WA Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-22334

 

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

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

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

 

Robert I. Frenkel, Esq.

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

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

Date of fiscal year end: October 31

Date of reporting period: October 31, 2015

 

 

 


ITEM 1. REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

The Annual Report to Stockholders is filed herewith.


LOGO

 

Annual Report   October 31, 2015

WESTERN ASSET

GLOBAL CORPORATE DEFINED OPPORTUNITY FUND INC. (GDO)

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

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


What’s inside      
Letter from the chairman     II   
Investment commentary     III   
Fund overview     1   
Fund at a glance     7   
Spread duration     8   
Effective duration     9   
Schedule of investments     10   
Statement of assets and liabilities     24   
Statement of operations     25   
Statements of changes in net assets     26   
Statement of cash flows     27   
Financial highlights     28   
Notes to financial statements     29   
Report of independent registered public
accounting firm
 

 

45

  

Additional information     46   
Annual chief executive officer and principal financial officer certifications     52   
Other shareholder communications regarding accounting matters     53   
Dividend reinvestment plan     54   
Important tax information     56   

 

Fund objectives

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

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

 

Letter from the chairman

 

LOGO

 

Dear Shareholder,

We are pleased to provide the annual report of Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. for the twelve-month reporting period ended October 31, 2015. Please read on for a detailed look at prevailing economic and market conditions during the Fund’s reporting period and to learn how those conditions have affected Fund performance.

I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, succeeding Kenneth D. Fuller. I am honored to have been appointed to my new role. During my 27 year career with Legg Mason, I have seen the investment management industry evolve and expand. Throughout these changes, maintaining an unwavering focus on our shareholders and their needs has remained paramount.

As always, we remain committed to providing you with excellent service and a full spectrum of investment choices. We also remain committed to supplementing the support you receive from your financial advisor. One way we accomplish this is through our website, www.lmcef.com. Here you can gain immediate access to market and investment information, including:

 

 

Fund prices and performance,

 

 

Market insights and commentaries from our portfolio managers, and

 

 

A host of educational resources.

We look forward to helping you meet your financial goals.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Jane Trust, CFA

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

November 27, 2015

 

II    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


Investment commentary

 

Economic review

The pace of U.S. economic activity was mixed during the twelve months ended October 31, 2015 (the “reporting period”). Looking back, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s revised figures showed that fourth quarter 2014 U.S. gross domestic product (“GDP”)i growth was 2.1%. First quarter 2015 GDP growth then moderated to 0.6%. This was attributed to a number of factors, including a deceleration in personal consumption expenditures (“PCE”), along with negative contributions from exports, nonresidential fixed investment, and state and local government spending. Economic activity then accelerated, as second quarter 2015 GDP growth was 3.9%. The upturn was driven by increasing exports, accelerating PCE, declining imports, expanding state and local government spending, and rising nonresidential fixed investment. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s second reading for third quarter 2015 GDP growth — released after the reporting period ended — was 2.1%. Decelerating growth was primarily due to a downturn in private inventory investment and decelerations in exports, PCE, nonresidential fixed investment, state and local government spending, and residential fixed investment.

The labor market significantly improved and was a tailwind for the economy during the reporting period. When the period began, unemployment was 5.8%, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. By October 2015, unemployment was 5.0%, its lowest level since April 2008.

Turning to the global economy, in its October 2015 World Economic Outlook Update, the International Monetary Fund (“IMF”) said “Prospects across the main countries and regions remain uneven. Relative to last year, the recovery in advanced economies is expected to pick up slightly, while activity in emerging market and developing economies is projected to slow for the fifth year in a row, primarily reflecting weaker prospects for some large emerging market economies and oil-exporting countries.” From a regional perspective, the IMF projects that 2015 growth in the Eurozone will be 1.5%, versus 0.9% in 2014. Japan’s economy is expected to expand 0.6% in 2015, compared to a contraction of -0.1% in 2014. Elsewhere, the IMF said that overall growth in emerging market countries will decelerate in 2015, with growth of 4.0% versus 4.6% in 2014.

The Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”)ii took a number of actions as it sought to meet its dual mandate of fostering maximum employment and price stability. As it has since December 2008, the Fed maintained the federal funds rateiii at a historically low range between zero and 0.25% during the twelve months ended October 31, 2015. However, in October 2014 the Fed ended its asset purchase program that was announced in December 2012. In December 2014, the Fed said that “…it can be patient in beginning to normalize the stance of monetary policy.” At its meeting that concluded on July 29, 2015, the Fed said, “The Committee currently anticipates that, even after employment and inflation are near mandate-consistent levels, economic conditions may, for some time, warrant keeping the target federal funds rate below levels the Committee views as normal in the longer run.” At its meeting that concluded on October 28, 2015, the Fed said, “In determining whether it will be appropriate

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.   III


Investment commentary (cont’d)

 

to raise the target range at its next meeting, the Committee will assess progress — both realized and expected — toward its objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation.”

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. The ECB reduced rates in June and September 2014, prior to the reporting period. Then, in January 2015 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 other developed countries, the Bank of England kept rates on hold at 0.50% during the reporting period, as did Japan at a range of zero to 0.10%, its lowest level since 2006. At the end of October 2014, the Bank of Japan announced that it would increase its asset purchases between 10 trillion yen and 20 trillion yen ($90.7 billion to $181.3 billion) to approximately 80 trillion yen ($725 billion) annually, in an attempt to stimulate growth. Elsewhere, after holding rates steady at 6.0% since July 2012, the People’s Bank of China lowered rates six times from November 23, 2014 through the end of the reporting period. The last reduction on October 23, 2015 pushed the rate down to 4.35%.

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

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Jane Trust, CFA

Chairman, President and

Chief Executive Officer

November 27, 2015

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

 

IV    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


Fund overview

 

Q. What is the Fund’s investment strategy?

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

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its managed assets in a portfolio of U.S. and foreign corporate fixed-income securities of varying maturities. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 40% of its managed assets in fixed-income securities of foreign issuers organized or having a principal place of business outside the United States, including in emerging market countries. In addition, the Fund may invest up to 35% of its managed assets in fixed-income securities of below investment grade quality. Below investment grade fixed income securities are commonly known as “high yield” or “junk” bonds.

Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to maintain, on an ongoing basis, a dollar-weighted average credit quality of portfolio holdings of investment grade quality. When choosing investments, Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”), the Fund’s subadviser, focuses on corporate securities that exhibit pricing inefficiencies, improving credit conditions that offer income opportunities and the potential for high real yields.

At Western Asset, we utilize a fixed-income team approach, with decisions derived from interaction among various investment management sector specialists. The sector teams are comprised of Western Asset’s senior portfolio management personnel, research analysts and an in-house economist. Under this team approach, management of client fixed-income portfolios will reflect a consensus of interdisciplinary views within the Western Asset organization. The individuals responsible for development of investment strategy, day-to-day portfolio management, oversight and coordination of the Fund are S. Kenneth Leech, Michael C. Buchanan, Andrew J. Belshaw, Christopher Orndorff, Paul Shuttleworth, Christopher F. Kilpatrick and Chia-Liang (CL) Lian. On April 30, 2015, Mr. Lian became Head of the Emerging Markets Debt team.

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

A. Most spread sectors (non-Treasuries) posted positive returns, but generated mixed results versus equal-durationi Treasuries over the twelve months ended October 31, 2015. The fixed income market was volatile at times given mixed global economic data, uncertainties regarding future Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”)ii monetary policy and a number of geopolitical issues. Assuming greater risk was generally not rewarded during the reporting period.

Regarding the global credit markets for the twelve months ended October 31, 2015, we began the period with energy oversupply concerns and weak commodity prices. Against this backdrop, spread sectors were widening to more appropriately reflect slowing global growth concerns. The winds shifted during the first half of 2015 as energy prices, high-yield corporate bonds and emerging markets debt stabilized and then rallied. During the summer of 2015, we

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   1


Fund overview (cont’d)

 

experienced another shift to heightened volatility, falling commodity prices, fears over global growth, reduced liquidity and uncertainty surrounding Fed interest rate policy. However, as the reporting period ended, sentiment shifted to a more risk-on environment as investors seemed energized by more compelling valuations.

Short-term Treasury yields moved higher, whereas long-term Treasury yields declined during the twelve months ended October 31, 2015. Two-year Treasury yields rose from 0.50% at the beginning of the period to 0.75% at the end of the period. Their peak of 0.82% occurred in mid-September 2015 and they were as low as 0.44% on January 15, 2015. Ten-year Treasury yields were 2.35% at the beginning of the period and ended the period at 2.16%. Their peak of 2.50% was on June 10, 2015 and their low of 1.68% occurred at the end of January and early February 2015.

All told, the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Indexiii, returned 1.96% during the reporting period. Global high-yield bonds and emerging market debt generated weaker results. Over the reporting period, the Barclays Global High Yield Index (Hedged)iv returned 0.26% and the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Bond Index Global (“EMBI Global”)v returned -0.50%.

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

A. We maintained the general theme of a higher quality global levered credit mandate with an emphasis on the Financials sector. That being said, we did make a number of adjustments to the portfolio during the reporting period. We increased our exposure to global investment-grade corporate bonds by roughly 5%, ending the period at 49.8%. We maintained our exposure to global high-yield corporate bonds, ending the period at roughly 30%. Finally, we marginally decreased our exposure to emerging market debt (ending the period at approximately 15%) and structured products (ending the period at roughly 2%).

From a quality prospective, the Fund continued to allocate roughly two-thirds of its portfolio in investment-grade rated bonds. However, within our high-yield corporate bond allocation, we increased the quality of our holdings by adding BB-rated exposure while paring our allocation to CCC and below rated bonds. From a sector prospective, we continued to emphasize Financials, and modestly added to our exposure to the sector during the reporting period. We added to our Communications1 exposure, as it is historically seen as a more defensive sector, with consistent cash flows. This helped to offset some of the more volatile Energy exposure we added to, as valuations in the sector became more compelling. We ended the reporting period with roughly an 11% allocation in the Energy sector, with a majority of this in investment-grade rated issuers. Additionally, we actively participated in the new issuance market by selectively purchasing securities that we felt were attractively valued.

We continued to emphasize credit risk over interest rate risk during the reporting period. However, we increased the duration of the portfolio because we felt rates could rally during periods of heightened volatility. The Fund ended the reporting period with a

 

1 

Communications consists of the following industries: Media — Cable, Media — Non-Cable and Telecommunications.

 

2    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


gross effective durationvi position of roughly 4.6 years, up from last year’s by approximately 0.6 years. For comparison purposes, a typical below investment grade bond fund has less duration (4.25 years). During the reporting period, we employed U.S. Treasury futures to manage the Fund’s duration. These futures contracts were a positive to performance. Currency forwards and currency futures and options were primarily used to hedge the Fund’s euro- and pound-denominated bonds back to U.S. dollars. Overall, these currency hedges had a material positive impact on performance. As we anticipated, the U.S. dollar strengthened versus the euro during the reporting period as the European Central Bankvii embarked on a U.S.-inspired quantitative easing program. Overall, the use of derivative instruments had a positive impact on the Fund’s performance during the reporting period.

The use of leverage was tactically managed during the reporting period. We ended the period with leverage at 22.6% of the gross assets of the Fund, versus 20.5% at the beginning of the period. Overall, the use of leverage was a slight positive for performance during the twelve months ended October 31, 2015 given the positive gross performance of the assets of the Fund.

Finally, we opportunistically repurchased shares of the Fund in the open market during times of heightened volatility during the reporting period. We repurchased 276,119 of the Fund’s shares for roughly $4.7 million, which we felt offered an attractive discount to net asset value (“NAV”)viii.

Performance review

For the twelve months ended October 31, 2015, Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. returned -0.17% based on its NAV and 1.88% based on its New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) market price per share. The Fund’s unmanaged benchmark, the Barclays Global Aggregate Corporate Indexix, returned -2.54% for the same period. The Lipper Global Income Closed-End Funds Category Averagex returned -3.83% over the same time frame. Please note that Lipper performance returns are based on each fund’s NAV.

During the twelve-month period, the Fund made distributions to shareholders totaling $1.36 per share.* The performance table shows the Fund’s twelve-month total return based on its NAV and market price as of October 31, 2015. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

Performance Snapshot as of October 31, 2015  
Price Per Share  

12-Month

Total Return**

 
$18.81 (NAV)     -0.17 %† 
$17.17 (Market Price)     1.88 %‡ 

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

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

 

* For the tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2015, please refer to page 43 of this report.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   3


Fund overview (cont’d)

 

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

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

Q. What were the leading contributors to performance?

A. While we have always managed the Fund as a higher quality global levered credit mandate, we will discuss the portfolio in relation to the Fund’s unmanaged and unlevered benchmark. The largest contributor to the Fund’s relative performance during the reporting period was our decision to hedge and, at times, over-hedge our previously mentioned Eurozone currency exposure back to U.S. dollars. We ended the period with a relatively modest net 1.9% short position versus the euro.

A number of the portfolio’s investment-grade corporate bonds were also additive to performance. Examples of holdings that contributed to results were overweight positions in JPMorgan Chase & Co., Barclays Bank PLC and Wells Fargo & Co. We favored large money center banks that we believed would continue to post consistent fundamental results, along with increased capital ratios. In addition, they are still constrained by regulators from returning excessive amounts of capital to shareholders — a positive for fixed income investors.

The Fund’s out-of-benchmark and primarily investment-grade exposure to emerging market debt was also rewarded. Examples of holdings that generated strong results were overweight positions in Russian telecommunication company, Vimpel Communications, and Russian metals and mining firm, EVRAZ Group. Both issuers benefited as Russia moved off the geopolitical main stage. In addition, Vimpel Communications benefited from mergers and acquisitions by reducing exposure in its Italian wireless operation.

Overall, the Fund’s out-of-benchmark exposure to high-yield corporate bonds did not have a material impact on results. The outperformance of our higher quality, high-yield issues roughly offset the underperformance from our CCC and below rated exposure. That being said, several of our high-yield corporate bond holdings were additive to performance, including an overweight allocation to International Lease Finance Corp. (“ILFC”). Global aircraft leasing firm ILFC was purchased by a competitor, Aercap, prior to the reporting period. We felt the combined entity was well positioned and proceeded to post strong fundamental results and de-levered faster than the market anticipated. Our position in ILFC bonds posted positive total returns during the reporting period.

Q. What were the leading detractors from performance?

A. While the Fund outperformed its benchmark and peer group during the reporting period, a number of individual holdings detracted from results. In the high-yield corporate bond market, falling oil and commodity prices, due to an increase in supply, coupled with fears of lower global demand and slowing global growth, sent several of our positions lower. In particular, overweight positions in specific energy issuers, including Halcon Resources Corp., California Resources Corp. (“Calres”), and Murray Energy Corp., were negative for results. Overweights to energy issuers such as Halcon Resources Corp. and Calres were

 

4    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


not rewarded during the period, as lower oil prices sent the price of its bonds lower. Coal company Murray Energy Corp. recently posted underwhelming fundamental results despite being the industry’s low-cost producer, sending our bonds lower.

In terms of the Fund’s emerging market exposure, its overweight to Brazil was a detractor from performance. Slowing growth, currency volatility, weak commodity prices and political uncertainty negatively impacted our positions relative to the benchmark. Overweight positions in quasi-sovereign energy producer Petrobras Global Finance BV, telecommunications provider Oi SA and iron ore producer Vale Overseas Ltd. are examples of detractors.

Elsewhere, while the Fund’s allocation to investment-grade corporate bonds performed well overall during the reporting period, its overweight position in Transocean, Inc. was a drag on results. This offshore drilling company was hurt by declining oil prices and downgraded to high-yield during the reporting period sending its bond prices lower. We sold the Fund’s position in Transocean toward the end of the reporting period and its bonds have continued to move lower post our sale.

Looking for additional information?

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

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

Thank you for your investment in Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. As always, we appreciate that you have chosen us to manage your assets and we remain focused on achieving the Fund’s investment goals.

Sincerely,

Western Asset Management Company

November 17, 2015

RISKS: Fixed-income securities are subject to credit risk, inflation risk, call risk and interest rate risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall, reducing the value of the Fund’s holdings. The Fund may invest in lower-rated high-yield bonds, known as “junk bonds,” which are subject to greater credit risk (risk of default) than higher-rated obligations. Investments in foreign securities involve risks, including the possibility of losses due to changes in currency exchange rates and negative developments in the political, economic or regulatory structure of specific countries or regions. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. The Fund may make significant investments in derivative instruments. Derivative instruments can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses, and have a potentially large impact on Fund performance. Leverage may result in greater volatility of NAV and the market price of common shares and increases a shareholder’s risk of loss.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   5


Fund overview (cont’d)

 

 

Portfolio holdings and breakdowns are as of October 31, 2015 and are subject to change and may not be representative of the portfolio managers’ current or future investments. Please refer to pages 10 through 23 for a list and percentage breakdown of the Fund’s holdings.

The mention of sector breakdowns is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell any securities. The information provided regarding such sectors is not a sufficient basis upon which to make an investment decision. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies discussed should consult their financial professional. The Fund’s top five sector holdings (as a percentage of net assets) as of October 31, 2015 were: Financials (39.9%), Telecommunication Services (14.6%), Energy (14.0%), Consumer Discretionary (10.9%) and Materials (10.3%). The Fund’s portfolio composition is subject to change at any time.

All investments are subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. Please note that an investor cannot invest directly in an index.

The information provided is not intended to be a forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results or investment advice. Views expressed may differ from those of the firm as a whole.

 

i 

Duration is the measure of the price sensitivity of a fixed-income security to an interest rate change of 100 basis points. Calculation is based on the weighted average of the present values for all cash flows.

 

ii 

The Federal Reserve Board (“Fed”) is responsible for the formulation of U.S. policies designed to promote economic growth, full employment, stable prices, and a sustainable pattern of international trade and payments.

 

iii 

The Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index is a broad-based bond index comprised of government, corporate, mortgage- and asset-backed issues, rated investment grade or higher, and having at least one year to maturity.

 

iv 

The Barclays Global High Yield (Hedged) Index provides a broad-based measure of the global high-yield fixed-income markets, representing the union of the U.S. High-Yield, Pan-European High-Yield, U.S. Emerging Markets High-Yield, CMBS High-Yield and Pan European Emerging Markets High-Yield Indices.

 

v 

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.

 

vi 

Effective duration is a duration calculation for bonds with embedded options. Effective duration takes into account that expected cash flows will fluctuate as interest rates change. Please note, duration measures the sensitivity of price (the value of principal) of a fixed-income investment to a change in interest rates.

 

vii 

The European Central Bank (“ECB”) is responsible for the monetary system of the European Union and the euro currency.

 

viii 

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

 

ix

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

 

x 

Lipper, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reuters, provides independent insight on global collective investments. Returns are based on the twelve-month period ended October 31, 2015, including the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, calculated among the 14 funds in the Fund’s Lipper category.

 

6    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Fund at a glance (unaudited)

 

Investment breakdown (%) as a percent of total investments

 

LOGO

 

The bar graph above represents the composition of the Fund’s investments as of October 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 and does not include derivatives, such as futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts. The Fund is actively managed. As a result, the composition of the Fund’s investments is subject to change at any time.
Prior year percentages have been restated to reflect current period classifications.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   7


Spread duration (unaudited)

 

Economic exposure — October 31, 2015

 

LOGO

 

Total Spread Duration

GDO   — 4.56 years
Benchmark   — 6.39 years

Spread duration measures the sensitivity to changes in spreads. The spread over Treasuries is the annual risk-premium demanded by investors to hold non-Treasury securities. Spread duration is quantified as the % change in price resulting from a 100 basis points change in spreads. For a security with positive spread duration, an increase in spreads would result in a price decline and a decline in spreads would result in a price increase. This chart highlights the market sector exposure of the Fund’s sectors relative to the selected benchmark sectors as of the end of the reporting period.

 

ABS   — Asset-Backed Securities
Benchmark   — Barclays Global Aggregate Corporate Index
EM   — Emerging Markets
GDO   — Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.
HY   — High Yield
IG Credit   — Investment Grade Credit
MBS   — Mortgage-Backed Securities

 

8    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Effective duration (unaudited)

 

Interest rate exposure — October 31, 2015

 

LOGO

 

Total Effective Duration

GDO   — 4.58 years
Benchmark   — 6.35 years

Effective duration measures the sensitivity to changes in relevant interest rates. Effective duration is quantified as the % change in price resulting from a 100 basis points change in interest rates. For a security with positive effective duration, an increase in interest rates would result in a price decline and a decline in interest rates would result in a price increase. This chart highlights the interest rate exposure of the Fund’s sectors relative to the selected benchmark sectors as of the end of the reporting period.

 

ABS   — Asset-Backed Securities
Benchmark   — Barclays Global Aggregate Corporate Index
EM   — Emerging Markets
GDO   — Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.
HY   — High Yield
IG Credit   — Investment Grade Credit
MBS   — Mortgage-Backed Securities

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   9


Schedule of investments

October 31, 2015

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  
Corporate Bonds & Notes — 118.0%                                
Consumer Discretionary — 10.9%                                

Automobiles — 0.5%

                               

Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, Senior Notes

    2.375     1/16/18        1,300,000      $ 1,307,515   

Diversified Consumer Services — 0.2%

                               

Co-operative Group Holdings 2011 Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.875     7/8/20        100,000  GBP       163,705  (a) 

Co-operative Group Holdings 2011 Ltd., Senior Notes

    7.500     7/8/26        190,000  GBP      315,249   

Total Diversified Consumer Services

                            478,954   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 1.3%

                               

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

    6.625     9/27/23        650,000        542,750  (b) 

CEC Entertainment Inc., Senior Notes

    8.000     2/15/22        1,440,000        1,425,600   

MGM Resorts International, Senior Notes

    11.375     3/1/18        1,000,000        1,180,000   

Mitchells & Butlers Finance PLC, Secured Notes

    5.965     12/15/23        365,900  GBP      633,214   

Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

                            3,781,564   

Household Durables — 0.1%

                               

William Lyon Homes Inc., Senior Notes

    7.000     8/15/22        180,000        187,425   

Media — 7.6%

                               

AMC Entertainment Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

    5.750     6/15/25        610,000        616,100   

CCO Safari II LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    6.384     10/23/35        720,000        743,326  (b) 

CCO Safari II LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    6.484     10/23/45        3,660,000        3,805,540  (b) 

Comcast Corp., Senior Notes

    5.700     7/1/19        1,800,000        2,041,175   

DISH DBS Corp., Senior Notes

    5.875     7/15/22        2,040,000        2,004,300   

Grupo Televisa SAB, Senior Bonds

    6.625     1/15/40        1,730,000        1,904,624   

iHeartCommunications Inc., Senior Notes

    14.000     2/1/21        1,090,000        452,350  (c) 

Numericable-SFR SAS, Senior Secured Bonds

    6.000     5/15/22        1,570,000        1,577,850  (b) 

Numericable-SFR SAS, Senior Secured Bonds

    6.250     5/15/24        690,000        691,725  (b) 

Time Warner Cable Inc., Senior Notes

    8.750     2/14/19        1,500,000        1,759,608   

Tribune Media Co., Senior Notes

    5.875     7/15/22        450,000        463,500  (b) 

UBM PLC, Notes

    5.750     11/3/20        1,500,000        1,625,233  (b) 

UPC Holding BV, Junior Secured Subordinated Notes

    6.375     9/15/22        910,000  EUR      1,078,085  (b) 

Virgin Media Finance PLC, Senior Notes

    6.000     10/15/24        1,000,000        1,011,250  (b) 

Virgin Media Finance PLC, Senior Notes

    5.750     1/15/25        1,500,000        1,477,500  (b) 

Total Media

                            21,252,166   

Multiline Retail — 0.4%

                               

Neiman Marcus Group LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    7.125     6/1/28        180,000        182,250   

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. LLC, Senior Notes

    8.750     10/15/21        1,000,000        1,043,700  (b)(c) 

Total Multiline Retail

                            1,225,950   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

10    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Specialty Retail — 0.8%

                               

Gap Inc., Senior Notes

    5.950     4/12/21        2,250,000      $ 2,395,159   

Total Consumer Discretionary

                            30,628,733   
Consumer Staples — 6.0%                                

Beverages — 0.3%

                               

Carolina Beverage Group LLC/Carolina Beverage Group Finance Inc., Secured Notes

    10.625     8/1/18        830,000        844,525  (b) 

Food & Staples Retailing — 1.4%

                               

CVS Health Corp., Senior Notes

    6.125     9/15/39        1,000,000        1,203,099   

Dollar Tree Inc., Senior Notes

    5.750     3/1/23        710,000        751,712  (b) 

Tesco PLC, Senior Notes

    6.125     2/24/22        1,200,000  GBP      1,962,139   

Total Food & Staples Retailing

                            3,916,950   

Food Products — 0.6%

                               

Boparan Finance PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    5.500     7/15/21        650,000  GBP      918,119  (a) 

Kraft Heinz Foods Co., Senior Notes

    5.200     7/15/45        700,000        744,978  (b) 

Total Food Products

                            1,663,097   

Household Products — 0.1%

                               

Kronos Acquisition Holdings Inc., Senior Notes

    9.000     8/15/23        230,000        220,225  (b) 

Personal Products — 0.2%

                               

Hypermarcas SA, Notes

    6.500     4/20/21        760,000        765,700  (b) 

Tobacco — 3.4%

                               

Alliance One International Inc., Secured Notes

    9.875     7/15/21        500,000        432,500   

BAT Netherlands Finance BV, Senior Notes

    4.875     2/24/21        1,450,000  EUR      1,928,962   

Imperial Tobacco Finance PLC, Senior Notes

    8.375     2/17/16        1,150,000  EUR      1,294,736  (a) 

Reynolds American Inc., Senior Notes

    6.750     6/15/17        2,340,000        2,522,454   

Reynolds American Inc., Senior Notes

    8.125     6/23/19        2,305,000        2,727,702  (b) 

Reynolds American Inc., Senior Notes

    5.850     8/15/45        540,000        601,245   

Total Tobacco

                            9,507,599   

Total Consumer Staples

                            16,918,096   
Energy — 13.8%                                

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.4%

                               

Atwood Oceanics Inc., Senior Notes

    6.500     2/1/20        610,000        472,750   

Parker Drilling Co., Senior Notes

    7.500     8/1/20        740,000        617,900   

Total Energy Equipment & Services

                            1,090,650   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 13.4%

                               

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Senior Notes

    6.450     9/15/36        1,370,000        1,545,878   

California Resources Corp., Senior Notes

    5.500     9/15/21        2,000,000        1,385,000   

Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP/Calumet Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    6.500     4/15/21        1,000,000        935,000   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   11


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

October 31, 2015

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — continued

                               

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    6.125     2/15/21        470,000      $ 310,153   

Chesapeake Energy Corp., Senior Notes

    5.375     6/15/21        560,000        365,400   

Comstock Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    9.500     6/15/20        780,000        175,500   

Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    4.500     4/15/23        3,000,000        2,654,610   

Dolphin Energy Ltd., Senior Secured Bonds

    5.888     6/15/19        1,129,395        1,214,800  (a) 

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Bonds

    4.125     1/16/25        1,000,000        883,700   

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

    7.625     7/23/19        1,650,000        1,862,850   

Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes

    5.375     6/26/26        1,500,000        1,401,561   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC, Senior Notes

    6.500     1/31/19        1,290,000        1,442,969   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC, Senior Notes

    3.700     2/15/26        1,520,000        1,447,792   

Globe Luxembourg SCA, Senior Secured Notes

    9.625     5/1/18        1,050,000        888,563  (b) 

Halcon Resources Corp., Secured Notes

    8.625     2/1/20        730,000        632,363  (b) 

Indo Energy Finance BV, Senior Notes

    7.000     5/7/18        470,000        261,556  (b) 

LUKOIL International Finance BV, Bonds

    6.356     6/7/17        310,000        325,836  (a) 

LUKOIL International Finance BV, Bonds

    6.656     6/7/22        1,860,000        1,962,300  (a) 

Murray Energy Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    11.250     4/15/21        1,930,000        525,925  (b) 

Oasis Petroleum Inc., Senior Notes

    6.500     11/1/21        310,000        265,825   

Oasis Petroleum Inc., Senior Notes

    6.875     3/15/22        640,000        548,800   

Occidental Petroleum Corp., Senior Notes

    4.625     6/15/45        700,000        725,206   

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

    6.250     3/17/24        380,000        305,311   

Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes

    6.750     1/27/41        920,000        653,752   

Petroleos Mexicanos, Senior Bonds

    6.625     6/15/35        910,000        899,762   

Petroleos Mexicanos, Senior Notes

    4.250     1/15/25        1,000,000        954,000  (b) 

Petroleum Co. of Trinidad & Tobago Ltd., Senior Notes

    9.750     8/14/19        2,590,000        2,784,250  (b) 

Petronas Capital Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.250     8/12/19        930,000        1,015,854  (a) 

Petronas Capital Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.250     8/12/19        410,000        447,850  (b) 

Quicksilver Resources Inc., Senior Notes

    11.000     7/1/21        500,000        33,750  *(d) 

Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Co., Ltd. III, Senior Secured Bonds

    6.750     9/30/19        2,280,000        2,682,992  (a) 

Reliance Holdings USA Inc., Senior Notes

    5.400     2/14/22        1,000,000        1,097,956  (b) 

Rosneft Finance SA, Senior Notes

    7.875     3/13/18        2,830,000        3,019,344  (b) 

RSP Permian Inc., Senior Notes

    6.625     10/1/22        700,000        696,500  (b) 

Williams Partners LP, Senior Notes

    5.250     3/15/20        610,000        641,910   

WPX Energy Inc., Senior Notes

    7.500     8/1/20        60,000        56,400   

WPX Energy Inc., Senior Notes

    8.250     8/1/23        590,000        556,075   

Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

                            37,607,293   

Total Energy

                            38,697,943   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  
Financials — 38.6%                                

Banks — 24.3%

                               

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd., Subordinated Notes

    5.125     9/10/19        1,250,000  EUR    $ 1,565,789  (a) 

Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes

    7.750     4/30/18        800,000  GBP      1,403,817   

Barclays Bank PLC, Subordinated Notes

    7.625     11/21/22        5,750,000        6,576,563   

Barclays PLC, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    8.250     12/15/18        240,000        256,129  (e)(f) 

BNP Paribas Fortis SA, Senior Subordinated Notes

    5.757     10/4/17        1,200,000  EUR      1,448,049   

BNP Paribas SA, Junior Subordinated Notes

    7.375     8/19/25        1,860,000        1,927,425  (b)(e)(f) 

Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes

    7.375     9/4/19        1,300,000  EUR      1,794,257   

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Subordinated Notes

    5.500     8/6/19        1,200,000  EUR      1,515,158   

Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank BA of Netherlands, Junior Subordinated Notes

    11.000     6/30/19        1,997,000        2,491,258  (b)(e)(f) 

Credit Agricole SA, Junior Subordinated Notes

    8.375     10/13/19        2,530,000        2,878,128  (b)(e)(f) 

Credit Agricole SA, Junior Subordinated Notes

    7.875     10/26/19        400,000  EUR      519,421  (a)(e)(f) 

Credit Agricole SA, Subordinated Bonds

    8.125     9/19/33        900,000        997,145  (b)(e) 

Credit Agricole SA, Subordinated Notes

    4.375     3/17/25        760,000        750,755  (b) 

HSBC Holdings PLC, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.375     9/17/24        2,670,000        2,647,999  (e)(f) 

HSBC Holdings PLC, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.375     3/30/25        1,400,000        1,386,000  (e)(f) 

ING Bank NV, Subordinated Notes

    6.875     5/29/23        2,850,000  GBP      4,803,433  (e) 

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Bonds

    5.017     6/26/24        1,940,000        1,946,507  (b) 

Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Notes

    8.375     10/14/19        450,000  EUR      581,440  (a)(e)(f) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.000     8/1/23        5,870,000        5,969,790  (e)(f) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Junior Subordinated Notes

    6.100     10/1/24        250,000        255,313  (e)(f) 

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Subordinated Notes

    4.950     6/1/45        1,000,000        1,015,367   

M&T Bank Corp., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    6.875     6/15/16        1,570,000        1,580,794  (f) 

National Australia Bank Ltd., Subordinated Notes

    6.750     6/26/23        2,750,000  EUR      3,430,318  (e) 

National Capital Trust I, Junior Subordinated Bond

    5.620     12/17/18        266,000  GBP      426,468  (a)(e)(f) 

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC, Subordinated Notes

    6.100     6/10/23        2,570,000        2,799,969   

Royal Bank of Scotland PLC, Subordinated Notes

    13.125     3/19/22        1,420,000  AUD      1,121,146  (a)(e) 

Santander Issuances SAU, Notes

    5.911     6/20/16        2,000,000        2,040,142  (b) 

Santander UK PLC, Subordinated Notes

    5.000     11/7/23        1,120,000        1,169,974  (b) 

Societe Generale SA, Subordinated Notes

    9.375     9/4/19        1,550,000  EUR      2,090,640  (a)(e)(f) 

Standard Chartered Bank, Subordinated Notes

    5.875     9/26/17        1,250,000  EUR      1,487,287  (a) 

Standard Chartered Bank, Subordinated Notes

    7.750     4/3/18        1,000,000  GBP      1,706,913  (a) 

Wachovia Capital Trust III, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.570     11/30/15        3,660,000        3,598,695  (e)(f) 

Wells Fargo & Co., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.900     6/15/24        2,910,000        2,990,025  (e)(f) 

Wells Fargo & Co., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.875     6/15/25        440,000        465,938  (e)(f) 

Wells Fargo & Co., Subordinated Notes

    4.650     11/4/44        700,000        692,817   

Total Banks

                            68,330,869   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   13


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

October 31, 2015

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Capital Markets — 3.4%

                               

Goldman Sachs Capital II, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    4.000     11/30/15        1,300,000      $ 939,250  (e)(f) 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

    4.750     10/12/21        2,700,000  EUR      3,472,121   

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

    5.500     10/12/21        600,000  GBP      1,021,876   

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes

    5.150     5/22/45        1,480,000        1,491,232   

Pershing Square Holdings Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.500     7/15/22        1,000,000        948,427  (b) 

UBS AG London, Senior Notes

    6.375     7/20/16        1,050,000  GBP      1,677,058  (a) 

Total Capital Markets

                            9,549,964   

Consumer Finance — 1.4%

                               

American Express Co., Subordinated Debentures

    6.800     9/1/66        1,820,000        1,836,380  (e) 

Navient Corp., Medium-Term Notes, Senior Notes

    8.000     3/25/20        1,880,000        1,997,500   

Total Consumer Finance

                            3,833,880   

Diversified Financial Services — 3.7%

                               

Argos Merger Sub Inc., Senior Notes

    7.125     3/15/23        1,500,000        1,582,500  (b) 

FCE Bank PLC, Senior Notes

    5.125     11/16/15        900,000  GBP      1,387,466  (a) 

General Electric Capital Corp., Subordinated Bonds

    5.500     9/15/67        940,000  EUR      1,085,354  (a)(e) 

General Electric Capital Corp., Subordinated Debentures

    6.375     11/15/67        1,200,000        1,284,600  (e) 

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    8.750     3/15/17        3,000,000        3,243,750   

International Lease Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    6.250     5/15/19        1,130,000        1,231,700   

MUFG Capital Finance 4 Ltd., Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.271     1/25/17        550,000  EUR      627,306  (e)(f) 

Total Diversified Financial Services

                            10,442,676   

Insurance — 4.0%

                               

AXA SA, Junior Subordinated Notes

    5.777     7/6/16        500,000  EUR      566,183  (e)(f) 

AXA SA, Junior Subordinated Notes

    6.463     12/14/18        2,000,000        2,087,500  (b)(e)(f) 

BUPA Finance PLC, Subordinated Bonds

    5.000     4/25/23        910,000  GBP      1,432,122  (a) 

ELM BV, Subordinated Notes

    5.252     5/25/16        550,000  EUR      617,597  (a)(e)(f) 

Farmers Insurance Exchange, Subordinated Notes

    8.625     5/1/24        1,295,000        1,716,021  (b) 

Galaxy Bidco Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    6.375     11/15/20        370,000  GBP      594,919  (a) 

Generali Finance BV, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    5.317     6/16/16        500,000  EUR      562,843  (e)(f) 

MetLife Capital Trust IV, Junior Subordinated Notes

    7.875     12/15/37        300,000        373,500  (b) 

Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG (MunichRe), Subordinated Bonds

    5.767     6/12/17        500,000  EUR      585,537  (a)(e)(f) 

Scottish Widows PLC, Subordinated Notes

    5.500     6/16/23        910,000  GBP      1,453,204  (a) 

Travelers Cos. Inc., Senior Notes

    5.350     11/1/40        1,150,000        1,343,113   

Total Insurance

                            11,332,539   

Real Estate Management & Development — 1.0%

  

                       

Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties LLC, Senior Secured Notes

    8.000     10/1/20        1,510,000        1,506,225   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Real Estate Management & Development — continued

                               

Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties LLC, Secured Notes

    11.000     10/1/21        170,000      $ 163,200   

Howard Hughes Corp., Senior Notes

    6.875     10/1/21        1,230,000        1,285,350  (b) 

Total Real Estate Management & Development

                            2,954,775   

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.8%

                               

Quicken Loans Inc., Senior Notes

    5.750     5/1/25        2,140,000        2,131,975  (b) 

Total Financials

                            108,576,678   
Health Care — 7.4%                                

Biotechnology — 0.8%

                               

AbbVie Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes

    3.600     5/14/25        960,000        945,592   

AMAG Pharmaceuticals Inc., Senior Notes

    7.875     9/1/23        490,000        459,375  (b) 

Celgene Corp., Senior Notes

    5.000     8/15/45        780,000        785,762   

Total Biotechnology

                            2,190,729   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 1.3%

                               

ConvaTec Healthcare E SA, Senior Notes

    10.875     12/15/18        1,070,000  EUR      1,219,485  (b) 

DJO Finco Inc./DJO Finance LLC/DJO Finance Corp., Secured Notes

    8.125     6/15/21        1,770,000        1,761,150  (b) 

Greatbatch Ltd., Senior Notes

    9.125     11/1/23        580,000        592,325  (b) 

Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies

                            3,572,960   

Health Care Providers & Services — 3.8%

                               

Humana Inc., Senior Notes

    7.200     6/15/18        2,700,000        3,053,284   

Priory Group No. 3 PLC, Senior Subordinated Notes

    8.875     2/15/19        450,000  GBP      721,330  (a) 

Tenet Healthcare Corp., Senior Notes

    6.750     6/15/23        2,400,000        2,394,000   

Unilabs Subholding AB, Senior Secured Notes

    8.500     7/15/18        1,200,000  EUR      1,383,131  (a) 

UnitedHealth Group Inc., Senior Notes

    6.000     2/15/18        1,350,000        1,484,312   

UnitedHealth Group Inc., Senior Notes

    4.750     7/15/45        440,000        468,860   

Universal Hospital Services Inc., Secured Notes

    7.625     8/15/20        1,320,000        1,265,550   

Total Health Care Providers & Services

                            10,770,467   

Pharmaceuticals — 1.5%

                               

Actavis Funding SCS, Senior Notes

    4.550     3/15/35        580,000        554,532   

Actavis Funding SCS, Senior Notes

    4.750     3/15/45        780,000        748,809   

Baxalta Inc., Senior Notes

    5.250     6/23/45        700,000        714,536  (b) 

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA, Senior Notes

    5.625     10/15/23        310,000        294,113  (b) 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., Senior Notes

    5.375     3/15/20        630,000        551,250  (b) 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., Senior Notes

    7.500     7/15/21        940,000        862,450  (b) 

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., Senior Notes

    7.250     7/15/22        480,000        429,600  (b) 

Total Pharmaceuticals

                            4,155,290   

Total Health Care

                            20,689,446   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   15


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

October 31, 2015

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  
Industrials — 5.6%                                

Air Freight & Logistics — 0.6%

                               

XPO Logistics Inc., Senior Notes

    7.875     9/1/19        1,010,000      $ 1,020,100  (b) 

XPO Logistics Inc., Senior Notes

    6.500     6/15/22        730,000        654,262  (b) 

Total Air Freight & Logistics

                            1,674,362   

Airlines — 1.4%

                               

Air Canada, Pass-Through Trust, Secured Notes

    6.625     5/15/18        330,000        338,250  (b) 

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

    9.250     5/10/17        1,732,453        1,890,539   

Heathrow Finance PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    7.125     3/1/17        950,000  GBP      1,546,798  (a) 

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

    10.400     11/1/16        27,574        29,279   

Total Airlines

                            3,804,866   

Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.4%

                               

Garda World Security Corp., Senior Notes

    7.250     11/15/21        470,000        431,225  (b) 

Monitronics International Inc., Senior Notes

    9.125     4/1/20        1,570,000        1,373,750   

Republic Services Inc., Senior Notes

    5.250     11/15/21        1,450,000        1,619,025   

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

    5.250     4/15/21        420,000        425,250  (b) 

Total Commercial Services & Supplies

                            3,849,250   

Construction & Engineering — 0.9%

                               

Astaldi SpA, Senior Notes

    7.125     12/1/20        410,000  EUR      470,356  (b) 

Astaldi SpA, Senior Notes

    7.125     12/1/20        100,000  EUR      114,721  (a) 

Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    10.375     9/1/21        720,000        738,000  (b) 

Michael Baker International LLC/CDL Acquisition Co. Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    8.250     10/15/18        920,000        869,400  (b) 

Modular Space Corp., Secured Notes

    10.250     1/31/19        740,000        449,550  (b) 

Total Construction & Engineering

                            2,642,027   

Electrical Equipment — 0.0%

                               

Trionista TopCo GmbH, Senior Subordinated Notes

    6.875     4/30/21        100,000  EUR      116,990  (b) 

Machinery — 0.7%

                               

KION Finance SA, Senior Secured Notes

    6.750     2/15/20        1,195,000  EUR      1,380,944  (b) 

KraussMaffei Group GmbH, Senior Secured Notes

    8.750     12/15/20        224,000  EUR      263,589  (b) 

SIG Combibloc Holdings SCA, Senior Bonds

    7.750     2/15/23        350,000  EUR      408,047  (b) 

Total Machinery

                            2,052,580   

Marine — 0.1%

                               

Ultrapetrol Bahamas Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    8.875     6/15/21        630,000        406,350   

Road & Rail — 0.5%

                               

Gategroup Finance Luxembourg SA, Senior Notes

    6.750     3/1/19        107,143  EUR      123,785  (b) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Road & Rail — continued

                               

Jack Cooper Holdings Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    10.250     6/1/20        1,350,000      $ 1,231,875  (b) 

Total Road & Rail

                            1,355,660   

Total Industrials

                            15,902,085   
Information Technology — 3.5%                                

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 0.3%

  

                       

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

    9.250     1/15/18        770,000        776,738   

Internet Software & Services — 0.8%

                               

Ancestry.com Holdings LLC, Senior Notes

    9.625     10/15/18        2,110,000        2,139,012  (b)(c) 

IT Services — 1.4%

                               

First Data Corp., Secured Notes

    8.250     1/15/21        3,040,000        3,195,800  (b) 

First Data Corp., Senior Notes

    7.000     12/1/23        870,000        887,400  (b) 

Total IT Services

                            4,083,200   

Software — 0.3%

                               

Oberthur Technologies Holding SAS, Senior Secured Notes

    9.250     4/30/20        670,000  EUR      803,480  (b) 

Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 0.7%

  

                       

Hewlett-Packard Co., Senior Notes

    4.650     12/9/21        2,000,000        2,081,074   

Total Information Technology

                            9,883,504   
Materials — 10.3%                                

Chemicals — 0.6%

                               

Eco Services Operations LLC/Eco Finance Corp., Senior Notes

    8.500     11/1/22        280,000        250,600  (b) 

Kerling PLC, Senior Secured Notes

    10.625     2/1/17        606,000  EUR      677,340  (b) 

OCP SA, Senior Notes

    5.625     4/25/24        800,000        837,800  (b) 

Total Chemicals

                            1,765,740   

Construction Materials — 0.9%

                               

Cemex SAB de CV, Senior Secured Notes

    5.700     1/11/25        660,000        612,150  (b) 

Hardwoods Acquisition Inc., Senior Secured Notes

    7.500     8/1/21        750,000        693,750  (b) 

HeidelbergCement Finance Luxembourg SA, Senior Notes

    8.500     10/31/19        610,000  EUR      840,853  (a) 

NWH Escrow Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    7.500     8/1/21        300,000        270,000  (b) 

Total Construction Materials

                            2,416,753   

Containers & Packaging — 1.9%

                               

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

    9.125     10/15/20        1,200,000        1,260,012  (b) 

BWAY Holding Co., Senior Notes

    9.125     8/15/21        1,290,000        1,260,975  (b) 

Coveris Holdings SA, Senior Notes

    7.875     11/1/19        450,000        429,750  (b) 

SGD Group SAS, Senior Secured Bonds

    5.625     5/15/19        1,230,000  EUR      1,389,360  (a) 

Suzano Trading Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.875     1/23/21        970,000        977,760  (b) 

Total Containers & Packaging

                            5,317,857   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   17


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

October 31, 2015

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Metals & Mining — 5.6%

                               

ArcelorMittal, Senior Notes

    7.750     10/15/39        750,000      $ 643,125   

Barrick Gold Corp., Senior Notes

    6.950     4/1/19        217,000        242,362   

BHP Billiton Finance USA Ltd., Subordinated Notes

    6.750     10/19/75        560,000        571,900  (b)(e) 

Evraz Group SA, Notes

    9.500     4/24/18        450,000        480,722  (b) 

Evraz Group SA, Senior Notes

    6.500     4/22/20        984,000        956,694  (a) 

Evraz Group SA, Senior Notes

    6.500     4/22/20        340,000        330,565  (b) 

FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    9.750     3/1/22        2,100,000        2,094,750  (b) 

Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Senior Notes

    3.550     3/1/22        1,800,000        1,442,700   

Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Senior Notes

    4.550     11/14/24        246,000        198,030   

Glencore Finance Canada Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.250     6/13/17        950,000  EUR       1,029,491   

GTL Trade Finance Inc., Senior Bonds

    5.893     4/29/24        1,562,000        1,317,078  (b) 

Rio Tinto Finance USA PLC, Senior Notes

    2.250     12/14/18        800,000        799,118   

Southern Copper Corp., Senior Notes

    5.250     11/8/42        1,850,000        1,507,321   

St. Barbara Ltd., Senior Secured Notes

    8.875     4/15/18        210,000        200,550  (b) 

Vale Overseas Ltd., Senior Bonds

    8.250     1/17/34        2,146,000        2,058,658   

Vale Overseas Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.250     1/23/17        670,000        684,832   

Vale Overseas Ltd., Senior Notes

    6.875     11/21/36        340,000        278,494   

Vedanta Resources PLC, Senior Notes

    9.500     7/18/18        260,000        245,050  (a) 

Vedanta Resources PLC, Senior Notes

    6.000     1/31/19        990,000        797,310  (b) 

Total Metals & Mining

                            15,878,750   

Paper & Forest Products — 1.3%

                               

Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion SA, Senior Notes

    7.250     7/29/19        1,220,000        1,395,083   

Fibria Overseas Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

    5.250     5/12/24        260,000        256,425   

Resolute Forest Products Inc., Senior Notes

    5.875     5/15/23        620,000        465,000   

UPM-Kymmene OYJ, Senior Notes

    6.625     1/23/17        1,000,000  GBP      1,629,995   

Total Paper & Forest Products

                            3,746,503   

Total Materials

                            29,125,603   
Telecommunication Services — 14.6%                                

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 10.5%

                               

Axtel SAB de CV, Senior Secured Notes

    9.000     1/31/20        266,000        273,315  (b) 

British Telecommunications PLC, Senior Bonds

    8.500     12/7/16        1,200,000  GBP      1,986,558  (a) 

Frontier Communications Corp., Senior Notes

    10.500     9/15/22        660,000        686,400  (b) 

Frontier Communications Corp., Senior Notes

    11.000     9/15/25        1,000,000        1,050,620  (b) 

Level 3 Financing Inc., Senior Notes

    7.000     6/1/20        375,000        398,438   

Level 3 Financing Inc., Senior Notes

    8.625     7/15/20        625,000        661,719   

Level 3 Financing Inc., Senior Notes

    5.625     2/1/23        1,770,000        1,825,312   

Oi SA, Senior Notes

    5.750     2/10/22        2,510,000        1,581,300  (b) 

Ooredoo International Finance Ltd., Senior Notes

    4.750     2/16/21        650,000        722,539  (b) 

Qwest Corp., Senior Notes

    6.750     12/1/21        2,500,000        2,692,500   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Diversified Telecommunication Services — continued

                               

Telecom Italia SpA, Senior Notes

    5.303     5/30/24        5,570,000      $ 5,618,737  (b) 

Telefonica Emisiones SAU, Senior Notes

    5.134     4/27/20        2,000,000        2,203,444   

Telefonica Emisiones SAU, Senior Notes

    7.045     6/20/36        2,000,000        2,402,270   

Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes

    5.150     9/15/23        5,280,000        5,894,745   

Windstream Services LLC, Senior Notes

    7.750     10/1/21        1,060,000        916,900   

Windstream Services LLC, Senior Notes

    6.375     8/1/23        740,000        589,225   

Total Diversified Telecommunication Services

                            29,504,022   

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 4.1%

                               

Altice Financing SA, Senior Secured Notes

    5.250     2/15/23        110,000  EUR      122,700  (b) 

Altice Financing SA, Senior Secured Notes

    6.625     2/15/23        610,000        613,050  (b) 

America Movil SAB de CV, Senior Notes

    5.625     11/15/17        2,050,000        2,210,843   

America Movil SAB de CV, Senior Notes

    6.125     3/30/40        650,000        742,461   

Neptune Finco Corp., Senior Notes

    10.125     1/15/23        270,000        286,200  (b) 

Neptune Finco Corp., Senior Notes

    6.625     10/15/25        760,000        801,800  (b) 

Neptune Finco Corp., Senior Notes

    10.875     10/15/25        1,360,000        1,455,200  (b) 

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

    6.875     11/15/28        750,000        624,375   

Sprint Capital Corp., Senior Notes

    8.750     3/15/32        3,750,000        3,384,375   

Vimpel Communications Via VIP Finance Ireland Ltd. OJSC, Senior Notes

    9.125     4/30/18        1,150,000        1,273,048  (a) 

Total Wireless Telecommunication Services

                            11,514,052   

Total Telecommunication Services

                            41,018,074   
Utilities — 7.3%                                

Electric Utilities — 3.1%

                               

Electricite de France SA, Junior Subordinated Notes

    5.625     1/22/24        2,500,000        2,480,000  (b)(e)(f) 

Enel SpA, Junior Subordinated Bonds

    7.750     9/10/75        1,740,000  GBP       2,916,721  (a)(e) 

FirstEnergy Corp., Notes

    7.375     11/15/31        1,930,000        2,308,871   

State Grid Overseas Investment 2014 Ltd., Senior Notes

    4.125     5/7/24        1,000,000        1,065,827  (a) 

Total Electric Utilities

                            8,771,419   

Gas Utilities — 0.4%

                               

Wales & West Utilities Finance PLC, Senior Secured Bonds

    5.125     12/2/16        650,000  GBP      1,039,596  (a) 

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 1.9%

  

                       

Calpine Corp., Senior Secured Notes

    7.875     1/15/23        1,280,000        1,380,800  (b) 

Colbun SA, Senior Notes

    6.000     1/21/20        1,370,000        1,526,929  (b) 

Mirant Mid Atlantic LLC, Pass-Through Certificates, Secured Bonds

    10.060     12/30/28        1,948,589        1,955,896   

TerraForm Power Operating LLC, Senior Notes

    5.875     2/1/23        630,000        584,325  (b) 

Total Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers

  

                    5,447,950   

Multi-Utilities — 1.9%

                               

Centrica PLC, Senior Notes

    6.375     3/10/22        1,200,000  GBP      2,204,018  (a) 

Empresas Publicas de Medellin ESP, Senior Notes

    7.625     7/29/19        1,210,000        1,382,062  (b) 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   19


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

October 31, 2015

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  

Multi-Utilities — continued

                               

Veolia Environnement SA, Senior Notes

    6.750     4/24/19        1,200,000  EUR    $ 1,601,689   

Total Multi-Utilities

                            5,187,769   

Total Utilities

                            20,446,734   

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes (Cost — $334,190,937)

                            331,886,896   
Asset-Backed Securities — 1.9%                                

Argent Securities Inc., 2004-W10 A2

    0.977     10/25/34        762,912        744,360  (e) 

Asset Backed Funding Certificates, 2003-WMC1 M1

    1.172     6/25/33        1,311,336        1,265,079  (e) 

Countrywide Home Equity Loan Trust, 2006-HW 2A1B

    0.305     11/15/36        551,029        478,590  (e) 

Home Equity Asset Trust, 2004-8 M1

    1.067     3/25/35        641,516        619,985  (e) 

Park Place Securities Inc., 2004-WCW1 M2

    1.217     9/25/34        555,936        553,020  (e) 

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc., 2003-RZ5 A7

    5.470     9/25/33        340,051        351,621   

Residential Asset Mortgage Products Inc., 2003-SL1 M1

    7.364     4/25/31        1,354,645        1,153,647  (e) 

Residential Asset Securities Corp., 2003-KS10 AI6

    4.540     12/25/33        82,820        85,406  (e) 

Soundview Home Equity Loan Trust, 2005-3 M2

    0.977     6/25/35        10,653        10,663  (e) 

Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost — $4,899,943)

  

            5,262,371   
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 0.7%                                

ARM Trust, 2004-5 4A1

    2.714     4/25/35        311,201        305,191  (e) 

Bear Stearns ARM Trust, 2005-12 24A1

    5.134     2/25/36        33,232        30,666  (e) 

Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates, 2009-3R 25A1

    2.891     7/27/36        107,158        108,609  (b)(e) 

GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust, 2006-RP1 1A2

    7.500     1/25/36        243,523        256,710  (b) 

HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, 2004-10 4A

    2.628     1/19/35        228,184        226,651  (e) 

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 2005-A5 1A2

    2.858     8/25/35        1,041,400        1,038,103  (e) 

Washington Mutual Inc., Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, 2007-HY4 4A1

    2.153     9/25/36        71,454        64,059  (e) 

Total Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (Cost — $1,842,259)

  

                    2,029,989   
Convertible Bonds & Notes — 0.0%                                
Telecommunication Services — 0.0%                                

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.0%

                               

Axtel SAB de CV, Senior Secured Notes (Cost — $46,770)

    9.000     1/31/20        360,800  MXN      50,239  (b) 
Senior Loans — 0.9%                                
Energy — 0.1%                                

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.1%

                               

Westmoreland Coal Co., Term Loan B

    7.500     12/16/20        493,920        395,136  (g)(h) 
Health Care — 0.5%                                

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.2%

                               

Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc., Term Loan

    7.000     6/30/22        598,500        559,598  (g)(h) 

Health Care Providers & Services — 0.3%

                               

Radnet Management Inc., Second Lien Term Loan

    8.000     3/25/21        770,000        747,862  (g)(h) 

Total Health Care

                            1,307,460   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  
Utilities — 0.3%                                

Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers — 0.3%

                               

Energy Future Intermediate Holding Co., LLC, DIP Term Loan

    4.250     6/19/16        690,000      $ 690,431  (g)(h) 

Total Senior Loans (Cost — $2,534,592)

                            2,393,027   
Sovereign Bonds — 2.6%                                

Brazil — 0.2%

                               

Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social, Senior Notes

    3.375     9/26/16        560,000        561,400  (b) 

Chile — 0.6%

                               

Banco del Estado de Chile, Senior Notes

    4.125     10/7/20        1,540,000        1,621,817  (b) 

Peru — 0.1%

                               

Republic of Peru, Senior Bonds

    7.840     8/12/20        1,249,000  PEN      409,518   

Turkey — 0.6%

                               

Republic of Turkey, Senior Bonds

    5.750     3/22/24        1,500,000        1,621,942   

United Arab Emirates — 0.5%

                               

MDC-GMTN B.V., Senior Notes

    7.625     5/6/19        1,250,000        1,480,160  (a) 

United Kingdom — 0.6%

                               

United Kingdom Treasury Gilt, Bonds

    4.500     3/7/19        1,019,000  GBP      1,759,137  (a) 

Total Sovereign Bonds (Cost — $6,988,420)

  

                    7,453,974   
                   Shares         
Common Stocks — 0.9%                                
Financials — 0.9%                                

Banks — 0.9%

                               

Citigroup Inc. (Cost — $2,073,750)

                    48,867        2,598,258   
Convertible Preferred Stocks — 0.1%                                
Energy — 0.1%                                

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.1%

                               

Rex Energy Corp. (Cost — $409,750)

    6.000             4,400        150,700   
Preferred Stocks — 0.4%                                
Financials — 0.4%                                

Capital Markets — 0.4%

                               

State Street Corp.

    5.900             37,454        997,026  (e) 

Diversified Financial Services — 0.0%

                               

Citigroup Capital XIII

    6.692             3,050        77,470  (e) 

Total Preferred Stocks (Cost — $1,017,989)

  

                    1,074,496   

Total Investments Before Short-Term Investments (Cost — $354,004,410)

  

    352,899,950   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   21


Schedule of investments (cont’d)

October 31, 2015

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Security‡   Rate     Maturity
Date
    Face
Amount†
    Value  
Short-Term Investments — 0.7%                                

Repurchase Agreements — 0.7%

                               

State Street Bank & Trust Co. repurchase agreement dated 10/30/15; Proceeds at maturity — $2,142,000; (Fully collateralized by U.S. government agency obligations, 2.000% due 1/30/23; Market Value — $2,189,115)
(Cost — $2,142,000)

    0.000     11/2/15        2,142,000      $ 2,142,000   

Total Investments — 126.2% (Cost — $356,146,410#)

  

                    355,041,950   

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (26.2)%

                            (73,801,632

Total Net Assets — 100.0%

                          $ 281,240,318   

 

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

 

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

 

* Non-income producing security.

 

(a) 

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.

 

(b) 

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.

 

(c) 

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.

 

(d) 

The coupon payment on these securities is currently in default as of October 31, 2015.

 

(e) 

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

 

(f) 

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

 

(g) 

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

 

(h) 

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.

 

# Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is $359,945,531.

 

Abbreviations used in this schedule:

ARM   —Adjustable Rate Mortgage
AUD   —Australian Dollar
DIP   —Debtor-in-Possession
EUR   —Euro
GBP   —British Pound
MXN   —Mexican Peso
OJSC   —Open Joint Stock Company
PEN   —Peruvian Nuevo Sol

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

 

Summary of Investments by Country** (unaudited)       
United States      49.0
United Kingdom      13.2   
France      5.7   
Italy      3.4   
Australia      2.8   
Brazil      2.7   
Netherlands      2.4   
Russia      2.3   
Mexico      2.1   
Spain      1.9   
Colombia      1.6   
Luxembourg      1.4   
Chile      1.3   
Switzerland      1.0   
Qatar      1.0   
Germany      0.9   
Trinidad and Tobago      0.8   
United Arab Emirates      0.8   
India      0.6   
Canada      0.6   
Peru      0.5   
Finland      0.5   
Turkey      0.5   
Malaysia      0.4   
Belgium      0.4   
Ireland      0.3   
China      0.3   
Congo      0.3   
Morocco      0.2   
Japan      0.2   
Argentina      0.1   
Bahamas      0.1   
Indonesia      0.1   
Short-Term Investments      0.6   
       100.0

 

** As a percentage of total investments. Please note that the Fund holdings are as of October 31, 2015 and are subject to change.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   23


Statement of assets and liabilities

October 31, 2015

 

Assets:         

Investments, at value (Cost — $356,146,410)

   $ 355,041,950   

Foreign currency, at value (Cost — $1,500,941)

     1,507,434   

Cash

     52,602   

Interest and dividends receivable

     6,119,337   

Receivable for securities sold

     2,809,602   

Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     2,077,612   

Deposits with brokers for open futures contracts

     181,025   

Receivable from broker — variation margin on open futures contracts

     35,334   

Prepaid expenses

     11,394   

Total Assets

     367,836,290   
Liabilities:         

Loan payable (Note 7)

     83,000,000   

Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts

     1,665,229   

Payable for securities purchased

     1,450,000   

Investment management fee payable

     246,839   

Interest payable

     116,221   

Directors’ fees payable

     2,633   

Accrued expenses

     115,050   

Total Liabilities

     86,595,972   
Total Net Assets    $ 281,240,318   
Net Assets:         

Par value ($0.001 par value; 14,954,541 shares issued and outstanding; 100,000,000 shares authorized)

   $ 14,955   

Paid-in capital in excess of par value

     285,043,877   

Undistributed net investment income

     7,520,736   

Accumulated net realized loss on investments, futures contracts, written options
and foreign currency transactions

     (10,589,711)   

Net unrealized depreciation on investments, futures contracts and foreign currencies

     (749,539)   
Total Net Assets    $ 281,240,318   
Shares Outstanding      14,954,541   
Net Asset Value      $18.81   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Statement of operations

For the Year Ended October 31, 2015

 

Investment Income:         

Interest

   $ 23,054,069   

Dividends

     95,464   

Total Investment Income

     23,149,533   
Expenses:         

Investment management fee (Note 2)

     3,028,017   

Interest expense (Notes 3 and 7)

     701,003   

Legal fees

     345,445   

Excise tax (Note 1)

     187,483   

Transfer agent fees

     86,449   

Directors’ fees

     69,370   

Audit and tax fees

     59,360   

Fund accounting fees

     30,284   

Shareholder reports

     27,527   

Stock exchange listing fees

     21,221   

Custody fees

     18,140   

Commitment fees (Note 7)

     7,295   

Insurance

     6,008   

Miscellaneous expenses

     11,492   

Total Expenses

     4,599,094   
Net Investment Income      18,550,439   
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Futures Contracts,
Written Options and Foreign Currency Transactions (Notes 1, 3 and 4):
        

Net Realized Gain (Loss) From:

        

Investment transactions

     (10,996,610)   

Futures contracts

     (94,677)   

Written options

     209,041   

Foreign currency transactions

     15,022,750   

Net Realized Gain

     4,140,504   

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From:

        

Investments

     (17,983,193)   

Futures contracts

     94,367   

Foreign currencies

     (5,915,858)   

Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

     (23,804,684)   
Net Loss on Investments, Futures Contracts, Written Options
and Foreign Currency Transactions
     (19,664,180)   
Decrease in Net Assets from Operations    $ (1,113,741)   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   25


Statements of changes in net assets

 

For the Years Ended October 31,    2015      2014  
Operations:                  

Net investment income

   $ 18,550,439       $ 19,913,881   

Net realized gain (loss)

     4,140,504         (3,191,896)   

Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)

     (23,804,684)         1,802,910   

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets from Operations

     (1,113,741)         18,524,895   
Distributions to Shareholders From (Note 1):                  

Net investment income

     (20,605,464)         (21,242,289)   

Decrease in Net Assets from Distributions to Shareholders

     (20,605,464)         (21,242,289)   
Fund Share Transactions:                  

Cost of shares repurchased (276,119 and 116,116 shares repurchased, respectively)

     (4,671,232)         (2,103,258)   

Decrease in Net Assets from Fund Share Transactions

     (4,671,232)         (2,103,258)   

Decrease in Net Assets

     (26,390,437)         (4,820,652)   
Net Assets:                  

Beginning of year

     307,630,755         312,451,407   

End of year*

   $ 281,240,318       $ 307,630,755   

*Includesundistributed (overdistributed) net investment income, respectively, of:

     $7,520,736         $(1,441,618)   

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

26    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Statement of cash flows

For the Year Ended October 31, 2015

 

Increase (Decrease) in Cash:         
Cash Provided (Used) by Operating Activities:         

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   $ (1,113,741)   

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

        

Purchases of portfolio securities

     (134,203,307)   

Sales of portfolio securities

     119,687,879   

Net purchases, sales and maturities of short-term investments

     4,341,000   

Net amortization of premium (accretion of discount)

     859,152   

Increase in receivable for securities sold

     (1,180,725)   

Decrease in interest and dividends receivable

     461,123   

Increase in receivable from broker — variation margin on open futures contracts

     (16,264)   

Decrease in prepaid expenses

     737   

Increase in deposits with brokers for open futures contracts

     (51,019)   

Increase in payable for securities purchased

     728,300   

Decrease in investment management fee payable

     (21,234)   

Decrease in Directors’ fees payable

     (1,027)   

Increase in interest payable

     101,569   

Increase in accrued expenses

     16,272   

Net realized loss on investments

     10,996,610   

Change in unrealized depreciation of investments and forward foreign currency transactions

     24,020,679   

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities*

     24,626,004   
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:         

Distributions paid on common stock

     (20,605,464)   

Increase in loan payable

     83,000,000   

Payment for shares repurchased

     (4,671,232)   

Decrease in payable for reverse repurchase agreements

     (80,000,000)   

Decrease in due to custodian

     (1,392,326)   

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

     (23,669,022)   
Net Increase in Cash      956,982   

Cash at Beginning of Year

     603,054   

Cash at End of Year

   $ 1,560,036   

 

* Included in operating expenses is cash of $605,523 paid for interest and commitment fees on borrowings.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   27


Financial highlights

 

For a share of capital stock outstanding throughout each year ended October 31:  
     20151     20141     20131     20121     20111  
Net asset value, beginning of year     $20.20        $20.36        $20.63        $19.15        $20.41   
Income (loss) from operations:          

Net investment income

    1.23        1.30        1.24        1.33        1.39   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    (1.30)        (0.09)        (0.09)        1.67        (1.09)   

Total income (loss) from operations

    (0.07)        1.21        1.15        3.00        0.30   
Less distributions from:          

Net investment income

    (1.36)        (1.39)        (1.33)        (1.50)        (1.48)   

Net realized gains

                  (0.08)        (0.02)        (0.08)   

Return of capital

                  (0.01)                 

Total distributions

    (1.36)        (1.39)        (1.42)        (1.52)        (1.56)   
Anti-dilutive impact of repurchase plan     0.04 2      0.02 2                      
Net asset value, end of year     $18.81        $20.20        $20.36        $20.63        $19.15   
Market price, end of year     $17.17        $18.22        $18.08        $20.25        $18.05   

Total return, based on NAV3,4

    (0.17)     6.18     5.76     16.55     2.13

Total return, based on Market Price5

    1.88     8.67     (3.84)     21.54     2.97
Net assets, end of year (000s)     $281,240        $307,631        $312,451        $316,104        $291,495   
Ratios to average net assets:          

Gross expenses

    1.55     1.28     1.23     1.34     1.40

Net expenses

    1.55        1.28        1.23        1.34        1.40   

Net investment income

    6.25        6.36        6.04        6.79        7.05   
Portfolio turnover rate     33     22     20     9     16
Supplemental data:          

Loan Outstanding, End of Year (000s)

    $83,000                               

Asset Coverage Ratio for Loan Outstanding6

    439                            

Asset Coverage, per $1,000 Principal Amount of Loan Outstanding6

    $4,388                               

Weighted Average Loan (000s)

    $83,000 7                           $21,644   

Weighted Average Interest Rate on Loans7

    0.91                          1.16

 

1 

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

 

2 

The repurchase plan was completed at an average repurchase price of $16.92 for 276,119 shares and $4,671,232 for the year ended October 31, 2015 and $18.11 for 116,116 shares and $2,103,258 for the year ended October 31, 2014.

 

3 

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.

 

4 

The total return calculation assumes that distributions are reinvested at NAV. Prior to January 1, 2012, the total return calculation assumed the reinvestment of all distributions in accordance with the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

 

5 

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

 

6 

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

 

7 

Weighted average based on the number of days that the Fund had a loan outstanding.

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

28    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Notes to financial statements

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

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

The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.

(a) Investment valuation. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Short-term fixed income securities that will mature in 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost, unless it is determined that using this method would not reflect an investment’s fair value. Futures contracts are valued daily at the settlement price established by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will normally use the currency exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). If independent third party pricing services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices supplied are deemed by the manager to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the manager using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing service or pricing broker. When reliable prices are not readily available, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund values these

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   29


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors.

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

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

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

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

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

 

30    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


 

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

 

 

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

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

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities carried at fair value:

 

ASSETS  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  
Long-term investments†:                                

Corporate bonds & notes

         $ 331,886,896             $ 331,886,896   

Asset-backed securities

           5,262,371               5,262,371   

Collateralized mortgage obligations

           2,029,989               2,029,989   

Convertible bonds & notes

           50,239               50,239   

Senior loans:

                               

Health care

           747,862      $ 559,598        1,307,460   

Other senior loans

           1,085,567               1,085,567   

Sovereign bonds

           7,453,974               7,453,974   

Common stocks

  $ 2,598,258                      2,598,258   

Convertible preferred stocks

           150,700               150,700   

Preferred stocks

    1,074,496                      1,074,496   
Total long-term investments   $ 3,672,754      $ 348,667,598      $ 559,598      $ 352,899,950   
Short-term investments†            2,142,000               2,142,000   
Total investments   $ 3,672,754      $ 350,809,598      $ 559,598      $ 355,041,950   
Other financial instruments:                                

Futures contracts

  $ 45,073                    $ 45,073   

Forward foreign currency contracts

         $ 2,077,612               2,077,612   
Total other financial instruments   $ 45,073      $ 2,077,612             $ 2,122,685   
Total   $ 3,717,827      $ 352,887,210      $ 559,598      $ 357,164,635   
LIABILITIES  
Description   Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
    Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
    Total  
Other financial instruments:                                

Futures contracts

  $ 99,814                    $ 99,814   

Forward foreign currency contracts

         $ 1,665,229               1,665,229   
Total   $ 99,814      $ 1,665,229             $ 1,765,043   

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   31


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

(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 Fund’s holding period. When entering into repurchase agreements, it is the Fund’s policy that its custodian or a third party custodian, acting on the Fund’s behalf, take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the market value of which, at all times, at least equals the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction maturity exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market and measured against the value of the agreement in an effort to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund generally has the right to use the collateral to satisfy the terms of the repurchase transaction. However, if the market value of the collateral declines during the period in which the Fund seeks to assert its rights or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.

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

(d) 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.

 

32    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


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.

(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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s 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) 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,

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   33


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

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.

(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 between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities, on the date of valuation, resulting from changes in exchange rates.

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

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

The Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower, the lender that is selling the participation and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower. In the event of

 

34    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


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

(k) Credit and market risk. The Fund invests in high-yield and emerging market instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high-yield and emerging market debt obligations reflect, among other things, perceived credit and market risks. The Fund’s investments in securities rated below investment grade typically involve risks not associated with higher rated securities including, among others, greater risk related to timely and ultimate payment of interest and principal, greater market price volatility and less liquid secondary market trading. The consequences of political, social, economic or diplomatic changes may have disruptive effects on the market prices of investments held by the Fund. The Fund’s investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated securities may also result in foreign currency losses caused by devaluations and exchange rate fluctuations.

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

(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

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   35


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

default or bankruptcy by the counterparty or if the counterparty otherwise fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Fund’s investment manager 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 investment manager. 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 Fund’s 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 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 October 31, 2015, the Fund held forward foreign currency contracts with credit related contingent features which had a liability position of $1,665,229. 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.

(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. Paydown gains and losses on mortgage- and asset-backed securities are recorded as adjustments to interest income. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. 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.

 

36    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


(n) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared quarterly and paid on a monthly basis. Distributions of net realized gains, if any, are declared at least annually. Distributions to shareholders of the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

(o) Compensating balance arrangements. The Fund has an arrangement with its custodian bank whereby a portion of the custodian’s fees is paid indirectly by credits earned on the Fund’s cash on deposit with the bank.

(p) Federal and other taxes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute its taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

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 Fund’s 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 $187,483 of Federal excise taxes attributable to calendar year 2014 in March 2015.

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of October 31, 2015, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

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

(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. During the current year, the following reclassifications have been made:

 

        Undistributed Net
Investment Income
       Accumulated Net
Realized Loss
       Paid-in
Capital
 
(a)      $ 187,483                   $ (187,483)   
(b)        10,829,896         $ (10,829,896)             

 

(a) 

Reclassifications are due to a non-deductible excise tax paid by the Fund.

 

(b) 

Reclassifications are due to foreign currency transactions treated as ordinary income for tax purposes and differences between book and tax amortization of premium on fixed income securities.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   37


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) is the Fund’s investment manager. Western Asset Management Company (“Western Asset”), Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Singapore”), Western Asset Management Company Ltd (“Western Japan”) and Western Asset Management Company Limited (“Western Asset Limited”) are the Fund’s subadvisers. LMPFA, Western Asset, Western Singapore, Western Japan and Western Asset Limited 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 0.80% of the Fund’s average daily net assets plus the amount of any borrowings and assets attributable to any preferred stock that may be outstanding.

LMPFA delegates to Western Asset the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. Western Singapore, Western Japan and Western Asset Limited provide certain subadvisory services to the Fund relating to currency transactions and investments in non-U.S. dollar denominated debt securities. For its services, LMPFA pays Western Asset 70% of the net management fee it receives from the Fund. In turn, Western Asset pays Western Singapore, Western Japan and Western Asset Limited a fee for its services at no additional expense to the Fund. Each of Western Singapore, Western Japan and Western Asset Limited receives a fee from Western Asset, payable monthly, in an amount equal to an annual rate of 0.56% of the Fund’s daily managed assets related to the Fund’s assets that Western Asset allocates to Western Singapore, Western Japan and Western Asset Limited, respectively, to manage.

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

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 year ended October 31, 2015, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding short-term investments) were as follows:

 

Purchases      $ 134,203,307   
Sales        119,687,879   

At October 31, 2015, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation      $ 13,132,686   
Gross unrealized depreciation        (18,036,267)   
Net unrealized depreciation      $ (4,903,581)   

 

38    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Transactions in reverse repurchase agreements for the Fund during the year ended October 31, 2015 were as follows:

 

Average Daily
Balance*
  Weighted Average
Interest Rate*
  Maximum Amount
Outstanding

 

$80,599,963

  0.82%   $83,013,768
* Averages based on the number of days that Fund had reverse repurchase agreements outstanding.

Interest rates on reverse repurchase agreements ranged from 0.73% to 1.08% during the year ended October 31, 2015. Interest expense incurred on reverse repurchase agreements totaled $392,213. At October 31, 2015, the Fund had no open reverse repurchase agreements.

At October 31, 2015, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:

 

     Number of
Contracts
    Expiration
Date
    Basis
Value
    Market
Value
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
Contracts to Buy:                                        
Euro     41        12/15      $ 5,741,927      $ 5,642,113      $ (99,814)   
U.S. Treasury Ultra Long-Term Bonds     26        12/15        4,109,791        4,153,500        43,709   
                                      (56,105)   
Contracts to Sell:                                        
U.S. Treasury 10-Year Notes     85        12/15        10,854,802        10,853,438        1,364   
Net unrealized depreciation on open futures contracts              $ (54,741)   

During the year ended October 31, 2015, written option transactions for the Fund were as follows:

 

        Number of
Contracts
       Premiums  
Written options, outstanding as of October 31, 2014                    
Options written        113         $ 211,508   
Options closed        (113)           (211,508)   
Options exercised                    
Options expired                    
Written options, outstanding as of October 31, 2015                    

At October 31, 2015, the Fund had the following open forward foreign currency contracts:

 

Currency
Purchased
    Currency
Sold
    Counterparty   Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
CAD     784,586      USD     604,655      Bank of America N.A.     11/13/15      $ (4,682)   
EUR     400,000      USD     442,141      Bank of America N.A.     11/13/15        (2,228)   
USD     37,129,899      EUR     32,633,751      Bank of America N.A.     11/13/15        1,239,885   
EUR     470,000      USD     523,138      Citibank N.A.     11/13/15        (6,240)   
EUR     520,000      USD     580,938      Citibank N.A.     11/13/15        (9,052)   
EUR     400,000      USD     451,873      Citibank N.A.     11/13/15        (11,960)   
GBP     456,803      USD     711,155      Citibank N.A.     11/13/15        (6,993)   
USD     6,459,358      EUR     5,944,559      Citibank N.A.     11/13/15        (78,361)   

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   39


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

Currency
Purchased
    Currency
Sold
    Counterparty   Settlement
Date
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 
USD     2,137,195      GBP     1,390,000      Citibank N.A.     11/13/15      $ (5,493)   
USD     16,801,857      GBP     11,039,175      Citibank N.A.     11/13/15        (215,053)   
CAD     784,586      USD     597,058      Morgan Stanley     11/13/15        2,916   
EUR     32,633,751      USD     37,133,835      Morgan Stanley     11/13/15        (1,243,821)   
GBP     11,039,175      USD     16,805,342      Morgan Stanley     11/13/15        211,568   
USD     604,588      CAD     784,586      Morgan Stanley     11/13/15        4,614   
USD     35,834,274      EUR     32,633,751      Morgan Stanley     11/13/15        (55,740)   
USD     17,215,638      GBP     11,039,175      Morgan Stanley     11/13/15        198,728   
USD     2,308,289      EUR     2,122,143      UBS AG     11/13/15        (25,606)   
USD     17,484,592      GBP     11,228,802      UBS AG     11/13/15        175,373   
USD     7,137,875      EUR     6,259,537      Bank of America N.A.     1/19/16        244,528   
Total                                   $ 412,383   

 

Abbreviations used in this table:

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

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 October 31, 2015.

 

ASSET DERIVATIVES1  
      Interest
Rate Risk
     Foreign
Exchange Risk
     Total  
Futures contracts2    $ 45,073               $ 45,073   
Forward foreign currency contracts            $ 2,077,612         2,077,612   
Total    $ 45,073       $ 2,077,612       $ 2,122,685   
LIABILITY DERIVATIVES1  
      Foreign
Exchange Risk
 
Futures contracts2    $ 99,814   
Forward foreign currency contracts      1,665,229   
Total    $ 1,765,043   

 

1 

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

 

2 

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

The following tables provide information about the effect of derivatives and hedging activities on the Fund’s Statement of Operations for the year ended October 31, 2015. The first table provides additional detail about the amounts and sources of gains (losses)

 

40    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


realized on derivatives during the period. The second table provides additional information about the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from the Fund’s derivatives and hedging activities during the period.

 

AMOUNT OF REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED  
      Interest
Rate Risk
     Foreign
Exchange Risk
     Total  
Written options            $ 209,041       $ 209,041   
Futures contracts    $ (96,186)         1,509         (94,677)   
Forward foreign currency contracts1              15,445,831         15,445,831   
Total    $ (96,186)       $ 15,656,381       $ 15,560,195   

 

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
     Total  
Futures contracts    $ 194,181       $ (99,814)       $ 94,367   
Forward foreign currency contracts1              (6,037,486)         (6,037,486)   
Total    $ 194,181       $ (6,137,300)       $ (5,943,119)   

 

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 year ended October 31, 2015, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:

 

        Average
Market Value
 
Written options†      $ 8,258   
Futures contracts (to buy)        4,018,235   
Futures contracts (to sell)        3,792,591   
Forward foreign currency contracts (to buy)        8,787,958   
Forward foreign currency contracts (to sell)        99,076,870   

 

 

At October 31, 2015, there were no open positions held in this derivative.

The following table presents by financial instrument, the Fund’s derivative assets net of the related collateral received by the Fund at October 31, 2015:

 

      Gross Amount of Derivative
Assets in the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities1
     Collateral
Received
     Net
Amount
 
Futures contracts2    $ 35,334               $ 35,334   
Forward foreign currency contracts      2,077,612                 2,077,612   
Total    $ 2,112,946               $ 2,112,946   

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   41


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

The following table presents by financial instrument, the Fund’s derivative liabilities net of the related collateral pledged by the Fund at October 31, 2015:

 

      Gross Amount of Derivative
Liabilities in the Statement
of Assets and Liabilities1
     Collateral
Pledged
     Net
Amount
 
Forward foreign currency contracts    $ 1,665,229               $ 1,665,229   

 

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

5. Distributions subsequent to October 31, 2015

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

 

Record Date      Payable Date        Amount  
11/20/15        11/27/15         $ 0.1135   
12/18/15        12/24/15         $ 0.1135   
1/22/16        1/29/16         $ 0.1135   
2/19/16        2/26/16         $ 0.1135   

6. Stock repurchase program

On March 10, 2014, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Fund announced that it had authorized the Fund to repurchase in the open market up to 1,600,000 shares of the Fund’s common stock when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount to the net asset value. The Board directed the management of the Fund to repurchase shares of the Fund’s common stock at such times and in such amounts as Fund 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 year ended October 31, 2015, the Fund repurchased and retired 1.81% of its common shares outstanding under the repurchase plan. The weighted average discount per share on these repurchases was 12.60% for the year ended October 31, 2015. Shares repurchased and the corresponding dollar amount are included on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. The anti-dilutive impact of these share repurchases is included on the Financial Highlights.

Since the Fund’s commencement of the stock repurchase program through October 31, 2015, the Fund repurchased 392,235 shares or 2.56% of its common shares outstanding for the total amount of $6,774,490.

7. Loan

Effective June 2, 2015, the Fund has a revolving credit agreement with National Australia Bank Limited that allows the Fund to borrow up to an aggregate amount of $90,000,000. This credit agreement is effective until December 2, 2015 and thereafter renews daily for a

 

42    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


180-day term unless notice to the contrary is given to the Fund. The final scheduled termination date of the credit agreement is June 2, 2020. The Fund pays a commitment fee at an annual rate of 0.20% on the unutilized portion of the loan commitment amount. The interest on the loan is calculated at a variable rate based on the LIBOR plus any applicable margin. Securities held by the Fund are subject to a lien granted to National Australia Bank Limited, to the extent of the borrowing outstanding and any additional expenses. The Fund’s credit agreement contains customary covenants that, among other things, may limit the Fund’s ability to pay distributions in certain circumstances, incur additional debt, change its fundamental investment policies and engage in certain transactions, including mergers and consolidations, and require asset coverage ratios in addition to those required by the 1940 Act. In addition, the credit agreement may be subject to early termination under certain conditions and may contain other provisions that could limit the Fund’s ability to utilize borrowing under the agreement. Interest expense related to the loan for the period ended October 31, 2015 was $308,790. For the period ended October 31, 2015, the Fund incurred a commitment fee in the amount of $7,295. For the period ended October 31, 2015, based on the number of days during the reporting period that the Fund had a loan balance outstanding, the average daily loan balance was $83,000,000 and the weighted average interest rate was 0.91%. At October 31, 2015, the Fund had $83,000,000 of borrowings outstanding per this credit agreement.

8. Income tax information and distributions to shareholders

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

 

        2015        2014  
Distributions paid from:                      
Ordinary income      $ 20,605,464         $ 21,242,289   

As of October 31, 2015, the components of accumulated earnings (losses) on a tax basis were as follows:

 

Undistributed ordinary income — net      $ 8,175,556   
Deferred capital losses*        (6,845,331)   
Other book/tax temporary differences (a)        (600,079)   
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) (b)        (4,548,660)   
Total accumulated earnings (losses) — net      $ (3,818,514)   

 

* 

These capital losses have been deferred in the current year as either short-term or long-term losses. The losses will be deemed to occur on the first day of the next taxable year in the same character as they were originally deferred and will be available to offset future taxable capital gains.

 

(a) 

Other book/tax temporary differences are attributable to the tax deferral of losses on straddles, the realization for tax purposes of unrealized gains (losses) on certain futures and foreign currency contracts, book/tax differences in the accrual of interest income on securities in default and book/tax differences in the timing of the deductibility of various expenses.

 

(b) 

The difference between book-basis and tax-basis unrealized appreciation (depreciation) is attributable to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales and the difference between book and tax amortization methods for premiums on fixed income securities.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   43


Notes to financial statements (cont’d)

 

9. Recent accounting pronouncement

The Fund has adopted the disclosure provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-11 (“ASU No. 2014-11”), Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings and Disclosures. ASU No. 2014-11 is intended to provide increased transparency about the types of collateral pledged in repurchase agreements and similar transactions that are accounted for as secured borrowings.

 

44    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report


Report of independent registered public accounting firm

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) including the schedule of investments, as of October 31, 2015, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. as of October 31, 2015, the results of its operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

New York, New York

December 18, 2015

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. 2015 Annual Report   45


Additional information (unaudited)

Information about Directors and Officers

 

The business and affairs of Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) are conducted by management under the supervision and subject to the direction of its Board of Directors. The business address of each Director is c/o Jane Trust, Legg Mason, 100 International Drive, 11th Floor, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Information pertaining to the Directors and officers of the Fund is set forth below.

 

Independent Directors:
Robert D. Agdern1
Year of birth   1950
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director and Member of the Nominating and Audit Committees, Class III
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2015
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Member of the Advisory Committee of the Dispute Resolution Research Center at the Kellogg Graduate School of Business, Northwestern University (since 2002); formerly, Deputy General Counsel responsible for western hemisphere matters for BP PLC (1999 to 2001); formerly, Associate General Counsel at Amoco Corporation responsible for corporate, chemical, and refining and marketing matters and special assignments (1993 to 1998) (Amoco merged with British Petroleum in 1998 forming BP PLC).
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   31
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   None
Carol L. Colman
Year of birth   1946
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director and Member of the Nominating and Audit Committees, Class I
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   President, Colman Consulting Company (consulting)
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   31
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   None
Daniel P. Cronin
Year of birth   1946
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director and Member of the Nominating and Audit Committees, Class I
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Retired; formerly, Associate General Counsel, Pfizer Inc. (prior to and including 2004)
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   31
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   None

 

46    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


 

Independent Directors cont’d
Paolo M. Cucchi
Year of birth   1941
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director and Member of the Nominating and Audit Committees, Class I
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Emeritus Professor of French and Italian (since 2014) and formerly, Professor of French and Italian (2009 to 2014) at Drew University, formerly, Vice President and Dean of College of Liberal Arts at Drew University (1984 to 2009)
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   31
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   None
Leslie H. Gelb
Year of birth   1937
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director and Member of the Nominating and Audit Committees, Class II
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   President Emeritus and Senior Board Fellow (since 2003), The Council on Foreign Relations; formerly, President, (prior to 2003), the Council on Foreign Relations; formerly, Columnist, Deputy Editorial Page Editor and Editor, Op-Ed Page, The New York Times
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   31
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   Director of two registered investment companies advised by Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited (since 1994); Director, Encyclopedia Brittanica; Director, Centre Partners IV and V, LP and Affiliates
William R. Hutchinson
Year of birth   1942
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director and Member of the Nominating and Audit Committees, Class II
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   President, W.R. Hutchinson & Associates Inc. (Consulting) (since 2001)
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   31
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   Director (Non-Executive Chairman of the Board (since December 1, 2009)), Associated Banc Corp. (banking) (since 1994)

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.   47


Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Directors and Officers

 

Independent Directors cont’d
Eileen A. Kamerick
Year of birth   1958
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director and Member of Nominating and Audit Committees, Class III
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2013
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, ConnectWise, Inc. (software and services company) (since 2015) and Adjunct Professor, Washington University in St.· Louis and University of Iowa law schools (since 2014); formerly, CFO, Press Ganey Associates (health care informatics company) (since 2012); formerly, Managing Director and CFO, Houlihan Lokey (international investment bank) (2010 to 2012)
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   31
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   Director of Associated Banc-Corp (financial services company) (since 2007); Westell Technologies, Inc. (technology company) (since 2003)
Riordan Roett
Year of birth   1938
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director and Member of the Nominating and Audit Committees, Class III
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   The Sarita and Don Johnston Professor of Political Science and Director of Western Hemisphere Studies, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, The Johns Hopkins University (since 1973)
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   31
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   None

 

48    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


 

Interested Director and Officer:
Jane Trust, CFA3
Year of birth   1962
Position(s) held with Fund2   Director, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Class II
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2015
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co., LLC (“Legg Mason & Co.”) (since 2015); Officer and/or Trustee/Director of 156 funds associated with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) or its affiliates (since 2015); President and Chief Executive Officer of LMPFA (since 2015); formerly, Senior Vice President of LMPFA (2015); formerly, Director of ClearBridge, LLC (formerly, Legg Mason Capital Management, LLC) (2007 to 2014); formerly, Managing Director of Legg Mason Investment Counsel & Trust Co. (2000 to 2007)
Number of portfolios in fund complex overseen by Director (including the Fund)   147
Other board memberships held by Director during past five years   None
Additional Officers:    

Ted P. Becker

Legg Mason

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

Year of birth   1951
Position(s) held with Fund2   Chief Compliance Officer
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Director of Global Compliance at Legg Mason (since 2006); Chief Compliance Officer of LMPFA (since 2006); Managing Director of Compliance of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2005); Chief Compliance Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2006) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2006)

Vanessa A. Williams

Legg Mason

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

Year of birth   1979
Position(s) with Fund2   Identity Theft Prevention Officer
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2011
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Vice President of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2012); Identity Theft Prevention Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2011); formerly, Chief Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co or its affiliates (2011 to 2013); formerly, Senior Compliance Officer of Legg Mason & Co. (2008 to 2011); formerly, Compliance Analyst of Legg Mason & Co. (2006 to 2008) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2006)

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.   49


Additional information (unaudited) (cont’d)

Information about Directors and Officers

 

Additional Officers cont’d

Robert I. Frenkel

Legg Mason

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

Year of birth   1954
Position(s) held with Fund2   Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Legg Mason (since 2006); Managing Director and General Counsel — U.S. Mutual Funds for Legg Mason & Co. (since 2006) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (since 1994); Secretary and Chief Legal Officer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2006) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2006)

Thomas C. Mandia

Legg Mason

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

Year of birth   1962
Position(s) held with Fund2   Assistant Secretary
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2005) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2005); Secretary of LMPFA (since 2006); Assistant Secretary of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2006) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2006); Secretary of LM Asset Services, LLC (“LMAS”) (since 2002) and Legg Mason Fund Asset Management, Inc. (“LMFAM”) (since 2013) (formerly registered investment advisers)

Richard F. Sennett

Legg Mason

100 International Drive, 7th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202

Year of birth   1970
Position(s) held with Fund2   Principal Financial Officer
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2011
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2011 and since 2013); Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co. and Senior Manager of the Treasury Policy group for Legg Mason & Co.’s Global Fiduciary Platform (since 2011); formerly, Chief Accountant within the SEC’s Division of Investment Management (2007 to 2011); formerly, Assistant Chief Accountant within the SEC’s Division of Investment Management (2002 to 2007)

 

50    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


 

Additional Officers cont’d

Steven Frank

Legg Mason

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

Year of birth   1967
Position(s) held with Fund2   Treasurer
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2010
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Director of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2015); Treasurer of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2010); formerly, Vice President of Legg Mason & Co. and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (2002 to 2015); formerly, Controller of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (prior to 2010)

Jeanne M. Kelly

Legg Mason

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

Year of birth   1951
Position(s) with Fund2   Senior Vice President
Term of office2 and length of time served   Since 2009
Principal occupation(s) during past five years   Senior Vice President of certain mutual funds associated with Legg Mason & Co. or its affiliates (since 2007); Senior Vice President of LMPFA (since 2006); President and Chief Executive Officer of LMAS and LMFAM (since 2015); Managing Director of Legg Mason & Co. (since 2005) and Legg Mason & Co. predecessors (prior to 2005); formerly, Senior Vice President of LMFAM (2013 to 2015)

 

 

Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

 

1 

Effective January 1, 2015, Mr. Agdern became a Director.

 

2 

The Fund’s Board of Directors is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. The terms of office of the Class I, II and III Directors expire at the Annual Meetings of Stockholders in the year 2017, year 2018 and year 2016, respectively, or thereafter in each case when their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. The Fund’s executive officers are chosen each year to hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

 

3 

Effective August 1, 2015, Ms. Trust became a Director. In addition, Ms. Trust is an “interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act because Ms. Trust is an officer of LMPFA and certain of its affiliates.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.   51


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

 

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

 

52    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


Other shareholder communications regarding accounting matters (unaudited)

 

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

The CCO may be contacted at:

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

Compliance Department

620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor

New York, New York 10018

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

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.   53


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 American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, as agent for the stockholders (the “Plan Agent”), in additional shares of Common Stock under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). You may elect not to participate in the Plan by contacting the Plan Agent. If you do not participate, you will receive all cash distributions paid by check mailed directly to you by American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, 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 Exchange 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.

 

54    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


You may withdraw from the Plan (i.e., opt-out) by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560 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 Agent’s investment of the most recently declared dividend or distribution on the Common Stock. The Plan may be 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 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. 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 Fund’s net asset value declines. While dollar cost averaging has definite advantages, it cannot assure profit or protect against loss in declining markets.

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

The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan if, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, the change is warranted. 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 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219 or by calling the Plan Agent at 1-888-888-0151.

 

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.   55


Important tax information (unaudited)

 

The following information is provided with respect to the distributions paid during the taxable year ended October 31, 2015:

 

Record date:    Monthly    2/20/2015    Monthly
Payable date:    November 2014 -
January 2015
   2/27/2015    March 2015 -
October 2015
Ordinary income:               

Qualified dividend income for individuals

   4.05%    5.58%    5.71%

Dividends qualifying for the dividends

              

received deduction for corporations

   3.13%    4.61%    4.73%

Please retain this information for your records.

 

56    Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.


Western Asset

Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

Directors

Robert D. Agdern

Carol L. Colman

Daniel P. Cronin

Paolo M. Cucchi

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

Vanessa A. Williams

Identity Theft

Prevention Officer

Robert I. Frenkel

Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

Thomas C. Mandia

Assistant Secretary

Steven Frank

Treasurer

Jeanne M. Kelly

Senior Vice President

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

620 Eighth Avenue

49th Floor

New York, NY 10018

Investment manager

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC

Subadvisers

Western Asset Management Company

Western Asset Management Company Limited

Western Asset Management Company Ltd

Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1 Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

Transfer agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

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

GDO

 

* Effective August 1, 2015, Ms. Trust became a Director, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.


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 subadvised 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 individual’s total debt, payment history, etc.).

How the Funds Use Nonpublic Personal Information About You

The Funds do not sell or share your nonpublic personal information with third parties or with affiliates for their marketing purposes, or with other financial institutions or affiliates for joint marketing purposes, unless you have authorized the Funds to do so. The Funds do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about you except as may be required to perform transactions or services you have authorized or as permitted or required by law. The Funds may disclose information about you to:

 

 

Employees, agents, and affiliates on a “need to know” basis to enable the Funds to conduct ordinary business or 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 ANNUAL REPORT


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

 

Except as otherwise permitted by applicable law, companies acting on the Funds’ behalf are contractually obligated to keep nonpublic personal information the Funds provide to them confidential and to use the information the Funds share only to provide the services the Funds ask them to perform.

The Funds may disclose nonpublic personal information about you when necessary to enforce their rights or protect against fraud, or as permitted or required by applicable law, such as in connection with a law enforcement or regulatory request, subpoena, or similar legal process. In the event of a corporate action or in the event a Fund service provider changes, the Funds may be required to disclose your nonpublic personal information to third parties. While it is the Funds’ practice to obtain protections for disclosed information in these types of transactions, the Funds cannot guarantee their privacy policy will remain unchanged.

Keeping You Informed of the Funds’ Privacy and Security Practices

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

The Funds’ Security Practices

The Funds maintain appropriate physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to guard your nonpublic personal information. The Funds’ internal data security policies restrict access to your 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.leggmason.com, or contact the Fund at 1-888-777-0102.

 

NOT PART OF THE ANNUAL REPORT


Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity 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 Common Stock in the open market.

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Forms N-Q are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund’s Forms N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington D.C., and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. To obtain information on Form N-Q from the Fund, shareholders can call 1-888-777-0102.

Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-777-0102, (2) on the Fund’s website at www.lmcef.com and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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

American Stock

Transfer & Trust Company

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

 

WASX013050 12/15 SR15-2658


ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.

The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller.

 

ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

The Board of Directors of the registrant has determined that Eileen A. Kamerick, a member of the Board’s Audit Committee, possesses the technical attributes identified in Instruction 2(b) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR to qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” and that she is independent for purposes of this item.

 

ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

a) Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the last two fiscal years ending October 31, 2014 and October 31, 2015 (the “Reporting Periods”) for professional services rendered by the Registrant’s principal accountant (the “Auditor”) for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements, or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $53,900 in 2014 and $54,400 in 2015.

b) Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Period for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the Registrant’s financial statements were $0 in 2014 and $0 in 2015.

(c) Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“Tax Services”) were $3,840 in 2014 and $3,880 in 2015. These services consisted of (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments, and (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held.

There were no fees billed for tax services by the Auditors to service affiliates during the Reporting Periods that required pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

d) All Other Fees. There were no other fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) for the Item 4 for the Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

All Other Fees. There were no other non-audit services rendered by the Auditor to Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisors, LLC (“LMPFA”), and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with LMPFA that provided ongoing services to Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. requiring pre-approval by the Audit Committee in the Reporting Period.

(e) Audit Committee’s pre–approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c) (7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(1) The Charter for the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of each registered investment company (the “Fund”) advised by LMPFA or one of their affiliates (each, an “Adviser”) requires that the Committee shall approve (a) all audit and permissible non-audit


services to be provided to the Fund and (b) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the Fund’s independent auditors to the Adviser and any Covered Service Providers if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Committee may implement policies and procedures by which such services are approved other than by the full Committee.

The Committee shall not approve non-audit services that the Committee believes may impair the independence of the auditors. As of the date of the approval of this Audit Committee Charter, permissible non-audit services include any professional services (including tax services), that are not prohibited services as described below, provided to the Fund by the independent auditors, other than those provided to the Fund in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of the Fund. Permissible non-audit services may not include: (i) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund; (ii) financial information systems design and implementation; (iii) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports; (iv) actuarial services; (v) internal audit outsourcing services; (vi) management functions or human resources; (vii) broker or dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services; (viii) legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit; and (ix) any other service the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible.

Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Adviser and any service providers controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“Covered Service Providers”) constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid to the independent auditors during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided to (a) the Fund, (b) the Adviser and (c) any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund during the fiscal year in which the services are provided that would have to be approved by the Committee; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to the completion of the audit.

(2) For the Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc., the percentage of fees that were approved by the audit committee, with respect to: Audit-Related Fees were 100% and 100% for 2014 and 2015; Tax Fees were 100% and 100% for 2014 and 2015; and Other Fees were 100% and 100% for 2014 and 2015.

(f) N/A

(g) Non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to Western Asset Municipal High Income Fund Inc., LMPFA and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with LMPFA that provides ongoing services to Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. during the reporting period were $0 in 2015.

(h) Yes. Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Accountant’s independence. All services provided by the Auditor to the Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. or to Service Affiliates, which were required to be pre-approved, were pre-approved as required.


ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

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

Robert D. Agdern (Effective January 1, 2015, Mr. Agdern became a member of the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.)

Carol L. Colman

Daniel P. Cronin

Paolo M. Cucchi

Leslie H. Gelb

William R. Hutchinson

Eileen A. Kamerick

Dr. Riordan Roett

b) Not applicable

 

ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

Included herein under Item 1.

 

ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Proxy Voting Guidelines and Procedures

Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) delegates the responsibility for voting proxies for the fund to the subadviser through its contracts with the subadviser. The subadviser will use its own proxy voting policies and procedures to vote proxies. Accordingly, LMPFA does not expect to have proxy-voting responsibility for the fund. Should LMPFA become responsible for voting proxies for any reason, such as the inability of the subadviser to provide investment advisory services, LMPFA shall utilize the proxy voting guidelines established by the most recent subadviser to vote proxies until a new subadviser is retained.

The subadviser’s Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures govern in determining how proxies relating to the fund’s portfolio securities are voted and are provided below. Information regarding how each fund voted proxies (if any) relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge (1) by calling 888-777-0102, (2) on the fund’s website at http://www.lmcef.com and (3) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Background

Western Asset Management Company (“WA”), Western Asset Management Company Limited (“WAML”), Western Asset Management Company Ltd (“WAMCL”) and Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“WAMC”) (together “Western Asset”) have adopted and implemented policies and procedures that we believe are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interest of clients, in accordance


with our fiduciary duties and SEC Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”). Our authority to vote the proxies of our clients is established through investment management agreements or comparable documents, and our proxy voting guidelines have been tailored to reflect these specific contractual obligations. In addition to SEC requirements governing advisers, our proxy voting policies reflect the long-standing fiduciary standards and responsibilities for ERISA accounts. Unless a manager of ERISA assets has been expressly precluded from voting proxies, the Department of Labor has determined that the responsibility for these votes lies with the Investment Manager.

In exercising its voting authority, Western Asset will not consult or enter into agreements with officers, directors or employees of Legg Mason Inc. or any of its affiliates (except that WA, WAML, WAMCL and WAMC may so consult and agree with each other) regarding the voting of any securities owned by its clients.

Policy

Western Asset’s proxy voting procedures are designed and implemented in a way that is reasonably expected to ensure that proxy matters are handled in the best interest of our clients. While the guidelines included in the procedures are intended to provide a benchmark for voting standards, each vote is ultimately cast on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration Western Asset’s contractual obligations to our clients and all other relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote (such that these guidelines may be overridden to the extent Western Asset deems appropriate).

Procedures

Responsibility and Oversight

The Western Asset Legal and Compliance Department (“Legal and Compliance Department”) is responsible for administering and overseeing the proxy voting process. The gathering of proxies is coordinated through the Corporate Actions area of Investment Support (“Corporate Actions”). Research analysts and portfolio managers are responsible for determining appropriate voting positions on each proxy utilizing any applicable guidelines contained in these procedures.

Client Authority

The Investment Management Agreement for each client is reviewed at account start-up for proxy voting instructions. If an agreement is silent on proxy voting, but contains an overall delegation of discretionary authority or if the account represents assets of an ERISA plan, Western Asset will assume responsibility for proxy voting. The Legal and Compliance Department maintains a matrix of proxy voting authority.

Proxy Gathering

Registered owners of record, client custodians, client banks and trustees (“Proxy Recipients”) that receive proxy materials on behalf of clients should forward them to Corporate Actions. Proxy Recipients for new clients (or, if Western Asset becomes aware that the applicable Proxy Recipient for an existing client has changed, the Proxy Recipient for the existing client) are notified at start-up of appropriate routing to Corporate Actions of proxy materials received and reminded of their responsibility to forward all proxy materials on a timely basis. If Western Asset personnel other than Corporate Actions receive proxy materials, they should promptly forward the materials to Corporate Actions.


Proxy Voting

Once proxy materials are received by Corporate Actions, they are forwarded to the Legal and Compliance Department for coordination and the following actions:

 

  a. Proxies are reviewed to determine accounts impacted.

 

  b. Impacted accounts are checked to confirm Western Asset voting authority.

 

  c. Legal and Compliance Department staff reviews proxy issues to determine any material conflicts of interest. (See conflicts of interest section of these procedures for further information on determining material conflicts of interest.)

 

  d. If a material conflict of interest exists, (i) to the extent reasonably practicable and permitted by applicable law, the client is promptly notified, the conflict is disclosed and Western Asset obtains the client’s proxy voting instructions, and (ii) to the extent that it is not reasonably practicable or permitted by applicable law to notify the client and obtain such instructions (e.g., the client is a mutual fund or other commingled vehicle or is an ERISA plan client), Western Asset seeks voting instructions from an independent third party.

 

  e. Legal and Compliance Department staff provides proxy material to the appropriate research analyst or portfolio manager to obtain their recommended vote. Research analysts and portfolio managers determine votes on a case-by-case basis taking into account the voting guidelines contained in these procedures. For avoidance of doubt, depending on the best interest of each individual client, Western Asset may vote the same proxy differently for different clients. The analyst’s or portfolio manager’s basis for their decision is documented and maintained by the Legal and Compliance Department.

 

  f. Legal and Compliance Department staff votes the proxy pursuant to the instructions received in (d) or (e) and returns the voted proxy as indicated in the proxy materials.

Timing

Western Asset personnel act in such a manner to ensure that, absent special circumstances, the proxy gathering and proxy voting steps noted above can be completed before the applicable deadline for returning proxy votes.

Recordkeeping

Western Asset maintains records of proxies voted pursuant to Section 204-2 of the Advisers Act and ERISA DOL Bulletin 94-2. These records include:

 

  a. A copy of Western Asset’s policies and procedures.

 

  b. Copies of proxy statements received regarding client securities.

 

  c. A copy of any document created by Western Asset that was material to making a decision how to vote proxies.

 

  d. Each written client request for proxy voting records and Western Asset’s written response to both verbal and written client requests.

 

  e. A proxy log including:

 

  1. Issuer name;

 

  2. Exchange ticker symbol of the issuer’s shares to be voted;


  3. Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (“CUSIP”) number for the shares to be voted;

 

  4. A brief identification of the matter voted on;

 

  5. Whether the matter was proposed by the issuer or by a shareholder of the issuer;

 

  6. Whether a vote was cast on the matter;

 

  7. A record of how the vote was cast; and

 

  8. Whether the vote was cast for or against the recommendation of the issuer’s management team.

Records are maintained in an easily accessible place for five years, the first two in Western Asset’s offices.

Disclosure

Part II of the WA Form ADV, the WAML Form ADV, the WAMC Form ADV and the WAMCL Form ADV each, contain a description of Western Asset’s proxy policies. Clients will be provided a copy of these policies and procedures upon request. In addition, upon request, clients may receive reports on how their proxies have been voted.

Conflicts of Interest

All proxies are reviewed by the Legal and Compliance Department for material conflicts of interest. Issues to be reviewed include, but are not limited to:

 

  1. Whether Western Asset (or, to the extent required to be considered by applicable law, its affiliates) manages assets for the company or an employee group of the company or otherwise has an interest in the company;

 

  2. Whether Western Asset or an officer or director of Western Asset or the applicable portfolio manager or analyst responsible for recommending the proxy vote (together, “Voting Persons”) is a close relative of or has a personal or business relationship with an executive, director or person who is a candidate for director of the company or is a participant in a proxy contest; and

 

  3. Whether there is any other business or personal relationship where a Voting Person has a personal interest in the outcome of the matter before shareholders.

Voting Guidelines

Western Asset’s substantive voting decisions turn on the particular facts and circumstances of each proxy vote and are evaluated by the designated research analyst or portfolio manager. The examples outlined below are meant as guidelines to aid in the decision making process.

Guidelines are grouped according to the types of proposals generally presented to shareholders. Part I deals with proposals which have been approved and are recommended by a company’s board of directors; Part II deals with proposals submitted by shareholders for inclusion in proxy statements; Part III addresses issues relating to voting shares of investment companies; and Part IV addresses unique considerations pertaining to foreign issuers.

I. Board Approved Proposals

The vast majority of matters presented to shareholders for a vote involve proposals made by a company itself that have been approved and recommended by its board of directors. In view of the enhanced corporate governance practices currently being implemented in public companies, Western Asset generally votes in


support of decisions reached by independent boards of directors. More specific guidelines related to certain board-approved proposals are as follows:

 

  1. Matters relating to the Board of Directors

Western Asset votes proxies for the election of the company’s nominees for directors and for board-approved proposals on other matters relating to the board of directors with the following exceptions:

 

  a. Votes are withheld for the entire board of directors if the board does not have a majority of independent directors or the board does not have nominating, audit and compensation committees composed solely of independent directors.

 

  b. Votes are withheld for any nominee for director who is considered an independent director by the company and who has received compensation from the company other than for service as a director.

 

  c. Votes are withheld for any nominee for director who attends less than 75% of board and committee meetings without valid reasons for absences.

 

  d. Votes are cast on a case-by-case basis in contested elections of directors.

 

  2. Matters relating to Executive Compensation

Western Asset generally favors compensation programs that relate executive compensation to a company’s long-term performance. Votes are cast on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals relating to executive compensation, except as follows:

 

  a. Except where the firm is otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors, Western Asset votes for stock option plans that will result in a minimal annual dilution.

 

  b. Western Asset votes against stock option plans or proposals that permit replacing or repricing of underwater options.

 

  c. Western Asset votes against stock option plans that permit issuance of options with an exercise price below the stock’s current market price.

 

  d. Except where the firm is otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors, Western Asset votes for employee stock purchase plans that limit the discount for shares purchased under the plan to no more than 15% of their market value, have an offering period of 27 months or less and result in dilution of 10% or less.

 

  3. Matters relating to Capitalization

The management of a company’s capital structure involves a number of important issues, including cash flows, financing needs and market conditions that are unique to the circumstances of each company. As a result, Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on board-approved proposals involving changes to a company’s capitalization except where Western Asset is otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors.


  a. Western Asset votes for proposals relating to the authorization of additional common stock.

 

  b. Western Asset votes for proposals to effect stock splits (excluding reverse stock splits).

 

  c. Western Asset votes for proposals authorizing share repurchase programs.

 

  4. Matters relating to Acquisitions, Mergers, Reorganizations and Other Transactions

Western Asset votes these issues on a case-by-case basis on board-approved transactions.

 

  5. Matters relating to Anti-Takeover Measures

Western Asset votes against board-approved proposals to adopt anti-takeover measures except as follows:

 

  a. Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to ratify or approve shareholder rights plans.

 

  b. Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to adopt fair price provisions.

 

  6. Other Business Matters

Western Asset votes for board-approved proposals approving such routine business matters such as changing the company’s name, ratifying the appointment of auditors and procedural matters relating to the shareholder meeting.

 

  a. Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals to amend a company’s charter or bylaws.

 

  b. Western Asset votes against authorization to transact other unidentified, substantive business at the meeting.

II. Shareholder Proposals

SEC regulations permit shareholders to submit proposals for inclusion in a company’s proxy statement. These proposals generally seek to change some aspect of a company’s corporate governance structure or to change some aspect of its business operations. Western Asset votes in accordance with the recommendation of the company’s board of directors on all shareholder proposals, except as follows:

 

  1. Western Asset votes for shareholder proposals to require shareholder approval of shareholder rights plans.

 

  2. Western Asset votes for shareholder proposals that are consistent with Western Asset’s proxy voting guidelines for board-approved proposals.

 

  3. Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on other shareholder proposals where the firm is otherwise withholding votes for the entire board of directors.


III. Voting Shares of Investment Companies

Western Asset may utilize shares of open or closed-end investment companies to implement its investment strategies. Shareholder votes for investment companies that fall within the categories listed in Parts I and II above are voted in accordance with those guidelines.

 

  1. Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals relating to changes in the investment objectives of an investment company taking into account the original intent of the fund and the role the fund plays in the clients’ portfolios.

 

  2. Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis all proposals that would result in increases in expenses (e.g., proposals to adopt 12b-1 plans, alter investment advisory arrangements or approve fund mergers) taking into account comparable expenses for similar funds and the services to be provided.

IV. Voting Shares of Foreign Issuers

In the event Western Asset is required to vote on securities held in non-U.S. issuers – i.e. issuers that are incorporated under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction and that are not listed on a U.S. securities exchange or the NASDAQ stock market, the following guidelines are used, which are premised on the existence of a sound corporate governance and disclosure framework. These guidelines, however, may not be appropriate under some circumstances for foreign issuers and therefore apply only where applicable.

 

  1. Western Asset votes for shareholder proposals calling for a majority of the directors to be independent of management.

 

  2. Western Asset votes for shareholder proposals seeking to increase the independence of board nominating, audit and compensation committees.

 

  3. Western Asset votes for shareholder proposals that implement corporate governance standards similar to those established under U.S. federal law and the listing requirements of U.S. stock exchanges, and that do not otherwise violate the laws of the jurisdiction under which the company is incorporated.

 

  4. Western Asset votes on a case-by-case basis on proposals relating to (1) the issuance of common stock in excess of 20% of a company’s outstanding common stock where shareholders do not have preemptive rights, or (2) the issuance of common stock in excess of 100% of a company’s outstanding common stock where shareholders have preemptive rights.

Retirement Accounts

For accounts subject to ERISA, as well as other Retirement Accounts, Western Asset is presumed to have the responsibility to vote proxies for the client. The Department of Labor (“DOL”) has issued a bulletin that states that investment managers have the responsibility to vote proxies on behalf of Retirement Accounts unless the authority to vote proxies has been specifically reserved to another named fiduciary. Furthermore, unless Western Asset is expressly precluded from voting the proxies, the DOL has determined that the responsibility remains with the investment manager.


In order to comply with the DOL’s position, Western Asset will be presumed to have the obligation to vote proxies for its Retirement Accounts unless Western Asset has obtained a specific written instruction indicating that: (a) the right to vote proxies has been reserved to a named fiduciary of the client, and (b) Western Asset is precluded from voting proxies on behalf of the client. If Western Asset does not receive such an instruction, Western Asset will be responsible for voting proxies in the best interests of the Retirement Account client and in accordance with any proxy voting guidelines provided by the client.

 

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

(a)(1):

 

NAME AND

ADDRESS

   LENGTH OF
TIME SERVED
    

PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION(S) DURING

PAST 5 YEARS

S. Kenneth Leech

 

Western Asset 385 East Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101

    
 
Since
2009
  
  
   Responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset from 1998 to 2008 and since 2014; Senior Advisor/Chief Investment Officer Emeritus of Western Asset from 2008-2013; Co- Chief Investment Officer of Western Asset from 2013-2014.

Michael C. Buchanan

 

Western Asset

385 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA

91101

    
 
Since
2009
  
  
   Responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; employed by Western Asset Management as an investment professional for at least the past five years


Christopher Kilpatrick

 

Western Asset

385 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA

91101

    
 
Since
2012
  
  
   Responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; employed by Western Asset Management as an investment professional for at least the past five years.

Andrew J.

Belshaw

 

Western Asset

385 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA

91101

    
 
Since
2009
  
  
   Responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; Head of investment management for Western Asset Company Limited since 2009; Managing Director and head of Sterling Fixed Income for Blackrock Investment Management from 2004-2009; Director of Institutional Fixed Income for M&G Investment Management from 2003-2004.

Christopher.

Orndorff

 

Western Asset

385 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA

91101

    
 
Since
2012
  
  
   Responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; employed by Western Asset Management as an investment professional since 2010 ; Managing Principal and Executive Committee Member for Payden & Rygel from 1990-2009.

Paul Shuttleworth

 

Western Asset

385 East Colorado Blvd.

Pasadena, CA

91101

    
 
Since
2012
  
  
   Responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; Head of Non-US Credit for Western Asset Company Limited since 2012; Managing Director and head of Sterling Fixed Income for Blackrock Investment Management from 2006-2011.

Chia-Liang Lian

 

Western Asset 385 East Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101

    
 
Since
2014
  
  
   Responsible for the day-to-day management with other members of the Fund’s portfolio management team; employed by Western Asset Management as an investment professional since 2011; Prior to joining Western Asset, Mr. Lian spent approximately six years with the Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO), where he served as Head of Emerging Asia Portfolio Management.


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

The following tables set forth certain additional information with respect to the fund’s investment professionals for the fund. Unless noted otherwise, all information is provided as of October 31, 2015.

Other Accounts Managed by Investment Professionals

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

 

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
S. Kenneth Leech‡    Other Registered Investment Companies    109    $189.6 billion    None    None
   Other Pooled Vehicles    270    $86.5 billion    8    $1.5 billion
   Other Accounts    627    $173.6 billion    56    $17.3 billion

Michael C. Buchanan ‡

   Other Registered Investment Companies    43    $39.9 billion    None    None
   Other Pooled Vehicles    77    $36.2 billion    4    $1.2 billion
   Other Accounts    187    $50.7 billion    21    $7.9 billion

Andrew Belshaw ‡

   Other Registered Investment Companies    2    $210 million    None    None
   Other Pooled Vehicles    31    $6.4 billion    2    $170 million
   Other Accounts    71    $32.7 billion    10    $5.0 billion
   Other Registered Investment Companies    5    $1.2 billion    None    None

Paul Shuttleworth‡

   Other Pooled Vehicles    17    $4.2 billion    2    $170 million
  

Other Accounts

   21    $5.9 billion    3    $1.2 billion


Christopher Kilpatrick ‡

   Other Registered Investment Companies    9    $3.3 billion    None    None
  

Other Pooled Vehicles

   None    None    None    None
  

Other Accounts

   None    None    None    None

Christopher Orndorff ‡

   Other Registered Investment Companies    13    $5.1 billion    None    None
  

Other Pooled Vehicles

   27    $9.3 billion    2    $170 million
  

Other Accounts

   57    $26.2 billion    7    $4.0 billion
   Other Registered Investment Companies    27    $31.7 billion    None    None

Chia-Liang Lian‡

  

Other Pooled Vehicles

   41    $14.0 billion    1    $120 million
  

Other Accounts

   151    $31.5 billion    28    $9.1 billion

 

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


(a)(3): Investment Professional Compensation

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

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

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

Potential Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of Interest

The manager, the subadviser and investment professionals have interests which conflict with the interests of the fund. There is no guarantee that the policies and procedures adopted by the manager, the subadviser 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. An investment professional 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. An investment professional 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 an investment professional 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 investment professional have different investment strategies.

Allocation of Limited Investment Opportunities; Aggregation of Orders. If an investment professional identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for multiple funds and/or accounts, the opportunity may be allocated among these several funds or accounts, which may limit the fund’s ability to take full advantage of the investment opportunity. Additionally, the subadviser may aggregate transaction


orders for multiple accounts for purpose of execution. Such aggregation may cause the price or brokerage costs to be less favorable to a particular client than if similar transactions were not being executed concurrently for other accounts. In addition, the subadviser’s trade allocation policies may result in the fund’s orders not being fully executed or being delayed in execution.

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

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

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

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


(a)(4): Investment Professional Securities Ownership

The table below identifies the dollar range of securities beneficially owned by each investment professional as of October 31, 2015.

 

Portfolio Manager(s)

   Dollar Range of
Portfolio
Securities
Beneficially
Owned

S. Kenneth Leech

   A

Michael C. Buchanan

   A

Christopher Kilpatrick

   D

Andrew J. Belshaw

   A

Christopher Orndorff

   A

Paul Shuttleworth

   A

Chia-Liang Lian

   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.

 

     (a)      (b)      (c)      (d)  

Period

   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
     Average
Price Paid
per Share
     Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
     Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet
Be
Purchased
Under the
Plans or
Programs
 

November 1 through November 30

     20,527       $ 17.73         20,527         1,463,357   

December 1 through December 31

     26,140       $ 17.57         26,140         1,437,217   

January 1 through January 31

     0         0         0         1,437,217   

February 1 through February 28

     0         0         0         1,437,217   

March 1 through March 31

     0         0         0         1,437,217   

April 1 through April 30

     0         0         0         1,437,217   

May 1 through May 31

     0         0         0         1,437,217   

June 1 through June 30

     88,573       $ 17.37         88,573         1,348,644   

July 1 through July 31

     53,756       $ 16.82         53,756         1,294,888   

August 1 through August 31

     33,195       $ 16.42         33,195         1,261,693   

September 1 through September 30

     32,848       $ 16.05         32,848         1,228,845   

October 1 through October 31

     21,080       $ 15.8         21,080         1,207,765   

On March 10, 2014, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Fund announced that it had authorized the Fund to repurchase in the open market up to 1,600,000 shares of the Fund’s common stock when the Fund’s shares are trading at a discount to the net asset value. The Board directed the management of the Fund to repurchase shares of the Fund’s common stock at such times and in such amounts as Fund 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.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

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

 

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


ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.

 

(a) (1)   Code of Ethics attached hereto.
  Exhibit 99.CODE ETH
(a) (2)  

Certifications pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

attached hereto.

  Exhibit 99.CERT
(b)  

Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

attached hereto.

  Exhibit 99.906CERT


SIGNATURES

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

Western Asset Global Corporate Defined Opportunity Fund Inc.

 

By:  

/s/ Jane Trust

  Jane Trust
  Chief Executive Officer
Date:   December 22, 2015

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

 

By:  

/s/ Jane Trust

  Jane Trust
  Chief Executive Officer
Date:   December 22, 2015
By:  

/s/ Richard F. Sennett

  Richard F. Sennett
  Principal Financial Officer
Date:   December 22, 2015