Master Portfolio Trust

04/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/25/2024 08:59

Semi-Annual Report by Investment Company - Form N-CSRS

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-10407

Master Portfolio Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10018

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Marc A. De Oliveira

Franklin Templeton

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 877-6LM-FUND/656-3863

Date of fiscal year end: August 31

Date of reporting period: February 29, 2024

ITEM 1.

REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS.

The Semi-Annual Report to Stockholders is filed herewith.

Schedule of investments (unaudited)

February 29, 2024

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio

(Percentages shown based on Portfolio net assets)

Security Rate Maturity
Date
Face
Amount
Value
Short-Term Investments - 101.0%
U.S. Treasury Bills - 81.1%

U.S. Cash Management Bill

5.342 % 4/4/24 $ 435,000,000 $ 432,840,387  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

4.395 % 3/5/24 913,650,000 913,113,305  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

4.694 % 3/7/24 564,330,000 563,835,069  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.045 % 3/12/24 1,168,665,000 1,166,780,735  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.111 % 3/14/24 590,000,000 588,876,078  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.219 % 3/19/24 1,171,180,000 1,168,091,180  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.245 % 3/21/24 751,100,000 748,900,046  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.307 % 3/26/24 724,640,000 721,982,891  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.320 % 3/28/24 539,600,000 537,464,566  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.026 % 4/2/24 965,000,000 960,742,826  (a)(b)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.379 % 4/9/24 300,000,000 298,287,249  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.376 % 4/11/24 563,310,000 559,935,224  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.402 % 4/16/24 440,000,000 437,037,088  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.477 % 4/18/24 100,000,000 99,288,667  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.401 % 4/23/24 484,960,000 481,211,151  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.402 % 4/25/24 510,000,000 505,911,093  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.161 % 4/30/24 335,020,000 332,221,843  (a)(b)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.391 % 5/2/24 375,000,000 371,625,736  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.422 % 5/9/24 335,000,000 331,633,902  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.430 % 5/16/24 387,400,000 383,114,448  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.428 % 5/23/24 344,960,000 340,800,453  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.460 % 5/30/24 412,940,000 407,517,736  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.355 % 6/4/24 200,000,000 197,281,945  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.400 % 6/6/24 50,000,000 49,300,792  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.220 % 6/13/24 150,000,000 147,826,111  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.335 % 6/20/24 50,000,000 49,211,052  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.264 % 6/27/24 65,000,000 63,924,815  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.268 % 7/5/24 60,000,000 58,940,550  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.256 % 7/11/24 54,552,000 53,545,879  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.255 % 7/25/24 90,000,000 88,167,700  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.161 % 8/1/24 93,000,000 91,051,417  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.316 % 8/15/24 100,000,000 97,650,403  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.359 % 8/22/24 200,000,000 195,070,000  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

5.395 % 8/29/24 58,982,500 57,461,194  (a)

U.S. Treasury Bills

4.863 % 1/23/25 35,000,000 33,537,480  (a)

Total U.S. Treasury Bills

13,534,181,011

See Notes to Financial Statements.

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

13

Schedule of investments (unaudited) (cont'd)

February 29, 2024

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio

(Percentages shown based on Portfolio net assets)

Security Rate Maturity
Date
Face
Amount
Value
U.S. Treasury Notes - 19.9%

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield - 0.075%)

5.251 % 4/30/24 $ 571,000,000 $ 570,913,278  (c)

U.S. Treasury Notes

2.125 % 7/31/24 40,000,000 39,492,394

U.S. Treasury Notes

3.000 % 7/31/24 75,000,000 74,256,935

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.037%)

5.363 % 7/31/24 580,000,000 579,876,150  (c)

U.S. Treasury Notes

0.375 % 8/15/24 50,000,000 48,873,980

U.S. Treasury Notes

2.375 % 8/15/24 50,000,000 49,337,018

U.S. Treasury Notes

0.625 % 10/15/24 40,000,000 38,959,913

U.S. Treasury Notes

4.375 % 10/31/24 35,000,000 34,859,859

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.140%)

5.466 % 10/31/24 160,000,000 159,969,406  (c)

U.S. Treasury Notes

0.750 % 11/15/24 50,000,000 48,464,773

U.S. Treasury Notes

1.500 % 11/30/24 38,000,000 37,065,323

U.S. Treasury Notes

2.125 % 11/30/24 75,000,000 73,402,233

U.S. Treasury Notes

4.500 % 11/30/24 75,000,000 74,809,516

U.S. Treasury Notes

1.000 % 12/15/24 55,000,000 53,376,187

U.S. Treasury Notes

1.750 % 12/31/24 75,000,000 73,018,801

U.S. Treasury Notes

1.375 % 1/31/25 100,000,000 96,834,211

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.200%)

5.526 % 1/31/25 25,000,000 25,000,000  (c)

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.169%)

5.418 % 4/30/25 645,000,000 644,954,050  (c)

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.125%)

5.528 % 7/31/25 100,000,000 99,932,044  (c)

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.170%)

5.501 % 10/31/25 350,000,000 349,841,935  (c)

U.S. Treasury Notes (3 mo. U.S. Treasury Money Market Yield + 0.245%)

5.545 % 1/31/26 150,000,000 150,132,006  (c)

Total U.S. Treasury Notes

3,323,370,012

Total Investments - 101.0% (Cost - $16,857,551,023#)

16,857,551,023

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets - (1.0)%

(171,936,136 )

Total Net Assets - 100.0%

$ 16,685,614,887

See Notes to Financial Statements.

14

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio

#

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

(a)

Rate shown represents yield-to-maturity.

(b)

Securities traded on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis.

(c)

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.

See Notes to Financial Statements.

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

15

Statement of assets and liabilities (unaudited)

February 29, 2024

Assets:

Investments, at value

$16,857,551,023

Cash

500,001,099

Interest receivable

14,498,472

Total Assets

17,372,050,594
Liabilities:

Payable for securities purchased

686,177,182

Trustees' fees payable

49,905

Accrued expenses

208,620

Total Liabilities

686,435,707
Total Net Assets $16,685,614,887
Represented by:
Paid-in capital $16,685,614,887

See Notes to Financial Statements.

16

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

Statement of operations (unaudited)

For the Six Months Ended February 29, 2024

Investment Income:

Interest

$ 433,061,364
Expenses:

Investment management fee (Note 2)

8,007,625

Trustees' fees

182,745

Legal fees

117,504

Fund accounting fees

109,741

Custody fees

42,359

Interest expense

19,745

Audit and tax fees

14,839

Miscellaneous expenses

49,762

Total Expenses

8,544,320

Less: Fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements (Note 2)

(8,007,625)

Net Expenses

536,695
Net Investment Income 432,524,669
Net Realized Gain on Investments 117,669
Increase in Net Assets From Operations $ 432,642,338

See Notes to Financial Statements.

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

17

Statements of changes in net assets

For the Six Months Ended February 29, 2024 (unaudited)

and the Year Ended August 31, 2023

2024 2023
Operations:

Net investment income

$ 432,524,669 $ 704,054,875

Net realized gain

117,669 960,638

Increase in Net Assets From Operations

432,642,338 705,015,513
Capital Transactions:

Proceeds from contributions

38,049,816,298 87,003,506,139

Value of withdrawals

(36,967,775,364) (89,944,102,016)

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Capital Transactions

1,082,040,934 (2,940,595,877)
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets 1,514,683,272 (2,235,580,364)
Net Assets:

Beginning of period

15,170,931,615 17,406,511,979

End of period

$ 16,685,614,887 $ 15,170,931,615

See Notes to Financial Statements.

18

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

Financial highlights

For the years ended August 31, unless otherwise noted:
20241 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Net assets, end of period (millions) $16,686 $15,171 $17,407 $22,601 $18,141 $13,488

Total return2

2.72 % 4.42 % 0.52 % 0.10 % 1.08 % 2.33 %
Ratios to average net assets:

Gross expenses

0.11 %3 0.11 % 0.11 % 0.11 % 0.11 % 0.11 %

Net expenses4,5

0.01 3 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

Net investment income

5.40 3 4.32 0.46 0.10 0.91 2.30
1

For the six months ended February 29, 2024 (unaudited).

2

Performance figures may reflect compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of compensating balance arrangements, fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would have been lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns for periods of less than one year are not annualized.

3

Annualized.

4

The investment manager, pursuant to the terms of the feeder fund's investment management agreement, has agreed to waive 0.10% of Portfolio expenses, attributable to the Portfolio's investment management fee. Additional amounts may be voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed from time to time.

5

Reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements.

See Notes to Financial Statements.

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

19

Notes to financial statements (unaudited)

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio (the "Portfolio") is a separate diversified investment series of Master Portfolio 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 Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to issue beneficial interests in the Portfolio. At February 29, 2024, all investors in the Portfolio were funds advised or administered by the investment manager of the Portfolio and/or its affiliates.

The Portfolio follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services- Investment Companies ("ASC 946"). The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Portfolio and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), including, but not limited to, ASC 946. 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. In accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, money market instruments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. This method involves valuing portfolio securities at their cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium. The Portfolio's use of amortized cost is subject to its compliance with certain conditions as specified by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

Pursuant to policies adopted by the Board of Trustees, the Portfolio's manager has been designated as the valuation designee and is responsible for the oversight of the daily valuation process. The Portfolio's manager is assisted by the Global Fund Valuation Committee (the "Valuation Committee"). The Valuation Committee is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Portfolio's pricing policies, and reporting to the Board of Trustees.

The Portfolio 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.

20

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

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 - unadjusted 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 Portfolio'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 Portfolio's assets carried at fair value:

ASSETS
Description Quoted Prices
(Level 1)
Other Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Short-Term Investments† - $ 16,857,551,023 - $ 16,857,551,023

See Schedule of Investments for additional detailed categorizations.

(b) Repurchase agreements. The Portfolio may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that its subadviser has determined are creditworthy. Each repurchase agreement is recorded at cost. Under the terms of a typical repurchase agreement, the Portfolio acquires a debt security subject to an obligation of the seller to repurchase, and of the Portfolio to resell, the security at an agreed-upon price and time, thereby determining the yield during the Portfolio's holding period. When entering into repurchase agreements, it is the Portfolio's policy that its custodian or a third party custodian, acting on the Portfolio'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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio 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 Portfolio may be delayed or limited.

(c) Securities traded on a when-issued and delayed delivery basis. The Portfolio may trade securities on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis. In when-issued and

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

21

Notes to financial statements (unaudited) (cont'd)

delayed delivery transactions, the securities are purchased or sold by the Portfolio with payment and delivery taking place in the future in order to secure what is considered to be an advantageous price and yield to the Portfolio at the time of entering into the transaction.

Purchasing such securities involves risk of loss if the value of the securities declines prior to settlement. These securities are subject to market fluctuations and their current value is determined in the same manner as for other securities.

(d) Interest income and expenses. Interest income (including interest income from payment-in-kind securities) consists of interest accrued and discount earned (including both original issue and market discount adjusted for amortization of premium) on the investments of the Portfolio. Expenses of the Portfolio are accrued daily. The Portfolio bears all costs of its operations other than expenses specifically assumed by the investment manager.

(e) Method of allocation. Net investment income of the Portfolio is allocated pro rata, based on respective ownership interests, among the Fund and other investors in the Portfolio (the "Holders") at the time of such determination. Gross realized gains and/or losses of the Portfolio are allocated to the Holders in a manner such that the net asset values per share of each Holder, after each such allocation, is closer to the total of all Holders' net asset values divided by the aggregate number of shares outstanding for all Holders.

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

(g) Income taxes. The Portfolio is classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. As such, each investor in the Portfolio is treated as owner of its proportionate share of the net assets, income, expenses and realized gains and losses of the Portfolio. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. It is intended that the Portfolio's assets will be managed so an investor in the Portfolio can satisfy the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code.

Management has analyzed the Portfolio's tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of August 31, 2023, no provision for income tax is required in the Portfolio's financial statements. The Portfolio's federal and state income 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.

(h) Other. Purchases, maturities and sales of money market instruments are accounted for on the date of the transaction. Realized gains and losses are calculated on the identified cost basis.

22

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, LLC ("FTFA") (formerly known as Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC prior to November 30, 2023) is the Portfolio's investment manager and Western Asset Management Company, LLC ("Western Asset") is the Portfolio's subadviser. FTFA and Western Asset are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin Resources").

Under the investment management agreement, the Portfolio pays an investment management fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.10% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets.

FTFA provides administrative and certain oversight services to the Portfolio. FTFA delegates to the subadviser the day-to-day portfolio management of the Portfolio. For its services, FTFA pays Western Asset a fee monthly, at an annual rate equal to 70% of the net management fee it receives from the Portfolio.

As a result of the investment management agreement between FTFA and the feeder fund, FTFA has agreed to waive 0.10% of Portfolio expenses, attributable to the Portfolio's investment management fee. Additional amounts may be voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed from time to time.

During the six months ended February 29, 2024, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed amounted to $8,007,625.

FTFA is permitted to recapture amounts waived and/or reimbursed to the Portfolio during the same fiscal year under certain circumstances.

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. Derivative instruments and hedging activities

During the six months ended February 29, 2024, the Portfolio did not invest in derivative instruments.

U.S. Treasury Reserves Portfolio 2024 Semi-Annual Report

23

ITEM 2.

CODE OF ETHICS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 3.

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.

Not applicable.

ITEM 4.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 5.

AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 6.

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.

Included herein under Item 1.

ITEM 7.

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

Not applicable.

ITEM 8.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 9.

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 10.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

Not applicable.

ITEM 11.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a)

The 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 period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are likely to materially affect the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 12.

DISCLOSURE OF SECURITIES LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.

Not applicable.

ITEM 13.

RECOVERY OF ERRONEOUSLY AWARDED COMPENSATION.

(a)

Not applicable.

(b)

Not applicable.

ITEM 14.

EXHIBITS.

(a) (1) Not applicable.

Exhibit 99.CODE ETH

(a) (2) Certifications pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.

Exhibit 99.CERT

(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.

Exhibit 99.906CERT

SIGNATURES

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

Master Portfolio Trust
By: /s/ Jane Trust
Jane Trust
Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 23, 2024

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

By: /s/ Jane Trust
Jane Trust
Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 23, 2024
By: /s/ Christopher Berarducci
Christopher Berarducci
Principal Financial Officer
Date: April 23, 2024