NPORT-EX 2 fp0073748_nportex.htm

DDJ OPPORTUNISTIC HIGH YIELD FUND

PORTFOLIO OF INVESTMENTS

December 31, 2021 (Unaudited)

 

   Shares   Value (Note 2) 
COMMON STOCKS (1.77%)        
Consumer, Cyclical (1.16%)        
CWT Travel Holdings Inc(b)(c)(d)   89,755   $3,096,547 
           
Consumer, Non-Cyclical (0.11%)          
American Tire Distributors, Inc.(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)   2,940    297,763 
           
Materials (0.11%)          
Real Alloy Holding, Inc.(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)   3    152,565 
Specialty Steel Holdco, Inc.(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)   1    151,163 
Total Materials        303,728 
           
Mineral and Precious Stone Mining (0.03%)          
Arctic Canadian Diamond Co LTD.(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)   541    82,232 
           
Oil & Gas (0.25%)          
Utex Industries, Inc.(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)   7,506    659,928 
           
Technology (0.11%)          
Skillsoft Corp.(b)(c)(d)   32,763    299,777 
           
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS          
(Cost $2,411,499)        4,739,975 

 

   Rate  Maturity Date  Principal Amount   Value (Note 2) 
BANK LOANS (34.58%)        
Basic Materials  (0.96%)           
Aruba Investments, Inc., Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 7.75%, 0.75% Floor  11/24/2028  $2,540,000   $2,565,400 
                 
Communications  (2.18%)                
Auction.com LLC fka Ten-X LLC(f)  1M US L + 4.00%, 1.00% Floor  9/27/2024   5,098,101    5,018,469 
Getty Images, Inc., Series Initial Dollar(f)  1M US L + 4.50%  2/19/2026   807,377    809,565 
Total Communications              5,828,034 
                 
Consumer Discretionary  (2.09%)                
CNT Holdings I Corp, Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 6.75%, 0.75% Floor  11/6/2028   5,554,188    5,602,787 
                 
Consumer, Cyclical  (3.16%)                
ABG Intermediate Holdings 2 LLC TL(a)(f)  5M US L + 6.50%  3/31/2022   810,000    814,050 
Autokiniton US Holdings, Inc., Series Closing Date B(f)  6M US L + 4.50%, 0.50% Floor  4/6/2028   997,500    1,000,278 
Brooks Automation 11/21 2nd Lien TL(f)  1M US L + 5.60%, 0.50% Floor  11/16/2029   2,040,000    2,051,475 
Madison Safety & Flow, LLC TL 2L(a)(f)(h)  6M US L + 6.75%  12/14/2029   2,270,000    2,281,350 
Mitchell International, Inc. TL(f)(h)  1M US L + 6.50%  10/1/2029   1,650,000    1,663,612 
Wheel Pros, Inc., Series Initial(f)  1M US L + 4.50%, 0.75% Floor  5/11/2028   660,000    659,878 
Total Consumer, Cyclical              8,470,643 

  

 

   Rate  Maturity Date  Principal Amount   Value (Note 2) 
Consumer, Non-Cyclical  (18.42%)           
Ankura Consulting Group LLC, Series Closing Date(a)(f)  1M US L + 8.00%, 0.75% Floor  3/19/2029  $650,000   $656,500 
Asurion LLC, Series New B-4(f)  1M US L + 5.25%  1/20/2029   3,570,000    3,559,968 
ATI Holdings Acquisition, Inc., Series Initial(b)(c)(f)(h)  3M US L + 3.50%, 1.00% Floor  5/10/2023   1,953,914    1,886,924 
Cano Health LLC, Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 4.75%, 0.75% Floor  11/23/2027   1,400,124    1,401,699 
Cloudera, Inc.(a)(f)  1M US L + 6.00%, 0.50% Floor  8/10/2029   860,000    862,150 
CP Iris Holdco I, Inc.(b)(c)(f)  3M US L + 0.50%, 0.50% Floor  9/15/2029   1,720,000    1,728,953 
Envision Healthcare Corp., Series Initial(f)  1M US L + 3.75%  10/10/2025   2,520,512    2,036,107 
Epic Health 12/21 2nd Lien TL(a)(f)  1M US L+ 7.00%, 0.50% Floor  12/7/2029   4,000,000    3,995,000 
Eyecare Partners LLC(f)  3M US L + 6.75%, 0.50% Floor  11/15/2029   1,430,000    1,437,150 
Infinite Bidco LLC, Series Initial(f)  1M US L + 7.00%, 0.50% Floor  3/2/2029   4,245,740    4,272,276 
KKR Apple Bidco LLC, Series Initial(f)(h)  1M US L + 5.75%, 0.50% Floor  8/6/2026   1,580,000    1,604,198 
KUEHG Corp, Series B-3(f)  3M US L + 3.75%, 1.00% Floor  2/21/2025   5,102,949    5,010,484 
KUEHG Corp, Series Tranche B(f)  3M US L + 8.25%, 1.00% Floor  8/22/2025   780,000    777,562 
LaserShip, Inc., Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 7.50%, 0.75% Floor  5/7/2029   3,280,000    3,308,716 
Learning Care Group No. 2, Inc., Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 7.50%, 1.00% Floor  3/13/2026   1,970,000    1,956,043 
Learning Care Group No. 2, Inc., Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 3.25%, 1.00% Floor  3/13/2025   3,627,637    3,564,154 
Medical Solutions LLC(f)  6M US L + 7.00%, 0.50% Floor  9/24/2028   1,770,000    1,762,628 
MH Sub I LLC, Series 2021 Replacement(f)  3M US L + 6.25%  2/23/2029   4,340,000    4,377,975 
RLG Holdings LLC, Series Closing Date Initial(f)  3M US L + 4.25%, 0.75% Floor  7/7/2028   660,000    659,795 
RLG Holdings LLC, Series Delayed Draw(f)  3M US L + 4.25%, 0.75% Floor  7/7/2028   167,089    167,037 
SM Wellness Holdings, Inc., Series Initial(a)(f)  3M US L + 8.75%, 0.75% Floor  4/16/2029   1,030,000    1,030,000 
VC GB Holdings I Corp, Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 6.75%, 0.50% Floor  7/23/2029   1,330,000    1,321,694 
Xplornet Communications Inc. TL(a)(f)  1M US L + 7.00%, 0.50% Floor  9/30/2029   1,930,000    1,934,825 
Total Consumer, Non-Cyclical              49,311,838 
                 
eCommerce  (1.06%)                
CommerceHub, Inc., Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 7.00%, 0.75% Floor  12/29/2028   2,910,000    2,848,163 
                 
Financials  (0.24%)                
Arctic Canadian Diamond Corp, 1L TL(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)  3M US L + 5.00%, 1.00% Floor  12/31/2027   37,950    37,950 
Arctic Canadian Diamond Corp, 2L TL(a)(b)(c)(e)(g)  Cash 5.00% + PIK 12.50%  12/31/2027   499,215    499,215 
Zest Acquisition Corp., Series Initial(a)(f)  3M US L + 7.50%, 1.00% Floor  3/13/2026   90,000    90,000 
Total Financials              627,165 
                 
Industrials  (6.45%)                
Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc., Series Initial(f)  3M US L + 4.25%, 1.00% Floor  6/21/2024   5,008,543    4,911,151 
Deliver Buyer, Inc., Series Senior Secured(a)(f)  3M US L + 5.00%, 1.00% Floor  5/1/2024   5,208,023    5,224,298 
Engineered Machinery Holdings, Inc., Series Incremental Amendment No. 2(f)  3M US L + 6.50%, 0.75% Floor  5/21/2029   2,760,000    2,777,250 
Engineered Machinery Holdings, Inc., Series Incremental Amendment No. 3(f)  3M US L + 6.00%, 0.75% Floor  5/21/2029   2,295,812    2,306,327 
GI Consilio Parent LLC(a)(f)  3M US L + 7.50%, 0.50% Floor  5/14/2029   2,050,000    2,050,000 
Total Industrials              17,269,026 
                 
Oil & Gas  (0.02%)                
UTEX Industries, Inc., Series Second Out(b)(c)(f)(g)  1M US L + 3.75% + PIK 5.75%, 1.50% Floor  12/3/2024   42,829    42,258 
                 
TOTAL BANK LOANS                
 (Cost $92,117,208)              92,565,314 

  

 

   Rate  Maturity Date  Principal Amount   Value (Note 2) 
HIGH YIELD BONDS AND NOTES (59.33%)        
Basic Materials  (9.01%)           
Allegheny Technologies, Inc.  5.875%  12/1/2027  $460,000   $480,226 
Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. / Baffinland Iron Mines LP(i)  8.750%  7/15/2026   8,190,000    8,526,118 
Big River Steel LLC / BRS Finance Corp.(i)  6.625%  1/31/2029   2,336,000    2,529,024 
Century Aluminum Co.(i)  7.500%  4/1/2028   9,545,000    10,091,644 
Joseph T Ryerson & Son, Inc.(i)  8.500%  8/1/2028   2,281,000    2,483,940 
Northwest Acquisitions ULC / Dominion Finco, Inc.(b)(c)(i)(j)  7.125%  11/1/2022   1,650,000    99 
Total Basic Materials              24,111,051 
                 
Communications  (4.77%)                
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.(i)  7.750%  4/15/2028   2,170,000    2,325,220 
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.(i)  7.500%  6/1/2029   530,000    566,687 
Connect Finco SARL / Connect US Finco LLC(i)  6.750%  10/1/2026   3,560,000    3,747,256 
GTT Communications, Inc.(b)(c)(i)(j)  7.875%  12/31/2024   1,970,000    246,250 
Nexstar Media, Inc.(i)  5.625%  7/15/2027   340,000    358,838 
Scripps Escrow II, Inc.(i)  5.375%  1/15/2031   1,160,000    1,180,584 
Scripps Escrow, Inc.(i)  5.875%  7/15/2027   1,460,000    1,535,281 
Viasat, Inc.(i)  5.625%  9/15/2025   1,450,000    1,459,026 
Viasat, Inc.(i)  6.500%  7/15/2028   1,340,000    1,345,246 
Total Communications              12,764,388 
                 
Consumer, Cyclical  (13.52%)                
Boyd Gaming Corp.(i)  4.750%  6/15/2031   1,480,000    1,512,183 
CWT Travel Group, Inc.(i)  8.500%  11/19/2026   3,358,594    3,437,118 
Dornoch Debt Merger Sub, Inc.(i)  6.625%  10/15/2029   2,570,000    2,541,087 
Ford Motor Co.  7.450%  7/16/2031   1,820,000    2,467,756 
Ford Motor Co.  9.625%  4/22/2030   4,160,000    6,095,710 
Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC(i)  5.500%  4/15/2029   3,690,000    3,761,125 
Real Hero Merger Sub 2, Inc.(i)  6.250%  2/1/2029   3,780,000    3,779,414 
Specialty Building Products Holdings LLC / SBP Finance Corp.(i)  6.375%  9/30/2026   1,620,000    1,699,518 
Sportsnet(a)(b)(c)(e)  10.250%  1/15/2025   100,000    103,500 
SRS Distribution, Inc.(i)  4.625%  7/1/2028   1,860,000    1,869,821 
SRS Distribution, Inc.(i)  6.000%  12/1/2029   2,490,000    2,506,347 
Wheel Pros, Inc.(i)  6.500%  5/15/2029   3,800,000    3,653,339 
White Cap Buyer LLC(i)  6.875%  10/15/2028   2,654,000    2,770,564 
Total Consumer, Cyclical              36,197,482 

  

 

   Rate  Maturity Date  Principal Amount   Value (Note 2) 
Consumer, Non-Cyclical  (11.98%)           
Bausch Health Cos., Inc.(i)  5.250%  1/30/2030  $3,140,000   $2,768,067 
Cano Health LLC(i)  6.250%  10/1/2028   2,570,000    2,573,683 
Carriage Services, Inc.(i)  4.250%  5/15/2029   1,830,000    1,823,622 
Cimpress PLC(i)  7.000%  6/15/2026   1,860,000    1,934,009 
Envision Healthcare Corp.(i)  8.750%  10/15/2026   5,180,000    2,984,276 
High Ridge Brands Escrow(a)(b)(c)(e)     3/15/2025   125,000    1,550 
Option Care Health, Inc.(i)  4.375%  10/31/2029   1,090,000    1,094,393 
Simmons Foods, Inc./Simmons Prepared Foods Inc/Simmons Pet Food Inc/Simmons Feed(i)  4.625%  3/1/2029   1,510,000    1,489,872 
Specialty Steel(a)(b)(f)(g)  11.9222% or PIK L+11.00%, 1.00% Floor  11/15/2026   210,000    210,000 
Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.(i)  6.750%  7/1/2025   2,045,000    2,062,464 
Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.(i)  10.000%  4/15/2027   3,530,000    3,754,155 
Team Health Holdings, Inc.(i)  6.375%  2/1/2025   4,135,000    3,896,369 
Tenet Healthcare Corp.(i)  5.125%  11/1/2027   7,170,000    7,476,804 
Total Consumer, Non-Cyclical              32,069,264 
                 
Energy  (3.85%)                
Harvest Midstream I LP(i)  7.500%  9/1/2028   2,975,000    3,187,475 
Occidental Petroleum Corp.  6.450%  9/15/2036   2,780,000    3,550,060 
Occidental Petroleum Corp.  8.875%  7/15/2030   1,630,000    2,201,119 
Teine Energy, Ltd.(i)  6.875%  4/15/2029   1,360,000    1,383,113 
Total Energy              10,321,767 
                 
Financials  (6.67%)                
AssuredPartners, Inc.(i)  7.000%  8/15/2025   2,540,000    2,561,692 
GTCR AP Finance, Inc.(i)  8.000%  5/15/2027   1,530,000    1,588,905 
HUB International, Ltd.(i)  7.000%  5/1/2026   4,510,000    4,639,775 
NFP Corp.(i)  6.875%  8/15/2028   6,460,000    6,488,295 
NFP Corp.(i)  4.875%  8/15/2028   2,550,000    2,579,376 
Total Financials              17,858,043 
                 
Industrials  (8.24%)                
IEA Energy Services LLC(i)  6.625%  8/15/2029   2,060,000    2,037,659 
Intelligent Packaging, Ltd. Finco, Inc. / Intelligent Packaging Ltd Co.-Issuer LLC(i)  6.000%  9/15/2028   2,050,000    2,111,500 
JPW Industries Holding Corp.(i)  9.000%  10/1/2024   780,000    817,214 
Material Sciences Corp.(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)  L + 8.25% or PIK 2.00%  1/9/2024   90,225    90,225 
Titan Acquisition, Ltd. / Titan Co.-Borrower LLC(i)  7.750%  4/15/2026   5,081,000    5,162,499 
TransDigm, Inc.  6.375%  6/15/2026   2,230,000    2,294,113 
TransDigm, Inc., Series WI  4.875%  5/1/2029   2,670,000    2,685,499 
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc.(i)  6.625%  11/1/2025   3,510,000    3,522,425 
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc.(i)  9.250%  8/1/2024   3,180,000    3,326,789 
Total Industrials              22,047,923 
                 
Materials  (0.04%)                
Real Alloy Holding, Inc.(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)  L + 10.00% or PIK L+12.00%, 1.00% Floor  11/28/2023   114,596    114,596 

  

 

   Rate  Maturity Date  Principal Amount   Value (Note 2) 
Technology  (1.25%)           
Dun & Bradstreet Corp.(i)  5.000%  12/15/2029  $680,000   $696,823 
Playtika Holding Corp.(i)  4.250%  3/15/2029   1,040,000    1,020,776 
Presidio Holdings, Inc.(i)  8.250%  2/1/2028   1,540,000    1,642,279 
Total Technology              3,359,878 
                 
TOTAL HIGH YIELD BONDS AND NOTES                
 (Cost $157,807,234)              158,844,392 
                 
WARRANTS  (0.00%)                
Consumer, Cyclical  (0.00%)                
CWT Travel Holdings, Inc., Strike Price: $57.00(a)(b)(c)(e)     11/19/2026   3,371     
CWT Travel Holdings, Inc., Strike Price: $67.69(a)(b)(c)(e)     11/19/2028   3,549     
Utex Industries Holdings, LLC, Strike Price: $114.76(a)(b)(c)(e)     12/31/2049   1,150     
TOTAL WARRANTS                
 (Cost $–)               

 

   7-Day Yield   Shares   Value (Note 2) 
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS (6.15%)        
MSILF Treasury Securities Portfolio, Institutional Class   0.010%   16,461,605   $16,461,605 
                
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS               
 (Cost $16,461,605)             16,461,605 
                
TOTAL INVESTMENTS (101.83%)               
 (Cost $268,797,546)            $272,611,286 
                
LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (-1.83%)             (4,908,113)
                
NET ASSETS (100.00%)            $267,703,173 

 

(a) As a result of the use of significant unobservable inputs to determine fair value, these investments have been classified as Level 3 assets.  Additional information on Level 3 assets can be found in Note 2.  Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Portfolio of Investments section.
(b) Security deemed to be illiquid under the procedures approved by the Fund's Board of Trustees.  As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of illiquid securities in the aggregate was $9,701,495, representing 3.63% of the Fund's net assets.
(c) Security deemed to be restricted as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the fair value of restricted securities in the aggregate was $6,583,791, representing 2.46% of the Fund’s net assets. Additional information on restricted securities can be found in Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to Financial Statements section.
(d) Non-income producing security.
(e) Fair valued security under the procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees.
(f) Floating or variable rate security.  The reference rate is described below.  The rate in effect as of December 31, 2021 is based on the reference rate plus the displayed spread as of the securities last reset date.
(g) Payment in-kind.
(h) All or a portion of this position has not settled as of December 31, 2021. The interest rate shown represents the stated spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR" or "L") or the applicable LIBOR floor; the Fund will not accrue interest until the settlement date, at which point LIBOR will be established.
(i) Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.  As of December 31, 2021 the fair value of securities restricted under Rule 144A in the aggregate was $138,550,035, representing 52.74% of net assets.  These securities have been determined to be liquid pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board unless indicated as illiquid as denoted in footnote (b).
(j) Security is currently in default.

 

Investment Abbreviations:
LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate
PIK - Payment in-kind
 
Reference Rates:
1M US L - 1 Month LIBOR as of December 31, 2021 was 0.10%
3M US L - 3 Month LIBOR as of December 31, 2021 was 0.21%

  

 

6M US L - 6 Month LIBOR as of December 31, 2021 was 0.34%

 

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's management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percentage of the Fund's net assets. (Unaudited)

 

See Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments.

  

 

Notes to Quarterly Portfolio of Investments

December 31, 2021 (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 annual report describes the DDJ Opportunistic High Yield Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund is diversified, and its primary investment objective is overall total return consisting of a high level of current income together with long-term capital appreciation. The Fund currently offers Class I shares, Class II shares and Institutional Class shares. Each share class 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 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 market price for debt obligations is generally the price supplied by an independent third-party pricing service approved by the Board, which may use a matrix, formula or other objective method that takes into consideration quotations from dealers, market transactions in comparable investments, market indices and yield curves. If vendors are unable to supply a price, or if the price supplied is deemed to be unreliable or otherwise not representative of market conditions at the time of the valuation determination, the market price may be determined using quotations received from one or more brokers–dealers that make a market in the security. High yield bonds and notes are valued using market models that consider trade data, quotations from dealers and active market makers, relevant yield curve and spread data, creditworthiness, trade data or market information on comparable securities, and other relevant security specific information.

 

Loans are primarily valued by using a composite loan price from a nationally recognized loan pricing service. The methodology used by the Fund’s nationally recognized loan pricing provider for composite loan prices is to value loans at the mean of the bid and ask prices from one or more third party pricing services or dealers.

 

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.

 

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 December 31, 2021:

 

Investments in Securities at Value  Level 1 - Unadjusted Quoted Prices   Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs   Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs   Total 
Common Stocks                
Consumer, Cyclical  $   $3,096,547   $   $3,096,547 
Consumer, Non-Cyclical           297,763    297,763 
Materials           303,728    303,728 
Mineral and Precious Stone Mining           82,232    82,232 
Oil & Gas           659,928    659,928 
Technology   299,777            299,777 
Bank Loans                    
Basic Materials       2,565,400        2,565,400 
Communications       5,828,034        5,828,034 
Consumer Discretionary       5,602,787        5,602,787 
Consumer, Cyclical       5,375,243    3,095,400    8,470,643 
Consumer, Non-Cyclical       40,833,363    8,478,475    49,311,838 
eCommerce       2,848,163        2,848,163 
Financials           627,165    627,165 
Industrials       9,994,728    7,274,298    17,269,026 
Oil & Gas       42,258        42,258 
High Yield Bonds And Notes                    
Basic Materials       24,111,051        24,111,051 
Communications       12,764,388        12,764,388 
Consumer, Cyclical       36,093,982    103,500    36,197,482 
Consumer, Non-Cyclical       31,857,714    211,550    32,069,264 
Energy       10,321,767        10,321,767 
Financials       17,858,043        17,858,043 
Industrials       21,957,698    90,225    22,047,923 
Materials           114,596    114,596 
Technology       3,359,878        3,359,878 
Short Term Investments                    
N.A.   16,461,605            16,461,605 
Warrants                    
Consumer, Cyclical                
Oil & Gas                
TOTAL  $16,761,382   $234,511,044   $21,378,860   $272,611,286 

 

The following is a reconciliation of assets in which Level 3 inputs were used in determining value:

 

   Common Stocks   Bank Loans   High Yield Bonds And Notes   Warrants   Total 
Balance as of September 30, 2021  $1,271,468   $15,168,752   $517,996   $-   $16,958,216 
Accrued Discount/premium   -    9,662    -    -    9,662 
Return of Capital   -    -    -    -    - 
Realized Gain/(Loss)   -    1,266    -    -    1,266 
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation   72,183    79,569    1,875    -    143,502 
Purchases   -    9,864,154    -    -    9,060,229 
Sales Proceeds   -    (238,894)   -    -    (238,894)
Transfer into Level 3   -    1,934,825    -    -    1,934,825 
Transfer Out of Level 3   -    (7,343,996)   -    -    (7,343,996)
Balance as of December 31, 2021  $1,343,651   $19,475,338   $519,871   $-   $21,338,860 
Net change in unrealized
appreciation/(depreciation) included in the Statement of Operations attributable to Level 3 investments held at December 31, 2021
  $72,184   $83,524   $1,821   $-   $157,529 

  

 

Information about Level 3 measurements as of December 31, 2021:

 

Asset Class  Market Value   Valuation Technique  Unobservable Input(s)(a)  Value/Range
Common Stock  $1,261,419   Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Market Analysis  Discount Rate, EBITDA Multiple  9.80% - 12.90%, 3.78x - 8.50x
Common Stock  $82,232   Discounted Cash Flow Analysis  Discount Rate, Price per share  18.00%, $152.00
Bank Loans  $16,888,173   Third-Party Vendor Pricing Service  Vendor Quotes  N/A
Bank Loans  $2,050,000   Yield Analysis  Yield to Worst  8.00%
Bank Loans  $537,165   Discounted Cash Flow Analysis  Discount Rate, Percentage of par value  100.00%
High Yield Bonds and Notes  $518,321   Yield Analysis  Yield to Worst  8.3% - 11.0%
High Yield Bonds and Notes  $1,550   Litigation Trust Settlement Proceeds  Discount Rate, Expected recovery probability Rate  8.00%, $1.24 per $100 principal amount of now cancelled Unsercured Notes
   $21,338,860          

 

(a)A change to the unobservable input may result in a significant change to the value of the investment as follows:

 

Unobservable Input Impact to Value if Input Increases Impact to Value if Input Decreases
Yield to Worst Increase Decrease
Vendor Quotes Increase Decrease
Discount Rate Decrease Increase
EBITDA Multiple Increase Decrease
Capital Structure Priority Increase Decrease

 

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 in the Trust. 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.

 

Fund Expenses: Some expenses can be directly attributed to the 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 distribution (Rule 12b-1) and/or shareholder service plans for a particular class of the 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. All of the realized and unrealized gains and losses and net investment income are allocated daily to each class in proportion to its average daily net assets. Paydown gains and losses on mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, if any, are recorded as components of interest income in the Statement of Operations.

  

 

Distributions to Shareholders: The Fund normally pays dividends, if any, monthly, and distributes capital gains, if any, on an annual basis. Income dividend distributions are derived from interest and other income the Fund receives from its 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 investment advisor has determined that 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.

 

Loan Assignments: The Fund acquires loans via loan assignments. The Fund considers loans acquired via assignment to be investments in debt instruments. When the Fund purchases loans from lenders via assignment, the Fund will acquire direct rights against the borrower on the loan except that under certain circumstances such rights may be more limited than those held by the assigning lender.

 

Loans and debt instruments are subject to credit risk. Credit risk relates to the ability of the borrower under such fixed income instruments to make interest and principal payments as they become due.

 

As of December 31, 2021, the Fund held $92,565,314, or 34.58% of the Fund’s net assets, in loans acquired via assignment.

 

Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to sell. The Fund may not be able to sell these investments at the best prices or at the value the Fund places on them. In such a market, the value of such investments, and as a result the Fund’s share price, may fall dramatically, even during periods of declining interest rates. Investments that are illiquid or that trade in lower volumes may be more difficult to value. The market for high yield securities in particular may be less liquid than higher quality fixed income securities, and therefore these securities may be harder to value or sell at an acceptable price, especially during times of market volatility or decline.

 

LIBOR Transition: Certain of the Fund's investments, payment obligations and financing terms may be based on floating rates, such as LIBOR, Euro Interbank Offered Rate and other similar types of reference rates (each, a “Reference Rate”). In July of 2017, the head of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and ICE Benchmark Administrator have since announced that most LIBOR settings will no longer be published after December 31, 2021 and a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. It is possible that a subset of LIBOR settings will be published after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered non-representative of the underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing Secured Overnight Financial Rate Data (“SOFR”) that is intended to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new reference rates. Uncertainty related to the liquidity impact of the change in rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, poses risks for the Underlying Funds and Funds. The effect of any changes to, or discontinuation of, LIBOR on the Underlying Funds and Funds will depend on, among other things, (1) existing fallback or termination provisions in individual contracts, and (2) whether, how, and when industry participants develop and adopt new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new instruments and contracts. The expected discontinuation of LIBOR could have a significant impact on the financial markets in general and may also present heightened risk to market participants, including public companies, investment advisers, investment companies, and broker-dealers. The risks associated with this discontinuation and transition will be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. For example, current information technology systems may be unable to accommodate new instruments and rates with features that differ from LIBOR. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR on the Underlying Funds and Funds until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new instruments and contracts are commercially accepted and market practices become settled.

 

COVID-19 Risk: An 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, partial population vaccination, healthcare service preparation and delivery, quarantines, cancellations, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, government sponsored fiscal stimulus programs, various moratoria on the applicability of certain laws and regulations, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this coronavirus, (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. 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, financial, and economic risks in certain countries. The impact of the outbreak may last for an extended period of time.

 

Restricted Securities: Restricted securities are securities that may only be resold upon registration under federal securities laws or in transactions exempt from such registration. In some cases, the issuer of restricted securities has agreed to register such securities for resale, at the issuer’s expense, either upon demand by a fund or in connection with another registered offering of the securities. Many restricted securities may be resold in the secondary market in transactions exempt from registration. Such restricted securities may be determined to be liquid. The Fund will not incur any registration costs upon such resale. The Fund’s restricted securities are valued at the price provided by pricing services or dealers in the secondary market or, if no market prices are available, at the fair value price as determined by the Fund’s adviser or pursuant to the Fund’s fair value policy, subject to oversight by the Board. The Fund has acquired certain securities, the sale of which is restricted under applicable provisions of the Securities Act of 1933. It is possible that the fair value price may differ significantly from the amount that may ultimately be realized in the near term, and the difference could be material.

  

 

Restricted securities under Rule 144A, including the aggregate value and percentage of net assets of the Fund, have been identified in the Portfolio of Investments.