WEA Western Asset Premier Bond Fund

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund (NYSE: WEA) announces its portfolio composition as of December 31, 2009.

Investment Objective: The Fund's investment objective is to provide current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of investment grade bonds.

Portfolio Composition*:

   

Asset Allocation

Mortgage-Backed Securities

30.8%

Investment Grade

28.2%

High Yield

23.8%

Asset-Backed Securities

11.6%

Government

0.8%

Cash & Other Securities

4.8%

 

Credit Quality Allocation (Higher of S&P/Moody’s/Fitch)

AAA 29.3% AA 3.6% A 9.6% BBB 23.3% BB 10.7% B 9.0% CCC 11.4% CC 1.9% C 0.3% D 0.9% Not Rated 0.1%  

Top Ten Investment Grade Industries

Transportation 6.0% Consumer Cyclical 5.5% Energy 3.4% Banking 2.5% Electric 2.2% Communications 2.0% Basic Industry 1.7% Capital Goods 1.4% Finance Companies 1.3% Natural Gas 1.2%  

Top Five High Yield Industries

Consumer Cyclical 7.3% Communications 4.0% Electric 2.5% Consumer Non Cyclical 2.1% Capital Goods 1.8%  

Average Life (years)

6.51

Effective Duration (years)

2.41

Average Credit Quality (S&P)

BBB

Average Coupon (%)

5.50  

Portfolio Statistics:

 

Inception Date

March 28, 2002

Inception Price

$15.00

Total Assets

$215,864,792

Net Assets**

$143,864,792

Loans***

0.00%

Preferred Shares***

33.35%

Reverse Repos***

0.00%  

Market Price

$13.36

NAV

$12.39 (Daily NAV is available on market quotation systems using the symbol XWEAX.)  

Distribution Rate

$0.1000 per share

Frequency

Monthly (declared monthly, paid monthly) *   Portfolio holdings and weightings are historical and are presented here for informational purposes only and do not include derivatives such as Futures Contracts, Options Written, and Credit Default Swaps. They are subject to change at any time.   ** The difference between total assets and net assets, if any, is due primarily to the Fund’s use of borrowings and other assets and liabilities; net assets do not include borrowings. The Fund may employ leverage in the form of loans, preferred stock, reverse repurchase agreements and/or other instruments. When the Fund engages in transactions that have a leveraging effect on the Fund’s portfolio, the value of the Fund will be more volatile and all other risks will tend to be compounded.   *** Percentages based on total assets.

Dividends and distributions represent past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and there is no guarantee that dividends and distributions will continue.

Western Asset Premier Bond Fund, a diversified closed-end investment management company, is advised by Western Asset Management Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc. and is sub-advised by Western Asset Management Company Limited, Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd., and Western Asset Management Company Ltd, affiliates of the adviser.

An investment in the Fund involves risk, including loss of principal. Investment return and the value of shares will fluctuate. Fixed income securities are subject to credit risk, inflation risk, call risk, and interest rate risks. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall, reducing the value of the Fund's share price.

For more information, please call Fund Investor Relations at 888-777-0102 or consult the Fund’s web site at www.leggmason.com/cef.