LIBERTY ALL STAR EQUITY FUND INC.

LOGO


LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

Period Ending September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

Fund Statistics

 

        

Net Asset Value (NAV)

    

 

$5.12

 

  

 

Market Price

    

 

$4.41

 

  

 

Discount

    

 

13.9%

 

  

 

    

Quarter

 

    

Year-to-Date

 

 

Distributions

    

 

$0.07

 

  

 

    

 

$0.23

 

  

 

Market Price Trading Range

    

 

$3.83 to $4.45

 

  

 

    

 

$3.82 to $4.98

 

  

 

Discount Range

    

 

12.4% to 15.2%

 

  

 

    

 

10.4% to 17.6%

 

  

 

Performance

 

                 

Shares Valued at NAV

    

 

13.00%

 

  

 

    

 

2.57%

 

  

 

Shares Valued at NAV with Dividends Reinvested

    

 

13.10%

 

  

 

    

 

2.99%

 

  

 

Shares Valued at Market Price with Dividends Reinvested

    

 

12.59%

 

  

 

    

 

7.14%

 

  

 

S&P 500 Index

    

 

11.29%

 

  

 

    

 

3.89%

 

  

 

Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average*

    

 

10.92%

 

  

 

    

 

2.25%

 

  

 

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

    

 

5th

 

  

 

    

 

33rd

 

  

 

    Number of Funds in Category

    

 

1002

 

  

 

    

 

990

 

  

 

 

*

Percentile ranks calculated using the Fund’s NAV Reinvested return within the Lipper Large-Cap Core Open-end Mutual Fund Universe.

Figures shown for the Fund and the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average are total returns, which include dividends, after deducting fund expenses. Figures for the unmanaged S&P 500 Index are total returns, including dividends. A description of the Lipper benchmark and the S&P 500 Index can be found on page 18.

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. 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® Equity Fund

  President’s Letter

 

 

Fellow Shareholders:

   October 2010

After a challenging second quarter, the stock market rebounded during the third quarter—despite heightened volatility that kept investors on edge.

The S&P 500 Index returned 11.29 percent for the third quarter—a reversal from its 11.43 percent loss in the second quarter— moving this widely followed benchmark into positive territory year-to-date. Although the quarter’s performance was strong, monthly returns were volatile. The quarter opened strongly as the S&P 500 Index advanced 7.01 percent in July. Markets reversed course in August, however, with the S&P 500 declining 4.51 percent. Going into September—historically, a month that can be weak for stocks—investors were wary. But the month started off on a positive note and investors never looked back, as the S&P 500 posted a strong 8.92 percent gain. Other key market indices showed the same pattern of good performance in July and September bracketing a poor month in August.

On balance, investors were heartened by incremental improvements in the economy, allaying fears that the country would slip back into recession. Unemployment remained stubbornly high and the housing market continued to struggle. Emblematic of the sluggishness, GDP in the second quarter grew at just 1.7 percent, down from 3.7 percent in the first quarter. The Federal Reserve has been reassuring, indicating its intention to resume quantitative easing, if necessary. Trading volume over the quarter was subdued, suggesting that many investors continued to sit on the sidelines or funnel money into bonds and bond funds.

Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund enjoyed a good quarter, as it outperformed all relevant benchmarks. For the quarter, the Fund returned 13.00 percent with shares valued at net asset value (NAV); 13.10 percent with shares valued at NAV with dividends reinvested; and 12.59 percent when shares are valued at market price with dividends reinvested. By comparison, the Fund’s primary benchmark, the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average, advanced 10.92 percent. The Fund’s third quarter performance left it very well positioned in the Lipper universe, as it ranked in the 5th percentile (meaning it outperformed 95 percent of 1,002 funds in the Lipper category). As noted earlier, the S&P 500 Index returned 11.29 percent for the third quarter. Year-to-date through September 30, the Fund’s 2.99 percent NAV reinvested return is ahead of the Fund’s primary benchmark and ranks in the top one-third of all funds in that universe.

The discount at which Fund shares trade relative to their NAV narrowed moderately during the quarter, as it ranged from 12.4 percent to 15.2 percent, which is down from its nine-month high of 17.6 percent. Closed-end domestic equity funds have traded at deeper discounts than closed-end bond funds for some time, most likely reflecting apprehension on the part of individual investors to commit to equities.

 

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   1  


President’s Letter

  Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

 

In closing, we are pleased with the Fund’s performance for both the quarter and year-to-date given the market volatility. We believe the Fund’s disciplined, multi-management approach continues to serve shareholders well and should going forward as we anticipate continued volatility for the foreseeable future.

Sincerely,

LOGO

William R. Parmentier, Jr.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The views expressed in the President’s letter reflect the views of the President as of October 2010 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® Equity Fund   Table of Distributions & Rights Offerings
   

 

 

               Rights Offerings              
  Year    Per Share
Distributions
  Month
Completed
   Shares Needed to
Purchase One
Additional Share
    Subscription
Price
     Tax Credits*

  1988

   $0.64                            

  1989

   0.95                          

  1990

   0.90                          

  1991

   1.02                          

  1992

   1.07   April      10        $10.05        

  1993

   1.07   October      15          10.41       $0.18

  1994

   1.00   September      15           9.14        

  1995

   1.04                          

  1996

   1.18                           0.13

  1997

   1.33                           0.36

  1998

   1.40   April      20         12.83        

  1999

   1.39                          

  2000

   1.42                          

  2001

   1.20                          

  2002

   0.88   May      10           8.99        

  2003

   0.78                          

  2004

   0.89   July          10**           8.34        

  2005

   0.87                          

  2006

   0.88                          

  2007

   0.90   December      10           6.51        

  2008

   0.65                          

  2009

       0.31***                          

  2010

            

  1st Quarter

   0.08          

  2nd Quarter

   0.08          

  3rd Quarter

   0.07                          

 

*

 

The Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains exceeded the amount to be distributed under the Fund’s distribution policy. In each case, the Fund elected to pay taxes on the undistributed income and passed through a proportionate tax credit to shareholders.

**

 

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® Equity Fund’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. The Fund retained such excess gains in 1993, 1996 and 1997.

 

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   3  


  Top 20 Holdings & Economic Sectors   Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund  
     
 

September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)

   

 

  Top 20 Holdings*    Percent of Net Assets  

  Apple, Inc.

       2.76%

  JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   1.98

  Dell, Inc.

   1.93

  Bank of America Corp.

   1.81

  QUALCOMM, Inc.

   1.74

  Wells Fargo & Co.

   1.39

  Arch Coal, Inc.

   1.36

  The Allstate Corp.

   1.28

  Cisco Systems, Inc.

   1.27

  PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

   1.23

  Tyco Electronics Ltd.

   1.22

  J.C. Penney Co., Inc.

   1.21

  Amazon.com, Inc.

   1.20

  The Western Union Co.

   1.19

  Costco Wholesale Corp.

   1.06

  C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

   1.05

  Consol Energy, Inc.

   1.01

  Google, Inc., Class A

   1.00

  State Street Corp.

   0.98

  Broadcom Corp., Class A

   0.97
   27.64%

  Economic Sectors*

   Percent of Net Assets  

  Information Technology

       23.83%

  Financials

   19.01

  Energy

   12.97

  Consumer Discretionary

   11.56

  Health Care

   10.92

  Industrials

     9.59

  Consumer Staples

     4.55

  Materials

     2.66

  Utilities

     2.23

  Telecommunication Services

     0.67

  Other Net Assets

     2.01
     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® Equity Fund   Major Stock Changes in the Quarter  
     

 

The following are the major ($3 million or more) stock changes - both purchases and sales – that were made in the Fund’s portfolio during the third quarter of 2010.

 

  Security Name    Purchases (Sales)   Shares as of 9/30/10      
  Purchases         

  ACE Ltd.

   61,512   138,112

  Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc.

   179,010   241,335

  Broadcom Corp., Class A

   115,063   257,018

  Consol Energy, Inc.

   90,960   256,600

  Forest Laboratories, Inc.

   114,000   133,350

  General Dynamics Corp.

   69,892   69,892

  IntercontinentalExchange, Inc.

   29,807   54,907

  Pentair, Inc.

   92,586   92,586

  Target Corp.

   58,692   100,237

  Wells Fargo & Co.

   186,110   516,185

  Sales

    

  Avon Products, Inc.

   (142,682)   30,818

  The Boeing Co.

   (72,875)   64,000

  Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   (144,060)   354,509

  Cooper Industries Plc

   (76,125)   0

  Deere & Co.

   (53,268)   0

  Kraft Foods, Inc.

   (125,175)   0

  Lam Research Corp.

   (84,880)   0

  Sempra Energy

   (77,150)   0

  Tyco International Ltd.

   (166,500)   0

 

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   5  


Investment Managers/

Portfolio Characteristics

  Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

 

THE FUND’S ASSETS ARE APPROXIMATELY EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG THREE VALUE MANAGERS AND TWO GROWTH MANAGERS:

 

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 a multi-managed portfolio. The characteristics are different for each of the Fund’s five investment managers. These differences are a reflection of the fact that each pursues a different investment style. The shaded column highlights the characteristics of the Fund as a whole, while the final column shows portfolio characteristics for the S&P 500 Index.

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS As of September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

           

Investment Style Spectrum

                      
    Value         Growth       
    LOGO       
        SCHNEIDER   PZENA   MATRIX   CORNERSTONE   TCW              TOTAL FUND       

 

S&P 500

INDEX

  

  

  Number of Holdings

      36   41   38   45   33              160*        500   

  Percent of Holdings in Top 10

      49%   38%   35%   39%   44%              17%        19%   

  Weighted Average Market Capitalization (billions)

      $31   $48   $50   $48   $56              $47        $81   

  Average Five-Year Earnings Per Share Growth

      (6)%   (6)%   (3)%   18%   25%              6%        5%   

  Dividend Yield

      1.3%   1.6%   1.5%   0.8%   0.7%              1.2%        2.0%   

  Price/Earnings Ratio**

      16×   12×   13×   17×   23×              15×        15×   

  Price/Book Value Ratio

      1.7×   1.8×   2.6×   4.6×   5.0×              3.2×        3.3×   

  *    Certain holdings are held by more than one manager.

  **  Excludes negative earnings.

 

      

  6

   www.all-starfunds.com  


Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

  Schedule of Investments

 

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (97.83%)

     

CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (11.56%)

     

Auto Components (1.04%)

     

Johnson Controls, Inc.

     113,700         $3,467,850   

Magna International, Inc.

     76,340         6,279,728   
           
        9,747,578   
           

Diversified Consumer Services (0.58%)

     

Apollo Group, Inc., Class A(a)

     106,008         5,443,511   
           

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (0.86%)

     

Carnival Corp.

     209,140         7,991,239   
           

Household Durables (1.75%)

     

DR Horton, Inc.

     488,962         5,437,258   

Fortune Brands, Inc.

     89,900         4,425,777   

NVR, Inc.(a)

     10,110         6,546,528   
           
        16,409,563   
           

Internet & Catalog Retail (2.01%)

     

Amazon.com, Inc.(a)

     71,654         11,253,977   

priceline.com, Inc.(a)

     21,688         7,554,798   
           
        18,808,775   
           

Media (2.16%)

     

Discovery Communications, Inc., Class A(a)

     22,842         994,769   

Discovery Communications, Inc., Class C (a)

     13,792         526,717   

Liberty Media Corp., Capital Group, Series A(a)

     50,299         2,618,566   

The McGraw Hill Cos., Inc.

     188,000         6,215,280   

Omnicom Group, Inc.

     182,850         7,218,918   

The Walt Disney Co.

     79,985         2,648,303   
           
        20,222,553   
           

Multi-Line Retail (1.95%)

     

J.C. Penney Co., Inc.

     415,925         11,304,842   

Nordstrom, Inc.

     41,577         1,546,664   

Target Corp.

     100,237         5,356,665   
           
        18,208,171   
           

Specialty Retail (1.21%)

     

Best Buy Co., Inc.

     67,991         2,776,073   

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc.(a)

     115,079         3,226,815   

Staples, Inc.

     255,000         5,334,600   
           
        11,337,488   
           

CONSUMER STAPLES (4.55%)

     

Beverages (0.53%)

     

The Coca-Cola Co.

     50,000         2,926,000   

Diageo Plc(b)

     29,671         2,047,596   
           
        4,973,596   
           

Food & Staples Retailing (2.20%)

     

Costco Wholesale Corp.

     153,977         9,929,977   

 

  See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

  

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   7  


Schedule of Investments

  Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund
September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)  

 

     SHARES         MARKET VALUE   

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Food & Staples Retailing (continued)

     

CVS Caremark Corp.

     131,800         $4,147,746   

Walgreen Co.

     194,000         6,499,000   
           
        20,576,723   
           

Food Products (0.64%)

     

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.

     120,000         3,830,400   

Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.

     33,170         1,887,705   

Smithfield Foods, Inc.(a)

     14,890         250,598   
           
        5,968,703   
           

Household Products (0.67%)

     

The Procter & Gamble Co.

     104,800         6,284,856   
           

Personal Products (0.11%)

     

Avon Products, Inc.

     30,818         989,566   
           

Tobacco (0.40%)

     

Philip Morris International, Inc.

     67,456         3,778,885   
           

ENERGY (12.97%)

     

Energy Equipment & Services (2.76%)

     

FMC Technologies, Inc.(a)

     83,810         5,723,385   

Oceaneering International, Inc.(a)

     61,700         3,323,162   

Schlumberger Ltd.

     110,553         6,811,170   

Tidewater, Inc.

     124,000         5,556,440   

Weatherford International Ltd.(a)

     255,290         4,365,459   
           
        25,779,616   
           

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (10.21%)

     

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

     100,788         5,749,955   

Apache Corp.

     37,100         3,626,896   

Arch Coal, Inc.

     474,685         12,678,836   

BP Plc(b)

     199,694         8,221,402   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

     354,509         8,029,629   

Chevron Corp.

     70,500         5,714,025   

ConocoPhillips

     125,000         7,178,750   

Consol Energy, Inc.

     256,600         9,483,936   

Devon Energy Corp.

     100,500         6,506,370   

Exxon Mobil Corp.

     136,425         8,429,701   

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

     76,800         6,013,440   

Petrohawk Energy Corp.(a)

     304,399         4,913,000   

Valero Energy Corp.

     515,300         9,022,903   
           
        95,568,843   
           

FINANCIALS (19.01%)

     

Capital Markets (4.31%)

     

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

     226,000         5,905,380   

The Charles Schwab Corp.

     242,000         3,363,800   

 

  See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

    

  8

   www.all-starfunds.com  


Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

  Schedule of Investments

 

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Capital Markets (continued)

     

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

     57,372         $8,294,844   

Morgan Stanley

     327,150         8,074,062   

State Street Corp.

     244,450         9,205,987   

UBS AG(a)

     324,700         5,529,641   
           
        40,373,714   
           

Commercial Banks (2.75%)

     

Comerica, Inc.

     34,459         1,280,152   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

     220,976         11,470,864   

Wells Fargo & Co.

     516,185         12,971,729   
           
        25,722,745   
           

Consumer Finance (0.58%)

     

American Express Co.

     129,500         5,442,885   
           

Diversified Financial Services (4.89%)

     

Bank of America Corp.

     1,294,914         16,976,323   

Citigroup, Inc.(a)

     1,155,568         4,506,715   

IntercontinentalExchange, Inc.(a)

     54,907         5,749,861   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

     485,855         18,496,500   
           
        45,729,399   
           

Insurance (5.85%)

     

ACE Ltd.

     138,112         8,045,024   

Aflac, Inc.

     57,322         2,964,121   

The Allstate Corp.

     380,355         12,000,200   

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

     293,654         5,024,420   

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.

     152,725         5,030,761   

Brown & Brown, Inc.

     113,375         2,289,041   

Fidelity National Financial, Inc., Class A

     200,950         3,156,924   

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

     86,500         1,985,175   

Lincoln National Corp.

     77,140         1,845,189   

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

     35,760         2,144,170   

Torchmark Corp.

     105,800         5,622,212   

Willis Group Holdings Plc

     150,450         4,636,869   
           
        54,744,106   
           

Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.63%)

     

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.

     212,769         3,744,734   

Redwood Trust, Inc.

     145,895         2,109,642   
           
        5,854,376   
           

HEALTH CARE (10.92%)

     

Biotechnology (1.95%)

     

Celgene Corp.(a)

     58,225         3,354,342   

Genzyme Corp.(a)

     76,500         5,415,435   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.(a)

     176,941         6,300,869   

Myriad Genetics, Inc.(a)

     190,658         3,128,698   
           
        18,199,344   
           

 

  See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

  

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   9  


Schedule of Investments

  Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund
September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)  

 

     SHARES         MARKET VALUE   

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.37%)

     

Covidien Ltd.

     86,000         $3,456,340   

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

     13,900         3,943,986   

Medtronic, Inc.

     28,900         970,462   

NuVasive, Inc.(a)

     76,909         2,702,582   

St. Jude Medical, Inc.(a)

     130,938         5,151,101   

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.(a)

     120,400         7,284,200   

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.(a)

     153,850         8,050,971   
           
        31,559,642   
           

Health Care Providers & Services (1.67%)

     

Aetna, Inc.

     121,950         3,854,840   

Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.(a)

     193,224         3,151,483   

Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings(a)

     43,700         3,427,391   

WellPoint, Inc.(a)

     91,570         5,186,525   
           
        15,620,239   
           

Health Care Technology (0.65%)

     

Cerner Corp.(a)

     72,432         6,083,564   
           

Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.63%)

     

Life Technologies Corp.(a)

     126,300         5,896,947   
           

Pharmaceuticals (2.65%)

     

Allergan, Inc.

     96,300         6,406,839   

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

     198,800         5,389,468   

Forest Laboratories, Inc.(a)

     133,350         4,124,515   

Johnson & Johnson

     48,375         2,997,315   

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.(b)

     111,900         5,902,725   
           
        24,820,862   
           

INDUSTRIALS (9.43%)

     

Aerospace & Defense (3.28%)

     

The Boeing Co.

     64,000         4,258,560   

General Dynamics Corp.

     69,892         4,389,917   

Goodrich Corp.

     44,084         3,250,313   

Honeywell International, Inc.

     83,010         3,647,459   

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

     88,450         6,392,282   

Northrop Grumman Corp.

     143,600         8,706,468   
           
        30,644,999   
           

Air Freight & Logistics (1.58%)

     

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

     141,145         9,868,858   

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

     106,890         4,941,525   
           
        14,810,383   
           

Building Products (0.52%)

     

Masco Corp.

     445,150         4,901,102   
           

 

  See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

    

  10

   www.all-starfunds.com  


Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

  Schedule of Investments

 

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Construction & Engineering (0.91%)

     

Fluor Corp.

     98,332         $4,870,384   

Quanta Services, Inc.(a)

     188,400         3,594,672   
           
        8,465,056   
           

Electrical Equipment (0.64%)

     

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

     96,650         5,966,204   
           

Industrial Conglomerates (0.44%)

     

Textron, Inc.

     202,173         4,156,677   
           

Machinery (1.63%)

     

Flowserve Corp.

     39,606         4,333,688   

Joy Global, Inc.

     25,906         1,821,710   

Navistar International Corp.(a)

     86,206         3,762,030   

Pentair, Inc.

     92,586         3,113,667   

Terex Corp.(a)

     97,593         2,236,832   
           
        15,267,927   
           

Transportation Infrastructure (0.43%)

     

Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc.

     241,335         4,015,814   
           

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (23.83%)

     

Communications Equipment (3.78%)

     

Acme Packet, Inc.(a)

     91,148         3,458,155   

Alcatel-Lucent(a)(b)

     1,111,583         3,757,150   

Cisco Systems, Inc.(a)

     541,700         11,863,230   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

     361,488         16,310,339   
           
        35,388,874   
           

Computers & Peripherals (5.32%)

     

Apple, Inc.(a)

     91,017         25,826,074   

Dell, Inc.(a)

     1,391,810         18,037,857   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

     140,700         5,919,249   
           
        49,783,180   
           

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (2.26%)

     

Avnet, Inc.(a)

     121,525         3,282,390   

Corning, Inc.

     350,000         6,398,000   

Tyco Electronics Ltd.

     391,625         11,443,283   
           
        21,123,673   
           

Internet Software & Services (2.95%)

     

Baidu, Inc.(a)(b)

     35,984         3,692,678   

eBay, Inc.(a)

     271,000         6,612,400   

Google, Inc., Class A(a)

     17,800         9,359,062   

Monster Worldwide, Inc.(a)

     415,000         5,378,400   

VistaPrint Ltd.(a)

     67,510         2,609,262   
           
        27,651,802   
           

 

  See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

 

  

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   11  


Schedule of Investments

  Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

 

    

SHARES

    

MARKET VALUE

 

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

IT Services (3.14%)

     

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp., Class A(a)

     111,500         $7,188,405   

International Business Machines Corp.

     3,500         469,490   

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

     19,884         4,454,016   

Visa, Inc., Class A

     82,100         6,096,746   

The Western Union Co.

     630,923         11,148,410   
           
        29,357,067   
           

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (3.18%)

     

Analog Devices, Inc.

     197,500         6,197,550   

Broadcom Corp., Class A

     257,018         9,095,867   

International Rectifier Corp.(a)

     327,498         6,906,933   

MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.(a)

     429,620         5,121,070   

Novellus Systems, Inc.(a)

     90,000         2,392,200   
           
        29,713,620   
           

Software (3.20%)

     

Adobe Systems, Inc.(a)

     86,286         2,256,379   

CA, Inc.

     256,750         5,422,560   

Microsoft Corp.

     346,225         8,479,050   

Oracle Corp.

     296,874         7,971,067   

Salesforce.com, Inc.(a)

     52,000         5,813,600   
           
        29,942,656   
           

MATERIALS (2.66%)

     

Chemicals (1.83%)

     

The Dow Chemical Co.

     147,574         4,052,382   

PPG Industries, Inc.

     49,750         3,621,800   

Praxair, Inc.

     63,900         5,767,614   

The Sherwin-Williams Co.

     48,400         3,636,776   
           
        17,078,572   
           

Metals & Mining (0.83%)

     

Alcoa, Inc.

     410,000         4,965,100   

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.

     33,327         2,845,792   
           
        7,810,892   
           

TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (0.67%)

     

Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.67%)

     

American Tower Corp., Class A(a)

     120,960         6,200,410   
           

UTILITIES (2.23%)

     

Electric Utilities (1.17%)

     

Allegheny Energy, Inc.

     290,080         7,112,762   

Edison International

     112,175         3,857,698   
           
        10,970,460   
           

Gas Utilities (0.50%)

     

EQT Corp.

     128,891         4,647,809   
           

 

  See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

    

  12

   www.all-starfunds.com  


Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund   Schedule of Investments

 

     SHARES      MARKET VALUE  

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

     

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders (0.56%)

     

RRI Energy, Inc.(a)

     1,458,135         $5,176,379   
           

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
     (COST OF $951,008,184)

        915,211,045   
           

EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (0.04%)

     

iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund

     7,330         432,397   
           

TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUND
     (COST OF $431,792)

        432,397   
           
    

PRINCIPAL

AMOUNT

        

CORPORATE BOND (0.16%)

     

INDUSTRIALS (0.16%)

     

Airlines (0.16%)

     

United Continental Holdings, Inc.

     

6.00%, 10/15/2029

     $513,000         1,477,440   
           

TOTAL CORPORATE BOND
     (COST OF $1,144,073)

        1,477,440   
           
     PAR VALUE         

SHORT TERM INVESTMENT (1.81%)

     

REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (1.81%)

     

Repurchase agreement with State Street Bank & Trust Co., dated 09/30/10, due 10/01/10 at 0.010%, collateralized by several Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac instruments with various maturity dates, market value of $17,288,269 (Repurchase proceeds of $16,940,005)

     

TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENT
     (COST OF $16,940,000)

     $16,940,000         16,940,000   
           

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.84%)
     (COST OF $969,524,049)
(c)

        934,060,882   

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (0.16%)

        1,486,916   
           

NET ASSETS (100.00%)

        $935,547,798   
           

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

     

(182,678,079 SHARES OUTSTANDING)

        $5.12   
           

 

  See Notes to Schedule of Investments.

 

  

 

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   13  


Schedule of Investments

  Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund
September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)  

 

 

(a)

Non-income producing security.

(b)

American Depositary Receipt.

(c)

Cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is $979,896,983.

 

Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation at September 30, 2010 based on cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is as follows:

     

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $          94,976,963      

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (140,813,064)      
   

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (45,836,101)      
   
   

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.

 

    

  14

   www.all-starfunds.com  


Liberty All-Star® Equity 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 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 and are classified as level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Debt securities generally are valued by pricing services approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), based upon market transactions for normal, institutional-size trading units of similar securities. The services may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other data, as well as broker quotes. Debt securities for which quotations are readily available are valued at an over-the-counter or exchange bid quotation.

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. Debt obligations are classified as level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

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 and would be classified as level 2 or 3 within the fair value hierarchy.

Foreign Securities

The Fund invests in foreign securities including American Depositary Receipts, which may involve a number of risk factors and special considerations not present with investments in securities of U.S. corporations and would be classified as level 1 or 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

Security Transactions

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

Foreign Currency Translation

The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment valuations and other assets and liabilities initially expressed in foreign currencies are converted each business day into U.S. dollars based upon current exchange rates. Prevailing foreign exchange rates may generally be obtained at the close of the NYSE, normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. As available and as provided by an appropriate pricing service, translation of foreign security and currency market values may also occur with the use of foreign exchange rates obtained at approximately 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, which approximates the close of the London Exchange. The portion of unrealized and realized gains or losses on investments due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is not separately disclosed.

Repurchase Agreements

The Fund may engage 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,

 

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   15  


Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

September 30, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

 

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. Repurchase agreement transactions are classified as level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Income Recognition

Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Premium and discount are amortized and accreted, respectively, on all debt securities. 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 the three-tier hierarchy established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). 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 in its entirety 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 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 – Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

 

      

  16

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Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

  Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of September 30, 2010.

 

     Valuation Inputs         

Investments in Securities at

Value*

     Level 1             Level 2             Level 3        

 

Total        

 

  

 

Common Stocks

   $   915,211,045       $       $       $   915,211,045   

Exchange Traded Fund

     432,397                         432,397   

Corporate Bond

             1,477,440                 1,477,440   

Short Term Investment

             16,940,000                 16,940,000   

Total

   $ 915,643,442       $   18,417,440       $       $ 934,060,882   

*See Schedule of Investments for industry classifications

For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Fund did not have any significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities. For the period ended September 30, 2010, the Fund did not have any securities which used significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) in determining fair value. Therefore, a reconciliation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value is not applicable.

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 Trustees 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.

 

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   17  


Description of Lipper Benchmark

and The S&P 500 Index

  Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

 

Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average 

The average of funds that, by portfolio practice, invest at least 75% of their equity assets in companies with market capitalizations (on a three-year weighted basis) greater than 300% of the dollar-weighted median market capitalization of the middle 1,000 securities of the S&P SuperComposite 1500 Index. Large-Cap core funds have more latitude in the companies in which they invest. These funds typically have an average price-to-earnings ratio, price-to-book ratio, and three-year sales-per-share growth value, compared to the S&P 500 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.

 

  18

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Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

  Notes

 

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

 
 

 

 

  Third Quarter Report (Unaudited)  |  September 30, 2010

   19  


Notes

  Liberty All-Star® Equity Fund

 

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

 
 

 

 

  20

   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

  

LEGAL COUNSEL

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

 

 

  
     
     
     
     
  

TRUSTEES

 

John A. Benning*

 

Thomas W. Brock*

 

Edmund J. Burke

 

George R. Gaspari*

 

Richard W. Lowry*, Chairman

 

Dr. John J. Neuhauser*

 

Richard C. Rantzow*

  
     
     

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

 

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 3600

 

Denver, Colorado 80202

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CUSTODIAN

 

State Street Bank & Trust Company

 

One Lincoln Street

 

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

  

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

 

Stephanie Barres, Secretary

 

Melanie H. Zimdars, Chief Compliance Officer

  
     
     
     
     
     

INVESTOR ASSISTANCE,

 

TRANSFER & DIVIDEND

 

DISBURSING 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

     
     
     
  

* 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 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 All-Star® Equity Fund for their information. It is not a prospectus or other document intended for use in the purchase of Fund shares.

LAS000357 1/31/2011

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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