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 811-22334

 

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10018

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

George P. Hoyt

Franklin Templeton

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: October 31

Date of reporting period: April 30, 2021

 

 

 


ITEM 1.

REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

The Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders is filed herewith.


LOGO

 

Semi-Annual Report   April 30, 2021

WESTERN ASSET

GLOBAL CORPORATE DEFINED OPPORTUNITY FUND INC. (GDO)

 

 

 

The Fund intends to no longer mail paper copies of the Fund’s shareholder reports like this one, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Fund or from your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank). Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you invest through a financial intermediary and you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically (“e-delivery”), you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. If you have not already elected e-delivery, you may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary.

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. That election will apply to all Legg Mason Funds held in your account at that financial intermediary. If you are a direct shareholder with the Fund, you can call the Fund at 1-888-888-0151, or write to the Fund by regular mail at P.O. Box 505000, Louisville, KY 40233 or by overnight delivery to Computershare, 462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600, Louisville, KY 40202 to let the Fund know you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. That election will apply to all Legg Mason Funds held in your account held directly with the fund complex.

 

LOGO

 

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


What’s inside      
Letter from the chairman     II  
Performance review     III  
Fund at a glance     1  
Schedule of investments     2  
Statement of assets and liabilities     21  
Statement of operations     22  
Statements of changes in net assets     23  
Statement of cash flows     24  
Financial highlights     25  
Notes to financial statements     27  
Additional shareholder information     40  
Dividend reinvestment plan     41  

Fund objectives

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income and then to liquidate and distribute substantially all of the Fund’s net assets to stockholders on or about December 2, 2024. As a secondary investment objective, the Fund will seek capital appreciation. There can be no assurance the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its managed assets in a portfolio of U.S. and foreign corporate fixed-income securities of varying maturities.

 

Letter from the chairman

 

LOGO

 

Dear Shareholder,

We are pleased to provide the semi-annual report of Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. for the six-month reporting period ended April 30, 2021. Please read on for Fund performance information during the Fund’s reporting period.

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:

 

 

Fund prices and performance,

 

 

Market insights and commentaries from our portfolio managers, and

 

 

A host of educational resources.

We look forward to helping you meet your financial goals.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Jane Trust, CFA

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

May 28, 2021

 

 

 II 

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


Performance review

 

For the six months ended April 30, 2021, Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. returned 6.81% based on its net asset value (“NAV”)i and 11.69% based on its New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) market price per share. The Fund’s unmanaged benchmark, the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Corporate Indexii, returned 1.35% for the same period. The Lipper Global Income Closed-End Funds Category Averageiii returned 10.06% over the same time frame. Please note that Lipper performance returns are based on each fund’s NAV.

During this six-month period, the Fund made distributions to shareholders totaling $0.61 per share. As of April 30, 2021, the Fund estimates that 87% of the distributions were sourced from net investment income and 13% constituted return of capital.* The performance table shows the Fund’s six-month total return based on its NAV and market price as of April 30, 2021. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

Performance Snapshot as of April 30, 2021

(unaudited)

 
Price Per Share  

6-Month

Total Return**

 
$18.52 (NAV)     6.81 %† 
$17.85 (Market Price)     11.69 %‡ 

All figures represent past performance and are not a guarantee of future results. Performance figures for periods shorter than one year represent cumulative figures and are not annualized.

** 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, including returns of capital, if any, at NAV.

‡ Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, in additional shares in accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

Looking for additional information?

The Fund is traded under the symbol “GDO” and its closing market price is available in most newspapers under the NYSE listings. The daily NAV is available online under the symbol “XGDOX” 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 (click on the name of the Fund).

 

*

These estimates are not for tax purposes. The Fund will issue a Form 1099 with final composition of the distributions for tax purposes after year-end. A return of capital is not taxable and results in a reduction in the tax basis of a shareholder’s investment. For more information about a distribution’s composition, please refer to the Fund’s distribution press release or, if applicable, the Section 19 notice located in the press release section of our website, www.lmcef.com (click on the name of the Fund).

 

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.  

 

 III 


Performance review (cont’d)

 

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 Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 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,

 

LOGO

Jane Trust, CFA

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

May 28, 2021

RISKS: The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company designed primarily as a long-term investment and not as a trading vehicle. The Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program and, due to the uncertainty inherent in all investments, there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Similar to stocks, the Fund’s share price will fluctuate with market conditions and, at the time of sale, may be worth more or less than the original investment. Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset value. Because the Fund is non-diversified, it may be more susceptible to economic, political or regulatory events than a diversified fund. The Fund’s investments are subject to a number of risks, such as credit risk, inflation risk, call risk and interest rate risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall, reducing the value of the Fund’s holdings. The Fund may invest in lower-rated high-yield bonds, known as “junk bonds,” which are subject to greater credit risk (risk of default) than higher-rated obligations. The Fund’s investments in foreign securities involve risks, including the possibility of losses due to changes in currency exchange rates and negative developments in the political, social, economic or regulatory structure of specific countries or regions. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Emerging market countries tend to have economic, political and legal systems that are less developed and less stable than those of more developed countries. 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. 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 also invest in money market funds, including funds affiliated with the Fund’s manager and subadviser.

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.

 

 

IV

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


i  

Net asset value (“NAV”) is calculated by subtracting total liabilities, including liabilities associated with financial leverage (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.

 

ii

The Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Corporate Index is the corporate component of the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index, which is comprised of several other Bloomberg Barclays indices that measure fixed-income performance of regions around the world.

 

iii

Lipper, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reuters, provides independent insight on global collective investments. Returns are based on the six-month period ended April 30, 2021, including the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, calculated among the 17 funds in the Fund’s Lipper category.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.  

 

  V  


Fund at a glance (unaudited)

 

Investment breakdown (%) as a percent of total investments

 

LOGO

 

The bar graph above represents the composition of the Fund’s investments as of April 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020 and does not include derivatives, such as forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of the Fund’s investments is subject to change at any time.

 

Represents less than 0.1%.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

1


Schedule of investments (unaudited)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  
Corporate Bonds & Notes — 111.7%                                
Communication Services — 18.2%                                

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 5.4%

                               

Altice France Holding SA, Senior Secured Notes

    10.500     5/15/27       670,000     $ 755,603  (a)  

Altice France SA, Senior Secured Notes

    7.375     5/1/26       3,280,000       3,404,804  (a)  

Altice France SA, Senior Secured Notes

    8.125     2/1/27       383,000       420,342  (a)  

Cogent Communications Group Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    5.375     3/1/22       565,000       581,817  (a)  

Lumen Technologies Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    4.000     2/15/27       2,100,000       2,142,273  (a)  

Qwest Corp., Senior Notes

    6.750     12/1/21       2,500,000       2,578,125  

Telecom Italia Capital SA, Senior Notes

    6.000     9/30/34       420,000       473,403  

Telefonica Emisiones SA, Senior Notes

    7.045     6/20/36       2,000,000       2,814,330  

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    5.150     9/15/23       1,200,000       1,329,369  

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    4.329     9/21/28       500,000       576,805  

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                            15,076,871  

Entertainment — 0.8%

                               

Netflix Inc., Senior Notes

    5.875     11/15/28       670,000       816,060  

Netflix Inc., Senior Notes

    6.375     5/15/29       510,000       641,221  

TWDC Enterprises 18 Corp., Senior Notes

    3.000     2/13/26       750,000       814,152  

Total Entertainment

                            2,271,433  

Media — 7.7%

                               

Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Junior Subordinated Notes (3.000% to 4/23/23 then EUR 5 year Swap Rate + 2.639%)

    3.000     4/23/75       1,000,000  EUR      1,248,777  (b)(c) 

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

    5.125     5/1/27       100,000       104,804  (a)  

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

    5.000     2/1/28       1,720,000       1,799,550  (a) 

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

    4.500     5/1/32       1,200,000       1,213,500  (a)  

Charter Communications Operating LLC/ Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    2.300     2/1/32       1,000,000       938,602  

Charter Communications Operating LLC/ Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    6.384     10/23/35       720,000       940,100  

Charter Communications Operating LLC/ Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    6.484     10/23/45       2,660,000       3,525,481  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

2

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Media — continued

                               

Comcast Corp., Senior Notes

    3.700     4/15/24       2,000,000     $ 2,181,673  

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875     11/15/24       960,000       1,039,805  

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

    7.750     7/1/26       2,810,000       3,242,037  

Grupo Televisa SAB, Senior Notes

    6.625     1/15/40       1,730,000       2,332,736  

Univision Communications Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    9.500     5/1/25       910,000       1,015,788  (a)  

UPC Holding BV, Senior Secured Notes

    5.500     1/15/28       630,000       655,594  (a)  

Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    5.500     8/15/26       1,020,000       1,059,637  (a)  

Total Media

                            21,298,084  

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 4.3%

                               

America Movil SAB de CV, Senior Notes

    6.125     3/30/40       650,000       903,642  

CSC Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

    6.500     2/1/29       790,000       874,328  (a)  

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

    8.750     3/15/32       90,000       133,558  

Sprint Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    11.500     11/15/21       1,000,000       1,055,775  

Sprint Corp., Senior Notes

    7.875     9/15/23       3,410,000       3,891,662  

T-Mobile USA Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    2.050     2/15/28       1,000,000       993,850  (a)  

T-Mobile USA Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    2.550     2/15/31       1,500,000       1,477,530  (a)  

VEON Holdings BV, Senior Notes

    3.375     11/25/27       1,300,000       1,311,011  (a)  

Vodafone Group PLC, Senior Notes

    4.375     5/30/28       1,000,000       1,151,742  

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

                            11,793,098  

Total Communication Services

                            50,439,486  
Consumer Discretionary — 11.1%                                

Auto Components — 1.3%

                               

Adient Global Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

    4.875     8/15/26       850,000       874,114  (a)  

Adient US LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    9.000     4/15/25       560,000       621,320  (a)  

American Axle & Manufacturing Inc., Senior Notes

    6.500     4/1/27       771,000       815,333  

JB Poindexter & Co. Inc., Senior Notes

    7.125     4/15/26       1,280,000       1,355,200  (a)  

Total Auto Components

                            3,665,967  

Automobiles — 2.0%

                               

Ford Motor Co., Senior Notes

    8.500     4/21/23       710,000       796,088  

Ford Motor Co., Senior Notes

    9.000     4/22/25       1,270,000       1,552,575  

General Motors Co., Senior Notes

    5.400     10/2/23       160,000       177,073  

General Motors Co., Senior Notes

    6.125     10/1/25       220,000       261,244  

General Motors Co., Senior Notes

    6.600     4/1/36       720,000       961,985  

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Senior Notes

    4.810     9/17/30       1,520,000       1,689,443  (a)  

Total Automobiles

                            5,438,408  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

3


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Diversified Consumer Services — 0.8%

                               

Carriage Services Inc., Senior Notes

    6.625     6/1/26       1,170,000     $ 1,236,175  (a) 

Carriage Services Inc., Senior Notes

    4.250     5/15/29       780,000       777,075  (a)(d)  

WW International Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    4.500     4/15/29       200,000       197,530  (a)  

Total Diversified Consumer Services

                            2,210,780  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 6.1%

                               

1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    4.250     5/15/24       460,000       466,587  (a)  

1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    5.750     4/15/25       400,000       424,834  (a)  

Carnival Corp., Senior Notes

    7.625     3/1/26       520,000       570,058  (a)  

IRB Holding Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    7.000     6/15/25       690,000       743,440  (a)  

Marston’s Issuer PLC, Secured Notes (3 mo. GBP LIBOR + 2.550%)

    2.633     7/16/35       1,768,000  GBP      1,918,761  (b)(c) 

Mitchells & Butlers Finance PLC, Secured Notes

    5.965     12/15/23       136,221  GBP      196,355  (b)  

NCL Corp. Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    12.250     5/15/24       1,490,000       1,819,350  (a)  

NCL Corp. Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    10.250     2/1/26       1,360,000       1,603,093  (a)  

Saga PLC, Senior Notes

    3.375     5/12/24       1,260,000  GBP      1,674,440  (b)  

Silversea Cruise Finance Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    7.250     2/1/25       423,000       438,291  (a)  

Viking Cruises Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.875     9/15/27       100,000       98,124  (a)  

VOC Escrow Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    5.000     2/15/28       2,030,000       2,073,137  (a)  

Wynn Macau Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.625     8/26/28       1,060,000       1,116,991  (a)  

Wynn Macau Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.125     12/15/29       1,610,000       1,641,033  (a)  

Wynn Resorts Finance LLC/Wynn Resorts Capital Corp., Senior Notes

    7.750     4/15/25       1,600,000       1,731,344  (a)  

Yum! Brands Inc., Senior Notes

    7.750     4/1/25       360,000       393,750  (a)  

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

                            16,909,588  

Household Durables — 0.3%

                               

Lennar Corp., Senior Notes

    5.000     6/15/27       738,000       854,309  

Specialty Retail — 0.2%

                               

Magic Mergeco Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    5.250     5/1/28       560,000       567,700  (a) 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 0.4%

                               

Hanesbrands Inc., Senior Notes

    4.875     5/15/26       880,000       944,011  (a)  

Total Consumer Discretionary

                            30,590,763  
Consumer Staples — 3.5%                                

Beverages — 1.1%

                               

Anheuser-Busch Cos. LLC/Anheuser-Busch

                               

InBev Worldwide Inc., Senior Notes

    4.700     2/1/36       940,000       1,113,931  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

4

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Beverages — continued

                               

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., Senior Notes

    4.000     4/13/28       1,690,000     $ 1,898,995  

Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., Senior Notes

    4.750     1/23/29       60,000       70,467  

Total Beverages

                            3,083,393  

Food & Staples Retailing — 0.6%

                               

Tesco PLC, Senior Notes

    6.125     2/24/22       1,200,000  GBP      1,733,753  

Food Products — 1.6%

                               

Kraft Heinz Foods Co., Senior Notes

    3.950     7/15/25       207,000       229,418  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co., Senior Notes

    3.875     5/15/27       1,050,000       1,144,368  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co., Senior Notes

    4.250     3/1/31       180,000       198,698  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co., Senior Notes

    5.200     7/15/45       400,000       474,203  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co., Senior Notes

    5.500     6/1/50       550,000       684,703  

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875     9/30/27       1,520,000       1,615,000  (a) 

Total Food Products

                            4,346,390  

Tobacco — 0.2%

                               

Reynolds American Inc., Senior Notes

    5.850     8/15/45       540,000       623,276  

Total Consumer Staples

                            9,786,812  
Energy — 20.0%                                

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 20.0%

                               

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875     2/1/29       190,000       204,963  (a)  

Chevron USA Inc., Senior Notes

    5.050     11/15/44       1,000,000       1,273,482  

Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    3.800     6/1/24       1,360,000       1,426,300  

Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    4.375     1/15/28       640,000       697,469  

Diamondback Energy Inc., Senior Notes

    3.500     12/1/29       1,120,000       1,173,854  

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

    5.875     5/28/45       3,000,000       3,198,915  

EQM Midstream Partners LP, Senior Notes

    6.000     7/1/25       400,000       437,500  (a) 

EQT Corp., Senior Notes

    3.000     10/1/22       1,590,000       1,621,800  

EQT Corp., Senior Notes

    3.900     10/1/27       1,700,000       1,774,528  

EQT Corp., Senior Notes

    5.000     1/15/29       1,220,000       1,335,558  

KazMunayGas National Co. JSC, Senior Notes

    4.750     4/19/27       2,130,000       2,431,440  (a) 

Lukoil International Finance BV, Senior Notes

    6.656     6/7/22       1,110,000       1,177,841  (b) 

Lukoil International Finance BV, Senior Notes

    4.750     11/2/26       1,970,000       2,192,882  (a) 

MEG Energy Corp., Secured Notes

    6.500     1/15/25       740,000       765,438  (a)  

NGPL PipeCo LLC, Senior Notes

    7.768     12/15/37       800,000       1,077,666  (a) 

Occidental Petroleum Corp., Senior Notes

    4.400     8/15/49       1,060,000       918,887  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

5


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — continued

                               

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

    5.999     1/27/28       3,240,000     $ 3,665,120  

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

    5.750     2/1/29       2,800,000       3,132,780  

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

    6.750     1/27/41       160,000       182,022  

Petroleos del Peru SA, Senior Notes

    5.625     6/19/47       2,230,000       2,301,025  (a)  

Range Resources Corp., Senior Notes

    5.000     3/15/23       420,000       430,238  

Range Resources Corp., Senior Notes

    4.875     5/15/25       290,000       288,550  

Range Resources Corp., Senior Notes

    9.250     2/1/26       2,545,000       2,797,795  

Range Resources Corp., Senior Notes

    8.250     1/15/29       480,000       521,345  (a)  

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC, Senior Notes

    7.500     7/15/38       330,000       367,950  (a)  

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    5.750     5/15/24       540,000       609,926  

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    5.000     3/15/27       1,940,000       2,231,815  

Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    6.500     7/15/27       430,000       468,696  

Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, Senior Notes

    7.850     2/1/26       1,000,000       1,273,673  

Transportadora de Gas del Peru SA, Senior Notes

    4.250     4/30/28       3,750,000       4,083,525  (a) 

Transportadora de Gas del Sur SA, Senior Notes

    6.750     5/2/25       1,010,000       877,458  (a)  

Western Midstream Operating LP, Senior Notes

    5.300     2/1/30       3,655,000       3,993,087  

Western Midstream Operating LP, Senior Notes

    5.300     3/1/48       250,000       257,164  

Western Midstream Operating LP, Senior Notes

    6.500     2/1/50       2,770,000       3,137,745  

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    3.700     1/15/23       430,000       449,549  

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    4.550     6/24/24       540,000       596,389  

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    7.500     1/15/31       340,000       457,534  

Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    5.750     6/24/44       450,000       560,505  

WPX Energy Inc., Senior Notes

    8.250     8/1/23       400,000       458,250  

YPF SA, Senior Notes

    8.500     7/28/25       120,000       87,246  (a)  

YPF SA, Senior Notes

    6.950     7/21/27       400,000       247,068  (a)  

Total Energy

                            55,184,978  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

6

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  
Financials — 27.5%                                

Banks — 17.7%

                               

Bank of America Corp., Junior Subordinated Notes (5.875% to 3/15/28 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 2.931%)

    5.875     3/15/28       550,000     $ 620,923  (c)(e) 

Bank of America Corp., Junior Subordinated Notes (6.500% to 10/23/24 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 4.174%)

    6.500     10/23/24       170,000       196,384  (c)(e) 

Bank of America Corp., Subordinated Notes

    4.250     10/22/26       2,000,000       2,262,432  

Barclays Bank PLC, Subordinated Notes

    7.625     11/21/22       1,020,000       1,118,687  

Barclays PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (8.000% to 6/15/24 then 5 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 5.672%)

    8.000     6/15/24       890,000       1,010,706  (c)(e) 

Barclays PLC, Subordinated Notes

    5.200     5/12/26       1,500,000       1,705,792  

Barclays PLC, Subordinated Notes (5.088% to 6/20/29 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.054%)

    5.088     6/20/30       680,000       781,656 (c)  

BBVA Bancomer SA, Subordinated Notes (5.125% to 1/17/28 then 5 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.650%)

    5.125     1/18/33       2,000,000       2,080,210  (a)(c) 

BNP Paribas SA, Junior Subordinated Notes (7.375% to 8/19/25 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 5.150%)

    7.375     8/19/25       360,000       420,338  (a)(c)(e) 

CIT Group Inc., Senior Notes

    5.000     8/15/22       110,000       115,990  

CIT Group Inc., Senior Notes

    5.250     3/7/25       400,000       452,250  

Citigroup Inc., Junior Subordinated Notes (5.950% to 5/15/25 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.905%)

    5.950     5/15/25       1,100,000       1,200,980  (c)(e) 

Citigroup Inc., Junior Subordinated Notes (6.300% to 5/15/24 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.423%)

    6.300     5/15/24       500,000       539,199  (c)(e) 

Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes

    4.125     7/25/28       3,000,000       3,364,344  

Credit Agricole SA, Junior Subordinated Notes (8.125% to 12/23/25 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 6.185%)

    8.125     12/23/25       560,000       680,187  (a)(c)(e) 

HSBC Holdings PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (6.375% to 3/30/25 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 4.368%)

    6.375     3/30/25       2,070,000       2,294,543  (c)(e) 

HSBC Holdings PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (6.500% to 3/23/28 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 3.606%)

    6.500     3/23/28       3,620,000       4,120,012  (c)(e) 

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Notes

    5.017     6/26/24       2,180,000       2,369,220  (a) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

7


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  
                                 

Banks — continued

                               

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Notes

    5.710     1/15/26       3,550,000     $ 3,984,158  (a) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Notes (6.000% to 8/1/23 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.300%)

    6.000     8/1/23       4,890,000       5,201,126  (c)(e) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Notes (6.100% to 10/1/24 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.330%)

    6.100     10/1/24       1,250,000       1,361,719  (c)(e) 

Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

    4.650     3/24/26       1,200,000       1,353,517  

Natwest Group PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (4.500% to 9/30/28 then U.K. Government Bonds 5 Year Note Generic Bid Yield + 3.992%)

    4.500     3/31/28       750,000   GBP      1,060,387  (c)(e) 

Natwest Group PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (8.625% to 8/15/21 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 7.598%)

    8.625     8/15/21       510,000       521,179  (c)(e)  

Natwest Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

    6.000     12/19/23       1,000,000       1,128,485  

Royal Bank of Canada, Senior Notes

    2.333     12/5/23       1,800,000  CAD      1,523,333  

Santander UK Group Holdings PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes (7.375% to 6/24/22 then GBP 5 year Swap Rate + 5.543%)

    7.375     6/24/22       1,150,000  GBP      1,681,070  (b)(c)(e) 

Santander UK PLC, Subordinated Notes

    5.000     11/7/23       394,000       432,060   (a)  

Toronto-Dominion Bank, Senior Notes

    3.226     7/24/24       900,000  CAD      785,445  

UniCredit SpA, Subordinated Notes (7.296% to 4/2/29 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 4.914%)

    7.296     4/2/34       1,190,000       1,413,749  (a)(c) 

Wells Fargo & Co., Junior Subordinated Notes (5.875% to 6/15/25 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.990%)

    5.875     6/15/25       110,000       122,788  (c)(e)  

Wells Fargo & Co., Junior Subordinated Notes (5.900% to 6/15/24 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.110%)

    5.900     6/15/24       2,910,000       3,160,304  (c)(e) 

Total Banks

                            49,063,173  

Capital Markets — 5.0%

                               

Credit Suisse Group AG, Junior Subordinated Notes (7.250% to 9/12/25 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 4.332%)

    7.250     9/12/25       1,840,000       2,037,791  (a)(c)(e) 

Credit Suisse Group AG, Senior Notes

    4.875     5/15/45       470,000       564,675  

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes

    3.500     11/16/26       2,750,000       3,003,001  

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

    4.750     10/12/21       2,700,000  EUR      3,315,138  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

8

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Capital Markets — continued

                               

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

    5.500     10/12/21       600,000  GBP    $ 845,925  

UBS Group AG, Junior Subordinated Notes (7.000% to 1/31/24 then USD 5 year ICE Swap Rate + 4.344%)

    7.000     1/31/24       1,900,000       2,097,249  (a)(c)(e) 

UBS Group AG, Senior Notes

    4.253     3/23/28       1,830,000       2,072,144  (a)  

Total Capital Markets

                            13,935,923  

Diversified Financial Services — 3.1%

                               

AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, Senior Notes

    4.450     12/16/21       1,870,000       1,908,769  

AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, Senior Notes

    4.625     7/1/22       380,000       397,918  

AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, Senior Notes

    4.625     10/15/27       990,000       1,103,790  

GE Capital International Funding Co. Unlimited Co., Senior Notes

    3.373     11/15/25       1,250,000       1,362,129  

Global Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd., Senior Notes (6.500% Cash or 7.250% PIK)

    6.500     9/15/24       2,738,225       2,741,648  (a)(f) 

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875     8/15/22       330,000       352,440  

Park Aerospace Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.500     2/15/24       600,000       658,470  (a)  

Total Diversified Financial Services

                            8,525,164  

Insurance — 1.7%

                               

BUPA Finance PLC, Subordinated Bonds

    5.000     4/25/23       910,000  GBP      1,354,998  (b)  

Farmers Insurance Exchange, Subordinated Notes

    8.625     5/1/24       1,295,000       1,536,597  (a)  

MetLife Capital Trust IV, Junior Subordinated Notes

    7.875     12/15/37       300,000       416,250  (a)  

Scottish Widows Ltd., Subordinated Notes

    5.500     6/16/23       910,000  GBP      1,373,193  (b)  

Total Insurance

                            4,681,038  

Total Financials

                            76,205,298  
Health Care — 6.7%                                

Biotechnology — 0.4%

                               

AbbVie Inc., Senior Notes

    3.200     5/14/26       1,000,000       1,084,365  

Health Care Providers & Services — 2.0%

                               

Centene Corp., Senior Notes

    4.250     12/15/27       410,000       430,244  

Centene Corp., Senior Notes

    4.625     12/15/29       1,090,000       1,181,391  

CVS Health Corp., Senior Notes

    4.100     3/25/25       361,000       402,270  

HCA Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    4.500     2/15/27       1,000,000       1,129,922  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

9


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Health Care Providers & Services — continued

                               

Legacy LifePoint Health LLC, Senior

                               

Secured Notes

    6.750     4/15/25       530,000     $ 564,450  (a)  

Magellan Health Inc., Senior Notes

    4.900     9/22/24       790,000       863,569  

Tenet Healthcare Corp., Senior Secured

                               

Notes

    7.500     4/1/25       730,000       787,487  (a)  

Total Health Care Providers & Services

                            5,359,333  

Pharmaceuticals — 4.3%

                               

Bausch Health Americas Inc., Senior Notes

    8.500     1/31/27       150,000       167,250  (a)  

Bausch Health Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    6.125     4/15/25       1,390,000       1,420,969  (a) 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Senior Notes

    3.900     2/20/28       2,000,000       2,266,283  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Co. BV, Senior Notes

    2.950     12/18/22       1,530,000       1,540,519  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance IV BV, Senior Notes

    3.650     11/10/21       250,000       251,983  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV, Senior Notes

    2.200     7/21/21       2,562,000       2,563,601  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV, Senior Notes

    2.800     7/21/23       1,920,000       1,903,450  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV, Senior Notes

    6.000     4/15/24       1,380,000       1,457,625  

Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV, Senior Notes

    3.150     10/1/26       440,000       413,710  

Total Pharmaceuticals

                            11,985,390  

Total Health Care

                            18,429,088  
Industrials — 13.4%                                

Aerospace & Defense — 3.3%

                               

Boeing Co., Senior Notes

    3.250     2/1/28       2,000,000       2,092,417  

Boeing Co., Senior Notes

    3.200     3/1/29       5,365,000       5,518,952  

TransDigm Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    8.000     12/15/25       1,450,000       1,576,933  (a) 

Total Aerospace & Defense

                            9,188,302  

Airlines — 6.2%

                               

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Notes

    3.625     3/15/22       740,000       752,293  

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Notes

    3.800     4/19/23       1,650,000       1,698,287  

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Notes

    2.900     10/28/24       500,000       504,664  

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Notes

    7.375     1/15/26       410,000       481,904  

Delta Air Lines Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    7.000     5/1/25       2,490,000       2,896,962  (a) 

Delta Air Lines Inc./SkyMiles IP Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    4.750     10/20/28       540,000       593,419  (a)  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

10

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Airlines — continued

                               

Hawaiian Brand Intellectual Property Ltd./ HawaiianMiles Loyalty Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    5.750     1/20/26       830,000     $ 877,725   (a)  

Manchester Airport Group Funding PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    4.125     4/2/24       860,000  GBP      1,288,280  (b) 

Mileage Plus Holdings LLC/Mileage Plus Intellectual Property Assets Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    6.500     6/20/27       1,480,000       1,626,150  (a) 

Spirit Loyalty Cayman Ltd./Spirit IP Cayman Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    8.000     9/20/25       3,150,000       3,551,121  (a) 

United Airlines Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

    5.000     2/1/24       780,000       803,400  

United Airlines Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    4.625     4/15/29       400,000       416,180  (a)  

United Airlines Pass-Through Trust

    4.875     1/15/26       1,475,160       1,543,279  

Total Airlines

                            17,033,664  

Building Products — 2.0%

                               

GTL Trade Finance Inc., Senior Notes

    7.250     4/16/44       1,220,000       1,629,231  (a) 

Standard Industries Inc., Senior Notes

    5.000     2/15/27       2,775,000       2,865,187  (a) 

Standard Industries Inc., Senior Notes

    4.750     1/15/28       1,025,000       1,058,405  (a) 

Total Building Products

                            5,552,823  

Industrial Conglomerates — 0.1%

                               

General Electric Co., Junior Subordinated Notes (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.330%)

    3.514     6/15/21       350,000       333,155  (c)(e)  

Machinery — 0.4%

                               

Allison Transmission Inc., Senior Notes

    4.750     10/1/27       980,000       1,028,123  (a)  

Trading Companies & Distributors — 1.4%

                               

Ashtead Capital Inc., Senior Notes

    4.125     8/15/25       2,895,000       2,981,850  (a) 

H&E Equipment Services Inc., Senior Notes

    3.875     12/15/28       460,000       449,650  (a)  

United Rentals North America Inc., Senior Notes

    5.500     5/15/27       295,000       314,912  

United Rentals North America Inc., Senior Notes

    4.875     1/15/28       140,000       148,400  

Total Trading Companies & Distributors

                            3,894,812  

Total Industrials

                            37,030,879  
Information Technology — 3.4%                                

Communications Equipment — 0.1%

                               

CommScope Inc., Senior Notes

    8.250     3/1/27       270,000       289,575  (a)  

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 0.4%

 

                       

Broadcom Corp./Broadcom Cayman Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

    3.125     1/15/25       1,000,000       1,067,499  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

11


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Software — 0.6%

                               

Helios Software Holdings Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    4.625     5/1/28       1,680,000     $ 1,667,400  (a)  

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 2.3%

 

                       

Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., Senior Notes

    7.125     6/15/24       440,000       452,529  (a)  

HP Inc., Senior Notes

    4.650     12/9/21       2,000,000       2,052,272  

Seagate HDD Cayman, Senior Notes

    4.750     1/1/25       2,330,000       2,538,849  

Seagate HDD Cayman, Senior Notes

    4.875     6/1/27       520,000       579,501  

Western Digital Corp., Senior Notes

    4.750     2/15/26       670,000       743,700  

Total Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals

 

                    6,366,851  

Total Information Technology

                            9,391,325  
Materials — 4.1%                                

Chemicals — 0.6%

                               

Braskem Netherlands Finance BV, Senior Notes

    4.500     1/10/28       820,000       854,186  (a)  

OCP SA, Senior Notes

    5.625     4/25/24       800,000       873,274  (a)  

Total Chemicals

                            1,727,460  

Containers & Packaging — 0.2%

                               

Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA Inc., Senior Notes

    6.000     2/15/25       640,000       660,973  (a)  

Metals & Mining — 2.8%

                               

ArcelorMittal SA, Senior Notes

    7.250     10/15/39       750,000       1,059,005  

First Quantum Minerals Ltd., Senior Notes

    7.250     4/1/23       400,000       408,000  (a)  

Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Senior Notes

    5.400     11/14/34       120,000       144,638  

Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Senior Notes

    5.450     3/15/43       60,000       73,350  

Fresnillo PLC, Senior Notes

    4.250     10/2/50       1,600,000       1,570,176  (a) 

Southern Copper Corp., Senior Notes

    5.250     11/8/42       1,850,000       2,262,988  

Teck Resources Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.000     8/15/40       600,000       736,148  

Vale Overseas Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.875     11/21/36       340,000       462,446  

Vale Overseas Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.875     11/10/39       750,000       1,035,000  

Total Metals & Mining

                            7,751,751  

Paper & Forest Products — 0.5%

                               

Fibria Overseas Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.250     5/12/24       760,000       844,778  

Suzano Austria GmbH, Senior Notes

    5.750     7/14/26       400,000       469,052  (a)  

Total Paper & Forest Products

                            1,313,830  

Total Materials

                            11,454,014  
Real Estate — 1.8%                                

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 1.8%

 

                       

Diversified Healthcare Trust, Senior Notes

    9.750     6/15/25       400,000       448,500  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

12

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — continued

                               

MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    5.000     10/15/27       2,510,000     $ 2,644,913  

MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    4.625     8/1/29       890,000       943,542  

Service Properties Trust, Senior Notes

    5.500     12/15/27       810,000       853,645  

Total Real Estate

                            4,890,600  
Utilities — 2.0%                                

Electric Utilities — 1.2%

                               

FirstEnergy Corp., Senior Notes

    7.375     11/15/31       1,330,000       1,801,664  

Pampa Energia SA, Senior Notes

    7.375     7/21/23       740,000       694,002  (b)  

Pampa Energia SA, Senior Notes

    7.500     1/24/27       990,000       812,349  (a)  

Total Electric Utilities

                            3,308,015  

Gas Utilities — 0.3%

                               

Suburban Propane Partners LP/Suburban Energy Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875     3/1/27       860,000       898,162  

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 0.5%

 

               

Minejesa Capital BV, Senior Secured Notes

    4.625     8/10/30       1,350,000       1,428,921  (a)  

Total Utilities

                            5,635,098  

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes (Cost — $271,855,812)

 

            309,038,341  
Sovereign Bonds — 13.6%                                

Argentina — 0.1%

                               

Argentine Republic Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    1.000     7/9/29       52,555       20,024  

Argentine Republic Government International Bond, Senior Notes, Step bond (0.125% to 7/9/21 then 0.500%)

    0.125     7/9/30       510,200       185,713  

Provincia de Cordoba, Senior Notes, Step bond (3.000% to 6/1/21, 5.000% to 6/1/22 then 6.990%)

    3.000     6/1/27       380,000       226,104  (a)  

Total Argentina

                            431,841  

Brazil — 0.1%

                               

Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional Serie F, Notes

    10.000     1/1/25       1,231,000  BRL      241,535  

Brazil Notas do Tesouro Nacional Serie F, Notes

    10.000     1/1/27       529,000  BRL      103,695  

Total Brazil

                            345,230  

Chile — 1.2%

                               

Chile Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    2.550     1/27/32       3,250,000       3,329,658  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

13


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
   

Face

Amount†

    Value  

Indonesia — 3.1%

                               

Indonesia Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    4.125     1/15/25       600,000     $ 661,123   (a) 

Indonesia Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    3.850     7/18/27       600,000       663,674   (a) 

Indonesia Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    3.500     1/11/28       3,960,000       4,296,483   (g) 

Indonesia Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    1.850     3/12/31       1,000,000       960,554  

Indonesia Treasury Bond

    8.250     7/15/21       4,346,000,000  IDR      304,037  

Indonesia Treasury Bond

    7.000     5/15/22       23,098,000,000  IDR      1,651,943  

Total Indonesia

                            8,537,814  

Mexico — 2.2%

                               

Mexican Bonos, Senior Notes

    7.750     11/23/34       38,020,000  MXN      1,966,986  

Mexico Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    3.750     1/11/28       2,200,000       2,387,165  

Mexico Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    1.450     10/25/33       1,500,000  EUR       1,689,140  

Total Mexico

                            6,043,291  

Panama — 1.8%

                               

Panama Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    3.160     1/23/30       2,500,000       2,617,187  

Panama Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    2.252     9/29/32       2,350,000       2,249,561  

Total Panama

                            4,866,748  

Peru — 1.7%

                               

Peruvian Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    2.783     1/23/31       2,150,000       2,156,987  

Peruvian Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    1.862     12/1/32       2,710,000       2,472,103  

Total Peru

                            4,629,090  

Poland — 1.0%

                               

Republic of Poland Government Bond

    2.500     7/25/27       10,160,000  PLN       2,893,335  

Russia — 1.7%

                               

Russian Federal Bond — OFZ

    7.000     1/25/23       42,450,000  RUB       576,179  

Russian Federal Bond — OFZ

    7.750     9/16/26       103,070,000  RUB      1,445,878  

Russian Federal Bond — OFZ

    6.900     5/23/29       194,660,000  RUB      2,595,825  

Total Russia

                            4,617,882  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

14

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

United Arab Emirates — 0.7%

                               

Abu Dhabi Government International Bond, Senior Notes

    2.125     9/30/24       2,000,000     $ 2,094,070  (a) 

Total Sovereign Bonds (Cost — $36,833,665)

 

                    37,788,959  
U.S. Government & Agency Obligations — 7.1%

 

                       

U.S. Government Obligations — 7.1%

                               

U.S. Treasury Notes

    1.375     5/31/21       3,000,000       3,003,103  (g) 

U.S. Treasury Notes

    1.750     7/31/21       2,500,000       2,510,508  (g) 

U.S. Treasury Notes

    2.500     3/31/23       2,500,000       2,612,061  (g) 

U.S. Treasury Notes

    2.750     8/31/23       2,500,000       2,647,021  (g) 

U.S. Treasury Notes

    2.875     9/30/23       1,300,000       1,382,900  (g) 

U.S. Treasury Notes

    2.125     11/30/23       1,600,000       1,677,094  (g) 

U.S. Treasury Notes

    2.125     3/31/24       2,500,000       2,630,713  (g) 

U.S. Treasury Notes

    2.000     6/30/24       2,000,000       2,102,227  (g) 

U.S. Treasury Notes

    0.750     4/30/26       500,000       497,676  

U.S. Treasury Notes

    0.625     8/15/30       750,000       687,422  

Total U.S. Government & Agency Obligations (Cost — $19,051,757)

 

            19,750,725  
Senior Loans — 4.5%                                
Communication Services — 1.1%                                

Media — 1.1%

                               

Charter Communications Operating LLC, Term Loan B1 (1 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.750%)

    1.870     4/30/25       2,326,820       2,326,820  (c)(h)(i) 

Charter Communications Operating LLC, Term Loan B2 (1 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.750%)

    1.870     2/1/27       740,601       737,978  (c)(h)(i) 

Total Communication Services

                            3,064,798  
Consumer Discretionary — 0.9%                                

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 0.9%

                               

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Refinance Term Loan B2 (1 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.750%)

    1.856     6/22/26       2,577,239       2,557,910   (c)(h)(i) 
Financials — 0.4%                                

Capital Markets — 0.4%

                               

Finco I LLC, 2020 Term Loan (1 mo. USD LIBOR + 2.500%)

    2.613     6/27/25       1,127,498       1,126,088   (c)(h)(i) 
Health Care — 0.5%                                

Pharmaceuticals — 0.5%

                               

Jazz Financing Lux Sarl, Initial Dollar Term Loan

          5/5/28       1,290,000       1,294,515   (j) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

15


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Industrials — 1.6%

                               

Airlines — 1.6%

                               

Delta Air Lines Inc., Initial Term Loan (the greater of 3 mo. USD LIBOR or 1.000% + 3.750%)

    4.750     10/20/27       1,050,000     $ 1,105,343  (c)(h)(i) 

JetBlue Airways Corp., Term Loan (the greater of 3 mo. USD LIBOR or 1.000% + 5.250%)

    6.250     6/17/24       1,087,625       1,117,280  (c)(h)(i) 

Mileage Plus Holdings LLC, Initial Term Loan (the greater of 3 mo. USD LIBOR or 1.000% + 5.250%)

    6.250     6/21/27       1,750,000       1,869,767  (c)(h)(i) 

United Airlines Inc., Term Loan B

          4/21/28       300,000       303,991  (j)  

Total Industrials

                            4,396,381  

Total Senior Loans (Cost — $12,149,041)

                            12,439,692  
Convertible Bonds & Notes — 0.8%                                
Communication Services — 0.8%                                

Media — 0.8%

                               

DISH Network Corp., Senior Notes (Cost — $1,824,399)

    3.375     8/15/26       2,190,000       2,310,450  
                   Shares         
Preferred Stocks — 0.4%                                
Financials — 0.4%                                

Capital Markets — 0.4%

                               

State Street Corp. (5.900% to 3/15/24 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 3.108%)
(Cost — $937,278)

    5.900             37,454       1,057,701  (c)  
Convertible Preferred Stocks — 0.4%                                
Energy — 0.4%                                

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.4%

                               

Targa Resources Corp. (Cost — $987,000)

    9.500             940       996,558  
Common Stocks — 0.1%                                
Consumer Discretionary — 0.1%                                

Specialty Retail — 0.1%

                               

Party City Holdings Inc. (Cost — $1,424)

                    22,147       155,029  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations(k) — 0.0%††

 

                       

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 2005-A5 1A2( Cost — $92,860)

    2.737     8/25/35       99,177       103,146  (c)  
Asset-Backed Securities — 0.0%††                                

Home Equity Asset Trust, 2004-8 M1 (1 mo. USD LIBOR + 0.870%)
(Cost — $22,392)

    0.976     3/25/35       23,787     $ 23,819  (c)  

Total Investments before Short-Term Investments (Cost — $343,755,628)

 

    383,664,420  
                   Shares         
Short-Term Investments — 0.2%                                

Dreyfus Government Cash Management, Institutional Shares (Cost — $499,769)

    0.030             499,769       499,769  

Total Investments — 138.8% (Cost — $344,255,397)

 

                    384,164,189  

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (38.8)%

                            (107,437,136

Total Net Assets — 100.0%

                          $ 276,727,053  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

17


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

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

 

 Securities held by the Fund are subject to a lien, granted to the lender, to the extent of the borrowing outstanding and any  additional expenses.

 

††

 Represents less than 0.1%.

 

*

 Non-income producing security.

 

(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.

 

(b)

 Security is exempt from registration under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933. Regulation S applies to securities offerings that are made outside of the United States and do not involve direct selling efforts in the United States. This security has been deemed liquid pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Directors.

 

(c)

 Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is as of the most recent information available. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description above.

 

(d)

 Securities traded on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.

 

(e)

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

 

(f)

 Payment-in-kind security for which the issuer has the option at each interest payment date of making interest payments in cash or additional securities.

 

(g)

 All or a portion of this security is held by the counterparty as collateral for open reverse repurchase agreements.

 

(h)

 Interest rates disclosed represent the effective rates on senior loans. Ranges in interest rates are attributable to multiple contracts under the same loan.

 

(i)

 Senior loans may be considered restricted in that the Fund ordinarily is contractually obligated to receive approval from the agent bank and/or borrower prior to the disposition of a senior loan.

 

(j)

 All or a portion of this loan is unfunded as of April 30, 2021. The interest rate for fully unfunded term loans is to be determined.

 

(k)

 Collateralized mortgage obligations are secured by an underlying pool of mortgages or mortgage pass-through certificates that are structured to direct payments on underlying collateral to different series or classes of the obligations. The interest rate may change positively or inversely in relation to one or more interest rates, financial indices or other financial indicators and may be subject to an upper and/or lower limit.

 

Abbreviation(s) used in this schedule:

BRL   — Brazilian Real
CAD   — Canadian Dollar
EUR   — Euro
GBP   — British Pound
ICE   — Intercontinental Exchange
IDR   — Indonesian Rupiah
JSC   — Joint Stock Company
LIBOR   — London Interbank Offered Rate
MXN   — Mexican Peso
OFZ   — Obligatsyi Federal’novo Zaima (Russian Federal Loan Obligation)
PIK   Payment-In-Kind
PLN   — Polish Zloty
RUB   — Russian Ruble
USD   — United States Dollar

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

At April 30, 2021, the Fund had the following open reverse repurchase agreements:

 

Counterparty

 

Rate

   

Effective

Date

   

Maturity

Date

 

Face Amount

of Reverse

Repurchase

Agreements

    Asset Class of Collateral*    

Collateral

Value

 
Barclays Bank PLC     0.550     10/2/2020     TBD**   $ 1,980,000       Sovereign Bonds     $ 2,169,941  
Deutsche Bank AG     0.130     2/26/2021     5/26/2021     18,563,375       U.S. Government & Agency Obligations       18,565,627  
                        $ 20,543,375             $ 20,735,568  

 

*

Refer to the Schedule of Investments for positions held at the counterparty as collateral for reverse repurchase agreements.

**

TBD — To Be Determined; These reverse repurchase agreements have no maturity dates because they are renewed daily and can be terminated by either the Fund or the counterparty in accordance with the terms of the agreements. The rates for these agreements are variable. The rate disclosed is the rate as of April 30, 2021.

At April 30, 2021, the Fund had the following open forward foreign currency contracts:

 

Currency

Purchased

    Currency Sold     Counterparty   Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
 
EUR     17,810,349     USD     21,240,806     BNP Paribas SA     7/19/21     $ 207,328  
GBP     2,474,845     USD     3,400,672     Goldman Sachs Group Inc.     7/19/21       17,968  
USD     470,380     GBP     340,000     Goldman Sachs Group Inc.     7/19/21       719  
Total                                   $ 226,015  

 

Abbreviation(s) used in this table:

EUR   — Euro
GBP   — British Pound
USD   — United States Dollar

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

19


Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)

April 30, 2021

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Summary of Investments by Country*       
United States      56.3
United Kingdom      8.5  
Peru      3.5  
Mexico      3.4  
Brazil      3.3  
Indonesia      2.6  
Italy      2.1  
Israel      2.1  
Russia      2.1  
Switzerland      1.8  
France      1.3  
Panama      1.3  
Canada      1.2  
Ireland      1.1  
Chile      0.9  
Colombia      0.8  
Argentina      0.8  
Belgium      0.8  
Poland      0.8  
Spain      0.7  
Macau      0.7  
Cayman Islands      0.7  
Kazakhstan      0.6  
United Arab Emirates      0.5  
Netherlands      0.5  
Luxembourg      0.5  
Japan      0.4  
Germany      0.3  
Morocco      0.2  
Zambia      0.1  
Short-Term Investments      0.1  
       100.0

 

*

As a percentage of total investments. Please note that the Fund holdings are as of April 30, 2021 and are subject to change.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

20

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Statement of assets and liabilities (unaudited)

April 30, 2021

 

Assets:         

Investments, at value (Cost — $344,255,397)

   $ 384,164,189  

Foreign currency, at value (Cost — $1,218,217)

     1,225,105  

Cash

     50,500  

Interest and dividends receivable

     4,387,211  

Receivable for securities sold

     2,055,808  

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     226,015  

Prepaid expenses

     9,852  

Total Assets

     392,118,680  
Liabilities:         

Loan payable (Note 5)

     90,000,000  

Payable for open reverse repurchase agreements (Note 3)

     20,543,375  

Payable for securities purchased

     2,972,843  

Distributions payable

     1,508,781  

Investment management fee payable

     254,371  

Interest expense payable

     25,347  

Directors’ fees payable

     1,867  

Accrued expenses

     85,043  

Total Liabilities

     115,391,627  
Total Net Assets    $ 276,727,053  

Net Assets:

        

Par value ($0.001 par value; 14,938,426 shares issued and outstanding; 100,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 14,938  

Paid-in capital in excess of par value

     272,811,068  

Total distributable earnings (loss)

     3,901,047  
Total Net Assets    $ 276,727,053  
Shares Outstanding      14,938,426  
Net Asset Value    $ 18.52  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

21


Statement of operations (unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

 

Investment Income:         

Interest

   $ 10,029,386  

Dividends

     55,531  

Less: Foreign taxes withheld

     (55,131)  

Total Investment Income

     10,029,786  
Expenses:         

Investment management fee (Note 2)

     1,545,396  

Interest expense (Notes 3 and 5)

     379,158  

Directors’ fees

     48,351  

Transfer agent fees

     46,979  

Legal fees

     37,514  

Audit and tax fees

     28,784  

Fund accounting fees

     17,898  

Shareholder reports

     8,089  

Custody fees

     6,273  

Stock exchange listing fees

     6,193  

Insurance

     2,149  

Miscellaneous expenses

     3,121  

Total Expenses

     2,129,905  
Net Investment Income      7,899,881  
Realized and Unrealized Gain on Investments, Forward Foreign Currency Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions (Notes 1, 3 and 4):         

Net Realized Gain From:

        

Investment transactions

     894,616  

Forward foreign currency contracts

     319,348  

Foreign currency transactions

     19,509  

Net Realized Gain

     1,233,473  

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From:

        

Investments

     8,545,980  

Forward foreign currency contracts

     453,269  

Foreign currencies

     32,098  

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

     9,031,347  
Net Gain on Investments, Forward Foreign Currency Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions      10,264,820  
Increase in Net Assets From Operations    $ 18,164,701  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

22

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Statements of changes in net assets

 

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2021 (unaudited)

and the Year Ended October 31, 2020

   2021      2020  
Operations:                  

Net investment income

   $ 7,899,881      $ 15,364,789  

Net realized gain (loss)

     1,233,473        (8,379,982)  

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     9,031,347        3,712,449  

Increase in Net Assets From Operations

     18,164,701        10,697,256  
Distributions to Shareholders From (Note 1):                  

Total distributable earnings

     (9,052,686)        (15,153,634)  

Return of capital

            (2,952,592)  

Decrease in Net Assets From Distributions to Shareholders

     (9,052,686)        (18,106,226)  
Fund Share Transactions:                  

Cost of shares repurchased (0 and 2,114 shares repurchased, respectively) (Note 7)

            (26,011)  

Decrease in Net Assets From Fund Share Transactions

            (26,011)  

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

     9,112,015        (7,434,981)  
Net Assets:                  

Beginning of period

     267,615,038        275,050,019  

End of period

   $ 276,727,053      $ 267,615,038  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

23


Statement of cash flows (unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2021

 

Increase (Decrease) in Cash:         
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

 

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

   $ 18,164,701  

Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:

        

Purchases of portfolio securities

     (64,763,149)  

Sales of portfolio securities

     67,623,964  

Net purchases, sales and maturities of short-term investments

     5,664,400  

Payment-in-kind

     (95,788)  

Net amortization of premium (accretion of discount)

     (1,052,950)  

Increase in receivable for securities sold

     (1,422,658)  

Decrease in interest and dividends receivable

     85,133  

Increase in prepaid expenses

     (4,158)  

Decrease in payable for securities purchased

     (4,626,118)  

Decrease in investment management fee payable

     (4,044)  

Decrease in Directors’ fees payable

     (2,674)  

Increase in interest expense payable

     9,847  

Increase in accrued expenses

     29,729  

Net realized gain on investments

     (894,616)  

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and forward foreign currency contracts

     (8,999,249)  

Net Cash Provided in Operating Activities*

     9,712,370  
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:         

Distributions paid on common stock (net of distributions payable)

     (9,052,686)  

Decrease in payable for reverse repurchase agreements

     (174,750)  

Net Cash Used by Financing Activities

     (9,227,436)  
Net Increase in Cash and Restricted Cash      484,934  
Cash and restricted cash at beginning of period      790,671  
Cash and restricted cash at end of period    $ 1,275,605  

 

*

Included in operating expenses is cash of $369,311 paid for interest and commitment fees on borrowings.

 

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash (including foreign currency) and restricted cash reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities that sums to the total of such amounts shown on the Statement of Cash Flows.

 

      April 30, 2021  
Cash    $ 1,275,605  
Restricted cash       
Total cash and restricted cash shown in the Statement of Cash Flows    $ 1,275,605  

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Financial highlights

 

For a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended October 31,
unless otherwise noted:
 
     20211,2     20201     20191     20181     20171     20161  
Net asset value, beginning of period     $17.91       $18.41       $17.39       $19.20       $18.94       $18.81  
Income (loss) from operations:            

Net investment income

    0.53       1.03       0.99       0.99       1.07       1.20  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.69       (0.32)       1.24       (1.52)       0.55       0.29  

Total income (loss) from operations

    1.22       0.71       2.23       (0.53)       1.62       1.49  
Less distributions from:            

Net investment income

    (0.61) 3       (1.01)       (0.69)       (1.26)       (1.36)       (1.36)  

Return of capital

          (0.20)       (0.52)       (0.02)              

Total distributions

    (0.61)       (1.21)       (1.21)       (1.28)       (1.36)       (1.36)  

Anti-dilutive impact of repurchase plan

          0.00 4,5                         0.00 4,5  
Net asset value, end of period     $18.52       $17.91       $18.41       $17.39       $19.20       $18.94  
Market price, end of period     $17.85       $16.53       $17.37       $15.20       $18.10       $17.39  

Total return, based on NAV6,7

    6.81     4.27     13.30     (2.86)     8.92     8.44

Total return, based on Market Price8

    11.69     2.25     22.89     (9.38)     12.37     9.82
Net assets, end of period (millions)     $277       $268       $275       $260       $287       $283  
Ratios to average net assets:            

Gross expenses

    1.54 %9       1.94     2.33     2.00     1.79     1.64

Net expenses

    1.54 9       1.93 10       2.33       2.00       1.79       1.64  

Net investment income

    5.71 9       5.79       5.55       5.42       5.66       6.53  
Portfolio turnover rate     17     50     52     85     69     51
Supplemental data:            

Loan Outstanding, End of Period (000s)

    $90,000       $90,000       $88,000       $88,000       $83,000       $83,000  

Asset Coverage Ratio for Loan Outstanding11

    407     397     413     395     446     441

Asset Coverage, per $1,000 Principal Amount of Loan Outstanding11

    $4,075       $3,974       $4,126       $3,952       $4,456       $4,409  

Weighted Average Loan (000s)

    $90,000       $88,716       $88,000       $84,625       $83,000       $83,000  

Weighted Average Interest Rate on Loan

    0.79     1.75     3.08     2.50     1.63     1.20

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

25


Financial highlights (cont’d)

 

1 

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

 

2 

For the six months ended April 30, 2021 (unaudited).

 

3 

The actual source of the Fund’s current fiscal year distributions may be from net investment income, return of capital or a combination of both. Shareholders will be informed of the tax characteristics of the distributions after the close of the fiscal year.

 

4 

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

 

5 

The repurchase plan was completed at an average repurchase price of $12.30 for 2,114 shares and $26,011 for the year ended October 31, 2020 and $15.25 for 14,001 shares and $213,465 for the year ended October 31, 2016.

 

6 

Performance figures may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

7 

The total return calculation assumes that distributions are reinvested at NAV. Prior to January 1, 2012, the total return calculation assumed the reinvestment of all distributions in accordance with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

 

8 

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

 

9 

Annualized.

 

10 

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

 

11 

Represents value of net assets plus the loan outstanding at the end of the period divided by the loan outstanding at the end of the period.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in Maryland on September 17, 2009 and is registered as a non-diversified, limited-term, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund’s primary investment objective is to provide current income and then to liquidate and distribute substantially all of the Fund’s net assets to stockholders on or about December 2, 2024. As a secondary investment objective, the Fund will seek capital appreciation. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its managed assets in a portfolio of U.S. and foreign corporate fixed-income securities of varying maturities.

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 typically 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. Investments in open-end funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of each fund on the day of valuation. 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.

 

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

27


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

The Board of Directors is responsible for the valuation process and has delegated the supervision of the daily valuation process to the Global Fund Valuation Committee (formerly known as Legg Mason North Atlantic Fund Valuation Committee prior to March 1, 2021) (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee, pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Directors, is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Board of Directors. When determining the reliability of third party pricing information for investments owned by the Fund, the Valuation Committee, among other things, conducts due diligence reviews of pricing vendors, monitors the daily change in prices and reviews transactions among market participants.

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

For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Directors, the fair value price is compared against the last available and next available market quotations. The Valuation Committee reviews the results of such back testing monthly and fair valuation occurrences are reported to the Board of Directors quarterly.

The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present value.

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

 

 

Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

28

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets 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

        $ 309,038,341           $ 309,038,341  

Sovereign Bonds

          37,788,959             37,788,959  

U.S. Government & Agency Obligations

          19,750,725             19,750,725  

Senior Loans

          12,439,692             12,439,692  

Convertible Bonds & Notes

          2,310,450             2,310,450  

Preferred Stocks

  $ 1,057,701                   1,057,701  

Convertible Preferred Stocks

          996,558             996,558  

Common Stocks

    155,029                   155,029  

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

          103,146             103,146  

Asset-Backed Securities

          23,819             23,819  
Total Long-Term Investments     1,212,730       382,451,690             383,664,420  
Short-Term Investments†     499,769                   499,769  
Total Investments   $ 1,712,499     $ 382,451,690           $ 384,164,189  
Other Financial Instruments:                                

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts

        $ 226,015           $ 226,015  
Total   $ 1,712,499     $ 382,677,705           $ 384,390,204  

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

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

Non-deliverable forward foreign currency exchange contracts are settled with the counterparty in cash without the delivery of foreign currency.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

29


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

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

(c) Loan participations. The Fund may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Fund’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement related to the loan, or any rights of off-set against the borrower and the Fund may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation.

The Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower, the lender that is selling the participation and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any off-set between the lender and the borrower.

(d) Unfunded loan commitments. The Fund may enter into certain credit agreements where all or a portion of the total amount committed may be unfunded. The Fund is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion. The commitments are disclosed in the accompanying Schedule of Investments. At April 30, 2021, the Fund had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover these commitments.

(e) Reverse repurchase agreements. The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Under the terms of a typical reverse repurchase agreement, a fund sells a security subject to an obligation to repurchase the security from the buyer at an agreed upon time and price. In the event the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the Fund’s use of the proceeds of the agreement may be restricted pending a determination by the counterparty, or its trustee or receiver, whether to enforce the Fund’s obligation to repurchase the securities. In entering into reverse repurchase agreements, the Fund will pledge cash, U.S. government securities or other liquid debt obligations at least equal in value to its obligations with respect to reverse repurchase agreements or will take other actions permitted by law to cover its obligations. If the market value of the collateral declines during the period, the Fund may be required to post additional collateral to cover its obligation. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under reverse repurchase agreements, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral are noted in the Schedule of Investments. Interest payments made on reverse repurchase agreements are recognized as a component of “Interest expense” on the Statement of Operations. In periods of increased demand for the security, the Fund may receive a fee for use of the security by the counterparty, which may result in interest income to the Fund.

 

30    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


(f) Securities traded on a when-issued and delayed delivery basis. The Fund may trade securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. In when-issued and delayed delivery transactions, the securities are purchased or sold by the Fund with payment and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield to the Fund at the time of entering into the transaction.

Purchasing such securities involves risk of loss if the value of the securities declines prior to settlement. These securities are subject to market fluctuations and their current value is determined in the same manner as for other securities.

(g) Cash flow information. The Fund invests in securities and distributes dividends from net investment income and net realized gains, which are paid in cash and may be reinvested at the discretion of shareholders. These activities are reported in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets and additional information on cash receipts and cash payments is presented in the Statement of Cash Flows.

(h) Foreign currency translation. Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates on the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts based upon prevailing exchange rates on the respective dates of such transactions.

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

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

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

(i) Credit and market risk. The Fund invests in high-yield and emerging market instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high-yield and emerging market debt obligations reflect, among other things, perceived credit and market risks. The Fund’s investments in securities rated below investment grade typically involve risks not associated with higher rated securities including, among others, greater risk

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

31


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

related to timely and ultimate payment of interest and principal, greater market price volatility and less liquid secondary market trading. The consequences of political, social, economic or diplomatic changes may have disruptive effects on the market prices of investments held by the Fund. The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may also result in foreign currency losses caused by devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations.

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

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

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

With exchange traded and centrally cleared derivatives, there is less counterparty risk to the Fund since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, the credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, the Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default of the clearing broker or clearinghouse.

 

 

32

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


The Fund has entered into master agreements, such as an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement, with certain of its derivative counterparties that govern over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives and provide for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral posting terms, netting provisions in the event of default or termination and credit related contingent features. The credit related contingent features include, but are not limited to, a percentage decrease in the Fund’s net assets or net asset value per share over a specified period of time. If these credit related contingent features were triggered, the derivatives counterparty could terminate the positions and demand payment or require additional collateral.

Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the terms of the ISDA Master Agreements do not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction.

Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearinghouse for exchange traded derivatives while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments.

As of April 30, 2021, the Fund did not have any open forward foreign currency contracts with credit related contingent features in a net liability position.

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

(m) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared quarterly and paid on a monthly basis. The actual source of the Fund’s monthly distributions may be from net investment income, return of capital or a combination of both. Shareholders will be informed of the tax characteristics of the distributions after

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

33


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

the close of the fiscal year. Distributions of net realized gains, if any, are taxable and are declared at least annually. Distributions to shareholders of the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

(n) 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.

(o) 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 October 31, 2020, 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.

(p) Reclassification. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) is the Fund’s investment manager. Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”), Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Asset Singapore”), Western Asset Management Company Ltd (“Western Asset Japan”) and Western Asset Management Company Limited (“Western Asset Limited”) are the Fund’s subadvisers. LMPFA, Western Asset, Western Asset Singapore, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Limited are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. (“Franklin Resources”).

LMPFA provides administrative and certain oversight services to the Fund. The Fund pays LMPFA an investment management fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.80% of the Fund’s average daily net assets plus the amount of any borrowings and assets attributable to any preferred stock that may be outstanding.

LMPFA delegates to Western Asset the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. Western Asset Singapore, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Limited provide certain subadvisory services to the Fund relating to currency transactions and investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated debt securities. For its services, LMPFA pays Western Asset a fee

 

34    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


monthly, at an annual rate equal to 70% of the net management fee it receives from the Fund. Western Asset Singapore, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Limited do not receive any compensation from the Fund. Western Asset pays Western Asset Singapore, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Limited a monthly subadvisory fee in an amount equal to 100% of the management fee paid to Western Asset on the assets that Western Asset allocates to each such non-U.S. subadviser to manage.

During periods in which the Fund utilizes financial leverage, the fees paid to LMPFA will be higher than if the Fund did not utilize leverage because the fees are calculated as a percentage of the Fund’s assets, including those investments purchased with leverage.

During the six months ended April 30, 2021, there are no fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed.

All officers and one Director of the Fund are employees of Franklin Resources or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Fund.

3. Investments

During the six months ended April 30, 2021, 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      $ 58,395,981        $ 6,367,168  
Sales        61,749,376          5,874,588  

At April 30, 2021, the aggregate cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

      Cost      Gross
Unrealized
Appreciation
     Gross
Unrealized
Depreciation
     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
 
Securities    $ 344,255,397      $ 42,229,802      $ (2,321,010)      $ 39,908,792  
Forward foreign currency contracts             226,015               226,015  

Transactions in reverse repurchase agreements for the Fund during the six months ended April 30, 2021 were as follows:

 

Average Daily

Balance*

 

Weighted Average

Interest Rate*

 

Maximum Amount

Outstanding

$20,612,234   0.252%   $20,718,125

 

*

Averages based on the number of days that the Fund had reverse repurchase agreements outstanding.

Interest rates on reverse repurchase agreements ranged from 0.130% to 1.000% during the six months ended April 30, 2021. Interest expense incurred on reverse repurchase agreements totaled $25,774.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

35


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

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 April 30, 2021.

 

ASSET DERIVATIVES1  
      Foreign
Exchange Risk
 
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 226,015  

 

1  

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

The following tables provide information about the effect of derivatives and hedging activities on the Fund’s Statement of Operations for the six months ended April 30, 2021. 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  
     

Foreign

Exchange Risk

 
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 319,348  

 

CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED  
      Foreign
Exchange Risk
 
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 453,269  

During the six months ended April 30, 2021, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:

 

       

Average Market

Value

 
Forward foreign currency contracts (to buy)      $ 24,970,474  
Forward foreign currency contracts (to sell)        67,094  

 

36    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


The following table presents the Fund’s OTC derivative assets and liabilities by counterparty net of amounts available for offset under an ISDA Master Agreement and net of the related collateral pledged (received) by the Fund as of April 30, 2021.

 

Counterparty    Gross Assets
Subject to
Master
Agreements1
     Gross
Liabilities
Subject to
Master
Agreements
     Net Assets
(Liabilities)
Subject to
Master
Agreements
     Collateral
Pledged
(Received)
     Net
Amount2
 
BNP Paribas SA    $ 207,328             $ 207,328             $ 207,328  
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.      18,687               18,687               18,687  
Total    $ 226,015             $ 226,015             $ 226,015  

 

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 

Represents the net amount receivable (payable) from (to) the counterparty in the event of default.

5. Loan

The Fund has a revolving credit agreement with National Australia Bank Limited (“Credit Agreement”) that allows the Fund to borrow up to an aggregate amount of $90,000,000. This Credit Agreement renews daily for a six month term unless notice to the contrary is given to the Fund. The Fund pays a commitment fee at an annual rate of 0.20% on the unutilized portion of the loan commitment amount. The interest on the loan is calculated at a variable rate based on the LIBOR plus any applicable margin. Securities held by the Fund are subject to a lien granted to National Australia Bank Limited, to the extent of the borrowing outstanding and any additional expenses. The Fund’s Credit Agreement contains customary covenants that, among other things, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay distributions in certain circumstances, incur additional debt, change its fundamental investment policies and engage in certain transactions, including mergers and consolidations, and require asset coverage ratios in addition to those required by the 1940 Act. In addition, the Credit Agreement may be subject to early termination under certain conditions and may contain other provisions that could limit the Fund’s ability to utilize borrowing under the Credit Agreement. Interest expense related to the loan for the six months ended April 30, 2021 was $351,802. For the six months ended April 30, 2021, the Fund had an average daily loan balance outstanding of $90,000,000 and the weighted average interest rate was 0.79%. At April 30, 2021, the Fund had $90,000,000 of borrowings outstanding per this Credit Agreement.

6. Distributions subsequent to April 30, 2021

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

 

Record Date      Payable Date        Amount  
4/23/2021        5/3/2021        $ 0.1010  
5/21/2021        6/1/2021        $ 0.1010  
6/23/2021        7/1/2021        $ 0.1010  
7/23/2021        8/2/2021        $ 0.1010  
8/24/2021        9/1/2021        $ 0.1010  

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

37


Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

7. Stock repurchase program

On March 10, 2014, the Fund announced that the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) had authorized the Fund to repurchase in the open market up to 1,600,000 shares of the Fund’s outstanding common stock when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount to the net asset value. The Board directed management of the Fund to repurchase shares of common stock at such times and in such amounts as management reasonably believes may enhance stockholder value. The Fund is under no obligation to purchase shares at any specific discount levels or in any specific amounts.

Since the Fund’s commencement of the stock repurchase program through April 30, 2021, the Fund repurchased 408,350 shares or 2.66% of its common shares outstanding for the total amount of $7,013,966. The anti-dilutive impact of these share repurchases is included on the Financial Highlights.

8. Deferred capital losses

As of October 31, 2020, the Fund had deferred capital losses of $31,341,905, which have no expiration date, that will be available to offset future taxable capital gains.

9. Recent accounting pronouncement

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (the “ASU”). The amendments in the ASU provide optional temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate and other interbank-offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021. The ASU is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management has reviewed the requirements and believes the adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on the financial statements.

10. Other matters

The outbreak of the respiratory illness COVID-19 (commonly referred to as “coronavirus”) has continued to rapidly spread around the world, causing considerable uncertainty for the global economy and financial markets. The ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic, and the long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual issuers, are not known. The COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments and negatively impact the Fund’s performance. In addition, the outbreak of COVID-19, and measures taken to mitigate its effects, could result in disruptions to the services provided to the Fund by its service providers.

*  *  *

 

 

38

   Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report


The Fund’s investments, payment obligations, and financing terms may be based on floating rates, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. On March 5, 2021, the ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, stated that it will cease the publication of (i) the overnight and one-, three-, six- and twelve-month USD LIBOR settings immediately following the LIBOR publication on Friday, June 30, 2023 and (ii) all other LIBOR settings, including the one-week and two-month USD LIBOR settings, immediately following the LIBOR publication on Friday, December 31, 2021. There remains uncertainty regarding the nature of any replacement rate and the impact of the transition from LIBOR on the Fund’s transactions and the financial markets generally. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or the Fund’s investments cannot yet be determined.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2021 Semi-Annual Report  

 

39


Additional shareholder information (unaudited)

 

Results of annual meeting of shareholders

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. was held on April 9, 2021 for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposals presented at the Meeting. The following table provides information concerning the matters voted upon at the Meeting:

Election of directors

Nominees    Votes For      Votes Withheld      Abstain  
William R. Hutchinson      7,968,724        4,949,887        133,471  
Nisha Kumar      7,974,420        4,943,445        134,217  
Jane Trust      12,660,825        277,284        113,973  

At April 30, 2021, in addition to William R. Hutchinson, Nisha Kumar and Jane Trust, the other Directors of the Fund were as follows:

Robert D. Agdern

Carol L.Colman

Daniel P. Cronin

Paolo M. Cucchi

Eileen A. Kamerick

Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accountants

To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as independent registered public accountants of the Fund for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021.

 

For   Against   Abstain
12,958,451   23,960   69,671

 

 

40    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


Dividend reinvestment plan (unaudited)

 

Unless you elect to receive distributions in cash (i.e., opt-out), all dividends, including any capital gain dividends and return of capital distributions, on your Common Stock will be automatically reinvested by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as agent for the stockholders (the “Plan Agent”), in additional shares of Common Stock under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). You may elect not to participate in the Plan by contacting the Plan Agent. If you do not participate, you will receive all cash distributions paid by check mailed directly to you by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as dividend paying agent.

If you participate in the Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock you will receive will be determined as follows:

(1) If the market price of the Common Stock (plus $0.03 per share commission) on the payment date (or, if the payment date is not a NYSE trading day, the immediately preceding trading day) is equal to or exceeds the net asset value per share of the Common Stock at the close of trading on the NYSE on the payment date, the Fund will issue new Common Stock at a price equal to the greater of (a) the net asset value per share at the close of trading on the NYSE on the payment date or (b) 95% of the market price per share of the Common Stock on the payment date.

(2) If the net asset value per share of the Common Stock exceeds the market price of the Common Stock (plus $0.03 per share commission) at the close of trading on the NYSE on the payment date, the Plan Agent will receive the dividend or distribution in cash and will buy Common Stock in the open market, on the NYSE or elsewhere, for your account as soon as practicable commencing on the trading day following the payment date and terminating no later than the earlier of (a) 30 days after the dividend or distribution payment date, or (b) the payment date for the next succeeding dividend or distribution to be made to the stockholders; except when necessary to comply with applicable provisions of the federal securities laws. If during this period: (i) the market price (plus $0.03 per share commission) rises so that it equals or exceeds the net asset value per share of the Common Stock at the close of trading on the NYSE on the payment date before the Plan Agent has completed the open market purchases or (ii) if the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full amount eligible to be reinvested in open market purchases, the Plan Agent will cease purchasing Common Stock in the open market and the Fund shall issue the remaining Common Stock at a price per share equal to the greater of (a) the net asset value per share at the close of trading on the NYSE on the day prior to the issuance of shares for reinvestment or (b) 95% of the then current market price per share.

Common Stock in your account will be held by the Plan Agent in non-certificated form. Any proxy you receive will include all shares of Common Stock you have received under the Plan. You may withdraw from the Plan (i.e., opt-out) by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at 462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600, Louisville, KY 40202 or by calling the Plan Agent at 1-888-888-0151. Such withdrawal will be effective immediately if notice is received by the Plan Agent not less than ten business days prior to any dividend or distribution record date;

 

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.  

 

41


Dividend reinvestment plan (unaudited) (cont’d)

 

otherwise such withdrawal will be effective as soon as practicable after the Plan Agent’s investment of the most recently declared dividend or distribution on the Common Stock.

Plan participants who sell their shares will be charged a service charge (currently $5.00 per transaction) and the Plan Agent is authorized to deduct brokerage charges actually incurred from the proceeds (currently $0.05 per share commission). There is no service charge for reinvestment of your dividends or distributions in Common Stock. However, all participants will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases. Because all dividends and distributions will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock, this allows you to add to your investment through dollar cost averaging, which may lower the average cost of your Common Stock over time. Dollar cost averaging is a technique for lowering the average cost per share over time if the Fund’s net asset value declines. While dollar cost averaging has definite advantages, it cannot assure profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

Automatically reinvesting dividends and distributions does not mean that you do not have to pay income taxes due upon receiving dividends and distributions. Investors will be subject to income tax on amounts reinvested under the Plan.

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, the change is warranted. The Plan may be terminated, amended or supplemented by the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to stockholders at least 30 days prior to the record date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Fund for which the termination or amendment is to be effective. Upon any termination, you will be sent cash for any fractional share of Common Stock in your account. You may elect to notify the Plan Agent in advance of such termination to have the Plan Agent sell part or all of your Common Stock on your behalf. Additional information about the Plan and your account may be obtained from the Plan Agent at 462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600, Louisville, KY 40202 or by calling the Plan Agent at 1-888-888-0151.

 

 

42      Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


Western Asset

Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Directors

Robert D. Agdern

Carol L. Colman

Daniel P. Cronin

Paolo M. Cucchi

William R. Hutchinson

Eileen A. Kamerick

Nisha Kumar

Jane Trust

Chairman

Officers

Jane Trust

President and Chief Executive Officer

Christopher Berarducci

Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer

Fred Jensen

Chief Compliance Officer

Jenna Bailey

Identity Theft Prevention Officer

George P. Hoyt

Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

Thomas C. Mandia

Assistant Secretary

Jeanne M. Kelly

Senior Vice President

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

620 Eighth Avenue

47th Floor

New York, NY 10018

Investment manager

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC

Subadvisers

Western Asset Management Company, LLC

Western Asset Management Company Limited

Western Asset Management Company Ltd

Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

Transfer agent

Computershare Inc.

462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600

Louisville, KY 40202

Independent registered public accounting firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Baltimore, MD

Legal counsel

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

New York Stock Exchange Symbol

GDO


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. 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:

 

 

Personal information included on applications or other forms;

 

 

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

 

 

Bank account information, legal documents, and identity verification documentation;

 

 

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

 

 

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:

 

 

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

 

 

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 statistical analysis, market research and marketing services solely for the Funds;

 

 

Permit access to transfer, whether in the United States or countries outside of the United States to such Funds’ employees, agents and affiliates and service providers as required to enable the Funds to conduct ordinary business, or to comply with obligations to government regulators;

 

 

The Funds’ representatives such as legal counsel, accountants and auditors to enable the Funds to conduct ordinary business, or to comply with obligations to government regulators;

 

 

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

 

NOT PART OF THE  SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


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

 

Except as otherwise permitted by applicable law, companies acting on the Funds’ behalf, including those outside the United States, are contractually obligated to keep nonpublic personal information the Funds provide to them confidential and to use the information the Funds share only to provide the services the Funds ask them to perform. The Funds may disclose nonpublic personal information about you when necessary to enforce their rights or protect against fraud, or as permitted or required by applicable law, such as in connection with a law enforcement or regulatory request, subpoena, or similar legal process. In the event of a corporate action or in the event a Fund service provider changes, the Funds may be required to disclose your nonpublic personal information to third parties. While it is the Funds’ practice to obtain protections for disclosed information in these types of transactions, the Funds cannot guarantee their privacy policy will remain unchanged.

Keeping You Informed of the Funds’ Privacy and Security Practices

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

The Funds’ Security Practices

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

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

In order for the Funds to provide effective service to you, keeping your account information accurate is very important. If you believe that your account information is incomplete, not accurate or not current, if you have questions about the Funds’ privacy practices, or our use of your nonpublic personal information, 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 2018

Legg Mason California Consumer Privacy Act Policy

Although much of the personal information we collect is “nonpublic personal information” subject to federal law, residents of California may, in certain circumstances, have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). For example, if you are a broker,

 

NOT PART OF THE  SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


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

 

dealer, agent, fiduciary, or representative acting by or on behalf of, or for, the account of any other person(s) or household, or a financial advisor, or if you have otherwise provided personal information to us separate from the relationship we have with personal investors, the provisions of this Privacy Policy apply to your personal information (as defined by the CCPA).

 

 

In addition to the provisions of the Legg Mason Funds Security and Privacy Notice, you may have the right to know the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.

 

 

You also have the right to request the deletion of the personal information collected or maintained by the Funds.

If you wish to exercise any of the rights you have in respect of your personal information, you should advise the Funds by contacting them as set forth below. The rights noted above are subject to our other legal and regulatory obligations and any exemptions under the CCPA. You may designate an authorized agent to make a rights request on your behalf, subject to the identification process described below. We do not discriminate based on requests for information related to our use of your personal information, and you have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment related to the exercise of your privacy rights.

We may request information from you in order to verify your identity or authority in making such a request. If you have appointed an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf, or you are an authorized agent making such a request (such as a power of attorney or other written permission), this process may include providing a password/passcode, a copy of government issued identification, affidavit or other applicable documentation, i.e. written permission. We may require you to verify your identity directly even when using an authorized agent, unless a power of attorney has been provided. We reserve the right to deny a request submitted by an agent if suitable and appropriate proof is not provided.

For the 12-month period prior to the date of this Privacy Policy, the Legg Mason Funds have not sold any of your personal information; nor do we have any plans to do so in the future.

Contact Information

Address: Data Privacy Officer, 100 International Dr., Baltimore, MD 21202

Email: DataProtectionOfficer@franklintempleton.com

Phone: 1-800-396-4748

Revised October 2020

 

NOT PART OF THE  SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

620 Eighth Avenue

47th 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 stock.

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 as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. To obtain information on Form N-PORT, shareholders can call the Fund at 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) 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 Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. for their information. This is not a prospectus, circular or representation intended for use in the purchase of shares of the Fund or any securities mentioned in this report.

Computershare Inc.

462 South 4th Street, Suite 1600

Louisville, KY 40202

 

WASX012645 6/21 SR21-4169


ITEM 2.

CODE OF ETHICS.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3.

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 4.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5.

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 6.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

Included herein under Item 1.

 

ITEM 7.

DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 8.

INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 9.

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

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 10.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 11.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

  (a)

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

 

  (b)

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


ITEM 12.

DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 13.

EXHIBITS.

 

 

(a) (1) Not applicable.

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 Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

By:  

/s/ Jane Trust

  Jane Trust
  Chief Executive Officer
Date:   June 23, 2021

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

 

By:  

/s/ Jane Trust

  Jane Trust
  Chief Executive Officer
Date:   June 23, 2021
By:  

/s/ Christopher Berarducci

  Christopher Berarducci
  Principal Financial Officer
Date:   June 23, 2021
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