Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Inc.

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number 811-07362

Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, NY 10018

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Robert I. Frenkel, Esq.

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-888-777-0102

Date of fiscal year end: November 30

Date of reporting period: February 28, 2015

 

 

 


 

ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

 


WESTERN ASSET MUNICIPAL PARTNERS FUND INC.

FORM N-Q

FEBRUARY 28, 2015


WESTERN ASSET MUNICIPAL PARTNERS FUND INC.

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited)    February 28, 2015

 

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT
     VALUE  
MUNICIPAL BONDS - 151.2%           

Alabama - 1.4%

          

Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Revenue

     6.000     10/1/42       $ 740,000       $ 823,620   

Jefferson County, AL, Sewer Revenue, Subordinated

Lien Warrants

     6.500     10/1/53         1,300,000         1,506,154   
          

 

 

 

Total Alabama

             2,329,774   
          

 

 

 

Alaska - 1.5%

          

Valdez, AK, Marine Terminal Revenue, BP Pipelines

Inc. Project

     5.000     1/1/21         2,150,000         2,487,550   
          

 

 

 

Arizona - 2.0%

          

Glendale, AZ, Transportation Excise Tax

Revenue, NATL

     5.000     7/1/28         2,855,000         3,146,695 (a) 
          

 

 

 

California - 25.9%

          

Bay Area Toll Authority, CA, Toll Bridge Revenue,

San Francisco Bay Area

     1.120     4/1/24         3,000,000         3,060,450 (b)(c) 

California Health Facilities Financing Authority

Revenue:

          

Catholic Healthcare West

     5.250     3/1/24         2,500,000         2,607,125   

Catholic Healthcare West

     5.625     7/1/32         5,000,000         5,088,550 (a) 

California State PCFA, Water Furnishing Revenue

     5.000     11/21/45         2,500,000         2,605,075 (d) 

California State PCFA, Water Furnishing Revenue

     5.000     11/21/45         1,000,000         1,079,370 (d)(e) 

California State, GO, Various Purpose

     5.000     4/1/43         4,000,000         4,536,080 (f) 

California Statewide CDA Revenue, Insured Health

Facility L.A., Jewish Home, CA, Mortgage Insurance

     5.000     11/15/28         1,500,000         1,663,755   

Los Angeles County, CA, MTA Revenue, Union

Station Project

     0.386     7/1/27         300,000         279,385 (b) 

Los Angeles County, CA, Public Works Financing

Authority, Lease Revenue, Multiple

Capital Project II

     5.000     8/1/30         2,500,000         2,863,800   

Los Angeles, CA, Department of Water & Power

Revenue, Power Systems, Subordinated, AGM

     5.000     7/1/35         2,500,000         2,536,375   

Lower Tule River, CA, Irrigation District Revenue,

COP

     5.000     8/1/40         1,000,000         1,108,090   

M-S-R Energy Authority, CA, Gas Revenue

     7.000     11/1/34         2,490,000         3,568,768   

M-S-R Energy Authority, CA, Gas Revenue

     6.500     11/1/39         3,000,000         4,133,550   

Rancho Cucamonga, CA, RDA, Successor Agency

Tax Allocation, Rancho Redevelopment

Project Area

     5.000     9/1/30         750,000         869,070   

River Islands, CA, Public Financing Authority

Special Tax, Community Facilities

District No. 2003-1

     5.500     9/1/45         500,000         508,125   

Riverside County, CA, Transportation Commission

Sales Tax Revenue, Limited Tax

     5.250     6/1/39         250,000         292,382   

Riverside County, CA, Transportation Commission

Toll Revenue:

          

Senior Lien

     5.750     6/1/44         100,000         115,750   

Senior Lien

     5.750     6/1/48         200,000         230,726   

Turlock, CA, Irrigation District Revenue

     5.000     1/1/35         2,500,000         2,785,950   

Turlock, CA, Public Financing Authority, Tax

Allocation Revenue, AGM

     5.000     9/1/30         1,500,000         1,588,845   
          

 

 

 

Total California

             41,521,221   
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

1


WESTERN ASSET MUNICIPAL PARTNERS FUND INC.

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    February 28, 2015

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT
     VALUE  

Colorado - 8.0%

          

Colorado Health Facilities Authority Revenue:

          

Poudre Valley Health Care

     5.000     3/1/25       $ 2,850,000       $ 2,850,770   

Sisters of Charity Leavenworth Health System Inc.

     5.250     1/1/25         3,500,000         4,060,840   

Public Authority for Colorado Energy, Natural Gas Purchase

Revenue

     5.750     11/15/18         285,000         307,401   

Public Authority for Colorado Energy, Natural Gas Purchase

Revenue

     6.500     11/15/38         4,000,000         5,544,640   
          

 

 

 

Total Colorado

             12,763,651   
          

 

 

 

Florida - 4.4%

          

Miami-Dade County, FL, Expressway Authority Toll System

Revenue

     5.000     7/1/24         1,250,000         1,506,150   

Miami-Dade County, FL, GO, Seaport

     5.000     10/1/23         2,315,000         2,745,567   

Orlando & Orange County, FL, Expressway Authority Revenue

     5.000     7/1/30         2,000,000         2,271,260   

Seminole Tribe Florida Special Obligation Revenue

     5.250     10/1/27         500,000         532,580 (d) 
          

 

 

 

Total Florida

             7,055,557   
          

 

 

 

Illinois - 10.9%

          

Chicago, IL, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Greater

Chicago, GO, Green Bond

     5.000     12/1/44         1,000,000         1,143,280   

Chicago, IL, Park District, GO, Refunding, FGIC

     5.000     1/1/29         5,000,000         5,166,800   

Chicago, IL, Public Building Commission, Building Revenue,

Chicago School Reform, FGIC

     5.250     12/1/18         1,000,000         1,107,420   

Chicago, IL, Waterworks Revenue:

          

Second Lien Project

     5.000     11/1/34         800,000         894,112   

Second Lien Project

     5.000     11/1/39         500,000         558,820   

Illinois Health Facilities Authority Revenue, South Suburban

Hospital Project

     7.000     2/15/18         245,000         267,153 (g) 

Illinois Municipal Electric Agency Power Supply, FGIC

     5.250     2/1/28         4,145,000         4,468,103   

Illinois State, GO

     5.000     5/1/39         1,000,000         1,059,470   

Illinois State, GO, First Series, AGM

     5.500     5/1/16         1,500,000         1,582,185   

University of Illinois, COPS

     5.000     3/15/24         1,000,000         1,204,550   
          

 

 

 

Total Illinois

             17,451,893   
          

 

 

 

Indiana - 2.1%

          

Indiana Finance Authority Midwestern Disaster Relief Revenue,

Ohio Valley Electric Corp. Project

     5.000     6/1/39         1,000,000         1,068,110   

Indianapolis, IN, Local Public Improvement Bond Bank

     5.000     6/1/27         2,000,000         2,309,720   
          

 

 

 

Total Indiana

             3,377,830   
          

 

 

 

Iowa - 2.0%

          

Iowa State Finance Authority Midwestern Disaster Area Revenue:

          

Iowa Fertilizer Co. Project

     5.000     12/1/19         1,110,000         1,182,105   

Iowa Fertilizer Co. Project

     5.250     12/1/25         1,790,000         1,961,876   
          

 

 

 

Total Iowa

             3,143,981   
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

2


WESTERN ASSET MUNICIPAL PARTNERS FUND INC.

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    February 28, 2015

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT
     VALUE  

Maryland - 2.2%

          

Maryland State EDC, EDR, Transportation Facilities Project

     5.750     6/1/35       $ 1,000,000       $ 1,075,090   

Maryland State Health & Higher EFA Revenue Bonds, Suburban Hospital

     5.500     7/1/16         2,500,000         2,509,475   
          

 

 

 

Total Maryland

             3,584,565   
          

 

 

 

Massachusetts - 0.9%

          

Massachusetts State Water Pollution Abatement Trust Revenue, MWRA Program, Unrefunded Balance

     5.750     8/1/29         355,000         356,370   

Massachusetts State Water Resources Authority Revenue:

          

General, NATL-RE

     5.000     8/1/34         60,000         66,349 (a) 

General, NATL-RE

     5.000     8/1/34         940,000         1,027,589   
          

 

 

 

Total Massachusetts

             1,450,308   
          

 

 

 

Michigan - 6.1%

          

Detroit, MI, GO, District State Aid

     5.250     11/1/24         3,500,000         4,042,745   

Detroit, MI, Water & Sewerage Department, Disposal System Revenue, Senior Lien

     5.250     7/1/39         405,000         437,914   

Michigan State Building Authority Revenue, Facilities Program

     5.250     10/15/47         250,000         282,880   

Michigan State Finance Authority Limited Obligation Revenue, Higher Education, Thomas M Cooley Law School Project

     6.750     7/1/44         610,000         658,977 (d) 

Michigan State Finance Authority Revenue:

          

Senior Lien Detroit Water & Sewer

     5.000     7/1/33         370,000         402,749   

Senior Lien Detroit Water & Sewer

     5.000     7/1/44         380,000         400,691   

Michigan State Hospital Finance Authority Revenue, McLaren Health Care Corp.

     5.750     5/15/38         2,000,000         2,248,980   

Wayne County, MI, Airport Authority Revenue, Detroit Metropolitan Airport

     5.000     12/1/18         1,170,000         1,304,854 (e) 
          

 

 

 

Total Michigan

             9,779,790   
          

 

 

 

Minnesota - 0.4%

          

Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Revenue

     5.000     1/1/46         500,000         572,005   
          

 

 

 

Missouri - 1.4%

          

Boone County, MO, Hospital Revenue, Boone Hospital Center

     5.375     8/1/38         2,000,000         2,201,840   
          

 

 

 

Nevada - 1.3%

          

Clark County, NV, GO, AMBAC

     5.000     11/1/21         2,000,000         2,151,900   
          

 

 

 

New Jersey - 9.5%

          

New Jersey State EDA Revenue

     5.000     6/15/29         500,000         550,850   

New Jersey State EDA Revenue:

          

Continental Airlines Inc. Project

     5.250     9/15/29         2,000,000         2,189,660 (e) 

Private Activity-The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project

     5.375     1/1/43         1,000,000         1,117,100 (e) 

School Facilities Construction

     1.620     3/1/28         2,500,000         2,431,375 (b) 

New Jersey State Transportation Trust Fund Authority, Revenue, Transportation Program

     5.000     6/15/38         6,000,000         6,422,340   

New Jersey State Turnpike Authority Revenue

     0.700     1/1/18         2,500,000         2,515,950 (b)(c) 
          

 

 

 

Total New Jersey

             15,227,275   
          

 

 

 

New York - 27.7%

          

Brooklyn Arena, NY, Local Development Corp., Barclays Center Project

     6.250     7/15/40         1,000,000         1,184,800   

Liberty, NY, Development Corporation Revenue, Goldman Sachs Headquarters

     5.250     10/1/35         3,045,000         3,632,441   

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

3


WESTERN ASSET MUNICIPAL PARTNERS FUND INC.

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    February 28, 2015

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT
     VALUE  

New York - (continued)

          

MTA, NY, Revenue

     5.000     11/15/25       $ 1,000,000       $ 1,176,170   

MTA, NY, Revenue

     5.250     11/15/40         1,000,000         1,126,470   

Nassau County, NY, Industrial Development Agency,

Continuing Care Retirement Community Revenue:

          

Amsterdam At Harborside

     2.000     1/1/49         97,436         7,795   

Amsterdam At Harborside

     6.700     1/1/49         270,000         272,865   

New York City, NY, Municipal Water Finance Authority,

Water & Sewer System Revenue, Second General

Resolution Fiscal 2011

     5.000     6/15/31         4,850,000         5,607,133   

New York State Dormitory Authority Revenue:

          

Court Facilities Lease, NYC Issue, Non-State Supported

Debt, AMBAC

     5.500     5/15/30         3,365,000         4,385,503   

Non-State Supported Debt, Columbia University

     5.000     7/1/38         2,000,000         2,217,240   

New York State Energy Research & Development Authority

Revenue, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.

     0.434     7/1/29         2,520,000         2,367,452 (b) 

New York State Liberty Development Corp., Liberty Revenue:

          

3 World Trade Center LLC Project

     5.375     11/15/40         240,000         267,725 (d) 

3 World Trade Center LLC Project

     5.000     11/15/44         870,000         910,786 (d) 

4 World Trade Center LLC Project

     5.750     11/15/51         2,000,000         2,326,080   

Second Priority, Bank of America Tower

     5.125     1/15/44         2,500,000         2,807,250   

New York State Thruway Authority, Second General

Highway & Bridge Trust Fund, AMBAC

     5.000     4/1/26         4,700,000         5,103,354   

New York State Urban Development Corp. Revenue, State

Personal Income Tax

     5.000     3/15/26         5,000,000         5,420,000   

Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

     5.000     1/15/41         5,000,000         5,593,750   
          

 

 

 

Total New York

             44,406,814   
          

 

 

 

North Carolina - 4.3%

          

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, NC, Health

Care System Revenue, Carolinas Healthcare System

     5.000     1/15/31         5,000,000         5,642,450   

North Carolina Medical Care Commission Health Care Facilities

Revenue, Novant Health Obligation Group

     5.000     11/1/39         1,200,000         1,263,648   
          

 

 

 

Total North Carolina

             6,906,098   
          

 

 

 

Ohio - 3.6%

          

Northeast, OH, Regional Sewer District Revenue, Waste Water

Revenue Improvement

     5.000     11/15/43         4,040,000         4,613,680   

Ohio State Air Quality Development Authority Revenue,

FirstEnergy Generation Corp.

     5.700     8/1/20         1,000,000         1,148,370   
          

 

 

 

Total Ohio

             5,762,050   
          

 

 

 

Oklahoma - 1.4%

          

Grand River Dam Authority, OK, Revenue

     5.250     6/1/40         2,000,000         2,298,700   
          

 

 

 

Pennsylvania - 6.0%

          

Central Bradford, PA, Progress Authority Revenue, Guthrie

Healthcare Systems

     5.000     12/1/26         5,130,000         6,014,720   

Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority,

Sewer Sludge Disposal Revenue, Philadelphia

Biosolids Facility

     6.250     1/1/32         500,000         549,575   

Philadelphia, PA, Gas Works Revenue, 7th General Ordinance,

AMBAC

     5.000     10/1/17         2,685,000         2,995,950   
          

 

 

 

Total Pennsylvania

             9,560,245   
          

 

 

 

Puerto Rico - 1.0%

          

Puerto Rico Commonwealth, GO, Public Improvement

     5.000     7/1/31         1,710,000         1,175,676   

Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp., Sales Tax Revenue

     5.250     8/1/40         500,000         365,135   
          

 

 

 

Total Puerto Rico

             1,540,811   
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

4


WESTERN ASSET MUNICIPAL PARTNERS FUND INC.

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    February 28, 2015

 

SECURITY

   RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT
     VALUE  

Tennessee - 5.4%

          

Clarksville, TN, Natural Gas Acquisition Corp., Gas Revenue

     5.000     12/15/20       $ 2,030,000       $ 2,327,395   

Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Gas Revenue

     5.000     2/1/20         3,555,000         4,049,394   

Tennessee Energy Acquisition Corp., Gas Revenue

     5.000     2/1/21         2,000,000         2,301,460   
          

 

 

 

Total Tennessee

             8,678,249   
          

 

 

 

Texas - 11.8%

          

Austin, TX, Water & Wastewater System Revenue

     5.000     11/15/26         2,500,000         2,901,550   

Austin, TX, Water & Wastewater System Revenue

     5.125     11/15/28         2,210,000         2,568,727   

Beaumont, TX, ISD, GO, School Building, PSF

     5.000     2/15/33         1,100,000         1,184,634   

Grand Parkway Transportation Corp., TX, System Toll Revenue, Convertible CAB, Step Bond

     0.000     10/1/36         2,000,000         1,575,460 (b) 

Harris County, TX, Metropolitan Transit Authority Sales & Use Tax

     5.000     11/1/36         3,125,000         3,576,625   

Kemp, TX, ISD, GO, School Building, PSF-GTD

     5.250     2/15/33         3,450,000         3,756,486 (a) 

Mesquite, TX, ISD, GO:

          

PSFG

     0.000     8/15/27         505,000         273,311 (a) 

PSFG

     0.000     8/15/27         495,000         266,944   

North Texas Tollway Authority Revenue

     5.750     1/1/40         2,500,000         2,775,850   
          

 

 

 

Total Texas

             18,879,587   
          

 

 

 

Washington - 5.1%

          

Port of Seattle, WA, Revenue

     5.000     8/1/25         2,395,000         2,834,890   

Port of Seattle, WA, Revenue, Refunding, Intermediate Lien, NATL

     5.000     3/1/30         2,000,000         2,005,780   

Washington State Health Care Facilities Authority Revenue, PeaceHealth

     5.000     11/1/28         3,000,000         3,406,920   
          

 

 

 

Total Washington

             8,247,590   
          

 

 

 

Wisconsin - 4.9%

          

Public Finance Authority, WI, Airport Facilities Revenue, Transportation Infrastructure Properties LLC

     5.000     7/1/42         4,000,000         4,256,800 (e) 

Wisconsin State HEFA Revenue, SSM Health Care Corp.

     5.000     6/1/25         3,110,000         3,593,792   
          

 

 

 

Total Wisconsin

             7,850,592   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

(Cost - $219,915,509)

             242,376,571   
          

 

 

 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 0.5%           

New York - 0.5%

          

New York City, NY, GO:

          

LIQ-Dexia Credit Local

     0.100     4/1/35         600,000         600,000 (h)(i) 

SPA-Dexia Credit Local

     0.090     8/1/28         100,000         100,000 (h)(i) 

New York City, NY, Municipal Water Finance Authority, Water & Sewer System Revenue, SPA-Dexia Credit Local

     0.090     6/15/32         100,000         100,000 (h)(i) 
          

 

 

 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

(Cost - $800,000)

             800,000   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 151.7%

(Cost - $220,715,509#)

             243,176,571   

Auction Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock, at Liquidation

Value - (53.0)%

             (85,000,000

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities - 1.3%

             2,161,203   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.0%

           $ 160,337,774   
          

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

5


WESTERN ASSET MUNICIPAL PARTNERS FUND INC.

 

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    February 28, 2015

 

(a) Pre-Refunded bonds are escrowed with U.S. government obligations and/or U.S. government agency securities and are considered by the manager to be triple-A rated even if issuer has not applied for new ratings.

 

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

 

(c) Maturity date shown represents the mandatory tender date.

 

(d) Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. This security has been deemed liquid pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Directors, unless otherwise noted.

 

(e) Income from this issue is considered a preference item for purposes of calculating the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”).

 

(f) All or a portion of this security is held at the broker as collateral for open futures contracts.

 

(g) Bonds are escrowed to maturity by government securities and/or U.S. government agency securities and are considered by the manager to be triple-A rated even if issuer has not applied for new ratings.

 

(h) Variable rate demand obligations have a demand feature under which the Fund can tender them back to the issuer or liquidity provider on no more than 7 days notice.

 

(i) Maturity date shown is the final maturity date. The security may be sold back to the issuer before final maturity.

 

# Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is substantially the same.

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

AGM

  

— Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation - Insured Bonds

AMBAC

  

— American Municipal Bond Assurance Corporation - Insured Bonds

CAB

  

— Capital Appreciation Bonds

CDA

  

— Communities Development Authority

COP

  

— Certificates of Participation

EDA

  

— Economic Development Authority

EDC

  

— Economic Development Corporation

EDR

  

— Economic Development Revenue

EFA

  

— Educational Facilities Authority

FGIC

  

— Financial Guaranty Insurance Company - Insured Bonds

GO

  

— General Obligation

GTD

  

— Guaranteed

HEFA

  

— Health & Educational Facilities Authority

ISD

  

— Independent School District

LIQ

  

— Liquidity Facility

MTA

  

— Metropolitan Transportation Authority

MWRA

  

— Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

NATL

  

— National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation - Insured Bonds

PCFA

  

— Pollution Control Financing Authority

PSF

  

— Permanent School Fund

PSFG

  

— Permanent School Fund Guaranty

RDA

  

— Redevelopment Agency

SPA

  

— Standby Bond Purchase Agreement - Insured Bonds

This Schedule of Investments is unaudited and is intended to provide information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings as of the date of the schedule. Other information regarding the Fund is available in the Fund’s most recent annual or semi-annual shareholder report.

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

6


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in Maryland on November 24, 1992 and is registered as a diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Board of Directors authorized 100 million shares of $0.001 par value common stock. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek a high level of current income which is exempt from federal income taxes, consistent with the preservation of capital. As a secondary investment objective, the Fund intends to enhance portfolio value by purchasing tax exempt securities that, in the opinion of the investment manager, may appreciate in value relative to other similar obligations in the marketplace.

The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

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

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

 

7


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

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)

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 and liabilities carried at fair value:

 

ASSETS

 

DESCRIPTION

   QUOTED PRICES
(LEVEL 1)
     OTHER SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
     SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS

(LEVEL 3)
     TOTAL  

Municipal bonds†

     —         $ 242,376,571         —         $ 242,376,571   

Short-term investments†

     —           800,000         —           800,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

     —         $ 243,176,571         —         $ 243,176,571   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

DESCRIPTION

   QUOTED PRICES
(LEVEL 1)
     OTHER SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS
(LEVEL 2)
     SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS

(LEVEL 3)
     TOTAL  

Other financial instruments:

           

Futures Contracts

   $ 7,100         —           —         $ 7,100   

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

2. Investments

At February 28, 2015, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 22,780,382   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (319,320
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 22,461,062   
  

 

 

 

At February 28, 2015, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:

 

     Number of
Contracts
     Expiration
Date
     Basis
Value
     Market
Value
     Unrealized
Depreciation
 
Contracts to Sell:               

U.S. Treasury Long-Term Bonds

     20         3/15       $ 2,939,998       $ 2,940,626       $ (628

U.S. Treasury Long-Term Bonds

     30         6/15         4,848,840         4,855,312         (6,472
              

 

 

 
Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts                $ (7,100
              

 

 

 

 

8


 

ITEM 2. 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 registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 3. EXHIBITS.

Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are attached hereto.


SIGNATURES

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

Western Asset Municipal Partners Fund Inc.

 

By   /s/    KENNETH D. FULLER        
  Kenneth D. Fuller
  Chief Executive Officer

Date:

 

April 15, 2015

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

 

By   /s/    KENNETH D. FULLER        
  Kenneth D. Fuller
  Chief Executive Officer

Date:

 

April 15, 2015

By   /s/    RICHARD F. SENNETT        
  Richard F. Sennett
  Principal Financial Officer

Date:

 

April 15, 2015