N-CSRS 1 atancsrs.htm AMERICAN TRUST ALLEGIANCE NCSR-SEMI ANNUAL American Trust Allegiance NCSR-Semi Annual


As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2004



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 811-07959



Advisors Series Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



615 East Michigan St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)



Eric M Banhazl
2020 East Financial Way, Suite 100
Glendora, CA 91741
(Name and address of agent for service)



(414) 765-5340
Registrant's telephone number, including area code



Date of fiscal year end: February 28, 2005



Date of reporting period: August 31, 2004 



 
     

 


Item 1. Report to Stockholders.






SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT



 
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED

AUGUST 31, 2004




 
     

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund


October 2004

 
Dear Fellow Shareholder,
 
We are pleased to send you the American Trust Allegiance Fund’s semi-annual report for the six-month period ending August 31, 2004. This six-month period has indeed been a challenging one for all investors as the financial markets have been quite week overall. The S&P 500 Index declined on a total return basis by 3.67% over the past six months, while the Fund fell by 3.41% over the same period.
 
We believed that the year of 2004 would be a difficult one for investors largely due to the anticipated change in Federal Reserve monetary policy toward tightening and the upcoming Presidential election. The last time the Fed shifted monetary policy toward tightening was in 1994 and that year proved to be a volatile one for investors, despite the well-publicized comments at the time from the Chairman of the Fed, Alan Greenspan, suggesting an imminent hike in interest rates. We also thought the uncertainty surrounding the Presidential election would create weakness in the financial markets in general. Both of these factors appear to have played out as expected over the past six months.
 
However, we did not anticipate the sharp rise in the price of oil that has occurred in 2004. With the price of oil consistently over $40 per barrel, global economic growth should slow and adversely impact earnings. Consequently, we are overweight in the defensive sectors of energy and consumer staples to take advantage of the high energy prices and the peaking of the profits cycle. With the exception of the healthcare sector, the Fund has strong representation and balance across every economic sector. We are maintaining a well-diversified portfolio of predominantly large cap, high quality growth stocks.
 


 
   2  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund



We thank you for your support and look forward to helping you achieve your financial goals.


Sincerely,

 
     
     
Jeffrey M. Harris, CFA                                         Paul H. Collins
Mutual Fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. (04/04)


 
   3  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at August 31, 2004 (Unaudited)

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS: 95.83%
 
Market Value
   
Aerospace/Defense: 1.29%
   
3,000
 
United Technologies Corp.
$
281,730
         
   
Auto Systems/Building Controls: 1.42%
   
5,500
 
Johnson Controls, Inc.
 
309,650
         
   
Banks: 12.46%
   
9,800
 
Bank of America Corp.
 
440,804
1,800
 
Cathay General Bancorp
 
125,406
10,200
 
Citigroup, Inc.
 
475,116
3,500
 
East West Bancorp, Inc.
 
126,805
8,700
 
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
 
344,346
6,100
 
Marshall & Ilsley Corp.
 
244,488
7,800
 
The Bank of New York Co., Inc.
 
232,440
5,300
 
Wachovia Corp.
 
248,623
4,000
 
Wells Fargo & Co.
 
235,000
4,000
 
Zions Bancorporation
 
249,120
       
2,722,148
   
Broadcasting & Cable: 0.84%
   
6,600
 
Comcast Corp. - Special Class A*
 
183,150
         
   
Chemicals - Specialty: 1.05%
   
7,700
 
Ecolab, Inc.
 
230,384
         
   
Communications: 1.87%
   
10,500
 
Nextel Communications, Inc. - Class A*
 
243,495
4,200
 
Verizon Communications, Inc.
 
164,850
       
408,345
   
Communications Equipment: 1.04%
   
6,000
 
Qualcomm, Inc.
 
228,300
         
   
Computer Hardware: 3.58%
   
5,000
 
Apple Computer, Inc.*
 
172,450
9,000
 
Dell, Inc.*
 
313,560
3,500
 
International Business Machines Corp.
 
296,415
       
782,425
   
Computer Software: 3.89%
   
5,900
 
Adobe Systems, Inc.
 
270,633
16,300
 
Microsoft Corp.
 
444,990
2,800
 
Symantec Corp.*
 
134,288
       
849,911



See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

   4  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at August 31, 2004 (Unaudited), Continued

Shares
 
 
 
Market Value
   
Construction & Engineering: 1.36%
   
7,600
 
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.*
$
297,236
         
   
Diverse Financial Services: 7.39%
   
5,300
 
American Express Co.
 
265,106
3,800
 
Fifth Third Bancorp
 
189,278
2,700
 
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
 
242,055
1,950
 
Legg Mason, Inc.
 
157,326
11,500
 
MBNA Corp.
 
277,610
4,600
 
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
 
234,922
5,500
 
State Street Corp.
 
248,270
       
1,614,567
   
Electric Utilities: 2.13%
   
3,000
 
Entergy Corp.
 
180,900
7,700
 
Exelon Corp.
 
283,745
       
464,645
   
Farm Machinery: 1.33%
   
4,600
 
Deere & Co.
 
291,042
         
   
Food Distributors: 1.71%
   
11,600
 
Sysco Corp.
 
372,824
         
   
Food Miscellaneous: 1.73%
   
11,300
 
McCormick & Co. - Non Voting Shares
 
379,115
         
   
Forestry: 0.97%
   
3,400
 
Weyerhaeuser Co.
 
212,534
         
   
Household Products & Personal Care: 9.78%
   
9,000
 
Alberto-Culver Co. - Class B
 
434,610
10,100
 
Avon Products, Inc.
 
446,218
7,900
 
Colgate-Palmolive Co.
 
426,600
10,100
 
The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
 
443,895
9,100
 
The Gillette Co.
 
386,750
       
2,138,073
   
Industrial Gases: 1.75%
   
9,400
 
Praxair, Inc.
 
381,452
         
   
Industrial Machinery: 7.10%
   
7,650
 
American Standard Cos., Inc.*
 
287,716
3,600
 
Caterpillar, Inc.
 
261,720
12,000
 
Donaldson Co., Inc.
 
340,800



See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

   5  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at August 31, 2004 (Unaudited), Continued

Shares
     
Market Value
   
Industrial Machinery: 7.10%, Continued
   
4,425
 
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
$
403,958
3,950
 
Ingersoll-Rand Co. - Class A#
 
256,790
       
1,550,984
   
Insurance - Brokers: 0.94%
   
4,600
 
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
 
205,574
         
   
Insurance - Multi-Line: 3.38%
   
6,067
 
American International Group, Inc.
 
432,213
6,500
 
The Allstate Corp.
 
306,865
       
739,078
   
IT Consulting & Services: 0.45%
   
4,300
 
SunGard Data Systems, Inc.*
 
98,900
         
   
Metal Containers: 0.46%
   
2,700
 
Ball Corp.
 
100,818
         
   
Motor Freight Transportation: 1.78%
   
2,400
 
United Parcel Service, Inc. - Class B
 
175,320
5,200
 
Yellow Roadway Corp.*
 
213,408
       
388,728
   
Movies & Entertainment: 0.55%
   
5,400
 
The Walt Disney Co.*
 
121,230
         
   
Multimedia: 0.75%
   
10,000
 
Time Warner, Inc.*
 
163,500
         
   
Networking Equipment: 1.47%
   
17,120
 
Cisco Systems, Inc.*
 
321,171
         
   
Oil and Gas - Equipment/Service: 1.69%
   
4,500
 
Baker Hughes Inc.
 
176,985
3,100
 
Schlumberger Ltd.#
 
191,580
       
368,565
   
Oil and Gas - Integrated: 7.50%
   
3,500
 
BP PLC ADR
 
187,950
4,700
 
ChevronTexaco Corp.
 
458,250
5,900
 
ConocoPhillips
 
439,137
12,000
 
Exxon Mobil Corp.
 
553,200
       
1,638,537
   
Printing & Publishing: 0.65%
   
3,400
 
Tribune Co.
 
141,950



See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

   6  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at August 31, 2004 (Unaudited), Continued

Shares
     
Market Value
   
Retail - Home Improvement: 2.31%
   
4,350
 
Fastenal Co.
$
273,093
2,150
 
Lowe’s Cos., Inc.
 
106,855
3,425
 
The Home Depot, Inc.
 
125,218
       
505,166
   
Retail - Miscellaneous: 0.91%
   
2,300
 
eBay, Inc.*
 
199,042
         
   
Retail - Specialty: 4.05%
   
2,650
 
Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.*
 
99,163
4,750
 
Chico’s Fas, Inc.*
 
194,275
5,000
 
Coach, Inc.*
 
210,750
1,900
 
NIKE, Inc. - Class B
 
143,089
4,350
 
Staples, Inc.
 
124,758
3,250
 
Williams-Sonoma, Inc.*
 
113,718
       
885,753
   
Semiconductors: 1.79%
   
10,100
 
Applied Materials, Inc.*
 
160,489
10,800
 
Intel Corp.
 
229,932
       
390,421
   
Services - Data Processing: 1.51%
   
5,100
 
First Data Corp.
 
215,475
3,850
 
Paychex, Inc.
 
114,230
       
329,705
   
Services - Diverse/Commercial: 0.90%
   
4,800
 
Cintas Corp.
 
196,848
         
   
Software & Services: 0.93%
   
7,100
 
Yahoo! Inc.*
 
202,421
         
   
Transportation - Services: 1.12%
   
3,000
 
FedEx Corp.
 
245,970
         
   
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
   
   
(Cost $18,641,363)
 
20,941,892



See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 
   7  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at August 31, 2004 (Unaudited), Continued

Shares
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS: 4.21%
 
Market Value
919,405
 
Federated Cash Trust Money Market
   
   
(Cost $919,405)
$
919,405
         
   
Total Investments in Securities
   
   
(Cost $19,560,768): 100.04%
 
21,861,297
   
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets: (0.04)%
 
(9,603)
   
Net Assets: 100.00%
$
21,851,694
         
* Non-income producing security.
#    U.S. Security of a foreign issuer.
ADR - American Depository Receipt




 
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

   8  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund
 
 
ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS August 31, 2004 (Unaudited)






EXPENSE EXAMPLE August 31, 2004 (Unaudited)

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, reinvested dividends, or other distributions; redemption fees; and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and/or service 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 mutual funds. The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (3/1/04 - 8/31/04).

Actual Expenses

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses, with actual net expenses being limited to 1.45% per the advisory agreement. The example below includes, but is not limited to, management fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees. However, the example below does not include portfolio trading commissions and related expenses, interest expense or dividends on short positions taken by the Fund and other

   

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund


EXPENSE EXAMPLE August 31, 2004 (Unaudited), Continued

extraordinary expenses as determined under generally accepted accounting principles. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period’’ to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.

Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes

The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% 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 this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees. Therefore, the second line of 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 transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.



   
Beginning
Account Value
3/1/04
 
Ending
Account Value
8/31/04
 
Expenses Paid
During Period*
3/1/04 - 8/31/04
             
Actual
$
1,000.00
$
961.80
$
7.07
Hypothetical (5% return
           
before expenses)
 
1,000.00
 
1,035.50
 
7.34
 
*    Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of 1.45%, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182 (days in most recent fiscal half-year)/366 days to reflect the one-half year period.

  10   

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES at August 31, 2004 (Unaudited)
ASSETS
   
Investments in securities, at value (cost $19,560,768)
$
21,861,297
Receivables:
   
Dividends and interest
 
32,302
Fund shares sold
 
828
Prepaid expenses
 
9,058
Total assets
 
21,903,485
     
LIABILITIES
   
Payables:
   
Due to adviser
 
9,749
Administration fees
 
3,685
Fund accounting fees
 
4,938
Transfer agent fees
 
8,385
Custodian fees
 
3,519
Fund shares redeemed
 
8,841
Accrued other expenses
 
12,674
Total liabilities
 
51,791
     
NET ASSETS
$
21,851,694
     
Net asset value, offering and redemption price
   
per share [$21,851,694/1,513,138 shares
   
outstanding; unlimited number of shares
   
(par value $0.01) authorized]
$
14.44
     
     
COMPONENTS OF NET ASSETS
   
Paid-in capital
$
28,251,195
Undistributed net investment loss
 
(25,948)
Accumulated net realized loss on investments
 
(8,674,082)
Net unrealized appreciation on investments
 
2,300,529
Net assets
$
21,851,694
     



See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

   11  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Period Ended August 31, 2004 (Unaudited)
INVESTMENT INCOME
   
Income
   
Dividends (net of foreign tax $109)
$
138,557
Interest
 
1,292
Other income
 
20
   
139,869
Expenses
   
Advisory fees (Note 3)
 
108,639
Transfer agent fees
 
22,902
Administration fees (Note 3)
 
22,871
Fund accounting fees
 
14,623
Registration fees
 
9,223
Audit fees
 
7,115
Custody fees
 
5,862
Legal fees
 
5,233
Trustee fees
 
5,056
Reports to shareholders
 
4,537
Miscellaneous
 
2,004
Insurance expense
 
1,247
Total expenses
 
209,312
Less: advisory fee waiver (Note 3)
 
(43,495)
Net expenses
 
165,817
Net investment loss
 
(25,948)
     
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS
   
Net realized gain on investments
 
414,129
Net change in unrealized
   
depreciation on investments
 
(929,727)
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments ...
 
(515,598)
Net decrease in net assets
   
resulting from operations
$
(541,546)
     



See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 
   12  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund


STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
   
Six Months Ended
August 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
 
Year Ended
February 29, 2004
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:
OPERATIONS
       
Net investment loss
$
(25,948)
$
(59,378)
Net realized gain on investments
 
414,129
 
1,364,960
Net change in unrealized
       
(depreciation)/appreciation
       
on investments
 
(929,727)
 
4,858,079
Net (decrease)/increase
       
in net assets resulting
       
from operations
 
(541,546)
 
6,163,661
         

TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
Net decrease in net assets
       
derived from net change
       
in outstanding shares (a)
 
(653,665)
 
(1,463,375)
Total (decrease)/increase
       
in net assets
 
(1,195,211)
 
4,700,286
NET ASSETS
       
Beginning of period
 
23,046,905
 
18,346,619
End of period
$
21,851,694
$
23,046,905
         

(a) A summary of share transactions is as follows:

 
Six Months Ended
August 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
 
 
Year Ended
February 29, 2004
 
Shares
 
Value
 
Shares
 
Value
Shares sold
59,352
$
869,121
 
108,982
$
1,433,730
Shares redeemed
(104,302)
 
(1,522,786)
 
(227,249)
 
(2,897,105)
Net decrease
(44,950)
$
(653,665)
 
(118,267)
$
(1,463,375)
               



See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 
   13  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For a share outstanding throughout each period
   
Six Months
Ended
8/31/04
 
 
 
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
2/29/04
 
2/28/03
 
2/28/02
 
2/28/01
 
2/29/00
 
Net asset value,
                         
beginning of period
 
$14.79
 
$10.94
 
$14.05
 
$16.76
 
$25.56
 
$16.93
 
Income from
                         
investment operations:
                         
Net investment
                         
income/(loss)
 
(0.02)
 
(0.04)
 
(0.04)
 
(0.08)
 
(0.16)
 
(0.11)
 
Net realized and
                                     
unrealized (loss)/gain
                                     
on investments
   
(0.33
)
 
3.89
   
(3.07
)
 
(2.24
)
 
(8.10
)
 
8.74
 
Total from investment
                                     
operations
   
(0.35
)
 
3.85
   
(3.11
)
 
(2.32
)
 
(8.26
)
 
8.63
 
Less distributions:
                                     
From net realized gain
   
   
   
   
(0.39
)
 
(0.54
)
 
 
Net asset value,
                                     
end of period
 
$
14.44
 
$
14.79
 
$
10.94
 
$
14.05
 
$
16.76
 
$
25.56
 
                                       
                                       
Total return
   
(2.37)%‡
   
35.19
%
 
(22.14
)%
 
(13.86
)%
 
(32.68
)%
 
50.97
%
                                       
Ratios/supplemental data:
                                     
Net assets, end of
                                     
period (thousands)
 
$
21,852
 
$
23,047
 
$
18,347
 
$
26,076
 
$
31,957
 
$
36,932
 
                                       
Ratio of expenses to
                                     
average net assets:
                                     
Before expense
                                     
reimbursement
   
1.83%†
   
1.79
%
 
1.95
%
 
1.80
%
 
1.56
%
 
1.75
%
After expense
                                     
reimbursement
   
1.45%†
   
1.45
%
 
1.45
%
 
1.45
%
 
1.45
%
 
1.45
%
Ratio of net investment
                                     
loss to average net assets:
                                     
After fees waived and
                                     
expenses absorbed
   
(0.23)%†
   
(0.28
)%
 
(0.33
)%
 
(0.52
)%
 
(0.77
)%
 
(0.73
)%
                                       
Portfolio turnover rate
   
12.42%‡
   
108.15
%
 
108.19
%
 
73.96
%
 
86.13
%
 
39.81
%
 
    Annualized.
    Not Annualized.



See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 
   14  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS August 31, 2004 (Unaudited)

NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION

The American Trust Allegiance Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of shares of beneficial interest of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end management investment company. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek capital appreciation. The Fund began operations on March 11, 1997.


NOTE 2 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

A. Security Valuation: The Fund’s investments are carried at fair value. Securities that are primarily traded on a national securities exchange shall be valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded on the day of valuation or, if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ National Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ National Market System shall be valued at the most recent trade price. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, if any, are valued following procedures approved by the Board of Trustees. Short-term investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

B. Federal Income Taxes: It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

C. Security Transactions, Dividends and Distributions: Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are determined on the basis of identified cost. Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount of dividends and distributions to

 
   15  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

shareholders from net investment income and net realized capital gains is determined in accordance with Federal income tax regulations which differs from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

D. Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


NOTE 3 - INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE AND OTHER
 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

For the six months ended August 31, 2004, American Trust Investment Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”) provided the Fund with investment management services under an Investment Advisory Agreement. The Advisor furnished all investment advice, office space, facilities, and provides most of the personnel needed by the Fund. As compensation for its services, the Advisor is entitled to a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.95% based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund. For the six months ended August 31, 2004, the Fund incurred $108,639 in Advisory Fees.

The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. The Advisor has agreed to reduce fees payable to it by the Fund and to pay Fund operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses to 1.45% of average net assets (the “expense cap”). Any such reduction made by the Advisor in its fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation are subject to reimbursement by the Fund to the Advisor, if so requested by the Advisor, in subsequent fiscal years if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Fund toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the reimbursement) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses. The Advisor is permitted to be reimbursed only for fee reductions and expense payments made in the previous three fiscal years, but is permitted to look back five years and four years, respectively, during the initial six years and seventh year of the Fund’s operations. Any such reimbursement is also contingent upon Board of Trustees review and approval at the time the reimbursement is made. Such reimbursement may not be paid prior to the Fund’s payment of current ordinary operating expenses. For the six

   16  

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

months ended August 31, 2004, the Advisor reduced its fees in the amount of $43,495; no amounts were reimbursed to the Advisor. Cumulative expenses subject to recapture pursuant to the aforementioned conditions amounted to $325,131 at August 31, 2004. Cumulative expenses subject to recapture expire as follows:

Year
 
Amount
2005
$
99,649
2006
 
110,842
2007
 
71,145
2008
 
43,495
 
$
325,131
     

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (the “Administrator”) acts as the Fund’s Administrator under an Administration Agreement. The Administrator prepares various federal and state regulatory filings, reports and returns for the Fund; prepares reports and materials to be supplied to the Trustees; monitors the activities of the Fund’s custodian, transfer agent and accountants; coordinates the preparation and payment of the Fund’s expenses and reviews the Fund’s expense accruals. For its services, the Administrator receives a monthly fee at the following annual rate:


Fund asset level
Fee rate
Less than $15 million
$30,000
$15 million to less than $50 million
0.20% of average daily net assets
$50 million to less than $100 million
0.15% of average daily net assets
$100 million to less than $150 million
0.10% of average daily net assets
More than $150 million
0.05% of average daily net assets


U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“USBFS”) also serves as the Fund Accountant and Transfer Agent to the Fund. U.S. Bank, N.A., an affiliate of USBFS, serves as the Fund’s Custodian.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Fund’s shares. The Distributor is an affiliate of the Administrator.
 
Certain officers of the Fund are also officers of the Administrator and Distributor.

 
  17   

 


American Trust Allegiance Fund



NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited), Continued

NOTE 4 - PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES

For the six months ended August 31, 2004, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term securities, were $2,727,945 and $3,308,330, respectively.


NOTE 5 - INCOME TAXES AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO
SHAREHOLDERS

Net investment income/(loss) and net realized gains/(losses) differ for financial statement and tax purposes due to differing treatments of wash sale losses deferred.

Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with Federal income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The tax character of distributions paid during the six months ended August 31, 2004 and the year ended February 28, 2004 were as follows:

 
2004
2003
Long-term capital gains
$0
$0

As of August 31, 2004 there were no distributable earnings on a tax basis.

As of February 29, 2004, the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end, the components of accumulated earnings/(losses) on a tax basis were as follows:

Cost of investments
$20,005,975
   
Gross tax unrealized appreciation
3,382,827
Gross tax unrealized depreciation
(341,820)
Net tax unrealized appreciation
$3,041,007
   
Undistributed ordinary income
$—
Undistributed long-term capital gain
Total distributable earnings
$—
   
Other accumulated gains/losses
$(8,898,962)
Total accumulated earnings/(losses)
$(5,857,955)

The Fund had a capital loss carryforward of $8,898,962 which expires as follows:

Year
Amount
2010
$5,437,349
2011
$3,461,631


   18  

 

 
 
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Advisor
American Trust Investment Advisors, LLC
One Court Street
Lebanon, NH 03766
(800) 788-8806


Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LL
615 East Michigan Stree
Milwaukee, WI 53202


Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(800) 385-7003


Custodian
U.S. Bank, N.A.
425 Walnut Stree
Cincinnati, OH 45202


Independent Accountants
Tait, Weller & Baker
1818 Market Street, Suite 2400
Philadelphia, PA 19103


Legal Counsel
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
55 Second Street, 24th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105


This report is intended for shareholders of the Fund and may not be used as sales literature unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. For a current prospectus please call 1-800-385-7003.

 
   

 




Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.


Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

[Insert the schedule of investments here.]


Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 9. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

The registrant’s independent directors/trustees serve as its nominating committee, however they do not make use of a nominating committee charter. There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors.

Item 10. Controls and Procedures.

(a)   The Registrant’s President/Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer/Chief 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 (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of the report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rules 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 

 
   

 

(b)   There were no significant changes in the Registrant's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's last fiscal half-year that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Item 11. Exhibits.

(a)   (1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Not applicable.

(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Filed herewith.

(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons. Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

(b)   Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Furnished herewith.

   2  

 

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.


(Registrant) Advisors Series Trust                                                          

By (Signature and Title)_/s/ Eric M. Banhazl                                 
Eric M. Banhazl, President

Date  November 8, 2004                                                                                         



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 (Signature and Title)* _/s/ Eric M. Banhazl                               
Eric M. Banhazl, President

Date: November 8, 2004                                                                      

By (Signature and Title)* _/s/ Douglas G. Hess    
Douglas G. Hess, Treasurer

Date:_ November 8, 2004                                                                     

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.