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 811-22491
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities 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)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (888) 777-0102
Date of fiscal year end: October 31
Date of reporting period: April 30, 2016
ITEM 1. | REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS. |
The Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders is filed herewith.
Semi-Annual Report | April 30, 2016 |
LEGG MASON
BW GLOBAL INCOME
OPPORTUNITIES FUND INC.
(BWG)
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE |
Fund objectives
The Funds primary investment objective is to provide current income. 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 assets in global fixed income securities.
Dear Shareholder,
We are pleased to provide the semi-annual report of Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. for the six month reporting period ended April 30, 2016. Please read on for Fund performance information and a detailed look at prevailing economic and market conditions during the Funds 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,
Jane Trust, CFA
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
May 27, 2016
II | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. |
Economic review
The pace of U.S. economic activity moderated during the six months ended April 30, 2016 (the reporting period). Looking back, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that third quarter 2015 U.S. gross domestic product (GDP)i growth was 2.0%. The U.S. Department of Commerce then reported that fourth quarter 2015 GDP growth was 1.4%. Slower growth was attributed to downturns in nonresidential fixed investment and state and local government spending, along with a deceleration in personal consumption expenditures (PCE) and less export activity. The U.S. Department of Commerces second reading for first quarter 2016 GDP growth released after the reporting period ended was 0.8%. This further slowdown was attributed to a number of factors, including a decrease in nonresidential fixed investment, a deceleration in PCE and a downturn in federal government spending.
Job growth in the U.S. was solid overall and was a tailwind for the economy during the reporting period. When the period ended in April 2016, unemployment was 5.0%, close to its lowest level since February 2008.
Turning to the global economy, in its April 2016 World Economic Outlook Update, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Global recovery continues, but at an ever-slowing and increasingly fragile pace. The months since the last World Economic Outlook Update have seen a renewed episode of global asset market volatility, some loss of growth momentum in the advanced economies, and continuing headwinds for emerging market economies and lower-income countries. From a regional perspective, the IMF currently estimates 2016 growth in the Eurozone will be 1.5%, versus 1.6% in 2015. Japans economy is expected to expand 0.5% in 2016, the same as in 2015. Elsewhere, the IMF projects that overall growth in emerging market countries will tick up to 4.1% in 2016, versus 4.0% in 2015.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. | III |
Investment commentary (contd)
Market review
Q. How did the Federal Reserve Board (Fed)ii respond to the economic environment?
A. After an extended period of maintaining the federal funds rateiii at a historically low range between zero and 0.25%, the Fed increased the rate at its meeting on December 16, 2015. This marked the first rate hike since 2006. In particular, the U.S. central bank raised the federal funds rate to a range between 0.25% and 0.50%. In its official statement after the December 2015 meeting, the Fed said, The stance of monetary policy remains accommodative after this increase, thereby supporting further improvement in labor market conditions and a return to 2 percent inflation .The Committee expects that economic conditions will evolve in a manner that will warrant only gradual increases in the federal funds rate; the federal funds rate is likely to remain, for some time, below levels that are expected to prevail in the longer run. At its meetings that concluded on January 27, 2016, March 16, 2016 and April 27, 2016, the Fed kept rates on hold.
Q. What actions did international central banks take during the reporting period?
A. Given the economic challenges in the Eurozone, the European Central Bank (ECB)iv took a number of actions to stimulate growth and ward off deflation. In January 2015, before the beginning of the reporting period, the ECB announced that, beginning in March 2015, it would start a 60 billion-a-month bond buying program that is expected to run until September 2016. In December 2015, the ECB extended its monthly bond buying program until at least March 2017. Finally, in March 2016 the ECB announced that it would increase its bond purchasing program to 80 billion a month. It also cut its deposit rate to
-0.4% and its main interest rate to 0%. In other developed countries, the Bank of England kept rates on hold at 0.50% during the reporting period, its lowest level since 2006. After holding rates steady at 0.10% for more than five years, in January 2016 the Bank of Japan announced that it cut the rate on current accounts that commercial banks hold with it to -0.10%. Elsewhere, after keeping rates steady at 6.0% since July 2012, the Peoples Bank of China lowered rates six times from November 2014 through October 2015, with the last cut pushing rates down to 4.35%.
Q. Did Treasury yields trend higher or lower during the six months ended April 30, 2016?
A. Short-term Treasury yields edged higher, whereas long-term Treasury yields declined during the reporting period. When the period began, the yield on the two-year Treasury note was 0.75%. Its low for the period was 0.64% on February 11, 2016, and it peaked at 1.09% on December 29, 2015. The yield on the two-year Treasury note ended the period at 0.77%. The yield on the ten-year Treasury note began the period at 2.16%. Its peak of 2.36% occurred on November 9, 2015, and its low of 1.63% was on February 11, 2016. The yield on the ten-year Treasury note ended the period at 1.83%.
Q. What factors impacted the spread sectors (non-Treasuries) during the reporting period?
A. The spread sectors posted mixed results during the reporting period. Performance fluctuated with investor sentiment given the uncertainties regarding future Fed monetary
IV | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. |
policy, along with concerns over global growth and geopolitical issues. The broad U.S. bond market, as measured by the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Indexv, returned 2.82% during the six months ended April 30, 2016.
Q. How did the emerging markets debt asset class perform over the reporting period?
A. The JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global (EMBI Global)vi gained 5.56% during the six months ended April 30, 2016. The asset class declined over the first three months of the reporting period due to concerns over economic growth in China, falling commodity prices and expectations for future Fed rate hikes. The asset class then rallied sharply in February, March and April 2016, as oil prices moved higher, global monetary policy remained accommodative and investor risk appetite improved.
Performance review
For the six months ended April 30, 2016, Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. returned 3.83% based on its net asset value (NAV)vii and 6.35% based on its New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) market price per share. The Funds unmanaged benchmark, the Barclays Global Aggregate Indexviii, returned 6.09% for the same period. The Lipper Global Income Closed-End Funds Category Averageix returned 2.37% over the same time frame. Please note that Lipper performance returns are based on each funds NAV.
During this six-month period, the Fund made distributions to shareholders totaling $0.74 per share. As of April 30, 2016, the Fund estimates that all of the distributions were sourced from net investment income.* The performance table shows the Funds six-month total return based on its NAV and market price as of April 30, 2016. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Performance Snapshot as of April 30, 2016 (unaudited) |
||||
Price Per Share | 6-Month Total Return** |
|||
$14.84 (NAV) | 3.83 | % | ||
$12.54 (Market Price) | 6.35 | % |
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 Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
* | 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 shareholders investment. For more information about a distributions composition, please refer to the Funds 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). |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. | V |
Investment commentary (contd)
Looking for additional information?
The Fund is traded under the symbol BWG and its closing market price is available in most newspapers under the NYSE listings. The daily NAV is available on-line under the symbol XBWGX on most financial websites. Barrons and the Wall Street Journals 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).
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 Funds current NAV, market price and other information.
Thank you for your investment in Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. As always, we appreciate that you have chosen us to manage your assets and we remain focused on achieving the Funds investment goals.
Sincerely,
Jane Trust, CFA
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
May 27, 2016
RISKS: The Funds common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Similar to stocks, the Funds 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. The Fund is non-diversified and may be more susceptible to economic, political or regulatory events than a diversified fund.
Fixed income securities are subject to various risks, including but not limited to, credit, inflation, income, prepayment and interest rate risks. As interest rates increase, the value of fixed income securities decrease. High yield securities (also known as junk bonds) are subject to greater liquidity and credit risks (risk of default) than higher-rated securities. International investments involve certain risks not associated with domestic investing, such as currency fluctuations, and changes in political and economic conditions. These risks are magnified in emerging or developing markets. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to additional risks, including prepayment risk, which can limit the potential gains in a declining interest rate environment. The Fund may invest in foreign currencies or currency derivatives which may increase the risk and volatility of the Fund. The Fund may invest in illiquid securities and securities/investments that have a leveraging effect on the portfolio which will increase the risks of the Fund. The Funds use of leverage may result in greater volatility of NAV and the market price of common shares and increases a shareholders risk of loss. 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. The use by the Fund of derivatives such as options, forwards or futures contracts for investment and/or risk management purposes may subject the Fund to risks associated with short economic exposure through such derivatives. Taking a short economic position through derivatives exposes the Fund to the risk that it will be obligated to make payments to its counterparty if the
VI | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. |
underlying asset appreciates in value, thus resulting in a loss to the Fund. The Funds loss on a short position using derivatives theoretically could be unlimited.
All investments are subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. Please note that an investor cannot invest directly in an index.
The information provided is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Views expressed may differ from those of the firm as a whole. Forecasts and predictions are inherently limited and should not be relied upon as an indication of actual or future performance.
i | Gross domestic product (GDP) is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time. |
ii | The Federal Reserve Board (Fed) is responsible for the formulation of U.S. policies designed to promote economic growth, full employment, stable prices and a sustainable pattern of international trade and payments. |
iii | The federal funds rate is the rate charged by one depository institution on an overnight sale of immediately available funds (balances at the Federal Reserve) to another depository institution; the rate may vary from depository institution to depository institution and from day to day. |
iv | The European Central Bank (ECB) is responsible for the monetary system of the European Union and the euro currency. |
v | The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index is a broad-based bond index comprised of government, corporate, mortgage- and asset-backed issues, rated investment grade or higher, and having at least one year to maturity. |
vi | The JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global (EMBI Global) tracks total returns for U.S. dollar-denominated debt instruments issued by emerging market sovereign and quasi-sovereign entities: Brady bonds, loans, Eurobonds and local market instruments. |
vii | 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 Funds market price as determined by supply of and demand for the Funds shares. |
viii | The Barclays Global Aggregate Index is an index comprised of several other Barclays indices that measure fixed-income performance of regions around the world. |
ix | 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, 2016, including the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, calculated among the 14 funds in the Funds Lipper category. |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. | VII |
Investment breakdown (%) as a percent of total investments
| The bar graph above represents the composition of the Funds investments as of April 30, 2016 and October 31, 2015 and does not include derivatives, such as futures contracts, written options, swap contracts and forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of the Funds investments is subject to change at any time. |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 1 |
Schedule of investments (unaudited)
April 30, 2016
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Sovereign Bonds 74.2% | ||||||||||||||||
Argentina 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Republic of Argentina, Senior Notes |
6.875 | % | 4/22/21 | 540,000 | $ | 557,550 | (a) | |||||||||
Republic of Argentina, Senior Notes |
7.500 | % | 4/22/26 | 540,000 | 549,450 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Argentina |
1,107,000 | |||||||||||||||
Australia 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Australia Government Bond, Senior Bonds |
2.750 | % | 4/21/24 | 1,060,000 | AUD | 826,314 | (b)(c) | |||||||||
Brazil 16.0% |
||||||||||||||||
Federative Republic of Brazil, Notes |
10.000 | % | 1/1/21 | 55,485,000 | BRL | 14,947,047 | (c) | |||||||||
Federative Republic of Brazil, Notes |
10.000 | % | 1/1/23 | 88,000,000 | BRL | 22,901,749 | (c) | |||||||||
Federative Republic of Brazil, Senior Notes |
10.000 | % | 1/1/17 | 43,100,000 | BRL | 12,284,186 | (c) | |||||||||
Total Brazil |
50,132,982 | |||||||||||||||
Colombia 8.5% |
||||||||||||||||
Republic of Colombia, Senior Bonds |
5.000 | % | 6/15/45 | 27,645,000 | 26,470,087 | (c) | ||||||||||
Indonesia 18.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia, Senior Bonds |
8.375 | % | 3/15/24 | 65,100,000,000 | IDR | 5,168,855 | ||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia, Senior Bonds |
8.375 | % | 9/15/26 | 60,000,000,000 | IDR | 4,760,400 | ||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia, Senior Bonds |
9.000 | % | 3/15/29 | 410,400,000,000 | IDR | 33,835,906 | ||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia, Senior Bonds |
8.375 | % | 3/15/34 | 69,800,000,000 | IDR | 5,566,534 | ||||||||||
Republic of Indonesia, Senior Bonds |
8.750 | % | 2/15/44 | 96,900,000,000 | IDR | 7,833,037 | ||||||||||
Total Indonesia |
57,164,732 | |||||||||||||||
Mexico 20.7% |
||||||||||||||||
United Mexican States, Senior Bonds |
8.000 | % | 12/7/23 | 26,580,000 | MXN | 1,768,484 | ||||||||||
United Mexican States, Senior Bonds |
8.500 | % | 11/18/38 | 405,979,500 | MXN | 29,320,363 | (c) | |||||||||
United Mexican States, Senior Bonds |
7.750 | % | 11/13/42 | 500,100,000 | MXN | 33,736,493 | (c) | |||||||||
Total Mexico |
64,825,340 | |||||||||||||||
Poland 4.2% |
||||||||||||||||
Republic of Poland, Bonds |
4.000 | % | 10/25/23 | 4,670,000 | PLN | 1,325,590 | (c) | |||||||||
Republic of Poland, Bonds |
3.250 | % | 7/25/25 | 43,980,000 | PLN | 11,833,852 | (c) | |||||||||
Total Poland |
13,159,442 | |||||||||||||||
Portugal 5.9% |
||||||||||||||||
Portugal Obrigacoes do Tesouro OT, Senior Bonds |
4.100 | % | 4/15/37 | 15,725,000 | EUR | 18,408,188 | (b)(c) | |||||||||
Total Sovereign Bonds (Cost $279,935,327) |
|
232,094,085 | ||||||||||||||
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations 18.1% | ||||||||||||||||
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust, |
5.716 | % | 6/10/49 | 1,770,000 | 1,753,675 | (d) | ||||||||||
BWAY Mortgage Trust, 2013-1515 E |
3.717 | % | 3/10/33 | 5,000,000 | 4,761,893 | (a) | ||||||||||
Chase Mortgage Finance Corp., 2007-A1 1A4 |
2.815 | % | 2/25/37 | 1,466,464 | 1,428,824 | (d) | ||||||||||
Chase Mortgage Finance Corp., 2007-A1 2A2 |
2.651 | % | 2/25/37 | 2,411,389 | 2,385,920 | (d) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
2 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations continued | ||||||||||||||||
Chase Mortgage Finance Corp., 2007-A2 2A4 |
2.714 | % | 7/25/37 | 1,304,998 | $ | 1,262,265 | (d) | |||||||||
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2007-C6 AJFX |
5.899 | % | 7/10/17 | 2,500,000 | 2,030,169 | (a)(d) | ||||||||||
Connecticut Avenue Securities, 2016-C03 1M1 |
2.439 | % | 10/25/28 | 3,500,000 | 3,522,266 | (d) | ||||||||||
FREMF Mortgage Trust, 2012-K22 B |
3.811 | % | 8/25/45 | 7,555,000 | 7,782,078 | (a)(d) | ||||||||||
FREMF Mortgage Trust, 2012-K706 C |
4.167 | % | 11/25/44 | 3,335,000 | 3,385,361 | (a)(d) | ||||||||||
FREMF Mortgage Trust, 2015-K720 B |
3.506 | % | 7/25/22 | 1,475,000 | 1,380,399 | (a)(d) | ||||||||||
FREMF Mortgage Trust, 2016-K54 B |
4.051 | % | 2/25/26 | 5,750,000 | 5,330,897 | (a)(d) | ||||||||||
IM Pastor Fondo de Titulizacion de Activos, 2004 A |
0.009 | % | 3/22/44 | 795,583 | EUR | 712,725 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, |
6.207 | % | 2/15/51 | 1,760,000 | 1,835,669 | (d) | ||||||||||
Kildare Securities Ltd., 2007-1 A3 |
0.084 | % | 12/10/43 | 2,434,966 | EUR | 2,657,985 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
LSTAR Securities Investment Trust, 2015-7 A |
2.434 | % | 7/1/20 | 1,909,937 | 1,877,371 | (a)(d) | ||||||||||
Magellan Mortgages PLC, 2002 B |
0.849 | % | 7/18/36 | 200,000 | EUR | 198,433 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
Magellan Mortgages PLC, 2004 A |
0.031 | % | 7/20/59 | 2,789,604 | EUR | 2,712,511 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
RMAC Securities PLC, 2006-NS1X B1C |
0.651 | % | 6/12/44 | 292,533 | EUR | 263,047 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
RMAC Securities PLC, 2006-NS4X B1C |
0.621 | % | 6/12/44 | 1,597,125 | EUR | 1,387,158 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
Rural Hipotecario Fondo De Titulizacion Hipotec, 2009 A2 |
0.057 | % | 2/17/50 | 1,592,091 | EUR | 1,790,999 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes, 2015-DN1 M3 |
4.589 | % | 1/25/25 | 3,000,000 | 3,180,080 | (d) | ||||||||||
TDA CAM Fondo de Titulizacion de Activos, 2008 A |
0.026 | % | 2/26/49 | 104,187 | EUR | 110,939 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
TDA Fondo de Titulizacion de Activos, 2024-A1 |
0.093 | % | 6/22/40 | 1,359,563 | EUR | 1,492,663 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
TDA Fondo de Titulizacion de Activos, 2027-A2 |
0.019 | % | 12/28/50 | 2,154,243 | EUR | 2,338,770 | (b)(d) | |||||||||
Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2006-C26 AJ |
6.241 | % | 6/15/45 | 400,000 | 361,876 | (d) | ||||||||||
Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust, 2006-C27 AJ |
5.825 | % | 7/15/45 | 790,339 | 786,718 | (d) | ||||||||||
Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost $59,238,108) |
|
56,730,691 | ||||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds & Notes 51.7% | ||||||||||||||||
Consumer Discretionary 3.0% | ||||||||||||||||
Automobiles 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, Senior Notes |
5.250 | % | 4/15/23 | 1,000,000 | 1,015,040 | (c) | ||||||||||
Diversified Consumer Services 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
StoneMor Partners LP/Cornerstone Family Services of WV, Senior Bonds |
7.875 | % | 6/1/21 | 870,000 | 874,350 | |||||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.4% |
||||||||||||||||
International Game Technology PLC, Senior Secured Notes |
6.500 | % | 2/15/25 | 1,200,000 | 1,221,000 | (a) | ||||||||||
Media 2.0% |
||||||||||||||||
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Inc., Senior Notes |
6.500 | % | 11/15/22 | 1,030,000 | 1,004,250 | (c) | ||||||||||
CSC Holdings LLC, Senior Bonds |
5.250 | % | 6/1/24 | 1,130,000 | 1,031,125 | (c) | ||||||||||
DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes |
5.000 | % | 3/15/23 | 820,000 | 752,350 | (c) | ||||||||||
Numericable-SFR SA, Senior Secured Bonds |
6.000 | % | 5/15/22 | 200,000 | 201,010 | (a)(c) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 3 |
Schedule of investments (unaudited) (contd)
April 30, 2016
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Media continued |
||||||||||||||||
Numericable-SFR SA, Senior Secured Bonds |
6.250 | % | 5/15/24 | 400,000 | $ | 388,500 | (a)(c) | |||||||||
Sirius XM Radio Inc., Senior Notes |
6.000 | % | 7/15/24 | 1,100,000 | 1,163,360 | (a) | ||||||||||
Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC, Senior Secured Notes |
5.500 | % | 1/15/25 | 1,174,500 | GBP | 1,703,251 | (a)(c) | |||||||||
Total Media |
6,243,846 | |||||||||||||||
Total Consumer Discretionary |
9,354,236 | |||||||||||||||
Consumer Staples 2.3% | ||||||||||||||||
Beverages 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Constellation Brands Inc., Senior Notes |
4.250 | % | 5/1/23 | 1,000,000 | 1,050,000 | |||||||||||
Food Products 1.5% |
||||||||||||||||
Agrokor DD, Senior Notes |
8.875 | % | 2/1/20 | 730,000 | 781,100 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Boparan Finance PLC, Senior Notes |
5.250 | % | 7/15/19 | 540,000 | GBP | 778,330 | (a)(c) | |||||||||
JBS Investment GmbH, Senior Notes |
7.250 | % | 4/3/24 | 1,385,000 | 1,346,913 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Kraft Heinz Foods Co., Secured Notes |
4.875 | % | 2/15/25 | 1,120,000 | 1,240,161 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Marfrig Overseas Ltd., Senior Notes |
9.500 | % | 5/4/20 | 525,000 | 540,750 | |||||||||||
Total Food Products |
4,687,254 | |||||||||||||||
Tobacco 0.5% |
||||||||||||||||
Vector Group Ltd., Senior Subordinated Secured Notes |
7.750 | % | 2/15/21 | 1,415,000 | 1,496,363 | (c) | ||||||||||
Total Consumer Staples |
7,233,617 | |||||||||||||||
Energy 9.1% | ||||||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 9.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Senior Notes |
6.450 | % | 9/15/36 | 6,937,000 | 7,505,695 | |||||||||||
ConocoPhillips, Notes |
6.500 | % | 2/1/39 | 3,675,000 | 4,574,655 | (c) | ||||||||||
Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes |
3.250 | % | 5/15/22 | 1,760,000 | 1,595,769 | (c) | ||||||||||
Hess Corp., Notes |
8.125 | % | 2/15/19 | 1,795,000 | 2,019,072 | (c) | ||||||||||
Marathon Oil Corp., Senior Notes |
6.600 | % | 10/1/37 | 1,170,000 | 1,123,977 | |||||||||||
Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes |
5.750 | % | 1/20/20 | 500,000 | 460,000 | |||||||||||
Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes |
5.375 | % | 1/27/21 | 430,000 | 383,237 | |||||||||||
Petroleos Mexicanos, Senior Notes |
5.500 | % | 6/27/44 | 6,605,000 | 5,845,425 | |||||||||||
Petroleos Mexicanos, Senior Notes |
5.625 | % | 1/23/46 | 5,405,000 | 4,832,394 | |||||||||||
Total Energy |
28,340,224 | |||||||||||||||
Financials 17.7% | ||||||||||||||||
Banks 10.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Bank of America Corp., Subordinated Notes |
7.750 | % | 5/14/38 | 10,345,000 | 14,437,885 | (c) | ||||||||||
Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes |
8.125 | % | 7/15/39 | 5,330,000 | 8,197,924 | (c) | ||||||||||
Wells Fargo & Co., Subordinated Notes |
4.300 | % | 7/22/27 | 9,000,000 | 9,611,883 | |||||||||||
Total Banks |
32,247,692 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
4 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Capital Markets 6.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes |
3.625 | % | 1/22/23 | 5,000,000 | $ | 5,189,335 | (c) | |||||||||
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes |
6.750 | % | 10/1/37 | 12,000,000 | 14,591,844 | (c) | ||||||||||
Total Capital Markets |
19,781,179 | |||||||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services 0.2% |
||||||||||||||||
CPUK Finance Ltd., Secured Notes |
7.000 | % | 8/28/20 | 490,000 | GBP | 749,793 | (a) | |||||||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 0.9% |
||||||||||||||||
Equinix Inc., Senior Notes |
5.375 | % | 4/1/23 | 1,265,000 | 1,328,250 | (c) | ||||||||||
Equinix Inc., Senior Notes |
5.875 | % | 1/15/26 | 160,000 | 169,699 | (c) | ||||||||||
Iron Mountain Inc., Senior Notes |
6.000 | % | 10/1/20 | 165,000 | 174,900 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Iron Mountain Inc., Senior Notes |
6.000 | % | 8/15/23 | 955,000 | 1,019,463 | (c) | ||||||||||
Total Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
2,692,312 | |||||||||||||||
Total Financials |
55,470,976 | |||||||||||||||
Health Care 1.9% | ||||||||||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services 1.7% |
||||||||||||||||
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., Senior Notes |
5.750 | % | 8/15/22 | 1,500,000 | 1,576,875 | (c) | ||||||||||
HCA Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
5.000 | % | 3/15/24 | 845,000 | 876,687 | (c) | ||||||||||
HealthSouth Corp., Senior Notes |
5.750 | % | 11/1/24 | 1,060,000 | 1,099,750 | (c) | ||||||||||
Tenet Healthcare Corp., Senior Secured Notes |
4.750 | % | 6/1/20 | 845,000 | 874,575 | (c) | ||||||||||
Universal Health Services Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
4.750 | % | 8/1/22 | 1,000,000 | 1,022,500 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Health Care Providers & Services |
5,450,387 | |||||||||||||||
Pharmaceuticals 0.2% |
||||||||||||||||
Capsugel SA, Senior Notes |
7.000 | % | 5/15/19 | 583,000 | 587,373 | (a)(c)(e) | ||||||||||
Total Health Care |
6,037,760 | |||||||||||||||
Industrials 4.3% | ||||||||||||||||
Aerospace & Defense 3.5% |
||||||||||||||||
Lockheed Martin Corp., Senior Notes |
3.550 | % | 1/15/26 | 9,000,000 | 9,667,503 | |||||||||||
Northrop Grumman Corp., Senior Notes |
3.250 | % | 8/1/23 | 1,236,000 | 1,304,235 | |||||||||||
Total Aerospace & Defense |
10,971,738 | |||||||||||||||
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Safway Group Holding LLC/Safway Finance Corp., Secured Notes |
7.000 | % | 5/15/18 | 1,065,000 | 1,070,325 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.5% |
||||||||||||||||
Fly Leasing Ltd., Senior Notes |
6.750 | % | 12/15/20 | 1,500,000 | 1,511,250 | (c) | ||||||||||
Total Industrials |
13,553,313 | |||||||||||||||
Information Technology 5.6% | ||||||||||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.2% |
||||||||||||||||
Anixter Inc., Senior Notes |
5.125 | % | 10/1/21 | 470,000 | 477,050 | (c) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 5 |
Schedule of investments (unaudited) (contd)
April 30, 2016
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Internet Software & Services 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
VeriSign Inc., Senior Notes |
4.625 | % | 5/1/23 | 800,000 | $ | 826,000 | (c) | |||||||||
Software 3.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Microsoft Corp., Senior Notes |
4.200 | % | 11/3/35 | 9,000,000 | 9,829,656 | (c) | ||||||||||
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 2.0% |
||||||||||||||||
Apple Inc., Senior Notes |
4.500 | % | 2/23/36 | 2,820,000 | 3,080,012 | (c) | ||||||||||
Apple Inc., Senior Notes |
4.650 | % | 2/23/46 | 2,970,000 | 3,269,676 | (c) | ||||||||||
Total Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
6,349,688 | |||||||||||||||
Total Information Technology |
17,482,394 | |||||||||||||||
Materials 2.3% | ||||||||||||||||
Chemicals 1.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Hexion Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
6.625 | % | 4/15/20 | 1,480,000 | 1,246,900 | (c) | ||||||||||
Ineos Finance PLC, Senior Secured Bonds |
4.000 | % | 5/1/23 | 1,180,000 | EUR | 1,324,981 | (a)(c) | |||||||||
W.R. Grace & Co., Senior Notes |
5.125 | % | 10/1/21 | 1,380,000 | 1,448,310 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Total Chemicals |
4,020,191 | |||||||||||||||
Construction Materials 0.4% |
||||||||||||||||
Cemex SAB de CV, Senior Secured Notes |
7.250 | % | 1/15/21 | 1,130,000 | 1,209,100 | (a) | ||||||||||
Containers & Packaging 0.6% |
||||||||||||||||
Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh MP Holdings USA Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
4.250 | % | 1/15/22 | 800,000 | EUR | 930,926 | (a) | |||||||||
Ball Corp., Senior Notes |
4.375 | % | 12/15/20 | 160,000 | 166,700 | (c) | ||||||||||
Coveris Holdings SA, Senior Notes |
7.875 | % | 11/1/19 | 800,000 | 772,000 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Total Containers & Packaging |
1,869,626 | |||||||||||||||
Total Materials |
7,098,917 | |||||||||||||||
Telecommunication Services 3.7% | ||||||||||||||||
Diversified Telecommunication Services 2.4% |
||||||||||||||||
Digicel Group Ltd., Senior Notes |
8.250 | % | 9/30/20 | 2,670,000 | 2,449,725 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Interoute Finco PLC, Senior Secured Bonds |
7.375 | % | 10/15/20 | 440,000 | EUR | 548,864 | (a) | |||||||||
SBA Communications Corp., Senior Notes |
4.875 | % | 7/15/22 | 810,000 | 818,610 | (c) | ||||||||||
Telecom Italia Capital SA, Senior Notes |
6.375 | % | 11/15/33 | 2,215,000 | 2,270,375 | (c) | ||||||||||
Unitymedia GmbH, Senior Notes |
3.750 | % | 1/15/27 | 350,000 | EUR | 363,196 | (a)(c) | |||||||||
Wind Acquisition Finance SA, Senior Bonds |
7.375 | % | 4/23/21 | 1,350,000 | 1,208,250 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Total Diversified Telecommunication Services |
7,659,020 | |||||||||||||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services 1.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Altice Financing SA, Senior Secured Notes |
5.250 | % | 2/15/23 | 350,000 | EUR | 419,023 | (a)(c) | |||||||||
Matterhorn Telecom SA, Senior Secured Bonds |
3.875 | % | 5/1/22 | 520,000 | EUR | 580,213 | (a)(c) | |||||||||
Sprint Corp., Senior Notes |
7.250 | % | 9/15/21 | 2,000,000 | 1,625,000 | (c) | ||||||||||
T-Mobile USA Inc., Senior Notes |
6.500 | % | 1/15/24 | 1,335,000 | 1,426,781 | (c) | ||||||||||
Total Wireless Telecommunication Services |
4,051,017 | |||||||||||||||
Total Telecommunication Services |
11,710,037 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
6 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Utilities 1.8% | ||||||||||||||||
Electric Utilities 0.5% |
||||||||||||||||
Viridian Group FundCo II Ltd., Senior Secured Notes |
7.500 | % | 3/1/20 | 1,225,000 | EUR | $ | 1,497,298 | (a)(c) | ||||||||
Gas Utilities 0.5% |
||||||||||||||||
AmeriGas Partners LP/AmeriGas Finance Corp., Senior Notes |
6.500 | % | 5/20/21 | 1,449,000 | 1,496,092 | (c) | ||||||||||
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 0.4% |
|
|||||||||||||||
AES Corp., Senior Notes |
7.375 | % | 7/1/21 | 1,000,000 | 1,152,500 | |||||||||||
Water Utilities 0.4% |
||||||||||||||||
Anglian Water (Osprey) Financing PLC, Senior Secured Notes |
5.000 | % | 4/30/23 | 950,000 | GBP | 1,423,623 | (b)(c) | |||||||||
Total Utilities |
5,569,513 | |||||||||||||||
Total Corporate Bonds & Notes (Cost $150,809,731) |
161,850,987 | |||||||||||||||
Municipal Bonds 0.9% | ||||||||||||||||
Georgia 0.9% |
||||||||||||||||
Municipal Electric Authority, GA, Build America Bonds, Plant Vogtle Units 3&4 Project J |
6.637 | % | 4/1/57 | 1,230,000 | 1,578,582 | (c) | ||||||||||
Municipal Electric Authority, GA, Build America Bonds, Plant Vogtle Units 3&4 Project M |
6.655 | % | 4/1/57 | 915,000 | 1,126,484 | (c) | ||||||||||
Total Municipal Bonds (Cost $2,421,952) |
2,705,066 | |||||||||||||||
Senior Loans 1.0% | ||||||||||||||||
Consumer Discretionary 0.4% | ||||||||||||||||
Media 0.4% |
||||||||||||||||
Adria Topco BV, EUR PIK Term Loan |
9.000 | % | 7/8/19 | 1,141,166 | EUR | 1,327,110 | (e)(f)(g) | |||||||||
Health Care 0.6% | ||||||||||||||||
Pharmaceuticals 0.6% |
||||||||||||||||
Capsugel Holdings U.S. Inc., USD Term Loan B |
4.000 | % | 7/31/21 | 1,812,609 | 1,815,443 | (f)(g) | ||||||||||
Total Senior Loans (Cost $3,316,357) |
3,142,553 | |||||||||||||||
Shares | ||||||||||||||||
Common Stocks 1.8% | ||||||||||||||||
Consumer Discretionary 1.5% | ||||||||||||||||
Diversified Consumer Services 1.5% |
||||||||||||||||
StoneMor Partners LP |
196,000 | 4,782,400 | (c) | |||||||||||||
Energy 0.3% | ||||||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust |
50,000 | 825,500 | (c) | |||||||||||||
Total Common Stocks (Cost $8,377,799) |
5,607,900 | |||||||||||||||
Investments in Underlying Funds 1.6% | ||||||||||||||||
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF |
61,300 | 2,190,862 | (h) | |||||||||||||
VanEck Vectors Oil Services ETF |
89,875 | 2,699,845 | (h) | |||||||||||||
Total Investments in Underlying Funds (Cost $4,180,957) |
|
4,890,707 | ||||||||||||||
Total Investments before Short-Term Investments (Cost $508,280,231) |
|
467,021,989 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 7 |
Schedule of investments (unaudited) (contd)
April 30, 2016
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Security | Rate | Shares | Value | |||||||||||
Short-Term Investments 7.8% | ||||||||||||||
State Street Institutional Liquid Reserves Fund, Premier Class (Cost $24,429,334) |
0.468 | % | 24,429,334 | $ | 24,429,334 | |||||||||
Total Investments 157.1% (Cost $532,709,565#) |
491,451,323 | |||||||||||||
Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stock, at Liquidation Value (16.0)% |
(50,000,000 | ) | ||||||||||||
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets (41.1)% |
(128,670,880 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders 100.0% |
$ | 312,780,443 |
| Face amount denominated in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted. |
(a) | Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. This security has been deemed liquid pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Directors, unless otherwise noted. |
(b) | 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, unless otherwise noted. |
(c) | All or a portion of this security is pledged as collateral pursuant to the loan agreement (See Note 5). |
(d) | Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is as of the most recent information available. |
(e) | Payment-in-kind security for which the issuer has the option at each interest payment date of making interest payments in cash or additional debt securities. |
(f) | Interest rates disclosed represent the effective rates on senior loans. Ranges in interest rates are attributable to multiple contracts under the same loan. |
(g) | 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. |
(h) | All or a portion of this security is pledged as collateral for written options. |
# | Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is substantially the same. |
Abbreviations used in this schedule: | ||
AUD | Australian Dollar | |
BRL | Brazilian Real | |
ETF | Exchange-Traded Fund | |
EUR | Euro | |
GBP | British Pound | |
IDR | Indonesian Rupiah | |
MXN | Mexican Peso | |
PLN | Polish Zloty |
Schedule of Written Options | ||||||||||||||||
Security | Expiration Date |
Strike Price |
Contracts | Value | ||||||||||||
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF, Call | 5/20/16 | $ | 36.00 | 613 | $ | 74,173 | ||||||||||
VanEck Vectors Oil Services ETF, Call | 5/20/16 | 30.00 | 301 | 27,993 | ||||||||||||
Total Written Options (Premiums received $35,240) | $ | 102,166 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
8 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Summary of Investments by Country* | ||||
United States | 37.5 | % | ||
Mexico | 15.6 | |||
Indonesia | 11.6 | |||
Brazil | 10.7 | |||
Colombia | 5.4 | |||
Portugal | 3.7 | |||
Poland | 2.7 | |||
United Kingdom | 2.2 | |||
Ireland | 1.6 | |||
Spain | 1.3 | |||
Italy | 0.7 | |||
Jamaica | 0.5 | |||
Luxembourg | 0.4 | |||
Netherlands | 0.3 | |||
Argentina | 0.2 | |||
Australia | 0.2 | |||
Croatia | 0.2 | |||
France | 0.1 | |||
Germany | 0.1 | |||
Short-Term Investments | 5.0 | |||
100.0 | % |
* | As a percentage of total investments. Please note that the Fund holdings are as of April 30, 2016 and are subject to change. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 9 |
Statement of assets and liabilities (unaudited)
April 30, 2016
Assets: | ||||
Investments, at value (Cost $532,709,565) |
$ | 491,451,323 | ||
Foreign currency, at value (Cost $53,810) |
54,189 | |||
Interest receivable |
7,608,320 | |||
Deposits with brokers for open futures contracts |
5,300,598 | |||
Receivable for securities sold |
3,553,125 | |||
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts |
1,934,400 | |||
Deposits with brokers for centrally cleared swap contracts |
1,405,815 | |||
Receivable from broker variation margin on centrally cleared swaps |
522,322 | |||
Prepaid expenses |
42,934 | |||
Total Assets |
511,873,026 | |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Loan payable (Note 5) |
132,300,000 | |||
Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stock ($100,000 liquidation value per share; 500 shares issued and outstanding) (net of deferred offering costs of $643,112) (Note 6) |
49,356,888 | |||
Payable for securities purchased |
7,526,420 | |||
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts |
5,905,617 | |||
Due to custodian |
1,520,521 | |||
Payable to broker variation margin on open futures contracts |
1,271,943 | |||
Distributions payable to Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stockholders |
348,749 | |||
Investment management fee payable |
341,503 | |||
Accrued foreign capital gains tax |
165,711 | |||
Written options, at value (premiums received $35,240) |
102,166 | |||
Interest payable |
41,862 | |||
Directors fees payable |
8,293 | |||
Accrued expenses |
202,910 | |||
Total Liabilities |
199,092,583 | |||
Total Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders | $ | 312,780,443 | ||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders: | ||||
Common stock par value ($0.001 par value; 21,076,754 shares issued and outstanding; 100,000,000 shares authorized) |
$ | 21,077 | ||
Paid-in capital in excess of par value |
399,090,256 | |||
Undistributed net investment income |
9,720,182 | |||
Accumulated net realized loss on investments, futures contracts, written options, swap contracts and foreign currency transactions |
(49,400,909) | |||
Net unrealized depreciation on investments, futures contracts, written options, swap contracts and foreign currencies |
(46,650,163) | | ||
Total Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders | $ | 312,780,443 | ||
Common Shares Outstanding | 21,076,754 | |||
Net Asset Value Per Common Share | $14.84 |
| Net of accrued foreign capital gains tax of $165,711. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
10 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
Statement of operations (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016
Investment Income: | ||||
Interest |
$ | 13,456,866 | ||
Dividends |
297,681 | |||
Less: Foreign taxes withheld |
(153,157) | |||
Total Investment Income |
13,601,390 | |||
Expenses: | ||||
Investment management fee (Note 2) |
2,018,727 | |||
Distributions to Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stockholders (Notes 1 and 6) |
834,707 | |||
Interest expense (Note 5) |
689,774 | |||
Excise tax (Note 1) |
640,647 | |||
Custody fees |
104,517 | |||
Amortization of preferred stock offering costs (Note 6) |
79,013 | |||
Transfer agent fees |
59,999 | |||
Directors fees |
44,112 | |||
Audit and tax fees |
31,686 | |||
Fund accounting fees |
20,194 | |||
Legal fees |
17,188 | |||
Shareholder reports |
15,301 | |||
Rating agency fees |
11,075 | |||
Stock exchange listing fees |
10,576 | |||
Insurance |
3,123 | |||
Miscellaneous expenses |
15,794 | |||
Total Expenses |
4,596,433 | |||
Net Investment Income | 9,004,957 | |||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Futures Contracts, Written Options, Swap Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions (Notes 1, 3 and 4): |
||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) From: |
||||
Investment transactions |
(41,933,092) | |||
Futures contracts |
556,705 | |||
Written options |
(149,909) | |||
Swap contracts |
1,559,277 | |||
Foreign currency transactions |
(2,976,025) | |||
Net Realized Loss |
(42,943,044) | |||
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From: |
||||
Investments |
52,544,106 | | ||
Futures contracts |
(3,327,096) | |||
Written options |
(66,926) | |||
Swap contracts |
5,473 | |||
Foreign currencies |
(4,703,443) | |||
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
44,452,114 | |||
Net Gain on Investments, Futures Contracts, Written Options, Swap Contracts and Foreign Currency Transactions | 1,509,070 | |||
Increase in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders From Operations | $ | 10,514,027 |
| Net of change in accrued foreign capital gains tax of $165,711. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 11 |
Statements of changes in net assets
For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016 (unaudited) and the Year Ended October 31, 2015 |
2016 | 2015 | ||||||
Operations: | ||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 9,004,957 | $ | 22,989,043 | ||||
Net realized loss |
(42,943,044) | (1,698,150) | ||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
44,452,114 | (83,482,199) | ||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to |
10,514,027 | (62,191,306) | ||||||
Distributions to Common Shareholders From (Note 1): | ||||||||
Net investment income |
(15,596,798) | (21,707,298) | ||||||
Net realized gains |
| (18,338,534) | ||||||
Decrease in Net Assets From Distributions to |
(15,596,798) | (40,045,832) | ||||||
Decrease in Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders |
(5,082,771) | (102,237,138) | ||||||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders: | ||||||||
Beginning of period |
317,863,214 | 420,100,352 | ||||||
End of period* |
$ | 312,780,443 | $ | 317,863,214 | ||||
*Includes undistributed net investment income of: |
$9,720,182 | $16,312,023 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
12 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
Statement of cash flows (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended April 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Cash: | ||||
Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities: | ||||
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from operations |
$ | 10,514,027 | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: |
||||
Purchases of portfolio securities |
(154,528,446) | |||
Sales of portfolio securities |
170,573,992 | |||
Net purchases, sales and maturities of short-term investments |
(22,491,958) | |||
Payment-in-kind |
(53,738) | |||
Net amortization of premium (accretion of discount) |
75,297 | |||
Increase in receivable for securities sold |
(3,176,550) | |||
Decrease in interest receivable |
618,171 | |||
Decrease in distributions payable for Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stockholders |
(2,294) | |||
Increase in receivable to broker variation margin on open centrally cleared swaps |
(522,322) | |||
Increase in prepaid expenses |
(20,013) | |||
Increase in deposits with brokers for open futures contracts |
(1,944,295) | |||
Increase in deposits with brokers for centrally cleared swap contracts |
(1,405,847) | |||
Decrease in net premiums paid for OTC swap contracts |
104,657 | |||
Decrease in payable for open OTC swap contracts |
(11,864) | |||
Increase in payable for securities purchased |
7,525,792 | |||
Decrease in foreign currency collateral overdraft |
(90) | |||
Decrease in investment management fee payable |
(21,080) | |||
Increase in Directors fees payable |
1,488 | |||
Increase in interest payable |
5,547 | |||
Decrease in accrued expenses |
(7,346) | |||
Increase in premiums received from written options |
35,240 | |||
Increase in payable to broker variation margin on open futures contracts |
3,326,505 | |||
Increase in deferred preferred stock offering costs |
79,013 | |||
Net realized loss on investments |
41,933,092 | |||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments, written options, OTC swap contracts and forward foreign currency transactions |
(47,501,433) | |||
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities* |
3,105,545 | |||
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: | ||||
Distributions paid on common stock |
(15,596,798) | |||
Increase in due to custodian |
1,520,521 | |||
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities |
(14,076,277) | |||
Net Decrease in Cash | (10,970,732) | |||
Cash at Beginning of Period |
11,024,921 | |||
Cash at End of Period |
$ | 54,189 |
* | Included in operating expenses is cash of $684,227 paid for interest on borrowings. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 13 |
For a common share of capital stock
outstanding throughout each year ended October 31, unless otherwise noted: |
||||||||||||||||||||
20161,2 | 20152 | 20142 | 20132 | 20122,3 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $15.08 | $19.93 | $19.76 | $20.99 | $19.06 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
0.43 | 1.09 | 1.43 | 1.43 | 0.82 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
0.07 | (4.04) | 0.52 | (1.23) | 1.82 | |||||||||||||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
0.50 | (2.95) | 1.95 | 0.20 | 2.64 | |||||||||||||||
Less distributions to common shareholders from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.74) | 5 | (1.03) | (1.04) | (0.97) | (0.52) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gains |
| (0.87) | (0.74) | (0.46) | (0.19) | |||||||||||||||
Total distributions to common shareholders |
(0.74) | (1.90) | (1.78) | (1.43) | (0.71) | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $14.84 | $15.08 | $19.93 | $19.76 | $20.99 | |||||||||||||||
Market price, end of period | $12.54 | $12.56 | $17.32 | $17.40 | $19.43 | |||||||||||||||
Total return, based on NAV6,7 |
3.83 | % | (15.64) | % | 10.39 | % | 0.82 | % | 14.07 | % | ||||||||||
Total return, based on Market Price8 |
6.35 | % | (17.68) | % | 10.24 | % | (3.41) | % | 0.80 | % | ||||||||||
Net assets applicable to common shareholders, end of period (000s) | $312,780 | $317,863 | $420,100 | $416,426 | $442,416 | |||||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses |
3.13 | %9 | 2.45 | % | 1.74 | % | 1.71 | % | 1.50 | %9 | ||||||||||
Net expenses |
3.13 | 9 | 2.45 | 1.74 | 1.71 | 1.48 | 9,10 | |||||||||||||
Net investment income |
6.13 | 9 | 6.16 | 7.15 | 6.81 | 7.00 | 9 | |||||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 35 | % | 25 | % | 62 | % | 108 | % | 49 | % | ||||||||||
Supplemental data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan Outstanding, End of Period (000s) |
$132,300 | $132,300 | $132,300 | $156,000 | $135,000 | |||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Ratio for Loan Outstanding11 |
374 | % | 378 | % | 418 | % | 367 | % | 428 | % | ||||||||||
Asset Coverage, per $1,000 Principal Amount of Loan Outstanding11 |
$3,742 | $3,781 | $4,175 | 12 | $3,669 | 12 | $4,277 | 12 | ||||||||||||
Weighted Average Loan (000s) |
$132,300 | $132,300 | $145,365 | $148,547 | $107,842 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted Average Interest Rate on Loan |
1.05 | % | 0.84 | % | 0.81 | % | 0.85 | % | 0.88 | % | ||||||||||
Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stock at Liquidation Value, End of Period (000s) |
$50,000 | $50,000 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Asset Coverage Ratio for Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stock13 |
272 | % | 274 | % | | | | |||||||||||||
Asset Coverage, per $100,000 Liquidation Value per Share of Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stock13 |
$271,574 | $274,363 | | | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
1 | For the six months ended April 30, 2016 (unaudited). |
2 | Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method. |
3 | For the period March 28, 2012 (commencement of operations) to October 31, 2012. |
4 | Initial public offering price of $20.00 per share less offering costs and sales load totaling $0.94 per share. |
5 | The actual source of the Funds 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. |
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. 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 Funds 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 | The investment manager has agreed to reimburse all organizational expenses (Note 2). |
11 | Represents value of net assets plus the loan outstanding and mandatory redeemable preferred stock at the end of the period divided by the loan outstanding at the end of the period. |
12 | Added to conform to current period presentation. |
13 | Represents value of net assets plus the loan outstanding and mandatory redeemable preferred stock at the end of the period divided by the loan and mandatory redeemable preferred stock outstanding at the end of the period. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 15 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited)
1. Organization and significant accounting policies
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. (the Fund) was incorporated in Maryland on October 27, 2010 and is registered as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Funds primary investment objective is to provide current income. 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 assets in global fixed income securities.
The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.
(a) Investment valuation. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Short-term fixed income securities that will mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, unless it is determined that using this method would not reflect an investments fair value. 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 Funds Board of Directors.
16 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
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 (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 Funds 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 issuers 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 Funds own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 17 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (contd)
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 Funds assets and liabilities carried at fair value:
ASSETS | ||||||||||||||||
Description | Quoted Prices (Level 1) |
Other Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Long-term investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Sovereign bonds |
| $ | 232,094,085 | | $ | 232,094,085 | ||||||||||
Collateralized mortgage obligations |
| 56,730,691 | | 56,730,691 | ||||||||||||
Corporate bonds & notes |
| 161,850,987 | | 161,850,987 | ||||||||||||
Municipal bonds |
| 2,705,066 | | 2,705,066 | ||||||||||||
Senior loans |
| 3,142,553 | | 3,142,553 | ||||||||||||
Common stocks |
$ | 5,607,900 | | | 5,607,900 | |||||||||||
Investments in underlying funds |
4,890,707 | | | 4,890,707 | ||||||||||||
Total long-term investments | $ | 10,498,607 | $ | 456,523,382 | | $ | 467,021,989 | |||||||||
Short-term investments | 24,429,334 | | | 24,429,334 | ||||||||||||
Total investments | $ | 34,927,941 | $ | 456,523,382 | | $ | 491,451,323 | |||||||||
Other financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Futures contracts |
$ | 27,388 | | | $ | 27,388 | ||||||||||
Forward foreign currency contracts |
| $ | 1,934,400 | | 1,934,400 | |||||||||||
Total other financial instruments | $ | 27,388 | $ | 1,934,400 | | $ | 1,961,788 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 34,955,329 | $ | 458,457,782 | | $ | 493,413,111 | |||||||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||||||||||||
Description | Quoted Prices (Level 1) |
Other Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Other financial instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Written options |
$ | 102,166 | | | $ | 102,166 | ||||||||||
Futures contracts |
1,300,340 | | | 1,300,340 | ||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency contracts |
| $ | 5,905,617 | | 5,905,617 | |||||||||||
Centrally cleared credit default swaps on credit indices sell protection |
| 101,401 | | 101,401 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,402,506 | $ | 6,007,018 | | $ | 7,409,524 |
| See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations. |
(b) Repurchase agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that its subadviser has determined are creditworthy. Each repurchase agreement is recorded at cost. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Fund acquires a debt security subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and of the Fund to resell, the security at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the yield during the Funds holding period. When entering into repurchase agreements, it is the Funds policy that its custodian or a third party custodian, acting on the Funds behalf, take
18 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
possession of the underlying collateral securities, the market value of which, at all times, at least equals the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction maturity exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market and measured against the value of the agreement in an effort to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund generally has the right to use the collateral to satisfy the terms of the repurchase transaction. However, if the market value of the collateral declines during the period in which the Fund seeks to assert its rights or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.
(c) Futures contracts. The Fund uses futures contracts generally to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in interest rates or gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in certain asset classes. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit cash or cash equivalents with a broker in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the initial margin and subsequent payments (variation margin) are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation in the value of the contract. For certain futures, including foreign denominated futures, variation margin is not settled daily, but is recorded as a net variation margin payable or receivable. The daily changes in contract value are recorded as unrealized gains or losses in the Statement of Operations and the Fund recognizes a realized gain or loss when the contract is closed.
Futures contracts involve, to varying degrees, risk of loss in excess of the amounts reflected in the financial statements. In addition, there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.
(d) 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.
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.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 19 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (contd)
(e) Written options. When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability, the value of which is marked-to-market daily to reflect the current market value of the option written. If the option expires, the premium received is recorded as a realized gain. When a written call option is exercised, the difference between the premium received plus the option exercise price and the Funds basis in the underlying security (in the case of a covered written call option), or the cost to purchase the underlying security (in the case of an uncovered written call option), including brokerage commission, is recognized as a realized gain or loss. When a written put option is exercised, the amount of the premium received is subtracted from the cost of the security purchased by the Fund from the exercise of the written put option to form the Funds basis in the underlying security purchased. The writer or buyer of an option traded on an exchange can liquidate the position before the exercise of the option by entering into a closing transaction. The cost of a closing transaction is deducted from the original premium received resulting in a realized gain or loss to the Fund.
The risk in writing a covered call option is that the Fund may forego the opportunity of profit if the market price of the underlying security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in writing a put option is that the Fund may incur a loss if the market price of the underlying security decreases and the option is exercised. The risk in writing an uncovered call option is that the Fund is exposed to the risk of loss if the market price of the underlying security increases. In addition, there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.
(f) Swap agreements. The Fund invests in swaps for the purpose of managing its exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. The use of swaps involves risks that are different from those associated with other portfolio transactions. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract (OTC Swaps) or centrally cleared (Centrally Cleared Swaps). Unlike Centrally Cleared Swaps, the Fund has credit exposure to the counterparties of OTC Swaps.
In a Centrally Cleared Swap, immediately following execution of the swap, the swap agreement is submitted to a clearinghouse or central counterparty (the CCP) and the CCP becomes the ultimate counterparty of the swap agreement. The Fund is required to interface with the CCP through a broker, acting in an agency capacity. All payments are settled with the CCP through the broker. Upon entering into a Centrally Cleared Swap, the Fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities.
Swap contracts are marked-to-market daily and changes in value are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). The daily change in valuation of Centrally Cleared Swaps, if any, is recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Gains or losses are realized upon termination of the swap agreement. Collateral, in the form of restricted cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the Funds custodian in compliance with the terms of the swap contracts. Securities posted as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of
20 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
Investments and restricted cash, if any, is identified on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risks may exceed amounts recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These risks include changes in the returns of the underlying instruments, failure of the counterparties to perform under the contracts terms, and the possible lack of liquidity with respect to the swap agreements.
OTC swap payments received or made at the beginning of the measurement period are reflected as a premium or deposit, respectively, on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These upfront payments are amortized over the life of the swap and are recognized as realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Fund are recognized as a realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations.
The Funds maximum exposure in the event of a defined credit event on a credit default swap to sell protection is the notional amount. As of April 30, 2016, the total notional value of all credit default swaps to sell protection was $23,655,000. This amount would be offset by the value of the swaps reference entity, upfront premiums received on the swap and any amounts received from the settlement of a credit default swap where the Fund bought protection for the same referenced security/entity.
For average notional amounts of swaps held during the six months ended April 30, 2016, see Note 4.
Credit default swaps
The Fund enters into credit default swap (CDS) contracts for investment purposes, to manage its credit risk or to add leverage. CDS agreements involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a default by a third party, typically corporate or sovereign issuers, on a specified obligation, or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index. The Fund may use a CDS to provide protection against defaults of the issuers (i.e., to reduce risk where the Fund has exposure to an issuer) or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuers default. As a seller of protection, the Fund generally receives an upfront payment or a stream of payments throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Fund could be required to make under a credit default swap agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. These amounts of potential payments will be partially offset by any recovery of values from the respective referenced obligations. As a seller of protection, the Fund effectively adds leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 21 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (contd)
Implied spreads are the theoretical prices a lender receives for credit default protection. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entitys credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. Credit spreads utilized in determining the period end market value of credit default swap agreements on corporate or sovereign issues are disclosed in the Notes to Financial Statements and serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for credit derivatives. For credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, particularly in relation to the notional amount of the contract as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/performance risk.
The Funds maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk, as the protection buyer, is the fair value of the contract (this risk is mitigated by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Fund to cover the Funds exposure to the counterparty). As the protection seller, the Funds maximum risk is the notional amount of the contract. Credit default swaps are considered to have credit risk-related contingent features since they require payment by the protection seller to the protection buyer upon the occurrence of a defined credit event.
Entering into a CDS agreement involves, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk in excess of the related amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreement, and that there will be unfavorable changes in net interest rates.
(g) 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
22 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Funds 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.
(h) Loan participations. The Fund may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Funds 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.
(i) 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 are presented in the Statement of Cash Flows.
(j) 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 Funds investments in securities rated below investment grade typically involve risks not associated with higher rated securities including, among others, greater risk related to timely and ultimate payment of interest and principal, greater market price volatility and less liquid secondary market trading. The consequences of political, social, economic or diplomatic changes may have disruptive effects on the market prices of investments held by the Fund. The Funds 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
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 23 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (contd)
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.
(k) Foreign investment risks. The Funds 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.
(l) 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 Funds 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.
The Fund has entered into master agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties that provide for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral, events 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 Funds net assets or NAV 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.
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 over-the-counter 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.
Absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the terms of the master agreements do not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets
24 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
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.
As of April 30, 2016, the Fund held written options and forward foreign currency contracts with credit related contingent features which had a liability position of $6,007,783. If a contingent feature in the master agreements would have been triggered, the Fund would have been required to pay this amount to its derivatives counterparties. As of April 30, 2016, the Fund had posted with its counterparties cash and/or securities as collateral to cover the net liability of these derivatives amounting to $3,095,066, which could be used to reduce the required payment.
(m) Security transactions and investment income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income, adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. 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.
(n) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions to common shareholders from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared quarterly and paid on a monthly basis. The actual source of the Funds monthly distributions may be from net investment income, return of capital or a combination of both. Common shareholders will be informed of the tax characteristics of the distributions after the close of the fiscal year. Distributions to common shareholders of net realized gains, if any, are declared at least annually. Pursuant to its Managed Distribution Policy, adopted by the Fund in August 2012, the Fund intends to make regular monthly distributions to common shareholders at a fixed rate per common share, which rate may be adjusted from time to time by the Funds Board of Directors. Under the Funds Managed Distribution Policy, if, for any monthly distribution, the value of the Funds net investment income and net realized capital gain is less than the amount of the distribution, the difference will be distributed from the Funds net assets (and may constitute a return of capital). The Board of Directors may modify, terminate or suspend the Managed Distribution Policy at any time, including when certain events would make part of the return of capital taxable to common shareholders. Any such modification, termination or suspension could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Funds shares. Distributions to common 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.
Distributions to holders of Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stock (MRPS) are accrued on a daily basis as described in Note 6 and are treated as an operating expense as required by GAAP. For tax purposes, the payments made to the holders of the Funds MRPS are treated as dividends or distributions. The character of distributions to MRPS holders made during the year may differ from their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 25 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (contd)
(o) Compensating balance arrangements. The Fund has an arrangement with its custodian bank whereby a portion of the custodians fees is paid indirectly by credits earned on the Funds cash on deposit with the bank.
(p) Federal and other taxes. It is the Funds 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 Funds financial statements.
However, due to the timing of when distributions are made by the Fund, the Fund may be subject to an excise tax of 4% of the amount by which 98% of the Funds annual taxable income and 98.2% of net realized gains exceed the distributions from such taxable income and realized gains for the calendar year. The Fund paid $647,641 of Federal excise taxes attributable to calendar year 2015 in March 2016.
Management has analyzed the Funds tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of October 31, 2015, no provision for income tax is required in the Funds financial statements. The Funds 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. Realized gains upon disposition of securities issued in or by certain foreign countries are subject to capital gains tax imposed by those countries. As of April 30, 2016, there was $165,711 of capital gains tax liabilities accrued on unrealized gains.
(q) 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 Funds investment manager. Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (Brandywine) is the Funds subadviser. LMPFA and Brandywine are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Legg Mason, Inc. (Legg Mason).
LMPFA provides administrative and certain oversight services to the Fund. The Fund pays an investment management fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.85% of the Funds average daily managed assets. LMPFA delegates to Brandywine the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. For its services, LMPFA pays Brandywine 70% of the net management fee it receives from the Fund.
26 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
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 Funds assets, including those investments purchased with leverage.
All officers and one Director of the Fund are employees of Legg Mason or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Fund.
3. Investments
During the six months ended April 30, 2016, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding short-term investments) were as follows:
Purchases | $ | 154,528,446 | ||
Sales | 170,573,992 |
At April 30, 2016, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:
Gross unrealized appreciation | $ | 18,656,298 | ||
Gross unrealized depreciation | (59,914,540) | |||
Net unrealized depreciation | $ | (41,258,242) |
At April 30, 2016, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:
Number of Contracts |
Expiration Date |
Basis Value |
Market Value |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
Contracts to Buy: | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Long-Term Bonds | 509 | 6/16 | $ | 84,426,402 | $ | 83,126,062 | $ | (1,300,340) | ||||||||||||
Contracts to Sell: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Euro-Bund | 45 | 6/16 | 8,368,622 | 8,341,234 | 27,388 | |||||||||||||||
Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts | $ | (1,272,952) |
At April 30, 2016, the Fund had the following open forward foreign currency contracts:
Currency Purchased |
Currency Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
BRL | 2,860,000 | USD | 781,101 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 5/5/16 | $ | 49,889 | |||||||||||||
USD | 614,116 | BRL | 2,525,000 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 5/5/16 | (119,537) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 82,431 | BRL | 335,000 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 5/5/16 | (14,905) | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 590,000 | USD | 655,791 | Barclays Bank PLC | 5/11/16 | 19,944 | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 1,040,000 | USD | 1,174,013 | Citibank, N.A. | 5/11/16 | 17,113 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 19,218,531 | EUR | 17,125,000 | Citibank, N.A. | 5/11/16 | (394,959) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 30,491,533 | EUR | 27,170,000 | Citibank, N.A. | 5/11/16 | (626,630) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 476,956 | EUR | 425,000 | Citibank, N.A. | 5/11/16 | (9,802) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 1,739,488 | EUR | 1,550,000 | Citibank, N.A. | 5/11/16 | (35,748) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 998,803 | EUR | 890,000 | Citibank, N.A. | 5/11/16 | (20,526) | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 550,000 | USD | 607,083 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 5/11/16 | 22,839 | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 550,000 | USD | 607,083 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 5/11/16 | 22,839 | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 325,000 | USD | 355,757 | Morgan Stanley | 5/11/16 | 16,469 |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 27 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (contd)
Currency Purchased |
Currency Sold |
Counterparty | Settlement Date |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
EUR | 1,105,000 | USD | 1,220,534 | Morgan Stanley | 5/11/16 | $ | 45,037 | |||||||||||||
EUR | 7,705,000 | USD | 8,790,447 | Morgan Stanley | 5/11/16 | 34,192 | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 16,030,000 | USD | 18,144,565 | Morgan Stanley | 5/11/16 | 214,807 | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 30,000 | USD | 34,162 | Morgan Stanley | 5/11/16 | 197 | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 1,590,000 | USD | 1,799,901 | Morgan Stanley | 5/11/16 | 21,147 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 13,917,095 | EUR | 12,350,000 | Morgan Stanley | 5/11/16 | (227,524) | ||||||||||||||
EUR | 60,000 | USD | 66,101 | UBS AG | 5/11/16 | 2,618 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 72,252 | NZD | 110,000 | Goldman Sachs Group Inc. | 5/17/16 | (4,497) | ||||||||||||||
NZD | 2,365,000 | USD | 1,604,319 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 5/17/16 | 45,782 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 1,500,680 | NZD | 2,255,000 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 5/17/16 | (72,672) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 757,682 | AUD | 1,075,000 | Morgan Stanley | 5/18/16 | (59,189) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 2,511,528 | GBP | 1,740,000 | Barclays Bank PLC | 6/7/16 | (31,076) | ||||||||||||||
GBP | 14,910,000 | USD | 21,185,321 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 6/7/16 | 602,167 | ||||||||||||||
GBP | 1,555,000 | USD | 2,272,844 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 6/7/16 | (574) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 5,321,196 | GBP | 3,745,000 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 6/7/16 | (151,248) | ||||||||||||||
GBP | 2,340,000 | USD | 3,369,506 | UBS AG | 6/7/16 | 49,858 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 24,339,679 | CAD | 31,800,000 | Goldman Sachs Group Inc. | 6/24/16 | (1,005,227) | ||||||||||||||
CAD | 31,800,000 | USD | 24,620,626 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 6/24/16 | 724,280 | ||||||||||||||
USD | 24,194,653 | CAD | 31,800,000 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 6/24/16 | (1,150,253) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 23,949,570 | CAD | 31,800,000 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 6/24/16 | (1,395,336) | ||||||||||||||
USD | 13,569,828 | MXN | 245,200,000 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 7/12/16 | (585,914) | ||||||||||||||
COP | 2,465,000,000 | USD | 807,006 | HSBC Bank USA, N.A. | 8/5/16 | 45,222 | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | (3,971,217) |
Abbreviations used in this table: | ||
AUD | Australian Dollar | |
BRL | Brazilian Real | |
CAD | Canadian Dollar | |
COP | Colombian Peso | |
EUR | Euro | |
GBP | British Pound | |
MXN | Mexican Peso | |
NZD | New Zealand Dollar | |
USD | United States Dollar |
During the six months ended April 30, 2016, written option transactions for the Fund were as follows:
Number of Contracts |
Premiums | |||||||
Written options, outstanding as of October 31, 2015 | | | ||||||
Options written | 2,433 | $ | 227,385 | |||||
Options closed | (1,226) | (176,616) | ||||||
Options exercised | | | ||||||
Options expired | (293) | (15,529) | ||||||
Written options, outstanding as of April 30, 2016 | 914 | $ | 35,240 |
28 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
At April 30, 2016, the Fund had the following open swap contracts:
CENTRALLY CLEARED CREDIT DEFAULT SWAPS ON CREDIT INDICES SELL PROTECTION1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Central Counterparty (Reference Entity) |
Notional Amount2 |
Termination Date |
Periodic Payments Received by the Fund |
Market Value3 |
Upfront Premiums Paid (Received) |
Unrealized Depreciation |
||||||||||||||||
InterContinental Exchange (Markit CDX.NA.HY.26 Index) | $ | 23,655,000 | 6/20/21 | 5.000% quarterly | $ | 671,459 | $ | 772,860 | $ | (101,401) |
1 | If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the Fund will either (i) pay to the buyer of protection an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and take delivery of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index or (ii) pay a net settlement amount in the form of cash or securities equal to the notional amount of the swap less the recovery value of the referenced obligation or underlying securities comprising the referenced index. |
2 | The maximum potential amount the Fund could be required to pay as a seller of credit protection or receive as a buyer of credit protection if a credit event occurs as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement. |
3 | The quoted market prices and resulting values for credit default swap agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/performance risk and represent the likelihood of an expected liability (or profit) for the credit derivative had the notional amount of the swap agreement been closed/sold as of the period end. Decreasing market values (sell protection) or increasing market values (buy protection) when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entitys credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. |
| Percentage shown is an annual percentage rate. |
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, 2016.
ASSET DERIVATIVES1 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Risk |
Foreign Exchange Risk |
Total | ||||||||||||||
Futures contracts2 | $ | 27,388 | | $ | 27,388 | |||||||||||
Forward foreign currency contracts | | $ | 1,934,400 | 1,934,400 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 27,388 | $ | 1,934,400 | $ | 1,961,788 |
LIABILITY DERIVATIVES1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Risk |
Foreign Exchange Risk |
Credit Risk |
Equity Risk |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
Written options | | | | $ | 102,166 | $ | 102,166 | |||||||||||||
Futures contracts2 | $ | 1,300,340 | | | | 1,300,340 | ||||||||||||||
Centrally cleared swap contracts3 | | | $ | 101,401 | | 101,401 | ||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency contracts | | $ | 5,905,617 | | | 5,905,617 | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 1,300,340 | $ | 5,905,617 | $ | 101,401 | $ | 102,166 | $ | 7,409,524 |
1 | Generally, the balance sheet location for asset derivatives is receivables/net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) and for liability derivatives is payables/net unrealized appreciation (depreciation). |
2 | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the footnotes. Only variation margin is reported within the receivables and/or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
3 | Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) of centrally cleared swap contracts as reported in the footnotes. Only variation margin is reported within the receivables and/or payables on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 29 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (contd)
The following tables provide information about the effect of derivatives and hedging activities on the Funds Statement of Operations for the six months ended April 30, 2016. 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 Funds derivatives and hedging activities during the period.
AMOUNT OF REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Risk |
Foreign Exchange Risk |
Credit Risk |
Equity Risk |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
Written options | | | | $ | (149,909) | $ | (149,909) | |||||||||||||
Futures contracts | $ | 7,630,181 | | | (7,073,476) | 556,705 | ||||||||||||||
Swap contracts | | | $ | 1,559,277 | | 1,559,277 | ||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency contracts1 | | $ | (2,763,481) | | | (2,763,481) | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 7,630,181 | $ | (2,763,481) | $ | 1,559,277 | $ | (7,223,385) | $ | (797,408) |
1 | Net realized gain (loss) from forward foreign currency contracts is reported in net realized gain (loss) from foreign currency transactions in the Statement of Operations. |
CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED | ||||||||||||||||||||
Interest Rate Risk |
Foreign Exchange Risk |
Credit Risk |
Equity Risk |
Total | ||||||||||||||||
Written options | | | | $ | (66,926) | $ | (66,926) | |||||||||||||
Futures contracts | $ | (1,560,556) | | | (1,766,540) | (3,327,096) | ||||||||||||||
Swap contracts | | | $ | 5,473 | | 5,473 | ||||||||||||||
Forward foreign currency contracts1 | | $ | (5,082,621) | | | (5,082,621) | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | (1,560,556) | $ | (5,082,621) | $ | 5,473 | $ | (1,833,466) | $ | (8,471,170) |
1 | The change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from forward foreign currency contracts is reported in the change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) from foreign currencies in the Statement of Operations. |
During the six months ended April 30, 2016, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:
Average Market Value |
||||
Written options | $ | 14,888 | ||
Futures contracts (to buy) | 92,003,470 | |||
Futures contracts (to sell) | 1,191,605 | |||
Forward foreign currency contracts (to buy) | 135,891,201 | |||
Forward foreign currency contracts (to sell) | 172,699,542 | |||
Average Notional Balance |
||||
Credit default swap contracts (to buy protection) | $ | 5,738,462 | ||
Credit default swap contracts (to sell protection) | 12,071,284 |
| At April 30, 2016, there were no open positions held in this derivative. |
30 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
The following table presents by financial instrument, the Funds derivative assets net of the related collateral received by the Fund at April 30, 2016:
Gross Amount of Derivative Assets in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities1 |
Collateral Received |
Net Amount |
||||||||||
Centrally cleared swap contracts2 | $ | 522,322 | | $ | 522,322 | |||||||
Forward foreign currency contracts | 1,934,400 | | 1,934,400 | |||||||||
Total | $ | 2,456,722 | | $ | 2,456,722 |
The following table presents by financial instrument, the Funds derivative liabilities net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund at April 30, 2016:
Gross Amount of Derivative Liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities1 |
Collateral Pledged3,4,5 |
Net Amount |
||||||||||
Written options | $ | 102,166 | $ | (102,166) | | |||||||
Futures contracts2 | 1,271,943 | (1,271,943) | | |||||||||
Forward foreign currency contracts | 5,905,617 | | $ | 5,905,617 | ||||||||
Total | $ | 7,279,726 | $ | (1,374,109) | $ | 5,905,617 |
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 | Amount represents the current days variation margin as reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. It differs from the cumulative appreciation (depreciation) presented in the previous table. |
3 | Gross amounts are not offset in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
4 | In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization. |
5 | See the Schedule of Investments for securities pledged as collateral. |
5. Loan
The Fund has a revolving credit agreement with Pershing LLC, which allows the Fund to borrow up to an aggregate amount of $200,000,000 and renews daily for a 180-day term unless notice to the contrary is given to the Fund. The interest on the loan is calculated at a variable rate based on the one-month LIBOR plus any applicable margin. To the extent of the borrowing outstanding, the Fund is required to maintain collateral in a special custody account at the Funds custodian on behalf of the lender. The Funds credit agreement contains customary covenants that, among other things, may limit the Funds 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 Funds ability to utilize borrowing under the agreement. Interest expense related to this loan for the six months ended April 30, 2016 was $689,774. For the six months ended April 30, 2016, based on the number of days during the reporting period that the Fund had a loan outstanding, the average daily loan balance was $132,300,000 and the weighted average interest rate was 1.05%. At April 30, 2016, the Fund had $132,300,000 of borrowings outstanding subject to the terms of this credit agreement.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 31 |
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (contd)
6. Mandatory redeemable preferred stock
On February 18, 2015, the Fund completed a private placement of $50,000,000 fixed rate Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Stock (MRPS). Net proceeds from the offering were used to make new portfolio investments and for general corporate purposes. Offering costs incurred by the Fund in connection with the MRPS issuance are being amortized to expense over the respective life of each series of MRPS.
The table below summarizes the key terms of each series of the MRPS at April 30, 2016.
Series | Term Redemption Date |
Rate | Shares | Liquidation Preference Per Share |
Aggregate Liquidation Value |
Estimated Fair Value |
||||||||||||||||||
Series A | 2/18/2020 | 3.29 | % | 400 | $ | 100,000 | $ | 40,000,000 | $ | 40,619,838 | ||||||||||||||
Series B | 2/18/2022 | 3.58 | % | 100 | $ | 100,000 | $ | 10,000,000 | $ | 10,195,151 |
The MRPS are not listed on any exchange or automated quotation system. The estimated fair value of the MRPS was calculated, for disclosure purposes, based on estimated market yields and credit spreads for comparable instruments with similar maturity, terms and structure. The MRPS are categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.
Holders of MRPS are entitled to receive quarterly cumulative cash dividends payable on the first business day following each quarterly dividend date (February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15). In the event of a rating downgrade of any series of the MRPS below A by Fitch Ratings Inc., the applicable dividend rate will increase, according to a predetermined schedule, by 0.5% to 4.0%.
The MRPS rank senior to the Funds outstanding common stock and on parity with any other preferred stock. The Fund may, at its option, redeem the MRPS, in whole or in part, at the liquidation preference amount plus all accumulated but unpaid dividends plus the make-whole amount equal to the discounted value of the remaining scheduled payments. If the Fund fails to maintain a total leverage (debt and preferred stock) asset coverage ratio of at least 225% or is in default of specified rating agency requirements, the MRPS are subject to mandatory redemption under certain provisions.
The Fund may not declare dividends or make other distributions on shares of its common stock unless the Fund has declared and paid full cumulative dividends on the MRPS, due on or prior to the date of the common stock dividend or distribution, and meets the MRPS asset coverage and rating agency requirements.
The holders of the MRPS have one vote per share and vote together with the holders of common stock of the Fund as a single class except on matters affecting only the holders of MRPS or the holders of common stock. Pursuant to the 1940 Act, holders of the MRPS have the right to elect two Directors of the Fund, voting separately as a class.
MRPS issued and outstanding remained constant during the period ended April 30, 2016.
32 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report |
7. Distributions subsequent to April 30, 2016
The following distributions to common shareholders have been declared by the Funds Board of Directors and are payable subsequent to the period end of this report:
Record Date | Payable Date | Amount | ||||||
5/20/2016 | 5/27/2016 | $ | 0.1100 | |||||
6/17/2016 | 6/24/2016 | $ | 0.0900 | |||||
7/22/2016 | 7/29/2016 | $ | 0.0900 | |||||
8/19/2016 | 8/26/2016 | $ | 0.0900 |
8. Stock repurchase program
On November 16, 2015, the Fund announced that the Funds Board of Directors (the Board) had authorized the Fund to repurchase in the open market up to approximately 10% of the Funds outstanding common stock when the Funds shares are trading at a discount to net asset value. The Board has 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. During the period ended April 30, 2016, the Fund did not repurchase any shares pursuant to the stock repurchase program.
9. Deferred capital losses
As of October 31, 2015, the Fund had deferred capital losses of $3,813,518, which have no expiration date, that will be available to offset future taxable capital gains.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. 2016 Semi-Annual Report | 33 |
Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited)
Background
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), requires that the Board of Directors (the Board) of Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. (the Fund), including a majority of its members who are not considered to be interested persons under the 1940 Act (the Independent Directors) voting separately, approve on an annual basis the continuation of the investment management contract (the Management Agreement) with the Funds manager, Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (the Manager), and the sub-advisory agreement (the Sub-Advisory Agreement) with the Managers affiliate, Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC (Brandywine), the Funds sub-adviser. At a meeting (the Contract Renewal Meeting) held in-person on November 11 and 12, 2015, the Board, including the Independent Directors, considered and approved the continuation of each of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year term. To assist in its consideration of the renewals of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board received and considered a variety of information (together with the information provided at the Contract Renewal Meeting, the Contract Renewal Information) about the Manager and Brandywine, as well as the management and sub-advisory arrangements for the Fund and the other closed-end funds in the same complex under the Boards supervision (collectively, the Legg Mason Closed-end Funds), certain portions of which are discussed below. A presentation made by the Manager and Brandywine to the Board at the Contract Renewal Meeting in connection with its evaluations of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement encompassed the Fund and other Legg Mason Closed-end Funds. In addition to the Contract Renewal Information, the Board received performance and other information throughout the year related to the respective services rendered by the Manager and Brandywine to the Fund. The Boards evaluation took into account the information received throughout the year and also reflected the knowledge and familiarity gained as members of the Boards of the Fund and other Legg Mason Closed-end Funds with respect to the services provided to the Fund by the Manager and Brandywine.
The Manager provides the Fund with investment advisory and administrative services pursuant to the Management Agreement and Brandywine provides the Fund with certain investment sub-advisory services pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement. The discussion below covers both the advisory and administrative functions being rendered by the Manager, each such function being encompassed by the Management Agreement, and the investment sub-advisory functions being rendered by Brandywine.
Board approval of management agreement and sub-advisory agreement
In its deliberations regarding renewal of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Directors, considered the factors below.
Nature, extent and quality of the services under the management agreement and sub-advisory agreement
The Board received and considered Contract Renewal Information regarding the nature, extent, and quality of services provided to the Fund by the Manager and Brandywine under
34 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. |
the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, respectively, during the past year. The Board also reviewed Contract Renewal Information regarding the Funds compliance policies and procedures established pursuant to the 1940 Act. The Board reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of the Funds senior personnel and the portfolio management team primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board also considered, based on its knowledge of the Manager and its affiliates, the Contract Renewal Information and the Boards discussions with the Manager and Brandywine at the Contract Renewal Meeting, the general reputation and investment performance records of the Manager, Brandywine and their affiliates and the financial resources available to the corporate parent of the Manager and Brandywine, Legg Mason, Inc. (Legg Mason), to support their activities in respect of the Fund and the other Legg Mason Closed-end Funds.
The Board reviewed the responsibilities of the Manager and Brandywine under the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, respectively, including the Managers coordination and oversight of the services provided to the Fund by Brandywine and others. The Management Agreement permits the Manager to delegate certain of its responsibilities, including its investment advisory duties thereunder, provided that the Manager, in each case, will supervise the activities of the delegee. Pursuant to this provision of the Management Agreement, the Manager does not provide day-to-day portfolio management services to the Fund. Rather, portfolio management services for the Fund are provided by Brandywine pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
In reaching its determinations regarding continuation of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Board took into account that Fund shareholders, in pursuing their investment goals and objectives, likely purchased their shares based upon the reputation and the investment style, philosophy and strategy of the Manager and Brandywine, as well as the resources available to the Manager and Brandywine.
The Board concluded that, overall, the nature, extent, and quality of the management and other services provided to the Fund under the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement have been satisfactory under the circumstances.
Fund performance
The Board received and considered performance information and analyses (the Lipper Performance Information) for the Fund, as well as for a group of funds (the Performance Universe) selected by Lipper, Inc. (Lipper), an independent provider of investment company data. The Board was provided with a description of the methodology Lipper used to determine the similarity of the Fund with the funds included in the Performance Universe. The Performance Universe included the Fund and all leveraged global income closed-end funds, as classified by Lipper, regardless of asset size. The Performance Universe consisted of twelve funds, including the Fund, for the 1-year period ended June 30, 2015 and 11 funds, including the Fund, for the 3-year period ended such date. The Board noted that it
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. | 35 |
Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited) (contd)
had received and discussed with the Manager and Brandywine information throughout the year at periodic intervals comparing the Funds performance against its benchmark and its peer funds as selected by Lipper.
The Lipper Performance Information comparing the Funds performance to that of the Performance Universe based on net asset value per share showed, among other things, that the Funds performance was ranked eleventh among the funds in the Performance Universe for the 1-year period ended June 30, 2015 (first being best in these performance rankings) and was ranked seventh among the funds in the Performance Universe for the 3-year period ended such date. The Funds performance for each of the 1- and 3-year periods ended June 30, 2015 was worse than the Performance Universe median for that period. The Manager noted that the Funds allocations to local currency emerging market bonds were the largest detractors from its performance during the 1-year period. The Board noted that the small number of funds in the Performance Universe and Brandywines distinctive investment approach and strategies made meaningful performance comparisons difficult. In addition to the Funds performance relative to the Performance Universe, the Board considered the Funds performance in absolute terms and the Funds performance relative to its benchmark for each of the 1- and 3-year periods ended June 30, 2015. On a net asset value basis, the Fund underperformed its benchmark for the 1-year period ended June 30, 2015 but outperformed its benchmark for the 3-year period ended such date. The Manager noted that the Funds performance relative to its benchmark was impaired significantly for the 1-year period by core positions in local currency sovereign bonds in Mexico, South Africa, Indonesia and Brazil.
Based on the reviews and discussions of Fund performance and considering other relevant factors, including those noted above, the Board concluded, under the circumstances, that continuation of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement for an additional one-year period would be consistent with the interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Management fees and expense ratios
The Board reviewed and considered the management fee (the Management Fee) payable by the Fund to the Manager under the Management Agreement and the sub-advisory fee (the Sub-Advisory Fee) payable to Brandywine under the Sub-Advisory Agreement in light of the nature, extent and overall quality of the management, investment advisory and other services provided by the Manager and Brandywine. The Board noted that the Sub-Advisory Fee is paid by the Manager, not the Fund, and, accordingly, that the retention of Brandywine does not increase the fees or expenses otherwise incurred by the Funds shareholders.
Additionally, the Board received and considered information and analyses prepared by Lipper (the Lipper Expense Information) comparing the Management Fee and the Funds overall expenses with those of funds in an expense group (the Expense Group) selected and provided by Lipper. The comparison was based upon the constituent funds latest fiscal
36 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. |
years. The Expense Group consisted of the Fund and five other leveraged global income closed-end funds, as classified by Lipper. The seven funds in the Expense Universe had average net common share assets ranging from $110.8 million to the Funds $420.1 million.
The Lipper Expense Information, comparing the Management Fee as well as the Funds actual total expenses to the Funds Expense Group, showed, among other things, that the Management Fee on a contractual basis was ranked third among the funds in the Expense Universe (first being lowest and, therefore, best in these expense component rankings). The Funds actual Management Fee (i.e., giving effect to any voluntary fee waivers implemented by the Manager with respect to the Fund and by the managers of the other Expense Universe funds) was ranked third among the funds in the Expense Group whether compared on common share assets only basis or on the basis of common share and leveraged assets. The Funds actual total expenses ranked second among the funds in the Expense Group compared on the basis of common share assets only and ranked third among the funds in the Expense Group compared on the basis of common share and leveraged assets. Each of the Funds expense components was at or better (i.e., lower) than the Expense Group median for that expense component. The Board noted that the small number of funds in the Expense Group made meaningful expense comparisons difficult.
The Board also reviewed Contract Renewal Information regarding fees charged by the Manager to other U.S. clients investing primarily in an asset class similar to that of the Fund, including, where applicable, institutional and separate accounts. The Board was advised that the fees paid by such institutional, separate account and other clients (collectively, institutional clients) generally are lower, and may be significantly lower, than the Management Fee. The Contract Renewal Information discussed the significant differences in scope of services provided to the Fund and to institutional clients. Among other things, institutional clients have fewer compliance, administration and other needs than the Fund and the Fund is subject not only to heightened regulatory requirements relative to institutional clients but also to requirements for listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The Contract Renewal Information noted further that the Fund is provided with administrative services, office facilities, Fund officers (including the Funds chief executive, chief financial and chief compliance officers), and that the Manager coordinates and oversees the provision of services to the Fund by other fund service providers. The Contract Renewal Information included information regarding management fees paid by open-end mutual funds in the same complex (the Legg Mason Open-end Funds) and such information indicated that the management fees paid by the Legg Mason Closed-end Funds generally were higher than those paid by the Legg Mason Open-end Funds. The Manager, in response to an inquiry from the Board as to the reasons for the fee differential, provided information as to differences between the services provided to the Fund and the other Legg Mason Closed-end Funds and the services provided to the Legg Mason Open-end Funds. The Board considered the fee comparisons in light of the different services provided in managing these other types of clients and funds.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. | 37 |
Board approval of management and subadvisory agreements (unaudited) (contd)
Taking all of the above into consideration, the Board determined that the Management Fee and the Sub-Advisory Fee were reasonable in light of the nature, extent and overall quality of the management, investment advisory and other services provided to the Fund under the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement.
Manager profitability
The Board, as part of the Contract Renewal Information, received an analysis of the profitability to the Manager and its affiliates in providing services to the Fund for the Managers fiscal years ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014. The Board also received profitability information with respect to the Legg Mason fund complex as a whole. In addition, the Board received Contract Renewal Information with respect to the Managers revenue and cost allocation methodologies used in preparing such profitability data. The profitability to Brandywine was not considered to be a material factor in the Boards considerations since the Sub-Advisory Fee is paid by the Manager, not the Fund. The profitability analysis presented to the Board as part of the Contract Renewal Information indicated that profitability to the Manager had decreased by 2 percent during the period covered by the analysis and remained at a level that the Board did not consider to be excessive in light of judicial guidance and the nature, extent and overall quality of the investment advisory and other services provided to the Fund.
Economies of scale
The Board received and discussed Contract Renewal Information concerning whether the Manager realizes economies of scale if the Funds assets grow. The Board noted that because the Fund is a closed-end fund with no current plans to seek additional assets beyond maintaining its dividend reinvestment plan, any significant growth in its assets generally will occur through appreciation in the value of the Funds investment portfolio, rather than sales of additional shares in the Fund. The Board determined that the Management Fee structure, which incorporates no breakpoints reducing the Management Fee at specified increased asset levels, was appropriate under present circumstances.
Other benefits to the manager and brandywine
The Board considered other benefits received by the Manager, Brandywine and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund and did not regard such benefits as excessive.
* * * * * *
In light of all of the foregoing and other relevant factors, the Board determined, under the circumstances, that continuation of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement would be consistent with the interests of the Fund and its shareholders and unanimously voted to continue each Agreement for a period of one additional year. No single factor reviewed by the Board was identified by the Board as the principal factor in determining whether to approve continuation of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement, and each Board member may have attributed different weights to the
38 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. |
various factors. The Independent Directors were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. Prior to the Contract Renewal Meeting, the Board received a memorandum prepared by the Manager discussing its responsibilities in connection with the proposed continuation of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement as part of the Contract Renewal Information and the Independent Directors separately received a memorandum discussing such responsibilities from their independent counsel. Prior to voting, the Independent Directors also discussed the proposed continuation of the Management Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement in private sessions with their independent legal counsel at which no representatives of the Manager or Brandywine were present.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. | 39 |
Additional shareholder information (unaudited)
Results of annual meeting of shareholders
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. was held on February 26, 2016, for the purpose of considering and voting upon the election of Directors. The following table provides information concerning the matter voted upon at the Meeting:
Election of directors
Nominees | Common Shares and Preferred Shares, voting together, Voted for Election |
Common Shares and Preferred Shares, voting together, Withheld |
Preferred Voted for |
Preferred Shares, Withheld |
||||||||||||
Daniel P. Cronin | 17,742,469 | 656,172 | | | ||||||||||||
Paolo M. Cucchi | 17,720,046 | 678,595 | | | ||||||||||||
Jane E. Trust | 17,741,942 | 656,699 | | | ||||||||||||
Carol L. Colman | | | 320 | |
At April 30, 2016, in addition to Carol L. Colman, Daniel P. Cronin, Paolo M. Cucchi and Jane Trust, the other Directors of the Fund were as follows:
Robert D. Agdern
Leslie H. Gelb
William R. Hutchinson
Eileen A. Kamerick
Riordan Roett
40 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities 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, on your Common Stock will be automatically reinvested by Computershare Inc. (Computershare), as agent for the stockholders (the Plan Agent), in additional shares of Common Stock under the Funds 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 Inc. (Computershare), 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 on the record date (or, if the record date is not a NYSE trading day, the immediately preceding trading day) for determining stockholders eligible to receive the relevant dividend or distribution (the determination date) is equal to or exceeds 98% of the net asset value per share of the Common Stock, the Fund will issue new Common Stock at a price equal to the greater of (a) 98% of the net asset value per share at the close of trading on the NYSE on the determination date or (b) 95% of the market price per share of the Common Stock on the determination date.
(2) If 98% of the net asset value per share of the Common Stock exceeds the market price of the Common Stock on the determination 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 determination date and terminating no later than the earlier of (a) 30 days after the dividend or distribution payment date, or (b) the record 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 rises so that it equals or exceeds 98% of the net asset value per share of the Common Stock at the close of trading on the NYSE on the determination 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) 98% of the net asset value per share at the close of trading on the NYSE on the determination date 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 P.O. Box 30170, College Station, TX 77842-3170 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; otherwise such withdrawal will be effective as soon as practicable after the Plan Agents
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. | 41 |
Dividend reinvestment plan (unaudited) (contd)
investment of the most recently declared dividend or distribution on the Common Stock. 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 a certificate or certificates for the full number of shares of Common Stock held for you under the Plan and 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. You will be charged a service charge and the Plan Agent is authorized to deduct brokerage charges actually incurred for this transaction from the proceeds.
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 Funds 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. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. Additional information about the Plan and your account may be obtained from the Plan Agent at Computershare Inc., 211 Quality Circle, Suite 210 College Station, TX 77845-4470 or by telephone at 1-888-888-0151.
42 | Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc. |
Legg Mason
BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Directors
Robert D, Agdern
Carol L. Colman
Daniel P. Cronin
Paolo M. Cucchi
Leslie H. Gelb
William R. Hutchinson
Eileen A. Kamerick
Riordan Roett
Jane Trust
Chairman
Officers
Jane Trust
President
and Chief Executive Officer
Richard F. Sennett
Principal Financial Officer
Ted P. Becker
Chief Compliance Officer
Jenna Bailey
Identity Theft Prevention Officer
Robert I. Frenkel
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Thomas Mandia
Assistant Secretary
Steven Frank
Treasurer
Jeanne M. Kelly
Senior Vice President
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
620 Eighth Avenue
49th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Investment manager
Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
Subadviser
Brandywine Global Investment
Management, LLC
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
1 Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
Transfer agent
Computershare Inc.*
211 Quality Circle, Suite 210
College Station, TX 77845-4470
* | Effective March 14, 2016, Computershare Inc. serves as the Funds transfer agent. |
Independent registered public accounting firm
KPMG LLP
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
Legal counsel
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
New York Stock Exchange Symbol
BWG
Legg Mason Funds Privacy and Security Notice
Your Privacy and the Security of Your Personal Information is Very Important to the Legg Mason Funds
This Privacy and Security Notice (the Privacy Notice) addresses the Legg Mason Funds privacy and data protection practices with respect to nonpublic personal information the Funds receive. The Legg Mason Funds include any funds sold by the Funds distributor, Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, as well as Legg Mason-sponsored closed-end funds and certain closed-end funds managed or sub-advised by Legg Mason or its affiliates. The provisions of this Privacy Notice apply to your information both while you are a shareholder and after you are no longer invested with the Funds.
The Type of Nonpublic Personal Information the Funds Collect About You
The Funds collect and maintain nonpublic personal information about you in connection with your shareholder account. Such information may include, but is not limited to:
| Personal information included on applications or other forms; |
| Account balances, transactions, and mutual fund holdings and positions; |
| 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 individuals 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 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 marketing services solely for the Funds; |
| The Funds representatives such as legal counsel, accountants and auditors; and |
| 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 (contd)
Except as otherwise permitted by applicable law, companies acting on the Funds behalf are contractually obligated to keep nonpublic personal information the Funds provide to them confidential and to use the information the Funds share only to provide the services the Funds ask them to perform.
The Funds may disclose nonpublic personal information about you when necessary to enforce their rights or protect against fraud, or as permitted or required by applicable law, such as in connection with a law enforcement or regulatory request, subpoena, or similar legal process. In the event of a corporate action or in the event a Fund service provider changes, the Funds may be required to disclose your nonpublic personal information to third parties. While it is the Funds practice to obtain protections for disclosed information in these types of transactions, the Funds cannot guarantee their privacy policy will remain unchanged.
Keeping You Informed of the Funds Privacy and Security Practices
The Funds will notify you annually of their privacy policy as required by federal law. While the Funds reserve the right to modify this policy at any time they will notify you promptly if this privacy policy changes.
The Funds Security Practices
The Funds maintain appropriate physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to guard your nonpublic personal information. The Funds internal data security policies restrict access to your 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, or if you have questions about the Funds privacy practices, write the Funds using the contact information on your account statements, email the Funds by clicking on the Contact Us section of the Funds website at www.lmef.com, or contact the Fund at 1-888-777-0102.
NOT PART OF THE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT |
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
620 Eighth Avenue
49th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that from time to time the Fund may purchase, at market prices, shares of its 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 on Form N-Q. The Funds Forms N-Q are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. The Funds Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. To obtain information on Form N-Q from the Fund, shareholders can call 1-888-777-0102.
Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-777-0102, (2) at www.lmcef.com and (3) on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
This report is transmitted to the shareholders of Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities 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.
211 Quality Circle, Suite 210
College Station, TX 77845-4470
LMFX014702 6/16 SR16-2794
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 POLOCIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not Applicable.
ITEM 8. | INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
(a) | Not applicable. |
(b) | Since February 11, 2016, Tracy Chen became a portfolio manager of the Fund. |
NAME AND |
LENGTH OF |
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING PAST 5 YEARS | ||
Tracy Chen
Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC
2929 Arch Street, 8th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104 |
Since February 11, 2016 | As a portfolio manager and head of structured credit, Tracy is responsible for conducting credit analysis on mortgage-backed and other structured securities, with special emphasis on collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), and other structured products. She also monitors and analyzes the investment merits of global corporate debt issues. She joined Brandywine Global Investment Management, LLC in August 2008. Prior to joining Brandywine Global, she was with UBS Investment Bank as director of the fixed income valuation group (2006-2008), GMAC Mortgage Group as a mortgage pricing analyst (2003-2006), Deloitte Consulting as a senior corporate strategy consultant (2001-2003), and J&A Securities Ltd. in Shenzhen, China as an international corporate finance associate (1995-1999). Tracy earned an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina, an M.A. in American Studies from Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, and a B.A. in English for Scientific Purposes from University of Electronic Science & Technology of China in Chengdu, China. Tracy is a CFA® charterholder and earned the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) charter in 2010. |
The following tables set forth certain additional information with respect to the above named funds investment professional responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Funds portfolio management team for the fund. Unless noted otherwise, all information is provided as of April 30, 2016.
Other Accounts Managed by Investment Professional
The table below identifies the number of accounts (other than the fund) for which the below named funds investment professional has day-to-day management responsibilities and the total assets in such accounts, within each of the following categories: registered investment companies, other pooled investment vehicles, and other accounts. For each category, the number of accounts and total assets in the accounts where fees are based on performance is also indicated.
Name of PM |
Type of Account |
Number of Accounts Managed |
Total Assets Managed |
Number of Accounts Managed for which Advisory Fee is Performance- Based |
Assets Managed for which Advisory Fee is Performance- Based |
|||||||||
Tracy Chen | Other Registered Investment Companies | 1 | $ | 569 million | None | None | ||||||||
Other Pooled Vehicles | 3 | $ | 152 million | 1 | $ | 39 million | ||||||||
Other Accounts | 1 | $ | 86 million | None | None |
(a)(3): Portfolio Manager Compensation
The Funds portfolio managers compensation includes a fixed base salary coupled with a bonus which is based on 1) the managers portfolio pre-tax performance versus the global fixed-income peer universe constructed by the Frank Russell Company, 2) the overall profitability of all portfolios managed by the portfolio managers, and 3) Brandywines overall profitability. The global fixed-income peer universe includes discretionary separate accounts, commingled funds, and mutual funds (gross of fees) managed for U.S. dollar oriented investors. Portfolios are measured against a global unhedged performance benchmark (measured in U.S. dollars) and have no significant currency or bond market restrictions. The comparison to the global fixed-income peer universe includes one quarter, one year, three year and five year time periods. The bonus calculation treats every account under the portfolio managers direction in the same manner, including the Fund.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
LMPFA, Brandywine and portfolio managers have interests which may conflict with the interests of the Fund. There is no guarantee that the policies and procedures adopted by LMPFA, Brandywine and the Fund will be able to identify or mitigate these conflicts of interest.
Some examples of material conflicts of interest include:
Allocation of Limited Time and Attention. A portfolio manager who is responsible for managing multiple funds and/or accounts may devote unequal time and attention to the management of those funds and/or accounts. A portfolio manager may not be able to formulate as complete a strategy or identify equally attractive investment opportunities for each of those funds and accounts as might be the case if he or she were to devote substantially more attention to the management of a single fund. Such a portfolio manager may make general determinations across multiple funds, rather than tailoring a unique approach for each fund. The effects of this conflict may be more pronounced where funds and/or accounts overseen by a particular portfolio manager have different investment strategies.
Allocation of Limited Investment Opportunities; Aggregation of Orders. If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds and/or accounts, the opportunity may be allocated among these several funds or accounts, which may limit the Funds ability to take full advantage of the investment opportunity. Additionally, Brandywine may aggregate transaction orders for
multiple accounts for purpose of execution. Such aggregation may cause the price or brokerage costs to be less favorable to a particular client than if similar transactions were not being executed concurrently for other accounts. In addition, Brandywines trade allocation policies may result in the Funds orders not being fully executed or being delayed in execution.
Pursuit of Differing Strategies. At times, a portfolio manager may determine that an investment opportunity may be appropriate for only some of the funds and/or accounts for which he or she exercises investment responsibility, or may decide that certain of the funds and/or accounts should take differing positions with respect to a particular security. In these cases, the portfolio manager may place separate transactions for one or more funds or accounts which may affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the detriment or benefit of one or more other funds and/or accounts. For example, a portfolio manager may determine that it would be in the interest of another account to sell a security that the fund holds long, potentially resulting in a decrease in the market value of the security held by the fund.
Cross Trades. Portfolio managers may manage funds that engage in cross trades, where one of the managers funds or accounts sells a particular security to another fund or account managed by the same manager. Cross trades may pose conflicts of interest because of, for example, the possibility that one account sells a security to another account at a higher price than an independent third party would pay or otherwise enters into a transaction that it would not enter into with an independent party, such as the sale of a difficult-to-obtain security.
Selection of Broker/Dealers. Portfolio managers may select or influence the selection of the brokers and dealers that are used to execute securities transactions for the funds and/or accounts that they supervise. In addition to executing trades, some brokers and dealers provide Brandywine with brokerage and research services. These services may be taken into account in the selection of brokers and dealers whether a broker is being selected to effect a trade on an agency basis for a commission or (as is normally the case for the funds) whether a dealer is being selected to effect a trade on a principal basis. This may result in the payment of higher brokerage fees and/or execution at a less favorable price than might have otherwise been available. The services obtained may ultimately be more beneficial to certain of the managers funds or accounts than to others (but not necessarily to the funds that pay the increased commission or incur the less favorable execution). A decision as to the selection of brokers and dealers could therefore yield disproportionate costs and benefits among the funds and/or accounts managed.
Variation in Financial and Other Benefits. A conflict of interest arises where the financial or other benefits available to a portfolio manager differ among the funds and/or accounts that he or she manages. If the amount or structure of the investment managers management fee and/or a portfolio managers compensation differs among funds and/or accounts (such as where certain funds or accounts pay higher management fees or performance-based management fees), the portfolio manager might be motivated to help certain funds and/or accounts over others. Similarly, the desire to maintain assets under management or to enhance the portfolio managers performance record or to derive other rewards, financial or otherwise, could influence the portfolio manager in affording preferential treatment to those funds and/or accounts that could most significantly benefit the portfolio manager. A portfolio manager may, for example, have an incentive to allocate favorable or limited opportunity investments or structure the timing of investments to favor such funds and/or accounts. Also, a portfolio managers or the LMPFAs or Brandywines desire to increase assets under management could influence the portfolio manager to keep a fund open for new investors without regard to potential benefits of closing the fund to new investors. Additionally, the portfolio manager might be motivated to favor funds and/or accounts in which he or she has an ownership interest or in which the investment manager and/or its affiliates have ownership interests. Conversely, if a portfolio manager does not personally hold an investment in the fund, the portfolio managers conflicts of interest with respect to the Fund may be more acute.
Related Business Opportunities. LMPFA or its affiliates may provide more services (such as distribution or recordkeeping) for some types of funds or accounts than for others. In such cases, a portfolio manager may benefit, either directly or indirectly, by devoting disproportionate attention to the management of funds and/or accounts that provide greater overall returns to the investment manager and its affiliates.
A portfolio manager may also face other potential conflicts of interest in managing the Fund, and the description above is not a complete description of every conflict of interest that could be deemed to exist in managing both a Fund and the other accounts listed above.
Portfolio Manager Securities Ownership
The table below identifies the dollar range of securities beneficially owned by each portfolio manager as of April 30, 2016.
Portfolio Manager(s) |
Dollar Range of Portfolio Securities Beneficially Owned | |
Tracy Chen | A |
Dollar Range ownership is as follows:
A: none
B: $1 - $10,000
C: 10,001 - $50,000
D: $50,001 - $100,000
E: $100,001 - $500,000
F: $500,001 - $1 million
G: over $1 million
ITEM 9. | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS. |
Not Applicable.
ITEM 10. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. |
Not Applicable.
ITEM 11. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. |
(a) | The registrants principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the registrants 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 registrants 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 registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
ITEM 12. | 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.
Legg Mason BW Global Income Opportunities Fund Inc.
By: | /s/ Jane Trust | |
Jane Trust | ||
Chief Executive Officer | ||
Date: | June 20, 2016 |
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 20, 2016 | |
By: | /s/ Richard F. Sennett | |
Richard F. Sennett | ||
Principal Financial Officer | ||
Date: | June 20, 2016 |