attended in person and a fee of $2,500 for participating in each telephonic meeting.

6. Distributions subsequent to December 31, 2014

The following distributions have been declared by the Fund’s Board of Directors and are payable subsequent to the period of this report:

 

Record Date      Payable Date        Amount  
1/23/2015        1/30/2015         $ 0.0575   
2/20/2015        2/27/2015         $ 0.0575   

 

30    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


7. Income tax information and distributions to shareholders

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

 

        2014        2013  
Distributions Paid From:                      
Ordinary income      $ 6,528,879         $ 6,528,738   

As of December 31, 2014, the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income — net      $ 1,098,483   
Deferred capital losses*        (5,924,364)   
Capital loss carryforward**        (11,520,200)   
Other book/tax temporary differences(a)        753,358   
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)(b)        13,121,311   
Total accumulated earnings (losses) — net      $ (2,471,412)   

 

* These capital losses have been deferred in the current year as either short-term or long-term losses. The losses will be deemed to occur on the first day of the next taxable year in the same character as they were originally deferred and will be available to offset future taxable capital gains. These losses must be utilized before any of the fund’s capital loss carryforward may be utilized.

 

** As of December 31, 2014, the Fund had the following net capital loss carryforward remaining:

 

Year of Expiration      Amount  
12/31/2016      $ (676,492
12/31/2017        (10,616,218
12/31/2018        (227,490
       $ (11,520,200

These amounts will be available to offset any future taxable capital gains.

 

(a) 

Other book/tax temporary differences are attributable to the tax deferral of losses on straddles, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains (losses) on certain futures contracts 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 to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and other book/tax basis adjustments.

 

Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report   31


Report of independent registered public accounting firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Western Asset Income 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 the Western Asset Income Fund (the “Fund”) at December 31, 2014, 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, 2014 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers, provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Baltimore, Maryland

February 20, 2015

 

32    Western Asset Income Fund 2014 Annual Report


Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited)

The Executive and Contracts Committee of the Board of Directors considered the Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between the Fund and Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”) and the Investment Subadvisory Agreement (together with the Advisory Agreement, the “Agreements”) between Western Asset and Western Asset Management Company Limited (“WAML”) with respect to the Fund at meetings held on September 9, 2014 and October 21 and 28, 2014. At a meeting held on November 18, 2014, 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.

In arriving at their decision to renew the Agreements, the Directors met with representatives of Western Asset and WAML (together, the “Advisers”), including relevant investment advisory personnel; reviewed a variety of information prepared by the Advisers and materials provided by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) and counsel to the Independent Directors; and reviewed performance and expense information for a 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. 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, such as information on differences between the Fund’s share price and net asset value per share, and related discussions with the Advisers’ personnel.

As part of their review, the Directors examined the Advisers’ ability to provide high quality investment management 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 the Advisers’ services with respect to regulatory compliance and compliance with the investment policies of the Fund and conditions that might affect the Advisers’ ability to provide high quality services to the Fund in the future under the Agreements, including the Advisers’ 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 its investment objectives and policies, and that 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 a peer group of funds that invest at least 65% of their assets in corporate and government debt issues rated in the top four grades. The Directors noted that the performance of the Fund exceeded its peer average performance for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods, but was lower than its peer average for the ten-year period ended August 31, 2014 as compared to its peer group.

 

Western Asset Income Fund   33


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

The Directors also considered the management fee and total expenses payable by 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 the Advisers. The Directors observed that the management fee paid by the Fund to Western Asset was slightly higher than the average of the fees paid by funds in its Lipper peer group, and that Western Asset was responsible for payment of the management fee to WAML. The Directors also noted that the Fund’s total expenses were slightly higher than the average of the funds in its Lipper peer group. They noted that the management fee paid by the Fund was generally higher than the fees paid by other clients of the Advisers 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 in responsibilities, 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 the Advisers, including, among others, the profitability of the relationship to the Advisers; the direct and indirect benefits that the Advisers may receive from their respective relationships with the Fund, including any “fallout benefits,” such as reputational value derived from serving as investment adviser to the Fund; and the affiliation between the Advisers and Legg Mason Partners Funds Advisor, LLC, the Fund’s administrator. In that connection, the Directors concluded that the Advisers’ 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 the Advisers, the extent to which economies of scale would be realized by the Advisers as the assets of the Fund grow. The Directors concluded that, because the Fund is a closed-end fund and does not make a continuous offer of its securities, the Fund’s size was relatively fixed and it would be unlikely that the Advisers would realize economies of scale from the Fund’s growth.

In their deliberations with respect to these matters, the Independent Directors were advised by their independent counsel, who are independent of the Advisers within the meaning of the 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 investment advisory services being provided by the Advisers, but would continue to closely monitor the Advisers’ performance; that the fees to be paid to the Advisers under the Agreements were fair and reasonable given the scope and quality of the services rendered by the Advisers; and that approval of the Agreements was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

34    Western Asset Income Fund


Additional information (unaudited)

Information about Directors and Officers

The business and affairs of Western Asset Income 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 c/o Kenneth D. Fuller, Legg Mason, 100 International Drive, 11th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below.

 

Independent Directors†:
Robert Abeles, Jr.  
Year of birth   1945
Position(s) held with Fund   Director
Term of office and length of time served1   Served since 2013
Principal occupations during the past five years   Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer (since 2009) of University of Southern California; Director, Hanmi Financial Corporation and Hanmi Bank (2008-2009).
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)2   12
Other board memberships held by Director during the past five years   None
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 occupation(s) during past five years   Retired.
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)2   12
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   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 occupation(s) during 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 overseen by Director (including the Fund)2   12
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   OBN Holdings, Inc. (film, television and media company)

 

Western Asset Income Fund   35


Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Directors and Officers

 

Independent Directors cont’d
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 occupation(s) during 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 overseen by Director (including the Fund)2   12
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   Occidental Petroleum Corporation, California Resources Corporation and Public Storage
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 occupation(s) during 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 overseen by Director (including the Fund)2   12
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   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 occupation(s) during past five years   Director of Forest Lawn (since 2002) (memorial parks); Director of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. (since 2012) (gaming and hospitality company). Formerly: Director of Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (2007 to 2014) (online travel company); Director of MarketTools, Inc. (2010 to 2012) (market research software provider); Director of eHarmony, Inc. (2005 to 2011) (online dating company).
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)2   12
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   None

 

36    Western Asset Income Fund


Interested Directors:
Kenneth D. Fuller3  
Year of birth   1958
Position(s) with Fund   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Term of office and length of time served1   Since 2013
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co., LLC (“Legg Mason & Co.”) (since 2013); Officer and/or Trustee/Director of 157 funds associated with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) or its affiliates (since 2013); President and Chief Executive Officer of LM Asset Services, LLC (“LMAS”) and Legg Mason Fund Asset Management, Inc. (“LMFAM”) (formerly registered investment advisers) (since 2013); formerly, Senior Vice President of LMPFA (2012 to 2013); formerly, Director of Legg Mason & Co. (2012 to 2013); formerly, Vice President of Legg Mason & Co. (2009 to 2012); formerly, Vice President — Equity Division of T. Rowe Price Associates (1993 to 2009), as well as Investment Analyst and Portfolio Manager for certain asset allocation accounts (2004 to 2009).
Number of funds in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)2   147
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   None
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 occupation(s) during past five years   Senior Partner of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (a law partnership) (1968-present).
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)2   12
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   Edison International, City National Corporation (financial services company), The Washington Post Company, and Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
 
Officers5:
Richard F. Sennett
100 International Drive, Baltimore, MD 21202
 
Year of birth   1970
Position(s) with Fund   Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer
Term of office and length of time served   Since 2011 and since 2013
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2011 and since 2013); 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)

 

Western Asset Income Fund   37


Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Directors and Officers

Officers cont’d

Todd F. Kuehl

100 International Drive, 9th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202

 
Year of birth   1969
Position(s) held with Fund   Chief Compliance Officer
Term of office and length of time served   Served since 2007
Principal occupations during 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)

Robert I. Frenkel

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

 
Year of birth   1954
Position(s) held with Fund   Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Term of office and length of time served   Served since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during 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 Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

1 

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. 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.

 

2 

Each Director also serves as a Trustee of Western Asset Premier Bond Fund (closed-end investment company) and oversees the eleven portfolios of Western Asset Funds, Inc. (open-end investment companies), which are considered part of the same Fund Complex as the Fund.

 

3 

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

 

4 

Mr. Olson is an “interested person” (as defined above) of the Fund because his law firm has provided legal services to the Investment Adviser.

 

5 

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

 

38    Western Asset Income Fund


Annual principal executive officer and principal financial officer certifications (unaudited)

The Fund’s Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) has submitted to the NYSE the required annual certification and the Fund also has included the Certifications of the Fund’s PEO and Principal Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the Fund’s Form N-CSR filed with the SEC for the period of this report.

 

Western Asset Income Fund   39


Other shareholder communications regarding accounting

matters (unaudited)

The Fund’s Audit Committee has established guidelines and procedures regarding the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters (collectively, “Accounting Matters”). Persons with complaints or concerns regarding Accounting Matters may submit their complaints to the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”). Persons who are uncomfortable submitting complaints to the CCO, including complaints involving the CCO, may submit complaints directly to the Fund’s Audit Committee Chair. Complaints may be submitted on an anonymous basis.

The CCO may be contacted at:

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

Compliance Department

100 International Drive

Baltimore, MD 21202

Complaints may also be submitted by telephone at 1-800-742-5274. Complaints submitted through this number will be received by the CCO.

 

40    Western Asset Income Fund


Dividend reinvestment plan (unaudited)

The Fund offers to all shareholders a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“Plan”). For participants in the Plan, cash distributions (e.g., dividends and capital gains) of registered shareholders (those who own shares in their own name on the Fund’s records) are automatically invested in shares of the Fund. Interested shareholders may obtain more information or sign up for the Plan by contacting the agent. Shareholders who own shares in a brokerage, bank, or other financial institution account must contact the Company where their account is held in order to participate in the Plan.

If you elect to participate in the Plan you will automatically receive your dividend or net capital gains distribution in newly issued shares of the Fund if the market price of a share on the date of the distribution is at or above the net asset value (“NAV”) of a Fund share. The number of shares to be issued to you will be determined by dividing the amount of the cash distribution to which you are entitled (net of any applicable withholding taxes) by the greater of the NAV per share on such date or 95% of the market price of a share on such date. If the market price of a share on such distribution date is below the NAV the Agent will, as agent for the participants, buy shares of the Fund’s stock through a broker on the open market or in a negotiated transaction (subject to price and other terms to which the agent may agree). The price per share of shares purchased for each participant’s account with respect to a particular dividend or other distribution will be the average price (including brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and any other costs of purchase) of all shares purchased with respect to that dividend or other distribution. All shares of common stock acquired on your behalf through the Plan will be automatically credited to an account maintained on the books of the Agent. Full and fractional shares will be voted by the Agent in accordance with your instructions.

Additional information regarding the plan

The Fund will pay all costs applicable to the Plan, with the exceptions noted below. Brokerage commissions, transfer taxes and any other costs of purchase or sale by the Agent under the Plan will be charged to participants. The commission participants pay for selling shares under the Plan is calculated as $2.50 plus $0.15 per share. Beneficial shareholders should contact the company holding their account for further information concerning fees that may apply to selling shares under the Plan. In the event the Fund determines to no longer pay the costs applicable to the Plan, the Agent will terminate the Plan and may, but is not obligated to, offer a new plan under which it would impose a direct service charge on participants.

All shares acquired through the Plan receive voting rights and are eligible for any stock split, stock dividend, or other rights accruing to shareholders that the Board of Directors may declare. Distributions to Plan participants will be in the form of stock, unless the Agent is notified in writing 10 days prior to the record date fixed by the Board of Directors for the distribution that you wish to receive a cash payment. Beneficial shareholders should contact the company holding their account for further information regarding deadlines that might apply.

 

Western Asset Income Fund   41


Dividend reinvestment plan (unaudited) (cont’d)

You may terminate participation in the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Agent. Such termination will be effective prior to the record date next succeeding the receipt of such instructions or by a later date of termination specified in such instructions.

Upon termination of the Plan, a participant may request a certificate for the full shares credited to his or her account or may request the sale of all or part of such shares. If the participant instructs the Agent to sell the shares credited to the participant’s account, the Agent may accumulate such shares and those of any other terminating participants for purposes of such sale. Brokerage charges, transfer taxes, and any other costs of sale will be allocated pro rata among the selling participants. Any such sale may be made on any securities exchange where such shares are traded, in the over-the counter market or in negotiated transactions, and may be subject to such terms of price, delivery, etc., as the Agent may agree to. Fractional shares credited to a terminating account will be paid for in cash at the current market price at the time of termination.

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

Registered shareholders can make inquiries regarding the Plan, as well as sign up or terminate their participation in the Plan by contacting American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 — Investor Relations, telephone number 1-888-888-0151. Beneficial Shareholders can make inquiries regarding the Plan as well as sign up or terminate their participation in the Plan by contacting the company where their account is held.

 

42    Western Asset Income Fund


Important tax information (unaudited)

The following information is provided with respect to the distributions paid during the taxable year ended December 31, 2014:

 

Record date:      1/24/2014         2/21/2014         Monthly   
Payable date:      1/31/2014         2/28/2014        
 
March 2014—
December 2014
 
  
Ordinary income:                           

Qualified dividend income for individuals

             3.25%         5.26%   

Dividends qualifying for the dividends

                          

received deduction for corporations

             2.80%         4.52%   

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

The following ordinary income distributions paid monthly by the Fund represent Qualified Net Investment Income eligible for exemption from U.S. withholding tax for nonresident aliens and foreign corporations.

 

Record date:      Monthly
Payable date:      January 2014 through
December 2014
Qualified net investment income      59.00%

Please retain this information for your records.

 

Western Asset Income Fund   43


Western Asset

Income Fund

Directors

William E. B. Siart

Chairman

Kenneth D. Fuller

Robert Abeles, Jr

Ronald J. Arnault*

Anita L. DeFrantz

Ronald L. Olson

Avedick B. Poladian

Jaynie M. Studenmund

Officers

Kenneth D. Fuller

President and Chief Executive Officer

Richard F. Sennett

Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer

Todd F. Kuehl

Chief Compliance Officer

Robert I. Frenkel

Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

 

Western Asset Income Fund

620 Eighth Avenue

49th Floor

New York, NY 10018

Investment advisers

Western Asset Management Company

Western Asset Management Company Limited

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1 Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Independent registered public accounting firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

100 East Pratt Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

 

Legal counsel

Ropes & Gray LLP

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Transfer agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

5201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

New York Stock Exchange Symbol

PAI

 

* Mr. Arnault retired from the Board of Directors, effective February 19, 2015.


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-ends 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 non-public 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 1-888-777-0102.

Revised April 2011

 

NOT PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT


Western Asset Income Fund

Western Asset Income Fund

620 Eighth Avenue

49th Floor

New York, NY 10018

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that from time to time the Fund may purchase at market prices, shares of its Common Stock in the open market.

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 from the Fund, shareholders can call 1-888-777-0102.

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 1-888-777-0102, (2) on the Fund’s website at www.lmcef.com and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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

American Stock

Transfer & Trust Company

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

 

 

WASX013146 2/15 SR15-2427


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 Robert Abeles, Jr. possesses the technical attributes identified in Instruction 2(b) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR to qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” and has designated Mr. Abeles as the Audit Committee’s financial expert. Mr. Abeles is an “independent” Director 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 previous last two fiscal years ending December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014 (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 $47,038 in December 31, 2013 and $27,464 in December 31, 2014.

b) Audit-Related Fees. There were no aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the Registrant’s financial statements were $0 in December 31, 2013 and $0 in December 2014.

(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 $4,285 in December 31, 2013 and $4,800 in December 31, 2014. 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 fees for other fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor were $167 in December 31, 2013 and $148 in December 31, 2014 other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item for the Western Asset Income Fund.

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 Income Fund 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 Income Fund, the percentage of fees that were approved by the audit committee, with respect to: Audit-Related Fees were 100% and 100% for December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014; Tax Fees were 100% and 100% for December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014; and Other Fees were 100% and 100% for December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014.

(f) N/A

(g) Non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to Western Asset Income Fund, LMPFA and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with LMPFA that provides ongoing services to Western Asset Income Fund during the reporting period were $240,000 in December 31, 2013 and $248,092 in December 31, 2014.

(h) Yes. Western Asset Income Fund’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 Income Fund or to Service Affiliates, which were required to be pre-approved, were pre-approved as required.


ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

a) Registrant has a separately - designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with
Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act
. The Audit Committee consists of the following Board members:

Robert Abeles, Jr.

Ronald J. Arnault*

Anita L. DeFrantz

Avedick B. Poladian

William E.B. Siart

Jaynie Miller Studenmund

 

  *   Mr. Arnault retired from the Board of Directors, effective February 19, 2015.

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.

The Registrant has delegated the voting of proxies relating to its portfolio securities to its adviser, Western Asset Management Company (the “Adviser”). The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of the Adviser are attached as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR.

 

ITEM 8. INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

(a)(1):

 

NAME AND ADDRESS

  

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST 5 YEARS

S. Kenneth Leech

Western Asset

385 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91101

   Responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset from 1998 to 2008 and since 2014; Senior Advisor/Chief Investment Officer Emeritus of Western Asset from 2008-2013; Co- Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset from 2013-2014.

Ryan K. Brist

Western Asset

385 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA

   Co-portfolio manager of the fund; portfolio manager and head of U.S. Investment Grade Credit at Western Asset since 2009; portfolio manager and Chief Investment Officer at Logan Circle Partners, L.P. from 2007-2009.

Michael C. Buchanan

Western Asset

385 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA

   Co-portfolio manager of the fund; portfolio manager at Western Asset the past five years.

(a)(2): DATA TO BE PROVIDED BY FINANCIAL CONTROL

The following tables set forth certain additional information with respect to the fund’s portfolio managers for the fund. Unless noted otherwise, all information is provided as of December 31, 2014.


Other Accounts Managed by Portfolio Managers

The table below identifies the number of accounts (other than the fund) for which the fund’s portfolio managers have day-to-day management responsibilities and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts. For each category, the number of accounts and total assets in the accounts where fees are based on performance is also indicated.

 

Portfolio Manager(s)

  

Registered

Investment

Companies

  

Other Pooled

Investment

Vehicles

  

Other

Accounts

S. Kenneth Leech    106 registered investment companies with $203.9 billion in total assets under management    233 Other pooled investment vehicles with $84.6 billion in assets under management*    667 Other accounts with $177.4 billion in total assets under management**
Ryan K. Brist    9 registered investment Company with $2.1 billion in total assets Under management    15 Other pooled investment vehicles with $11.5 billion in assets under management    48 Other accounts with $19.2 billion in total assets under management***
Michael C. Buchanan    42 registered investment Company with $39.4 billion in total assets Under management    58 Other pooled investment vehicles with $31.8 billion in assets under management****    192 Other accounts with $53.4 billion in total assets under management*****

 

 

* Includes 9 accounts managed, totaling $2.1 billion, for which advisory fee is performance based.
** Includes 54 accounts managed, totaling $17.3 billion, for which advisory fee is performance based.
*** Includes 3 accounts managed, totaling $632.6 million, for which advisory fee is performance based.
**** Includes 4 accounts managed, totaling $1.3 billion, for which advisory fee is performance based.
***** Includes 21 accounts managed, totaling $7.9 billion, for which advisory fee is performance based.

 

The numbers above reflect the overall number of portfolios managed by employees of Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”). Mr. Leech is involved in the management of all the Firm’s portfolios, but he is not solely responsible for particular portfolios. Western Asset’s investment discipline emphasizes a team approach that combines the efforts of groups of specialists working in different market sectors. He is responsible for overseeing implementation of Western Asset’s overall investment ideas and coordinating the work of the various sector teams. This structure ensures that client portfolios benefit from a consensus that draws on the expertise of all team members.

(a)(3): Portfolio Manager Compensation


With respect to the compensation of the portfolio managers, Western Asset’s compensation system assigns each employee a total compensation range, which is derived from annual market surveys that benchmark each role with its job function and peer universe. This method is designed to reward employees with total compensation reflective of the external market value of their skills, experience, and ability to produce desired results. Standard compensation includes competitive base salaries, generous employee benefits, and a retirement plan.

In addition, the subadviser’s employees are eligible for bonuses. These are structured to closely align the interests of employees with those of the subadviser, and are determined by the professional’s job function and pre-tax performance as measured by a formal review process. All bonuses are completely discretionary. The principal factor considered is a portfolio manager’s investment performance versus appropriate peer groups and benchmarks (e.g., a securities index and with respect to a fund, the benchmark set forth in the fund’s Prospectus to which the fund’s average annual total returns are compared or, if none, the benchmark set forth in the fund’s annual report). Performance is reviewed on a 1, 3 and 5 year basis for compensation—with 3 years having the most emphasis. The subadviser may also measure a portfolio manager’s pre-tax investment performance against other benchmarks, as it determines appropriate. Because portfolio managers are generally responsible for multiple accounts (including the funds) with similar investment strategies, they are generally compensated on the performance of the aggregate group of similar accounts, rather than a specific account. Other factors that may be considered when making bonus decisions include client service, business development, length of service to the subadviser, management or supervisory responsibilities, contributions to developing business strategy and overall contributions to the subadviser’s business.

Finally, in order to attract and retain top talent, all professionals are eligible for additional incentives in recognition of outstanding performance. These are determined based upon the factors described above and include Legg Mason stock options and long-term incentives that vest over a set period of time past the award date.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of Interest

The manager, subadvisers and portfolio managers have interests which conflict with the interests of the fund. There is no guarantee that the policies and procedures adopted by the manager, the subadvisers and the fund will be able to identify or mitigate these conflicts of interest.

Some examples of material conflicts of interest include:

Allocation of Limited Time and Attention. A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds and/or accounts. A portfolio manager may not be able to formulate as complete a strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of those funds and accounts as might be the case if he or she were to devote substantially more attention to the management of a single fund. Such a portfolio manager may make general determinations across multiple funds, rather than tailoring a unique approach for each fund. The effects of this conflict may be more pronounced where funds and/or accounts overseen by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.

Allocation of Limited Investment Opportunities; Aggregation of Orders. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds and/or accounts, the opportunity may be allocated among these several funds or accounts, which may limit the fund’s ability to take full advantage of the investment opportunity. Additionally, a subadviser may aggregate transaction orders for multiple accounts for purpose of execution. Such aggregation may cause the price or brokerage costs to be less favorable to a particular client than if similar transactions were not being executed concurrently for other accounts. In addition, a subadviser’s trade allocation policies may result in the fund’s orders not being fully executed or being delayed in execution.


Pursuit of Differing Strategies. At times, a portfolio manager may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the funds and/or accounts for which he or she exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds and/or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment or benefit of one or more other funds and/or accounts. For example, a portfolio manager may determine that it would be in the interest of another account to sell a security that the fund holds long, potentially resulting in a decrease in the market value of the security held by the fund.

Cross Trades. Portfolio managers may manage funds that engage in cross trades, where one of the manager’s funds or accounts sells a particular security to another fund or account managed by the same manager. Cross trades may pose conflicts of interest because of, for example, the possibility that one account sells a security to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay or otherwise enters into a transaction that it would not enter into with an independent party, such as the sale of a difficult-to-obtain security.

Selection of Broker/Dealers. Portfolio managers may select or influence the selection of the brokers and dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the funds and/or accounts that they supervise. In addition to executing trades, some brokers and dealers provide subadvisers with brokerage and research services, These services may be taken into account in the selection of brokers and dealers whether a broker is being selected to effect a trade on an agency basis for a commission or (as is normally the case for the funds) whether a dealer is being selected to effect a trade on a principal basis. This may result in the payment of higher brokerage fees and/or execution at a less favorable price than might have otherwise been available. The services obtained may ultimately be more beneficial to certain of the manager’s funds or accounts than to others (but not necessarily to the funds that pay the increased commission or incur the less favorable execution). A decision as to the selection of brokers and dealers could therefore yield disproportionate costs and benefits among the funds and/or accounts managed.

Variation in Financial and Other Benefits. A conflict of interest arises where the financial or other benefits available to a portfolio manager differ among the funds and/or accounts that he or she manages. If the amount or structure of the investment manager’s management fee and/or a portfolio manager’s compensation differs among funds and/or accounts (such as where certain funds or accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based management fees), the portfolio manager might be motivated to help certain funds and/or accounts over others. Similarly, the desire to maintain assets under management or to enhance the portfolio manager’s performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the portfolio manager in affording preferential treatment to those funds and/or accounts that could most significantly benefit the portfolio manager. A portfolio manager may, for example, have an incentive to allocate favorable or limited opportunity investments or structure the timing of investments to favor such funds and/or accounts. Also, a portfolio manager’s or the manager’s or a subadviser’s desire to increase assets under management could influence the portfolio manager to keep a fund open for new investors without regard to potential benefits of closing the fund to new investors. Additionally, the portfolio manager might be motivated to favor funds and/or accounts in which he or she has an ownership interest or in which the investment manager and/or its affiliates have ownership interests. Conversely, if a portfolio manager does not personally hold an investment in the fund, the portfolio manager’s conflicts of interest with respect to the fund may be more acute.

Related Business Opportunities. The investment manager or its affiliates may provide more services (such as distribution or recordkeeping) for some types of funds or accounts than for others. In such cases, a portfolio manager may benefit, either directly or indirectly, by devoting disproportionate attention to the management of funds and/or accounts that provide greater overall returns to the investment manager and its affiliates.


(a)(4): Portfolio Manager Securities Ownership

The table below identifies the dollar range of securities beneficially owned by each portfolio managers as of December 31, 2014.

 

Portfolio Manager(s)

   Dollar Range of
Portfolio
Securities
Beneficially
Owned
S. Kenneth Leech    A
Ryan K. Brist    A
Michael C. Buchanan    A

Dollar Range ownership is as follows:

A: none

B: $1 - $10,000

C: 10,001 - $50,000

D: $50,001 - $100,000

E: $100,001 - $500,000

F: $500,001 - $1 million

G: over $1 million

 

ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

None.

 

ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

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

 

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

  (a) The registrant’s principal executive 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 Income Fund
By:

/s/ Kenneth D. Fuller

Kenneth D. Fuller
Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 25, 2015

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/ Kenneth D. Fuller

Kenneth D. Fuller
Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 25, 2015
By:

/s/ Richard F. Sennett

Richard F. Sennett
Principal Financial Officer
Date: February 25, 2015