0001752724-20-175585.txt : 20200827 0001752724-20-175585.hdr.sgml : 20200827 20200827113354 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001752724-20-175585 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: NPORT-P PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20200630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20200827 PERIOD START: 20200930 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ALPS Series Trust CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001558107 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: NPORT-P SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-22747 FILM NUMBER: 201140568 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1290 BROADWAY, SUITE 1100 CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80203 BUSINESS PHONE: 303.623.2577 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1290 BROADWAY, SUITE 1100 CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80203 0001558107 S000053615 Clarkston Founders Fund C000168469 Institutional Class CIMDX NPORT-P 1 primary_doc.xml NPORT-P false 0001558107 XXXXXXXX S000053615 C000168469 ALPS SERIES TRUST 811-22747 0001558107 5493000QN25IZZPUSL66 1290 BROADWAY SUITE 1000 DENVER 80203 3036235277 Clarkston Founders Fund S000053615 549300YSYNISISIRGJ47 2020-09-30 2020-06-30 N 57246439.63 80589.75 57165849.88 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 0.00000000 N Nielsen Holdings Plc 549300ZVCBHQE0XHG367 Nielsen Holdings PLC G6518L108 251000.00000000 NS USD 3729860.00000000 6.524629665839 Long EC CORP GB N 1 N N N Stericycle Inc B8PTJH2P0AXSWSMP2136 Stericycle, Inc. 858912108 74557.00000000 NS USD 4173700.86000000 7.301038764859 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Franklin Resources Inc RIFQSET379FOGTEFKS80 Franklin Resources, Inc. 354613101 108000.00000000 NS USD 2264760.00000000 3.961735904834 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Affiliated Managers Group Inc 2JE75BUE3T1BLCYYGK54 Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. 008252108 28000.00000000 NS USD 2087680.00000000 3.651970546020 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Charles Schwab Corp/the 549300VSGCJ7E698NM85 The Charles Schwab Corp. 808513105 50000.00000000 NS USD 1687000.00000000 2.951062572394 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Us Foods Holding Corp 549300UGOZSO64CFPR97 US Foods Holding Corp. 912008109 58500.00000000 NS USD 1153620.00000000 2.018023002232 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Lpl Financial Holdings Inc 549300XROQ4Y8G2L7682 LPL Financial Holdings, Inc. 50212V100 33587.00000000 NS USD 2633220.80000000 4.606282956568 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Post Holdings Inc JM1I5YUAURL6DC8N1468 Post Holdings, Inc. 737446104 18500.00000000 NS USD 1620970.00000000 2.835556548888 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Sysco Corp 5RGWIFLMGH3YS7KWI652 Sysco Corp. 871829107 51000.00000000 NS USD 2787660.00000000 4.876442851548 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Western Union Co/the 28ID94QU1140NC23S047 The Western Union Co. 959802109 113000.00000000 NS USD 2443060.00000000 4.273635404928 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Cdk Global Inc 5493000L10CYRTHIJ385 CDK Global, Inc. 12508E101 85000.00000000 NS USD 3520700.00000000 6.158746887154 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Paychex Inc 529900K900DW6SUBM174 Paychex, Inc. 704326107 11000.00000000 NS USD 833250.00000000 1.457601000858 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Anheuser-busch Inbev Sa/nv 5493008H3828EMEXB082 Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV 03524A108 82500.00000000 NS USD 4067250.00000000 7.114824687357 Long EC CORP BE N 1 N N N Willis Towers Watson Plc 549300WHC56FF48KL350 Willis Towers Watson PLC G96629103 12988.00000000 NS USD 2557986.60000000 4.474676061616 Long EC CORP IE N 1 N N N Change Healthcare Inc 549300GS1BPJEDOZHM07 Change Healthcare, Inc. 15912K100 290000.00000000 NS USD 3248000.00000000 5.681713832328 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Ch Robinson Worldwide Inc 529900WNWN5L0OVDHA79 CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc. 12541W209 23000.00000000 NS USD 1818380.00000000 3.180885098038 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Molson Coors Beverage Co 54930073LBBH6ZCBE225 Molson Coors Beverage Co. 60871R209 54000.00000000 NS USD 1855440.00000000 3.245714012640 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Sabre Corp 529900VKCYZW8GZ4WW58 Sabre Corp. 78573M104 214000.00000000 NS USD 1724840.00000000 3.017255937978 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Brown & Brown Inc 549300PC8KTJ71XKFY89 Brown & Brown, Inc. 115236101 58000.00000000 NS USD 2364080.00000000 4.135475996530 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Fedex Corp 549300E707U7WNPZN687 FedEx Corp. 31428X106 28300.00000000 NS USD 3968226.00000000 6.941602387316 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N 2020-07-30 ALPS SERIES TRUST Kimberly Storms Kimberly Storms Treasurer XXXX NPORT-EX 2 fp0056870_nportex-clarkston.htm

 

CLARKSTON PARTNERS FUND    

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS    

June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)    

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCK (86.14%)          
Consumer Discretionary (9.93%)          
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A   760,000   $29,640,000 
Matthews International Corp., Class A   153,560    2,932,996 
Nielsen Holdings PLC   4,900,000    72,814,000 
Total Consumer Discretionary        105,386,996 
           
Consumer Staples (12.11%)          
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B   1,350,000    46,386,000 
Post Holdings, Inc.(a)   319,000    27,950,780 
Sysco Corp.   594,933    32,519,038 
US Foods Holding Corp.(a)   1,102,000    21,731,440 
Total Consumer Staples        128,587,258 
           
Financial Services (29.72%)(b)          
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.   520,000    38,771,200 
Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A   1,066,876    34,673,470 
Brown & Brown, Inc.   1,100,000    44,836,000 
Franklin Resources, Inc.   1,875,000    39,318,750 
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.   720,000    56,448,000 
The Western Union Co.   2,200,000    47,564,000 
Willis Towers Watson PLC   274,000    53,964,300 
Total Financial Services        315,575,720 
           
Health Care (5.53%)          
Change Healthcare, Inc.(a)   5,240,000    58,688,000 
           
Producer Durables (19.72%)          
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.   289,616    22,897,041 
Enerpac Tool Group Corp., Class A   1,719,903    30,270,293 
Hillenbrand, Inc.   2,000,000    54,140,000 
Landstar System, Inc.   155,000    17,408,050 
Stericycle, Inc.(a)   1,319,450    73,862,811 
US Ecology, Inc.   318,907    10,804,569 
Total Producer Durables        209,382,764 
           
Technology (9.13%)          
CDK Global, Inc.   1,630,000    67,514,600 
Sabre Corp.   3,650,000    29,419,000 
Total Technology        96,933,600 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCK          
(Cost $867,257,321)        914,554,338 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (86.14%)          
(Cost $867,257,321)       $914,554,338 
           
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (13.86%)        147,175,576 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $1,061,729,914 

 

 

(a)  Non-income producing security.
(b)  To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. When sector categorization is broken down by industry, no industry exceeds the 25% maximum specified in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indices or ratings group indices and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may use a different classification system or may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percent of the Fund’s net assets. (Unaudited)

 

 

CLARKSTON FUND    

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS    

June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)    

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCK (93.49%)          
Consumer Discretionary (7.70%)          
Nielsen Holdings PLC   220,000   $3,269,200 
The Walt Disney Co.   3,500    390,285 
Total Consumer Discretionary        3,659,485 
           
Consumer Staples (28.51%)(a)          
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Sponsored ADR   82,000    4,042,600 
Diageo PLC, Sponsored ADR   11,700    1,572,363 
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B   33,500    1,151,060 
Nestle SA, Sponsored, ADR   17,500    1,932,700 
PepsiCo, Inc.   12,500    1,653,250 
Sysco Corp.   43,000    2,350,380 
The Procter & Gamble Co.   7,100    848,947 
Total Consumer Staples        13,551,300 
           
Financial Services (33.58%)(a)          
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.   24,000    1,789,440 
American Express Co.   27,200    2,589,440 
Capital One Financial Corp.   26,000    1,627,340 
Franklin Resources, Inc.   105,000    2,201,850 
Mastercard, Inc., Class A   3,500    1,034,950 
The Charles Schwab Corp.   47,000    1,585,780 
The Western Union Co.   103,000    2,226,860 
US Bancorp   18,500    681,170 
Willis Towers Watson PLC   11,300    2,225,535 
Total Financial Services        15,962,365 
           
Producer Durables (20.28%)          
3M Co.   500    77,995 
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.   11,927    942,949 
FedEx Corp.   28,000    3,926,160 
General Electric Co.   398,000    2,718,340 
Paychex, Inc.   8,500    643,875 
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B   12,000    1,334,160 
Total Producer Durables        9,643,479 
           
Technology (3.42%)          
Microsoft Corp.   8,000    1,628,080 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCK          
(Cost $46,753,466)        44,444,709 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (93.49%)          
(Cost $46,753,466)       $44,444,709 
           
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (6.51%)        3,094,739 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $47,539,448 

 

 

(a)  To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. When sector categorization is broken down by industry, no industry exceeds the 25% maximum specified in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indices or ratings group indices and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may use a different classification system or may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percent of the Fund’s net assets. (Unaudited)

 

 

CLARKSTON FOUNDERS FUND    

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS    

June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)    

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCK (88.34%)          
Consumer Discretionary (6.52%)          
Nielsen Holdings PLC   251,000   $3,729,860 
           
Consumer Staples (20.07%)          
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Sponsored ADR   82,500    4,067,250 
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B   54,000    1,855,440 
Post Holdings, Inc.(a)   18,500    1,620,970 
Sysco Corp.   51,000    2,787,660 
US Foods Holding Corp.(a)   58,500    1,153,620 
Total Consumer Staples        11,484,940 
           
Financial Services (28.03%)(b)          
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.   28,000    2,087,680 
Brown & Brown, Inc.   58,000    2,364,080 
Franklin Resources, Inc.   108,000    2,264,760 
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.   33,587    2,633,221 
The Charles Schwab Corp.   50,000    1,687,000 
The Western Union Co.   113,000    2,443,060 
Willis Towers Watson PLC   12,988    2,557,986 
Total Financial Services        16,037,787 
           
Health Care (5.68%)          
Change Healthcare, Inc.(a)   290,000    3,248,000 
           
Producer Durables (18.87%)          
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.   23,000    1,818,380 
FedEx Corp.   28,300    3,968,226 
Paychex, Inc.   11,000    833,250 
Stericycle, Inc.(a)   74,557    4,173,701 
Total Producer Durables        10,793,557 
           
Technology (9.17%)          
CDK Global, Inc.   85,000    3,520,700 
Sabre Corp.   214,000    1,724,840 
Total Technology        5,245,540 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCK          
(Cost $50,211,342)        50,539,684 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (88.34%)          
(Cost $50,211,342)       $50,539,684 
           
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (11.66%)        6,672,637 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $57,212,321 

 

(a) Non-income producing security.

 

 

(b) To the extent the Fund invests more heavily in particular sectors of the economy, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect those sectors. When sector categorization is broken down by industry, no industry exceeds the 25% maximum specified in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

For Fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indices or ratings group indices and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may use a different classification system or may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percent of the Fund’s net assets. (Unaudited)
 
See Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments

 

 

Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments
June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)

 

1.ORGANIZATION

 

ALPS Series Trust (the “Trust”), a Delaware statutory trust, is an open-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Trust consists of multiple separate portfolios or series. This quarterly report describes the Clarkston Partners Fund, the Clarkston Fund and the Clarkston Founders Fund (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”). The Funds are non-diversified and each Fund’s investment objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The Clarkston Partners Fund currently offers Founders Class shares and Institutional Class shares, and the Clarkston Fund, and the Clarkston Founders Fund currently offer Institutional Class shares. Each share class of the Clarkston Partners Fund has identical rights to earnings, assets and voting privileges, except for class-specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) may establish additional funds and classes of shares at any time in the future without shareholder approval.

 

2.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for investment companies (“U.S. GAAP”). The Funds are considered investment companies under U.S. GAAP and follow the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Funds in preparation of their financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Funds generally value their securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on each day the NYSE is open for trading.

 

Securities traded on a registered U.S. securities exchange (including exchange-traded derivatives other than futures and futures options) are valued based on the last sale price of the security reported on the principal exchange on which it is traded, prior to the time when the Funds’ assets are valued. In the case of equity securities not traded on an exchange, or if such closing prices are not otherwise available, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and ask prices on such day.

 

Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value (“NAV”), with the exception of exchange-traded open-end investment companies, which are priced as equity securities. Money market funds, representing short-term investments, are valued at their NAV.

 

When such prices or quotations are not available, or when the Fair Value Committee appointed by the Board believes that they are unreliable, securities may be priced using fair value procedures approved by the Board.

 

Fair Value Measurements: The Funds disclose the classification of their fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. 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 reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Funds’ investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

 

Level 1Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date;

 

Level 2 Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly); and

 

Level 3Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Funds’ investments as of June 30, 2020:

 

CLARKSTON PARTNERS FUND
Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Unadjusted
Quoted Prices
   Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Common Stock                    
Consumer Discretionary  $105,386,996   $   $   $105,386,996 
Consumer Staples   128,587,258            128,587,258 
Financial Services   315,575,720            315,575,720 
Health Care   58,688,000            58,688,000 
Producer Durables   209,382,764            209,382,764 
Technology   96,933,600            96,933,600 
Total  $914,554,338   $   $   $914,554,338 

 

CLARKSTON FUND
Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Unadjusted
Quoted
Prices
   Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Common Stock                    
Consumer Discretionary  $3,659,485   $   $   $3,659,485 
Consumer Staples   13,551,300            13,551,300 
Financial Services   15,962,365            15,962,365 
Producer Durables   9,643,479            9,643,479 
Technology   1,628,080            1,628,080 
Total  $44,444,709   $   $   $44,444,709 

 

CLARKSTON FOUNDERS FUND
Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 -
Unadjusted
Quoted
Prices
   Level 2 - Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
   Level 3 -
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
   Total 
Common Stock                    
Consumer Discretionary  $3,729,860   $   $   $3,729,860 
Consumer Staples   11,484,940            11,484,940 
Financial Services   16,037,787            16,037,787 
Health Care   3,248,000            3,248,000 
Producer Durables   10,793,557            10,793,557 
Technology   5,245,540            5,245,540 
Total  $50,539,684   $   $   $50,539,684 

 

There were no Level 3 securities held during the period.

 

Cash & Cash Equivalents: The Funds consider their investment in a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insured interest bearing account to be cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus any accrued interest. The Funds maintain cash balances, which, at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Funds maintain these balances with a high-quality financial institution.

 

 

Concentration of Credit Risk: Each Fund places its cash with a banking institution, which is insured by FDIC. The FDIC limit is $250,000. At various times throughout the period, the amount on deposit may exceed the FDIC limit and subject the Funds to a credit risk. The Funds do not believe that such deposits are subject to any unusual risk associated with investment activities.

 

Trust Expenses: Some expenses of the Trust can be directly attributed to a Fund. Expenses that cannot be directly attributed to a Fund are apportioned among all funds in the Trust based on average net assets of each fund.

 

Fund Expenses: Some expenses can be directly attributed to a Fund and are apportioned among the classes based on average net assets of each class.

 

Class Expenses: Expenses that are specific to a class of shares are charged directly to that share class. Fees incurred under the shareholder service plan for a particular class of a Fund are charged to the operations of such class.

 

Investment Transactions and Investment Income: Investment transactions are accounted for on the date the investments are purchased or sold (trade date basis for financial reporting purposes). Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are reported on an identified cost basis. Interest income, which includes accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, is accrued and recorded as earned using the effective yield method. Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date, or for certain foreign securities, as soon as information is available to a Fund. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses of a Fund and net investment income of a Fund are allocated daily to each class of the Fund in proportion to its average daily net assets.

 

Distributions to Shareholders: The Funds normally pay dividends, if any, and distribute capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from interest, dividends and other income the Funds receive from their investments, including short-term capital gains. Long-term capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when a Fund sells a security it has owned for more than one year. A Fund may make additional distributions and dividends at other times if its portfolio manager or managers believe doing so may be necessary for the Fund to avoid or reduce taxes. Net investment income/(loss) and net realized gain/(loss) may differ for financial statement and tax purposes.

 

COVID-19 Risks: A recent outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus was first detected in China in December 2019 and has now been detected internationally. This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies, their securities (including equity and debt), and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. In addition, the impact of infectious diseases in developing or emerging market countries may be greater due to less established health care systems. Health crises caused by the recent coronavirus outbreak may exacerbate other preexisting political, social and economic risks in certain countries. The impact of the outbreak may be short term or may last for an extended period of time.