UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number 811-06444

Legg Mason Partners Equity Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

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

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Robert I. Frenkel, Esq.

Legg Mason & Co., LLC

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-877-721-1926

Date of fiscal year end: October 31

Date of reporting period: January 31, 2013

 

 

 


 

ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.


LEGG MASON PARTNERS EQUITY TRUST

CLEARBRIDGE MID CAP CORE FUND

FORM N-Q

JANUARY 31, 2013


CLEARBRIDGE MID CAP CORE FUND

 

Schedule of Investments (unaudited)    January 31, 2013

 

SECURITY

   SHARES      VALUE  
COMMON STOCKS - 97.7%      
CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 16.1%      

Auto Components - 2.6%

     

Autoliv Inc.

     250,000       $ 16,450,000   

Tenneco Inc.

     403,000         14,088,880
     

 

 

 

Total Auto Components

        30,538,880   
     

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure - 1.1%

     

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

     105,000         13,148,100   
     

 

 

 

Household Durables - 5.8%

     

Mohawk Industries Inc.

     232,000         23,585,120

NVR Inc.

     18,000         18,533,880

Whirlpool Corp.

     226,000         26,075,880   
     

 

 

 

Total Household Durables

        68,194,880   
     

 

 

 

Specialty Retail - 6.6%

     

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.

     450,000         18,243,000

Ross Stores Inc.

     270,000         16,119,000   

Signet Jewelers Ltd.

     450,000         28,161,000   

Tractor Supply Co.

     148,000         15,343,160   
     

 

 

 

Total Specialty Retail

        77,866,160   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY

        189,748,020   
     

 

 

 
CONSUMER STAPLES - 1.5%      

Food & Staples Retailing - 1.5%

     

Casey’s General Stores Inc.

     325,000         17,787,250   
     

 

 

 
ENERGY - 5.3%      

Energy Equipment & Services - 3.3%

     

Noble Corp.

     450,000         18,225,000   

Oil States International Inc.

     263,000         20,403,540
     

 

 

 

Total Energy Equipment & Services

        38,628,540   
     

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels - 2.0%

     

Pioneer Natural Resources Co.

     205,000         24,095,700   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL ENERGY

        62,724,240   
     

 

 

 
FINANCIALS - 20.6%      

Capital Markets - 4.3%

     

Greenhill & Co. Inc.

     175,000         10,307,500   

Invesco Ltd.

     675,000         18,393,750   

Lazard Ltd., Class A

     650,000         22,522,500   
     

 

 

 

Total Capital Markets

        51,223,750   
     

 

 

 

Commercial Banks - 5.9%

     

CIT Group Inc.

     480,000         20,328,000

M&T Bank Corp.

     197,000         20,229,930   

Signature Bank

     225,000         16,634,250

SunTrust Banks Inc.

     425,000         12,057,250   
     

 

 

 

Total Commercial Banks

        69,249,430   
     

 

 

 

Consumer Finance - 1.4%

     

SLM Corp.

     950,000         16,045,500   
     

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services - 1.9%

     

Moody’s Corp.

     408,000         22,366,560   
     

 

 

 

Insurance - 3.2%

     

Arch Capital Group Ltd.

     416,000         19,310,720

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.

     500,000         19,135,000   
     

 

 

 

Total Insurance

        38,445,720   
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - 3.9%

     

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc.

     224,000         16,240,000   

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

1


CLEARBRIDGE MID CAP CORE FUND

 

Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    January 31, 2013

 

 

SECURITY

   SHARES      VALUE  

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) - 3.9% (continued)

     

Apartment Investment and Management Co., Class A Shares

     625,000       $ 17,050,000   

Health Care REIT Inc.

     197,000         12,379,480   
     

 

 

 

Total Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

        45,669,480   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL FINANCIALS

        243,000,440   
     

 

 

 
HEALTH CARE - 12.0%      

Biotechnology - 1.6%

     

Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc.

     245,000         18,992,400 *  
     

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies - 3.3%

     

Cooper Cos. Inc.

     175,000         17,736,250   

Zimmer Holdings Inc.

     290,000         21,634,000   
     

 

 

 

Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies

        39,370,250   
     

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services - 5.3%

     

AmerisourceBergen Corp.

     425,000         19,282,250   

Humana Inc.

     250,000         18,590,000   

Mednax Inc.

     280,000         23,956,800
     

 

 

 

Total Health Care Providers & Services

        61,829,050   
     

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services - 1.8%

     

Agilent Technologies Inc.

     475,000         21,270,500   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL HEALTH CARE

        141,462,200   
     

 

 

 
INDUSTRIALS - 16.6%      

Aerospace & Defense - 0.9%

     

Curtiss-Wright Corp.

     305,000         10,873,250   
     

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics - 1.0%

     

UTI Worldwide Inc.

     750,000         11,070,000   
     

 

 

 

Airlines - 1.0%

     

Allegiant Travel Co.

     160,000         11,915,200   
     

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies - 1.4%

     

Cintas Corp.

     400,000         16,904,000   
     

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering - 1.3%

     

Quanta Services Inc.

     523,000         15,151,310
     

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment - 3.1%

     

EnerSys

     465,000         19,032,450

Rockwell Automation Inc.

     200,000         17,838,000   
     

 

 

 

Total Electrical Equipment

        36,870,450   
     

 

 

 

Machinery - 4.6%

     

CNH Global NV

     480,500         22,939,070   

Joy Global Inc.

     280,000         17,687,600   

Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc.

     260,000         14,021,800   
     

 

 

 

Total Machinery

        54,648,470   
     

 

 

 

Professional Services - 1.7%

     

Equifax Inc.

     340,000         19,958,000   
     

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors - 1.6%

     

MSC Industrial Direct Co. Inc., Class A Shares

     235,000         18,593,200   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INDUSTRIALS

        195,983,880   
     

 

 

 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 16.5%      

Communications Equipment - 2.1%

     

F5 Networks Inc.

     110,000         11,536,800

Juniper Networks Inc.

     600,000         13,428,000
     

 

 

 

Total Communications Equipment

        24,964,800   
     

 

 

 

Computers & Peripherals - 1.4%

     

Seagate Technology PLC

     500,000         16,990,000   
     

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

2


CLEARBRIDGE MID CAP CORE FUND

 

Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    January 31, 2013

 

 

SECURITY

                SHARES      VALUE  

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components - 1.3%

          

FEI Co.

          252,400       $ 15,386,304   
          

 

 

 

IT Services - 2.8%

          

Alliance Data Systems Corp.

          120,000         18,912,000

Teradata Corp.

          210,000         13,998,600
          

 

 

 

Total IT Services

             32,910,600   
          

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment - 2.8%

          

Avago Technologies Ltd.

          530,000         18,958,100   

Xilinx Inc.

          369,000         13,464,810   
          

 

 

 

Total Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

             32,422,910   
          

 

 

 

Software - 6.1%

          

Amdocs Ltd.

          691,000         24,661,790   

Autodesk Inc.

          340,000         13,219,200

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

          400,000         20,000,000

Nuance Communications Inc.

          592,000         14,237,600
          

 

 

 

Total Software

             72,118,590   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

             194,793,204   
          

 

 

 
MATERIALS - 5.6%           

Chemicals - 2.5%

          

Methanex Corp.

          270,000         9,680,850   

Rockwood Holdings Inc.

          366,000         20,031,180   
          

 

 

 

Total Chemicals

             29,712,030   
          

 

 

 

Containers & Packaging - 3.1%

          

Crown Holdings Inc.

          592,000         22,413,120

Rock-Tenn Co., Class A Shares

          170,000         13,421,500   
          

 

 

 

Total Containers & Packaging

             35,834,620   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL MATERIALS

             65,546,650   
          

 

 

 
UTILITIES - 3.5%           

Electric Utilities - 1.1%

          

NV Energy Inc.

          666,000         12,607,380   

Multi-Utilities - 2.4%

          

Sempra Energy

          225,000         16,886,250   

Wisconsin Energy Corp.

          306,000         12,065,580   
          

 

 

 

Total Multi-Utilities

             28,951,830   
          

 

 

 

TOTAL UTILITIES

             41,559,210   
          

 

 

 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS BEFORE SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
(Cost - $899,945,942)
             1,152,605,094   
          

 

 

 
     RATE     MATURITY
DATE
     FACE
AMOUNT
        
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS - 2.6%           

Repurchase Agreements - 2.6%

          

Interest in $675,000,000 joint tri-party repurchase agreement dated 1/31/13 with RBS Securities Inc.; Proceeds at maturity - $30,230,109; (Fully collateralized by various U.S. government obligations, 0.000% to 11.250% due 2/15/15 to 8/15/41; Market value - $30,834,704) (Cost - $30,230,000)

     0.130     2/1/13       $ 30,230,000         30,230,000   
          

 

 

 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 100.3 %
(Cost - $930,175,942#)
             1,182,835,094   

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (0.3)%

             (2,983,828
          

 

 

 
TOTAL NET ASSETS - 100.0%            $ 1,179,851,266   
          

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing security.
# Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is substantially the same.

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

3


CLEARBRIDGE MID CAP CORE FUND

 

Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (cont’d)    January 31, 2013

 

Abbreviation used in this schedule:

REIT    — Real Estate Investment Trust

 

SCHEDULE OF WRITTEN OPTIONS            

SECURITY

   EXPIRATION
DATE
     STRIKE
PRICE
    
CONTRACTS
     VALUE  

Mohawk Industries Inc., Call

     2/16/13       $ 95.00         243       $ 168,885   

Whirlpool Corp., Call

     2/16/13         110.00         550         341,000   
           

 

 

 

TOTAL WRITTEN OPTIONS
(Premiums received - $220,499)

            $   509,885   
           

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

4


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited)

 

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

ClearBridge Mid Cap Core Fund (formerly Legg Mason ClearBridge Mid Cap Core Fund) (the “Fund”) is a separate diversified investment series of Legg Mason Partners Equity 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.

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

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

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the valuation process and has delegated the supervision of the daily valuation process to the Legg Mason North American 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.

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:

 

5


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

   

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

 

   

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

 

   

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

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

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

 

ASSETS

 

DESCRIPTION

   QUOTED PRICES
(LEVEL 1)
     OTHER SIGNIFICANT
OBSERVABLE INPUTS

(LEVEL 2)
     SIGNIFICANT
UNOBSERVABLE
INPUTS

(LEVEL 3)
     TOTAL  

Common stocks †

   $ 1,152,605,094         —           —         $ 1,152,605,094   

Short-term investments†

     —           30,230,000         —           30,230,000   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total investments

   $ 1,152,605,094       $ 30,230,000         —         $ 1,182,835,094   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

DESCRIPTION

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

(LEVEL 3)
     TOTAL  

Other financial instruments:

           

Written options

   $ 509,885         —           —         $ 509,885   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

(b) Repurchase agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that its investment adviser has determined are creditworthy. Each repurchase agreement is recorded at cost. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Fund acquires a debt security subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and of the Fund to resell, the security at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the yield during the Fund’s holding period. When entering into repurchase agreements, it is the Fund’s policy that its custodian or a third party custodian, acting on the Fund’s behalf, take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the market value of which, at all times, at least equals the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. To the extent that any repurchase transaction maturity exceeds one business day, the value of the collateral is marked-to-market and measured against the value of the agreement in an effort to ensure the adequacy of the collateral. If the counterparty defaults, the Fund generally has the right to use the collateral to satisfy the terms of the repurchase transaction. However, if the market value of the collateral declines during the period in which the Fund seeks to assert its rights or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the seller of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited.

(c) Written options. When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability, the value of which is marked-to-market daily to reflect the current market value of the option written. If the option expires, the premium received is recorded as a realized gain. When a written call option is exercised, the difference between the premium received plus the option exercise price and the Fund’s basis in the underlying security (in the case of a covered written call option), or the cost to purchase the underlying security (in the case of an uncovered written call option), including brokerage commission, is recognized as a realized gain or loss. When a written put option is exercised, the amount of the premium received is subtracted from the cost of the security purchased by the Fund from the exercise of the written put option to form the Fund’s basis in the underlying security purchased. The writer or buyer of an option traded on an exchange can liquidate the position before the exercise of the

 

6


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

option by entering into a closing transaction. The cost of a closing transaction is deducted from the original premium received resulting in a realized gain or loss to the Fund.

The risk in writing a covered call option is that the Fund may forego the opportunity of profit if the market price of the underlying security increases and the option is exercised. The risk in writing a put option is that the Fund may incur a loss if the market price of the underlying security decreases and the option is exercised. The risk in writing an uncovered call option is that the Fund is exposed to the risk of loss if the market price of the underlying security increases. In addition, there is the risk that the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid secondary market.

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

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

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

(f) Security transactions. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis.

2. Investments

At January 31, 2013, the aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments for federal income tax purposes were substantially as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 263,588,004   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (10,928,852
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 252,659,152   
  

 

 

 

During the period ended January 31, 2013, written option transactions for the Fund were as follows:

 

     Number of
Contracts
     Premiums  

Written options, outstanding as of October 31, 2012

     —           —     

Options written

     793       $ 220,499   

Options closed

     —           —     

Options exercised

     —           —     

Options expired

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Written options, outstanding as of January 31, 2013

     793       $ 220,499   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

3. Derivative instruments and hedging activities

GAAP requires enhanced disclosure about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities.

 

7


Notes to Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued)

 

The following is a summary of the Fund’s derivative instruments categorized by risk exposure at January 31, 2013.

 

Primary Underlying Risk

   Written Options
at value
 

Equity Risk

   $ 509,885   
  

 

 

 

During the period ended January 31, 2013, the volume of derivative activity for the Fund was as follows:

 

     Average market value  

Written options

   $ 127,471   
  

 

 

 

 

8


ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

 

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

 

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

 

ITEM 3. EXHIBITS.

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


SIGNATURES

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

 

Legg Mason Partners Equity Trust
By   /s/    R. J AY G ERKEN        
  R. Jay Gerken
  Chief Executive Officer

Date:

 

March 26, 2013

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

 

By   /s/    R. J AY G ERKEN        
  R. Jay Gerken
  Chief Executive Officer

Date:

 

March 26, 2013

 

By   /s/    R ICHARD F. S ENNETT        
  Richard F. Sennett
  Principal Financial Officer

Date:

 

March 26, 2013