0001752724-21-040355.txt : 20210225 0001752724-21-040355.hdr.sgml : 20210225 20210225134754 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001752724-21-040355 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: NPORT-P PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20201231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20210225 PERIOD START: 20210930 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: 21678837 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 S000050589 Clarkston Partners Fund C000159696 Founders Class CFSMX C000159697 Institutional Class CISMX NPORT-P 1 primary_doc.xml NPORT-P false 0001558107 XXXXXXXX S000050589 C000159696 C000159697 ALPS SERIES TRUST 811-22747 0001558107 5493000QN25IZZPUSL66 1290 BROADWAY SUITE 1000 DENVER 80203 3036235277 Clarkston Partners Fund S000050589 549300AW5D6OOD7IHR04 2021-09-30 2020-12-31 N 1368794522.71 1368957.35 1367425565.36 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 Stericycle Inc B8PTJH2P0AXSWSMP2136 Stericycle, Inc. 858912108 1319450.00000000 NS USD 91477468.50000000 6.689758537307 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Willis Towers Watson Plc 549300WHC56FF48KL350 Willis Towers Watson PLC G96629103 188000.00000000 NS USD 39607840.00000000 2.896526217101 Long EC CORP IE N 1 N N N Cdk Global Inc 5493000L10CYRTHIJ385 CDK Global, Inc. 12508E101 1630000.00000000 NS USD 84482900.00000000 6.178244881487 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Brown & Brown Inc 549300PC8KTJ71XKFY89 Brown & Brown, Inc. 115236101 1100000.00000000 NS USD 52151000.00000000 3.813809052653 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Affiliated Managers Group Inc 2JE75BUE3T1BLCYYGK54 Affiliated Managers Group, Inc. 008252108 617000.00000000 NS USD 62748900.00000000 4.588834784837 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc 549300T1FUI6JF63XU51 Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc. 04316A108 1066876.00000000 NS USD 53706537.84000000 3.927565726465 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Molson Coors Beverage Co 54930073LBBH6ZCBE225 Molson Coors Beverage Co. 60871R209 2115000.00000000 NS USD 95576850.00000000 6.989546811261 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Us Foods Holding Corp 549300UGOZSO64CFPR97 US Foods Holding Corp. 912008109 1102000.00000000 NS USD 36707620.00000000 2.684432771325 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Us Ecology Inc N/A US Ecology, Inc. 91734M103 417665.00000000 NS USD 15173769.45000000 1.109659628603 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N John Wiley & Sons Inc 5493003XM719UN7E8P64 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 968223206 1109000.00000000 NS USD 50636940.00000000 3.703085658389 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Lpl Financial Holdings Inc 549300XROQ4Y8G2L7682 LPL Financial Holdings, Inc. 50212V100 720000.00000000 NS USD 75038400.00000000 5.487567433350 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Franklin Resources Inc RIFQSET379FOGTEFKS80 Franklin Resources, Inc. 354613101 1875000.00000000 NS USD 46856250.00000000 3.426603333078 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Nielsen Holdings Plc 549300ZVCBHQE0XHG367 Nielsen Holdings PLC G6518L108 5920233.00000000 NS USD 123555262.71000000 9.035611578424 Long EC CORP GB N 1 N N N Post Holdings Inc JM1I5YUAURL6DC8N1468 Post Holdings, Inc. 737446104 319000.00000000 NS USD 32222190.00000000 2.356412723022 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Ch Robinson Worldwide Inc 529900WNWN5L0OVDHA79 CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc. 12541W209 289616.00000000 NS USD 27186253.92000000 1.988134097291 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Change Healthcare Inc 549300GS1BPJEDOZHM07 Change Healthcare, Inc. 15912K100 5920000.00000000 NS USD 110408000.00000000 8.074150637291 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Enerpac Tool Group Corp IZW37BPZKUJE1QXGB081 Enerpac Tool Group Corp. 292765104 1719903.00000000 NS USD 38887006.83000000 2.843811598605 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Western Union Co/the 28ID94QU1140NC23S047 The Western Union Co. 959802109 2200000.00000000 NS USD 48268000.00000000 3.529844784442 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Hillenbrand Inc U246OE781574J2BUD366 Hillenbrand, Inc. 431571108 2000000.00000000 NS USD 79600000.00000000 5.821157803133 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Landstar System Inc 254900CUQXQRL09MEI52 Landstar System, Inc. 515098101 140000.00000000 NS USD 18852400.00000000 1.378678333766 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Sysco Corp 5RGWIFLMGH3YS7KWI652 Sysco Corp. 871829107 594933.00000000 NS USD 44179724.58000000 3.230868699487 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N 2021-01-30 ALPS SERIES TRUST Erich Rettinger Erich Rettinger Treasurer XXXX NPORT-EX 2 fp0062703_clarkston_nportex.htm

CLARKSTON PARTNERS FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2020 (Unaudited)

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCK (89.74%)          
Consumer Discretionary (12.74%)          
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Class A   1,109,000   $50,636,940 
Nielsen Holdings PLC   5,920,233    123,555,263 
Total Consumer Discretionary        174,192,203 
           
Consumer Staples (15.26%)          
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B   2,115,000    95,576,850 
Post Holdings, Inc.(a)   319,000    32,222,190 
Sysco Corp.   594,933    44,179,724 
US Foods Holding Corp.(a)   1,102,000    36,707,620 
Total Consumer Staples        208,686,384 
           
Financials (24.13%)          
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.   617,000    62,748,900 
Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc., Class A   1,066,876    53,706,537 
Brown & Brown, Inc.   1,100,000    52,151,000 
Franklin Resources, Inc.   1,875,000    46,856,250 
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.   720,000    75,038,400 
Willis Towers Watson PLC   188,000    39,607,840 
Total Financials        330,108,927 
           
Industrials (15.56%)          
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.   289,616    27,186,254 
Enerpac Tool Group Corp., Class A   1,719,903    38,887,007 
Hillenbrand, Inc.   2,000,000    79,600,000 
Landstar System, Inc.   140,000    18,852,400 
The Western Union Co.   2,200,000    48,268,000 
Total Industrials        212,793,661 
           
Technology (14.25%)          
CDK Global, Inc.   1,630,000    84,482,900 
Change Healthcare, Inc.(a)   5,920,000    110,408,000 
Total Technology        194,890,900 
           
Utilities (7.80%)          
Stericycle, Inc.(a)   1,319,450    91,477,469 
US Ecology, Inc.   417,665    15,173,769 
Total Utilities        106,651,238 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCK          
(Cost $866,803,953)        1,227,323,313 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (89.74%)          
 (Cost $866,803,953)       $1,227,323,313 
           
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (10.26%)        140,328,305 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $1,367,651,618 

 

 

(a) Non-income producing security.

 

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

December 31, 2020 (Unaudited)

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCK (90.83%)          
Consumer Discretionary (10.50%)          
Fox Corp., Class A   38,000   $1,106,560 
Nielsen Holdings PLC   220,000    4,591,400 
The Walt Disney Co.(a)   3,500    634,130 
Total Consumer Discretionary        6,332,090 
           
Consumer Staples (23.37%)          
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Sponsored ADR   55,000    3,845,050 
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B   82,000    3,705,580 
Nestle SA, Sponsored, ADR   10,000    1,178,000 
PepsiCo, Inc.   11,000    1,631,300 
Sysco Corp.   37,000    2,747,620 
The Procter & Gamble Co.   7,100    987,894 
Total Consumer Staples        14,095,444 
           
Financials (18.64%)          
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.   24,000    2,440,800 
Brown & Brown, Inc.   40,000    1,896,400 
Franklin Resources, Inc.   105,000    2,623,950 
The Charles Schwab Corp.   47,000    2,492,880 
Willis Towers Watson PLC   8,500    1,790,780 
Total Financials        11,244,810 
           
Industrials (35.37%)(b)          
American Express Co.   27,200    3,288,752 
Capital One Financial Corp.   26,000    2,570,100 
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.   11,927    1,119,587 
FedEx Corp.   17,000    4,413,540 
General Electric Co.   398,000    4,298,400 
Mastercard, Inc., Class A   3,500    1,249,290 
Paychex, Inc.   8,500    792,030 
The Western Union Co.   103,000    2,259,820 
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B   8,000    1,347,200 
Total Industrials        21,338,719 
           
Technology (2.95%)          
Microsoft Corp.   8,000    1,779,360 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCK          
(Cost $43,216,451)        54,790,423 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (90.83%)          
 (Cost $43,216,451)       $54,790,423 
           
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (9.17%)        5,530,215 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $60,320,638 

 

 

(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 FOUNDERS FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2020 (Unaudited)

 

   Shares   Value
(Note 2)
 
COMMON STOCK (83.14%)          
Consumer Discretionary (11.95%)          
Fox Corp., Class A   265,000   $7,716,800 
Nielsen Holdings PLC   1,125,000    23,478,750 
Total Consumer Discretionary        31,195,550 
           
Consumer Staples (19.59%)          
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Sponsored ADR   187,000    13,073,170 
Molson Coors Beverage Co., Class B   360,000    16,268,400 
Post Holdings, Inc.(a)   78,000    7,878,780 
Sysco Corp.   93,000    6,906,180 
US Foods Holding Corp.(a)   210,000    6,995,100 
Total Consumer Staples        51,121,630 
           
Financials (21.02%)          
Affiliated Managers Group, Inc.   108,000    10,983,600 
Brown & Brown, Inc.   250,000    11,852,500 
Franklin Resources, Inc.   400,000    9,996,000 
LPL Financial Holdings, Inc.   98,000    10,213,560 
The Charles Schwab Corp.   135,000    7,160,400 
Willis Towers Watson PLC   22,000    4,634,960 
Total Financials        54,841,020 
           
Industrials (11.04%)          
CH Robinson Worldwide, Inc.   55,000    5,162,850 
FedEx Corp.   42,000    10,904,040 
Paychex, Inc.   25,000    2,329,500 
The Western Union Co.   475,000    10,421,500 
Total Industrials        28,817,890 
           
Technology (12.85%)          
CDK Global, Inc.   300,000    15,549,000 
Change Healthcare, Inc.(a)   965,000    17,997,250 
Total Technology        33,546,250 
           
Utilities (6.69%)          
Stericycle, Inc.(a)   252,000    17,471,160 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCK          
(Cost $188,591,081)        216,993,500 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (83.14%)          
 (Cost $188,591,081)       $216,993,500 
           
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (16.86%)        43,999,447 
           
NET ASSETS (100.00%)       $260,992,947 

 

(a) Non-income producing security.

 

 

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)

 

 

 

Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments

December 31, 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 increases and decreases in net assets from operations 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 1 –Unadjusted 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 3 – Significant 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 December 31, 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  $174,192,203   $   $   $174,192,203 
Consumer Staples   208,686,384            208,686,384 
Financials   330,108,927            330,108,927 
Industrials   212,793,661            212,793,661 
Technology   194,890,900            194,890,900 
Utilities   106,651,238            106,651,238 
Total  $1,227,323,313   $   $   $1,227,323,313 

 

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  $6,332,090   $   $   $6,332,090 
Consumer Staples   14,095,444            14,095,444 
Financials   11,244,810            11,244,810 
Industrials   21,338,719            21,338,719 
Technology   1,779,360            1,779,360 
Total  $54,790,423   $   $   $54,790,423 

 

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  $31,195,550   $   $   $31,195,550 
Consumer Staples   51,121,630            51,121,630 
Financials   54,841,020            54,841,020 
Industrials   28,817,890            28,817,890 
Technology   33,546,250            33,546,250 
Utilities   17,471,160            17,471,160 
Total  $216,993,500   $   $   $216,993,500 

 

There were no Level 3 securities held in the Funds at December 31, 2020.

 

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 a Fund 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 provided 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. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends are paid (a portion of which may be reclaimable) or provided for in accordance with the applicable country’s tax rules and rates and are disclosed in the Statements of Operations. 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 December 2019 and has now spread internationally. This coronavirus has resulted in closing borders, enhanced health screenings, health care 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 pre existing 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.