Liberty All Star Growth Fund

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: 811-04537

LIBERTY ALL-STAR GROWTH FUND, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100, Denver, Colorado 80203

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Erin D. Nelson, 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: July 1, 2014 – September 30, 2014


Item 1 – Schedule of Investments.


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (96.19%)

     

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (15.47%)

     

Auto Components (0.92%)

     

BorgWarner, Inc.

     13,650       $ 718,126     

Dorman Products, Inc.(a)

     12,182         488,011     
     

 

 

 
        1,206,137     
     

 

 

 

Diversified Consumer Services (0.21%)

     

Ascent Capital Group, Inc., Class A(a)

     4,651         279,990     
     

 

 

 

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (3.53%)

     

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.(a)

     1,575         1,049,880     

Chuy’s Holdings, Inc.(a)

     15,126         474,805     

Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc.(a)

     27,375         674,246     

Starbucks Corp.

     23,585         1,779,724     

Wynn Resorts Ltd.

     3,650         682,842     
     

 

 

 
        4,661,497     
     

 

 

 

Internet & Catalog Retail (3.39%)

     

Amazon.com, Inc.(a)

     6,120         1,973,333     

priceline.com, Inc.(a)

     1,395         1,616,219     

RetailMeNot, Inc.(a)

     16,489         266,462     

TripAdvisor, Inc.(a)

     6,750         617,085     
     

 

 

 
        4,473,099     
     

 

 

 

Leisure Equipment & Products (0.62%)

     

Black Diamond, Inc.(a)

     12,989         98,197     

Polaris Industries, Inc.

     4,800         718,992     
     

 

 

 
        817,189     
     

 

 

 

Media (0.52%)

     

Discovery Communications, Inc., Class C(a)

     18,400         685,952     
     

 

 

 

Specialty Retail (3.73%)

     

CarMax, Inc.(a)

     8,050         373,923     

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.

     29,450         1,292,266     

DSW, Inc., Class A

     30,650         922,871     

Five Below, Inc.(a)

     11,041         437,334     

Francesca’s Holdings Corp.(a)

     42,523         592,345     

Tiffany & Co.

     13,555         1,305,482     
     

 

 

 
        4,924,221     
     

 

 

 

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (2.55%)

     

Deckers Outdoor Corp.(a)

     16,217         1,575,968     

Kate Spade & Co.(a)

     27,850         730,506     

Under Armour, Inc., Class A(a)

     15,350         1,060,685     
     

 

 

 
        3,367,159     
     

 

 

 


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

CONSUMER STAPLES (5.97%)

     

Beverages (2.18%)

     

The Boston Beer Co. Inc., Class A(a)

     4,100       $ 909,216     

Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A(a)

     10,300         897,748     

Monster Beverage Corp.(a)

     11,650         1,067,955     
     

 

 

 
        2,874,919     
     

 

 

 

Food & Staples Retailing (1.77%)

     

Costco Wholesale Corp.

     8,705         1,090,911     

The Fresh Market, Inc.(a)

     18,340         640,616     

PriceSmart, Inc.

     7,054         604,104     
     

 

 

 
        2,335,631     
     

 

 

 

Food Products (2.02%)

     

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.(a)

     13,300         1,361,255     

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

     13,630         1,311,479     
     

 

 

 
        2,672,734     
     

 

 

 

ENERGY (4.55%)

     

Energy Equipment & Services (4.34%)

     

Core Laboratories N.V.

     7,350         1,075,673     

Dril-Quip, Inc.(a)

     15,724         1,405,726     

Geospace Technologies Corp.(a)

     6,882         241,902     

Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.(a)

     10,854         261,256     

Oceaneering International, Inc.

     11,950         778,781     

Schlumberger Ltd.

     19,300         1,962,617     
     

 

 

 
        5,725,955     
     

 

 

 

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (0.21%)

     

RSP Permian, Inc.(a)

     11,000         281,160     
     

 

 

 

FINANCIALS (13.81%)

     

Banks (0.33%)

     

Independent Bank Group, Inc.

     9,290         440,810     
     

 

 

 

Capital Markets (3.95%)

     

The Charles Schwab Corp.

     33,550         986,035     

Evercore Partners, Inc., Class A

     14,983         704,201     

Financial Engines, Inc.

     18,707         640,060     

FXCM, Inc., Class A

     6,237         98,856     

T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.

     13,900         1,089,760     

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc.

     9,787         1,700,002     
     

 

 

 
        5,218,914     
     

 

 

 

Commercial Banks (1.41%)

     

Signature Bank(a)

     16,607         1,860,980     
     

 

 

 


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Consumer Finance (1.38%)

     

Visa, Inc., Class A

     8,515       $ 1,816,846     
     

 

 

 

Diversified Financial Services (0.53%)

     

MarketAxess Holdings, Inc.

     11,400         705,204     
     

 

 

 

Insurance (2.41%)

     

ACE Ltd.

     16,500         1,730,355     

Greenlight Capital Re Ltd., Class A(a)

     44,726         1,449,570     
     

 

 

 
        3,179,925     
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (1.64%)

     

American Tower Corp.

     23,050         2,158,172     
     

 

 

 

Real Estate Management & Development (1.00%)

     

FirstService Corp.

     25,285         1,320,383     
     

 

 

 

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance (1.16%)

     

BofI Holding, Inc.(a)

     20,971         1,524,801     
     

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE (13.43%)

     

Biotechnology (3.87%)

     

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

     24,463         605,704     

BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc.(a)

     23,805         1,717,769     

Celgene Corp.(a)

     16,750         1,587,565     

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(a)

     950         224,856     

Puma Biotechnology, Inc.(a)

     4,046         965,254     
     

 

 

 
        5,101,148     
     

 

 

 

Health Care Equipment & Supplies (1.72%)

     

Insulet Corp.(a)

     22,192         817,775     

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

     3,150         1,454,733     
     

 

 

 
        2,272,508     
     

 

 

 

Health Care Providers & Services (2.15%)

     

ExamWorks Group, Inc.(a)

     54,750         1,793,062     

MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc.(a)

     4,240         629,216     

Premier, Inc., Class A(a)

     12,560         412,722     
     

 

 

 
        2,835,000     
     

 

 

 

Health Care Technology (3.76%)

     

athenahealth, Inc.(a)

     14,404         1,896,863     

Cerner Corp.(a)

     51,530         3,069,642     
     

 

 

 
        4,966,505     
     

 

 

 

Life Sciences Tools & Services (1.31%)

     

Illumina, Inc.(a)

     10,550         1,729,356     
     

 

 

 


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Pharmaceuticals (0.62%)

     

Allergan, Inc.

     4,590       $ 817,892     
     

 

 

 

INDUSTRIALS (18.69%)

     

Aerospace & Defense (2.97%)

     

B/E Aerospace, Inc.(a)

     13,150         1,103,811     

HEICO Corp.

     26,261         1,226,389     

Precision Castparts Corp.

     6,700         1,587,096     
     

 

 

 
        3,917,296     
     

 

 

 

Air Freight & Logistics (0.73%)

     

XPO Logistics, Inc.(a)

     25,662         966,687     
     

 

 

 

Building Products (0.21%)

     

Patrick Industries, Inc.(a)

     6,506         275,594     
     

 

 

 

Commercial Services & Supplies (2.43%)

     

The Advisory Board Co.(a)

     21,812         1,016,221     

Waste Connections, Inc.

     45,096         2,188,058     
     

 

 

 
        3,204,279     
     

 

 

 

Electrical Equipment (0.62%)

     

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     7,450         818,606     
     

 

 

 

Machinery (5.27%)

     

Chart Industries, Inc.(a)

     13,600         831,368     

Cummins, Inc.

     6,300         831,474     

Graco, Inc.

     12,150         886,707     

Middleby Corp.(a)

     28,362         2,499,543     

Rexnord Corp.(a)

     22,429         638,105     

WABCO Holdings, Inc.(a)

     4,700         427,465     

Wabtec Corp.

     10,350         838,764     
     

 

 

 
        6,953,426     
     

 

 

 

Professional Services (3.79%)

     

Huron Consulting Group, Inc.(a)

     10,788         657,744     

IHS, Inc., Class A(a)

     13,320         1,667,531     

Paylocity Holding Corp.(a)

     18,416         361,874     

Stantec, Inc.

     7,876         513,752     

TriNet Group, Inc.(a)

     30,780         792,585     

Verisk Analytics, Inc., Class A(a)

     7,400         450,586     

WageWorks, Inc.(a)

     12,177         554,419     
     

 

 

 
        4,998,491     
     

 

 

 

Road & Rail (1.43%)

     

Kansas City Southern

     7,650         927,180     


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Road & Rail (continued)

     

Landstar System, Inc.

     13,424       $ 969,079     
     

 

 

 
        1,896,259     
     

 

 

 

Trading Companies & Distributors (1.24%)

     

Fastenal Co.

     19,270         865,223     

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., Class A

     9,000         769,140     
     

 

 

 
        1,634,363     
     

 

 

 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (23.25%)

     

Communications Equipment (1.25%)

     

InterDigital, Inc.

     4,876         194,162     

QUALCOMM, Inc.

     19,520         1,459,511     
     

 

 

 
        1,653,673     
     

 

 

 

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (0.94%)

     

FEI Co.

     7,700         580,734     

IPG Photonics Corp.(a)

     9,506         653,822     
     

 

 

 
        1,234,556     
     

 

 

 

Internet Software & Services (6.90%)

     

Envestnet, Inc.(a)

     24,506         1,102,770     

Equinix, Inc.(a)

     6,185         1,314,189     

Google, Inc., Class C(a)

     4,178         2,412,210     

LinkedIn Corp., Class A(a)

     10,345         2,149,587     

SPS Commerce, Inc.(a)

     15,151         805,276     

Textura Corp.(a)

     15,067         397,769     

Twitter, Inc.(a)

     18,000         928,440     
     

 

 

 
        9,110,241     
     

 

 

 

IT Services (1.28%)

     

EPAM Systems, Inc.(a)

     13,908         609,031     

VeriFone Systems, Inc.(a)

     31,446         1,081,114     
     

 

 

 
        1,690,145     
     

 

 

 

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (1.85%)

     

ARM Holdings PLC(b)

     40,372         1,763,853     

NVIDIA Corp.

     36,550         674,347     
     

 

 

 
        2,438,200     
     

 

 

 

Software (11.03%)

     

ANSYS, Inc.(a)

     12,150         919,391     

FireEye, Inc.(a)

     38,300         1,170,448     

FleetMatics Group PLC(a)

     18,949         577,944     

Mobileye NV(a)

     7,856         421,003     

RealPage, Inc.(a)

     23,923         370,806     

Salesforce.com, Inc.(a)

     41,370         2,380,016     

ServiceNow, Inc.(a)

     26,700         1,569,426     

Solera Holdings, Inc.

     25,020         1,410,127     

Splunk, Inc.(a)

     34,967         1,935,773     


     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Software (continued)

     

The Ultimate Software Group, Inc.(a)

     11,131       $ 1,575,148     

Varonis Systems, Inc.(a)

     7,325         154,558     

VMware, Inc., Class A(a)

     11,050         1,036,932     

Workday, Inc., Class A(a)

     12,550         1,035,375     
     

 

 

 
        14,556,947     
     

 

 

 

MATERIALS (0.59%)

     

Metals & Mining (0.59%)

     

Allegheny Technologies, Inc.

     20,900         775,390     
     

 

 

 

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (0.43%)

     

Diversified Telecommunication (0.43%)

     

inContact, Inc.(a)

     64,578         561,506     
     

 

 

 

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS

     

(COST OF $90,361,451)

        126,939,746     
     

 

 

 
     PAR VALUE         

SHORT TERM INVESTMENT (3.93%)

     

REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (3.93%)

     

Repurchase agreement with State Street Bank & Trust Co., dated 9/30/14, due 10/01/14 at 0.01%, collateralized by Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., 3.00%, 03/15/43, market value of $5,290,774 and par value of $6,360,000. (Repurchase proceeds of $5,181,001).

     

(COST OF $5,181,000)

   $ 5,181,000       $ 5,181,000     
     

 

 

 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (100.12%)

     

(COST OF $95,542,451)(c)

        132,120,746     

LIABILITIES IN EXCESS OF OTHER ASSETS (-0.12%)

        (159,126)     
     

 

 

 

NET ASSETS (100.00%)

      $ 131,961,620     
     

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

     

(24,094,049 SHARES OUTSTANDING)

      $ 5.48     
     

 

 

 

 

(a)

Non-income producing security.

(b)

American Depositary Receipt.

(c)

Cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is $96,100,197.


Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation at September 30, 2014 based on cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 39,208,210     

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (3,187,661)     

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 36,020,549     

 

 

See 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 NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”), 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. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair 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 (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 September 30, 2014, 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, including interest. 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. These collateral agreements mitigate the counterparty credit risk by providing for a single net settlement with a counterparty of all financial transactions covered by the agreement in an event of default as defined under such agreement.

Repurchase agreements are entered into by the Fund under a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”) which permits the Fund, under certain circumstances, including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset payables and/or receivables under the MRA with collateral held and/or posted to the counterparty and create one single net payment due or from the Fund.

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.

Valuation techniques used to value the Fund’s investments by major category are as follows:

Equity securities and exchange traded funds, for which market quotations are readily available, are valued at the last reported sale price or official closing price as reported by a third party pricing vendor on the primary market or exchange on which they are traded and are categorized as Level 1 in the hierarchy. In the event there were no sales during the day or closing prices are not available, securities are valued at the mean of the most recent quoted bid and ask prices on such day and are generally categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy. Repurchase agreements are valued at cost, which approximates fair value, and are categorized as Level 2 in the hierarchy.

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, 2014:


     Valuation Inputs         
Investments in Securities at                            
Value*    Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Common Stocks

   $ 126,939,746       $       $       $ 126,939,746     

Short Term Investment

             5,181,000                 5,181,000     

 

 

Total

   $ 126,939,746       $ 5,181,000       $       $ 132,120,746     

 

 

 

*

See Schedule of Investments for industry classifications.

The Fund recognizes transfers between levels as of the end of the period. For the period ended September 30, 2014, 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.

Maryland Statutes

By resolution of the Board, 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 acquirer 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 acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer 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.


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.

 

-2-


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 GROWTH FUND,

INC.

By:

 

/s/ William Parmentier

 

William Parmentier

President (principal executive

officer)

Date:

 

November 26, 2014

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:

 

November 26, 2014

By:

 

/s/ Kimberly Storms

 

Kimberly Storms

 

Treasurer (principal financial

officer)

Date:

 

November 26, 2014

 

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