N-CSRS 1 tataf-ncsrs.htm THE AMERICAN TRUST ALLEGIANCE FUND SEMIANNUAL REPORT 8-31-15
 
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 Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)


Douglas G. Hess, President
Advisors Series Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 5th Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Name and address of agent for service)



(414) 765-6609
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Date of fiscal year end: February 29, 2016



Date of reporting period: August 31, 2015


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 
 
The American Trust
Allegiance Fund


One Court Street
Lebanon, New Hampshire  03766







Semi-Annual Report























For The Six Months Ended

August 31, 2015





American Trust Allegiance Fund

October 2015
 
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
 
Markets abhor uncertainty, and as we pen this letter uncertainty abounds.  Stocks have retrenched accordingly, reversing gains from earlier in the year.  Investor worries largely center on two issues – the growth rate for China and to a lesser extent the prospective increase in interest rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board (the “Federal Reserve”).  In the “Investment Outlook” section of this letter, we share with you in some detail our views on China and what it means for investors.  We have written to you before about the Federal Reserve’s long-signaled intent to raise rates.  Our sole update at this point:  Just do it!  We expect markets to be relieved to have this event behind us.  With recent market declines and continued strength in the U.S. economy, we believe the overall valuation of domestic stocks is fair and for selected stocks that have had large price drops, we find valuation levels to be quite attractive.  We are making changes to our portfolio as opportunities present themselves in the more volatile stock market of recent months.
 
PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION
 
The performance of the American Trust Allegiance Fund (the “Fund”) during the six-month fiscal period ended August 31, 2015 (that constitutes the measurement period for this Semi-Annual Report) was a total return of -6.64% versus -5.32% for the S&P 500® Index.
 
Of the six-month relative performance, the lack of healthcare exposure in the Fund was a modest drawback for the period.  The exhibit below shows six-month performance by sector and sector weightings for the S&P 500® Index as compared to the Fund.  Lack of healthcare exposure through August contributed approximately 0.42% of underperformance.  This was the largest sector weight contributor to the Fund’s performance.  Partially offsetting this, the second and third largest factors in terms of attribution were our underweight of the energy and materials sectors.  These two sector underweights added a combined 0.72% to performance.  We repositioned the Fund in December with the specific aim of reducing commodity exposure, which led to underweights in energy and materials.
 
Specific standout securities which hurt relative performance during the six-month period were technology companies Qualcomm, Inc. and EMC Corp.  Conversely, standout securities that helped relative performance included food companies Post Holdings, Inc. and Gruma Corp., as well as pipeline company operator Williams Companies, Inc.
 
The exhibits below show six-month performance by sector and sector weightings for the S&P 500® Index as compared to the Fund.
 
2

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
Six-month performance for the S&P 500® Index and its industry sectors, through 8/31/15
 

 

Source: American Trust Investment Advisors, LLC (“ATIA”), FactSet
 
         
Attribution
 
6-month
2/27/15 weights
of sector
Sector
Performance
S&P 500
ATAFX
Delta
weights in %
Cons. Disc.
-1.3%
12.5%
13.9%
1.4%
0.06
Health Care
-2.5%
14.8%
0.0%
-14.8%
(0.42)
Financials
-3.7%
16.0%
20.0%
4.0%
0.06
S&P 500
-5.3%
       
Cons. Staples
-5.7%
9.9%
18.4%
8.5%
(0.04)
Utilities
-6.3%
3.0%
1.6%
-1.4%
0.01
Technology
-6.5%
19.9%
27.7%
7.8%
(0.09)
Telecom
-7.8%
2.3%
2.0%
-0.3%
0.01
Industrials
-10.6%
10.3%
11.6%
1.3%
(0.07)
Materials
-15.8%
3.3%
0.0%
-3.3%
0.35
Energy
-16.2%
8.1%
4.7%
-3.4%
0.37
           
As of 8/31/15
       
0.24
 
One of the defining characteristics of our investing philosophy is that we seek to find “growth at a reasonable price”.  This investment philosophy, sometimes abbreviated to “GARP”, favors stocks of companies that are growing, and whose valuation we deem to be ‘reasonable’.  Of course, what is reasonable is debatable.  What is not debatable is the huge disparity in performance between large cap growth mutual funds and large cap value mutual funds.  Through August, 2015, the year-to-date performance difference is a stunning 9.30%.  As a
3

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
GARP-oriented fund, we believe our occasional inclination toward value, both at the sector selection and individual security selection level, is a contributor to our performance.  In addition to the traditional growth and value schools of investing, some recent market movements have been attributed to ‘returns-based’ investors.  Another word for returns-based investing is momentum investing.  While we subscribe to a blend of growth and value, we definitely do not chase momentum.
 
Our view is that, with revenue growth increasingly hard to come by in a slowing global macro environment, growth investors seem willing to bid up the shares of those companies able to sustain growth to unreasonable price levels.  In a stock market that is tending toward expensive in aggregate, industry subsectors such as internet and biotech have attained particularly stretched valuations.  With higher interest rates likely in the coming months, we feel the calculus for discounting future growth will likely change, with particular risk for the high-flyers.  We believe that our GARP orientation and individual stock selection, emphasizing high quality franchises built on solid balance sheets, should serve us well on a relative basis when valuations come under pressure.
 
We utilize both a top-down and bottom-up methodology in defining sector weights.  While we believe that sector diversification can be important in reducing risk, we also believe that it is prudent and can be fruitful to pay attention to relative sector attractiveness and to act upon our insights.  Accordingly, our GARP-informed individual stock selection often helps us identify opportunities amongst sectors or alternatively confirms or challenges our top-down view. We have found that this reflexive top-down/bottom-up discipline makes for a more rigorous examination of, and reflection upon, what makes for an attractive/unattractive sector or stock. The exhibit below shows selected valuation and growth metrics for S&P 500® Index sectors as of August 31, 2015. A quick glance at Fund sector weights shows that, with the notable exception of consumer staples, we generally underweight groups that appear expensive relative to their history, and overweight groups that appear inexpensive relative to their history.  The second column shows the standard deviation to 10-year history for the price to earnings (“P/E”) ratios for each sector (next 12 months basis).
4

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
Selected valuation and growth metrics for the S&P 500® Index sectors as of 8/31/15
 
Typical 
           
portfolio 
 
NTM
Std Dev to
NTM EPS
PEG
Free Cash
weights 
 
P/E Ratio
10-yr History
Growth
Ratio
Flow Yield
--
 
Energy
22.0x
2.2
n.m.
n.m.
-1.2
   
S&P 500®
         
   
  Index
16.0x
1.4
11%
1.4
4.6
+
 
Consumer
         
   
  Staples
19.0x
1.0
8%
2.3
4.8
-
 
Health Care
17.0x
0.3
12%
1.4
4.8
-
 
Consumer
         
   
  Discretionary
18.4x
-0.3
17%
1.1
4.2
++
 
Information
         
   
  Technology
15.4x
-0.5
14%
1.1
6.5
+++
 
Financials
13.0x
-0.6
12%
1.1
nm
--
 
Utilities
15.7x
-0.9
5%
3.0
0.4
--
 
Materials
14.8x
-1.1
11%
1.4
4.3
++
 
Industrials
15.1x
-1.4
9%
1.6
5.6
-
 
Telecom
         
   
  Services
12.4x
-1.4
7%
1.7
7.7
 
   
Key to relative sector weights (see prior table for exact sector weights)
+++
 
Significantly overweighted
++
 
Moderately overweighted
+
 
Slightly overweighted
-
 
Slightly underweighted
--
 
Moderately underweighted
---
 
Significantly underweighted
 
Source: ATIA, FactSet, GS Strategy Research
 
NTM P/E ratio – Next Twelve Months price to earnings ratio.  A commonly used way to assess how “expensive” a stock might be; the price of a share of stock divided by the expected earnings per share over the next twelve months; higher values are considered more expensive.
 
Standard Deviation (“SD”) – SD is a commonly used measure of variability used in statistics and probability. It shows the extent to which there is dispersion or variability from a central value, such as a mean (average) value. Low standard deviations mean there is little variability in the data, while high standard deviations mean there is extensive variability in the data. In a “normal” distribution (standard bell curve), 68% of the values will fall within one standard deviation of the mean (or average).
 
EPS – Earnings per share. The amount of money a company earns in a given period (typically a quarter or a year) for each share of the company. EPS Growth is not a measure of future performance.
 
5

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
PEG Ratio – (Price/earnings)/growth rate. This ratio, calculated by dividing the P/E ratio by an earnings growth rate, is used to relate how expensive a stock is on a relative basis after factoring in the expected growth in earnings, since higher growing stocks typically warrant higher P/E ratios. The higher the PEG ratio, the higher the valuation as measured by a P/E ratio is for a given unit of growth. Higher numbers are more “expensive” than lower values, all else being equal.
 
Free Cash Flow Yield – Free cash flow per share/Price per share. Higher numbers generally indicate more favorable stocks as investors like to minimize the amount they pay for a given level of cash flow.
 
P/E Ratio – Price to earnings ratio.  A commonly used way to assess how ‘expensive’ a stock might be; The price of a share of stick divided by the expected earnings per share for the current fiscal year; higher values are considered more expensive.
 
INVESTMENT OUTLOOK
 
The stock market…is not the economy.  Thank goodness.  Despite the market volatility since August, and the meaningful drop in the level of the market, the U.S. economy has shown signs of strength.  Real gross domestic product (“GDP”) (after inflation) rose a robust 3.7% in the second quarter.  Auto sales in August, notwithstanding the stock market turmoil, were a ruddy and well above forecast 17.7 million – the highest since July 2005.  Construction spending in July was up 14% from last year, and showing signs of accelerating.  And lastly, consumer confidence for August was also up sharply, to the highest level since November 2007.
 
So what ails the market?  In a word:  China.
 
Now the world’s second largest economy, a slowing China has put the brakes on growth for both Chinese companies and multinationals that do meaningful business there.  Not only is China growing at a slower rate, but also it is transitioning from an industrial, export-led economy to one increasingly driven by local consumption and services rather than manufacturing.  This change in emphasis has mitigated the impact on consumer product sales – Apple, Inc.  continues to see good demand for its products, for instance – but exacerbated the impact for sellers of commodities and industrial goods.  In fact, given that Chinese demand had been huge for everything from copper to oil to gold, we are now in the midst of a prolonged commodity slump.  But arguably worse than the slowing Chinese economy itself has been the government’s response, which has dented its image of economic savvy and replaced it with an image of ineptitude and recklessness.  The misguided attempt to inflate the local Shenzhen stock market – which soared over 100% at government urging – led to a quick and utter collapse as the market gave back its gains in a short three months.  Panic ensued for Chinese stock market speculators…a whiff of which then drifted into world markets.
 
6

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
As big as China is, its health is not nearly as significant to the U.S. economy as you might think.  Canada and Mexico are our largest trading partners; China is third.  Exports are 13% of U.S. GDP, of which 5% is to emerging markets and less than 1% to China.  Even allowing for a material drop in our exports to China, the effect will be small.  On the other hand, cheaper Chinese imports (post the devaluation of the Chinese currency) are a plus for us, as is the beneficial impact of lower commodity prices.  Gasoline and heating oil prices are down nearly 40% and 50% respectively from last year – a huge windfall to U.S. consumers (the gasoline impact alone is estimated to be $1,000 per household).
 
Are we concerned about China?  Yes and no.  We have made a number of portfolio changes, starting in May, to reduce our direct and indirect exposure to China.  Most of these changes involved a swap of one stock for another, reflecting our preference for U.S. economic exposure.  Examples include selling Chinese internet retailer Vipshops Holdings, Ltd. and swapping into Southwest Airlines Co.; and the swap of Tupperware Brands Corp. for Whole Foods Market, Inc.  But longer term, China will continue to be a huge and growing market for multinationals – so our changes were measured.
 
Although China was a proximate cause of the drop in U.S. stocks, it should be noted that it has been four years since we had last seen a 10% correction (versus every 12-18 months normally).  And while stocks had not strayed to levels that we thought were unduly expensive, neither were they inexpensive.
 
The chart below shows the S&P 500® Index’s price since the year 2000.  Also shown are five gray bands representing different valuation levels, using P/E ratios and the projected level of earnings.  While many equate higher stock prices with higher valuation levels, this fails to account for the higher earnings that companies earn over time.  The valuation bands shown below mirror (with different multipliers, or multiples) the level of earnings that S&P 500 companies are expected to earn.  So at the market’s bottom in 2009 the stock market was trading at a very inexpensive 10x earnings.  At the far left, at the height of the Tech bubble in 2000, the market was trading at 28x earnings (we didn’t bother with the bands for those lofty early years).  More recently, the market had moved up to close to 17x forward earnings.  With the 10% drop we have seen in recent months, we are back to about 15x.  We believe this level represents good value, especially given current low interest rates.
 
7

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
Back toward Good Value
Price versus Valuation Levels, 2000 – 8/31/15
P/E bands using forward (next 12 month) earnings estimates
 

 

 
Source: FactSet data
 
With the stock market at lower levels and therefore, all else being equal, de-risked to some extent, and with a positive outlook for the domestic economy, we remain constructive on U.S. equities and on those of selected international shares.  As we discussed, the U.S. economy continues to show relative strength, and the most recent data is especially encouraging.  Bear markets in stocks are typically brought on by recessions, which we do not see as likely in the near term.  In fact, with inflation very subdued, plenty of capacity to grow the economy, very low interest rates (even in the wake of an expected modest bump by the Federal Reserve) and none of the debt-related excesses that often cause a downturn, we believe there is a fair probability that the U.S. economy can continue to grow for years to come.  Granted, growth has been subdued compared to prior cycles, but this “lower for longer” economic backdrop could be favorable for stocks… even if stocks continue to have their inevitable ups and downs.
 
8

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
We are grateful to you for your support of the American Trust Allegiance Fund and we hope that, in return, we can help you meet your financial goals.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
 
   
Paul H. Collins
Carey Callaghan

 
 
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
 
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
 
Opinions expressed above are those of the investment adviser and are subject to change, are not guaranteed and should not be considered investment advice.
 
Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The Fund may invest in small- and medium-capitalization companies which tend to have limited liquidity and greater price volatility than larger-capitalization companies. The Fund’s social policy may cause it to make or avoid investments for social reasons when it is otherwise disadvantageous to do so. The Fund may invest in foreign and emerging market securities which will involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. The risks are particularly significant for funds that invest in emerging markets. The Fund may make short sales of securities, which involves the risk that losses may exceed the original amount invested.
 
The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged index commonly used to measure performance of U.S. stocks.  This index is not available for investment and does not incur charges or expenses.
 
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Please refer to the Schedule of Investments for complete holdings.
 
Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market.
 
Delta – Difference between two numbers
 
The American Trust Allegiance Fund is distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
 
9

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
EXPENSE EXAMPLE at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited)
As a shareholder of a fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments; 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 (3/1/15 – 8/31/15).
 
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 operating expenses limitation agreement.  Although the Fund charges no sales load or transaction fees, you will be assessed fees for outgoing wire transfers, returned checks, and stop payment orders at prevailing rates charged by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent.  The example below includes, but is not limited to, management fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees.  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.
 
10

American Trust Allegiance Fund

 
EXPENSE EXAMPLE at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued

 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses Paid
 
Account Value
Account Value
During Period
 
3/1/15
8/31/15
3/1/15 – 8/31/15*
Actual
$1,000.00
$   933.60
$7.05
Hypothetical (5% return
$1,000.00
$1,017.85
$7.35
  before expenses)
     
 
*
Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of 1.45%, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184 (days in most recent fiscal half-year)/366 days to reflect the one-half year expense.
 
SECTOR ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS
at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited)
 
 

 
Percentages represent market value as a percentage of total investments.
11

American Trust Allegiance Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited)
Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS: 97.82%
 
Value
 
           
 
Administrative Support and Services: 1.27%
   
 
8,510
 
PayPal Holdings, Inc.*
 
$
297,850
 
               
     
Air Transportation: 2.92%
       
 
18,640
 
Southwest Airlines Co.
   
684,088
 
               
     
Animal Production and Aquaculture: 0.84%
       
 
25,560
 
JBS SA - ADR
   
197,068
 
               
     
Apparel Manufacturing: 6.55%
       
 
28,120
 
Burberry Group PLC - ADR
   
601,627
 
 
12,860
 
VF Corp.
   
931,450
 
           
1,533,077
 
               
     
Broadcasting (except Internet): 8.11%
       
 
8,940
 
Comcast Corp. - Class A
   
503,590
 
 
14,700
 
Liberty Global PLC - Class A*#
   
707,364
 
 
6,750
 
The Walt Disney Co.
   
687,690
 
           
1,898,644
 
               
     
Chemical Manufacturing: 3.39%
       
 
3,420
 
Colgate-Palmolive Co.
   
214,810
 
 
5,470
 
Praxair, Inc.
   
578,453
 
           
793,263
 
               
     
Computer and Electronic
       
     
  Product Manufacturing: 7.70%
       
 
6,115
 
Apple, Inc.
   
689,527
 
 
21,570
 
Cisco Systems, Inc.
   
558,232
 
 
6,570
 
IPG Photonics Corp.*
   
554,639
 
           
1,802,398
 
               
     
Construction of Buildings: 2.34%
       
 
10,760
 
Lennar Corp. - Class A
   
547,684
 
               
     
Couriers and Messengers: 1.66%
       
 
2,580
 
FedEx Corp.
   
388,574
 
               
     
Electrical Equipment, Appliance,
       
     
  and Component: 1.86%
       
 
2,600
 
Whirlpool Corp.
   
437,060
 
               
     
Food and Beverage Stores: 3.06%
       
 
21,900
 
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
   
717,444
 
               
     
Food Manufacturing: 5.34%
       
 
5,361
 
Gruma, S.A.B. de C.V.  - ADR
   
289,440
 
 
5,980
 
Mondelez International, Inc. - Class A
   
253,313
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

12

American Trust Allegiance Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued
Shares
     
Value
 
           
 
Food Manufacturing: 5.34% (Continued)
   
 
10,840
 
Post Holdings, Inc.*
 
$
707,635
 
           
1,250,388
 
               
     
Heavy and Civil
       
     
  Engineering Construction: 1.72%
       
 
9,080
 
Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. NV#
   
402,062
 
               
     
Insurance Carriers and
       
     
  Related Activities: 9.21%
       
 
6,420
 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. - Class B*
   
860,537
 
 
12,590
 
MetLife, Inc.
   
630,759
 
 
13,240
 
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
   
666,634
 
           
2,157,930
 
               
     
Leather and Allied
       
     
  Product Manufacturing: 1.15%
       
 
2,410
 
Nike, Inc. - Class B
   
269,318
 
               
     
Machinery Manufacturing: 8.02%
       
 
10,340
 
Applied Materials, Inc.
   
166,319
 
 
3,260
 
Cummins, Inc.
   
396,905
 
 
25,230
 
FANUC Corp. - ADR
   
687,139
 
 
8,620
 
Lam Research Corp.
   
627,277
 
           
1,877,640
 
               
     
Nonstore Retailers: 0.98%
       
 
8,510
 
eBay, Inc.*
   
230,706
 
               
     
Other Information Services: 3.51%
       
 
640
 
Google, Inc. - Class A*
   
414,605
 
 
661
 
Google, Inc. - Class C*
   
408,663
 
           
823,268
 
               
     
Paper Manufacturing: 1.18%
       
 
19,550
 
Graphic Packaging Holding Co.
   
275,655
 
               
     
Petroleum and Coal
       
     
  Products Manufacturing: 3.20%
       
 
9,470
 
Phillips 66
   
748,793
 
               
     
Professional, Scientific, and
       
     
  Technical Services: 0.91%
       
 
4,000
 
Verint Systems, Inc.*
   
213,320
 
               
     
Real Estate: 4.97%
       
 
7,096
 
CBRE Group, Inc. - Class A*
   
227,214
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
13

American Trust Allegiance Fund

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued
Shares
     
Value
 
           
 
Real Estate: 4.97% (Continued)
   
 
43,470
 
Forest City Enterprises, Inc. - Class A*
 
$
935,909
 
           
1,163,123
 
               
     
Rental and Leasing Services: 2.48%
       
 
13,810
 
AerCap Holdings NV*#
   
580,573
 
               
     
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and
       
     
  Other Financial Investments and
       
     
  Related Activities: 3.00%
       
 
14,110
 
Lazard Ltd. - Class A*#
   
701,690
 
               
     
Support Activities for Mining: 1.62%
       
 
4,920
 
Schlumberger Ltd.#
   
380,660
 
               
     
Telecommunications: 1.83%
       
 
4,640
 
American Tower Corp.
   
427,762
 
               
     
Transportation Equipment
       
     
  Manufacturing: 3.43%
       
 
6,960
 
WABCO Holdings, Inc.*
   
802,627
 
               
     
Utilities: 5.57%
       
 
25,530
 
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
   
827,427
 
 
5,030
 
Sempra Energy
   
477,096
 
           
1,304,523
 
     
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $20,146,764)
   
22,907,188
 
               
     
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS: 2.33%
       
 
545,856
 
Fidelity Institutional Money Market
       
     
  Government Portfolio - Class I, 0.01%†
   
545,856
 
     
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
       
     
  (Cost $545,856)
   
545,856
 
     
Total Investments in Securities
       
     
  (Cost $20,692,620): 100.15%
   
23,453,044
 
     
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets: (0.15)%
   
(36,308
)
     
Net Assets: 100.00%
 
$
23,416,736
 

 
*
Non-income producing security.
 
#
U.S. traded security of a foreign issuer.
 
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of August 31, 2015.
  ADR – American Depository Receipt 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
14

American Trust Allegiance Fund

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited)
ASSETS
   
Investments in securities, at value (cost $20,692,620)
 
$
23,453,044
 
Receivables:
       
Fund shares sold
   
2,153
 
Dividends and interest
   
22,108
 
Dividend tax reclaim
   
4,343
 
Prepaid expenses
   
9,260
 
Total assets
   
23,490,908
 
         
LIABILITIES
       
Payables:
       
Fund shares redeemed
   
158
 
Due to advisor
   
12,017
 
Administration fees
   
11,938
 
Audit fees
   
9,372
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses
   
10,970
 
Fund accounting fees
   
7,155
 
Legal fees
   
2,982
 
Custody fees
   
618
 
Shareholder reporting
   
14,372
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee
   
2,793
 
Accrued other expenses
   
1,797
 
Total liabilities
   
74,172
 
         
NET ASSETS
 
$
23,416,736
 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price
       
  per share [$23,416,736/ 886,021 shares
       
  outstanding; unlimited number of shares
       
  (par value $0.01) authorized]
 
$
26.43
 
         
COMPONENTS OF NET ASSETS
       
Paid-in capital
 
$
18,900,639
 
Undistributed net investment loss
   
(31,118
)
Accumulated net realized gain on investments
   
1,786,791
 
Net unrealized appreciation on investments
   
2,760,424
 
Net assets
 
$
23,416,736
 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
15

American Trust Allegiance Fund

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Six Months Ended August 31, 2015 (Unaudited)
INVESTMENT INCOME
   
Income
   
Dividends (net of foreign tax withheld
   
  and issuance fees of $4,382)
 
$
175,426
 
Interest
   
31
 
Total income
   
175,457
 
Expenses
       
Advisory fees (Note 4)
   
119,477
 
Administration fees (Note 4)
   
25,194
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 4)
   
22,570
 
Fund accounting fees (Note 4)
   
14,118
 
Registration fees
   
9,755
 
Audit fees
   
9,379
 
Legal fees
   
6,068
 
Trustee fees
   
4,550
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee (Note 4)
   
4,407
 
Reports to shareholders
   
4,025
 
Custody fees (Note 4)
   
2,822
 
Miscellaneous expense
   
1,842
 
Insurance expense
   
1,158
 
Total expenses
   
225,365
 
Less: advisory fee waiver (Note 4)
   
(43,005
)
Net expenses
   
182,360
 
Net investment loss
   
(6,903
)
         
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS)
       
  ON INVESTMENTS
       
Net realized gain on investments
   
875,863
 
Net change in unrealized
       
  appreciation on investments
   
(2,537,790
)
Net realized and unrealized
       
  loss on investments
   
(1,661,927
)
Net decrease in net assets
       
  resulting from operations
 
$
(1,668,830
)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
16

American Trust Allegiance Fund

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
   
Six Months Ended
     
   
August 31, 2015
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
February 28, 2015
 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:
       
OPERATIONS
       
Net investment income/(loss)
 
$
(6,903
)
 
$
5,742
 
Net realized gain on investments
   
875,863
     
1,613,894
 
Net change in unrealized
               
  appreciation on investments
   
(2,537,790
)
   
617,688
 
Net increase/(decrease) in net
               
  assets resulting from operations
   
(1,668,830
)
   
2,237,324
 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
From net investment income
   
     
(28,868
)
From net realized gain on investments
   
     
(853,817
)
Total distributions
   
     
(882,685
)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets
               
  derived from net change
               
  in outstanding shares (a)
   
(160,530
)
   
1,035,190
 
Total increase/(decrease) in
               
  net assets
   
(1,829,360
)
   
2,389,829
 
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of period
   
25,246,096
     
22,856,267
 
End of period
 
$
23,416,736
   
$
25,246,096
 
Includes undistributed net
               
  investment loss of
 
$
(31,118
)
 
$
(24,215
)

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

   
Six Months Ended
         
   
August 31, 2015
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
February 28, 2015
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
    Paid-in Capital  
 
               
Shares sold
   
23,927
   
$
669,017
     
81,550
    $ 2,229,399  
Shares issued in
                               
  reinvestment of
                               
  distributions
   
     
     
27,019
      691,691  
Shares redeemed
   
(29,522
)
   
(829,547
)
   
(68,212
)
    (1,885,900 )
Net increase/
                               
  (decrease)
   
(5,595
)
 
$
(160,530
)
   
40,357
    $ 1,035,190  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
17

American Trust Allegiance Fund

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For a share outstanding throughout the period
   
Six Months
                     
   
Ended
                     
   
8/31/15
    Year Ended  
   
(Unaudited)
   
2/28/15
   
2/28/14
   
2/28/13
   
2/29/12
   
2/28/11
 
Net asset value,
                       
  beginning of period
 
$
28.31
   
$
26.85
   
$
23.26
   
$
21.55
   
$
20.47
   
$
16.90
 
Income from
                                               
  investment operations:
                                               
Net investment
                                               
  income/(loss)
   
(0.01
)
   
0.01
     
0.04
     
0.02
     
0.04
     
0.04
 
Net realized and
                                               
  unrealized gain/(loss)
                                               
  on investments
   
(1.87
)
   
2.46
     
4.49
     
1.71
     
1.07
     
3.55
 
Total from investment
                                               
  operations
   
(1.88
)
   
2.47
     
4.53
     
1.73
     
1.11
     
3.59
 
Less distributions:
                                               
From net
                                               
  investment income
   
     
(0.03
)
   
(0.07
)
   
(0.02
)
   
(0.03
)
   
(0.02
)
From net
                                               
  realized gain
                                               
  on investments
   
     
(0.98
)
   
(0.87
)
   
     
     
 
Total distributions
   
     
(1.01
)
   
(0.94
)
   
(0.02
)
   
(0.03
)
   
(0.02
)
Net asset value,
                                               
  end of period
 
$
26.43
   
$
28.31
   
$
26.85
   
$
23.26
   
$
21.55
   
$
20.47
 
Total return
   
-6.64
%‡
   
9.62
%
   
19.64
%
   
8.04
%
   
5.44
%
   
21.25
%
Ratios/supplemental data:
                                               
Net assets, end of
                                               
  period (thousands)
 
$
23,417
   
$
25,246
   
$
22,856
   
$
19,679
   
$
17,754
   
$
17,545
 
Ratio of expenses to
                                               
  average net assets:
                                               
Before fee waiver
   
1.79
%†
   
1.79
%
   
1.88
%
   
1.94
%
   
2.04
%
   
2.13
%
After fee waiver
   
1.45
%†
   
1.45
%
   
1.45
%
   
1.45
%
   
1.45
%
   
1.45
%
Ratio of net investment
                                               
  income/(loss) to average
                                               
  net assets:
                                               
Before fee waiver
   
(0.40
)%†
   
(0.32
)%
   
(0.29
)%
   
(0.40
)%
   
(0.39
)%
   
(0.44
)%
After fee waiver
   
(0.06
)%†
   
0.02
%
   
0.14
%
   
0.09
%
   
0.20
%
   
0.24
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
24.98
%‡
   
50.95
%
   
48.03
%
   
50.66
%
   
48.59
%
   
76.63
%

Annualized.
Not annualized.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
 
18

American Trust Allegiance Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited)
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
 
The American Trust Allegiance Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company.  The Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services – Investment Companies”.  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:  All investments in securities are recorded at their estimated fair value, as described in note 3.
   
B.
Federal Income Taxes:  It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M 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 or excise tax provision is required.
   
 
The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities.  Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions, and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on returns filed for open tax years 2013 – 2015, or expected to be taken in the Fund’s 2016 tax returns.  The Fund identifies its major tax jurisdictions as U.S. Federal and the state of Wisconsin; however the Fund is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next twelve months.
   
C.
Security Transactions, Income and Distributions: Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date.  Realized gains and losses on securities sold are calculated on the basis of first in, first out.  Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.  Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.
 
19

American Trust Allegiance Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued
 
The Fund distributes substantially all net investment income, if any, and net realized gains, if any, annually.  The amount of dividends and distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized capital gains is determined in accordance with Federal income tax regulations which differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  To the extent these book/tax differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their Federal tax treatment.
   
D.
Reclassification of Capital Accounts:  Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require that certain components of net assets relating to permanent differences be reclassified between financial and tax reporting.  These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.
   
E.
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.
   
F.
REITs:  The Fund may invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) which pay dividends to their shareholders based upon available funds from operations.  It is quite common for these dividends to exceed the REITs’ taxable earnings and profits resulting in the excess portion being designated as a return of capital.  The Fund intends to include the gross dividends from such REITs in its annual distributions to its shareholders and, accordingly, a portion of the Fund’s distributions may also be designated as a return of capital.
   
G.
Events Subsequent to the Fiscal Period End: In preparing the financial statements as of August 31, 2015, management considered the impact of subsequent events for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
 
NOTE 3 – SECURITIES VALUATION
 
The Fund has adopted authoritative fair value accounting standards which establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value.  These standards require additional disclosures about the various inputs and valuation techniques used to develop the measurements of
20

American Trust Allegiance Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued
fair value, a discussion in changes in valuation techniques and related inputs during the period and expanded disclosure of valuation levels for major security types.  These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
 
 
Level 1 –
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.
     
 
Level 2 –
Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.
     
 
Level 3 –
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.
 
Following is a description of the valuation techniques applied to the Fund’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
 
The Fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value per share as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (4:00 pm EST).
 
Equity Securities:  The Fund’s investments are carried at fair value.  Equity securities, including common stocks, 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 Global 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 securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ Global Market System shall be valued at the most recent sales price.  Investments in open-end mutual funds are valued at their net asset value per share.  To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
21

American Trust Allegiance Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued
 
Short-Term Securities:  Short-term debt securities, including those securities having a maturity of 60 days or less, are valued at the evaluated mean between the bid and asked prices.  To the extent the inputs are observable and timely, these securities would be classified in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
The Board of Trustees (“Board”) has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to a Valuation Committee of the Trust which is comprised of representatives from U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s administrator.  The function of the Valuation Committee is to value securities where current and reliable market quotations are not readily available or the closing price does not represent fair value by following procedures approved by the Board.  These procedures consider many factors, including the type of security, size of holding, trading volume and news events.  All actions taken by the Valuation Committee are subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board.
 
Depending on the relative significance of the valuation inputs, fair valued securities may be classified in either level 2 or level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.  The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s securities as of August 31, 2015:
22

American Trust Allegiance Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued

   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Common Stocks
               
  Administrative Support
               
    and Waste Management
 
$
297,850
   
$
   
$
   
$
297,850
 
  Agriculture, Forestry,
                               
    Fishing, and Hunting
   
197,068
     
     
     
197,068
 
  Construction
   
949,746
     
     
     
949,746
 
  Finance and Insurance
   
2,859,620
     
     
     
2,859,620
 
  Information
   
2,721,912
     
     
     
2,721,912
 
  Manufacturing
   
9,041,426
     
     
     
9,041,426
 
  Mining
   
1,129,453
     
     
     
1,129,453
 
  Professional, Scientific,
                               
    and Technical Services
   
213,320
     
     
     
213,320
 
  Real Estate, Rental,
                               
    and Leasing
   
2,171,458
     
     
     
2,171,458
 
  Retail Trade
   
948,150
     
     
     
948,150
 
  Transportation and
                               
    Warehousing
   
1,072,662
     
     
     
1,072,662
 
  Utilities
   
1,304,523
     
     
     
1,304,523
 
Total Common Stocks
   
22,907,188
     
     
     
22,907,188
 
Short-Term Investments
   
545,856
     
     
     
545,856
 
Total Investments
                               
  in Securities
 
$
23,453,044
   
$
   
$
   
$
23,453,044
 
 
Refer to the Fund’s schedule of investments for a detailed break-out of common stocks by industry classification.  Transfers between levels are recognized at August 31, 2015, the end of the reporting period.  The Fund recognized no significant transfers to/from level 1 or level 2.  There were no level 3 securities held in the Fund during the six months ended August 31, 2015.
 
New Accounting Pronouncements: In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-07 “Disclosure for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent).”  The amendments in ASU No. 2015-07 remove the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy investments measured using the NAV practical expedient.  The ASU also removes certain disclosure requirements for investments that qualify, but do not utilize, the NAV practical expedient.  The amendments in the ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Management is currently evaluating the impact these changes will have on the Fund’s financial statements and related disclosures.
 
23

American Trust Allegiance Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued
 NOTE 4 – INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
 
For the six months ended August 31, 2015, 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, 2015, the Fund incurred $119,477 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 daily net assets.  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.  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 months ended August 31, 2015, the Advisor reduced its fees in the amount of $43,005; no amounts were reimbursed to the Advisor.  Cumulative expenses subject to recapture pursuant to the aforementioned conditions amounted to $305,017 at August 31, 2015.  Cumulative expenses subject to recapture expire as follows:
 
 
Year
 
Amount
 
 
2016
 
$
88,144
 
 
2017
   
91,336
 
 
2018
   
82,532
 
 
2019
   
43,005
 
     
$
305,017
 

 
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
24

American Trust Allegiance Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued
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.
 
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (“USBFS” or the “Transfer Agent”) 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.
 
For the six months ended August 31, 2015, the Fund incurred the following expenses for administration, fund accounting, transfer agency, custody, and Chief Compliance Officer fees:
 
Administration
 
$
25,194
 
Fund Accounting
   
14,118
 
Transfer Agency (a)
   
12,234
 
Chief Compliance Officer
   
4,407
 
Custody
   
2,822
 
         
(a) Does not include out-of-pocket expenses
       
 
At August 31, 2015, the Fund had payables due to USBFS for administration, fund accounting, transfer agency and Chief Compliance Officer fees and to U.S. Bank N.A. for custody fees in the following amounts:
 
Fund Administration
 
$
11,938
 
Fund Accounting
   
7,155
 
Transfer Agency (a)
   
6,166
 
Chief Compliance Officer
   
2,793
 
Custody
   
618
 
         
(a) Does not include out-of-pocket expenses
       
 
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 employees of the Administrator.
 
NOTE 5 – PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
 
For the six months ended August 31, 2015, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term securities, were $6,064,020 and $6,161,086, respectively.
 
25

American Trust Allegiance Fund

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited), Continued
NOTE 6 – LINE OF CREDIT
 
The Fund has a credit line in the amount of $575,000.  This line of credit is intended to provide short-term financing, if necessary, subject to certain restrictions, in connection with shareholder redemptions.  The credit facility is with the Fund’s custodian, U.S. Bank N.A.  During the six months ended August 31, 2015, the Fund did not draw upon the line of credit.
 
NOTE 7 – 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 sales and late-year losses.
 
The tax character of distributions paid during the six months ended August 31, 2015 and the year ended February 28, 2015 was as follows:
 
   
August 31, 2015
   
February 28, 2015
 
Ordinary income
 
$
   
$
37,864
 
Long-term capital gains
   
     
844,821
 
 
Ordinary income distributions may include dividends paid from short-term capital gains.
 
As of February 28, 2015, the Fund’s most recent fiscal year end, the components of accumulated earnings/(losses) on a tax basis were as follows:
 
Cost of investments (a)
 
$
19,988,478
 
Gross tax unrealized appreciation
   
5,434,892
 
Gross tax unrealized depreciation
   
(136,678
)
Net tax unrealized appreciation (a)
   
5,298,214
 
Undistributed ordinary income
   
79,554
 
Undistributed long-term capital gain
   
831,374
 
Total distributable earnings
   
910,928
 
Other accumulated gains/(losses)
   
(24,215
)
Total accumulated earnings/(losses)
 
$
6,184,927
 
         
(a) The book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized appreciation are the same. 
 
At February 28, 2015, the Fund deferred, on a tax basis, post-October late-year losses of $24,215.
26

American Trust Allegiance Fund
 
NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS at August 31, 2015 (Unaudited)
How to Obtain a Copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policies
 
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-385-7003 or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
How to Obtain a Copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Records for the 12-Month Period Ended June 30, 2015
 
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-385-7003.  Furthermore, you can obtain the Fund’s proxy voting records on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Quarterly Filings on Form N-Q
 
The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q.  The Fund’s Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.  The Fund’s Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC and information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-202-551-8090.  Information included in the Fund’s Form N-Q is also available by calling 1-800-385-7003.
27

American Trust Allegiance Fund
 
HOUSEHOLDING
In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund intends to reduce the number of duplicate prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statements and other similar documents you receive by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shared by two or more accounts and to shareholders the Transfer Agent reasonably believes are from the same family or household.  Once implemented, if you would like to discontinue householding for your accounts, please call toll-free at 1-800-385-7003 to request individual copies of these documents.  Once the Transfer Agent receives notice to stop householding, the Transfer Agent will begin sending individual copies thirty days after receiving your request.  This policy does not apply to account statements.
 
28

PRIVACY NOTICE
The Fund collects non-public information about you from the following sources:

•   Information we receive about you on applications or other forms;
 
•   Information you give us orally; and/or
 
•   Information about your transactions with us or others.
 
We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our customers or former customers without the customer’s authorization, except as permitted by law or in response to inquiries from governmental authorities.  We may share information with affiliated and unaffiliated third parties with whom we have contracts for servicing the Fund.  We will provide unaffiliated third parties with only the information necessary to carry out their assigned responsibilities.  We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to guard your non-public personal information and require third parties to treat your personal information with the same high degree of confidentiality.
 
In the event that you hold shares of the Fund through a financial intermediary, including, but not limited to, a broker-dealer, bank, or trust company, the privacy policy of your financial intermediary would govern how your non-public personal information would be shared by those entities with unaffiliated third parties.
 






 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(This Page Intentionally Left Blank.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






Advisor
American Trust Investment Advisors, LLC
One Court Street
Lebanon, NH  03766
(603) 448-6415

Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
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.
1555 N. River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI  53212

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
1818 Market Street, Suite 2400
Philadelphia, PA  19103

Legal Counsel
Paul Hastings LLP
75 East 55th Street
New York, NY  10022



 

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 registrants who are not listed issuers (as defined in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

Item 6. Investments.

(a)
Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.

(b)
Not Applicable.
 
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed‑End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a)
The Registrant’s President/Principal Executive Officer and Treasurer/Principal Financial Officer have reviewed the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and by the Registrant’s service provider.

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

Item 12. Exhibits.

(a)
(1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is the 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) A separate certification for each principal executive and principal financial officer 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)
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes‑Oxley Act of 2002.  Furnished herewith.

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/ Douglas G. Hess                                                                                                                                        
  Douglas G. Hess, President

Date  11/5/15                                                                                                                              
 

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/ Douglas G. Hess                                                                                                                                          
 Douglas G. Hess, President

Date  11/5/15                                                                                                                                                                      

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Cheryl L. King                                                                                                                
 Cheryl L. King, Treasurer
Date  11/5/15                                                                                                                              

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