0001752724-22-198193.txt : 20220826 0001752724-22-198193.hdr.sgml : 20220826 20220826171821 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001752724-22-198193 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: NPORT-P PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20220630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20220826 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20220826 PERIOD START: 20220930 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: 221206216 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1290 BROADWAY, SUITE 1000 CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80203 BUSINESS PHONE: 303.623.2577 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1290 BROADWAY, SUITE 1000 CITY: DENVER STATE: CO ZIP: 80203 0001558107 S000070920 Hillman Value Fund C000225205 Hillman Value Fund HCMAX NPORT-P 1 primary_doc.xml NPORT-P false 0001558107 XXXXXXXX S000070920 C000225205 ALPS SERIES TRUST 811-22747 0001558107 5493000QN25IZZPUSL66 1290 BROADWAY SUITE 1000 DENVER 80203 3036235277 Hillman Value Fund S000070920 5493001WXJ8BG3WNOF03 2022-09-30 2022-06-30 N 208824106.13 297088.18 208527017.95 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 Lam Research Corp 549300I4GMO6D34U1T02 Lam Research Corp. 512807108 14400.00000000 NS USD 6136560.00000000 2.942812907568 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Wells Fargo & Co PBLD0EJDB5FWOLXP3B76 Wells Fargo & Co. 949746101 147655.00000000 NS USD 5783646.35000000 2.773571696779 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Kraft Heinz Co/the 9845007488EC87F5AF14 Kraft Heinz Co. 500754106 197000.00000000 NS USD 7513580.00000000 3.603168584035 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N N/A N/A Money Market Fiduciary Portfolio SF8888528 3149259.87000000 NS USD 3149259.87000000 1.510240687734 Long STIV RF US N 1 N N N Alphabet Inc 5493006MHB84DD0ZWV18 Alphabet, Inc. 02079K305 2800.00000000 NS USD 6101928.00000000 2.926204987721 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Compass Minerals International Inc 2549008X9G8XP7YJGC47 Compass Minerals International, Inc. 20451N101 104000.00000000 NS USD 3680560.00000000 1.765027878009 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Raytheon Technologies Corp I07WOS4YJ0N7YRFE7309 Raytheon Technologies Corp. 75513E101 65000.00000000 NS USD 6247150.00000000 2.995846802690 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Nordstrom Inc 549300S3IZB5P35KNV16 Nordstrom, Inc. 655664100 240000.00000000 NS USD 5071200.00000000 2.431915082205 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Verizon Communications Inc 2S72QS2UO2OESLG6Y829 Verizon Communications, Inc. 92343V104 125000.00000000 NS USD 6343750.00000000 3.042171735041 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Plains All American Pipeline Lp 5521FA2ITF25TVH63740 Plains All American Pipeline LP 726503105 610000.00000000 NS USD 5990200.00000000 2.872625359959 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Simon Property Group Inc 529900GQL5X8H7AO3T64 Simon Property Group, Inc. 828806109 50000.00000000 NS USD 4746000.00000000 2.275964067705 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Amazon.com Inc ZXTILKJKG63JELOEG630 Amazon.com, Inc. 023135106 42000.00000000 NS USD 4460820.00000000 2.139204810893 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Microsoft Corp INR2EJN1ERAN0W5ZP974 Microsoft Corp. 594918104 23346.00000000 NS USD 5995953.18000000 2.875384321391 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Warner Bros Discovery Inc 5493006ZCRFWKF6B1K26 Warner Bros Discovery, Inc. 934423104 358640.00000000 NS USD 4812948.80000000 2.308069643596 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Asml Holding Nv 724500Y6DUVHQD6OXN27 ASML Holding NV N07059210 11188.00000000 NS USD 5324145.44000000 2.553216121508 Long EC CORP NL N 1 N N N Anheuser-busch Inbev Sa/nv 5493008H3828EMEXB082 Anheuser-Busch InBev NV 03524A108 106000.00000000 NS USD 5718700.00000000 2.742426404127 Long EC CORP BE N 1 N N N Conagra Brands Inc 54930035UDEIH090K650 Conagra Brands, Inc. 205887102 200000.00000000 NS USD 6848000.00000000 3.283986922808 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Enterprise Products Partners Lp K4CDIF4M54DJZ6TB4Q48 Enterprise Products Partners LP 293792107 260000.00000000 NS USD 6336200.00000000 3.038551101094 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Dupont De Nemours Inc 5493004JF0SDFLM8GD76 DuPont de Nemours, Inc. 26614N102 94664.00000000 NS USD 5261425.12000000 2.523138330814 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Cvs Health Corp 549300EJG376EN5NQE29 CVS Health Corp. 126650100 65000.00000000 NS USD 6022900.00000000 2.888306781159 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N At&t Inc 549300Z40J86GGSTL398 AT&T, Inc. 00206R102 344269.00000000 NS USD 7215878.24000000 3.460404465060 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Emerson Electric Co FGLT0EWZSUIRRITFOA30 Emerson Electric Co. 291011104 66000.00000000 NS USD 5249640.00000000 2.517486727431 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N The Options Clearing Corporation 549300CII6SLYGKNHA04 Merck & Co., Inc. N/A -300.00000000 NC USD -88500.00000000 -0.04244054361 N/A DE CORP US N 1 UMB Financial N/A Call Written Merck & Co., Inc Merck & Co., Inc. 100.00000000 92.50000000 USD 2022-08-19 XXXX -7222.11000000 N N N Bank Of New York Mellon Corp/the WFLLPEPC7FZXENRZV188 Bank of New York Mellon Corp. 064058100 140388.00000000 NS USD 5855583.48000000 2.808069447098 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Kellogg Co LONOZNOJYIBXOHXWDB86 Kellogg Co. 487836108 110000.00000000 NS USD 7847400.00000000 3.763253355438 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Salesforce Inc RCGZFPDMRW58VJ54VR07 Salesforce, Inc. 79466L302 38215.00000000 NS USD 6307003.60000000 3.024549845868 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Adobe Inc FU4LY2G4933NH2E1CP29 Adobe, Inc. 00724F101 14600.00000000 NS USD 5344476.00000000 2.562965726235 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N T Rowe Price Group Inc 549300SIV6FPS9Y7IH33 T Rowe Price Group, Inc. 74144T108 50000.00000000 NS USD 5680500.00000000 2.724107435019 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Becton Dickinson And Co ICE2EP6D98PQUILVRZ91 Becton Dickinson and Co. 075887109 24000.00000000 NS USD 5916720.00000000 2.837387719906 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Biogen Inc W8J5WZB5IY3K0NDQT671 Biogen, Inc. 09062X103 29100.00000000 NS USD 5934654.00000000 2.845988044303 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc 2P2YLDVPES3BXQ1FRB91 Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. 98956P102 52949.00000000 NS USD 5562821.94000000 2.667674431201 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Western Union Co/the 28ID94QU1140NC23S047 Western Union Co. 959802109 325000.00000000 NS USD 5352750.00000000 2.566933557398 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Boeing Co/the RVHJWBXLJ1RFUBSY1F30 Boeing Co. 097023105 33000.00000000 NS USD 4511760.00000000 2.163633300065 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Meta Platforms Inc BQ4BKCS1HXDV9HN80Z93 Meta Platforms, Inc. 30303M102 35700.00000000 NS USD 5756625.00000000 2.760613495839 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Merck & Co Inc 4YV9Y5M8S0BRK1RP0397 Merck & Co., Inc. 58933Y105 90000.00000000 NS USD 8205300.00000000 3.934885791138 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Gsk Plc 5493000HZTVUYLO1D793 GSK PLC 37733W105 160000.00000000 NS USD 6964800.00000000 3.339998849295 Long EC CORP GB N 1 N N N Intel Corp KNX4USFCNGPY45LOCE31 Intel Corp. 458140100 142795.00000000 NS USD 5341960.95000000 2.561759623532 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N 2022-07-30 ALPS SERIES TRUST Jill McFate Jill McFate Treasurer XXXX NPORT-EX 2 fp0078989_nportex.htm

 

HILLMAN VALUE FUND

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)

 

       Value 
   Shares   (Note 2) 
COMMON STOCK (90.37%)          
Communication Services (14.50%)          
Alphabet, Inc., Class A(a)   2,800   $6,101,928 
AT&T, Inc.   344,269    7,215,878 
Meta Platforms, Inc., Class A(a)   35,700    5,756,625 
Verizon Communications, Inc.   125,000    6,343,750 
Warner Bros Discovery, Inc.(a)   358,640    4,812,949 
Total Communication Services        30,231,130 
           
Consumer Discretionary (4.57%)          
Amazon.com, Inc.(a)   42,000    4,460,820 
Nordstrom, Inc.   240,000    5,071,200 
Total Consumer Discretionary        9,532,020 
           
Consumer Staples (13.40%)          
Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, Sponsored ADR   106,000    5,718,700 
Conagra Brands, Inc.   200,000    6,848,000 
Kellogg Co.   110,000    7,847,400 
Kraft Heinz Co.   197,000    7,513,580 
Total Consumer Staples        27,927,680 
           
Financials (8.31%)          
Bank of New York Mellon Corp.   140,388    5,855,584 
T Rowe Price Group, Inc.   50,000    5,680,500 
Wells Fargo & Co.   147,655    5,783,646 
Total Financials        17,319,730 
           
Health Care (18.52%)          
Becton Dickinson and Co.   24,000    5,916,720 
Biogen, Inc.(a)   29,100    5,934,654 
CVS Health Corp.   65,000    6,022,900 
GSK PLC, Sponsored ADR   160,000    6,964,800 
Merck & Co., Inc.(b)   90,000    8,205,300 
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.   52,949    5,562,822 
Total Health Care        38,607,196 
           
Industrials (7.68%)          
Boeing Co.(a)   33,000    4,511,760 
Emerson Electric Co.   66,000    5,249,640 
Raytheon Technologies Corp.   65,000    6,247,150 
Total Industrials        16,008,550 
           
Information Technology (19.10%)          
Adobe, Inc.(a)   14,600    5,344,476 
ASML Holding NV   11,188    5,324,145 
Intel Corp.   142,795    5,341,961 
Lam Research Corp.   14,400    6,136,560 
Microsoft Corp.   23,346    5,995,953 
Salesforce, Inc.(a)   38,215    6,307,004 
Western Union Co.   325,000    5,352,750 
Total Information Technology        39,802,849 
           
Materials (4.29%)          
Compass Minerals International, Inc.   104,000    3,680,560 

 

 

 

 

         Value  
    Shares    (Note 2) 
Materials (continued)          
DuPont de Nemours, Inc.   94,664   $5,261,425 
Total Materials        8,941,985 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCK          
(Cost $210,400,315)        188,371,140 
           
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (5.91%)          
Energy (5.91%)          
Enterprise Products Partners LP   260,000    6,336,200 
Plains All American Pipeline LP   610,000    5,990,200 
Total Energy        12,326,400 
           
TOTAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP          
(Cost $11,501,975)        12,326,400 
           
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (2.28%)          
Real Estate (2.28%)          
Simon Property Group, Inc.   50,000    4,746,000 
           
TOTAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST          
(Cost $5,329,820)        4,746,000 
           

 

   7 Day Yield   Shares   Value (Note 2) 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (1.51%)               
Short Term Investments               
Money Market Fiduciary Portfolio   0.000%   3,149,260   $3,149,260 
              3,149,260 
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS               
 (Cost $3,149,260)             3,149,260 
                
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.07%)               
 (Cost $230,381,370)            $208,592,800 
                
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (-0.07%)(c)             (153,602)
                
NET ASSETS (100.00%)            $208,439,198 

 

(a)Non-income producing security.
(b)All or a portion is held as collateral at custodian for written options.
(c)Includes cash which is being held as collateral for written options.

 

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)

 

WRITTEN OPTION CONTRACTS (0.04%)    
   Expiration   Strike       Premiums   Notional   Value 
Counterparty  Date   Price   Contracts   Received   Value   (Note 2) 
 Option Contracts - (0.04%)                              
StoneX   08/19/22   $92.50    300   $81,278   $(2,735,100)  $(88,500)
                               
                               
TOTAL WRITTEN OPTION CONTRACTS                 $81,278   $(2,735,100)  $(88,500)
                               

 

 

 

Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments

June 30, 2022 (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 Hillman Value Fund (the “Fund”). The Hillman Value Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”) reorganized into the Trust on March 15, 2021. The Predecessor Fund was a series of the Hillman Capital Management Investment Trust (the “Hillman Trust”) and also was advised by Hillman Capital Management, Inc. (the "Adviser"). The Fund is diversified, and its primary investment objective is to provide long-term total return from a combination of income and capital gains. The Fund currently offers one share class. 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 Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows 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 Fund in preparation of its financial statements.

 

Investment Valuation: The Fund generally values its 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.

 

For equity securities and mutual funds that are traded on an exchange, the market price is usually the closing sale or official closing price on that exchange. 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.

 

Options are valued at the National Best Bid and Offer (“NBBO”) last trade as of the valuation time. Options will be valued on the basis of prices provided by pricing services when such prices are reasonably believed to reflect the market value of such options and may include the use of composite or NBBO pricing information provided by the pricing services.

 

Redeemable securities issued by open-end registered investment companies are valued at the investment company’s applicable net asset value (“NAV”). 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 Fund discloses the classification of its 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 Fund’s 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 Fund’s investments as of June 30, 2022:

 

HILLMAN VALUE 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                    
Communication Services  $30,231,130   $   $   $30,231,130 
Consumer Discretionary   9,532,020            9,532,020 
Consumer Staples   27,927,680            27,927,680 
Financials   17,319,730            17,319,730 
Health Care   38,607,196            38,607,196 
Industrials   16,008,550            16,008,550 
Information Technology   39,802,849            39,802,849 
Materials   8,941,985            8,941,985 
Limited Partnership                    
Energy   12,326,400            12,326,400 
Real Estate Investment Trust                    
Real Estate   4,746,000            4,746,000 
Short Term Investments   3,149,260            3,149,260 
Total  $208,592,800   $   $   $208,592,800 

 

   Valuation Inputs      
Other Financial Instruments   Level 1    Level 2    Level 3    Total 
Liabilities                    
Written Option Contracts  $(88,500)  $   $   $(88,500)
Total  $(88,500)  $   $   $(88,500)

 

 

 

 

*For a detailed breakout by sector, please refer to the Portfolio of Investments.

 

The Fund did not hold any level 3 securities during the period.

 

Cash & Cash Equivalents: The Fund considers its 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 Fund maintains cash balances, which, at times may exceed federally insured limits. The Fund maintains these balances with a high-quality financial institution.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk: The Fund places its cash with a banking institution, which is insured by FDIC. The FDIC limit is $250,000. At various times throughout the year, the amount on deposit may exceed the FDIC limit and subject the Fund to a credit risk. The Fund does 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, including Trustees’ fees and expenses.

 

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 a first in first out 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 the 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 Statement of Operations.

 

Distributions to Shareholders: The Fund 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 Fund receives from their investments, including short-term capital gains. Long-term capital gain distributions are derived from gains realized when the Fund sells a security it has owned for more than one year. The 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.

 

COVID-19 Risks:

The impact of COVID-19, (and the variants of such virus) 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. Health crises caused by the recent coronavirus outbreak may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, financial, and economic risks in certain countries. The impact of the outbreak may last for an extended period of time.

 

3. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

 

The Fund may invest in derivative financial instruments (derivatives) in order to manage risk or gain exposure to various other investments or markets. Derivatives may contain various risks including the potential inability of the counterparty to fulfill their obligations under the terms of the contract, the potential for an illiquid secondary market, and the potential for market movements which may expose the Fund to gains or losses in excess of the amounts shown on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

Risk of Investing in Derivatives: The Fund's use of derivatives can result in losses due to unanticipated changes in the market risk factors and the overall market. In instances where the Fund is using derivatives to decrease, or hedge, exposures to market risk factors for securities held by the Fund, there are also risks that those derivatives may not perform as expected resulting in losses for the combined or hedged positions.

 

 

 

Derivatives may have little or no initial cash investment relative to their market value exposure and therefore can produce significant gains or losses in excess of their cost. This use of embedded leverage allows the Fund to increase its market value exposure relative to its net assets and can substantially increase the volatility of the Fund's performance.

 

Additional associated risks from investing in derivatives also exist and potentially could have significant effects on the valuation of the derivative and the Fund. Typically, the associated risks are not the risks that the Fund are attempting to increase or decrease exposure to, per its investment objectives, but are the additional risks from investing in derivatives.

 

Examples of these associated risks are liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund will not be able to sell or close out the derivative in a timely manner, and counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation to the Fund. In addition, use of derivatives may increase or decrease exposure to the following risk factors:

 

Equity Risk: Equity risk relates to the change in value of equity securities as they relate to increases or decreases in the general market. Associated risks can be different for each type of derivative.

 

Option Contracts: The Fund may enter into options transactions for hedging purposes and for nonhedging purposes such as seeking to enhance return. The Fund may write covered put and call options on any stocks or stock indices, currencies traded on domestic and foreign securities exchanges, or futures contracts on stock indices, interest rates and currencies traded on domestic and, to the extent permitted by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, foreign exchanges. A call option on an asset written by a Fund obligates the Fund to sell the specified asset to the holder (purchaser) at a stated price (the exercise price) if the option is exercised before a specified date (the expiration date). A put option on an asset written by a Fund obligates the Fund to buy the specified asset from the purchaser at the exercise price if the option is exercised before the expiration date. Premiums received when writing options are recorded as liabilities and are subsequently adjusted to the current value of the options written. Premiums received from writing options that expire are treated as realized gains. Premiums received from writing options, which are either exercised or closed, are offset against the proceeds received or amount paid on the transaction to determine realized gains or losses.

 

Purchased Options: When the Fund purchases an option, an amount equal to the premium paid by the Fund is recorded as an investment and is subsequently adjusted to the current value of the option purchased. If an option expires on the stipulated expiration date or if the Fund enters into a closing sale transaction, a gain or loss is realized. If a call option is exercised, the cost of the security acquired is increased by the premium paid for the call. If a put option is exercised, a gain or loss is realized from the sale of the underlying security, and the proceeds from such sale are decreased by the premium originally paid. Purchased options are non-income producing securities.

 

Written Options: When the Fund writes an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Fund is recorded as a liability and is subsequently adjusted to the current value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options that expire unexercised are treated by the Fund on the expiration date as realized gain from written options. The difference between the premium and the amount paid on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage commissions, is also treated as a realized gain, or if the premium is less than the amount paid for the closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security in determining whether the Fund has realized a gain or loss. If a put option is exercised, the premium reduces the cost basis of the securities purchased by the Fund. The Fund, as a writer of an option, bears the market risk of an unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the written option.