0001752724-23-261246.txt : 20231121 0001752724-23-261246.hdr.sgml : 20231121 20231121142836 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001752724-23-261246 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: NPORT-P PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20230930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20231121 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20231121 PERIOD START: 20231231 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SPROTT FOCUS TRUST INC. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000825202 IRS NUMBER: 592876580 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: NPORT-P SEC ACT: 1940 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-05379 FILM NUMBER: 231426786 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 320 POST ROAD, SUITE 230 CITY: DARIEN STATE: CT ZIP: 06820 BUSINESS PHONE: (203) 656-2400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 320 POST ROAD, SUITE 230 CITY: DARIEN STATE: CT ZIP: 06820 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ROYCE FOCUS TRUST INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19990525 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ROYCE GLOBAL TRUST INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19961203 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ALL SEASONS GLOBAL FUND INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19950803 NPORT-P 1 primary_doc.xml NPORT-P false 0000825202 XXXXXXXX SPROTT FOCUS TRUST INC. 811-05379 0000825202 549300ZO564XGNG81814 C/O SPROTT ASSET MANAGEMENT L.P. ROYAL BANK PLZ, SO. TOWER, STE 2600 TORONTO CA 0000M5J2J1 203-656-2401 SPROTT FOCUS TRUST INC. 549300ZO564XGNG81814 2023-12-31 2023-09-30 N 245967906.12 301925.23 245665980.89 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 113614.03000000 UST Sims Ltd 5493002YM7ZHVDMFC916 Sims Ltd 000000000 13500.00000000 NS 117438.02000000 0.047803940771 Long EC CORP AU N 1 N N Pason Systems Inc 984500DC6T2FLR969F65 Pason Systems Inc 702925108 1160000.00000000 NS 11512460.89000000 4.686225112770 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc 549300T1FUI6JF63XU51 Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc 04316A108 300000.00000000 NS USD 11226000.00000000 4.569619268948 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N State Street Global Advisors 5493008BJIBKQ5KTIF74 State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio 857492706 19436.40000000 NS USD 19436.40000000 0.007911718150 Long STIV RF US N N/A N N Cirrus Logic Inc 549300NKSJEM5ZZSSV18 Cirrus Logic Inc 172755100 30000.00000000 NS USD 2218800.00000000 0.903177555134 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd YGE0EUBRF7IJOB3QRX76 Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd 008474108 160000.00000000 NS USD 7272000.00000000 2.960116811312 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N Buckle Inc/The 5299007IU0461T3GDL34 Buckle Inc/The 118440106 265000.00000000 NS USD 8848350.00000000 3.601780746338 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Nucor Corp 549300GGJCRSI2TIEJ46 Nucor Corp 670346105 72500.00000000 NS USD 11335375.00000000 4.614141102864 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Westlake Corp GOXNEVUM0LL78B1OS344 Westlake Corp 960413102 95000.00000000 NS USD 11843650.00000000 4.821037881229 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc 549300MOI1T78144X610 Kennedy-Wilson Holdings Inc 489398107 580000.00000000 NS USD 8549200.00000000 3.480009714421 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N Centamin PLC 213800PDI9G7OUKLPV84 Centamin PLC 000000000 3200000.00000000 NS 3262059.16000000 1.327843256189 Long EC CORP JE N 1 N N N Gemfields Group Ltd 21380017GAVXTCYS5R31 Gemfields Group Ltd 000000000 13000000.00000000 NS 2128474.29000000 0.866409863624 Long EC CORP GG N 1 N N Marcus & Millichap Inc 549300B2HE8ULXNB1N48 Marcus & Millichap Inc 566324109 175000.00000000 NS USD 5134500.00000000 2.090032971353 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N Barrick Gold Corp 0O4KBQCJZX82UKGCBV73 Barrick Gold Corp 067901108 200000.00000000 NS USD 2910000.00000000 1.184535192645 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N Helmerich & Payne Inc 254900NAOGHJ88RZ4C73 Helmerich & Payne Inc 423452101 270000.00000000 NS USD 11383200.00000000 4.633608592757 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Exxon Mobil Corp J3WHBG0MTS7O8ZVMDC91 Exxon Mobil Corp 30231G102 95000.00000000 NS USD 11170100.00000000 4.546864795659 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Steel Dynamics Inc 549300HGGKEL4FYTTQ83 Steel Dynamics Inc 858119100 105000.00000000 NS USD 11258100.00000000 4.582685791176 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N AerSale Corp N/A AerSale Corp 00810F106 325000.00000000 NS USD 4855500.00000000 1.976464133295 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Berkshire Hathaway Inc 5493000C01ZX7D35SD85 Berkshire Hathaway Inc 084670702 30000.00000000 NS USD 10509000.00000000 4.277759566842 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Vishay Intertechnology Inc 5493009O8F3QQJTCQR75 Vishay Intertechnology Inc 928298108 420000.00000000 NS USD 10382400.00000000 4.226226180111 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Seabridge Gold Inc 9845003FEO1A66376A92 Seabridge Gold Inc 811916105 360000.00000000 NS USD 3798000.00000000 1.546001601947 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N Major Drilling Group International Inc 549300O1MNHCX2FUBC21 Major Drilling Group International Inc 560909103 1300000.00000000 NS 7915332.23000000 3.221989549112 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N FRP Holdings Inc N/A FRP Holdings Inc 30292L107 135000.00000000 NS USD 7285950.00000000 2.965795253215 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Cal-Maine Foods Inc 549300NHE5WMIEIEMF53 Cal-Maine Foods Inc 128030202 200000.00000000 NS USD 9684000.00000000 3.941937733876 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Fixed Income Clearing Corp 549300H47WTHXPU08X20 FIXED INC CLEARING CORP.REPO 000000000 10848605.92000000 PA USD 10848605.92000000 4.415998454770 Long RA CORP US N 2 Repurchase N 1.60000000 2023-10-02 11144500.00000000 USD 11065633.47000000 USD UST N N N Federated Hermes Inc R05X5UQ874RGFF7HHD84 Federated Hermes Inc 314211103 285000.00000000 NS USD 9652950.00000000 3.929298621253 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Value Partners Group Ltd 549300RYVTCSHFKXHB81 Value Partners Group Ltd 000000000 5500000.00000000 NS 1734783.14000000 0.706155216817 Long EC CORP KY N 1 N N N CF Industries Holdings Inc 529900CG8YAQFZ2JMV97 CF Industries Holdings Inc 125269100 25000.00000000 NS USD 2143500.00000000 0.872526180562 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Clarkson PLC 2138007G6BGTEHI3OT22 Clarkson PLC 000000000 160000.00000000 NS 5339157.28000000 2.173340102140 Long EC CORP GB N 1 N N N Pan American Silver Corp 549300MKTF5851TYIB83 Pan American Silver Corp 697900108 200000.00000000 NS USD 2896000.00000000 1.178836397904 Long EC CORP CA N 1 N N N Ashmore Group PLC 549300U3L59WB4YI2X12 Ashmore Group PLC 000000000 1500000.00000000 NS 3437021.49000000 1.399062856626 Long EC CORP GB N 1 N N N Thor Industries Inc 254900XZO1228PDSG060 Thor Industries Inc 885160101 70000.00000000 NS USD 6659100.00000000 2.710631718675 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Smart Sand Inc 549300JISW1T66DVOK23 Smart Sand Inc 83191H107 750000.00000000 NS USD 1740000.00000000 0.708278774983 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc 549300F62TK8VRDSM285 Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc 806882106 305000.00000000 NS USD 8494250.00000000 3.457641945061 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N DDH1 Ltd N/A DDH1 Ltd 000000000 12000000.00000000 NS 6480935.57000000 2.638108681764 Long EC CORP AU N 3 N N N Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co 549300E287ZOFT3C5Z56 Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co 759509102 44000.00000000 NS USD 11538120.00000000 4.696669827136 Long EC CORP US N 1 N N N 2023-10-26 SPROTT FOCUS TRUST INC. Thomas Ulrich Thomas Ulrich President XXXX NPORT-EX 2 NPORT_6626_90203943_0923.htm
Sprott Focus Trust
Schedule of Investments
September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

 
Security Description  Shares   Value 
COMMON STOCKS (95.56%)          
Consumer Discretionary (6.31%)          
Automobiles (2.71%)          
Thor Industries, Inc.   70,000   $6,659,100 
Specialty Retail (3.60%)          
Buckle, Inc. (The)   265,000    8,848,350 
Total Consumer Discretionary (Cost $9,500,532)        15,507,450 
Consumer Staples (3.94%)          
Food Products (3.94%)          
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.   200,000    9,684,000 
Total Consumer Staples (Cost $7,311,333)        9,684,000 
Energy (14.58%)          
Energy Equipment & Services (10.03%)          
Helmerich & Payne, Inc.   270,000    11,383,200 
Pason Systems, Inc.(a)   1,160,000    11,512,461 
Smart Sand, Inc.(b)   750,000    1,740,000 
         24,635,661 
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (4.55%)          
Exxon Mobil Corp.   95,000    11,170,100 
Total Energy (Cost $24,571,407)        35,805,761 
           
Financials (14.89%)          
Capital Markets (10.61%)          
Artisan Partners Asset Management, Inc.(a)   300,000    11,226,000 
Ashmore Group plc   1,500,000    3,437,022 
Federated Hermes, Inc.   285,000    9,652,950 
Value Partners Group Ltd.   5,500,000    1,734,783 
         26,050,755 
Financial Services (4.28%)          
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.(b)   30,000    10,509,000 
Total Financials (Cost $29,324,497)        36,559,755 
           
Industrials (4.15%)          
Aerospace & Defense (1.98%)          
AerSale Corp.(b)   325,000    4,855,500 
Marine Transportation (2.17%)          
Clarkson plc   160,000    5,339,157 
Total Industrials (Cost $8,461,349)        10,194,657 
           
Information Technology (5.13%)          
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (4.23%)          
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.   420,000    10,382,400 
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (0.90%)          
Cirrus Logic, Inc.(b)   30,000    2,218,800 
           
Total Information Technology (Cost $10,116,267)        12,601,200 
Materials (38.02%)          
Chemicals (5.69%)          
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.   25,000    2,143,500 

 

 

 

 

Sprott Focus Trust September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Westlake Chemical Corp.(a)   95,000   $11,843,650 
         13,987,150 
Metals & Mining (32.33%)          
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd.   160,000    7,272,000 
Barrick Gold Corp.   200,000    2,910,000 
Centamin plc   3,200,000    3,262,059 
DDH1 Ltd.   12,000,000    6,480,936 
Gemfields Group Ltd.(a)   13,000,000    2,128,474 
Major Drilling Group International, Inc.(b)   1,300,000    7,915,332 
Nucor Corp.   72,500    11,335,375 
Pan American Silver Corp.   200,000    2,896,000 
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.   44,000    11,538,120 
Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.   305,000    8,494,250 
Seabridge Gold, Inc.(b)   360,000    3,798,000 
Sims Ltd.(a)   13,500    117,438 
Steel Dynamics, Inc.   105,000    11,258,100 
         79,406,084 
Total Materials (Cost $74,645,365)        93,393,234 
           
Real Estate (8.54%)          
Real Estate Management & Development (8.54%)          
FRP Holdings, Inc.(b)   135,000    7,285,950 
Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc.(a)   580,000    8,549,200 
Marcus & Millichap, Inc.(a)   175,000    5,134,500 
         20,969,650 
Total Real Estate (Cost $18,400,800)        20,969,650 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (Cost $182,331,550)        234,715,707 
           
Repurchase Agreement (4.41%)          
Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, 1.60% dated 09/29/23, due 10/02/23, maturity value $10,850,052          
(collateralized by obligations of various U.S. Treasury Note, 4.125% due 06/15/26, valued at $11,065,633)        10,848,606 
Total Repurchase Agreements (Cost $10,848,606)        10,848,606 
           
Securities Lending Collateral (0.01%)          
State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market          
Portfolio(c)   19,436    19,436 
Total Securities Lending Collateral (Cost $19,436)        19,436 
           
TOTAL INVESTMENTS - 99.98% (Cost $193,199,592)        245,583,749 
           
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES - 0.02%        42,905 
NET ASSETS - 100.00%       $245,626,654 

 

(a)Security (or a portion of the security) is on loan. As of September 30, 2023, the market value of securities loaned was $23,906,725. The loaned securities were secured with cash collateral of $19,436 and non-cash collateral with a value of $24,377,924. The non-cash collateral received consists of equity securities, and is held for the benefit of the Fund at the Fund’s custodian. The Fund cannot repledge or resell this collateral. Collateral is calculated based on prior day’s prices.
(b)Non-Income producing.
(c)Represents an investment of securities purchased from cash collateral received from lending of portfolio securities.

 

 

 

 

Sprott Focus Trust September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

 

Valuation of Investments:

 

Securities are valued as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the valuation date. All exchange traded securities are valued using the last trade or closing sale price from the primary publicly recognized exchange. If no current closing sale price is available, the mean of the closing bid and ask price is used. If no current day price quotation is available, the previous business day’s closing sale price is used. Investments in open-end mutual funds such as money market funds are valued at the closing NAV. Repurchase agreements are valued at contract amount plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. The Fund values its non-U.S. dollar denominated securities in U.S. dollars daily at the prevailing foreign currency exchange rates as quoted by a major bank. If events (e.g., market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of the Fund’s investment, or in the event that it is determined that valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued in accordance with Sprott Asset Management USA, Inc. (the “Adviser”) policies and procedures as reflecting fair value (“Fair Value Policies and Procedures”). U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price a fund would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) has approved the designation of the Adviser of the Fund as the valuation designee for the Fund. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with the Fair Value Policies and Procedures as reflecting fair value. The Adviser has formed a committee (the “Valuation Committee”) to develop pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.

 

The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Valuation Committee include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for fair valued investments, the Valuation Committee seeks to determine the price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Valuation Committee deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement.

 

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments, as noted above. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels below:

 

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, foreign securities that may be fair valued and repurchase agreements).

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs.

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

 

The following is a summary of the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2023 based on the inputs used to value them. For a detailed breakout of common stocks by sector classification, please refer to the Schedule of Investments.

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Common Stocks  $228,234,771   $6,480,936   $    $234,715,707 
Repurchase Agreements       10,848,606        10,848,606 
Securities Lending Collateral   19,436            19,436 
Total  $228,254,207   $17,329,542   $    $245,583,749 

  

 

 

 

Sprott Focus Trust September 30, 2023 (Unaudited)

  

Common Stock:

 

The Fund invests a significant amount of assets in common stock. The value of common stock held by the Fund will fluctuate, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industries in which the issuers of common stock held by the Fund participate or factors relating to specific companies in which the Fund invests.

 


Repurchase Agreements:

 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with institutions that the Fund’s investment adviser has determined are creditworthy. The Fund restricts repurchase agreements to maturities of no more than seven days. Securities pledged as collateral for repurchase agreements, which are held until maturity of the repurchase agreements, are marked-to-market daily and maintained at a value at least equal to the principal amount of the repurchase agreement (including accrued interest). Repurchase agreements could involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the counter-party, including possible delays or restrictions upon the ability of the Fund to dispose of its underlying securities. The maturity associated with these securities is considered continuous.

 

Lending of Portfolio Securities:

 

The Fund, using State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) as its lending agent, may loan securities to qualified brokers and dealers in exchange for negotiated lenders’ fees. The Fund receives cash collateral, which may be invested by the lending agent in short-term instruments. Collateral for securities on loan is at least equal to 102% (for loans of U.S. securities) or 105% (for loans of non-U.S. securities) of the market value of the loaned securities at the inception of each loan. The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the Fund and any additional required collateral is delivered to the Fund on the next business day. As September 30, 2023, the cash collateral received by the Fund was invested in the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio, which is a 1940 Act registered money market fund. To the extent that advisory or other fees paid by the State Street Navigator Securities Lending Government Money Market Portfolio are for the same or similar services as fees paid by the Fund, there will be a layering of fees, which would increase expenses and decrease returns. Information regarding the value of the securities loaned and the value of the collateral at period end is included in the Schedule of Investments. The Fund could experience a delay in recovering its securities, a possible loss of income or value and record realized gain or loss on securities deemed sold due to a borrower’s inability to return securities on loan. These loans involve the risk of delay in receiving additional collateral in the event that the collateral decreases below the value of the securities loaned and the risks of the loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower of the securities experience financial difficulties. When the Fund engages in securities lending, the Fund will retain a portion of the securities lending income and remit the remaining portion to State Street as securities lending agent as compensation for its services. Securities lending income is generally equal to the total of income earned from the reinvestment of cash collateral (and excludes collateral investment fees), and any fees or other payments to and from borrowers of securities. State Street bears all operational costs directly related to securities lending.

 

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2023, the Fund had outstanding loans of securities to certain approved brokers for which the Fund received collateral:

 

Market Value of Loaned
Securities
 

Market Value of

Cash Collateral

  Market Value of Non-Cash
Collateral
  Total
Collateral
$23,906,725  $19,436  $24,377,924  $24,397,360


All securities on loan are classified as Common Stock in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments as of September 30, 2023, with a contractual maturity of overnight and continuous.

 

Other information regarding the Fund is available in the Fund’s most recent Report to Stockholders. This information is available through Sprott Asset Management’s website (www.sprottfocustrust.com) and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov).