N-CSRS 1 piafunds-ncsrs.htm PIA FUNDS SEMIANNUAL REPORTS 5-31-22
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: November 30, 2022


Date of reporting period:  May 31, 2022


Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

(a)





PIA Funds

PIA BBB Bond Fund
Managed Account Completion Shares (MACS)
 
PIA MBS Bond Fund
Managed Account Completion Shares (MACS)
 
PIA High Yield (MACS) Fund
Managed Account Completion Shares (MACS)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Semi-Annual Report
May 31, 2022
 


PIA Funds


Dear Shareholder:
 
We are pleased to provide you with this semi-annual report for the six-month period from December 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022, regarding the PIA BBB Bond Fund and the PIA MBS Bond Fund (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”) for which Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (“PIA”) is the investment adviser.
 
During the six months ended May 31, 2022, the total returns, including the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, were as follows:
 
 
PIA BBB Bond Fund
-12.41%
 
 
PIA MBS Bond Fund
-6.99%
 

As stated in the most recently filed prospectus, the PIA BBB Bond Fund’s gross expense ratio and net expense ratio are 0.15% and 0.15%, respectively; while the PIA MBS Bond Fund’s gross expense ratio and net expense ratio are 0.31% and 0.23%, respectively.
 
PIA has agreed to temporarily pay for all operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses) incurred by each Fund through at least March 29, 2023, to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement to 0.19% and 0.23% of average daily net assets for the BBB Bond Fund and the MBS Bond Fund, respectively. The net expense is what the investor has paid.
 
PIA BBB Bond Fund
The PIA BBB Bond Fund returned -12.41% for the six-month period ended May 31, 2022 versus the Bloomberg U.S. Credit Baa Bond Index return of -12.32%. The Fund has a strategy of using a broad diversification of BBB-rated issuers, industry sectors and range of maturities. The bonds held in the Fund represent approximately 210 different issuers. The Bloomberg U.S. Credit Baa Bond Index has over 500 issuers. The Fund is structured so as to approximate the returns of its benchmark, while holding a smaller number of issuers. In order to achieve this objective, the overall duration, the partial durations, as well as the sector allocations of the Fund approximate those of its benchmark. While the top 20 issuers in the Bloomberg U.S. Credit Baa Bond Index are represented in the Fund, for the remaining issuers in the benchmark, only a subset is represented in the Fund, based on market conditions. This will cause some variability in the returns of the Fund relative to those of the benchmark.
 
PIA MBS Bond Fund
The PIA MBS Bond Fund returned -6.99% for the six-month period ended May 31, 2022, while the Bloomberg U.S. MBS Fixed Rate Index returned -7.38%. The average 30-year mortgage rate, according to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, rose from 3.1% to 5.1% during the period. The Fund’s shorter duration position was the primary driver of outperformance, as interest rates rose during the period. Lower coupon mortgage pools underperformed higher coupon pools, and the Fund’s underweight in lower coupon pools was a positive. The Fund’s underweight in 15-year MBS was a negative for the period, as 15-year MBS outperformed 30-year MBS. Ginnie Mae 30-year MBS outperformed conventional 30-year MBS (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac), and the Fund’s underweight in Ginnie Mae mortgages was a negative.
 

1

PIA Funds


Bond Market in Review
The Federal Open Market Committee voted to raise the Federal Funds rate twice during the reporting period, by 25 basis points in March and 50 basis points in May, in order to combat increasing inflation.  The yields on 2-year, 5-year, 10-year and 30-year Treasuries increased by 199, 166, 140 and 125 basis points, respectively, during the reporting period. The average credit spread on investment grade corporate bonds increased from 99 to 130 basis points. The average option-adjusted spread on fixed rate agency MBS was unchanged at the end of the reporting period at 34 basis points, with some interim volatility, and the average life increased from 6.0 to 7.6 years.
 
We believe that the PIA BBB Bond Fund and the PIA MBS Bond Fund provide our clients with a means of efficiently investing in a broadly diversified portfolio of BBB-rated bonds and agency mortgage-backed securities, respectively.
 
Please take a moment to review the Funds’ statements of assets and liabilities and the results of operations for the six-month period ended May 31, 2022. We look forward to reporting to you again with the annual report dated November 30, 2022.
 

Lloyd McAdams
President and Portfolio Manager
Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.





2

PIA Funds


Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
 
Opinions expressed above are those of Pacific Income Advisers, Inc., the Funds’ investment adviser, are subject to change, are not guaranteed and should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security and should not be considered investment advice.
 
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
 
Mutual fund investing involves risk.  Principal loss is possible.  Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise.  This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities.  Investments in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities include additional risks that investors should be aware of such as credit risk, prepayment risk, possible illiquidity and default, as well as increased susceptibility to adverse economic developments.
 
Investment by the PIA BBB Bond Fund in lower-rated and non-rated securities presents a greater risk of loss to principal and interest than higher-rated securities.  The Fund may invest in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods.  These risks are greater for emerging markets.
 
The Funds may also use options, futures contracts, and swaps, which have the risks of unlimited losses of the underlying holdings due to unanticipated market movements and failure to correctly predict the direction of securities prices, interest rates and currency rates.  Derivatives involve risks different from, and in certain cases, greater than the risks presented by more traditional investments.  These risks are fully disclosed in the Prospectus.
 
Bond ratings provide the probability of an issuer defaulting based on the analysis of the issuer’s financial condition and profit potential. Bond rating services are provided by credit rating agencies currently registered as Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”). Bond ratings start at AAA (denoting the highest investment quality) and usually end at D (meaning payment is in default). Securities not covered by any agency will receive a non-rated (NR) rating.
 
Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against risk in a declining market.
 
The Bloomberg U.S. Credit Baa Bond Index is an unmanaged index consisting of bonds rated Baa.  The issues must be publicly traded and meet certain maturity and issue size requirements.  Bonds are represented by the Industrial, Utility, Finance and non-corporate sectors.  Non-corporate sectors include sovereign, supranational, foreign agency and foreign local government issuers.
 
The Bloomberg U.S. MBS Fixed Rate Index (the “MBS Index”) is an unmanaged index that covers the mortgage-backed pass-through securities of Ginnie Mae (GNMA), Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC).  The MBS Index is formed by grouping the universe of over 600,000 individual fixed rate MBS pools into approximately 3,500 generic aggregates.  Each aggregate is a proxy for the outstanding pools for a given agency, program, issue year and coupon.  The index maturity and liquidity criteria are then applied to these aggregates to determine which qualify for inclusion in the index.  About 600 of these generic aggregates meet the criteria.
 
You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
Gross Domestic Product is the amount of goods and services produced in a year, in a country.
 
Consumer Price Index measures the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food and medical care.
 
Coupon is the annual interest payment that the bondholder receives from issue date until maturity.
 
Duration is the measure of the sensitivity of the price of a fixed income security to a change in interest rates, expressed in number of years.
 
Basis point equals 1/100th of 1%.
 
Credit Spread is the difference in yield between a corporate bond and a similar maturity U.S. Treasury Bond. It is the compensation investors receive for accepting credit risk of a corporate bond.
 
Option-Adjusted Spread is the spread earned over Treasuries, measured over multiple possible future interest rate scenarios, after accounting for the value of the embedded option in the security, which in the case of MBS, gives mortgage holders the option to either refinance or repay early.
 
Please refer to the schedule of investments in the report for complete holdings information.  Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.  Investment performance reflects fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements in effect.  In the absence of such waivers or reimbursements, total return would be reduced.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC, Distributor

3

PIA Funds


Dear Shareholder:
 
We are pleased to provide you with this report for the period from December 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022, regarding the PIA High Yield (MACS) Fund (the “Fund”) for which Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (“PIA”), is the investment adviser.
 
The Fund performed in-line with its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High-Yield Index (the “Index”), returning -6.02%, after fees and expenses, for the six months ended May 31, 2022, versus -6.27% for the Index.
 
As stated in the most recently filed prospectus, the Fund’s gross expense ratio and net expense ratio are 0.20% and 0.20%, respectively. PIA has agreed to temporarily pay for all operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses) incurred by the Fund through at least March 29, 2023, to the extent necessary to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Expense Reimbursement to 0.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. The Net Expense is what the investor has paid.
 
The Fund’s primary objective is to seek a high level of current income. The Fund’s secondary objective is to seek capital growth when that is consistent with its primary objective.
 

Lloyd McAdams
President and Portfolio Manager
Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.






4

PIA Funds


Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
 
Opinions expressed above are those of Pacific Income Advisers, Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser, are subject to change, are not guaranteed, should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security and should not be considered investment advice.
 
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
 
Mutual fund investing involves risk.  Principal loss is possible.  Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise.  This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities.  The Fund may invest in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods.  These risks may increase for emerging markets.  Investment by the Fund in lower-rated and non-rated securities presents a greater risk of loss to principal and interest than higher-rated securities.  The Fund may invest in derivatives, which may involve risks greater than the risks presented by more traditional investments.  The risk of owning an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities that the ETF or mutual fund holds.  It will also bear additional expenses, including operating expenses, brokerage costs, and the potential duplication of management fees.
 
The Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High-Yield Index measures the market of USD-denominated, non-investment grade, fixed rate, taxable corporate bonds.  Securities are classified as high yield if the middle rating of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Ratings, Inc., and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services is Ba1/BB+/BB+ or below after dropping the highest and lowest available ratings.  The index excludes emerging markets debt.
 
You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
Bond ratings provide the probability of an issuer defaulting based on the analysis of the issuer’s financial condition and profit potential. Bond rating services are provided by credit rating agencies currently registered as Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”). Bond ratings start at AAA (denoting the highest investment quality) and usually end at D (meaning payment is in default). Securities not covered by any agency will receive a non-rated (NR) rating. The portfolio has 0% in non-rated securities.
 
Please refer to the schedule of investments in the report for complete holdings information.  Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.  Investment performance reflects fee waivers in effect.  In the absence of such waivers, total return would be reduced.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC, Distributor
 




5

PIA Funds
Expense Example – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


As a shareholder of a mutual fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, redemption fees, and exchange fees, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the PIA Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The BBB Bond Fund, MBS Bond Fund, and High Yield (MACS) Fund Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (12/1/21 – 5/31/22).
 
Actual Expenses
The first line of the tables below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Although the Funds charge no sales loads 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 Example below includes, but is not limited to, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees.  You may use the information in the first line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.  Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period’’ to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the tables below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Funds’ actual expense ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is different from the Funds’ actual returns.  The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.  You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the 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 table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees.  Therefore, the second line of the tables is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
 




6

PIA Funds
Expense Example – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


 
Beginning
Ending
Expenses Paid
 
Account Value
Account Value
During Period
 
12/1/21
5/31/22
12/1/21 – 5/31/22*
PIA BBB Bond Fund
     
Actual
$1,000.00
$   875.90
$0.75
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,024.13
$0.81
       
PIA MBS Bond Fund
     
Actual
$1,000.00
$   930.10
$1.11
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,023.78
$1.16
       
PIA High Yield (MACS) Fund
     
Actual
$1,000.00
$   939.80
$1.02
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,023.88
$1.06

*
Expenses are equal to a Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182 (days in most recent fiscal half-year) / 365 days to reflect the one-half year expense.  The annualized expense ratio of the PIA BBB Bond Fund, the PIA MBS Bond Fund and the PIA High Yield (MACS) Fund was 0.16%, 0.23%, 0.21%, respectively.







7

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Allocation of Portfolio Assets – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Investments by Sector
As a Percentage of Total Investments






8

PIA Funds
PIA MBS BOND FUND
Allocation of Portfolio Assets – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Investments by Issuer
As a Percentage of Total Investments


          




9

PIA Funds
PIA HIGH YIELD (MACS) FUND
Allocation of Portfolio Assets – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Investments by Sector
As a Percentage of Total Investments


            




10

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)

           
           
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
CORPORATE BONDS 93.4%
     
       
Aerospace & Defense 3.2%
     
   
Boeing Co.
     
$
2,450,000
 
  5.15%, due 5/1/30
 
$
2,438,308
 
 
1,400,000
 
  5.705%, due 5/1/40
   
1,368,344
 
     
Northrop Grumman Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.40%, due 5/1/30
   
1,016,119
 
     
Raytheon Technologies Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.50%, due 3/15/27
   
993,961
 
 
1,000,000
 
  1.90%, due 9/1/31
   
843,294
 
 
1,000,000
 
  4.35%, due 4/15/47
   
966,081
 
           
7,626,107
 
Agricultural Chemicals 0.3%
       
     
Nutrien Ltd.
       
 
700,000
 
  2.95%, due 5/13/30
   
642,477
 
         
Agriculture 0.3%
       
     
Bunge Limited Finance Corp.
       
 
600,000
 
  3.75%, due 9/25/27
   
590,498
 
         
Airlines 1.2%
       
     
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  2.90%, due 10/28/24
   
1,942,500
 
     
Southwest Airlines Co.
       
 
500,000
 
  5.125%, due 6/15/27
   
520,768
 
     
United Airlines 2020-1
       
     
  Class B Pass Through Trust
       
 
415,000
 
  4.875%, due 7/15/27
   
402,536
 
           
2,865,804
 
Autos 0.4%
       
     
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC
       
 
500,000
 
  3.815%, due 11/2/27
   
462,877
 
     
General Motors Co.
       
 
400,000
 
  5.20%, due 4/1/45
   
362,409
 
           
825,286
 
Banks 6.1%
       
     
Barclays Bank Plc
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.836%, due 5/9/28
   
987,658
 
     
Citigroup, Inc.
       
 
1,700,000
 
  4.45%, due 9/29/27
   
1,707,712
 
 
540,000
 
  5.30%, due 5/6/44
   
556,466
 
     
Cooperatieve Rabobank UA
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.75%, due 7/21/26
   
976,390
 
     
Credit Suisse Group AG
       
 
1,050,000
 
  4.55%, due 4/17/26
   
1,050,326
 
     
Fifth Third Bancorp
       
 
500,000
 
  4.055% (SOFR + 1.355%),
       
     
  due 4/25/28 (g)
   
496,881
 
 
225,000
 
  8.25%, due 3/1/38
   
302,791
 
     
Lloyds Banking Group Plc
       
 
800,000
 
  4.65%, due 3/24/26
   
805,156
 
     
Morgan Stanley
       
 
400,000
 
  2.484% (SOFR + 1.360%),
       
     
  due 9/16/36 (g)
   
323,359
 
     
Natwest Group Plc
       
 
1,700,000
 
  4.269% (3 Month LIBOR USD
       
     
  + 1.762%), due 3/22/25 (g)
   
1,704,949
 
     
Regions Financial Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  1.80%, due 8/12/28
   
876,431
 
     
Santander Holdings USA, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  3.45%, due 6/2/25
   
688,729
 
     
Santander UK Group Holdings Plc
       
 
2,000,000
 
  1.089% (SOFR + 0.787%),
       
     
  due 3/15/25 (g)
   
1,894,645
 
     
Westpac Banking Corp.
       
 
300,000
 
  3.133%, due 11/18/41
   
228,156
 
     
Zions Bancorp NA
       
 
2,000,000
 
  3.25%, due 10/29/29
   
1,806,873
 
           
14,406,522
 
Beverages 0.9%
       
     
Constellation Brands, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  2.875%, due 5/1/30
   
624,753
 
     
Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.20%, due 5/1/30
   
919,227
 
 
500,000
 
  4.50%, due 4/15/52
   
464,017
 
           
2,007,997
 


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

11

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

           
           
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Biotechnology 1.9%
     
   
Amgen, Inc.
     
$
1,000,000
 
  2.20%, due 2/21/27
 
$
941,434
 
 
500,000
 
  2.80%, due 8/15/41
   
386,580
 
 
1,006,000
 
  4.663%, due 6/15/51
   
1,001,363
 
     
Biogen, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  2.25%, due 5/1/30
   
589,449
 
     
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
       
 
1,100,000
 
  1.65%, due 10/1/30
   
929,866
 
 
500,000
 
  2.60%, due 10/1/40
   
380,168
 
     
Royalty Pharma Plc
       
 
500,000
 
  2.15%, due 9/2/31
   
406,313
 
           
4,635,173
 
Broker 1.0%
       
     
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
       
 
950,000
 
  6.75%, due 10/1/37
   
1,122,557
 
     
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
       
 
1,050,000
 
  6.11%, due 1/29/37
   
1,198,108
 
           
2,320,665
 
Brokerage Asset Managers Exchanges 0.4%
       
     
Brightsphere Investment
       
     
  Group, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.80%, due 7/27/26
   
933,700
 
         
Building Materials 0.4%
       
     
Carrier Global Corp.
       
 
240,000
 
  2.70%, due 2/15/31
   
209,064
 
     
Masco Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.00%, due 10/1/30
   
819,826
 
           
1,028,890
 
Cable & Satellite 1.0%
       
     
Charter Communications Operating
       
     
  LLC / Charter Communications
       
     
  Operating Capital
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.80%, due 4/1/31
   
838,834
 
 
1,000,000
 
  2.30%, due 2/1/32
   
799,464
 
 
1,000,000
 
  3.90%, due 6/1/52
   
751,063
 
           
2,389,361
 
Casino Hotels 0.3%
       
     
Sands China Ltd.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.30%, due 3/8/27 (c) (h)
   
786,487
 
         
Cellular Telecom 1.4%
       
     
T-Mobile USA, Inc.
       
 
1,600,000
 
  3.875%, due 4/15/30
   
1,534,938
 
 
600,000
 
  2.25%, due 11/15/31
   
499,422
 
 
1,100,000
 
  3.40%, due 10/15/52 (c)
   
853,202
 
     
Vodafone Group Plc
       
 
400,000
 
  4.375%, due 5/30/28
   
407,920
 
           
3,295,482
 
Chemicals 0.2%
       
     
Dow Chemical Co.
       
 
396,000
 
  7.375%, due 11/1/29
   
471,365
 
         
Chemicals – Diversified 0.4%
       
     
DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.725%, due 11/15/28
   
1,037,623
 
         
Coatings/Paint 0.2%
       
     
Sherwin-Williams Co.
       
 
600,000
 
  2.20%, due 3/15/32
   
506,207
 
         
Commercial Finance 0.2%
       
     
Air Lease Corp.
       
 
450,000
 
  2.875%, due 1/15/26
   
424,107
 
         
Commercial Services 0.9%
       
     
Global Payments, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  1.20%, due 3/1/26
   
451,777
 
     
Moody’s Corp.
       
 
250,000
 
  2.00%, due 8/19/31
   
210,300
 
 
250,000
 
  3.10%, due 11/29/61
   
182,851
 
     
Quanta Services, Inc.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  2.90%, due 10/1/30
   
1,306,167
 
           
2,151,095
 
Communications Equipment 0.2%
       
     
Harris Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  6.15%, due 12/15/40
   
570,316
 
 

           


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

12

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Computers 1.0%
     
   
Dell International LLC /
     
   
  EMC Corp.
     
$
900,000
 
  6.02%, due 6/15/26
 
$
951,712
 
 
500,000
 
  6.20%, due 7/15/30
   
535,889
 
 
500,000
 
  3.45%, due 12/15/51 (c)
   
362,369
 
     
HP, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.40%, due 6/17/30
   
450,860
 
           
2,300,830
 
Construction Materials Manufacturing 0.3%
       
     
Vulcan Materials Co.
       
 
620,000
 
  3.90%, due 4/1/27
   
622,953
 
         
Consumer Finance 0.2%
       
     
Synchrony Financial
       
 
500,000
 
  4.50%, due 7/23/25
   
498,919
 
         
Consumer Products 0.2%
       
     
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.15%, due 8/1/27
   
486,025
 
         
Diversified Banks 0.4%
       
     
Deutsche Bank AG
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.10%, due 1/13/26
   
992,722
 
         
Diversified Financial Services 3.0%
       
     
AerCap Ireland Capital DAC /
       
     
  AerCap Global Aviation Trust
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.50%, due 9/15/23
   
1,004,106
 
 
1,500,000
 
  3.30%, due 1/30/32
   
1,264,624
 
     
Ally Financial, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  2.20%, due 11/2/28
   
425,430
 
     
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.625%, due 1/15/26
   
954,601
 
     
Capital One Financial Corp.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  3.65%, due 5/11/27
   
1,365,590
 
     
GE Capital International Funding
       
     
  Co. Unlimited Co.
       
 
433,000
 
  4.418%, due 11/15/35
   
428,247
 
     
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  1.85%, due 9/15/32
   
813,955
 
     
Nomura Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.172%, due 7/14/28
   
874,610
 
           
7,131,163
 
Diversified Manufacturing Operations 0.2%
       
     
Parker-Hannifin Corp.
       
 
550,000
 
  3.25%, due 6/14/29
   
515,522
 
         
E-Commerce & Products 0.2%
       
     
eBay, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  2.60%, due 5/10/31
   
431,427
 
         
Electric – Distribution 0.2%
       
     
Sempra Energy
       
 
600,000
 
  4.125% (5 Year CMT Rate
       
     
  + 2.868%), due 4/1/52 (g)
   
522,671
 
         
Electric – Integrated 4.3%
       
     
Constellation Energy
       
     
  Generation LLC
       
 
2,000,000
 
  3.25%, due 6/1/25
   
1,964,877
 
     
Dominion Energy, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  2.25%, due 8/15/31
   
423,944
 
     
DTE Energy Co.
       
 
600,000
 
  1.05%, due 6/1/25
   
556,232
 
     
Duke Energy Corp.
       
 
950,000
 
  2.45%, due 6/1/30
   
826,375
 
 
1,000,000
 
  3.30%, due 6/15/41
   
808,742
 
     
Eversource Energy
       
 
500,000
 
  2.55%, due 3/15/31
   
433,974
 
     
FirstEnergy Corp.
       
 
700,000
 
  2.25%, due 9/1/30
   
587,881
 
     
NextEra Energy
       
     
  Capital Holdings, Inc.
       
 
400,000
 
  2.25%, due 6/1/30
   
346,572
 
     
Pacific Gas and Electric Co.
       
 
5,000,000
 
  3.50%, due 8/1/50
   
3,578,557
 
     
Southwestern Electric Power Co.
       
 
400,000
 
  3.25%, due 11/1/51
   
305,763
 


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

13

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Electric – Integrated 4.3% (continued)
     
   
Xcel Energy, Inc.
     
$
500,000
 
  2.35%, due 11/15/31
 
$
425,178
 
           
10,258,095
 
Electric Utilities 0.4%
       
     
Dominion Resources, Inc.
       
 
470,000
 
  4.90%, due 8/1/41
   
466,630
 
     
NiSource Finance Corp.
       
 
400,000
 
  5.25%, due 2/15/43
   
395,688
 
           
862,318
 
Electrical Equipment Manufacturing 0.3%
       
     
Fortive Corp.
       
 
750,000
 
  3.15%, due 6/15/26
   
728,575
 
         
Electronic Components and
       
  Semiconductors 1.4%
       
     
Broadcom, Inc.
       
 
431,000
 
  4.15%, due 11/15/30
   
409,893
 
 
1,500,000
 
  3.419%, due 4/15/33 (c)
   
1,302,924
 
 
55,000
 
  3.187%, due 11/15/36 (c)
   
44,211
 
 
583,000
 
  4.926%, due 5/15/37 (c)
   
554,667
 
     
Micron Technology, Inc.
       
 
250,000
 
  2.703%, due 4/15/32
   
209,523
 
     
NXP BV / NXP Funding LLC /
       
     
  NXP USA, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  4.40%, due 6/1/27
   
502,670
 
 
500,000
 
  2.50%, due 5/11/31
   
416,897
 
           
3,440,785
 
Electronic Instrumentation 0.1%
       
     
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
       
 
215,000
 
  2.30%, due 3/12/31
   
181,566
 
         
Electronics 0.2%
       
     
Roper Technologies, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  1.40%, due 9/15/27
   
572,297
 
         
Enterprise Software & Services 2.1%
       
     
Oracle Corp.
       
 
1,685,000
 
  1.65%, due 3/25/26
   
1,536,064
 
 
1,700,000
 
  2.875%, due 3/25/31
   
1,449,425
 
 
1,400,000
 
  3.65%, due 3/25/41
   
1,085,010
 
 
1,350,000
 
  3.95%, due 3/25/51
   
1,041,719
 
           
5,112,218
 
Entertainment 1.0%
       
     
Magallanes, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.279%, due 3/15/32 (c)
   
940,187
 
 
1,500,000
 
  5.141%, due 3/15/52 (c)
   
1,346,927
 
           
2,287,114
 
Environmental Control 0.4%
       
     
Republic Services, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.875%, due 11/15/25
   
911,615
 
         
Finance Companies 0.4%
       
     
FS KKR Capital Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.625%, due 7/15/24
   
996,822
 
         
Financial Services 0.2%
       
     
Legg Mason, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  5.625%, due 1/15/44
   
537,813
 
         
Food 0.9%
       
     
ConAgra Brands, Inc.
       
 
1,300,000
 
  7.00%, due 10/1/28
   
1,459,104
 
     
General Mills, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  2.25%, due 10/14/31
   
592,964
 
           
2,052,068
 
Food – Confectionery 0.7%
       
     
Mondelez International, Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  1.50%, due 2/4/31
   
1,618,846
 
         
Food – Meat Products 0.3%
       
     
Tyson Foods, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  4.35%, due 3/1/29
   
609,597
 


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

14

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Food – Retail 0.3%
     
   
Kroger Co.
     
$
1,000,000
 
  2.20%, due 5/1/30
 
$
867,921
 
         
Food and Beverage 2.1%
       
     
Anheuser-Busch InBev
       
     
  Worldwide, Inc.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  4.00%, due 4/13/28
   
1,514,794
 
 
1,600,000
 
  4.35%, due 6/1/40
   
1,515,061
 
 
2,100,000
 
  4.50%, due 6/1/50
   
2,023,283
 
           
5,053,138
 
Food Wholesale/Distribution 0.3%
       
     
Sysco Corp.
       
 
464,000
 
  5.95%, due 4/1/30
   
509,965
 
 
400,000
 
  3.15%, due 12/14/51
   
301,139
 
           
811,104
 
Gaming 0.2%
       
     
Las Vegas Sands Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.90%, due 8/8/29
   
436,591
 
         
General Industrial Machinery 0.4%
       
     
IDEX Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.00%, due 5/1/30
   
902,307
 
         
Hand & Machine Tools 0.1%
       
     
Kennametal, Inc.
       
 
330,000
 
  2.80%, due 3/1/31
   
281,644
 
         
Health and Personal Care Stores 1.5%
       
     
CVS Health Corp.
       
 
2,150,000
 
  3.75%, due 4/1/30
   
2,078,074
 
 
500,000
 
  5.125%, due 7/20/45
   
511,845
 
 
1,000,000
 
  5.05%, due 3/25/48
   
1,026,082
 
           
3,616,001
 
Health Care Facilities and Services 0.3%
       
     
Laboratory Corporation
       
     
  of America Holdings
       
 
640,000
 
  3.25%, due 9/1/24
   
641,166
 
         
Healthcare 0.1%
       
     
DH Europe Finance II
       
 
350,000
 
  2.60%, due 11/15/29
   
320,956
 
         
Healthcare – Products 0.5%
       
     
Boston Scientific Corp.
       
 
560,000
 
  2.65%, due 6/1/30
   
502,827
 
     
Danaher Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.60%, due 10/1/50
   
725,296
 
           
1,228,123
 
Healthcare – Services 1.1%
       
     
CommonSpirit Health
       
 
600,000
 
  2.782%, due 10/1/30
   
529,500
 
     
HCA, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.125%, due 6/15/29
   
970,634
 
 
600,000
 
  4.375%, due 3/15/42 (c)
   
527,592
 
     
Humana, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  4.875%, due 4/1/30
   
519,824
 
           
2,547,550
 
Healthcare REITs 0.6%
       
     
Sabra Health Care LP
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.90%, due 10/15/29
   
904,940
 
     
Welltower, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  2.75%, due 1/15/31
   
612,013
 
           
1,516,953
 
Insurance 2.2%
       
     
Anthem, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.375%, due 1/15/25
   
981,244
 
 
600,000
 
  4.65%, due 8/15/44
   
592,223
 
     
Aon Corp.
       
 
600,000
 
  2.80%, due 5/15/30
   
539,530
 
     
AXA SA
       
 
500,000
 
  8.60%, due 12/15/30
   
616,853
 
     
Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.375%, due 3/3/31
   
893,768
 
     
Lincoln National Corp.
       
 
120,000
 
  3.80%, due 3/1/28
   
118,629
 


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

15

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Insurance 2.2% (continued)
     
   
Markel Corp.
     
$
20,000
 
  4.90%, due 7/1/22
 
$
20,046
 
     
Metlife, Inc.
       
 
855,000
 
  6.40%, due 12/15/66 (f)
   
879,611
 
     
Prudential Financial, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  5.125% (5 Year CMT Rate
       
     
  + 3.162%), due 3/1/52 (g)
   
481,253
 
           
5,123,157
 
Integrated Oils 0.4%
       
     
Ecopetrol S.A.
       
 
900,000
 
  4.125%, due 1/16/25
   
880,731
 
         
Life & Health Insurance 0.2%
       
     
Corebridge Financial, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.90%, due 4/5/32 (c)
   
475,734
 
         
Life Insurance 0.4%
       
     
AXA Equitable Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  5.00%, due 4/20/48
   
968,949
 
         
Media 1.4%
       
     
Discovery Communications LLC
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.625%, due 5/15/30
   
923,433
 
     
Fox Corp.
       
 
975,000
 
  4.709%, due 1/25/29
   
990,977
 
     
Time Warner Entertainment
       
     
  Company, LP
       
 
810,000
 
  8.375%, due 7/15/33
   
980,168
 
     
Viacom Inc.
       
 
610,000
 
  4.375%, due 3/15/43
   
508,437
 
           
3,403,015
 
Medical Equipment and
       
  Supplies Manufacturing 0.7%
       
     
Becton Dickinson and Co.
       
 
626,000
 
  4.685%, due 12/15/44
   
604,642
 
     
Smith & Nephew Plc
       
 
1,400,000
 
  2.032%, due 10/14/30
   
1,154,555
 
           
1,759,197
 
Medical Products 0.5%
       
     
Stryker Corp.
       
 
700,000
 
  1.95%, due 6/15/30
   
598,869
 
     
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.05%, due 1/15/26
   
487,893
 
           
1,086,762
 
Metals 0.4%
       
     
Southern Copper Corp.
       
 
750,000
 
  6.75%, due 4/16/40
   
893,831
 
         
Metals and Mining 0.3%
       
     
Newmont Corp.
       
 
800,000
 
  4.875%, due 3/15/42
   
808,954
 
         
Nondepository Credit Intermediation 1.3%
       
     
General Motors
       
     
  Financial Co., Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  4.00%, due 1/15/25
   
602,137
 
 
1,300,000
 
  3.60%, due 6/21/30
   
1,168,615
 
 
1,500,000
 
  2.35%, due 1/8/31
   
1,215,242
 
           
2,985,994
 
Office Property REITs 0.5%
       
     
Alexandria Real
       
     
  Estate Equities, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  1.875%, due 2/1/33
   
518,423
 
     
Boston Properties LP
       
 
675,000
 
  3.25%, due 1/30/31
   
605,800
 
           
1,124,223
 
Oil and Gas 4.3%
       
     
Cenovus Energy, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.65%, due 1/15/32
   
862,887
 
     
Diamondback Energy, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.125%, due 3/24/31
   
454,490
 
     
Enterprise Products
       
     
  Operating LLC
       
 
1,200,000
 
  2.80%, due 1/31/30
   
1,096,217
 
 
850,000
 
  4.85%, due 8/15/42
   
822,609
 
 
500,000
 
  3.30%, due 2/15/53
   
381,318
 


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

16

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Oil and Gas 4.3% (continued)
     
   
Hess Corp.
     
$
800,000
 
  5.60%, due 2/15/41
 
$
816,505
 
     
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners
       
 
1,270,000
 
  5.80%, due 3/15/35
   
1,343,940
 
     
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  2.00%, due 2/15/31
   
498,377
 
 
700,000
 
  5.55%, due 6/1/45
   
706,797
 
     
Pemex Master Trust
       
 
1,150,000
 
  6.625%, due 6/15/35
   
931,799
 
     
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.15%, due 1/15/31
   
853,561
 
     
Valero Energy Corp.
       
 
750,000
 
  2.80%, due 12/1/31
   
652,963
 
 
655,000
 
  6.625%, due 6/15/37
   
752,461
 
           
10,173,924
 
Oil and Gas Extraction 0.3%
       
     
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
       
 
700,000
 
  4.95%, due 6/1/47
   
700,242
 
         
Oil and Gas Services and Equipment 0.4%
       
     
Halliburton Co.
       
 
24,000
 
  3.80%, due 11/15/25
   
24,258
 
 
1,000,000
 
  2.92%, due 3/1/30
   
918,212
 
           
942,470
 
Oil Refining & Marketing 0.4%
       
     
Phillips 66
       
 
950,000
 
  1.30%, due 2/15/26
   
873,430
 
         
Packaging & Containers 0.6%
       
     
Berry Global, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  1.57%, due 1/15/26
   
911,494
 
     
WRKCo, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.90%, due 6/1/28
   
494,747
 
           
1,406,241
 
Paper 0.4%
       
     
International Paper Co.
       
 
700,000
 
  6.00%, due 11/15/41
   
763,101
 
     
Weyerhaeuser  Co.
       
 
226,000
 
  7.375%, due 3/15/32
   
273,873
 
           
1,036,974
 
Petroleum and Coal Products
       
  Manufacturing 0.2%
       
     
Suncor Energy, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.75%, due 3/4/51
   
428,108
 
         
Pharmaceuticals 3.1%
       
     
AbbVie, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  3.20%, due 11/21/29
   
659,343
 
 
2,200,000
 
  4.55%, due 3/15/35
   
2,232,858
 
 
800,000
 
  4.40%, due 11/6/42
   
767,362
 
 
268,000
 
  4.75%, due 3/15/45
   
266,006
 
     
Cardinal Health, Inc.
       
 
125,000
 
  3.41%, due 6/15/27
   
122,633
 
     
Cigna Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  4.50%, due 2/25/26
   
514,200
 
 
1,600,000
 
  2.40%, due 3/15/30
   
1,417,506
 
 
600,000
 
  3.40%, due 3/15/50
   
480,989
 
     
Viatris, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  2.70%, due 6/22/30
   
503,115
 
     
Zoetis, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  2.00%, due 5/15/30
   
519,070
 
           
7,483,082
 
Pipeline Transportation
       
  of Crude Oil 0.2%
       
     
Magellan Midstream Partners LP
       
 
500,000
 
  3.20%, due 3/15/25
   
491,060
 
         
Pipeline Transportation
       
  of Natural Gas 0.9%
       
     
Williams Companies, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.60%, due 3/15/31
   
867,566
 
     
Williams Partners LP
       
 
800,000
 
  3.90%, due 1/15/25
   
801,977
 
 
500,000
 
  5.10%, due 9/15/45
   
486,083
 
           
2,155,626
 


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

17

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Pipelines 3.2%
     
   
Boardwalk Pipelines LP
     
$
500,000
 
  3.60%, due 9/1/32
 
$
443,324
 
     
El Paso Electric Co.
       
 
850,000
 
  6.00%, due 5/15/35
   
939,024
 
     
Enbridge, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.125%, due 11/15/29
   
928,937
 
 
250,000
 
  3.40%, due 8/1/51
   
198,033
 
     
Energy Transfer LP
       
 
500,000
 
  4.25%, due 4/1/24
   
503,803
 
     
Energy Transfer Partners LP
       
 
1,000,000
 
  7.60%, due 2/1/24
   
1,047,879
 
     
MPLX LP
       
 
1,315,000
 
  4.25%, due 12/1/27
   
1,305,058
 
 
600,000
 
  4.95%, due 3/14/52
   
549,692
 
     
Plains All American Pipeline LP /
       
     
  PAA Finance Corp.
       
 
546,000
 
  3.80%, due 9/15/30
   
504,585
 
     
TransCanada PipeLines Ltd.
       
 
1,100,000
 
  4.10%, due 4/15/30
   
1,087,434
 
           
7,507,769
 
Property & Casualty Insurance 1.5%
       
     
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  2.45%, due 3/15/31
   
1,655,682
 
     
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  4.50%, due 4/15/26
   
1,427,650
 
     
Mercury General Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  4.40%, due 3/15/27
   
499,630
 
           
3,582,962
 
Railroad 1.4%
       
     
Canadian Pacific Railway Co.
       
 
700,000
 
  2.90%, due 2/1/25
   
690,236
 
 
1,000,000
 
  2.45%, due 12/2/31
   
882,903
 
     
Norfolk Southern Corp.
       
 
700,000
 
  3.85%, due 1/15/24
   
707,721
 
 
250,000
 
  2.30%, due 5/15/31
   
219,303
 
 
1,000,000
 
  2.90%, due 8/25/51
   
761,163
 
           
3,261,326
 
Real Estate 1.6%
       
     
American Homes 4 Rent LP
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.25%, due 2/15/28
   
981,735
 
     
Crown Castle International Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.65%, due 9/1/27
   
488,583
 
 
600,000
 
  2.25%, due 1/15/31
   
503,267
 
     
Essex Portfolio, LP
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.375%, due 4/15/26
   
981,913
 
     
STORE Capital Corp.
       
 
810,000
 
  4.50%, due 3/15/28
   
811,227
 
           
3,766,725
 
Real Estate Investment Trusts 0.2%
       
     
Ventas Realty LP
       
 
500,000
 
  3.75%, due 5/1/24
   
501,920
 
         
Refining & Marketing 0.2%
       
     
Marathon Petroleum Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.625%, due 9/15/24
   
500,247
 
         
REITS – Diversified 0.3%
       
     
Equinix, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  1.55%, due 3/15/28
   
430,778
 
 
100,000
 
  3.90%, due 4/15/32
   
94,421
 
     
GLP Capital LP /
       
     
  GLP Financing II, Inc.
       
 
250,000
 
  3.25%, due 1/15/32
   
210,216
 
           
735,415
 
REITS – Health Care 0.5%
       
     
Healthpeak Properties, Inc.
       
 
350,000
 
  2.125%, due 12/1/28
   
311,853
 
     
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.25%, due 4/15/33
   
795,575
 
           
1,107,428
 
REITS – Office Property 0.2%
       
     
Corporate Office Properties LP
       
 
500,000
 
  2.75%, due 4/15/31
   
421,480
 


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

18

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
REITS – Warehouse/Industrial 0.3%
     
   
Duke Realty LP
     
$
1,000,000
 
  1.75%, due 2/1/31
 
$
823,758
 
         
Residential Building 0.8%
       
     
DR Horton, Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  2.60%, due 10/15/25
   
1,915,878
 
         
Restaurants 1.1%
       
     
McDonald’s Corp.
       
 
1,100,000
 
  3.50%, due 7/1/27
   
1,091,018
 
 
550,000
 
  4.875%, due 12/9/45
   
560,032
 
     
Starbucks Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.55%, due 11/15/30
   
878,209
 
           
2,529,259
 
Retail 0.8%
       
     
AutoNation, Inc.
       
 
200,000
 
  3.50%, due 11/15/24
   
198,860
 
     
Lowe’s Cos., Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.50%, due 4/15/30
   
1,015,353
 
 
500,000
 
  1.70%, due 10/15/30
   
412,723
 
     
Tractor Supply Co.
       
 
500,000
 
  1.75%, due 11/1/30
   
403,782
 
           
2,030,718
 
Retail – Auto Parts 0.2%
       
     
Genuine Parts Co.
       
 
500,000
 
  1.875%, due 11/1/30
   
401,427
 
         
Retail – Drug Store 0.4%
       
     
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  3.20%, due 4/15/30
   
926,041
 
         
Software 0.5%
       
     
Fiserv, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  3.85%, due 6/1/25
   
601,854
 
     
VMware, Inc.
       
 
550,000
 
  4.65%, due 5/15/27
   
558,863
 
           
1,160,717
 
Software & Services 0.5%
       
     
Equifax, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  3.10%, due 5/15/30
   
452,571
 
     
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.
       
 
700,000
 
  4.90%, due 10/15/25 (b)
   
725,535
 
           
1,178,106
 
Telecommunications 3.1%
       
     
Bell Telephone Co. of Canada /
       
     
  Bell Canada
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.15%, due 2/15/32
   
841,124
 
     
British Telecommunications Plc
       
 
855,000
 
  9.625%, due 12/15/30 (d)
   
1,115,738
 
     
Deutsche Telekom
       
     
  International Finance
       
 
345,000
 
  8.75%, due 6/15/30 (e)
   
439,999
 
     
France Telecom SA
       
 
575,000
 
  5.375%, due 1/13/42
   
613,928
 
     
Grupo Televisa SAB
       
 
300,000
 
  6.625%, due 3/18/25
   
319,916
 
     
Juniper Networks, Inc.
       
 
3,000,000
 
  2.00%, due 12/10/30
   
2,446,114
 
     
Rogers Communications, Inc.
       
 
989,000
 
  5.00%, due 3/15/44
   
981,182
 
     
Telefonica Emisiones SAU
       
 
475,000
 
  7.045%, due 6/20/36
   
559,664
 
           
7,317,665
 
Tobacco 1.8%
       
     
Altria Group, Inc.
       
 
148,000
 
  4.80%, due 2/14/29
   
148,085
 
 
1,600,000
 
  3.40%, due 5/6/30
   
1,443,284
 
     
BAT Capital Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.259%, due 3/25/28
   
865,686
 
 
600,000
 
  4.54%, due 8/15/47
   
474,641
 
 
800,000
 
  5.65%, due 3/16/52
   
729,969
 
     
Reynolds American, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  4.45%, due 6/12/25
   
608,273
 
           
4,269,938
 


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

19

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Transportation 1.0%
     
   
CSX Corp.
     
 
$
1,390,000
 
  6.22%, due 4/30/40
 
$
1,628,714
 
       
FedEx Corp.
       
   
1,000,000
 
  3.25%, due 5/15/41
   
807,766
 
             
2,436,480
 
Transportation and Logistics 0.2%
       
       
Kirby Corp.
       
   
450,000
 
  4.20%, due 3/1/28
   
431,787
 
         
Travel & Lodging 0.3%
       
       
Marriott International, Inc.
       
   
600,000
 
  3.75%, due 3/15/25
   
602,352
 
         
Trucking & Leasing 0.4%
       
       
GATX Corp.
       
   
1,300,000
 
  1.90%, due 6/1/31
   
1,054,351
 
         
Utilities 0.4%
       
       
Southern Co.
       
   
1,000,000
 
  3.25%, due 7/1/26
   
978,751
 
         
Waste and Environment Services
       
  and Equipment 0.3%
       
       
Waste Management, Inc.
       
   
1,000,000
 
  1.50%, due 3/15/31
   
816,394
 
         
Water 0.3%
       
       
American Water Capital Corp.
       
   
650,000
 
  2.80%, due 5/1/30
   
591,991
 
         
Wireless 0.5%
       
       
American Tower Corp.
       
   
500,000
 
  2.75%, due 1/15/27
   
467,490
 
   
1,000,000
 
  1.875%, due 10/15/30
   
802,786
 
             
1,270,276
 
Wirelines 5.5%
       
       
AT&T, Inc.
       
   
1,400,000
 
  2.30%, due 6/1/27
   
1,308,588
 
   
875,000
 
  2.55%, due 12/1/33
   
745,694
 
   
2,368,000
 
  3.50%, due 9/15/53
   
1,915,995
 
   
1,196,000
 
  3.55%, due 9/15/55
   
956,232
 
   
727,000
 
  3.80%, due 12/1/57
   
603,081
 
       
Verizon Communications, Inc.
       
   
1,000,000
 
  3.00%, due 3/22/27
   
971,287
 
   
2,550,000
 
  3.15%, due 3/22/30
   
2,384,301
 
   
500,000
 
  2.55%, due 3/21/31
   
443,794
 
   
1,500,000
 
  4.862%, due 8/21/46
   
1,563,649
 
   
2,000,000
 
  3.55%, due 3/22/51
   
1,699,878
 
   
600,000
 
  2.987%, due 10/30/56
   
445,130
 
             
13,037,629
 
Total Corporate Bonds
       
  (cost $247,634,581)
   
221,771,071
 
         
SOVEREIGN BONDS 5.2%
       
       
Republic of Colombia
       
   
600,000
 
  3.875%, due 4/25/27
   
560,715
 
   
600,000
 
  3.125%, due 4/15/31
   
487,049
 
   
890,000
 
  7.375%, due 9/18/37
   
931,117
 
       
Republic of Indonesia
       
   
500,000
 
  3.85%, due 10/15/30
   
494,924
 
       
Republic of Panama
       
   
1,700,000
 
  2.252%, due 9/29/32
   
1,395,803
 
   
750,000
 
  6.70%, due 1/26/36
   
851,851
 
       
Republic of Peru
       
   
400,000
 
  3.00%, due 1/15/34
   
345,064
 
   
1,050,000
 
  6.55%, due 3/14/37
   
1,211,385
 
       
Republic of Philippines
       
   
1,625,000
 
  5.00%, due 1/13/37
   
1,709,679
 
       
Republic of Uruguay
       
   
69,914
 
  8.00%, due 11/18/22
   
71,490
 
   
800,000
 
  4.375%, due 1/23/31
   
835,801
 
       
United Mexican States
       
   
1,300,000
 
  4.50%, due 4/22/29
   
1,309,971
 
   
2,490,000
 
  4.75%, due 3/8/44
   
2,243,018
 
Total Sovereign Bonds
       
  (cost $14,151,019)
   
12,447,867
 


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

20

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

           
           
Shares
     
Value
 
MONEY MARKET FUND 0.5%
     
 
1,179,082
 
Fidelity Institutional Money
     
     
  Market Government Portfolio –
     
     
  Class I, 0.60% (a)
 
$
1,179,082
 
Total Money Market Fund
       
  (cost $1,179,082)
   
1,179,082
 
Total Investments
           
  (cost $262,964,682)
   
99.1
%
   
235,398,020
 
Other Assets less Liabilities
   
0.9
%
   
2,207,785
 
TOTAL NET ASSETS
   
100.0
%
 
$
237,605,805
 

(a)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of May 31, 2022.
(b)
Step-up bond; pays one interest rate for a certain period and a higher rate thereafter. The interest rate shown is the rate in effect as of May 31, 2022, and remains in effect until the bond’s maturity date.
(c)
Security purchased within the terms of a private placement memorandum, exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may be sold only to dealers in the program or other “qualified institutional buyers.”  As of May 31, 2022, the value of these investments was $7,194,300 or 3.03% of total net assets.
(d)
Step-up bond; pays one interest rate for a certain period and can either increase or decrease thereafter.  Coupon rate increases by 25 basis points for each rating downgrade of one notch below A-/A3 made by Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Coupon rate decreases by 25 basis points for each upgrade. The minimum coupon rate is 8.625%.
(e)
Step-up bond; pays one interest rate for a certain period and can either increase or decrease thereafter.  Coupon rate increases by 50 basis points if both Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s ratings are downgraded to less than an A rating. If the rating is then raised to higher than BBB, the coupon rate decreases by 50 basis points.
(f)
Coupon rate shown is the rate in effect as of May 31, 2022, and remains in effect until  December 2031, after that date the bond will change to a Floating-Rate equal to the 3 Month LIBOR + 2.205%, if not called, until final maturity date.
(g)
Variable or floating rate security based on a reference index and spread. The rate reported is the rate in effect as of May 31, 2022.
(h)
Step-up bond; pays one interest rate for a certain period and can increase thereafter. Coupon rate increases by 25 basis points for each rating downgrade of one notch made by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investor Service, or Fitch Ratings. The maximum coupon increase is 200 basis points.
Basis point = 1/100th of a percent.
CMT = Constant Maturity Treasury
LIBOR = London Interbank Offered Rate
SOFR = Secured Overnight Financing Rate



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

21

PIA Funds
PIA MBS BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 2.2%
     
Other Asset-Backed Securities
     
   
CF Hippolyta LLC
     
$
1,380,755
 
  1.69%, due 7/15/60, Series
     
     
  2020-1 Class A (b)
 
$
1,268,491
 
Total Asset-Backed Securities
       
  (cost $1,380,565)
   
1,268,491
 
         
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES 92.0%
       
         
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities 3.3%
       
     
BX Trust
       
 
440,000
 
  2.125% (1 Month LIBOR USD
       
     
  + 1.250%), due 11/17/36, Series
       
     
  2021-RISE Class B (b) (e)
   
422,512
 
     
Cold Storage Trust
       
 
1,474,486
 
  1.775% (1 Month LIBOR USD
       
     
  + 0.900%), due 11/15/37, Series
       
     
  2020-ICE5 Class A (b) (e)
   
1,445,420
 
           
1,867,932
 
U.S. Government Securities 88.7%
       
     
FHLMC Pool
       
 
307,213
 
  2.50%, due 12/1/31, #G18622
   
302,609
 
 
67,952
 
  5.00%, due 10/1/38, #G04832
   
72,448
 
 
220,949
 
  3.50%, due 5/1/42, #G08491
   
220,890
 
 
183,450
 
  3.00%, due 8/1/43, #G08540
   
178,732
 
 
339,559
 
  4.00%, due 8/1/44, #G08601
   
348,496
 
 
267,860
 
  3.00%, due 3/1/45, #G08631
   
259,919
 
 
419,033
 
  3.00%, due 5/1/45, #G08640
   
406,608
 
 
373,854
 
  3.00%, due 5/1/45, #Q33337
   
362,784
 
 
345,370
 
  3.00%, due 1/1/47, #G08741
   
334,630
 
 
227,457
 
  3.00%, due 1/1/47, #Q45636
   
219,916
 
 
223,632
 
  3.50%, due 4/1/48, #Q55213
   
222,444
 
 
83,972
 
  4.50%, due 5/1/48, #G08820
   
86,250
 
 
84,472
 
  3.50%, due 9/1/48, #G08835
   
83,865
 
 
78,655
 
  4.00%, due 2/1/49, #ZT1710
   
79,458
 
 
210,271
 
  3.00%, due 4/1/49, #ZN5108
   
201,783
 
 
160,082
 
  3.50%, due 7/1/49, #QA1057
   
158,174
 
 
136,304
 
  3.50%, due 7/1/49, #SD8001
   
134,708
 
 
205,468
 
  3.00%, due 10/1/49, #SD8016
   
197,181
 
 
1,468,892
 
  2.50%, due 12/1/51, #QD2700
   
1,354,321
 
 
1,482,770
 
  2.00%, due 2/1/52, #QD7338
   
1,325,818
 
 
1,953,940
 
  2.00%, due 2/1/52, #SD8193
   
1,736,045
 
 
852,533
 
  2.50%, due 2/1/52, #QD7063
   
786,060
 
 
1,474,160
 
  2.50%, due 2/1/52, #SD8194
   
1,359,218
 
 
1,487,503
 
  2.00%, due 3/1/52, #SD8199
   
1,321,731
 
 
1,984,833
 
  2.00%, due 4/1/52, #SD8204
   
1,774,737
 
 
2,000,001
 
  3.50%, due 5/1/52, #SD8214
   
1,963,961
 
     
FNMA Pool
       
 
68,200
 
  4.00%, due 5/1/26, #AH8174
   
69,601
 
 
387,219
 
  2.50%, due 10/1/31, #BC9305
   
378,245
 
 
265,210
 
  2.50%, due 11/1/31, #BD9466
   
261,033
 
 
92,992
 
  3.50%, due 5/1/33, #BK5720
   
94,264
 
 
94,912
 
  3.50%, due 5/1/33, #MA3364
   
96,242
 
 
233,875
 
  4.00%, due 12/1/39, #AE0215
   
239,895
 
 
366,054
 
  3.50%, due 7/1/43, #AB9774
   
365,659
 
 
494,457
 
  3.00%, due 8/1/43, #AU3363
   
481,282
 
 
162,771
 
  4.00%, due 9/1/44, #AS3392
   
166,910
 
 
171,884
 
  3.50%, due 4/1/45, #AY3376
   
171,435
 
 
608,057
 
  3.00%, due 6/1/45, #AZ0504
   
589,660
 
 
141,063
 
  3.50%, due 8/1/45, #AS5699
   
140,435
 
 
73,730
 
  3.50%, due 9/1/45, #AS5722
   
73,511
 
 
206,503
 
  3.00%, due 10/1/45, #AZ6877
   
200,116
 
 
479,986
 
  3.50%, due 12/1/45, #BA2275
   
479,028
 
 
303,708
 
  3.50%, due 12/1/45, #MA2471
   
303,115
 
 
180,429
 
  3.50%, due 3/1/46, #MA2549
   
179,685
 
 
423,924
 
  3.00%, due 7/1/46, #MA2670
   
410,175
 
 
254,621
 
  3.00%, due 9/1/46, #AS7904
   
246,578
 
 
182,595
 
  3.00%, due 5/1/47, #AS9562
   
176,667
 
 
177,510
 
  3.50%, due 9/1/47, #MA3120
   
176,421
 
 
52,433
 
  4.50%, due 11/1/47, #BJ1795
   
53,832
 
 
304,515
 
  3.50%, due 3/1/48, #MA3305
   
302,682
 
 
404,954
 
  4.50%, due 5/1/48, #BM4135
   
417,015
 
 
166,490
 
  4.00%, due 7/1/48, #MA3415
   
168,151
 
 
146,712
 
  4.00%, due 8/1/48, #BK5416
   
148,332
 
 
127,553
 
  4.50%, due 10/1/48, #MA3496
   
130,485
 
 
126,672
 
  4.50%, due 11/1/48, #MA3522
   
129,370
 


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

22

PIA Funds
PIA MBS BOND FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

           
Shares/
         
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
U.S. Government Securities 88.7% (continued)
     
   
FNMA Pool (continued)
     
$
132,843
 
  3.00%, due 4/1/49, #BN6240
 
$
127,465
 
 
160,375
 
  3.00%, due 5/1/49, #MA3670
   
153,841
 
 
1,322,213
 
  3.00%, due 12/1/50, #FM7827
   
1,269,511
 
 
1,473,689
 
  3.00%, due 8/1/51, #FM8407
   
1,410,686
 
 
1,944,350
 
  2.50%, due 1/1/52, #BU7884
   
1,792,759
 
 
1,970,475
 
  2.00%, due 2/1/52, #MA4547
   
1,750,388
 
 
1,960,681
 
  2.50%, due 2/1/52, #MA4548
   
1,807,874
 
 
25,633
 
  2.50%, due 2/1/52, #BV3506
   
23,635
 
 
2,858,319
 
  2.50%, due 3/1/52, #MA4563
   
2,634,265
 
 
1,987,137
 
  2.00%, due 4/1/52, #MA4577
   
1,765,824
 
 
1,983,575
 
  2.50%, due 4/1/52, #MA4578
   
1,827,486
 
 
1,990,083
 
  3.00%, due 4/1/52, #MA4579
   
1,899,944
 
     
FNMA TBA
       
 
1,500,000
 
  4.50%, due 6/15/41 (d)
   
1,526,895
 
     
GNMA Pool
       
 
176,480
 
  5.00%, due 9/15/39, #726311
   
187,419
 
 
128,878
 
  4.00%, due 6/15/45, #AM8608
   
134,753
 
 
91,417
 
  4.00%, due 2/15/46, #AR3772
   
94,427
 
 
100,394
 
  4.00%, due 10/15/46, #AQ0545
   
103,817
 
 
76,600
 
  4.00%, due 12/15/46, #AQ0562
   
80,080
 
 
809,298
 
  3.00%, due 5/15/47, #AW1730
   
780,835
 
 
427,098
 
  3.00%, due 8/15/47, #AZ5554
   
411,979
 
 
255,985
 
  3.50%, due 11/15/47, #BD4824
   
254,880
 
 
181,765
 
  3.50%, due 4/20/49, #MA5875
   
181,343
 
 
270,367
 
  3.50%, due 7/20/49, #MA6039
   
269,738
 
 
190,437
 
  3.00%, due 8/20/49, #MA6089
   
184,752
 
 
490,187
 
  3.00%, due 9/20/49, #MA6153
   
475,351
 
 
507,387
 
  3.00%, due 12/20/49, #MA6338
   
491,709
 
 
1,969,648
 
  2.00%, due 1/20/52, #MA7826
   
1,795,653
 
 
1,965,266
 
  2.50%, due 1/20/52, #MA7827
   
1,849,778
 
 
1,488,084
 
  2.50%, due 3/20/52 #MA7936
   
1,398,735
 
     
GNMA TBA
       
 
2,000,000
 
  3.50%, due 6/15/45 (d)
   
1,982,188
 
           
50,810,620
 
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
       
  (cost $55,603,758)
   
52,678,552
 
         
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 11.7%
       
         
Money Market Fund 2.1%
       
 
1,188,319
 
Fidelity Institutional Money
       
     
  Market Government Portfolio –
       
     
  Class I, 0.60% (a)
   
1,188,319
 
U.S. Treasury Bills 9.6%
       
$
5,500,000
 
0.155%, due 6/23/22 (c)
   
5,498,090
 
Total Short-Term Investments
       
  (cost $6,687,798)
     
6,686,409
 
Total Investments
           
  (cost $63,672,121)
   
105.9
%
   
60,633,452
 
Liabilities less Other Assets
   
(5.9
)%
   
(3,366,352
)
TOTAL NET ASSETS
   
100.0
%
 
$
57,267,100
 

(a)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of May 31, 2022.
(b)
Security purchased within the terms of a private placement memorandum, exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may be sold only to dealers in the program or other “qualified institutional buyers.”  As of May 31, 2022, the value of these investments was $3,136,423 or 5.48% of total net assets.
(c)
Rate shown is the discount rate at May 31, 2022.
(d)
Security purchased on a when-issued basis. As of May 31, 2022 the total cost of investments purchased on a when-issued basis was $3,509,083 or 6.13% of total net assets.
(e)
Variable or floating rate security based on a reference index and spread. The rate reported is the rate in effect as of May 31, 2022.
FHLMC – Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
FNMA – Federal National Mortgage Association
GNMA – Government National Mortgage Association
LIBOR – London Interbank Offered Rate
TBA – To Be Announced


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

23

PIA Funds
PIA HIGH YIELD (MACS) FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)

           
Shares/
         
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS 0.2%
     
       
Building Materials
     
 
2,996
 
Northwest Hardwoods (d) (e)
 
$
239,680
 
Total Common Stocks
       
  (cost $137,017)
   
239,680
 
         
CORPORATE BONDS 94.2%
       
         
Advertising 0.7%
       
     
Clear Channel Outdoor
       
     
  Holdings, Inc.
       
$
1,050,000
 
  7.75%, due 4/15/28 (b)
   
885,365
 
         
Advertising Sales 1.0%
       
     
Outfront Media Capital LLC /
       
     
  Outfront Media Capital Corp.
       
 
1,450,000
 
  4.25%, due 1/15/29 (b)
   
1,253,576
 
         
Aerospace/Defense 1.8%
       
     
F-Brasile SpA / F-Brasile US LLC
       
 
1,500,000
 
  7.38%, due 8/15/26 (b)
   
1,210,327
 
     
Triumph Group, Inc.
       
 
1,250,000
 
  7.75%, due 8/15/25
   
1,079,487
 
           
2,289,814
 
Appliances 1.0%
       
     
WASH Multifamily
       
     
  Acquisition, Inc.
       
 
1,185,000
 
  5.75%, due 4/15/26 (b)
   
1,177,392
 
         
Auto Manufacturers 1.1%
       
     
PM General Purchaser LLC
       
 
1,575,000
 
  9.50%, due 10/1/28 (b)
   
1,325,559
 
         
Auto Parts & Equipment 2.0%
       
     
Dealer Tire LLC / DT Issuer LLC
       
 
1,506,000
 
  8.00%, due 2/1/28 (b)
   
1,392,124
 
     
Dornoch Debt Merger Sub, Inc.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  6.63%, due 10/15/29 (b)
   
1,118,250
 
           
2,510,374
 
Building – Heavy Construction 2.1%
       
     
IEA Energy Services LLC
       
 
1,475,000
 
  6.63%, due 8/15/29 (b)
   
1,277,844
 
     
Railworks Holdings LP /
       
     
  Railworks Rally, Inc.
       
 
1,350,000
 
  8.25%, due 11/15/28 (b)
   
1,307,208
 
           
2,585,052
 
Building & Construction 1.1%
       
     
Brundage-Bone Concrete
       
     
  Pumping Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,350,000
 
  6.00%, due 2/1/26 (b)
   
1,148,098
 
     
INNOVATE Corp.
       
 
275,000
 
  8.50%, due 2/1/26 (b)
   
261,145
 
           
1,409,243
 
Building Materials 6.0%
       
     
APi Group DE, Inc.
       
 
1,285,000
 
  4.13%, due 7/15/29 (b)
   
1,110,015
 
     
CP Atlas Buyer, Inc.
       
 
1,205,000
 
  7.00%, due 12/1/28 (b)
   
990,323
 
     
Eco Material Technologies, Inc.
       
 
1,525,000
 
  7.88%, due 1/31/27 (b)
   
1,445,952
 
     
MIWD Holdco II LLC /
       
     
  MIWD Finance Corp.
       
 
1,475,000
 
  5.50%, due 2/1/30 (b)
   
1,256,136
 
     
New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co, Inc.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  5.25%, due 7/15/28 (b)
   
1,241,546
 
     
SRM Escrow Issuer LLC
       
 
1,500,000
 
  6.00%, due 11/1/28 (b)
   
1,403,025
 
           
7,446,997
 
Business Support Services 0.5%
       
     
Everi Holdings, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  5.00%, due 7/15/29 (b)
   
578,975
 
         
Chemicals – Diversified 4.2%
       
     
Iris Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,345,000
 
  8.75% Cash or 9.50% PIK,
       
     
  due 2/15/26 (b) (c)
   
1,270,225
 
     
LSF11 A5 HoldCo LLC
       
 
1,400,000
 
  6.63%, due 10/15/29 (b)
   
1,197,938
 


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

24

PIA Funds
PIA HIGH YIELD (MACS) FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Chemicals – Diversified 4.2% (continued)
     
   
Polar US Borrower LLC /
     
   
  Schenectady International
     
   
  Group, Inc.
     
$
1,175,000
 
  6.75%, due 5/15/26 (b)
 
$
945,326
 
     
SCIH Salt Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  4.88%, due 5/1/28 (b)
   
931,760
 
 
1,025,000
 
  6.63%, due 5/1/29 (b)
   
919,497
 
           
5,264,746
 
Chemicals – Plastics 1.1%
       
     
Neon Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  10.13%, due 4/1/26 (b)
   
1,395,639
 
         
Chemicals – Specialty 4.2%
       
     
EverArc Escrow Sarl
       
 
1,550,000
 
  5.00%, due 10/30/29 (b)
   
1,344,090
 
     
Herens Holdco Sarl
       
 
1,500,000
 
  4.75%, due 5/15/28 (b)
   
1,299,495
 
     
SCIL IV LLC /
       
     
  SCIL USA Holdings LLC
       
 
1,350,000
 
  5.38%, due 11/1/26 (b)
   
1,268,379
 
     
Unifrax Escrow Issuer Corp.
       
 
1,450,000
 
  5.25%, due 9/30/28 (b)
   
1,311,916
 
           
5,223,880
 
Commercial Services 3.9%
       
     
Alta Equipment Group, Inc.
       
 
667,000
 
  5.63%, due 4/15/26 (b)
   
601,541
 
     
CPI Acquisition, Inc.
       
 
1,404,000
 
  8.63%, due 3/15/26 (b)
   
1,345,981
 
     
NESCO Holdings II, Inc.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  5.50%, due 4/15/29 (b)
   
1,360,080
 
     
StoneMor, Inc.
       
 
1,625,000
 
  8.50%, due 5/15/29 (b)
   
1,558,911
 
           
4,866,513
 
Consumer Services 0.9%
       
     
Cimpress Plc
       
 
1,335,000
 
  7.00%, due 6/15/26 (b)
   
1,137,320
 
         
Containers and Packaging 0.7%
       
     
Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer
       
     
  LLC / Pactiv Evergreen
       
     
  Group Issuer, Inc.
       
 
950,000
 
  4.38%, due 10/15/28 (b)
   
859,579
 
         
Diversified Financial Services 1.0%
       
     
VistaJet Malta Finance PLC /
       
     
  XO Management Holding, Inc.
       
 
1,475,000
 
  6.38%, due 2/1/30 (b)
   
1,256,257
 
         
Diversified Manufacturing 0.6%
       
     
FXI Holdings, Inc.
       
 
295,000
 
  12.25%, due 11/15/26 (b)
   
289,838
 
     
Husky III Holding Ltd.
       
 
500,000
 
  13.00% Cash or 13.75% PIK,
       
     
  due 2/15/25 (b) (c)
   
512,495
 
           
802,333
 
Engineering & Construction 3.9%
       
     
Arcosa, Inc.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  4.38%, due 4/15/29 (b)
   
1,372,658
 
     
Artera Services LLC
       
 
1,250,000
 
  9.03%, due 12/4/25 (b)
   
989,694
 
     
Brand Energy &
       
     
  Infrastructure Services, Inc.
       
 
1,350,000
 
  8.50%, due 7/15/25 (b)
   
1,109,363
 
     
Promontoria Holding 264 BV
       
 
1,500,000
 
  7.88%, due 3/1/27 (b)
   
1,405,547
 
           
4,877,262
 
Enterprise Software & Services 2.0%
       
     
Helios Software Holdings,
       
     
  Inc. / ION Corporate
       
     
  Solutions Finance Sarl
       
 
1,625,000
 
  4.63%, due 5/1/28 (b)
   
1,410,679
 
     
Rocket Software, Inc.
       
 
1,350,000
 
  6.50%, due 2/15/29 (b)
   
1,052,116
 
           
2,462,795
 


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

25

PIA Funds
PIA HIGH YIELD (MACS) FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Entertainment 1.0%
     
   
Premier Entertainment Sub
     
   
  LLC / Premier Entertainment
     
   
  Finance Corp.
     
$
1,650,000
 
  5.88%, due 9/1/31 (b)
 
$
1,297,312
 
         
Environmental Control 0.8%
       
     
Tervita Corp.
       
 
840,000
 
  11.00%, due 12/1/25 (b)
   
925,550
 
         
Financial Services 1.1%
       
     
Arrow Bidco LLC
       
 
1,391,000
 
  9.50%, due 3/15/24 (b)
   
1,384,099
 
         
Food and Beverage 0.9%
       
     
H-Food Holdings LLC /
       
     
  Hearthside Finance Co, Inc.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  8.50%, due 6/1/26 (b)
   
1,143,639
 
         
Food Service 1.1%
       
     
TKC Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,550,000
 
  10.50%, due 5/15/29 (b)
   
1,394,318
 
         
Forest and Paper Products
       
  Manufacturing 1.1%
       
     
Schweitzer-Mauduit
       
     
  International, Inc.
       
 
1,510,000
 
  6.88%, due 10/1/26 (b)
   
1,346,746
 
         
Healthcare – Services 2.3%
       
     
Akumin Escrow, Inc.
       
 
1,350,000
 
  7.50%, due 8/1/28 (b)
   
993,012
 
     
Hadrian Merger Sub, Inc.
       
 
603,000
 
  8.50%, due 5/1/26 (b)
   
589,719
 
     
ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc.
       
 
1,450,000
 
  5.00%, due 10/1/29 (b)
   
1,314,447
 
           
2,897,178
 
Household Products/Warehouse 0.9%
       
     
Kronos Acquisition
       
     
  Holdings, Inc. / KIK Custom
       
     
  Products, Inc.
       
 
1,250,000
 
  5.00%, due 12/31/26 (b)
   
1,133,613
 
         
Industrial – Other 1.2%
       
     
Cleaver-Brooks, Inc.
       
 
1,600,000
 
  7.88%, due 3/1/23 (b)
   
1,491,016
 
         
Iron/Steel 0.4%
       
     
Carpenter Technology Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  7.63%, due 3/15/30
   
494,581
 
         
Machinery – Construction & Mining 0.4%
       
     
Vertiv Group Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  4.13%, due 11/15/28 (b)
   
444,219
 
         
Machinery – Farm 0.9%
       
     
OT Merger Corp.
       
 
1,475,000
 
  7.88%, due 10/15/29 (b)
   
1,079,449
 
         
Machinery – Thermal Process 1.0%
       
     
GrafTech Finance, Inc.
       
 
1,350,000
 
  4.63%, due 12/15/28 (b)
   
1,238,166
 
         
Machinery Manufacturing 2.4%
       
     
Granite US Holdings Corp.
       
 
1,250,000
 
  11.00%, due 10/1/27 (b)
   
1,202,356
 
     
JPW Industries Holding Corp.
       
 
1,580,000
 
  9.00%, due 10/1/24 (b)
   
1,559,966
 
     
MAI Holdings, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  9.50%, due 6/1/23 (b) (d)
   
199,500
 
           
2,961,822
 
Manufactured Goods 1.6%
       
     
FXI Holdings, Inc.
       
 
836,000
 
  7.88%, due 11/1/24 (b)
   
774,880
 
     
Park-Ohio Industries, Inc.
       
 
1,420,000
 
  6.63%, due 4/15/27
   
1,174,177
 
           
1,949,057
 
Marine Transportation 0.7%
       
     
Altera Infrastructure LP /
       
     
  Teekay Offshore Finance Corp.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  8.50%, due 7/15/23 (b)
   
828,750
 
         
Media 1.0%
       
     
Univision Communications, Inc.
       
 
1,375,000
 
  4.50%, due 5/1/29 (b)
   
1,256,420
 


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

26

PIA Funds
PIA HIGH YIELD (MACS) FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Metals and Mining 2.1%
     
   
SunCoke Energy, Inc.
     
$
1,525,000
 
  4.88%, due 6/30/29 (b)
 
$
1,359,995
 
     
TMS International Corp. / DE
       
 
1,500,000
 
  6.25%, due 4/15/29 (b)
   
1,201,923
 
           
2,561,918
 
Midstream 1.1%
       
     
Rockpoint Gas Storage
       
     
  Canada Ltd.
       
 
1,390,000
 
  7.00%, due 3/31/23 (b)
   
1,372,069
 
         
Office Automation & Equipment 2.1%
       
     
Pitney Bowes, Inc.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  6.88%, due 3/15/27 (b)
   
1,329,367
 
     
Xerox Holdings Corp.
       
 
1,425,000
 
  5.50%, due 8/15/28 (b)
   
1,307,625
 
           
2,636,992
 
Oil and Gas Services 5.0%
       
     
Archrock Partners LP / Archrock
       
     
  Partners Finance Corp.
       
 
650,000
 
  6.88%, due 4/1/27 (b)
   
645,720
 
     
CSI Compressco LP / CSI
       
     
  Compressco Finance, Inc.
       
 
1,675,000
 
  7.50%, due 4/1/25 (b)
   
1,578,400
 
     
Exterran Energy Solutions LP /
       
     
  EES Finance Corp.
       
 
1,350,000
 
  8.13%, due 5/1/25
   
1,352,214
 
     
USA Compression Partners LP /
       
     
  USA Compression Finance Corp.
       
 
985,000
 
  6.88%, due 4/1/26
   
962,453
 
 
250,000
 
  6.88%, due 9/1/27
   
239,427
 
     
Welltec International ApS
       
 
1,400,000
 
  8.25%, due 10/15/26 (b)
   
1,389,166
 
           
6,167,380
 
Paper 2.2%
       
     
Clearwater Paper Corp.
       
 
1,550,000
 
  4.75%, due 8/15/28 (b)
   
1,397,719
 
     
Mercer International, Inc.
       
 
1,450,000
 
  5.13%, due 2/1/29
   
1,329,672
 
           
2,727,391
 
Pipelines 7.5%
       
     
Genesis Energy LP / Genesis
       
     
  Energy Finance Corp.
       
 
175,000
 
  8.00%, due 1/15/27
   
172,917
 
 
1,050,000
 
  7.75%, due 2/1/28
   
1,013,565
 
     
ITT Holdings LLC
       
 
1,639,000
 
  6.50%, due 8/1/29 (b)
   
1,407,245
 
     
Martin Midstream Partners LP /
       
     
  Martin Midstream Finance Corp.
       
 
1,450,000
 
  11.50%, due 2/28/25 (b)
   
1,469,754
 
     
NGL Energy Operating LLC /
       
     
  NGL Energy Finance Corp.
       
 
1,550,000
 
  7.50%, due 2/1/26 (b)
   
1,455,768
 
     
Summit Midstream Holdings LLC /
       
     
  Summit Midstream Finance Corp.
       
 
1,475,000
 
  5.75%, due 4/15/25
   
1,184,697
 
 
1,375,000
 
  8.50%, due 10/15/26 (b)
   
1,323,754
 
     
TransMontaigne Partners LP /
       
     
  TLP Finance Corp.
       
 
1,336,000
 
  6.13%, due 2/15/26
   
1,307,924
 
           
9,335,624
 
Publishing and Broadcasting 1.1%
       
     
Salem Media Group, Inc.
       
 
1,385,000
 
  6.75%, due 6/1/24 (b)
   
1,374,384
 
         
Radio 4.0%
       
     
Audacy Capital Corp.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  6.75%, due 3/31/29 (b)
   
875,833
 
     
Beasley Mezzanine Holdings LLC
       
 
1,400,000
 
  8.63%, due 2/1/26 (b)
   
1,213,583
 
     
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.
       
 
1,580,000
 
  9.75%, due 3/1/26 (b)
   
1,470,893
 
     
Urban One, Inc.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  7.38%, due 2/1/28 (b)
   
1,324,120
 
           
4,884,429
 


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

27

PIA Funds
PIA HIGH YIELD (MACS) FUND
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
Principal Amount/
     
Shares
     
Value
 
Real Estate 1.0%
     
   
GEO Group, Inc.
     
$
1,350,000
 
  5.13%, due 4/1/23
 
$
1,284,437
 
         
REITs – Storage 1.0%
       
     
Iron Mountain, Inc.
       
 
250,000
 
  5.00%, due 7/15/28 (b)
   
243,725
 
 
1,000,000
 
  5.25%, due 7/15/30 (b)
   
960,300
 
           
1,204,025
 
Rental Auto/Equipment 1.1%
       
     
PROG Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  6.00%, due 11/15/29 (b)
   
1,332,172
 
         
Retail – Office Supplies 1.4%
       
     
Staples, Inc.
       
 
1,035,000
 
  7.50%, due 4/15/26 (b)
   
959,859
 
 
900,000
 
  10.75%, due 4/15/27 (b)
   
739,607
 
           
1,699,466
 
Retail – Propane Distribution 1.1%
       
     
Ferrellgas LP / Ferrellgas
       
     
  Finance Corp.
       
 
1,600,000
 
  5.88%, due 4/1/29 (b)
   
1,393,176
 
         
Tobacco Manufacturing 1.0%
       
     
Vector Group Ltd.
       
 
1,375,000
 
  5.75%, due 2/1/29 (b)
   
1,239,968
 
         
Transportation Services 2.2%
       
     
Bristow Group, Inc.
       
 
1,400,000
 
  6.88%, due 3/1/28 (b)
   
1,331,278
 
     
First Student Bidco, Inc. /
       
     
  First Transit Parent, Inc.
       
 
1,600,000
 
  4.00%, due 7/31/29 (b)
   
1,421,680
 
           
2,752,958
 
Water 1.2%
       
     
Solaris Midstream Holdings LLC
       
 
1,500,000
 
  7.63%, due 4/1/26 (b)
   
1,502,769
 
         
Wireline Telecommunications Services 0.5%
       
     
Intrado Corp.
       
 
660,000
 
  5.38%, due 7/15/22 (b)
   
650,100
 
Total Corporate Bonds
       
  (cost $130,046,194)
   
116,993,864
 
         
BANK LOANS 0.2%
       
         
Building Materials 0.2%
       
 
232,414
 
Northwest Hardwoods
       
     
  Secured Term Loan
   
227,766
 
Total Bank Loans
       
  (cost $218,212)
   
227,766
 
         
MONEY MARKET FUND 3.7%
       
 
4,612,252
 
Fidelity Institutional Money
       
     
  Market Government Portfolio –
       
     
  Class I, 0.60% (a)
   
4,612,252
 
Total Money Market Fund
       
  (cost $4,612,252)
   
4,612,252
 
Total Investments
           
  (cost $135,013,675)
   
98.3
%
   
122,073,562
 
Other Assets less Liabilities
   
1.7
%
   
2,154,905
 
TOTAL NET ASSETS
   
100.0
%
 
$
124,228,467
 

(a)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of May 31, 2022.
(b)
Security purchased within the terms of a private placement memorandum, exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may be sold only to dealers in the program or other “qualified institutional buyers.”  As of May 31, 2022, the value of these investments was $105,398,311 or 84.84% of total net assets.
(c)
Payment-in-kind interest is generally paid by issuing additional par of the security rather than paying cash.
(d)
Security valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees of Advisors Series Trust. Value determined using significant unobservable inputs. As of May 31, 2022, the total value of fair valued securities was $439,180 or 0.35% of total net assets.
(e)
Non-income producing security.



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

28

PIA Funds
Statements of Assets and Liabilities – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


   
BBB
   
MBS
   
High Yield
 
   
Bond Fund
   
Bond Fund
   
(MACS) Fund
 
Assets:
                 
Investments in securities, at value
                 
  (cost $262,964,682, $63,672,121, and $135,013,675, respectively)
 
$
235,398,020
   
$
60,633,452
   
$
122,073,562
 
Receivable for fund shares sold
   
15,082
     
24,444
     
3
 
Interest receivable
   
2,334,223
     
116,186
     
2,194,862
 
Due from investment adviser (Note 4)
   
     
31,305
     
 
Prepaid expenses
   
17,629
     
14,709
     
28,232
 
Total assets
   
237,764,954
     
60,820,096
     
124,296,659
 
                         
Liabilities:
                       
Payable for securities purchased
   
     
3,482,031
     
 
Payable for fund shares redeemed
   
50,587
     
4,126
     
 
Administration fees
   
38,864
     
19,818
     
21,985
 
Custody fees
   
6,884
     
6,525
     
4,270
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses
   
12,712
     
10,755
     
6,155
 
Fund accounting fees
   
27,593
     
8,233
     
15,040
 
Audit fees
   
10,818
     
10,818
     
10,818
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee
   
2,695
     
2,695
     
2,695
 
Trustees’ fees and expenses
   
1,039
     
1,120
     
962
 
Accrued expenses
   
7,957
     
6,875
     
6,267
 
Total liabilities
   
159,149
     
3,552,996
     
68,192
 
Net Assets
 
$
237,605,805
   
$
57,267,100
   
$
124,228,467
 
                         
Net Assets Consist of:
                       
Paid-in capital
 
$
268,226,789
   
$
62,044,014
   
$
137,491,026
 
Total distributable deficit
   
(30,620,984
)
   
(4,776,914
)
   
(13,262,559
)
Net Assets
 
$
237,605,805
   
$
57,267,100
   
$
124,228,467
 
                         
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share
 
$
8.60
   
$
8.82
   
$
8.64
 
                         
Shares Issued and Outstanding
                       
  (Unlimited number of shares authorized, par value $0.01)
   
27,623,580
     
6,489,778
     
14,383,926
 



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

29

PIA Funds
Statements of Operations – Six Months Ended May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


   
BBB
   
MBS
   
High Yield
 
   
Bond Fund
   
Bond Fund
   
(MACS) Fund
 
Investment Income:
                 
Interest
 
$
4,204,876
   
$
485,185
   
$
4,596,272
 
Total investment income
   
4,204,876
     
485,185
     
4,596,272
 
                         
Expenses:
                       
Administration fees (Note 4)
   
66,406
     
44,479
     
47,236
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 4)
   
39,392
     
18,247
     
13,974
 
Fund accounting fees (Note 4)
   
37,225
     
10,166
     
19,956
 
Registration fees
   
16,779
     
13,078
     
10,045
 
Custody fees (Note 4)
   
12,383
     
9,090
     
6,998
 
Audit fees
   
10,934
     
10,934
     
10,934
 
Trustees’ fees and expenses
   
7,335
     
7,272
     
7,352
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee (Note 4)
   
5,505
     
5,505
     
5,505
 
Miscellaneous
   
4,611
     
3,987
     
4,529
 
Reports to shareholders
   
4,453
     
2,970
     
2,964
 
Legal fees
   
3,316
     
3,316
     
3,321
 
Insurance
   
3,133
     
1,710
     
2,029
 
Interest expense (Note 6)
   
29
     
     
 
Total expenses
   
211,501
     
130,754
     
134,843
 
Less: Expense reimbursement from adviser (Note 4)
   
     
(63,389
)
   
 
Net expenses
   
211,501
     
67,365
     
134,843
 
Net investment income
   
3,993,375
     
417,820
     
4,461,429
 
                         
Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments
                       
Net realized loss on investments
   
(1,323,739
)
   
(692,164
)
   
(450,266
)
Net change in unrealized
                       
  appreciation/(depreciation) on investments
   
(37,835,860
)
   
(3,968,726
)
   
(12,018,676
)
Net loss on investments
   
(39,159,599
)
   
(4,660,890
)
   
(12,468,942
)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
 
$
(35,166,224
)
 
$
(4,243,070
)
 
$
(8,007,513
)



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

30

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Statements of Changes in Net Assets


   
Six Months Ended
       
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
November 30, 2021
 
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations:
           
Net investment income
 
$
3,993,375
   
$
8,370,015
 
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments
   
(1,323,739
)
   
1,013,377
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments
   
(37,835,860
)
   
(10,860,643
)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
   
(35,166,224
)
   
(1,477,251
)
                 
Distributions Paid to Shareholders:
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders
   
(4,002,354
)
   
(8,386,268
)
Total dividends and distributions
   
(4,002,354
)
   
(8,386,268
)
                 
Capital Share Transactions:
               
Net proceeds from shares sold
   
13,967,582
     
62,845,536
 
Distributions reinvested
   
3,718,939
     
7,813,505
 
Payment for shares redeemed
   
(37,594,393
)
   
(50,219,174
)
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions
   
(19,907,872
)
   
20,439,867
 
Total increase/(decrease) in net assets
   
(59,076,450
)
   
10,576,348
 
                 
Net Assets, Beginning of period
   
296,682,255
     
286,105,907
 
Net Assets, End of period
 
$
237,605,805
   
$
296,682,255
 
                 
Transactions in Shares:
               
Shares sold
   
1,508,554
     
6,250,540
 
Shares issued on reinvestment of distributions
   
405,610
     
779,458
 
Shares redeemed
   
(4,055,080
)
   
(5,002,238
)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding
   
(2,140,916
)
   
2,027,760
 



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

31

PIA Funds
PIA MBS BOND FUND
Statements of Changes in Net Assets


   
Six Months Ended
       
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
November 30, 2021
 
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations:
           
Net investment income
 
$
417,820
   
$
458,097
 
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments
   
(692,164
)
   
172,635
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments
   
(3,968,726
)
   
(1,147,300
)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
   
(4,243,070
)
   
(516,568
)
                 
Distributions Paid to Shareholders:
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders
   
(469,987
)
   
(652,838
)
Total dividends and distributions
   
(469,987
)
   
(652,838
)
                 
Capital Share Transactions:
               
Net proceeds from shares sold
   
5,080,559
     
25,444,468
 
Distributions reinvested
   
396,886
     
578,178
 
Payment for shares redeemed
   
(3,893,325
)
   
(39,320,666
)
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions
   
1,584,120
     
(13,298,020
)
Total decrease in net assets
   
(3,128,937
)
   
(14,467,426
)
                 
Net Assets, Beginning of period
   
60,396,037
     
74,863,463
 
Net Assets, End of period
 
$
57,267,100
   
$
60,396,037
 
                 
Transactions in Shares:
               
Shares sold
   
555,480
     
2,641,148
 
Shares issued on reinvestment of distributions
   
43,680
     
60,030
 
Shares redeemed
   
(425,913
)
   
(4,093,655
)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding
   
173,247
     
(1,392,477
)



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

32

PIA Funds
PIA HIGH YIELD (MACS) FUND
Statements of Changes in Net Assets


   
Six Months Ended
       
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
November 30, 2021
 
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations:
           
Net investment income
 
$
4,461,429
   
$
8,931,589
 
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments
   
(450,266
)
   
3,321,318
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments
   
(12,018,676
)
   
(2,205,141
)
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
   
(8,007,513
)
   
10,047,766
 
                 
Distributions Paid to Shareholders:
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders
   
(6,591,762
)
   
(8,951,519
)
Total dividends and distributions
   
(6,591,762
)
   
(8,951,519
)
                 
Capital Share Transactions:
               
Net proceeds from shares sold
   
1,082,142
     
2,632,929
 
Distributions reinvested
   
6,536,591
     
8,645,006
 
Payment for shares redeemed
   
(606,482
)
   
(354,859
)
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions
   
7,012,251
     
10,923,076
 
Total increase/(decrease) in net assets
   
(7,587,024
)
   
12,019,323
 
                 
Net Assets, Beginning of period
   
131,815,491
     
119,796,168
 
Net Assets, End of period
 
$
124,228,467
   
$
131,815,491
 
                 
Transactions in Shares:
               
Shares sold
   
111,317
     
270,389
 
Shares issued on reinvestment of distributions
   
703,546
     
879,616
 
Shares redeemed
   
(63,733
)
   
(35,903
)
Net increase in shares outstanding
   
751,130
     
1,114,102
 



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

33

PIA Funds
PIA BBB BOND FUND
Financial Highlights


   
Six Months
                               
   
Ended
                               
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended November 30,
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
2021
   
2020
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
 
Per Share Operating Performance
                                   
(For a fund share outstanding throughout each period)
                               
                                     
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
9.97
   
$
10.32
   
$
9.76
   
$
8.67
   
$
9.35
   
$
9.07
 
                                                 
Income From Investment Operations:
                                               
Net investment income
   
0.14
     
0.28
     
0.33
     
0.37
     
0.37
     
0.35
 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
 
(1.37
)
   
(0.35
)
   
0.56
     
1.09
     
(0.68
)
   
0.28
 
Total from investment operations
   
(1.23
)
   
(0.07
)
   
0.89
     
1.46
     
(0.31
)
   
0.63
 
                                                 
Less Distributions:
                                               
Distributions from net investment income
   
(0.14
)
   
(0.28
)
   
(0.33
)
   
(0.37
)
   
(0.37
)
   
(0.35
)
Total distributions
   
(0.14
)
   
(0.28
)
   
(0.33
)
   
(0.37
)
   
(0.37
)
   
(0.35
)
                                                 
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
8.60
   
$
9.97
   
$
10.32
   
$
9.76
   
$
8.67
   
$
9.35
 
                                                 
Total Return
   
-12.41
%++
   
-0.61
%
   
9.37
%
   
17.10
%
   
-3.44
%
   
7.10
%
                                                 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
                                               
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)
 
$
237,606
   
$
296,682
   
$
286,106
   
$
142,283
   
$
148,575
   
$
206,654
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                               
Net of expense reimbursement
   
0.16
%+
   
0.15
%
   
0.17
%
   
0.19
%
   
0.16
%
   
0.15
%
Before expense reimbursement
   
0.16
%+
   
0.15
%
   
0.17
%
   
0.20
%
   
0.17
%
   
0.17
%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:
                                         
Net of expense reimbursement
   
3.01
%+
   
2.83
%
   
3.41
%
   
3.97
%
   
3.97
%
   
3.81
%
Before expense reimbursement
   
3.01
%+
   
2.83
%
   
3.41
%
   
3.96
%
   
3.96
%
   
3.79
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
6
%++
   
20
%
   
36
%
   
20
%
   
15
%
   
11
%

+
 
Annualized for periods less than one year.
++
 
Not annualized for periods less than one year.



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

34

PIA Funds
PIA MBS BOND FUND
Financial Highlights


   
Six Months
                               
   
Ended
                               
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended November 30,
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
2021
   
2020
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
 
Per Share Operating Performance
                                   
(For a fund share outstanding throughout each period)
                               
                                     
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
9.56
   
$
9.71
   
$
9.57
   
$
9.17
   
$
9.49
   
$
9.56
 
                                                 
Income From Investment Operations:
                                               
Net investment income
   
0.06
     
0.08
     
0.17
     
0.26
     
0.24
     
0.25
 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
 
(0.73
)
   
(0.15
)
   
0.19
     
0.42
     
(0.31
)
   
(0.05
)
Total from investment operations
   
(0.67
)
   
(0.07
)
   
0.36
     
0.68
     
(0.07
)
   
0.20
 
                                                 
Less Distributions:
                                               
Distributions from net investment income
   
(0.07
)
   
(0.08
)
   
(0.22
)
   
(0.28
)
   
(0.25
)
   
(0.27
)
Total distributions
   
(0.07
)
   
(0.08
)
   
(0.22
)
   
(0.28
)
   
(0.25
)
   
(0.27
)
                                                 
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
8.82
   
$
9.56
   
$
9.71
   
$
9.57
   
$
9.17
   
$
9.49
 
                                                 
Total Return
   
-6.99
%++
   
-0.73
%
   
3.77
%
   
7.53
%
   
-0.72
%
   
2.09
%
                                                 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
                                               
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)
 
$
57,267
   
$
60,396
   
$
74,863
   
$
69,730
   
$
60,204
   
$
69,719
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                               
Net of expense reimbursement
   
0.23
%+
   
0.23
%
   
0.23
%
   
0.23
%
   
0.21
%
   
0.17
%
Before expense reimbursement
   
0.45
%+
   
0.31
%
   
0.36
%
   
0.36
%
   
0.34
%
   
0.39
%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:
                                         
Net of expense reimbursement
   
1.43
%+
   
0.56
%
   
1.74
%
   
2.73
%
   
2.53
%
   
2.49
%
Before expense reimbursement
   
1.21
%+
   
0.48
%
   
1.61
%
   
2.60
%
   
2.40
%
   
2.27
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
116
%++
   
680
%
   
171
%
   
20
%
   
239
%
   
151
%

+
 
Annualized for periods less than one year.
++
 
Not annualized for periods less than one year.



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

35

PIA Funds
PIA HIGH YIELD (MACS) FUND
Financial Highlights


   
Six Months
                         
   
Ended
   
Year Ended November 30,
   
December 26, 2017*
 
   
May 31, 2022
   
through
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
2021
   
2020
   
2019
   
November 30, 2018
 
Per Share Operating Performance
                             
(For a fund share outstanding throughout each period)
                             
                               
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
9.67
   
$
9.57
   
$
9.42
   
$
9.44
   
$
10.00
 
                                         
Income From Investment Operations:
                                       
Net investment income
   
0.32
     
0.68
     
0.64
     
0.64
     
0.56
 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
   
(0.88
)
   
0.10
     
0.15
     
0.02
     
(0.56
)
Total from investment operations
   
(0.56
)
   
0.78
     
0.79
     
0.66
     
0.00
 
                                         
Less Distributions:
                                       
Distributions from net investment income
   
(0.32
)
   
(0.68
)
   
(0.64
)
   
(0.64
)
   
(0.56
)
Distributions from net realized gains on investments
   
(0.15
)
   
     
(0.02
)
   
(0.04
)
   
 
Total distributions
   
(0.47
)
   
(0.68
)
   
(0.66
)
   
(0.68
)
   
(0.56
)
Increase from payment made by affiliate
                                       
  and administrator due to operational error
   
     
     
0.02
     
     
 
                                         
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
8.64
   
$
9.67
   
$
9.57
   
$
9.42
   
$
9.44
 
                                         
Total Return
   
-6.02
%++
   
8.31
%
 
9.25
%^    
7.21
%
   
-0.07
%++
                                         
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
                                       
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)
 
$
124,228
   
$
131,815
   
$
119,796
   
$
79,915
   
$
73,794
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                       
Net of expense reimbursement
   
0.21
%+
   
0.20
%
   
0.24
%
   
0.25
%
   
0.23
%+
Before expense reimbursement
   
0.21
%+
   
0.20
%
   
0.24
%
   
0.28
%
   
0.30
%+
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:
                                       
Net of expense reimbursement
   
6.87
%+
   
6.91
%
   
7.11
%
   
6.72
%
   
6.23
%+
Before expense reimbursement
   
6.87
%+
   
6.91
%
   
7.11
%
   
6.69
%
   
6.16
%+
Portfolio turnover rate
   
12
%++
   
70
%
   
51
%
   
36
%
   
22
%++

*
 
Commencement of operations.
+
 
Annualized for periods less than one year.
++
 
Not annualized for periods less than one year.
^
 
Includes increase from payment made by affiliate and administrator due to operational error. Refer to Note 10 for further details. Had the Fund not received the payment, total return would have been 9.02%.



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

36

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Note 1 – Organization
The PIA BBB Bond Fund, the PIA MBS Bond Fund and the PIA High Yield (MACS) Fund (the “Funds”) are each a series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.  Each Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services – Investment Companies.”
 
Currently, the Funds offer the Managed Account Completion Shares (MACS) class.  Each of the Funds is diversified and has separate assets and liabilities and differing investment objectives.  The investment objective of the PIA BBB Bond Fund (the “BBB Bond Fund”) is to seek to provide a total rate of return that approximates that of bonds rated within the BBB category by Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, the Baa category by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. or the BBB category by Fitch Ratings, Inc.  The investment objective of the PIA MBS Bond Fund (the “MBS Bond Fund”) is to seek to provide a total rate of return that exceeds the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. MBS Fixed Rate Index. The investment objective of the PIA High Yield (MACS) Fund (the “High Yield (MACS) Fund”) is to seek a high level of current income. The BBB Bond Fund and the MBS Bond Fund commenced operations on September 25, 2003 and February 28, 2006, respectively. The High Yield (MACS) Fund commenced operations on December 26, 2017, prior to which, its only activity was a transfer in-kind of securities and cash. This transfer in-kind was nontaxable, whereby the Fund issued 6,563,978 shares on December 26, 2017. The fair value and cost of securities received by the Fund was $61,624,087 and $60,648,008, respectively. In addition, the Fund received $4,015,697 of cash and interest receivable. 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. Only authorized investment advisory clients of Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. are eligible to invest in the Funds.
 
Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in the preparation of their financial statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Security Valuation – All investments in securities are recorded at their estimated fair value, as described in Note 3.
 
Securities Purchased on a When-Issued Basis – Delivery and payment for securities that have been purchased by the Funds on a forward-commitment or when-issued basis can take place up to a month or more after the transaction date.  During this period, such securities are subject to market fluctuations. The Funds are required to hold and maintain until the settlement date, cash or other liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price.  The purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward-commitment basis may increase the volatility of the Funds’ net asset values if the Funds make such purchases while remaining substantially fully invested.  In connection with the ability to purchase securities on a when-issued basis, the Funds may also enter into dollar rolls in which the Funds sell securities purchased on a forward-commitment basis and simultaneously contract with a counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon, and maturity), but not identical securities on a specified future date.  As an inducement for the Funds to “rollover” their purchase commitments, the Funds receive negotiated amounts in the form of reductions of the purchase price of the commitment.  Dollar rolls are considered a form of leverage.
 

37

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


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. The tax returns of the Funds’ prior three fiscal years are open for examination. Management has reviewed all open tax years in major jurisdictions and concluded that there is no impact on the Funds’ net assets and no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax events relating to uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. 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.
 
Expenses – Each Fund is charged for those expenses that are directly attributable to the Fund, such as administration and custodian fees.  Expenses that are not directly 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.
 
Securities Transactions and Investment Income – Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses on sales of securities are calculated on a first in, first out basis.  Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.  Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are accreted or amortized using the effective interest method, except for premiums on certain callable debt securities that are amortized to the earliest call date. Paydown gains and losses on mortgage-related and other asset-based securities are recorded as components of interest income on the Statement of Operations.
 
Distributions to Shareholders – Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  The Funds distribute substantially all net investment income, if any, monthly and net realized gains, if any, annually.  Distributions from net realized gains for book purposes may include short-term capital gains.  All short-term capital gains are included in ordinary income for tax purposes.
 
The amount and character of income and net realized gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with federal income tax rules and regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  To the extent that these differences are attributable to permanent book and tax accounting differences, the components of net assets have been adjusted.
 
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.
 
Guarantees and Indemnifications – In the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses.  The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims against the Funds that have not yet occurred.  Based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.
 
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 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
 

38

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operation during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Accounting Pronouncements – In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform: Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The main objective of the new guidance is to provide relief to companies that will be impacted by the expected change in benchmark interest rates at the end of 2021, when participating banks will no longer be required to submit London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) quotes by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The new guidance allows companies to, provided the only change to existing contracts are a change to an approved benchmark interest rate, account for modifications as a continuance of the existing contract without additional analysis. In addition, derivative contracts that qualified for hedge accounting prior to modification, will be allowed to continue to receive such treatment, even if critical terms change due to a change in the benchmark interest rate. For new and existing contracts, the Funds may elect to apply the amendments as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently assessing the impact of the ASU’s adoption to the Funds’ financial statements and various filings.
 
In October 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (“Rule 18f-4”).  Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.  The Funds do not currently enter into derivatives transactions.  Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of Rule 18f-4 on the Funds.
 
In December 2020, the SEC adopted a new rule providing a framework for fund valuation practices (“Rule 2a-5”).  Rule 2a-5 establishes requirements for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act.  Rule 2a-5 will permit fund boards to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions.  Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security.  In connection with Rule 2a-5, the SEC also adopted related recordkeeping requirements and is rescinding previously issued guidance, including with respect to the role of a board in determining fair value and the accounting and auditing of fund investments.  The Funds will be required to comply with the rules by September 8, 2022.  Management is currently assessing the potential impact of the new rules on the Funds’ financial statements.
 
Events Subsequent to the Fiscal Period End – In preparing the financial statements as of May 31, 2022, management considered the impact of subsequent events for the potential recognition or disclosure in these financial statements. Management has determined there were no subsequent events that would need to be disclosed in the Funds’ financial statements.
 
Note 3 – Securities Valuation
The Funds have adopted authoritative fair value accounting standards which establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value.  These standards require additional disclosures about the various inputs and valuation techniques used to develop the measurements of fair value, a discussion in changes in
 

39

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


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.

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.  The Funds’ investments are carried at fair value.
 
Each Fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value per share as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (4:00 pm EST).
 
Investment Companies – Investments in open-end mutual funds, including money market funds, are generally priced at their net asset value per share provided by the service agent of the funds and will be classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Corporate Bonds – Corporate bonds, including listed 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.  Most corporate bonds are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Bank Loan Obligations – Bank loan obligations are valued at market on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service which utilizes quotations obtained from dealers in bank loans. These securities will generally be classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Foreign Securities – Foreign economies may differ from the U.S. economy and individual foreign companies may differ from domestic companies in the same industry.
 
Foreign companies or entities are frequently not subject to accounting and financial reporting standards applicable to domestic companies, and there may be less information available about foreign issuers.  Securities of foreign issuers are generally less liquid and more volatile than those of comparable domestic issuers.  There is frequently less government regulation of broker-dealers and issuers than in the United States.  In addition, investments in foreign countries are subject to the possibility of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments that could adversely affect the value of those investments.
 
All foreign securities owned by the Funds are U.S. dollar denominated.
 

40

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities – Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are securities issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal.  These securities are normally valued by pricing service providers that use broker-dealer quotations or valuation estimates from their internal pricing models.  The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche, current market data and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available.  Mortgage- and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
U.S. Government Securities – U.S. Government securities are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data.  Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.  U.S. Government securities are typically categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
U.S. Government Agency Securities – U.S. Government agency securities are comprised of two main categories consisting of agency issued debt and mortgage pass-throughs.  Agency issued debt securities are generally valued in a manner similar to U.S. government securities.  Mortgage pass-throughs include to-be-announced (“TBAs”) securities and mortgage pass-through certificates.  TBA securities and mortgage pass-throughs are generally valued using dealer quotations.  These securities are typically categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Equity Securities – Equity securities that are primarily traded on a national securities exchange shall be valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded on the day of valuation or, if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ 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 (“OTC”) securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ Global Market System shall be valued at the most recent sales price.  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.
 
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.
 
Restricted Securities – The Funds may invest in securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Federal securities laws. Private placement securities are generally considered to be restricted except for those securities traded between qualified institutional investors under the provisions of Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. The sale or other disposition of these securities may involve additional expenses and the prompt sale of these securities at an acceptable price may be difficult. At May 31, 2022, the Funds held securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. There were no other restricted investments held by the Funds at May 31, 2022.
 
The Board of Trustees (“Board) has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to a Valuation Committee of the Trust which is comprised of representatives from 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
 

41

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


by following procedures approved by the Board.  These procedures consider many factors, including the type of security, size of holding, trading volume and news events.  All actions taken by the Valuation Committee are subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board.
 
Depending on the relative significance of the valuation inputs, fair valued securities may be classified in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.  The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Funds’ securities as of May 31, 2022:
 
 
BBB Bond Fund
                       
     
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
Fixed Income
                       
 
  Corporate Bonds
 
$
   
$
221,771,071
   
$
   
$
221,771,071
 
 
  Sovereign Bonds
   
     
12,447,867
     
     
12,447,867
 
 
Total Fixed Income
   
     
234,218,938
     
     
234,218,938
 
 
Money Market Fund
   
1,179,082
     
     
     
1,179,082
 
 
Total Investments
 
$
1,179,082
   
$
234,218,938
   
$
   
$
235,398,020
 
                                   
 
MBS Bond Fund
                               
     
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
Fixed Income
                               
 
  Asset-Backed Securities
 
$
   
$
1,268,491
   
$
   
$
1,268,491
 
 
  Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities
   
     
1,867,932
     
     
1,867,932
 
 
  Mortgage-Backed Securities –
                               
 
  U.S. Government Agencies
   
     
50,810,620
     
     
50,810,620
 
 
Total Fixed Income
   
     
53,947,043
     
     
53,947,043
 
 
Money Market Fund
   
1,188,319
     
     
     
1,188,319
 
 
U.S. Treasury Bills
   
     
5,498,090
     
     
5,498,090
 
 
Total Investments
 
$
1,188,319
   
$
59,445,133
   
$
   
$
60,633,452
 
                                   
 
High Yield (MACS) Fund
                               
     
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
Common Stocks
 
$
   
$
   
$
239,680
   
$
239,680
 
 
Fixed Income
                               
 
  Corporate Bonds
   
     
116,794,364
     
199,500
     
116,993,864
 
 
  Bank Loans
   
     
227,766
     
     
227,766
 
 
Total Fixed Income
   
     
117,022,130
     
199,500
     
117,221,630
 
 
Money Market Fund
   
4,612,252
     
     
     
4,612,252
 
 
Total Investments
 
$
4,612,252
   
$
117,022,130
   
$
439,180
   
$
122,073,562
 

Refer to each Fund’s schedule of investments for a detailed break-out of securities by industry classification.
 

42

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


The following is a reconciliation of the MBS Bond Fund’s Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining value.

   
Investments in Securities, at Value
   
Mortgage-Backed Securities
 
Balance as of November 30, 2021
 
$
439,450
   
 
Accrued discounts/premiums
   
   
 
Realized gain/(loss)
   
   
 
Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)
   
(16,938
)
 
 
Purchases
   
   
 
Sales
   
   
 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
(422,512
)
 
 
Balance as of May 31, 2022
 
$
   

The following is a reconciliation of the High Yield (MACS) Fund’s Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining value.

     
Investments in Securities, at Value
 
     
Common Stocks
   
Corporate Bonds
 
 
Balance as of November 30, 2021
 
$
173,768
   
$
147,000
 
 
Accrued discounts/premiums
   
     
2,337
 
 
Realized gain/(loss)
   
     
 
 
Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)
 
$
65,912
     
50,163
 
 
Purchases
   
     
 
 
Sales
   
     
 
 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
     
 
 
Balance as of May 31, 2022
 
$
239,680
   
$
199,500
 

The change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for Level 3 securities still held at May 31, 2022, and still classified as Level 3 was $116,075.
 
The global outbreak of COVID-19 (commonly referred to as “coronavirus”) has disrupted economic markets and the prolonged economic impact is uncertain. Although vaccines for COVID-19 are becoming more widely available, the ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic, amid the spread of COVID-19 variants, and the long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual companies are not known. The operational and financial performance of individual companies and the market in general depends on future developments, including the duration and spread of any future outbreaks and the pace of recovery which may vary from market to market, and such uncertainty may in turn adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Funds’ investments, impair the Funds’ ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact the Funds’ performance.
 
Note 4 – Investment Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
The Funds have investment advisory agreements with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (“PIA” or the “Adviser”) pursuant to which the Adviser is responsible for providing investment management services to the Funds.  The Adviser furnishes all investment advice, office space and facilities, and provides most of the personnel needed by the Funds.
 

43

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Under the agreement, the Funds do not pay the Adviser an investment advisory fee.  However, investors in the Funds will be charged investment advisory fees by the Adviser and persons other than the Adviser.  Clients of PIA pay PIA an investment advisory fee to manage their assets, including assets invested in the Funds.  Participants in “wrap-fee” programs pay fees to the program sponsor, who in turn pays fees to the Adviser.
 
The Funds are responsible for their own operating expenses. PIA has temporarily agreed to reduce fees payable to it by the Funds and to pay Fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses) to the extent necessary to limit each Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses as a percent of average daily net assets as follows:
 
 
BBB Fund
0.19%
 
 
MBS Fund
0.23%
 
 
High Yield (MACS) Fund
0.25%
 

The Adviser may not recoup amounts subject to the temporary expense limitation in future periods. For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the Adviser absorbed Fund expenses in the amount of $0, $63,389, and $0 for the BBB Bond Fund, the MBS Bond Fund and the High Yield (MACS) Fund, respectively.
 
Fund Services serves as the Funds’ administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent. U.S. Bank N.A. serves as custodian (the “Custodian”) to the Funds.  The Custodian is an affiliate of Fund Services.  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, including the Chief Compliance Officer, are employees of Fund Services.  Fees paid by the Funds for administration and accounting, transfer agency, custody and compliance services for the six months ended May 31, 2022, are disclosed in the Statements of Operations.
 
The BBB Bond Fund, the MBS Bond Fund and the High Yield (MACS) Fund have entered into agreements with various brokers, dealers and financial intermediaries to compensate them for transfer agent services that would otherwise be executed by Fund Services. These sub-transfer agent services include pre-processing and quality control of new accounts, maintaining detailed shareholder account records, shareholder correspondence, answering customer inquiries regarding account status, and facilitating shareholder telephone transactions. The BBB Bond Fund, the MBS Bond Fund, and the High Yield (MACS) Fund expensed $2,356, $2,186, and $15, respectively, of sub-transfer agent fees during the six months ended May 31, 2022. These fees are included in the transfer agent fees and expenses amount disclosed in the Statements of Operations.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC (“Quasar” or the “Distributor”) acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Fund’s shares. Quasar is a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (“Foreside”).
 
Note 5 – Purchases and Sales of Securities
For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term securities, were as follows:

     
Non-Government
   
Government
 
     
Purchases
   
Sales
   
Purchases
   
Sales
 
 
BBB Bond Fund
 
$
11,323,064
   
$
23,036,415
   
$
3,413,568
   
$
6,988,191
 
 
MBS Bond Fund
   
     
17,115
     
67,454,217
     
62,335,608
 
 
High Yield (MACS) Fund
   
18,277,782
     
14,575,248
     
     
 


44

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Note 6 – Line of Credit
The BBB Bond Fund, the MBS Bond Fund and the High Yield (MACS) Fund have a secured line of credit in the amount of $15,000,000, $8,000,000 and $15,000,000, 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 six months ended May 31, 2022, the BBB Fund drew on its line of credit. The Fund had an outstanding average daily balance of $3,741, paid a weighted average interest rate of 3.78%, and incurred interest expense of $29. The maximum amount outstanding for the BBB Fund during the six months ended May 31, 2022 was $285,000. At May 31, 2022, the Fund had no outstanding loan amount. The MBS Fund and the High Yield (MACS) Fund did not draw upon their line of credit.
 
Note 7 – Federal Income Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the six months ended May 31, 2022 and the year ended November 30, 2021 were as follows:
 
     
BBB Bond Fund
   
MBS Bond Fund
   
High Yield (MACS) Fund
 
     
May 31, 2022
   
Nov. 30, 2021
   
May 31, 2022
   
Nov. 30, 2021
   
May 31, 2022
   
Nov. 30, 2021
 
 
Ordinary income
 
$
4,002,354
   
$
8,386,268
   
$
469,987
   
$
652,838
   
$
6,591,762
   
$
8,951,519
 

As of November 30, 2021, the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year end, the components of capital on a tax basis were as follows:
 
     
BBB
   
MBS
   
High Yield
 
     
Bond Fund
   
Bond Fund
   
(MACS) Fund
 
 
Cost of investments (a)
 
$
280,980,708
   
$
88,597,247
   
$
130,344,801
 
 
Gross unrealized appreciation
   
14,676,657
     
1,031,027
     
2,682,618
 
 
Gross unrealized depreciation
   
(4,423,976
)
   
(100,970
)
   
(3,604,055
)
 
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) (a)
   
10,252,681
     
930,057
     
(921,437
)
 
Undistributed ordinary income
   
113,334
     
31,434
     
2,258,153
 
 
Undistributed long-term capital gain
   
     
     
 
 
Total distributable earnings
   
113,334
     
31,434
     
2,258,153
 
 
Other accumulated gains/(losses)
   
(1,818,421
)
   
(1,025,348
)
   
 
 
Total accumulated earnings/(losses)
 
$
8,547,594
   
$
(63,857
)
 
$
1,336,716
 

 
(a)
The difference between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) in the Funds is attributable primarily to wash sales.


45

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


At November 30, 2021, the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year end, the BBB Bond Fund, the MBS Bond Fund and the High Yield (MACS) Fund had tax short-term capital losses and tax long-term capital losses, which may be carried over indefinitely to offset future gains, as follows:

     
BBB
   
MBS
   
High Yield
 
     
Bond Fund
   
Bond Fund
   
(MACS) Fund
 
 
Short-term capital losses
 
$
1,017,989
   
$
697,267
   
$
 
 
Long-term capital losses
   
800,432
     
328,081
     
 

The BBB Bond Fund and the High Yield (MACS) Fund utilized $739,005 and $1,125,240, respectively, of long-term capital loss carryover during the year ended November 30, 2021.
 
Note 8 – 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 the Funds’ 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.
 
 
General Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.  For example, the outbreak of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, has negatively affected economies, markets and individual companies throughout the world, including those in which the Fund invests. The effects of this pandemic to public health and business and market conditions, including exchange trading suspensions and closures, may continue to have a significant negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, increase the Fund’s volatility, negatively impact the Fund’s arbitrage and pricing mechanisms, exacerbate pre-existing political, social and economic risks to the Fund, and negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations. The Fund’s operations may be interrupted as a result, which may contribute to the negative impact on investment performance. In addition, governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions in response to the pandemic that affect the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other future epidemics or pandemics, is currently unknown.
     
 
Interest Rate Risk. The value of a Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities will change based on changes in interest rates.  If interest rates increase, the value of these investments generally declines.  Securities with greater interest rate sensitivity and longer maturities generally are subject to greater fluctuations in value.
     
 
Credit Risk. The issuers of the bonds and other debt securities held by the Funds may not be able to make interest or principal payments.


46

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


 
Counterparty Risk. Fund transactions involving a counterparty are subject to the risk that the counterparty or a third party will not fulfill its obligation to the Funds. Counterparty risk may arise because of the counterparty’s financial condition (i.e., financial difficulties, bankruptcy, or insolvency), market activities and developments, or other reasons, whether foreseen or not. A counterparty’s inability to fulfill its obligation may result in significant financial loss to the Fund.
   
 
BBB Bond Fund
     
 
High Yield Securities Risk. The BBB Bond Fund may hold high yield securities as a result of credit rating downgrades.  Securities with ratings lower than BBB or Baa are known as “high yield” securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”).  High yield securities typically carry higher coupon rates than investment grade securities, but also are considered as speculative and may be subject to greater market price fluctuations, less liquidity and greater risk of loss of income or principal including greater possibility of default and bankruptcy of the issuer of such instruments than more highly rated bonds and loans.
     
 
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 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.
   
 
MBS Bond Fund
     
 
ETF and Mutual Fund Risk. When the MBS Bond Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees.  The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities that the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs.
     
 
Extension Risk. An issuer may pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as an asset-backed or mortgage-backed security) later than expected.  This may happen during a period of rising interest rates.  Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease.
     
 
Risks Associated with Mortgage-Backed Securities. These risks include General Market Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Credit Risk, Prepayment Risk and Extension Risk (each described above).  During periods of difficult or frozen credit markets, significant changes in interest rates, or deteriorating economic conditions, such securities may decline in value, face valuation difficulties, become more volatile and/or become illiquid.


47

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


 
Risks associated with Real Estate and Regulatory Actions. Although some of the securities in the Fund are expected to either have a U.S. government sponsored entity guarantee or be AAA rated by any NSRSO, if real estate experiences a significant price decline, this could adversely affect the prices of the securities the Fund owns.  In addition, any adverse regulatory action could impact the prices of the securities the Fund owns.
     
 
Liquidity Risk. Reduced liquidity in the bond markets can result from a number of events, such as limited trading activity, reductions in bond inventory, and rapid or unexpected changes in interest rates. Less liquid markets could lead to greater price volatility and limit the Fund’s ability to sell a holding at a suitable price.
     
 
TBA Securities Risk. In a TBA transaction, a seller agrees to deliver a security at a future date, but does not specify the particular security to be delivered. Instead, the seller agrees to accept any security that meets specified terms. TBA transactions involve the risk that the securities received may have less favorable characteristics than what was anticipated when the Adviser entered into the transaction. Adviser accounts with TBA securities are also subject to counterparty risk and will be exposed to changes in the value of the underlying investments during the term of the agreement.
     
 
Dollar Roll Risk. Dollar rolls involve the risk that the MBS Bond Fund’s counterparty will be unable to deliver the mortgage-backed securities underlying the dollar roll at the fixed time. If the buyer files for bankruptcy or becomes insolvent, the buyer or its representative may ask for and receive an extension of time to decide whether to enforce the Fund’s repurchase obligation. In addition, the Fund earns interest by investing the transaction proceeds during the roll period. Dollar roll transactions may have the effect of creating leverage in the Fund’s portfolio.
     
 
Risks Associated with Inflation and Deflation. Inflation risk is the risk that the rising cost of living may erode the purchasing power of an investment over time. Deflation risk is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time—the opposite of inflation.
     
 
Government-Sponsored Entities Risk. Securities issued or guaranteed by government-sponsored entities, including GNMA, FNMA, and FHLMC, may not be guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government and may only be supported by the credit of the issuing agency.
     
 
Asset-Backed Securities Risks. These risks include Market and Regulatory Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Credit Risk, Prepayment Risk and Extension Risk (each described above). Asset-backed securities may decline in value when defaults on the underlying assets occur and may exhibit additional volatility in periods of changing interest rates.
   
 
High Yield (MACS) Fund
     
 
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities (or “junk bonds”) entail greater risk of loss of principal because of their greater exposure to credit risk. High yield securities typically carry higher coupon rates than investment grade securities, but also are considered as speculative and may be subject to greater market price fluctuations, less liquidity and greater risk of loss of income or principal including greater possibility of default and bankruptcy of the issuer of such instruments than more highly rated bonds and loans.
     
 
Liquidity Risk. Reduced liquidity in the bond markets can result from a number of events, such as limited trading activity, reductions in bond inventory, and rapid or unexpected changes in interest rates. Less liquid markets could lead to greater price volatility and limit the Fund’s ability to sell a holding at a suitable price.


48

PIA Funds
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


 
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities are subject to the risks of both debt securities and equity securities.  The values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest rates rise and, due to the conversion feature, tend to vary with fluctuations in the market value of the underlying common or preferred stock.
     
 
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 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.
     
 
Loan Participation and Assignment Risk. Loan participations and assignments involve special types of risk, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and the risks of being a lender. Bank loans (i.e., loan participations and assignments), like other high yield corporate debt obligations, have a higher risk of default and may be less liquid and/or become illiquid.
     
 
Rule 144A Securities Risk. The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities.  Rule 144A securities carry the risk that the liquidity of these securities may become impaired, making it more difficult for the Fund to sell these securities.

Note 9 – Control Ownership
The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly of more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund creates a presumption of control of the Fund, under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. The following table reflects shareholders that maintain accounts of more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund as of May 31, 2022:
 
 
Fund
Shareholder
Percent of Shares Held
 
BBB Bond Fund
Wells Fargo LLC
44.73%
 
MBS Bond Fund
Morgan Stanley LLC
35.11%
 
High Yield (MACS) Fund
First Hawaiian Bank
95.17%

Note 10 – Reimbursement for Error
On September 18, 2020, the High Yield (MACS) Fund received a reimbursement of $199,712 from the Adviser and Administrator related to a corporate action instruction error during the year ended November 30, 2020. The net reimbursement comprises the “net increase from payment by affiliate and administrator due to operational error” in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. Due to a miscommunication, the tender offer for the Martin Midstream corporate action was not processed correctly. This resulted in the Fund’s position being tendered rather than exchanged.
 
Note 11 – Change in Trustees and Officers
Mr. Joe Redwine became the Audit Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2022.
 
Ms. Michelle Sanville-Seebold resigned as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer effective May 27, 2022.
 

49

PIA Funds
Notice to Shareholders – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


How to Obtain a Copy of the Funds’ Proxy Voting Policies
A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-251-1970, or on the 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 1-800-251-1970.  Furthermore, you can obtain the Funds’ proxy voting records on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Quarterly Filings on Form N-PORT
The Funds file their complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Part F of Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Form N-PORT is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information included in the Funds’ Form N-PORT is also available by calling 1-800-251-1970.
 
Householding
In an effort to decrease costs, the Funds will reduce the number of duplicate prospectuses, supplements, and certain other shareholder documents that you receive by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shown by two or more accounts. Please call the Funds’ transfer agent toll free at 1-800-251-1970 to request individual copies of these documents. The Funds will begin sending individual copies 30 days after receiving your request. This policy does not apply to account statements.
 




50

PIA Funds
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements
(Unaudited)


At meetings held on October 18 and December 7-8, 2021, the Board (which is comprised of four persons, all of whom are Independent Trustees as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), considered and approved, for another annual term, the continuance of the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”) and Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (the “Adviser”) on behalf of the PIA BBB Bond Fund (the “BBB Fund”), the PIA MBS Bond Fund (the “MBS Fund”), and the PIA High Yield (MACS) Fund (the “High Yield (MACS) Fund”) (collectively, the “Funds”). At both meetings, the Board received and reviewed substantial information regarding the Funds, the Adviser and the services provided by the Adviser to the Funds under the Advisory Agreements. This information, together with the information provided to the Board throughout the course of the year, formed the primary (but not exclusive) basis for the Board’s determinations. Below is a summary of the factors considered by the Board and the conclusions that formed the basis for the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement:
 
 
1.
THE NATURE, EXTENT AND QUALITY OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND TO BE PROVIDED BY THE ADVISER UNDER THE ADVISORY AGREEMENTS.  The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the Adviser’s overall services provided to the Funds, as well as its specific responsibilities in all aspects of day-to-day investment management of the Funds. The Board considered the qualifications, experience and responsibilities of the portfolio managers, as well as the responsibilities of other key personnel of the Adviser involved in the day-to-day activities of the Funds. The Board also considered the resources and compliance structure of the Adviser, including information regarding its compliance program, its chief compliance officer and the Adviser’s compliance record, as well as the Adviser’s cybersecurity program, liquidity risk management program, business continuity plan, and risk management process. Additionally, the Board considered how the Adviser’s business continuity plan has operated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board further considered the prior relationship between the Adviser and the Trust, as well as the Board’s knowledge of the Adviser’s operations, and noted that during the course of the prior year they had met with certain personnel of the Adviser via videoconference to discuss each Fund’s performance and investment outlook as well as various marketing and compliance topics. The Board took into account that all shareholders of the Funds are advisory clients of the Adviser and that the Funds are used as investment options to fulfill investment mandates for such clients. The Board concluded that the Adviser had the quality and depth of personnel, resources, investment processes and compliance policies and procedures essential to performing its duties under the Advisory Agreements and that they were satisfied with the nature, overall quality and extent of such management services.
     
 
2.
THE FUNDS’ HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE AND THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE ADVISER.  In assessing the quality of the portfolio management delivered by the Adviser, the Board reviewed the short-term and long-term performance of each Fund as of June 30, 2021, on both an absolute basis and a relative basis in comparison to its peer funds utilizing Morningstar classifications, appropriate securities market benchmarks, and a cohort that is comprised of similarly managed funds selected by an independent third-party consulting firm engaged by the Board to assist it in its 15(c) review (the “Cohort”). While the Board considered both short-term and long-term performance, it placed greater emphasis on longer term performance. When reviewing performance against the comparative peer group universe, the Board took into account that the investment objectives and strategies of each Fund, as well as its level of risk tolerance, may differ significantly from funds in the peer universe. When reviewing a Fund’s performance against broad market benchmarks, the


51

PIA Funds
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (continued)
(Unaudited)


   
Board took into account the differences in portfolio construction between the Fund and such benchmarks as well as other differences between actively managed funds and passive benchmarks, such as objectives and risks.  In assessing periods of relative underperformance or outperformance, the Board took into account that relative performance can be significantly impacted by performance measurement periods and that some periods of underperformance may be transitory in nature while others may reflect more significant underlying issues.
     
   
BBB Fund: The Board noted that the BBB Fund underperformed its Morningstar peer group average for the one-year period and outperformed for the three-, five-, and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2021. The Board also reviewed the performance of the Fund against a broad-based securities market benchmark and its Cohort average, noting that it had underperformed each for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2021.
     
   
The Board considered that the Adviser does not manage any other accounts with a similar strategy to that of the BBB Fund.
     
   
MBS Fund: The Board noted that the MBS Fund outperformed the Morningstar peer group average for the one-, five-, and ten-year periods and underperformed for the three-year period ended June 30, 2021. The Board also reviewed the performance of the Fund against a broad-based securities market benchmark, noting that it had outperformed its benchmark index for the one-year period and underperformed for the three-, five-, and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2021. The Board also considered the MBS Fund’s performance compared to its Cohort. The Fund outperformed its Cohort average for the one-, five, and ten-year periods and below the average for the three-year period ended June 30, 2021.
     
   
The Board considered that the Adviser does not manage any other accounts with a similar strategy to that of the MBS Fund.
     
   
High Yield (MACS) Fund: The Board noted that the High Yield (MACS) Fund outperformed the Morningstar peer group average for the one- and three-year periods ended June 30, 2021.  The Board also reviewed the performance of the Fund against a broad-based securities market benchmark, noting that it had outperformed its benchmark index for the one- and three-year periods ended June 30, 2021.  The Board also considered that the Fund outperformed its Cohort average over the one- and three-year periods.
     
   
The Board also considered any differences in performance between the similarly managed accounts of the Adviser and the performance of the Fund, noting that the Fund had outperformed its similarly managed account composite for the one- and three-year periods.
     
 
3.
THE COSTS OF THE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE ADVISER AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADVISER’S FEE UNDER THE ADVISORY AGREEMENTS.  In considering the advisory fee and total fees and expenses of each of the Funds, the Board reviewed comparisons to the peer funds and the Adviser’s similarly managed accounts for other types of clients, as well as all expense waivers and reimbursements.  The Board also considered that the Adviser does not manage any other accounts with strategies similar to that of the BBB Fund and MBS Fund.
     
   
BBB Fund: The Board noted that the Fund’s total net expense ratio and management fee were below its Morningstar peer group and Cohort median and average.  The Board noted that the Adviser does not charge management fees to the BBB Fund.  The Board recognized that clients of the Adviser pay the Adviser an


52

PIA Funds
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreements (continued)
(Unaudited)


   
investment advisory fee to manage their assets as part of wrap programs or other investment advisory accounts, including on assets invested in the BBB Fund.
     
   
MBS Fund: The Board noted that the Fund’s total net expense ratio and management fee were below its Morningstar peer group and Cohort median and average.  The Board also noted that the Adviser does not charge management fees to the MBS Fund.  The Board recognized that clients of the Adviser pay the Adviser an investment advisory fee to manage their assets as part of wrap programs or other investment advisory accounts, including on assets invested in the MBS Fund.
     
   
High Yield (MACS) Fund: The Board noted that the Fund’s total net expense ratio and management fee were below its Morningstar peer group and Cohort median and average.  The Board also noted that the Adviser does not charge management fees to the High Yield (MACS) Fund.  The Board recognized that clients of the Adviser will pay the Adviser an investment advisory fee to manage their assets as part of wrap programs or other investment advisory accounts, including on assets invested in the High Yield Fund.
     
   
The Board determined that it would continue to monitor the appropriateness of the advisory fee for the Funds and concluded that, at this time, the fees to be paid to the Adviser were fair and reasonable.
     
 
4.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE.  The Board also considered whether economies of scale were being realized by the Adviser that should be shared with shareholders.  The Board noted that since the Adviser does not charge a management fee to the Funds, and has temporarily agreed to absorb all but 0.19%, 0.23% and 0.25% of the BBB Fund’s, MBS Fund’s and High Yield (MACS) Fund’s ordinary operating expenses through March 31, 2022, respectively, it did not appear that there were any additional significant economies of scale being realized by the Adviser. The Board noted that at current asset levels, it did not appear that there were additional economies of scale being realized by the Adviser and concluded that it would continue to monitor in the future as circumstances changed.
     
 
5.
THE PROFITS TO BE REALIZED BY THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FROM THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FUNDS.  The Board reviewed the Adviser’s financial information and took into account both the direct benefits and the indirect benefits to the Adviser from advising the Funds.  The Board considered the profitability to the Adviser from its relationship with the Funds and considered any additional material benefits derived by the Adviser from its relationship with the Funds, including the advisory fees it received from the wrap programs and other advisory accounts associated with assets invested in the Funds. The Board also considered that the Funds do not charge any Rule 12b-1 fees or utilize “soft dollars.”  After such review, the Board determined that the profitability to the Adviser with respect to the Advisory Agreements was not excessive, and that the Adviser had maintained adequate profit levels to support the services that it provides to the Funds.

No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreements for the BBB Fund, MBS Fund, and High Yield (MACS) Fund, but rather the Trustees based their determination on the total mix of information available to them.  Based on a consideration of all the factors in their totality, the Trustees determined that the advisory arrangements with the Adviser, including the advisory fees, were fair and reasonable to the Funds.  The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the continuance of the Advisory Agreements for the BBB Fund, MBS Fund, and High Yield (MACS) Fund would be in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders.
 

53








(This Page Intentionally Left Blank.)









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.
 








Adviser
Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.
1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 210
Santa Monica, CA  90401


Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
111 East Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 2200
Milwaukee, WI  53202


Transfer Agent
U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202
(800) 251-1970


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


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



Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance.  Share price and returns will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  Statements and other information herein are dated and are subject to change.
 





PIA Funds

PIA Short-Term
Securities Fund





 

 

 

 

 

 
Semi-Annual Report
May 31, 2022
 



PIA Short-Term Securities Fund


Dear Shareholder:
 
We are pleased to provide you with this semi-annual report for the six-month period from December 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022, regarding the PIA Short-Term Securities Fund (the “Fund”) for which Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (“PIA”), is the investment adviser.
 
For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the total return for the Fund, including the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, was -1.61%. The Fund’s return was below the Fund’s benchmark, the ICE BofA 1-Year U.S. Treasury Note Index, which returned -0.88% for the same period.
 
During the reporting period, the Fund had a shorter duration relative to the benchmark. The Fund’s underperformance versus the benchmark is primarily attributable to the Fund’s overweight in investment grade debt securities, which generated negative excess returns versus equivalent duration Treasuries during the reporting period.
 
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a high level of current income, consistent with low volatility of principal through investing in short-term investment grade debt securities.
 
As stated in the most recently filed prospectus, the Fund’s gross expense ratio is 0.43% and the Fund’s net expense ratio is 0.39%. PIA has contractually agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses) do not exceed 0.39% of the Fund’s average daily net assets through at least March 29, 2023. The net expense is what the investor has paid.
 
Bond Market in Review
 
The Federal Open Market Committee voted to raise the Federal Funds rate twice during the reporting period, by 25 basis points in March and 50 basis points in May, in order to combat increasing inflation.  The yields on 1-year, 2-year and 3-year Treasuries increased substantially by 183, 199 and 189 basis points, respectively, and the yields on 5-year, 10-year and 30-year Treasuries increased by 166, 140 and 125 basis points, respectively, during the reporting period. The average credit spread on investment grade corporate bonds increased from 99 to 130 basis points and the average option-adjusted spread on fixed rate agency mortgage-backed securities was unchanged at the end of the reporting period at 34 basis points, with some interim volatility.
 
Please take a moment to review the Fund’s statements of assets and liabilities and the results of operations for the six-month period ended May 31, 2022. We look forward to reporting to you again with the annual report dated November 30, 2022.
 
 
Lloyd McAdams
President and Portfolio Manager
Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.


1

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund



Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
 
Opinions expressed above are those of Pacific Income Advisers, Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser, are subject to change, are not guaranteed and should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security.
 
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
 
Mutual fund investing involves risk.  Principal loss is possible.  Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise.  This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities.  Investments in asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities include additional risks that investors should be aware of such as credit risk, prepayment risk, possible illiquidity and default, as well as increased susceptibility to adverse economic developments.  The Fund may invest in derivatives, which may involve risks greater than the risks presented by more traditional investments.  The risk of owning an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities that the ETF or mutual fund holds. It will also bear additional expenses, including operating expenses, brokerage costs and the potential duplication of management fees.
 
Diversification does not assure a profit or protect against risk in a declining market.
 
The ICE BofA 1-Year U.S. Treasury Note Index (the “Index”) is an unmanaged index presented for comparative purposes only.  The Index is comprised of a single U.S. Treasury issue with approximately one year to final maturity purchased at the beginning of each month and held for one full month.  At the end of the month, that issue is sold and rolled into a newly selected issue.  You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
Gross Domestic Product is the amount of goods and services produced in a year, in a country.
 
Consumer Price Index measures the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food and medical care.
 
Duration is the measure of the sensitivity of the price of a fixed income security to a change in interest rates, expressed in number of years.
 
Basis point equals 1/100th of 1%.
 
Credit Spread is the difference in yield between a corporate bond and a similar maturity U.S. Treasury bond. It is the compensation investors receive for accepting credit risk of a corporate bond.
 
Bond ratings provide the probability of an issuer defaulting based on the analysis of the issuer’s financial condition and profit potential. Bond rating services are provided by credit rating agencies currently registered as Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”). Bond ratings start at AAA (denoting the highest investment quality) and usually end at D (meaning payment is in default). Securities not covered by any agency will receive a non-rated (NR) rating.
 
Option-Adjusted Spread is the spread earned over Treasuries, measured over multiple possible future interest rate scenarios, after accounting for the value of the embedded option in the security, which in the case of MBS, gives mortgage holders the option to either refinance or repay early.
 
Please refer to the schedule of investments in the report for complete holdings information.  Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.  Investment performance reflects fee waivers in effect.  In the absence of such waivers, total return would be reduced.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC, Distributor
 



2

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Expense Example – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


As a shareholder of a mutual fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, redemption fees, and exchange fees, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the PIA Short-Term Securities Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (12/1/21 – 5/31/22).
 
Actual Expenses
The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Although the Fund charges no sales loads or transaction fees, you will be assessed fees for outgoing wire transfers, returned checks, and stop payment orders at prevailing rates charged by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent.  The Example below includes, but is not limited to, management fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees.  You may use the information in the first line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.  Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period’’ to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is different from the Fund’s actual returns.  The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.  You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds.  To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.  Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees.  Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
 
 
Beginning Account
Ending Account
Expenses Paid During
 
Value 12/1/21
Value 5/31/22
Period 12/1/21 – 5/31/22*
Actual
$1,000.00
$   983.90
$1.93
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,022.99
$1.97

*
Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182 (days in most recent fiscal half-year) / 365 days to reflect the one-half year expense.  The annualized expense ratio of the Fund is 0.39%.


3

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Allocation of Portfolio Assets – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Investments by Type
As a Percentage of Total Investments







4

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES 0.6%
     
       
Other Asset-Backed Securities 0.6%
     
   
FCI Funding LLC,
     
   
  Series 2021-1 Class A
     
$
571,299
 
  1.13%, due 4/15/33 (a)
 
$
564,336
 
     
New York City Tax Lien,
       
     
  Series 2019-A Class A
       
 
222,246
 
  2.19%, due 11/10/32 (a)
   
222,089
 
Total Asset-Backed Securities
       
  (cost $793,498)
   
786,425
 
         
CORPORATE BONDS 62.6%
       
         
Aerospace & Defense 1.4%
       
     
Teledyne Technologies, Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.65%, due 4/1/23
   
1,957,845
 
         
Agricultural Chemicals 0.4%
       
     
Nutrien Ltd.
       
 
500,000
 
  1.90%, due 5/13/23
   
495,036
 
         
Banks 4.7%
       
     
Canadian Imperial
       
     
  Bank of Commerce
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.449% (SOFR + 0.400%),
       
     
  due 12/14/23 (c)
   
994,533
 
     
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.697% (SOFR + 0.580%),
       
     
  due 3/16/24 (c)
   
490,861
 
     
Morgan Stanley
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.776% (SOFR + 0.625%),
       
     
  due 1/24/25 (c)
   
988,141
 
     
National Bank of Canada
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.900% (1 Year CMT Rate
       
     
  + 0.770%), due 8/15/23 (c)
   
996,188
 
     
Royal Bank of Canada
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.50%, due 10/26/23
   
1,950,454
 
     
Synchrony Financial
       
 
500,000
 
  2.85%, due 7/25/22
   
500,180
 
     
Toronto-Dominion Bank
       
 
500,000
 
  0.75%, due 6/12/23
   
491,233
 
           
6,411,590
 
Biotechnology 1.6%
       
     
Gilead Sciences, Inc.
       
 
2,248,000
 
  0.75%, due 9/29/23
   
2,188,189
 
         
Broker 0.7%
       
     
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.851% (SOFR + 0.700%),
       
     
  due 1/24/25 (c)
   
988,573
 
         
Building Materials 0.4%
       
     
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.65%, due 7/15/23
   
487,814
 
         
Chemicals – Specialty 0.7%
       
     
Ecolab, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.90%, due 12/15/23
   
975,094
 
         
Commercial Services 0.7%
       
     
Quanta Services, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.95%, due 10/1/24
   
942,656
 
         
Depository Credit Intermediation 1.1%
       
     
Bank of Montreal
       
 
1,515,000
 
  0.399% (SOFR + 0.350%),
       
     
  due 12/8/23 (c)
   
1,507,227
 
         
Diversified Financial Services 5.7%
       
     
American Express Co.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.75%, due 11/3/23
   
1,948,599
 
     
Blackstone Secured
       
     
  Lending Fund
       
 
2,000,000
 
  3.65%, due 7/14/23
   
2,009,924
 
     
Capital One Financial Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  1.001% (SOFR + 0.690%),
       
     
  due 12/6/24 (c)
   
991,421
 
     
Charles Schwab Corp.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.550% (SOFR + 0.500%),
       
     
  due 3/18/24 (c)
   
1,995,336
 
     
Nasdaq, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.45%, due 12/21/22
   
987,413
 
           
7,932,693
 

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

5

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Diversified Manufacturing 0.3%
     
   
Honeywell International, Inc.
     
$
386,000
 
  0.48%, due 8/19/22
 
$
385,136
 
         
Electric – Integrated 7.9%
       
     
American Electric
       
     
  Power Co., Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  1.766% (3 Month LIBOR USD
       
     
  + 0.480%), due 11/1/23 (c)
   
1,991,269
 
     
CenterPoint Energy
       
     
  Resources Corp.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.70%, due 3/2/23
   
492,509
 
     
DTE Energy Co.
       
 
435,000
 
  0.55%, due 11/1/22
   
431,486
 
     
Georgia Power Co.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.10%, due 7/30/23
   
992,462
 
     
NextEra Energy Capital
       
     
  Holdings, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.589% (SOFR + 0.540%),
       
     
  due 3/1/23 (c)
   
998,176
 
 
500,000
 
  0.567% (SOFR + 0.400%),
       
     
  due 11/3/23 (c)
   
496,881
 
     
Public Service Enterprise
       
     
  Group, Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.84%, due 11/8/23
   
1,935,091
 
     
Southern California Edison Co.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.70%, due 8/1/23
   
1,948,205
 
 
1,000,000
 
  1.125% (SOFR + 0.830%),
       
     
  due 4/1/24 (c)
   
998,420
 
     
Xcel Energy, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.50%, due 10/15/23
   
483,321
 
           
10,767,820
 
Electronic Components
       
  and Semiconductors 0.4%
       
     
Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.90%, due 6/1/23
   
488,430
 
         
Electronics 0.4%
       
     
Roper Technologies, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.45%, due 8/15/22
   
498,506
 
         
Entertainment 1.1%
       
     
Magallanes, Inc.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  3.53%, due 3/15/24 (a)
   
1,493,758
 
         
Financial Services 2.8%
       
     
Ares Capital Corp.
       
 
3,847,000
 
  3.50%, due 2/10/23
   
3,858,192
 
         
Food 0.4%
       
     
Conagra Brands, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.50%, due 8/11/23
   
485,728
 
         
Food – Meat Products 1.4%
       
     
Hormel Foods Corp.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.65%, due 6/3/24
   
1,915,480
 
         
Gas – Distribution 4.4%
       
     
Atmos Energy Corp.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.63%, due 3/9/23
   
1,973,963
 
     
CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.878% (SOFR + 0.650%),
       
     
  due 5/13/24 (c)
   
987,429
 
     
Southern California Gas Co.
       
 
3,000,000
 
  1.153% (3 Month LIBOR USD
       
     
  + 0.350%), due 9/14/23 (c)
   
2,985,423
 
           
5,946,815
 
Healthcare – Products 1.4%
       
     
Baxter International, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.787% (SOFR + 0.440%),
       
     
  due 11/29/24 (a) (c)
   
492,690
 
     
PerkinElmer, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.550%, due 9/15/23
   
970,128
 
     
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.649% (SOFR + 0.530%),
       
     
  due 10/18/24 (c)
   
496,555
 
           
1,959,373
 
Healthcare – Services 0.7%
       
     
Humana, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.65%, due 8/3/23
   
973,869
 


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

6

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Household Products/Wares 0.3%
     
   
Avery Dennison Corp.
     
$
500,000
 
  0.85%, due 8/15/24
 
$
474,727
 
         
Investment Companies 3.6%
       
     
Golub Capital BDC, Inc.
       
 
5,000,000
 
  3.38%, due 4/15/24
   
4,905,343
 
         
Leisure Time 0.7%
       
     
Brunswick Corp.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.85%, due 8/18/24
   
942,654
 
         
Life/Health Insurance 1.8%
       
     
Athene Global Funding
       
 
2,000,000
 
  1.011% (SOFR + 0.700%),
       
     
  due 5/24/24 (a) (c)
   
1,942,357
 
     
Security Benefit Global Funding
       
 
500,000
 
  1.25%, due 5/17/24 (a)
   
477,751
 
           
2,420,108
 
Miscellaneous Manufacturing 0.7%
       
     
Carlisle Companies, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.55%, due 9/1/23
   
970,285
 
         
Nondepository Credit Intermediation 1.4%
       
     
Caterpillar Financial
       
     
  Services Corp.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.45%, due 9/14/23
   
1,946,548
 
         
Oil and Gas 2.1%
       
     
Chevron USA, Inc.
       
 
1,500,000
 
  3.90%, due 11/15/24
   
1,534,615
 
     
ConocoPhillips Co.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  2.13%, due 3/8/24
   
994,386
 
     
Pioneer Natural Resources Co.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.55%, due 5/15/23
   
489,133
 
           
3,018,134
 
Packaging & Containers 2.8%
       
     
Berry Global, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.95%, due 2/15/24
   
951,994
 
     
Graphic Packaging
       
     
  International LLC
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.82%, due 4/15/24 (a)
   
947,557
 
     
Sonoco Products Co.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  1.80%, due 2/1/25
   
1,907,957
 
           
3,807,508
 
Pharmaceuticals 0.4%
       
     
GlaxoSmithKline Capital Plc
       
 
500,000
 
  0.53%, due 10/1/23
   
486,786
 
         
Pipelines 1.6%
       
     
Enbridge, Inc.
       
 
450,000
 
  0.651% (SOFR + 0.400%),
       
     
  due 2/17/23 (c)
   
449,114
 
 
1,000,000
 
  0.875% (SOFRINDX
       
     
  + 0.630%), due 2/16/24 (c)
   
995,919
 
     
Gray Oak Pipeline LLC
       
 
700,000
 
  2.00%, due 9/15/23 (a)
   
687,041
 
           
2,132,074
 
REITs – Storage 0.7%
       
     
Public Storage
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.612% (SOFR + 0.470%),
       
     
  due 4/23/24 (c)
   
998,638
 
         
Rental Auto/Equipment 0.7%
       
     
Triton Container International Ltd.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.80%, due 8/1/23 (a)
   
483,089
 
 
500,000
 
  1.15%, due 6/7/24 (a)
   
470,387
 
           
953,476
 
Retail 1.4%
       
     
7-Eleven, Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.80%, due 2/10/24 (a)
   
1,917,822
 
         
Retail – Drug Store 1.5%
       
     
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.95%, due 11/17/23
   
1,943,286
 


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

7

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Semiconductors 0.4%
     
   
Analog Devices, Inc.
     
$
500,000
 
  0.335% (SOFR + 0.250%),
  due 10/1/24 (c)
     
       
$
496,212
 
         
Tobacco 0.7%
       
     
Philip Morris International, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  1.13%, due 5/1/23
   
987,012
 
         
Utilities 2.1%
       
     
Consolidated Edison, Inc.
       
 
950,000
 
  0.65%, due 12/1/23
   
919,323
 
     
Southern Co.
       
 
2,000,000
 
  0.484% (SOFR + 0.370%),
  due 5/10/23 (c)
       
         
1,991,486
 
           
2,910,809
 
Wirelines 1.1%
       
     
AT&T, Inc.
       
 
1,000,000
 
  0.90%, due 3/25/24
   
963,965
 
     
Verizon Communications, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  0.549% (SOFR + 0.500%),
  due 3/22/24 (c)
       
         
498,210
 
           
1,462,175
 
Total Corporate Bonds
       
  (cost $87,125,501)
   
85,433,421
 
         
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES 9.4%
       
         
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities 8.2%
       
     
BX Trust 2021-RISE
       
 
3,000,000
 
  1.623% (1 Month LIBOR
  USD + 0.748%), due 11/17/36,
  Series 2021-RISE
       
             
             
     
  Class A (a) (c)
   
2,862,949
 
     
Cold Storage Trust 2020-ICE5
       
 
6,389,438
 
  1.775% (1 Month LIBOR
  USD + 0.900%), due 11/15/37,
  Series 2020-ICE5
       
             
             
     
  Class A (a) (c)
   
6,263,489
 
     
GS Mortgage Securities Corp
       
     
  Trust 2020-TWN3
       
 
2,000,000
 
  2.875% (1 Month LIBOR
  USD + 2.000%), due 11/15/37,
  Series 2020-TWN3
       
             
             
     
  Class A (a) (c)
   
1,983,564
 
           
11,110,002
 
U.S. Government Agencies 1.2%
       
     
FHLMC ARM Pool (c)
       
 
76
 
  3.275% (1 Year
  CMT Rate + 2.275%),
  due 6/1/23, #84-5755
       
             
         
77
 
 
32,267
 
  2.401% (1 Year
  CMT Rate + 2.276%),
  due 1/1/25, #78-5726
       
             
         
32,211
 
 
79,157
 
  2.375% (1 Year
  CMT Rate + 2.250%),
  due 10/1/34, #78-2784
       
             
         
82,481
 
 
19,210
 
  2.820% (12 Month LIBOR
  USD + 1.861%),
  due 4/1/36, #84-7671
       
             
         
19,969
 
     
FHLMC Pool
       
 
33,976
 
  5.00%, due 10/1/38,
  #G0-4832
       
         
36,224
 
     
FNMA ARM Pool (c)
       
 
6,432
 
  3.290% (6 Month
  LIBOR USD + 2.165%),
  due 7/1/25, #555206
       
             
         
6,424
 
 
37,890
 
  2.639% (1 Year
  CMT Rate + 2.134%),
  due 4/1/30, #562912
       
             
         
37,696
 
 
47,898
 
  1.766% (12 Month
  LIBOR USD + 1.516%),
  due 10/1/33, #743454
       
             
         
47,739
 
 
204,450
 
  2.000% (12 Month
  LIBOR USD + 1.750%),
  due 11/1/33, #755253
       
             
         
203,450
 


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

8

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
Principal Amount/
     
Shares
     
Value
 
U.S. Government Agencies 1.2% (continued)
     
   
FNMA ARM Pool (c) (continued)
     
$
271,408
 
  2.823% (1 Year
     
     
  CMT Rate + 2.295%),
     
     
  due 5/1/34, #AC5719
 
$
272,679
 
 
67,906
 
  1.856% (12 Month
       
     
  LIBOR USD + 1.606%),
       
     
  due 7/1/34, #779693
   
67,706
 
 
36,071
 
  1.624% (12 Month
       
     
  LIBOR USD + 1.374%),
       
     
  due 10/1/34, #795136
   
36,970
 
 
192,843
 
  1.901% (12 Month
       
     
  LIBOR USD + 1.617%),
       
     
  due 1/1/36, #849264
   
192,222
 
 
21,656
 
  2.135% (12 Month
       
     
  LIBOR USD + 1.885%),
       
     
  due 3/1/37, #907868
   
21,543
 
 
209,508
 
  2.265% (12 Month
       
     
  LIBOR USD + 2.015%),
       
     
  due 11/1/37, #953653
   
208,454
 
     
FNMA Pool
       
 
82,352
 
  5.00%, due 6/1/40, #AD5479
   
87,216
 
 
10,988
 
  4.00%, due 11/1/41, #AJ3797
   
11,267
 
     
Freddie Mac Pool
       
 
330,638
 
  3.50%, due 8/1/49, #SD-8005
   
329,842
 
           
1,694,170
 
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities
       
  (cost $13,060,743)
   
12,804,172
 
         
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES &
       
  INSTRUMENTALITIES 3.3%
       
     
U.S. Treasury Notes
       
 
3,000,000
 
  1.375%, due 10/15/22
   
2,999,586
 
 
500,000
 
  1.625%, due 12/15/22
   
500,170
 
 
1,000,000
 
  1.750%, due 5/15/23
   
996,336
 
Total U.S. Government Agencies
       
  & Instrumentalities
       
  (cost $4,516,057)
   
4,496,092
 
         
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 24.0%
       
         
Money Market Fund 0.4%
       
 
597,413
 
Fidelity Institutional Money
       
     
  Market Government Portfolio –
       
     
  Class I, 0.60% (b)
   
597,413
 
         
U.S. Treasury Bills 23.6%
       
$
1,200,000
 
  0.120%, due 6/16/22 (d)
   
1,199,720
 
 
6,000,000
 
  0.694%, due 7/19/22 (d)
   
5,993,305
 
 
8,000,000
 
  0.707%, due 7/26/22 (d)
   
7,989,794
 
 
5,000,000
 
  0.418%, due 7/28/22 (d)
   
4,993,390
 
 
2,000,000
 
  0.959%, due 8/18/22 (d)
   
1,995,457
 
 
10,000,000
 
  1.025%, due 9/29/22 (d)
   
9,957,334
 
           
32,129,000
 
Total Short-Term Investments
       
  (cost $32,741,537)
   
32,726,413
 
Total Investments
           
  (cost $138,237,336)
   
99.9
%
   
136,246,523
 
Other Assets less Liabilities
   
0.1
%
   
134,716
 
TOTAL NET ASSETS
   
100.0
%
 
$
136,381,239
 

(a)
Security purchased within the terms of a private placement memorandum, exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may be sold only to dealers in the program or other “qualified institutional buyers.” As of May 31, 2022, the value of these investments was $20,808,879 or 15.26% of total net assets.
(b)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of May 31, 2022.
(c)
Variable or floating rate security based on a reference index and spread. The rate reported is the rate in effect as of May 31, 2022.
(d)
Rate shown is the discount rate at May 31, 2022
ARM – Adjustable Rate Mortgage
CMT – Constant Maturity Treasury
FHLMC – Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
FNMA – Federal National Mortgage Association
LIBOR – London Interbank Offered Rate
SOFR – Secured Overnight Financing Rate
SOFRINDX – Secured Overnight Financing Rate Index


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

9

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Assets:
     
Investments in securities, at value (cost $138,237,336)
 
$
136,246,523
 
Receivable for securities sold
   
4,236
 
Receivable for fund shares sold
   
26,582
 
Interest receivable
   
262,929
 
Prepaid expenses
   
21,284
 
Total assets
   
136,561,554
 
         
Liabilities:
       
Payable for fund shares redeemed
   
66,627
 
Investment advisory fees
   
14,709
 
Administration fees
   
32,318
 
Custody fees
   
5,322
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses
   
24,970
 
Fund accounting fees
   
11,692
 
Audit fees
   
10,818
 
Legal fees
   
724
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee
   
2,695
 
Trustees’ fees and expenses
   
1,186
 
Accrued expenses
   
9,254
 
Total liabilities
   
180,315
 
Net Assets
 
$
136,381,239
 
         
Net Assets Consist of:
       
Paid-in capital
 
$
138,813,114
 
Total distributable deficit
   
(2,431,875
)
Net Assets
 
$
136,381,239
 
         
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share
 
$
9.85
 
         
Shares Issued and Outstanding (Unlimited number of shares authorized, par value $0.01)
   
13,844,084
 



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

10

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Statement of Operations – Six Months Ended May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Investment Income:
     
Interest
 
$
790,215
 
Total investment income
   
790,215
 
         
Expenses:
       
Investment advisory fees (Note 4)
   
139,125
 
Administration fees (Note 4)
   
57,168
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 4)
   
48,086
 
Fund accounting fees (Note 4)
   
15,352
 
Registration fees
   
12,992
 
Audit fees
   
10,934
 
Custody fees (Note 4)
   
8,390
 
Trustees’ fees and expenses
   
7,141
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee (Note 4)
   
5,505
 
Reports to shareholders
   
4,551
 
Miscellaneous
   
4,398
 
Legal fees
   
3,298
 
Insurance
   
2,233
 
Total expenses
   
319,173
 
Less: Fee waiver by adviser (Note 4)
   
(47,879
)
Net expenses
   
271,294
 
Net investment income
   
518,921
 
         
Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments:
       
Net realized loss on investments
   
(216,148
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments
   
(2,538,595
)
Net loss on investments
   
(2,754,743
)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
 
$
(2,235,822
)



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

11

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Statements of Changes in Net Assets


   
Six Months Ended
       
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
November 30, 2021
 
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations:
           
Net investment income
 
$
518,921
   
$
1,088,531
 
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments
   
(216,148
)
   
404,423
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments
   
(2,538,595
)
   
(1,191,099
)
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
   
(2,235,822
)
   
301,855
 
                 
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders:
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders
   
(539,673
)
   
(1,333,355
)
Total dividends and distributions
   
(539,673
)
   
(1,333,355
)
                 
Capital Share Transactions:
               
Proceeds from shares sold
   
5,001,209
     
23,044,810
 
Distributions reinvested
   
510,268
     
1,261,890
 
Payment for shares redeemed
   
(8,301,921
)
   
(81,656,669
)
Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions
   
(2,790,444
)
   
(57,349,969
)
Total decrease in net assets
   
(5,565,939
)
   
(58,381,469
)
                 
Net Assets, Beginning of period
   
141,947,178
     
200,328,647
 
Net Assets, End of period
 
$
136,381,239
   
$
141,947,178
 
                 
Transactions in Shares:
               
Shares sold
   
502,124
     
2,278,464
 
Shares issued on reinvestment of distributions
   
51,376
     
124,899
 
Shares redeemed
   
(835,280
)
   
(8,076,003
)
Net decrease in shares outstanding
   
(281,780
)
   
(5,672,640
)



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

12

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Financial Highlights


   
Six Months
                               
   
Ended
                               
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended November 30,
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
2021
   
2020
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
 
Per Share Operating Performance
                                   
(For a fund share outstanding throughout each period)
                               
                                     
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
10.05
   
$
10.12
   
$
10.07
   
$
9.97
   
$
10.00
   
$
10.03
 
                                                 
Income From Investment Operations:
                                               
Net investment income
   
0.04
     
0.06
     
0.13
     
0.20
     
0.15
     
0.11
 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
 
(0.20
)
   
(0.05
)
   
0.06
     
0.10
     
(0.03
)
   
(0.03
)
Total from investment operations
   
(0.16
)
   
0.01
     
0.19
     
0.30
     
0.12
     
0.08
 
                                                 
Less Distributions:
                                               
Distributions from net investment income
   
(0.04
)
   
(0.08
)
   
(0.14
)
   
(0.20
)
   
(0.15
)
   
(0.11
)
Total distributions
   
(0.04
)
   
(0.08
)
   
(0.14
)
   
(0.20
)
   
(0.15
)
   
(0.11
)
                                                 
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
9.85
   
$
10.05
   
$
10.12
   
$
10.07
   
$
9.97
   
$
10.00
 
                                                 
Total Return
   
-1.61
%++
   
0.11
%
   
1.95
%
   
3.04
%
   
1.23
%
   
0.85
%
                                                 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
                                               
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)
 
$
136,381
   
$
141,947
   
$
200,329
   
$
163,481
   
$
165,329
   
$
171,521
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                               
Net of fee waivers
   
0.39
%+
   
0.39
%
   
0.39
%
   
0.39
%
   
0.39
%
   
0.39
%
Before fee waivers
   
0.46
%+
   
0.43
%
   
0.42
%
   
0.45
%
   
0.42
%
   
0.41
%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:
                                         
Net of fee waivers
   
0.75
%+
   
0.66
%
   
1.23
%
   
2.00
%
   
1.53
%
   
1.12
%
Before fee waivers
   
0.68
%+
   
0.62
%
   
1.20
%
   
1.94
%
   
1.50
%
   
1.10
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
8
%++
   
44
%
   
58
%
   
48
%
   
28
%
   
46
%

+
 
Annualized for periods less than one year.
++
 
Not annualized for periods less than one year.



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

13

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Note 1 – Organization
The PIA Short-Term Securities Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.  The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services – Investment Companies.”
 
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek a high level of current income, consistent with low volatility of principal through investing in short-term investment grade debt securities.  The Fund commenced operations on April 22, 1994.
 
Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Security Valuation – All investments in securities are recorded at their estimated fair value, as described in Note 3.
 
Securities Purchased on a When-Issued Basis – Delivery and payment for securities that have been purchased by the Fund on a forward-commitment or when-issued basis can take place up to a month or more after the transaction date.  During this period, such securities are subject to market fluctuations.  The Fund is required to hold and maintain until the settlement date, cash or other liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price.  The purchase of securities on a when-issued or forward-commitment basis may increase the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value if the Fund makes such purchases while remaining substantially fully invested.  In connection with the ability to purchase securities on a when-issued basis, the Fund may also enter into dollar rolls in which the Fund sells securities purchased on a forward-commitment basis and simultaneously contracts with a counterparty to repurchase similar (same type, coupon, and maturity), but not identical securities on a specified future date.  As an inducement for the Fund to “rollover” its purchase commitments, the Fund receives negotiated amounts in the form of reductions of the purchase price of the commitment.  Dollar rolls are considered a form of leverage.
 
Federal Income Taxes – It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders.  Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is required.
 
The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. The tax returns of the Fund’s prior three fiscal years are open for examination. Management has reviewed all open tax years in major jurisdictions and concluded that there is no impact on the Fund’s net assets and no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax events relating to uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. The Fund identifies its major tax jurisdictions as U.S. federal and the state of Wisconsin; however the Fund is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next twelve months.
 

14

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Expenses – The Fund is charged for those expenses that are directly attributable to the Fund, such as investment advisory and custodian fees.  Expenses that are not directly attributable to the Fund are typically allocated among the PIA 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.
 
Securities Transactions and Investment Income – Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses on sales of securities are calculated on the basis of identified cost.  Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.  Discounts and premiums on securities purchased are amortized over the life of the respective security using the effective interest method, except for premiums on certain callable debt securities that are amortized to the earliest call date. Paydown gains and losses on mortgage-related and other asset-based securities are recorded as components of interest income on the Statement of Operations.
 
Distributions to Shareholders – Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  The Fund distributes substantially all net investment income, if any, monthly and net realized gains, if any, annually.  All short-term capital gains are included in ordinary income for tax purposes.
 
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.
 
Guarantees and Indemnifications – In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses.  The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims against the Fund that have not yet occurred.  Based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.
 
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 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operation during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Accounting Pronouncements – In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform: Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The main objective of the new guidance is to provide relief to companies that will be impacted by the expected change in benchmark interest rates at the end of 2021, when participating banks will no longer be required to submit London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) quotes by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The new guidance allows companies to, provided the only change to existing contracts are a change to an approved benchmark interest rate, account for modifications as a continuance of the existing contract without additional analysis. In addition, derivative contracts that qualified for hedge accounting prior to modification, will be allowed to continue to receive such treatment, even if critical terms change due to a change in the benchmark interest rate. For new and existing contracts, the Funds may elect to apply the amendments as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently assessing the impact of the ASU’s adoption to the Fund’s financial statements and various filings.
 

15

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


In October 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (“Rule 18f-4”).  Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.  The Fund does not currently enter into derivatives transactions.  Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of Rule 18f-4 on the Fund.
 
In December 2020, the SEC adopted a new rule providing a framework for fund valuation practices (“Rule 2a-5”).  Rule 2a-5 establishes requirements for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act.  Rule 2a-5 will permit fund boards to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions.  Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security.  In connection with Rule 2a-5, the SEC also adopted related recordkeeping requirements and is rescinding previously issued guidance, including with respect to the role of a board in determining fair value and the accounting and auditing of fund investments.  The Fund will be required to comply with the rules by September 8, 2022.  Management is currently assessing the potential impact of the new rules on the Fund’s financial statements.
 
Events Subsequent to the Fiscal Period End – In preparing the financial statements as of May 31, 2022, management considered the impact of subsequent events for the potential recognition or disclosure in these financial statements. Management has determined there were no subsequent events that would need to be disclosed in the Fund’s financial statements.
 
Note 3 – Securities Valuation
The Fund has adopted authoritative fair value accounting standards which establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value.  These standards require additional disclosures about the various inputs and valuation techniques used to develop the measurements of fair value, a discussion in changes in valuation techniques and related inputs during the period and expanded disclosure of valuation levels for major security types.  These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
 
 
Level 1 –
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.
     
 
Level 2 –
Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.
     
 
Level 3 –
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.


16

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Following is a description of the valuation techniques applied to the Fund’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  The Fund’s investments are carried at fair value.
 
The Fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value per share as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (4:00 pm EST).
 
Corporate Bonds – Corporate bonds, including listed 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.  Most corporate bonds are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Foreign Securities – Foreign economies may differ from the U.S. economy and individual foreign companies may differ from domestic companies in the same industry.
 
Foreign companies or entities are frequently not subject to accounting and financial reporting standards applicable to domestic companies, and there may be less information available about foreign issuers.  Securities of foreign issuers are generally less liquid and more volatile than those of comparable domestic issuers.  There is frequently less government regulation of broker-dealers and issuers than in the United States.  In addition, investments in foreign countries are subject to the possibility of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments that could adversely affect the value of those investments.
 
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities – Mortgage- and asset-backed securities are securities issued as separate tranches, or classes, of securities within each deal.  These securities are normally valued by pricing service providers that use broker-dealer quotations or valuation estimates from their internal pricing models.  The pricing models for these securities usually consider tranche-level attributes, estimated cash flows and market-based yield spreads for each tranche, current market data and incorporate deal collateral performance, as available.  Mortgage- and asset-backed securities that use similar valuation techniques and inputs as described above are categorized as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
U.S. Government Securities – U.S. Government securities are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data.  Certain securities are valued principally using dealer quotations.  U.S. Government securities are typically categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
U.S. Government Agency Securities – U.S. government agency securities are comprised of two main categories consisting of agency issued debt and mortgage pass-throughs.  Agency issued debt securities are generally valued in a manner similar to U.S. government securities.  Mortgage pass-throughs include to-be-announced (“TBAs”) securities and mortgage pass-through certificates.  TBA securities and mortgage pass-throughs are generally valued using dealer quotations.  These securities are typically categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Investment Companies – Investments in open-end mutual funds, including money market funds, are generally priced at their net asset value per share provided by the service agent of the funds and will be classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
 

17

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


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.
 
Restricted Securities – The Fund may invest in securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Federal securities laws. Private placement securities are generally considered to be restricted except for those securities traded between qualified institutional investors under the provisions of Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. The sale or other disposition of these securities may involve additional expenses and the prompt sale of these securities at an acceptable price may be difficult. At May 31, 2022, the Fund held securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. There were no other restricted investments held by the Fund at May 31, 2022.
 
The Board of Trustees (“Board”) has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to a Valuation Committee of the Trust which is comprised of representatives from the Fund’s 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 subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board.
 
Depending on the relative significance of the valuation inputs, fair valued securities may be classified in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.  The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s securities as of May 31, 2022:
 
     
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
Fixed Income
                       
 
  Asset-Backed Securities
 
$
   
$
786,425
   
$
   
$
786,425
 
 
  Corporate Bonds
   
     
85,433,421
     
     
85,433,421
 
 
  Mortgage-Backed Securities
   
     
12,804,172
     
     
12,804,172
 
 
  U.S. Government Agencies
                               
 
    and Instrumentalities
   
     
4,496,092
     
     
4,496,092
 
 
Total Fixed Income
   
     
103,520,110
     
     
103,520,110
 
 
Short-Term Investments
   
597,413
     
32,129,000
     
     
32,726,413
 
 
Total Investments
 
$
597,413
   
$
135,649,110
   
$
   
$
136,246,523
 

Refer to the Fund’s schedule of investments for a detailed break-out of securities by industry classification.
 


18

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


The following is a reconciliation of the Fund’s Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining value.
 
Investments in Securities, at Value
 
       Mortgage-Backed Securities      
 
Balance as of November 30, 2021
 
$
2,982,188
 
Accrued discounts/premiums
   
 
Realized gain/(loss)
   
 
Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)
   
(119,239
)
Purchases
   
 
Sales
   
 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
(2,862,949
)
Balance as of May 31, 2022
 
$
 

The global outbreak of COVID-19 (commonly referred to as “coronavirus”) has disrupted economic markets and the prolonged economic impact is uncertain. Although vaccines for COVID-19 are becoming more widely available, the ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic, amid the spread of COVID-19 variants, and the long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual companies are not known. The operational and financial performance of individual companies and the market in general depends on future developments, including the duration and spread of any future outbreaks and the pace of recovery which may vary from market to market, and such uncertainty may in turn adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, impair the Fund’s ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
 
Note 4 – Investment Advisory Fee and other Transactions with Affiliates
The Fund has an investment advisory agreement with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (“PIA” or the “Adviser”) pursuant to which the Adviser is responsible for providing investment management services to the Fund.  The Adviser furnishes all investment advice, office space and facilities, and provides most of the personnel needed by the Fund.  As compensation for its services, PIA is entitled to a fee, computed daily and payable monthly.  The Fund pays fees calculated at an annual rate of 0.20% based upon the average daily net assets of the Fund.  For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the Fund incurred $139,125 in advisory fees.
 
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees payable to it by the Fund and to pay Fund operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses) to 0.39% of the average daily net assets. Any such reduction made by the Adviser in its fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation are subject to reimbursement by the Fund 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 Fund toward the operating expenses for such fiscal year (taking into 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. Such reimbursement may not be paid prior to the Fund’s payment of current ordinary operating expenses. For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the Adviser reduced its fees
 

19

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


and/or absorbed Fund expenses in the amount of $47,879; no amounts were reimbursed to the Adviser. The Adviser may recapture portions of the amounts shown below no later than the corresponding dates:
 
 
Date
 
Amount
   
 
11/30/22
 
$
41,692
   
 
11/30/23
   
59,420
   
 
11/30/24
   
73,303
   
 
5/31/25
   
47,879
   
     
$
222,294
   

Fund Services serves as the Fund’s administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent. U.S. Bank N.A. serves as custodian (the “Custodian”) to the Fund.  The Custodian is an affiliate of Fund Services.  Fund Services maintains the Fund’s books and records, calculates the Fund’s 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, including the Chief Compliance Officer, are employees of Fund Services. Fees paid by the Fund for administration and accounting, transfer agency, custody and compliance services for the six months ended May 31, 2022, are disclosed in the Statement of Operations.
 
The Fund has entered into agreements with various brokers, dealers and financial intermediaries to compensate them for transfer agent services that would otherwise be executed by Fund Services. These sub-transfer agent services include pre-processing and quality control of new accounts, maintaining detailed shareholder account records, shareholder correspondence, answering customer inquiries regarding account status, and facilitating shareholder telephone transactions. The Fund expensed $18,850 of sub-transfer agent fees during the six months ended May 31, 2022. These fees are included in the transfer agent fees and expenses amount disclosed in the Statement of Operations.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC (“Quasar” or the “Distributor”) acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Fund’s shares. Quasar is a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (“Foreside”).
 
Note 5 – Purchases and Sales of Securities
For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term securities, were as follows:
 
Non-Government
   
Government
 
Purchases
   
Sales
   
Purchases
   
Sales
 
$
9,498,460
   
$
36,295,745
   
$
   
$
7,620,808
 

Note 6 – Line of Credit
The Fund has a secured line of credit in the amount of $15,000,000.  The line of credit is intended to provide short-term financing, if necessary, subject to certain restrictions, in connection with shareholder redemptions.  The credit facility is with the Fund’s custodian, U.S. Bank N.A.  The Fund did not draw upon its line of credit during the six months ended May 31, 2022.
 


20

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Note 7 – Federal Income Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the six months ended May 31, 2022 and year ended November 30, 2021 are as follows:
 
   
May 31, 2022
November 30, 2021

 
Ordinary income
$539,673
$1,333,355
 

As of November 30, 2021, the most recently completed fiscal year end, the components of accumulated earnings/(losses) on a tax basis were as follows:
 
 
Cost of investments (a)
 
$
142,132,322
 
 
Gross unrealized appreciation
   
756,010
 
 
Gross unrealized depreciation
   
(208,228
)
 
Net unrealized appreciation (a)
   
547,782
 
 
Undistributed ordinary income
   
15,495
 
 
Undistributed long-term capital gains
   
 
 
Total distributable earnings
   
15,495
 
 
Other accumulated losses
   
(219,657
)
 
Total accumulated earnings/(losses)
 
$
343,620
 

  (a)   The book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized appreciation are the same.
 
The Fund had tax capital losses which may be carried over to offset future gains.  Such losses expire as follows:
 
Short-Term Indefinite
Long-Term Indefinite
Total
$219,657
$—
$219,657

Note 8 – Principal Risks
Below is a summary of some, but not all, of the principal risks of investing in the Fund, each of which may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value and total return.  The Fund’s most recent prospectus provides further descriptions of the Fund’s investment objective, principal investment strategies and principal risks.
 
 
General Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.  For example, the outbreak


21

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


   
of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, has negatively affected economies, markets and individual companies throughout the world, including those in which the Fund invests. The effects of this pandemic to public health and business and market conditions, including exchange trading suspensions and closures, may continue to have a significant negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, increase the Fund’s volatility, negatively impact the Fund’s arbitrage and pricing mechanisms, exacerbate pre-existing political, social and economic risks to the Fund, and negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations. The Fund’s operations may be interrupted as a result, which may contribute to the negative impact on investment performance. In addition, governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions in response to the pandemic that affect the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other future epidemics or pandemics, is currently unknown.
     
 
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Some U.S. government securities, such as Treasury bills, notes, and bonds and mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States; others are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations; still others are supported only by the credit of the issuing agency, instrumentality, or enterprise. Although U.S. government-sponsored enterprises may be chartered or sponsored by Congress, they are not funded by Congressional appropriations, and their securities are not issued by the U.S. Treasury, their obligations are not supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, and so investments in their securities or obligations issued by them involve greater risk than investments in other types of U.S. government securities. In addition, certain governmental entities have been subject to regulatory scrutiny regarding their accounting policies and practices and other concerns that may result in legislation, changes in regulatory oversight and/or other consequences that could adversely affect the credit quality, availability or investment character of securities issued or guaranteed by these entities.
     
 
Counterparty Risk.  Fund transactions involving a counterparty are subject to the risk that the counterparty or a third party will not fulfill its obligation to the Fund.  Counterparty risk may arise because of the counterparty’s financial condition (i.e., financial difficulties, bankruptcy, or insolvency), market activities and developments, or other reasons, whether foreseen or not.  A counterparty’s inability to fulfill its obligation may result in significant financial loss to the Fund.
     
 
Credit Risk. The issuers of the bonds and other debt securities held by the Fund may not be able to make interest or principal payments.
     
 
Interest Rate Risk.  The value of the Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities will change based on changes in interest rates.  If interest rates increase, the value of these investments generally declines.  Securities with greater interest rate sensitivity and longer maturities generally are subject to greater fluctuations in value.
     
 
Prepayment Risk.  Issuers of securities held by the Fund may be able to prepay principal due on these securities, particularly during periods of declining interest rates. Securities subject to prepayment risk generally offer less potential for gains when interest rates decline, and may offer a greater potential for loss when interest rates rise. When debt obligations are prepaid or when securities are called, the Fund may have to reinvest in securities with a lower yield. Prepayment risk is a major risk of mortgage-backed securities.


22

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


 
Extension Risk.  An issuer may pay principal on an obligation held by the Fund (such as an asset-backed or mortgage-backed security) later than expected. This may happen during a period of rising interest rates. Under these circumstances, the value of the obligation will decrease.
     
 
Risks Associated with Asset-Backed Securities.  These include General Market Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Credit Risk, Prepayment Risk and Extension Risk (each described above). During periods of difficult or frozen credit markets, significant changes in interest rates, or deteriorating economic conditions, such securities may decline in value, face valuation difficulties, become more volatile and/or become illiquid.
     
 
Risks Associated with Mortgage-Backed Securities. These include General Market Risk, Interest Rate Risk, Credit Risk, Prepayment Risk and Extension Risk (each described above) as well as the risk that the structure of certain mortgage-backed securities may make their reaction to interest rates and other factors difficult to predict, making their prices very volatile.
     
 
Liquidity Risk.  Reduced liquidity in the bond markets can result from a number of events, such as limited trading activity, reductions in bond inventory, and rapid or unexpected changes in interest rates. Less liquid markets could lead to greater price volatility and limit the Fund’s ability to sell a holding at a suitable price.
     
 
Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly-traded securities.  Rule 144A securities carry the risk that the liquidity of these securities may become impaired, making it more difficult for the Fund to sell these securities.
     
 
Adjustable Rate and Floating Rate Securities Risks.  Although adjustable and floating rate debt securities tend to be less volatile than fixed-rate debt securities, they nevertheless fluctuate in value.
     
 
High Yield Securities Risk. Securities with ratings lower than BBB- or Baa3 are known as “high yield” securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). High yield securities typically carry higher coupon rates than investment grade securities, but also are considered as speculative and may be subject to greater market price fluctuations, less liquidity and greater risk of loss of income or principal including greater possibility of default and bankruptcy of the issuer of such instruments than more highly rated bonds and loans.

Note 9 – Control Ownership
The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly of more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund creates a presumption of control of the Fund, under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of May 31, 2022, Capinco C/O U.S. Bank NA, for the benefit of their customers, owned 38.43% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
 
Note 10 – Change in Trustees and Officers
Mr. Joe Redwine became the Audit Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2022.
 
Ms. Michelle Sanville-Seebold resigned as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer effective May 27, 2022.
 



23

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Notice to Shareholders – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


How to Obtain a Copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policies
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-251-1970, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
How to Obtain a Copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Records for the 12-Month Period Ended June 30
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-251-1970.  Furthermore, you can obtain the Fund’s proxy voting records on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Quarterly Filings on Form N-PORT
The Fund files its complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Part F of Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information included in the Fund’s Form N-PORT is also available by calling 1-800-251-1970.
 
Householding
In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund will reduce the number of duplicate prospectuses, supplements, and certain other shareholder documents that you receive by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shown by two or more accounts. Please call the Fund’s transfer agent toll free at 1-800-251-1970 to request individual copies of these documents. The Fund will begin sending individual copies 30 days after receiving your request. This policy does not apply to account statements.
 






24

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement
(Unaudited)


At meetings held on October 18 and December 7-8, 2021, the Board (which is comprised of four persons, all of whom are Independent Trustees as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), considered and approved, for another annual term, the continuance of the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”) and Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (the “Adviser”) on behalf of the PIA Short-Term Securities Fund (the “Short-Term Securities Fund” and the “Fund”). At both meetings, the Board received and reviewed substantial information regarding the Fund, the Adviser and the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund under the Advisory Agreements. This information, together with the information provided to the Board throughout the course of the year, formed the primary (but not exclusive) basis for the Board’s determinations. Below is a summary of the factors considered by the Board and the conclusions that formed the basis for the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement:
 
 
1.
THE NATURE, EXTENT AND QUALITY OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND TO BE PROVIDED BY THE ADVISER UNDER THE ADVISORY AGREEMENTS.  The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the Adviser’s overall services provided to the Fund, as well as its specific responsibilities in all aspects of day-to-day investment management of the Fund. The Board considered the qualifications, experience and responsibilities of the portfolio managers, as well as the responsibilities of other key personnel of the Adviser involved in the day-to-day activities of the Fund. The Board also considered the resources and compliance structure of the Adviser, including information regarding its compliance program, its chief compliance officer and the Adviser’s compliance record, as well as the Adviser’s cybersecurity program, liquidity risk management program, business continuity plan, and risk management process. Additionally, the Board considered how the Adviser’s business continuity plan has operated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Board further considered the prior relationship between the Adviser and the Trust, as well as the Board’s knowledge of the Adviser’s operations, and noted that during the course of the prior year they had met with certain personnel of the Adviser via videoconference to discuss each Fund’s performance and investment outlook as well as various marketing and compliance topics. The Board took into account that all shareholders of the Fund are advisory clients of the Adviser and that the Fund is used as an investment option to fulfill investment mandates for such clients. The Board concluded that the Adviser had the quality and depth of personnel, resources, investment processes and compliance policies and procedures essential to performing its duties under the Advisory Agreements and that they were satisfied with the nature, overall quality and extent of such management services.
     
 
2.
THE FUND’S HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE AND THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE ADVISER.  In assessing the quality of the portfolio management delivered by the Adviser, the Board reviewed the short-term and long-term performance of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, on both an absolute basis and a relative basis in comparison to its peer funds utilizing Morningstar classifications, appropriate securities market benchmarks, and a cohort that is comprised of similarly managed funds selected by an independent third-party consulting firm engaged by the Board to assist it in its 15(c) review (the “Cohort”).  While the Board considered both short-term and long-term performance, it placed greater emphasis on longer term performance.  When reviewing performance against the comparative peer group universe, the Board took into account that the investment objectives and strategies of the Fund, as well as its level of risk tolerance, may differ significantly


25

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (continued)
(Unaudited)


   
from funds in the peer universe.  When reviewing a Fund’s performance against broad market benchmarks, the Board took into account the differences in portfolio construction between the Fund and such benchmarks as well as other differences between actively managed funds and passive benchmarks, such as objectives and risks.  In assessing periods of relative underperformance or outperformance, the Board took into account that relative performance can be significantly impacted by performance measurement periods and that some periods of underperformance may be transitory in nature while others may reflect more significant underlying issues.
     
   
The Board noted that the Short-Term Securities Fund underperformed the Morningstar peer group average for the one-, five- and ten-year periods and outperformed for the three-year period ended June 30, 2021.  The Board also reviewed the performance of the Fund against a broad-based securities market benchmark, noting that it had outperformed its primary benchmark for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2021.  The Board considered that the Short-Term Securities Fund underperformed its Cohort average over the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods.
     
   
The Board also considered any differences in performance between the Adviser’s similarly managed accounts and the performance of the Short-Term Securities Fund, noting that the Fund had outperformed the similarly managed composite for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods.
     
 
3.
THE COSTS OF THE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE ADVISER AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADVISER’S FEE UNDER THE ADVISORY AGREEMENTS.  In considering the advisory fee and total fees and expenses of the Fund, the Board reviewed comparisons to the peer funds and the Adviser’s similarly managed accounts for other types of clients, as well as all expense waivers and reimbursements.
     
   
The Board noted that the Adviser had contractually agreed to maintain an annual expense ratio for the Fund of 0.39%, excluding certain operating expenses and class-level expenses (the “Expense Cap”).  The Board considered that the Fund’s total net expense ratio was above its Morningstar peer group median but below the average.  The Board also considered that the Fund’s contractual advisory fee was below its Morningstar peer group median and average.  The Board took into consideration that the contractual management fee was below the Cohort’s median and average, but above the Cohort’s total net expense ratio median and average.  The Board also considered the services the Adviser provided to its separately managed account clients, comparing the fees charged for those management services to the management fees charged to the Fund.  The Board found that the management fees charged to the Fund were lower than, equal to, or higher than the fees charged by the Adviser to its separately managed account clients depending on the asset level, and to the extent fees charged to the Fund were higher than for similarly managed separate accounts, it was largely a reflection of the nature of the separate account client.
     
   
The Board determined that it would continue to monitor the appropriateness of the advisory fee for the Fund and concluded that, at this time, the fees to be paid to the Adviser were fair and reasonable.


26

PIA Short-Term Securities Fund
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (continued)
(Unaudited)


 
4.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE.  The Board also considered whether economies of scale were being realized by the Adviser that should be shared with shareholders.  The Board noted that with respect to the Short-Term Securities Fund the Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse Fund expenses so that the Fund does not exceed the specified Expense Cap.  The Board noted that at current asset levels, it did not appear that there were additional economies of scale being realized by the Adviser and concluded that it would continue to monitor potential economies of scale in the future as circumstances changed.
     
 
5.
THE PROFITS TO BE REALIZED BY THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FROM THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FUND.  The Board reviewed the Adviser’s financial information and took into account both the direct benefits and the indirect benefits to the Adviser from advising the Fund.  The Board considered the profitability to the Adviser from its relationship with the Fund and considered any additional material benefits derived by the Adviser from its relationship with the Fund.  The Board also considered that the Fund does not charge any Rule 12b-1 fees or utilize “soft dollars.”  After such review, the Board determined that the profitability to the Adviser with respect to the Advisory Agreements was not excessive, and that the Adviser had maintained adequate profit levels to support the services that it provides to the Fund.

No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreements for the Short-Term Securities Fund, but rather the Trustees based their determination on the total mix of information available to them.  Based on a consideration of all the factors in their totality, the Trustees determined that the advisory arrangements with the Adviser, including the advisory fees, were fair and reasonable to the Fund.  The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the Short-Term Securities Fund would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
 






27

PRIVACY NOTICE
 



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














(This Page Intentionally Left Blank.)
 









Adviser
Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.
1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 210
Santa Monica, CA  90401


Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
111 East Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 2200
Milwaukee, WI  53202


Transfer Agent
U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
Milwaukee, WI  53202
(800) 251-1970


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


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



Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance.  Share price and returns will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  Statements and other information herein are dated and are subject to change.
 





PIA Funds

PIA High Yield Fund
Institutional Class




 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Semi-Annual Report
May 31, 2022



PIA High Yield Fund



Dear Shareholder:
 
We are pleased to provide you with this report for the period from December 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022, regarding the PIA High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) for which Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (“PIA”), is the investment adviser.
 
The Fund performed in-line with its benchmark, the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High-Yield Index (the “Index”), returning -6.24%, after fees and expenses, for the six months ended May 31, 2022, versus -6.27% for the Index.
 
As stated in the current prospectus, the Fund’s gross expense ratio is 0.97%, and the Fund’s net expense ratio is 0.86%. PIA has temporarily agreed to waive all or a portion of its management fees and pay Fund expenses to ensure that Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses) do not exceed 0.86% of the Fund’s average daily net assets, through at least March 29, 2023. The net expense is what the investor has paid.
 
The Fund’s primary objective is to seek a high level of current income. The Fund’s secondary objective is to seek capital growth when that is consistent with its primary objective.
 
 
Lloyd McAdams
President and Portfolio Manager
Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.








1

PIA High Yield Fund



Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
 
Opinions expressed above are those of Pacific Income Advisers, Inc., the Fund’s investment adviser, are subject to change, are not guaranteed, should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security and should not be considered investment advice.
 
Must be preceded or accompanied by a prospectus.
 
Mutual fund investing involves risk.  Principal loss is possible.  Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise.  This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities.  The Fund may invest in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods.  These risks may increase for emerging markets.  Investment by the Fund in lower-rated and non-rated securities presents a greater risk of loss to principal and interest than higher-rated securities.  The Fund may invest in derivatives, which may involve risks greater than the risks presented by more traditional investments.  The risk of owning an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities that the ETF or mutual fund holds.  It will also bear additional expenses, including operating expenses, brokerage costs and the potential duplication of management fees.
 
The Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High-Yield Index measures the market of USD-denominated, non-investment grade, fixed rate, taxable corporate bonds.  Securities are classified as high yield if the middle rating of Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Ratings, Inc., and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services is Ba1/BB+/BB+ or below after dropping the highest and lowest available ratings.  The index excludes emerging markets debt.
 
You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
Bond ratings provide the probability of an issuer defaulting based on the analysis of the issuer’s financial condition and profit potential. Bond rating services are provided by credit rating agencies currently registered as Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (“NRSROs”). Bond ratings start at AAA (denoting the highest investment quality) and usually end at D (meaning payment is in default). Securities not covered by any agency will receive a non-rated (NR) rating. The portfolio has 0% in non-rated securities.
 
Please refer to the schedule of investments in the report for complete holdings information.  Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.  Investment performance reflects fee waivers in effect.  In the absence of such waivers, total return would be reduced.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC, Distributor
 



2

PIA High Yield Fund
Expense Example – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


As a shareholder of a mutual fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, including sales charges (loads) on purchase payments, redemption fees, and exchange fees, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and/or service fees, and other fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the PIA High Yield Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period (12/1/21 – 5/31/22).
 
Actual Expenses
The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Although the Fund charges no sales loads or transaction fees, you will be assessed fees for outgoing wire transfers, returned checks, and stop payment orders at prevailing rates charged by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent.  The Example below includes, but is not limited to, management fees, fund accounting, custody and transfer agent fees.  You may use the information in the first line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.  Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During Period’’ to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is different from the Fund’s actual returns.  The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.  You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other funds.  To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.  Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees.  Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transaction costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
 
 
Beginning Account
Ending Account
Expenses Paid During
 
Value 12/1/21
Value 5/31/22
Period 12/1/21 – 5/31/22*
Actual
$1,000.00
$   937.60
$4.15
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses)
$1,000.00
$1,020.64
$4.33

*
Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182 (days in most recent fiscal half-year) / 365 days to reflect the one-half year expense. The annualized expense ratio of the Fund is 0.86%.




3

PIA High Yield Fund
Allocation of Portfolio Assets – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Investments by Sector
As a Percentage of Total Investments







4

PIA High Yield Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)

           
Shares/
         
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
COMMON STOCKS 0.5%
     
       
Building Materials 0.5%
     
 
2,996
 
Northwest Hardwoods (d) (e)
 
$
239,680
 
Total Common Stocks
       
  (cost $137,017)
   
239,680
 
         
CORPORATE BONDS 96.5%
       
         
Advertising Sales 1.0%
       
     
Outfront Media Capital LLC /
       
     
  Outfront Media Capital Corp.
       
$
600,000
 
  4.25%, due 1/15/29 (a)
   
518,721
 
         
Aerospace/Defense 2.3%
       
     
F-Brasile SpA /
       
     
  F-Brasile US LLC
       
 
700,000
 
  7.375%, due 8/15/26 (a)
   
564,820
 
     
Triumph Group, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  7.75%, due 8/15/25
   
604,513
 
           
1,169,333
 
Appliances 1.1%
       
     
WASH Multifamily
       
     
  Acquisition, Inc.
       
 
550,000
 
  5.75%, due 4/15/26 (a)
   
546,469
 
         
Auto Manufacturers 1.1%
       
     
PM General Purchaser LLC
       
 
625,000
 
  9.50%, due 10/1/28 (a)
   
526,015
 
         
Auto Parts & Equipment 2.2%
       
     
Dealer Tire LLC / DT Issuer LLC
       
 
650,000
 
  8.00%, due 2/1/28 (a)
   
600,850
 
     
Dornoch Debt Merger Sub, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  6.625%, due 10/15/29 (a)
   
479,250
 
           
1,080,100
 
Building – Heavy Construction 2.6%
       
     
IEA Energy Services LLC
       
 
725,000
 
  6.625%, due 8/15/29 (a)
   
628,093
 
     
Railworks Holdings LP /
       
     
  Railworks Rally, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  8.25%, due 11/15/28 (a)
   
629,396
 
           
1,257,489
 
Building & Construction 1.1%
       
     
Brundage-Bone Concrete
       
     
  Pumping Holdings, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  6.00%, due 2/1/26 (a)
   
552,788
 
         
Building Materials 5.5%
       
     
APi Group DE, Inc.
       
 
625,000
 
  4.125%, due 7/15/29 (a)
   
539,891
 
     
CP Atlas Buyer, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  7.00%, due 12/1/28 (a)
   
534,199
 
     
Eco Material Technologies, Inc.
       
 
625,000
 
  7.875%, due 1/31/27 (a)
   
592,603
 
     
MIWD Holdco II LLC /
       
     
  MIWD Finance Corp.
       
 
625,000
 
  5.50%, due 2/1/30 (a)
   
532,260
 
     
SRM Escrow Issuer LLC
       
 
550,000
 
  6.00%, due 11/1/28 (a)
   
514,443
 
           
2,713,396
 
Chemicals – Diversified 3.6%
       
     
Iris Holdings, Inc.
       
 
275,000
 
  8.75% Cash or 10.000% PIK,
       
     
  due 2/15/26 (a) (c)
   
259,711
 
     
LSF11 A5 HoldCo LLC
       
 
584,000
 
  6.625%, due 10/15/29 (a)
   
499,711
 
     
Polar US Borrower LLC /
       
     
  Schenectady International
       
     
  Group, Inc.
       
 
450,000
 
  6.75%, due 5/15/26 (a)
   
362,040
 
     
SCIH Salt Holdings, Inc.
       
 
300,000
 
  4.875%, due 5/1/28 (a)
   
279,528
 
 
475,000
 
  6.625%, due 5/1/29 (a)
   
426,108
 
           
1,827,098
 
Chemicals – Plastics 1.3%
       
     
Neon Holdings, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  10.125%, due 4/1/26 (a)
   
647,975
 
         
Chemicals – Specialty 4.9%
       
     
EverArc Escrow Sarl
       
 
700,000
 
  5.00%, due 10/30/29 (a)
   
607,009
 


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

5

PIA High Yield Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Chemicals – Specialty 4.9% (continued)
     
   
Herens Holdco Sarl
     
$
750,000
 
  4.75%, due 5/15/28 (a)
 
$
649,748
 
     
SCIL IV LLC / SCIL
       
     
  USA Holdings LLC
       
 
650,000
 
  5.375%, due 11/1/26 (a)
   
610,701
 
     
Unifrax Escrow Issuer Corp.
       
 
650,000
 
  5.25%, due 9/30/28 (a)
   
588,101
 
           
2,455,559
 
Commercial Services 3.6%
       
     
CPI Acquisition, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  8.625%, due 3/15/26 (a)
   
575,206
 
     
NESCO Holdings II, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  5.50%, due 4/15/29 (a)
   
589,367
 
     
StoneMor, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  8.50%, due 5/15/29 (a)
   
671,531
 
           
1,836,104
 
Consumer Services 1.1%
       
     
Cimpress Plc
       
 
650,000
 
  7.00%, due 6/15/26 (a)
   
553,751
 
         
Containers and Packaging 0.3%
       
     
Pactiv Evergreen Group Issuer
       
     
  LLC / Pactiv Evergreen
       
     
  Group Issuer, Inc.
       
 
175,000
 
  4.375%, due 10/15/28 (a)
   
158,344
 
         
Diversified Financial Services 1.1%
       
     
VistaJet Malta Finance PLC /
       
     
  XO Management Holding, Inc.
       
 
625,000
 
  6.375%, due 2/1/30 (a)
   
532,313
 
         
Engineering & Construction 3.2%
       
     
Arcosa, Inc.
       
 
100,000
 
  4.375%, due 4/15/29 (a)
   
91,511
 
     
Artera Services LLC
       
 
650,000
 
  9.03%, due 12/4/25 (a)
   
514,640
 
     
Brand Energy & Infrastructure
       
     
  Services, Inc.
       
 
494,000
 
  8.50%, due 7/15/25 (a)
   
405,945
 
     
Promontoria Holding 264 BV
       
 
650,000
 
  7.875%, due 3/1/27 (a)
   
609,071
 
           
1,621,167
 
Enterprise Software & Services 2.6%
       
     
Helios Software Holdings, Inc. /
       
     
  ION Corporate Solutions
       
     
  Finance Sarl
       
 
875,000
 
  4.625%, due 5/1/28 (a)
   
759,595
 
     
Rocket Software, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  6.50%, due 2/15/29 (a)
   
545,542
 
           
1,305,137
 
Entertainment 1.1%
       
     
Premier Entertainment Sub
       
     
  LLC / Premier Entertainment
       
     
  Finance Corp.
       
 
700,000
 
  5.875%, due 9/1/31 (a)
   
550,375
 
         
Environmental Control 0.8%
       
     
Tervita Corp.
       
 
358,000
 
  11.00%, due 12/1/25 (a)
   
394,461
 
         
Financial Services 1.3%
       
     
Arrow Bidco LLC
       
 
650,000
 
  9.50%, due 3/15/24 (a)
   
646,776
 
         
Food Service 1.1%
       
     
TKC Holdings, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  10.50%, due 5/15/29 (a)
   
539,736
 
         
Forest and Paper Products
       
  Manufacturing 1.1%
       
     
Schweitzer-Mauduit
       
     
  International, Inc.
       
 
625,000
 
  6.875%, due 10/1/26 (a)
   
557,428
 
         
Healthcare – Services 2.7%
       
     
Akumin Escrow, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  7.50%, due 8/1/28 (a)
   
478,117
 
     
Hadrian Merger Sub, Inc.
       
 
349,000
 
  8.50%, due 5/1/26 (a)
   
341,313
 


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

6

PIA High Yield Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Healthcare – Services 2.7% (continued)
     
   
ModivCare Escrow Issuer, Inc.
     
$
625,000
 
  5.00%, due 10/1/29 (a)
 
$
566,572
 
           
1,386,002
 
Household Products/Warehouse 1.2%
       
     
Kronos Acquisition Holdings,
       
     
  Inc. / KIK Custom Products, Inc.
       
 
675,000
 
  5.00%, due 12/31/26 (a)
   
612,151
 
         
Industrial – Other 1.2%
       
     
Cleaver-Brooks, Inc.
       
 
625,000
 
  7.875%, due 3/1/23 (a)
   
582,428
 
         
Machinery – Farm 0.9%
       
     
OT Merger Corp.
       
 
625,000
 
  7.875%, due 10/15/29 (a)
   
457,394
 
         
Machinery – Thermal Process 1.2%
       
     
GrafTech Finance, Inc.
       
 
650,000
 
  4.625%, due 12/15/28 (a)
   
596,154
 
         
Machinery Manufacturing 2.6%
       
     
Granite US Holdings Corp.
       
 
450,000
 
  11.00%, due 10/1/27 (a)
   
432,848
 
     
JPW Industries Holding Corp.
       
 
725,000
 
  9.00%, due 10/1/24 (a)
   
715,807
 
     
MAI Holdings, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  9.50%, due 6/1/23 (a) (d)
   
171,000
 
           
1,319,655
 
Manufactured Goods 2.3%
       
     
FXI Holdings, Inc.
       
 
634,000
 
  7.875%, due 11/1/24 (a)
   
587,649
 
     
Park-Ohio Industries, Inc.
       
 
710,000
 
  6.625%, due 4/15/27
   
587,088
 
           
1,174,737
 
Marine Transportation 0.8%
       
     
Altera Infrastructure LP /
       
     
  Teekay Offshore Finance Corp.
       
 
750,000
 
  8.50%, due 7/15/23 (a)
   
414,375
 
         
Media 0.9%
       
     
Univision Communications, Inc.
       
 
475,000
 
  4.50%, due 5/1/29 (a)
   
434,036
 
         
Metals and Mining 2.5%
       
     
SunCoke Energy, Inc.
       
 
725,000
 
  4.875%, due 6/30/29 (a)
   
646,554
 
     
TMS International Corp. / DE
       
 
750,000
 
  6.25%, due 4/15/29 (a)
   
600,961
 
           
1,247,515
 
Midstream 0.5%
       
     
Rockpoint Gas Storage
       
     
  Canada Ltd.
       
 
270,000
 
  7.00%, due 3/31/23 (a)
   
266,517
 
         
Office Automation & Equipment 2.5%
       
     
Pitney Bowes, Inc.
       
 
750,000
 
  6.875%, due 3/15/27 (a)
   
664,683
 
     
Xerox Holdings Corp.
       
 
675,000
 
  5.50%, due 8/15/28 (a)
   
619,401
 
           
1,284,084
 
Oil and Gas Services 4.9%
       
     
Archrock Partners LP /
       
     
  Archrock Partners Finance Corp.
       
 
350,000
 
  6.875%, due 4/1/27 (a)
   
347,694
 
     
CSI Compressco LP / CSI
       
     
  Compressco Finance, Inc.
       
 
775,000
 
  7.50%, due 4/1/25 (a)
   
730,304
 
     
Exterran Energy Solutions LP /
       
     
  EES Finance Corp.
       
 
150,000
 
  8.125%, due 5/1/25
   
150,246
 
     
USA Compression
       
     
  Partners LP / USA Compression
       
     
  Finance Corp.
       
 
315,000
 
  6.875%, due 4/1/26
   
307,790
 
 
250,000
 
  6.875%, due 9/1/27
   
239,428
 
     
Welltec International ApS
       
 
600,000
 
  8.25%, due 10/15/26 (a)
   
595,357
 
           
2,370,819
 


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

7

PIA High Yield Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
       
Principal Amount
 
Value
 
Paper 1.4%
     
   
Clearwater Paper Corp.
     
$
750,000
 
  4.75%, due 8/15/28 (a)
 
$
676,316
 
         
Pipelines 9.4%
       
     
Genesis Energy LP / Genesis
       
     
  Energy Finance Corp.
       
 
75,000
 
  8.00%, due 1/15/27
   
74,107
 
 
675,000
 
  7.75%, due 2/1/28
   
651,578
 
     
ITT Holdings LLC
       
 
725,000
 
  6.50%, due 8/1/29 (a)
   
622,485
 
     
Martin Midstream Partners LP /
       
     
  Martin Midstream Finance Corp.
       
 
750,000
 
  11.50%, due 2/28/25 (a)
   
760,218
 
     
NGL Energy Operating LLC /
       
     
  NGL Energy Finance Corp.
       
 
700,000
 
  7.50%, due 2/1/26 (a)
   
657,444
 
     
Summit Midstream
       
     
  Holdings LLC / Summit
       
     
  Midstream Finance Corp.
       
 
750,000
 
  5.75%, due 4/15/25
   
602,388
 
 
625,000
 
  8.50%, due 10/15/26 (a)
   
601,706
 
     
TransMontaigne Partners LP /
       
     
  TLP Finance Corp.
       
 
750,000
 
  6.125%, due 2/15/26
   
734,239
 
           
4,704,165
 
Publishing and Broadcasting 1.3%
       
     
Salem Media Group, Inc.
       
 
675,000
 
  6.75%, due 6/1/24 (a)
   
669,826
 
         
Radio 4.7%
       
     
Audacy Capital Corp.
       
 
700,000
 
  6.75%, due 3/31/29 (a)
   
437,917
 
     
Beasley Mezzanine Holdings LLC
       
 
660,000
 
  8.675%, due 2/1/26 (a)
   
572,118
 
     
Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.
       
 
750,000
 
  9.75%, due 3/1/26 (a)
   
698,208
 
     
Urban One, Inc.
       
 
700,000
 
  7.375%, due 2/1/28 (a)
   
662,060
 
           
2,370,303
 
Real Estate 1.1%
       
     
GEO Group, Inc.
       
 
600,000
 
  5.125%, due 4/1/23
   
570,860
 
         
REITs – Storage 1.1%
       
     
Iron Mountain, Inc.
       
 
550,000
 
  5.00%, due 7/15/28 (a)
   
536,195
 
         
Rental Auto/Equipment 0.9%
       
     
PROG Holdings, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  6.00%, due 11/15/29 (a)
   
444,058
 
         
Retail – Office Supplies 1.8%
       
     
Staples, Inc.
       
 
500,000
 
  7.50%, due 4/15/26 (a)
   
463,699
 
 
500,000
 
  10.75%, due 4/15/27 (a)
   
410,893
 
           
874,592
 
Retail – Propane Distribution 1.2%
       
     
Ferrellgas LP / Ferrellgas
       
     
  Finance Corp.
       
 
700,000
 
  5.875%, due 4/1/29 (a)
   
609,515
 
         
Tobacco Manufacturing 1.1%
       
     
Vector Group Ltd.
       
 
625,000
 
  5.75%, due 2/1/29 (a)
   
563,622
 
         
Transportation Services 2.8%
       
     
Bristow Group, Inc.
       
 
750,000
 
  6.875%, due 3/1/28 (a)
   
713,185
 
     
First Student Bidco, Inc. /
       
     
  First Transit Parent, Inc.
       
 
750,000
 
  4.00%, due 7/31/29 (a)
   
666,413
 
           
1,379,598
 
Water 1.5%
       
     
Solaris Midstream
       
     
  Holdings LLC
       
 
750,000
 
  7.625%, due 4/1/26 (a)
   
751,384
 
Total Corporate Bonds
       
  (cost $54,403,879)
   
48,286,836
 


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

8

PIA High Yield Fund
Schedule of Investments – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)

       
Principal Amount/
     
Shares
     
Value
 
BANK LOANS 0.5%
     
       
Building Materials 0.5%
     
$
232,414
 
Northwest Hardwoods
     
     
  Secured Term Loan
 
$
227,766
 
Total Bank Loans
       
  (cost $218,212)
   
227,766
 
         
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS 1.2%
       
 
609,798
 
Fidelity Institutional Money
       
     
  Market Government Portfolio –
       
     
  Class I, 0.60% (b)
   
609,798
 
Total Short-Term Investments
       
  (cost $609,798)
   
609,798
 
Total Investments
           
  (cost $55,368,906)
   
98.7
%
   
49,364,080
 
Other Assets less Liabilities
   
1.3
%
   
674,238
 
TOTAL NET ASSETS
   
100.0
%
 
$
50,038,318
 

(a)
Security purchased within the terms of a private placement memorandum, exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may be sold only to dealers in the program or other “qualified institutional buyers.”  As of May 31, 2022, the value of these investments was $43,764,599 or 87.46% of total net assets.
(b)
Rate shown is the 7-day annualized yield as of May 31, 2022.
(c)
Payment-in-kind interest is generally paid by issuing additional par of the security rather than paying cash.
(d)
Security valued at fair value using methods determined in good faith by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees of Advisors Series Trust. Value determined using significant unobservable inputs.  As of May 31, 2022, the total value of fair valued securities was $410,680 or 0.82% of total net assets.
(e)
Non-income producing security.



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

9

PIA High Yield Fund
Statement of Assets and Liabilities – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Assets:
     
Investments in securities, at value (cost $55,368,906)
 
$
49,364,080
 
Receivable for fund shares sold
   
51,540
 
Interest receivable
   
925,497
 
Prepaid expenses
   
18,902
 
Total assets
   
50,360,019
 
         
Liabilities:
       
Payable to investment adviser
   
14,087
 
Payable for fund shares redeemed
   
245,239
 
Distribution payable
   
824
 
Administration fees
   
11,432
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses
   
11,215
 
Fund accounting fees
   
13,722
 
Audit fees
   
10,818
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee
   
2,695
 
Custody fees
   
2,361
 
Shareholder reporting
   
5,514
 
Trustees’ fees and expenses
   
1,127
 
Accrued expenses
   
2,667
 
Total liabilities
   
321,701
 
Net Assets
 
$
50,038,318
 
         
Net Assets Consist of:
       
Paid-in capital
 
$
56,981,378
 
Total distributable deficit
   
(6,943,060
)
Net Assets
 
$
50,038,318
 
         
Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price Per Share
 
$
8.94
 
         
Shares Issued and Outstanding (Unlimited number of shares authorized, par value $0.01)
   
5,599,838
 



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

10

PIA High Yield Fund
Statement of Operations – Six Months Ended May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Investment Income:
     
Interest
 
$
2,043,148
 
Total investment income
   
2,043,148
 
         
Expenses:
       
Investment advisory fees (Note 4)
   
154,642
 
Administration fees (Note 4)
   
36,153
 
Transfer agent fees and expenses (Note 4)
   
25,519
 
Fund accounting fees (Note 4)
   
18,366
 
Registration fees
   
13,056
 
Audit fees
   
10,934
 
Trustees’ fees and expenses
   
7,269
 
Chief Compliance Officer fee (Note 4)
   
5,506
 
Miscellaneous
   
3,892
 
Custody fees (Note 4)
   
3,697
 
Reports to shareholders
   
3,505
 
Legal fees
   
3,032
 
Insurance
   
1,609
 
Interest expense (Note 6)
   
94
 
Total expenses
   
287,274
 
Less: Fee waiver by adviser (Note 4)
   
(45,470
)
Net expenses
   
241,804
 
Net investment income
   
1,801,344
 
         
Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments:
       
Net realized loss on investments
   
(638,299
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments
   
(4,648,392
)
Net loss on investments
   
(5,286,691
)
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations
 
$
(3,485,347
)



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

11

PIA High Yield Fund
Statements of Changes in Net Assets


   
Six Months Ended
       
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
November 30, 2021
 
Increase/(decrease) in Net Assets From Operations:
           
Net investment income
 
$
1,801,344
   
$
3,870,827
 
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments
   
(638,299
)
   
724,316
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments
   
(4,648,392
)
   
27,863
 
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
   
(3,485,347
)
   
4,623,006
 
                 
Distributions Paid to Shareholders:
               
Net dividends and distributions to shareholders
   
(1,806,251
)
   
(3,875,270
)
Total dividends and distributions
   
(1,806,251
)
   
(3,875,270
)
                 
Capital Share Transactions:
               
Proceeds from shares sold
   
2,979,928
     
19,445,712
 
Distributions reinvested
   
618,614
     
1,362,781
 
Payment for shares redeemed
   
(8,664,281
)
   
(16,270,863
)
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions
   
(5,065,739
)
   
4,537,630
 
Total increase/(decrease) in net assets
   
(10,357,337
)
   
5,285,366
 
                 
Net Assets, Beginning of period
   
60,395,655
     
55,110,289
 
Net Assets, End of period
 
$
50,038,318
   
$
60,395,655
 
                 
Transactions in Shares:
               
Shares sold
   
313,006
     
1,942,276
 
Shares issued on reinvestment of distributions
   
65,301
     
136,250
 
Shares redeemed
   
(909,198
)
   
(1,623,400
)
Net increase/(decrease) in shares outstanding
   
(530,891
)
   
455,126
 



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

12

PIA High Yield Fund
Financial Highlights


   
Six Months
                               
   
Ended
                               
   
May 31, 2022
   
Year Ended November 30,
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
2021
   
2020
   
2019
   
2018
   
2017
 
Per Share Operating Performance
                                   
(For a fund share outstanding throughout each period)
                               
                                     
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
9.85
   
$
9.71
   
$
9.61
   
$
9.67
   
$
10.33
   
$
10.04
 
                                                 
Income From Investment Operations:
                                               
Net investment income
   
0.31
     
0.61
     
0.63
     
0.64
     
0.60
     
0.66
 
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) on investments
 
(0.91
)
   
0.14
     
0.08
     
(0.06
)
   
(0.66
)
   
0.29
 
Total from investment operations
   
(0.60
)
   
0.75
     
0.71
     
0.58
     
(0.06
)
   
0.95
 
                                                 
Less Distributions:
                                               
Distributions from net investment income
   
(0.31
)
   
(0.61
)
   
(0.63
)
   
(0.64
)
   
(0.60
)
   
(0.66
)
Distributions from net realized gains
   
     
     
(0.01
)
   
     
     
 
Total distributions
   
(0.31
)
   
(0.61
)
   
(0.64
)
   
(0.64
)
   
(0.60
)
   
(0.66
)
Increase from payment by affiliate
                                               
  and administrator due to operational error
   
     
     
0.03
     
     
     
 
                                                 
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
8.94
   
$
9.85
   
$
9.71
   
$
9.61
   
$
9.67
   
$
10.33
 
                                                 
Total Return
   
-6.24
%++
   
7.85
%
 
8.36
%^    
6.14
%
   
-0.63
%
   
9.68
%
                                                 
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
                                               
Net assets, end of period (in 000’s)
 
$
50,038
   
$
60,396
   
$
55,110
   
$
52,086
   
$
57,278
   
$
60,831
 
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                               
Net of fee waivers
   
0.86
%+
   
0.86
%
   
0.86
%
   
0.86
%
   
0.82
%
   
0.73
%
Before fee waivers
   
1.02
%+
   
0.97
%
   
1.11
%
   
1.03
%
   
0.99
%
   
1.00
%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets:
                                         
Net of fee waivers
   
6.40
%+
   
6.13
%
   
6.80
%
   
6.53
%
   
5.95
%
   
5.80
%
Before fee waivers
   
6.24
%+
   
6.02
%
   
6.55
%
   
6.36
%
   
5.78
%
   
5.53
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
9
%++
   
72
%
   
51
%
   
63
%
   
48
%
   
27
%

+
 
Annualized for periods less than one year.
++
 
Not annualized for periods less than one year.
^
 
Includes increase from payment made by affiliate and administrator due to the corporate action operational error. Refer to Note 10 for further details. Had the Fund not received the payment, total return would have been 8.03%.



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

13

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


Note 1 – Organization
The PIA High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified series of Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”), which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company.  The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services – Investment Companies.”
 
Currently, the Fund offers the Institutional Class.  The primary investment objective of the Fund is to seek a high level of current income.  The Fund commenced operations on December 31, 2010.
 
Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Security Valuation – All investments in securities are recorded at their estimated fair value, as described in Note 3.
 
Federal Income Taxes – It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders.  Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is required.
 
The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities.  The tax returns of the Fund’s prior three fiscal years are open for examination. Management has reviewed all open tax years in major jurisdictions and concluded that there is no impact on the Fund’s net assets and no tax liability resulting from unrecognized tax events relating to uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return.  The Fund identifies its major tax jurisdictions as U.S. federal and the state of Wisconsin; however the Fund is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next twelve months.
 
Expenses – The Fund is charged for those expenses that are directly attributable to the Fund, such as administration and custodian fees.  Expenses that are not directly attributable to a Fund are typically allocated among the other PIA 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.
 
Securities Transactions and Investment Income – Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on sales of securities are calculated on a first-in, first-out basis.  Dividend income and capital gain distributions from underlying funds are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  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, except for premiums on certain callable debt securities that are amortized to the earliest call date. Non-cash interest income included in interest income, if any, is recorded at fair market value of additional par received.
 
Distributions to Shareholders – Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.  The Fund distributes substantially all net investment income, if any, monthly and net realized gains, if any, annually.  Distributions from net realized gains for book purposes may include short-term capital gains.  All short-term capital gains are included in ordinary income for tax purposes.
 

14

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


The amount and character of income and net realized gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with Federal income tax rules and regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  To the extent that these differences are attributable to permanent book and tax accounting differences, the components of net assets have been adjusted.
 
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.
 
Guarantees and Indemnifications – In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses.  The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims against the Fund that have not yet occurred.  Based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.
 
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 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operation during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Accounting Pronouncements – In March 2020, FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform: Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The main objective of the new guidance is to provide relief to companies that will be impacted by the expected change in benchmark interest rates at the end of 2021, when participating banks will no longer be required to submit London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) quotes by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The new guidance allows companies to, provided the only change to existing contracts are a change to an approved benchmark interest rate, account for modifications as a continuance of the existing contract without additional analysis. In addition, derivative contracts that qualified for hedge accounting prior to modification, will be allowed to continue to receive such treatment, even if critical terms change due to a change in the benchmark interest rate. For new and existing contracts, the Fund may elect to apply the amendments as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently assessing the impact of the ASU’s adoption to the Fund’s financial statements and various filings.
 
In October 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by registered investment companies (“Rule 18f-4”).  Funds will be required to implement and comply with Rule 18f-4 by August 19, 2022. Once implemented, Rule 18f-4 will impose limits on the amount of derivatives a fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework currently used by funds to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities and require funds whose use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager.  The Fund does not currently enter into derivatives transactions.  Management is currently evaluating the potential impact of Rule 18f-4 on the Fund.
 
In December 2020, the SEC adopted a new rule providing a framework for fund valuation practices (“Rule 2a-5”).  Rule 2a-5 establishes requirements for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act.  Rule 2a-5 will permit fund boards to designate certain parties to perform fair value determinations, subject to board oversight and
 

15

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


certain other conditions.  Rule 2a-5 also defines when market quotations are “readily available” for purposes of the 1940 Act and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value a security.  In connection with Rule 2a-5, the SEC also adopted related recordkeeping requirements and is rescinding previously issued guidance, including with respect to the role of a board in determining fair value and the accounting and auditing of fund investments.  The Fund will be required to comply with the rules by September 8, 2022.  Management is currently assessing the potential impact of the new rules on the Fund’s financial statements.
 
Events Subsequent to the Fiscal Period End – In preparing the financial statements as of May 31, 2022, management considered the impact of subsequent events for the potential recognition or disclosure in these financial statements. Management has determined there were no subsequent events that would need to be disclosed in the Fund’s financial statements.
 
Note 3 – Securities Valuation
The Fund has adopted authoritative fair value accounting standards which establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value.  These standards require additional disclosures about the various inputs and valuation techniques used to develop the measurements of fair value, a discussion in changes in valuation techniques and related inputs during the period and expanded disclosure of valuation levels for major security types.  These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
 
 
Level 1 –
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.
     
 
Level 2 –
Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.
     
 
Level 3 –
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.

Following is a description of the valuation techniques applied to the Fund’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  The Fund’s investments are carried at fair value.
 
The Fund determines the fair value of its investments and computes its net asset value per share as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (4:00 pm EST).
 
Corporate Bonds – Corporate bonds, including listed 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.  Most corporate bonds are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Bank Loan Obligations – Bank loan obligations are valued at market on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service which utilizes quotations obtained from dealers in bank loans. These securities will generally be classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 

16

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Foreign Securities – Foreign economies may differ from the U.S. economy and individual foreign companies may differ from domestic companies in the same industry.
 
Foreign companies or entities are frequently not subject to accounting and financial reporting standards applicable to domestic companies, and there may be less information available about foreign issuers.  Securities of foreign issuers are generally less liquid and more volatile than those of comparable domestic issuers.  There is frequently less government regulation of broker-dealers and issuers than in the United States.  In addition, investments in foreign countries are subject to the possibility of expropriation, confiscatory taxation, political or social instability or diplomatic developments that could adversely affect the value of those investments.
 
Equity Securities – Equity securities, including common stocks, that are primarily traded on a national securities exchange shall be valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded on the day of valuation or, if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ Global Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Over-the-counter (“OTC”) securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ Global Market System shall be valued at the most recent sales price.  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.
 
Investment Companies – Investments in open-end mutual funds, including money market funds, are generally priced at their net asset value per share provided by the service agent of the funds and will be classified 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.
 
Restricted Securities – The Fund may invest in securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Federal securities laws. Private placement securities are generally considered to be restricted except for those securities traded between qualified institutional investors under the provisions of Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. The sale or other disposition of these securities may involve additional expenses and the prompt sale of these securities at an acceptable price may be difficult. At May 31, 2022, the Fund held securities issued pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. There were no other restricted investments held by the Fund at May 31, 2022.
 
The Board of Trustees (“Board”) has delegated day-to-day valuation issues to a Valuation Committee of the Trust which is comprised of representatives from the Fund’s 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 subsequently reviewed and ratified by the Board.
 

17

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Depending on the relative significance of the valuation inputs, fair valued securities may be classified in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.  The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s securities as of May 31, 2022:
 
     
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
 
Common Stocks
 
$
   
$
   
$
239,680
   
$
239,680
 
 
Fixed Income
                               
 
  Corporate Bonds
   
     
48,115,836
     
171,000
     
48,286,836
 
 
  Bank Loans
   
     
227,766
     
     
227,766
 
 
Total Fixed Income
   
     
48,343,602
     
171,000
     
48,514,602
 
 
Money Market Fund
   
609,798
     
     
     
609,798
 
 
Total Investments
 
$
609,798
   
$
48,343,602
   
$
410,680
   
$
49,364,080
 

Refer to the Fund’s schedule of investments for a detailed break-out of securities by industry classification.
 
The following is a reconciliation of the Fund’s Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining value.
 
     
Investments in Securities, at Value
 
     
Common Stocks
   
Corporate Bonds
 
 
Balance as of November 30, 2021
 
$
173,768
   
$
126,000
 
 
Accrued discounts/premiums
   
     
1,981
 
 
Realized gain/(loss)
   
     
 
 
Change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation)
   
65,912
     
43,019
 
 
Purchases
   
     
 
 
Sales
   
     
 
 
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
   
     
 
 
Balance as of May 31, 2022
 
$
239,680
   
$
171,000
 

The change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for Level 3 securities still held at May 31, 2022, and still classified as Level 3 was $108,931.
 
The global outbreak of COVID-19 (commonly referred to as “coronavirus”) has disrupted economic markets and the prolonged economic impact is uncertain. Although vaccines for COVID-19 are becoming more widely available, the ultimate economic fallout from the pandemic, amid the spread of COVID-19 variants, and the long-term impact on economies, markets, industries and individual companies are not known. The operational and financial performance of individual companies and the market in general depends on future developments, including the duration and spread of any future outbreaks and the pace of recovery which may vary from market to market, and such uncertainty may in turn adversely affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments, impair the Fund’s ability to satisfy redemption requests, and negatively impact the Fund’s performance.
 

18

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Note 4 – Investment Advisory Fee and Other Transactions with Affiliates
The Fund has an investment advisory agreement with Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (“PIA” or the “Adviser”) pursuant to which the Adviser is responsible for providing investment management services to the Fund.  The Adviser furnishes all investment advice, office space and facilities, and provides most of the personnel needed by the Fund.  As compensation for its services, PIA is entitled to a fee, computed daily and payable monthly calculated at an annual rate of 0.55% based upon the Fund’s average daily net assets.  For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the Fund incurred $154,642 in advisory fees.
 
The Fund is responsible for its own operating expenses. The Adviser has temporarily agreed to reduce fees payable to it by the Fund and to pay Fund operating expenses (excluding acquired fund fees and expenses) to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s aggregate annual operating expenses to 0.86% of average daily net assets. The Adviser may not recoup expense reimbursements in future periods. For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the Adviser reduced its fees in the amount of $45,470.
 
Fund Services serves as the Fund’s administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent. U.S. Bank N.A. serves as custodian (the “Custodian”) to the Fund.  The Custodian is an affiliate of Fund Services.  Fund Services maintains the Fund’s books and records, calculates the Fund’s 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, including the Chief Compliance Officer, are employees of Fund Services.  Fees paid by the Fund for administration and accounting, transfer agency, custody and compliance services for the six months ended May 31, 2022, are disclosed in the Statement of Operations.
 
The Fund has entered into agreements with various brokers, dealers and financial intermediaries to compensate them for transfer agent services that would otherwise be executed by Fund Services. These sub-transfer agent services include pre-processing and quality control of new accounts, maintaining detailed shareholder account records, shareholder correspondence, answering customer inquiries regarding account status, and facilitating shareholder telephone transactions. The Fund expensed $10,056 of sub-transfer agent fees during the six months ended May 31, 2022. These fees are included in the transfer agent fees and expenses amount disclosed in the Statement of Operations.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC (“Quasar” or the “Distributor”) acts as the Fund’s principal underwriter in a continuous public offering of the Fund’s shares. Quasar is a wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Foreside Financial Group, LLC (“Foreside”).
 
Note 5 – Purchases and Sales of Securities
For the six months ended May 31, 2022, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities (excluding short-term securities and U.S. Government securities) were $5,064,851 and $9,974,538, respectively. There were no purchases and sales of U.S. Government securities during the six months ended May 31, 2022.
 
Note 6 – Line of Credit
The Fund has a secured line of credit in the amount of $10,000,000.  This line of credit is intended to provide short-term financing, if necessary, subject to certain restrictions, in connection with shareholder redemptions.  The credit facility is with the Fund’s custodian, U.S. Bank N.A.  During the six months ended May 31, 2022, the Fund drew on its line of credit.  The Fund had an outstanding average daily balance of $2,725, paid a weighted average interest rate of
 


19

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


3.50%, and incurred interest expense of $94.  The maximum amount outstanding for the Fund during the six months ended May 31, 2022 was $124,000. At May 31, 2022, the Fund had no outstanding loan amounts.
 
Note 7 – Federal Income Tax Information
The tax character of distributions paid during the six months ended May 31, 2022 and year ended November 30, 2021 are as follows:

   
Six Months Ended
Year Ended
 
   
May 31, 2022
November 30, 2021
 
 
Ordinary income
$1,806,251
$3,875,270
 

As of November 30, 2021, the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year, the components of capital on a tax basis were as follows:
 
 
Cost of investments (a)
 
$
60,267,226
 
 
Gross unrealized appreciation
   
999,227
 
 
Gross unrealized depreciation
   
(2,355,661
)
 
Net unrealized depreciation (a)
   
(1,356,434
)
 
Undistributed ordinary income
   
52,708
 
 
Undistributed long-term capital gains
   
 
 
Total distributable earnings
   
52,708
 
 
Other accumulated gains/(losses)
   
(347,736
)
 
Total accumulated earnings/(losses)
 
$
(1,651,462
)

 
(a)
The book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized depreciation are the same.

As of November 30, 2021, the Fund had tax capital losses which may be carried over to offset future gains. Such losses expire as follows:

Short-Term Indefinite
Long-Term Indefinite
$347,736

Note 8 – Principal Risks
Below is a summary of some, but not all, of the principal risks of investing in the Fund, each of which may adversely affect the Fund’s net asset value and total return. The Fund’s most recent prospectus provides further descriptions of the Fund’s investment objective, principal investment strategies and principal risks.
 
 
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield securities (or “junk bonds”) entail greater risk of loss of principal because of their greater exposure to credit risk. High yield securities typically carry higher coupon rates than investment grade securities, but also are considered as speculative and may be subject to greater market price fluctuations, less liquidity and greater risk of loss of income or principal including greater possibility of default and bankruptcy of the issuer of such instruments than more highly rated bonds and loans.
     
 
Counterparty Risk.  Fund transactions involving a counterparty are subject to the risk that the counterparty or a third party will not fulfill its obligation to the Fund.  Counterparty risk may arise because of the counterparty’s financial condition (i.e., financial difficulties, bankruptcy, or insolvency), market activities and developments, or


20

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


   
other reasons, whether foreseen or not.  A counterparty’s inability to fulfill its obligation may result in significant financial loss to the Fund.
     
 
Credit Risk. The issuers of the bonds and other instruments held by the Fund may not be able to make interest or principal payments.
     
 
General Market Risk. Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events, other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.  For example, the outbreak of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus disease, has negatively affected economies, markets and individual companies throughout the world, including those in which the Fund invests. The effects of this pandemic to public health and business and market conditions, including exchange trading suspensions and closures, may continue to have a significant negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, increase the Fund’s volatility, negatively impact the Fund’s arbitrage and pricing mechanisms, exacerbate pre-existing political, social and economic risks to the Fund, and negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations. The Fund’s operations may be interrupted as a result, which may contribute to the negative impact on investment performance. In addition, governments, their regulatory agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions in response to the pandemic that affect the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that could have a significant negative impact on the Fund’s investment performance. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other future epidemics or pandemics, is currently unknown.
     
 
Interest Rate Risk. The value of the Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities will change based on changes in interest rates.  If interest rates increase, the value of these investments generally declines.  Securities with greater interest rate sensitivity and longer maturities generally are subject to greater fluctuations in value.
     
 
Liquidity Risk.  Reduced liquidity in the bond markets can result from a number of events, such as limited trading activity, reductions in bond inventory, and rapid or unexpected changes in interest rates. Less liquid markets could lead to greater price volatility and limit the Fund’s ability to sell a holding at a suitable price.
     
 
ETF and Mutual Fund Risk. When the Fund invests in an ETF or mutual fund, it will bear additional expenses based on its pro rata share of the ETF’s or mutual fund’s operating expenses, including the potential duplication of management fees. The risk of owning an ETF or mutual fund generally reflects the risks of owning the underlying securities that the ETF or mutual fund holds. The Fund also will incur brokerage costs when it purchases ETFs.
     
 
Rule 144A Securities Risk.  The market for Rule 144A securities typically is less active than the market for publicly traded securities.  Rule 144A securities carry the risk that the liquidity of these securities may become impaired, making it more difficult for the Fund to sell these securities.


21

PIA High Yield Fund
Notes to Financial Statements – May 31, 2022 (continued)
(Unaudited)


Note 9 – Control Ownership
The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly of more than 25% of the voting securities of a Fund creates a presumption of control of the Fund, under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of May 31, 2022, International Union UAW Strike Trust, for the benefit of their customers, owned 52.80% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
 
Note 10 – Reimbursement For Error
On September 18, 2020, the Fund received a reimbursement of $153,625 from the Adviser and Administrator related to a corporate action instruction error during the year ended November 30, 2020. The net reimbursement comprises the “net increase from payment by affiliate and administrator due to operational error” in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets. Due to a miscommunication, the tender offer for the Martin Midstream corporate action was not processed correctly. This resulted in the Fund’s position being tendered rather than exchanged.
 
Note 11 – Change in Trustees and Officers
Mr. Joe Redwine became the Audit Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2022.
 
Ms. Michelle Sanville-Seebold resigned as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer effective May 27, 2022.
 







22

PIA High Yield Fund
Notice to Shareholders – May 31, 2022
(Unaudited)


How to Obtain a Copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Policies
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-251-1970, or on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
How to Obtain a Copy of the Fund’s Proxy Voting Records for the 12-Month Period Ended June 30
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-251-1970.  Furthermore, you can obtain the Fund’s proxy voting records on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
 
Quarterly Filings on Form N-Port
The Fund files its complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Part F of Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Form N-PORT is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Information included in the Fund’s Form N-PORT is also available by calling 1-800-251-1970.
 
Householding
In an effort to decrease costs, the Fund will reduce the number of duplicate prospectuses, supplements, and certain other shareholder documents that you receive by sending only one copy of each to those addresses shown by two or more accounts. Please call the Fund’s transfer agent toll free at 1-800-251-1970 to request individual copies of these documents. The Fund will begin sending individual copies 30 days after receiving your request. This policy does not apply to account statements.
 







23

PIA High Yield Fund
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement
(Unaudited)


At meetings held on October 18 and December 7-8, 2021, the Board (which is comprised of four persons, all of whom are Independent Trustees as defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), considered and approved, for another annual term, the continuance of the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Advisors Series Trust (the “Trust”) and Pacific Income Advisers, Inc. (the “Adviser”) on behalf of the PIA High Yield Fund (the “High Yield Fund” or “Fund”). At both meetings, the Board received and reviewed substantial information regarding the Fund, the Adviser and the services provided by the Adviser to the Fund under the Advisory Agreement. This information, together with the information provided to the Board throughout the course of the year, formed the primary (but not exclusive) basis for the Board’s determinations. Below is a summary of the factors considered by the Board and the conclusions that formed the basis for the Board’s approval of the continuance of the Advisory Agreement:
 
 
1.
THE NATURE, EXTENT AND QUALITY OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND TO BE PROVIDED BY THE ADVISER UNDER THE ADVISORY AGREEMENT. The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of the Adviser’s overall services provided to the Fund, as well as its specific responsibilities in all aspects of day-to-day investment management of the Fund. The Board considered the qualifications, experience and responsibilities of the portfolio managers, as well as the responsibilities of other key personnel of the Adviser involved in the day-to-day activities of the Fund. The Board also considered the resources and compliance structure of the Adviser, including information regarding its compliance program, its chief compliance officer and the Adviser’s compliance record, as well as the Adviser’s cybersecurity program, liquidity risk management program, business continuity plan, and risk management process.  Additionally, the Board considered how the Adviser’s business continuity plan has operated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Board also considered the prior relationship between the Adviser and the Trust, as well as the Board’s knowledge of the Adviser’s operations, and noted that during the course of the prior year they had met with certain personnel of the Adviser via videoconference to discuss the Fund’s performance and investment outlook as well as various marketing and compliance topics. The Board considered that all shareholders of the Fund are advisory clients of the Adviser and that the Fund is used as an investment option to fulfill investment mandates for such clients. The Board concluded that the Adviser had the quality and depth of personnel, resources, investment processes and compliance policies and procedures essential to performing its duties under the Advisory Agreement and that they were satisfied with the nature, overall quality and extent of such management services.
     
 
2.
THE FUND’S HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE AND THE OVERALL PERFORMANCE OF THE ADVISER. In assessing the quality of the portfolio management delivered by the Adviser, the Board reviewed the short-term and long-term performance of the Fund as of June 30, 2021, on both an absolute basis and a relative basis in comparison to its peer funds utilizing Morningstar classifications, appropriate securities market benchmarks, and a cohort that is comprised of similarly managed funds selected by an independent third-party consulting firm engaged by the Board to assist it in its 15(c) review (the “Cohort”).  While the Board considered both short-term and long-term performance, it placed greater emphasis on longer term performance.  When reviewing performance against the comparative peer group universe, the Board took into account that the investment objectives and strategies of each Fund, as well as its level of risk tolerance, may differ significantly


24

PIA High Yield Fund
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (continued)
(Unaudited)


   
from funds in the peer universe.  When reviewing a Fund’s performance against broad market benchmarks, the Board took into account the differences in portfolio construction between the Fund and such benchmarks as well as other differences between actively managed funds and passive benchmarks, such as objectives and risks.  In assessing periods of relative underperformance or outperformance, the Board took into account that relative performance can be significantly impacted by performance measurement periods and that some periods of underperformance may be transitory in nature while others may reflect more significant underlying issues.
     
   
The Board noted that the High-Yield Fund outperformed the Morningstar peer group average for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods ended June 30, 2021. The Board also reviewed the performance of the High-Yield Fund against a broad-based securities market benchmark for the same period, noting that it had outperformed its benchmark index for the one-year period, underperformed for the three- and five-year periods and slightly underperformed for the ten-year period. The Board also considered that the Fund outperformed its Cohort average for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods.
     
   
The Board also considered any differences in performance between the Adviser’s similarly managed accounts and the performance of the High-Yield Fund, noting that the Fund underperformed the similarly managed composite for the one-, three-, five-, and ten-year periods.
     
 
3.
THE COSTS OF THE SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE ADVISER AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADVISER’S FEE UNDER THE ADVISORY AGREEMENT. In considering the advisory fee and total fees and expenses of the Fund, the Board reviewed comparisons to the Cohort, the Morningstar peer Funds, and the Adviser’s similarly managed accounts for other types of clients, as well as all expense waivers and reimbursements.
     
   
The Board noted that the Adviser had temporarily agreed, through at least March 29, 2022, to maintain an annual expense ratio for the Fund of 0.86%, excluding certain operating expenses and class-level expenses (the “Expense Cap”). The Board noted that the Fund’s total net expense ratio was above its Morningstar peer group median but below the average and that the contractual management fee was in line with the Morningstar peer group median and average. The Board also considered that the total net expense ratio was above the Cohort average and median and that the contractual management fee was below the Cohort average and in line with the median.  The Board also took into consideration the services the Adviser provided to its separately managed account clients, comparing the fees charged for those management services to the management fees charged to the Fund.  The Board found that the management fees charged to the Fund were higher than the fees charged to the Advisor’s separately managed account clients, primarily as a reflection of the larger account size for separate account clients as well as client service and operations differences between the Fund and the separate account clients.
     
   
The Board determined that it would continue to monitor the appropriateness of the advisory fee for the Fund and concluded that, at this time, the fees to be paid to the Adviser were fair and reasonable.
     
 
4.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE. The Board also considered whether economies of scale were being realized by the Adviser that should be shared with shareholders. The Board noted that the Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its advisory fees or reimburse Fund expenses so that the Fund does not exceed its Expense Cap. The Board noted that at current asset levels, it did not appear that there were additional economies of scale being realized by the Adviser and concluded that it would continue to monitor in the future as circumstances changed.


25

PIA High Yield Fund
Approval of Investment Advisory Agreement (continued)
(Unaudited)


 
5.
THE PROFITS TO BE REALIZED BY THE ADVISER AND ITS AFFILIATES FROM THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FUND. The Board reviewed the Adviser’s financial information and considered both the direct benefits and the indirect benefits to the Adviser from advising the Fund. The Board considered the profitability to the Adviser from its relationship with the Fund and considered any additional benefits derived by the Adviser from its relationship with the Fund. The Board also considered that the Fund does not charge any Rule 12b-1 fees or utilize “soft dollars.” After such review, the Board determined that the profitability to the Adviser with respect to the Advisory Agreement was not excessive, and that the Adviser had maintained adequate profit levels to support the services that it provides to the Fund.

No single factor was determinative of the Board’s decision to approve the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the High Yield Fund, but rather the Trustees based their determination on the total mix of information available to them. Based on a consideration of all the factors in their totality, the Trustees determined that the advisory arrangements with the Adviser, including the advisory fees, were fair and reasonable to the Fund. The Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, therefore determined that the continuance of the Advisory Agreement for the High Yield Fund would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
 







26

PRIVACY NOTICE
 



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











Adviser
Pacific Income Advisers, Inc.
1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 210
Santa Monica, CA  90401


Distributor
Quasar Distributors, LLC
111 East Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 2200
Milwaukee, WI  53202


Transfer Agent
U.S. Bank Global Fund Services
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202
(800) 251-1970


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


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



Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance.  Share price and returns will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.  Statements and other information herein are dated and are subject to change.



(b) Not applicable.

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

(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 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 the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit.  Not Applicable.


(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.


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  8/5/22 


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  8/5/22 

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

Date  8/5/22 

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