Liberty All Star Growth Fund Inc

LOGO


LIBERTY ALL-STAR® GROWTH FUND, INC.

Period Ending September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

Fund Statistics

Net Asset Value (NAV)

   $4.58     

Market Price

   $4.23     

Discount

   7.6%     
     Quarter   Year-to-Date

Distributions

   $0.06   $0.20

Market Price Trading Range

   $3.74 to $4.30   $3.74 to $4.43

Discount Range

   6.8% to 11.3%   6.2% to 11.7%

Performance

        

Shares Valued at NAV

   7.42%   13.17%

Shares Valued at NAV with Dividends Reinvested

   7.33%   13.34%

Shares Valued at Market Price with Dividends Reinvested

   7.58%   16.50%

NASDAQ Composite Index

   6.50%   20.65%

Russell 3000® Growth Index

   6.01%   16.59%

S&P 500® Index

   6.35%   16.44%

Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Average*

   5.71%   15.53%

NAV Reinvested Percentile Rank (1 = best; 100 = worst)

   14th   73rd

Number of Funds in Category

   570   555

 

*

Percentile rank calculated using the Fund’s NAV Reinvested return within the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Universe.

Figures shown for the Fund and the Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Average are total returns, which include dividends, after deducting fund expenses. Figures shown for the unmanaged NASDAQ Composite Index, the Russell 3000® Growth Index and the S&P 500® Index are total returns, including dividends. A description of the Lipper benchmark and the market indices can be found on page 16.

Past performance cannot predict future results. Performance will fluctuate with market conditions. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Performance information does not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. An investment in the Fund involves risk, including loss of principal.

The Fund is a closed-end fund and does not continuously offer shares. The Fund trades in the secondary market, investors wishing to buy or sell shares need to place orders through an intermediary or broker by using the Fund’s ticker symbol: ASG. The share price of a closed-end fund is based on the market’s value. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of the Fund’s shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the Fund. Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value.

 


Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

  President’s Letter

 

Fellow Shareholders:

   October 2012

After giving up ground in the second quarter, equities returned to positive territory in the third quarter—not rivaling the exceptional returns of the first quarter, but a gratifying three months nonetheless. The S&P 500® Index returned 6.35 percent for the quarter, bringing its year-to-date return through September 30 to 16.44 percent. The Russell 3000® Growth Index returned 6.01 percent for the quarter and 16.59 percent through the first nine months of the year, while the technology-oriented NASDAQ Composite Index returned 6.50 percent and 20.65 percent for the two respective periods.

The same fears that dealt a setback to equities in the second quarter simmered beneath the surface in the third quarter; these were largely macro concerns, including worries over defaults on sovereign debt in Europe, slower economic growth in China, and federal budget deficits and the looming fiscal cliff in the U.S. Nevertheless, investors were more willing to take on risk during the third quarter. Equities benefited from expectations that central banks around the world would take steps to stimulate their economies. In the euro zone, investors were heartened by the European Central Bank’s plan to buy government debt and thus reduce some nations’ borrowing costs. In the U.S., the economy continued to be burdened by the weakest economic recovery since the Great Depression. The housing sector showed some strength, however, and consumer confidence posted a surprising increase in August. Corporations’ earnings reports generally topped expectations; select technology companies, in particular, performed well.

Liberty All-Star Growth Fund outperformed all relevant indices in a strong three-month period. For the quarter, the Fund returned 7.42 percent with shares valued at net asset value (NAV), 7.33 percent with shares valued at NAV with dividends reinvested and 7.58 percent with shares valued at market price (with dividends reinvested). In addition to topping the S&P 500® Index, the Russell 3000® Growth Index and the NASDAQ Composite Index, as cited in the first paragraph, the Fund’s return ranked it in the 14th percentile of the Upper Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Universe— which returned 5.71 percent—meaning the Fund outperformed 86 percent of the funds in that peer group.

Year-to-date through September 30, the Fund returned 13.17 percent with shares valued at NAV, 13.34 percent with shares valued at NAV with dividends reinvested and 16.50 percent with shares valued at market price (with dividends reinvested). Although these are good absolute returns, the Fund’s relative year-to-date performance is weighed down by a sub par performance in the second quarter, which left the Fund ranking in the 73rd percentile of the Upper peer group through September 30.

The Fund’s distribution policy, which has been in place since 1997, is a major component of the Fund’s total return. The Fund pays out 1.5 percent of its NAV each quarter, or 6 percent annually. Often, however, these distributions—either in cash or reinvested in additional Fund shares—are overlooked. As you will see in the table on the inside front cover, the Fund has paid distributions totaling $0.20 through the first three quarters of the year and will pay $0.27 for the year. Bear in mind, as well, that these distributions add up over time; the Fund has paid distributions totaling $11.17 per share since the Fund commenced its distribution policy in 1997.

 

Third Quarter Report (Unaudited) | September 30, 2012

 

 

1


President’s Letter

  Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

 

After lagging in the second quarter, the Fund outperformed in the third quarter. More importantly, we are pleased that the Fund’s three-, five- and 10-year returns all rank in the top half of its Lipper peer group universe. With a wide range of factors likely to influence the equity market in the final quarter— including the presidential election— it should be an interesting close to the year. No matter what the investment environment holds, please be assured that your management team at ALPS Advisors and the Fund’s three growth style investment managers remain committed to diligence, prudence and discipline.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

William R. Parmentier, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

The views expressed in the President’s letter reflect the views of the President as of October 2012 and may not reflect his views on the date this report is first published or anytime thereafter. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from the views expressed. These views are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and the Fund disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for the Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent.

 

2

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com


Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

  Table of Distributions & Rights Offerings

 

        Rights Offerings
Year  

Per Share

Distributions

  Month Completed  

Shares Needed to
Purchase One

Additional Share

  Subscription Price

1997

      $1.24               

1998

      1.35      July   10   $12.41

1999

      1.23               

2000

      1.34               

2001

      0.92      September    8      6.64

2002

      0.67               

2003

      0.58      September     8*      5.72

2004

      0.63               

2005

      0.58               

2006

      0.59               

2007

      0.61               

2008

      0.47               

2009**

      0.24               

2010

      0.25               

2011

      0.27               

2012

         

1st Quarter

      0.07         

2nd Quarter

      0.07         

3rd Quarter

      0.06               

Total

      $11.17         

 

*

The number of shares offered was increased by an additional 25% to cover a portion of the over-subscription requests.

**

Effective with the second quarter distribution, the annual distribution rate was changed from 10 percent to 6 percent

DISTRIBUTION POLICY

 

Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund, Inc.’s current policy is to pay distributions on its shares totaling approximately 6 percent of its net asset value per year, payable in four quarterly installments of 1.5 percent of the Fund’s net asset value at the close of the New York Stock Exchange on the Friday prior to each quarterly declaration date. The fixed distributions are not related to the amount of the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains or losses and may be taxed as ordinary income up to the amount of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. If, for any calendar year, the total distributions made under the distribution policy exceed the Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains, the excess will generally be treated as a non-taxable return of capital, reducing the shareholder’s adjusted basis in his or her shares. If the Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains for any year exceed the amount distributed under the distribution policy, the Fund may, in its discretion, retain and not distribute net realized capital gains and pay income tax thereon to the extent of such excess.

 

Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2012

 

 

3


Top 20 Holdings & Economic Sectors

  Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

Top 20 Holdings*    Percent of Net Assets

Apple, Inc.

       3.27 %

Salesforce.com, Inc.

       2.43  

ACE Ltd.

       2.12  

Oceaneering International, Inc.

       2.00  

QUALCOMM, Inc.

       1.93  

American Tower Corp., Class A

       1.84  

Core Laboratories N.V.

       1.79  

ARM Holdings PLC

       1.74  

Fastenal Co.

       1.68  

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

       1.64  

IHS, Inc., Class A

       1.46  

Google, Inc., Class A

       1.46  

Signature Bank

       1.43  

Precision Castparts Corp.

       1.36  

Liquidity Services, Inc.

       1.27  

Allergan, Inc.

       1.21  

Cerner Corp.

       1.17  

Schlumberger Ltd.

       1.16  

LKQ Corp.

       1.15  

Amazon.com, Inc.

       1.14  
       33.25 %
Economic Sectors*    Percent of Net Assets

Information Technology

       31.24 %

Industrials

       14.32  

Consumer Discretionary

       13.40  

Health Care

       11.52  

Financials

       9.69  

Energy

       8.66  

Consumer Staples

       3.16  

Materials

       2.69  

Telecommunication Services

       1.84  

Utilities

       0.54  

Other Net Assets

       2.94  
       100.00 %

 

*

Because the Fund is actively managed, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will continue to hold securities of the indicated issuers and sectors in the future.

 

4

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com


Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

  Major Stock Changes in the Quarter

 

The following are the major ($600,000 or more) stock changes - both purchases and sales - that were made in the Fund’s portfolio during the third quarter of 2012.

 

     Shares

Security Name

 

  

Purchases (Sales)

 

 

Held as of 9/30/12

 

Purchases

        

Equinix, Inc.

       3,500         3,500  

Starbucks Corp.

       18,150         18,150  

Verisk Analytics, Inc., Class A

       15,100         15,100  

Sales

        

ACE Ltd.

       (9,250 )       29,250  

Apple, Inc.

       (1,600 )       5,100  

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.

       (20,685 )       29,147  

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

       (15,200 )       6,000  

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

       (28,150 )       14,900  

F5 Networks, Inc.

       (6,192 )       1,008  

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

       (96,108 )       0  

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

       (7,850 )       12,250  

Salesforce.com, Inc.

       (4,850 )       16,600  

TripAdvisor, Inc.

       (20,200 )       0  

VMware, Inc., Class A

       (11,250 )       9,800  

 

Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2012

 

 

5


Investment Managers/

Portfolio Characteristics

  Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

 

THE FUND’S THREE GROWTH INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND THE MARKET CAPITALIZATION ON WHICH EACH FOCUSES:

 

 

LOGO

MANAGERS’ DIFFERING INVESTMENT STRATEGIES ARE REFLECTED

IN PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

 

The portfolio characteristics table below is a regular feature of the Fund’s shareholder reports. It serves as a useful tool for understanding the value of the Fund’s multi-managed portfolio. The characteristics are different for each of the Fund’s three investment managers. These differences are a reflection of the fact that each has a different capitalization focus and investment strategy. The shaded column highlights the characteristics of the Fund as a whole, while the first three columns show portfolio characteristics for the Russell Smallcap, Midcap and Largecap Growth indices. See page 16 for a description of these indices.

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS As of September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

                  Market Capitalization Spectrum    
     RUSSELL GROWTH:   Small   LOGO   Large    
     SMALLCAP
INDEX
  MIDCAP
INDEX
  LARGECAP
INDEX
  M.A.
WEATHERBIE
  TCW
(MID-CAP)
  TCW
(LARGE-CAP)
  TOTAL
FUND
Number of Holdings    1,112   454   567   59   53   32   131*
Weighted Average Market Capitalization (billions)    $1.5   $9.1   $121.1   $2.6   $9.0   $103.3   $40.1
AverageFive-YearSales Per Share Growth    8%   9%   13%   13%   15%   18%   15%
Average Five-Year Earnings Per Share Growth    15%   15%   19%   17%   20%   25%   21%
Price/Earnings Ratio**    21x   21x   19x   24x   25x   24x   24x

Price/Book Value Ratio

   4.9x   5.1x   6.0x   5.2x   6.8x   5.5x   5.8x

 

*

Certain holdings are held by more than one manager.

**

Excludes negative earnings.

 

6

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com


Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

  Schedule of Investments

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (97.06%)

     

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (13.40%)

     

Auto Components (0.64%)

     

BorgWarner, lnc.(a)

     9,700       $ 670,367   
     

 

 

 

Automobiles (0.41%)

     

Thor Industries, Inc.

     11,788         428,140   
     

 

 

 

Distributors (1.15%)

     

LKQ Corp.(a)

     64,908         1,200,798   
     

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.22%)

     

Arcos Dorados Holdings, Inc., Class A

     50,300         776,129   

BJ’s Restaurants, lnc.(a)

     13,576         615,672   

Starbucks Corp.

     18,150         921,112   
     

 

 

 
        2,312,913   
     

 

 

 

Household Durables (0.69%)

     

Harman International Industries, Inc.

     15,467         713,957   
     

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail (2.46%)

     

Amazon.com, lnc.(a)

     4,665         1,186,403   

priceline.com, lnc.(a)

     1,625         1,005,436   

Shutterfly, lnc.(a)

     11,902         370,390   
     

 

 

 
        2,562,229   
     

 

 

 

Specialty Retail (3.60%)

     

CarMax, lnc.(a)

     23,700         670,710   

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.

     15,100         782,935   

Francesca’s Holdings Corp.(a)

     17,865         548,991   

GNC Holdings, Inc., Class A

     3,534         137,720   

Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.

     6,155         216,594   

rue21, lnc.(a)

     24,984         778,252   

Teavana Holdings, lnc.(a)

     46,897         611,537   
     

 

 

 
        3,746,739   
     

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (2.23%)

     

Fossil, lnc.(a)

     2,300         194,810   

Gildan Activewear, Inc.

     17,500         554,400   

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.(a)

     15,600         829,608   

Under Armour, Inc., Class A(a)

     13,385         747,285   
     

 

 

 
        2,326,103   
     

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES (3.16%)

     

Beverages (0.31%)

     

Monster Beverage Corp.(a)

     6,000         324,960   
     

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing (1.82%)

     

Costco Wholesale Corp.

     8,550         856,069   

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2012

 

 

7


Schedule of Investments

  Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Food & Staples Retailing (continued)

     

The Fresh Market, lnc.(a)

     9,025       $ 541,319   

PriceSmart, Inc.

     6,504         492,483   
     

 

 

 
        1,889,871   
     

 

 

 

Food Products (0.90%)

     

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

     12,800         937,984   
     

 

 

 

Personal Products (0.13%)

     

Herbalife Ltd.

     2,850         135,090   
     

 

 

 

ENERGY (8.66%)

     

Energy Equipment & Services (7.65%)

     

Core Laboratories N.V.

     15,355         1,865,326   

Dril-Quip, lnc.(a)

     8,157         586,325   

FMC Technologies, lnc.(a)

     17,300         800,990   

Lufkin Industries, Inc.

     12,732         685,236   

National-Oilwell Varco, Inc.

     9,100         729,001   

Oceaneering International, Inc.

     37,800         2,088,450   

Schlumberger Ltd.

     16,745         1,211,166   
     

 

 

 
        7,966,494   
     

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (1.01%)

     

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

     12,250         1,054,235   
     

 

 

 

FINANCIALS (9.69%)

     

Capital Markets (3.92%)

     

Affiliated Managers Group, lnc.(a)

     8,898         1,094,454   

The Charles Schwab Corp.

     45,650         583,863   

Financial Engines, lnc.(a)

     19,148         456,297   

FXCM, Inc., Class A

     39,352         375,812   

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

     12,400         784,920   

Virtus Investment Partners, lnc.(a)

     9,211         792,146   
     

 

 

 
        4,087,492   
     

 

 

 

Commercial Banks (1.43%)

     

Signature Bank(a)

     22,196         1,488,908   
     

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services (0.84%)

     

MSCI, lnc.(a)

     6,997         250,423   

Portfolio Recovery Associates, lnc.(a)

     5,956         621,985   
     

 

 

 
        872,408   
     

 

 

 

Insurance (2.73%)

     

ACE Ltd.

     29,250         2,211,300   

Greenlight Capital Re Ltd., Class A(a)

     25,637         634,516   
     

 

 

 
        2,845,816   
     

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

8

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com


Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

  Schedule of Investments

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Real Estate Management & Development (0.77%)

     

FirstService Corp.(a)

     28,910       $ 808,034   
     

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE (11.52%)

     

Biotechnology (1.95%)

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, lnc.(a)

     29,147         1,173,750   

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, lnc.(a)

     14,300         182,754   

Vertex Pharmaceuticals, lnc.(a)

     12,000         671,400   
     

 

 

 
        2,027,904   
     

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.13%)

     

Accuray, lnc.(a)

     53,306         377,406   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

     3,450         1,709,924   

Masimo Corp.(a)

     23,177         560,420   

Neogen Corp.(a)

     5,427         231,733   

Volcano Corp.(a)

     13,562         387,466   
     

 

 

 
        3,266,949   
     

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services (0.32%)

     

PSS World Medical, lnc.(a)

     14,622         333,089   
     

 

 

 

Health Care Technology (2.19%)

     

athenahealth, lnc.(a)

     11,583         1,062,972   

Cerner Corp.(a)

     15,750         1,219,207   
     

 

 

 
        2,282,179   
     

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.65%)

     

Illumina, lnc.(a)

     14,600         703,720   

Life Technologies Corp.(a)

     20,800         1,016,704   
     

 

 

 
        1,720,424   
     

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals (2.28%)

     

Allergan, Inc.

     13,800         1,263,804   

Mylan, lnc.(a)

     33,400         814,960   

Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.(a)

     7,000         296,380   
     

 

 

 
        2,375,144   
     

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS (14.32%)

     

Aerospace & Defense (2.75%)

     

HEICO Corp.

     17,481         676,340   

Precision Castparts Corp.

     8,650         1,412,891   

TransDigm Group, lnc.(a)

     5,483         777,873   
     

 

 

 
        2,867,104   
     

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics (1.11%)

     

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

     6,000         351,300   

Echo Global Logistics, lnc.(a)

     15,232         261,229   

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

     14,900         541,764   
     

 

 

 
        1,154,293   
     

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2012

 

 

9


Schedule of Investments

  Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Commercial Services & Supplies (1.20%)

     

American Reprographics Co.(a)

     62,600       $ 267,302   

InnerWorkings, lnc.(a)

     29,747         387,306   

Waste Connections, Inc.

     19,591         592,628   
     

 

 

 
        1,247,236   
     

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment (1.43%)

     

II-VI, lnc.(a)

     21,927         417,051   

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     8,500         591,175   

Roper Industries, Inc.

     4,400         483,516   
     

 

 

 
        1,491,742   
     

 

 

 

Machinery (1.14%)

     

Graco, Inc.

     11,718         589,181   

MiddlebyCorp.(a)

     5,189         600,056   
     

 

 

 
        1,189,237   
     

 

 

 

Professional Services (3.88%)

     

Huron Consulting Group, lnc.(a)

     15,173         528,324   

IHS, Inc., Class A(a)

     15,589         1,517,589   

Robert Half International, Inc.

     27,800         740,314   

Stantec, Inc.

     15,898         540,214   

Verisk Analytics, Inc., Class A(a)

     15,100         718,911   
     

 

 

 
        4,045,352   
     

 

 

 

Road & Rail (0.54%)

     

Landstar System, Inc.

     11,981         566,462   
     

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors (2.27%)

     

Fastenal Co.

     40,600         1,745,394   

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A

     9,100         613,886   
     

 

 

 
        2,359,280   
     

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (31.24%)

     

Communications Equipment (3.40%)

     

F5 Networks, lnc.(a)

     1,008         105,538   

InterDigital, Inc.

     15,371         573,031   

Palo Alto Networks, lnc.(a)

     2,700         166,239   

Polycom, lnc.(a)

     70,229         693,160   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

     32,115         2,006,866   
     

 

 

 
        3,544,834   
     

 

 

 

Computers & Peripherals (4.04%)

     

Apple, Inc.

     5,100         3,403,026   

Fusion-io, lnc.(a)

     26,496         802,034   
     

 

 

 
        4,205,060   
     

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (1.78%)

     

FARO Technologies, lnc.(a)

     16,033         662,484   

IPG Photonics Corp.(a)

     10,215         585,319   

National Instruments Corp.

     18,222         458,648   

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

10

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com


Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

  Schedule of Investments

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (continued)

     

Universal Display Corp.(a)

     4,400       $ 151,272   
     

 

 

 
        1,857,723   
     

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services (7.64%)

     

Baidu, lnc.(a)(b)

     9,225         1,077,665   

Equinix, lnc.(a)

     3,500         721,175   

Google, Inc., Class A(a)

     2,010         1,516,545   

Linkedln Corp., Class A(a)

     3,100         373,240   

Liquidity Services, lnc.(a)

     26,292         1,320,121   

NIC, Inc.

     19,559         289,473   

Backspace Hosting, lnc.(a)

     12,800         845,952   

SINA Corp.(a)

     5,000         323,400   

SPS Commerce, lnc.(a)

     9,623         370,197   

Stamps.com, lnc.(a)

     10,623         245,816   

VistaPrint Ltd.(a)

     13,101         447,399   

Youku Tudou, lnc.(a)(b)

     23,664         435,181   
     

 

 

 
        7,966,164   
     

 

 

 

IT Services (3.15%)

     

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A(a)

     13,900         971,888   

ServiceSource International, lnc.(a)

     39,722         407,548   

VeriFone Systems, lnc.(a)

     28,320         788,712   

Visa, Inc., Class A

     8,265         1,109,824   
     

 

 

 
        3,277,972   
     

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (3.63%)

     

ARM Holdings PLC(b)

     64,667         1,809,383   

Avago Technologies Ltd.

     15,500         540,407   

Cavium, lnc.(a)

     24,388         812,852   

Hittite Microwave Corp.(a)

     11,213         621,985   
     

 

 

 
        3,784,627   
     

 

 

 

Software (7.60%)

     

ANSYS, lnc.(a)

     8,041         590,209   

Concur Technologies, lnc.(a)

     8,642         637,175   

QLIK Technologies, lnc.(a)

     27,077         606,795   

RealPage, lnc.(a)

     25,963         586,764   

Salesforce.com, lnc.(a)

     16,600         2,534,654   

ServiceNow, lnc.(a)

     1,600         61,888   

Solera Holdings, Inc.

     20,172         884,946   

Splunk, lnc.(a)

     10,500         385,560   

Ultimate Software Group, lnc.(a)

     6,710         685,091   

VMware, Inc., Class A(a)

     9,800         948,052   
     

 

 

 
        7,921,134   
     

 

 

 

MATERIALS (2.69%)

     

Chemicals (1.01%)

     

Praxair, Inc.

     10,125         1,051,785   
     

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2012

 

 

11


Schedule of Investments

  Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Metals & Mining (1.68%)

     

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.

     21,200       $ 676,280   

Silver Wheaton Corp.

     26,950         1,070,184   
     

 

 

 
        1,746,464   
     

 

 

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (1.84%)

     

Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.84%)

     

American Tower Corp., Class A

     26,800         1,913,252   
     

 

 

 

UTILITIES (0.54%)

     

Electric Utilities (0.54%)

     

ITC Holdings Corp.

     7,494         566,397   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
(COST OF $75,545,795)

        101,134,345   
     

 

 

 
     PAR VALUE         

SHORT TERM INVESTMENT (2.76%)

     

REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (2.76%)

     

Repurchase agreement with State Street Bank & Trust Co., dated 09/28/12, due 10/01/12 at 0.01%, collateralized by Federal National Mortgage Association 3.05% 01/01/42, market value of $2,935,020 (Repurchase proceeds of $2,875,002)
(COST OF $2,875,000)

     $2,875,000       $ 2,875,000   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.82%)
(COST OF $78,420,795)
(c)

        104,009,345   

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (0.18%)

        192,148   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS (100.00%)

      $ 104,201,493   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
(22,734,574 SHARES OUTSTANDING)

      $ 4.58   
     

 

 

 

 

(a)

Non-income producing security.

(b)

American Depositary Receipt.

(c)

Cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is $79,571,946.

Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation at September 30, 2012 based on cost of Investments for federal income tax purposes is as follows:

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $   27,430,692   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (2,993,293

Net unrealized appreciation

   $   24,437,399   
          

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 indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund 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 percent of net assets. These industry classifications are unaudited.

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

12

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com


Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

  Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

Security Valuation

Equity securities including common stocks and exchange traded funds are valued at the last sale price at the close of the principal exchange on which they trade, except for securities listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (“NASDAQ”) exchange, which are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Unlisted securities or listed securities for which there were no sales during the day are valued at the closing bid price on such exchanges or over-the-counter markets.

Short-term debt obligations maturing in more than 60 days for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value. Short-term debt obligations maturing within 60 days are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.

Investments for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures approved by and under the general supervision of the Fund's Board of Directors.

Foreign Securities

The Fund may directly purchase securities of foreign issuers. Investing in securities of foreign issuers involves special risks not typically associated with investing in securities of U.S. issuers. The risks include possible reevaluation of currencies, the inability to repatriate foreign currency, less complete financial information about companies and possible future adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign issuers and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. issuers. For the period ended September 30, 2012, the Fund only held American Depositary Receipts and did not hold any securities denominated in foreign currencies.

Security Transactions

Security transactions are recorded on trade date. Cost is determined and gains/(losses) are based upon the specific identification method for both financial statement and federal income tax purposes.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund engages in repurchase agreement transactions with institutions that the Fund’s investment advisor has determined are creditworthy. The Fund, through its custodian, receives delivery of underlying securities collateralizing a repurchase agreement. Collateral is at least equal, at all times, to the value of the repurchase obligation including interest. A repurchase agreement transaction involves certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the counterparty. These risks include possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities and a possible decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period while the Fund seeks to assert its rights.

Income Recognition

Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Corporate actions and dividend income are recorded on the ex-date.

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

 

Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2012

 

 

13


Notes to Schedule of Investments

  Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

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 a 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) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; 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 September 30, 2012. The Fund recognizes transfers between the levels as of the beginning of the annual period in which the transfer occurred.

 

     Valuation Inputs         

Investments in Securities at

Value*

   Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Common Stocks

   $ 101,134,345       $       $          –       $ 101,134,345   

Short Term Investment

             2,875,000                 2,875,000   

Total

   $   101,134,345       $   2,875,000       $         –       $   104,009,345   
                                     

*See Schedule of Investments for industry classifications

For the period ended September 30, 2012, the Fund did not have any significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities. The Fund did not have any securities which used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value.

Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims against the

 

14

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com


Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

  Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

Fund. Also, under the Fund’s organizational documents and by contract, the Directors and Officers of the Fund are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of their duties to the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be minimal.

Maryland Statutes

By resolution of the Board of Directors, the Fund has opted into the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act and the Maryland Business Combination Act. In general, the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act provides that “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition may not be voted except to the extent approved by shareholders at a meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter (excluding shares owned by the acquiror and by officers or directors who are employees of the corporation). “Control shares” are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within certain statutorily defined ranges (one-tenth but less than one-third, one-third but less than a majority, and more than a majority of the voting power). In general, the Maryland Business Combination Act prohibits an interested shareholder (a shareholder that holds 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the corporation) of a Maryland corporation from engaging in a business combination (generally defined to include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, sale of a substantial amount of assets, a transfer of the corporation’s securities and similar transactions to or with the interested shareholder or an entity affiliated with the interested shareholder) with the corporation for a period of five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder. At the time of adoption, March 19,2009, the Board and the Fund were not aware of any shareholder that held control shares or that was an interested shareholder under the statutes.

Shareholder Meeting Results

On August 22, 2012, the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund was held to elect three Directors. On May 2, 2012, the record date for the meeting, the Fund had outstanding 30,080,350 shares of common stock. The votes cast at the meeting were as follows:

Proposal 1 – Proposal to elect three Directors:

 

      For            Withheld  

Thomas W. Brock

     24,961,690.38              1,376,596.93   

Jhon J. Neuhauser

     24,948,702.38              1,389,584.93   

Edmund J.Burke

     24,370,138.83              1,968,148,48   

Proposal 2 – Stockholder Proposal:

 

      For      Against      Abstain      Non-Votes  

Stockholder Proposal

     3,281,427.47         13,581,900.42         254,666.43         9,220,293.00   

 

Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2012

 

 

15


Description of Lipper Benchmark

and Market Indices

  Liberty All-Star® Growth Fund

September 30, 2012 (Unaudited)

 

 

Lipper Multi-Cap Growth Mutual Fund Average

The average of funds that, by portfolio practice, invest in a variety of market capitalization ranges without concentrating 75% of their equity assets in any one market capitalization range over an extended period of time. Multi-Cap growth funds typically have an above-average price-to-earnings ratio, price-to-book ratio, and three-year sales-per-share growth value, compared to the S&P SuperComposite 1500® Index.

NASDAQ Composite Index

Measures all NASDAQ domestic and international based common type stocks listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market.

Russell 3000® Growth Index

Measures the performance of those Russell 3000® companies with higher price-to-book-ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 3000® Index measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization, which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market.

Russell 1000® Growth Index (Largecap)

Measures the performance of those Russell 1000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 1000® Index measures the performance of the 1,000 largest companies in the Russell 3000® Index.

Russell Midcap® Growth Index

Measures the performance of those Russell Midcap® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell Midcap® Index measures the performance of the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000® Index.

Russell 2000® Growth Index (Smallcap)

Measures the performance of those Russell 2000® companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values. The Russell 2000® Index measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000® Index.

S&P 500® Index

A representative sample of 500 leading companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy. Focuses on the large-cap segment of the market with approximately 75% coverage of U.S. equities.

You cannot invest directly in an index.

 

16

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com


LOGO

   LOGO

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

ALPS Advisors, Inc.

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

303-623-2577

www.all-starfunds.com

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FlRM

Deloitte & Touche LLP

555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 3600

Denver, Colorado 80202

 

CUSTODIAN

State Street Bank & Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

 

iNVESTOR ASSISTANCE,

TRANSFER & DIVIDEND

DlSBURSING AGENT & REGISTRAR

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43078

Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078

1-800-LIB-FUND (1-800-542-3863)

www.computershare.com

  

LEGAL COUNSEL

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

 

DIRECTORS

John A. Benning*

Thomas W. Brock*

Edmund J. Burke

George R. Gaspari*

Richard W. Lowry*, Chairman

Dr. John J. Neuhauser*

Richard C. Rantzow*

 

OFFICERS

William R. Parmentier, Jr., President

Mark T. Haley, CFA, Senior Vice President

Edmund J. Burke, Vice President

Jeremy O. May, Treasurer

Kimberly R. Storms, Assistant Treasurer

Tane T. Tyler, Secretary

Alex J. Marks, Assistant Secretary

Melanie H. Zimdars, Chief Compliance Officer

 

*   Member of the Audit Committee

  
  

A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures is available (i) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at www.sec.gov, and (ii) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-542-3863. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30th is available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is also available at www.all-starfunds.com.

The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Form N-Q’s are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 that the Fund may purchase at market prices from time to time shares of its own common stock in the open market.

This report is transmitted to shareholders of Liberty Ail-Star* Growth Fund, Inc. for their information. It is not a prospectus or other document intended for use in the purchase of Fund shares.

LAS000488 5/31/13

 


LOGO