Liberty All-Star Equity Fund NQ

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number: 811-04809

LIBERTY ALL-STAR EQUITY FUND

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Tané T. Tyler, Esq.

ALPS Fund Services, Inc.

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 623-2577

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: January 1 – March 31, 2013


Item 1 – Schedule of Investments.


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (97.51%)

     

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (12.21%)

     

Auto Components (1.89%)

     

Delphi Automotive PLC

     158,925       $ 7,056,270   

Johnson Controls, Inc.

     273,338         9,585,964   

Magna International, Inc.

     63,255         3,713,068   
     

 

 

 
        20,355,302   
     

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services (0.58%)

     

Apollo Group, Inc., Class A(a)

     362,856         6,310,066   
     

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (2.06%)

     

Carnival Corp.

     118,450         4,062,835   

Marriott International, Inc., Class A

     194,306         8,205,542   

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., Class A(a)

     165,222         1,629,089   

Starbucks Corp.

     145,600         8,293,376   
     

 

 

 
        22,190,842   
     

 

 

 

Household Durables (2.18%)

     

NVR, Inc.(a)

     11,230         12,129,636   

Toll Brothers, Inc.(a)

     334,826         11,464,442   
     

 

 

 
        23,594,078   
     

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail (1.44%)

     

Amazon.com, Inc.(a)

     35,784         9,536,078   

priceline.com, Inc.(a)

     8,775         6,036,586   
     

 

 

 
        15,572,664   
     

 

 

 

Media (1.34%)

     

Comcast Corp., Class A

     49,880         2,095,459   

Comcast Corp., Special Class A

     19,944         790,181   

Omnicom Group, Inc.

     140,000         8,246,000   

The Walt Disney Co.

     59,372         3,372,330   
     

 

 

 
        14,503,970   
     

 

 

 

Multi-Line Retail (0.20%)

     

Dollar General Corp.(a)

     41,990         2,123,854   
     

 

 

 

Specialty Retail (1.51%)

     

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.

     82,616         3,907,737   

Staples, Inc.

     646,750         8,685,852   

Tiffany & Co.

     15,770         1,096,646   

The TJX Cos., Inc.

     56,425         2,637,869   
     

 

 

 
        16,328,104   
     

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (1.01%)

     

Burberry Group PLC(b)

     64,627         2,606,407   

Hugo Boss AG(a)(b)

     22,166         494,302   

NIKE, Inc., Class B

     76,573         4,518,572   

Ralph Lauren Corp.

     19,293         3,266,498   
     

 

 

 
        10,885,779   
     

 

 

 

CONSUMER STAPLES (5.81%)

     

Beverages (1.85%)

     

The Coca-Cola Company

     136,471         5,518,887   

Diageo PLC(b)

     48,987         6,164,524   

Molson Coors Brewing Co., Class B

     91,025         4,453,854   

PepsiCo, Inc.

     48,000         3,797,280   
     

 

 

 
        19,934,545   
     

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing (1.01%)

     

Costco Wholesale Corp.

     61,664         6,543,167   

CVS Caremark Corp.

     80,000         4,399,200   
     

 

 

 
        10,942,367   
     

 

 

 


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Food Products (1.72%)

     

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

     210,000       $ 7,083,300   

Kellogg Co.

     48,000         3,092,640   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

     75,000         5,808,750   

Mondelez International, Inc., Class A

     85,943         2,630,715   
     

 

 

 
        18,615,405   
     

 

 

 

Household Products (0.66%)

     

The Procter & Gamble Co.

     92,500         7,128,050   
     

 

 

 

Tobacco (0.57%)

     

Philip Morris International, Inc.

     65,885         6,108,198   
     

 

 

 

ENERGY (14.41%)

     

Energy Equipment & Services (4.74%)

     

Baker Hughes, Inc.

     142,025         6,591,380   

National-Oilwell Varco, Inc.

     50,600         3,579,950   

Oceaneering International, Inc.

     101,700         6,753,897   

Schlumberger Ltd.

     253,208         18,962,747   

Tidewater, Inc.

     143,000         7,221,500   

Weatherford International Ltd.(a)

     665,748         8,082,181   
     

 

 

 
        51,191,655   
     

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (9.67%)

     

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

     43,330         3,789,209   

Arch Coal, Inc.

     1,398,480         7,593,746   

BP PLC(b)

     223,451         9,463,150   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

     580,471         11,847,413   

Chevron Corp.

     61,000         7,248,020   

Cobalt International Energy, Inc.(a)

     257,430         7,259,526   

ConocoPhillips

     103,000         6,190,300   

CONSOL Energy, Inc.

     68,025         2,289,041   

Devon Energy Corp.

     243,583         13,742,953   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

     44,775         4,034,675   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

     106,000         8,307,220   

Peabody Energy Corp.

     415,330         8,784,230   

Royal Dutch Shell PLC(b)

     130,762         8,520,452   

WPX Energy, Inc.(a)

     339,770         5,443,115   
     

 

 

 
        104,513,050   
     

 

 

 

FINANCIALS (23.52%)

     

Capital Markets (5.44%)

     

The Charles Schwab Corp.

     658,300         11,645,327   

Franklin Resources, Inc.

     32,825         4,950,338   

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     37,450         5,510,767   

Invesco Ltd.

     193,325         5,598,692   

Morgan Stanley

     437,060         9,606,579   

State Street Corp.

     269,175         15,905,551   

UBS AG

     359,525         5,533,090   
     

 

 

 
        58,750,344   
     

 

 

 

Commercial Banks (4.26%)

     

BB&T Corp.

     200,700         6,299,973   

Huntington Bancshares, Inc.

     334,911         2,474,992   

KeyCorp

     250,685         2,496,823   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

     69,119         4,596,413   

Regions Financial Corp.

     737,768         6,042,320   

SunTrust Banks, Inc.

     506,413         14,589,759   

Wells Fargo & Co.

     255,925         9,466,666   
     

 

 

 
        45,966,946   
     

 

 

 


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Consumer Finance (1.09%)

     

American Express Co.

     103,500       $ 6,982,110   

Capital One Financial Corp.

     87,802         4,824,720   
     

 

 

 
        11,806,830   
     

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services (5.31%)

     

Bank of America Corp.

     998,746         12,164,726   

Citigroup, Inc.

     428,904         18,974,713   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     552,370         26,215,480   
     

 

 

 
        57,354,919   
     

 

 

 

Insurance (7.05%)

     

ACE Ltd.

     198,910         17,697,023   

The Allstate Corp.

     234,700         11,516,729   

American International Group, Inc.(a)

     237,055         9,202,475   

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

     266,519         5,492,956   

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.

     262,835         10,939,193   

Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A(a)

     209,959         2,099,590   

MetLife, Inc.

     364,850         13,871,597   

Willis Group Holdings PLC

     77,800         3,072,322   

WR Berkley Corp.

     51,556         2,287,540   
     

 

 

 
        76,179,425   
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.37%)

     

Camden Property Trust

     57,977         3,981,860   
     

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE (9.39%)

     

Biotechnology (0.15%)

     

Celgene Corp.(a)

     14,032         1,626,449   
     

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies (2.66%)

     

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

     75,650         7,232,897   

Edwards Lifesciences Corp.(a)

     55,584         4,566,781   

Hologic, Inc.(a)

     206,564         4,668,346   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

     9,000         4,420,710   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

     105,000         7,898,100   
     

 

 

 
        28,786,834   
     

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services (2.24%)

     

Aetna, Inc.

     31,075         1,588,554   

Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.(a)

     268,582         7,488,066   

Express Scripts, Holding Co.(a)

     74,624         4,302,074   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(a)

     47,850         4,316,070   

WellPoint, Inc.

     98,487         6,522,794   
     

 

 

 
        24,217,558   
     

 

 

 

Health Care Technology (0.67%)

     

Cerner Corp.(a)

     75,864         7,188,114   
     

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.86%)

     

Life Technologies Corp.(a)

     75,700         4,892,491   

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

     57,000         4,359,930   
     

 

 

 
        9,252,421   
     

 

 

 

Pharmaceuticals (2.81%)

     

Abbott Laboratories

     97,525         3,444,583   

Allergan, Inc.

     75,100         8,383,413   

Johnson & Johnson

     88,500         7,215,405   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.(b)

     284,954         11,306,975   
     

 

 

 
        30,350,376   
     

 

 

 


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

INDUSTRIALS (7.09%)

     

Aerospace & Defense (2.14%)

     

The Boeing Co.

     34,125       $ 2,929,631   

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

     76,175         6,164,081   

Northrop Grumman Corp.

     72,650         5,096,398   

Precision Castparts Corp.

     36,100         6,845,282   

Textron, Inc.

     68,241         2,034,264   
     

 

 

 
        23,069,656   
     

 

 

 

Airlines (0.30%)

     

US Airways Group, Inc.(a)

     193,990         3,292,010   
     

 

 

 

Building Products (0.41%)

     

Masco Corp.

     218,425         4,423,106   
     

 

 

 

Construction & Engineering (0.51%)

     

Fluor Corp.

     83,054         5,508,972   
     

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment (0.80%)

     

Emerson Electric Co.

     120,000         6,704,400   

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     23,001         1,986,137   
     

 

 

 
        8,690,537   
     

 

 

 

Machinery (0.89%)

     

Joy Global, Inc.

     70,169         4,176,459   

Navistar International Corp.(a)

     157,111         5,431,327   
     

 

 

 
        9,607,786   
     

 

 

 

Professional Services (0.62%)

     

Verisk Analytics, Inc., Class A(a)

     109,600         6,754,648   
     

 

 

 

Road & Rail (0.54%)

     

CSX Corp.

     235,578         5,802,286   
     

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors (0.68%)

     

Fastenal Co.

     143,397         7,363,436   
     

 

 

 

Transportation Infrastructure (0.20%)

     

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc.

     314,925         2,113,147   
     

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (20.39%)

     

Communications Equipment (3.34%)

     

Cisco Systems, Inc.

     420,987         8,802,838   

Harris Corp.

     79,200         3,670,128   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

     352,074         23,571,354   
     

 

 

 
        36,044,320   
     

 

 

 

Computers & Peripherals (4.35%)

     

Apple, Inc.

     27,700         12,260,851   

Dell, Inc.

     940,537         13,477,895   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

     571,025         13,613,236   

NetApp, Inc.(a)

     147,663         5,044,168   

Stratasys Ltd.(a)

     35,673         2,647,650   
     

 

 

 
        47,043,800   
     

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (1.96%)

     

Corning, Inc.

     500,000         6,665,000   

TE Connectivity Ltd.

     346,775         14,540,276   
     

 

 

 
        21,205,276   
     

 

 

 


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Internet Software & Services (3.68%)

     

eBay, Inc.(a)

     32,979       $ 1,788,121   

Equinix, Inc.(a)

     32,200         6,965,182   

Google, Inc., Class A(a)

     30,748         24,414,835   

LinkedIn Corp., Class A(a)

     37,100         6,531,826   
     

 

 

 
        39,699,964   
     

 

 

 

IT Services (2.52%)

     

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A(a)

     75,600         5,791,716   

Visa, Inc., Class A

     85,765         14,566,328   

The Western Union Co.

     457,963         6,887,763   
     

 

 

 
        27,245,807   
     

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (1.05%)

     

Altera Corp.

     114,804         4,072,098   

ARM Holdings PLC(b)

     155,000         6,567,350   

MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.(a)

     151,092         664,805   
     

 

 

 
        11,304,253   
     

 

 

 

Software (3.49%)

     

Citrix Systems, Inc.(a)

     36,128         2,606,996   

Microsoft Corp.

     443,600         12,691,396   

Oracle Corp.

     178,675         5,778,350   

Salesforce.com, Inc.(a)

     69,447         12,419,207   

VMware, Inc., Class A(a)

     53,300         4,204,304   
     

 

 

 
        37,700,253   
     

 

 

 

MATERIALS (2.49%)

     

Chemicals (1.61%)

     

The Mosaic Co.

     85,269         5,082,885   

PPG Industries, Inc.

     17,825         2,387,480   

Praxair, Inc.

     55,200         6,157,008   

The Sherwin-Williams Co.

     22,221         3,752,905   
     

 

 

 
        17,380,278   
     

 

 

 

Metals & Mining (0.88%)

     

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.

     140,808         4,660,745   

Silver Wheaton Corp.

     155,600         4,878,060   
     

 

 

 
        9,538,805   
     

 

 

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (1.22%)

     

Wireless Telecommunication Services (1.22%)

     

American Tower Corp.

     129,360         9,950,371   

Vodafone Group PLC(b)

     112,500         3,196,125   
     

 

 

 
        13,146,496   
     

 

 

 

UTILITIES (0.98%)

     

Electric Utilities (0.57%)

     

Entergy Corp.

     80,975         5,120,859   

FirstEnergy Corp.

     24,409         1,030,060   
     

 

 

 
        6,150,919   
     

 

 

 

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders (0.41%)

     

NRG Energy, Inc.

     167,173         4,428,413   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
  (COST OF $943,096,404)

        1,053,274,173   
     

 

 

 


     PAR VALUE      MARKET VALUE  

SHORT TERM INVESTMENT (2.43%)

     

REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (2.43%)

     

Repurchase agreement with State Street Bank & Trust Co., dated 03/28/13, due 04/01/13 at 0.01%, collateralized by Federal National Mortgage Association 3.05%, 01/01/42, market value of $26,737,838 (Repurchase proceeds of $26,201,029)

     

  (COST OF $26,201,000)

   $ 26,201,000       $ 26,201,000   
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.94%)
  (COST OF $969,297,404)(c)

        1,079,475,173   

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (0.06%)

  

     664,105   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS (100.00%)

      $ 1,080,139,278   
     

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE
  (186,370,843 SHARES OUTSTANDING)

      $ 5.80   
     

 

 

 

Notes to Schedule of Investments:

(a) Non-income producing security.
(b) American Depositary Receipt.
(c) Cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is $979,175,647.

Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation at March 31, 2013 based on cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is as follows:

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 196,620,390   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (96,320,864

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 100,299,526   

 

 

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.


LIBERTY ALL STAR EQUITY FUND

Notes to Schedule of investments

March 30, 2013 (unaudited)

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 Board.

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 March 31, 2013, 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.

The Fund estimates components of distributions from real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). Distributions received in excess of income are recorded as a reduction of the cost of the related investments. Once the REIT reports annually the tax character of its distributions, the Fund revises its estimates. If the Fund no longer owns the applicable securities, any distributions received in excess of income are recorded as realized gains.

Fair Value Measurements

The Fund discloses the classification of its fair value measurements following a three-tier hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability that are developed based on the best information available.


Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments as of the end of the reporting period. When inputs used fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The designated input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1      Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments, unrestricted assets or liabilities that 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 March 31, 2013. 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

   $ 1,053,274,173       $       $       $ 1,053,274,173   

Short Term Investment

             26,201,000                 26,201,000   

 

 

Total

   $ 1,053,274,173       $ 26,201,000       $       $ 1,079,475,173   

 

 

*See Schedule of Investments for industry classification.

For the period ended March 31, 2013, the Fund did not have any 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 during the period.

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 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.


Item 2 - Controls and Procedures.

 

  (a) The registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have evaluated the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date.

 

  (b) There was no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) during registrant’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3 – Exhibits.

Separate certifications for the registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached as Ex99.CERT.


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.

 

LIBERTY ALL-STAR EQUITY FUND
By:     /s/ William Parmentier
    William Parmentier
    President (principal executive officer)
Date:     May 23, 2013

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:     /s/ William Parmentier
    William Parmentier
    President (principal executive officer)
Date:     May 23, 2013
By:     /s/ Kimberly Storms
    Kimberly Storms
    Treasurer (principal financial officer)
Date:     May 23, 2013