Semi-Annual Report | January 31, 2022 |
WESTERN ASSET
SHORT DURATION
INCOME ETF
WINC
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE |
Fund objective
The Fund seeks current income.
Dear Shareholder,
We are pleased to provide the semi-annual report of Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF for the six-month reporting period ended January 31, 2022. Please read on for Fund performance information during the Fund’s reporting period.
As always, we remain committed to providing you with excellent service and a full spectrum of investment choices. We also remain committed to supplementing the support you receive from your financial advisor. One way we accomplish this is through our website, www.franklintempleton.com. Here you can gain immediate access to market and investment information, including:
• |
Fund net asset value and market price, |
• |
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,
Patrick O’Connor
President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment Management President
February 28, 2022
II |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF |
For the six months ended January 31, 2022, Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF generated a -2.49% return on a net asset value (“NAV”)i basis and -2.49% based on its market priceii per share.
The performance table shows the Fund’s total return for the six months ended January 31, 2022 based on its NAV and market price. The Fund’s broad-based market index, the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate 1 – 5 Year Indexiii, returned -2.13% over the same timeframe. The Lipper Short Investment Grade Debt Funds Category Averageiv returned -1.27% for the same period. Please note that Lipper performance returns are based on each fund’s NAV.
Performance Snapshot as of January 31, 2022 (unaudited) | ||||
6 months | ||||
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF: | ||||
$25.45 (NAV) |
-2.49 | %*† | ||
$25.51 (Market Price) |
-2.49 | %*‡ | ||
Bloomberg U.S. Corporate 1-5 Year Index | -2.13 | % | ||
Lipper Short Investment Grade Debt Funds Category Average | -1.27 | % |
The performance shown represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results and current performance may be higher or lower than the performance shown. Principal value and investment returns will fluctuate so shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance data current to the most recent month-end is available at www.franklintempleton.com.
Investors buy and sell shares of an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) at market price (not NAV) in the secondary market throughout the trading day. These shares are not individually available for direct purchase from or direct redemption to the ETF. Market price returns are typically based upon the official closing price of the Fund’s shares. These returns do not represent investors’ returns had they traded shares at other times. Performance figures for periods shorter than one year represent cumulative figures and are not annualized.
Information showing the Fund’s net asset value, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads for various time periods is available by visiting the Fund’s website at www.franklintempleton.com.
As of the Fund’s current prospectus dated November 29, 2021, the gross total annual fund operating expense ratio for the Fund was 0.29%.
* Total returns are based on changes in NAV or market price, respectively. Returns reflect the deduction of all Fund expenses. Returns do not reflect the deduction of brokerage commissions or taxes that investors pay on distributions or the sale of shares.
† Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at NAV.
‡ Total return assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at market price, which typically is based upon the official closing price of the Fund’s shares.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF |
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III |
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Performance review (cont’d)
Looking for additional information?
The Fund’s daily NAV is available online at www.franklintempleton.com. The Fund is traded under the symbol “WINC” and its closing market price is available on most financial websites. In a continuing effort to provide information concerning the Fund, shareholders may call 1-877-721-1926 (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.
As always, thank you for your confidence in our stewardship of your assets.
Sincerely,
Patrick O’Connor
President and Chief Executive Officer - Investment Management President
February 28, 2022
RISKS: Fixed income securities involve interest rate, credit, inflation and reinvestment risks; and possible loss of principal. As interest rates rise, the value of fixed income securities falls. High-yield securities include greater price volatility, illiquidity, and possibility of default. International investments are subject to special risks, including currency fluctuations, social, economic and political uncertainties, which could increase volatility. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Emerging market countries tend to have economic, political and legal systems that are less developed and are less stable than those of more developed countries. Derivatives, such as options and futures, can be illiquid, may disproportionately increase losses, and have a potentially large impact on fund performance. The use of leverage may increase volatility and possibility of loss. Potential active and frequent trading may result in higher transaction costs and increased investor liability. Asset-backed, mortgage-backed or mortgage related securities are subject to prepayment and extension risks. Active management and diversification do not ensure gains or protect against market declines. Please see the Fund’s prospectus for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and the Fund’s investment strategies.
All investments are subject to risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All index performance reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes. Please note that an investor cannot invest directly in an index.
IV |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF |
i |
Net Asset Value (“NAV”) is calculated by subtracting total liabilities from total assets and dividing the results by the number of shares outstanding. |
ii |
Market Price is determined by supply and demand. It is the price at which an investor purchases or sells shares of the Fund. The Market Price may differ from the Fund’s NAV. |
iii |
The Bloomberg U.S. Corporate 1-5 Year Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable 1-5 year maturity corporate bond market. It includes U.S. dollar-denominated securities publicly issued by U.S. and non-U.S. industrial, utility and financial issuers. Investors cannot invest directly in an index and unmanaged index returns do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges. |
iv |
Lipper, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Refinitiv, provides independent insight on global collective investments. Returns are based on the six-month period ended January 31, 2022, including the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, calculated among the 373 funds in the Fund’s Lipper category. |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF |
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V |
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Investment breakdown (%) as a percent of total investments
† |
The bar graph above represents the composition of the Fund’s investments as of January 31, 2022 and July 31, 2021 and does not include derivatives, such as futures contracts. The composition of the Fund’s investments is subject to change at any time. |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
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1 |
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Example
As a shareholder of the Fund, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of Fund shares; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other funds.
This example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested on August 1, 2021 and held for the six months ended January 31, 2022.
Actual expenses
The table below titled “Based on Actual Total Return” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information provided in this table, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. To estimate the expenses you paid on your account, divide your ending account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 ending account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Period”.
Hypothetical example for comparison purposes
The table below titled “Based on Hypothetical Total Return” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5.00% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use the information provided in this table to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare the 5.00% hypothetical example relating to the Fund with the 5.00% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table below are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as brokerage commissions paid on purchases and sales of Fund shares. Therefore, the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
Based on actual total return1 | Based on hypothetical total return1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Actual Total Return2 |
Beginning Account Value |
Ending Account Value |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
Expenses Paid During the Period3 |
Hypothetical Annualized Total Return |
Beginning Account Value |
Ending Account Value |
Annualized Expense Ratio |
Expenses Paid During the Period3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
-2.49% | $1,000.00 | $975.10 | 0.29% | $1.44 | 5.00% | $1,000.00 | $1,023.74 | 0.29% | $1.48 |
1 |
For the six months ended January 31, 2022. |
2 |
Assumes the reinvestment of all distributions, including returns of capital, if any, at net asset value. Total return is not annualized, as it may not be representative of the total return for the year. Performance figures may reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. |
3 |
Expenses (net of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements) are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the number of days in the most recent fiscal half-year (184), then divided by 365. |
2 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
Schedule of investments (unaudited)
January 31, 2022
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds & Notes — 86.9% | ||||||||||||||||
Communication Services — 7.5% | ||||||||||||||||
Diversified Telecommunication Services — 2.4% |
||||||||||||||||
AT&T Inc., Senior Notes |
0.900 | % | 3/25/24 | $ | 50,000 | $ | 49,084 | |||||||||
AT&T Inc., Senior Notes |
3.400 | % | 5/15/25 | 150,000 | 156,411 | |||||||||||
AT&T Inc., Senior Notes |
4.250 | % | 3/1/27 | 30,000 | 32,533 | |||||||||||
NTT Finance Corp., Senior Notes |
1.162 | % | 4/3/26 | 200,000 | 192,449 | (a) | ||||||||||
Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes |
0.850 | % | 11/20/25 | 40,000 | 38,332 | |||||||||||
Verizon Communications Inc., Senior Notes |
2.550 | % | 3/21/31 | 270,000 | 263,653 | |||||||||||
Total Diversified Telecommunication Services |
732,462 | |||||||||||||||
Interactive Media & Services — 0.4% |
||||||||||||||||
Alphabet Inc., Senior Notes |
1.100 | % | 8/15/30 | 130,000 | 118,520 | |||||||||||
Media — 4.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Charter Communications Operating LLC/Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes |
4.464 | % | 7/23/22 | 30,000 | 30,333 | |||||||||||
Charter Communications Operating LLC/Charter Communications Operating Capital Corp., Senior Secured Notes |
4.908 | % | 7/23/25 | 400,000 | 431,627 | |||||||||||
Comcast Corp., Senior Notes |
3.400 | % | 4/1/30 | 130,000 | 137,469 | |||||||||||
Fox Corp., Senior Notes |
4.030 | % | 1/25/24 | 30,000 | 31,357 | |||||||||||
Time Warner Entertainment Co. LP, Senior Secured Notes |
8.375 | % | 3/15/23 | 590,000 | 633,932 | |||||||||||
Total Media |
1,264,718 | |||||||||||||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.6% |
||||||||||||||||
T-Mobile USA Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
3.500 | % | 4/15/25 | 20,000 | 20,754 | |||||||||||
T-Mobile USA Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
2.050 | % | 2/15/28 | 130,000 | 125,080 | |||||||||||
T-Mobile USA Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
2.250 | % | 11/15/31 | 40,000 | 36,816 | |||||||||||
Total Wireless Telecommunication Services |
182,650 | |||||||||||||||
Total Communication Services |
2,298,350 | |||||||||||||||
Consumer Discretionary — 10.1% | ||||||||||||||||
Automobiles — 5.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Ford Motor Co., Senior Notes |
3.250 | % | 2/12/32 | 30,000 | 28,540 | |||||||||||
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, Senior Notes |
3.350 | % | 11/1/22 | 200,000 | 201,364 | |||||||||||
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, Senior Notes |
2.700 | % | 8/10/26 | 400,000 | 387,500 | |||||||||||
General Motors Co., Senior Notes |
6.125 | % | 10/1/25 | 240,000 | 270,578 | |||||||||||
General Motors Financial Co. Inc., Senior Notes |
3.450 | % | 4/10/22 | 40,000 | 40,102 | |||||||||||
General Motors Financial Co. Inc., Senior Notes |
3.700 | % | 5/9/23 | 110,000 | 112,578 | |||||||||||
General Motors Financial Co. Inc., Senior Notes (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.310%) |
1.528 | % | 6/30/22 | 50,000 | 50,215 | (b) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
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3 |
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Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)
January 31, 2022
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Automobiles — continued |
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Hyundai Capital America, Senior Notes |
0.800 | % | 1/8/24 | $ | 80,000 | $ | 78,245 | (a) | ||||||||
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., Senior Notes |
3.043 | % | 9/15/23 | 400,000 | 406,494 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Automobiles |
1,575,616 | |||||||||||||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 3.0% |
||||||||||||||||
Genting New York LLC/GENNY Capital Inc., Senior Notes |
3.300 | % | 2/15/26 | 200,000 | 194,778 | (a) | ||||||||||
Las Vegas Sands Corp., Senior Notes |
2.900 | % | 6/25/25 | 210,000 | 209,213 | |||||||||||
Marriott International Inc., Senior Notes |
3.600 | % | 4/15/24 | 140,000 | 144,928 | |||||||||||
Sands China Ltd., Senior Notes |
2.300 | % | 3/8/27 | 200,000 | 181,758 | (a) | ||||||||||
Wynn Macau Ltd., Senior Notes |
4.875 | % | 10/1/24 | 200,000 | 189,893 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure |
920,570 | |||||||||||||||
Household Durables — 0.5% |
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DR Horton Inc., Senior Notes |
2.500 | % | 10/15/24 | 130,000 | 131,752 | |||||||||||
MDC Holdings Inc., Senior Notes |
2.500 | % | 1/15/31 | 10,000 | 9,363 | |||||||||||
Total Household Durables |
141,115 | |||||||||||||||
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 0.6% |
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Amazon.com Inc., Senior Notes |
1.200 | % | 6/3/27 | 170,000 | 163,275 | |||||||||||
eBay Inc., Senior Notes |
2.600 | % | 5/10/31 | 20,000 | 19,470 | |||||||||||
Total Internet & Direct Marketing Retail |
182,745 | |||||||||||||||
Multiline Retail — 0.4% |
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Dollar Tree Inc., Senior Notes |
4.000 | % | 5/15/25 | 100,000 | 105,463 | |||||||||||
Nordstrom Inc., Senior Notes |
2.300 | % | 4/8/24 | 20,000 | 19,656 | |||||||||||
Total Multiline Retail |
125,119 | |||||||||||||||
Specialty Retail — 0.5% |
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Lowe’s Cos. Inc., Senior Notes |
1.300 | % | 4/15/28 | 160,000 | 148,768 | |||||||||||
Total Consumer Discretionary |
3,093,933 | |||||||||||||||
Consumer Staples — 2.9% | ||||||||||||||||
Beverages — 0.4% |
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Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide Inc., Senior Notes (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 0.740%) |
0.978 | % | 1/12/24 | 120,000 | 120,094 | (b) | ||||||||||
Food & Staples Retailing — 0.8% |
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Costco Wholesale Corp., Senior Notes |
1.375 | % | 6/20/27 | 20,000 | 19,321 | |||||||||||
Costco Wholesale Corp., Senior Notes |
1.600 | % | 4/20/30 | 10,000 | 9,402 | |||||||||||
Walmart Inc., Senior Notes |
1.050 | % | 9/17/26 | 220,000 | 212,965 | |||||||||||
Total Food & Staples Retailing |
241,688 | |||||||||||||||
Food Products — 0.1% |
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Hershey Co., Senior Notes |
1.700 | % | 6/1/30 | 10,000 | 9,499 | |||||||||||
Mondelez International Inc., Senior Notes |
1.500 | % | 2/4/31 | 20,000 | 17,981 | |||||||||||
Total Food Products |
27,480 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
4 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Household Products — 0.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Clorox Co., Senior Notes |
1.800 | % | 5/15/30 | $ | 10,000 | $ | 9,449 | |||||||||
Kimberly-Clark Corp., Senior Notes |
1.050 | % | 9/15/27 | 10,000 | 9,457 | |||||||||||
Total Household Products |
18,906 | |||||||||||||||
Tobacco — 1.5% |
||||||||||||||||
Altria Group Inc., Senior Notes |
2.625 | % | 9/16/26 | 130,000 | 132,170 | |||||||||||
BAT International Finance PLC, Senior Notes |
1.668 | % | 3/25/26 | 150,000 | 144,478 | |||||||||||
Cargill Inc., Senior Notes |
0.750 | % | 2/2/26 | 200,000 | 191,285 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Tobacco |
467,933 | |||||||||||||||
Total Consumer Staples |
876,101 | |||||||||||||||
Energy — 14.3% | ||||||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 14.3% |
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Cimarex Energy Co., Senior Notes |
4.375 | % | 3/15/29 | 20,000 | 20,729 | |||||||||||
Comstock Resources Inc., Senior Notes |
7.500 | % | 5/15/25 | 10,000 | 10,172 | (a) | ||||||||||
Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes |
4.500 | % | 4/15/23 | 120,000 | 122,915 | |||||||||||
Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes |
3.800 | % | 6/1/24 | 40,000 | 41,026 | |||||||||||
Continental Resources Inc., Senior Notes |
2.268 | % | 11/15/26 | 30,000 | 28,994 | (a) | ||||||||||
Coterra Energy Inc., Senior Notes |
4.375 | % | 6/1/24 | 80,000 | 83,815 | (a) | ||||||||||
Coterra Energy Inc., Senior Notes |
3.900 | % | 5/15/27 | 160,000 | 169,020 | (a) | ||||||||||
Coterra Energy Inc., Senior Notes |
4.375 | % | 3/15/29 | 50,000 | 54,616 | (a) | ||||||||||
DCP Midstream Operating LP, Senior Notes |
3.250 | % | 2/15/32 | 30,000 | 28,350 | |||||||||||
Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes |
5.850 | % | 12/15/25 | 80,000 | 90,167 | |||||||||||
Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes |
5.250 | % | 10/15/27 | 76,000 | 79,639 | |||||||||||
Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes |
5.875 | % | 6/15/28 | 12,000 | 12,936 | |||||||||||
Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes |
4.500 | % | 1/15/30 | 50,000 | 53,050 | (a) | ||||||||||
Devon Energy Corp., Senior Notes |
4.500 | % | 1/15/30 | 170,000 | 180,371 | |||||||||||
Devon OEI Operating LLC, Senior Notes |
7.500 | % | 9/15/27 | 20,000 | 23,197 | |||||||||||
Diamondback Energy Inc., Senior Notes |
3.250 | % | 12/1/26 | 190,000 | 196,160 | |||||||||||
Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes |
5.875 | % | 9/18/23 | 180,000 | 189,517 | |||||||||||
Ecopetrol SA, Senior Notes |
4.625 | % | 11/2/31 | 20,000 | 18,426 | |||||||||||
El Paso Natural Gas Co. LLC, Senior Notes |
7.500 | % | 11/15/26 | 60,000 | 71,989 | |||||||||||
Energy Transfer LP, Senior Notes |
4.200 | % | 9/15/23 | 20,000 | 20,723 | |||||||||||
Energy Transfer LP, Senior Notes |
4.050 | % | 3/15/25 | 490,000 | 512,614 | |||||||||||
Energy Transfer LP, Senior Notes |
2.900 | % | 5/15/25 | 100,000 | 101,358 | |||||||||||
Enterprise Products Operating LLC, Senior Notes |
3.950 | % | 2/15/27 | 30,000 | 31,938 | |||||||||||
Enterprise Products Operating LLC, Senior Notes |
2.800 | % | 1/31/30 | 110,000 | 110,609 | |||||||||||
EOG Resources Inc., Senior Notes |
4.375 | % | 4/15/30 | 30,000 | 33,622 | |||||||||||
EQT Corp., Senior Notes |
3.000 | % | 10/1/22 | 30,000 | 30,135 | |||||||||||
EQT Corp., Senior Notes |
3.125 | % | 5/15/26 | 70,000 | 68,425 | (a) | ||||||||||
EQT Corp., Senior Notes |
3.900 | % | 10/1/27 | 10,000 | 10,068 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
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5 |
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Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)
January 31, 2022
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — continued |
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Exxon Mobil Corp., Senior Notes |
3.482 | % | 3/19/30 | $ | 80,000 | $ | 85,503 | |||||||||
Florida Gas Transmission Co. LLC, Senior Notes |
2.300 | % | 10/1/31 | 80,000 | 75,141 | (a) | ||||||||||
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP, Senior Notes |
7.300 | % | 8/15/33 | 10,000 | 13,234 | |||||||||||
Lukoil Capital DAC, Senior Notes |
2.800 | % | 4/26/27 | 200,000 | 185,208 | (a) | ||||||||||
MEG Energy Corp., Senior Notes |
7.125 | % | 2/1/27 | 60,000 | 62,487 | (a) | ||||||||||
MPLX LP, Senior Notes |
3.375 | % | 3/15/23 | 10,000 | 10,197 | |||||||||||
MPLX LP, Senior Notes |
1.750 | % | 3/1/26 | 170,000 | 165,730 | |||||||||||
Northwest Pipeline LLC, Senior Notes |
7.125 | % | 12/1/25 | 20,000 | 23,133 | |||||||||||
Occidental Petroleum Corp., Senior Notes |
6.950 | % | 7/1/24 | 10,000 | 10,900 | |||||||||||
Parsley Energy LLC/Parsley Finance Corp., Senior Notes |
5.625 | % | 10/15/27 | 20,000 | 20,900 | (a) | ||||||||||
Parsley Energy LLC/Parsley Finance Corp., Senior Notes |
4.125 | % | 2/15/28 | 10,000 | 10,200 | (a) | ||||||||||
Petrobras Global Finance BV, Senior Notes |
5.999 | % | 1/27/28 | 60,000 | 64,152 | |||||||||||
Pioneer Natural Resources Co., Senior Notes |
0.550 | % | 5/15/23 | 90,000 | 89,123 | |||||||||||
Pioneer Natural Resources Co., Senior Notes |
1.125 | % | 1/15/26 | 50,000 | 47,838 | |||||||||||
Qatar Energy, Senior Notes |
1.375 | % | 9/12/26 | 200,000 | 192,714 | (a) | ||||||||||
Range Resources Corp., Senior Notes |
5.000 | % | 8/15/22 | 240,000 | 241,200 | |||||||||||
Southern Natural Gas Co. LLC, Senior Notes |
0.625 | % | 4/28/23 | 20,000 | 19,792 | (a) | ||||||||||
Southwestern Energy Co., Senior Notes |
4.750 | % | 2/1/32 | 10,000 | 9,983 | |||||||||||
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC, Senior Notes |
7.000 | % | 10/15/28 | 40,000 | 49,644 | |||||||||||
Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC, Senior Notes |
2.900 | % | 3/1/30 | 80,000 | 78,402 | (a) | ||||||||||
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC, Senior Notes |
3.250 | % | 5/15/30 | 10,000 | 10,268 | |||||||||||
Western Midstream Operating LP, Senior Notes |
3.950 | % | 6/1/25 | 50,000 | 51,172 | |||||||||||
Williams Cos. Inc., Senior Notes |
3.700 | % | 1/15/23 | 450,000 | 457,952 | |||||||||||
Total Energy |
4,369,454 | |||||||||||||||
Financials — 28.1% | ||||||||||||||||
Banks — 17.6% |
||||||||||||||||
Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes (0.810% to 10/24/23 then SOFR + 0.740%) |
0.810 | % | 10/24/24 | 30,000 | 29,565 | (b) | ||||||||||
Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes (1.319% to 6/19/25 then SOFR + 1.150%) |
1.319 | % | 6/19/26 | 10,000 | 9,704 | (b) | ||||||||||
Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes (1.530% to 12/6/24 then SOFR + 0.650%) |
1.530 | % | 12/6/25 | 20,000 | 19,665 | (b) | ||||||||||
Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes (1.734% to 7/22/26 then SOFR + 0.960%) |
1.734 | % | 7/22/27 | 580,000 | 562,540 | (b) | ||||||||||
Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes (2.299% to 7/21/31 then SOFR + 1.220%) |
2.299 | % | 7/21/32 | 40,000 | 37,864 | (b) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
6 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Banks — continued |
||||||||||||||||
Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes (2.572% to 10/20/31 then SOFR + 1.210%) |
2.572 | % | 10/20/32 | $ | 130,000 | $ | 125,976 | (b) | ||||||||
Bank of America Corp., Senior Notes (2.592% to 4/29/30 then SOFR + 2.150%) |
2.592 | % | 4/29/31 | 110,000 | 107,760 | (b) | ||||||||||
BankUnited Inc., Senior Notes |
4.875 | % | 11/17/25 | 40,000 | 43,335 | |||||||||||
BNP Paribas SA, Senior Notes (1.675% to 6/30/26 then SOFR + 0.912%) |
1.675 | % | 6/30/27 | 400,000 | 385,445 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes (0.981% to 5/1/24 then SOFR + 0.669%) |
0.981 | % | 5/1/25 | 20,000 | 19,577 | (b) | ||||||||||
Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes (1.281% to 11/3/24 then SOFR + 0.528%) |
1.281 | % | 11/3/25 | 70,000 | 68,588 | (b) | ||||||||||
Citigroup Inc., Senior Notes (1.462% to 6/9/26 then SOFR + 0.770%) |
1.462 | % | 6/9/27 | 400,000 | 383,841 | (b) | ||||||||||
Citigroup Inc., Subordinated Notes |
5.500 | % | 9/13/25 | 160,000 | 177,591 | |||||||||||
Danske Bank A/S, Senior Notes (0.976% to 9/10/24 then 1 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 0.550%) |
0.976 | % | 9/10/25 | 200,000 | 194,052 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
Danske Bank A/S, Senior Notes (3.244% to 12/20/24 then 3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.591%) |
3.244 | % | 12/20/25 | 200,000 | 204,938 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
HSBC Holdings PLC, Senior Notes (0.976% to 5/24/24 then SOFR + 0.708%) |
0.976 | % | 5/24/25 | 400,000 | 390,549 | (b) | ||||||||||
HSBC Holdings PLC, Subordinated Notes |
7.625 | % | 5/17/32 | 10,000 | 13,390 | |||||||||||
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Senior Notes |
3.375 | % | 1/12/23 | 210,000 | 213,554 | (a) | ||||||||||
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA, Subordinated Notes (4.198% to 6/1/31 then 1 year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.600%) |
4.198 | % | 6/1/32 | 200,000 | 191,517 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co., Senior Notes (0.563% to 2/16/24 then SOFR + 0.420%) |
0.563 | % | 2/16/25 | 10,000 | 9,748 | (b) | ||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co., Senior Notes (1.578% to 4/22/26 then SOFR + 0.885%) |
1.578 | % | 4/22/27 | 460,000 | 445,020 | (b) | ||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co., Senior Notes (2.522% to 4/22/30 then SOFR + 2.040%) |
2.522 | % | 4/22/31 | 10,000 | 9,745 | (b) | ||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co., Senior Notes (2.545% to 11/8/31 then SOFR + 1.180%) |
2.545 | % | 11/8/32 | 170,000 | 164,703 | (b) | ||||||||||
JPMorgan Chase & Co., Subordinated Notes (2.956% to 5/13/30 then SOFR + 2.515%) |
2.956 | % | 5/13/31 | 100,000 | 99,351 | (b) | ||||||||||
NatWest Group PLC, Senior Notes (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.470%) |
1.626 | % | 5/15/23 | 260,000 | 260,842 | (b) | ||||||||||
Royal Bank of Canada, Senior Notes |
1.150 | % | 7/14/26 | 140,000 | 134,540 | |||||||||||
Santander UK Group Holdings PLC, Senior Notes (1.673% to 6/14/26 then SOFR + 0.989%) |
1.673 | % | 6/14/27 | 400,000 | 384,170 | (b) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
7 |
|
Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)
January 31, 2022
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Banks — continued |
||||||||||||||||
Truist Financial Corp., Senior Notes (1.267% to 3/2/26 then SOFR + 0.609%) |
1.267 | % | 3/2/27 | $ | 150,000 | $ | 145,158 | (b) | ||||||||
Wells Fargo & Co., Senior Notes |
3.000 | % | 10/23/26 | 390,000 | 400,698 | |||||||||||
Wells Fargo & Co., Senior Notes (0.805% to 5/19/24 then SOFR + 0.510%) |
0.805 | % | 5/19/25 | 160,000 | 156,044 | (b) | ||||||||||
Total Banks |
5,389,470 | |||||||||||||||
Capital Markets — 7.6% |
||||||||||||||||
Charles Schwab Corp., Senior Notes |
1.150 | % | 5/13/26 | 310,000 | 300,327 | |||||||||||
Credit Suisse Group AG, Senior Notes (3.091% to 5/14/31 then SOFR + 1.730%) |
3.091 | % | 5/14/32 | 280,000 | 271,936 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
Daimler Finance North America LLC, Senior Notes |
1.450 | % | 3/2/26 | 150,000 | 146,073 | (a) | ||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes |
3.800 | % | 3/15/30 | 40,000 | 42,552 | |||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes (0.855% to 2/12/25 then SOFR + 0.609%) |
0.855 | % | 2/12/26 | 40,000 | 38,575 | (b) | ||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes (1.093% to 12/9/25 then SOFR + 0.789%) |
1.093 | % | 12/9/26 | 310,000 | 294,629 | (b) | ||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Senior Notes (1.948% to 10/21/26 then SOFR + 0.913%) |
1.948 | % | 10/21/27 | 100,000 | 97,326 | (b) | ||||||||||
Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Subordinated Notes |
4.250 | % | 10/21/25 | 50,000 | 53,428 | |||||||||||
LPL Holdings Inc., Senior Notes |
4.375 | % | 5/15/31 | 10,000 | 9,801 | (a) | ||||||||||
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (0.790% to 5/30/24 then SOFR + 0.525%) |
0.790 | % | 5/30/25 | 60,000 | 58,435 | (b) | ||||||||||
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (1.164% to 10/21/24 then SOFR + 0.560%) |
1.164 | % | 10/21/25 | 110,000 | 107,210 | (b) | ||||||||||
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (1.512% to 7/20/26 then SOFR + 0.858%) |
1.512 | % | 7/20/27 | 20,000 | 19,190 | (b) | ||||||||||
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (1.593% to 5/4/26 then SOFR + 0.879%) |
1.593 | % | 5/4/27 | 360,000 | 347,583 | (b) | ||||||||||
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (2.188% to 4/28/25 then SOFR + 1.990%) |
2.188 | % | 4/28/26 | 50,000 | 49,892 | (b) | ||||||||||
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (2.511% to 10/20/31 then SOFR + 1.200%) |
2.511 | % | 10/20/32 | 60,000 | 57,914 | (b) | ||||||||||
Morgan Stanley, Senior Notes (2.699% to 1/22/30 then SOFR + 1.143%) |
2.699 | % | 1/22/31 | 40,000 | 39,665 | (b) | ||||||||||
UBS AG, Senior Notes |
1.375 | % | 1/13/25 | 200,000 | 197,490 | (a) | ||||||||||
UBS AG, Senior Notes |
1.250 | % | 6/1/26 | 200,000 | 192,759 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Capital Markets |
2,324,785 | |||||||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services — 1.0% |
||||||||||||||||
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC/AerCap Global Aviation Trust, Senior Notes |
2.450 | % | 10/29/26 | 300,000 | 294,936 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
8 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Diversified Financial Services — continued |
||||||||||||||||
Element Fleet Management Corp., Senior Notes |
1.600 | % | 4/6/24 | $ | 10,000 | $ | 9,914 | (a) | ||||||||
Global Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd., Senior Notes (6.500% Cash or 7.250% PIK) |
6.500 | % | 9/15/24 | 2,227 | 2,090 | (a)(c) | ||||||||||
Total Diversified Financial Services |
306,940 | |||||||||||||||
Insurance — 1.8% |
||||||||||||||||
American International Group Inc., Senior Notes |
2.500 | % | 6/30/25 | 150,000 | 152,386 | |||||||||||
American International Group Inc., Senior Notes |
3.400 | % | 6/30/30 | 10,000 | 10,492 | |||||||||||
AmFam Holdings Inc., Senior Notes |
2.805 | % | 3/11/31 | 130,000 | 129,029 | (a) | ||||||||||
GA Global Funding Trust, Secured Notes |
1.000 | % | 4/8/24 | 20,000 | 19,563 | (a) | ||||||||||
New York Life Global Funding, Senior Secured Notes |
0.950 | % | 6/24/25 | 70,000 | 67,971 | (a) | ||||||||||
Prudential Financial Inc., Senior Notes |
1.500 | % | 3/10/26 | 10,000 | 9,852 | |||||||||||
Reliance Standard Life Global Funding II, Secured Notes |
2.500 | % | 10/30/24 | 120,000 | 121,423 | (a) | ||||||||||
Reliance Standard Life Global Funding II, Secured Notes |
2.750 | % | 1/21/27 | 40,000 | 40,621 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Insurance |
551,337 | |||||||||||||||
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Rocket Mortgage LLC/Rocket Mortgage Co-Issuer Inc., Senior Notes |
2.875 | % | 10/15/26 | 20,000 | 19,019 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Financials |
8,591,551 | |||||||||||||||
Health Care — 4.4% | ||||||||||||||||
Biotechnology — 1.3% |
||||||||||||||||
AbbVie Inc., Senior Notes |
2.600 | % | 11/21/24 | 50,000 | 50,884 | |||||||||||
AbbVie Inc., Senior Notes |
2.950 | % | 11/21/26 | 330,000 | 339,365 | |||||||||||
Total Biotechnology |
390,249 | |||||||||||||||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Becton Dickinson and Co., Senior Notes |
3.363 | % | 6/6/24 | 42,000 | 43,388 | |||||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services — 2.2% |
||||||||||||||||
Bon Secours Mercy Health Inc., Secured Notes |
3.464 | % | 6/1/30 | 10,000 | 10,587 | |||||||||||
Centene Corp., Senior Notes |
4.625 | % | 12/15/29 | 70,000 | 72,787 | |||||||||||
Centene Corp., Senior Notes |
3.375 | % | 2/15/30 | 110,000 | 107,937 | |||||||||||
Cigna Corp., Senior Notes |
4.125 | % | 11/15/25 | 30,000 | 32,040 | |||||||||||
Cigna Corp., Senior Notes |
2.400 | % | 3/15/30 | 170,000 | 164,248 | |||||||||||
CommonSpirit Health, Senior Secured Notes |
2.782 | % | 10/1/30 | 10,000 | 9,990 | |||||||||||
CVS Health Corp., Senior Notes |
2.625 | % | 8/15/24 | 60,000 | 61,203 | |||||||||||
CVS Health Corp., Senior Notes |
2.875 | % | 6/1/26 | 40,000 | 41,005 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
9 |
|
Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)
January 31, 2022
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Health Care Providers & Services — continued |
||||||||||||||||
CVS Health Corp., Senior Notes |
1.300 | % | 8/21/27 | $ | 50,000 | $ | 47,065 | |||||||||
UnitedHealth Group Inc., Senior Notes |
1.150 | % | 5/15/26 | 120,000 | 116,240 | |||||||||||
Total Health Care Providers & Services |
663,102 | |||||||||||||||
Pharmaceuticals — 0.8% |
||||||||||||||||
Astrazeneca Finance LLC, Senior Notes |
1.200 | % | 5/28/26 | 90,000 | 87,247 | |||||||||||
Merck & Co. Inc., Senior Notes |
1.900 | % | 12/10/28 | 70,000 | 68,493 | |||||||||||
Merck & Co. Inc., Senior Notes |
1.450 | % | 6/24/30 | 80,000 | 74,134 | |||||||||||
Total Pharmaceuticals |
229,874 | |||||||||||||||
Total Health Care |
1,326,613 | |||||||||||||||
Industrials — 7.5% | ||||||||||||||||
Aerospace & Defense — 1.6% |
||||||||||||||||
Avolon Holdings Funding Ltd., Senior Notes |
3.625 | % | 5/1/22 | 2,000 | 2,009 | (a) | ||||||||||
Boeing Co., Senior Notes |
4.875 | % | 5/1/25 | 30,000 | 32,287 | |||||||||||
Boeing Co., Senior Notes |
2.196 | % | 2/4/26 | 350,000 | 344,027 | |||||||||||
Boeing Co., Senior Notes |
3.250 | % | 2/1/28 | 40,000 | 40,857 | |||||||||||
Lockheed Martin Corp., Senior Notes |
1.850 | % | 6/15/30 | 70,000 | 67,115 | |||||||||||
Total Aerospace & Defense |
486,295 | |||||||||||||||
Airlines — 1.7% |
||||||||||||||||
American Airlines Inc./AAdvantage Loyalty IP Ltd., Senior Secured Notes |
5.500 | % | 4/20/26 | 50,000 | 51,188 | (a) | ||||||||||
Continental Airlines 2007-1 Class B Pass-Through Trust |
6.903 | % | 4/19/22 | 26,540 | 26,596 | |||||||||||
Delta Air Lines Inc./SkyMiles IP Ltd., Senior Secured Notes |
4.500 | % | 10/20/25 | 190,000 | 197,121 | (a) | ||||||||||
Delta Air Lines Inc./SkyMiles IP Ltd., Senior Secured Notes |
4.750 | % | 10/20/28 | 10,000 | 10,674 | (a) | ||||||||||
United Airlines Holdings Inc., Senior Notes |
4.250 | % | 10/1/22 | 190,000 | 192,107 | |||||||||||
United Airlines Pass-Through Trust |
4.875 | % | 1/15/26 | 51,840 | 53,618 | |||||||||||
Total Airlines |
531,304 | |||||||||||||||
Commercial Services & Supplies — 0.6% |
||||||||||||||||
Republic Services Inc., Senior Notes |
2.500 | % | 8/15/24 | 170,000 | 172,265 | |||||||||||
Industrial Conglomerates — 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Honeywell International Inc., Senior Notes |
1.950 | % | 6/1/30 | 90,000 | 86,628 | |||||||||||
Professional Services — 0.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Equifax Inc., Senior Notes |
2.350 | % | 9/15/31 | 30,000 | 28,227 | |||||||||||
Road & Rail — 0.4% |
||||||||||||||||
Canadian Pacific Railway Co., Senior Notes |
1.750 | % | 12/2/26 | 130,000 | 127,559 | |||||||||||
Trading Companies & Distributors — 2.8% |
||||||||||||||||
Air Lease Corp., Senior Notes |
3.000 | % | 9/15/23 | 110,000 | 112,027 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
10 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Trading Companies & Distributors — continued |
||||||||||||||||
Air Lease Corp., Senior Notes |
0.700 | % | 2/15/24 | $ | 290,000 | $ | 281,921 | |||||||||
Aviation Capital Group LLC, Senior Notes |
4.125 | % | 8/1/25 | 440,000 | 456,749 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Trading Companies & Distributors |
850,697 | |||||||||||||||
Total Industrials |
2,282,975 | |||||||||||||||
Information Technology — 8.3% | ||||||||||||||||
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 0.5% |
|
|||||||||||||||
TD SYNNEX Corp., Senior Notes |
1.250 | % | 8/9/24 | 110,000 | 107,485 | (a) | ||||||||||
Vontier Corp., Senior Notes |
1.800 | % | 4/1/26 | 50,000 | 48,051 | |||||||||||
Total Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components |
|
155,536 | ||||||||||||||
IT Services — 1.7% |
||||||||||||||||
Kyndryl Holdings Inc., Senior Notes |
2.050 | % | 10/15/26 | 110,000 | 105,173 | (a) | ||||||||||
Mastercard Inc., Senior Notes |
3.300 | % | 3/26/27 | 120,000 | 127,028 | |||||||||||
PayPal Holdings Inc., Senior Notes |
2.400 | % | 10/1/24 | 190,000 | 193,575 | |||||||||||
PayPal Holdings Inc., Senior Notes |
2.300 | % | 6/1/30 | 60,000 | 58,971 | |||||||||||
S&P Global Inc., Senior Notes |
1.250 | % | 8/15/30 | 10,000 | 9,028 | |||||||||||
Visa Inc., Senior Notes |
1.100 | % | 2/15/31 | 10,000 | 8,994 | |||||||||||
Total IT Services |
502,769 | |||||||||||||||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 3.3% |
|
|||||||||||||||
Broadcom Inc., Senior Notes |
3.150 | % | 11/15/25 | 10,000 | 10,286 | |||||||||||
Lam Research corp., Senior Notes |
1.900 | % | 6/15/30 | 80,000 | 76,328 | |||||||||||
Microchip Technology Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
2.670 | % | 9/1/23 | 30,000 | 30,421 | |||||||||||
Microchip Technology Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
0.972 | % | 2/15/24 | 50,000 | 48,955 | |||||||||||
Microchip Technology Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
0.983 | % | 9/1/24 | 130,000 | 126,407 | (a) | ||||||||||
NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC/NXP USA Inc., Senior Notes |
3.400 | % | 5/1/30 | 70,000 | 71,866 | (a) | ||||||||||
Qorvo Inc., Senior Notes |
1.750 | % | 12/15/24 | 50,000 | 49,061 | (a) | ||||||||||
Renesas Electronics Corp., Senior Notes |
2.170 | % | 11/25/26 | 200,000 | 195,205 | (a) | ||||||||||
Skyworks Solutions Inc., Senior Notes |
1.800 | % | 6/1/26 | 20,000 | 19,401 | |||||||||||
TSMC Arizona Corp., Senior Notes |
1.750 | % | 10/25/26 | 400,000 | 393,345 | |||||||||||
Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
|
1,021,275 | ||||||||||||||
Software — 2.2% |
||||||||||||||||
Adobe Inc., Senior Notes |
2.150 | % | 2/1/27 | 200,000 | 200,598 | |||||||||||
Adobe Inc., Senior Notes |
2.300 | % | 2/1/30 | 110,000 | 108,622 | |||||||||||
Fortinet Inc., Senior Notes |
1.000 | % | 3/15/26 | 200,000 | 190,078 | |||||||||||
salesforce.com Inc., Senior Notes |
1.500 | % | 7/15/28 | 180,000 | 172,309 | |||||||||||
Total Software |
671,607 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
11 |
|
Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)
January 31, 2022
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 0.6% |
||||||||||||||||
Apple Inc., Senior Notes |
0.700 | % | 2/8/26 | $ | 50,000 | $ | 48,009 | |||||||||
Apple Inc., Senior Notes |
1.400 | % | 8/5/28 | 150,000 | 142,601 | |||||||||||
Total Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
|
190,610 | ||||||||||||||
Total Information Technology |
2,541,797 | |||||||||||||||
Materials — 1.6% | ||||||||||||||||
Chemicals — 0.1% |
||||||||||||||||
PPG Industries Inc., Senior Notes |
1.200 | % | 3/15/26 | 40,000 | 38,565 | |||||||||||
Containers & Packaging — 0.0%†† |
||||||||||||||||
Graphic Packaging International LLC, Senior Secured Notes |
1.512 | % | 4/15/26 | 10,000 | 9,613 | (a) | ||||||||||
Metals & Mining — 1.4% |
||||||||||||||||
Freeport-McMoRan Inc., Senior Notes |
4.375 | % | 8/1/28 | 40,000 | 41,238 | |||||||||||
Glencore Finance Canada Ltd., Senior Notes |
4.250 | % | 10/25/22 | 100,000 | 102,322 | (a) | ||||||||||
Glencore Funding LLC, Senior Notes |
1.625 | % | 9/1/25 | 260,000 | 254,546 | (a) | ||||||||||
Yamana Gold Inc., Senior Notes |
4.625 | % | 12/15/27 | 10,000 | 10,673 | |||||||||||
Yamana Gold Inc., Senior Notes |
2.630 | % | 8/15/31 | 10,000 | 9,451 | |||||||||||
Total Metals & Mining |
418,230 | |||||||||||||||
Paper & Forest Products — 0.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Suzano Austria GmbH, Senior Notes |
3.125 | % | 1/15/32 | 30,000 | 27,750 | |||||||||||
Total Materials |
494,158 | |||||||||||||||
Real Estate — 0.3% | ||||||||||||||||
Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 0.3% |
||||||||||||||||
Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc., Senior Notes |
2.000 | % | 5/18/32 | 10,000 | 9,272 | |||||||||||
Diversified Healthcare Trust, Senior Notes |
4.750 | % | 5/1/24 | 20,000 | 20,000 | |||||||||||
Kimco Realty Corp., Senior Notes |
2.250 | % | 12/1/31 | 50,000 | 47,195 | |||||||||||
Simon Property Group LP, Senior Notes |
3.500 | % | 9/1/25 | 20,000 | 20,982 | |||||||||||
Total Real Estate |
97,449 | |||||||||||||||
Utilities — 1.9% | ||||||||||||||||
Electric Utilities — 1.9% |
||||||||||||||||
DTE Electric Co., First Mortgage |
2.625 | % | 3/1/31 | 40,000 | 40,207 | |||||||||||
Duke Energy Ohio Inc., First Mortgage |
2.125 | % | 6/1/30 | 10,000 | 9,547 | |||||||||||
Edison International, Senior Notes |
4.950 | % | 4/15/25 | 170,000 | 183,022 | |||||||||||
FirstEnergy Corp., Senior Notes |
3.350 | % | 7/15/22 | 80,000 | 79,906 | |||||||||||
NRG Energy Inc., Senior Secured Notes |
2.450 | % | 12/2/27 | 160,000 | 153,520 | (a) | ||||||||||
Pacific Gas and Electric Co., First Mortgage Bonds |
1.750 | % | 6/16/22 | 50,000 | 49,983 | |||||||||||
Pacific Gas and Electric Co., First Mortgage Bonds |
2.100 | % | 8/1/27 | 50,000 | 47,127 | |||||||||||
Toledo Edison Co. |
2.650 | % | 5/1/28 | 10,000 | 9,951 | (a) | ||||||||||
Total Utilities |
573,263 | |||||||||||||||
Total Corporate Bonds & Notes (Cost — $27,164,768) |
|
26,545,644 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
12 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Asset-Backed Securities — 3.2% |
|
|||||||||||||||
ABPCI Direct Lending Fund IX LLC, 2020-9A A1R (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.400%) |
1.524 | % | 11/18/31 | $ | 270,000 | $ | 269,932 | (a)(b) | ||||||||
AGL CLO 6 Ltd., 2020-6A AR (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.200%) |
1.454 | % | 7/20/34 | 100,000 | 99,905 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
CIFC Funding Ltd., 2021-4A A (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.050%) |
1.291 | % | 7/15/33 | 110,000 | 109,837 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
Halcyon Loan Advisors Funding Ltd., 2017-2A A2 (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.700%) |
1.941 | % | 1/17/30 | 250,000 | 249,999 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
Navient Private Education Refi Loan Trust, 2020-DA A |
1.690 | % | 5/15/69 | 43,825 | 43,650 | (a) | ||||||||||
Neuberger Berman Loan Advisers CLO 42 Ltd., 2021-42A A (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.100%) |
1.341 | % | 7/16/35 | 210,000 | 209,495 | (a)(b) | ||||||||||
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost — $982,146) |
|
982,818 | ||||||||||||||
U.S. Government & Agency Obligations — 1.7% |
|
|||||||||||||||
U.S. Government Obligations — 1.7% |
||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Notes |
1.250 | % | 12/31/26 | 30,000 | 29,489 | |||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Notes |
1.625 | % | 5/15/31 | 5,000 | 4,940 | |||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Notes |
1.375 | % | 11/15/31 | 500,000 | 481,797 | |||||||||||
Total U.S. Government & Agency Obligations (Cost — $516,006) |
|
516,226 | ||||||||||||||
Sovereign Bonds — 0.9% |
|
|||||||||||||||
Argentina — 0.2% |
||||||||||||||||
Argentine Republic Government International Bond, Senior Notes |
1.000 | % | 7/9/29 | 4,719 | 1,664 | |||||||||||
Argentine Republic Government International Bond, Senior Notes, Step bond (0.500% to 7/9/23 then 0.750%) |
0.500 | % | 7/9/30 | 135,800 | 45,834 | |||||||||||
Total Argentina |
47,498 | |||||||||||||||
Chile — 0.6% |
||||||||||||||||
Chile Government International Bond, Senior Notes |
2.550 | % | 7/27/33 | 200,000 | 187,736 | |||||||||||
Peru — 0.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Peruvian Government International Bond, Senior Notes |
2.783 | % | 1/23/31 | 20,000 | 19,327 | |||||||||||
Total Sovereign Bonds (Cost — $300,097) |
|
254,561 | ||||||||||||||
Senior Loans — 0.1% |
|
|||||||||||||||
Energy — 0.1% |
|
|||||||||||||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 0.1% |
||||||||||||||||
Southwestern Energy Co., Initial Term Loan (the greater of 3 mo. SOFR or 0.500% + 2.500%) |
3.000 | % | 6/22/27 | 20,000 | 20,013 | (b)(d)(e) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
13 |
|
Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont’d)
January 31, 2022
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)
Security | Rate | Maturity Date |
Face Amount |
Value | ||||||||||||
Industrials — 0.0%†† | ||||||||||||||||
Airlines — 0.0%†† |
||||||||||||||||
Delta Air Lines Inc., Initial Term Loan (the greater of 3 mo. USD LIBOR or 1.000% + 3.750%) |
4.750 | % | 10/20/27 | $ | 10,000 | $ | 10,551 | (b)(d)(e) | ||||||||
Materials — 0.0%†† | ||||||||||||||||
Paper & Forest Products — 0.0%†† |
||||||||||||||||
Asplundh Tree Expert LLC, 2021 Refinancing Term Loan (1 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.750%) |
1.855 | % | 9/4/27 | 9,875 | 9,810 | (b)(d)(e) | ||||||||||
Total Senior Loans (Cost — $39,696) |
40,374 | |||||||||||||||
Total Investments before Short-Term Investments (Cost — $29,002,713) |
|
28,339,623 | ||||||||||||||
Shares | ||||||||||||||||
Short-Term Investments — 6.4% | ||||||||||||||||
BNY Mellon Cash Reserve Fund (Cost — $1,956,785) |
0.000 | % | 1,956,785 | 1,956,785 | ||||||||||||
Total Investments — 99.2% (Cost — $30,959,498) |
30,296,408 | |||||||||||||||
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.8% |
244,466 | |||||||||||||||
Total Net Assets — 100.0% |
$ | 30,540,874 |
†† |
Represents less than 0.1%. |
(a) |
Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. This security has been deemed liquid pursuant to guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees. |
(b) |
Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is as of the most recent information available. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description above. |
(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 securities. |
(d) |
Interest rates disclosed represent the effective rates on senior loans. Ranges in interest rates are attributable to multiple contracts under the same loan. |
(e) |
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. |
Abbreviation(s) used in this schedule: | ||
CLO | — Collateralized Loan Obligation | |
LIBOR | — London Interbank Offered Rate | |
PIK | — Payment-In-Kind | |
SOFR | — Secured Overnight Financing Rate | |
USD | — United States Dollar |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
At January 31, 2022, the Fund had the following open futures contracts:
Number of Contracts |
Expiration Date |
Notional Amount |
Market Value |
Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
||||||||||||||||
Contracts to Buy: | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury 2-Year Notes | 10 | 3/22 | $ | 2,182,006 | $ | 2,166,562 | $ | (15,444) | ||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury 5-Year Notes | 71 | 3/22 | 8,577,311 | 8,463,422 | (113,889) | |||||||||||||||
(129,333) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Contracts to Sell: | ||||||||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury 10-Year Notes | 49 | 3/22 | 6,359,411 | 6,270,469 | 88,942 | |||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Long-Term Bonds | 10 | 3/22 | 1,597,281 | 1,556,250 | 41,031 | |||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Ultra 10-Year Notes | 9 | 3/22 | 1,300,098 | 1,285,453 | 14,645 | |||||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Ultra Long-Term Bonds | 1 | 3/22 | 191,996 | 188,937 | 3,059 | |||||||||||||||
147,677 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation on open futures contracts |
|
$ | 18,344 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
15 |
|
Statement of assets and liabilities (unaudited)
January 31, 2022
Assets: | ||||
Investments, at value (Cost — $30,959,498) |
$ | 30,296,408 | ||
Interest receivable |
199,522 | |||
Deposits with brokers for open futures contracts |
103,024 | |||
Receivable for securities sold |
10,000 | |||
Receivable from broker — net variation margin on open futures contracts |
4,086 | |||
Total Assets |
30,613,040 | |||
Liabilities: | ||||
Payable for securities purchased |
64,766 | |||
Investment management fee payable |
7,400 | |||
Total Liabilities |
72,166 | |||
Total Net Assets | $ | 30,540,874 | ||
Net Assets: | ||||
Par value (Note 5) |
$ | 12 | ||
Paid-in capital in excess of par value |
31,885,417 | |||
Total distributable earnings (loss) |
(1,344,555) | |||
Total Net Assets | $ | 30,540,874 | ||
Shares Outstanding | 1,200,000 | |||
Net Asset Value | $25.45 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
Statement of operations (unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended January 31, 2022
Investment Income: | ||||
Interest |
$ | 218,672 | ||
Expenses: | ||||
Investment management fee (Note 2) |
32,408 | |||
Net Investment Income | 186,264 | |||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Futures Contracts and Swap Contracts (Notes 1, 3 and 4): | ||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) From: |
||||
Investment transactions |
33,051 | |||
Futures contracts |
(49,461) | |||
Swap contracts |
2,278 | |||
Net Realized Loss |
(14,132) | |||
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) From: |
||||
Investments |
(947,773) | |||
Futures contracts |
97,070 | |||
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
(850,703) | |||
Net Loss on Investments, Futures Contracts and Swap Contracts | (864,835) | |||
Decrease in Net Assets From Operations | $ | (678,571) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
17 |
|
Statements of changes in net assets
For the Six Months Ended January 31, 2022 (unaudited) and the Year Ended July 31, 2021 |
2022 | 2021 | ||||||
Operations: | ||||||||
Net investment income |
$ | 186,264 | $ | 226,134 | ||||
Net realized gain (loss) |
(14,132) | 170,730 | ||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
(850,703) | 101,187 | ||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations |
(678,571) | 498,051 | ||||||
Distributions to Shareholders From (Note 1): | ||||||||
Total distributable earnings |
(173,187) | (239,911) | ||||||
Decrease in Net Assets From Distributions to Shareholders |
(173,187) | (239,911) | ||||||
Fund Share Transactions (Note 5): | ||||||||
Net proceeds from sale of shares (450,000 and 450,000 shares issued, respectively) |
11,649,797 | 11,830,154 | ||||||
Increase in Net Assets From Fund Share Transactions |
11,649,797 | 11,830,154 | ||||||
Increase in Net Assets |
10,798,039 | 12,088,294 | ||||||
Net Assets: | ||||||||
Beginning of period |
19,742,835 | 7,654,541 | ||||||
End of period |
$ | 30,540,874 | $ | 19,742,835 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
18 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
For a share of beneficial interest outstanding throughout
each year ended July 31, unless otherwise noted: |
||||||||||||||||
20221,2 | 20211 | 20201 | 20191,3 | |||||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | $26.32 | $25.52 | $25.80 | $25.00 | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations: | ||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
0.22 | 0.63 | 0.97 | 0.48 | ||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
(0.87) | 0.90 | (0.10) | 4 | 0.72 | |||||||||||
Total income (loss) from operations |
(0.65) | 1.53 | 0.87 | 1.20 | ||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||
Net investment income |
(0.22) | (0.73) | (1.04) | (0.40) | ||||||||||||
Net realized gains |
— | — | (0.11) | — | ||||||||||||
Total distributions |
(0.22) | (0.73) | (1.15) | (0.40) | ||||||||||||
Net asset value, end of period | $25.45 | $26.32 | $25.52 | $25.80 | ||||||||||||
Total return, based on NAV5 |
(2.49) | % | 6.06 | % | 3.52 | % | 4.82 | % | ||||||||
Net assets, end of period (000s) | $30,541 | $19,743 | $7,655 | $25,801 | ||||||||||||
Ratios to average net assets: | ||||||||||||||||
Gross expenses |
0.29 | %6 | 0.29 | % | 0.29 | % | 0.29 | %6 | ||||||||
Net expenses |
0.29 | 6 | 0.29 | 0.29 | 0.29 | 6 | ||||||||||
Net investment income |
1.67 | 6 | 2.42 | 3.85 | 3.99 | 6 | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate7 | 16 | % | 65 | % | 72 | % | 54 | % |
1 |
Per share amounts have been calculated using the average shares method. |
2 |
For the six months ended January 31, 2022 (unaudited). |
3 |
For the period February 7, 2019 (inception date) to July 31, 2019. |
4 |
Calculation of the net loss per share (both realized and unrealized) does not correlate to the aggregate realized and unrealized loss presented in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of sales and repurchases of Fund Shares in relation to fluctuating market values of the investments of the Fund. |
5 |
Performance figures may reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. The total return calculation assumes that distributions are reinvested at NAV. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized. |
6 |
Annualized. |
7 |
Portfolio turnover excludes the value of portfolio securities received or delivered as a result of in-kind fund share transactions. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
19 |
|
Notes to financial statements (unaudited)
1. Organization and significant accounting policies
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF (the “Fund”) is a separate diversified investment series of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust, a Maryland statutory trust, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company.
In September 2021, the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved changing the Fund’s fiscal year end from July 31st to March 31st.
The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). ETFs are funds that trade like other publicly-traded securities. Unlike shares of a mutual fund, which can be bought from and redeemed by the issuing fund by all shareholders at a price based on net asset value (“NAV”), shares of the Fund may be directly purchased from and redeemed by the Fund at NAV solely by certain large institutional investors who have entered into agreements with the Fund’s distributor (“Authorized Participants”). Also unlike shares of a mutual fund, shares of the Fund are listed on a national securities exchange and trade in the secondary market at market prices that change throughout the day.
Shares of the Fund are listed and traded at market prices on NASDAQ. The market price for the Fund’s shares may be different from the Fund’s NAV. The Fund issues and redeems shares at NAV only in blocks of a specified number of shares or multiples thereof (“Creation Units”). Only Authorized Participants may purchase or redeem Creation Units directly with the Fund at NAV. Creation Units generally are issued and redeemed in cash. However, Creation Units may also be issued and redeemed partially in-kind for a basket of securities and partially in cash. Except when aggregated in Creation Units, shares of the Fund are not redeemable securities. Shareholders who are not Authorized Participants may not redeem shares directly from the Fund at NAV.
The Fund seeks current income.
The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.
(a) Investment valuation. The valuations for fixed income securities (which may include, but are not limited to, corporate, government, municipal, mortgage-backed, collateralized mortgage obligations and asset-backed securities) and certain derivative instruments are typically the prices supplied by independent third party pricing services, which may use market prices or broker/dealer quotations or a variety of valuation techniques and methodologies. The independent third party pricing services typically use inputs that are observable such as issuer details, interest rates, yield curves, prepayment speeds, credit
20 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
risks/spreads, default rates and quoted prices for similar securities. Investments in open-end funds are valued at the closing net asset value per share of each fund on the day of valuation. Futures contracts are valued daily at the settlement price established by the board of trade or exchange on which they are traded. Equity securities for which market quotations are available are valued at the last reported sales price or official closing price on the primary market or exchange on which they trade. When the Fund holds securities or other assets that are denominated in a foreign currency, the Fund will use the currency exchange rates, generally determined as of 4:00 p.m. (London Time). If independent third party pricing services are unable to supply prices for a portfolio investment, or if the prices supplied are deemed by the manager to be unreliable, the market price may be determined by the manager using quotations from one or more broker/dealers or at the transaction price
if the security has recently been purchased and no value has yet been obtained from a pricing service or pricing broker. When reliable prices are not readily available, such as when the value of a security has been significantly affected by events after the close of the exchange or market on which the security is principally traded, but before the Fund calculates its net asset value, the Fund values these securities as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the valuation process and has delegated the supervision of the daily valuation process to the Global Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee, pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Board of Trustees. 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.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
21 |
|
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)
For each portfolio security that has been fair valued pursuant to the policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, 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 Trustees quarterly.
The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present value.
GAAP establishes a disclosure hierarchy that categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to value assets and liabilities at measurement date. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
• |
Level 1 — quoted prices in active markets for identical investments |
• |
Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.) |
• |
Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) |
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 (Level 3) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Long-Term Investments†: | ||||||||||||||||
Corporate Bonds & Notes |
— | $ | 26,545,644 | — | $ | 26,545,644 | ||||||||||
Asset-Backed Securities |
— | 982,818 | — | 982,818 | ||||||||||||
U.S. Government & Agency Obligations |
— | 516,226 | — | 516,226 | ||||||||||||
Sovereign Bonds |
— | 254,561 | — | 254,561 | ||||||||||||
Senior Loans |
— | 40,374 | — | 40,374 | ||||||||||||
Total Long-Term Investments | — | 28,339,623 | — | 28,339,623 | ||||||||||||
Short-Term Investments† | — | 1,956,785 | — | 1,956,785 | ||||||||||||
Total Investments | — | $ | 30,296,408 | — | $ | 30,296,408 |
22 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
ASSETS (cont’d) | ||||||||||||||||
Description | Quoted Prices (Level 1) |
Other Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant (Level 3) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Other Financial Instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Futures Contracts†† |
$ | 147,677 | — | — | $ | 147,677 | ||||||||||
Total | $ | 147,677 | $ | 30,296,408 | — | $ | 30,444,085 | |||||||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||||||||||||
Description | Quoted Prices (Level 1) |
Other
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Inputs (Level 3) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Other Financial Instruments: | ||||||||||||||||
Futures Contracts†† |
$ | 129,333 | — | — | $ | 129,333 |
† |
See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations. |
†† |
Reflects the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of the instruments. |
(b) Futures contracts. The Fund uses futures contracts generally to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in certain asset classes or in an attempt to increase the Fund’s return. A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date.
Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit cash or securities 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 appreciation or depreciation 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.
(c) Swap agreements. The Fund invests in swaps for the purpose of managing its exposure to interest rate, credit or market risk, or for other purposes. The use of swaps involves risks that are different from those associated with other portfolio transactions. Swap agreements are privately negotiated in the over-the-counter market and may be entered into as a bilateral contract (“OTC Swaps”) or centrally cleared (“Centrally Cleared Swaps”). Unlike Centrally Cleared Swaps, the Fund has credit exposure to the counterparties of OTC Swaps.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
|
23 |
|
Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)
In a Centrally Cleared Swap, immediately following execution of the swap, the swap agreement is submitted to a clearinghouse or central counterparty (the “CCP”) and the CCP becomes the ultimate counterparty of the swap agreement. The Fund is required to interface with the CCP through a broker, acting in an agency capacity. All payments are settled with the CCP through the broker. Upon entering into a Centrally Cleared Swap, the Fund is required to deposit initial margin with the broker in the form of cash or securities.
Swap contracts are marked-to-market daily and changes in value are recorded as unrealized appreciation (depreciation). The daily change in valuation of Centrally Cleared Swaps, if any, is recorded as a net receivable or payable for variation margin on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Gains or losses are realized upon termination of the swap agreement. Collateral, in the form of restricted cash or securities, may be required to be held in segregated accounts with the Fund’s custodian in compliance with the terms of the swap contracts. Securities posted as collateral for swap contracts are identified in the Schedule of Investments and restricted cash, if any, is identified on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Risks may exceed amounts recorded in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These risks include changes in the returns of the underlying instruments, failure of the counterparties to perform under the contracts’ terms, and the possible lack of liquidity with respect to the swap agreements.
OTC Swap payments received or made at the beginning of the measurement period are reflected as a premium or deposit, respectively, on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. These upfront payments are amortized over the life of the swap and are recognized as realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations. Net periodic payments received or paid by the Fund are recognized as a realized gain or loss in the Statement of Operations.
The Fund’s maximum exposure in the event of a defined credit event on a credit default swap to sell protection is the notional amount. As of January 31, 2022, the Fund did not hold any credit default swaps to sell protection.
For average notional amounts of swaps held during the six months ended January 31, 2022, see Note 4.
Credit default swaps
The Fund enters into credit default swap (“CDS”) contracts for investment purposes, to manage its credit risk or to add leverage. CDS agreements involve one party making a stream of payments to another party in exchange for the right to receive a specified return in the event of a default by a third party, typically corporate or sovereign issuers, on a specified obligation, or in the event of a write-down, principal shortfall, interest shortfall or default of all or part of the referenced entities comprising a credit index. The Fund may use a CDS to provide protection against defaults of the issuers (i.e., to reduce risk where the Fund has exposure to an issuer) or to take an active long or short position with respect to the likelihood of a particular issuer’s default. As a seller of protection, the Fund generally
24 |
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
receives an upfront payment or a stream of payments throughout the term of the swap provided that there is no credit event. If the Fund is a seller of protection and a credit event occurs, as defined under the terms of that particular swap agreement, the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the Fund could be required to make under a CDS agreement would be an amount equal to the notional amount of the agreement. These amounts of potential payments will be partially offset by any recovery of values from the respective referenced obligations. As a seller of protection, the Fund effectively adds leverage to its portfolio because, in addition to its total net assets, the Fund is subject to investment exposure on the notional amount of the swap. As a buyer of protection, the Fund generally receives an amount up to the notional value of the swap if a credit event occurs.
Implied spreads are the theoretical prices a lender receives for credit default protection. When spreads rise, market perceived credit risk rises and when spreads fall, market perceived credit risk falls. The implied credit spread of a particular referenced entity reflects the cost of buying/selling protection and may include upfront payments required to enter into the agreement. Wider credit spreads and decreasing market values, when compared to the notional amount of the swap, represent a deterioration of the referenced entity’s credit soundness and a greater likelihood or risk of default or other credit event occurring as defined under the terms of the agreement. Credit spreads utilized in determining the period end market value of CDS agreements on corporate or sovereign issues are disclosed in the Schedule of Investments and serve as an indicator of the current status of the payment/ performance risk and represent the likelihood or risk of default for credit derivatives. For CDS agreements on asset-backed securities and credit indices, the quoted market prices and resulting values, particularly in relation to the notional amount of the contract as well as the annual payment rate, serve as an indication of the current status of the payment/ performance risk.
The Fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk, as the protection buyer, is the fair value of the contract (this risk is mitigated by the posting of collateral by the counterparty to the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty). As the protection seller, the Fund’s maximum risk is the notional amount of the contract. CDS are considered to have credit risk-related contingent features since they require payment by the protection seller to the protection buyer upon the occurrence of a defined credit event.
Entering into a CDS agreement involves, to varying degrees, elements of credit, market and documentation risk in excess of the related amounts recognized on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Such risks involve the possibility that there will be no liquid market for these agreements, that the counterparty to the agreement may default on its obligation to perform or disagree as to the meaning of the contractual terms in the agreement, and that there will be unfavorable changes in net interest rates.
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Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)
(d) Loan participations. The Fund may invest in loans arranged through private negotiation between one or more financial institutions. The Fund’s investment in any such loan may be in the form of a participation in or an assignment of the loan. In connection with purchasing participations, the Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement related to the loan, or any rights of off-set against the borrower and the Fund may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation.
The Fund assumes the credit risk of the borrower, the lender that is selling the participation and any other persons interpositioned between the Fund and the borrower. In the event of the insolvency of the lender selling the participation, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the lender and may not benefit from any off-set between the lender and the borrower.
(e) Unfunded loan commitments. The Fund may enter into certain credit agreements where all or a portion of the total amount committed may be unfunded. The Fund is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion. The commitments are disclosed in the accompanying Schedule of Investments. At January 31, 2022, the Fund had sufficient cash and/or securities to cover these commitments.
(f) 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 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.
(g) 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 may pay interest or dividends in
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Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
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.
(h) Counterparty risk and credit-risk-related contingent features of derivative instruments. The Fund may invest in certain securities or engage in other transactions where the Fund is exposed to counterparty credit risk in addition to broader market risks. The Fund may invest in securities of issuers, which may also be considered counterparties as trading partners in other transactions. This may increase the risk of loss in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty or if the counterparty otherwise fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Fund’s subadviser attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by (i) periodically assessing the creditworthiness of its trading partners, (ii) monitoring and/or limiting the amount of its net exposure to each individual counterparty based on its assessment and (iii) requiring collateral from the counterparty for certain transactions. Market events and changes in overall economic conditions may impact the assessment of such counterparty risk by the subadviser. In addition, declines in the values of underlying collateral received may expose the Fund to increased risk of loss.
With exchange traded and centrally cleared derivatives, there is less counterparty risk to the Fund since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, the credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, the Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default of the clearing broker or clearinghouse.
The Fund has entered into master agreements, such as an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement, with certain of its derivative counterparties that govern over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives and provide for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral posting terms, netting provisions in the event of default or termination and credit related contingent features. The credit related contingent features include, but are not limited to, a percentage decrease in the Fund’s net assets or net asset value per share over a specified period of time. If these credit related contingent features were triggered, the derivatives counterparty could terminate the positions and demand payment or require additional collateral.
Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. However, absent an event of default by the counterparty or a termination of the agreement, the terms of the ISDA
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Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)
Master Agreements do not result in an offset of reported amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities across transactions between the Fund and the applicable counterparty. The enforceability of the right to offset may vary by jurisdiction.
Collateral requirements differ by type of derivative. Collateral or margin requirements are set by the broker or exchange clearinghouse for exchange traded derivatives while collateral terms are contract specific for OTC traded derivatives. Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund under derivative contracts, if any, will be reported separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Securities pledged as collateral, if any, for the same purpose are noted in the Schedule of Investments. As of January 31, 2022, the Fund did not have any open OTC derivative transactions with credit related contingent features in a net liability position.
(i) Security transactions and investment income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income (including interest income from payment-in-kind securities), adjusted for amortization of premium and accretion of discount, is recorded on the accrual basis. Paydown gains and losses on mortgage- and asset-backed securities are recorded as adjustments to interest income. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date for dividends received in cash and/or securities. 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.
(j) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income are declared and paid monthly. 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.
(k) Federal and other taxes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute its taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision is required in the Fund’s financial statements.
Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of July 31, 2021, 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.
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(l) Reclassification. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.
2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates
Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”) is the Fund’s investment manager. Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”), is the Fund’s subadviser and Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. in Singapore (“Western Asset Singapore”), Western Asset Management Company Ltd in Japan (“Western Asset Japan”) and Western Asset Management Company Limited in London (“Western Asset London”) are the Fund’s sub-subadvisers. LMPFA, Western Asset, Western Asset Singapore, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset London are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. (“Franklin Resources”).
LMPFA provides administrative and certain oversight services to the Fund. LMPFA delegates to the subadviser the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Fund is responsible for paying interest expenses, taxes, brokerage expenses, future 12b-1 fees (if any), acquired fund fees and expenses, extraordinary expenses and the management fee payable to LMPFA under the investment management agreement.
Under the investment management agreement and subject to the general supervision of the Fund’s Board of Trustees, LMPFA provides or causes to be furnished all investment management, supervisory, administrative and other services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund, including certain distribution services (provided pursuant to a separate distribution agreement) and investment advisory services (provided pursuant to separate subadvisory agreements) under a unitary fee structure. The Fund pays an investment management fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.29% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.
As compensation for its subadvisory services, LMPFA pays Western Asset monthly 70% of the management fee paid by the Fund to LMPFA, net of (i) all fees and expenses incurred by LMPFA under the investment management agreement (including without limitation any subadvisory fee paid to another subadviser to the Fund) and (ii) expense waivers, if any, and reimbursements. Western Asset pays Western Asset Singapore, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset London a monthly subadvisory fee in an amount equal to 100% of the management fee paid to Western Asset on the assets that Western Asset allocates to each such non-U.S. subadviser to manage.
Franklin Distributors, LLC (“Franklin Distributors”) serves as the distributor of Creation Units for the Fund on an agency basis. Franklin Distributors is an indirect, wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Franklin Resources.
The Fund’s Board of Trustees has adopted a Rule 12b-1 shareholder services and distribution plan and under that plan, the Fund is authorized to pay service and/or
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Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)
distribution fees calculated at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of its average daily net assets. No service and/or distribution fees are currently paid by the Fund, and there are no current plans to impose these fees.
All officers and one Trustee of the Trust are employees of Franklin Resources or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Trust.
3. Investments
During the six months ended January 31, 2022, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding in-kind transactions and short-term investments) and U.S. Government & Agency Obligations were as follows:
Investments | U.S. Government & Agency Obligations |
|||||||
Purchases | $ | 13,041,578 | $ | 1,110,074 | ||||
Sales | 2,874,320 | 708,638 |
During the six months ended January 31, 2022, there were no in-kind transactions (Note 5).
At January 31, 2022, the aggregate cost of investments and the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:
Cost | Gross Unrealized Appreciation |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation |
Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
|||||||||||||
Securities | $ | 30,959,498 | $ | 30,260 | $ | (693,350) | $ | (663,090) | ||||||||
Futures contracts | — | 147,677 | (129,333) | 18,344 |
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 January 31, 2022.
ASSET DERIVATIVES1 | ||||
Interest Rate Risk |
||||
Futures contracts2 | $ | 147,677 |
LIABILITY DERIVATIVES1 | ||||
Interest Rate Risk |
||||
Futures contracts2 | $ | 129,333 |
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Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
1 |
Generally, the balance sheet location for asset derivatives is receivables/net unrealized appreciation and for liability derivatives is payables/net unrealized depreciation. |
2 |
Includes cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only net 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 six months ended January 31, 2022. The first table provides additional detail about the amounts and sources of gains (losses) realized on derivatives during the period. The second table provides additional information about the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) resulting from the Fund’s derivatives and hedging activities during the period.
AMOUNT OF REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED | ||||||||||||
Interest Rate Risk |
Credit Risk |
Total | ||||||||||
Futures contracts | $(49,461) | — | $ | (49,461) | ||||||||
Swap contracts | — | $2,278 | 2,278 | |||||||||
Total | $(49,461) | $2,278 | $ | (47,183) |
CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON DERIVATIVES RECOGNIZED | ||||
Interest Rate Risk |
||||
Futures contracts | $ | 97,070 |
During the six months ended January 31, 2022, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:
Average Market Value |
||||
Futures contracts (to buy) | $ | 7,931,616 | ||
Futures contracts (to sell) | 6,919,163 |
Average Notional Balance |
||||
Credit default swap contracts (sell protection)† | $ | 102,857 |
† |
At January 31, 2022, there were no open positions held in this derivative. |
5. Fund share transactions
At January 31, 2022, the Trust had an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized with a par value of $0.00001 per share. Fund shares are issued and redeemed by the Fund only in Creation Units or Creation Unit aggregations, where 50,000 shares of the Fund constitute a Creation Unit. Such transactions are generally on a cash basis. However, Creation Units may also be issued and redeemed partially in-kind for a basket of securities and partially in cash. Transactions in capital shares of the Fund are disclosed in detail in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. Authorized Participants are subject to standard
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Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont’d)
creation and redemption transaction fees to offset transfer and other transaction costs associated with the issuance and redemption of Creation Units. Creations and redemptions for cash (when cash creations and redemptions are available or specified) may be subject to an additional variable fee.
6. Deferred capital losses
As of July 31, 2021, the Fund had deferred capital losses of $798,616, which have no expiration date, that will be available to offset future taxable capital gains.
7. Recent accounting pronouncement
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) – Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01, with further amendments to Topic 848. The amendments in the ASUs provide optional temporary accounting recognition and financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of the LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021 and 2023. The ASUs are effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management has reviewed the requirements and believes the adoption of these ASUs will not have a material impact on the financial statements.
8. Other matters
The outbreak of the respiratory illness COVID-19 (commonly referred to as “coronavirus”) has continued to rapidly spread around the world, causing considerable uncertainty for the global economy and financial markets. The ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic, and the long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual issuers, are not known. The COVID-19 pandemic could adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, impair the Fund’s ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact the Fund’s performance. In addition, the outbreak of COVID-19, and measures taken to mitigate its effects, could result in disruptions to the services provided to the Fund by its service providers.
* * *
The Fund’s investments, payment obligations, and financing terms may be based on floating rates, such as the London Interbank Offered Rate, or “LIBOR,” which is the offered rate for short-term Eurodollar deposits between major international banks. On March 5, 2021, the ICE Benchmark Administration, the administrator of LIBOR, stated that it will cease the publication of the overnight and one-, three-, six- and twelve-month USD LIBOR settings immediately following the LIBOR publication on Friday, June 30, 2023. All other LIBOR settings, including the one-week and two-month USD LIBOR settings, have ceased publication as of January 1, 2022. There remains uncertainty regarding the nature of any
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Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
replacement rate and the impact of the transition from LIBOR on the Fund’s transactions and the financial markets generally. As such, the potential effect of a transition away from LIBOR on the Fund or the Fund’s investments cannot yet be determined.
9. Subsequent events
On February 4, 2022, the Fund, together with other U.S. registered and foreign investment funds (collectively, the “Borrowers”) managed by Franklin Resources or its affiliates, became a borrower in a joint syndicated senior unsecured credit facility totaling $2.675 billion (the “Global Credit Facility”). The Global Credit Facility provides a source of funds to the Borrowers for temporary and emergency purposes, including the ability to meet future unanticipated or unusually large redemption requests. Unless renewed, the Global Credit Facility will terminate on February 3, 2023.
On February 24, 2022, Russia engaged in military actions in the sovereign territory of Ukraine. The current political and financial uncertainty surrounding Russia and Ukraine may increase market volatility and the economic risk of investing in securities in these countries and may also cause uncertainty for the global economy and broader financial markets. The ultimate fallout and long-term impact from these events are not known. The Fund will continue to assess the impact on valuations and liquidity and will take any potential actions needed in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Trustees.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF 2022 Semi-Annual Report |
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Statement regarding liquidity risk management program (unaudited)
Each of the Funds has adopted and implemented a written Liquidity Risk Management Program (the “LRMP”) as required by Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Liquidity Rule”). The LRMP is designed to assess and manage each Fund’s liquidity risk, which is defined as the risk that the Fund could not meet requests to redeem shares issued by the Fund without significant dilution of remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. In accordance with the Liquidity Rule, the LRMP includes policies and procedures that provide for: (1) assessment, management, and review (no less frequently than annually) of each Fund’s liquidity risk; (2) classification of each Fund’s portfolio holdings into one of four liquidity categories (Highly Liquid, Moderately Liquid, Less Liquid, and Illiquid); (3) for Funds that do not primarily hold assets that are Highly Liquid, establishing and maintaining a minimum percentage of the Fund’s net assets in Highly Liquid investments (called a “Highly Liquid Investment Minimum” or “HLIM”); and (4) prohibiting the Fund’s acquisition of Illiquid investments that would result in the Fund holding more than 15% of its net assets in Illiquid assets. The LRMP also requires reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (on a non-public basis) and to the Board if the Fund’s holdings of Illiquid assets exceed 15% of the Fund’s net assets. Funds with HLIMs must have procedures for addressing HLIM shortfalls, including reporting to the Board and, with respect to HLIM shortfalls lasting more than seven consecutive calendar days, reporting to the SEC (on a non-public basis).
The Funds’ Board of Trustees approved the appointment of the Director of Liquidity Risk within the Investment Risk Management Group (the “IRMG”) as the Administrator of the LRMP. The IRMG maintains the Investment Liquidity Committee (the “ILC”) to provide oversight and administration of policies and procedures governing liquidity risk management for FT products and portfolios. The ILC includes representatives from Franklin Templeton’s Risk, Trading, Global Compliance, Legal, Investment Compliance, Investment Operations, Valuation Committee, Product Management and Global Product Strategy.
In assessing and managing each Fund’s liquidity risk, the ILC considers, as relevant, a variety of factors, including (i) the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during both normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions; (ii) its short and long-term cash flow projections; (iii) its cash holdings and access to other funding sources including the Funds’ interfund lending facility and line of credit; (iv) the relationship between the Fund’s portfolio liquidity and the way in which, and the prices and spread at which, Fund shares trade, including the efficiency of the arbitrage function and the level of active participation by market participants, including authorized participants and (v) the effect of the composition of baskets on the overall liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio. Classification of the Fund’s portfolio holdings in the four liquidity categories is based on the number of days it is reasonably expected to take to convert the investment to cash (for Highly Liquid and Moderately Liquid holdings) or sell or dispose of the investment (for Less
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Liquid and Illiquid investments), in current market conditions without significantly changing the investment’s market value.
The Fund primarily holds liquid assets that are defined under the Liquidity Rule as “Highly Liquid Investments,” and therefore is not required to establish an HLIM. Highly Liquid Investments are defined as cash and any investment reasonably expected to be convertible to cash in current market conditions in three business days or less without the conversion to cash significantly changing the market value of the investment.
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Western Asset
Short Duration Income ETF
Trustees
Rohit Bhagat
Deborah D. McWhinney
Anantha K. Pradeep
Jennifer M. Johnson
Chair
Investment manager
Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
Subadvisers
Western Asset Management Company, LLC
Western Asset Management Company Limited
Western Asset Management Company Ltd
Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.
Custodian
The Bank of New York Mellon
Transfer agent
The Bank of New York Mellon
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10286
Independent registered public accounting firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Baltimore, MD
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF
The Fund is a separate investment series of Legg Mason ETF Investment Trust, a Maryland statutory trust.
Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF Legg Mason Funds 620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor New York, NY 10018
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. To obtain information on Form N-PORT, shareholders can call the Fund at 1-877-721-1926.
Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-877-721-1926, (2) at www.franklintempleton.com and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Western Asset Short Duration Income ETF. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.
Investors should consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
www.franklintempleton.com
© 2022 Franklin Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.
www.franklintempleton.com
© 2022 Franklin Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.
WASX575450 3/22 SR22-4367