N-CSR 1 sf-ncsra.htm SEMPER FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT 11-30-16
 
 
 
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, Wisconsin 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, Wisconsin 53202
(Name and address of agent for service)



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



Date of fiscal year end:  November 30, 2016



Date of reporting period:  November 30, 2016
 


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.


 
 

 
 
 


Semper MBS Total Return Fund
 
Class A– SEMOX
 
Investor Class – SEMPX
 
Institutional Class – SEMMX
 

 
Semper Short Duration Fund
 
Investor Class – SEMRX
 
Institutional Class – SEMIX
 

 

 
 

 
Annual Report
November 30, 2016
 
 
 
 

SEMPER FUNDS
 

Table of Contents
 
Shareholder Letter
   
1
Allocation of Portfolio Assets
   
7
Expense Example
   
9
Investment Highlights
   
11
Schedule of Investments
   
13
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
   
40
Statements of Operations
   
43
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
   
44
Financial Highlights
   
48
Notes to Financial Statements
   
53
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
   
69
Notice to Shareholders
   
70
Information about Trustees and Officers
   
71
Householding
   
75
Privacy Notice
   
76
       


SEMPER FUNDS

January 3, 2017
 
Dear Shareholder,
 
The Semper MBS Total Return Fund (the “MBS Fund” or the “Fund”) completed its third full fiscal year on November 30th, 2016, with assets reaching $550 million, representing 29% growth versus a year earlier.  For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, net performance for the Institutional Class was 2.92% and for the Investor Class was 2.67%.  On December 18th, 2015, Class A was launched, and net performance from inception through the end of the fiscal year was 2.66%, without the maximum 2.00% front-end sales load, and 0.64% with the load.  The performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Capital U.S. Mortgage-Backed Securities (“MBS”) Index (the “Index”), the Fund’s benchmark index, during the fiscal year was 1.64%.
 
The Fund’s primary strategies during the year remained unchanged.  The MBS Fund, under normal market conditions, invests at least 80% of net assets in mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”), and seeks to provide a high level of risk-adjusted current income and capital appreciation.  Throughout the fiscal year, the Fund’s largest allocation was to the non-agency residential MBS (“RMBS”) sector with a November 30th, 2016 allocation of 55%.
 
At the end of July the Fund crossed the three-year mark, and received a 5-star overall Morningstar rating for the Institutional and Investor Classes in the Morningstar Non-Traditional Bond Fund universe.  As of November 30th, the Fund’s Institutional Class was the top ranked fund in this universe based on trailing three-year performance among 218 funds.
 
The primary source of performance and excess return relative to the Index performance during the fiscal year ended November 30th, 2016 was the portfolio’s yield advantage from its allocation to non-agency RMBS, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”), and asset-backed securities (“ABS”).  The portfolio’s gross return from interest income was approximately 4.70% for the year, partially offset by modest net unrealized and realized price declines and Fund expenses.
 
During the first three months of the fiscal year, heightened volatility and weakness in global equity markets and risk assets persisted.  This weakness was largely led by Chinese economic uncertainty, continued declines in oil and other commodity prices, reduced risk appetite by investors including hedge fund redemption-induced selling pressure, incremental bank regulations coming online, and the start of a Fed tightening cycle.  Ten-year Treasury yields, which had risen to 2.20% at the end of November 2015 as anticipation grew for the Fed’s first move to raise the Fed Funds target rate in nearly a decade, rose further to 2.27% on December 31, 2015, and then decreased to 1.65% by mid-February 2016 at the height of the weakness in commodity and equity markets.  The S&P 500® Index declined by over 10% during this ten week period, and all risk assets exhibited some positive correlation including RMBS, leading to an average price decline of the securities in the Fund of approximately -2.5%.
1

SEMPER FUNDS

The limited downside in the RMBS sector was the result of continued improvements in both fundamental and technical factors.  Home prices rose by over 5% nationally on average year-over-year through October according to both Case-Shiller and CoreLogic indices, and home prices are now back to 2006 peak levels. Housing affordability, consumer credit quality, and employment statistics all remain attractive and supportive of the sector’s credit quality.  Supply-demand technicals remain favorable as well, as the outstanding size of the RMBS sector declined by over 10% year-over-year to approximately $550 billion, and we observed growing demand as insurance companies and mutual funds have increasingly turned to this sector.
 
Equity markets and virtually all risk assets rebounded beginning in mid-February 2016, exhibiting strength throughout the remainder of the Fund’s fiscal year, with the brief exception of the days surrounding the unexpected Brexit outcome.  The Fund’s performance during the three months ended February 29, 2016, was -1.49% for the Institutional Class and -1.56% for the Investor Class, versus +1.64% for the Index, which benefited from declining Treasury yields. Performance for the Fund rebounded in the second quarter ended May 31, 2016, with the Institutional Class returning +1.54% versus +0.59% for the Index.  During the second quarter ended May 31, 2016, the performance of the Investor Class and Class A was 1.47% and 1.47% (without the sales load), respectively. Treasury yields declined further during the summer, reaching their lows in early July 2016, the result of uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the Fed’s decisions to delay further normalization of monetary policy.  Performance for the Fund’s Institutional Class during the third quarter ended August 31, 2016 remained steady with a performance of +1.42%, versus +1.14% for the Index.  During the third quarter ended August 31, 2016, the performance of the Investor Class and Class A was 1.36% and 1.37% (without the sales load), respectively. By the end of this period Treasury yields had risen modestly from a low of +1.35% in early July at the time of the Brexit vote to +1.58%.  Treasury yields rose sharply during the final quarter of the Fund’s fiscal year, ending at 2.38% on November 30, 2016, the result of expected fiscal stimulus from the new administration in 2017, and the Fed’s apparent resolve to resume the monetary policy tightening cycle.  The resiliency of the Fund and the RMBS sector was apparent during this three month period ended November 30, 2016, as the Fund once again exhibited steady performance, with the Institutional Class returning 1.46% while the Index declined -1.70%, the result of rising yields.  During the quarter ended November 30, 2016, the Investor Class and Class A returned 1.40% and 1.41% (without the sales load), respectively.
 
We believe that one of the RMBS sector’s key attributes is its low level of interest rate sensitivity, the result of shortening maturities, variable interest rates for approximately half of the universe, and securities trading on price rather than spread because of their discount prices, while their fundamental credit quality continues to improve. This has been borne out as Treasury yields have risen sharply now for several months.  The positive performance of the Fund during this period of rising rates speaks to its low interest rate sensitivity and low correlation to most fixed income sectors.
2

SEMPER FUNDS

The Fund’s effective duration as of November 30, 2016, was 1.74 years, versus 4.34 years for the Index, and the portfolio’s bonds have exhibited even less rate sensitivity than the duration would infer.  The Fund’s lower interest rate sensitivity relative to the market positions the Fund well on an absolute basis and relative to the overall fixed income market given our expectation that yields may rise further in 2017.  The Fund continued to have a yield advantage relative to the Index.  The Fund’s yield to maturity as of November 30th was 5.79%, versus the Index’s yield to maturity of 2.80%.  The Fund’s Institutional Class 30-day SEC yield as of November 30th, 2016 was 4.95% subsidized and 5.07% unsubsidized.  The Fund’s Investor Class 30-day SEC yield as of November 30th, 2016 was 4.69% subsidized and 4.81% unsubsidized.  The Fund’s A Class 30-day SEC yield as of November 30th, 2016 was 4.61% subsidized and 4.72% unsubsidized.
 
At the end of November 2016, the MBS Fund’s portfolio was well diversified with over 400 positions.  55% percent of the Fund’s portfolio was invested in non-agency RMBS, 4% in agency MBS, 22% in non-agency CMBS, 16% in asset-backed securities, and 3% in cash equivalents.
 
We expect to maintain a similar overall Fund structure in 2017, with the largest allocation to non-agencies, modest exposure to agency MBS, some allocation to CMBS, and a continued target duration of under two years.  We expect to continue adding more recently issued real estate-related securitized bond sectors such as the government agencies’ credit risk transfer securitizations, single family rental securitizations, and non-performing loan securitizations.  These sectors offer diversification, and in some cases higher yields, greater liquidity, or lower interest rate sensitivity than legacy securities with appropriate credit risk characteristics.  With continued strength in the housing market and employment growth, combined with the expectation for increased fiscal stimulus, it appears likely that the Fed will continue to target higher interest rates.  We believe the Fund will be well positioned with a high relative yield and low relative level of rate sensitivity, and expect that continued fundamental credit improvement in the real estate sector will further support attractive relative performance for the Fund.
 
We believe the today’s environment, including improving domestic economic conditions and steady or modestly rising rates, positions non-agency RMBS to potentially be a top performing fixed income sector once again in 2017.  Many of the sector’s securities, which offer a combination of optionality to improving economic fundamentals, combined with the positive supply/demand dynamics of this legacy market in which declining supply has met with increasing demand, should continue to generate attractive yield as well as the potential for price appreciation.  We increasingly believe that the Fund’s relatively small size in contrast to many bond funds is particularly well suited to this fragmented and opaque over-the-counter sector. Bonds in this sector continue to offer a combination of attractive yields, low and declining interest rate sensitivity, discount prices relative to par, and optionality to continued real estate market improvement.
3

SEMPER FUNDS

The Semper Short Duration Fund (the “Short Duration Fund” or the “Fund”) ended the fiscal year relatively unchanged in assets, with approximately $43 million.  For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2016, performance for the Institutional Class was 2.04%, and for the Investor Class was 1.77%.  The performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Capital 1-3 Year U.S. Government Index during this same period was 0.74%.  The performance of the Bloomberg Barclays Capital 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index also had performance of 0.74% for the same period.
 
The front end of the yield curve exhibited similar volatility to intermediate rates.  The two-year Treasury began the fiscal year yielding 0.93%, just before the yield crossed 1% in conjunction with the Fed’s tightening move in December 2015, fell to 0.55% in early summer, and rose to 1.11% at November 30th, 2016.  The Fund successfully navigated the global risk-off environment during the fiscal year first quarter ended February 29th, 2016 with the Institutional Class and the Investor Class returning -0.22% and -0.29%, respectively.  During this period prices were slightly negative, with yield offsetting the majority of this temporary weakness in non-U.S. Government bond prices.  Performance was positive over the subsequent 9 months buoyed by strong relative yield, solid credit performance, and low interest rate sensitivity.  The Institutional Class and the Investor Class returned 1.23% and 1.24%, respectively, during the four month period from August 1st through November 30th, 2016 in which the two-year Treasury yield rose by 0.45% and the ten-year Treasury yield rose by 0.95%.  The performance of the Fund both during the first quarter and last four months of the fiscal year highlights the Fund’s low correlation to risk assets during spread widening events and to the overall fixed income market during periods of rising rates.
 
Similar to the MBS Total Return Fund, the Fund is primarily allocated to structured credit including MBS, CMBS, and ABS.  Duration was kept low during the fiscal year, remaining in a range of 0.7 to 1.0 years, and ending the fiscal year at 0.9 years.  At the end of November 2016, the Short Duration Fund was well diversified with over 150 positions.  17% of the Fund’s portfolio was invested in non-agency RMBS, 6% in agency MBS, 18% in CMBS, 17% in Treasury notes, 2% in cash equivalents, and the remainder in ABS, senior loan participations, and senior AAA-rated collateralized loan obligations (“CLO”) securities.  The focus on short duration structured credit resulted in an attractive yield to maturity of 3.34% and a 30-day SEC yield of 2.94% subsidized and 2.49% unsubsidized for the Institutional Class as of November 30th, 2016.  The 30-day SEC yield for the Investor Class as of November 30th, 2016, was 2.69% subsidized and 2.25% unsubsidized.
 
In November 2016 the Fund was reclassified by Morningstar into the Morningstar Ultrashort Bond Fund universe, where the Institutional Class has received a 5-star rating, and is the top ranked fund in the universe based on trailing three-year performance among 119 funds.  The Fund had previously been in the Morningstar Short Duration Bond Fund universe.  This reclassification was recognition of the limited interest rate sensitivity of the Fund.
4

SEMPER FUNDS

We expect that the portfolio’s overall structure in 2017 will remain similar, with a significant allocation to RMBS, CMBS, and ABS and low interest rate sensitivity.  With a strengthening U.S. economy and an expectation that the Fed will continue on a path of gradually raising their target interest rate, we believe that a continuation of our strategy, to invest in securities with credit sensitivity to improving real estate fundamentals but relatively low interest rate sensitivity, can best position the Fund to perform well in 2017 on an absolute and relative basis.
 
Both the MBS Total Return Fund and the Short Duration Fund have significant capacity and appropriate liquidity looking to the new fiscal year.
 
Sincerely,
Semper Capital Management, L.P.
 

 

 
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
 
Opinions expressed are those of Semper, the Semper MBS Total Return Fund’s and the Semper Short Duration Bond Fund’s 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 Funds invest in debt securities: As interest rates rise, the value of debt securities decrease; whereas prepayment risk tends to occur during periods of declining interest rates. This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities. Recent turbulence in the financial markets and reduced liquidity in credit and fixed-income market may have an adverse effect on the Funds. Investments in mortgage-backed and asset- backed securities include additional risks that investors should be aware of such as credit risk, interest rate risk, prepayment risk, real estate market risk, possible illiquidity and default, as well as increased susceptibility to adverse economic developments. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. Accordingly, the Funds may not be suitable for all investors.
 
In addition, the MBS Total Return Fund invests in lower-rated and non-rated securities that present a greater risk of loss to principal and interest than higher-rated securities. The Fund regularly makes short sales of securities, which involves the risk that losses to those securities may exceed the original amount invested by the Fund. The Fund may invest in securities that are less liquid which can be difficult to sell. The Fund may use certain types of investment derivatives such as futures, forwards, and swaps. Derivatives involve risks different from, and in certain cases, greater than the risks presented by more traditional investments. The Fund may use leverage which may exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio securities. The Fund may invest in To Be Announced (“TBA”) securities which involve interest rate and investment exposure risks. The Fund may invest in when-issued securities which may involve less favorable prices for securities, when delivered, and failure to deliver securities could cause a loss to the Fund.
 
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security.  For a complete listing of Fund holdings, please refer to the schedules of investments in this report.
 
Diversification does not assure a profit nor protect against loss in a declining market.
5

SEMPER FUNDS

The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Mortgage Backed Securities Index covers agency mortgage-backed pass-through securities – both fixed-rate and hybrid ARM – issued by Ginnie Mae (GNMA), Fannie Mae (FNMA), and Freddie Mac (FHLMC).  Pool aggregates must have at least $250 million outstanding with a weighted average maturity of at least one year.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year U.S. Government Index covers U.S. Treasury and agency securities issued by the U.S. Government with a maturity from one up to but not including three years.  This unmanaged index contains only dollar-denominated issues with at least $250 million par outstanding.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index covers U.S. Treasury securities issued by the U.S. Government with a maturity from one up to but not including three years.  This unmanaged index contains only dollar-denominated issues with at least $250 million par outstanding.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Index is a market capitalization-weighted index, meaning the securities in the index are weighted according to the market size of each bond type. Most U.S. traded investment grade bonds are represented. Municipal bonds and Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities are excluded, due to tax treatment issues. The index includes Treasury securities, Government agency bonds, mortgage-backed bonds, corporate bonds, and a small amount of foreign bonds traded in U.S.
 
The S&P 500® Index is a market-value weighted index consisting of 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity, and industry group representation.
 
Effective Duration: Calculation for bonds with cash flow variability.  It takes into account that expected cash flows will fluctuate as interest rates change.
 
Yield: Interest income divided by price for a bond or portfolio of bonds.
 
Yield to Maturity:  Anticipated rate of return on a bond or portfolio of bonds if held until the maturity date.
 
30-Day SEC Yield: Standardized yield which is calculated based on a 30-day period ending on the last day of the previous month.  It is computed by dividing the net investment income per share earned during the period by the maximum offering price per share on the last day of the period.
 
Par is the face value or nominal value of a bond.
 
One cannot invest directly in an index.
 
This report must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
 
The Semper Funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
6

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS at November 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
 

 

Percentages represent market value as a percentage of total investments.
7

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS at November 30, 2016 (Unaudited)

 

 
Percentages represent market value as a percentage of total investments.
8

SEMPER FUNDS

EXPENSE EXAMPLE at November 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
As a shareholder of a mutual 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 Funds 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 (6/1/16 – 11/30/16).
 
Actual Expenses
 
The information in the table under the heading “Actual” provides information about actual account values and actual expenses, with actual net expenses being limited to 1.00%, 1.00% and 0.75% per the operating expenses limitation agreement for the Semper MBS Total Return Fund – Class A, Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, respectively, and limited to 0.85% and 0.60% per the operating expenses limitation agreement for the Semper Short Duration Fund – Investor Class and Institutional Class shares, respectively.  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 Funds’ transfer agent.  The Example below includes, but is not limited to, management fees, 12b-1 fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees.  You may use this information, 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 information in the table under the heading “Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)” provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on each Fund’s actual expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is different from the Fund’s actual returns.  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 transaction 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 transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
9

SEMPER FUNDS

EXPENSE EXAMPLE at November 30, 2016 (Unaudited), Continued
MBS Total Return Fund
 
 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses Paid
 
Account Value
Account Value
During Period
 
6/1/16
11/30/16
6/1/16 – 11/30/16(1)
       
Class A
     
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,028.10
$5.07
Hypothetical (5% return
$1,000.00
$1,020.00
$5.05
  before expenses)
     
       
Investor Class
     
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,027.70
$5.07
Hypothetical (5% return
$1,000.00
$1,020.00
$5.05
  before expenses)
     
       
Institutional Class
     
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,029.00
$3.80
Hypothetical (5% return
$1,000.00
$1,021.25
$3.79
  before expenses)
     
 
(1)
Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183 (days in most recent fiscal half-year) / 366 days to reflect the one-half year expense.  The annualized expense ratios of the Semper MBS Total Return Fund – Class A, Investor Class and Institutional Class are 1.00%, 1.00% and 0.75%, respectively.
 
Short Duration Fund
 
 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses Paid
 
Account Value
Account Value
During Period
 
6/1/16
11/30/16
6/1/16 – 11/30/16(1)
       
Investor Class
     
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,013.30
$4.28
Hypothetical (5% return
$1,000.00
$1,020.75
$4.29
  before expenses)
     
       
Institutional Class
     
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,014.60
$3.02
Hypothetical (5% return
$1,000.00
$1,022.00
$3.03
  before expenses)
     
 
(1)
Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183 (days in most recent fiscal half-year) / 366 days to reflect the one-half year expense.  The annualized expense ratios of the Semper Short Duration Fund – Investor Class and Institutional Class are 0.85% and 0.60%, respectively.
 
10

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

Comparison of the change in value of a $1,000,000 investment in the
Semper MBS Total Return Fund – Institutional Class vs
the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. MBS Index
 

 
       
Since
     
Since
Inception
 
One
Three
Inception
Cumulative
Average Annual Total Return
Year
Years
(7/22/13)
(12/18/2015)
Semper MBS Total Return Fund –
       
  Investor Class
2.67%
5.22%
7.17%
Semper MBS Total Return Fund –
       
  Institutional Class
2.92%
5.50%
7.43%
Semper MBS Total Return Fund –
       
  Class A (with sales load)
0.64%
Semper MBS Total Return Fund –
       
  Class A (without sales load)
2.66%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S. MBS Index
1.64%
2.90%
2.89%
0.64%
 
Performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results.  The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted.  The most recent month-end performance may be obtained by calling 1-855-736-7799 (855-SEM-PRXX).
 
Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions.  Fee waivers were in effect prior to November 30, 2014.  In the absence of fee waivers, returns would be reduced.  For the years ended November 30, 2015 and November 30, 2016, the adviser recouped previously waived fees. In the absence of the recoupment, returns would be higher. Class A shares may be subject to a 2.00% front-end sales load.  The performance data and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on dividends, capital gains distributions, or redemption of Fund shares.  This chart does not imply any future performance.  Indices do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. MBS Index covers agency mortgage-backed pass-through securities – both fixed-rate and hybrid adjustable rate mortgages – issued by Ginnie Mae (GNMA), Fannie Mae (FNMA), and Freddie Mac (FHLMC). Pool aggregates must have at least $250 million par outstanding with a weighted average maturity of at least one year.
11

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

Comparison of the change in value of a $1,000,000 investment in
the Semper Short Duration Fund – Institutional Class vs
the Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year Government Index and the
Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index
 
 
       
Since
 
One
Three
Five
Inception
Average Annual Total Return
Year
Years
Years
(12/23/10)
Semper Short Duration Fund – Investor Class
1.77%
1.62%
1.77%
2.14%
Semper Short Duration Fund – Institutional Class
2.04%
1.88%
2.02%
2.41%
Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year Government Index
0.74%
0.64%
0.60%
0.79%
Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index
0.74%
0.63%
0.57%
0.77%
 
Performance data quoted represents past performance and does not guarantee future results.  The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  Current performance of the Fund may be lower or higher than the performance quoted.  The most recent month-end performance may be obtained by calling 1-855-736-7799 (855-SEM-PRXX).
 
Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions.  Fee waivers are in effect.  In the absence of fee waivers, returns would be reduced.  The performance data and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder may pay on dividends, capital gains distributions, or redemption of Fund shares.  This chart does not imply any future performance.  Indices do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year Government Index (the “Index”) includes Treasury and agency securities issued by the U.S. Government with a maturity from one up to (but not including) three years.  The Index contains only dollar denominated, investment grade issues with at least $250 million par outstanding.  Total return includes the reinvestment of income.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays 1-3 Year U.S. Treasury Index covers U.S. Treasury securities issued by the U.S. Government with a maturity from one up to but not including three years.  This unmanaged index contains only dollar-denominated issues with at least $250 million par outstanding. Total return includes the reinvestment of income.
12

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – 9.9%
           
Access Financial Manufactured Housing Contract Trust
           
  Series 1995-1, Class B1, 7.650%, 5/15/21
 
$
326,897
   
$
105,039
 
American Credit Acceptance Receivables Trust
               
  Series 2015-3, Class C, 4.840%, 10/12/21 (d)
   
720,000
     
738,693
 
Cajun Global, LLC
               
  Series 2011-1, Class A2, 5.955%, 2/20/41 (d)
   
769,636
     
770,025
 
Conn’s Receivables Funding LLC
               
  Series 2016-B, Class A, 3.730%, 10/15/18 (d)
   
3,923,249
     
3,933,677
 
DT Auto Owner Trust
               
  Series 2015-3A, Class D, 4.530%, 10/17/22 (d)
   
2,450,000
     
2,503,356
 
FFCA Secured Lending Corp.
               
  Series 1999-2, Class B1, 8.270%, 5/18/26 (d)(f)
   
4,590,000
     
4,635,900
 
FirstKey Lending Trust
               
  Series 2015-SFR1, Class E, 4.797%, 3/9/47 (a)(d)
   
4,722,000
     
4,401,808
 
Green Tree Agency Advance Funding Trust I
               
  Series 2016-T1, Class DT1, 4.058%, 10/15/48 (d)(f)
   
1,670,000
     
1,660,932
 
HOA Funding LLC
               
  Series 2015-1A, Class A2, 5.500%, 8/20/44 (d)(f)
   
4,410,000
     
4,035,839
 
  Series 2015-1A, Class B, 9.000%, 8/20/44 (d)(f)
   
2,000,000
     
1,816,328
 
Invitation Homes Trust
               
  Series 2014-SFR3, Class E, 5.039%, 12/17/31 (a)(d)
   
5,220,000
     
5,243,065
 
Kabbage Funding Resecuritization Trust
               
  Series 2014-1RT, Class A22, 3.287%, 3/8/18 (a)(d)
   
3,740,000
     
3,729,588
 
  Series 2014-1RT, Class B2A, 10.537%, 3/8/18 (a)(d)(f)
   
1,854,500
     
1,842,330
 
Mid-State Trust VI
               
  Series 6, Class A3, 7.540%, 7/1/35
   
19,832
     
20,945
 
Nations Equipment Finance Funding II LLC
               
  Series 2014-1A, Class C, 5.227%, 9/20/19 (d)
   
4,098,795
     
4,051,367
 
Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc.
               
  Series 2002-A, Class A1, 0.255%, 9/15/17 (a)
   
199,770
     
182,399
 
Ocwen Master Advance Receivables Trust
               
  Series 2016-T1, Class DT1, 4.246%, 8/17/48 (d)(f)
   
1,500,000
     
1,483,915
 
  Series 2016-T2, Class DT2, 4.446%, 8/16/49 (d)(f)
   
1,000,000
     
983,429
 
Skopos Auto Receivables Trust
               
  Series 2015-2A, Class B, 5.710%, 2/15/21 (d)
   
3,700,000
     
3,781,789
 
  Series 2015-1A, Class A, 3.100%, 12/15/23 (d)
   
1,301,669
     
1,300,099
 
Tricon American Homes Trust
               
  Series 2016-SFR1, Class E, 4.878%, 11/17/33 (d)
   
7,793,000
     
7,692,922
 
Total Asset-Backed Securities (cost $55,258,620)
           
54,913,445
 
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
13

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS – 5.6%
           
ALESCO Preferred Funding III Ltd.
           
  Series 2004-3, Class B1, 2.530%, 5/1/34 (a)(d)
 
$
2,152,941
   
$
807,353
 
  Series 2004-3, Class B2, 2.530%, 5/1/34 (a)(d)
   
2,745,000
     
1,015,650
 
Arbor Realty Collateralized Loan Obligation
               
  Series 2014-1A, Class C, 5.488%, 5/15/24 (a)(d)(f)
   
2,500,000
     
2,503,125
 
ARCap Resecuritization Trust
               
  Series 2005-1, Class A, 5.450%, 12/21/42 (d)
   
1,223,594
     
1,158,681
 
Centerline REIT, Inc.
               
  Series 2004-RR3, Class B, 5.040%, 9/21/45 (d)
   
500,000
     
459,733
 
ICONS Ltd.
               
  Series 2004-1A, Class CPT2, 1.725%, 9/10/34 (a)(d)(f)
   
2,678,255
     
2,326,734
 
INCAPS Funding I Ltd.
               
  2.931%, 6/1/33 (a)(d)(f)
   
5,428,657
     
4,342,926
 
  2.931%, 6/1/33 (a)(d)(f)
   
831,759
     
665,407
 
MM Community Funding III
               
  Series 2002, 3.308%, 5/1/32 (a)(d)(f)
   
4,931,218
     
4,142,224
 
MMcapS Funding XVII Ltd.
               
  Series 2005-17A, Class A1, 1.192%, 12/1/35 (a)(d)(f)
   
490,621
     
412,121
 
Resource Capital Corp. Ltd.
               
  Series 2015-CRE3, Class D, 4.555%, 3/15/32 (a)(d)
   
4,090,000
     
3,973,668
 
RFT Issuer Ltd.
               
  Series 2015-FL1, Class B, 4.418%, 8/15/30 (a)(d)
   
2,000,000
     
1,998,674
 
Trapeza LLC
               
  Series 2002-1A, Class B1, 2.040%, 11/30/32 (a)(d)(f)
   
1,943,316
     
1,744,126
 
  Series 2002-1A, Class B2, 2.490%, 11/30/32 (a)(d)(f)
   
848,610
     
763,748
 
  Series 2003-3A, Class A1B, 1.853%, 1/20/34 (a)(d)
   
1,062,937
     
951,329
 
  Series 2004-7A, Class A1, 1.292%, 1/25/35 (a)(d)(f)
   
3,207,331
     
2,613,975
 
  Series 2007-12A, Class A1, 1.154%, 4/6/42 (a)(d)(f)
   
1,550,182
     
1,170,387
 
Total Collateralized Debt Obligations (cost $32,670,642)
           
31,049,861
 
                 
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
               
  SECURITIES – AGENCY – 0.1%
               
Fannie Mae-Aces
               
  Series 2010-M6, Class SA, 5.806%, 9/25/20 (a)(h)
   
2,103,641
     
308,804
 
GNMA REMIC Trust
               
  Series 2012-25, Class IO, 0.744%, 8/16/52 (a)(h)
   
3,969,998
     
151,807
 
  Series 2013-173, Class AC, 2.763%, 10/16/53 (a)
   
76,607
     
78,224
 
Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed
               
  Securities – Agency (cost $606,909)
           
538,835
 
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

14

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
           
  SECURITIES – NON-AGENCY – 21.6%
           
ACRE Commercial Mortgage Trust
           
  Series 2014-FL2, Class D, 3.955%, 8/15/31 (a)(d)
 
$
1,758,063
   
$
1,759,632
 
Banc of America Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2006-3, Class AM, 5.870%, 7/10/44 (a)(f)
   
2,495,000
     
2,145,700
 
Bayview Commercial Asset Trust
               
  Series 2005-1, Class M2, 1.042%, 4/25/35 (a)(d)
   
421,389
     
377,537
 
  Series 2005-1A, Class B3, 5.092%, 4/25/35 (a)(d)
   
1,118,937
     
1,118,822
 
  Series 2005-3A, Class M1, 1.032%, 11/25/35 (a)(d)
   
40,489
     
34,877
 
  Series 2005-3A, Class M2, 1.082%, 11/25/35 (a)(d)
   
1,619,541
     
1,323,478
 
  Series 2005-4A, Class A1, 0.892%, 1/25/36 (a)(d)
   
2,272,678
     
1,964,930
 
  Series 2006-1A, Class M2, 0.992%, 4/25/36 (a)(d)
   
482,531
     
402,360
 
  Series 2006-SP1, Class M4, 1.234%, 4/25/36 (a)(d)
   
4,340,000
     
3,638,072
 
  Series 2006-2A, Class M1, 0.902%, 7/25/36 (a)(d)
   
579,606
     
492,300
 
  Series 2006-2A, Class M4, 1.012%, 7/25/36 (a)(d)
   
1,029,963
     
842,639
 
  Series 2006-2A, Class B1, 1.462%, 7/25/36 (a)(d)
   
398,715
     
314,212
 
  Series 2007-3, Class A2, 0.874%, 7/25/37 (a)(d)
   
1,945,637
     
1,601,547
 
  Series 2007-3, Class M2, 0.924%, 7/25/37 (a)(d)
   
1,638,077
     
1,226,739
 
Bayview Financial Revolving Asset Trust
               
  Series 2005-E, Class A2A, 1.532%, 12/28/40 (a)(d)
   
2,762,127
     
2,252,402
 
  Series 2005-E, Class A1, 1.602%, 12/28/40 (a)(d)
   
3,539,868
     
2,897,126
 
Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
               
  Series 2000-WF2, Class J, 6.625%, 10/15/32 (d)
   
1,077,875
     
1,022,790
 
  Series 2006-PW11, Class D, 5.436%, 3/11/39 (a)(d)(f)
   
1,800,000
     
144,000
 
  Series 2005-PW10, Class C, 5.606%, 12/11/40 (a)
   
7,293,385
     
6,600,514
 
Business Loan Express
               
  Series 2002-1A, Class A, 1.142%, 7/25/28 (a)(d)
   
354,103
     
338,156
 
  Series 2003-1A, Class A, 1.525%, 4/25/29 (a)(d)(f)
   
641,915
     
520,593
 
  Series 2005-1A, Class M, 1.392%, 6/27/33 (a)(d)
   
409,951
     
305,151
 
CBA Commercial Small Balance Commercial Mortgage
               
  Series 2006-2A, Class A, 5.540%, 1/25/39 (d)(g)
   
3,640,971
     
2,709,085
 
CDGJ Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2014-BXCH, Class DPB, 4.385%, 12/15/27 (a)(d)
   
2,937,964
     
2,939,913
 
CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2015-RUM, Class D, 4.338%, 7/15/30 (a)(d)
   
2,570,000
     
2,535,311
 
Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2015-SSHP, Class D, 3.588%, 9/15/27 (a)(d)
   
1,000,000
     
985,013
 
CNL Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2001-1A, Class A, 1.202%, 10/20/27 (a)(d)
   
478,188
     
454,714
 
  Series 2001-1A, Class B, 3.062%, 10/20/27 (a)(d)
   
123,025
     
112,372
 
  Series 2003-1A, Class A1, 1.038%, 5/15/31 (a)(d)
   
827,954
     
744,372
 

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

15

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Colony Starwood Homes Trust
           
  Series 2016-2A, Class E, 3.885%, 12/17/33 (a)(d)
 
$
3,360,000
   
$
3,372,492
 
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2003-C3, Class J, 4.231%, 5/15/38 (a)(d)
   
3,464,173
     
3,322,122
 
Credit Suisse Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2016-MFF, Class D, 4.600%, 11/15/33 (d)(f)
   
5,000,000
     
5,012,500
 
  Series 2008-C1, Class AJ, 6.062%, 2/15/41 (a)(d)
   
5,380,000
     
4,922,624
 
FFCA Secured Lending Corp.
               
  Series 1999-2, Class WA1C, 7.850%, 5/18/26 (d)
   
7,489,336
     
7,565,802
 
FREMF Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2014-KF05, Class B, 4.534%, 9/25/22 (a)(d)
   
3,147,203
     
3,097,320
 
  Series 2015-KF08, Class B, 5.384%, 2/25/22 (a)(d)
   
2,645,195
     
2,585,292
 
  Series 2015-KF12, Class B, 7.634%, 9/25/22 (a)
   
1,414,734
     
1,414,840
 
  Series 2015-K720, Class C, 3.389%, 7/25/22 (a)(d)
   
4,000,000
     
3,397,940
 
  Series 2015-K720, Class B, 3.389%, 7/25/22 (a)(d)
   
916,000
     
897,832
 
  Series 2015-K48, Class C, 3.636%, 8/25/48 (a)(d)
   
2,100,000
     
1,715,522
 
GCCFC Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2005-GG3, Class F, 5.287%, 8/10/42 (a)(d)
   
3,000,000
     
2,802,244
 
GE Commercial Mortgage Corp.
               
  Series 2006-C1, Class AJ, 5.309%, 3/10/44 (a)
   
8,131,326
     
8,187,941
 
GS Mortgage Securities Trust
               
  Series 2006-GG6, Class E, 5.647%, 4/10/38 (a)
   
1,311,038
     
1,306,571
 
GSCCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2015-HULA, Class D, 4.288%, 8/15/32 (a)(d)
   
1,000,000
     
1,008,199
 
JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
               
  Series 2001-CIBC, Class G, 5.775%, 3/15/33 (d)
   
440,603
     
345,347
 
  Series 2016-WPT, Class E, 5.533%, 10/15/33 (a)(d)
   
4,420,000
     
4,438,350
 
  Series 2013-C13, Class D, 4.053%, 1/15/46 (a)(d)
   
6,390,000
     
5,840,045
 
  Series 2007-LDP12, Class AJ, 6.039%, 2/15/51 (a)
   
1,400,000
     
1,343,960
 
  Series 2007-LDP12, Class B, 6.039%, 2/15/51 (a)
   
805,000
     
737,386
 
Lehman Brothers Small Balance Commercial
               
  Series 2005-1A, Class B, 1.542%, 2/25/30 (a)(d)
   
761,392
     
603,768
 
  Series 2006-2A, Class M1, 0.882%, 9/25/36 (a)(d)
   
4,579,000
     
4,062,974
 
  Series 2006-2A, Class B, 1.492%, 9/25/36 (a)(d)
   
1,500,000
     
611,886
 
  Series 2006-3A, Class M1, 0.882%, 12/25/36 (a)(d)(f)
   
5,715,000
     
3,630,926
 
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2006-C2, Class AJ, 5.802%, 8/12/43 (a)
   
207,399
     
211,416
 
ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2006-2, Class B, 5.643%, 6/12/46 (a)(d)
   
58,139
     
58,015
 

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

16

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Wachovia Bank Commercial Mortgage Trust
           
  Series 2006-C27, Class B, 5.865%, 7/15/45 (a)
 
$
1,119,000
   
$
997,387
 
  Series 2006-C28, Class B, 5.672%, 10/15/48 (a)
   
4,265,000
     
4,214,947
 
Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed
               
  Securities – Non-Agency (cost $121,525,167)
           
119,510,005
 
                 
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
               
  SECURITIES – AGENCY – 0.4%
               
FHLMC Structured Pass Through Securities
               
  Series T-048, Class 1A4, 5.538%, 7/25/33
   
8,417
     
9,234
 
  Series T-067, Class 1A1C, 3.086%, 3/25/36 (a)
   
110,811
     
115,403
 
FNMA Pool
               
  Series #646948, 7.500%, 6/1/32
   
16,602
     
18,849
 
  Series #765657, 2.625%, 1/1/34 (a)
   
27,487
     
29,350
 
  Series #745029, 2.944%, 4/1/35 (a)
   
39,041
     
41,295
 
  Series #871313, 5.500%, 5/1/36
   
12,134
     
12,859
 
  Series #256370, 5.500%, 6/1/36
   
40,994
     
44,695
 
  Series #909469, 2.620%, 2/1/37 (a)
   
56,898
     
60,213
 
  Series #888534, 5.000%, 8/1/37
   
49,857
     
53,034
 
  Series #995851, 6.500%, 10/1/37
   
46,201
     
51,472
 
  Series #257138, 5.000%, 3/1/38
   
39,342
     
41,498
 
FNMA REMIC Trust
               
  Series 2001-W4, Class AV1, 0.864%, 2/25/32 (a)
   
61,352
     
59,811
 
  Series 2002-W11, Class 2A9, 5.478%, 11/25/32 (g)
   
225,407
     
239,768
 
  Series 2003-T2, Class A1, 0.864%, 3/25/33 (a)
   
60,892
     
59,556
 
  Series 2007-30, Class ZM, 4.250%, 4/25/37
   
46,716
     
50,148
 
  Series 2007-W8, Class 1A5, 6.270%, 9/25/37 (a)
   
27,872
     
29,742
 
  Series 2013-53, Class CB, 2.000%, 10/25/40
   
166,834
     
167,179
 
  Series 2001-50, Class BA, 7.000%, 10/25/41
   
27,657
     
31,639
 
  Series 2003-W2, Class 2A9, 5.900%, 7/25/42
   
57,115
     
63,845
 
  Series 2003-W4, Class 2A, 6.221%, 10/25/42 (a)
   
17,563
     
19,701
 
  Series 2004-T3, Class 2A, 3.475%, 8/25/43 (a)
   
99,904
     
104,535
 
  Series 2004-W9, Class 1A3, 6.050%, 2/25/44
   
32,093
     
37,296
 
Freddie Mac REMIC
               
  Series 2455, Class DK, 6.500%, 5/15/32
   
16,296
     
18,572
 
GNMA I Pool
               
  Series #749337, 2.700%, 1/15/41
   
95,156
     
94,147
 
GNMA II Pool
               
  Series #745378, 5.000%, 6/20/40
   
69,383
     
74,910
 
  Series #710061, 4.650%, 12/20/60
   
55,861
     
57,380
 
  Series #751746, 4.861%, 6/20/61
   
65,827
     
68,080
 
  Series #751409, 4.621%, 7/20/61
   
65,765
     
68,388
 

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

17

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
GNMA II Pool (Continued)
           
  Series #899223, 2.905%, 9/20/63 (a)
 
$
65,120
   
$
69,625
 
  Series #898728, 3.077%, 9/20/63 (a)
   
53,243
     
58,101
 
  Series #AG8025, 2.886%, 10/20/63 (a)
   
151,656
     
162,996
 
Total Residential Mortgage-Backed
               
  Securities – Agency (cost $1,990,571)
           
2,013,321
 
                 
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
               
  SECURITIES – NON-AGENCY – 54.3%
               
ABN AMRO Mortgage Corp.
               
  Series 2003-13, Class A3, 5.500%, 1/25/34
   
61,236
     
62,127
 
ABSC Long Beach Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2000-LB1, Class AF5, 8.550%, 9/21/30 (a)
   
582,183
     
594,030
 
ACE Security Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-NC1, Class M1, 1.754%, 7/25/33 (a)
   
287,154
     
276,069
 
Aegis Asset Backed Securities Trust
               
  Series 2006-1, Class A2, 0.762%, 1/25/37 (a)
   
2,860,242
     
2,040,930
 
AFC Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 1997-3, Class 1A4, 7.470%, 9/27/27 (g)
   
332,214
     
330,912
 
  Series 1998-4, Class 2A2, 1.522%, 11/24/28 (a)
   
462,650
     
425,674
 
  Series 2000-1, Class 1A, 1.314%, 3/25/30 (a)
   
63,250
     
59,240
 
  Series 2000-2, Class 2A, 1.284%, 6/25/30 (a)
   
727,154
     
605,235
 
American Home Mortgage Investment Trust
               
  Series 2007-A, Class 13A1, 6.600%, 1/25/37 (d)(g)
   
288,450
     
159,418
 
  Series 2004-1, Class 3A, 2.978%, 4/25/44 (a)
   
156,388
     
152,802
 
Amresco Residential Securities Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 1999-1, Class M1, 1.834%, 11/25/29 (a)
   
1,798,779
     
1,660,750
 
Asset Backed Funding Certificates
               
  Series 2002-WF2, Class M2, 2.684%, 2/25/32 (a)
   
73,074
     
73,801
 
  Series 2004-AHL1, Class M1, 1.364%, 9/25/33 (a)
   
5,366,344
     
4,811,136
 
Asset Backed Securities Corp. Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 1999-LB1, Class A1F, 7.110%, 6/21/29
   
2,164,182
     
2,280,623
 
  Series 2005-HE2, Class M4, 1.814%, 2/25/35 (a)
   
498,424
     
285,758
 
Banc of America Alternative Loan Trust
               
  Series 2004-2, Class 1A1, 6.000%, 3/25/34
   
6,741,488
     
7,015,133
 
  Series 2006-4, Class 1A3, 6.000%, 5/25/46
   
2,841,989
     
2,062,915
 
Banc of America Funding Corp.
               
  Series 2009-R15, Class 5A3, 5.500%, 6/26/21 (d)
   
1,081,677
     
1,097,747
 
  Series 2004-B, Class 1A1, 2.981%, 12/20/34 (a)
   
86,323
     
80,368
 
  Series 2004-C, Class 1B2, 3.194%, 12/20/34 (a)
   
33,927
     
33,426
 
  Series 2004-B, Class 3A2, 3.506%, 12/20/34 (a)
   
1,122,002
     
574,753
 
  Series 2005-F, Class 1X, 1.916%, 9/20/35 (a)(h)
   
1,797,025
     
136,582
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

18

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Banc of America Funding Corp. (Continued)
           
  Series 2008-R4, Class 1A4, 1.034%, 7/25/37 (a)(d)
 
$
3,263,830
   
$
2,085,673
 
  Series 2010-R6, Class 3A4, 6.250%, 9/26/37 (d)
   
961,000
     
956,270
 
  Series 2010-R6, Class 3A2, 6.250%, 9/26/37 (d)
   
822,675
     
828,519
 
  Series 2010-R6, Class 3A3, 6.250%, 9/26/37 (d)
   
970,000
     
982,138
 
  Series 2007-5, Class 7A2, 42.353%, 7/25/47 (a)
   
194,539
     
388,764
 
Banc of America Mortgage Securities
               
  Series 2004-7, Class 4A1, 5.000%, 8/25/19
   
12,751
     
12,805
 
  Series 2007-4, Class 2A3, 4.971%, 12/26/22 (a)
   
106,318
     
105,043
 
  Series 2004-A, Class 3A1, 3.070%, 2/25/34 (a)
   
36,959
     
35,558
 
  Series 2004-B, Class 2A1, 3.047%, 3/25/34 (a)
   
13,772
     
13,703
 
  Series 2004-2, Class 1A8, 5.500%, 3/25/34
   
173,604
     
177,192
 
  Series 2004-I, Class 3A2, 3.264%, 10/25/34 (a)
   
4,159
     
4,132
 
  Series 2005-9, Class 1A1, 5.500%, 10/25/35
   
949,676
     
935,169
 
Bayview Financial Acquisition Trust
               
  Series 2006-D, Class 1A5, 5.668%, 12/28/36 (g)
   
1,095,539
     
1,113,956
 
  Series 2005-A, Class A1, 1.603%, 2/28/40 (a)(d)
   
3,656,976
     
3,017,791
 
  Series 2005-C, Class M4, 1.792%, 6/28/44 (a)
   
3,037,000
     
2,498,894
 
Bayview Financial Asset Trust
               
  Series 2007-SR1A, Class A, 1.042%, 3/25/37 (a)(d)
   
931,994
     
779,137
 
  Series 2007-SR1A, Class M1, 1.392%, 3/25/37 (a)(d)
   
586,514
     
527,810
 
  Series 2007-SR1A, Class M2, 1.492%, 3/25/37 (a)(d)
   
318,699
     
285,765
 
Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2004-5, Class 2A, 3.515%, 7/25/34 (a)
   
25,029
     
24,944
 
  Series 2004-6, Class 2A2, 3.321%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
292,943
     
252,828
 
  Series 2004-9, Class 12A2, 3.398%, 11/25/34 (a)
   
50,636
     
48,094
 
  Series 2004-8, Class 12A1, 3.679%, 11/25/34 (a)
   
28,816
     
27,050
 
  Series 2005-12, Class 24A1, 3.000%, 2/25/36 (a)
   
147,560
     
136,848
 
Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust
               
  Series 2004-11, Class 2A6A, 3.162%, 11/25/34 (a)
   
552,572
     
536,289
 
  Series 2004-12, Class 2A6, 3.266%, 1/25/35 (a)
   
356,983
     
329,207
 
  Series 2004-12, Class 2A4, 3.245%, 1/25/35 (a)
   
651,131
     
584,281
 
Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust
               
  Series 2005-CL1, Class A1, 1.092%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
2,081,184
     
2,019,175
 
  Series 2005-SD4, Class 1X, 0.526%, 9/25/35 (a)(h)
   
10,639,667
     
279,541
 
Bear Stearns Mortgage Securities, Inc.
               
  Series 1997-6, Class 1A, 6.291%, 3/25/31 (a)
   
345,652
     
347,862
 
Chase Funding Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates
               
  Series 2002-2, Class 1A5, 6.333%, 4/25/32 (g)
   
139,436
     
141,793
 
  Series 2003-1, Class 1A5, 5.914%, 10/25/32 (g)
   
112,196
     
113,922
 
  Series 2004-1, Class 2A2, 1.044%, 12/25/33 (a)
   
18,134
     
17,162
 
Chase Mortgage Finance Corp.
               
  Series 2007-A3, Class 1A7, 3.109%, 12/25/37 (a)
   
497,287
     
434,908
 

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

19

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
ChaseFlex Trust
           
  Series 2005-1, Class 2A4, 5.500%, 2/25/35
 
$
488,658
   
$
436,906
 
Chevy Chase Mortgage Funding Corp.
               
  Series 2005-1, Class A2, 0.792%, 1/25/36 (a)(d)
   
444,297
     
416,336
 
  Series 2005-C, Class A2, 0.872%, 10/25/46 (a)(d)
   
608,537
     
481,471
 
CIT Group Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2002-1, Class AF5, 7.210%, 2/25/33 (g)
   
505,457
     
506,114
 
Citicorp Mortgage Securities Trust
               
  Series 2006-3, Class 3A1, 5.500%, 6/25/36
   
221,489
     
222,426
 
  Series 2006-3, Class 1A18, 6.000%, 6/25/36
   
309,719
     
308,202
 
  Series 2007-6, Class 3A1, 5.500%, 7/25/37
   
133,889
     
130,631
 
  Series 2007-8, Class 1A4, 6.000%, 9/25/37
   
654,115
     
650,936
 
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2009-8, Class 6A2, 5.750%, 4/25/23 (a)(d)
   
1,243,607
     
1,235,994
 
  Series 2004-HYB1, Class A41, 2.772%, 2/25/34 (a)
   
88,196
     
87,219
 
  Series 2004-NCM1, Class 2A2, 6.000%, 7/25/34
   
384,663
     
407,456
 
  Series 2004-NCM2, Class 1CB1, 5.500%, 8/25/34
   
5,616,047
     
5,866,469
 
  Series 2009-11, Class 6A2, 1.884%, 10/25/35 (a)(d)
   
2,394,388
     
1,856,146
 
  Series 2009-6, Class 16A2, 6.000%, 3/25/36 (a)(d)
   
2,382,058
     
1,989,070
 
  Series 2006-AR5, Class 3.325%, 7/25/36 (a)
   
255,415
     
202,325
 
  Series 2007-OPX1, Class A4B, 6.333%, 1/25/37 (g)
   
213,794
     
150,979
 
  Series 2007-10, Class 2A3A, 3.532%, 9/25/37 (a)
   
559,828
     
462,085
 
  Series 2007-FS1, Class 2A1A, 1.584%, 10/25/37 (a)(d)
   
5,188,152
     
3,761,412
 
CitiMortgage Alternative Loan Trust
               
  Series 2006-A5, Class 3A1, 6.000%, 10/25/36
   
168,825
     
140,431
 
Conseco Finance Home Loan Trust
               
  Series 2000-E, Class B1, 10.260%, 8/15/31 (a)
   
360,320
     
389,603
 
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-9T1, Class A7, 5.500%, 7/25/33
   
323,355
     
320,946
 
  Series 2003-J2, Class A1, 6.000%, 10/25/33
   
128,657
     
133,260
 
  Series 2003-J3, Class 2A1, 6.250%, 12/25/33
   
16,924
     
17,372
 
  Series 2004-J2, Class 4A1, 6.000%, 4/25/34
   
1,368,418
     
1,385,298
 
  Series 2004-15, Class 2A2, 3.206%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
910,025
     
742,045
 
  Series 2004-J8, Class 1A1, 7.000%, 9/25/34
   
293,660
     
309,954
 
  Series 2004-J10, Class 1A1, 0.984%, 10/25/34 (a)
   
215,410
     
195,914
 
  Series 2006-HY10, Class 1A1, 2.498%, 5/25/36 (a)
   
6,302,677
     
4,337,174
 
  Series 2008-2R, Class 3A1, 6.000%, 8/25/37
   
114,157
     
93,015
 
  Series 2008-2R, Class 2A1, 6.000%, 8/25/37
   
144,197
     
102,224
 
Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates
               
  Series 2004-S1, Class M1, 5.252%, 2/25/35 (g)
   
27,777
     
27,674
 
Countrywide Home Loans
               
  Series 2003-15, Class 2A1, 5.000%, 6/25/18
   
326,690
     
313,020
 
  Series 2003-J8, Class 2A1, 5.000%, 9/25/18
   
13,150
     
13,250
 

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

20

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Countrywide Home Loans (Continued)
           
  Series 2002-19, Class 1A1, 6.250%, 11/25/32
 
$
78,518
   
$
81,533
 
  Series 2003-37, Class 2A1, 3.168%, 9/25/33 (a)
   
459,955
     
443,210
 
  Series 2003-56, Class 9A1, 2.513%, 12/25/33 (a)
   
98,856
     
89,856
 
  Series 2004-10, Class A4, 5.250%, 7/25/34
   
176,000
     
179,042
 
  Series 2004-12, Class 12A1, 3.095%, 8/25/34 (a)
   
76,094
     
71,403
 
  Series 2004-15, Class 3A, 2.872%, 10/20/34 (a)
   
788,715
     
669,673
 
  Series 2005-R1, Class 2A1, 6.000%, 3/25/35 (d)
   
1,192,179
     
1,030,326
 
  Series 2005-11, Class 1A2, 3.313%, 4/25/35 (a)
   
631,412
     
531,732
 
  Series 2005-30, Class A2, 17.231%, 1/25/36 (a)
   
54,941
     
64,814
 
  Series 2006-J1, Class 2A1, 5.500%, 2/25/36
   
1,733,290
     
1,700,708
 
  Series 2007-HYB1, Class 3A1, 2.972%, 3/25/37 (a)
   
191,029
     
152,999
 
  Series 2007-J3, Class A4, 6.000%, 7/25/37
   
996,298
     
839,521
 
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2003-23, Class 2A8, 4.500%, 10/25/18
   
19,209
     
19,234
 
  Series 1997-2, Class A, 7.500%, 6/25/20 (d)
   
24,949
     
25,457
 
  Series 2002-10, Class 1M2, 7.000%, 5/25/32 (a)
   
563,228
     
550,457
 
  Series 2003-AR9, Class CB1, 2.858%, 3/25/33 (a)
   
152,125
     
129,503
 
  Series 2003-AR18, Class 4M3, 3.484%, 7/25/33 (a)
   
1,219,405
     
1,053,891
 
  Series 2003-23, Class 5A1, 6.000%, 9/25/33
   
34,586
     
35,890
 
  Series 2003-AR26, Class 4A1, 3.127%, 11/25/33 (a)
   
16,782
     
16,466
 
  Series 2004-AR1, Class 6M2, 2.684%, 2/25/34 (a)
   
891,131
     
757,304
 
Credit Suisse Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2007-5R, Class A5, 6.500%, 7/26/36
   
259,515
     
146,924
 
  Series 2006-CF3, Class M2, 1.084%, 10/25/36 (d)
   
3,788,000
     
3,069,588
 
  Series 2006-9, Class 2A1, 5.500%, 11/25/36
   
888,218
     
818,817
 
  Series 2006-9, Class 4A1, 6.000%, 11/25/36
   
1,088,948
     
887,145
 
  Series 2006-9, Class 4A13, 6.500%, 11/25/36
   
2,710,883
     
2,571,746
 
  Series 2011-6R, Class 4A2, 3.067%, 4/28/37 (a)(d)
   
719,100
     
540,280
 
CSAB Mortgage Backed Trust
               
  Series 2006-2, Class A5A, 6.080%, 9/25/36 (g)
   
3,023,701
     
2,015,345
 
CSMC Mortgage-Backed Trust
               
  Series 2006-3, Class 1A4A, 5.896%, 4/25/36 (g)
   
2,536,234
     
1,825,002
 
Deutsche Alt-A Securities, Inc.
               
  Series 2003-3, Class 4A1, 5.000%, 10/25/18
   
38,587
     
39,041
 
  Series 2007-AR3, Class 1A2, 0.802%, 6/25/37 (a)
   
1,673,099
     
1,326,822
 
EquiFirst Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2005-1, Class M3, 1.304%, 4/25/35 (a)
   
20,381
     
18,309
 
Equity One ABS, Inc.
               
  Series 2001-3, Class AV1, 1.232%, 5/25/32 (a)
   
1,258,602
     
1,027,586
 
  Series 2002-3, Class M1, 6.039%, 11/25/32 (a)
   
84,956
     
85,023
 
  Series 2004-3, Class AV2, 0.932%, 7/25/34 (a)
   
88,467
     
73,803
 
  Series 2004-3, Class M2, 4.814%, 7/25/34 (g)
   
1,748,851
     
1,650,419
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

21

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust
           
  Series 2003-FF5, Class M3, 3.059%, 3/25/34 (a)
 
$
922,884
   
$
747,951
 
First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities
               
  Series 2005-AA3, Class 2A1, 2.598%, 5/25/35 (a)
   
1,700,511
     
1,308,220
 
  Series 2006-AA4, Class 1A1, 3.125%, 7/25/36 (a)
   
493,402
     
383,845
 
First Horizon Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
               
  Series 2004-AR2, Class 1A1, 2.963%, 5/25/34 (a)
   
41,322
     
40,924
 
  Series 2006-AR2, Class 1A1, 1.750%, 7/25/36 (a)
   
69,050
     
54,685
 
  Series 2006-2, Class 1A7, 6.000%, 8/25/36
   
113,303
     
105,013
 
  Series 2006-4, Class 1A11, 6.000%, 2/25/37
   
279,866
     
245,230
 
GMACM Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-HE2, Class A4, 5.120%, 4/25/33 (g)
   
594,999
     
599,373
 
GMACM Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-GH2, Class A4, 5.500%, 10/25/33 (g)
   
299,421
     
298,311
 
GS Mortgage Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2008-2R, Class 2A1, 7.500%, 10/25/36 (a)(d)
   
1,112,255
     
915,072
 
GSAA Home Equity Trust
               
  Series 2007-3, Class 2A1B, 0.692%, 3/25/47 (a)
   
5,082,624
     
880,166
 
GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 1998-2, Class A, 7.750%, 5/19/27 (a)(d)
   
139,393
     
144,808
 
  Series 2006-RP1, Class 1A4, 8.500%, 1/25/36 (d)
   
584,142
     
648,392
 
GSR Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2006-2F, Class 5A1, 4.500%, 1/25/21
   
74,436
     
71,668
 
  Series 2004-4, Class 2A4, 0.892%, 4/25/32 (a)
   
1,311,125
     
1,107,051
 
  Series 2003-7F, Class 5A5, 23.632%, 10/25/32 (a)
   
33,754
     
45,961
 
  Series 2004-11, Class 1A1, 3.293%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
346,791
     
333,902
 
  Series 2004-8F, Class 2A3, 6.000%, 9/25/34
   
17,193
     
17,638
 
  Series 2004-10F, Class 8A3, 6.000%, 9/25/34
   
58,107
     
58,060
 
  Series 2004-15F, Class 2A1, 6.000%, 12/25/34
   
4,965,669
     
5,049,295
 
  Series 2005-AR2, Class 1A3, 3.135%, 4/25/35 (a)
   
500,827
     
381,435
 
  Series 2006-3F, Class 1A2, 5.500%, 3/25/36
   
89,333
     
79,633
 
Harborview Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2006-4, Class 3A1A, 0.782%, 5/19/46 (a)
   
4,643,819
     
1,732,519
 
HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2006-2, Class 1A, 3.229%, 2/25/36 (a)
   
572,811
     
470,706
 
  Series 2006-3, Class 1A, 3.393%, 6/19/36 (a)
   
331,678
     
206,732
 
HomeBanc Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2005-4, Class M2, 1.074%, 10/25/35 (a)
   
1,315,000
     
977,265
 
HSI Asset Loan Obligation Trust
               
  Series 2007-1, Class 2A12, 6.500%, 6/25/37
   
671,338
     
448,342
 
IMC Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 1998-3, Class A7, 6.720%, 8/20/29 (g)
   
1,340,306
     
1,368,257
 

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

22

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Impac CMB Trust
           
  Series 2002-9F, Class A1, 5.216%, 12/25/32 (g)
 
$
491,566
   
$
494,859
 
  Series 2003-11, Class 2A1, 1.424%, 10/25/33 (a)
   
61,806
     
57,889
 
  Series 2004-8, Class 3A, 1.404%, 8/25/34 (a)
   
134,038
     
125,187
 
  Series 2004-4, Class 1A3, 1.424%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
8,429
     
8,095
 
  Series 2004-6, Class M3, 1.634%, 10/25/34 (a)
   
475,256
     
419,419
 
  Series 2004-5, Class 1M4, 2.234%, 10/25/34 (a)
   
565,511
     
503,982
 
  Series 2005-4, Class 2B1, 3.059%, 5/25/35 (a)
   
513,552
     
506,053
 
IndyMac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2004-AR10, Class 2A1, 1.392%, 5/25/34 (a)
   
62,702
     
57,845
 
  Series 2004-AR9, Class 1A, 3.276%, 11/25/34 (a)
   
415,057
     
376,611
 
  Series 2005-AR7, Class 1A1, 2.917%, 6/25/35 (a)
   
1,061,879
     
760,172
 
  Series 2005-AR25, Class 1A21, 3.303%, 12/25/35 (a)
   
695,484
     
547,281
 
  Series 2006-AR25, Class 6A1, 3.313%, 9/25/36 (a)
   
163,942
     
154,110
 
Interstar Millennium Trust
               
  Series 2005-1G, Class A, 1.241%, 12/8/36 (a)
   
44,838
     
43,443
 
Irwin Home Equity
               
  Series 2004-A, Class M2, 2.467%, 1/25/34 (a)
   
218,772
     
216,144
 
  Series 2006-3, Class 2A4, 5.900%, 9/25/37 (d)(g)
   
126,041
     
127,240
 
JP Morgan Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2004-A2, Class 2A1, 2.908%, 5/25/34 (a)
   
36,184
     
36,249
 
  Series 2005-A3, Class 11A4, 3.266%, 6/25/35 (a)
   
42,301
     
41,265
 
  Series 2007-A1, Class 2A3, 3.167%, 7/25/35 (a)
   
887,971
     
789,150
 
Lavender Trust
               
  Series 2010-RR6A, Class A3, 5.500%, 9/26/35 (d)
   
292,701
     
292,070
 
  Series 2010-RR10A, Class A3, 6.250%, 9/26/36 (d)
   
71,899
     
71,953
 
Lehman Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 1998-1, Class A1, 7.000%, 5/25/28
   
24,046
     
5,569
 
Lehman Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2005-3, Class 1A3, 5.500%, 1/25/36
   
29,022
     
24,321
 
  Series 2006-2, Class 4A1, 5.000%, 4/25/36
   
382,033
     
382,280
 
  Series 2006-8, Class 2A1, 1.004%, 12/25/36 (a)
   
3,129,729
     
1,088,601
 
  Series 2007-5, Class PO1, 0.000%, 6/25/37 (e)(i)
   
141,469
     
110,674
 
  Series 2007-8, Class 3A1, 7.250%, 9/25/37
   
5,926,123
     
3,002,302
 
  Series 2007-9, Class AP, 0.000%, 10/25/37 (e)(i)
   
215,031
     
162,204
 
Lehman Structured Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2002-GE1, Class A, 0.000%, 7/26/24 (a)(d)
   
95,401
     
77,697
 
Lehman XS Trust
               
  Series 2006-14N, Class 2A, 0.792%, 9/25/46 (a)
   
10,476,096
     
8,966,487
 
Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2004-5, Class A5, 1.144%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
538,422
     
501,859
 

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

23

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
MASTR Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust
           
  Series 2003-2, Class 1A1, 3.750%, 7/25/33 (a)
 
$
26,793
   
$
27,596
 
  Series 2004-1, Class 1A1, 2.825%, 1/25/34 (a)
   
24,172
     
23,839
 
  Series 2004-8, Class 7A1, 3.226%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
12,484
     
12,229
 
  Series 2004-15, Class 6A1, 0.914%, 12/25/34 (a)
   
343,742
     
292,763
 
MASTR Alternative Loans Trust
               
  Series 2002-2, Class 1A1, 7.250%, 10/25/32
   
146,708
     
153,716
 
  Series 2004-4, Class 11A1, 6.000%, 3/25/34
   
1,870,127
     
1,896,814
 
  Series 2004-8, Class 8A1, 6.000%, 7/25/34
   
65,332
     
66,509
 
  Series 2006-1, Class A2, 1.284%, 2/25/36 (a)
   
5,796,490
     
3,438,235
 
MASTR Asset Backed Securities Trust
               
  Series 2003-WMC2, Class M5, 6.584%, 8/25/33 (a)
   
681,049
     
662,166
 
  Series 2004-WMC1, Class M2, 2.317%, 2/25/34 (a)
   
216,555
     
217,696
 
MASTR Asset Securitization Trust
               
  Series 2003-4, Class 3A1, 4.750%, 5/25/18
   
14,128
     
14,156
 
  Series 2003-5, Class 1A1, 5.500%, 6/25/33
   
20,158
     
20,287
 
  Series 2003-7, Class 4A44, 5.250%, 9/25/33
   
26,994
     
27,809
 
  Series 2003-7, Class 4A8, 5.250%, 9/25/33
   
775,733
     
812,522
 
  Series 2006-2, Class 2A2, 1.084%, 6/25/36 (a)
   
3,489,107
     
2,164,749
 
MASTR Reperforming Loan Trust
               
  Series 2005-2, Class 1A1F, 0.934%, 5/25/35 (a)(d)
   
548,822
     
429,670
 
MASTR Specialized Loan Trust
               
  Series 2007-2, Class M1, 1.442%, 5/25/37 (a)(d)(f)
   
9,097,000
     
1,000,670
 
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Backed Securities Trust
               
  Series 2007-1, Class 2A1, 3.370%, 4/25/37 (a)
   
745,627
     
638,332
 
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust
               
  Series 2003-G, Class B1, 2.579%, 1/25/29 (a)(d)
   
584,647
     
460,518
 
  Series 2003-A2, Class 2M1, 3.538%, 3/25/33 (a)
   
68,485
     
57,409
 
MESA Trust Asset Backed Certificates
               
  Series 2001-5, Class A, 1.392%, 12/25/31 (a)(d)
   
15,140
     
14,226
 
  Series 2002-3, Class M2, 5.430%, 10/18/32 (a)(d)
   
16,168
     
16,213
 
  Series 2002-1, Class B1, 3.805%, 2/18/33 (a)(d)
   
795,516
     
803,575
 
MLCC Mortgage Investors, Inc.
               
  Series 2003-F, Class A3, 2.709%, 10/25/28 (a)
   
21,702
     
21,421
 
  Series 2005-1, Class 2A3, 2.748%, 4/25/35 (a)
   
288,405
     
256,111
 
  Series 2007-3, Class 1A2, 3.000%, 9/25/37 (a)
   
167,553
     
150,966
 
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital I Trust
               
  Series 2002-HE1, Class M2, 2.542%, 7/25/32 (a)
   
1,018,663
     
1,283,821
 
Morgan Stanley Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2004-6AR, Class 5A, 2.983%, 8/25/34 (a)
   
82,198
     
78,037
 
  Series 2004-7AR, Class 1A, 3.059%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
49,464
     
49,010
 
  Series 2007-14AR, Class 5A1, 3.019%, 11/25/37 (a)
   
3,012,771
     
1,717,247
 

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

24

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
New Century Alternative Mortgage Loan Trust
           
  Series 2006-ALT2, Class AF2, 5.348%, 10/25/36 (a)
 
$
270,899
   
$
140,638
 
New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2014-1A, Class B1IO, 1.029%, 1/25/54 (a)(d)(h)
   
438,836
     
19,470
 
Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp.
               
  Series 2001-R1A, Class A, 6.828%, 2/19/30 (a)(d)
   
356,863
     
349,348
 
  Series 2003-A1, Class A1, 5.500%, 5/25/33
   
6,759
     
6,889
 
  Series 2004-AP1, Class A5, 5.605%, 3/25/34 (g)
   
1,192,788
     
1,204,738
 
  Series 2004-R1, Class A2, 7.500%, 3/25/34 (d)
   
1,034,326
     
1,004,752
 
  Series 2005-AP3, Class A3, 5.318%, 8/25/35 (a)
   
532,823
     
346,028
 
  Series 2006-AR1, Class 3A, 3.214%, 2/25/36 (a)
   
1,660,228
     
1,444,771
 
  Series 2006-AF1, Class 5A, 3.902%, 6/25/36 (a)
   
965,226
     
839,944
 
Option One Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2007-HL1, Class 2A2, 0.834%, 2/25/38 (a)
   
686,242
     
559,276
 
PAMEX Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 1999-A, Class M2, 2.284%, 7/25/29 (a)(d)(f)
   
89,771
     
73,713
 
PHH Alternative Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2007-2, Class 3A1, 6.000%, 5/25/37
   
1,105,537
     
981,675
 
PNC Mortgage Securities Corp.
               
  Series 1999-10, Class DB1, 7.745%, 11/25/29 (a)
   
128,501
     
136,025
 
Prime Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2005-5, Class 1A1, 7.000%, 7/25/34
   
646,575
     
618,977
 
  Series 2005-5, Class 1A3, 8.000%, 7/25/34
   
133,087
     
129,494
 
  Series 2006-DR1, Class 2A2, 6.000%, 5/25/35 (d)
   
4,635,263
     
4,414,421
 
  Series 2005-5, Class 2A4, 5.500%, 11/25/35
   
16,995
     
16,062
 
  Series 2007-2, Class A2, 6.000%, 4/25/37
   
3,712,057
     
2,749,832
 
Provident Bank Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2000-1, Class A1, 1.112%, 3/25/30 (a)
   
682,412
     
574,300
 
RAAC Series Trust
               
  Series 2004-SP1, Class AI3, 6.118%, 3/25/34 (g)
   
21,913
     
22,427
 
  Series 2005-RP3, Class M3, 3.084%, 5/25/39 (a)(d)
   
5,768,000
     
3,929,090
 
RBSGC Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
               
  Series 2008-B, Class A1, 6.000%, 6/25/37 (d)
   
341,100
     
295,364
 
RBSSP Resecuritization Trust
               
  Series 2009-7, Class 9A3, 5.000%, 9/26/36 (d)
   
2,077,483
     
1,228,856
 
  Series 2009-7, Class 6A2, 0.000%, 10/26/36 (a)(d)
   
1,095,837
     
678,581
 
Residential Accredit Loans, Inc.
               
  Series 2005-QA11, Class 3A1, 3.708%, 10/25/35 (a)
   
3,521,533
     
2,060,857
 
Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc.
               
  Series 2001-RS3, Class AI5, 5.700%, 10/25/31 (a)
   
195,623
     
197,950
 
  Series 2002-RS1, Class AI5, 5.910%, 1/25/32 (a)
   
139,366
     
144,446
 
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

25

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc. (Continued)
           
  Series 2002-SL1, Class AI3, 7.000%, 6/25/32
 
$
12,290
   
$
12,723
 
  Series 2004-RS8, Class MII2, 2.317%, 8/25/34 (a)
   
1,013,975
     
807,463
 
Residential Asset Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2001-KS3, Class AI5, 6.980%, 9/25/31 (a)
   
1,366,210
     
1,381,260
 
  Series 2004-KS9, Class AI6, 4.620%, 10/25/34 (a)
   
213,263
     
188,279
 
Residential Asset Securitization Trust
               
  Series 2004-A6, Class A1, 5.000%, 8/25/19
   
150,475
     
151,495
 
Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I, Inc.
               
  Series 2004-S9, Class 1A23, 5.500%, 12/25/34
   
992,136
     
995,002
 
  Series 2005-SA3, Class 1A, 3.267%, 8/25/35 (a)
   
467,554
     
367,974
 
  Series 2006-S5, Class A4, 0.000%, 6/25/36 (e)(i)
   
128,258
     
89,908
 
  Series 2007-S5, Class AP, 0.000%, 5/25/37 (e)(i)
   
714,380
     
505,720
 
Residential Funding Mortgage Securities II, Inc.
               
  Series 2001-HI3, Class AI7, 7.560%, 7/25/26 (g)
   
6,637
     
6,621
 
  Series 2003-HS1, Class AI5, 5.150%, 2/25/33 (g)
   
1,257
     
1,256
 
Residential Funding Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2002-RP1, Class A1, 1.444%, 3/25/33 (a)(d)
   
1,018,865
     
949,097
 
  Series 2003-RP2, Class M2, 4.334%, 7/25/41 (a)(d)
   
934,845
     
954,735
 
SACO I Trust
               
  Series 2005-1, Class M2, 1.634%, 3/25/35 (a)(d)
   
307,892
     
284,393
 
Salomon Brothers Mortgage Securities VII
               
  Series 2002-CIT1, Class M3, 2.767%, 3/25/32 (a)
   
355,102
     
317,944
 
Saxon Asset Securities Trust
               
  Series 2001-2, Class AF5, 5.510%, 3/25/29 (g)
   
894,589
     
916,771
 
  Series 2000-2, Class BV2, 2.692%, 7/25/30 (a)
   
1,588,065
     
1,632,932
 
  Series 2002-1, Class AF5, 6.360%, 12/25/30 (g)
   
143,796
     
146,758
 
Security National Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2004-2, Class AV, 1.242%, 11/25/34 (a)(d)
   
1,153,634
     
1,005,870
 
  Series 2004-2A, Class AF3, 5.772%, 11/25/34 (a)(d)
   
503,867
     
501,947
 
  Series 2007-1, Class 2A, 0.934%, 4/25/37 (a)(d)
   
1,941,605
     
1,719,186
 
Southern Pacific Secured Assets Corp.
               
  Series 1998-1, Class A6, 7.080%, 3/25/28 (a)
   
320,182
     
320,874
 
Sovereign Bank Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2000-1, Class A6, 7.250%, 2/25/15
   
674,001
     
443,243
 
Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2004-8, Class 2A2, 3.043%, 7/25/34 (a)
   
336,776
     
332,011
 
  Series 2004-12, Class 1A3, 3.025%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
524,973
     
504,179
 
  Series 2005-4, Class 1A1, 3.015%, 3/25/35 (a)
   
109,385
     
94,619
 
  Series 2005-21, Class 3A1, 3.263%, 11/25/35 (a)
   
160,684
     
128,128
 
Structured Agency Credit Risk Debt Notes
               
  Series 2015-DNA3, Class M3, 5.284%, 4/25/28 (a)
   
1,500,000
     
1,560,066
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

26

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Structured Asset Investment Loan Trust
           
  Series 2003-BC9, Class M1, 1.634%, 8/25/33 (a)
 
$
146,680
   
$
143,658
 
Structured Asset Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2004-SC1, Class A, 8.264%, 12/25/29 (a)(d)
   
120,615
     
131,402
 
  Series 2002-14A, Class 1A1, 3.702%, 7/25/32 (a)
   
489,269
     
471,088
 
  Series 2003-24A, Class 5A, 3.131%, 7/25/33 (a)
   
233,399
     
228,147
 
  Series 2003-29, Class 3A1, 4.888%, 9/25/33 (a)
   
40,932
     
40,738
 
  Series 2003-34A, Class 3A6, 3.083%, 11/25/33 (a)
   
164,269
     
156,060
 
  Series 2004-4XS, Class A3A, 5.500%, 2/25/34 (g)
   
1,851,467
     
1,889,639
 
  Series 2005-1, Class 7A6, 5.500%, 2/25/35
   
971,009
     
952,208
 
  Series 2007-GEL1, Class A3, 0.884%, 1/25/37 (a)(d)
   
1,720,000
     
787,298
 
SunTrust Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2007-1, Class 1A1, 3.268%, 2/25/37 (a)
   
423,661
     
355,557
 
Terwin Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2004-4SL, Class B3, 5.647%, 3/25/34 (a)(d)
   
836,676
     
760,264
 
  Series 2004-7HE, Class A3, 1.984%, 7/25/34 (a)(d)
   
374,825
     
345,218
 
  Series 2004-7HE, Class M1, 1.859%, 7/25/34 (a)(d)
   
380,511
     
351,816
 
  Series 2004-16SL, Class B1, 4.859%, 10/25/34 (a)(d)
   
899,988
     
860,053
 
  Series 2004-11HE, Class B1, 4.334%, 10/25/35 (a)
   
607,320
     
647,527
 
Truman Capital Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2002-1, Class M2, 3.309%, 11/25/31 (a)(d)
   
1,434,767
     
1,391,654
 
Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2016-NPL3, Class A1, 4.250%, 3/26/46 (d)(g)
   
13,681,870
     
13,844,040
 
VOLT L LLC
               
  Series 2016-NPL10, Class A1, 3.500%, 9/25/46 (d)(g)
   
1,547,029
     
1,552,660
 
VOLT LI LLC
               
  Series 2016-NPL11, Class A1, 3.500%, 10/25/46 (d)(g)
   
5,541,940
     
5,546,995
 
VOLT NPL X LLC
               
  Series 2014-NPL8, Class A1, 3.375%, 10/26/54 (d)(g)
   
2,543,713
     
2,547,815
 
VOLT XLI LLC
               
  Series 2016-NPL1, Class A1, 4.250%, 2/26/46 (d)(g)
   
6,339,371
     
6,400,285
 
VOLT XLII LLC
               
  Series 2016-NPL2, Class A1, 4.250%, 3/26/46 (d)(g)
   
7,456,449
     
7,544,194
 
VOLT XLIV LLC
               
  Series 2016-NPL4, Class A1, 4.250%, 4/25/46 (d)(g)
   
4,826,640
     
4,884,267
 
VOLT XXV LLC
               
  Series 2015-NPL8, Class A1, 3.500%, 6/26/45 (d)(g)
   
5,995,487
     
6,003,685
 
VOLT XXVI LLC
               
  Series 2014-NPL6, Class A1, 3.125%, 9/25/43 (d)(g)
   
1,095,385
     
1,095,960
 
VOLT XXXIII LLC
               
  Series 2015-NPL5, Class A1, 3.500%, 3/25/55 (d)(g)
   
7,961,768
     
8,006,699
 
VOLT XXXIV LLC
               
  Series 2015-NPL7, Class A1, 3.250%, 2/25/55 (d)(g)
   
172,150
     
172,172
 

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

27

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
VOLT XXXIX LLC
           
  Series 2015-NPL13, Class A1, 4.125%, 10/25/45 (d)(g)
 
$
2,556,970
   
$
2,579,739
 
VOLT XXXV
               
  Series 2016-NPL9, Class A1, 3.500%, 9/25/46 (d)(g)
   
13,635,179
     
13,645,403
 
VOLT XXXV LLC
               
  Series 2015-NPL9, Class A1, 3.500%, 6/26/45 (d)(g)
   
2,193,846
     
2,195,491
 
VOLT XXXVI LLC
               
  Series 2015-NPL10, Class A1, 3.625%, 7/25/45 (d)(g)
   
4,709,927
     
4,718,910
 
Wachovia Mortgage Loan Trust, LLC
               
  Series 2005-B, Class 1A1, 3.205%, 10/20/35 (a)
   
498,720
     
434,130
 
WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
               
  Series 2002-S8, Class 2A7, 5.250%, 1/25/18
   
17,236
     
17,366
 
  Series 2001-AR3, Class 2A, 1.541%, 11/25/41 (a)
   
1,716,748
     
1,620,779
 
  Series 2002-AR9, Class 2A, 1.786%, 7/25/42 (a)
   
230,295
     
216,218
 
Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
               
  Series 2007-4, Class 1A5, 7.000%, 6/25/37
   
8,078,257
     
4,771,050
 
Washington Mutual MSC Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
               
  Series 2002-AR1, Class 1A1, 2.741%, 11/25/30 (a)
   
27,863
     
27,869
 
  Series 2004-RA1, Class 2A, 7.000%, 3/25/34
   
22,318
     
24,444
 
  Series 2004-RA3, Class 2A, 6.327%, 8/25/38 (a)
   
35,932
     
37,998
 
Wells Fargo Alternative Loan Trust
               
  Series 2002-1, Class 1A1, 6.250%, 8/25/32
   
905,459
     
896,892
 
  Series 2003-1, Class 1A2, 5.750%, 9/25/33
   
4,690,081
     
4,749,414
 
  Series 2007-PA4, Class 1A1, 3.314%, 7/25/37 (a)
   
3,839,604
     
3,046,177
 
Wells Fargo Mortgage Backed Securities Trust
               
  Series 2008-1R, Class A2, 3.058%, 6/26/35 (a)(d)
   
319,941
     
302,319
 
  Series 2005-7, Class A2, 5.250%, 9/25/35
   
248,691
     
246,404
 
Total Residential Mortgage-Backed
               
  Securities – Non-Agency (cost $306,352,493)
           
299,703,735
 
                 
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES – 4.0%
               
FNMA TBA
               
  3.500%, 12/15/40 (b)
   
9,000,000
     
9,243,633
 
  4.000%, 12/15/41 (b)
   
12,350,000
     
13,010,918
 
Total U.S. Government Agencies (cost $22,660,756)
           
22,254,551
 
                 
PRIVATE PLACEMENT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT – 0.2%
               
BasePoint – BP SLL Trust, Series SPL-IV
               
  10.000%, 5/31/19 (f)(j)
   
1,267,526
     
1,267,526
 
Total Private Placement Participation Agreement
               
  (cost $1,267,526)
           
1,267,526
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

28

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued

             
   
Shares
   
Value
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 9.7%
           
First American Government
           
  Obligations Fund – Class Z, 0.41% (c)
   
53,634,937
   
$
53,634,937
 
Total Short-Term Investments (cost $53,634,937)
           
53,634,937
 
Total Investments (cost $595,967,621) – 105.9%
           
584,886,216
 
Liabilities less Other Assets – (5.9)%
           
(32,345,817
)
TOTAL NET ASSETS – 100.0%
         
$
552,540,399
 

(a)
Variable rate security.  Rate shown reflects the rate in effect at November 30, 2016.
(b)
Security purchased on a when-issued basis.  As of November 30, 2016, the total cost of investments purchased on a when-issued basis was $22,660,756 or 4.1% of total net assets.
(c)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of November 30, 2016.
(d)
Security purchased within the terms of a private placement memorandum, exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may be sold only to dealers in the program or other “qualified institutional buyers.”  The Fund’s investment adviser has determined that such a security is liquid in accordance with the liquidity guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees of Advisors Series Trust.  As of  November 30, 2016, the value of these investments was $311,209,880 or 56.3% of total net assets.
(e)
Security is a zero coupon bond. Zero coupon bonds are issued at a substantial discount from their value at maturity.
(f)
Security valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees of Advisors Series Trust.
(g)
Step-up bond; the interest rate shown is the rate in effect as of November 30, 2016.
(h)
Interest only security.
(i)
Principal only security.
(j)
Agreement is illiquid.  The Fund cannot sell or otherwise transfer this agreement without prior written approval of BasePoint – BP SLL Trust, Series SPL-IV.  As of November 30, 2016, the value of this investment was $1,267,526 or 0.2% of total net assets.
FHLMC – Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
FNMA – Federal National Mortgage Association
FREMF – Freddie Mac K Series
GNMA – Government National Mortgage Association
REMIC – Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
TBA – To Be Announced
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

29

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – AGENCY – 0.6%
           
Small Business Administration Participation Certificates
           
  Series 2009-P10A, Class 1, 4.727%, 2/10/19
 
$
68,874
   
$
72,193
 
  Series 2009-10E, Class 1, 3.080%, 9/1/19
   
76,856
     
78,129
 
  Series 2009-10B, Class 1, 4.233%, 9/10/19
   
113,551
     
118,258
 
  Series 2012-10E, Class 1, 0.980%, 9/1/22
   
233
     
231
 
Total Asset-Backed Securities – Agency (cost $262,752)
           
268,811
 
                 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES – NON-AGENCY – 18.0%
               
Blue Virgo Trust
               
  Series 2015-1A, Class NOTE, 3.000%, 12/15/22 (c)(d)
   
484,870
     
484,264
 
BXG Receivables Note Trust
               
  Series 2010-A, Class B, 7.500%, 3/2/26 (c)
   
363,155
     
366,863
 
Conn’s Receivables Funding LLC
               
  Series 2016-B, Class A, 3.730%, 10/15/18 (c)
   
345,443
     
346,362
 
DT Auto Owner Trust
               
  Series 2015-3A, Class A, 1.660%, 3/15/19 (c)
   
60,462
     
60,477
 
  Series 2015-3A, Class D, 4.530%, 10/17/22 (c)
   
140,000
     
143,049
 
Exeter Automobile Receivables Trust
               
  Series 2014-1A, Class C, 3.570%, 7/15/19 (c)
   
655,000
     
659,277
 
GLS Auto Receivables Trust
               
  Series 2016-1A, Class A, 2.730%, 10/15/20 (c)
   
367,153
     
366,147
 
Green Tree Agency Advance Funding Trust I
               
  Series 2016-T1, Class DT1, 4.058%, 10/15/48 (c)(d)
   
150,000
     
149,186
 
Hilton Grand Vacations Trust
               
  Series 2014-AA, Class A, 1.770%, 11/25/26 (c)
   
463,032
     
455,541
 
Invitation Homes Trust
               
  Series 2014-SFR3, Class E, 5.039%, 12/17/31 (a)(c)
   
290,000
     
291,281
 
Kabbage Funding Resecuritization Trust
               
  Series 2014-1RT, Class A22, 3.287%, 3/8/18 (a)(c)
   
310,000
     
309,137
 
LEAF Receivables Funding LLC
               
  Series 2013-1, Class E2, 6.000%, 9/15/21 (c)(d)
   
241,000
     
240,345
 
Progress Residential Trust
               
  Series 2016-SFR2, Class C, 2.740%, 1/17/34 (a)(c)
   
220,000
     
220,387
 
Sierra Auto Receivables Securitization Trust
               
  Series 2016-1A, Class A, 2.850%, 1/18/22 (c)
   
385,811
     
388,816
 
Skopos Auto Receivables Trust
               
  Series 2015-2A, Class B, 5.710%, 2/15/21 (c)
   
500,000
     
511,053
 
SLM Private Credit Student Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-C, Class A5, 2.930%, 9/15/32 (a)
   
550,000
     
528,464
 
  Series 2003-C, Class A4, 2.940%, 9/15/32 (a)
   
200,000
     
192,169
 
  Series 2003-C, Class A3, 2.949%, 9/15/32 (a)
   
400,000
     
384,338
 

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

30

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
South Carolina Student Loan Corp.
           
  Series 2008-1, Class A3, 1.592%, 3/2/20 (a)
 
$
220,584
   
$
220,650
 
  Series 2013-1, Class A, 1.084%, 1/25/41 (a)
   
253,590
     
246,945
 
Trafigura Securitisation Finance PLC
               
  Series 2014-1A, Class A, 1.488%, 10/15/18 (a)(c)
   
390,000
     
389,213
 
Westgate Resorts LLC
               
  Series 2015-1A, Class A, 2.750%, 5/20/27 (c)
   
387,190
     
384,234
 
XXIII Capital Financing 1 PLC
               
  Series 2016-1, Class A, 3.732%, 6/30/21 (d)
   
291,367
     
291,367
 
Total Asset-Backed Securities –
               
  Non-Agency (cost $7,625,767)
           
7,629,565
 
                 
COLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONS – 4.0%
               
Colony Mortgage Capital Ltd.
               
  Series 2015-FL3, Class A, 2.483%, 9/5/32 (a)(c)(d)
   
138,643
     
138,990
 
Latitude Management Real Estate Capital, Inc.
               
  Series 2015-CRE1, 2.274%, 2/22/32 (a)(c)
   
320,000
     
320,991
 
MMcapS Funding XVII Ltd.
               
  Series 2005-17A, Class A1, 1.192%, 12/1/35 (a)(c)(d)
   
220,328
     
185,075
 
Resource Capital Corp. Ltd.
               
  Series 2015-CRE3, Class D, 4.555%, 3/15/32 (a)(c)
   
370,000
     
359,476
 
Trapeza LLC
               
  Series 2002-1A, Class B1, 2.040%, 11/30/32 (a)(c)(d)
   
280,041
     
251,337
 
  Series 2004-7A, Class A1, 1.292%, 1/25/35 (a)(c)(d)
   
270,498
     
220,456
 
  Series 2007-12A, Class A1, 1.154%, 4/6/42 (a)(c)(d)
   
310,036
     
234,078
 
Total Collateralized Debt Obligations (cost $1,730,803)
           
1,710,403
 
                 
COLLATERALIZED LOAN OBLIGATIONS – 6.6%
               
CIFC Funding Ltd.
               
  Series 2007-2A, Class A1J, 1.220%, 4/15/21 (a)(c)
   
16,526
     
16,518
 
Cornerstone CLO Ltd.
               
  Series 2007-1A, Class B, 1.830%, 7/15/21 (a)(c)
   
250,000
     
248,322
 
Global Leveraged Capital Credit Opportunity Fund
               
  Series 2006-1A, Class C, 1.881%, 12/20/18 (a)(c)
   
212,585
     
212,012
 
GoldenTree Loan Opportunities IV Ltd.
               
  Series 2007-4A, Class A1CJ, 1.209%, 8/18/22 (a)(c)
   
250,000
     
248,652
 
Hillmark Funding Ltd.
               
  Series 2006-1A, Class A1, 1.161%, 5/21/21 (a)(c)
   
244,343
     
243,125
 
Landmark VIII CLO Ltd.
               
  Series 2006-8X, Class E, 4.478%, 10/19/20 (a)
   
500,000
     
499,491
 
MAPS CLO Fund II Ltd.
               
  Series 2007-2A, Class A1, 1.121%, 7/20/22 (a)(c)
   
320,207
     
318,962
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

31

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
Rosedale CLO Ltd.
           
  Series 2006-1A, Class D1, 2.632%, 7/24/21 (a)(c)
 
$
500,000
   
$
492,708
 
Westwood CDO II Ltd.
               
  Series 2007-2X, Class A2, 1.232%, 4/25/22 (a)
   
500,000
     
496,006
 
Total Collateralized Loan Obligations (cost $2,769,418)
           
2,775,796
 
                 
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
               
SECURITIES – AGENCY – 1.2%
               
FNMA
               
  Series Pool #382521, 7.500%, 7/1/18
   
377,464
     
382,512
 
GNMA REMIC Trust
               
  Series 2011-161, Class A, 1.738%, 1/16/34
   
98,158
     
98,111
 
  Series 2010-14, Class QP, 6.000%, 12/20/39
   
7,643
     
7,912
 
  Series 2009-4, Class IO, 0.445%, 1/16/49 (a)(g)
   
520,355
     
6,394
 
Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed
               
  Securities – Agency (cost $498,675)
           
494,929
 
                 
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
               
  SECURITIES – NON-AGENCY – 21.0%
               
Banc of America Large Loan
               
  Series 2010-UB4, Class A4B, 5.108%, 12/20/41 (a)(c)(d)
   
32,950
     
32,951
 
Bear Stearns Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
               
  Series 2005-PW10, Class C, 5.610%, 12/11/40 (a)
   
434,600
     
393,313
 
  Series 2004-PWR6, Class F, 5.670%, 11/11/41 (a)(c)
   
550,200
     
558,467
 
  Series 2004-PWR5, Class F, 5.483%, 7/11/42 (a)(c)
   
210,687
     
216,210
 
CFCRE Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2015-RUM, Class A, 2.238%, 7/15/30 (a)(c)
   
490,000
     
489,885
 
  Series 2015-RUM, Class B, 2.688%, 7/15/30 (a)(c)
   
500,000
     
491,188
 
Cherrywood SB Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2016-1A, Class AFL, 3.234%, 3/25/49 (a)(c)(d)
   
482,927
     
484,134
 
CNL Commercial Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-1A, Class A1, 1.038%, 5/15/31 (a)(c)
   
227,389
     
204,435
 
COMM Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2014-FL4, Class C, 2.488%, 7/13/31 (a)(c)
   
62,349
     
61,762
 
  Series 2014-FL5, Class B, 2.224%, 10/15/31 (a)(c)
   
450,000
     
446,855
 
  Series 2000-C1, Class G, 6.850%, 8/15/33 (a)(c)
   
131,478
     
140,594
 
Credit Suisse Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2006-OMA, Class B1, 5.466%, 5/15/23 (c)
   
530,000
     
565,640
 
DLJ Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 1998-CF1, Class B6, 6.410%, 2/15/31 (c)
   
321,454
     
312,187
 

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

32

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
FREMF Mortgage Trust
           
  Series 2013-KF02, Class C, 4.534%, 12/25/45 (a)(c)
 
$
361,005
   
$
366,074
 
Invitation Homes Trust
               
  Series 2014-SFR1, Class B, 2.050%, 6/17/31 (a)(c)
   
90,000
     
89,889
 
  Series 2014-SFR2, Class B, 2.138%, 9/17/31 (a)(c)
   
1,000,000
     
1,001,261
 
JP Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
               
  Series 2014-FL5, Class D, 4.040%, 7/15/31 (a)(c)
   
200,000
     
193,740
 
Lehman Brothers Small Balance Commercial
               
  Series 2005-1A, Class B, 1.542%, 2/25/30 (a)(c)
   
168,738
     
133,806
 
  Series 2007-3A, Class 2A3, 6.150%, 10/25/37 (a)(c)
   
54,741
     
55,189
 
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2006-C2, Class AJ, 5.802%, 8/12/43 (a)
   
12,576
     
12,819
 
ML-CFC Commercial Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2006-2, Class B, 5.643%, 6/12/46 (a)(c)
   
152,998
     
152,670
 
Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust
               
  Series 2005-IQ9, Class AJ, 4.770%, 7/15/56
   
84,381
     
84,124
 
Morgan Stanley Re-REMIC Trust
               
  Series 2012-XA, Class A, 2.000%, 7/27/49 (c)(d)
   
146,201
     
145,652
 
RBSCF Trust
               
  Series 2009-RR2, Class WBB, 5.970%, 2/16/51 (a)(c)
   
620,000
     
624,881
 
Silver Bay Realty Trust
               
  Series 2014-1, Class B, 1.988%, 9/17/31 (a)(c)
   
500,000
     
496,157
 
STRIPs Ltd.
               
  Series 2012-1A, Class A, 1.500%, 12/25/44 (c)
   
148,585
     
148,198
 
Tricon American Homes Trust
               
  Series 2015-SFR1, Class B, 2.189%, 5/17/32 (a)(c)
   
260,000
     
259,814
 
Velocity Commercial Capital Loan Trust
               
  Series 2014-1, Class A, 2.534%, 9/25/44 (a)(c)
   
231,727
     
228,053
 
  Series 2015-1, Class AFL, 3.022%, 6/25/45 (a)(c)(d)
   
295,665
     
296,050
 
  Series 2016-1, Class AFL, 3.042%, 4/25/46 (a)(c)
   
218,694
     
219,346
 
Total Commercial Mortgage-Backed
               
  Securities – Non-Agency (cost $8,940,685)
           
8,905,344
 
                 
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
               
  SECURITIES – AGENCY – 5.0%
               
FDIC Guaranteed Notes Trust
               
  Series 2010-S2, Class 2A, 2.570%, 7/29/47 (c)
   
192,295
     
193,259
 
FHLMC
               
  Series 129, Class H, 8.850%, 3/15/21
   
13,968
     
15,046
 
  Series 3845, Class NA, 3.250%, 4/15/25
   
20,828
     
20,940
 
  Series 3823, Class GA, 3.500%, 1/15/26
   
14,934
     
15,506
 
  Series 3834, Class GA, 3.500%, 3/15/26
   
22,847
     
23,835
 
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

33

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
FHLMC (Continued)
           
  Series 4024, Class KP, 2.000%, 3/15/42
 
$
173,004
   
$
173,626
 
  Series 4135, Class BQ, 2.000%, 11/15/42
   
150,295
     
147,777
 
  Series T-62, Class 1A1, 1.741%, 10/25/44 (a)
   
294,214
     
301,426
 
FNMA
               
  Series 2010-137, Class MC, 3.000%, 10/25/38
   
62,528
     
62,745
 
  Series 2013-14, Class PB, 1.000%, 3/25/43
   
242,174
     
240,598
 
FNMA Grantor Trust
               
  Series 2004-T5, Class AB7, 1.156%, 5/28/35 (a)
   
573,409
     
513,400
 
GNMA
               
  Series 2008-55, Class WT, 5.428%, 6/20/37 (a)
   
23,776
     
25,700
 
  Series 2009-75, Class LC, 4.000%, 10/20/38
   
9,872
     
10,066
 
  Series 2010-144, Class DK, 3.500%, 9/16/39
   
148,786
     
152,002
 
  Series 2010-150, Class GD, 2.500%, 9/20/39
   
63,655
     
63,169
 
  Series 2013-H10, Class FA, 0.931%, 3/20/63 (a)
   
135,094
     
134,148
 
Total Residential Mortgage-Backed
               
  Securities – Agency (cost $2,083,828)
           
2,093,243
 
                 
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
               
  SECURITIES – NON-AGENCY – 22.8%
               
Aames Mortgage Trust
               
  Series 2002-2, Class A2, 5.000%, 3/25/33 (f)
   
13,061
     
13,039
 
Accredited Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2002-2, Class A3, 1.584%, 1/25/33 (a)
   
262,221
     
231,339
 
  Series 2003-2, Class A3, 1.324%, 10/25/33 (a)
   
80,676
     
72,968
 
Amortizing Residential Collateral Trust
               
  Series 2002-BC4, Class A, 1.164%, 7/25/32 (a)
   
12,688
     
12,074
 
  Series 2002-BC6, Class A1, 1.224%, 8/25/32 (a)
   
25,115
     
24,506
 
AMRESCO Residential Securities Corp. Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 1998-2, Class A5, 7.300%, 2/25/28 (f)
   
305,400
     
306,202
 
  Series 1998-3, Class A7, 1.064%, 7/25/28 (a)
   
150,057
     
137,189
 
Argent Securities, Inc.
               
  Series 2003-W7, Class M2, 3.217%, 3/25/34 (a)
   
40,261
     
39,618
 
  Series 2004-W9, Class A2, 1.232%, 6/26/34 (a)
   
158,952
     
150,483
 
Banc of America Funding Corp.
               
  Series 2009-R6, Class 3A1, 2.543%, 1/26/37 (a)(c)
   
5,281
     
5,285
 
Banc of America Mortgage Securities, Inc.
               
  Series 2004-5, Class 4A1, 4.750%, 6/25/19
   
46,277
     
46,342
 
  Series 2004-4, Class 1A12, 5.500%, 5/25/34
   
112,000
     
114,652
 
  Series 2004-K, Class 4A1, 3.342%, 12/25/34 (a)
   
31,891
     
31,141
 
Bayview Financial Acquisition Trust
               
  Series 2006-D, Class 1A5, 5.668%, 12/28/36 (f)
   
287,577
     
292,412
 

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

34

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
BCAP LLC Trust
           
  Series 2012-RR3, Class 2A5, 2.452%, 5/26/37 (a)(c)
 
$
106,331
   
$
106,350
 
BCMSC Trust
               
  Series 1999-B, Class A3, 7.180%, 12/15/29 (a)
   
87,554
     
40,210
 
Bear Stearns Asset Backed Securities Trust
               
  Series 2003-AC5, Class A2, 5.500%, 10/25/33 (f)
   
6,407
     
6,576
 
  Series 2005-CL1, Class A1, 1.092%, 9/25/34 (a)
   
792,064
     
768,464
 
Bear Stearns Mortgage Securities, Inc.
               
  Series 1997-6, Class 1A, 6.291%, 3/25/31 (a)
   
79,324
     
79,831
 
CDC Mortgage Capital Trust
               
  Series 2003-HE4, Class A1, 1.212%, 3/25/34 (a)
   
172,390
     
148,189
 
Centex Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-A, Class AF4, 4.250%, 12/25/31 (f)
   
42,648
     
42,758
 
  Series 2002-D, Class AF6, 4.660%, 12/25/32 (a)
   
2,017
     
2,040
 
COLT Funding LLC
               
  Series 2016-1, Class A2, 3.500%, 5/25/46 (c)(d)
   
120,185
     
121,236
 
ContiMortgage Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 1997-1, Class M1, 7.420%, 3/15/28 (a)
   
279,267
     
283,414
 
Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust
               
  Series 2004-J3, Class 1A1, 5.500%, 4/25/34
   
66,442
     
67,709
 
  Series 2005-64CB, Class 1A7, 5.500%, 12/25/35
   
44,718
     
44,534
 
Countrywide Home Loans
               
  Series 2004-J1, Class 1A1, 4.500%, 1/25/19
   
4,482
     
4,510
 
Countywide Asset-Backed Certificates
               
  Series 2004-BC1, Class M2, 2.189%, 1/25/34 (a)
   
9,751
     
9,177
 
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2004-6, Class 5A1, 4.500%, 9/25/19
   
107,522
     
106,868
 
Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization
               
  Series 2003-CB1, Class AF, 3.950%, 1/25/33 (f)
   
9
     
9
 
Delta Funding Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 1997-2, Class A7, 1.004%, 6/25/27 (a)
   
30,940
     
29,372
 
Equity One Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
               
  Series 2004-2, Class AV2, 1.092%, 7/25/34 (a)
   
323,294
     
255,881
 
Fannie Mae Grantor Trust
               
  Series 2004-T5, Class AB4, 1.199%, 5/28/35 (a)
   
597,661
     
496,291
 
GMACM Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2001-HE2, Class 1A1, 1.024%, 12/25/26 (a)
   
128,600
     
138,581
 
  Series 2003-HE2, Class A5, 4.590%, 4/25/33 (f)
   
14,532
     
14,585
 
GMACM Mortgage Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-GH2, Class A4, 5.500%, 10/25/33 (f)
   
139,364
     
138,847
 
GSAA Trust
               
  Series 2004-3, Class M1, 6.220%, 4/25/34 (f)
   
15,206
     
13,808
 

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

35

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
GSMPS Mortgage Loan Trust
           
  Series 2005-RP1, Class 1A2, 7.500%, 1/25/35 (c)
 
$
51,063
   
$
57,172
 
HSI Asset Securitization Corp. Trust
               
  Series 2006-OPT2, Class 2A4, 0.882%, 1/25/36 (a)
   
23,719
     
23,630
 
Impac CMB Trust
               
  Series 2002-9F, Class A1, 5.216%, 12/25/32 (f)
   
336,830
     
339,087
 
  Series 2002-9F, Class M1, 5.867%, 12/25/32 (f)
   
50,457
     
50,887
 
Irwin Home Equity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2005-1, Class M1, 5.920%, 6/25/35 (f)
   
222,150
     
224,819
 
MASTR Alternative Loan Trust
               
  Series 2003-2, Class 5A1, 5.500%, 3/25/18
   
189,429
     
190,004
 
MASTR Asset Securitization Trust
               
  Series 2003-6, Class 8A1, 5.500%, 7/25/33
   
52,809
     
54,162
 
  Series 2003-7, Class 4A44, 5.250%, 9/25/33
   
78,733
     
81,110
 
Mellon Residential Funding Corp.
               
  Mortgage Pass-Through Trust
               
  Series 1999-TBC3, Class A2, 2.610%, 10/20/29 (a)
   
120,043
     
117,557
 
RASC Trust
               
  Series 2005-KS8, Class M3, 1.064%, 8/25/35 (a)
   
100,000
     
96,699
 
RBSSP Resecuritization Trust
               
  Series 2009-2, Class 4A1, 2.940%, 5/26/37 (a)(c)
   
47,160
     
47,093
 
Residential Asset Mortgage Products, Inc.
               
  Series 2004-RS8, Class MII1, 1.492%, 8/25/34 (a)
   
288,664
     
276,320
 
Residential Asset Securitization Trust
               
  Series 2003-A5, Class A2, 5.500%, 6/25/33
   
88,988
     
90,421
 
Residential Funding Mortgage Securities II, Inc.
               
  Series 2003-HI4, Class AI5, 6.260%, 2/25/29 (f)
   
147,227
     
150,890
 
Specialty Underwriting & Residential Finance Trust
               
  Series 2003-BC3, Class A, 1.284%, 8/25/34 (a)
   
233,018
     
188,390
 
Structured Asset Mortgage Investments, Inc.
               
  Series 2006-AR3, Class 24A1, 2.756%, 5/25/36 (a)
   
301,311
     
167,868
 
Structured Asset Securities Corp.
               
  Series 2003-31A, Class 2A1, 2.949%, 10/25/33 (a)
   
413,519
     
422,579
 
Structured Asset Securities Corp.
               
  Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
               
  Series 2003-S2, Class M1A, 1.559%, 12/25/33 (a)
   
60,074
     
58,484
 
  Series 2003-S2, Class M1F, 5.370%, 12/25/33 (f)
   
180,221
     
179,915
 
  Series 2004-4XS, Class A3A, 5.500%, 2/25/34 (f)
   
183,447
     
187,229
 
UCFC Home Equity Loan
               
  Series 1998-D, Class MF1, 6.905%, 4/15/30
   
7,692
     
7,804
 
Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust
               
  Series 2016-NPL3, Class A1, 4.250%, 3/26/46 (c)(f)
   
298,133
     
301,666
 

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

36

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
 
Principal
       
   
Amount
   
Value
 
VOLT L LLC
           
  Series 2016-NPL10, Class A1, 3.500%, 9/25/46 (c)(f)
 
$
136,154
   
$
136,650
 
VOLT XLII LLC
               
  Series 2016-NPL2, Class A1, 4.250%, 3/26/46 (c)(f)
   
409,004
     
413,817
 
VOLT XLIV LLC
               
  Series 2016-NPL4, Class A1, 4.250%, 4/25/46 (c)(f)
   
431,246
     
436,395
 
VOLT XXVI LLC
               
  Series 2014-NPL6, Class A1, 3.125%, 9/25/43 (c)(f)
   
97,034
     
97,085
 
VOLT XXXIII LLC
               
  Series 2015-NPL5, Class A1, 3.500%, 3/25/55 (c)(f)
   
71,185
     
71,587
 
VOLT XXXV LLC
               
  Series 2015-NPL9, Class A1, 3.500%, 6/26/45 (c)(f)
   
186,257
     
186,397
 
VOLT XXXVI LLC
               
  Series 2015-NPL10, Class A1, 3.625%, 7/25/45 (c)(f)
   
402,787
     
403,556
 
WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
               
  Series 2002-AR2, Class A, 1.851%, 2/27/34 (a)
   
57,627
     
56,569
 
Washington Mutual MSC
               
  Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates
               
  Series 2003-MS2, Class 5A1, 5.750%, 2/25/33
   
149,979
     
152,539
 
Total Residential Mortgage-Backed
               
  Securities – Non-Agency (cost $9,626,095)
           
9,664,871
 
                 
U.S. TREASURY NOTES – 17.7%
               
U.S. Treasury Note
               
  0.625%, 12/15/16
   
2,000,000
     
2,000,306
 
  0.625%, 12/31/16
   
1,000,000
     
1,000,317
 
  0.750%, 1/15/17
   
2,000,000
     
2,001,012
 
  0.625%, 2/15/17
   
1,500,000
     
1,500,616
 
  0.625%, 11/30/17
   
1,000,000
     
997,520
 
Total U.S. Treasury Notes (cost $7,503,173)
           
7,499,771
 
                 
PRIVATE PLACEMENT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT – 0.8%
               
BasePoint – BP SLL Trust, Series SPL-IV
               
  10.000%, 5/31/19 (d)(e)
   
316,881
     
316,881
 
Total Private Placement Participation Agreement
               
  (cost $316,881)
           
316,881
 

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

37

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
             
   
Shares
   
Value
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 1.6%
           
First American Government
           
  Obligations Fund – Class Z, 0.41% (b)
   
683,143
   
$
683,143
 
Total Short-Term Investments (cost $683,143)
           
683,143
 
Total Investments (cost $42,041,220) – 99.3%
           
42,042,757
 
Other Assets less Liabilities – 0.7%
           
307,715
 
TOTAL NET ASSETS – 100.0%
         
$
42,350,472
 

(a)
Variable rate security.  Rate shown reflects the rate in effect at November 30, 2016.
(b)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of November 30, 2016.
(c)
Security purchased within the terms of a private placement memorandum, exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may be sold only to dealers in the program or other “qualified institutional buyers.”  The Fund’s investment adviser has determined that such a security is liquid in accordance with the liquidity guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees of Advisors Series Trust.  As of November 30, 2016, the value of these investments was $20,248,969 or 47.8% of total net assets.
(d)
Security valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees of Advisors Series Trust.
(e)
Agreement is illiquid.  The Fund cannot sell or otherwise transfer this agreement without prior written approval of BasePoint – BP SLL Trust, Series SPL-IV. As of November 30, 2016, the value of this investment was $316,881 or 0.8% of total net assets.
(f)
Step-up bond; the interest rate shown is the rate in effect as of November 30, 2016.
(g)
Interest only security.
FDIC – Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FHLMC – Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
FNMA – Federal National Mortgage Association
FREMF – Freddie Mac K Series
GNMA – Government National Mortgage Association
REMIC – Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

38

SEMPER FUNDS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(This Page Intentionally Left Blank.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
39

SEMPER FUNDS

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES at November 30, 2016
   
Semper MBS Total
   
Semper Short
 
   
Return Fund
   
Duration Fund
 
ASSETS
           
Investments in securities, at value
           
  (identified cost $595,967,621
           
  and $42,041,220, respectively)
 
$
584,886,216
   
$
42,042,757
 
Cash
   
7,430,871
     
6,060
 
Receivables
               
Fund shares issued
   
16,602,683
     
 
Securities sold
   
22,573,272
     
1,202,774
 
Interest
   
1,441,096
     
98,407
 
Due from Adviser (Note 4)
   
     
3,434
 
Prepaid expenses
   
43,569
     
7,767
 
Total assets
   
632,977,707
     
43,361,199
 
                 
LIABILITIES
               
Payables
               
Dividends
   
820,390
     
278
 
Investments purchased
   
78,481,691
     
930,071
 
Fund shares redeemed
   
647,161
     
870
 
Due to Adviser
   
193,776
     
 
12b-1 fees
   
28,771
     
211
 
Custody fees
   
16,032
     
2,948
 
Administration and fund accounting fees
   
137,683
     
34,457
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses
   
66,399
     
12,070
 
Audit fees
   
24,300
     
22,661
 
Shareholder reporting
   
15,183
     
1,386
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee
   
2,250
     
2,250
 
Accrued expenses
   
3,672
     
3,525
 
Total liabilities
   
80,437,308
     
1,010,727
 
NET ASSETS
 
$
552,540,399
   
$
42,350,472
 

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

40

SEMPER FUNDS

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
Semper MBS Total
   
Semper Short
 
   
Return Fund
   
Duration Fund
 
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET
           
  VALUE PER SHARE
           
Class A
           
Net assets applicable to shares outstanding
 
$
6,581,871
       
Shares issued and outstanding [unlimited
             
  number of shares (par value $0.01) authorized]
   
623,279
       
Net asset value and
             
  redemption price per share
 
$
10.56
       
Maximum offering price per share (Net asset
             
  value per share divided by 98.00%)
 
$
10.78
       
Investor Class
             
Net assets applicable to shares outstanding
 
$
79,614,354
   
$
404,523
 
Shares issued and outstanding [unlimited
               
  number of shares (par value $0.01) authorized]
   
7,536,864
     
40,768
 
Net asset value, offering and
               
  redemption price per share
 
$
10.56
   
$
9.92
 
                 
Institutional Class
               
Net assets applicable to shares outstanding
 
$
466,344,174
   
$
41,945,949
 
Shares issued and outstanding [unlimited
               
  number of shares (par value $0.01) authorized]
   
44,111,300
     
4,223,419
 
Net asset value, offering and
               
  redemption price per share
 
$
10.57
   
$
9.93
 
                 
COMPONENTS OF NET ASSETS
               
Paid-in capital
 
$
570,747,351
   
$
43,740,757
 
Accumulated net investment income
   
129,257
     
333,231
 
Accumulated net realized loss from
               
  investments and securities sold short
   
(7,254,804
)
   
(1,725,053
)
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)
               
  on investments
   
(11,081,405
)
   
1,537
 
Net assets
 
$
552,540,399
   
$
42,350,472
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

41

SEMPER FUNDS
 
 
 
 
 
 

(This Page Intentionally Left Blank.)
 
 
 
 
 

 
42

SEMPER FUNDS
 
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the Year Ended November 30, 2016
   
Semper MBS Total
   
Semper Short
 
   
Return Fund
   
Duration Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME
           
Income
           
Interest
  $ 28,519,713    
$
1,327,844
 
Total income
   
28,519,713
     
1,327,844
 
                 
Expenses
               
Advisory fees (Note 4)
   
2,000,715
     
150,037
 
Administration and fund
               
  accounting fees (Note 4)
   
505,127
     
139,934
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 4)
   
417,719
     
49,335
 
12b-1 fees – Class A (Note 5)
   
1,952
     
 
12b-1 fees – Investor Class (Note 5)
   
163,484
     
2,158
 
Registration fees
   
124,445
     
8,972
 
Custody fees (Note 4)
   
72,333
     
12,006
 
Shareholder reporting
   
25,009
     
2,339
 
Audit fees
   
24,313
     
22,675
 
Trustees fees
   
15,303
     
9,987
 
Miscellaneous
   
15,158
     
4,542
 
Legal fees
   
12,835
     
8,554
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee (Note 4)
   
9,001
     
9,000
 
Insurance expense
   
6,999
     
2,209
 
Interest expense (Note 7)
   
1,946
     
 
Total expenses
   
3,396,339
     
421,748
 
Advisory fee recoupment
               
  or waiver (Note 4)
   
104,149
     
(162,388
)
Net expenses
   
3,500,488
     
259,360
 
Net investment income
   
25,019,225
     
1,068,484
 
                 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON
               
  INVESTMENTS AND SECURITIES SOLD SHORT
               
Net realized gain/(loss) on:
               
Non-affiliates
   
(3,924,819
)
   
33,474
 
Affiliates
   
(400,110
)
   
(100,003
)
Securities sold short
   
     
(98,359
)
Net change in unrealized
               
  appreciation/(depreciation) on:
               
Investments
   
(8,067,138
)
   
(82,530
)
Securities sold short
   
     
20,039
 
Net realized and unrealized loss on
               
  investments and securities sold short
   
(12,392,067
)
   
(227,379
)
Net Increase in Net Assets
               
  Resulting from Operations
 
$
12,627,158
   
$
841,105
 

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

43

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
November 30, 2016
   
November 30, 2015
 
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE)
           
  IN NET ASSETS FROM:
           
OPERATIONS
           
Net investment income
 
$
25,019,225
   
$
12,220,611
 
Net realized gain/(loss) from investments
   
(4,324,929
)
   
1,065,522
 
Net change in unrealized
               
  depreciation on investments
   
(8,067,138
)
   
(3,919,828
)
Net increase in net assets
               
  resulting from operations
   
12,627,158
     
9,366,305
 
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
From net investment income
               
Class A
   
(65,678
)
   
 
Investor Class
   
(3,868,052
)
   
(2,021,980
)
Institutional Class
   
(23,369,439
)
   
(11,843,576
)
From net realized gain on investments
               
Investor Class
   
     
(167,373
)
Institutional Class
   
     
(799,952
)
Total distributions to shareholders
   
(27,303,169
)
   
(14,832,881
)
                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Net increase in net assets derived from
               
  net change in outstanding shares (a)
   
139,700,398
     
280,254,304
 
Total increase in net assets
   
125,024,387
     
274,787,728
 
                 
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of year
   
427,516,012
     
152,728,284
 
End of year
 
$
552,540,399
   
$
427,516,012
 
Accumulated net investment income/(loss)
 
$
129,257
   
$
(412,487
)
                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

44

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS, Continued
(a)
A summary of share transactions is as follows:

Class A
 
   
Period Ended
             
   
November 30, 2016*
             
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
             
Shares sold
   
639,177
   
$
6,780,904
             
Shares issued on
                           
  reinvestments of
                           
  distributions
   
6,050
     
63,920
             
Shares redeemed
   
(21,948
)
   
(232,496
)
           
Net increase
   
623,279
   
$
6,612,328
             
                             
Investor Class
                           
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
November 30, 2016
   
November 30, 2015
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
6,118,455
   
$
65,538,497
     
6,291,616
   
$
69,249,018
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of
                               
  distributions
   
340,549
     
3,615,520
     
188,534
     
2,071,189
 
Shares redeemed
   
(5,070,851
)
   
(54,188,371
)
   
(2,688,405
)
   
(29,567,612
)
Net increase
   
1,388,153
   
$
14,965,646
     
3,791,745
   
$
41,752,595
 
                                 
Institutional Class
                               
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
November 30, 2016
   
November 30, 2015
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
32,077,784
   
$
343,373,364
     
34,753,976
   
$
383,443,086
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of
                               
  distributions
   
1,355,285
     
14,390,791
     
671,255
     
7,377,910
 
Shares redeemed
   
(22,339,902
)
   
(239,641,731
)
   
(13,823,644
)
   
(152,319,287
)
Net increase
   
11,093,167
   
$
118,122,424
     
21,601,587
   
$
238,501,709
 

*
Commenced operations on December 18, 2015.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

45

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
November 30, 2016
   
November 30, 2015
 
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE)
           
  IN NET ASSETS FROM:
           
OPERATIONS
           
Net investment income
 
$
1,068,484
   
$
1,469,454
 
Net realized loss from investments
               
  and securities sold short
   
(164,888
)
   
(1,114,032
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/
               
  (depreciation) from investments
               
  and securities sold short
   
(62,491
)
   
404,654
 
Net increase in net assets
               
  resulting from operations
   
841,105
     
760,076
 
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
From net investment income
               
Investor Class
   
(24,280
)
   
(24,226
)
Institutional Class
   
(1,186,716
)
   
(1,536,962
)
From net realized gain on investments
               
Investor Class
   
     
(905
)
Institutional Class
   
     
(50,851
)
Total distributions to shareholders
   
(1,210,996
)
   
(1,612,944
)
                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Net decrease in net assets derived from
               
  net change in outstanding shares (a)
   
(1,886,569
)
   
(16,679,184
)
Total decrease in net assets
   
(2,256,460
)
   
(17,532,052
)
                 
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of year
   
44,606,932
     
62,138,984
 
End of year
 
$
42,350,472
   
$
44,606,932
 
Accumulated net investment income
 
$
333,231
   
$
129,913
 

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

46

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS, Continued
(a)
A summary of share transactions is as follows:

Investor Class
 
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
November 30, 2016
   
November 30, 2015
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
71,572
   
$
708,262
     
124,505
   
$
1,248,698
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of
                               
  distributions
   
1,243
     
12,307
     
1,930
     
19,489
 
Shares redeemed
   
(191,075
)
   
(1,893,597
)
   
(56,409
)
   
(569,029
)
Net increase/(decrease)
   
(118,260
)
 
$
(1,173,028
)
   
70,026
   
$
699,158
 
                                 
Institutional Class
                               
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
November 30, 2016
   
November 30, 2015
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
38,888
   
$
385,308
     
591,533
   
$
5,983,374
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of
                               
  distributions
   
119,627
     
1,186,281
     
156,368
     
1,579,509
 
Shares redeemed
   
(230,371
)
   
(2,285,130
)
   
(2,456,182
)
   
(24,941,225
)
Net decrease
   
(71,856
)
 
$
(713,541
)
   
(1,708,281
)
 
$
(17,378,342
)
                                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

47

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout the period
Class A
 
   
December 18,
 
     
2015
*
   
through
 
   
November 30,
 
     
2016
 
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
10.92
 
         
Income from investment operations:
       
Net investment income
 
0.56
^
Net realized and unrealized loss on investments
   
(0.28
)
Total from investment operations
   
0.28
 
         
Less distributions:
       
From net investment income
   
(0.64
)
Total distributions
   
(0.64
)
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
10.56
 
         
Total return
   
2.66
%+
         
Ratios/supplemental data:
       
Net assets, end of period (thousands)
 
$
6,582
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
       
Before fee waiver
   
1.01
%++
After fee waiver
   
1.00
%++
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:
       
Before fee waiver
   
5.58
%++
After fee waiver
   
5.59
%++
Portfolio turnover rate
   
135
%+
 
 *   Commencement of operations.
 ^   Based on average shares outstanding.
 +   Not annualized.
 ++   Annualized.
 †   Portfolio turnover rate calculated for the year ended November 30, 2016.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

48

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each period
Investor Class
 
                     
July 22, 2013*
 
                     
through
 
   
Year Ended November 30,
   
November 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
10.91
   
$
11.08
   
$
10.75
   
$
10.00
 
                                 
Income from investment operations:
                               
Net investment income
 
0.58
^  
0.51
^  
0.55
^    
0.08
 
Net realized and unrealized
                               
  gain/(loss) on investments
   
(0.30
)
   
(0.05
)
   
0.38
     
0.75
 
Total from investment operations
   
0.28
     
0.46
     
0.93
     
0.83
 
                                 
Less distributions:
                               
From net investment income
   
(0.63
)
   
(0.56
)
   
(0.57
)
   
(0.08
)
From net realized gain on investments
   
     
(0.07
)
   
(0.03
)
   
 
Total distributions
   
(0.63
)
   
(0.63
)
   
(0.60
)
   
(0.08
)
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
10.56
   
$
10.91
   
$
11.08
   
$
10.75
 
                                 
Total return
   
2.67
%
   
4.26
%
   
8.84
%
   
8.31
%+
                                 
Ratios/supplemental data:
                               
Net assets, end of period (thousands)
 
$
79,614
   
$
67,073
   
$
26,121
   
$
2,969
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                               
Before fee waiver, expense
                               
  reimbursement, and recoupment
   
0.97
%
   
0.99
%
   
1.12
%
   
3.80
%++
After fee waiver, expense
                               
  reimbursement and recoupment
   
1.00
%
   
1.00
%
   
1.00
%
   
1.00
%++
Ratio of net investment income
                               
  to average net assets:
                               
Before fee waiver, expense
                               
  reimbursement and recoupment
   
5.45
%
   
4.65
%
   
4.83
%
   
1.45
%++
After fee waiver, expense
                               
  reimbursement and recoupment
   
5.42
%
   
4.64
%
   
4.95
%
   
4.25
%++
Portfolio turnover rate
   
135
%
   
166
%
   
142
%
   
114
%+

*
 
Commencement of operations.
^
 
Based on average shares outstanding.
+
 
Not annualized.
++
 
Annualized.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

49

SEMPER MBS TOTAL RETURN FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each period
Institutional Class
 
                     
July 22, 2013*
 
                     
through
 
   
Year Ended November 30,
   
November 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
 
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
10.92
   
$
11.09
   
$
10.75
   
$
10.00
 
                                 
Income from investment operations:
                               
Net investment income
 
0.60
^  
0.54
^  
0.58
^    
0.08
 
Net realized and unrealized
                               
  gain/(loss) on investments
   
(0.30
)
   
(0.05
)
   
0.38
     
0.75
 
Total from investment operations
   
0.30
     
0.49
     
0.96
     
0.83
 
                                 
Less distributions:
                               
From net investment income
   
(0.65
)
   
(0.59
)
   
(0.59
)
   
(0.08
)
From net realized gain on investments
   
     
(0.07
)
   
(0.03
)
   
 
Total distributions
   
(0.65
)
   
(0.66
)
   
(0.62
)
   
(0.08
)
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
10.57
   
$
10.92
   
$
11.09
   
$
10.75
 
                                 
Total return
   
2.92
%
   
4.51
%
   
9.18
%
   
8.35
%+
                                 
Ratios/supplemental data:
                               
Net assets, end of period (thousands)
 
$
466,344
   
$
360,443
   
$
126,607
   
$
30,576
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                               
Before fee waiver, expense
                               
  reimbursement and recoupment
   
0.73
%
   
0.74
%
   
0.89
%
   
3.65
%++
After fee waiver, expense
                               
  reimbursement and recoupment
   
0.75
%
   
0.75
%
   
0.75
%
   
0.75
%++
Ratio of net investment income
                               
  to average net assets:
                               
Before fee waiver, expense
                               
  reimbursement and recoupment
   
5.68
%
   
4.88
%
   
5.10
%
   
1.54
%++
After fee waiver, expense
                               
  reimbursement and recoupment
   
5.66
%
   
4.87
%
   
5.24
%
   
4.44
%++
Portfolio turnover rate
   
135
%
   
166
%
   
142
%
   
114
%+

*
 
Commencement of operations.
^
 
Based on average shares outstanding.
+
 
Not annualized.
++
 
Annualized.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

50

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each year
Investor Class
 
   
Year Ended November 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net asset value, beginning of year
 
$
10.00
   
$
10.19
   
$
10.23
   
$
10.39
   
$
10.25
 
                                         
Income from investment operations:
                                       
Net investment income
 
0.24
^  
0.29
^  
0.13
^    
0.13
     
0.11
 
Net realized and unrealized
                                       
  gain/(loss) on investments
   
(0.07
)
   
(0.16
)
   
0.06
     
(0.11
)
   
0.27
 
Total from investment operations
   
0.17
     
0.13
     
0.19
     
0.02
     
0.38
 
                                         
Less distributions:
                                       
From net investment income
   
(0.25
)
   
(0.31
)
   
(0.21
)
   
(0.15
)
   
(0.13
)
From net realized gain on investments
   
     
(0.01
)
   
(0.02
)
   
(0.03
)
   
(0.11
)
Total distributions
   
(0.25
)
   
(0.32
)
   
(0.23
)
   
(0.18
)
   
(0.24
)
Net asset value, end of year
 
$
9.92
   
$
10.00
   
$
10.19
   
$
10.23
   
$
10.39
 
                                         
Total return
   
1.77
%
   
1.23
%
   
1.86
%
   
0.18
%
   
3.84
%
                                         
Ratios/supplemental data:
                                       
Net assets, end of year (thousands)
 
$
405
   
$
1,591
   
$
907
   
$
1,173
   
$
856
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waiver and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
1.21
%
   
1.35
%
   
1.84
%
   
2.91
%
   
3.40
%
After fee waiver and
                                       
  expense reimbursement#
   
0.85
%
   
1.02
%
   
1.13
%
   
0.92
%
   
0.85
%
Ratio of net investment income/(loss)
                                       
  to average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waiver and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
2.07
%
   
2.59
%
   
0.58
%
   
(0.69
)%
   
(1.47
)%
After fee waiver and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
2.43
%
   
2.92
%
   
1.29
%
   
1.30
%
   
1.08
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
108
%
   
56
%
   
92
%
   
108
%
   
78
%

^
 
Based on average shares outstanding.
#
 
Excluding interest expense, the ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 0.85%, 0.85% and 0.85% for the years ended November 30, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

51

SEMPER SHORT DURATION FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each year
Institutional Class
 
   
Year Ended November 30,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net asset value, beginning of year
 
$
10.01
   
$
10.20
   
$
10.24
   
$
10.40
   
$
10.26
 
                                         
Income from investment operations:
                                       
Net investment income
 
0.25
^  
0.32
^  
0.24
^    
0.16
     
0.14
 
Net realized and unrealized
                                       
  gain/(loss) on investments
   
(0.05
)
   
(0.17
)
   
(0.03
)
   
(0.12
)
   
0.27
 
Total from investment operations
   
0.20
     
0.15
     
0.21
     
0.04
     
0.41
 
                                         
Less distributions:
                                       
From net investment income
   
(0.28
)
   
(0.33
)
   
(0.23
)
   
(0.17
)
   
(0.16
)
From net realized gain on investments
   
     
(0.01
)
   
(0.02
)
   
(0.03
)
   
(0.11
)
Total distributions
   
(0.28
)
   
(0.34
)
   
(0.25
)
   
(0.20
)
   
(0.27
)
Net asset value, end of year
 
$
9.93
   
$
10.01
   
$
10.20
   
$
10.24
   
$
10.40
 
                                         
Total return
   
2.04
%
   
1.48
%
   
2.11
%
   
0.42
%
   
4.10
%
                                         
Ratios/supplemental data:
                                       
Net assets, end of year (thousands)
 
$
41,946
   
$
43,016
   
$
61,232
   
$
51,382
   
$
23,050
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waiver and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
0.98
%
   
1.14
%
   
1.06
%
   
1.15
%
   
2.51
%
After fee waiver and
                                       
  expense reimbursement#
   
0.60
%
   
0.81
%
   
0.90
%
   
0.68
%
   
0.60
%
Ratio of net investment income/(loss)
                                       
  to average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waiver and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
2.11
%
   
2.82
%
   
2.14
%
   
1.09
%
   
(0.58
)%
After fee waiver and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
2.49
%
   
3.15
%
   
2.30
%
   
1.56
%
   
1.33
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
108
%
   
56
%
   
92
%
   
108
%
   
78
%

^
 
Based on average shares outstanding.
#
 
Excluding interest expense, the ratio of expenses to average net assets would have been 0.60%, 0.60% and 0.60% for the years ended November 30, 2015, 2014, and 2013, respectively.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

52

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016
NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
 
The Semper MBS Total Return Fund and the Semper Short Duration Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) are each 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.  Prior to March 31, 2014, the Semper Short Duration Fund was a series of Forum Funds. The Funds follow 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 Semper MBS Total Return Fund (“MBS Total Return Fund”) is to seek a high level of risk-adjusted current income and capital appreciation.  The investment objective of the Semper Short Duration Fund (“Short Duration Fund”) is to seek a high level of current income that is consistent with preservation of capital.  Each Fund currently offers Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares and the MBS Total Return Fund offers Class A shares.  The MBS Total Return Fund’s Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares commenced operations on July 22, 2013 and the Class A shares commenced operations on December 18, 2015.  The Short Duration Fund’s Investor Class shares and Institutional Class shares commenced operations on December 23, 2010.
 
NOTE 2 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds. 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 Funds’ 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 Funds recognize 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 Funds’ 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 Funds’ 2016 tax returns. The Funds identify their major tax jurisdictions as U.S. Federal and the state of Wisconsin; however the Funds are 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.
 
53

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
 
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 specific cost.  Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.  Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are accreted/amortized over the life of the respective security using the effective interest method.  Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
     
   
Investment income, expenses (other than those specific to the class of shares), and realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments are allocated to the separate classes of each Fund based upon their relative net assets on the date income is earned or expensed and realized and unrealized gains and losses are incurred.
     
   
Each Fund is charged for those expenses that are directly attributable to the Fund, such as investment advisory, custody and transfer agent fees.  Expenses that are not attributable to a Fund are typically allocated among the Funds in proportion to their respective net assets.  Common expenses of the Trust are typically allocated among the funds in the Trust based on a fund’s respective net assets, or by other equitable means.
     
   
During the year ended November 30, 2016, the MBS Total Return Fund distributed substantially all net investment income, if any, monthly.  The Short Duration Fund declares dividends from net investment income daily and distributes the dividends to shareholders monthly.  Beginning December 1, 2016, the MBS Total Return Fund will declare dividends from net investment income daily and distribute to its shareholders monthly.  The Funds distribute any realized gains, if any, annually.  Distributions from net realized gains for book purposes may include short-term capital gains.  All short-term capital gains are included in ordinary income for tax purposes.
     
   
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.
Restricted Securities:  The Funds may invest in securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”).  Restricted securities may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Federal securities laws or if the securities are registered to the public.  The sale or other disposition of these securities may involve additional expenses and the prompt sale of these securities at an acceptable price may be difficult.  Restricted securities, such as those issued pursuant to Rule 144a
 
54

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
under the Securities Act of 1933, may be deemed to be liquid as determined by Semper Capital Management, L.P. (the “Adviser”).  All of the restricted securities held by the Funds at November 30, 2016 consist of securities issued under Rule 144a and have all been deemed to be liquid by the Adviser.
     
 
E.
Illiquid Securities:  A security may be considered illiquid if it lacks a readily available market.  Securities are generally considered liquid if they can be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the price at which the security is valued by a Fund.  Illiquid securities may be valued under methods approved by the Funds’ Board of Trustees as reflecting fair value.  Each Fund intends to hold no more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities.  At November 30, 2016, the MBS Total Return Fund and the Short Duration Fund had investments in illiquid securities with a total value of $1,267,526 or 0.2% of net assets and $316,881 or 0.8% of net assets, respectively.

       
Dates
Cost
   
MBS Total Return Fund
PAR
Acquired
Basis
   
BasePoint – BP SLL Trust,
     
   
  Series SPL-IV
$1,267,526
6/16
$1,267,526
       
Dates
Cost
   
Short Duration Fund
PAR
Acquired
Basis
   
BasePoint – BP SLL Trust,
     
   
  Series SPL-IV
$ 316,881
6/16
$ 316,881
 
 
F.
Repurchase Agreements: Under a master repurchase agreement with a broker counterparty and custodian, each Fund may enter into transactions whereby the Fund purchases securities under agreements to resell such securities at an agreed upon price and date (“repurchase agreement”).  The Funds, through the custodian, take possession of securities collateralizing the repurchase agreement, the fair value of which exceeds the amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest.  If the counterparty defaults, and the fair value of the collateral declines, realization of the collateral may be delayed or limited.
     
   
The Funds did not hold repurchase agreements during the year ended November 30, 2016.
     
 
G.
Short Sales:  The Funds are authorized to make short sales of securities. In a typical short sale, a Fund sells a security, which it does not own, in anticipation of a decline in the market value of the security. To complete the sale, a Fund must borrow the security (generally from the broker through which the short sale is made) in order to make delivery to the buyer. A Fund is then obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at the time of replacement. A Fund is said to have a “short position” in the securities sold until it delivers them to the broker. Until the security is replaced, the proceeds of the short sale are retained by the broker,
 
55

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
and a Fund is required to pay to the broker a negotiated portion of any interest which accrues during the period of the loan. To meet current margin requirements, a Fund may also be required to deposit with the broker cash or securities in excess of the current market value of the securities sold short as security for its obligation to cover its short position.  A Fund is also required to segregate or earmark liquid assets on its books to cover its obligation to return the security.
     
   
The adviser will generally sell securities short in conjunction with long positions with similar characteristics for the purposes of managing certain risks (primarily interest rate and/or yield spread risk) or for capturing differences in value between two securities, and not for forecasting the market’s direction.  In many instances, the Funds will utilize forward-settling sales of agency residential mortgage-backed securities where the underlying pools of mortgage loans are To Be Announced (“TBA”) securities for these short selling activities.
     
 
H.
Investment in Affiliated Security:  Each Fund made an investment in a private fund that is sub-advised by the Funds’ investment adviser resulting in that private fund being considered an affiliated investment, as defined in the 1940 Act. As of November 30, 2016, the MBS Total Return Fund and the Short Duration Fund no longer held any affiliated securities.  Transactions during the year ended November 30, 2016 in each Fund in which the investment in the private fund was considered an “affiliated investment” are as follows:

       
MBS Total
   
Short
 
       
Return Fund
   
Duration Fund
 
   
Beginning Cost
 
$
6,000,000
   
$
1,500,000
 
   
Purchase Cost
   
     
 
   
Sales Cost
   
(6,000,000
)
   
(1,500,000
)
   
Ending Cost
 
$
   
$
 
   
Dividend Income
   
     
 
   
Net Realized Gain/(Loss)
 
$
(400,110
)
 
$
(100,003
)

 
 
I.
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.
 
       
Undistributed
   
Accumulated Net
       
       
Net Investment
   
Realized
   
Paid-in
 
       
Income
   
Loss
   
Capital
 
   
MBS Total Return Fund
 
$
2,825,688
   
$
(2,825,688
)
 
$
 
   
Short Duration Fund
   
345,830
     
(345,830
)
   
 
 
56

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
 
J.
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.
     
 
K.
Events Subsequent to the Fiscal Year End:  In preparing the financial statements as of November 30, 2016, management considered the impact of subsequent events for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.
 
NOTE 3 – SECURITIES VALUATION
 
The Funds have 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 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 each 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 each 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 Funds’ major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
 
Each 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).
 
Investment Companies:  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.
57

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities:  Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are securities issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal.  These securities are normally valued by pricing service providers that use broker-dealer quotations or valuation estimates from their internal pricing models.  The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche, current market data and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available.  Mortgage- and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are categorized as level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
U.S. Government Securities:  U.S. Government securities are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data.  Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.  U.S. Government securities are typically categorized in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
U.S. Government Agency Securities:  U.S. Government agency securities are comprised of two main categories consisting of agency issued debt and mortgage pass-throughs.  Agency issued debt securities are generally valued in a manner similar to U.S. Government securities.  Mortgage pass-throughs include to-be-announced (“TBAs”) securities and mortgage pass-through certificates.  TBA securities and mortgage pass-throughs are generally valued using dealer quotations.  These securities are typically categorized in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Other Debt Securities:  Other debt securities, including corporate and municipal bonds, are valued at their mean prices furnished by an independent pricing service using valuation methods that are designed to represent fair value. These valuation methods can include matrix pricing and other analytical pricing models, market transactions, and dealer-supplied valuations. The pricing service may consider yields or recently executed transactions of investments with comparable quality, type of issue, coupon maturity and rating, market price quotations (where observable), bond spreads, and fundamental data relating to the issuer.  Most debt securities are categorized in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
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 Funds’ 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
58

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
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 Funds’ securities as of November 30, 2016:
 
MBS Total Return Fund
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Fixed Income
                       
Asset-Backed Securities
 
$
   
$
38,454,772
   
$
16,458,673
   
$
54,913,445
 
Collateralized Debt
                               
  Obligations
   
     
10,365,088
     
20,684,773
     
31,049,861
 
Commercial
                               
  Mortgage-Backed
                               
  Securities – Agency
   
     
538,835
     
     
538,835
 
Commercial
                               
  Mortgage-Backed
                               
  Securities – Non-Agency
   
     
108,056,286
     
11,453,719
     
119,510,005
 
Residential
                               
  Mortgage-Backed
                               
  Securities – Agency
   
     
2,013,321
     
     
2,013,321
 
Residential
                               
  Mortgage-Backed
                               
  Securities – Non-Agency
   
     
298,629,352
     
1,074,383
     
299,703,735
 
U.S. Government Agencies
   
     
22,254,551
     
     
22,254,551
 
Total Fixed Income
   
     
480,312,205
     
49,671,548
     
529,983,753
 
Private Placement
                               
  Participation
                               
  Agreement
   
     
     
1,267,526
     
1,267,526
 
Short-Term Investments
   
53,634,937
     
     
     
53,634,937
 
Total Investments
 
$
53,634,937
   
$
480,312,205
   
$
50,939,074
   
$
584,886,216
 

59

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
Short Duration Fund
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Fixed Income
                       
Asset-Backed
                       
  Securities – Agency
 
$
   
$
268,811
   
$
   
$
268,811
 
Asset-Backed
                               
  Securities – Non-Agency
   
     
6,464,403
     
1,165,162
     
7,629,565
 
Collateralized Debt Obligations
   
     
680,467
     
1,029,936
     
1,710,403
 
Collateralized Loan Obligations
   
     
2,775,796
     
     
2,775,796
 
Commercial Mortgage-Backed
                               
  Securities – Agency
   
     
494,929
     
     
494,929
 
Commercial Mortgage-Backed
                               
  Securities – Non-Agency
   
     
7,946,557
     
958,787
     
8,905,344
 
Residential Mortgage-Backed
                               
  Securities – Agency
   
     
2,093,243
     
     
2,093,243
 
Residential Mortgage-Backed
                               
  Securities – Non-Agency
   
     
9,543,635
     
121,236
     
9,664,871
 
U.S. Treasury Notes
   
     
7,499,771
     
     
7,499,771
 
Total Fixed Income
   
     
37,767,612
     
3,275,121
     
41,042,733
 
Private Placement
                               
  Participation Agreement
   
     
     
316,881
     
316,881
 
Short-Term Investments
   
683,143
     
     
     
683,143
 
Total Investments
 
$
683,143
   
$
37,767,612
   
$
3,592,002
   
$
42,042,757
 
 
Refer to each Fund’s schedule of investments for a detailed break-out of securities by type.  Transfers between levels are recognized at November 30, 2016, the end of the reporting period.  The Funds recognized no transfers to/from level 1 or level 2.
60

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
The following is a reconciliation of the MBS Total Return Fund’s level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining value.
 
MBS Total Return Fund
 
    Investments in Securities, at Value  
         
Collateralized
   
Commercial
   
Residential
 
   
Asset-Backed
   
Debt
   
MBS –
   
MBS –
 
   
Securities
   
Obligations
   
Non-Agency
   
Agency
 
Balance as of November 30, 2015
 
$
9,853,273
   
$
15,078,659
   
$
18,218,711
   
$
2,457,000
 
Accrued discounts/premiums
   
(4,247
)
   
354,366
     
337,083
     
 
Realized gain/(loss)
   
39,002
     
120,149
     
(369,856
)
   
93,281
 
Change in unrealized
                               
  appreciation/(depreciation)
   
32,018
     
(708,619
)
   
(1,024,506
)
   
(57,000
)
Purchases
   
10,688,278
     
9,420,089
     
20,095,619
     
 
Sales
   
(4,149,651
)
   
(773,844
)
   
(9,498,046
)
   
(2,493,281
)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
     
(2,806,027
)
   
(16,305,286
)
   
 
Balance as of November 30, 2016
 
$
16,458,673
   
$
20,684,773
   
$
11,453,719
   
$
 
                                 
                   
Private
         
   
Residential
   
Private
   
Placement
         
   
MBS –
   
Fund
   
Participation
         
   
Non-Agency
   
Investment
   
Agreement
         
Balance as of November 30, 2015
 
$
4,712,640
   
$
6,158,347
   
$
         
Accrued discounts/premiums
   
47,950
     
     
         
Realized gain/(loss)
   
95,452
     
(400,110
)
   
         
Change in unrealized
                               
  appreciation/(depreciation)
   
(1,903,040
)
   
(158,347
)
   
         
Purchases
   
     
     
2,000,000
         
Sales
   
(1,357,679
)
   
(5,599,890
)
   
(732,474
)
       
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
(520,940
)
   
     
         
Balance as of November 30, 2016
 
$
1,074,383
   
$
   
$
1,267,526
         
 
The change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for level 3 securities still held at November 30, 2016, and still classified as level 3 was $(4,189,381).
61

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
The following is a reconciliation of the Short Duration Fund’s level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining value.
 
Short Duration Fund
 
   
Investments in Securities, at Value
 
   
Asset-Backed
   
Collateralized
   
Commercial
   
Residential
 
   
Securities
   
Debt
   
MBS –
   
MBS –
 
   
Non-Agency
   
Obligations
   
Non-Agency
   
Non-Agency
 
Balance as of November 30, 2015
 
$
248,750
   
$
994,098
   
$
1,505,384
   
$
 
Accrued discounts/premiums
   
(40
)
   
23,901
     
1,004
     
(25
)
Realized gain/(loss)
   
348
     
8,866
     
(12,253
)
   
(132
)
Change in unrealized
                               
  appreciation/(depreciation)
   
420
     
(1,054
)
   
24,926
     
526
 
Purchases
   
1,797,924
     
181,881
     
767,121
     
150,682
 
Sales
   
(882,240
)
   
(177,756
)
   
(1,327,395
)
   
(29,815
)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
     
     
     
 
Balance as of November 30, 2016
 
$
1,165,162
   
$
1,029,936
   
$
958,787
   
$
121,236
 
                               
           
Private
                 
   
Private
   
Placement
                 
   
Fund
   
Participation
                 
   
Investment
   
Agreement
                 
Balance as of November 30, 2015
 
$
1,539,587
   
$
2,527,748
                 
Accrued discounts/premiums
   
     
                 
Realized gain/(loss)
   
(100,003
)
   
                 
Change in unrealized
                               
  appreciation/(depreciation)
   
(39,586
)
   
                 
Purchases
   
     
11,708,711
                 
Sales
   
(1,399,998
)
   
(13,919,578
)
               
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
     
                 
Balance as of November 30, 2016
 
$
   
$
316,881
                 
                                 
 
The change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for level 3 securities still held at November 30, 2016, and still classified as level 3 was $(1,538).
 
Transfers from level 3 to level 2 are a result of the availability of current market data provided by the Funds’ primary pricing service which utilizes observable inputs.  The Funds’ primary pricing service was unable to provide pricing for 26 securities held on November 30, 2016.  The Valuation Committee utilized indicative market quotations or broker quotes received from a broker-dealer considered by the Adviser to be a market participant.  The underlying inputs which support the broker quote utilized by the Valuation Committee are not observable.  In addition, the primary pricing service provided a valuation based on a single broker quote for 6 other securities held by the Funds.  The MBS Total Return Fund held 1 security at November 30, 2016 which was purchased on November 23, 2016 and continues to be valued at cost.
62

SEMPER FUNDS
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
Significant unobservable valuation inputs for private placement participation agreements held in the MBS Total Return Fund and the Short Duration Fund and classified as level 3 securities as of November 30, 2016, are as follows:
 
Investments
Value at
Valuation
Unobservable
 
in Securities
11/30/16
Technique(s)
Input
Input Values
     
Fixed loan
This loan participation has an expected 10%
 
MBS
 
participation
yield for a 3 year term, appropriate given
 
Total
 
valued at
the asset’s strong credit quality offset by
 
Return
 
par based on
illiquidity.  This loan participation is part of
BasePoint –
Fund
 
deal cash flow,
a senior secured credit facility backed by a
BP SLL Trust,
held
Discounted
illiquidity and
series of pools of unsecured consumer loan
Series SPL-IV
$1,267,526.
cash flows
short maturity.
receivables originated by LoanMe, Inc., a
 
Short
   
specialty finance company that directly
 
Duration
   
originates and services high interestbearing
 
Fund
   
unsecured consumer loans and unsecured
 
held
   
small business loans.  Repayment of
 
$316,881.
   
principal at par is ahead of schedule with
       
another 15% paid down in Q4 2016.
       
Overcollateralization, strong fundamentals
       
of loan cash flows support a continued
       
price of par.
 
NOTE 4 – INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
 
For the year ended November 30, 2016, Semper Capital Management, L.P. (the “Adviser”) provided the Funds with investment management services under an investment advisory agreement. The Adviser furnished all investment advice, office space, facilities, and provides most of the personnel needed by the Funds. As compensation for its services, the Adviser is entitled to a monthly fee at the annual rate of 0.45% based upon the average daily net assets of the MBS Total Return Fund and at an annual rate of 0.35% based upon the average daily net assets of the Short Duration Fund.  For the year ended November 30, 2016, the MBS Total Return Fund and the Short Duration Fund incurred $2,000,715 and $150,037 in advisory fees, respectively.
 
Each Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses.  The Adviser has agreed to reduce fees payable to it by each Fund and to pay Fund operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit the aggregate annual operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses, taxes, interest, dividends and interest expense on securities sold short and extraordinary expenses) to 1.00%, 1.00%, and 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the MBS Total Return Fund’s Class A, Investor Class, and Institutional Class, respectively, and 0.85% and 0.60% of the average daily net assets of the Short Duration Fund’s Investor Class and Institutional Class, respectively.  Any such reduction made by the Adviser in its fees or payment of expenses which are the Funds’ obligation are subject to reimbursement by the Funds to the Adviser, if so requested by the Adviser, in subsequent fiscal years if the aggregate amount
63

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
actually paid by the Funds toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into account the reimbursement) does not exceed the applicable limitation on Fund expenses. The Adviser 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 Funds’ payment of current ordinary operating expenses.  For the year ended November 30, 2016, the Adviser recouped $104,149 in previously waived expenses for the MBS Total Return Fund.  For the year ended November 30, 2016, the Adviser reduced its fees in the amount of $162,388 for the Short Duration Fund.  The expense limitation will remain in effect through at least March 28, 2017, and may be terminated only by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.  Cumulative expenses subject to recapture pursuant to the aforementioned conditions and the date of expiration are as follows:
 
     
MBS Total Return Fund
   
Short Duration Fund
 
 
Year
 
Amount
   
Amount
 
 
2017
 
$
65,115
   
$
109,081
 
 
2018
   
     
151,298
 
 
2019
   
     
162,388
 
     
$
65,115
   
$
422,767
 
 
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (the “Administrator” or “USBFS”) acts as the Funds’ Administrator under an administration agreement. The Administrator prepares various federal and state regulatory filings, reports and returns for the Funds; prepares reports and materials to be supplied to the Trustees; monitors the activities of the Funds’ custodian, transfer agent and accountants; coordinates the preparation and payment of the Funds’ expenses and reviews the Funds’ expense accruals.
 
USBFS also serves as the fund accountant and transfer agent to the Funds.  U.S. Bank N.A., an affiliate of USBFS, serves as the Funds’ custodian.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) acts as the Funds’ principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Funds’ shares. The Distributor is an affiliate of the Administrator.
 
Certain officers of the Funds are also employees of the Administrator.  The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer is also an employee of USBFS.  A Trustee of the Trust is affiliated with USBFS and U.S. Bank N.A.  This same Trustee is an interested person of the Distributor.
 
For the year ended November 30, 2016, the Funds incurred the following expense for administration, fund accounting, transfer agency, custody, and Chief Compliance Officer fees:
64

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
 
 
 
MBS Total
 
 
Short
 
 
 
 
Return Fund
 
 
Duration Fund
 
 
Administration and Fund Accounting
 
$
505,127
   
$
139,934
 
 
Transfer Agency (excludes
               
 
  out-of-pocket expenses and sub-ta fees)
   
127,831
     
31,881
 
 
Custody
   
72,333
     
12,006
 
 
Chief Compliance Officer
   
9,001
     
9,000
 
 
At November 30, 2016, the Funds 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:
 
     
MBS Total
   
Short
 
     
Return Fund
   
Duration Fund
 
 
Administration and Fund Accounting
 
$
137,683
   
$
34,457
 
 
Transfer Agency (excludes
               
 
  out-of-pocket expenses and sub-ta fees)
   
18,921
     
7,990
 
 
Custody
   
16,032
     
2,948
 
 
Chief Compliance Officer
   
2,250
     
2,250
 
 
NOTE 5 – DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT AND PLAN
 
The Funds have adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the “Plan”).  The Plan permits the Funds to pay the Distributor for distribution and related expenses at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of each Fund’s Investor Class and the MBS Total Return Fund’s Class A.  The expenses covered by the Plan may include the cost in connection with the promotion and distribution of shares and the provision of personal services to shareholders, including, but not necessarily limited to, advertising, compensation to underwriters, dealers and selling personnel, the printing and mailing of prospectuses to other than current Fund shareholders, and the printing and mailing of sales literature.  Payments made pursuant to the Plan will represent compensation for distribution and service activities, not reimbursements for specific expenses incurred.  For the year ended November 30, 2016, the Investor Class shares paid the Distributor $163,484 and $2,158 for the MBS Total Return Fund and the Short Duration Fund, respectively.  For the period December 18, 2015 through November 30, 2016, the Class A shares of the MBS Total Return Fund paid the Distributor $1,952.
 
NOTE 6 – PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
 
For the year ended November 30, 2016, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term securities, were as follows.
 
   
Non-Government
   
Government
 
   
Purchases
   
Sales
   
Purchases
   
Sales
 
MBS Total Return Fund
 
$
371,716,468
   
$
258,269,295
   
$
313,381,855
   
$
310,149,549
 
Short Duration Fund
   
37,089,646
     
41,758,922
     
4,126,882
     
7,965,573
 

65

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
NOTE 7 – LINES OF CREDIT
 
The MBS Total Return Fund and the Short Duration Fund have unsecured lines of credit in the amount of $100,000,000 and $6,800,000, respectively.  These lines of credit are intended to provide short-term financing, if necessary, subject to certain restrictions, in connection with shareholder redemptions.  The credit facility is with the Funds’ custodian, U.S. Bank N.A.  During the year ended November 30, 2016, the MBS Total Return Fund drew upon its line of credit.  The MBS Total Return Fund had an outstanding average daily balance of $54,689, a weighted average interest rate of 3.50%, and paid $1,946 in interest.  The maximum amount outstanding for the MBS Total Return Fund during the year ended November 30, 2016 was $4,163,000.  The Short Duration Fund did not draw upon its line of credit during the year ended November 30, 2016.  At November 30, 2016, the Funds had no outstanding loan amounts.
 
NOTE 8 – INCOME TAXES AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
 
Net investment income/(loss) and net realized gains/(losses) can differ for financial statement and tax purposes due to differing treatments of paydowns.
 
The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended November 30, 2016 and the year ended November 30, 2015 was as follows:
 
     
MBS Total Return Fund
    Short Duration Fund  
     
Nov. 30, 2016
   
Nov. 30, 2015
   
Nov. 30, 2016
   
Nov. 30, 2015
 
 
Ordinary income
 
$
27,303,169
   
$
14,829,034
   
$
1,210,996
   
$
1,612,944
 
 
Long-term
                               
 
  capital gains
   
     
3,847
     
     
 
 
As of November 30, 2016, the components of capital on a tax basis were as follows:
 
     
MBS Total
   
Short
 
     
Return Fund
   
Duration Fund
 
 
Cost of Investments (a)
 
$
595,968,187
   
$
42,041,220
 
 
Gross unrealized appreciation
   
5,054,679
     
257,284
 
 
Gross unrealized depreciation
   
(16,136,650
)
   
(255,747
)
 
Net unrealized appreciation/
               
 
  (depreciation) (a)
   
(11,081,971
)
   
1,537
 
 
Undistributed ordinary income
   
949,647
     
333,509
 
 
Undistributed long-term capital gains
   
     
 
 
Total distributable earnings
   
949,647
     
333,509
 
 
Other accumulated gains/(losses)
   
(8,074,628
)
   
(1,725,331
)
 
Total accumulated earnings/(losses)
 
$
(18,206,952
)
 
$
(1,390,285
)
66

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
 
(a)
The difference between book basis and tax basis net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and cost is attributable primarily to wash sales. The difference between book basis and tax basis distributable earnings are primarily due to losses disallowed and recognized on wash sales, capital loss carryforwards, and tax adjustments to distribution payable.
 
The Funds had tax capital losses which may be carried over to offset future gains.  Such losses expire as follows:
 
   
Long-Term Indefinite
   
Short-Term Indefinite
 
MBS Total Return Fund
 
$
2,061,287
   
$
5,192,951
 
Short Duration Fund
   
791,943
     
933,110
 
 
NOTE 9 – PRINCIPAL RISKS
 
Below is a summary of some, but not all, of the principal risks of investing in the Funds, each of which may adversely affect a Fund’s net asset value and total return. The Funds’ most recent prospectus provides further descriptions of each Fund’s investment objective, principal investment strategies and principal risks.
 
 
Asset-Backed Securities Risk – The Funds may invest in a variety of asset-backed securities which are subject to Interest Rate Risk, Credit Risk, Extension Risk and Prepayment Risk. Asset-backed securities may decline in value when defaults on the underlying assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of changing interest rates.
     
 
Risks Associated with Mortgage-Backed Securities – These risks include Market Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Credit Risk and Prepayment Risk, as well as the risk that the structure of certain mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) may make their reaction to interest rates and other factors difficult to predict, which may cause their prices to be very volatile. Limited trading opportunities for certain MBS may make it more difficult to sell or buy a security at a favorable price or time. In particular, events related to the U.S. housing market in recent years have had a severe negative impact on the value of some MBS and resulted in an increased risk associated with investments in these securities.
     
 
Sub-Prime Mortgage Risk – The risk that an issuer of a sub-prime mortgage security will default on its payments of interest or principal on a security when due. These risks are more pronounced in the case of sub-prime mortgage instruments than more highly ranked securities. Because of this increased risk, these securities may also be less liquid and subject to more pronounced declines in value than more highly rated instruments in times of market stress.
     
 
Government-Sponsored Entities Risk – Securities issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored entities, including Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”), Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”), may not be guaranteed
 
67

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at November 30, 2016, Continued
   
or insured by the U.S. Government and may only be supported by the credit of the issuing agency.
     
 
Rule 144A Securities Risk – The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities. Rule 144A securities carry the risk that the liquidity of these securities may become impaired, making it more difficult for the Funds to sell these securities.
     
 
High Yield Risk – Fixed income securities that are rated below investment grade (i.e. “junk bonds”) are subject to additional risk factors due to the speculative nature of the securities, such as increased possibility of default liquidation of the security, and changes in value based on public perception of the issuer.
     
 
Derivatives Risk – A derivative security is a financial contract whose value is based on (or “derived from”) a traditional security (such as a bond) or a market index, and includes options, futures and swaps. Derivatives involve the risk of improper valuation, the risk of ambiguous documentation and the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying security.
     
 
Counterparty Risk – Counterparty risk arises upon entering into borrowing arrangements or derivative transactions and is the risk from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts.
     
 
TBA Securities Risk – In a TBA transaction, a seller agrees to deliver a security at a future date, but does not specify the particular security to be delivered. Instead, the seller agrees to accept any security that meets specified terms. The principal risks of TBA transactions are increased interest rate risk and increased overall investment exposure.
     
 
Liquidity Risk – Low or lack of trading volume may make it difficult to sell securities held by the Funds at quoted market prices.
 
NOTE 10 – OTHER TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited)
 
For the year ended November 30, 2016, none of the dividends paid from net investment income qualifies for the dividend received deduction available to corporate shareholders of the Funds. For shareholders in the Funds, none of the dividend income distributed for the year ended November 30, 2016 is designated as qualified dividend income under the Jobs and Growth Relief Act of 2003.
 
On December 31, 2016, the Investor class, Institutional class, and Class A of the MBS Total Return Fund distributed $0.050062489, $0.052593236, and $0.050336219 per share of net investment income, respectively.
 
On December 31, 2016, the Investor class and the Institutional class of the Short Duration Fund distributed $0.095025602 and $0.097162387 per share of net investment income, respectively.
68

SEMPER FUNDS

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Trustees
Advisors Series Trust and
Shareholders of:
Semper MBS Total Return Fund
Semper Short Duration Fund
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of the Semper MBS Total Return Fund and Semper Short Duration Fund, each a series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”), including the schedules of investments, as of November 30, 2016, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and with respect to Semper MBS Total Return Fund, the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period July 22, 2013 (commencement of operations) through November 30, 2013, and with respect to Semper Short Duration Fund, the financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended.  With respect to the Semper Short Duration Fund, the financial highlights for each of the two years in the period ended November 30, 2013 have been audited by other auditors whose report dated January 28, 2014 expressed unqualified opinion on such financial highlights.  These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Trust’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.  The Trust is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2016, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Semper MBS Total Return Fund and Semper Short Duration Fund, as of November 30, 2016, and the results of their operations, the changes in their net assets, and the financial highlights for the periods referred to above, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLP
 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
January 30, 2017
69

SEMPER FUNDS

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS at November 30, 2016 (Unaudited)
How to Obtain a Copy of the Funds’ Proxy Voting Policies
 
A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-855-736-7799 or on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
How to Obtain a Copy of the Funds’ Proxy Voting Records for the 12-Month Period Ended June 30
 
Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30 will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-855-736-7799.  Furthermore, you can obtain the Funds’ proxy voting records on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Quarterly Filings on Form N-Q
 
The Funds file their complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q.  The Funds’ Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.  The Funds’ 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 Funds’ Form N-Q is also available, upon request, by calling 1-855-736-7799.
70

SEMPER FUNDS

INFORMATION ABOUT TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited)
This chart provides information about the Trustees and Officers who oversee the Funds.  Officers elected by the Trustees manage the day-to-day operations of the Funds and execute policies formulated by the Trustees.
 
   
Term of
 
Number of
 
   
Office
 
Portfolios
Other
   
and
Principal
in Fund
Directorships
 
Position
Length
Occupation
Complex
Held
Name, Address
Held with
of Time
During Past
Overseen by
During Past
and Age
the Trust
Served
Five Years
Trustee(2)
Five Years(3)
           
Independent Trustees(1)
         
           
Gail S. Duree
Trustee
Indefinite
Director, Alpha
3
Trustee,
(age 70)
 
term; since
Gamma Delta
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
 
March
Housing
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
2014.
Corporation
 
(for series not
     
(collegiate housing
 
affiliated with
     
management)
 
the Funds);
     
(2012 to present);
 
Independent
     
Trustee and Chair
 
Trustee from
     
(2000 to 2012),
 
1999 to 2012,
     
New Covenant
 
New Covenant
     
Mutual Funds
 
Mutual Funds
     
(1999-2012);
 
(an open-end
     
Director and
 
investment
     
Board Member,
 
company with
     
Alpha Gamma
 
4 portfolios).
     
Delta Foundation
   
     
(philanthropic
   
     
organization)
   
     
(2005 to 2011).
   
           
George J. Rebhan
Trustee
Indefinite
Retired; formerly
3
Trustee,
(age 82)
 
term; since
President, Hotchkis
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
 
May 2002.
and Wiley Funds
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
   
(mutual funds)
 
(for series not
     
(1985 to 1993).
 
affiliated with
         
the Funds);
         
Independent
         
Trustee from
         
1999 to 2009,
         
E*TRADE
         
Funds.
           
George T. Wofford
Trustee
Indefinite
Retired; formerly
3
Trustee,
(age 77)
 
term; since
Senior Vice
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
 
February
President, Federal
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
1997.
Home Loan Bank
 
(for series not
     
of San Francisco.
 
affiliated with
         
the Funds).
 
71

SEMPER FUNDS

INFORMATION ABOUT TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited), Continued
   
Term of
 
Number of
 
   
Office
 
Portfolios
Other
   
and
Principal
in Fund
Directorships
 
Position
Length
Occupation
Complex
Held
Name, Address
Held with
of Time
During Past
Overseen by
During Past
and Age
the Trust
Served
Five Years
Trustee(2)
Five Years(3)
           
Raymond B. Woolson
Trustee
Indefinite
President, Apogee
3
Trustee,
(age 57)
 
term*;
Group, Inc. (financial
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
 
since
consulting firm)
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
January
(1998 to present).
 
(for series not
   
2016.
   
affiliated with
         
the Funds);
         
Independent
         
Trustee,
         
DoubleLine
         
Funds Trust
         
(an open-end
         
investment
         
company with
         
13 portfolios),
         
DoubleLine
         
Equity Funds,
         
DoubleLine
         
Opportunistic
         
Credit Fund
         
and
         
DoubleLine
         
Income
         
Solutions
         
Fund, from
         
2010 to
         
present.
           
Interested Trustee
         
           
Joe D. Redwine(4)
Interested
Indefinite
President, CEO,
3
Trustee,
(age 69)
Trustee
term; since
U.S. Bancorp Fund
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
 
September
Services, LLC
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
2008.
(May 1991
 
(for series not
     
to present).
 
affiliated with
         
the Funds).

72

SEMPER FUNDS

INFORMATION ABOUT TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited), Continued
   
Term of
 
   
Office
 
   
and
 
 
Position
Length
 
Name, Address
Held with
of Time
Principal Occupation
and Age
the Trust
Served
During Past Five Years
       
Officers
     
       
Joe D. Redwine
Chairman
Indefinite
President, CEO, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
(age 69)
and Chief
term; since
(May 1991 to present).
615 E. Michigan Street
Executive
September
 
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Officer
2007.
 
       
Douglas G. Hess
President
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, Compliance and
(age 49)
and
term; since
Administration, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 E. Michigan Street
Principal
June
(March 1997 to present).
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Executive
2003.
 
Officer    
       
Cheryl L. King
Treasurer
Indefinite
Vice President, Compliance and Administration,
(age 55)
and
term; since
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 E. Michigan Street
Principal
December
(October 1998 to present).
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Financial
2007.
 
Officer    
       
Kevin J. Hayden
Assistant
Indefinite
Assistant Vice President, Compliance and
(age 45)
Treasurer
term; since
Administration, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 E. Michigan Street
 
September
(June 2005 to present).
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
2013.
 
       
Albert Sosa
Assistant
Indefinite
Assistant Vice President, Compliance and
(age 46)
Treasurer
term; since
Administration, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 E. Michigan Street
 
September
(June 2004 to present).
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
2013.
 
       
Michael L. Ceccato
Vice
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services,
(age 59)
President,
term; since
LLC (February 2008 to present).
615 E. Michigan Street
Chief
September
 
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Compliance
2009.
 
 
Officer and    
AML Officer    
       
Jeanine M. Bajczyk, Esq.
Secretary
Indefinite
Senior Vice President and Counsel, U.S. Bancorp
(age 51)
 
term; since
Fund Services, LLC (May 2006 to present).
615 E. Michigan Street
 
September
 
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
2015.
 
 
73

SEMPER FUNDS

INFORMATION ABOUT TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited), Continued
   
Term of
 
   
Office
 
   
and
 
 
Position
Length
 
Name, Address
Held with
of Time
Principal Occupation
and Age
the Trust
Served
During Past Five Years
Emily R. Enslow, Esq.
Assistant
Indefinite
Assistant Vice President, U.S. Bancorp Fund
(age 30)
Secretary
term; since
Services, LLC (July 2013 to present); Proxy Voting
615 E. Michigan Street
 
September
Coordinator and Class Action Administrator,
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
2015.
Artisan Partners Limited Partnership (September
     
2012 to July 2013); Legal Internship, Artisan
     
Partners Limited Partnership (February 2012 to
     
September 2012); J.D. Graduate, Marquette
     
University Law School (2009 to 2012).

*
Under the Trust’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, a Trustee serves during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he/she dies, resigns, is declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of appropriate jurisdiction, or is removed, or, if sooner, until the election and qualification of his/her successor.  In addition, the Trustees have designated a mandatory retirement age of 75, such that each Trustee first elected or appointed to the Board after December 1, 2015, serving as such on the date he or she reaches the age of 75, shall submit his or her resignation not later than the last day of the calendar year in which his or her 75th birthday occurs.
(1)
The Trustees of the Trust who are not “interested persons” of the Trust as defined under the 1940 Act (“Independent Trustees”).
(2)
As of November 30, 2016, the Trust was comprised of 47 active portfolios managed by unaffiliated investment advisers.  The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Funds and the Semper Absolute Return Bond Fund.  The Funds do not hold themselves out as related to any other series within the Trust for investment purposes, nor does it share the same investment adviser with any other series.
(3)
“Other Directorships Held” includes only directorships of companies required to register or file reports with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (that is, “public companies”) or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.
(4)
Mr. Redwine is an “interested person” of the Trust as defined by the 1940 Act.  Mr. Redwine is an interested Trustee of the Trust by virtue of the fact that he is an interested person of Quasar Distributors, LLC who acts as principal underwriter to the series of the Trust.
 
The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Funds’ Trustees and Officers and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1-855-736-7799.
74

SEMPER FUNDS

HOUSEHOLDING (Unaudited)
In an effort to decrease costs, the Funds intend 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 1-855-736-7799 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.
 
75

SEMPER FUNDS

PRIVACY NOTICE
The Funds collect 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 Funds.  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 Funds 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.
 
76

 
 
 
 

 
(This Page Intentionally Left Blank.)
 
 
 
 
 
 

Investment Adviser
Semper Capital Management, L.P.
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 401
New York, New York 10017


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


Legal Counsel
Schiff Hardin LLP
666 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1700
New York, New York 10103


Custodian
U.S. Bank N.A.
Custody Operations
1555 North River Center Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212


Transfer Agent, Fund Accountant and Fund Administrator
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
1-855-736-7799 (855-SEM-PRXX)


Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202


This report is intended for shareholders of the Funds and may not be used as sales literature unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.  For a current prospectus, please call 1-855-736-7799 (855-SEM-PRXX).  Statements and other information herein are dated and are subject to change.

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

The registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer.  The registrant has not made any amendments to its code of ethics during the period covered by this report.  The registrant has not granted any waivers from any provisions of the code of ethics during the period covered by this report.

A copy of the registrant’s Code of Ethics is filed herewith.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

The registrant’s Board of Trustees has determined that there is at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee.  Ms. Gail S. Duree is the “audit committee financial expert” and is considered to be “independent” as each term is defined in Item 3 of Form N CSR.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The registrant has engaged its principal accountant to perform audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services during the past two fiscal years.  “Audit services” refer to performing an audit of the registrant's annual financial statements or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years.  “Audit-related services” refer to the assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit.  “Tax services” refer to professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning.  There were no “other services” provided by the principal accountant.  The following table details the aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed for each of the last two fiscal years for audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees and other fees by the principal accountant.

 
FYE  11/30/2016
FYE  11/30/2015
Audit Fees
          $40,300
          $34,800
Audit-Related Fees
     N/A
      N/A
Tax Fees
         $6,800
        $6,600
All Other Fees
     N/A
       N/A

The audit committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures that require the audit committee to pre‑approve all audit and non‑audit services of the registrant, including services provided to any entity affiliated with the registrant.

The percentage of fees billed by Tait, Weller, & Baker LLP applicable to non-audit services pursuant to waiver of pre-approval requirement were as follows:

 
FYE  11/30/2016
FYE  11/30/2015
Audit-Related Fees
0%
0%
Tax Fees
0%
0%
All Other Fees
0%
0%

All of the principal accountant’s hours spent on auditing the registrant’s financial statements were attributed to work performed by full‑time permanent employees of the principal accountant.

The following table indicates the non-audit fees billed or expected to be billed by the registrant’s accountant for services to the registrant and to the registrant’s investment adviser (and any other controlling entity, etc.—not sub-adviser) for the last two years.  The audit committee of the Board of Trustees has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the registrant's investment adviser is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence and has concluded that the provision of such non-audit services by the accountant has not compromised the accountant’s independence.

Non-Audit Related Fees
FYE  11/30/2016
FYE  11/30/2015
Registrant
N/A
N/A
Registrant’s Investment Adviser
N/A
N/A


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 fourth 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 subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Filed herewith.

(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.

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  2/8/17 



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  2/8/17 

By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Cheryl L. King
  Cheryl L. King, Treasurer

Date 2/8/17 

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