-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, CwNFHEw/tb5XsV3cEbgULqzyDpiUOje/0O65YRo5n2N5aRHaB+Iu+Mcqq3ZRzCHZ hqqCPOyHOYpBcLXG163U7g== 0000036678-99-000010.txt : 19990331 0000036678-99-000010.hdr.sgml : 19990331 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000036678-99-000010 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 40-17F2 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19990330 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRSTAR STELLAR FUNDS CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000846030 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1130 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 40-17F2 SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 811-05762 FILM NUMBER: 99577588 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: FEDERATED INVESTORS TWR CITY: PITTSBURGH STATE: PA ZIP: 15222 BUSINESS PHONE: 4122886331 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: FEDERATED INVESTORS TOWER CITY: PITTSBURGH STATE: PA ZIP: 15222-3779 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: STAR FUNDS DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19930608 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: VALUE PLUS FUNDS DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19890409 40-17F2 1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-17f-2 Certificate of Accounting of Securities and Similar Investments in the Custody of Management Investment Companies Pursuant to Rule 17f-2 [17 CFR 270.17f-2] 1. Investment Company Act File Number: 811-5762 Date examination completed: September 30, 1998 2. State identification Number: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY PUERTO RICO Other (specify): 3. Exact name of investment company as specified in registration statement: Star Funds 4. Address of principal executive office (number, street, city, state, zip code): Firstar Mutual Fund Services LLC, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 INSTRUCTIONS This From must be completed by investment companies that have custody of securities or similar investments. Investment Company 1. All items must be completed by the investment company. 2. Give this Form to the independent public accountant who, in compliance with Rule 17f-2 under the Act and applicable state law, examines securities and similar investments in the custody of the investment company. Accountant 3. Submit this Form to the Securities and Exchange Commission and appropriate state securities administrators when filing the certificate of accounting required by Rule 17f-2 under the Act and applicable state law. File the original and one copy with the Securities and Exchange Commission's principal office in Washington, D.C., one copy with the regional office for the region in which the investment company's principal business operations are conducted, and one copy with the appropriate state of administrator(s), if applicable. THIS FROM MUST BE GIVEN TO YOUR INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT SEC 2198 (11-91) Management Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain Provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940 Management of the Star Funds (the "Funds"), the investment company, and Star Bank, N.A., the custodian, are responsible for complying with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2, "Custody of Investments by Registered Management Investment Companies," of the Investment Company Act of 1940. We are also responsible for establishing and maintaining an effective internal control structure over compliance with those requirements. We have performed an evaluation of the Funds' compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 as of September 30, 1998 and from April 30, 1998 (date of the last examination) through September 30, 1998. Based on this evaluation, we assert that the Funds were in compliance with those requirements of Rule 17f-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as of September 30, 1998 and from April 30, 1998 through September 30, 1998, with respect to securities reflected in the investment account of the Funds. By: /s/ Daniel B. Benhase Daniel B. Benhase Executive Vice President, Star Bank, N.A. President, Star Funds January 4, 1999 Report of Independent Public Accountants To the Board of Trustees of the Star Funds: We have examined management's assertion about the Star Funds' (the "Funds") compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Act") as of September 30, 1998 included in the accompanying Management Statement Regarding Compliance with Certain Provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Funds represents a Massachusetts business trust and includes the Star Treasury Fund, Star Tax-Free Money Market Fund, Star Relative Value Fund, The Stellar Fund, Star U.S. Government Income Fund, Star Capital Appreciation Fund, Star Growth Equity Fund, Star Strategic Income Fund, Star Ohio Tax-Free Money Market Fund, Star International Equity Fund, Star Market Capitalization Fund and Stellar Insured Tax-Free Bond Fund. Management is responsible for the Funds' compliance with the requirements of the Act. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assertion about the Funds' compliance based on our examination. Our examination was made in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and, accordingly, included examining, on a test basis, evidence about the Funds' compliance with those requirements and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. Included among our procedures were the following tests performed as of September 30, 1998, and with respect to agreement of security purchases and sales, for the period from April 30, 1998 (date of the last examination) through September 30, 1998, without prior notice to management: * Confirmation of all securities held by institutions in book entry form (the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Bankers Trust New York Corporation and The Depository Trust Company); * Confirmation of all securities hypothecated, pledged, placed in escrow, or out for transfer with brokers, pledgees, transfer agents, and/or remarketing agents; * Reconciliation of all such securities to the books and records of the Funds and Star Bank, N.A., the custodian; * Confirmation of all repurchase agreements with brokers/banks and agreement of underlying collateral with Star Bank, N.A. records; and * Agreement of two (2) security purchases and two (2) security sales or maturities for each fund identified above since our last report from the books and records of the Funds to broker confirmations. We believe that our examination provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our examination does not provide a legal determination on the Funds' compliance with specified requirements. In our opinion, management's assertion that the Star Funds was in compliance with the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of Rule 17f-2 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 as of September 30, 1998, with respect to securities reflected in the investment accounts of the Funds, is fairly stated, in all material respects. This report is intended solely for the information and use of management of the Star Funds and the Securities and Exchange Commission and should not be used for any other purpose. /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP Cincinnati, Ohio January 4, 1999 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----