N-CSR 1 conestogancsr.htm N-CSR Filing

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 811-21120


Conestoga Funds

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)


Conestoga Capital Advisors

550 E. Swedesford Road

Suite 120

Wayne, PA 19087

 (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)


Conestoga Capital Advisors

550 E. Swedesford Road

Suite 120

Wayne, PA 19087

 (Name and address of agent for service)


With Copy To:

Josh Deringer, Esq.

Drinker Biddle

One Logan Square, Ste 2000

Philadelphia, PA 19103


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (800) 320-7790


Date of fiscal year end: September 30


Date of reporting period: September 30, 2015


Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1).  The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection and policymaking roles.


A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public.  A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number.  Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609.  The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.


Item 1.  Reports to Stockholders.




CONESTOGA FUNDS


SMALL CAP FUND

SMID CAP FUND



M a n a g e d   B y


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ANNUAL REPORT


September 30, 2015




Dear Fellow Shareholders of the Conestoga Funds,


This fiscal year (October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015) proved to be a particularly difficult period of time for equity investors. The first six months continued the bullish trend that has existed over the past six years, however, volatility returned in the final six months and equity markets declined.  International considerations, the slowing of growth in China, the decline in world oil prices, lofty stock prices and the specter of higher interest rates all played a part in creating the very high volatility.


Investors’ expectations of volatility increased, as was observed in the Chicago Board of Exchange Volatility Index (VIX).  Often called the “fear gauge”, the VIX serves as a barometer of investors’ concerns about future volatility in the S&P 500 Index.  Having spent much of the last few years at a below average level of about 14%, the VIX spiked to over 40% during the summer and then returned to a more average level of 20%.


We have observed historically that when volatility rises, the Conestoga investment approach has typically outperformed its benchmarks, and we are pleased to report this was the case over the last six months. During these types of market environments, we expect the advantages of a conservative, high-quality strategy to bear fruit vis-a-vis a passive index.


Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC, the investment adviser to the Conestoga Small Cap Fund and Conestoga SMid Cap Fund, deepened the research capability of the firm by adding two very experienced investment analysts. Their new associates; Derek Johnston, CFA, and Larry Carlin, CFA, are both generalist research analysts with experience investing using similar investment philosophies.  Their addition well prepares Conestoga for the future retirement of David Lawson, CFA, which is planned for February 2016.


On behalf of the entire Funds Board of Trustees, thank you for your investment in the Conestoga Funds.


Wm. C. Martindale Jr.


Wm. C. Martindale Jr.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

The Conestoga Funds




Dear Fellow Shareholders,


The Conestoga Funds’ fiscal year (October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015) began with a continuation of the rally that has been in place since March 2009.  Stock markets moved higher in the first six months of the fiscal year on continued optimism for an improving economy and low interest rates.  However, concerns about global growth and rising U.S. interest rates derailed equity markets in the second half of the fiscal year, with stock prices falling sharply in August and September.  Continued weakness in the Chinese economy and its stock markets had a ripple effect across commodities prices and weighed on other economies.  Oil remained stuck in a rut (or glut), and prices for other raw materials reflected soft industrial demand.  


At the same time, predictions on when the Federal Reserve would begin to raise U.S. interest rates were a prime focus for investors.  Consensus thinking in early 2015 was that the Federal Reserve would begin raising rates in September, but weaker-than-expected employment figures, including a downward revision of earlier reports, postponed a rate increase this quarter.  Investors were left to debate whether the rate rise would now occur in December 2015, or be delayed until next year.  As we have stated in past commentaries, we at Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC believe the economy would be better served by modest interest rate increases over the next year or two, as opposed to the current situation of policymakers periodically reminding investors that the economy is so weak that rates cannot be raised.


The major U.S. indices (S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Russell 2000) all fell more than 10% from their highs in mid-June 2015.  The market’s recent favorite industries—biotechnology and pharmaceuticals—were particularly hard hit.  The high valuations of the biopharma industries appeared particularly vulnerable in the sell-off.  In the era of social media, this was compounded by Hillary Clinton’s tweet that she would aggressively rein in drug pricing, as well as old media reports on profiteering by several drug companies.


As managers and fellow shareholders of the Conestoga Small Cap Fund and Conestoga SMid Cap Fund, we were pleased to see the Funds perform as we would expect in the down market from mid-June through the end of September.  We expect the strategy to protect capital during periods of market uncertainty and higher volatility.  Returns for both Funds are below:


 


3Q 2015

YTD 2015

1 Year

3 Years*

5 Years*

10 Years*

Since Inception*

(10-1-02)

Conestoga Small Cap Fund

(Investors Class)

-8.45%

-0.68%

8.95%

11.18%

12.66%

8.06%

10.65%

Russell 2000 Index

-11.92%

-7.73%

1.25%

11.02%

11.73%

6.55%

10.24%

Russell 2000 Growth Index

-13.06%

-5.47%

4.04%

12.85%

13.26%

7.67%

10.96%


 


3Q 2015

YTD 2015

1 Year

Since Inception*

(1-21-14)

Conestoga SMid Cap Fund (Investors Class)

-9.40%

-5.66%

-0.69%

-8.10%

Russell 2500 Index

-10.30%

-5.98%

0.38%

-0.10%

Russell 2500 Growth Index

-11.05%

-3.85%

3.35%

0.93%


* Note – All periods longer than one year are annualized.




SMALL CAP FUND PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Over the last 12 months, the solid absolute and relative performance was driven by stock selection.  Indicative of the strong stock selection is the fact that the Fund’s top 10 weightings (based on beginning portfolio value) were up on average 17.87% for the last 12 months.  Sector allocation was a slight negative for returns over this period. A significant portion of the Fund’s excess return was delivered in the second half of the fiscal year as the markets became more volatile and the biotech/pharmaceutical sector experienced significant declines.


From a stock selection perspective, the Fund’s stock selection was strong in six out of the seven sectors in which it has exposure.  Selection had a particularly noteworthy effect within four sectors-consumer discretionary, healthcare, materials and processing and producer durables.  We had a number of very strong performances from individual securities such as Stamps.com, Cantel Medical and Tyler Technologies. Given the weakness in commodities, particularly oil and crop prices, it is not surprising that two biggest detractors in the Fund were Contango Oil and Gas and Raven Industries.  The biggest detractor in the Fund was Stratasys, a 3-D printing company.  We sold Contango Oil and Gas and Stratasys during the course of the fiscal year and we trimmed Raven down to a 1% weighting during the same period.  


From a sector allocation perspective, the Fund’s underweight of financial services had the most adverse impact to the Fund.  The Fund’s significant overweight to technology enhanced the Fund’s return.


During the last 12 months, the Fund’s turnover has been below its historical average. While we have been relatively active on paring names for various reasons, new ideas and partial buys have been a little light.  This is because of our unusual activity on the partial buy side in the previous fiscal year where we took advantage of the price declines in a substantial number of our existing holdings.


SMID CAP FUND PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Over the course of the fiscal year, stock selection had a positive influence on returns for the SMid Cap Fund, while sector allocation was negative. The SMid Cap Fund’s technology sector holdings provided the strongest contribution to returns over the past year, with several holdings increasing more than 40%. Stock selection was also positive in the financial services and materials/processing sectors.


From a sector allocation perspective, the SMid Cap Fund’s overweights in producer durables and energy and its underweight in healthcare held back performance over the past year. In the first half of the last fiscal year, the SMid Cap Fund’s low weighting in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies had a big influence on relative performance, as stocks in those industries rose dramatically. Our investment style at Conestoga emphasizes profitability and defensible competitive advantage in our holdings, characteristics that are lacking in many of the more speculative healthcare issues in the indices, so we have remained underweighted in these areas. This underweighting has helped the SMid Cap Fund over the last six months and, along with stock selection, has contributed to the SMid Cap Fund’s outperformance over that period.


The SMid Cap Fund’s holdings continue to have high quality investment characteristics, including superior levels of profitability and projected earnings growth, with lower levels of debt, compared to the Russell indices. These characteristics give us confidence in the positioning of the Fund in the current market environment and for the longer term.


CONESTOGA CAPITAL ADVISORS FIRM UPDATE

In June, Conestoga announced the addition of Derek Johnston, CFA and Larry Carlin, CFA to the firm as Equity Research Analysts.  Derek Johnston is joining Conestoga from 300 North Capital, a growth-equity investment manager based in Pasadena, CA.  At 300 North Capital, he served as a Co-Portfolio Manager for the firm’s SMid Cap Growth and Small Cap Growth strategies.  Larry Carlin joins Conestoga from Columbia Partners, where he provided fundamental research for long-only portfolios and a hedge fund.  Both Derek and Larry have over 15 years of investment experience.


Conestoga also announced the retirement of Dave Lawson, expected in the first quarter of 2016. Dave is a Managing Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager of the SMid Cap Fund, with research responsibilities across the small- and mid-capitalization sectors.  Dave joined Conestoga in 2008 and became a Managing Partner in 2009.  We wish Dave all the best in retirement.


As always, we appreciate your investment in the Conestoga Funds.  We look forward to serving you in the years ahead.


Sincerely,


Robert M. Mitchell

Joseph F. Monahan

Managing Partner – Co-Portfolio Manager

Managing Partner – Co-Portfolio Manager


David M. Lawson

Managing Partner – Co-Portfolio Manager






CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND INVESTORS SHARE CLASS


Comparison of Changes in Value of $10,000 (unaudited)

As of Closing Business Day Prior to Inception (September 30, 2002)


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CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARE CLASS


Comparison of Changes in Value of $25,000,000 (unaudited)

As of Closing Business Day Prior to Inception (August 12, 2014)


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CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND INVESTORS SHARE CLASS


Comparison of Changes in Value of $10,000 (unaudited)

As of Closing Business Day Prior to Inception (January 20, 2014)


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CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARE CLASS


Comparison of Changes in Value of $25,000 (unaudited)

As of Closing Business Day Prior to Inception (December 14, 2014)


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CONESTOGA FUNDS


Expense Examples

(Unaudited)


As a shareholder of the Conestoga Small Cap Fund and/or the Conestoga SMid Cap Fund, you incur the following costs: management fees, trustee fees, transaction costs and certain other Fund expenses.  This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in these Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The Examples for the Conestoga Small Cap Fund's Investors Class and Institutional Class and the Conestoga SMid Cap Fund's Investors Class and Institutional Class are each based on an investment of $1,000 at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015.


Actual Expenses

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses.  You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.  Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During the 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 Funds’ actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Funds’ actual return.  The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.  You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in these Funds.  To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of other funds.


Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees, which are not charged by our Funds but which may be charged by other funds.  Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.  In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.


Conestoga Small Cap Fund - Investors Class:

Beginning Account

Ending Account

Expenses Paid

 

Value

Value

During the Period*

 

April 1, 2015

September 30, 2015

April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

Actual

$1,000.00

$   944.95

$5.36

Hypothetical (5% Annual Return before expenses)

$1,000.00

$1,019.55

$5.57

 

 

 

 

* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 1.10%, multiplied by the average account value over the    period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one half year period).


Conestoga Small Cap Fund - Institutional Class:

Beginning Account

Ending Account

Expenses Paid

 

Value

Value

During the Period*

 

April 1, 2015

September 30, 2015

April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

Actual

$1,000.00

$   945.87

$4.39

Hypothetical (5% Annual Return before expenses)

$1,000.00

$1,020.56

$4.56

 

 

 

 

* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 0.90%, multiplied by the average account value over the    period, multiplied by 183/365 ( to reflect the one half year period ).


Conestoga SMid Cap Fund - Investors Class:

Beginning Account

Ending Account

Expenses Paid

 

Value

Value

During the Period*

 

April 1, 2015

September 30, 2015

April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

Actual

$1,000.00

$   914.56

$6.48

Hypothetical (5% Annual Return before expenses)

$1,000.00

$1,018.30

$6.83

 

 

 

 

* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 1.35%, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one half year period).


Conestoga SMid Cap Fund - Institutional Class:

Beginning Account

Ending Account

Expenses Paid

 

Value

Value

During the Period*

 

April 1, 2015

September 30, 2015

April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

Actual

$1,000.00

$   915.70

$5.28

Hypothetical (5% Annual Return before expenses)

$1,000.00

$1,019.55

$5.57

 

 

 

 

* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 1.10%, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one half year period).







CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND


Securities Holdings by Sector

September 30, 2015

(Unaudited)


The following chart gives a visual breakdown of the Small Cap Fund by the economic sectors* in which it invests.  The underlying securities represent a percentage of the total investments.  The total investments of the Fund on September 30, 2015 were $586,990,013.

 

[conestogancsr012.gif]


* Russell Sectors







CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary

 

 

 

Auto Parts

 

 

 

 

 

339,224

 

Dorman Products, Inc. *

 

 $        17,263,109

 

Commercial Services

 

 

 

 

325,400

 

Mobile Mini, Inc.

 

10,019,066

 

Consumer Services, Misc.

 

 

 

268,150

 

Stamps.com, Inc. *

 

19,845,782

 

Educational Services

 

 

 

 

 

281,850

 

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. *

 

10,707,481

 

549,260

 

Healthstream, Inc. *

 

11,979,361

 

      Educational Services Total

 

22,686,842

 

Specialty Retail

 

 

 

 

 

129,650

 

Hibbett Sports, Inc. *

 

4,539,046

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                 Consumer Discretionary Sector Total

 

74,353,845

12.57%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy

 

 

 

 

 

Oil:  Crude Producers

 

 

 

559,756

 

Matador Resources Co. *

 

           11,609,339

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                           Energy Sector Total

 

11,609,339

1.96%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Services

 

 

 

 

 

Asset Management & Custodian

 

 

 

245,175

 

Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.

 

13,325,261

 

Financial Data & Systems

 

 

 

76,550

 

Morningstar, Inc.

 

6,143,903

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Services Sector Total

 

19,469,164

3.29%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare

 

 

 

 

 

Bio-Technology Research and Production

 

 

 

154,225

 

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *

 

13,209,371

 

324,250

 

Repligen Corp. *

 

9,030,362

 

       Bio-Technology Research and Production Total

 

22,239,733

 

Healthcare Management Services

 

 

 

57,767

 

Exponent, Inc.

 

2,574,098

 

402,400

 

Healthcare Services Group, Inc.

 

13,560,880

 

431,500

 

National Research Corp., Class A #

 

5,152,110

 

202,597

 

National Research Corp., Class B #

 

6,685,701

 

691,350

 

Omnicell, Inc. *

 

21,500,985

 

       Healthcare Management Services Total

 

49,473,774

 

Healthcare Services

 

 

 

 

 

224,600

 

Medidata Solutions, Inc. *

 

9,457,906

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.

 

 

 

 

 

# The Fund owned 5% or more of the company's outstanding voting shares thereby making the company an "affiliated company" as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (Note 3).


CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments (Continued)

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medical Equipment

 

 

 

 

 

106,900

 

Abaxis, Inc.

 

 $          4,702,531

 

Medical and Dental Instruments and Supplies

 

 

 

232,125

 

Align Technology, Inc. *

 

13,175,415

 

73,775

 

Bio-Techne Corp.

 

6,821,237

 

480,500

 

Cantel Medical Corp.

 

27,244,350

 

397,575

 

Neogen Corp. *

 

17,886,899

 

350,698

 

Vascular Solutions, Inc. *

 

11,366,122

 

       Medical and Dental Instruments and Supplies Total

 

76,494,023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare Sector Total

 

162,367,967

27.44%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials and Processing

 

 

 

Building: Climate Control

 

 

 

999,000

 

AAON, Inc.

 

           19,360,620

 

Building Materials

 

 

 

 

 

257,975

 

Trex Company, Inc. *

 

             8,598,307

 

449,600

 

Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc.

 

           15,057,104

 

       Building Materials Total

 

           23,655,411

 

Chemicals: Specialty

 

 

 

 

 

266,375

 

Balchem Corp., Class B

 

           16,187,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials and Processing Sector Total

 

           59,203,640

10.01%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Producer Durables

 

 

 

 

 

Back Office Support HR & Consulting

 

 

 

314,350

 

Advisory Board Co. *

 

14,315,499

 

82,275

 

Costar Group, Inc. *

 

14,238,512

 

       Back Office Support HR & Consulting Total

 

28,554,011

 

Commercial Services

 

 

 

 

483,112

 

Rollins, Inc.

 

           12,981,219

 

Diversified Manufacturing Operations

 

 

 

167,300

 

Raven Industries, Inc.

 

2,835,735

 

Machinery: Industrial

 

 

 

265,975

 

Proto Labs, Inc. *

 

17,820,325

 

Scientific Instruments:  Control and Filter

 

 

 

468,825

 

Sun Hydraulics Corp.

 

12,878,623

 

Scientific Instruments:  Gauges & Meters

 

 

 

169,960

 

Mesa Laboratories, Inc.

 

18,933,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Producer Durables Sector Total

 

94,003,457

15.89%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technology

 

 

 

 

 

Computer Services Software and Systems

 

 

 

863,575

 

ACI Worldwide, Inc. *

 

18,238,704

 

360,300

 

Blackbaud, Inc.

 

20,220,036

 

675,750

 

Bottomline Technologies, Inc. *

 

16,900,508

 

564,022

 

EXA Corp. *

 

5,826,347

 

351,350

 

Fleetmatics Group PLC (Ireland) *

 

17,247,771

 

769,400

 

NIC, Inc.

 

13,626,074

 

783,875

 

Pros Holdings, Inc. *

 

17,354,992

 

106,888

 

SciQuest, Inc. *

 

1,068,880

 

313,800

 

SPS Commerce, Inc. *

 

21,303,882

 

147,725

 

Tyler Technologies, Inc. *

 

22,056,820

 

       Computer Services Software and Systems Total

 

         153,844,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.

 

 

 

 

 


CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments (Continued)

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Electronic Components

 

 

 

128,025

 

NVE Corp.

 

 $          6,214,335

 

111,400

 

Rogers Corp. *

 

5,924,252

 

       Electronic Components Total

 

12,138,587

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technology Sector Total

 

165,982,601

28.06%

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

 

 

(Cost $411,592,736)

 

$586,990,013

99.22%

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

(Cost $411,592,736)

 

$586,990,013

99.22%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

 

4,632,347

0.78%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS

 

$591,622,360

100.00%

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.

 

 

 

 

 

# The Fund owned 5% or more of the company's outstanding voting shares thereby making the company an "affiliated company" as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (Note 3).







CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND


Securities Holdings by Sector

September 30, 2015

(Unaudited)



The following chart gives a visual breakdown of the SMid Cap Fund by the economic sectors* in which it invests.  The underlying securities represent a percentage of the total investments.  The total investments of the Fund on September 30, 2015 were $18,459,189.


[conestogancsr014.gif]


* Russell Sectors







CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary

 

 

 

Auto Parts

 

 

 

 

 

10,845

 

Dorman Products, Inc. *

 

 $             551,902

 

24,105

 

Gentex Corp.

 

373,748

 

      Auto Parts Total

925,650

 

Commercial Services

 

 

 

10,685

 

Mobile Mini, Inc.

 

328,991

 

Educational Services

 

 

 

12,435

 

Grand Canyon Education, Inc. *

 

472,406

 

15,425

 

Healthstream, Inc. *

 

336,419

 

      Educational Services Total

808,825

 

Recreational Vehicles & Boats

 

 

 

3,380

 

Polaris Industries, Inc.

 

405,161

 

Specialty Retail

 

 

 

3,810

 

Hibbett Sports, Inc. *

 

133,388

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                 Consumer Discretionary Sector Total

 

2,602,015

14.08%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy

 

 

 

 

 

Oil:  Crude Producers

 

 

 

4,675

 

SM Energy Co.

 

149,787

 

Oil Well Equipment & Services

 

 

 

3,125

 

Core Laboratories NV (Netherlands)

 

               311,875

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                           Energy Sector Total

 

461,662

2.50%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Services

 

 

 

Financial Data & Systems

 

 

 

1,770

 

Morningstar, Inc.

 

142,060

 

Insurance: Multi-Line

 

 

 

865

 

Markel Corp. *

 

693,609

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Services Sector Total

 

835,669

4.52%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare

 

 

 

 

 

Bio-Technology Research and Production

 

 

 

3,035

 

Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. *

 

259,948

 

Healthcare Management Services

 

 

 

15,625

 

Omnicell, Inc. *

 

485,937

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.

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



CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments (Continued)

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare Services

 

 

 

6,105

 

Medidata Solutions, Inc. *

 

 $             257,082

 

Medical Equipment

 

 

 

4,675

 

Abaxis, Inc.

 

205,653

 

Medical and Dental Instruments and Supplies

 

 

 

6,310

 

Align Technology, Inc. *

 

358,155

 

4,600

 

Bio-Techne Corp.

 

425,316

 

8,435

 

Neogen Corp. *

 

379,491

 

5,500

 

Vascular Solutions, Inc. *

 

178,255

 

       Medical and Dental Instruments and Supplies Total

 

1,341,217

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthcare Sector Total

 

2,549,837

13.79%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials and Processing

 

 

 

Building: Climate Control

 

 

 

20,225

 

AAON, Inc.

 

               391,961

 

Building Materials

 

 

 

10,915

 

Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc.

 

               365,543

 

7,700

 

Trex Company, Inc. *

 

               256,641

 

       Building Materials Total

 

               622,184

 

Chemicals: Specialty

 

 

 

8,375

 

Balchem Corp., Class B

 

               508,949

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials and Processing Sector Total

 

            1,523,094

8.24%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Producer Durables

 

 

 

Aerospace

 

 

 

 

 

7,575

 

Heico Corp., Class A

 

343,981

 

Back Office Support HR & Consulting

 

 

 

10,950

 

Advisory Board Co. *

 

498,663

 

12,440

 

Copart, Inc. *

 

409,276

 

3,715

 

Costar Group, Inc. *

 

642,918

 

5,800

 

IHS, Inc., Class A *

 

672,800

 

       Back Office Support HR & Consulting Total

 

2,223,657

 

Environmental Maint & Security Service

 

 

 

20,927

 

Rollins, Inc.

 

562,308

 

Diversified Manufacturing Operations

 

 

 

12,215

 

Raven Industries, Inc.

 

207,044

 

Scientific Instruments:  Control and Filter

 

 

 

12,195

 

Donaldson Company, Inc.

 

342,436

 

4,790

 

Sun Hydraulics Corp.

 

131,581

 

       Scientific Instruments: Control and Filter Total

 

474,017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.

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



CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments (Continued)

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific Instruments: Electric

 

 

 

2,925

 

Smith AO Corp.

 

 $             190,681

 

Machinery: Industrial

 

 

 

6,895

 

Proto Labs, Inc. *

 

461,965

 

3,690

 

Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp.

 

324,904

 

       Machinery: Industrial Total

 

786,869

 

Machinery: Specialty

 

 

 

6,020

 

Graco, Inc.

 

403,521

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Producer Durables Sector Total

 

            5,192,078

28.09%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technology

 

 

 

 

 

Computer Services Software & Systems

 

 

 

19,925

 

ACI Worldwide, Inc. *

 

420,816

 

6,495

 

Ansys, Inc. *

 

572,469

 

10,565

 

BlackBaud, Inc.

 

592,908

 

17,895

 

Bottomline Technologies, Inc. *

 

447,554

 

10,935

 

Fleetmatics Group PLC (Ireland) *

 

536,799

 

3,600

 

Guidewire Software, Inc. *

 

189,288

 

15,600

 

NIC, Inc.

 

276,276

 

21,055

 

Pros Holdings, Inc. *

 

466,158

 

11,020

 

SciQuest, Inc. *

 

110,200

 

6,160

 

SPS Commerce, Inc. *

 

418,202

 

4,110

 

Tyler Technologies, Inc. *

 

613,664

 

       Computer Services Software & Systems Total

 

4,644,334

 

Electronic Components

 

 

 

6,725

 

Rogers Corp. *

 

357,636

 

Electronics

 

 

 

 

 

3,855

 

IPG Photonics Corp. *

 

292,864

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technology Sector Total

 

5,294,834

28.64%

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

 

 

(Cost $19,357,993)

 

$18,459,189

99.86%

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

(Cost $19,357,993)

 

$18,459,189

99.86%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

 

25,529

0.14%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS

 

$18,484,718

100.00%

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing.

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








CONESTOGA FUNDS

 

Statements of Assets and Liabilities

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

Assets:

 SMALL CAP FUND

 SMID CAP FUND

     Investments in Securities:

 

 

          Unaffiliated Investments at Value (Cost $401,030,393 and $19,357,993, respectively)

 $  575,152,202

 $ 18,459,189

          Affiliated Investments at Value (Cost $10,562,343 and $0, respectively)

       11,837,811

                 -   

               Total Investments at Value (Cost $411,592,736 and $19,357,993, respectively)

     586,990,013

    18,459,189

          Cash

       13,837,433

          48,299

     Receivables:

 

 

          Shareholder Subscriptions

           303,334

          12,084

          Portfolio Securities Sold

         2,456,501

        181,132

          Dividends

           335,543

            2,178

          Interest

                   67

                  2

     Prepaid Expenses

             86,074

            2,897

               Total Assets

     604,008,965

    18,705,781

Liabilities:

 

 

     Payables:

 

 

           Shareholder Redemptions

         9,130,390

                70

           Portfolio Securities Purchased

         2,486,070

        183,596

     Accrued Investment Advisory Fees

           472,881

            5,000

     Accrued Compliance Fees

               3,364

 -

     Accrued Distribution Fees

             30,179

              402

     Accrued Trustees' Fees

             20,598

              105

     Other Expenses

           243,123

          31,890

               Total Liabilities

       12,386,605

        221,063

Net Assets

 $  591,622,360

 $ 18,484,718

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

 

 

     Beneficial Interest Paid-in

 $  420,239,616

 $ 19,706,893

     Accumulated Net Investment Loss

(2,357,948)

         (98,214)

     Accumulated Net Realized Loss on Investments

        (1,656,585)

       (225,157)

     Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) in Value of Investments

     175,397,277

       (898,804)

Net Assets

 $  591,622,360

 $ 18,484,718

 

 

 

Institutional Class Shares:

 

 

Net Assets

$    155,066,738

$   16,706,123

Shares outstanding, Unlimited Number of  Shares Authorized with a $0.001 Par Value, respectively

          4,621,843

      1,922,554

Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption Price Per Share

$              33.55

$             8.69

      ($155,066,738/4,621,843 shares) and ($16,706,123/1,922,554 shares), respectively

 

 

 

 

 

Investors Class Shares:

 

 

Net Assets

$    436,555,622

$     1,778,595

Shares outstanding, Unlimited Number of  Shares Authorized with a $0.001 Par Value, respectively

        13,044,842

         205,217

Net Asset Value, Offering and Redemption Price Per Share

$              33.47

$             8.67

      ($436,555,622/13,044,842 shares) and ($1,778,595/205,217 shares), respectively

 

 


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







CONESTOGA FUNDS

 

Statements of Operations

For the Year Ended September 30, 2015

 

 

 

Investment Income:

 SMALL CAP FUND

 SMID CAP FUND

     Dividends:

 

 

          Unaffiliated dividends (net of foreign taxes withheld of $0 and $0, respectively)

 $       4,264,067

 $      75,673

          Affiliated dividends (Note 3)

            507,518

                -   

     Interest  

                  559

               69

          Total Investment Income

         4,772,144

         75,742

Expenses:

 

 

     Investment advisory fees (Note 3)

         6,008,249

       133,162

     Shareholder servicing fees (Note 3)

 

 

          Institutional Class

            107,928

           5,467

          Investors Class

         1,329,861

           5,865

     Distribution fees - Investors Class (Note 3)

            227,402

           1,493

     Audit fees

              16,200

         13,501

     Legal fees

              96,586

         61,819

     Custody expenses

              85,437

           3,335

     Transfer agent expenses (Note 3)

            193,244

         28,051

     Registration expenses

              68,533

           3,510

     Offering costs

                     -   

           7,198

     Miscellaneous expenses

                  491

             921

     Printing and mailing fees

              47,602

             781

     Compliance fees

                2,686

                -   

     Trustees' fees

            225,449

         17,142

          Total expenses

         8,409,668

       282,245

               Less: Advisory fees waived

        (1,307,812)

      (104,052)

          Net expenses

         7,101,856

       178,193

 

 

 

Net Investment Loss

        (2,329,712)

      (102,451)

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments:

 

 

     Net realized loss on investments:

 

 

          Unaffiliated investments

       (12,847,779)

      (224,158)

          Affiliated investments

           (359,302)

                -   

     Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation):

 

 

          Unaffiliated investments

        69,296,680

      (589,298)

          Affiliated investments

         8,550,143

                -   

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

        64,639,742

      (813,456)

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

 $     62,310,030

 $   (915,907)


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







CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets


 

For the

 

For the

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

 

9/30/2015

 

9/30/2014

 

 

 

Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Net investment loss

 $      (2,329,712)

 

 $       (4,504,660)

 

 

 

     Net realized gain (loss) on investments

       (13,207,081)

 

         19,354,097

 

 

 

     Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments

        77,846,823

 

        (79,558,743)

 

 

 

     Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

        62,310,030

 

        (64,709,306)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

      Net realized gain on investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Investor Class

                      -   

 

        (12,065,191)

 

 

 

      Total Distributions

                      -   

 

        (12,065,191)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Fund share transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Proceeds from sale of shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Institutional Class

       156,057,484

 

         45,412,168

*

 

 

          Investor Class

       113,141,905

 

       488,167,016

 

 

 

     Shares issued on reinvestment of distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Investor Class

                      -   

 

         10,521,331

 

 

 

     Cost of shares redeemed

 

 

 

 

 

 

          Institutional Class

       (45,956,927)

 

              (86,897)

*

 

 

          Investor Class

      (355,772,560)

 

      (354,375,678)

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets from Fund share transactions

      (132,530,098)

 

       189,637,940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

       (70,220,068)

 

       112,863,443

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets at Beginning of Year

       661,842,428

 

       548,978,985

 

 

 

Net Assets at End of Year (Includes accumulated net

 

 

 

 

 

 

      investment loss of $2,357,948 and $2,066,953, respectively)

 $    591,622,360

 

 $     661,842,428

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* The Small Cap Fund's Institutional Class commenced operations on August 13, 2014.


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







CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND

Statements of Changes in Net Assets


 

For the

 

 

For the

 

Year/Period Ended

 

 

Period Ended

 

9/30/2015

 

 

9/30/2014 *

Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets

 

 

 

 

From Operations:

 

 

 

 

     Net investment loss

 $      (102,451)

 

 

 $        (16,648)

     Net realized gain (loss) on investments

         (224,158)

 

 

           10,009

     Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments

         (589,298)

 

 

         (309,506)

     Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

         (915,907)

 

 

         (316,145)

 

 

 

 

 

From Fund share transactions:

 

 

 

 

     Proceeds from sale of shares

 

 

 

 

          Institutional Class

     18,655,979

**

                   -   

          Investor Class

          348,674

 

 

       3,154,401

     Cost of shares redeemed

 

 

 

 

          Institutional Class

         (990,617)

**

                   -   

          Investor Class

      (1,399,532)

 

 

          (52,135)

Total increase in net assets from Fund share transactions

     16,614,504

 

 

       3,102,266

 

 

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets

     15,698,597

 

 

       2,786,121

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets at Beginning of Year/Period

       2,786,121

 

 

                   -   

Net Assets at End of Year/Period (Includes accumulated net

 

 

 

 

      investment loss of $98,214 and $-, respectively)

 $  18,484,718

 

 

 $    2,786,121

 

 

 

 

 

* For the period January 21, 2014 (commencement of operations of the SMid Cap Fund's Investors Class) through September 30, 2014.

 

** The SMid Cap Fund's Institutional Class commenced operations on December 15, 2014.

 


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







CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND

Institutional Class


Financial Highlights


Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the

 

For the

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

Period Ended

 

 

 

9/30/2015

 

9/30/2014 *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - beginning of period

$30.73

 

$32.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

  Net investment loss (a)

      (0.09)

 

      (0.01)

 

 

  Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

       2.91

 

      (1.44)

 

 

    Total from investment operations

       2.82

 

       (1.45)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - end of period

$33.55

 

$30.73

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return

9.18 %

 

(4.51)%

(b)

 

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets - end of period (thousands)

 $      155,067

 

 $        43,355

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before waivers

 

 

 

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

1.09%

 

1.09%

(c)

 

    Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

(0.44)%

 

(0.40)%

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After waivers

 

 

 

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

0.90%

 

0.90%

(c)

 

    Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

(0.25)%

 

(0.20)%

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

11.66%

 

18.13%

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* For the period August 13, 2014 (commencement of operations of the Small Cap Fund's Institutional Class) through September 30, 2014.

(a) Per share net investment loss has been determined on the basis of average number of shares outstanding during the period.

 

(b) Not annualized.

 

 

 

 

 

(c) Annualized.

 

 

 

 

 

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







CONESTOGA SMALL CAP FUND

Investors Class


Financial Highlights


Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the

For the

For the

For the

For the

 

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

 

9/30/2015

9/30/2014

9/30/2013

9/30/2012

9/30/2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - beginning of year

$30.72

$33.59

$24.90

$20.43

$19.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

  Net investment loss (a)

    (0.13)

   (0.22)

   (0.02)

     (0.12)

  (0.08)

  Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

      2.88

    (2.02)

       8.83

    5.10

    1.23

    Total from investment operations

      2.75

      (2.24)

    8.81

    4.98

  1.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions to shareholders:

 

 

 

 

 

  From net investment income

       -   

         -   

   -   

    -   

    -   

  From net realized capital gains

      -   

    (0.63)

  (0.12)

  (0.51)

   -   

    Total distributions

      -   

   (0.63)

   (0.12)

 (0.51)

     -   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - end of year

$33.47

$30.72

$33.59

$24.90

$20.43

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return

8.95 %

(6.96)%

35.59 %

24.61 %

5.96 %

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets - end of year (thousands)

 $        436,556

 $        618,488

 $   548,979

 $   297,001

 $   133,214

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before waivers

 

 

 

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

1.30%

1.24%

1.21%

1.22%

1.27%

    Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

(0.57)%

(0.78)%

(0.20)%

(0.62)%

(0.53)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

After waivers

 

 

 

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

1.10%

1.10%

1.10%

1.10%

1.10%

    Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

(0.37)%

(0.64)%

(0.09)%

(0.50)%

(0.36)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

11.66 %

18.13 %

14.98 %

16.42%

18.03%

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Per share net investment loss has been determined on the basis of average number of shares outstanding during the year.

 

 


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






CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND

Institutional Class


Financial Highlights


Selected data for a share outstanding throughout the period:

 

 

 

For the

 

 

Period Ended

 

 

9/30/2015 *

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - beginning of period

$8.92

 

 

 

 

From Operations:

 

 

  Net investment loss (a)

                 (0.05)

 

  Net realized and unrealized loss on investments

                 (0.18)

 

    Total from investment operations

                 (0.23)

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - end of period

$8.69

 

 

 

 

Total return

(2.58)%

(b)

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

Net Assets - end of period (thousands)

 $            16,706

 

 

 

 

Before waivers

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

1.72%

(c)

    Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

(1.25)%

(c)

 

 

 

After waivers

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

1.10%

(c)

    Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

(0.63)%

(c)

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

12.63%

(b)

 

 

 

* For the period December 15, 2014 (commencement of operations of the SMid Cap Fund's Institutional Class) through September 30, 2015.

(a) Per share net investment loss has been determined on the basis of average number of shares outstanding during the period.

 

(b) Not annualized.

 

 

(c) Annualized.

 

 


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






CONESTOGA SMID CAP FUND

Investors Class


Financial Highlights


Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 

 

 

 

 

For the

 

For the

 

 

Year Ended

 

Period Ended

 

 

9/30/2015

 

9/30/2014 *

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - beginning of period

$8.73

 

$10.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Operations:

 

 

 

 

  Net investment loss (a)

                (0.07)

 

              (0.06)

 

  Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

                 0.01

(d)

              (1.21)

 

    Total from investment operations

                (0.06)

 

              (1.27)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - end of period

$8.67

 

$8.73

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return

(0.69)%

 

(12.70)%

(b)

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

 

 

Net Assets - end of period (thousands)

 $            1,779

 

 $          2,786

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before waivers

 

 

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

2.25%

 

6.58%

(c)

    Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

(1.67)%

 

(6.12)%

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

After waivers

 

 

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

1.35%

 

1.35%

(c)

    Ratio of net investment loss to average net assets

(0.77)%

 

(0.89)%

(c)

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

12.63%

 

9.60%

(b)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* For the period January 21, 2014 (commencement of operations of the Smid Cap Fund's Investors Class) through September 30, 2014.

 

(a) Per share net investment loss has been determined on the basis of average number of shares outstanding during the period.

 

 

 

(b) Not annualized.

 

 

 

 

(c) Annualized.

 

 

 

 

(d) The amount of net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments on a per share basis does not accord with the amounts presented in the

 

Statement of Operations due to the timing of subscriptions and redemptions in relation to fluctuating market values during the period.

 


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







CONESTOGA FUNDS


Notes to Financial Statements

September 30, 2015


Note 1. Organization


Conestoga Funds (the "Trust") was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 5, 2002.  The Trust consists of three series, the Conestoga Small Cap Fund (the “Small Cap Fund”), the Conestoga SMid Cap Fund (the “SMid Cap Fund”, together with the Small Cap Fund, collectively known as the “Funds”) and the Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund.  The Trust is registered as an open-end diversified management investment company of the series type under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").  The Funds’ investment strategy is to achieve long-term growth of capital. The Small Cap Fund currently offers two classes of shares, Investors Class and Institutional Class. The Small Cap Fund's Investors Class commenced operations on October 1, 2002. The Small Cap Fund's Institutional Class commenced operations on August 13, 2014.  The SMid Cap Fund currently offers two classes of shares, Investors Class and Institutional Class. The SMid Cap Fund's Investors Class commenced operations on January 21, 2014. The SMid Cap Fund's Institutional Class commenced operations on December 15, 2014. The Funds’ investment adviser is Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC (the “Adviser”).  The Financial Statements of Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund are included in a separate annual report.


Note 2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies


The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies 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 (“GAAP”).

 

Security Valuation - Securities that are traded on any exchange are valued at the last quoted sale price on the primary exchange.  Securities which are quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price.  Lacking a last sale price, a security is valued at its last bid price except when, in the opinion of the Funds’ Adviser, the last bid price does not accurately reflect the current value of the security.  All other securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at their last bid price.  When market quotations are not readily available, when the Adviser determines the last bid price does not accurately reflect the current value or when restricted securities are being valued, such securities are valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Trust.   


Short-term investments in fixed income securities with maturities of less than 60 days when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued by using the amortized cost method of valuation, which the Board has determined will represent fair value.


GAAP defines fair value as the price that the Funds would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and also establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability.  The three-level hierarchy seeks to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Funds’ own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.  The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:  


Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.


Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.


Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.


The following table presents information about the Small Cap Fund’s assets measured at fair value as of September 30, 2015 by major security type:


 

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets for

Identical Assets

(Level 1)

Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)

Significant Unobservable Inputs

(Level 3)

Balance as of

September 30, 2015

(Total)

Assets

 

 

 

 

Common Stocks

  586,990,013

    -

    -

  586,990,013

Total

$  586,990,013

$   -

$   -

$  586,990,013


At September 30, 2015, there were no transfers among Level 1, 2, or 3 based on the input levels on September 30, 2014. It is the Fund’s policy to record transfers into or out of fair value levels at the end of the reporting period. For a further breakdown of each investment by industry, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The Fund did not hold any Level 3 securities during the year ended September 30, 2015.


The following table presents information about the SMid Cap Fund’s assets measured at fair value as of September 30, 2015, by major security type:


 

Quoted Prices in

Active Markets for

Identical Assets

(Level 1)

Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)

Significant Unobservable Inputs

(Level 3)

Balance as of

September 30, 2015

(Total)

Assets

 

 

 

 

Common Stocks

  18,459,189

    -

    -

  18,459,189

Total

$ 18,459,189

$   -

$   -

$ 18,459,189


At September 30, 2015, there were no transfers among Level 1, 2, or 3 based on the input levels on September 30, 2014. It is the Fund’s policy to record transfers into or out of fair value levels at the end of the reporting period. For a further breakdown of each investment by industry, please refer to the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. The Fund did not hold any Level 3 securities during the year ended September 30, 2015.


Federal Income Taxes - The Funds intend to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of their net investment income and any realized capital gains.  Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is required.


GAAP provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements and requires the evaluation of tax positions taken in the course of preparing the Funds’ tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are "more-likely-than-not" to be sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax benefits of positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be booked as a tax expense in the current year and recognized as: a liability for unrecognized tax benefits; a reduction of an income tax refund receivable; a reduction of deferred tax asset; an increase in deferred tax liability; or a combination thereof.  Management has evaluated the Funds’ tax positions as of September 30, 2015, and has determined that none of them are uncertain.


Management has reviewed all taxable years that are open for examination (i.e., not barred by the applicable statute of limitations) by taxing authorities of all major jurisdictions, including the Internal Revenue Service. Tax returns filed within the three years ended (2012-2014) and for the year ended September 30, 2015 are open for examination. No examination of any of the Funds’ tax returns is currently in progress.


During the year ended September 30, 2015, the Small Cap Fund inadvertently failed to distribute to its shareholders its accumulated net realized gains from the year ended September 30, 2014, resulting in the Small Cap Fund failing to meet the distribution requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and causing its status as a RIC to terminate. The Internal Revenue Code contains curative provisions that allowed the Small Cap Fund to re-establish its status as a RIC retroactive to the year ended September 30, 2014. In order to qualify for this relief, the Small Cap Fund paid to its shareholders a "deficiency dividend" and will need to pay interest and penalties to the Internal Revenue Service.


Dividends and Distributions - The Funds intend to distribute substantially all of their net investment income and capital gains to their shareholders on an annual basis.  Income and capital gain distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.  Those differences are primarily due to differing treatments for net investment losses and deferral of wash sale, late year, and post-October losses.  Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.


Security Transactions and Investment Income - The Funds record security transactions on the trade date.  The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statement and income tax purposes.  Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.


Estimates - Preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Other - Permanent book/tax differences are reclassified among the components of capital and do not affect net assets.


Expenses - Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific Fund of the Trust will be allocated to the individual Funds based on each Fund's relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Board).


Note 3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Related Party Transactions


Prior to July 1, 2014, under the terms of the previous Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser paid all Small Cap Fund expenses except the fees and expenses of the independent trustees, 12b-1 fees, brokerage commissions, shareholder servicing fees, taxes, interest, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary costs. Prior to July 1, 2014, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement the Small Cap Fund paid the Adviser a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, equal to an annual rate of 1.20% of average daily net assets of the Small Cap Fund. As of July 1, 2014, the Small Cap Fund changed from a unitary fee, as described above, to a fee for investment advisory services only, with other services provided separately.  


Effective July 1, 2014, the Small Cap Fund entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser to provide supervision and assistance in overall management services to the Small Cap Fund. Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Small Cap Fund pays the Adviser a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, equal to an annual rate of 0.90% of average daily net assets of the Small Cap Fund.  For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Small Cap Fund incurred investment advisory fees of $6,008,249.  The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the Small Cap Fund’s net annual operating expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, reorganization expenses, brokerage commissions, and interest) to 1.10% (for the Investors Class) and 0.90% (for the Institutional Class) of the Small Cap Fund’s average daily net assets until at least January 31, 2016.  In addition, if at any point during the two fiscal years after the fiscal year in which the Adviser waived fees and/or made reimbursements, it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements to the extent such a recapture does not cause the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” to exceed the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the of the waiver or reimbursement.  Amounts recoverable are in the table below.  For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Adviser waived $1,307,812 of its fees pursuant to its agreement with the Small Cap Fund under this arrangement.


Period Ended

Amount Recoverable

Recoverable Through

September 30, 2014

$  343,865

September 30, 2016

September 30, 2015

$1,307,812

September 30, 2017


The SMid Cap Fund has entered into an Advisory Agreement with the Adviser to provide supervision and assistance in overall management services to the SMid Cap Fund.  Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the SMid Cap Fund pays the Adviser a fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, equal to an annual rate of 0.85% of average daily net assets of the SMid Cap Fund.  For the year ended September 30, 2015, the SMid Cap Fund incurred advisory fees of $133,162.  The Adviser has contractually agreed to limit the SMid Cap Fund’s net annual operating expenses (excluding taxes, extraordinary expenses, reorganization expense, brokerage commissions and interest) to 1.35% (for the Investors Class) and 1.10% (for the Institutional Class) of the SMid Cap Fund’s average daily net assets until at least January 31, 2016.  In addition, if at any point during the two fiscal years after the fiscal year or period in which the Adviser waived fees and/or made reimbursements, it becomes unnecessary for the Adviser to waive fees or make reimbursements, the Adviser may recapture any of its prior waivers or reimbursements to the extent such a recapture does not cause the Fund’s “Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses” to exceed the applicable expense limitation that was in effect at the time of the of the waiver or reimbursement.  Amounts recoverable are in the table below.  For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Adviser waived fees pursuant to its agreement with the SMid Cap Fund of $104,052.


Period Ended

Amount Recoverable

Recoverable Through

September 30, 2014

$97,068

September 30, 2016

September 30, 2015

$104,052

September 30, 2017


The Trust, on behalf of the Small Cap Fund and SMid Cap Fund, has adopted a distribution plan (the "Distribution Plan"), pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act which permits the Funds to pay certain expenses associated with the distribution of its shares, including, but not limited to, advertising, printing of prospectuses and reports for other than existing shareholders, preparation and distribution of advertising material and sales literature, and payments to dealers and shareholder servicing agents who enter into agreements with the Funds’.  The Distribution Plan provides that the Funds will reimburse the Distributor for actual distribution and shareholder servicing expenses incurred by the Distributor not exceeding, on an annual basis, 0.25% of the Investors Class Shares average daily net assets. The Board has determined to limit the distribution fees paid by Investors Class Shares of the Funds’ to an annual rate of 0.05% of the average daily net assets attributable to Investors Class Shares through at least September 30, 2016. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Small Cap Fund's Investors Class and the SMid Cap Fund's Investors Class incurred $227,402 and $1,493 in 12b-1 fees, respectively.


The Trust, on behalf of the Small Cap Fund and the SMid Cap Fund, has adopted a Shareholder Servicing Plan, under which the Funds may enter into agreements with various shareholder servicing agents, including financial institutions and securities brokers (agents).  The Funds may pay a fee at an annual rate of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Investors Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares, serviced by a particular agent. The Funds do not intend to pay more than 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Institutional Class Shares in servicing fees for Institutional Class shares through September 30, 2016, serviced by a particular agent.  For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Small Cap Fund incurred $107,928 and $1,329,861, for the Institutional Class and Investors Class, respectively, in Shareholder Servicing Fees. For the year ended September 30, 2015, the SMid Cap Fund incurred $5,467 and $5,865, for the Institutional Class and Investors Class, respectively, in Shareholder Servicing Fees.


Transfer Agent

Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC (“MSS”) acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Funds pursuant to a written agreement with the Trust and the Adviser. Under the agreement, MSS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.


Administration

MSS also performs certain administrative tasks as administrator for the Funds pursuant to a written agreement with the Trust and the Adviser. MSS supervises all aspects of the operations of the Funds except those reserved by the Adviser under its service agreements with the Trust. MSS is responsible for calculating the Funds’ net asset value, preparing and maintaining the books and accounts specified in Rules 31a-1 and 31a-2 of the 1940 Act, preparing financial statements contained in reports to stockholders of the Funds, preparing reports and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, preparing filing with state Blue Sky authorities and maintaining the Funds’ financial accounts and records.


For the services to be rendered as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent, for the Funds, each Fund shall pay MSS an annual fee, paid monthly, based on the average net assets of each Fund, as determined by valuations made as of the close of each business day of the month.


Certain directors and officers of the Adviser are trustees, officers or shareholders of the Funds.  These individuals receive benefits from the Adviser resulting from the fees paid to the Adviser by the Funds.  As of September 30, 2014, MSS no longer provides an Assistant Treasurer to the Funds.


Distributor

Arbor Court Capital, LLC serves as distributor of the Funds.


Affiliated Investments

A company is considered an affiliate of a Fund under the 1940 Act if the Fund’s holdings in that company represent 5% or more of the outstanding voting shares of that company. Accordingly, during the year ended September 30, 2015, the following portfolio companies were considered to have been affiliates of the Small Cap Fund. Transactions in these companies during the year ended September 30, 2015 were as follows:


 

9/30/2014 Value

Purchases

Sales

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

9/30/2015 Value

Net Realized  Losses

Dividend Income

Mesa Laboratories, Inc. *

$10,500,648

$  648,423

$(1,940,466)

$9,724,939

$18,933,544

$(268,316)

$112,422

National Research Corp., Class A

$  5,724,400

$    28,070

$  (184,704)

$ (415,656)

$  5,152,110

$  (37,985)

$103,500

National Research Corp., Class B

$  7,791,000

$  104,935

$  (451,094)

$ (759,140)

$  6,685,701

$  (53,001)

$291,596

 

$24,016,048

$  781,428

$(2,576,264)

$ 8,550,143

$30,771,355

$(359,302)

$507,518


The shares held in companies considered to be affiliates of the Small Cap Fund as of the year ended September 30, 2015 were as follows:


 

Shares

National Research Corp., Class A

431,500

National Research Corp., Class B

202,597


* Represents less than 5% of the outstanding shares at 9/30/2015 and is no longer considered an affiliated company as of 9/30/2015.


Note 4. Concentration of Investments


The Small Cap Fund currently invests greater than 25% of its net assets in the technology sector and the healthcare sector. The SMid Cap Fund invests greater than 25% of its net assets in the producer durables sector and technology sector. Concentration of investments in a particular sector poses additional risk since events unique to a sector could affect those securities. These events may not necessarily affect the whole economy.


Note 5. Investment Transactions


SMALL CAP FUND:


Investment transactions, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended September 30, 2015, were as follows:


Purchases……………………………………………...…

$   76,578,239

Sales………………………………………………………..

$ 213,455,916


SMID CAP FUND:


Investment transactions, excluding short-term investments, for the year ended September 30, 2015, were as follows:


Purchases……………………………………………..……

$ 18,429,764

Sales………………………………………………………….

$   1,891,635


Note 6. Federal Income Tax


SMALL CAP FUND:


For Federal Income Tax purposes, the cost of investments owned at September 30, 2015 was $411,950,286.  As of September 30, 2015, the gross unrealized appreciation on a tax basis totaled $194,219,191 and the gross unrealized depreciation totaled $19,179,464 for a net unrealized appreciation of $175,039,727.


As of September 30, 2015 the components of accumulated earnings on a tax basis were as follows:


Net unrealized appreciation

$175,039,727

Undistributed net realized gain on investments

    11,601,814

Capital loss carryforward

    (6,697,697)

Late year and post-October losses

    (8,561,100)

Total

$171,382,744


As of September 30, 2015, the Small Cap Fund had short-term and long-term capital loss carryforwards of $5,651,041 and $1,046,656, respectively, with no expiration.


The difference between the accumulated net realized gains for tax purposes and the accumulated net realized gains reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities is due to wash sale losses, which are required to be deferred for tax purposes. Net unrealized appreciation on a tax basis and the net unrealized appreciation on investments reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities differ by this same wash sale loss figure.


Late year losses incurred after December 31 and post-October losses incurred after October 31 within the fiscal year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the following fiscal year for tax purposes. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, the Small Cap Fund incurred and elected to defer such late year losses of $2,357,948 and post-October losses of $6,203,152.


The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014:


 

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2014

Ordinary income

$        -

$  2,290,291

Long term capital gain

          -

9,774,900

          Total

$        -

$12,065,191


During the year ended September 30, 2015, the Small Cap Fund did not pay any distributions.


Permanent book and tax differences, primarily attributable to the tax treatment of net investment losses and equalization accounting used for tax purposes, resulted in a reclassification for the Small Cap Fund for the year ended September 30, 2015 as follows: an increase of beneficial interest paid-in of $2,558,090; a decrease of accumulated net investment loss of $2,038,717; and an increase of accumulated net realized loss of 4,596,807.


SMID CAP FUND:


For Federal Income Tax purposes, the cost of investments owned at September 30, 2015 was $19,358,992.  As of September 30, 2015, the gross unrealized appreciation on a tax basis totaled $972,545 and the gross unrealized depreciation totaled $1,872,348 for a net unrealized depreciation of $899,803. During the year ended September 30, 2015, the SMid Cap Fund did not pay any distributions. During the period January 21, 2014 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2014, the SMid Cap Fund did not pay any distributions.


As of September 30, 2015, the components of accumulated deficit on a tax basis were as follows:


Net unrealized depreciation

           $   (899,803)

Accumulated net realized loss on investments

    (48,165)

Accumulated net investment loss

-

Late year and post-October losses

  (274,207)

Total  

 $(1,222,175)


 As of September 30, 2015, the SMid Cap Fund had short-term capital loss carryforwards of $48,165 with no expiration.


The difference between the accumulated net realized loss for tax purposes and the accumulated net realized loss reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities is due to wash sale losses, which are required to be deferred for tax purposes. Net unrealized depreciation on a tax basis and the net unrealized depreciation on investments reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities differ by this same wash sale loss figure.


Late year losses incurred after December 31 and post-October losses incurred after October 31 within the fiscal year are deemed to arise on the first business day of the following fiscal year for tax purposes. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, the SMid Cap Fund incurred and elected to defer such late year losses of $98,214 and post-October losses of $175,993.


Permanent book and tax differences, primarily attributable to the tax treatment of net investment losses, resulted in a reclassification for the SMid Cap Fund for the year ended September 30, 2015 as follows: a decrease of beneficial interest paid-in of $4,237 and a decrease in accumulated net investment loss of $4,237.


Note 7. Beneficial Interest


The following table summarizes the activity in Investors Class shares of the Small Cap Fund:


 

For the Year Ended September 30, 2015

For the Year Ended September 30, 2014

 

Shares

Value

Shares

Value

Issued

3,316,302

$    113,141,905

14,082,169

$ 488,167,016

Reinvested

-

-

287,468

10,521,331

Redeemed

 (10,406,668)

  (355,772,560)

 (10,578,882)

 (354,375,678)

Total

   (7,090,366)

$ (242,630,655)

      3,790,755

$ 144,312,669


The following table summarizes the activity in Institutional Class shares of the Small Cap Fund:


 

For the Year Ended September 30, 2015

For the Period August 13, 2014 (commencement of operations of the Small Cap Fund's Institutional Class) through September 30, 2014

 

Shares

Value

Shares

Value

Issued

4,512,702

$ 156,057,484

1,413,551

$ 45,412,168

Redeemed

   (1,301,623)

 (45,956,927)

     (2,787)

      (86,897)

Total

      3,211,079

$ 110,100,557

 1,410,764

$ 45,325,271


The following table summarizes the activity in Investors Class shares of the SMid Cap Fund:


 

For the Year Ended September 30, 2015

For the Period January 21, 2014 (commencement of operations of the SMid Cap Fund's Investors Class) through September 30, 2014

 

Shares

Value

Shares

Value

Issued

38,109

$      348,674

324,475

$ 3,154,401

Redeemed

   (151,892)

  (1,399,532)

    (5,475)

      (52,135)

Total

    (113,783)

$ (1,050,858)

  319,000

$ 3,102,266


The following table summarizes the activity in Institutional Class shares of the SMid Cap Fund:


 

For the Period December 15, 2014 (commencement of operations of the SMid Cap Fund's Institutional Class) through September 30, 2015

 

Shares

Value

Issued

2,027,859

$ 18,655,979

Redeemed

    (105,305)

    (990,617)

Total

    1,922,554

$ 17,665,362


Note 8. Contingencies and Commitments


The Funds indemnify the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Funds.  Additionally, in the normal course of business the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred.  However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.


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 September 30, 2015, National Financial Service Corp., for the benefit of its customers, owned 41.97% of the Small Cap Fund.  As of September 30, 2015, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., for the benefit of its customers, owned 78.38% of the SMid Cap Fund.


Note 10. New Accounting Pronouncement Note


In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-07 (“ASU 2015-07”) eliminating the requirement for investments measured at net asset value to be categorized within the fair value hierarchy under GAAP and requiring sufficient information to reconcile the fair value of the remaining assets categorized within the fair value hierarchy to the financial statements. ASU 2015-07 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Management has reviewed the requirements and believes the adoption of ASU 2015-07 will not have a material impact on the financial statements.


Note 11. Subsequent Events


The Funds are required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Funds are required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events.






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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To the Shareholders of the Conestoga Small Cap Fund and

Conestoga SMid Cap Fund and the Board of Trustees of

Conestoga Funds


We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of the Conestoga Small Cap Fund, a series of shares of beneficial interest in the Conestoga Funds, including the schedule of investments, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the years or periods in the five-year period then ended.  We have also audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Conestoga SMid Cap Fund, a series of shares of beneficial interest of the Conestoga Funds, including the schedule of investments, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, and statements of changes in net assets and the financial highlights for the year then ended and the period January 21, 2014 (commencement of operations) through September 30, 2014.  These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Funds' management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.  

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Conestoga Small Cap Fund and Conestoga SMid Cap Fund as of September 30, 2015, and the results of their operations for the year then ended, and the changes in their net assets and their financial highlights for each of the years or periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.


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BBD, LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

November 25, 2015







CONESTOGA FUNDS

(Unaudited)

September 30, 2015


Shareholder Meeting


A special meeting of shareholders of the Conestoga SMid Cap Fund (“Fund”) was held on June 10, 2015 at the offices of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC, at 550 E. Swedesford Rd. Suite 120 Wayne, Pennsylvania.  At the meeting, the following matters were voted upon by those shareholders (the resulting votes are presented below):


           The approval of a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act,”) for Investors Class Shares of the Fund is as follows:


FUND

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

 

SMid Cap Fund

146,490

0

0

 


That the results of the voting of shares with respect to the approval of a new servicing plan under rule 12b-1 of the 1940 Act for Institutional Class Shares of the Fund is as follows:


FUND

FOR

AGAINST

ABSTAIN

 

SMid Cap Fund



Trustees and Officers

1,776,805

6,203

0






The business and affairs of the Funds are managed under the direction of the Trust’s Board of Trustees.  Information pertaining to the trustees and officers of the Trust are set forth below.  The Funds’ Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the trustees and is available, without charge, upon request by calling toll free 1-800-320-7790.


Name & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with the Funds

Term of Office and

Length of

Time Served1

Principal Occupation

During Past Five Years

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund Complex2

Overseen by

Trustee

Other Directorships

Held by Trustee3

Independent Trustees 4:

 

 

 

 

 

William B. Blundin (1939)

Trustee

Since 2002

Chairman and CEO, Bransford Investment Partners, LLC (private asset management) since 1997; Senior Vice President of Bisys Group from 1995 to 1998; Vice Chairman and Founding Partner of Concord Holding Corp and Concord Financial Group from 1987 to 1995.

3

Trustee, the Saratoga Advantage Funds (14 investment portfolios) from 2003 to 2012

Nicholas J. Kovich (1956)

Trustee

Since 2002

Managing Director, Beach Investment Counsel, since 2011; President and Chief Executive Officer, Kovich Capital Management (private asset management) since 2001; Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Investment Management from 1996 to 2001; General Partner, Miller Anderson & Sherrerd from 1988 to 1996; Vice President, Waddell & Reed, Inc. from 1982 to 1988.

3

Trustee, the Milestone Funds (1 portfolio) from 2007 to 2011

James G. Logue

(1956)

Trustee

Since 2013

Shareholder, McCausland Keen & Buckman  (“MKB”) (attorneys at law) since 1991; Associate, MKB from 1987 to 1990.

3

None

Richard E. Ten Haken (1934)

Trustee

Since 2002

Chairman and President, Ten Haken & Associates, Inc.(financial management consulting); Chairman of the Board, Bryce Capital Mutual Funds from 2004 to 2006; President, JP Morgan Chase Mutual Funds from 1987 to 1992, Chairman of Audit Committee from 1992 to 2001, Independent Trustee from 1982 to 2001; President, Pinnacle Government Fund from 1987 to 1990; New York State Teachers Retirement System, Chairman of the Board and President from 1992 to 1994, Trustee from 1972 to 1994, Vice-Chairman of Board and Vice-President from 1977 to 1992; District Superintendent of Schools, State of New York from 1970 to 1993.

3

None

John G. O’Brien (1941)

Trustee

Since 2014

Managing Director, Prairie Capital Management 5 since 2001; Vice Chairman and Director of Equity Capital Markets at George K. Baum & Co. 1997 to 2001; Managing Director & Senior Advisor at Credit Suisse First Boston from 1987 to 1997; Vice President at Goldman Sachs from 1969 to 1987.

3

None

Interested Trustees 4:

 

 

 

 

 

William C. Martindale, Jr. 6

(1942)

 Chairman of the Board, CEO &

Trustee

Chairman since 2011, CEO since 2010 & Trustee since 2002

Managing Partner, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC from 2001 to 2014.

3



None

Robert M. Mitchell6

(1969)

Trustee & Treasurer

Trustee since 2011 & Treasurer since 2002

Managing Partner, Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2001.  

3

None


CONESTOGA FUNDS

Trustees and Officers (Continued) (Unaudited)

September 30, 2015


Name & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with the Funds; Term of Office and Length of Time Served1

Principal Occupation

During Past Five Years

Officers:

 

 

Duane R. D’Orazio

(1972)

Secretary since 2002; Chief Compliance Officer since 2004; Anti-Money Laundering Officer since 2008

Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2001 and Chief Compliance Officer of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2007.

Mark S. Clewett

(1968)

Senior Vice President since 2006

Director of Institutional Sales and Client Service of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2006; Senior Vice President—Consultant Relationships for Delaware Investments from 1997 to 2005.

Joseph F. Monahan

(1959)

Senior Vice President since 2009

Managing Partner, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2008; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at McHugh Associates from 2001 to 2008.

David M. Lawson

(1951)

Senior Vice President since 2009

Managing Partner, Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2008; President and Chief Operating Officer of McHugh Associates from 1995 to 2008.

Michelle L. Patterson

(1976)

Vice President since 2003

Partner of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2003; Operations and Marketing Analyst since 2001.

M. Lorri McQuade

(1950)

Vice President since 2003

Partner of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2003; Administrative Manager since 2001.

Alida Bakker-Castorano

(1960)

Vice President since 2011

Operations Manager and Performance Analyst of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC since 2011; Client Service at Logan Capital from 2009 to 2011; Operations and Trading Support at McHugh Associates from 2001 to 2009.

Notes:

1

There is no defined term of office for service as a Trustee or Officer.  Each Trustee and Officer serves until the earlier of resignation, retirement, removal, death, or the election of a qualified successor.

2

The “Fund Complex” consists of the Funds and the Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund.

3   Directorships of companies required to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (i.e., “public companies"), or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

4

Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the trustee, c/o Conestoga Funds, CrossPoint at Valley Forge, 550 E. Swedesford Road, Suite 120 East, Wayne, PA 19087.

5     Prairie Capital Management, LLC is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, which has investments in the Conestoga Funds. Prairie Capital Management, LLC is a subsidiary of UMB Bank, N.A., the Funds’ custodian.

6     Mr. Mitchell is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Trust by reason of his position as Managing Partner of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC. Mr. Martindale is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Trust by reason of his ownership of nonvoting stock of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC.








CONESTOGA FUNDS


Additional Information

September 30, 2015 (Unaudited)



Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Schedule


The Funds file their complete schedule of investments with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q no later than 60 days following the close of the quarter.  You can obtain a copy, available without charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov beginning with the filing for the period ended December 31, 2004.  The Funds’ Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and that information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.


Proxy Voting Policy


A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio securities and the Funds’ portfolio securities voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30 is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-320-7790 and (ii) from Form N-PX filed by the Fund with the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.


Statement of Additional Information


The Funds’ Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") include additional information about the trustees and is available, without charge, upon request.  You may call toll-free (800) 320-7790 to request a copy of the SAI or to make shareholder inquiries.


Tax Information (Unaudited)


During the year ended September 30, 2014, the Small Cap Fund's Investors Class paid a short term capital gain distribution of $0.12018 per share and a long term capital gain distribution of $0.51293 per share on December 27, 2013, for a total distribution of $12,065,191.


During the period August 14, 2014 (commencement of investment operations) through September 30, 2014, the Small Cap Fund's Institutional Class did not pay a distribution.


During the period January 21, 2014 (commencement of investment operations) through September 30, 2014, the SMid Cap Fund's Investors Class did not pay a distribution.


The Institutional Class of the SMid Cap Fund commenced operations on December 15, 2014.


During the year or period ended September 30, 2015, neither Fund paid a distribution.










Board of Trustees


Interested Trustees

William C. Martindale, Jr., Chairman

Robert M. Mitchell


Independent Trustees

William B. Blundin

Nicholas J. Kovich

James G. Logue

John G. O'Brien

Richard E. Ten Haken


Investment Adviser

Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC

CrossPoint at Valley Forge

550 E. Swedesford Road, Suite 120 East

Wayne, PA 19087


Dividend Paying Agent,

Shareholders’ Servicing Agent,

Transfer Agent

Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC

8000 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 400

Broadview Heights, OH  44147


Custodian

UMB Bank, NA

928 Grand Blvd.

Kansas City, MO  64106


Distributor

Arbor Court Capital, LLC

2000 Auburn Drive, Suite 120

Cleveland, OH  44122


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
BBD, LLP
1835 Market Street 26th Floor

Philadelphia, PA  19103


Legal Counsel
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
One Logan Square Suite 2000

Philadelphia, PA  19103


Conestoga Funds' Officers

William C. Martindale, Jr., CEO

Duane R. D’Orazio, Secretary, Chief Compliance Officer, Anti-Money Laundering Officer

Robert M. Mitchell, Treasurer

Mark S. Clewett, Senior Vice President

Joseph F. Monahan, Senior Vice President

David M. Lawson, Senior Vice President

Michelle L. Patterson, Vice President

M. Lorri McQuade, Vice President

Alida Bakker-Castorano, Vice President


This report is provided for the general information of the shareholders of the Conestoga Small Cap and SMid Cap Funds. This report is not intended for distribution to prospective investors in the Funds, unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.








Institutional Advisors

LargeCap Fund




M a n a g e d   B y


Institutional Advisors LLC


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ANNUAL REPORT


September 30, 2015








Manager’s Letter

As of September 30, 2015



Dear Fellow Shareholders,


Continued declines in the Energy and Materials sectors, concern about the economic slowdown in China and other emerging markets, and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate intentions took their toll on the equity markets in the third quarter of 2015. The S&P 500 produced a third quarter decline of 6.44% which was its worst 3rd quarter since 2011. It also, at one point in late August, experienced its first 10% correction in four years. During these periods of heightened volatility and uncertainty, it might be comforting for investors to be reminded that over the last 50 years the market has exhibited an 80% probability of rising in the fourth quarter. Even after a negative third quarter, the market has risen 75% of the time in the fourth quarter and has produced an average return of over 9%. We believe that volatility will continue to come from the “unwinding” of financial crisis-era policies, but as long as our economy can support it, rising interest rates should not pose a problem for quality companies.


Within the S&P 500 Index (“S&P 500”), the best performing industry sectors for the third quarter were Utilities (+5.39%) and Consumer Staples (-0.20%), while the worst performers were Energy (-17.41%) and Materials(-16.89%). Investors generally favored stable over cyclical, growth over value, and high beta over low beta.  General valuations are within historically normal ranges with a forward P/E of around 17. Growth companies have outperformed Value companies by a wide spread of 6.49% year-to-date (-2.17% versus -8.66%), and the strength in the U.S. dollar continues to have a negative effect on our relative performance as our Large Cap companies tend to be disproportionally reliant on exports. For the trailing 12 months IALFX produced a total return of -4.02% versus -0.61%.


While these factors had a negative impact on the performance of the Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund (IALFX), we believe these factor trends are unsustainable and that our low risk philosophy will prove the most profitable for our clients in the long run.  In the third quarter of 2015, the performance of the Fund was -6.78% versus the S&P 500 at -6.44%.  In the third quarter, stock selection in the Industrial sector produced our largest relative outperformance led by Raytheon Company (RTN), which advanced +14.19% while the sector produced a -6.90% return.  Our stock selection was least successful in the Information Technology sector where Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) and Apple Inc. (AAPL) were our worst relative performers.


We believe it is essential to strike a balance between investors’ desire for return and their aversion to risk.  IALFX continues to provide strong, long-term relative performance, with a focus on managing downside risk and participation in the market’s upside potential.  The historical results of the strategy show lower price volatility, superior financial strength, more stable earnings growth than the S&P 500, and strong relative performance over longer time periods.   We remain committed to a disciplined equity strategy that places a premium on companies with strong profitability, attractive valuations, and consistent earnings growth.

Sincerely,

[conestogancsr024.gif]

Terry L. Morris

Senior Equity Manager







Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund


Comparison of Changes in Value of $10,000 as of Closing Business Day Prior to Inception (March 31, 2009)

(Unaudited)


[conestogancsr026.gif]


 

One Year Return

Three Year Return

Five Year Return

Since Inception (Annualized) (3/31/2009 through 9/30/2015)

 

 

 

 

 

Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund

-4.02%

9.38%

11.27%

14.53%

S&P 500 Index

-0.61%

12.41%

13.34%

16.91%


The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (“S&P 500”) is a market value-weighted index, representing the aggregate market value of the common equity of 500 stocks primarily traded on the New York Stock Exchange.  The S&P 500 is a widely recognized, unmanaged index of common stock prices.  The figures for the S&P 500 reflect all dividends reinvested but do not reflect any deductions for fees, expenses or taxes.


The Fund's past performance does not predict its future performance.  The graph and table shown above do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.







INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND


Expense Example (Unaudited)


As a shareholder of the Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund (the “Fund”), you incur the following costs: management fees, trustee fees, distribution fees, and transaction costs.  This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.

The Example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period, April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015.

Actual Expenses

The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses.  You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled "Expenses Paid During the 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 ratios and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return.  The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.  You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in this Fund and other funds.  To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.

Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as sales charges (loads), redemption fees, or exchange fees.  Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds.  In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.

Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund:

 

Beginning Account

Value

Ending Account

Value

Expenses Paid During the Period*

 

April 1, 2015

September 30, 2015

April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

Actual

$1,000.00

$913.86

$5.81

Hypothetical

 

 

 

 (5% Annual Return before expenses)

$1,000.00

$1,019.00

$6.12

 

 

 

 

* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 1.21%, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 183/365 (to reflect the one half year period).









INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND


Portfolio Holdings

September 30, 2015

(Unaudited)


The following chart gives a visual breakdown of the Fund by the sectors as defined by the Global Industry Classification Standard developed by Morgan Stanley in collaboration with Standard and Poor’s.  The underlying securities represent a percentage of the total net assets.  The total net assets of the Fund on September 30, 2015 were $ 61,732,064.


[conestogancsr028.gif]


*Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities is not a sector.








INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

Consumer Discretionary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributors

 

 

 

 

25,735

 

Genuine Parts Co.

 $

2,133,174

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure

 

 

 

14,114

 

McDonald's Corp.

 

1,390,652

 

Multiline Retail

 

 

 

36,665

 

Macy's, Inc.

 

1,881,648

 

Specialty Retail

 

 

 

32,845

 

The TJX Companies, Inc.

 

2,345,790

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods

 

 

 

28,759

 

VF Corp.

 

1,961,651

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                           Consumer Discretionary Sector Total

 

9,712,915

15.73%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Staples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beverages

 

 

 

 

 

21,808

 

PepsiCo, Inc.

 

2,056,494

 

Food Products

 

 

 

18,200

 

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

 

754,390

 

20,429

 

McCormick & Co.

 

1,678,855

 

       Food Products Total

 

2,433,245

 

Food & Staples Retailing

 

 

 

21,490

 

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

 

1,785,819

 

Household Products

 

 

 

31,465

 

Colgate Palmolive Co.

 

1,996,769

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Staples Sector Total

 

8,272,327

13.40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy Equipment & Services

 

 

 

14,061

 

Schlumberger Ltd. (France)

 

969,787

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels

 

 

 

16,555

 

Exxon Mobil Corp.

 

1,230,864

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Energy Sector Total

 

   2,200,651

3.56%

INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments (Continued)

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Banks

 

 

 

 

 

59,694

 

US Bancorp

$

2,448,051

 

Consumer Finance

 

 

 

39,629

 

Franklin Resources, Inc.

 

1,476,577

 

35,710

 

Discover Financial Services

 

1,856,563

 

       Consumer Finance Total

 

3,333,140

 

Insurance

 

 

 

 

 

41,812

 

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.

 

2,183,423

 

19,102

 

Torchmark Corp.

 

1,077,353

 

       Insurance Total

 

3,260,776

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financials Sector Total

 

9,041,967

14.65%

Health Care

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biotechnology

 

 

 

17,351

 

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

 

1,703,695

 

Health Care Providers & Services

 

 

 

13,849

 

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings *

 

1,502,201

 

10,241

 

McKesson Corp.

 

1,894,892

 

16,453

 

Unitedhealth Group, Inc.

 

1,908,713

 

       Health Care Providers & Services Total

 

5,305,806

 

Pharmaceuticals

 

 

 

20,641

 

Johnson & Johnson

 

1,926,837

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health Care Sector Total

 

8,936,338

14.48%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aerospace & Defense

 

 

 

17,192

 

Raytheon Co.

 

1,878,398

 

15,069

 

United Technologies Corp.

 

1,340,990

 

       Aerospace & Defense Total

 

3,219,388

 

Air Freight & Logistics

 

 

 

23,506

 

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

 

1,593,237

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

 Schedule of Investments (Continued)

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 COMMON STOCKS (Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of Total

 Shares

 

 

 

 Value

Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrials (Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Machinery

 

 

 

 

 

18,306

 

Dover Corp.

$

1,046,737

 

Road & Rail

 

 

 

18,041

 

Union Pacific Corp.

 

1,595,005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrials Sector Total

 

   7,454,367

12.08%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information Technology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Communications Equipment

 

 

 

74,551

 

Cisco Systems, Inc.

 

    1,956,964

 

20,535

 

Qualcomm, Inc

 

    1,103,346

 

       Communications Equipment Total

 

3,060,310

 

Electronic Equipment, Instruments, & Components

 

 

 

26,796

 

TE Connectivity Ltd. (Switzerland)

 

1,604,812

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

 

 

 

64,416

 

Intel Corp.

 

1,941,498

 

Software

 

 

 

 

 

60,012

 

Microsoft Corp.

 

2,656,131

 

52,000

 

Oracle Corp.

 

1,878,240

 

       Software Total

 

4,534,371

 

Technology Hardware, Storage, & Peripherals

 

 

 

22,233

 

Apple, Inc.

 

2,452,300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information Technology Sector Total

 

13,593,291

22.02%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Containers & Packaging

 

 

 

31,996

 

Ball Corp.

 

1,990,151

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials Sector Total

 

1,990,151

3.22%

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

 

 

 

 

 

(Cost $44,047,679)

 

 61,202,007

99.14%

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

(Cost $44,047,679)

 

61,202,007

99.14%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities

 

530,057

0.86%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL NET ASSETS

$

61,732,064

100.00%

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Non-income producing securities during the year.

 

 

 


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








INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

September 30, 2015

 

Assets:

 

 

     Investments, at Value  (Cost $44,047,679)

$

  61,202,007

     Cash

 

      523,705

Receivables:

 

 

     Shareholder Subscriptions

 

          7,997

     Dividends and Interest

 

        62,673

               Total Assets

 

  61,796,382

Liabilities:

 

 

     Shareholder Redemptions Payable

 

            326

     Investment Advisory Fees Payable

 

        56,475

     Distribution Fees Payable

 

          7,184

     Trustee Fees Payable

 

            333

               Total Liabilities

 

        64,318

 

 

 

Net Assets

$

  61,732,064

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

 

 

     Beneficial Interest Paid-In

$

  41,941,848

     Undistributed Net Investment Income

 

      460,552

     Accumulated Net Realized Gain on Investments

 

    2,175,336

     Net Unrealized Appreciation in Value of Investments

 

  17,154,328

Net Assets, for 3,163,016 Shares of Beneficial Interest Outstanding,  

 

 

     Unlimited Number of Shares Authorized with a $0.001 Par Value

$

  61,732,064

Net Asset Value, Offering Price and Redemption Price

 

 

     Per Share  ($61,732,064/3,163,016 shares)

$

19.52

 

 

 

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

 

 









INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

 

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended

September 30, 2015

 

Investment Income:

 

 

     Dividends  

$

       1,365,407

     Interest

 

                 56

          Total Investment Income

 

       1,365,463

Expenses:

 

 

     Investment advisory fees (Note 3)

 

         788,115

     Distribution fees (Note 3)

 

             6,679

     Trustees' fees and expenses

 

           66,789

          Total Expenses

 

         861,583

               Less: Advisory fees waived (Note 3)

 

          (53,431)

          Net Expenses

 

         808,152

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

 

         557,311

 

 

 

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments:

 

 

     Net realized gain on investments

 

       2,434,575

     Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

 

      (5,377,200)

Net realized and unrealized loss on investments

 

      (2,942,625)

 

 

 

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

$

      (2,385,314)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 









INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

 

 

For the Year

 

 

For the Year

 

 

 Ended

 

 

 Ended

 

 

9/30/2015

 

 

9/30/2014

Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets

 

 

 

 

 

From Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

     Net investment income

$

557,311

 

$

536,638

     Net realized gain on investments

 

2,434,575

 

 

5,039,371

     Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments

 

(5,377,200)

 

 

5,680,080

Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations

 

(2,385,314)

 

 

11,256,089

Distributions to shareholders from:

 

 

 

 

 

      Net investment income

 

(504,226)

 

 

(628,144)

      Net realized gains

 

(5,054,450)

 

 

(3,305,736)

Total Distributions

 

(5,558,676)

 

 

(3,933,880)

From Fund share transactions:

 

 

 

 

 

     Proceeds from sale of shares

 

11,489,986

 

 

7,945,718

     Shares issued on reinvestment of distributions

 

727,691

 

 

497,570

     Cost of shares redeemed

 

(9,385,372)

 

 

(12,059,116)

Total increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from Fund share transactions

 

2,832,305

 

 

(3,615,828)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

 

(5,111,685)

 

 

3,706,381

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets at Beginning of Year

 

66,843,749

 

 

63,137,368

Net Assets at End of Year (Includes undistributed net

 

 

 

 

 

    investment income of $460,552 and $436,303, respectively)

$

61,732,064

 

$

66,843,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 









INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

 

Financial Highlights

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each year:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the

For the

For the

For the

For the

 

 

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

Year Ended

 

 

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2014

September 30, 2013

September 30, 2012

September 30, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - beginning of year

$22.08

$19.74

$17.62

$14.29

$14.12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income (b)

                      0.18

                     0.17

                     0.24

                     0.15

                     0.10

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

                     (0.87)

                     3.45

                     2.27

                     3.47

                     0.45

 (a)

    Total from investment operations

                     (0.69)

                     3.62

                     2.51

                     3.62

                     0.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net investment income

                     (0.17)

                    (0.20)

                    (0.21)

                    (0.09)

                    (0.09)

 

Net realized gains

                     (1.70)

                    (1.08)

                    (0.18)

                    (0.20)

                    (0.29)

 

    Total distributions

                     (1.87)

                    (1.28)

                    (0.39)

                    (0.29)

                    (0.38)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net asset value - end of year

$19.52

$22.08

$19.74

$17.62

$14.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total return

(4.02)%

18.89%

14.66%

25.65%

3.73%

 

Ratios/supplemental data

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Assets - end of year (thousands)

$61,732

$66,844

$63,137

$58,909

$50,053

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before waivers

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

1.29%

1.29%

1.29%

1.78%

1.87%

 

    Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

0.75%

0.74%

1.22%

0.50%

0.11%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After waivers

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Ratio of expenses to average net assets

1.21%

1.21%

1.21%

1.34%

1.35%

 

    Ratio of net investment income to average net assets

0.83%

0.82%

1.30%

0.94%

0.63%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portfolio turnover rate

25.27%

19.52%

24.23%

26.84%

25.93%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a)  The amount of net gain from securities (both realized and unrealized) per share may not accord with the amounts reported in the Statement of Operations due to the timing of purchases and redemptions of Fund shares during the year.

 

 

 

 

(b)  Per share net investment income has been determined on the basis of average number of shares outstanding during the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 








INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND


Notes to Financial Statements

September 30, 2015


Note 1. Organization


Conestoga Funds (the “Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on February 5, 2002.  The Trust consists of three series: the Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund (the “Fund”), the Conestoga Small Cap Fund, and the Conestoga SMid Cap Fund.  The Trust is registered as an open-end diversified management investment company of the series type under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).  The Fund’s investment strategy is to provide long-term growth of capital.  The Fund's registration statement became effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and the Fund commenced operations on March 31, 2009.  The Fund’s investment adviser is Institutional Advisors LLC (the “Adviser”).  


Note 2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies


The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies 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 (“GAAP”).

 

Security Valuation - Securities that are traded on any exchange are valued at the last quoted sale price on the primary exchange.  Securities which are quoted by NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Lacking a last sale price, a security is valued at its last bid price except when, in the opinion of the Fund’s Adviser, the last bid price does not accurately reflect the current value of the security.  All other securities for which over-the-counter market quotations are readily available are valued at their last bid price.  When market quotations are not readily available, when the Adviser determines the last bid price does not accurately reflect the current value or when restricted securities are being valued, such securities are valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser, in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the “Board”).   


Short-term investments in fixed income securities with maturities of less than 60 days when acquired, or which subsequently are within 60 days of maturity, are valued by using the amortized cost method of valuation, which the Board has determined will represent fair value.


GAAP defines fair value as the price that the Fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and also establish a framework for measuring fair value, and a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability.  The three-level hierarchy seeks to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.  The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:


Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.


Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.


Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.


The following table presents information about the Fund’s assets measured at fair value as of September 30, 2015, by major security type:


 

Quoted Prices in Active Markets for

Identical Assets


Significant Other

Observable Inputs

Significant

Unobservable Inputs

Balance as of

September 30, 2015

 

(Level 1)

(Level 2)

(Level 3)

(Total)

Assets

 

 

 

 

Common Stocks

   61,202,007

---

---

   61,202,007

               Total

$  61,202,007

---

---

$  61,202,007


At September 30, 2015, there had been no significant transfers among Levels 1, 2, or 3 based upon the input levels assigned on September 30, 2014. It is the Fund’s policy to record transfers into or out of fair value levels at the end of the reporting period. For a further breakdown of each investment by industry, please refer to the Schedule of Investments. The Fund did not hold any Level 3 securities during the year ended September 30, 2015.


Federal Income Taxes - The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and any realized capital gains.  Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is required.


GAAP provides guidance for how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements and requires the evaluation of tax positions taken in the course of preparing the Fund’s tax returns to determine whether the tax positions are "more-likely-than-not" to be sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax benefits of positions not deemed to meet the more-likely-than-not threshold would be booked as a tax expense in the current year and recognized as: a liability for unrecognized tax benefits; a reduction of an income tax refund receivable; a reduction of deferred tax asset; an increase in deferred tax liability; or a combination thereof.  Management has evaluated the Funds’ tax positions as of September 30, 2015, and has determined that none of them are uncertain.


Management has reviewed all taxable years that are open for examination (i.e., not barred by the applicable statute of limitations) by taxing authorities of all major jurisdictions, including the Internal Revenue Service. Tax returns filed within the three years ended (2012-2014) are open for examination. No examination of any of the Fund’s tax returns is currently in progress.


Dividends and Distributions - The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and capital gains to its shareholders on an annual basis.  Income and capital gain distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.  Those differences are primarily due to differing treatments for net investment losses and deferral of wash sale losses and post-October losses.  Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.


Security Transactions and Investment Income - The Fund records security transactions on the trade date.  The specific identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statements and income tax purposes.  Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.


Other – Permanent book/tax differences are reclassified among the components of capital.


Estimates - Preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.


Expenses - Expenses incurred by the Trust that do not relate to a specific fund or the Trust will be allocated to the individual funds based on each fund's relative net assets or another appropriate basis (as determined by the Trustees).


Note 3. Investment Advisory Agreement and Other Related Party Transactions


The Fund has entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser to provide supervision and assistance in the overall management services to the Fund.  Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser pays all Fund expenses with the exception of the fees and expenses of Independent Trustees, 12b-1 fees, brokerage commissions, shareholder servicing fees, taxes, interest, and other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary costs.  The Investment Advisory Agreement also provides that the Adviser supervises and assists in the overall management of the Fund’s affairs subject to the authority of the Board.  Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly fee calculated at an annual rate of 1.18% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.


For the year ended September 30, 2015, the total investment advisory fees incurred by the Fund were $788,115.

 

The Adviser contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expense ratio to 1.20% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until at least February 1, 2016, excluding 12b-1 distribution fees, shareholder servicing fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with GAAP, and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business.  The Adviser may not recoup any of the fees waived pursuant to this contractual waiver.  For the year ended September 30, 2015, the Adviser waived $53,431 under this arrangement.

 

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted a Distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Distribution Plan”).  Rule 12b-1 provides in substance that a mutual fund may not engage directly or indirectly in financing any activity that is primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of such mutual fund except pursuant to a plan adopted by the fund under Rule 12b-1.  The Distribution Plan provides that the Fund may incur distribution expenses related to the sale of shares of up to 0.25% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  During the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund incurred $6,679 under the Distribution Plan.

 

The Distribution Plan provides that the Fund may finance activities that are primarily intended to result in the sale of the Fund’s shares, including, but not limited to, advertising, printing of prospectuses and reports for other than existing shareholders, preparation and distribution of advertising material and sales literature and payments to dealers and shareholder servicing agents who enter into agreements with the Fund.

 

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has adopted a shareholder servicing plan (the “Shareholder Servicing Plan”).  Payments made under the Shareholder Servicing Plan to shareholder servicing agents (which may include affiliates of the Adviser) are for administrative support services to customers who may from time to time beneficially own shares and may be up to 0.25% per annum of the Fund’s average daily net assets.  These services may include: (i) establishing and maintaining accounts and records relating to shareholders; (ii) processing dividend and distribution payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders; (iii) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their positions in shares and integrating such statements with those of other transactions and balances in shareholders’ other accounts serviced by such financial institution; (iv) arranging for bank wires; (v) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed; (vi) responding to routine inquiries from shareholders concerning their investments; (vii) providing subaccounting with respect to shares beneficially owned by shareholders, or the information to the Fund necessary for subaccounting; (viii) if required by law, forwarding shareholder communications from the Fund (such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual and semi-annual financial statements and dividend, distribution and tax notices) to shareholders; (ix) assisting in processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and in placing such orders with the Trust’s service contractors; (x) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (xi) providing shareholders with a service that invests the assets of their accounts in shares pursuant to specific or pre-authorized instructions; and (xii) providing such other similar services as the Fund may reasonably request to the extent that the agent is permitted to do so under applicable statutes, rules and regulations.  The Fund presently does not have any such shareholder agreements in effect and is not accruing fees under the Shareholder Servicing Plan.


Transfer Agent

Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC (“MSS”) acts as transfer, dividend disbursing, and shareholder servicing agent for the Fund pursuant to a written agreement with the Trust and the Adviser. Under the agreement, MSS is responsible for administering and performing transfer agent functions, dividend distribution, shareholder administration, and maintaining necessary records in accordance with applicable rules and regulations.


Administration

MSS also performs certain administrative tasks as administrator for the Fund pursuant to a written agreement with the Trust and the Adviser. MSS supervises all aspects of the operations of the Fund except those reserved by the Fund’s investment Adviser under its service agreements with the Trust. MSS is responsible for calculating the Fund’s net asset value, preparing and maintaining the books and accounts specified in Rule 31a-1 and 31a-2 of the 1940 Act, preparing financial statements contained in reports to stockholders of the Fund, preparing reports and filing with the SEC, preparing filings with state “Blue Sky” authorities and maintaining the Fund’s financial accounts and records.


For the services rendered as administrator, fund accountant and transfer agent, the Adviser pays MSS an annual fee, paid monthly, based on the average net assets of the Fund, as determined by valuations made as of the close of each business day of the month.


Certain directors and officers of the Adviser are trustees, officers or shareholders of the Fund.  These individuals receive benefits from the Adviser resulting from the fees paid to the Adviser by the Fund.


Note 4. Beneficial Interest


As of September 30, 2015, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized with a $0.001 par value per share.  The following table summarizes the activity in shares of the Fund:


 

For the Year Ended 9/30/2015

For the Year Ended 9/30/2014

 

Shares

Value

Shares

Value

Issued

536,474

$    11,489,986

377,153

$    7,945,718

Reinvested

33,350

727,691

24,439

497,570

Redeemed

(434,836)

(9,385,372)

  (571,709)

  (12,059,116)

Total

   134,988

     $  2,832,305

   (170,117)

     $  (3,615,828)


Note 5.  Investments


Investment transactions, excluding short term investments, for the year ended September 30, 2015, were as follows:


Purchases……………………………………………..………

$  16,614,422

Sales…………………………………………………………….

$  18,616,590


Note 6.  Federal Income Tax


For Federal Income Tax purposes, the cost of investments owned at September 30, 2015, was $44,207,438.  As of September 30, 2015, the gross unrealized appreciation on a tax basis totaled $18,731,875 and the gross unrealized depreciation totaled $1,737,306 for a net unrealized appreciation of $16,994,569.


The tax character of distributions paid during the year ended September 30, 2015 and year ended September 30, 2014:


 

September 30, 2015

September 30, 2014

Ordinary income

$   828,647

$   854,516

Long Term Capital Gain

4,730,029

3,079,364

          Total

$5,558,676

$3,933,880


As of September 30, 2015, the Fund’s most recent tax year-end, the components of accumulated income/(losses) on a tax basis were as follows:


Net unrealized appreciation      

 

$ 16,994,569

Accumulated net realized gain    

 

2,335,095

Undistributed ordinary income  

 

        460,552

                 Total                

 

$ 19,790,216


The difference between the accumulated net realized gains for tax purposes and the accumulated net realized gains on investments reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities is due to wash sale losses, which are required to be deferred for tax purposes. Net unrealized appreciation on a tax basis and the net unrealized appreciation on investments reported in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities differ by this same wash sale loss figure.


Permanent book and tax differences, primarily attributable to the recharacterization of  distributions for tax purposes, resulted in a reclassification for the Fund for the year ended September 30, 2015 as follows: an increase of accumulated net realized gain on investments of $28,836 and a decrease of undistributed net investment income of $28,836.


Note 7. Contingencies & Commitments  


The Fund indemnifies the Trust’s officers and trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from the performance of their duties to the Fund.  Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain various representations and warranties and provide general indemnifications.  The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims against the Fund and is presently unknown.  However, the Fund considers the risk of loss from such potential claims to be remote.

 

Note 8. Control and Ownership of Shares


The beneficial ownership, either directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting securities of the Fund creates a presumption of control of the Fund, under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act. As of September 30, 2015, NFS LLC Custodian f/b/o National Penn Investors Trust Company, in aggregate, owned approximately 95.12% of the Fund’s shares and may be deemed to control the Fund.  


Note 9. New Accounting Pronouncement Note


In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-07 (“ASU 2015-07”) eliminating the requirement for investments measured at net asset value to be categorized within the fair value hierarchy under GAAP and requiring sufficient information to reconcile the fair value of the remaining assets categorized within the fair value hierarchy to the financial statements. ASU 2015-07 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Management has reviewed the requirements and believes the adoption of ASU 2015-07 will not have a material impact on the financial statements.


Note 10. Subsequent Events


On August 17, 2015, National Penn Bancshares, Inc. ("National Penn") announced its entry into a definitive agreement and plan of merger with BB&T Corporation ("BB&T"), dated as of August 17, 2015, pursuant to which National Penn will merge with and into BB&T, with BB&T surviving the merger, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein.  National Penn is the parent company of Institutional Advisors LLC, the Fund’s advisor.  The transaction is expected to close mid-2016.  


The Fund is required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Fund is required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events other than the event noted above.







[conestogancsr030.gif]


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To the Shareholders of the Institutional Advisors

LargeCap Fund and the Board of Trustees of

Conestoga Funds


We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund, a series of shares of beneficial interest in the Conestoga Funds, including the schedule of investments, as of September 30, 2015, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended and the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended.  These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.  

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of September 30, 2015 by correspondence with the custodian. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund as of September 30, 2015, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended and its financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.


[conestogancsr031.jpg]


BBD, LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

November 25, 2015







INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

September 30, 2015

Trustees and Officers

(Unaudited)


The business and affairs of the Fund are managed under the direction of the Trust's Board of Trustees.  Information pertaining to the Trustees and Officers of the Trust are set forth below.  The Fund's Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request by calling toll free 1-800-292-2660.


Name

(Birth Year)

Position(s) Held with the Fund and

Length of

Time Served1

Principal Occupation

During Past Five Years

Number of

Portfolios in

Fund Complex2

Overseen by

Trustee

Other Directorships

Held by Trustee3

Independent Trustees4:

 

 

 

 

William B. Blundin (1939)

Trustee since 2002

Chairman and CEO, Bransford Investment Partners, LLC (private asset management) since 1997; Senior Vice President of Bisys Group from 1995 to 1998; Vice President and Founding Partner of Concord Holding Corp and Concord Financial Group from 1987 to 1995.

3

Trustee, the Saratoga Advantage Funds (14 investment portfolios) from 2003 to 2012

Nicholas J. Kovich (1956)

Trustee since 2002

Managing Director, Beach Investment Counsel, since 2011; President and Chief Executive Officer, Kovich Capital Management (private asset management) since 2001; Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Investment Management from 1996 to 2001; General Partner, Miller Anderson & Sherrerd from 1988 to 1996; Vice President, Waddell & Reed, Inc. from 1982 to 1988.  

3

Trustee, the Milestone Funds (1 portfolio) from 2007 to 2011

James G. Logue

(1956)

Trustee since  2013

Shareholder, McCausland Keen & Buckman  (“MKB”) (attorneys at law) since 1991; Associate, MKB from 1987 to 1990.

3

None

John G. O’Brien (1941)

Trustee since 2014

Managing Director, Prairie Capital Management5 since 2001; Vice Chairman and Director of Equity Capital Markets, George K. Baum & Co. 1997 to 2001; Managing Director & Senior Advisor, Credit Suisse First Boston from 1987 to 1997; Vice President, Goldman Sachs from 1969 to 1987.

3

None

Richard E. Ten Haken (1934)

Trustee since 2002

Chairman and President, Ten Haken & Associates, Inc.(financial management consulting); Chairman of the Board, Bryce Capital Mutual Funds from 2004 to 2006; President, JP Morgan Chase Mutual Funds from 1987 to 1992, Chairman of Audit Committee from 1992 to 2001, Independent Trustee from 1982 to 2001; President, Pinnacle Government Fund from 1987 to 1990; New York State Teachers Retirement System, Chairman of the Board and President from 1992 to 1994, Trustee from 1972 to 1994, Vice-Chairman of Board and Vice-President from 1977 to 1992; District Superintendent of Schools, State of New York from 1970 to 1993.

3

None








INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

September 30, 2015

Trustees and Officers (Continued)

(Unaudited)


Interested Trustees4:

 

 

 

 

Robert M. Mitchell6 (1969)

Trustee since 2011 & Treasurer since 2002

Managing Partner, Co-Founder and Portfolio Manager of Conestoga Capital Advisors, LLC (“CCA”) since 2001.

3

None

William C. Martindale, Jr.6

(1942)

Chairman of the Board since 2011, CEO since 2010 & Trustee since 2002

Managing Partner, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of CCA from 2001 to 2014.

3



None


Officers:

 

 

Name & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with the Fund

and Length of Time Served1

Principal Occupation

During Past Five Years

Duane R. D’Orazio

(1972)

Secretary since 2002;

Chief Compliance Officer since 2004; Anti-Money Laundering Officer since 2008

Managing Partner and Co-Founder of CCA since 2001; Chief Compliance Officer of CCA since 2007.

Mark S. Clewett

(1968)

Senior Vice President since 2006

Director of Institutional Sales and Client Service for CCA since 2006; Senior Vice President of Consultant Relations for Delaware Investments from 1997 to 2005.

Joseph F. Monahan

(1959)

Senior Vice President since 2009

Managing Partner, Portfolio Manager, and Research Analyst for CCA since 2008; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of McHugh Associates from 2001 to 2008.

David M. Lawson

(1951)

Senior Vice President since 2009

Managing Partner, Portfolio Manager, and Research Analyst for CCA since 2008; President and Chief Operating Officer of McHugh Associates from 1995 to 2008.








INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

September 30, 2015

Trustees and Officers (Continued)

(Unaudited)


Name & Year of Birth

Position(s) Held with the Fund

and Length of Time Served1

Principal Occupation

During Past Five Years

M. Lorri McQuade

(1950)

Vice President since 2003

Partner since 2003; Administrative Manager of CCA since 2001.

Michelle L. Patterson

(1976)

Vice President since 2003

Partner since 2003; Operations and Marketing Analyst of CCA since 2001.

Alida Bakker-Castorano            (1960)

Vice President since 2012

Operations Manager and Performance Analyst of CCA since 2011; Client Service at Logan Capital from 2009 to 2011; Operations and Trading Support at McHugh Associates from 2001 to 2009.


Notes:

1

There is no defined term of office for service as a Trustee or officer.  Each Trustee and officer serves until the earlier of resignation, retirement, removal, death, or the election of a qualified successor.

2

The “Fund Complex” consists of the Fund, the Conestoga Small Cap Fund, and the Conestoga SMid Cap Fund.

3   Directorships of companies required to report to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i.e., “public companies") or other investment companies registered under the 1940 Act.

4

Each Trustee may be contacted by writing to the trustee, c/o Conestoga Funds, 550 E. Swedesford Road, Suite 120, Wayne, PA  19087.

5

Prairie Capital Management, LLC is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, which has investments in the Conestoga Funds and in separate accounts managed by CCA. Prairie Capital Management, LLC is a subsidiary of UMB Bank, N.A., the Funds’ custodian.

6

Mr. Mitchell is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Trust by reason of his position as Managing Partner of CCA.  Mr. Martindale is deemed to be an “interested person” of the Trust by reason of his ownership of nonvoting stock of CCA.








INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND

September 30, 2015

 (Unaudited)


Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Schedule


The Fund files its complete schedule of investments with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q no later than 60 days following the close of the quarter.  You can obtain a copy, available without charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov beginning with the filing for the period ended June 30, 2009 (the Fund commenced operations on March 31, 2009).  The Fund’s Forms N-Q may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s public Reference Room in Washington, DC, and that information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.


Proxy Voting Policy


A description of the policies and procedures that the Trust uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio securities and the Fund’s portfolio securities voting record for the 12-month period ended June 30 is available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-292-2660 and (ii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.


Statement of Additional Information


The Fund's Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") includes additional information about the Trustees and is available, without charge, upon request.  You may call toll-free 1-800-292-2660 to request a copy of the SAI or to make shareholder inquiries.


Tax Information (Unaudited)


During the year ended September 30, 2015, the Fund paid an income distribution of $0.16952 per share, a realized short-term capital gain distribution of $0.10907 per share, and a realized long-term capital gain distribution of $1.59023 for a total distribution of $5,558,676.







INSTITUTIONAL ADVISORS LARGECAP FUND




Board of Trustees


Interested Trustees

William C. Martindale, Jr., Chairman

Robert M. Mitchell


Independent Trustees

William B. Blundin

Nicholas J. Kovich

James G. Logue

John G. O’Brien

Richard E. Ten Haken


Investment Adviser

Institutional Advisors LLC

1340 Broadcasting Road Suite 100

Wyomissing, PA 19610


Dividend Paying Agent,

Shareholders’ Servicing Agent,

Transfer Agent

Mutual Shareholder Services, LLC

8000 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 400

Broadview Heights, OH  44147


Custodian

UMB Bank , NA

928 Grand Blvd.

Kansas City, MO 64106


Distributor

Rafferty Capital Markets, LLC

1010 Franklin Avenue Suite 300A

Garden City, NY 11530


Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
BBD, LLP
1835 Market Street 26th Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103


Counsel
Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One Logan Square Suite 2000

Philadelphia, PA  19103-6996


Officers of Institutional Advisors LLC

James D. King, President

Karen L. Kleffel, Chief Compliance Officer

Richard A. Lord, Jr., Chief Financial Officer

Sean P. Kehoe, Secretary




This report is provided for the general information of the shareholders of the Institutional Advisors LargeCap Fund. This report is not intended for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund, unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus.








Item 2. Code of Ethics.


(a)

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party.


(b)

For purposes of this item, “code of ethics” means written standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:


(1)

Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;


(2)

Full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Commission and in other public communications made by the registrant;


(3)

Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules, and regulations;

(4)

The prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and

(5)

Accountability for adherence to the code.


(c)

Amendments:  


During the period covered by the report, there have not been any amendments to the provisions of the code of ethics.


(d)

Waivers:  


During the period covered by the report, the registrant has not granted any express or implicit waivers from the provisions of the code of ethics.


Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.


(a)

The registrant’s board of trustees has determined that Nicholas J. Kovich is an independent audit committee financial expert.



Nicholas J. Kovich acquired his attributes through:

Experience as Managing Director, Domestic Equity Portfolio Manager for Morgan Stanley 1996-2001


Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.


(a)

Audit Fees


FY 2015

$ 38,900

FY 2014

$ 34,900


(b)

Audit-Related Fees


Registrant

Adviser


FY 2015

None

$ 0

FY 2014

None

$ 0


Nature of the fees:

Post effective consent.


(c)

Tax Fees


Registrant

Adviser


FY 2015

None

$ 6,100

FY 2014

None

$ 6,100


Nature of the fees:

Preparation of Excise Tax and Form 1120RIC


(d)

All Other Fees


Registrant

Adviser


FY 2015

$ N/A

$ N/A

FY 2014

$ N/A

$ N/A


Nature of the fees:

N/A


(e)

(1)

Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies


The audit committee has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.


(2)

Percentages of Services Approved by the Audit Committee


Registrant

Adviser


Audit-Related Fees:

0  %

100%

Tax Fees:

0  %

100%

All Other Fees:

0  %

100%


(f)



During audit of registrant's financial statements for the most recent fiscal year, less than 50 percent of the hours expended on the principal accountant's engagement were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant's full-time, permanent employees.


(g)

The aggregate non-audit fees billed by the registrant's accountant for services rendered to the registrant, and rendered to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant:


Registrant


FY 2015

$ 6,100

FY 2014

$ 6,100


(h)

The registrant's audit committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services to the registrant's investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant, that were not pre-approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence.


Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Companies.  Not applicable.


Item 6.  Schedule of Investments.


Not applicable – schedule filed with Item 1.


Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Funds.  Not applicable.


Item 8.  Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Funds.  Not applicable.


Item 9.  Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Funds.  Not applicable.


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


The registrant has not adopted procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant's board of trustees.


Item 11.  Controls and Procedures.  


(a)

Based on an evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2015, the disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that the information required in filings on Forms N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.


(b)

There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal half-year that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.


Item 12.  Exhibits.  



(a)(1)

EX-99.CODE ETH.  Filed herewith.


(a)(2)

EX-99.CERT.  Filed herewith.


(a)(3)

Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons.  Not applicable.


(b)

EX-99.906CERT.  Filed herewith.


SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Conestoga Funds


By /s/William C. Martindale Jr.

* William C. Martindale Jr.

   Chief Executive Officer


Date December 2, 2015


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 /s/ William C. Martindale Jr.

* William C. Martindale Jr.

   Chief Executive Officer


Date December 2, 2015


By /s/Robert M. Mitchell

* Robert M. Mitchell

  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer


Date December 2, 2015


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