N-CSR 1 scharf-ncsra.htm SCHARF FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT 9-30-19

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES




Investment Company Act file number 811-07959



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



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


Jeffrey T. Rauman, President/Chief Executive Officer
Advisors Series Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 5th Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(Name and address of agent for service)



(626) 914-7363
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



Date of fiscal year end: September 30, 2019



Date of reporting period: September 30, 2019



Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.
 

 
SCHARF FUNDS

 

 
Scharf Fund
Institutional Class – LOGIX
Retail Class – LOGRX
 
Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund
Institutional Class – LOGOX
Retail Class – LOGBX
 
Scharf Global Opportunity Fund
Retail Class – WRLDX
 
Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
Retail Class – HEDJX
 

 
ANNUAL REPORT
 
September 30, 2019
 

Scharf Investments, LLC
 

 
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Funds’ shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Funds or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank.  Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
 
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action.  You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Funds or your financial intermediary electronically.
 
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge.  You can inform the Funds or your financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports.  Your election to receive reports in paper may apply to all funds held within the fund complex and may apply to all funds held through your financial intermediary.


SCHARF FUNDS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

To Our Shareholders
2
Investment Highlights
12
Expense Examples
18
Sector Allocation of Portfolio Assets
21
Schedules of Investments
25
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
42
Statements of Operations
44
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
46
Statement of Cash Flows
52
Financial Highlights
53
Notes to Financial Statements
59
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
78
Notice to Shareholders
79
Information about Trustees and Officers
81
Householding
84
Privacy Notice
85





SCHARF FUNDS

TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS

PERFORMANCE AS OF 9/30/2019
SCHARF FUND
           
         
Since
Since
 
6
One
Three
Five
Inception
Inception
Cumulative:
Months
Year
Year
Year
12/30/2011
1/28/2015
  Scharf Fund – Institutional Class
6.77%
  7.61%
27.89%
42.34%
132.52%
N/A
  Scharf Fund – Retail Class
6.61%
  7.32%
26.79%
N/A
N/A
36.17%
  S&P 500® Index
6.08%
  4.25%
45.80%
67.27%
178.31%
63.76%
    (with dividends reinvested)
           
Annualized:
           
  Scharf Fund – Institutional Class
  8.55%
  7.32%
  11.50%
N/A
  Scharf Fund – Retail Class
  8.23%
N/A
N/A
  6.83%
  S&P 500® Index
13.39%
10.84%
  14.11%
11.14%
    (with dividends reinvested)
           
SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND
   
         
Since
Since
 
6
One
Three
Five
Inception
Inception
Cumulative:
Months
Year
Year
Year
12/31/2012
1/21/2016
  Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity
           
    Fund – Institutional Class
5.84%
  6.89%
21.53%
32.63%
  71.06%
N/A
  Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity
           
    Fund – Retail Class
5.72%
  6.66%
20.61%
N/A
N/A
33.08%
  Lipper Balanced Funds Index
4.72%
  4.94%
24.42%
34.98%
  64.61%
39.95%
    (with dividends reinvested)
           
  Bloomberg Barclays U.S.
           
    Aggregate Bond Index
5.42%
10.30%
  9.03%
18.07%
  20.42%
14.31%
  S&P 500® Index
           
    (with dividends reinvested)
6.08%
  4.25%
45.80%
67.27%
139.92%
71.78%
Annualized:
           
  Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity
           
    Fund – Institutional Class
  6.72%
  5.82%
    8.28%
N/A
  Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity
           
    Fund – Retail Class
  6.45%
N/A
N/A
  8.04%
  Lipper Balanced Funds Index
  7.56%
  6.18%
    7.67%
  9.53%
    (with dividends reinvested)
           
  Bloomberg Barclays U.S.
           
    Aggregate Bond Index
  2.92%
  3.38%
    2.79%
  3.69%
  S&P 500® Index
           
    (with dividends reinvested)
13.39%
10.84%
  13.85%
15.78%


2

SCHARF FUNDS

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND
 
       
Since
 
6
One
Three
Inception
Cumulative:
Months
Year
Year
10/14/2014
  Scharf Global Opportunity Fund
5.71%
  4.92%
31.40%
54.35%
  MSCI All Country World Index (Net)
3.59%
  1.38%
32.04%
44.81%
Annualized:
       
  Scharf Global Opportunity Fund
  9.53%
  9.14%
  MSCI All Country World Index (Net)
  9.71%
  7.75%
SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND
 
       
Since
 
6
One
Three
Inception
Cumulative:
Months
Year
Year
12/31/2015
  Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
4.65%
  6.31%
  6.20%
  8.50%
  HFRX Equity Hedge Index
1.81%
-1.40%
  8.31%
  7.57%
  Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
5.42%
10.30%
  9.03%
15.35%
  S&P 500® Index (with dividends reinvested)
6.08%
  4.25%
45.80%
57.23%
Annualized:
       
  Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
  2.03%
  2.20%
  HFRX Equity Hedge Index
  2.70%
  1.96%
  Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index
  2.92%
  3.88%
  S&P 500® Index (with dividends reinvested)
13.39%
12.82%

Performance data quoted represents past performance; past performance 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 Funds may be lower or higher than the performance quoted.  Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 1-866-572-4273.
 
The gross expense ratios, as of the Funds’ registration statement dated January 28, 2019, for the Scharf Fund Institutional Class, Scharf Fund Retail Class, Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund Institutional Class, Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund Retail Class, Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund are 1.12%, 1.37%, 1.46%, 1.71%, 1.88%, and 3.02%, respectively.  The net expense ratios, as of the Funds’ registration statement dated January 28, 2019, for the Scharf Fund Institutional Class, Scharf Fund Retail Class, Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund Institutional Class, Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund Retail Class, Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund represent the percentages paid by investors and are 1.00%, 1.25%, 0.99%, 1.24%, 0.70%, and 1.97%, respectively, after fee waivers and expense reimbursements, including acquired fund fees and expenses, interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses. Scharf Investments, LLC (the “Adviser”), the Funds’ investment adviser, has contractually agreed to waive fees through January 27, 2020 for the Scharf Fund, Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund.  The Scharf Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee on redemptions or exchanges of fund shares that are made within 60 days of purchase.  The Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund charge a 2.00% redemption fee on redemptions or exchanges of fund shares that are made within 15 days of purchase.  Had a redemption fee been included, returns would be lower.
 


3

SCHARF FUNDS

Dear Fellow Shareholders,
 
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Fund Institutional Class and Retail Class returned 7.61% and 7.32%, respectively, compared to the 4.25% return for the S&P 500® Index (“S&P 500”).  The key contributors to relative performance for the period were Hershey Co., Starbucks Corp., Microsoft Corp., and Dollar Tree, Inc.  The key detractors from relative performance were Baidu, Inc. – ADR, CVS Health Corp., CDK Global, Inc., and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
 
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund Institutional Class and Retail Class returned 6.89% and 6.66%, respectively, compared to the 4.94% return for the Lipper Balanced Funds Index, 10.30% return for the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and 4.25% return for the S&P 500.  The key contributors to relative performance for the period were Hershey Co., Starbucks Corp., Microsoft Corp., and Dollar Tree, Inc.  The key detractors from relative performance were Baidu, Inc. – ADR, CVS Health Corp., CDK Global, Inc., and Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
 
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund returned 4.92% compared to the 1.38% return for the MSCI All Country World Index (Net).  The key contributors to relative performance for the period were Comcast Corp. – Class A, Novartis AG – ADR, Heineken N.V., and Compass Group plc.  The key detractors from relative performance were Baidu, Inc. – ADR, CVS Health Corp., Softbank Corp. – ADR, and Allergan plc.
 
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund returned 6.31% compared to the -1.40% return for the HFRX Equity Hedge Index, 10.30% return for the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, and 4.25% return for the S&P 500.  The key contributors to relative performance for the period were Hershey Co., Starbucks Corp., Microsoft Corp., and Comcast Corp. – Class A.  The key detractors from relative performance were Baidu, Inc. – ADR, CVS Health Corp., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. – Class A.
 
After underperforming the last few years as momentum growth stocks carried markets higher, we are pleased with this year’s results as the Scharf Funds largely outperformed their respective benchmarks.  As discussed in the following market commentary, we believe we may be seeing signs of an inflection point in the market and a rotation from momentum growth into value.
 
MARKET COMMENTARY
 
It Pays to be Patient:  It has been 85 years since the publication of Security Analysis, a classic value investing guide written by Benjamin Graham, widely known as the “father of value investing” and mentor to Warren Buffett.  To honor the 50th anniversary of Security Analysis, Buffett wrote an article entitled “The Superinvestors of Graham & Doddsville.”  These investors all used Graham’s value investing principles to independently achieve remarkable investment results.  The common intellectual theme shared by investors from Graham-and-Doddsville was they searched for discrepancies between the value of a business and the price of small pieces of that business in the market.
 
Buffett’s hypothesis was that this was evidence that value investing could achieve incremental long-term returns in the stock market and, in fact, that risk and return were not necessarily positively correlated.  Perversely, “the greater the potential for reward in the value portfolio, the less risk there is.”  Nobel-prize winning economist, Eugene Fama, later published academic


4

SCHARF FUNDS

research that supported Buffett’s hypothesis.  Fama found that the cheapest third of stocks on a Price-to-Book value basis provided an average annual extra total return of 4.7% per year above those of the most expensive third of stocks.  He called this excess return the “Value Premium.”  The chart below illustrates the excess return achieved by value stocks since 1926.
 
 
 
Source: Fama & French.  Monthly excess returns data for “Value” sorted by Price-to-Book.
 

As you can clearly see, value investing has been a time-tested way to earn a higher return in the stock market – most of the time.  Unfortunately, one part of the bargain for value investors is that there will inevitably be time periods where value stocks lag behind growth stocks, sometimes for extended periods lasting a decade or more.  Value stocks underperformed during the depression in the 1930’s, during the dot-com bubble of the late 1990’s, and most recently, for most of the past 12 years.
 
Because of this recent underperformance, the valuation gap between growth stocks and value stocks has grown remarkably large.  When broken down by quintiles, the forward P/E ratio of the most expensive stocks in the S&P 500 is roughly 34x, a whopping 183% premium over the cheapest stocks in the S&P 500.  This premium ranks in the 92nd percentile for expensiveness among all quarterly readings since 1996.  As the chart below demonstrates, the last time value was this cheap relative to growth was near the height of the dot-com bubble.  Investors who stuck with the value discipline were more than well rewarded.  From 2000 through 2006, the Russell 1000 Value Index returned +70% while the Russell 1000 Growth Index lost 30%!
 

 


5

SCHARF FUNDS



 
Sources: Bloomberg, Scharf Investments, LLC.
 

Is this current premium justified?  We don’t think so.  When it comes to earnings growth, expectations for growth companies are typically higher than those for value companies.  However, historical results have told a different story.  Over the last 25 years, the Russell 1000 Growth Index has grown earnings 6.8% per year, only slightly better than the 5.7% annual earnings growth for the Russell 1000 Value Index.  After taking into account the higher dividend yield of the Value Index, however, the Russell 1000 Value Index has provided a better “fundamental return” (defined as earnings growth plus the dividend yield earned by investors).  If past is prologue, we believe value stocks are potentially poised to outperform growth stocks.  We have already seen evidence of this over the past 12 months as the S&P 500 Value Index has returned 5.6% compared to only 3.3% for the S&P 500 Growth Index.  Perhaps the tides are finally turning.
 
Whether the tides turn now or 5 years from now is impossible to say.  One of the reasons we strongly believe they will eventually turn, however, is because historically they always have.  A key investment premise of the “The Superinvestors of Graham & Doddsville” was the concept of mean reversion.  This is one of the basic tenets of our stock selection methodology.  Namely, if a stock’s current valuation is well below its historic valuation range, though impossible to predict when, there is a strong probability the valuation will revert back to its historical average.
 
To illustrate this concept, despite growing earnings more than the S&P 500 from 2008-2012, Microsoft (one of our long-term portfolio holdings) measurably trailed the index over this time frame.  By the end of 2012, the stock was trading at a 30% discount to the S&P 500 and a 71% discount to its own historical median high P/E.  Investors were filled with fears about the future of Microsoft: “Mobile will kill PCs, the operating system is dead, Google/Apple will dominate the industry.”
 
In the end, those fears didn’t materialize.  As Microsoft’s business continued to thrive, the valuation recovered back toward its historical average.  Since 2012, the price of Microsoft has risen 421% compared to 109% for the S&P 500.  Microsoft’s P/E more than doubled from 9x at the end of 2012 to roughly 25x today (though still below its historical median high of 30x).  Back when we purchased Microsoft, we had no idea when the market would finally revalue it in-line with its history, but we had a strong belief that we were buying the company at a large discount to its fundamental value and that the market would one day recognize it.
 

6

SCHARF FUNDS


 
 
Sources: Bloomberg, Scharf Investments, LLC.
 

Uncertainty and Anxiety Abound: With the S&P 500 at record highs, an investor would be forgiven for assuming that, to use a phrase from The Lego Movie, “Everything is awesome!”  Unfortunately, perhaps investors should be singing the song from the sequel, “Everything is not awesome.”  We believe there are a number of risks for stock market investors, namely:
 
(1)  Trade wars and tariffs
 
(2)  Weaker than expected earnings
 
(3)  Rising corporate debt
 
(4)  Historically expensive equity market valuations
 
The first risk currently in the headlines is the potential economic impact of ongoing trade wars and tariffs.  For example, many CEOs are concerned that rising raw material input costs as a result of tariffs will negatively impact corporate profit margins.  Many retailers also worry that consumer spending could be negatively impacted as tariffs represent a national sales tax on consumers.  Finally, tariff uncertainties have a paralyzing effect on corporate decisions to make long-term capital investments.
 
 
 
Source: Moody’s Analytics
 


7

SCHARF FUNDS

According to Moody’s, business sentiment has plummeted since the start of the trade war.  In fact, businesses’ expectations have fallen back to where they were just prior to the financial crisis.  The Moody’s Weekly Market Outlook from June stated: “Our global business confidence diffusion index which asks respondents nine questions about their operations, is as weak as it has been since the economy began its ascent out of the financial crisis a decade ago.”  If the trade war continues or gets worse, it will undoubtedly have a negative impact on economic activity.
 
As a result of the global economic slowdown, and the uncertainties around tariffs and global trade, many companies have warned that their earnings in the year ahead will likely be lower than previously expected.  S&P 500 consensus earnings estimates for both 2019 and 2020 have fallen sharply since the start of the year.
 
The S&P 500 Index made major peaks in 2000 and 2007, leading to subsequent bear markets for stocks, at about the same time that corporate profit margins reached their cyclical peaks in 2000 and 2007.  Recent data suggests there is reason for investors to be concerned that profit margins may be peaking for this cycle as well.  Aggregate corporate debt as a percent of GDP recently grew to 47%, above the peak going into each of the past three recessions.  In each of these three prior cycles when corporate debt levels rose to the current level, a recession soon followed. Despite these risks, the S&P 500 currently trades at the upper end of its historical valuation range.
 
To summarize, we have risks from ongoing trade wars, near peak earnings with declining earnings estimates, record corporate debt levels, and record valuations.  Not a pretty picture for investors.  So what are we doing about this?
 
INVESTMENT STRATEGY
 
While we are always mindful of how economic conditions and current events impact companies, we continue to focus the bulk of our research on fundamental research and independent company analysis to identify securities which we believe are trading at significant discounts to fair value.  The median stock in our portfolio currently has 40% upside to its historical median high P/E.  We use a bottom-up, valuation-oriented strategy because stocks with low valuation ratios have often outperformed stocks with higher valuation ratios over the long term.  By purchasing securities when they appear to be at a discount to fair value, we also hope to mitigate potential downside risk.  In addition, the firm maintains a limited number of portfolios, favoring quality over quantity.  We focus only on our best ideas as we believe owning too many stocks is counterproductive to enhancing risk/reward.  Finally, we are style box agnostic and search for compelling investments in companies large and small, foreign and domestic.  To that end, we are optimistic about the current portfolios and believe the Funds are well positioned for long-term investors.
 
As an example, Domino’s Pizza Group plc (“Domino’s”) is the master franchisor of Domino’s Pizza for the UK and Republic of Ireland, where it licenses the brand to local franchisees.  Scale advantages such as higher investment in advertising and technology make the system more attractive to franchisees than competing pizza concepts.  The company is currently cheap relative to its global peers, has a ~3.5% dividend yield, and has compounded earnings 19% over the last 10 years.  As shown below, Domino’s recently traded below its median low P/E with 76% upside to its median high.


8

SCHARF FUNDS

Strong Earnings Growth
Domino’s Favorability
   
   

 
Source: Value Line, Scharf Investments, LLC. Data as of 9/30/2019.
 
 
CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate
 
 
IN CLOSING
 
For over 30 years, Scharf Investments, LLC has operated as an independent, employee-owned firm dedicated to providing the highest quality investment management services.  During this time, the firm has established a track record based on a disciplined investment approach.  That approach continues today with the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund.
 
One of our core beliefs has always been that our personal interests should be aligned with those of our clients.  As such, every member of our investment committee is invested alongside our clients.  On a personal level, as the first and one of the largest individual shareholders in each of the Funds, my family has a significant interest in the Funds’ success.  As a shareholder, I hope you take comfort in the knowledge that having our own money invested alongside yours will be a powerful motivator to sharpen our focus.
 
We thank you for the trust and confidence you have placed in us.  We welcome your comments and questions.
 

Brian Krawez
President and Portfolio Manager


 
Active investing has higher management fees because of the manager’s increased level of involvement while passive investing has lower management and operating fees. Investing in both actively and passively managed mutual funds involves risk and principal loss is possible. Both actively and passively managed mutual funds generally have daily liquidity. There are no guarantees regarding the performance of actively and passively managed mutual funds. Actively managed mutual funds may have higher portfolio turnover than passively managed funds. Excessive turnover can limit returns and can incur capital gains.
 


9

SCHARF FUNDS

Mutual fund investing involves risk.  Principal loss is possible.  The Funds may invest in securities representing equity or debt.  These securities may be issued by small- and medium-sized companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility.  The Funds may invest in foreign securities which involve greater volatility, political, economic and currency risks, and differences in accounting methods.  These risks are greater for emerging markets.  The Funds may invest in exchange-traded fund (“ETFs”) or mutual funds, the risks of owning either generally reflecting the risks of owning the underlying securities held by the ETF or mutual fund.  The Funds follow an investment style that favors relatively low valuations.  Investment in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise.  This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities.  Investment in lower-rated, non-rated and distressed securities presents a greater risk of loss to principal and interest than higher-rated securities.  The Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund may make short sales of securities, which involves the risk that losses may exceed the original amount invested. The Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund may use leverage which may exaggerate the effect of any increase or decrease in the value of portfolio securities or the net asset value of the Fund, and money borrowed will be subject to interest costs.
 
Forward earnings and EPS Growth are not measures of the Funds’ future performance.
 
The S&P 500® Index is a broad based unmanaged index of 500 stocks, which is widely recognized as representative of the equity market in general.
 
The Lipper Balanced Funds Index is an index of open-end mutual funds whose primary objective is to conserve principal by maintaining at all times a balanced portfolio of both equities and bonds.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government related and corporate securities.
 
MSCI All Country World Index (Net) is a broad measure of stock performance throughout the world, with the exception of U.S. based companies.
 
The HFRX Equity Hedge Index encompasses various equity hedge strategies, also known as long/short equity, that combine core long holdings of equities with short sales of stock, stock indices, related derivatives, or other financial instruments related to the equity markets.
 
The Russell 1000® Growth Index is an unmanaged market capitalization-weighted index of growth-oriented stocks of the largest U.S. domiciled companies that are included in the Russell 1000 Index. Growth-oriented stocks tend to have higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values.
 
The Russell 1000® Value Index measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.
 
The S&P 500® Growth Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index developed by Standard and Poor’s consisting of those stocks within the S&P 500® Index that exhibit strong growth characteristics.
 
The S&P 500® Value Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index developed by Standard and Poor’s consisting of those stocks within the S&P 500® Index that exhibit strong value characteristics.
 
You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) is the portion of a company’s profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock and serves as an indicator of a company’s profitability.
 
Price to Earnings Ratio (P/E) is a valuation ratio of a company’s current share price compared to its per-share earnings.  Upside to historical median P/E and downside to historical median P/E are terms used to describe the adviser’s estimated reward and risk of an individual security.
 
Price to Book Ratio is the ratio of market value of a company’s shares over its book value of equity.
 
Earnings Growth is the percentage change in a firm’s earnings per share (EPS) over a specific period of time.
 


10

SCHARF FUNDS

Business Sentiment Diffusion Index is a statistical measure that is meant to provide insight into current and future business conditions and concerns.
 
Value Line is an independent investment research and financial publishing firm.
 
Moody’s is a business and financial services company.
 
The information provided herein represents the opinion of the Funds’ manager, is subject to change at any time, is not guaranteed and should not be considered investment advice.
 
The Funds’ holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security.  Please refer to the Schedule of Investments in this report for a complete list of Fund holdings.
 
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
 
The Scharf Funds are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
 


11

SCHARF FUND

Comparison of the change in value of a hypothetical $1,000,000 investment
in the Scharf Fund – Institutional Class vs. the S&P 500® Index
 
 

Average Annual Total Return for the Periods Ended 9/30/2019:
 
     
Since
Since
     
Inception
Inception
 
1 year
5 year
(12/30/11)
(1/28/15)
Scharf Fund – Institutional Class1
7.61%
  7.32%
11.50%
Scharf Fund – Retail Class2
7.32%
  6.83%
S&P 500® Index
4.25%
10.84%
14.11%
11.14%

Performance data quoted on this page 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. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 1-866-572-4273 (1-866-5SCHARF).
 
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 would pay on dividends, capital gains distributions, or redemption of Fund shares. The performance data and graph do not reflect the 2.00% redemption fee imposed on shares held 60 days or less. Indices do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.
 
The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to represent the broad domestic economy.
 
1  The Fund’s Institutional Class commenced operations on December 30, 2011.
2  The Fund’s Retail Class commenced operations on January 28, 2015.


12

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

Comparison of the change in value of a hypothetical $5,000,000 investment in
the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund – Institutional Class vs.
the Lipper Balanced Funds Index, the S&P 500® Index,
and the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

 

 
Average Annual Total Return for the Periods Ended 9/30/2019:
     
Since
Since
     
Inception
Inception
 
1 year
5 year
(12/31/12)
(1/21/16)
Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity
       
  Fund – Institutional Class1
  6.89%
  5.82%
  8.28%
Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity
       
  Fund – Retail Class2
  6.66%
  8.04%
S&P 500® Index
  4.25%
10.84%
13.85%
15.78%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S.
       
  Aggregate Bond Index
10.30%
  3.38%
  2.79%
  3.69%
Lipper Balanced Funds Index
  4.94%
  6.18%
  7.67%
  9.53%

Performance data quoted on this page 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. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 1-866-572-4273 (1-866-5SCHARF).
 
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
 

 
13

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

 
data and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on dividends, capital gains distributions, or redemption of Fund shares. The performance data and graph do not reflect the 2.00% redemption fee imposed on shares held 15 days or less. Indices do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.
 
The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to represent the broad domestic economy.
 
The Lipper Balanced Funds Index is an equally weighted index of the 30 largest U.S. balanced funds.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government related and corporate securities.
 
1   The Fund’s Institutional Class commenced operations on December 31, 2012.
2   The Fund’s Retail Class commenced operations on January 21, 2016.









14

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

Comparison of the change in value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the
Scharf Global Opportunity Fund vs. the MSCI World All Country Index (Net)

 

 
Average Annual Total Return for the Periods Ended 9/30/2019:
 
1 year
3 year
Since Inception1
Scharf Global Opportunity Fund
4.92%
9.53%
9.14%
MSCI World All Country Index (Net)
1.38%
9.71%
7.75%

Performance data quoted on this page 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. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 1-866-572-4273 (1-866-5SCHARF).
 
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 would pay on dividends, capital gains distributions, or redemption of Fund shares. The performance data and graph do not reflect the 2.00% redemption fee imposed on shares held 15 days or less. Indices do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.
 
The MSCI World All Country Index (Net) captures large and mid cap representation across 23 Developed Markets (DM) and 23 Emerging Markets (EM) countries.  Net total return indexes reinvest dividends after the deduction of withholding taxes, using a tax rate appliable to non-resident institutional investors who do not benefit from double taxation treaties.
 
1  The Fund commenced operations on October 14, 2014.


15

SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND

Comparison of the change in value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in
the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund vs. the HFRX Equity Hedge Index,
the S&P 500® Index, and the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index

 

 
Cumulative Total Return for the Period Ended 9/30/2019:
 
1 year
3 year
Since Inception1
Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
  6.31%
  2.03%
  2.20%
HFRX Equity Hedge Index
 -1.40%
  2.70%
  1.96%
Bloomberg Barclays U.S.
     
  Aggregate Bond Index
10.30%
  2.92%
  3.88%
S&P 500® Index
  4.25%
13.39%
12.82%

Performance data quoted on this page 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. Performance data current to the most recent month end may be obtained by calling 1-866-572-4273 (1-866-5SCHARF).
 
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 would pay on dividends, capital gains distributions, or redemption of Fund shares. The performance data and graph do not reflect the 2.00% redemption fee imposed on shares held 15 days or less. Indices do not incur expenses and are not available for investment.
 

 
16

SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND

 
The HFRX Equity Hedge Index encompasses various equity hedge strategies, also known as long/short equity, that combine core long holdings of equities with short sales of stock, stock indices, related derivatives, or other financial instruments related to the equity markets.
 
The S&P 500® Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to represent the broad domestic economy.
 
The Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is a broad based benchmark that measures the investment grade, U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market, including Treasuries, government related and corporate securities.
 
1  The Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2015.









17

SCHARF FUNDS

EXPENSE EXAMPLES at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

Shareholders in mutual funds generally 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. The Scharf Fund, Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund are no-load mutual funds. These Examples are 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 in the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (4/1/19-9/30/19).
 
Actual Expenses
 
The first line of each table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses, with actual net expenses being limited.  Per the operating expense limitation agreement, the actual net expenses are being limited to 0.99% and 1.24%, for the Scharf Fund Institutional Class and Retail Class, respectively, 0.98% and 1.23% for the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund Institutional Class and Retail Class, respectively, 0.70% for the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and 1.00% for the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund.  Although the Funds charge no sales load or transaction fees, you will be assessed fees for outgoing wire transfers, returned checks, and stop payment orders at prevailing rates charged by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Funds’ transfer agent.  The Examples below include, but are not limited to, management fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees. You may use the information in the first line of the tables, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
 
The second line of each table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds’ actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Funds 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 tables are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds, as they may charge transaction costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees.
 

 
18

SCHARF FUNDS

EXPENSE EXAMPLES at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited), Continued

 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses Paid
Annualized
 
Account Value
Account Value
During Period*
Expense
Scharf Fund
4/1/19
9/30/19
4/1/19-9/30/19
Ratio*
Institutional Class
       
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,067.70
$4.98
0.96%
Hypothetical (5% return
       
  before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,020.26
$4.86
0.96%
Retail Class
       
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,066.10
$6.42
1.24%
Hypothetical (5% return
       
  before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,018.85
$6.28
1.24%
         
 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses Paid
Annualized
Scharf Multi-Asset
Account Value
Account Value
During Period*
Expense
  Opportunity Fund
4/1/19
9/30/19
4/1/19-9/30/19
Ratio*
Institutional Class
       
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,058.40
$5.06
0.98%
Hypothetical (5% return
       
  before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,020.16
$4.96
0.98%
Retail Class
       
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,057.20
$6.34
1.23%
Hypothetical (5% return
       
  before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,018.90
$6.23
1.23%
         
 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses Paid
Annualized
Scharf Global
Account Value
Account Value
During Period*
Expense
  Opportunity Fund
4/1/19
9/30/19
4/1/19-9/30/19
Ratio*
Retail Class
       
Actual
$1,000.00
$1,057.10
$3.20
0.62%
Hypothetical (5% return
       
  before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,021.96
$3.14
0.62%

 
19

SCHARF FUNDS

EXPENSE EXAMPLES at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited), Continued

 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses Paid
Annualized
Scharf Alpha
Account Value
Account Value
During Period*
Expense
  Opportunity Fund
4/1/19
9/30/19
4/1/19-9/30/19
Ratio*
Retail Class
       
Actual(1)
$1,000.00
$1,046.50
$8.52
1.66%
Hypothetical (5% return
       
  before expenses)(1)
$1,000.00
$1,016.75
$8.39
1.66%

(1)
 
Excluding interest expense and dividends on short positions, your actual expenses would be $4.57 and your hypothetical expenses would be $4.51.
*
 
Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio of each class, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183 (days in most recent fiscal half-year)/365 days to reflect the one-half year expense.







20

SCHARF FUND

SECTOR ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)







The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 
Percentages represent market value as a percentage of total investments.

21

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

SECTOR ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)





The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 
Percentages represent market value as a percentage of total investments.

22

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

SECTOR ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)







The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 
Percentages represent market value as a percentage of total investments.

23

SCHARF Alpha OPPORTUNITY FUND

SECTOR ALLOCATION OF PORTFOLIO ASSETS at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)







The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 
Percentages represent market value as a percentage of total long investments.

24

SCHARF FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS – 87.52%
 
Value
 
   
Banks – 1.66%
     
 
121,721
 
Wells Fargo & Co.
 
$
6,139,607
 
               
     
Beverages – 3.70%
       
 
126,783
 
Heineken N.V. (b)
   
13,702,685
 
               
     
Chemicals – 2.28%
       
 
15,368
 
Sherwin-Williams Co.
   
8,450,402
 
               
     
Communications Equipment – 1.74%
       
 
37,889
 
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
   
6,456,665
 
               
     
Diversified Financial Services – 4.61%
       
 
82,237
 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. – Class B (a)
   
17,106,941
 
               
     
Diversified Telecommunication Services – 1.92%
       
 
187,899
 
AT&T, Inc.
   
7,110,098
 
               
     
Food & Staples Retailing – 3.42%
       
 
200,933
 
CVS Health Corp.
   
12,672,844
 
               
     
Health Care Providers & Services – 3.71%
       
 
100,547
 
McKesson Corp.
   
13,740,753
 
               
     
Health Care Technology – 1.60%
       
 
86,808
 
Cerner Corp.
   
5,917,701
 
               
     
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 1.94%
       
 
279,905
 
Compass Group plc (b)
   
7,203,172
 
               
     
Insurance – 4.60%
       
 
88,107
 
Aon plc
   
17,054,872
 
               
     
Interactive Media & Services – 2.49%
       
 
7,583
 
Alphabet, Inc. – Class C (a)
   
9,243,677
 
               
     
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail – 4.26%
       
 
8,049
 
Booking Holdings, Inc. (a)
   
15,797,048
 
               
     
Internet Media – 0.92%
       
 
33,219
 
Baidu, Inc. – ADR (a)
   
3,413,584
 
               
     
IT Services – 3.71%
       
 
228,024
 
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. – Class A
   
13,741,866
 


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

25

SCHARF FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS – 87.52%, Continued
 
Value
 
   
Media – 6.78%
     
 
354,216
 
Comcast Corp. – Class A
 
$
15,968,057
 
 
87,612
 
Liberty Broadband Corp. (a)
   
9,170,348
 
           
25,138,405
 
     
Multiline Retail – 2.96%
       
 
96,210
 
Dollar Tree, Inc. (a)
   
10,983,334
 
               
     
Pharmaceutical Preparation
       
     
  and Manufacturing – 3.68%
       
 
105,304
 
Johnson & Johnson
   
13,624,232
 
               
     
Pharmaceuticals – 11.30%
       
 
85,290
 
Allergan plc
   
14,353,454
 
 
133,195
 
Novartis AG – ADR
   
11,574,645
 
 
54,900
 
Roche Holdings AG (b)
   
15,976,860
 
           
41,904,959
 
     
Road & Rail – 4.30%
       
 
119,963
 
Kansas City Southern
   
15,956,279
 
               
     
Software – 10.34%
       
 
174,483
 
Microsoft Corp.
   
24,258,372
 
 
256,107
 
Oracle Corp.
   
14,093,568
 
           
38,351,940
 
     
Specialty Retail – 3.57%
       
 
79,938
 
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
   
13,221,745
 
               
     
Trading Companies & Distributors – 2.03%
       
 
44,590
 
Watsco, Inc.
   
7,543,736
 
     
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
       
     
  (Cost $256,183,733)
   
324,476,545
 
               
     
PREFERRED STOCK – 2.24%
       
     
Semiconductors &
       
     
  Semiconductor Equipment – 2.24%
       
 
251,560
 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 3.57% (b)
   
8,307,169
 
     
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCK
       
     
  (Cost $4,082,982)
   
8,307,169
 


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

26

SCHARF FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Shares
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 10.25%
 
Value
 
   
Money Market Fund – 2.36%
     
 
8,746,491
 
First American Treasury Obligations
     
     
  Fund, Class Z, 1.85% (c)
 
$
8,746,491
 
     
TOTAL MONEY MARKET FUND
       
     
  (Cost $8,746,491)
   
8,746,491
 
               
Principal
           
Amount
           
     
U.S. Treasury Bills – 7.89%
       
$
11,355,000
 
1.76%, 10/10/2019 (d)
   
11,349,997
 
 
18,000,000
 
1.78%, 1/16/2020 (d)
   
17,904,538
 
     
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY BILLS
       
     
  (Cost $29,252,892)
   
29,254,535
 
     
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
       
     
  (Cost $37,999,383)
   
38,001,026
 
     
Total Investments in Securities
       
     
  (Cost $298,266,098) – 100.01%
   
370,784,740
 
     
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets – (0.01)%
   
(47,104
)
     
TOTAL NET ASSETS – 100.00%
 
$
370,737,636
 

ADR
American Depository Receipt
(a)
Non-income producing security.
(b)
Foreign issuer.
(c)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of September 30, 2019.
(d)
Rate shown is the discount rate at September 30, 2019.

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 



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

27

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS – 62.63%
 
Value
 
   
Banks – 1.14%
     
 
11,205
 
Wells Fargo & Co.
 
$
565,180
 
               
     
Beverages – 2.39%
       
 
10,990
 
Heineken N.V. (b)
   
1,187,797
 
               
     
Chemicals – 1.59%
       
 
1,434
 
Sherwin-Williams Co.
   
788,514
 
               
     
Communications Equipment – 1.18%
       
 
3,436
 
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
   
585,529
 
               
     
Diversified Financial Services – 3.23%
       
 
7,734
 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. – Class B (a)
   
1,608,827
 
               
     
Diversified Telecommunication Services – 1.39%
       
 
18,300
 
AT&T, Inc.
   
692,472
 
               
     
Food & Staples Retailing – 2.30%
       
 
18,131
 
CVS Health Corp.
   
1,143,522
 
               
     
Health Care Providers & Services – 2.61%
       
 
9,487
 
McKesson Corp.
   
1,296,493
 
               
     
Health Care Technology – 1.06%
       
 
7,763
 
Cerner Corp.
   
529,204
 
               
     
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 2.59%
       
 
23,495
 
Compass Group plc (b)
   
604,628
 
 
218,950
 
Domino’s Pizza Group plc (b)
   
686,213
 
           
1,290,841
 
     
Insurance – 3.16%
       
 
8,119
 
Aon plc
   
1,571,595
 
               
     
Interactive Media & Services – 1.79%
       
 
729
 
Alphabet, Inc. – Class C (a)
   
888,651
 
               
     
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail – 2.94%
       
 
746
 
Booking Holdings, Inc. (a)
   
1,464,107
 
               
     
Internet Media – 0.72%
       
 
3,475
 
Baidu, Inc. – ADR (a)
   
357,091
 
               
     
IT Services – 2.72%
       
 
22,477
 
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. – Class A
   
1,354,576
 


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

28

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS – 62.63%, Continued
 
Value
 
   
Media – 4.77%
     
 
33,470
 
Comcast Corp. – Class A
 
$
1,508,828
 
 
8,262
 
Liberty Broadband Corp. (a)
   
864,783
 
           
2,373,611
 
     
Multiline Retail – 2.11%
       
 
9,205
 
Dollar Tree, Inc. (a)
   
1,050,843
 
               
     
Pharmaceutical Preparation
       
     
  and Manufacturing – 2.70%
       
 
10,380
 
Johnson & Johnson
   
1,342,964
 
               
     
Pharmaceuticals – 7.76%
       
 
7,831
 
Allergan plc
   
1,317,879
 
 
12,721
 
Novartis AG – ADR
   
1,105,455
 
 
4,930
 
Roche Holdings AG (b)
   
1,434,716
 
           
3,858,050
 
     
Road & Rail – 3.00%
       
 
11,210
 
Kansas City Southern
   
1,491,042
 
               
     
Software – 7.49%
       
 
17,031
 
Microsoft Corp.
   
2,367,820
 
 
24,684
 
Oracle Corp.
   
1,358,361
 
           
3,726,181
 
     
Specialty Retail – 2.52%
       
 
7,582
 
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
   
1,254,063
 
               
     
Trading Companies & Distributors – 1.47%
       
 
4,330
 
Watsco, Inc.
   
732,549
 
     
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
       
     
  (Cost $24,189,420)
   
31,153,702
 
               
     
PREFERRED STOCKS – 6.30%
       
     
Closed-End Fund – 4.36%
       
 
42,653
 
GDL Fund – Series C, 4.00%
   
2,166,772
 
               
     
Semiconductors &
       
     
  Semiconductor Equipment – 1.94%
       
 
29,250
 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 3.57% (b)
   
965,912
 
     
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS
       
     
  (Cost $2,599,534)
   
3,132,684
 


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

29

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Shares
 
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND – 1.58%
 
Value
 
 
5,675
 
SPDR Gold Shares (a)
 
$
788,087
 
     
TOTAL EXCHANGE-TRADED FUND
       
     
  (Cost $687,809)
   
788,087
 
               
Principal
           
Amount
 
CORPORATE BONDS – 8.34%
       
     
Beverages – 0.18%
       
     
Coca-Cola European Partners US LLC
       
$
85,000
 
  4.50%, 9/1/2021
   
87,690
 
               
     
Computer and Electronic
       
     
  Product Manufacturing – 0.20%
       
     
Digital Equipment Corp.
       
 
89,000
 
  7.75%, 4/1/2023
   
100,003
 
               
     
Food & Staples Retailing – 0.17%
       
     
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
       
 
82,000
 
  2.70%, 11/18/2019
   
82,012
 
               
     
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail – 0.25%
       
     
eBay, Inc.
       
 
125,000
 
  2.875%, 8/1/2021
   
126,372
 
               
     
Media – 0.02%
       
     
Viacom, Inc.
       
 
11,000
 
  2.75%, 12/15/2019
   
11,001
 
               
     
Petroleum and Coal
       
     
  Products Manufacturing – 3.29%
       
     
Murphy Oil USA, Inc.
       
 
1,022,000
 
  6.00%, 8/15/2023
   
1,047,090
 
 
557,000
 
  5.625%, 5/1/2027
   
590,420
 
           
1,637,510
 
     
Road & Rail – 0.16%
       
     
Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC
       
 
75,000
 
  3.05%, 9/1/2022
   
77,121
 
               
     
Securities and Commodity Contracts
       
     
  Intermediation and Brokerage – 3.88%
       
     
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
       
 
2,281,000
 
  4.00%, (3 month LIBOR + 0.7675%), 6/1/2043 (c)
   
1,928,859
 


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

30

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Principal
         
Amount
 
CORPORATE BONDS – 8.34%, Continued
 
Value
 
   
Specialty Retail – 0.19%
     
   
L Brands, Inc.
     
$
90,000
 
  6.625%, 4/1/2021
 
$
95,400
 
     
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
       
     
  (Cost $3,827,365)
   
4,145,968
 
               
     
MUNICIPAL BONDS – 8.17%
       
     
California Health Facilities Financing Authority,
       
     
  Revenue Bonds, Chinese Hospital Association
       
 
10,000
 
  3.00%, 6/1/2024, Series 2012
   
10,470
 
     
California Health Facilities Financing Authority,
       
     
  Revenue Bonds, Persons with
       
     
  Developmental Disabilities
       
 
80,000
 
  7.11%, 2/1/2021, Series 2011B
   
83,175
 
 
145,000
 
  7.875%, 2/1/2026, Series 2011B
   
155,294
 
     
California State, General Obligation,
       
     
  Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction,
       
     
  Air Quality and Port Security Bonds
       
 
90,000
 
  6.509%, 4/1/2039, Series 2009B
   
97,471
 
     
California State, General Obligation, Various Purpose
       
 
125,000
 
  6.20%, 10/1/2019
   
125,000
 
 
405,000
 
  5.60%, 11/1/2020
   
421,313
 
 
745,000
 
  6.65%, 3/1/2022, Series 2010
   
812,624
 
 
980,000
 
  7.95%, 3/1/2036, Series 2010
   
1,003,393
 
     
City of New York, General Obligation,
       
     
  Build America Bonds
       
 
75,000
 
  5.887%, 12/1/2024
   
88,329
 
 
35,000
 
  5.424%, 3/1/2025
   
40,551
 
     
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
       
     
  Build America Bonds
       
 
205,000
 
  4.20%, 12/1/2021
   
212,001
 
     
San Francisco Bay Area Toll Authority,
       
     
  Revenue Bonds
       
 
100,000
 
  2.025%, 4/1/2020
   
100,040
 
 
100,000
 
  2.075%, 4/1/2021
   
100,124
 
 
100,000
 
  2.128%, 4/1/2022
   
100,220
 
 
100,000
 
  2.234%, 4/1/2023
   
100,327
 


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

31

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Principal
         
Amount
 
MUNICIPAL BONDS – 8.17%, Continued
 
Value
 
   
State of California, Build America Bonds
     
$
35,000
 
  5.70%, 11/1/2021
 
$
37,724
 
 
15,000
 
  4.988%, 4/1/2039
   
16,489
 
     
State of Connecticut, Build America Bonds
       
 
100,000
 
  4.807%, 4/1/2022
   
101,353
 
 
240,000
 
  5.20%, 12/1/2022
   
261,300
 
 
25,000
 
  5.30%, 12/1/2023
   
27,951
 
 
10,000
 
  5.027%, 4/1/2024
   
10,142
 
     
State of Georgia, Economic Development Bonds
       
 
10,000
 
  3.24%, 10/1/2020
   
10,144
 
     
State of Georgia, School Construction Bonds
       
 
15,000
 
  4.35%, 2/1/2029
   
16,182
 
     
State of Illinois, Build America Bonds
       
 
20,000
 
  5.727%, 4/1/2020
   
20,310
 
     
State of Maryland, Build America Bonds
       
 
10,000
 
  4.10%, 3/1/2020
   
10,097
 
 
20,000
 
  4.20%, 3/1/2021
   
20,658
 
 
5,000
 
  4.55%, 8/15/2024
   
5,011
 
     
State of Michigan, General Obligation,
       
     
  School Loan and Refunding Bonds
       
 
40,000
 
  6.95%, 11/1/2020, Series 2009A
   
42,222
 
     
State of Ohio, Build America Bonds
       
 
35,000
 
  4.621%, 4/1/2020
   
35,461
 
     
TOTAL MUNICIPAL BONDS
       
     
  (Cost $4,206,582)
   
4,065,376
 
               
     
U.S. TREASURY INFLATION INDEXED NOTE – 2.11%
       
 
1,059,455
 
0.125%, 4/15/2020
   
1,050,757
 
     
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY INFLATION
       
     
  INDEXED NOTE (Cost $1,051,855)
   
1,050,757
 


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

32

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Principal
         
Amount
 
U.S. TREASURY NOTE – 2.50%
 
Value
 
$
1,245,000
 
1.50%, 11/30/2019
 
$
1,243,881
 
     
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY NOTE
       
     
  (Cost $1,244,446)
   
1,243,881
 
               
     
OTHER SECURITIES – 1.99%
       
     
Independent Power and Renewable
       
     
  Electricity Producers – 1.99%
       
 
38,766
 
Tennessee Valley Authority,
       
     
  Series D, PAARS, Power Bond
   
987,370
 
     
  3.55%, (reset annually @ CMT 30 year index average
       
     
  + 94 bps if lower than current rate), 6/1/2018 (c)
       
     
TOTAL OTHER SECURITIES
       
     
  (Cost $996,247)
   
987,370
 
               
Shares
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 5.37%
       
     
Money Market Fund – 1.76%
       
 
873,310
 
First American Treasury Obligations
       
     
  Fund, Class Z, 1.85% (d)
   
873,310
 
     
TOTAL MONEY MARKET FUND
       
     
  (Cost $873,310)
   
873,310
 



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

33

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Principal
         
Amount
 
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS – 5.37%, Continued
 
Value
 
   
U.S. Treasury Bills – 3.61%
     
$
900,000
 
1.76%, 10/10/2019 (e)
 
$
899,603
 
 
900,000
 
1.81%, 1/2/2020 (e)
   
895,802
 
     
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY BILLS
       
     
  (Cost $1,794,113)
   
1,795,405
 
     
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
       
     
  (Cost $2,667,423)
   
2,668,715
 
     
Total Investments in Securities
       
     
  (Cost $41,470,681) – 98.99%
   
49,236,540
 
     
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities – 1.01%
   
502,637
 
     
TOTAL NET ASSETS – 100.00%
 
$
49,739,177
 

ADR
American Depository Receipt
CMT
Constant Maturity
LIBOR
London Interbank Offered Rate
PARRS
Putable Automatic Rate Reset Security
(a)
Non-income producing security.
(b)
Foreign issuer.
(c)
Variable rate security.  Rate shown reflects the rate in effect as of September 30, 2019.
(d)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of September 30, 2019.
(e)
Rate shown in the discount rate at September 30, 2019.

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 



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

34

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS – 89.63%
 
Value
 
   
Auto Components – 0.28%
     
 
10,108
 
Nexen Corp. (b)
 
$
49,604
 
               
     
Automobiles – 0.44%
       
 
2,800
 
Subaru Corp. (b)
   
78,724
 
               
     
Beverages – 3.34%
       
 
5,484
 
Heineken N.V. (b)
   
592,710
 
               
     
Chemicals – 1.78%
       
 
576
 
Sherwin-Williams Co.
   
316,725
 
               
     
Diversified Financial Services – 4.55%
       
 
3,886
 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. – Class B (a)
   
808,366
 
               
     
Food & Staples Retailing – 6.35%
       
 
17,887
 
CVS Health Corp.
   
1,128,133
 
               
     
Health Care Providers & Services – 3.88%
       
 
5,043
 
McKesson Corp.
   
689,176
 
               
     
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 7.49%
       
 
12,810
 
Compass Group plc (b)
   
329,657
 
 
319,200
 
Domino’s Pizza Group plc (b)
   
1,000,407
 
           
1,330,064
 
     
Household Durables – 4.09%
       
 
12,272
 
Sony Corp. – ADR
   
725,643
 
               
     
Insurance – 3.90%
       
 
37,395
 
AIA Group Ltd. (b)
   
353,305
 
 
1,752
 
Aon plc
   
339,135
 
           
692,440
 
     
Interactive Media & Services – 1.86%
       
 
7,934
 
Tencent Holdings Ltd. – ADR
   
330,292
 
               
     
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail – 4.15%
       
 
376
 
Booking Holdings, Inc. (a)
   
737,941
 
               
     
Internet Media – 2.22%
       
 
3,842
 
Baidu, Inc. – ADR (a)
   
394,804
 
               
     
IT Services – 3.85%
       
 
11,355
 
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. – Class A
   
684,309
 


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

35

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS – 89.63%, Continued
 
Value
 
   
Media – 6.08%
     
 
16,541
 
Comcast Corp. – Class A
 
$
745,668
 
 
34,174
 
Grupo Televisa S.A.B. – ADR
   
334,222
 
           
1,079,890
 
     
Pharmaceutical Preparation
       
     
  and Manufacturing – 3.91%
       
 
5,365
 
Johnson & Johnson
   
694,124
 
               
     
Pharmaceuticals – 12.49%
       
 
4,605
 
Allergan plc
   
774,975
 
 
8,143
 
Novartis AG – ADR
   
707,627
 
 
20,170
 
Roche Holdings AG (b)
   
735,197
 
           
2,217,799
 
     
Road & Rail – 4.40%
       
 
5,872
 
Kansas City Southern
   
781,035
 
               
     
Software – 8.15%
       
 
5,239
 
Microsoft Corp.
   
728,378
 
 
13,080
 
Oracle Corp.
   
719,792
 
           
1,448,170
 
     
Specialty Retail – 4.32%
       
 
4,643
 
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.
   
767,952
 
               
     
Trading Companies & Distributors – 2.10%
       
 
2,200
 
Watsco, Inc.
   
372,196
 
     
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
       
     
  (Cost $13,881,877)
   
15,920,097
 
               
     
PREFERRED STOCKS – 7.63%
       
     
Auto Components – 0.55%
       
 
14,157
 
Nexen Corp., 2.21% (b)
   
42,608
 
 
19,025
 
Nexen Tire Corp., 2.97% (b)
   
56,225
 
           
98,833
 
     
Capital Markets – 0.37%
       
 
1,800
 
Korea Investment Holdings Co., Ltd., 4.27% (b)
   
65,761
 
               
     
Containers & Packaging – 0.06%
       
 
5,450
 
NPC, 4.33% (b)
   
10,525
 


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

36

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Shares
 
PREFERRED STOCKS – 7.63%, Continued
 
Value
 
   
Personal Products – 0.46%
     
 
1,870
 
AMOREPACIFIC Group, 1.25% (b)
 
$
39,474
 
 
65
 
LG Household & Health Care Ltd., 1.23% (b)
   
41,897
 
           
81,371
 
     
Semiconductors &
       
     
  Semiconductor Equipment – 6.19%
       
 
33,295
 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., 3.57% (b)
   
1,099,488
 
     
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS
       
     
  (Cost $973,349)
   
1,355,978
 
               
     
MONEY MARKET FUND – 3.85%
       
 
684,663
 
First American Treasury Obligations Fund,
       
     
  Class Z, 1.85% (c)
   
684,663
 
     
TOTAL MONEY MARKET FUND
       
     
  (Cost $684,663)
   
684,663
 
     
Total Investments in Securities
       
     
  (Cost $15,539,889) – 101.11%
   
17,960,738
 
     
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets – (1.11)%
   
(197,848
)
     
TOTAL NET ASSETS – 100.00%
 
$
17,762,890
 

ADR
American Depository Receipt
(a)
Non-income producing security.
(b)
Foreign issuer.
(c)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of September 30, 2019.

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 


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

37

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

COUNTRY ALLOCATION

Country
% of Net Assets
United States
   
60.7
%
 
Switzerland
   
8.1
%
 
Republic of Korea
   
7.9
%
 
United Kingdom
   
7.5
%
 
Japan
   
4.5
%
 
China
   
4.1
%
 
Netherlands
   
3.3
%
 
Hong Kong
   
2.0
%
 
Mexico
   
1.9
%
 
     
100.0
%
 




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

38

SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS – 98.69%
 
Value
 
   
Banks – 2.79%
     
 
10,209
 
Wells Fargo & Co.
 
$
514,942
 
               
     
Beverages – 3.80%
       
 
6,490
 
Heineken N.V. (b)
   
701,438
 
               
     
Chemicals – 2.05%
       
 
690
 
Sherwin-Williams Co. (d)
   
379,410
 
               
     
Communications Equipment – 1.80%
       
 
1,945
 
Motorola Solutions, Inc. (d)
   
331,447
 
               
     
Diversified Financial Services – 5.05%
       
 
4,479
 
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. – Class B (a) (d)
   
931,722
 
               
     
Diversified Telecommunication Services – 3.96%
       
 
19,300
 
AT&T, Inc.
   
730,312
 
               
     
Food & Staples Retailing – 4.25%
       
 
12,436
 
CVS Health Corp. (d)
   
784,339
 
               
     
Health Care Providers & Services – 4.20%
       
 
5,676
 
McKesson Corp. (d)
   
775,682
 
               
     
Health Care Technology – 1.69%
       
 
4,580
 
Cerner Corp.
   
312,219
 
               
     
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 1.91%
       
 
13,705
 
Compass Group plc (b)
   
352,689
 
               
     
Insurance – 4.51%
       
 
4,300
 
Aon plc (d)
   
832,351
 
               
     
Interactive Media & Services – 2.71%
       
 
411
 
Alphabet, Inc. – Class C (a)
   
501,009
 
               
     
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail – 4.43%
       
 
417
 
Booking Holdings, Inc. (a) (d)
   
818,408
 
               
     
Internet Media – 1.76%
       
 
3,161
 
Baidu, Inc. – ADR (a)
   
324,824
 
               
     
IT Services – 3.69%
       
 
11,311
 
Cognizant Technology
       
     
  Solutions Corp. – Class A (d)
   
681,657
 


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

39

SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Shares
 
COMMON STOCKS – 98.69%, Continued
 
Value
 
   
Media – 6.85%
     
 
16,643
 
Comcast Corp. – Class A (d)
 
$
750,267
 
 
4,909
 
Liberty Broadband Corp. (a)
   
513,825
 
           
1,264,092
 
     
Multiline Retail – 2.29%
       
 
3,711
 
Dollar Tree, Inc. (a)
   
423,648
 
               
     
Pharmaceutical Preparation
       
     
  and Manufacturing – 3.95%
       
 
5,634
 
Johnson & Johnson
   
728,927
 
               
     
Pharmaceuticals – 14.00%
       
 
5,718
 
Allergan plc (d)
   
962,281
 
 
9,745
 
Novartis AG – ADR (d)
   
846,841
 
 
2,666
 
Roche Holdings AG (b)
   
775,853
 
           
2,584,975
 
     
Road & Rail – 4.83%
       
 
6,699
 
Kansas City Southern (d)
   
891,034
 
               
     
Software – 11.35%
       
 
9,755
 
Microsoft Corp. (d)
   
1,356,238
 
 
13,428
 
Oracle Corp. (d)
   
738,943
 
           
2,095,181
 
     
Specialty Retail – 3.65%
       
 
4,071
 
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (d)
   
673,343
 
               
     
Technology Hardware,
       
     
  Storage & Peripherals – 1.14%
       
 
206
 
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (a) (b)
   
209,708
 
               
     
Trading Companies & Distributors – 2.03%
       
 
2,215
 
Watsco, Inc.
   
374,734
 
     
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
       
     
  (Cost $15,205,974)
   
18,218,091
 


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

40

SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Shares
 
MONEY MARKET FUND – 0.56%
 
Value
 
 
103,254
 
First American Treasury Obligations Fund,
     
     
  Class Z, 1.85% (c)
 
$
103,254
 
     
TOTAL MONEY MARKET FUND
       
     
  (Cost $103,254)
   
103,254
 
     
Total Investments in Securities
       
     
  (Cost $15,309,228) – 99.25%
   
18,321,345
 
     
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities – 0.75%
   
138,922
 
     
TOTAL NET ASSETS – 100.00%
 
$
18,460,267
 

ADR
American Depository Receipt
(a)
Non-income producing security.
(b)
Foreign issuer.
(c)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of September 30, 2019.
(d)
All or a portion of the security has been segregated for open short positions.


 
SCHEDULE OF SECURITIES SOLD SHORT at September 30, 2019

Shares
 
SECURITIES SOLD SHORT – 55.21%
 
Value
 
   
Exchange-Traded Funds – 55.21%
     
 
26,655
 
Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1
 
$
5,032,730
 
 
17,383
 
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
   
5,158,753
 
     
TOTAL SECURITIES SOLD SHORT
       
     
  (Proceeds $8,844,816)
 
$
10,191,483
 

ETF
Exchange-Traded Fund

The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by and/or is the exclusive property of MSCI, Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”).  GICS is a service mark of MSCI and S&P and has been licensed for use by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC.
 




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

41

SCHARF FUNDS

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES at September 30, 2019

         
Scharf Multi-Asset
 
   
Scharf Fund
   
Opportunity Fund
 
ASSETS
           
Investments in securities, at value (identified cost
           
  $298,266,098 and $41,470,681, respectively)
 
$
370,784,740
   
$
49,236,540
 
Receivables:
               
Investments sold
   
     
530,843
 
Fund shares issued
   
434,165
     
 
Dividends and interest
   
202,014
     
126,608
 
Dividend tax reclaim
   
51,227
     
10,948
 
Prepaid expenses
   
12,849
     
6,784
 
Total assets
   
371,484,995
     
49,911,723
 
LIABILITIES
               
Payables:
               
Investments purchased
   
     
88,258
 
Fund shares redeemed
   
265,631
     
 
Advisory fees
   
271,412
     
23,108
 
Shareholder servicing fees
   
75,750
     
14,971
 
Administration and fund accounting fees
   
35,598
     
8,455
 
Audit fees
   
22,391
     
22,391
 
12b-1 distribution fees
   
45,214
     
3,866
 
Custody fees
   
5,640
     
2,192
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses
   
6,654
     
2,569
 
Shareholder reporting
   
14,625
     
829
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee
   
2,069
     
2,068
 
Legal fees
   
905
     
3,181
 
Trustee fees and expenses
   
338
     
186
 
Accrued other expenses
   
1,132
     
472
 
Total liabilities
   
747,359
     
172,546
 
NET ASSETS
 
$
370,737,636
   
$
49,739,177
 
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
               
Institutional Shares
               
Net assets applicable to shares outstanding
 
$
298,027,915
   
$
43,865,510
 
Shares issued and outstanding [unlimited number of shares
               
  (par value $0.01) authorized]
   
6,449,691
     
1,307,480
 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share
 
$
46.21
   
$
33.55
 
Retail Shares
               
Net assets applicable to shares outstanding
 
$
72,709,721
   
$
5,873,667
 
Shares issued and outstanding [unlimited number of shares
               
  (par value $0.01) authorized]
   
1,582,291
     
175,515
 
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share
 
$
45.95
   
$
33.47
 
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS
               
Paid-in capital
 
$
272,819,926
   
$
39,186,263
 
Total distributable earnings
   
97,917,710
     
10,552,914
 
Net assets
 
$
370,737,636
   
$
49,739,177
 


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

42

SCHARF FUNDS

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES at September 30, 2019

   
Scharf Global
   
Scharf Alpha
 
   
Opportunity Fund
   
Opportunity Fund
 
ASSETS
           
Investments in securities, at value (identified cost
           
  $15,539,889 and $15,309,228, respectively)
 
$
17,960,738
   
$
18,321,345
 
Cash
   
     
7,558
 
Deposits at broker for short securities
   
     
10,397,884
 
Receivables:
               
Fund shares issued
   
3,749
     
 
Dividends and interest
   
30,842
     
7,247
 
Dividend tax reclaim
   
5,744
     
2,761
 
Due from Adviser (Note 4)
   
5,333
     
1,001
 
Prepaid expenses
   
14,251
     
6,481
 
Total assets
   
18,020,657
     
28,744,277
 
LIABILITIES
               
Securities sold short (proceeds $0
               
  and $8,844,816, respectively)
   
     
10,191,483
 
Payables:
               
Dividends on short positions
   
     
34,291
 
Investments purchased
   
200,376
     
 
Fund shares redeemed
   
5,097
     
 
Audit fees
   
20,892
     
20,891
 
Shareholder servicing fees
   
9,141
     
7,704
 
12b-1 distribution fees
   
7,345
     
10,923
 
Administration and fund accounting fees
   
5,142
     
4,875
 
Legal fees
   
2,685
     
2,373
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee
   
2,069
     
1,669
 
Custody fees
   
2,018
     
1,724
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses
   
1,420
     
1,626
 
Shareholder reporting
   
585
     
623
 
Trustee fees and expenses
   
173
     
173
 
Accrued other expenses
   
824
     
5,655
 
Total liabilities
   
257,767
     
10,284,010
 
NET ASSETS
 
$
17,762,890
   
$
18,460,267
 
CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
               
Retail Shares
               
Net assets applicable to shares outstanding
 
$
17,762,890
   
$
18,460,267
 
Shares issued and outstanding [unlimited number of shares
               
  (par value $0.01) authorized]
   
592,395
     
726,038
 
Net asset value, offering and
               
  redemption price per share
 
$
29.98
   
$
25.43
 
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS
               
Paid-in capital
 
$
13,626,560
   
$
17,016,926
 
Total distributable earnings
   
4,136,330
     
1,443,341
 
Net assets
 
$
17,762,890
   
$
18,460,267
 


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

43

SCHARF FUNDS

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the Year Ended September 30, 2019

         
Scharf Multi-Asset
 
   
Scharf Fund
   
Opportunity Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME
           
Income
           
Dividends (net of foreign tax withheld and issuance
           
  fees of $140,018 and $13,675, respectively)
 
$
4,849,217
   
$
579,439
 
Interest
   
948,196
     
542,848
 
Total income
   
5,797,413
     
1,122,287
 
Expenses
               
Advisory fees (Note 4)
   
3,435,406
     
514,542
 
Shareholder servicing fees – Institutional Class (Note 6)
   
221,992
     
45,842
 
Shareholder servicing fees – Retail Class (Note 6)
   
68,869
     
6,132
 
Administration and fund accounting fees (Note 4)
   
179,883
     
56,324
 
12b-1 distribution fees – Retail Class (Note 5)
   
172,174
     
15,331
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 4)
   
43,277
     
17,629
 
Registration fees
   
40,230
     
32,322
 
Custody fees (Note 4)
   
34,878
     
11,762
 
Reports to shareholders
   
24,209
     
2,924
 
Audit fees
   
22,405
     
22,404
 
Trustee fees and expenses
   
19,342
     
15,458
 
Miscellaneous expenses
   
12,288
     
6,957
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee (Note 4)
   
9,569
     
9,568
 
Insurance expense
   
6,782
     
2,110
 
Legal fees
   
6,349
     
9,288
 
Total expenses
   
4,297,653
     
768,593
 
Less: advisory fee waiver (Note 4)
   
(399,212
)
   
(243,918
)
Net expenses
   
3,898,441
     
524,675
 
Net investment income
   
1,898,972
     
597,612
 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS) ON
               
  INVESTMENTS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY
               
Net realized gain/(loss) on:
               
Investments
   
33,775,602
     
3,216,027
 
Foreign currency
   
(11,255
)
   
(1,448
)
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:
               
Investments
   
(8,852,369
)
   
(400,752
)
Foreign currency
   
(774
)
   
(121
)
Net realized and unrealized gain on
               
  investments and foreign currency
   
24,911,204
     
2,813,706
 
Net Increase in Net Assets
               
  Resulting from Operations
 
$
26,810,176
   
$
3,411,318
 


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

44

SCHARF FUNDS

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS For the Year Ended September 30, 2019

   
Scharf Global
   
Scharf Alpha
 
   
Opportunity Fund
   
Opportunity Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME
           
Income
           
Dividends (net of foreign tax withheld and issuance
           
  fees of $19,519 and $7,148, respectively)
 
$
321,452
   
$
266,282
 
Interest
   
18,364
     
116,724
 
Total income
   
339,816
     
383,006
 
Expenses
               
Advisory fees (Note 4)
   
204,753
     
192,485
 
Administration and fund accounting fees (Note 4)
   
35,475
     
34,799
 
12b-1 distribution fees – Retail Class (Note 5)
   
31,887
     
29,165
 
Registration fees
   
22,735
     
23,887
 
Audit fees
   
20,904
     
20,904
 
Shareholder servicing fees – Retail Class (Note 6)
   
18,614
     
17,499
 
Trustee fees and expenses
   
15,406
     
15,136
 
Custody fees (Note 4)
   
13,703
     
11,559
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee (Note 4)
   
9,569
     
9,168
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 4)
   
9,463
     
10,512
 
Legal fees
   
9,390
     
9,096
 
Miscellaneous expenses
   
7,943
     
12,826
 
Reports to shareholders
   
2,480
     
2,442
 
Insurance expense
   
1,817
     
1,754
 
Interest expense (Note 7)
   
422
     
132
 
Total expenses before dividends
               
  on short positions
   
404,561
     
391,364
 
Dividends on short positions
   
     
149,558
 
Total expenses before advisory fee waiver
               
  and expense reimbursement
   
404,561
     
540,922
 
Less: advisory fee waiver and
               
  expense reimbursement (Note 4)
   
(282,233
)
   
(218,755
)
Net expenses
   
122,328
     
322,167
 
Net investment income
   
217,488
     
60,839
 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS)
               
  ON INVESTMENTS, FOREIGN CURRENCY
               
  AND SECURITIES SOLD SHORT
               
Net realized gain/(loss) on:
               
Investments
   
1,666,106
     
1,460,590
 
Foreign currency
   
(2,027
)
   
10
 
Securities sold short
   
     
(973,876
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:
               
Investments
   
(1,662,539
)
   
(7,313
)
Foreign currency
   
165
     
(3
)
Securities sold short
   
     
603,618
 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments,
               
  foreign currency and securities sold short
   
1,705
     
1,083,026
 
Net Increase in Net Assets
               
  Resulting from Operations
 
$
219,193
   
$
1,143,865
 


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

45

SCHARF FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:
           
OPERATIONS
           
Net investment income
 
$
1,898,972
   
$
2,762,190
 
Net realized gain/(loss) from:
               
Investments
   
33,775,602
     
37,326,161
 
Foreign currency
   
(11,255
)
   
4,956
 
Net change in unrealized depreciation on:
               
Investments
   
(8,852,369
)
   
(1,872,835
)
Foreign currency
   
(774
)
   
(297
)
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
   
26,810,176
     
38,220,175
 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders –
               
  Institutional Class shares
   
(28,255,080
)
   
(13,115,918
)
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders –
               
  Retail Class shares
   
(5,377,670
)
   
(2,185,843
)
Total distributions to shareholders
   
(33,632,750
)
   
(15,301,761
)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Net decrease in net assets derived
               
  from net change in outstanding shares (a)
   
(43,009,473
)
   
(179,275,337
)
Total decrease in net assets
   
(49,832,047
)
   
(156,356,923
)
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of year
   
420,569,683
     
576,926,606
 
End of year
 
$
370,737,636
   
$
420,569,683
 


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

46

SCHARF FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS, Continued

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

Institutional Class
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
1,113,298
   
$
47,530,698
     
918,803
   
$
40,683,762
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of distributions
   
651,632
     
28,129,135
     
294,773
     
13,070,222
 
Shares redeemed*
   
(2,811,686
)
   
(121,321,264
)
   
(4,791,034
)
   
(210,561,075
)
Net decrease
   
(1,046,756
)
 
$
(45,661,431
)
   
(3,577,458
)
 
$
(156,807,091
)
* Net of redemption fees of
         
$
5,295
           
$
3,164
 
                                 
Retail Class
                               
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
364,282
   
$
15,090,609
     
94,182
   
$
4,196,546
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of distributions
   
124,893
     
5,376,209
     
49,331
     
2,179,918
 
Shares redeemed*
   
(422,279
)
   
(17,814,860
)
   
(653,191
)
   
(28,844,711
)
Net increase/(decrease)
   
66,896
   
$
2,651,958
     
(509,678
)
 
$
(22,468,247
)
* Net of redemption fees of
         
$
1,893
           
$
65
 


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

47

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:
           
OPERATIONS
           
Net investment income
 
$
597,612
   
$
610,400
 
Net realized gain/(loss) from:
               
Investments
   
3,216,027
     
2,911,525
 
Foreign currency
   
(1,448
)
   
(1,987
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:
               
Investments
   
(400,752
)
   
(53,551
)
Foreign currency
   
(121
)
   
273
 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
   
3,411,318
     
3,466,660
 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders –
               
  Institutional Class
   
(2,944,104
)
   
(1,184,539
)
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders –
               
  Retail Class
   
(411,268
)
   
(164,551
)
Total distributions to shareholders
   
(3,355,372
)
   
(1,349,090
)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Net decrease in net assets derived from
               
  net change in outstanding shares (a)
   
(4,043,336
)
   
(17,449,572
)
Total decrease in net assets
   
(3,987,390
)
   
(15,332,002
)
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of year
   
53,726,567
     
69,058,569
 
End of year
 
$
49,739,177
   
$
53,726,567
 


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

48

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS, Continued

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

Institutional Class
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
140,340
   
$
4,376,973
     
152,690
   
$
4,967,643
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of distributions
   
97,356
     
2,943,076
     
36,628
     
1,184,198
 
Shares redeemed
   
(311,157
)
   
(9,972,288
)
   
(669,433
)
   
(21,676,720
)
Net decrease
   
(73,461
)
 
$
(2,652,239
)
   
(480,115
)
 
$
(15,524,879
)
                                 
Retail Class
                               
   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
21,463
   
$
694,067
     
26,301
   
$
849,386
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of distributions
   
13,613
     
411,268
     
5,099
     
164,551
 
Shares redeemed
   
(79,671
)
   
(2,496,432
)
   
(91,087
)
   
(2,938,630
)
Net decrease
   
(44,595
)
 
$
(1,391,097
)
   
(59,687
)
 
$
(1,924,693
)


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

49

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:
           
OPERATIONS
           
Net investment income
 
$
217,488
   
$
281,568
 
Net realized gain/(loss) from:
               
Investments
   
1,666,106
     
2,412,864
 
Foreign currency
   
(2,027
)
   
(1,216
)
Purchased options
   
     
(89,226
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:
               
Investments
   
(1,662,539
)
   
499,805
 
Foreign currency
   
165
     
(238
)
Purchased options
   
     
17,780
 
Net increase in net assets
               
  resulting from operations
   
219,193
     
3,121,337
 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders
   
(2,215,779
)
   
(1,811,431
)
Total distributions to shareholders
   
(2,215,779
)
   
(1,811,431
)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Net decrease in net assets derived
               
  from net change in outstanding shares (a)
   
(8,593,115
)
   
(3,264,460
)
Total decrease in net assets
   
(10,589,701
)
   
(1,954,554
)
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of year
   
28,352,591
     
30,307,145
 
End of year
 
$
17,762,890
   
$
28,352,591
 

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

 
 
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
 
 
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
38,774
   
$
1,128,226
     
162,303
   
$
4,782,771
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of distributions
   
82,036
     
2,215,780
     
61,634
     
1,811,431
 
Shares redeemed*
   
(434,137
)
   
(11,937,121
)
   
(336,697
)
   
(9,858,662
)
Net decrease
   
(313,327
)
 
$
(8,593,115
)
   
(112,760
)
 
$
(3,264,460
)
* Net of redemption fees of
         
$
           
$
4
 


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

50

SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

   
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM:
           
OPERATIONS
           
Net investment income/(loss)
 
$
60,839
   
$
(18,359
)
Net realized gain/(loss) from:
               
Investments
   
1,460,590
     
1,726,775
 
Foreign currency
   
10
     
(26
)
Securities sold short
   
(973,876
)
   
(2,399,251
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on:
               
Investments
   
(7,313
)
   
428,206
 
Foreign currency
   
(3
)
   
(4
)
Securities sold short
   
603,618
     
391,800
 
Net increase in net assets
               
  resulting from operations
   
1,143,865
     
129,141
 
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders
   
     
(463,472
)
Total distributions to shareholders
   
     
(463,472
)
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
               
Net decrease in net assets derived
               
  from net change in outstanding shares (a)
   
(3,677,674
)
   
(3,800,988
)
Total decrease in net assets
   
(2,533,809
)
   
(4,135,319
)
NET ASSETS
               
Beginning of year
   
20,994,076
     
25,129,395
 
End of year
 
$
18,460,267
   
$
20,994,076
 

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

 
 
Year Ended
   
Year Ended
 
 
 
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
   
Shares
   
Paid-in Capital
 
Shares sold
   
59,820
   
$
1,449,489
     
112,877
   
$
2,660,266
 
Shares issued on
                               
  reinvestments of distributions
   
     
     
16,096
     
382,590
 
Shares redeemed
   
(211,460
)
   
(5,127,163
)
   
(289,635
)
   
(6,843,844
)
Net decrease*
   
(151,640
)
 
$
(3,677,674
)
   
(160,662
)
 
$
(3,800,988
)
* Net of redemption fees of
         
$
172
           
$
52
 


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

51

SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the Year Ended September 30, 2019

Increase/(decrease) in cash —
     
       
Cash flows from operating activities:
     
Net increase in net assets from operations
 
$
1,143,865
 
Adjustments to reconcile net increase/(decrease) in
       
  net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
       
Purchases of investment securities
   
(10,297,779
)
Proceeds for sales of investment securities
   
13,566,300
 
Proceeds on securities sold short
   
2,989,843
 
Closed short sale transactions
   
(4,975,055
)
Proceeds for short-term investments, net
   
146,445
 
Decrease in dividends and interest receivable
   
762
 
Decrease in due from Adviser
   
430
 
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets
   
4,198
 
Decrease in payable for dividends on short positions
   
(13,296
)
Decrease in accrued administration fees
   
(3,707
)
Decrease in 12b-1 distribution and service fees
   
(2,696
)
Increase in compliance fees
   
169
 
Decrease in custody fees
   
(399
)
Decrease in transfer agent fees and expenses
   
(630
)
Increase in other accrued expenses
   
7,641
 
Unrealized depreciation on securities
   
(605,319
)
Net realized gain on investments
   
(477,699
)
Proceeds received through merger
   
749,070
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
2,232,143
 
         
Cash flows from financing activities:
       
Proceeds from shares sold
   
1,449,489
 
Payment on shares redeemed
   
(5,136,833
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(3,687,344
)
         
Net decrease in cash
   
(1,445,201
)
         
Cash and deposits held at broker:
       
Beginning balance
   
11,860,643
 
Ending balance
 
$
10,405,442
 
         
Supplemental information:
       
Non-cash financing activities not included herein consists of dividend
       
  reinvestment of dividends and distributions
 
$
 
Cash paid for interest
 
$
132
 


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

52

SCHARF FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each year

Institutional Class
   
Year Ended September 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Net asset value,
                             
  beginning of year
 
$
46.72
   
$
44.08
   
$
40.47
   
$
38.24
   
$
39.00
 
                                         
Income from investment operations:
                                       
Net investment income^
   
0.23
     
0.26
     
0.09
     
0.06
     
0.03
 
Net realized and unrealized
                                       
  gain on investments
                                       
  and foreign currency
   
2.99
     
3.61
     
3.59
     
3.53
     
0.60
 
Total from investment operations
   
3.22
     
3.87
     
3.68
     
3.59
     
0.63
 
                                         
Less distributions:
                                       
From net investment income
   
(0.39
)
   
(0.08
)
   
(0.07
)
   
(0.02
)
   
(0.03
)
From net realized
                                       
  gain on investments
   
(3.34
)
   
(1.15
)
   
     
(1.34
)
   
(1.36
)
Total distributions
   
(3.73
)
   
(1.23
)
   
(0.07
)
   
(1.36
)
   
(1.39
)
Paid-in capital from
                                       
  redemption fees^#
   
0.00
     
0.00
     
0.00
     
0.00
     
0.00
 
Net asset value, end of year
 
$
46.21
   
$
46.72
   
$
44.08
   
$
40.47
   
$
38.24
 
                                         
Total return
   
7.61
%
   
8.93
%
   
9.10
%
   
9.52
%
   
1.62
%
                                         
Ratios/supplemental data:
                                       
Net assets, end of year (thousands)
 
$
298,028
   
$
350,205
   
$
488,084
   
$
508,930
   
$
377,974
 
Ratio of expenses to
                                       
  average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waivers
   
1.06
%
   
1.08
%
   
1.20
%
   
1.19
%
   
1.26
%
After fee waivers
   
0.96
%
 
0.96
%    
1.07
%
   
1.05
%
   
1.13
%
Ratio of net investment income/(loss)
                                       
  to average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waivers
   
0.44
%
   
0.47
%
   
0.09
%
   
0.02
%
   
(0.05
)%
After fee waivers
   
0.54
%
   
0.59
%
   
0.22
%
   
0.16
%
   
0.08
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
47.87
%
   
39.71
%
   
21.63
%
   
30.58
%
   
33.85
%

^
Based on average shares outstanding.
#
Amount is less than $0.01.


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

53

SCHARF FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each period

Retail Class
                           
January 28,
 
                           
2015*

                           
to
 
   
Year Ended September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Net asset value,
                               
  beginning of period
 
$
46.43
   
$
43.87
   
$
40.32
   
$
38.21
   
$
38.85
 
                                         
Income from
                                       
  investment operations:
                                       
Net investment income/(loss)^
   
0.11
     
0.12
     
(0.02
)
   
(0.05
)
   
(0.02
)
Net realized and unrealized
                                       
  gain/(loss) on investments
                                       
  and foreign currency
   
2.98
     
3.59
     
3.57
     
3.52
     
(0.62
)
Total from investment operations
   
3.09
     
3.71
     
3.55
     
3.47
     
(0.64
)
                                         
Less distributions:
                                       
From net investment income
   
(0.23
)
   
     
     
(0.02
)
   
 
From net realized
                                       
  gain on investments
   
(3.34
)
   
(1.15
)
   
     
(1.34
)
   
 
Total distributions
   
(3.57
)
   
(1.15
)
   
     
(1.36
)
   
 
Paid-in capital from
                                       
  redemption fees^#
   
0.00
     
0.00
     
0.00
     
0.00
     
0.00
 
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
45.95
   
$
46.43
   
$
43.87
   
$
40.32
   
$
38.21
 
                                         
Total return
   
7.32
%
   
8.58
%
   
8.80
%
   
9.20
%
   
(1.65
)%‡
                                         
Ratios/supplemental data:
                                       
Net assets, end of
                                       
  period (thousands)
 
$
72,710
   
$
70,365
   
$
88,843
   
$
98,293
   
$
41,551
 
Ratio of expenses to
                                       
  average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waivers
   
1.34
%
   
1.39
%
   
1.47
%
   
1.47
%
   
1.53
%†
After fee waivers
   
1.24
%
 
1.27
%
   
1.34
%
   
1.34
%
   
1.34
%†
Ratio of net investment income/
                                       
  (loss) to average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waivers
   
0.16
%
   
0.16
%
   
(0.17
)%
   
(0.25
)%
   
(0.27
)%†
After fee waivers
   
0.26
%
   
0.28
%
   
(0.04
)%
   
(0.12
)%
   
(0.08
)%†
Portfolio turnover rate
   
47.87
%
   
39.71
%
   
21.63
%
   
30.58
%
   
33.85
%‡**

*
 
Commencement of operations.
^
 
Based on average shares outstanding.
 
Annualized.
 
Not annualized.
#
 
Amount is less than $0.01.
**
 
Portfolio turnover calculated for the year ended September 30, 2015.


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

54

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each year

Institutional Class
   
Year Ended September 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Net asset value,
                             
  beginning of year
 
$
33.58
   
$
32.27
   
$
30.60
   
$
29.60
   
$
30.46
 
                                         
Income from investment operations:
                                       
Net investment income^
   
0.38
     
0.34
     
0.15
     
0.14
     
0.08
 
Net realized and unrealized
                                       
  gain on investments
                                       
  and foreign currency
   
1.70
     
1.67
     
1.94
     
2.08
     
0.34
 
Total from investment operations
   
2.08
     
2.01
     
2.09
     
2.22
     
0.42
 
                                         
Less distributions:
                                       
From net investment income
   
(0.49
)
   
(0.07
)
   
(0.20
)
   
(0.07
)
   
(0.10
)
From net realized
                                       
  gain on investments
   
(1.62
)
   
(0.63
)
   
(0.22
)
   
(1.15
)
   
(1.18
)
Total distributions
   
(2.11
)
   
(0.70
)
   
(0.42
)
   
(1.22
)
   
(1.28
)
Paid-in capital from
                                       
  redemption fees
   
     
   
0.00
^#  
0.00
^#  
0.00
^#
Net asset value, end of year
 
$
33.55
   
$
33.58
   
$
32.27
   
$
30.60
   
$
29.60
 
                                         
Total return
   
6.89
%
   
6.32
%
   
6.94
%
   
7.68
%
   
1.38
%
                                         
Ratios/supplemental data:
                                       
Net assets, end of year (thousands)
 
$
43,865
   
$
46,366
   
$
60,061
   
$
53,485
   
$
47,064
 
Ratio of expenses to
                                       
  average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waivers
   
1.45
%
   
1.44
%
   
1.47
%
   
1.47
%
   
1.45
%
After fee waivers
   
0.98
%
   
0.97
%
   
1.02
%
   
1.08
%
   
1.20
%
Ratio of net investment income
                                       
  to average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waivers
   
0.71
%
   
0.59
%
   
0.04
%
   
0.08
%
   
0.00
%
After fee waivers
   
1.18
%
   
1.06
%
   
0.49
%
   
0.47
%
   
0.25
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
45.52
%
   
36.29
%
   
30.04
%
   
34.43
%
   
39.09
%

^
Based on average shares outstanding.
#
Amount is less than $0.01.


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

55

SCHARF MULTI-ASSET OPPORTUNITY FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each period

Retail Class
                     
January 21,
 
                     
2016*

                     
to
 
   
Year Ended September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
33.44
   
$
32.16
   
$
30.54
   
$
27.68
 
                                 
Income from investment operations:
                               
Net investment income^
   
0.29
     
0.26
     
0.07
     
0.05
 
Net realized and unrealized gain on
                               
  investments and foreign currency
   
1.72
     
1.65
     
1.94
     
2.81
 
Total from investment operations
   
2.01
     
1.91
     
2.01
     
2.86
 
                                 
Less distributions:
                               
From net investment income
   
(0.36
)
   
0.00
     
(0.17
)
   
 
From net realized gain on investments
   
(1.62
)
   
(0.63
)
   
(0.22
)
   
 
Total distributions
   
(1.98
)
   
(0.63
)
   
(0.39
)
   
 
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
33.47
   
$
33.44
   
$
32.16
   
$
30.54
 
                                 
Total return
   
6.66
%
   
6.00
%
   
6.68
%
   
10.33
%‡
                                 
Ratios/supplemental data:
                               
Net assets, end of period (thousands)
 
$
5,874
   
$
7,361
   
$
8,998
   
$
6,990
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                               
Before fee waivers
   
1.70
%
   
1.70
%
   
1.73
%
   
1.75
%†
After fee waivers
   
1.23
%
   
1.23
%
 
1.28
%    
1.30
%†
Ratio of net investment income/(loss)
                               
  to average net assets:
                               
Before fee waivers
   
0.45
%
   
0.33
%
   
(0.21
)%
   
(0.23
)%†
After fee waivers
   
0.92
%
   
0.80
%
   
0.24
%
   
0.22
%†
Portfolio turnover rate
   
45.52
%
   
36.29
%
   
30.04
%
   
34.43
%‡**

*
 
Commencement of operations.
^
 
Based on average shares outstanding.
**
 
Portfolio turnover calculated for the year ended September 30, 2016.
 
Annualized.
 
Not annualized.


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

56

SCHARF GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each period

Retail Class
                           
October 14,
 
                           
2014*

                           
to
 
   
Year Ended September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
   
2015
 
Net asset value,
                               
  beginning of period
 
$
31.30
   
$
29.76
   
$
26.89
   
$
24.87
   
$
24.00
 
                                         
Income from
                                       
  investment operations:
                                       
Net investment income
   
0.37
     
0.31
   
0.18
^    
0.16
     
0.19
 
Net realized and unrealized
                                       
  gain on investments
                                       
  and foreign currency
   
0.90
     
3.05
     
3.03
     
3.06
     
0.71
 
Total from investment operations
   
1.27
     
3.36
     
3.21
     
3.22
     
0.90
 
                                         
Less distributions:
                                       
From net investment income
   
(0.28
)
   
(0.21
)
   
(0.14
)
   
(0.20
)
   
(0.03
)
From net realized
                                       
  gain on investments
   
(2.31
)
   
(1.61
)
   
(0.20
)
   
(1.00
)
   
 
Total distributions
   
(2.59
)
   
(1.82
)
   
(0.34
)
   
(1.20
)
   
(0.03
)
Paid-in capital from
                                       
  redemption fees
   
   
0.00
^#  
0.00
^#    
     
 
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
29.98
   
$
31.30
   
$
29.76
   
$
26.89
   
$
24.87
 
                                         
Total return
   
4.92
%
   
11.72
%
   
12.10
%
   
13.21
%
   
3.75
%‡
                                         
Ratios/supplemental data:
                                       
Net assets, end of
                                       
  period (thousands)
 
$
17,763
   
$
28,353
   
$
30,307
   
$
27,444
   
$
18,348
 
Ratio of expenses to
                                       
  average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waivers and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
1.96
%
   
1.72
%
   
1.90
%
   
1.97
%
   
2.36
%†
After fee waivers and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
0.59
%
 
0.52
%    
0.65
%
   
0.55
%
   
0.50
%†
Ratio of net investment income/
                                       
  (loss) to average net assets:
                                       
Before fee waivers and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
(0.31
)%
   
(0.26
)%
   
(0.60
)%
   
(0.74
)%
   
(1.01
)%†
After fee waivers and
                                       
  expense reimbursement
   
1.06
%
   
0.94
%
   
0.65
%
   
0.68
%
   
0.85
%†
Portfolio turnover rate
   
73.90
%
   
65.99
%
   
75.78
%
   
52.75
%
   
60.44
%‡**

*
 
Commencement of operations.
^
 
Based on average shares outstanding.
 
Annualized.
 
Not annualized.
**
 
Portfolio turnover calculated for the period ended September 30, 2015.
#
 
Amount is less than $0.01.


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

57

SCHARF ALPHA OPPORTUNITY FUND

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS For a share outstanding throughout each period

Retail Class
                     
December 31,
 
                     
2015*

                     
to
 
   
Year Ended September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
23.92
   
$
24.20
   
$
24.52
   
$
24.00
 
                                 
Income from investment operations:
                               
Net investment income/(loss)
   
0.09
     
(0.04
)
   
(0.19
)
 
(0.21
)^
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss)
                               
  on investments, foreign currency
                               
  and securities sold short
   
1.42
     
0.23
     
(0.03
)
   
0.73
 
Total from investment operations
   
1.51
     
0.19
     
(0.22
)
   
0.52
 
                                 
Less distributions:
                               
From net realized gain on investments
   
     
(0.47
)
   
(0.10
)
   
 
Paid-in capital from redemption fees
   
   
0.00
^#    
     
 
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
25.43
   
$
23.92
   
$
24.20
   
$
24.52
 
                                 
Total return
   
6.31
%
   
0.79
%
   
(0.89
)%
   
2.17
%‡
                                 
Ratios/supplemental data:
                               
Net assets, end of period (thousands)
 
$
18,460
   
$
20,994
   
$
25,129
   
$
25,021
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                               
Before fee waivers and
                               
  expense reimbursement
   
2.78
%
   
2.88
%
   
3.15
%
   
3.98
%†
After fee waivers and
                               
  expense reimbursement
   
1.66
%
   
1.84
%
   
2.14
%
   
2.53
%†
Ratio of net investment income/(loss)
                               
  to average net assets:
                               
Before fee waivers and
                               
  expense reimbursement
   
(0.81
)%
   
(1.12
)%
   
(1.77
)%
   
(2.62
)%†
After fee waivers and
                               
  expense reimbursement
   
0.31
%
   
(0.08
)%
   
(0.76
)%
   
(1.17
)%†
Portfolio turnover rate
   
54.42
%
   
59.57
%
   
27.42
%
   
25.13
%‡

*
Commencement of operations.
^
Based on average shares outstanding.
Annualized.
Not annualized.
#
Amount is less than $0.01.


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

58

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019

NOTE 1 – ORGANIZATION
 
The Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) are each a series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company. The Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund are all diversified. 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 Scharf Fund and the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation and income. The investment objective of the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation and to provide returns above inflation while exposing investors to less volatility than typical equity investments. The Scharf Fund Institutional Class and Retail Class commenced operations on December 30, 2011 and January 28, 2015, respectively. The Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund Institutional Class and Retail Class commenced operations on December 31, 2012 and January 21, 2016, respectively.
 
The Scharf Global Opportunity Fund commenced operations on October 14, 2014. The initial purchase into the Fund included a transfer in-kind of securities and cash. The transfer in-kind was nontaxable. The Fund issued 419,054 shares on October 14, 2014. The fair value and cost of securities received by the Fund was $7,814,245 and $6,536,468, respectively. In addition, the Fund received $2,243,043 of cash. For financial reporting purposes, assets received and shares issued by the Fund were recorded at fair value; however, the cost basis of the investments received was carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the Fund’s realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.
 
The Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2015. The initial purchase into the Fund included a transfer in-kind of securities and cash. The transfer in-kind was nontaxable. The Fund issued 184,713 shares on December 31, 2015. The fair value and cost of securities received by the Fund was $3,729,932 and $3,291,912, respectively. In addition, the Fund received $703,175 of cash. For financial reporting purposes, assets received and shares issued by the Fund were recorded at fair value; however, the cost basis of the investments received was carried forward to align ongoing reporting of the Fund’s realized and unrealized gains and losses with amounts distributable to shareholders for tax purposes.
 
 
59

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

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 tax positions of the Funds and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on returns filed for the open tax years 2016-2018, or expected to be taken in the Funds’ 2019 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.
   
C.
Securities Transactions, Income and Distributions: Securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on securities sold are calculated on the basis of specified 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. Dividend income and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with each Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.
   
 
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.

 
60

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

 
The Funds distribute substantially all net investment income, if any, and net realized capital 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 differs from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. To the extent these book/tax differences are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts based on their Federal tax treatment.
   
D.
Reclassification of Capital Accounts: Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require that certain components of net assets relating to permanent differences be reclassified between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share.
   
 
For the year ended September 30, 2019, the Funds made the following permanent tax adjustments on the statements of assets and liabilities:

     
Distributable
   
Paid-in
 
     
Earnings
   
Capital
 
 
Scharf Fund
 
$
(4,450,143
)
 
$
4,450,143
 
 
Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund
   
(368,940
)
   
368,940
 
 
Scharf Global Opportunity Fund
   
(517,780
)
   
517,780
 
 
Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
   
     
 

E.
Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
   
F.
Redemption Fees: The Scharf Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee to shareholders who redeem shares held for 60 days or less. The Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund each charge a 2.00% redemption fee to shareholders who redeem shares held for 15 days or less. Such fees are retained by the Funds and accounted for as an addition to paid-in capital.  During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Fund and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund retained $7,188 and $172, respectively, in redemption fees.

 
 
61

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

G.
Foreign Currency: Investment securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollar amounts at the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities and income and expense items denominated in foreign currencies are translated to U.S. dollar amounts on the respective dates of such transactions.
   
 
The Funds do not isolate those portions of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from investments.
   
 
Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Funds’ books and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities at fiscal period-end, resulting from changes in exchange rates.
   
H.
Leverage and Short Sales: The Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund may use leverage in connection with its investment activities and may affect short sales of securities. Leverage can increase the investment returns of the Fund if the securities purchased increase in value in an amount exceeding the cost of the borrowing. However, if the securities decrease in value, the Fund will suffer a greater loss than would have resulted without the use of leverage. A short sale is the sale by the Fund of a security which it does not own in anticipation of purchasing the same security in the future at a lower price to close the short position. A short sale will be successful if the price of the shorted security decreases. However, if the underlying security goes up in price during the period in which the short position is outstanding, the Fund will realize a loss. The risk on a short sale is unlimited because the Fund must buy the shorted security at the higher price to complete the transaction. Therefore, short sales may be subject to greater risks than investments in long positions.
   
 
With a long position, the maximum sustainable loss is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum attainable price of the shorted security. The Fund would also incur increased transaction costs associated with selling securities short. In addition, if the Fund sells securities short, it must maintain a segregated account with its custodian containing cash or high-grade securities equal to (i) the greater of the current market value of the securities sold short or the market value of such securities at the time they were sold short, less (ii) any collateral deposited with the Fund’s broker (not including the proceeds from the short sales). The Fund may be required to add to the segregated account as the market price of a shorted security increases. As a result

 
 
62

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

 
of maintaining and adding to its segregated account, the Fund may maintain higher levels of cash or liquid assets (for example, U.S. Treasury bills, repurchase agreements, high quality commercial paper and long equity positions) for collateral needs thus reducing its overall managed assets available for trading purposes. In lieu of maintaining cash or high-grade securities in a segregated account to cover the Fund’s short sale obligations, the Fund may earmark cash or high-grade securities on the Fund’s records or hold offsetting positions.
   
I.
Derivatives: The Funds have adopted the financial accounting reporting rules as required by the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The Funds are required to include enhanced disclosure that enables investors to understand how and why an entity uses derivatives, how derivatives are accounted for, and how derivative instruments affect an entity’s results of operations and financial position.
   
 
The Funds may utilize options for hedging purposes as well as direct investment. Some options strategies, including buying puts, tend to hedge the Funds’ investments against price fluctuations. Other strategies, such as writing puts and calls and buying calls, tend to increase market exposure. Options contracts may be combined with each other in order to adjust the risk and return characteristics of each Fund’s overall strategy in a manner deemed appropriate to the Adviser and consistent with each Fund’s investment objective and policies. When a call or put option is written, an amount equal to the premium received is recorded as a liability. The liability is marked-to-market daily to reflect the current fair value of the written option. When a written option expires, a gain is realized in the amount of the premium originally received. If a closing purchase contract is entered into, a gain or loss is realized in the amount of the original premium less the cost of the closing transaction. If a written call option is exercised, a gain or loss is realized from the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from such sale are increased by the premium originally received. If a written put option is exercised, the amount of the premium originally received reduces the cost of the security which is purchased upon the exercise of the option.
   
 
With options, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Funds since the options are covered or secured, which means that the Funds will own the underlying security or, to the extent they do not hold the security, will maintain liquid assets consisting of cash, short-term securities, or equity or debt securities equal to the market value of the security underlying the option, marked to market daily.
   
 
Options purchased are recorded as investments and marked-to-market daily to reflect the current fair value of the option contract. If an option purchased expires, a loss is realized in the amount of the cost of the option contract. If a closing transaction is entered into, a gain or loss is realized to the extent that the proceeds from the sale are greater or less than the cost of the option. If a purchase put option

 
63

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

 
is exercised, a gain or loss is realized from the sale of the underlying security by adjusting the proceeds from such sale by the amount of the premium originally paid. If a purchased call option is exercised, the cost of the security purchased upon exercise is increased by the premium originally paid.
   
 
The Funds did not invest in derivative instruments during the year ended September 30, 2019.
   
J.
New Accounting Pronouncements: In March 2017, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-08, Receivables — Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The amendments in the ASU shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities, held at a premium, to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; which continue to be amortized to maturity. The ASU is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this provision.
   
K.
Events Subsequent to the Fiscal Year End:  In preparing the financial statements as of September 30, 2019, management considered the impact of subsequent events for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements. Refer to Note 10 for more information about subsequent events.
 
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 the Funds have the ability to access.
     
 
Level 2 –
Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.
     
 
Level 3 –
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Funds’ 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.

 
 
64

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

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).
 
Equity Securities: The Funds’ investments are carried at fair value. Equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks and exchange-traded funds that are primarily traded on a national securities exchange shall be valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded on the day of valuation or, if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices.  Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ Global Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”).  If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices.  Over-the-counter securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ Global Market System shall be valued at the most recent sales price.  Investments in open-end mutual funds are valued at their net asset value per share.  To the extent, these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Fixed Income Securities: Debt securities, such as corporate bonds, asset backed securities, municipal bonds, and U.S. government agency issues are valued at market on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service which utilizes both dealer-supplied valuations and formula-based techniques.  The pricing service may consider recently executed transactions in securities of the issuer or comparable issuers, market price quotations (where observable), bond spreads, and fundamental data relating to the issuer.  In addition, the model may incorporate 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.  These securities will generally be classified in level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Options: Exchange-traded options are valued at the composite price, using the National Best Bid and Offer quotes. Specifically, composite pricing looks at the last trades on the exchanges where the options are traded. If there are no trades for the option on a given business day, composite option pricing calculates the mean of the highest bid price and the lowest ask price across the exchanges where the option is traded. Exchange-traded options that are actively traded are categorized in level 1 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.
 
 
65

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to a Valuation Committee of the Trust which is comprised of representatives from the Funds’ administrator, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, doing business as U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services”). The function of the Valuation Committee is to value securities where current and reliable market quotations are not readily available or the closing price does not represent fair value by following procedures approved by the Board. These procedures consider many factors, including the type of security, size of holding, trading volume and news events. All actions taken by the Valuation Committee are 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 September 30, 2019:
 
Scharf Fund
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Common Stocks
                       
  Communication Services
 
$
44,905,765
   
$
   
$
   
$
44,905,765
 
  Consumer Discretionary
   
47,205,298
     
     
     
47,205,298
 
  Consumer Staples
   
13,702,685
     
     
     
13,702,685
 
  Financials
   
40,301,420
     
     
     
40,301,420
 
  Healthcare
   
87,860,490
     
     
     
87,860,490
 
  Industrials
   
23,500,015
     
     
     
23,500,015
 
  Information Technology
   
58,550,470
     
     
     
58,550,470
 
  Materials
   
8,450,402
     
     
     
8,450,402
 
Total Common Stocks
   
324,476,545
     
     
     
324,476,545
 
Preferred Stock
                               
  Information Technology
   
8,307,169
     
     
     
8,307,169
 
Total Preferred Stock
   
8,307,169
     
     
     
8,307,169
 
U.S. Treasury Bills
   
     
29,254,535
     
     
29,254,535
 
Money Market Fund
   
8,746,491
     
     
     
8,746,491
 
Total Investments
                               
  in Securities
 
$
341,530,205
   
$
29,254,535
   
$
   
$
370,784,740
 

 
 
66

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Common Stocks
                       
  Communication Services
 
$
4,311,825
   
$
   
$
   
$
4,311,825
 
  Consumer Discretionary
   
5,059,854
     
     
     
5,059,854
 
  Consumer Staples
   
1,187,797
     
     
     
1,187,797
 
  Financials
   
3,745,602
     
     
     
3,745,602
 
  Healthcare
   
8,170,234
     
     
     
8,170,234
 
  Industrials
   
2,223,591
     
     
     
2,223,591
 
  Information Technology
   
5,666,286
     
     
     
5,666,286
 
  Materials
   
788,513
     
     
     
788,513
 
Total Common Stocks
   
31,153,702
     
     
     
31,153,702
 
Other Securities
   
987,370
     
     
     
987,370
 
Exchange-Traded Fund
   
788,087
     
     
     
788,087
 
Preferred Stocks
                               
  Closed-End Funds
   
2,166,772
     
     
     
2,166,772
 
  Information Technology
   
965,912
     
     
     
965,912
 
Total Preferred Stocks
   
3,132,684
     
     
     
3,132,684
 
Fixed Income
                               
  Corporate Bonds
   
     
4,145,968
     
     
4,145,968
 
  Municipal Bonds
   
     
4,065,376
     
     
4,065,376
 
Total Fixed Income
   
     
8,211,344
     
     
8,211,344
 
U.S. Treasury Bills
   
     
1,795,405
     
     
1,795,405
 
U.S. Treasury Inflation
                               
  Indexed Note
   
     
1,050,757
     
     
1,050,757
 
U.S. Treasury Note
   
     
1,243,881
     
     
1,243,881
 
Money Market Fund
   
873,310
     
     
     
873,310
 
Total Investments
                               
  in Securities
 
$
36,935,153
   
$
12,301,387
   
$
   
$
49,236,540
 

 

 
67

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Scharf Global Opportunity Fund
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Common Stocks
                       
  Communication Services
 
$
1,804,986
   
$
   
$
   
$
1,804,986
 
  Consumer Discretionary
   
3,689,928
     
     
     
3,689,928
 
  Consumer Staples
   
592,710
     
     
     
592,710
 
  Financials
   
1,500,805
     
     
     
1,500,805
 
  Healthcare
   
4,729,232
     
     
     
4,729,232
 
  Industrials
   
1,153,231
     
     
     
1,153,231
 
  Information Technology
   
2,132,480
     
     
     
2,132,480
 
  Materials
   
316,725
     
     
     
316,725
 
Total Common Stocks
   
15,920,097
     
     
     
15,920,097
 
Preferred Stocks
                               
  Consumer Discretionary
   
98,833
     
     
     
98,833
 
  Consumer Staples
   
81,371
     
     
     
81,371
 
  Financials
   
65,761
     
     
     
65,761
 
  Information Technology
   
1,099,488
     
     
     
1,099,488
 
  Materials
   
10,525
     
     
     
10,525
 
Total Preferred Stocks
   
1,355,978
     
     
     
1,355,978
 
Money Market Fund
   
684,663
     
     
     
684,663
 
Total Investments
                               
  in Securities
 
$
17,960,738
   
$
   
$
   
$
17,960,738
 

 

 
68

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Assets:
                       
Common Stocks
                       
  Communication Services
 
$
2,820,237
   
$
   
$
   
$
2,820,237
 
  Consumer Discretionary
   
2,268,089
     
     
     
2,268,089
 
  Consumer Staples
   
701,438
     
     
     
701,438
 
  Financials
   
2,279,014
     
     
     
2,279,014
 
  Healthcare
   
5,186,142
     
     
     
5,186,142
 
  Industrials
   
1,265,768
     
     
     
1,265,768
 
  Information Technology
   
3,317,993
     
     
     
3,317,993
 
  Materials
   
379,410
     
     
     
379,410
 
Total Common Stocks
   
18,218,091
     
     
     
18,218,091
 
Money Market Fund
   
103,254
     
     
     
103,254
 
Total Investments
                               
  in Securities
 
$
18,321,345
   
$
   
$
   
$
18,321,345
 
Liabilities:
                               
Securities Sold Short
                               
  Exchange-Traded Funds
 
$
10,191,483
   
$
   
$
   
$
10,191,483
 
Total Securities Sold Short
 
$
10,191,483
   
$
   
$
   
$
10,191,483
 

Refer to the Funds’ schedule of investments for a detailed break-out of securities by industry classification. Transfers between levels are recognized at September 30, 2019, the end of the reporting period. There were no transfers between levels during the year ended September 30, 2019.
 
In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). The primary focus of ASU 2018-13 is to improve the effectiveness of the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. The changes affect all companies that are required to include fair value measurement disclosures. In general, the amendments in ASU 2018-13 are effective for all entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. An entity is permitted to early adopt the removed or modified disclosures upon the issuance of ASU 2018-13 and may delay adoption of the additional disclosures, which are required for public companies only, until their effective date. Management is currently evaluating the impact these changes will have on the Funds’ financial statements and disclosures.
 

 
69

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

NOTE 4 – INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEE AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
 
The Funds have an investment advisory agreement with Scharf Investments, LLC (the “Adviser”) pursuant to which the Adviser is responsible for providing investment management services to the Funds.  The Adviser furnished all investment advice, office space and facilities, and provides most of the personnel needed by each Fund.  As compensation for its services, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, computed daily and payable monthly.  The Scharf Fund pays fees calculated at an annual rate of 0.89% based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund pay fees calculated at an annual rate of 0.99% based upon the average daily net assets of each Fund.  For the year ended September 30, 2019, the advisory fees incurred by the Funds are disclosed in the statements of operations.
 
The Funds are responsible for their own operating expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees payable to it by the Funds and to pay Fund operating expenses (excluding class specific expenses such as the 0.25% 12b-1 fees applied to the Retail Class and 0.10% shareholder servicing fees applied to both the Institutional Class and Retail Class, acquired fund fees and expenses, interest expense, dividends on securities sold short, taxes and extraordinary expenses, see notes 5 and 6 for class specific information) to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses as follows:
 
   

Expense Caps
 
Scharf Fund

0.89%
 
Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund

0.88%
 
Scharf Global Opportunity Fund

0.35%
 
Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund

0.65%
       
 
Percent of average daily net assets of the Funds.
   

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 any subsequent month in the 36-month period from the date of the management fee reduction and expense payment if the aggregate amount actually paid by the Funds toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into the account the reimbursement) will not cause the Fund to exceed the lesser of: (1) the expense limitation in place at the time of the management fee reduction and expense payment: or (2) the expense limitation in place at the time of the reimbursement.  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
 
 
70

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

the year ended September 30, 2019, the Adviser reduced its fees in the amount of $399,912, $243,918, $282,233, and $218,755, for the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund, respectively.
 
No amounts were recouped by the Adviser.  The expense limitation for the Funds will remain in effect through at least January 27, 2020.  The Expense Caps may be terminated only by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Trust.  The Advisor may recapture portions of the amounts shown below no later than the corresponding dates:
 
       
Scharf Multi-Asset
 
Scharf Global
 
Scharf Alpha
 
       
Opportunity
 
Opportunity
 
Opportunity
 
Scharf Fund
 
Fund
 
Fund
 
Fund
 
Year
 
Amount
 
Year
 
Amount
 
Year
 
Amount
 
Year
 
Amount
 
9/30/20
 
$
777,429
 
9/30/20
 
$
292,638
 
9/30/20
 
$
355,261
 
9/30/20
 
$
260,274
 
9/30/21
   
605,893
 
9/30/21
   
280,214
 
9/30/21
   
358,682
 
9/30/21
   
230,304
 
9/30/22
   
399,212
 
9/30/22
   
243,918
 
9/30/22
   
282,233
 
9/30/22
   
218,755
 
   
$
1,782,534
 

 
$
816,770
 

  $
996,176
      $
709,333
 

Fund Services serves as the Funds’ administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent. In those capacities Fund Services maintains the Funds’ books and records, calculates the Funds’ NAV, prepares various federal and state regulatory filings, coordinates the payment of fund expenses, reviews expense accruals and prepares materials supplied to the Board of Trustees.  The officers of the Trust and the Chief Compliance Officer are also employees of Fund Services.  Fees paid by the Funds to Fund Services for these services for the year ended September 30, 2019 are disclosed in the statements of operations.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC (the “Distributor”) acts as the Funds’ principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Funds’ shares.  U.S. Bank N.A. serves as custodian (the “Custodian”) to the Funds.  Both the Distributor and Custodian are affiliates of Fund Services.  Fees paid by the Funds to U.S. Bank N.A. for custody services for the year ended September 30, 2019 are disclosed in the statements of operations.
 
NOTE 5 – 12B-1 DISTRIBUTION FEES
 
The Retail Class of each Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the “Plan”). The Plan permits each class to pay for distribution and related expenses up to an annual rate of 0.25% of its average daily net assets.  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
 
 
71

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

represent compensation for distribution and service activities, not reimbursements for specific expenses incurred.  For the year ended September 30, 2019, the 12b-1 fees accrued by each Fund’s Retail Class are disclosed in the statements of operations.
 
NOTE 6 – SHAREHOLDER SERVICING FEE
 
The Funds have entered into a Shareholder Servicing Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Adviser, under which the Funds may pay servicing fees up to an annual rate of 0.10% of the average daily net assets of each Fund.  Payments to the Adviser under the Agreement may reimburse the Adviser for payments it makes to selected brokers, dealers and administrators which have entered into service agreements with the Adviser for services provided to shareholders of the Funds. The services provided by such intermediaries are primarily designed to assist shareholders of the Funds and include the furnishing of office space and equipment, telephone facilities, personnel and assistance to the Funds in servicing such shareholders. Services provided by such intermediaries also include the provision of support services to the Funds and include establishing and maintaining shareholders’ accounts and record processing, purchase and redemption transactions, answering routine client inquiries regarding the Funds, and providing such other personal services to shareholders as the Funds may reasonably request. For the year ended September 30, 2019, the shareholder servicing fees accrued by the Institutional Class of the Scharf Fund and Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund and for all Funds’ Retail Class are disclosed in the statements of operations.
 
NOTE 7 – LINES OF CREDIT
 
The Scharf Fund, Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund have lines of credit in the amount of $20,000,000, $5,000,000, $2,200,000, and $1,500,000, 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 September 30, 2019, the Scharf Fund and Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund did not draw upon their lines of credit.
 
During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund drew on its line of credit.  The Fund had an outstanding average balance of $7,570, paid a weighted average interest rate of 5.50%, and incurred interest expense of $422.  The maximum borrowing by the Fund occurred on January 2, 2019 in the amount of $2,180,000.  At September 30, 2019, the Fund had no outstanding loan amounts.
 

 
72

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund drew on its line of credit.  The Fund had an outstanding average balance of $830, paid a weighted average interest rate of 5.27%, and incurred interest expense of $132.  The maximum borrowing by the Fund occurred on September 11, 2019 in the amount of $274,000.  At September 30, 2019, the Fund had no outstanding loan amounts.
 
NOTE 8 – PURCHASES AND SALES OF SECURITIES
 
For the year ended September 30, 2019, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term securities, were as follows:
 
     
Purchases
   
Sales
 
 
Scharf Fund
 
$
164,876,407
   
$
225,674,369
 
 
Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund
   
21,220,355
     
23,253,633
 
 
Scharf Global Opportunity Fund
   
14,845,670
     
20,927,563
 
 
Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund
   
10,297,779
     
13,566,300
 

During the year ended September 30, 2019, there were no purchases and sales of U.S. Government securities in the Scharf Fund, Scharf Global Opportunity Fund and Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund.  The Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund had purchases of $1,024,609 and sales of $0.
 
For the year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund had $2,989,843 and $4,975,055 of proceeds from short sales and buy cover transactions, respectively.  This activity is included in the portfolio turnover disclosed in the financial highlights.
 

 

 

 

 

 
73

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

NOTE 9 – INCOME TAXES AND DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS
 
As of September 30, 2019, the components of accumulated earnings/(losses) on a tax basis were as follows
 
         
Scharf
 
         
Multi-Asset
 
   
Scharf
   
Opportunity
 
   
Fund
   
Fund
 
Cost of investments (a)
 
$
299,127,149
   
$
41,637,602
 
Gross unrealized appreciation
   
87,176,883
     
9,073,702
 
Gross unrealized depreciation
   
(15,519,292
)
   
(1,474,764
)
Net unrealized appreciation (a)
   
71,657,591
     
7,598,938
 
Net unrealized depreciation/(depreciation)
               
  on foreign currency
   
(520
)
   
(43
)
Undistributed ordinary income
   
1,370,823
     
466,270
 
Undistributed long-term capital gains
   
24,889,816
     
2,487,749
 
Total distributable earnings
   
26,260,639
     
2,954,019
 
Other accumulated gains/(losses)
   
     
 
Total accumulated earnings/(losses)
 
$
97,917,710
   
$
10,552,914
 
                 
   
Scharf Global
   
Scharf Alpha
 
   
Opportunity
   
Opportunity
 
   
Fund
   
Fund
 
Cost of investments (a)
 
$
15,463,165
   
$
6,617,845
 
Gross unrealized appreciation
   
3,717,350
     
2,806,561
 
Gross unrealized depreciation
   
(1,219,777
)
   
(1,294,544
)
Net unrealized appreciation (a)
   
2,497,573
     
1,512,017
 
Net unrealized appreciation
               
  on foreign currency
   
42
     
 
Undistributed ordinary income
   
234,767
     
60,850
 
Undistributed long-term capital gains
   
1,403,948
     
 
Total distributable earnings
   
1,638,715
     
60,850
 
Other accumulated gains/(losses)
   
     
(129,526
)
Total accumulated earnings/(losses)
 
$
4,136,330
   
$
1,443,341
 

(a)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis cost and unrealized appreciation is attributable primarily to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales, tax adjustments related to partnerships, tax equalization and transfer in-kind.

 

 
74

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

At September 30, 2019, the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund had a short-term capital loss carryforward of $129,526.
 
The capital losses may be carried forward indefinitely to offset future gains.
 
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018 was as follows:
 
     
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2018
 
     
Ordinary
   
Long-Term
   
Ordinary
   
Long-Term
 
     
Income
   
Capital Gains
   
Income
   
Capital Gains
 
 
Scharf Fund
 
$
3,284,040
   
$
30,348,710
   
$
891,172
   
$
14,410,589
 
 
Scharf Multi-Asset
                               
 
  Opportunity Fund
   
755,170
     
2,600,202
     
124,082
     
1,225,008
 
 
Scharf Global
                               
 
  Opportunity Fund
   
541,046
     
1,674,733
     
230,126
     
1,581,305
 
 
Scharf Alpha
                               
 
  Opportunity Fund
   
     
     
     
463,472
 

The Funds designated as long-term capital gain dividend, pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 852(b)(3), the amount necessary to reduce the earnings and profits of the Funds related to net capital gain to zero for the tax year ended September 30, 2019.
 
NOTE 10 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
Effective October 1, 2019, the Board approved Sullivan & Worcester LLP as the Trust’s new counsel and independent counsel to the Independent Trustees. On November 25, 2019, U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of Quasar Distributors, LLC, the Funds’ distributor, announced that it had signed a purchase agreement to sell Quasar to Foreside Financial Group, LLC such that Quasar will become a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Foreside.  The transaction is expected to close by the end of March 2020.  Quasar will remain the Funds’ distributor at the close of the transaction, subject to Board approval.
 
NOTE 11 – 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.
 
 
Foreign and Emerging Market Securities Risk.  Investments in foreign currencies and foreign issuers are subject to additional risks, including political and economic risks, greater volatility, civil conflicts and war, sanctions or other measures by the United States or other governments, liquidity risks, currency fluctuations, higher transaction costs, delayed settlement, possible foreign controls on investment, expropriation and nationalization risks, and

 
75

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

   
less stringent investor protection and disclosure standards of foreign markets. Events and evolving conditions in certain economies or markets may alter the risks associated with investments tied to countries or regions that historically were perceived as comparatively stable becoming riskier and more volatile. These risks are magnified in countries in “emerging markets.” Emerging market countries typically have less-established market economies than developed countries and may face greater social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties. In addition, emerging markets typically present greater illiquidity and price volatility concerns due to smaller or limited local capital markets and greater difficulty in determining market valuations of securities due to limited public information on issuers.
     
 
Investment Style Risk.  The Adviser follows an investing style that favors relatively low valuations.  At times when this style is out of favor, the Funds may underperform funds that use different investing styles.
     
 
Small- and Medium-Sized Company Risk.  Small- and medium-sized companies often have less predictable earnings, more limited product lines, markets, distribution channels or financial resources and the management of such companies may be dependent upon one or few key people.  The market movements of equity securities of small- and medium-sized companies may be more abrupt and volatile than the market movements of equity securities of larger, more established companies or the stock market in general and small-sized companies in particular, are generally less liquid than the equity securities of larger companies.
     
 
Special Situations Risk.  There is a risk that the special situation (i.e., spin-off, liquidation, merger, etc.) might not occur, which could have a negative impact on the price of the issuer’s securities and fail to produce gains or produce a loss for the Funds.  In addition, investments in special situation companies may be illiquid and difficult to value, which will require a Fund to employ fair value procedures to value its holdings in such investments.
     
 
Short Sales Risk (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund).  A short sale is the sale by the Fund of a security which it does not own in anticipation of purchasing the same security in the future at a lower price to close the short position.  A short sale will be successful if the price of the shorted security decreases.  However, if the underlying security goes up in price during the period in which the short position is outstanding, the Fund will realize a loss.  The risk on a short sale is unlimited because the Fund must buy the shorted security at the higher price to complete the transaction.  Therefore, short sales may be subject to greater risks than investments in long positions.

 

 
76

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS at September 30, 2019, Continued

 
Leverage Risk (Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund). Leverage is investment exposure which exceeds the initial amount invested.  Leverage can cause the portfolio to lose more than the principal amount invested.  Leverage can magnify the portfolio’s gains and losses and therefore increase its volatility.










77

SCHARF FUNDS

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Trustees Advisors Series Trust and Shareholders of:
Scharf Funds
 
Opinion on the Financial Statements
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund (the “Funds”), each a series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”), including the schedules of investments, as of September 30, 2019, the related statements of operations and cash flow 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 Scharf Fund and Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, with respect to Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, financial highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended and for the period October 14, 2014 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2015, with respect to Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund, financial highlights for each of the three years in the period then ended and for the period December 31, 2015 (commencement of operations) to September 30, 2016, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Funds as of September 30, 2019, the results of their operations for the year then ended, the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and their financial highlights for the periods indicated above, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Basis for Opinion
 
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds’ financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Funds in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We have served as the auditor of one or more of the funds in the Trust since 2003.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
 
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2019 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies were not received. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
TAIT, WELLER & BAKER LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 27, 2019


78

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

For the year ended September 30, 2019, the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund designated $3,284,040, $755,170, $541,046 and $0, respectively, as ordinary income. The Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund designated $30,348,710, $2,600,202, $1,674,733 and $0, respectively, as long-term capital gains for purposes of the dividends paid deduction.
 
For the year ended September 30, 2019, certain dividends paid by the Funds may be subject to a maximum tax rate of 23.8%, as provided by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003. The percentage of dividends declared from net investment income designated as qualified dividend income for the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund was 100%, 99.88%, 74.48%, and 0%, respectively.
 
For corporate shareholders in the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund, the percent of ordinary income distributions qualifying for the corporate dividends received deduction for the year ended September 30, 2019 was 100%, 55.59%, 52.79%, and 0%, respectively.
 
The percentage of taxable ordinary income distributions that are designated as short-term capital gain distributions under Internal Revenue Section 871(k)(2)(C) for the Scharf Fund, the Scharf Multi-Asset Opportunity Fund, the Scharf Global Opportunity Fund, and the Scharf Alpha Opportunity Fund was 0%, 0%, 55.59%, and 0%, respectively.
 
 
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 1-866-572-4273 (1-866-5SCHARF) 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 most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-572-4273 (1-866-5SCHARF). Furthermore, you can obtain the Fund’s proxy voting records on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 

 
79

SCHARF FUNDS

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS at September 30, 2019 (Unaudited), Continued

Quarterly Filings on Form N-Q
 
The Funds file their complete schedule 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. Information included in the Funds’ Form N-Q is also available by calling 1-866-572-4273 (1-866-5SCHARF).
 










80

SCHARF 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.
 
Independent Trustees(1)
   
Term of
 
Number of
 
   
Office
 
Portfolios
Other
 
Position
and
Principal
in Fund
Directorships
 
Held
Length
Occupation
Complex
Held During
Name, Address
with the
of Time
During Past
Overseen by
Past Five
and Age
Trust
Served
Five Years
Trustee(2)
Years(3)
Gail S. Duree
Trustee
Indefinite
Director, Alpha
4
Trustee,
(age 73)
 
term; since
Gamma Delta
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
 
March
Housing Corporation
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
2014.
(collegiate housing
 
(for series not
     
management) (2012
 
affiliated with
     
to July 2019); Trustee
 
the Funds);
     
and Chair (2000 to
 
Independent
     
2012), New Covenant
 
Trustee from
     
Mutual Funds (1999 to
 
1999 to 2012,
     
2012); Director and
 
New Covenant
     
Board Member, Alpha
 
Mutual Funds
     
Gamma Delta Foundation
 
(an open-end
     
(philanthropic
 
investment
     
organization)
 
company with
     
(2005 to 2011).
 
4 portfolios).
           
David G. Mertens
Trustee
Indefinite
Partner and Head of
4
Trustee,
(age 59)
 
term*;
Business Development
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
 
since
Ballast Equity
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
March
Management, LLC
 
(for series not
   
2017.
(a privately-held
 
affiliated with
     
investment advisory firm)
 
the Funds).
     
(February 2019 to present);
   
     
Managing Director and
   
     
Vice President, Jensen
   
     
Investment Management,
   
     
Inc. (a privately-held
   
     
investment advisory
   
     
firm) (2002 to 2017).
   
           
George J. Rebhan
Chairman
Indefinite
Retired; formerly
4
Trustee,
(age 85)
of the
term; since
President, Hotchkis and
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
Board and
May
Wiley Funds (mutual
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Trustee
2002.
funds) (1985 to 1993).
 
(for series not
     

 
affiliated with
     

 
the Funds);
     

 
Independent
     

 
Trustee from
     

 
1999 to 2009,
     

 
E*TRADE
     

 
Funds.

 
81

SCHARF FUNDS

INFORMATION ABOUT TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited), Continued

   
Term of
 
Number of
 
   
Office
 
Portfolios
Other
 
Position
and
Principal
in Fund
Directorships
 
Held
Length
Occupation
Complex
Held During
Name, Address
with the
of Time
During Past
Overseen by
Past Five
and Age
Trust
Served
Five Years
Trustee(2)
Years(3)
Joe D. Redwine
Trustee
Indefinite
Retired; formerly
4
Trustee,
(age 72)
 
term; since
Manager, President,
 
Advisors
615 E. Michigan Street
 
September
CEO, U.S. Bancorp
 
Series Trust
Milwaukee, WI 53202
 
2008.
Fund Services, LLC,
 
(for series not
     
and its predecessors,
 
affiliated with
     
(May 1991 to July 2017).
 
the Funds).
           
Raymond B. Woolson
Trustee
Indefinite
President, Apogee
4
Trustee,
(age 60)
 
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
         
16 portfolios),
         
DoubleLine
         
Opportunistic
         
Credit Fund and
         
DoubleLine
         
Income
         
Solutions
         
Fund, from 2010
         
to present;
         
Independent
         
Trustee,
         
DoubleLine
         
Equity Funds
         
from 2010 to
         
2016.

 

 
82

SCHARF FUNDS

INFORMATION ABOUT TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS (Unaudited), Continued

Officers
   
Term of Office
 
Name, Address
Position Held
and Length of
Principal Occupation
and Age
with the Trust
Time Served
During Past Five Years
Jeffrey T. Rauman
President, Chief
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, Compliance and
(age 50)
Executive Officer
term; since
Administration, U.S. Bank Global Fund
615 E. Michigan Street
and Principal
December 2018.
Services (February 1996 to present).
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Executive Officer
   
       
Cheryl L. King
Vice President,
Indefinite
Vice President, Compliance and
(age 58)
Treasurer and
term; since
Administration, U.S. Bank Global Fund
615 E. Michigan Street
Principal
December 2007.
Services (October 1998 to present).
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Financial Officer
   
       
Kevin J. Hayden
Assistant
Indefinite
Assistant Vice President, Compliance
(age 48)
Treasurer
term; since
and Administration, U.S. Bank Global
615 E. Michigan Street
 
September 2013.
Fund Services (June 2005 to present).
Milwaukee, WI 53202
     
       
Richard R. Conner
Assistant
Indefinite
Assistant Vice President, Compliance
(age 37)
Treasurer
term; since
and Administration, U.S. Bank Global
615 E. Michigan Street
 
December 2018.
Fund Services (July 2010 to present).
Milwaukee, WI 53202
     
       
Michael L. Ceccato
Vice President,
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bank
(age 62)
Chief Compliance
term; since
Global Fund Services and Vice
615 E. Michigan Street
Officer and
September 2009.
President, U.S. Bank N.A. (February
Milwaukee, WI 53202
AML Officer
 
2008 to present).
       
Elaine E. Richards, Esq.
Vice President
Indefinite
Senior Vice President, U.S. Bank
(age 51)
and Secretary
term; since
Global Fund Services (July 2007 to
2020 East Financial Way,
 
September 2019.
present).
Suite 100
     
Glendora, CA 91741
     

*
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 September 30, 2019, the Trust was comprised of 39 active portfolios managed by unaffiliated investment advisers.  The term “Fund Complex” applies only to the Funds.  The Funds do not hold themselves out as related to any other series within the Trust for investment purposes, nor do they 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.

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Funds’ Trustees and Officers and is available, without charge, upon request by calling 1-866-572-4273.
 

83

SCHARF FUNDS

HOUSEHOLDING

In an effort to decrease costs, the Funds intend to reduce the number of duplicate prospectuses, annual and semi-annual reports, proxy statement 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 1-866-572-4273 (1-866-5SCHARF) 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.
 









84

SCHARF 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.
 











85


Investment Adviser
Scharf Investments, LLC
5619 Scotts Valley Drive, Suite 140
Scotts Valley, CA 95066

Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
777 East Wisconsin Avenue, 6th Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Custodian
U.S. Bank National Association
Custody Operations
1555 North RiverCenter Drive, Suite 302
Milwaukee, WI 53212

Transfer Agent
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(866) 572-4273

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP
Two Liberty Place
50 South 16th Street, Suite 2900
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Legal Counsel
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
1633 Broadway, 32nd Floor
New York, NY 10019






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 (866)-5SCHARF.  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 substantive 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  9/30/2019
FYE  9/30/2018
Audit Fees
          $72,600
          $70,600
Audit-Related Fees
          N/A
          N/A
Tax Fees
          $14,400
          $14,400
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  9/30/2019
FYE  9/30/2018
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  9/30/2019
FYE  9/30/2018
Registrant
N/A
N/A
Registrant’s Investment Adviser
N/A
N/A

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

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

(b)   Not Applicable.

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/Chief Executive Officer/Principal Executive Officer and Vice President/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. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 13. 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) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  Filed herewith.

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

     (4) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountant.  There was no change in the
      registrant’s independent public accountant for the period covered by this report.

(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/ Jeffrey T. Rauman
Jeffrey T. Rauman, President/Chief Executive
Officer/Principal Executive Officer

Date  12/7/19



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/ Jeffrey T. Rauman
Jeffrey T. Rauman, President/Chief Executive 
Officer/Principal Executive Officer

Date  12/7/19

By (Signature and Title)*    /s/ Cheryl L. King
Cheryl L. King, Vice President/Treasurer/
Principal Financial Officer

Date  12/6/19

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