UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number | 811-22858 |
WST Investment Trust |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
150 W. Main Street, Suite 1700 Norfolk, VA | 23510-1666 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
Carol J. Highsmith
Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450 Cincinnati, Ohio 45246 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: | (866) 515-4626 |
Date of fiscal year end: | August 31 | |
Date of reporting period: | August 31, 2023 |
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. | Reports to Stockholders. |
(a)
WST INVESTMENT TRUST
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT
RISK-MANAGED FUND
Annual Report
August 31, 2023
Investment Advisor | Administrator |
Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset | Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC |
Management, LLC, | P.O. Box 46707 |
d/b/a WST Capital Management | Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707 |
150 W. Main, Suite 1700 | 1-866-515-4626 |
Norfolk, VA 23510 | |
WST INVESTMENT TRUST | |
LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS | September 22, 2023 |
Dear Shareholder:
Thank you for being a shareholder of the WSTCM Credit Select Risk-Managed Fund (the Fund). WST Capital Management (WST or the Advisor) values your investment in the Fund and your trust in our strategy. The one-year period ended August 31, 2023, can be summarized by several key themes: the resurgence of inflationary pressures, the subsequent monetary policy by the Federal Reserve (the Fed) and a stronger than expected U.S. economy. In 2022, the Fed began implementing the most aggressive tightening cycle in history in response to rising consumer prices. The restrictive policy measures continued through 2023 as the Fed pushed rates to levels last seen prior to the Great Financial Crisis. Investors witnessed an inversion in the Treasury curve as monetary policy led to short-term yields increasing at a faster pace than long-term yields. The rise in rates over the past year has resulted in bond market volatility reaching all-time highs and serving as a headwind for fixed income assets. Market participants have anticipated a recession; however, the U.S. economy has remained resilient in the face of economic uncertainty. Robust consumer spending, record state budget surpluses and a tight labor market have supported economic growth.
Given the defensive rotations consistent with the risk-managed design, the Fund has managed to weather the volatility seen in bond markets over the past year. Positioning has been moderately aggressive during this period as the Fund seeks to enhance total return while also mitigating the large drawdowns experienced by fixed income in 2022. The defensive positioning relative to the broader high yield market has resulted in relative underperformance compared to the Funds primary index.
The Funds investment process allocates assets between high-yield securities and investment grade securities using a proprietary quantitative model. This strategy employs a combination of short-, intermediate-, and long-term trend-following techniques to identify periods of favorable or unfavorable market conditions for high-yield and investment grade securities. In allocating portfolio investments between high-yield securities and investment grade securities including floating-rate funds, WST may consider multiple factors, including those related to credit, duration, the Fed policy and its expectations for the future course of interest rates and the then-prevailing price and yield levels in the debt market. WST selects securities for their potential for interest income, capital appreciation, or both.
As of August 31, 2023, the Fund had net assets of $139.5 million, allocated 82% to high yield securities and 18% to cash equivalents.
For the twelve-month period ended August 31, 2023, the Institutional Class shares of the Fund had a total return of 1.86%. During that time, the Funds primary index, Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index, returned 7.16% and the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index returned -1.19%.
1
In conclusion, markets change over time, and although we may not know when these changes will occur, we do know that changing markets bring new investment opportunities. The Fund aims to capitalize on these opportunities as they arise. We look forward to providing you with a solution that we believe will capture the benefits of rules-based investing founded on sound academic and industry research.
Sincerely,
Roger H. Scheffel Jr., Portfolio Manager WST Capital Management
a division of Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management, LLC
Past performance is not predictive of future performance. Investment results and principal value will fluctuate so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance data quoted. For performance information current to the most recent month-end, please call 1-866-515-4626.
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The Funds prospectus contains this and other important information. To obtain a copy of the Funds prospectus please call 1-866-515-4626 and a copy will be sent to you free of charge. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest. The Fund is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.
The Letter to Shareholders seeks to describe some of the Advisors current opinions and views of the financial markets. Although the Advisor believes it has a reasonable basis for any opinions or views expressed, actual results may differ, sometimes significantly so, from those expected or expressed.
Statements in the Letter to Shareholders that reflect projections or expectation for future financial or economic performance of the Fund and the market in general and statements of the Funds plans and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that actual results or events will not differ materially from those projected, estimated, assumed, or anticipated in any such forward- looking statements. Important factors that could result in such differences, in addition to factors noted with such forward-looking statements, include, without limitation, general economic conditions, such as inflation, recession, and changes in interest rates. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
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WSTCM
CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) |
Comparison of the Change in Value of a $100,000 Investment in
WSTCM Credit Select Risk-Managed Fund - Institutional Class(a) and
the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index
Average Annual Total Returns | |||||||
(for the periods ended August 31, 2023) | |||||||
Since | |||||||
1 Year | 5 Years | Inception(c) | |||||
WSTCM Credit Select Risk-Managed Fund - Institutional Class (b) | 1.86% | 3.38% | 3.48% | ||||
WSTCM Credit Select Risk-Managed Fund - Investor Class (b) | 1.35% | 3.02% | 3.18% | ||||
Bloomberg U.S. Corporate High Yield Bond Index | 7.16% | 3.32% | 4.09% |
(a) | The line graph above represents performance of the Institutional Class only, which will vary from the performance of the Investor Class based on the difference in fees paid by shareholders in the different classes. |
(b) | Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the period covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gain distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. |
(c) | The Fund commenced operations on September 30, 2014. |
3
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
PORTFOLIO INFORMATION |
August 31, 2023 (Unaudited) |
Asset Allocation
(% of Net Assets)
4
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
August 31, 2023 |
EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS — 51.3% | Shares | Value | ||||||
Invesco Senior Loan ETF | 593,000 | $ | 12,506,370 | |||||
iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 517,000 | 21,512,370 | ||||||
iShares Fallen Angels USD Bond ETF | 492,000 | 12,516,480 | ||||||
SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF (a) | 1,090,000 | 24,982,800 | ||||||
TOTAL EXCHANGE-TRADED FUNDS (Cost $71,288,496) | $ | 71,518,020 | ||||||
OPEN-END FUNDS — 30.6% | Shares | Value | ||||||
AB High Income Fund - Advisor Class | 481,596 | $ | 3,217,060 | |||||
American High-Income Trust - Class F-2 | 120,215 | 1,104,779 | ||||||
BlackRock High Yield Bond Fund - Institutional Class | 197,641 | 1,347,914 | ||||||
BrandywineGLOBAL High Yield Fund - Class IS | 103,385 | 1,011,109 | ||||||
Federated Hermes Institutional High Yield Bond Fund - Institutional Shares | 2 | 13 | ||||||
Fidelity Advisor Floating Rate High Income Fund - Class I | 271,150 | 2,505,423 | ||||||
Fidelity Capital & Income Fund | 164,776 | 1,547,250 | ||||||
Franklin High Income Fund - Advisor Class | 2,022,155 | 3,356,777 | ||||||
Guggenheim Floating Rate Strategies Fund - Institutional Class | 101,999 | 2,504,080 | ||||||
Janus Henderson High-Yield Fund - Class N | 22,362 | 157,655 | ||||||
Lord Abbett Floating Rate Fund - Class I | 309,023 | 2,500,000 | ||||||
Lord Abbett High Yield Fund - Class I | 243,184 | 1,500,445 | ||||||
MainStay MacKay High Yield Corporate Bond Fund - Class I | 656,435 | 3,308,432 | ||||||
MainStay MacKay Short Duration High Yield Fund - Class I | 575,025 | 5,353,486 | ||||||
MFS High Income Fund - Institutional Class | 4 | 12 | ||||||
Neuberger Berman High Income Bond Fund - Institutional Class | 2 | 14 | ||||||
Osterweis Strategic Income Fund - Class I | 603,370 | 6,498,298 | ||||||
PGIM High Yield Fund - Class Z | 4 | 20 | ||||||
PIMCO High Yield Spectrum Fund - Institutional Class | 237,096 | 2,053,254 | ||||||
T Rowe Price Floating Rate Fund - Class I | 271,444 | 2,502,714 | ||||||
TIAA-CREF High-Yield Fund - Institutional Class | 2 | 14 | ||||||
Transamerica High Yield Bond - Class I | 2 | 13 | ||||||
Vanguard High-Yield Corporate Fund - Admiral Shares | 422,128 | 2,207,729 | ||||||
TOTAL OPEN-END FUNDS (Cost $42,224,651) | $ | 42,676,491 |
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WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (Continued) |
MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 18.0% | Shares | Value | ||||||
Fidelity Institutional Money Market Government Portfolio - Class I, 5.21% (b) | 7,948,829 | $ | 7,948,829 | |||||
First American Treasury Obligations Fund - Class Z, 5.22% (b) | 8,143,919 | 8,143,919 | ||||||
Invesco Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 5.25% (b) | 8,996,817 | 8,996,817 | ||||||
TOTAL MONEY MARKET FUNDS (Cost $25,089,565) | $ | 25,089,565 | ||||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS AT VALUE — 99.9% (Cost $138,602,712) | $ | 139,284,076 | ||||||
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES — 0.1% | 215,031 | |||||||
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | $ | 139,499,107 |
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of August 31, 2023. |
See Accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
6
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES |
August 31, 2023 |
ASSETS | ||||
Investments in securities: | ||||
At cost | $ | 138,602,712 | ||
At value (Note 2) | $ | 139,284,076 | ||
Receivable for capital shares sold | 28,610 | |||
Dividends receivable | 278,984 | |||
Other assets | 41,766 | |||
TOTAL ASSETS | 139,633,436 | |||
LIABILITIES | ||||
Payable for capital shares redeemed | 44,150 | |||
Payable to Advisor (Note 4) | 63,291 | |||
Payable to administrator (Note 4) | 18,760 | |||
Accrued distribution fees (Note 5) | 1,644 | |||
Other accrued expenses | 6,484 | |||
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 134,329 | |||
NET ASSETS | $ | 139,499,107 | ||
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF: | ||||
Paid-in capital | $ | 143,435,298 | ||
Accumulated deficit | (3,936,191 | ) | ||
NET ASSETS | $ | 139,499,107 | ||
PRICING OF INSTITUTIONAL SHARES | ||||
Net assets applicable to Institutional Shares | $ | 133,237,865 | ||
Shares of Institutional Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value) | 12,978,775 | |||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share (Note 2) | $ | 10.27 | ||
PRICING OF INVESTOR SHARES | ||||
Net assets applicable to Investor Shares | $ | 6,261,242 | ||
Shares of Investor Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value) | 611,014 | |||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share (Note 2) | $ | 10.25 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS |
For the Year Ended August 31, 2023 |
INVESTMENT INCOME | ||||
Dividends | $ | 7,158,226 | ||
EXPENSES | ||||
Management fees (Note 4) | 828,806 | |||
Administration fees (Note 4) | 138,161 | |||
Fund accounting fees (Note 4) | 49,810 | |||
Legal fees | 45,027 | |||
Registration and filing fees | 44,660 | |||
Transfer agent fees, Institutional Class (Note 4) | 18,000 | |||
Transfer agent fees, Investor Class (Note 4) | 14,750 | |||
Distribution fees, Investor Class (Note 5) | 27,692 | |||
Insurance expense | 23,487 | |||
Trustees fees and expenses (Note 4) | 21,928 | |||
Audit and tax services fees | 18,650 | |||
Shareholder reporting expenses | 17,441 | |||
Custodian and bank service fees | 15,462 | |||
Postage and supplies | 9,767 | |||
Other expenses | 17,751 | |||
NET EXPENSES | 1,291,392 | |||
Expense reimbursements by the Advisor (Note 4) | (18,522 | ) | ||
TOTAL EXPENSES | 1,272,870 | |||
NET INVESTMENT INCOME | 5,885,356 | |||
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS | ||||
Net realized losses from investment transactions | (4,763,907 | ) | ||
Long-term capital gains distributions from regulated investment companies | 35,535 | |||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 1,323,614 | |||
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED LOSSES ON INVESTMENTS | (3,404,758 | ) | ||
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $ | 2,480,598 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS |
Year | Year | |||||||
Ended | Ended | |||||||
August 31, | August 31, | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
FROM OPERATIONS | ||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 5,885,356 | $ | 1,101,713 | ||||
Net realized gains (losses) from investments | (4,763,907 | ) | 956,091 | |||||
Long-term capital gains distributions from regulated investment companies | 35,535 | — | ||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | 1,323,614 | (4,531,145 | ) | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | 2,480,598 | (2,473,341 | ) | |||||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 2) | ||||||||
Institutional Shares | (4,479,245 | ) | (1,828,614 | ) | ||||
Investor Shares | (349,741 | ) | (292,431 | ) | ||||
Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders | (4,828,986 | ) | (2,121,045 | ) | ||||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS | ||||||||
Institutional Shares | ||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 44,713,361 | 64,588,849 | ||||||
Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | 4,343,324 | 1,804,507 | ||||||
Payments for shares redeemed | (28,168,495 | ) | (10,705,203 | ) | ||||
Net increase in Institutional Shares net assets from capital share transactions | 20,888,190 | 55,688,153 | ||||||
Investor Shares | ||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 1,722,614 | 11,575,271 | ||||||
Net asset value of shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | 348,162 | 291,920 | ||||||
Payments for shares redeemed | (14,480,281 | ) | (6,844,808 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in Investor Shares net assets from capital share transactions | (12,409,505 | ) | 5,022,383 | |||||
TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS | 6,130,297 | 56,116,150 | ||||||
NET ASSETS | ||||||||
Beginning of year | 133,368,810 | 77,252,660 | ||||||
End of year | $ | 139,499,107 | $ | 133,368,810 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
9
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Continued) |
Year | Year | |||||||
Ended | Ended | |||||||
August 31, | August 31, | |||||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||||
CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY | ||||||||
Institutional Shares | ||||||||
Shares sold | 4,316,724 | 6,101,985 | ||||||
Shares reinvested | 423,009 | 168,488 | ||||||
Shares redeemed | (2,718,978 | ) | (1,004,258 | ) | ||||
Net increase in shares outstanding | 2,020,755 | 5,266,215 | ||||||
Shares outstanding, beginning of year | 10,958,020 | 5,691,805 | ||||||
Shares outstanding, end of year | 12,978,775 | 10,958,020 | ||||||
Investor Shares | ||||||||
Shares sold | 165,851 | 1,102,498 | ||||||
Shares reinvested | 33,910 | 27,232 | ||||||
Shares redeemed | (1,402,080 | ) | (645,776 | ) | ||||
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | (1,202,319 | ) | 483,954 | |||||
Shares outstanding, beginning of year | 1,813,333 | 1,329,379 | ||||||
Shares outstanding, end of year | 611,014 | 1,813,333 |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
INSTITUTIONAL SHARES |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year
Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | ||||||||||||||||
Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | ||||||||||||||||
August 31, | August 31, | August 31, | August 31, | August 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ | 10.45 | $ | 11.01 | $ | 10.59 | $ | 10.18 | $ | 10.28 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (a)(b) | 0.45 | 0.13 | 0.32 | 0.31 | 0.33 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | (0.26 | ) | (0.40 | ) | 0.36 | 0.53 | (0.06 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 0.19 | (0.27 | ) | 0.68 | 0.84 | 0.27 | ||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.37 | ) | (0.29 | ) | (0.26 | ) | (0.43 | ) | (0.37 | ) | ||||||||||
Net asset value at end of year | $ | 10.27 | $ | 10.45 | $ | 11.01 | $ | 10.59 | $ | 10.18 | ||||||||||
Total return (c) | 1.86 | % | (2.49 | %) | 6.47 | % | 8.60 | % | 2.81 | % | ||||||||||
Net assets at end of year (000s) | $ | 133,238 | $ | 114,457 | $ | 62,659 | $ | 21,900 | $ | 16,570 | ||||||||||
Ratios/supplementary data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets (d) | 0.89 | % | 0.97 | % | 1.05 | % | 1.22 | % | 1.08 | % | ||||||||||
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (d) | 0.88 | % (e) | 0.97 | % (e) | 1.05 | % | 1.15 | % (e) | 1.08 | % | ||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (a) | 4.31 | % (e) | 1.22 | % (e) | 2.99 | % | 3.05 | % (e) | 3.31 | % | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 879 | % | 837 | % | 337 | % | 589 | % | 524 | % |
(a) | Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of the dividends by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(b) | Net investment income per share has been calculated using the average daily shares outstanding during the period. |
(c) | Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions, if any, or the redemption of Fund shares. |
(d) | Ratio does not include expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | Ratio was determined after expense reimbursements (Note 4). |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
11
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
INVESTOR SHARES |
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
Per Share Data for a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year
Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | ||||||||||||||||
Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | Ended | ||||||||||||||||
August 31, | August 31, | August 31, | August 31, | August 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
Net asset value at beginning of year | $ | 10.43 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 10.58 | $ | 10.14 | $ | 10.23 | ||||||||||
Income (loss) from investment operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (a)(b) | 0.38 | 0.10 | 0.28 | 0.29 | 0.30 | |||||||||||||||
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | (0.24 | ) | (0.41 | ) | 0.35 | 0.53 | (0.04 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total from investment operations | 0.14 | (0.31 | ) | 0.63 | 0.82 | 0.26 | ||||||||||||||
Less distributions from: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (0.32 | ) | (0.24 | ) | (0.23 | ) | (0.38 | ) | (0.35 | ) | ||||||||||
Net asset value at end of year | $ | 10.25 | $ | 10.43 | $ | 10.98 | $ | 10.58 | $ | 10.14 | ||||||||||
Total return (c) | 1.35 | % | (2.92 | %) | 6.02 | % | 8.32 | % | 2.71 | % | ||||||||||
Net assets at end of year (000s) | $ | 6,261 | $ | 18,912 | $ | 14,594 | $ | 29,642 | $ | 38,047 | ||||||||||
Ratios/supplementary data: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets (d) | 1.44 | % | 1.44 | % | 1.40 | % | 1.44 | % | 1.29 | % | ||||||||||
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (d) | 1.40 | % (e) | 1.39 | % (e) | 1.40 | % | 1.40 | % (e) | 1.29 | % | ||||||||||
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (a) | 3.67 | % (e) | 0.92 | % (e) | 2.61 | % | 2.91 | % (e) | 3.00 | % | ||||||||||
Portfolio turnover rate | 879 | % | 837 | % | 337 | % | 589 | % | 524 | % |
(a) | Recognition of net investment income by the Fund is affected by the timing of the declaration of the dividends by the underlying investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(b) | Net investment income per share has been calculated using the average daily shares outstanding during the period. |
(c) | Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends and capital gain distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions, if any, or the redemption of Fund shares. |
(d) | Ratio does not include expenses of the investment companies in which the Fund invests. |
(e) | Ratio was determined after expense reimbursements (Note 4). |
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
12
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
August 31, 2023 |
1. Organization
WSTCM Credit Select Risk-Managed Fund (the Fund) is a diversified series of WST Investment Trust (the Trust), an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware statutory trust and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). The Fund is a fund of funds, in that the Fund will generally invest in other investment companies.
The investment objective of the Fund is to seek total return from income and capital appreciation.
The Fund offers two classes of shares (each a Class and collectively the Classes): Institutional Shares (sold without any sales loads or distribution fees, but available only to institutional investors and certain broker-dealers and financial institutions that have entered into appropriate arrangements with the Fund) and Investor Shares (sold without any sales loads, but subject to a distribution fee of up to 0.25% per annum of the average daily net assets attributable to Investor Shares). Each Class represents an ownership interest in the same investment portfolio and have the same rights but differ primarily in sales charges and the expenses to which they are subject.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The Fund follows accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies. The following is a summary of the Funds significant accounting policies used in the preparation of its financial statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).
Regulatory update – Tailored Shareholder Reports for Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) – Effective January 24, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) adopted rule and form amendments to require mutual funds and ETFs to transmit concise and visually engaging streamlined annual and semiannual reports to shareholders that highlight key information. Other information, including financial statements, will no longer appear in a streamlined shareholder report but must be available online, delivered free of charge upon request, and filed on a semiannual basis on Form N-CSR. The rule and form amendments have a compliance date of July 24, 2024. At this time, management is evaluating the impact of these amendments on the shareholder reports for the Fund.
Securities valuation – The Fund values its portfolio securities at fair value as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on each day that the NYSE is open for business. In determining the value of the Funds assets, portfolio securities, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), are generally valued using quotations from the primary market in which they are traded. The Fund normally uses third party pricing services to obtain market quotations. To the extent
13
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
the Fund is invested in other open-end investment companies, including money market funds, that are registered under the 1940 Act and are not traded on an exchange, the Funds net asset value per share (NAV) is calculated based upon the NAVs reported by such registered open-end investment companies, and the prospectuses for these companies explain the circumstances under which they will use fair value pricing and the effects of using fair value pricing. When using quoted prices or NAVs reported by underlying investment companies and when the market is considered to be active, securities will be classified as Level 1 (see below). Securities and assets for which market quotations are not readily available or which cannot be accurately valued using the Funds normal pricing procedures are valued at fair value as determined by Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas Asset Management, LLC, d/b/a WST Capital Management (the Advisor), as the Funds valuation designee, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees (the Board) pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Fair value pricing may be used, for example, in situations where (i) portfolio securities, such as securities with small capitalizations, are so thinly traded that there have been no transactions for that stock over an extended period of time; (ii) an event occurs after the close of the exchange on which the portfolio security is principally traded that is likely to change the value of the portfolio security prior to the calculation of the Funds NAVs; (iii) the exchange on which the portfolio security is principally traded closes early; or (iv) trading of the portfolio security is halted during the day and does not resume prior to the calculation of the Funds NAVs. In such cases, a portfolio securitys fair value price may differ from the price next available for that portfolio security using the Funds normal pricing procedures, and the fair value price may differ substantially from the price at which the security may ultimately be sold. Fair valued securities will be classified as Level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy, depending on the inputs used.
GAAP establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements.
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Funds investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
● | Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities |
● | Level 2 – other significant observable inputs |
● | Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs |
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
14
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
The following is a summary of the Funds investments and the inputs used to value the investments as of August 31, 2023:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Exchange-Traded Funds | $ | 71,518,020 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 71,518,020 | ||||||||
Open-End Funds | 42,676,491 | — | — | 42,676,491 | ||||||||||||
Money Market Funds | 25,089,565 | — | — | 25,089,565 | ||||||||||||
Total | $ | 139,284,076 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 139,284,076 | ||||||||
The Fund did not hold any derivatives or assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of or during the year ended August 31, 2023.
Share valuation – The NAV per share of each Class of the Fund is calculated as of the close of trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on each day the NYSE is open for business. The NAV of each Class of the Fund is calculated by dividing the total value of the assets attributable to that Class, less liabilities attributable to that Class, by the number of shares of that Class outstanding. The offering price and redemption price per share of each Class of the Fund is equal to the NAV of such Class.
Investment transactions and investment income – Investment transactions are accounted for on their trade date. Cost of investments sold is determined on a specific identification basis. Dividend income and realized capital gain distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the securities received. Interest income, if any, is accrued as earned and includes amortization of discounts and premiums.
Allocation between Classes – Investment income earned, realized capital gains and losses, and unrealized appreciation and depreciation are allocated daily to each Class of the Fund based upon its proportionate share of total net assets of the Fund. Class-specific expenses are charged directly to the Class incurring the expense. Common expenses which are not attributable to a specific Class are allocated daily to the Class of shares of the Fund based upon its proportionate share of total net assets of the Fund.
Distributions to shareholders – Dividends arising from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid quarterly to shareholders. Net realized capital gains, if any, are distributed at least annually. The amount of distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP, and are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended August 31, 2023 and 2022 was ordinary income.
15
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Federal income tax – The Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify each year as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Qualification generally will relieve the Fund of liability for federal income taxes to the extent 100% of its net investment income and net realized capital gains are distributed in accordance with the Code.
In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also the Funds intention to declare as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its net investment income (earned during the calendar year) and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ended October 31) plus undistributed amounts from prior years.
The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of August 31, 2023:
Tax cost of investments | $ | 139,672,347 | ||
Gross unrealized appreciation | $ | — | ||
Gross unrealized depreciation | (388,271 | ) | ||
Net unrealized depreciation on investments | (388,271 | ) | ||
Undistributed ordinary income | 1,336,307 | |||
Accumulated capital and other losses | (4,884,227 | ) | ||
Accumulated deficit | $ | (3,936,191 | ) | |
The difference between the federal income tax cost of investments and the financial statement cost of portfolio investments is due to certain timing differences in the recognition of capital gains or losses under income tax regulations and GAAP. These book/tax differences are temporary in nature and are primarily due to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
As of August 31, 2023, the Fund had short-term capital loss carryforwards (CLCFs) of $4,884,227 for federal income tax purposes. These CLCFs, which do not expire, may be utilized in future years to offset net realized capital gains, if any, prior to distributing such gains to shareholders.
16
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
The Fund recognizes the tax benefits or expenses of uncertain tax positions only when the position is more likely than not to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has reviewed the Funds tax positions for all open tax years (generally, three years) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements.
During the year ended August 31, 2023, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties. Generally, tax authorities can examine tax returns filed during the last three years. The Fund identifies its major tax jurisdiction as U.S. Federal.
3. Investment Transactions
During the year ended August 31, 2023, the cost of purchases of investment securities and the proceeds from sales of investment securities, other than short-term investments, amounted to $779,324,381 and $693,086,400, respectively.
4. Transactions with Related Parties
The Managing Principal, and Chief Investment Officer of the Advisor, and the chair of its Investment Committee is also the President of the Trust and is also a member of the Board. Certain other officers of the Trust are also officers of the Advisor, or of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (Ultimus), the Trusts administrator, transfer agent, and fund accounting agent.
COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES
Trustees of the Trust who are affiliated with the Advisor receive no fees from the Fund. The Fund pays Trustees who are not affiliated with the Advisor a fee of $8,500 each year, plus $500 for each meeting attended in person or by telephone. The Fund reimburses each Trustee and officer of the Trust for his or her travel and other expenses related to attendance at Board or committee meetings, if any.
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
The Funds investments are managed by the Advisor pursuant to the terms of an Investment Advisory Agreement. Under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Fund pays the Advisor a management fee, computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.60% of its average daily net assets.
The Advisor has entered into an Expense Limitation Agreement (ELA) with the Fund under which it has agreed to waive or reduce its fees and to assume other expenses of the Fund, if necessary, in an amount that limits the annual operating expenses of the Fund (exclusive of interest, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, other expenditures that are capitalized in accordance with GAAP, acquired fund fees and expenses, other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Funds business, and payment, if any, under a Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan) to not more than 1.15% of the average daily net assets allocable to each Class until January 1, 2024. Any fee waivers
17
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
and expense reimbursements by the Advisor are not subject to recoupment. It is expected that the Funds ELA will continue from year-to-year provided such continuance is approved by the Board. The Board may terminate the ELA of the Fund at any time. The Advisor may also terminate the Funds ELA at the end of the then-current term upon not less than 90 days notice to the Trust. During the year ended August 31, 2023, the Advisor reimbursed $14,554 and $3,968 of other expenses applicable to Institutional Shares and Investor Shares, respectively.
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
Ultimus provides administration, accounting and transfer agency services to the Fund. The Fund pays Ultimus fees in accordance with the agreements for such services. In addition, the Fund pays out-of-pocket expenses including, but not limited to, postage, supplies and certain costs related to the pricing of the Funds portfolio securities.
Under the terms of a Distribution Agreement with the Trust, Foreside Fund Services, LLC (Foreside) serves as the principal underwriter and exclusive agent for the distribution of shares of the Fund. Foreside is not compensated by the Fund except as allowed under the Funds Distribution Plan (discussed in Note 5) but instead will be paid by the Advisor who pays Foreside for certain distribution related services.
Effective January 20, 2023, Calfee Strategic Solutions (Calfee) provides a Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) to the Trust, as well as related compliance support services, pursuant to a Compliance Program Engagement Letter (the Agreement) between Calfee and the Trust. Under the terms of the Agreement, Calfee receives fees from the Advisor, not from the Fund. Calfee, not the Trust, pays the CCO for their services.
5. Distribution Plan
The Fund has adopted a Distribution Plan (the Plan) in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that allows Investor Shares of the Fund to pay for certain expenses related to the distribution of such Shares, including, but not limited to, payments to securities dealers and other persons (including Foreside) who are engaged in the sale of Investor Shares of the Fund or who render shareholder support services not otherwise provided by Ultimus. The annual limitation for payment of expenses pursuant to the Plan is 0.25% per annum of the Funds average daily net assets allocable to Investor Shares. During the year ended August 31, 2023, $27,692 of expenses were incurred under the Plan by Investor Shares of the Fund.
6. Investment in Other Investment Companies
The Fund may invest a significant portion of its assets in shares of one or more investment companies, including ETFs, open-end mutual funds and money market mutual funds. The Fund will incur additional indirect expenses (acquired fund fees and expenses)
18
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) |
to the extent it invests in shares of other investment companies. As of August 31, 2023, the Fund had 30.6% of the value of its net assets invested in open-end mutual funds and had 51.3% of the value of its net assets invested in ETFs.
7. Contingencies and Commitments
The Fund indemnifies the Trusts officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from their performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.
8. Subsequent Events
The Fund is required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Fund is required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events.
19
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM |
To the Shareholders of WSTCM Credit Select Risk-Managed Fund and
Board of Trustees of WST Investment Trust
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of WSTCM Credit Select Risk-Managed Fund (the Fund), a series of WST Investment Trust, as of August 31, 2023, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of August 31, 2023, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Funds management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Funds financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2023, by correspondence with the custodian. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the Funds auditor since 2013.
COHEN & COMPANY, LTD.
Cleveland, Ohio
October 30, 2023
20
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
ABOUT YOUR FUNDS EXPENSES (Unaudited) |
We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of costs on your investment. All mutual funds have operating expenses. As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, class specific expenses (such as Rule 12b-1 distribution fees) and other operating expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
A mutual funds ongoing costs are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The expenses in the table that follow are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the most recent period (March 1, 2023) and held until the end of the period (August 31, 2023).
The table that follows illustrates the Funds ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual fund return – This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The Ending Account Value shown is derived from the Funds actual return, and the fourth column shows the dollar amount of operating expenses that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.
To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for the Fund under the heading Expenses Paid During Period.
Hypothetical 5% return – This section is intended to help you compare the Funds ongoing costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that the Fund had an annual return of 5% before expenses during the period shown, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case, because the return used is not the Funds actual return, the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess the Funds ongoing costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.
Note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only. The Fund does not charge transaction fees, such as purchase or redemption fees, and does not charge a sales load. The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.
21
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
ABOUT YOUR FUNDS EXPENSES (Unaudited) (Continued) |
More information about the Funds expenses can be found in this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to the Funds prospectus.
Beginning | Ending | |||
Account Value | Account Value | Net | Expenses | |
March 1, | August 31, | Expense | Paid During | |
2023 | 2023 | Ratio(a) | Period(b) | |
Institutional Class | ||||
Actual Fund Return | $1,000.00 | $1,011.40 | 0.88% | $4.46 |
Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,020.77 | 0.88% | $4.48 |
Investor Class | ||||
Actual Fund Return | $1,000.00 | $1,008.70 | 1.48% | $7.49 |
Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,017.74 | 1.48% | $7.53 |
(a) | Annualized, based on each Classs most recent one-half year expenses. |
(b) | Expenses are equal to each Classs annualized net expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
22
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
OTHER INFORMATION (Unaudited) |
The Trust files a complete listing of the Funds portfolio holdings with the SEC as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-PORT. These filings are available free of charge upon request by calling the Trust toll-free at 1-866-515-4626. Furthermore, you may obtain a copy of these filings on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge upon request by calling the Trust toll-free at 1-866-515-4626, or on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge upon request by calling the Trust toll-free at 1-866-515-4626, or on the SECs website at www.sec.gov and on the Funds website www.wstamfunds.com.
FEDERAL TAX INFORMATION (Unaudited) |
Qualified Dividend Income – The Fund designates none of its ordinary income dividends as qualified dividend income eligible for the reduced tax rate of 15%.
Dividend Received Deduction – Corporate shareholders are generally entitled to take the dividends received deduction on the portion of the Funds ordinary income dividends that qualifies under the tax law. For the Funds fiscal year ended August 31, 2023, none of the ordinary income dividends qualified for the corporate dividends received deduction.
23
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (Unaudited) |
The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for management of the Trusts affairs. The Trustees serve during the lifetime of the Trust and until its termination, or until death, resignation, retirement, or removal. The Trustees, in turn, elect the officers of the Trust to actively supervise its day-to-day operations. The officers have been elected for an annual term. The following are the Trustees and executive officers of the Trust. The address for each Trustee and executive officer of the Trust is 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246.
Name
and Year of Birth |
Length of Time Served |
Position(s) Held with Trust |
Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Number of Funds in Trust Overseen by Trustee |
Directorships
of Public Companies Held by Trustee During Past 5 Years |
Interested Trustees: | |||||
Wayne
F. Wilbanks* Year of Birth: 1960 |
Since
July 2013 |
Trustee
and President |
Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer of Wilbanks, Smith & Thomas, LLC. | 1 | None |
Independent Trustees: | |||||
Thomas
G. Douglass Year of Birth: 1956 |
Since
June 2013 |
Trustee | Principal of Douglass and Douglass, Attorneys. | 1 | Independent Trustee of Centaur Mutual Funds Trust for its three series. |
James
H. Speed, Jr. Year of Birth: 1953 |
Since
June 2013 |
Trustee | Retired, Private Investor (2016 to present). | 1 | Independent Trustee of Centaur Mutual Funds Trust for its three series, Chesapeake Investment Trust for its one series, Hillman Capital Management Investment Trust for its one series, Brown Capital Management Funds for its four series, and Starboard Investment Trust for its nine series (all registered investment companies); Director of M&F Bancorp; Director of Investors Title Company. |
* | Mr. Wilbanks is considered an interested person of the Trust within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act because he is an employee of the Advisor. |
24
WSTCM CREDIT SELECT RISK-MANAGED FUND |
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (Unaudited) (Continued) |
Name
and Year of Birth |
Length of Time Served |
Position(s) Held with Trust |
Principal
Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years |
Executive Officers: | |||
Leslie
A. Green Year of Birth: 1988 |
Since 2023 |
Chief Compliance Officer |
Chief Compliance Officer, Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP; Chief Compliance Officer, Eagle Realty Capital Partners LLC and Eagle Realty Group. |
Roger
H. Scheffel, Jr. Year of Birth: 1968 |
Since 2013 |
Vice President |
Portfolio manager of the Advisor. |
Stephen
L. Preston Year of Birth: 1966 |
Since 2013 |
AML Compliance Officer |
Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer of Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC and Chief Compliance Officer of Northern Lights Distributors, LLC. |
Carol
J. Highsmith Year of Birth: 1964 |
Since 2020 |
Secretary | Vice President and Senior Counsel of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC. |
Angela
A. Simmons Year of Birth: 1975 |
Since 2022 |
Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) |
Vice President - Financial Administration of Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC. She has worked at Ultimus since 2007 in a number of roles, including Assistant Vice President - Financial Administration and Assistant Mutual Fund Controller - Fund Accounting Manager. |
Additional information about members of the Board and executive officers is available in the Funds Statement of Additional Information (SAI). To obtain a free copy of the SAI, please call toll-free 1-866-515-4626.
25
WSTCM-AR-23 |
(b) Not applicable
Item 2. | Code of Ethics. |
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, regardless of whether these individuals are employed by the registrant or a third party. Pursuant to Item 13(a)(1), a copy of registrant’s code of ethics is filed as an exhibit to this Form N-CSR. During the period covered by this report, the code of ethics has not been amended, and the registrant has not granted any waivers, including implicit waivers, from the provisions of the code of ethics.
Item 3. | Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
The registrant’s board of trustees has determined that the registrant has at least one audit committee financial expert serving on its audit committee. The name of the audit committee financial expert is James H. Speed Jr. Mr. Speed is “independent” for purposes of this Item.
Item 4. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
(a) | Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of the registrant’s annual financial statements or for services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $15,750 and $15,000 with respect to the registrant’s fiscal years ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. |
(b) | Audit-Related Fees. No fees were billed in either of the last two fiscal years for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the registrant’s financial statements and are not reported under paragraph (a) of this Item. |
(c) | Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $3,650 and $3,650 with respect to the registrant’s fiscal years ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The services comprising these fees are the preparation of the registrant’s federal income and excise tax returns. |
(d) | All Other Fees. No fees were billed in either of the last two fiscal years for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Item. |
(e)(1) The audit committee has not adopted pre-approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c)(7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.
(e)(2) | None of the services described in paragraph (b) through (d) of this Item were approved by the audit committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X. |
(f) | Less than 50% of hours expended on the principal accountant’s engagement to audit the registrant’s financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were attributed to work performed by persons other than the principal accountant’s full-time, permanent employees. |
(g) | With respect to the fiscal years ended August 31, 2023 and 2022, aggregate non-audit fees of $3,650 and $3,650, respectively, were billed by the registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to the registrant. No non-audit fees were billed in either of the last two fiscal years by the registrant’s principal accountant for services rendered to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant. |
(h) | The principal accountant has not provided any non-audit services to the registrant’s investment adviser (not including any sub-adviser whose role is primarily portfolio management and is |
subcontracted with or overseen by another investment adviser), and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the registrant.
(i) | Not applicable. |
(j) | Not applicable. |
Item 5. | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants. |
Not applicable
Item 6. | Schedule of Investments. |
(a) | See Schedule I (Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers) |
(b) | Not applicable |
Item 7. | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable
Item 8. | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable
Item 9. | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
Not applicable
Item 10. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
The registrant’s Committee of Independent Trustees shall review shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the registrant’s board of trustees if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the registrant’s offices. The Committee may adopt, by resolution, a policy regarding its procedures for considering candidates for the board of trustees, including any recommended by shareholders.
Item 11. | Controls and Procedures. |
(a) Based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and are operating effectively to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared, and that the information required in filings on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable
Item 13. | Exhibits. |
File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.
(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Attached hereto
(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)): Attached hereto
(1) Not applicable
(2) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountants: Not applicable
(b) Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)): Attached hereto
Exhibit 99.CODE ETH | Code of Ethics |
Exhibit 99.CERT | Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act |
Exhibit 99.906CERT | Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) | WST Investment Trust | ||
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Wayne F. Wilbanks | ||
Wayne F. Wilbanks, President | |||
Date | November 6, 2023 | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. | |||
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Wayne F. Wilbanks | ||
Wayne F. Wilbanks, President | |||
Date | November 6, 2023 | ||
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Angela A. Simmons | ||
Angela A. Simmons, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer | |||
Date | November 6, 2023 |
* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.
EX-99.CERT
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Wayne F. Wilbanks, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of WST Investment Trust;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: November 6, 2023 | /s/ Wayne F. Wilbanks | |
Wayne F. Wilbanks, President |
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Angela A. Simmons, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of WST Investment Trust;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to include a statement of cash flows) of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: November 6, 2023 | /s/ Angela A. Simmons | |
Angela A. Simmons, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer |
EX-99.906CERT
CERTIFICATIONS
Wayne F. Wilbanks, Chief Executive Officer, and Angela A. Simmons, Chief Financial Officer, of WST Investment Trust (the “Registrant”), each certify to the best of his/her knowledge that:
1. | The Registrant’s periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended August 31, 2023 (the “Form N-CSR”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and |
2. | The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Registrant. |
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | ||
WST Investment Trust | WST Investment Trust | ||
/s/ Wayne F. Wilbanks | /s/ Angela A. Simmons | ||
Wayne F. Wilbanks, President | Angela A. Simmons, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer | ||
Date: November 6, 2023 | Date: November 6, 2023 |
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to WST Investment Trust and will be retained by The Cutler Trust and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
This certification is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with the Commission.
WST INVESTMENT TRUST
CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICERS
I. | Covered Officers/Purpose of the Code |
This code of ethics (this "Code") for WST Investment Trust (the "Trust") applies to the Trust's Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer(s) (the "Covered Officers" each of whom are set forth in Exhibit A) for the purpose of promoting:
• | honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships; |
• | full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that a registrant files with, or submits to, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and in other public communications made by the Trust; |
• | compliance with applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations; |
• | the prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the Code; and |
• | accountability for adherence to the Code. |
II. | Covered Officers Should Handle Ethically Actual and Apparent Conflicts of Interest |
Overview. A "conflict of interest" occurs when a Covered Officer's private interest in any material respect interferes with the interests of, or his service to, the Trust. For example, a conflict of interest would arise if a Covered Officer, or a member of his family, receives improper personal benefits as a result of his position with the Trust.
Certain conflicts of interest arise out of the relationships between Covered Officers and the Trust and already are subject to conflict of interest provisions in the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("Investment Company Act") and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Investment Advisers Act"). For example, Covered Officers may not individually engage in certain transactions (such as the purchase or sale of securities or other property, other than shares of beneficial interest of the Trust) with the Trust because of their status as "affiliated persons" of the Trust. The Trust's and the investment adviser's compliance programs and procedures are designed to prevent, or identify and correct, violations of these provisions. This Code does not, and is not intended to, repeat or replace these programs and procedures, and such conflicts fall outside of the parameters of this Code.
Although typically not presenting an opportunity for improper personal benefit, conflicts arise from, or as a result of, the contractual relationship between the Trust and the investment adviser/administrator of which the Covered Officers are also officers or employees. As a result, this Code recognizes that the Covered Officers will, in the normal course of their duties (whether formally for the Trust or for the adviser/administrator, or for both), be involved in establishing policies and implementing decisions that may have different effects on the adviser/administrator and the Trust. The participation of the Covered Officers in such activities is inherent in the contractual relationship between the Trust and the adviser/administrator and is consistent with the performance by the Covered Officers of their duties as officers of the Trust. Thus, if performed in conformity with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act, such activities will be deemed to have been handled ethically. In addition, it is recognized by the Trust's Board of Trustees ("Board") that the Covered Officers may also be officers or employees of one or more investment companies covered by other codes.
Other conflicts of interest are covered by the Code, even if such conflicts of interest are not subject to provisions in the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act. The following list provides examples of conflicts of interest under the Code, but Covered Officers should keep in mind that these examples are not exhaustive. The overarching principle is that the personal interest of a Covered Officer should not be placed improperly before the interest of the Trust.
Each Covered Officer must:
• | not use his personal influence or personal relationships improperly to influence investment decisions or financial reporting by the Trust whereby the Covered Officer would benefit personally to the detriment of the Trust; |
• | not cause the Trust to take action, or fail to take action, for the individual personal benefit of the Covered Officer to the detriment of the Trust; |
• | not use material non-public knowledge of portfolio transactions made or contemplated for the Trust to trade personally or cause others to trade personally in contemplation of the market effect of such transactions; |
• | report at least annually any affiliations or other relationships related to conflicts of interest that the Trust's Trustees and Officers Questionnaire covers. |
There are some conflict of interest situations that should always be discussed with the Audit Committee of the Trust if such situations might have a material adverse effect on the Trust. Examples of these include:
• | service as a trustee on the board of any public company; |
• | the receipt of non-nominal gifts (currently gifts in excess of $200.00); |
• the receipt of entertainment from any company with which the Trust has current or prospective business dealings, including investments in such companies, unless
2 |
such entertainment is business-related, reasonable in cost, appropriate as to time and place, and not so frequent as to raise any questions of impropriety;
• | any ownership interest in, or any consulting or employment relationship with, any of the Trust's service providers, other than its investment adviser, principal underwriter, administrator or any affiliated person thereof; |
• a direct or indirect financial interest in commissions, transaction charges or spreads paid by the Trust for effecting portfolio transactions, including but not limited to certain soft dollar arrangements, or for selling or redeeming shares other than an interest arising from the Covered Officer's employment, such as compensation or equity ownership.
III. | Disclosure and Compliance |
• | each Covered Officer should familiarize himself with the disclosure requirements generally applicable to the Trust; |
• | each Covered Officer should not knowingly misrepresent, or cause others to misrepresent, facts about the Trust to others, whether within or outside the Trust, including to the Trust's trustees and auditors, and to governmental regulators and self-regulatory organizations; |
• | each Covered Officer should, to the extent appropriate within his area of responsibility, consult with other officers and employees of the Trust and the adviser/administrator with the goal of promoting full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the reports and documents the Trust files with, or submits to, the SEC and in other public communications made by the Trust; and |
• | it is the responsibility of each Covered Officer to promote compliance with the standards and restrictions imposed by applicable laws, rules and regulations. |
IV. | Reporting and Accountability |
Each Covered Officer must:
• | upon adoption of the Code (or thereafter as applicable, upon becoming a Covered Officer), affirm in writing to the Board that he has received, read, and understands the Code; |
• | annually thereafter affirm to the Board that he has complied with the requirements of the Code; |
• | not retaliate against any other Covered Officer or any employee of the Trust or their affiliated persons for reports of potential violations that are made in good faith; and |
• | notify the Audit Committee for the Trust promptly if he/she knows of any material violation of this Code. |
3 |
The Audit Committee is responsible for applying this Code to specific situations in which questions are presented under it and has the authority to interpret this Code in any particular situation. In addition, any approvals or waivers sought by a Covered Officer will be considered by the Audit Committee.
The Trust will follow these procedures in investigating and enforcing this Code:
• | the compliance officer of the investment adviser to the relevant Series of the Trust, (or such other Trust officer or other investigator as the Audit Committee may from time to time designate) (the "Investigator"), shall take appropriate action to investigate any potential violations reported to him; |
• | if, after such investigation, the Investigator believes that no violation has occurred, the Investigator is not required to take any further action; |
• | any matter that the Investigator believes is a violation will be reported to the Audit Committee; |
• | if the Audit Committee concurs that a violation has occurred, it will inform and make a recommendation to the Board, which will consider appropriate action, which may include review of, and appropriate modifications to, applicable policies and procedures; notification to appropriate personnel of the investment adviser/administrator or its board; or a recommendation to dismiss the Covered Officer; |
• | the Board will be responsible for granting waivers, as appropriate; and |
• | any changes to or waivers of this Code will, to the extent required, be disclosed as provided by SEC rules. |
Any potential violation of this Code by the Investigator shall be reported to the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee shall appoint an alternative Trust officer or other investigator to investigate the matter.
V. | Other Policies and Procedures |
This Code shall be the sole code of ethics adopted by the Trust for purposes of Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and forms applicable to registered investment companies thereunder. Insofar as other policies or procedures of the Trust, the Trust's adviser, principal underwriter, or other service providers govern or purport to govern the behavior or activities of the Covered Officers who are subject to this Code, they are superseded by this Code to the extent that they overlap or conflict with the provisions of this Code. The Trust's and its investment adviser's and principal underwriter's codes of ethics under Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act are separate requirements applying to the Covered Officers and others, and are not part of this Code.
4 |
VI. | Amendments |
Any material amendments to this Code, other than amendments to Exhibit A, must be approved or ratified by a majority vote of the Board, including a majority of independent trustees.
VII. | Confidentiality |
All reports and records prepared or maintained pursuant to this Code will be considered confidential and shall be maintained and protected accordingly. Except as otherwise required by law or regulation or this Code, such matters shall not be disclosed to anyone other than the Board and the Audit Committee.
VIII. | Internal Use |
The Code is intended solely for the internal use by the Trust and does not constitute an admission, by or on behalf of the Trust, as to any fact, circumstance, or legal conclusion.
Adopted September 23, 2013
5 |
Exhibit A
Persons Covered by this Code of Ethics:
Wayne F. Wilbanks, PEO
Angela A. Simmons
6
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