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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number | 811-22691 | |
The First Western Funds Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450 Cincinnati, Ohio | 45246 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
Linda J. Hoard, Esq.
c/o Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC, 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450 Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: | (513) 587-3400 | |
Date of fiscal year end: | August 31 | |
| | |
Date of reporting period: | February 29, 2020 | |
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
| Item 1. | Reports to Stockholders. |
First Western Fixed Income Fund
First Western Short Duration Bond Fund
First Western Short Duration
High Yield Credit Fund
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
February 29, 2020
(Unaudited)
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Funds’ shareholder reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from the Funds or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from the Funds electronically by contacting the Funds at 1-800-292-6775 or, if you own these shares through a financial intermediary, by contacting your financial intermediary.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can inform the Funds that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports by contacting the Funds at 1-800-292-6775. If you own shares through a financial intermediary, you may contact your financial intermediary or follow instructions included with this document to elect to continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all Funds held with the Fund complex or at your financial intermediary.
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS
Letter to Shareholders
March 31, 2020
“The Kitchen Sink”
As the calendar turned to 2020, signs were growing that all was far from right, and the hopes for a happy new year were threatening to go down the drain. Global growth was slowing noticeably, while an emerging health crisis was brewing in Wuhan, China. Faced with insufficient information about the spread and threat from the coronavirus, most countries proved ill-prepared for the wave that hit their shores. Scrambling to respond to both the health and economic crises, countries have thrown everythingincluding the kitchen sink at this immense challenge. The hope is to buy enough time for new tests, treatments, and vaccines to address the virus, and provide ample cash and assistance to keep businesses and households afloat.
To be sure, vulnerabilities were well known. However, despite years of warnings, few governments took the necessary steps to adequately prepare for a pandemic. Similar to most countries, the U.S. has a dearth of hospital beds, most importantly for isolation and intensive care units, as well as a limited supply of ventilators and protective medical gear. While private-public partnerships have been able to accelerate innovative solutions with fast-tracks to production of ventilators, drugs, and tests, the battle to get through this first wave of the disease will likely cause untold tragedies as health care facilities are overrun with the most severely affected patients.
With a transmission rate that far exceeds most viruses, governments have realized that actions to slow the spread are necessary. “Stay at home” and social distancing efforts should prove helpful, though more draconian measures such as complete lockdowns have sometimes become necessary. These efforts to “flatten the curve” rely upon isolation methods to reduce the number of patients seeking treatment at a given time and thereby not overrun hospital capacity. When done successfully, they can help limit fatalities and allow more time for additional equipment and treatments to arrive.
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However, these actions have led to a dramatic reduction in demand for some industries, including travel, leisure, hospitality, and gaming, presenting a unique challenge for policymakers. Absent any assistance, companies will lay off millions of workers triggering an abundance of corporate and personal bankruptcies. In late March, this impact was clearly evident as a record 3.2 million new jobless claims were filed compared to just 282,000 the prior week. Estimates for the impact on the unemployment rate and GDP vary significantly, though few argue that the upcoming figures will be the most dire in generations. In 2009, the fallout from the Great Recession resulted in an unemployment rate of 10.0%. Though expectations are for this recession to be ephemeral, it may prove more extreme in the short term leading to an unemployment rate that could easily exceed the figures from the last downturn. The estimates for economic growth, represented by GDP, remain fluid and have been deteriorating rapidly of late. Optimistic prognosticators expect second quarter GDP between -8% and -10%, while the pessimistic forecasters anticipate -20%, or worse. Shocking numbers to say the least, but figures that certainly played a role in compelling the government to act quickly on an unprecedented aid package.
As COVID-19 spread to the U.S., large swaths of our economy shut down, creating concurrent supply and demand shocks that began to wreak economic havoc. Investors sought the safety of U.S. Treasuries and shunned riskier corporate bonds and stocks. As many began to comprehend the enormity of the crisis and the drastic measures that would need to be taken to minimize the health impact, financial markets appeared to be entering a period of deep distress for which they were ill equipped.
Therefore, in early March, the Federal Reserve delivered its initial response with a 50 basis point reduction in short-term rates. Investors, however, were not very impressed with this preliminary undertaking as financial market stress worsened. Commercial paper, used to finance the daily operations of healthy companies, as well as the new issue investment grade corporate bond market, froze up in early March. This, in turn, prompted corporations to draw down on their lines of credit at various financial institutions. On March 11th, Boeing Co. announced that it would draw down its entire $13.8 billion credit line, starting a mini bank run as numerous other firms followed suit.
The next policy move was more extreme, meant to shock the market and demonstrate the massive support the Fed was willing to provide. On Sunday evening, March 15th, the Fed announced another 100 basis point cut in the Fed Funds rate to a target of 0.00% to 0.25%. Thus, from the last increase in December 2018, which brought the bottom of the range to 2.25%, the Fed has now gone full circle back to a zero interest rate policy (ZIRP). In the ensuing press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that rates will remain at zero until the Fed is “confident that the economy has weathered recent events.” Once again though, the market’s reaction was a huge disappointment to policymakers. Instead of producing any semblance of a rally, the S&P 500 plummeted 12% on the following Monday. With market dislocation spreading to the most liquid parts of the market, the Fed also resurrected its quantitative easing program (QE) by committing to
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purchase $500 billion of U.S. Treasuries and $200 billion of mortgage-backed securities. Unfortunately, the fixed income markets continued to suffer, with the credit market showing considerable stress. Yield spreads on high yield had been widening for several weeks, but investment grade issuers and municipal bonds began to come under tremendous pressure. While investors were anticipating numerous credit downgrades and a surge in defaults, a lack of liquidity in riskier parts of the market, coupled with a surge of mutual fund outflows and margin calls, resulted in aggressive liquidation of their safer, higher-quality holdings. As such, prices of these shorter, relatively safer bonds tumbled and their yields spiked to unprecedented levels.
The speed and ferocity of the selloff in financial markets proved too much for the Federal Reserve and Treasury. Riding to the rescue, the programs enacted in this round actually included the kitchen sink and anything else they could find. Not only did the Fed resurrect its 2008 playbook, but they also began writing new chapters that had once been considered improbable. Rather than simply “QE4,” it was clear that there was not to be a limit to this new “QE Infinity” version. In response, Fed purchases rose dramatically, reaching $75 billion of U.S. Treasuries and $50 billion in mortgage-backed securities per day! An explosion of the Fed’s balance sheet was expected, but the sheer magnitude and velocity of these purchases brought its holdings to approximately $6 trillion by quarter end, a nearly 50% increase from the end of the prior quarter. In addition to the substantial bond buying, the Fed committed to backstop prime money market funds, restart TALF (Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility) to enhance ABS issuance for consumers and small businesses, and support municipal bonds. The Main Street Business Lending Facility will provide loans to mid-sized businesses and the SBA lending ability will be enhanced for smaller businesses. Most impactful so far, though, has been the announcement of programs to support the investment grade corporate bond market. The Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility, focusing on new issuance directly to the Fed, and the Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility, enabling purchases of existing bonds and corporate bond ETFs, have Treasury equity funding and a huge capacity. Though purchases will not commence until April, the market began to improve immediately upon the announcement. The rally in corporate bonds gave confidence to equity investors, instigating an impressive bounce back in the S&P 500. Having dropped 34% from its February 19th all-time high, the index recovered approximately half the loss between March 24th and March 26th.
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While the Fed and Treasury policies played a key role in the stabilization of many fixed income sectors and the (temporary) recovery in stocks, Congressional approval of the $2 trillion CARES Act, an economic relief plan for consumers and businesses, also proved vital. The importance of quickly getting funds to households and businesses impacted by COVID-19, many without any available surplus to pay upcoming bills, was not lost on Congress. Though partisan fighting was not entirely avoided, the passage of this package, as well as the numerous Fed and Treasury initiatives, was completed in short order.
Together, the government responses have been extremely swift and bold. Unfortunately, more will be needed as the economic shutdown and social distancing efforts continue to reduce growth and generate soaring unemployment. Expectations for a rapid recovery appear unlikely as life will not immediately return to normal and the damage to businesses and families will take time to heal.
While overlooked by many, vulnerabilities had been noticeable in the real economy for several quarters. Growth was slowing and corporate profits had disappeared. In fact, despite an equity rally of more than 30% in 2019, corporate profits had barely budged from the prior year, pushing valuations deep into overvalued territory. Years of low interest rates and yield-hungry investors encouraged companies to issue excessive amounts of debt and increase leverage, while eliminating many of the typical investor protections. Thus, investors and companies entered this period with significant risk and limited flexibility to address a market and economic downturn.
Many have argued that the coronavirus was responsible for the market correction and recession. In reality, it was simply the pin that popped the debt bubble, accelerating the timeline and results that were destined to occur. The probability of a recession was elevated prior to the spread of the virus, but now the contraction is much more severe than anticipated as many businesses grapple with plummeting revenues and soaring layoffs. Though the numerous government programs may soften the impact, the duration and depth of the shutdown will require everything and the kitchen sink if we are to avoid too much going down the drain. The country and global economy will get through this crisis, but the resulting landscape will be altered.
Barry P. Julien, CFA®
President, Chief Investment Officer & Portfolio Manager
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The First Western Fixed Income Fund (FWFIX)
The growing threat from the coronavirus moved across the globe during the first quarter, resulting in severe impacts to the economic and market fortunes of nearly all countries. With incomplete information coming out of China, the U.S. and Europe grappled with their responses to the virus. Most were ill prepared for a pandemic as protective equipment, respirators, and hospital capacity quickly became a focal point. Social distancing and stay-at-home measures became the primary response, thus shuttering a significant number of industries and a meaningful percentage of the economy. In the U.S., the initial data for jobless claims was shocking as it became clear that the unemployment rate would reach levels not witnessed for generations. Estimates for GDP for Q2 have become increasingly worse, with a wide range of -8% to -30%. The ability to accurately predict the fallout is limited, though corporate earnings, consumer confidence, and business expenditures are sure to plummet. Progress on flattening the curve, expanding testing, finding treatments, and developing vaccines will enable us to move closer to ending the quarantine and attempt to return to normalcy. The swift and violent selloff in risky assets was record setting, with the S&P 500 falling by nearly 35% in a little over one month. With the exception of safe-haven U.S. Treasuries, the bond market also experienced a dramatic downturn. During its depths, investors had to liquidate higher-quality, shorter-term securities since their riskier holdings were too difficult and painful to sell. The extreme financial market dislocation prompted the Fed to take numerous steps to improve liquidity and investor confidence. After cutting short-term rates to zero and restarting quantitative easing, the market continued to suffer. Thus, additional programs with substantial buying power were created to support most investment grade sectors, eventually producing market stability and a meaningful bounce back in asset prices. From as far back as mid-2018, the growing probability of a recession and the inadequate compensation for accepting credit risk led us to reduce corporate bond holdings, improve credit quality, and increase U.S. Treasuries. Thus, when the pandemic began to wreak havoc on the economy and markets, the Fund was well positioned relative to most of our peers and able to minimize the impact from the downturn in riskier bonds. However, insufficient duration limited the gains as benchmark Treasury yields fell to historic lows. As such, the Fund outperformed most peers but was unable to keep pace with the index, generating a net return of 2.88% versus a gain of 3.39% for the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index. The Fund’s net assets ended the six months at $83.6 million from $76.6 million at the start of the fiscal year.
The First Western Short Duration Bond Fund (FWSBX)
Through the first two months of the period, the Fund had benefitted from the meaningful reduction in short-term interest rates and the relative safety of front end, high-quality bonds. However, as the market downturn intensified, so did the Fund’s performance. Historically a safe haven during market tumult, the upheaval throughout the financial markets left very few places to hide during its darkest days. As investors struggled to sell less-liquid assets, many turned to areas of the market that had been less impacted. Thus, mass liquidations overwhelmed the shorter maturity investment grade market which produced considerable spread widening
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and substantial price deterioration. Dealers, too, were unable to provide liquidity, worsening the abrupt decline. Although the Fund had reduced its corporate bond allocation and upgraded the quality of these securities, there remained an overweight relative to the index. In addition, while Treasuries had become a larger Fund weighting relative to the past, it was still a significant underweight. Furthermore, the relatively flat and sometimes inverted yield curve led to a duration well below that of the index. Therefore, while the Fund made moves to reduce the impact of an expected economic contraction and was able to outperform many of its peer managers, it was unable to outperform the index. The Fund had a net return of 1.59% versus the 1.90% gain for the ICE BofA 1-3 Year U.S. Corporate & Government Index. From $113.0 million at the prior fiscal year end, the Fund experienced modest outflows and ended at $101.5 million for the six months ended February 29, 2020.
The First Western Short Duration High Yield Fund (FWSHX)
The high yield market descended into the abyss during the first quarter, reminiscent of the 2008 financial crisis. After a lackluster January, investors began waiving a cautionary flag in February as there was a noticeable shift in risk sentiment. Market participants began favoring higher-quality and defensive-oriented sectors, as news of the coronavirus spreading to several corners of the globe took hold. However, once numerous COVID-19 cases emerged on U.S. soil, the cautionary stance turned into a mad dash for liquidity, sending the high yield market into selling frenzy. Bond prices traded down 5-15 points daily and the bid-ask spread from market makers widened from a normal range of 0.5-1 point to as wide as 4-8 points. Investors withdrew a staggering $16.7B from the asset class, of which $13B occurred in March alone, the second largest monthly outflow on record. Accordingly, the ICE BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year U.S. Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index plunged - 13.4% in the quarter. Every sector was in the red, with the hardest hit industries being Energy, Gaming & Leisure, Transportation, and Retail. Industries faring somewhat better included Technology, Healthcare, and Paper & Packaging. From a ratings standpoint, the broad BB index dropped -10.2%, the B index fell -14.1%, and CCC index was down -22.4%. Having improved the credit quality of the Fund and a reduced exposure to Energy proved beneficial. In addition, stronger relative performance in the Telecommunications and Capital Goods segments helped shield heavier losses from the underperforming sectors. For the six months ended February 29, 2020, the First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund underperformed the index with its net return of 0.39% versus 0.63%, respectively. Due to performance and outflows, the Fund ended the six months with $43.9 million, down from $45.8 million at year end.
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FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND
Portfolio Information
February 29, 2020 (Unaudited)
Portfolio Allocation (% of Net Assets)
Top 10 Long-Term Holdings
Security Description | | % of Net Assets |
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 2.875%, due 07/31/25 | | 4.0% |
U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.625%, due 02/15/26 | | 3.2% |
GNMA, Series 2020-5, 3.500%, due 12/20/49 | | 3.1% |
U.S. Treasury Notes, 3.000%, due 10/31/25 | | 2.6% |
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.375%, due 05/15/29 | | 2.5% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 5.250%, due 11/15/28 | | 2.4% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 2.375%, due 08/15/24 | | 2.3% |
FHLMC, Series 4760-A, 3.000%, due 02/15/48 | | 1.9% |
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.250%, due 11/15/25 | | 1.9% |
U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3.000%, due 05/15/42 | | 1.7% |
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FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND
Portfolio Information
February 29, 2020 (Unaudited)
Portfolio Allocation (% of Net Assets)
Top 10 Long-Term Holdings
Security Description | | % of Net Assets |
U.S. Treasury Notes, 2.375%, due 01/31/23 | | 3.0% |
U.S. Treasury Notes, 1.875%, due 07/31/22 | | 2.1% |
FNMA, Series 2013-62-QA, 3.000%, due 06/25/37 | | 1.6% |
GNMA, Series 2018-118-A, floating rate, 2.900%, due 08/16/60 | | 1.6% |
FHLMC, Series 4800-UA, 3.500%, due 12/15/44 | | 1.5% |
CPS Auto Trust, 144A, Series 2018-D, 4.340%, due 09/16/24 | | 1.5% |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 144A, Series 2017-2-A5, floating rate, 3.500%, due 05/25/47 | | 1.5% |
FNMA, Series 2012-111-VA, 3.500%, due 10/25/25 | | 1.4% |
U.S. Treasury Notes, 3.625%, due 02/15/21 | | 1.4% |
FNMA, Series 2012-136-PD, 2.500%, due 11/25/42 | | 1.3% |
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FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION
HIGH YIELD CREDIT FUND
Portfolio Information
February 29, 2020 (Unaudited)
Portfolio Allocation (% of Net Assets)
Top 10 Long-Term Holdings
Security Description | | % of Net Assets |
Sprint Corporation, 7.125%, due 06/15/24 | | 1.7% |
Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation, 7.625%, due 06/15/21 | | 1.7% |
Avon Products, Inc., 7.000%, due 03/15/23 | | 1.5% |
Albertsons Companies, LLC, 6.625%, due 06/15/24 | | 1.5% |
FS Energy & Power Fund, 144A, 7.500%, due 08/15/23 | | 1.5% |
Clearwater Paper Corporation, 144A, 5.375%, due 02/01/25 | | 1.5% |
GFL Environmental, Inc., 144A, 5.375%, due 03/01/23 | | 1.5% |
Forestar Group, Inc., 144A, 8.000%, due 04/15/24 | | 1.5% |
Gray Television, Inc., 144A, 5.125%, due 10/15/24 | | 1.5% |
Enterprise Development Authority (The), 144A, 12.000%, due 07/15/24 | | 1.5% |
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FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments February 29, 2020 (Unaudited) |
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS — 27.3% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | 2.375% | | | | 08/15/24 | | | $ | 1,886,000 | | | $ | 2,005,790 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.250% | | | | 11/15/24 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 530,410 | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | 2.875% | | | | 07/31/25 | | | | 3,116,000 | | | | 3,429,791 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 3.000% | | | | 10/31/25 | | | | 2,041,000 | | | | 2,267,742 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.250% | | | | 11/15/25 | | | | 1,500,000 | | | | 1,605,469 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 1.625% | | | | 02/15/26 | | | | 2,690,000 | | | | 2,787,302 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.750% | | | | 02/15/28 | | | | 490,000 | | | | 552,954 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.875% | | | | 05/15/28 | | | | 1,255,000 | | | | 1,431,975 | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | 5.250% | | | | 11/15/28 | | | | 1,543,000 | | | | 2,076,782 | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | 5.250% | | | | 02/15/29 | | | | 1,005,000 | | | | 1,360,951 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.375% | | | | 05/15/29 | | | | 1,937,000 | | | | 2,149,616 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 1.625% | | | | 08/15/29 | | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,044,805 | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | 3.000% | | | | 05/15/42 | | | | 1,175,000 | | | | 1,482,106 | |
U.S. Treasury Bonds | | | 2.500% | | | | 02/15/45 | | | | 750,000 | | | | 874,951 | |
Total U.S. Treasury Obligations(Cost $21,971,819) | | $ | 23,600,644 | |
|
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS — 3.1% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Federal Home Loan Bank — 1.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Bank | | | 2.625% | | | | 03/11/22 | | | $ | 300,000 | | | $ | 310,277 | |
Federal Home Loan Bank | | | 2.125% | | | | 03/10/23 | | | | 350,000 | | | | 362,273 | |
Federal Home Loan Bank | | | 3.250% | | | | 03/08/24 | | | | 535,000 | | | | 583,879 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,256,429 | |
Tennessee Valley Authority — 1.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tennessee Valley Authority | | | 7.125% | | | | 05/01/30 | | | | 925,000 | | | | 1,407,737 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total U.S. Government Agency Obligations(Cost $2,446,692) | | $ | 2,664,166 | |
|
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 41.8% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
ABN AMRO Mortgage Corporation, Series 2003-12-1A(a) | | | 5.000% | | | | 12/25/33 | | | $ | 206,877 | | | $ | 210,987 | |
Bank of America Funding Corporation, Series 2003-J-2A1(a) | | | 4.038% | | | | 11/25/33 | | | | 428,775 | | | | 436,346 | |
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FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 41.8% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.5%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bank of America Funding Corporation, Series 2004-A-3A1(a) | | | 4.201% | | | | 02/25/34 | | | $ | 162,209 | | | $ | 168,273 | |
Bank of America Funding Corporation, Series 2005-E-4A1(a) | | | 4.397% | | | | 03/20/35 | | | | 12,732 | | | | 12,812 | |
Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust, Series 2003-6-2A1(a) | | | 3.902% | | | | 01/25/34 | | | | 299,433 | | | | 301,293 | |
Centex Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2004-D-AF6(b) | | | 5.170% | | | | 09/25/34 | | | | 985 | | | | 991 | |
Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2004-6-2A3 (1MO LIBOR + 120)(a) | | | 2.861% | | | | 11/25/34 | | | | 309,728 | | | | 310,094 | |
Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2005-1-AF5A | | | 5.497% | | | | 07/25/35 | | | | 158,755 | | | | 163,032 | |
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., Series 2003-49-A9(a) | | | 4.029% | | | | 12/19/33 | | | | 75,271 | | | | 76,286 | |
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securitization, Series 2004-AR8-2A1(a) | | | 4.082% | | | | 09/25/34 | | | | 147,341 | | | | 148,229 | |
CS First Boston Mortgage Securities Company, Series 2002-AR31-4A2(a) | | | 4.245% | | | | 11/25/32 | | | | 53,668 | | | | 55,053 | |
CS First Boston Mortgage Securities Company, Series 2003-11-1A31 | | | 5.500% | | | | 06/25/33 | | | | 41,508 | | | | 42,893 | |
HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2003-1-A(a) | | | 4.285% | | | | 05/19/33 | | | | 102,589 | | | | 105,520 | |
HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2004-4-2A (1MO LIBOR + 56)(a) | | | 2.218% | | | | 06/19/34 | | | | 122,996 | | | | 121,897 | |
Impac CMB Trust, Series 2004-10-4A2 (1MO LIBOR + 94)(a) | | | 2.601% | | | | 03/25/35 | | | | 128,225 | | | | 127,544 | |
Impac CMB Trust, Series 2005-4-2A1 (1MO LIBOR + 60)(a) | | | 2.227% | | | | 05/25/35 | | | | 348,027 | | | | 342,063 | |
Impac CMB Trust, 144A, Series 2007-A-A (1MO LIBOR + 50)(a) | | | 2.127% | | | | 05/25/37 | | | | 562,390 | | | | 554,556 | |
Impac CMB Trust, 144A, Series 2007-A-M1 (1MO LIBOR + 80)(a) | | | 2.427% | | | | 05/25/37 | | | | 559,380 | | | | 547,753 | |
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FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 41.8% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.5%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Impac Secured Assets Corporation, Series 2003-3-A1(a) | | | 4.899% | | | | 08/25/33 | | | $ | 49,818 | | | $ | 51,558 | |
Impac Secured Assets Corporation, Series 2006-1-2A1 (3MO LIBOR + 35)(a) | | | 1.977% | | | | 05/25/36 | | | | 406,985 | | | | 398,593 | |
JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust, Series 2005-A2-1A1 (1MO LIBOR + 52)(a) | | | 2.181% | | | | 01/25/36 | | | | 199,995 | | | | 201,157 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Series 2003-A1(a) | | | 3.745% | | | | 10/25/33 | | | | 192,677 | | | | 198,981 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Series 2004-A1-4A1(a) | | | 3.859% | | | | 02/25/34 | | | | 139,582 | | | | 140,842 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Series 2004-A3-SF3(a) | | | 4.154% | | | | 06/25/34 | | | | 147,701 | | | | 152,184 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Series 2004-A4-2A2(a) | | | 4.280% | | | | 09/25/34 | | | | 772,766 | | | | 798,974 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Series 2004-A5-2A1(a) | | | 4.260% | | | | 12/25/34 | | | | 49,665 | | | | 51,926 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 144A, Series 2013-3-A3(a) | | | 3.394% | | | | 07/25/43 | | | | 202,921 | | | | 209,969 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 144A, Series 2017-2 A5(a) | | | 3.500% | | | | 05/25/47 | | | | 1,446,773 | | | | 1,480,682 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 144A, Series 2017-2-A3(a) | | | 3.500% | | | | 05/25/47 | | | | 376,218 | | | | 387,877 | |
Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2004-4-1A1 (1MO LIBOR + 56)(a) | | | 2.187% | | | | 10/25/34 | | | | 541,147 | | | | 520,655 | |
Master Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust, Series 2003-3-2A1(a) | | | 4.073% | | | | 09/25/33 | | | | 62,470 | | | | 62,796 | |
Master Asset Securitization Trust, Series 2004-1-3A7 | | | 5.250% | | | | 01/25/34 | | | | 116,060 | | | | 118,569 | |
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, Series 2004-A3-1A(a) | | | 4.322% | | | | 05/25/34 | | | | 160,757 | | | | 159,401 | |
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, Series 2005-A1-1A(a) | | | 4.626% | | | | 12/25/34 | | | | 389,361 | | | | 406,980 | |
Nationstar Mortgage Loan Trust, 144A, Series 2013-A-A(a) | | | 3.750% | | | | 12/25/52 | | | | 87,946 | | | | 90,391 | |
New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2005-A-A4W(b) | | | 4.671% | | | | 08/25/35 | | | | 173,516 | | | | 177,253 | |
12
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 41.8% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.5%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust, 144A, Series 2015-2A-A2 | | | 3.750% | | | | 08/25/55 | | | $ | 465,744 | | | $ | 481,484 | |
New Residential Mortgage Loan Trust, 144A, Series 2017-3A-A1 | | | 4.000% | | | | 04/25/57 | | | | 497,363 | | | | 527,065 | |
Opteum Mortgage Acceptance Corporation, Series 2005-5-2AD2(a) | | | 5.850% | | | | 12/25/35 | | | | 165,823 | | | | 170,087 | |
Pearl Street Mortgage Company Trust, 144A, Series 2018-2-A3(a) | | | 3.500% | | | | 06/25/48 | | | | 523,633 | | | | 533,451 | |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust, Series 2003-8-A1 (1MO LIBOR + 64)(a) | | | 2.298% | | | | 01/20/34 | | | | 526,625 | | | | 530,431 | |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust, Series 2004-6-A2 (1MO LIBOR + 56)(a) | | | 2.218% | | | | 07/20/34 | | | | 249,684 | | | | 253,478 | |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust, Series 2012-3-A21(a) | | | 3.000% | | | | 07/25/42 | | | | 104,644 | | | | 106,160 | |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust, Series 2012-4-A2(a) | | | 3.000% | | | | 09/25/42 | | | | 86,448 | | | | 87,623 | |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust, Series 2013-6-A2 | | | 3.000% | | | | 05/25/43 | | | | 764,735 | | | | 784,630 | |
Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2004-1-4A4(a) | | | 4.122% | | | | 02/25/34 | | | | 196,908 | | | | 200,712 | |
Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust, Series 2004-AR6-A1A (1MO LIBOR + 70)(a) | | | 2.347% | | | | 02/19/35 | | | | 826,683 | | | | 824,999 | |
Structured Asset Mortgage Investments, Inc., Series 2003-AR4-A1 (1MO LIBOR + 70)(a) | | | 2.347% | | | | 01/19/34 | | | | 53,179 | | | | 52,759 | |
Structured Asset Mortgage Investments, Inc., Series 2004-AR4-1A1 (1MO LIBOR + 70)(a) | | | 2.347% | | | | 12/19/34 | | | | 173,628 | | | | 175,278 | |
Structured Asset Securities Corporation, Series 1998-11-2B1(a) | | | 4.607% | | | | 01/25/32 | | | | 16,155 | | | | 16,117 | |
Structured Asset Securities Corporation, Series 1998-11-2B2(a) | | | 4.607% | | | | 01/26/32 | | | | 42,002 | | | | 41,663 | |
13
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 41.8% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.5%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Structured Asset Securities Corporation, Series 2003-9A-2A1(a) | | | 3.963% | | | | 03/25/33 | | | $ | 164,272 | | | $ | 167,569 | |
Structured Asset Securities Corporation, Series 2003-34A-5A4(a) | | | 4.107% | | | | 11/25/33 | | | | 237,333 | | | | 246,049 | |
Wa-Mu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2003-S3-3A1 | | | 5.500% | | | | 05/25/33 | | | | 90,911 | | | | 93,281 | |
Wa-Mu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2003-AR7-A7(a) | | | 4.443% | | | | 08/25/33 | | | | 785,545 | | | | 796,566 | |
Wa-Mu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2003-AR8-A(a) | | | 4.401% | | | | 08/25/33 | | | | 336,273 | | | | 343,313 | |
Wa-Mu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2002-AR2-A (COF 11 + 125)(a) | | | 2.285% | | | | 02/27/34 | | | | 146,498 | | | | 146,505 | |
Wa-Mu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-AR13-A-1A3 (1MO LIBOR + 78)(a) | | | 2.407% | | | | 10/25/45 | | | | 344,106 | | | | 348,504 | |
Wells Fargo Alternative Loan Trust, Series 2002-1-1A1 | | | 6.250% | | | | 08/25/32 | | | | 592,960 | | | | 609,209 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16,871,343 | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation — 11.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FHLMC, Series 2999-ND | | | 4.500% | | | | 07/15/20 | | | | 422 | | | | 422 | |
FHLMC, Series 2515-UP | | | 5.500% | | | | 10/15/22 | | | | 28,743 | | | | 29,956 | |
FHLMC, Series 3827-HA | | | 3.500% | | | | 11/15/25 | | | | 190,978 | | | | 201,455 | |
FHLMC, Series 4011-ML | | | 3.000% | | | | 03/15/27 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 533,786 | |
FHLMC, Series 4833-VA | | | 4.000% | | | | 11/15/29 | | | | 672,131 | | | | 705,004 | |
FHLMC, Series 2569-LD | | | 5.500% | | | | 02/15/33 | | | | 73,694 | | | | 83,443 | |
FHLMC, Series 3793-UA | | | 4.000% | | | | 06/15/33 | | | | 73,055 | | | | 79,853 | |
FHLMC, Pool #FG C91859 | | | 3.500% | | | | 12/01/35 | | | | 621,874 | | | | 657,638 | |
FHLMC, Series 3919-BG | | | 3.000% | | | | 08/15/39 | | | | 189,158 | | | | 191,563 | |
FHLMC, Series 3622-WA | | | 5.500% | | | | 09/15/39 | | | | 419,858 | | | | 477,051 | |
FHLMC, Series 3843-JA | | | 4.000% | | | | 04/15/40 | | | | 58,061 | | | | 61,688 | |
FHLMC, Series 4088-PA | | | 3.000% | | | | 12/15/40 | | | | 816,092 | | | | 855,284 | |
FHLMC, Series 3940-PD | | | 2.500% | | | | 02/15/41 | | | | 572,611 | | | | 591,034 | |
FHLMC, Series 4017-MA | | | 3.000% | | | | 03/15/41 | | | | 62,218 | | | | 63,701 | |
14
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 41.8% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation — 11.8%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FHLMC, Series 4226-AN | | | 4.000% | | | | 04/15/41 | | | $ | 265,493 | | | $ | 276,841 | |
FHLMC, Series 4077-AP | | | 4.000% | | | | 01/15/42 | | | | 112,252 | | | | 119,157 | |
FHLMC, Series 4799-MA | | | 4.000% | | | | 03/15/42 | | | | 553,395 | | | | 561,657 | |
FHLMC, Series 4673-KA | | | 3.500% | | | | 08/15/42 | | | | 263,050 | | | | 271,014 | |
FHLMC, Series 4183-PA | | | 3.500% | | | | 01/15/43 | | | | 141,151 | | | | 146,303 | |
FHLMC, Series 4566-CA | | | 3.000% | | | | 01/15/43 | | | | 905,357 | | | | 943,812 | |
FHLMC, Series 4772-CA | | | 4.000% | | | | 01/15/43 | | | | 426,190 | | | | 434,035 | |
FHLMC, Series 4769-L | | | 4.000% | | | | 06/15/44 | | | | 325,503 | | | | 334,971 | |
FHLMC, Series 4753-JA | | | 3.000% | | | | 12/15/47 | | | | 873,885 | | | | 915,134 | |
FHLMC, Series 4760-A | | | 3.000% | | | | 02/15/48 | | | | 1,522,980 | | | | 1,622,101 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10,156,903 | |
Federal National Mortgage Association — 5.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FNMA, Series 2005-80-BA | | | 5.000% | | | | 04/25/29 | | | | 38,920 | | | | 43,096 | |
FNMA, Series 2009-96-DB | | | 4.000% | | | | 11/25/29 | | | | 229,076 | | | | 244,280 | |
FNMA, Pool #MA1201 | | | 3.500% | | | | 10/01/32 | | | | 230,786 | | | | 243,683 | |
FNMA, Pool #MA0584 | | | 4.500% | | | | 10/01/40 | | | | 40,319 | | | | 42,513 | |
FNMA, Series 2013-13-MA | | | 4.000% | | | | 01/25/43 | | | | 522,460 | | | | 563,251 | |
FNMA, Series 2016-49-LA | | | 3.500% | | | | 01/25/43 | | | | 647,210 | | | | 682,441 | |
FNMA, Series 2014-80-KA | | | 2.000% | | | | 03/25/44 | | | | 117,558 | | | | 118,385 | |
FNMA, Series 2016-24-HA | | | 3.000% | | | | 04/25/44 | | | | 607,297 | | | | 634,943 | |
FNMA, Series 2017-22-EC | | | 3.000% | | | | 06/25/44 | | | | 1,190,996 | | | | 1,235,430 | |
FNMA, Series 2016-38-NA | | | 3.000% | | | | 01/25/46 | | | | 471,210 | | | | 499,897 | |
FNMA, Series 2016-89-CG | | | 3.000% | | | | 04/25/46 | | | | 263,877 | | | | 279,755 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,587,674 | |
Government National Mortgage Association — 5.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
GNMA, Series 2009-104-KA | | | 4.500% | | | | 08/16/39 | | | | 106,358 | | | | 112,788 | |
GNMA, Series 2011-138-PX | | | 4.000% | | | | 06/20/41 | | | | 27,675 | | | | 28,712 | |
GNMA, Series 2015-185-P | | | 2.750% | | | | 11/20/42 | | | | 381,018 | | | | 390,602 | |
GNMA, Series 2019-43 | | | 4.000% | | | | 01/20/47 | | | | 320,363 | | | | 329,360 | |
GNMA, Series 2017-84 | | | 3.000% | | | | 05/20/47 | | | | 455,116 | | | | 475,021 | |
GNMA, Series 2018-6-JA | | | 2.750% | | | | 01/20/48 | | | | 349,215 | | | | 363,608 | |
GNMA, Series 2020-5 | | | 3.500% | | | | 12/20/49 | | | | 2,513,090 | | | | 2,667,231 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,367,322 | |
15
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 41.8% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Small Business Administration — 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
SBA, Series 2009-20A-1 | | | 5.720% | | | | 01/01/29 | | | $ | 61,976 | | | $ | 68,994 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities(Cost $35,141,242) | | $ | 36,052,236 | |
|
MUNICIPAL BONDS — 1.0% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
ABAG California Finance Authority for Nonprofit Corporations, Revenue Bond, Series 2017-B | | | 2.500% | | | | 09/02/21 | | | $ | 175,000 | | | $ | 178,171 | |
California State Health Facilities Financing Authority, Revenue Bond | | | 2.704% | | | | 06/01/30 | | | | 260,000 | | | | 279,406 | |
California State Housing Finance Agency, Revenue Bond | | | 3.650% | | | | 08/01/25 | | | | 360,000 | | | | 391,648 | |
Total Municipal Bonds(Cost $795,556) | | $ | 849,225 | |
|
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES — 2.6% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
DB Master Finance, LLC, 144A, Series 2019-1A-A2I(a) | | | 3.787% | | | | 05/20/49 | | | $ | 380,128 | | | $ | 393,535 | |
Domino’s Pizza Master Issuer, LLC, 144A, Series 2015-1A | | | 4.474% | | | | 10/25/45 | | | | 829,900 | | | | 893,254 | |
Jack in the Box Funding, LLC, 144A, Series 2019-1A | | | 3.982% | | | | 08/25/49 | | | | 523,688 | | | | 537,942 | |
Wendy’s Funding, LLC, 144A, Series 2019-1A-A2I | | | 3.783% | | | | 06/15/49 | | | | 402,975 | | | | 429,624 | |
Total Asset-Backed Securities(Cost $2,192,824) | | $ | 2,254,355 | |
16
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
CORPORATE BONDS — 23.3% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Communication Services — 2.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AT&T, Inc. | | | 4.250% | | | | 03/01/27 | | | $ | 578,000 | | | $ | 651,426 | |
CBS Corporation | | | 7.875% | | | | 07/30/30 | | | | 250,000 | | | | 361,289 | |
Crown Castle International Corporation | | | 4.000% | | | | 03/01/27 | | | | 585,000 | | | | 647,681 | |
Sprint Spectrum Company, LLC, 144A | | | 5.152% | | | | 03/20/28 | | | | 582,000 | | | | 657,549 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,317,945 | |
Consumer Discretionary — 2.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dollar Tree, Inc. | | | 4.000% | | | | 05/15/25 | | | | 595,000 | | | | 654,302 | |
eBay, Inc. | | | 3.600% | | | | 06/05/27 | | | | 265,000 | | | | 289,131 | |
International Game Techology plc, 144A | | | 6.500% | | | | 02/15/25 | | | | 425,000 | | | | 460,594 | |
Las Vegas Sands Corporation | | | 3.500% | | | | 08/16/26 | | | | 624,000 | | | | 652,150 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,056,177 | |
Energy — 1.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. | | | 4.250% | | | | 09/01/24 | | | | 589,000 | | | | 639,711 | |
Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. | | | 5.000% | | | | 03/01/26 | | | | 585,000 | | | | 680,598 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,320,309 | |
Financials — 7.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Aviation Capital Group, LLC, 144A | | | 3.500% | | | | 11/01/27 | | | | 621,000 | | | | 644,486 | |
Bank of America Corporation | | | 3.419% | | | | 12/20/28 | | | | 610,000 | | | | 659,279 | |
BGC Partners, Inc. | | | 3.750% | | | | 10/01/24 | | | | 635,000 | | | | 661,391 | |
CyrusOne, L.P. | | | 2.900% | | | | 11/15/24 | | | | 402,000 | | | | 407,302 | |
Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., 144A | | | 4.875% | | | | 08/13/24 | | | | 615,000 | | | | 674,777 | |
Icahn Enterprises, L.P. | | | 6.250% | | | | 02/01/22 | | | | 300,000 | | | | 305,136 | |
International Lease Finance Corporation | | | 5.875% | | | | 08/15/22 | | | | 601,000 | | | | 655,736 | |
Morgan Stanley | | | 4.000% | | | | 07/23/25 | | | | 575,000 | | | | 637,302 | |
PayPal Holdings, Inc. | | | 2.850% | | | | 10/01/29 | | | | 630,000 | | | | 660,866 | |
Raymond James Financial, Inc. | | | 3.625% | | | | 09/15/26 | | | | 350,000 | | | | 385,773 | |
SVB Financial Group | | | 3.500% | | | | 01/29/25 | | | | 605,000 | | | | 655,323 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6,347,371 | |
Health Care — 2.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Boston Scientific Corporation | | | 3.750% | | | | 03/01/26 | | | | 601,000 | | | | 660,962 | |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 144A | | | 3.900% | | | | 02/20/28 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 681,849 | |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. | | | 5.250% | | | | 06/15/26 | | | | 575,000 | | | | 657,430 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,000,241 | |
17
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
CORPORATE BONDS — 23.3% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Industrials — 3.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Air Canada Pass-Through Certificates, 144A, Series 2013-1B | | | 5.375% | | | | 11/15/22 | | | $ | 509,400 | | | $ | 528,221 | |
American Airlines Group Pass-Through Certificates, 144A, Series 2013-1B | | | 5.625% | | | | 01/15/21 | | | | 244,421 | | | | 250,092 | |
American Airlines Group Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2019-1AA | | | 3.150% | | | | 08/15/33 | | | | 667,561 | | | | 707,468 | |
Roper Technologies, Inc. | | | 3.650% | | | | 09/15/23 | | | | 566,000 | | | | 605,946 | |
United Airlines, Series 2016-1B | | | 3.650% | | | | 07/07/27 | | | | 526,227 | | | | 551,192 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,642,919 | |
Information Technology — 1.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Autodesk, Inc. | | | 4.375% | | | | 06/15/25 | | | | 581,000 | | | | 656,355 | |
CA, Inc. | | | 4.500% | | | | 08/15/23 | | | | 553,000 | | | | 583,894 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1,240,249 | |
Materials — 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. | | | 3.500% | | | | 12/15/27 | | | | 305,000 | | | | 334,639 | |
Packaging Corporation of America | | | 3.400% | | | | 12/15/27 | | | | 604,000 | | | | 663,850 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 998,489 | |
Real Estate — 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
American Campus Communities, Inc. | | | 3.300% | | | | 07/15/26 | | | | 614,000 | | | | 661,038 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Utilities — 0.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC | | | 7.000% | | | | 09/01/22 | | | | 457,000 | | | | 518,319 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Corporate Bonds(Cost $18,857,335) | | $ | 20,103,057 | |
18
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 1.3% | | Shares | | | Value | |
Invesco Short-Term Investments Trust - Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 1.48%(c) (Cost $1,133,446) | | | 1,133,446 | | | $ | 1,133,446 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments at Value — 100.4%(Cost $82,538,914) | | | | | | $ | 86,657,129 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (0.4%) | | | | | | | (309,731 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Assets — 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 86,347,398 | |
144A - Security was purchased in a transaction exempt from registration in compliance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of such securities is $10,965,151 as of February 29, 2020, representing 12.7% of net assets (Note 9). |
COF 11 - Cost of funds for the 11th District of San Francisco. |
LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate. |
(a) | Variable rate security. Interest rate resets periodically. The rate shown is the effective interest rate as of February 29, 2020. For securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread (in basis points) are indicated parenthetically. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities, therefore, do not indicate a reference rate and spread. |
(b) | Step Coupon. Rate shown is the coupon in effect as of February 29, 2020. |
(c) | The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of February 29, 2020. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
19
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments February 29, 2020 (Unaudited) |
U.S. TREASURY OBLIGATIONS — 10.9% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.625% | | | | 08/15/20 | | | $ | 1,118,000 | | | $ | 1,124,944 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 3.625% | | | | 02/15/21 | | | | 1,359,000 | | | | 1,391,542 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 1.875% | | | | 07/31/22 | | | | 2,065,000 | | | | 2,113,560 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.375% | | | | 01/31/23 | | | | 2,925,000 | | | | 3,050,112 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.500% | | | | 03/31/23 | | | | 1,085,000 | | | | 1,138,233 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.750% | | | | 07/31/23 | | | | 1,100,000 | | | | 1,168,363 | |
U.S. Treasury Notes | | | 2.875% | | | | 10/31/23 | | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,070,859 | |
Total U.S. Treasury Obligations(Cost $10,972,447) | | $ | 11,057,613 | |
|
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS — 0.8% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Federal Home Loan Bank — 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Bank (Cost $825,000) | | | 1.700% | | | | 01/13/23 | | | $ | 825,000 | | | $ | 829,091 | |
|
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 46.1% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Accredited Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2004-3-2A2 (1MO LIBOR + 120)(a) | | | 2.827% | | | | 10/25/34 | | | $ | 191,541 | | | $ | 191,295 | |
ACE Securities Corporation, Series 2003-NC1-A2A (1MO LIBOR + 84)(a) | | | 2.501% | | | | 07/25/33 | | | | 234,621 | | | | 229,048 | |
Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust, Series 2004-5-4A1(a) | | | 3.735% | | | | 04/25/35 | | | | 978,852 | | | | 996,913 | |
American General Mortgage Loan Trust, 144A, Series 2006-1-A5(a) | | | 5.750% | | | | 12/25/35 | | | | 17,808 | | | | 18,575 | |
American Home Mortgage Investment Trust, Series 2004-3-6A1(b) | | | 4.820% | | | | 10/25/34 | | | | 84,738 | | | | 85,942 | |
Argent Securities, Inc., Series 2004-W10-A2 (1MO LIBOR + 78)(a) | | | 2.441% | | | | 10/25/34 | | | | 538,106 | | | | 534,908 | |
Bank of America Funding Corporation, Series 2005-E-4A1(a) | | | 4.397% | | | | 03/20/35 | | | | 53,378 | | | | 53,712 | |
20
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 46.1% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.8%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bunker Hill Loan Depositary Trust, 144A, Series 2019-1-A1(a) | | | 3.613% | | | | 10/26/48 | | | $ | 767,165 | | | $ | 776,230 | |
Carvana Auto Receivables Trust, 144A, Series 2019-2A-A3 | | | 2.580% | | | | 03/15/23 | | | | 910,000 | | | | 918,445 | |
Centex Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2004-D-AF6(b) | | | 5.170% | | | | 09/25/34 | | | | 443 | | | | 446 | |
Chesapeake Funding II, LLC, 144A, Series 2017-3A-A1 | | | 1.910% | | | | 08/15/29 | | | | 242,158 | | | | 242,559 | |
Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc., Series 2005-6-A1 (H15T1Y + 2.10)(a) | | | 3.840% | | | | 09/25/35 | | | | 227,310 | | | | 231,295 | |
Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2004-6-2A3 (1MO LIBOR + 120)(a) | | | 2.861% | | | | 11/25/34 | | | | 316,232 | | | | 316,606 | |
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., Series 2003-15-2A1(a) | | | 5.000% | | | | 03/25/20 | | | | 30,063 | | | | 15,324 | |
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., Series 2004-J7(a) | | | 5.000% | | | | 03/25/20 | | | | 586 | | | | 582 | |
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., Series 2004-6-2A5 (1MO LIBOR + 78)(a) | | | 2.441% | | | | 11/25/34 | | | | 1,206,138 | | | | 1,181,763 | |
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securitization, Series 2004-6-2A1 | | | 4.750% | | | | 03/25/20 | | | | 12,056 | | | | 2 | |
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securitization, Series 2004-AR2-2A1(a) | | | 4.450% | | | | 03/25/34 | | | | 297,913 | | | | 313,007 | |
Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securitization, Series 2004-AR8-2A1(a) | | | 4.082% | | | | 09/25/34 | | | | 258,740 | | | | 260,300 | |
First Investors Auto Owner Trust, 144A, Series 2017-2A-B | | | 2.650% | | | | 11/15/22 | | | | 1,047,000 | | | | 1,051,478 | |
Goldman Sachs Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2003-13-1A1(a) | | | 4.256% | | | | 10/25/33 | | | | 67,092 | | | | 70,075 | |
Goldman Sachs Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2004-10F-7A1(a) | | | 5.500% | | | | 09/25/34 | | | | 56,056 | | | | 58,125 | |
Goldman Sachs Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-5F-8A2 (1MO LIBOR + 50)(a) | | | 2.127% | | | | 06/25/35 | | | | 92,956 | | | | 88,093 | |
GSR Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2003-7F-1A | | | 5.250% | | | | 06/25/33 | | | | 334,806 | | | | 342,296 | |
GSR Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-AR6-1(a) | | | 4.622% | | | | 09/25/35 | | | | 41,113 | | | | 41,708 | |
21
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 46.1% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.8%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
HarborView Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2004-4-2A (1MO LIBOR + 56)(a) | | | 2.218% | | | | 06/19/34 | | | $ | 70,284 | | | $ | 69,656 | |
Impac CMB Trust, Series 2005-4-2A1 (1MO LIBOR + 60)(a) | | | 2.227% | | | | 05/25/35 | | | | 236,753 | | | | 232,696 | |
Impac CMB Trust, 144A, Series 2007-A-A (1MO LIBOR + 50)(a) | | | 2.127% | | | | 05/25/37 | | | | 259,573 | | | | 255,957 | |
JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust, Series 2005-A2-1A1 (1MO LIBOR + 52)(a) | | | 2.181% | | | | 01/25/36 | | | | 344,063 | | | | 346,062 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, Series 2003-A1-4A5(a) | | | 3.905% | | | | 10/25/33 | | | | 146,901 | | | | 149,441 | |
JPMorgan Mortgage Trust, 144A, Series 2017-2-A5(a) | | | 3.500% | | | | 05/25/47 | | | | 1,446,773 | | | | 1,480,682 | |
Master Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust, Series 2004-13-2A1(a) | | | 4.540% | | | | 04/21/34 | | | | 213,752 | | | | 219,090 | |
Master Adjustable Rate Mortgages Trust, Series 2004-6-4A6(a) | | | 4.173% | | | | 07/25/34 | | | | 230,873 | | | | 236,540 | |
Master Seasoned Securitization Trust, Series 2005-1-1A1(a) | | | 6.302% | | | | 09/25/32 | | | | 666,312 | | | | 723,064 | |
MASTR Asset Alternative Loans Trust, Series 2003-1-2A1 | | | 6.500% | | | | 01/25/33 | | | | 543,013 | | | | 561,888 | |
MASTR Asset Alternative Loans Trust, Series 2003-8-3A1 | | | 5.500% | | | | 12/25/33 | | | | 320,505 | | | | 329,275 | |
MASTR Asset Securitization Trust, Series 2003-12-1A1 | | | 5.250% | | | | 12/25/24 | | | | 82,712 | | | | 84,589 | |
MASTR Asset Securitization Trust, Series 2003-11-7A | | | 5.250% | | | | 12/25/33 | | | | 629,411 | | | | 637,556 | |
Merrill Lynch Credit Corporation Mortgage Investors, Inc., Series 2003-B-A1 (1MO LIBOR + 68)(a) | | | 2.341% | | | | 04/25/28 | | | | 61,190 | | | | 60,997 | |
MLCC Mortgage Investors, Inc., Series 2003-E-A2 (6MO LIBOR + 66)(a) | | | 2.702% | | | | 10/25/28 | | | | 650,392 | | | | 646,315 | |
Morgan Stanley Capital, Inc., Series 2004-SD2-A (1MO LIBOR + 90)(a) | | | 2.527% | | | | 04/25/34 | | | | 18,456 | | | | 18,416 | |
22
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 46.1% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.8%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nationstar Mortgage Loan Trust, 144A, Series 2013-A-A(a) | | | 3.750% | | | | 12/25/52 | | | $ | 571,649 | | | $ | 587,545 | |
New Century Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2005-A-A4W(b) | | | 4.671% | | | | 08/25/35 | | | | 380,001 | | | | 388,185 | |
Oaks Mortgage Trust, 144A, Series 2015-1-A9 | | | 3.000% | | | | 04/25/46 | | | | 172,684 | | | | 172,199 | |
Pearl Street Mortgage Company Trust, 144A, Series 2018-2-A3(a) | | | 3.500% | | | | 06/25/48 | | | | 912,135 | | | | 929,238 | |
Provident Funding Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2003-1-A (1YCMT + 275)(a) | | | 4.875% | | | | 08/25/33 | | | | 249,229 | | | | 254,080 | |
Provident Funding Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2005-1-2A1(a) | | | 4.679% | | | | 05/25/35 | | | | 11,185 | | | | 11,168 | |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust, Series 2012-4-A2(a) | | | 3.000% | | | | 09/25/42 | | | | 80,417 | | | | 81,510 | |
Sequoia Mortgage Trust, 144A, Series 2014-4-A1 | | | 3.000% | | | | 11/25/44 | | | | 694,632 | | | | 694,842 | |
Soundview Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 2003-2-A2 (1MO LIBOR + 130)(a) | | | 2.961% | | | | 11/25/33 | | | | 607,276 | | | | 612,386 | |
Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2004-12-3A3(a) | | | 4.099% | | | | 09/25/34 | | | | 82,921 | | | | 84,414 | |
Structured Asset Mortgage Investments, Inc., Series 2004-AR3-1A1 (1MO LIBOR + 60)(a) | | | 2.247% | | | | 07/19/34 | | | | 616,427 | | | | 618,661 | |
Structured Asset Securities Corporation, Series 2002-9-A2 (1MO LIBOR + 60)(a) | | | 2.227% | | | | 10/25/27 | | | | 234,457 | | | | 233,997 | |
Structured Asset Securities Corporation, Series 2003-34A-3A4 (1MO LIBOR + 36)(a) | | | 3.977% | | | | 11/25/33 | | | | 175,380 | | | | 178,593 | |
Structured Asset Securities Corporation, Series 2004-GEL3-A (1MO LIBOR + 96)(a) | | | 2.587% | | | | 08/25/34 | | | | 69,979 | | | | 69,788 | |
Vendee Mortgage Trust, Series 2010-1-DA | | | 4.250% | | | | 02/15/35 | | | | 180,776 | | | | 185,073 | |
23
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 46.1% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Commercial — 19.8%(Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Wa-Mu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2003-AR7-A7(a) | | | 4.443% | | | | 08/25/33 | | | $ | 110,258 | | | $ | 111,805 | |
Wa-Mu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2003-AR8-A(a) | | | 4.401% | | | | 08/25/33 | | | | 147,859 | | | | 150,955 | |
Wa-Mu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2002-AR2-A (COF 11 + 125)(a) | | | 2.285% | | | | 02/27/34 | | | | 41,856 | | | | 41,859 | |
Wells Fargo Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2004-K-2A12(a) | | | 4.973% | | | | 07/25/34 | | | | 24,782 | | | | 24,753 | |
Wells Fargo Mortgage-Backed Securities, Series 2004-K-2A6(a) | | | 4.973% | | | | 07/25/34 | | | | 597,213 | | | | 596,505 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20,098,507 | |
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation — 8.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FHLMC, Pool #J1-2630 | | | 4.000% | | | | 07/01/25 | | | | 814,863 | | | | 856,091 | |
FHLMC, Series 3970-HA | | | 3.000% | | | | 02/15/26 | | | | 142,180 | | | | 144,209 | |
FHLMC, Series 3810-NB | | | 4.000% | | | | 12/15/28 | | | | 210,118 | | | | 210,340 | |
FHLMC, Series 2580-PY | | | 4.000% | | | | 03/15/33 | | | | 89,164 | | | | 95,593 | |
FHLMC, Series 4529-HA | | | 3.000% | | | | 07/15/36 | | | | 95,193 | | | | 95,221 | |
FHLMC, Series 3837-JA | | | 4.000% | | | | 05/15/38 | | | | 253 | | | | 253 | |
FHLMC, Series 3835-BA | | | 4.000% | | | | 08/15/38 | | | | 79,304 | | | | 80,296 | |
FHLMC, Series 3687-CB | | | 2.500% | | | | 11/15/38 | | | | 306,837 | | | | 309,699 | |
FHLMC, Series 4103-BG | | | 2.500% | | | | 12/15/38 | | | | 241,715 | | | | 243,870 | |
FHLMC, Series 4348-ME | | | 2.500% | | | | 06/15/39 | | | | 274,070 | | | | 279,156 | |
FHLMC, Series 3597-LH | | | 4.500% | | | | 07/15/39 | | | | 498,825 | | | | 534,828 | |
FHLMC, Series 3919-BG | | | 3.000% | | | | 08/15/39 | | | | 518,214 | | | | 524,801 | |
FHLMC, Series 4219-JA | | | 3.500% | | | | 08/15/39 | | | | 143,037 | | | | 147,575 | |
FHLMC, Series 4790-GA | | | 4.000% | | | | 07/15/40 | | | | 255,291 | | | | 257,206 | |
FHLMC, Series 4800-KE | | | 3.500% | | | | 12/15/40 | | | | 577,133 | | | | 582,247 | |
FHLMC, Series 4691-LE | | | 3.000% | | | | 01/15/41 | | | | 218,192 | | | | 224,335 | |
FHLMC, Series 4288-JA | | | 2.500% | | | | 03/15/41 | | | | 757,576 | | | | 764,353 | |
FHLMC, Series 4532-YA | | | 3.500% | | | | 10/15/41 | | | | 270,762 | | | | 275,708 | |
FHLMC, Series 4417-HD | | | 2.250% | | | | 11/15/41 | | | | 357,441 | | | | 363,153 | |
FHLMC, Series 4312-GA | | | 2.500% | | | | 12/15/41 | | | | 250,992 | | | | 258,226 | |
FHLMC, Series 4799-MA | | | 4.000% | | | | 03/15/42 | | | | 291,134 | | | | 295,481 | |
24
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 46.1% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Federal Home LoanMortgage Corporation — 8.6% (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FHLMC, Series 4361-WA | | | 3.500% | | | | 05/15/44 | | | $ | 626,281 | | | $ | 628,634 | |
FHLMC, Series 4800-UA | | | 3.500% | | | | 12/15/44 | | | | 1,542,690 | | | | 1,568,778 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8,740,053 | |
Federal National Mortgage Association — 12.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
FNMA, Series 2003-48-TC | | | 5.000% | | | | 06/25/23 | | | | 51,983 | | | | 54,236 | |
FNMA, Series 2010-112-CY | | | 4.000% | | | | 10/25/25 | | | | 372,352 | | | | 388,646 | |
FNMA, Series 2012-111-VA | | | 3.500% | | | | 10/25/25 | | | | 1,335,246 | | | | 1,402,874 | |
FNMA, Pool #AL0300 | | | 4.500% | | | | 06/01/26 | | | | 309,905 | | | | 329,705 | |
FNMA, Series 2012-41-BA | | | 2.500% | | | | 04/25/27 | | | | 881,409 | | | | 912,055 | |
FNMA, Pool #AL4309 | | | 4.000% | | | | 10/01/28 | | | | 552,247 | | | | 586,032 | |
FNMA, Series 2005-80-BA | | | 5.000% | | | | 04/25/29 | | | | 136,220 | | | | 150,835 | |
FNMA, Series 2005-109-PC | | | 6.000% | | | | 12/25/35 | | | | 135,002 | | | | 150,472 | |
FNMA, Series 2013-53-CL | | | 3.000% | | | | 06/25/37 | | | | 171,627 | | | | 173,641 | |
FNMA, Series 2013-62-QA | | | 3.000% | | | | 06/25/37 | | | | 1,623,136 | | | | 1,648,018 | |
FNMA, Series 2008-17-PA | | | 4.500% | | | | 10/25/37 | | | | 385,331 | | | | 411,147 | |
FNMA, Series 2014-91-PB | | | 3.000% | | | | 02/25/38 | | | | 226,063 | | | | 227,550 | |
FNMA, Series 2008-49-PA | | | 5.000% | | | | 04/25/38 | | | | 212,724 | | | | 234,408 | |
FNMA, Series 2010-152-DA | | | 3.000% | | | | 05/25/39 | | | | 731,661 | | | | 751,830 | |
FNMA, Series 2011-15-W(a) | | | 3.569% | | | | 06/25/39 | | | | 176,492 | | | | 180,466 | |
FNMA, Series 2013-83-A | | | 3.500% | | | | 09/25/39 | | | | 715,940 | | | | 737,719 | |
FNMA, Series 2009-94-DA | | | 4.500% | | | | 10/25/39 | | | | 563,444 | | | | 604,773 | |
FNMA, Series 2010-135-EA | | | 3.000% | | | | 01/25/40 | | | | 347,028 | | | | 354,846 | |
FNMA, Series 2010-109-N | | | 3.000% | | | | 10/25/40 | | | | 398,966 | | | | 421,280 | |
FNMA, Series 2017-17-CA | | | 3.000% | | | | 12/25/40 | | | | 408,248 | | | | 421,851 | |
FNMA, Series 2012-102-PA | | | 4.500% | | | | 03/25/41 | | | | 166,004 | | | | 175,973 | |
FNMA, Series 2015-55-QA | | | 3.500% | | | | 10/25/42 | | | | 503,922 | | | | 521,987 | |
FNMA, Series 2012-136-PD | | | 2.500% | | | | 11/25/42 | | | | 1,333,186 | | | | 1,364,497 | |
FNMA, Series 2014-80-KA | | | 2.000% | | | | 03/25/44 | | | | 276,607 | | | | 278,553 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12,483,394 | |
Government National Mortgage Association — 5.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
GNMA, Pool #GN615735 | | | 5.000% | | | | 07/15/23 | | | | 74,927 | | | | 82,249 | |
GNMA, Series 2010-90-LJ | | | 3.000% | | | | 10/16/37 | | | | 131,151 | | | | 132,014 | |
GNMA, Series 2012-3-LA | | | 3.500% | | | | 03/20/38 | | | | 64,405 | | | | 64,419 | |
GNMA, Series 2011-82-EH | | | 2.000% | | | | 09/20/38 | | | | 8,329 | | | | 8,322 | |
GNMA, Series 2010-10-NH | | | 4.000% | | | | 12/20/38 | | | | 39,180 | | | | 39,592 | |
GNMA, Series 2010-115-HW | | | 3.500% | | | | 05/20/39 | | | | 56,919 | | | | 57,422 | |
GNMA, Series 2011-26-PA | | | 4.000% | | | | 07/20/40 | | | | 512,523 | | | | 540,973 | |
25
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES — 46.1% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Government National Mortgage Association — 5.3% (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
GNMA, Series 2012-10-LD | | | 3.000% | | | | 07/20/40 | | | $ | 921,124 | | | $ | 949,714 | |
GNMA, Series 2012-32-CA | | | 3.500% | | | | 07/20/40 | | | | 231,126 | | | | 233,534 | |
GNMA, Series 2010-144PA | | | 3.000% | | | | 09/16/40 | | | | 182,902 | | | | 184,649 | |
GNMA, Series 2011-138-PJ | | | 2.500% | | | | 06/20/41 | | | | 295,205 | | | | 299,354 | |
GNMA, Series 2015-18-PA | | | 3.000% | | | | 04/20/43 | | | | 685,525 | | | | 703,430 | |
GNMA, Series 2014-184-ED | | | 3.000% | | | | 12/20/43 | | | | 452,008 | | | | 461,887 | |
GNMA, Series 2018-118-A(a) | | | 2.900% | | | | 08/16/60 | | | | 1,556,105 | | | | 1,599,674 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5,357,233 | |
Small Business Administration — 0.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
SBA, Series 2002-20K(a) | | | 5.080% | | | | 11/01/22 | | | | 34,690 | | | | 35,848 | |
SBA, Series 2007-20K-1 | | | 5.510% | | | | 11/01/27 | | | | 58,875 | | | | 65,037 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 100,885 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Mortgage-Backed Securities(Cost $46,137,506) | | $ | 46,780,072 | |
|
MUNICIPAL BONDS — 1.6% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
ABAG California Finance Authority for Nonprofit Corporations, Revenue Bond, Series 2017-B | | | 2.250% | | | | 09/02/20 | | | $ | 835,000 | | | $ | 838,440 | |
Contra Costa County, California, Redevelopment Agency, Tax Allocation, Series 2017-B | | | 1.750% | | | | 08/01/20 | | | | 750,000 | | | | 750,338 | |
Total Municipal Bonds(Cost $1,583,403) | | $ | 1,588,778 | |
|
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES — 5.3% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
CPS Auto Trust, 144A, Series 2018-D | | | 4.340% | | | | 09/16/24 | | | $ | 1,500,000 | | | $ | 1,562,901 | |
DB Master Finance, LLC, 144A, Series 2019-1A-A2I(a) | | | 3.787% | | | | 05/20/49 | | | | 661,005 | | | | 684,319 | |
Flagship Credit Auto Trust, 144A, Series 2016-3-C | | | 2.720% | | | | 07/15/22 | | | | 765,955 | | | | 768,665 | |
Jack in the Box Funding, LLC, 144A, Series 2019-1A | | | 3.982% | | | | 08/25/49 | | | | 498,750 | | | | 512,326 | |
26
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
ASSET-BACKEDSECURITIES — 5.3% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
SBA Tower Trust, 144A, Series 2016-1 | | | 2.877% | | | | 07/10/46 | | | $ | 1,049,000 | | | $ | 1,057,185 | |
Verizon Owner Trust, Series 2018-A(a) | | | 3.230% | | | | 04/20/23 | | | | 840,000 | | | | 858,420 | |
Total Asset-Backed Securities(Cost $5,341,406) | | $ | 5,443,816 | |
|
CORPORATE BONDS — 32.7% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Communication Services — 2.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (The) | | | 4.000% | | | | 03/15/22 | | | $ | 1,010,000 | | | $ | 1,050,248 | |
Sprint Spectrum Company, LLC, 144A | | | 4.738% | | | | 03/20/25 | | | | 1,080,000 | | | | 1,155,546 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,205,794 | |
Consumer Discretionary — 2.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Choice Hotels International, Inc. | | | 5.750% | | | | 07/01/22 | | | | 1,009,000 | | | | 1,090,356 | |
D.R. Horton, Inc. | | | 5.750% | | | | 08/15/23 | | | | 772,000 | | | | 872,828 | |
International Game Technology, 144A | | | 6.250% | | | | 02/15/22 | | | | 575,000 | | | | 592,359 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,555,543 | |
Consumer Staples — 2.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc., 144A | | | 2.700% | | | | 07/26/22 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 614,469 | |
Campbell Soup Company | | | 8.875% | | | | 05/01/21 | | | | 406,000 | | | | 440,214 | |
Constellation Brands, Inc. | | | 2.700% | | | | 05/09/22 | | | | 935,000 | | | | 961,528 | |
Procter & Gamble Company (The) | | | 9.360% | | | | 01/01/21 | | | | 683,909 | | | | 716,127 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,732,338 | |
Energy — 3.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. | | | 3.300% | | | | 06/01/20 | | | | 829,000 | | | | 831,109 | |
Kinder Morgan, Inc. | | | 5.300% | | | | 09/15/20 | | | | 1,045,000 | | | | 1,063,925 | |
Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. | | | 4.250% | | | | 02/01/21 | | | | 1,085,000 | | | | 1,108,183 | |
Newfield Exploration Company | | | 5.750% | | | | 01/30/22 | | | | 625,000 | | | | 670,080 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,673,297 | |
27
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
CORPORATE BONDS — 32.7% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Financials — 12.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ally Financial, Inc. | | | 4.125% | | | | 02/13/22 | | | $ | 750,000 | | | $ | 778,148 | |
American Tower Corporation | | | 3.500% | | | | 01/31/23 | | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,054,185 | |
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | | | 3.000% | | | | 03/22/22 | | | | 525,000 | | | | 543,358 | |
Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. | | | 4.650% | | | | 11/15/23 | | | | 898,000 | | | | 991,970 | |
Aviation Capital Group, LLC, 144A | | | 3.875% | | | | 05/01/23 | | | | 870,000 | | | | 913,839 | |
BGC Partners, Inc. | | | 5.375% | | | | 07/24/23 | | | | 995,000 | | | | 1,088,957 | |
Crown Castle International Corporation | | | 3.400% | | | | 02/15/21 | | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,013,802 | |
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | | | 3.950% | | | | 07/01/22 | | | | 1,015,000 | | | | 1,064,980 | |
Discover Financial Services | | | 3.850% | | | | 11/21/22 | | | | 1,040,000 | | | | 1,104,619 | |
First Horizon National Corporation | | | 3.500% | | | | 12/15/20 | | | | 720,000 | | | | 729,400 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | | | 5.250% | | | | 07/27/21 | | | | 900,000 | | | | 944,433 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Company | | | 4.350% | | | | 08/15/21 | | | | 920,000 | | | | 956,775 | |
Morgan Stanley | | | 5.750% | | | | 01/25/21 | | | | 1,000,000 | | | | 1,035,824 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12,220,290 | |
Health Care — 3.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 144A | | | 2.875% | | | | 02/19/21 | | | | 900,000 | | | | 911,721 | |
Fresenius Medical Care U.S. Finance II, Inc., 144A | | | 4.125% | | | | 10/15/20 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 504,368 | |
Humana, Inc. | | | 2.500% | | | | 12/15/20 | | | | 900,000 | | | | 905,697 | |
McKesson Corporation | | | 3.650% | | | | 11/30/20 | | | | 810,000 | | | | 822,710 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,144,496 | |
Industrials — 3.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Air Canada Pass-Through Certificates, 144A, Series 2015-1C | | | 5.000% | | | | 09/15/20 | | | | 85,000 | | | | 85,086 | |
Air Canada Pass-Through Certificates, 144A, Series 2013-1B | | | 5.375% | | | | 11/15/22 | | | | 393,505 | | | | 408,044 | |
America West Airlines Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2000-1G | | | 8.057% | | | | 07/02/20 | | | | 21,488 | | | | 21,937 | |
American Airlines Group Pass-Through Certificates, 144A, Series 2013-1B | | | 5.625% | | | | 01/15/21 | | | | 738,965 | | | | 756,113 | |
Continental Airlines Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2000-1A1 | | | 8.048% | | | | 11/01/20 | | | | 29,953 | | | | 30,560 | |
Continental Airlines Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2000-2A1 | | | 7.707% | | | | 10/02/22 | | | | 316,634 | | | | 323,544 | |
28
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
CORPORATE BONDS — 32.7% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Industrials — 3.3% (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Continental Airlines Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2001-1A1 | | | 6.703% | | | | 12/15/22 | | | $ | 61,051 | | | $ | 64,044 | |
Ryder Systems, Inc. | | | 2.500% | | | | 09/01/22 | | | | 1,075,000 | | | | 1,099,662 | |
US Airways, Inc. Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2001-1G | | | 7.076% | | | | 03/20/21 | | | | 565,019 | | | | 582,291 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,371,281 | |
Information Technology — 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dell, Inc., 144A | | | 4.420% | | | | 06/15/21 | | | | 1,040,000 | | | | 1,071,609 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Real Estate — 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
American Campus Communities Operating Partnership, L.P. | | | 3.750% | | | | 04/15/23 | | | | 1,040,000 | | | | 1,106,917 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Utilities — 1.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Georgia Power Company, Series A | | | 2.100% | | | | 07/30/23 | | | | 1,132,000 | | | | 1,152,430 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Corporate Bonds(Cost $32,613,900) | | $ | 33,233,995 | |
29
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 0.0%(c) | | Shares | | | Value | |
Invesco Short-Term Investments Trust - Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 1.48%(d) (Cost $2,377) | | | 2,377 | | | $ | 2,377 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments at Value — 97.4%(Cost $97,476,039) | | | | | | $ | 98,935,742 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 2.6% | | | | | | | 2,601,594 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Assets — 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 101,537,336 | |
144A - Security was purchased in a transaction exempt from registration in compliance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of such securities is $18,726,300 as of February 29, 2020, representing 18.4% of net assets (Note 9). |
1YCMT - Weekly average yield on U.S. Treasury note adjusted to constant maturity of 1 year. |
COF 11 - Cost of funds for the 11th District of San Francisco. |
H15T1Y - U.S. Treasury yield curve rate for U.S. Treasury note with a constant maturity of 1 year. |
LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate. |
(a) | Variable rate security. Interest rate resets periodically. The rate shown is the effective interest rate as of February 29, 2020. For securities based on a published reference rate and spread, the reference rate and spread (in basis points) are indicated parenthetically. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities, therefore, do not indicate a reference rate and spread. |
(b) | Step Coupon. Rate shown is the coupon in effect as of February 29, 2020. |
(c) | Percentage rounds to less than 0.1%. |
(d) | The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of February 29, 2020. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
30
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD CREDIT FUND Schedule of Investments February 29, 2020 (Unaudited) |
CORPORATE BONDS — 96.0% | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Communication Services — 18.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AMC Networks, Inc. | | | 5.000% | | | | 04/01/24 | | | $ | 505,000 | | | $ | 507,525 | |
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc., 144A | | | 9.250% | | | | 02/15/24 | | | | 553,000 | | | | 588,021 | |
CSC Holdings, LLC | | | 5.250% | | | | 06/01/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 648,000 | |
E.W. Scripps Company (The), 144A | | | 5.125% | | | | 05/15/25 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 601,500 | |
Gray Television, Inc., 144A | | | 5.125% | | | | 10/15/24 | | | | 650,000 | | | | 666,250 | |
Hughes Satellite Systems Corporation | | | 7.625% | | | | 06/15/21 | | | | 700,000 | | | | 737,142 | |
Nielsen Company Luxembourg SARL (The), 144A | | | 5.000% | | | | 02/01/25 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 592,500 | |
ORBCOMM, Inc., 144A | | | 8.000% | | | | 04/01/24 | | | | 586,000 | | | | 581,605 | |
Radio One, Inc., 144A | | | 7.375% | | | | 04/15/22 | | | | 625,000 | | | | 620,313 | |
Sirius XM Radio, Inc., 144A | | | 5.375% | | | | 04/15/25 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 615,498 | |
Sprint Corporation | | | 7.125% | | | | 06/15/24 | | | | 650,000 | | | | 737,477 | |
Townsquare Media, Inc., 144A | | | 6.500% | | | | 04/01/23 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 606,000 | |
Uber Technologies, Inc., 144A | | | 7.500% | | | | 11/01/23 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 625,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8,127,331 | |
Consumer Discretionary — 17.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
APX Group Holdings, Inc. | | | 8.750% | | | | 12/01/20 | | | | 402,000 | | | | 402,362 | |
Arrow Bidco, LLC, 144A | | | 9.500% | | | | 03/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 588,000 | |
Carvana Company, 144A | | | 8.875% | | | | 10/01/23 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 621,012 | |
DriveTime Automotive Group, Inc./Bridgecrest Acceptance Corporation, 144A | | | 8.000% | | | | 06/01/21 | | | | 650,000 | | | | 648,375 | |
Eldorado Resorts, Inc. | | | 7.000% | | | | 08/01/23 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 516,300 | |
Enterprise Development Authority (The ), 144A | | | 12.000% | | | | 07/15/24 | | | | 580,000 | | | | 664,100 | |
Golden Nugget, Inc., 144A | | | 6.750% | | | | 10/15/24 | | | | 650,000 | | | | 638,430 | |
GW Honos Security Corporation, 144A | | | 8.750% | | | | 05/15/25 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 512,500 | |
International Game Technology plc, 144A | | | 6.500% | | | | 02/15/25 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 541,875 | |
New Home Company, Inc. (The) | | | 7.250% | | | | 04/01/22 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 609,000 | |
Prime Securities Service Borrower, LLC, 144A | | | 5.250% | | | | 04/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 621,000 | |
Stena International S.A., 144A | | | 6.125% | | | | 02/01/25 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 500,000 | |
Tesla, Inc., 144A | | | 5.300% | | | | 08/15/25 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 599,250 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7,462,204 | |
31
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD CREDIT FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
CORPORATE BONDS — 96.0% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Consumer Staples — 6.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Albertsons Companies, LLC | | | 6.625% | | | | 06/15/24 | | | $ | 660,000 | | | $ | 678,150 | |
Avon Products, Inc. | | | 7.000% | | | | 03/15/23 | | | | 625,000 | | | | 679,500 | |
B&G Foods, Inc. | | | 5.250% | | | | 04/01/25 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 493,745 | |
Clearwater Paper Corporation, 144A | | | 5.375% | | | | 02/01/25 | | | | 645,000 | | | | 667,575 | |
Ingles Markets, Inc. | | | 5.750% | | | | 06/15/23 | | | | 466,000 | | | | 469,504 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,988,474 | |
Energy — 5.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings, LLC, 144A | | | 10.000% | | | | 04/01/22 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 511,332 | |
Crestwood Midstream Partners, L.P. | | | 6.250% | | | | 04/01/23 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 475,100 | |
Genesis Energy, L.P. | | | 5.625% | | | | 06/15/24 | | | | 615,000 | | | | 528,900 | |
Oasis Petroleum, Inc. | | | 6.875% | | | | 03/15/22 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 392,500 | |
WPX Energy, Inc. | | | 5.250% | | | | 09/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 598,722 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,506,554 | |
Financials — 22.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ace Cash Express, Inc., 144A | | | 12.000% | | | | 12/15/22 | | | | 574,000 | | | | 463,505 | |
Acrisure, LLC, 144A | | | 8.125% | | | | 02/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 639,930 | |
BlackRock Capital Investment Corporation, CV | | | 5.000% | | | | 06/15/22 | | | | 225,000 | | | | 225,000 | |
CFX Escrow Corporation, 144A | | | 6.000% | | | | 02/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 621,936 | |
Forestar Group, Inc., 144A | | | 8.000% | | | | 04/15/24 | | | | 615,000 | | | | 666,506 | |
FS Energy & Power Fund, 144A | | | 7.500% | | | | 08/15/23 | | | | 650,000 | | | | 670,313 | |
goeasy Ltd., 144A | | | 5.375% | | | | 12/01/24 | | | | 550,000 | | | | 566,500 | |
Icahn Enterprises, L.P. | | | 6.750% | | | | 02/01/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 621,000 | |
Intrepid Aviation Group Holdings, LLC, 144A | | | 8.500% | | | | 08/15/21 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 604,500 | |
iStar, Inc. | | | 4.250% | | | | 08/01/25 | | | | 545,000 | | | | 538,078 | |
Jefferies Finance, LLC, 144A | | | 7.250% | | | | 08/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 618,000 | |
Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. | | | 5.875% | | | | 04/01/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 609,762 | |
Lions Gate Capital Holdings, LLC, 144A | | | 5.875% | | | | 11/01/24 | | | | 625,000 | | | | 604,500 | |
LoanCore Capital Markets, LLC, 144A | | | 6.875% | | | | 06/01/20 | | | | 640,000 | | | | 636,000 | |
MBIA, Inc. | | | 6.400% | | | | 08/15/22 | | | | 611,000 | | | | 611,000 | |
NewMark Group, Inc. | | | 6.125% | | | | 11/15/23 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 659,478 | |
Oppenheimer Holdings, Inc. | | | 6.750% | | | | 07/01/22 | | | | 535,000 | | | | 546,331 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 9,902,339 | |
32
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD CREDIT FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
CORPORATE BONDS — 96.0% (Continued) | | Coupon | | | Maturity | | | Par Value | | | Value | |
Health Care — 7.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. | | | 6.500% | | | | 03/01/24 | | | $ | 600,000 | | | $ | 615,750 | |
Kinetic Concepts, Inc., 144A | | | 12.500% | | | | 11/01/21 | | | | 605,000 | | | | 613,470 | |
Magellan Health, Inc.(a) | | | 4.900% | | | | 09/22/24 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 512,500 | |
MEDNAX, Inc., 144A | | | 5.250% | | | | 12/01/23 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 489,375 | |
Polaris Intermediate Corporation, 144A | | | 8.500% | | | | 12/01/22 | | | | 605,000 | | | | 514,311 | |
Tenet Healthcare Corporation | | | 6.750% | | | | 06/15/23 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 644,760 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,390,166 | |
Industrials — 9.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Air Canada Pass-Through Certificates, 144A, Series 2015-1C | | | 5.000% | | | | 09/15/20 | | | | 130,000 | | | | 130,131 | |
Air Canada Pass-Through Certificates, 144A, Series 2013-1B | | | 5.375% | | | | 11/15/22 | | | | 336,905 | | | | 349,353 | |
Briggs & Stratton Corporation | | | 6.875% | | | | 12/15/20 | | | | 500,000 | | | | 462,500 | |
Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors, LLC, 144A | | | 6.750% | | | | 03/15/22 | | | | 595,000 | | | | 596,202 | |
GFL Environmental, Inc., 144A | | | 5.375% | | | | 03/01/23 | | | | 650,000 | | | | 667,062 | |
Stericycle, Inc., 144A | | | 5.375% | | | | 07/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 630,600 | |
Tervita Corporation, 144A | | | 7.625% | | | | 12/01/21 | | | | 650,000 | | | | 656,500 | |
XPO Logistics, Inc., 144A | | | 6.750% | | | | 08/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 633,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4,125,348 | |
Information Technology — 1.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Rackspace Hosting, Inc., 144A | | | 8.625% | | | | 11/15/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 574,500 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Materials — 5.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Berry Plastics Holding Corporation | | | 5.125% | | | | 07/15/23 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 600,294 | |
Cascades, Inc., 144A | | | 5.750% | | | | 07/15/23 | | | | 650,000 | | | | 663,000 | |
First Quantum Minerals Ltd., 144A | | | 7.250% | | | | 04/01/23 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 576,000 | |
Mercer International, Inc. | | | 7.375% | | | | 01/15/25 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 604,125 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,443,419 | |
Real Estate — 1.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
SBA Communications Corporation | | | 4.875% | | | | 09/01/24 | | | | 600,000 | | | | 616,128 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Corporate Bonds(Cost $42,308,175) | | $ | 42,136,463 | |
33
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD CREDIT FUND Schedule of Investments(Continued) |
MONEY MARKET FUNDS — 3.6% | | Shares | | | Value | |
Invesco Short-Term Investments Trust - Treasury Portfolio - Institutional Class, 1.48%(b) (Cost $1,581,994) | | | 1,581,994 | | | $ | 1,581,994 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total Investments at Value — 99.6%(Cost $43,890,169) | | | | | | $ | 43,718,457 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other Assets in Excess of Liabilities — 0.4% | | | | | | | 185,906 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net Assets — 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 43,904,363 | |
144A - Security was purchased in a transaction exempt from registration in compliance with Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. This security may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers. The total value of such securities is $25,795,830 as of February 29, 2020, representing 58.8% of net assets (Note 9). |
CV - Convertible Security. |
(a) | Step Coupon. Rate shown is the coupon in effect as of February 29, 2020. |
(b) | The rate shown is the 7-day effective yield as of February 29, 2020. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
34
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST Statements of Assets and Liabilities February 29, 2020 (Unaudited) |
| | First Western Fixed Income Fund | | | First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | | | First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investments in securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
At cost | | $ | 82,538,914 | | | $ | 97,476,039 | | | $ | 43,890,169 | |
At value (Note 2) | | $ | 86,657,129 | | | $ | 98,935,742 | | | $ | 43,718,457 | |
Cash | | | — | | | | 260 | | | | — | |
Receivable for capital shares sold | | | 6,490 | | | | — | | | | 45,688 | |
Receivable for investment securities sold | | | 985,625 | | | | 7,229,440 | | | | 1,585,015 | |
Dividends and interest receivable | | | 440,435 | | | | 469,908 | | | | 735,246 | |
Other assets | | | 23,487 | | | | 26,434 | | | | 13,768 | |
TOTAL ASSETS | | | 88,113,166 | | | | 106,661,784 | | | | 46,098,174 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends payable | | | 167,693 | | | | 194,058 | | | | 151,881 | |
Payable for capital shares redeemed | | | 11 | | | | 373,859 | | | | 151,251 | |
Payable for investment securities purchased | | | 1,549,612 | | | | 4,493,747 | | | | 1,854,970 | |
Payable to Adviser (Note 4) | | | 8,644 | | | | 15,241 | | | | 13,252 | |
Payable to administrator (Note 4) | | | 10,590 | | | | 11,825 | | | | 7,745 | |
Other accrued expenses and liabilities | | | 29,218 | | | | 35,718 | | | | 14,712 | |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 1,765,768 | | | | 5,124,448 | | | | 2,193,811 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 86,347,398 | | | $ | 101,537,336 | | | $ | 43,904,363 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets consist of: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Paid-in capital | | $ | 82,337,767 | | | $ | 101,964,331 | | | $ | 45,352,334 | |
Accumulated earnings (deficit) | | | 4,009,631 | | | | (426,995 | ) | | | (1,447,971 | ) |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 86,347,398 | | | $ | 101,537,336 | | | $ | 43,904,363 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
PRICING OF INSTITUTIONAL SHARES (NOTE 1) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets applicable to Institutional Shares | | $ | 86,347,398 | | | $ | 101,537,336 | | | $ | 43,904,363 | |
Shares of Institutional Shares outstanding (unlimited number of shares authorized, no par value) | | | 8,414,423 | | | | 10,192,000 | | | | 4,507,976 | |
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share (Note 2) | | $ | 10.26 | | | $ | 9.96 | | | $ | 9.74 | |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
35
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST Statements of Operations For the Six Months Ended February 29, 2020 (Unaudited) |
| | First Western Fixed Income Fund | | | First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | | | First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | |
INVESTMENT INCOME | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest | | $ | 1,195,006 | | | $ | 1,524,150 | | | $ | 1,335,704 | |
Dividends | | | 18,800 | | | | 15,797 | | | | 7,902 | |
TOTAL INCOME | | | 1,213,806 | | | | 1,539,947 | | | | 1,343,606 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment advisory fees (Note 4) | | | 202,149 | | | | 185,634 | | | | 168,644 | |
Administration fees (Note 4) | | | 32,399 | | | | 41,802 | | | | 18,017 | |
Pricing costs | | | 24,879 | | | | 29,904 | | | | 11,443 | |
Fund accounting fees (Note 4) | | | 19,050 | | | | 20,302 | | | | 17,248 | |
Trustees’ fees and expenses (Note 4) | | | 15,719 | | | | 15,719 | | | | 15,719 | |
Custodian and bank service fees | | | 13,474 | | | | 15,702 | | | | 5,969 | |
Registration and filing fees | | | 11,961 | | | | 13,622 | | | | 5,284 | |
Legal fees | | | 9,916 | | | | 9,916 | | | | 9,916 | |
Audit and tax services fees | | | 9,500 | | | | 9,500 | | | | 9,500 | |
Compliance service fees (Note 4) | | | 6,000 | | | | 6,000 | | | | 6,000 | |
Transfer agent fees (Note 4) | | | 6,000 | | | | 6,000 | | | | 6,000 | |
Borrowing costs (Note 6) | | | 41 | | | | — | | | | — | |
Other expenses | | | 8,930 | | | | 10,142 | | | | 7,768 | |
TOTAL EXPENSES | | | 360,018 | | | | 364,243 | | | | 281,508 | |
Less fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 4) | | | (117,399 | ) | | | (46,013 | ) | | | (67,893 | ) |
NET EXPENSES | | | 242,619 | | | | 318,230 | | | | 213,615 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME | | | 971,187 | | | | 1,221,717 | | | | 1,129,991 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions | | | 297,943 | | | | 319,245 | | | | (547,630 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | | | 1,168,210 | | | | 111,437 | | | | (428,850 | ) |
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS | | | 1,466,153 | | | | 430,682 | | | | (976,480 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | 2,437,340 | | | $ | 1,652,399 | | | $ | 153,511 | |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
36
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
| | Six Months Ended February 29, 2020 (Unaudited) | | | Year Ended August 31, 2019 | |
FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 971,187 | | | $ | 1,839,392 | |
Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions | | | 297,943 | | | | (44,992 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | | | 1,168,210 | | | | 3,463,579 | |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | | 2,437,340 | | | | 5,257,979 | |
| | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 2) | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | (1,043,447 | ) | | | (1,904,066 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | 13,469,805 | | | | 29,842,461 | |
Reinvestments of distributions to shareholders | | | 503,536 | | | | 1,048,520 | |
Payments for shares redeemed | | | (5,656,461 | ) | | | (17,628,296 | ) |
Net increase in net assets from capital share transactions | | | 8,316,880 | | | | 13,262,685 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS | | | 9,710,773 | | | | 16,616,598 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 76,636,625 | | | | 60,020,027 | |
End of period | | $ | 86,347,398 | | | $ | 76,636,625 | |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 1,339,381 | | | | 3,050,242 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders | | | 50,105 | | | | 107,792 | |
Shares redeemed | | | (562,479 | ) | | | (1,823,354 | ) |
Net increase in shares outstanding | | | 827,007 | | | | 1,334,680 | |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 7,587,416 | | | | 6,252,736 | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 8,414,423 | | | | 7,587,416 | |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
37
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
| | Six Months Ended February 29, 2020 (Unaudited) | | | Year Ended August 31, 2019 | |
FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 1,221,717 | | | $ | 3,167,198 | |
Net realized gains (losses) from investment transactions | | | 319,245 | | | | (280,455 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | | | 111,437 | | | | 2,509,274 | |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | | 1,652,399 | | | | 5,396,017 | |
| | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 2) | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | (1,446,586 | ) | | | (3,542,700 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | 8,282,380 | | | | 31,940,221 | |
Reinvestments of distributions to shareholders | | | 882,278 | | | | 2,326,812 | |
Payments for shares redeemed | | | (20,808,817 | ) | | | (51,398,171 | ) |
Net decrease in net assets from capital share transactions | | | (11,644,159 | ) | | | (17,131,138 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL DECREASE IN NET ASSETS | | | (11,438,346 | ) | | | (15,277,821 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 112,975,682 | | | | 128,253,503 | |
End of period | | $ | 101,537,336 | | | $ | 112,975,682 | |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 834,948 | | | | 3,256,693 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders | | | 88,953 | | | | 236,399 | |
Shares redeemed | | | (2,094,489 | ) | | | (5,218,474 | ) |
Net decrease in shares outstanding | | | (1,170,588 | ) | | | (1,725,382 | ) |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 11,362,588 | | | | 13,087,970 | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 10,192,000 | | | | 11,362,588 | |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
38
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD CREDIT FUND Statements of Changes in Net Assets |
| | Six Months Ended February 29, 2020 (Unaudited) | | | Year Ended August 31, 2019 | |
FROM OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | $ | 1,129,991 | | | $ | 2,276,451 | |
Net realized losses from investment transactions | | | (547,630 | ) | | | (469,352 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | | | (428,850 | ) | | | 194,436 | |
Net increase in net assets from operations | | | 153,511 | | | | 2,001,535 | |
| | | | | | | | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS (Note 2) | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | (1,132,041 | ) | | | (2,264,201 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
FROM CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from shares sold | | | 3,309,422 | | | | 18,795,435 | |
Reinvestments of distributions to shareholders | | | 635,500 | | | | 1,554,722 | |
Payments for shares redeemed | | | (4,891,547 | ) | | | (15,987,661 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions | | | (946,625 | ) | | | 4,362,496 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS | | | (1,925,155 | ) | | | 4,099,830 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NET ASSETS | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 45,829,518 | | | | 41,729,688 | |
End of period | | $ | 43,904,363 | | | $ | 45,829,518 | |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL SHARE ACTIVITY | | | | | | | | |
Institutional Shares | | | | | | | | |
Shares sold | | | 332,285 | | | | 1,892,997 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions to shareholders | | | 64,013 | | | | 157,112 | |
Shares redeemed | | | (492,116 | ) | | | (1,620,583 | ) |
Net increase (decrease) in shares outstanding | | | (95,818 | ) | | | 429,526 | |
Shares outstanding, beginning of period | | | 4,603,794 | | | | 4,174,268 | |
Shares outstanding, end of period | | | 4,507,976 | | | | 4,603,794 | |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
39
FIRST WESTERN FIXED INCOME FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES Financial Highlights |
Per share data for a share outstanding throughout each period: |
| | Six Months Ended Feb. 29, 2020 (Unaudited) | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2019 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2018 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2017 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2016 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2015 | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 10.10 | | | $ | 9.60 | | | $ | 9.91 | | | $ | 9.97 | | | $ | 9.76 | | | $ | 9.93 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | 0.12 | | | | 0.28 | | | | 0.27 | | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.24 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | | | 0.17 | | | | 0.51 | | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.00 | )(a) | | | 0.25 | | | | (0.07 | ) |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.29 | | | | 0.79 | | | | (0.00 | )(a) | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.50 | | | | 0.17 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | | | (0.13 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) | | | (0.27 | ) |
From net realized gains on investments | | | — | | | | — | | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.02 | ) | | | (0.07 | ) |
Total distributions | | | (0.13 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.31 | ) | | | (0.29 | ) | | | (0.34 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 10.26 | | | $ | 10.10 | | | $ | 9.60 | | | $ | 9.91 | | | $ | 9.97 | | | $ | 9.76 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total return(b) | | | 2.88 | %(c) | | | 8.42 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | 2.51 | % | | | 5.25 | % | | | 1.74 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 86,347 | | | $ | 76,637 | | | $ | 60,020 | | | $ | 62,800 | | | $ | 66,869 | | | $ | 64,171 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets(d) | | | 0.89 | %(e) | | | 0.94 | % | | | 0.95 | % | | | 0.95 | % | | | 0.93 | % | | | 0.92 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | | 0.60 | %(e) | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.60 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | | 2.40 | %(e) | | | 2.92 | % | | | 2.77 | % | | | 2.53 | % | | | 2.51 | % | | | 2.40 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 17 | %(c) | | | 36 | % | | | 46 | % | | | 37 | % | | | 38 | % | | | 129 | % |
(a) | Rounds to less than $0.01 per share. |
(b) | Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Had the Adviser not reduced its fees, the total returns would have been lower. |
(c) | Not annualized. |
(d) | Ratios were determined based on expenses prior to any fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 4). |
(e) | Annualized. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
40
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION BOND FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES Financial Highlights |
Per share data for a share outstanding throughout each period: |
| | Six Months Ended Feb. 29, 2020 (Unaudited) | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2019 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2018 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2017 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2016 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2015 | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 9.94 | | | $ | 9.80 | | | $ | 9.97 | | | $ | 9.99 | | | $ | 9.98 | | | $ | 10.07 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | 0.11 | | | | 0.24 | | | | 0.21 | | | | 0.18 | | | | 0.20 | | | | 0.19 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.18 | | | | (0.14 | ) | | | 0.03 | | | | 0.03 | | | | (0.06 | ) |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.16 | | | | 0.42 | | | | 0.07 | | | | 0.21 | | | | 0.23 | | | | 0.13 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | | | (0.24 | ) | | | (0.23 | ) | | | (0.22 | ) | | | (0.21 | ) |
From net realized gains on investments | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | (0.01 | ) |
Total distributions | | | (0.14 | ) | | | (0.28 | ) | | | (0.24 | ) | | | (0.23 | ) | | | (0.22 | ) | | | (0.22 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 9.96 | | | $ | 9.94 | | | $ | 9.80 | | | $ | 9.97 | | | $ | 9.99 | | | $ | 9.98 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total return(a) | | | 1.59 | %(b) | | | 4.31 | % | | | 0.73 | % | | | 2.15 | % | | | 2.35 | % | | | 1.39 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 101,537 | | | $ | 112,976 | | | $ | 128,254 | | | $ | 127,653 | | | $ | 139,748 | | | $ | 74,999 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets(c) | | | 0.69 | %(d) | | | 0.63 | % | | | 0.65 | % | | | 0.66 | % | | | 0.71 | % | | | 0.75 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | | 0.60 | %(d) | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.60 | % | | | 0.60 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | | 2.31 | %(d) | | | 2.48 | % | | | 2.09 | % | | | 1.82 | % | | | 1.96 | % | | | 1.89 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 30 | %(b) | | | 47 | % | | | 51 | % | | | 55 | % | | | 45 | % | | | 63 | % |
(a) | Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Had the Adviser not reduced its fees, the total returns would have been lower. |
(b) | Not annualized. |
(c) | Ratios were determined based on expenses prior to any fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 4). |
(d) | Annualized. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
41
FIRST WESTERN SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD CREDIT FUND INSTITUTIONAL SHARES Financial Highlights |
Per share data for a share outstanding throughout each period: |
| | Six Months Ended Feb. 29, 2020 (Unaudited) | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2019 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2018 | | | Year Ended Aug. 31, 2017 | | | Period Ended Aug. 31, 2016(a) | |
Net asset value at beginning of period | | $ | 9.95 | | | $ | 10.00 | | | $ | 10.28 | | | $ | 10.02 | | | $ | 10.00 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (loss) from investment operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income | | | 0.25 | | | | 0.52 | | | | 0.52 | | | | 0.58 | | | | 0.49 | |
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments | | | (0.21 | ) | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.21 | ) | | | 0.26 | | | | 0.02 | |
Total from investment operations | | | 0.04 | | | | 0.47 | | | | 0.31 | | | | 0.84 | | | | 0.51 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
From net investment income | | | (0.25 | ) | | | (0.52 | ) | | | (0.52 | ) | | | (0.58 | ) | | | (0.49 | ) |
From net realized gains on investments | | | — | | | | — | | | | (0.07 | ) | | | — | | | | (0.00 | )(b) |
Total distributions | | | (0.25 | ) | | | (0.52 | ) | | | (0.59 | ) | | | (0.58 | ) | | | (0.49 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net asset value at end of period | | $ | 9.74 | | | $ | 9.95 | | | $ | 10.00 | | | $ | 10.28 | | | $ | 10.02 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total return(c) | | | 0.39 | %(d) | | | 4.87 | % | | | 3.08 | % | | | 8.63 | % | | | 5.40 | %(d) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets at end of period (000’s) | | $ | 43,904 | | | $ | 45,830 | | | $ | 41,730 | | | $ | 44,897 | | | $ | 42,535 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of total expenses to average net assets(e) | | | 1.25 | %(f) | | | 1.25 | % | | | 1.25 | % | | | 1.29 | % | | | 1.23 | %(f) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets | | | 0.95 | %(f) | | | 0.95 | % | | | 0.95 | % | | | 0.95 | % | | | 0.95 | %(f) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | | | 5.04 | %(f) | | | 5.29 | % | | | 5.08 | % | | | 5.69 | % | | | 5.94 | %(f) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio turnover rate | | | 41 | %(d) | | | 86 | % | | | 78 | % | | | 108 | % | | | 103 | %(d) |
(a) | Represents the period from the commencement of operations (October 1, 2015) through August 31, 2016. |
(b) | Rounds to less than $0.01 per share. |
(c) | Total return is a measure of the change in value of an investment in the Fund over the periods covered, which assumes any dividends or capital gains distributions are reinvested in shares of the Fund. The returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Had the Adviser not reduced its fees, the total returns would have been lower. |
(d) | Not annualized. |
(e) | Ratios were determined based on expenses prior to any fee reductions by the Adviser (Note 4). |
(f) | Annualized. |
See accompanying notes to financial statements. |
42
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements
February 29, 2020 (Unaudited)
1. Organization
First Western Fixed Income Fund, First Western Short Duration Bond Fund and First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund (individually, a “Fund,” and, collectively, the “Funds”) are each a diversified series of The First Western Funds Trust (the “Trust”), an open-end management investment company established as an Ohio business trust under a Declaration of Trust dated April 2, 2012.
The investment objective of First Western Fixed Income Fund is total return. The investment objective of First Western Short Duration Bond Fund is to seek a high level of income consistent with preservation of capital and liquidity. The investment objective of First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund is to seek a high level of income and capital appreciation.
Each Fund has registered two classes of shares, Institutional shares and Retail shares. As of the date of this report, Retail shares of each Fund are not currently offered. When both classes of each Fund are offered, each share class will represent an ownership interest in the corresponding Fund’s investment portfolio.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
The following is a summary of the Funds’ significant accounting policies used in the preparation of their financial statements. These policies are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The Funds follow accounting and reporting guidance under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, “Financial Services – Investment Companies.”
Securities valuation – Securities are generally valued using prices provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). The independent pricing service uses information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining these prices. The methods used by the independent pricing service and the quality of valuations so established are reviewed by First Western Capital Management Company (the “Adviser”) under the general supervision of the Board.
In the event that market prices are not readily available or are considered unreliable due to market or other events, the Funds value their securities and other assets at fair value using procedures approved by the Board. Investments in registered investment companies, including money market funds, are reported at their respective net asset values (“NAVs”) as reported by those companies.
43
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
GAAP establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements.
Various inputs are used in determining the value of each Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
● | Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities |
● | Level 2 – other significant observable inputs |
● | Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs |
Fixed income securities held by the Funds are typically classified as Level 2 since values are typically provided by an independent pricing service that utilizes various “other significant observable inputs,” including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers, reference data and industry and market events. The inputs or methodology used are not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The following is a summary of the investments based on inputs used to value the Funds’ investments as of February 29, 2020:
First Western Fixed Income Fund
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | | $ | — | | | $ | 23,600,644 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 23,600,644 | |
U.S. Government Agency Obligations | | | — | | | | 2,664,166 | | | | — | | | | 2,664,166 | |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | | | — | | | | 36,052,236 | | | | — | | | | 36,052,236 | |
Municipal Bonds | | | — | | | | 849,225 | | | | — | | | | 849,225 | |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | — | | | | 2,254,355 | | | | — | | | | 2,254,355 | |
Corporate Bonds | | | — | | | | 20,103,057 | | | | — | | | | 20,103,057 | |
Money Market Funds | | | 1,133,446 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,133,446 | |
Total | | $ | 1,133,446 | | | $ | 85,523,683 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 86,657,129 | |
44
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
First Western Short Duration Bond Fund
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
U.S. Treasury Obligations | | $ | — | | | $ | 11,057,613 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 11,057,613 | |
U.S. Government Agency Obligations | | | — | | | | 829,091 | | | | — | | | | 829,091 | |
Mortgage-Backed Securities | | | — | | | | 46,780,072 | | | | — | | | | 46,780,072 | |
Municipal Bonds | | | — | | | | 1,588,778 | | | | — | | | | 1,588,778 | |
Asset-Backed Securities | | | — | | | | 5,443,816 | | | | — | | | | 5,443,816 | |
Corporate Bonds | | | — | | | | 33,233,995 | | | | — | | | | 33,233,995 | |
Money Market Funds | | | 2,377 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,377 | |
Total | | $ | 2,377 | | | $ | 98,933,365 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 98,935,742 | |
First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund
| | Level 1 | | | Level 2 | | | Level 3 | | | Total | |
Corporate Bonds | | $ | — | | | $ | 42,136,463 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 42,136,463 | |
Money Market Funds | | | 1,581,994 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,581,994 | |
Total | | $ | 1,581,994 | | | $ | 42,136,463 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 43,718,457 | |
The Funds did not hold any derivative instruments or assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) as of or during the six months ended February 29, 2020.
Share valuation – The NAV per share of each class of each Fund is calculated daily by dividing the total value of the assets attributable to that class, less liabilities attributable to that class, by the number of shares outstanding of that class. The offering price and redemption price per share of each class of each Fund is equal to the NAV per share of such class.
Common expenses – Common expenses of the Trust are allocated among the Funds based on relative net assets of each Fund or the nature of the services performed and the relative applicability to each Fund.
Investment income – Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends included in dividend income, if any, are recorded at the fair market value of the security received. Interest income is accrued as earned. Discounts and premiums on fixed income securities purchased are accreted or amortized using the effective interest method and recognized within interest income.
Investment transactions – Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses on investments sold are determined on a specific identification basis.
45
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
Distributions to shareholders – Dividends from net investment income are declared and paid monthly to shareholders. Net realized capital gains, if any, are distributed at least once each year. The amount of distributions from net investment income and net realized capital gains are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The tax character of distributions paid to shareholders during the periods ended February 29, 2020 and August 31, 2019 was ordinary income.
Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Federal income tax – Each Fund has qualified and intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Accordingly, the Funds intend to distribute their taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is provided in the Funds’ financial statements.
In order to avoid imposition of the excise tax applicable to regulated investment companies, it is also each Fund’s intention to declare as dividends in each calendar year at least 98% of its net investment income (earned during the calendar year) and 98.2% of its net realized capital gains (earned during the twelve months ended October 31) plus undistributed amounts from prior years.
The following information is computed on a tax basis for each item as of February 29, 2020:
| | First Western Fixed Income Fund | | | First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | | | First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | |
Tax cost of portfolio investments | | $ | 82,538,914 | | | $ | 97,476,039 | | | $ | 43,892,676 | |
Gross unrealized appreciation | | $ | 4,152,510 | | | $ | 1,563,627 | | | $ | 704,410 | |
Gross unrealized depreciation | | | (34,295 | ) | | | (103,924 | ) | | | (878,629 | ) |
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | | | 4,118,215 | | | | 1,459,703 | | | | (174,219 | ) |
Accumulated ordinary income | | | 183,865 | | | | 214,927 | | | | 169,457 | |
Capital losses carryforwards | | | (349,478 | ) | | | (2,004,922 | ) | | | (742,193 | ) |
Other gains (losses) | | | 224,722 | | | | 97,355 | | | | (549,135 | ) |
Distributions payable | | | (167,693 | ) | | | (194,058 | ) | | | (151,881 | ) |
Accumulated earnings (deficit) | | $ | 4,009,631 | | | $ | (426,995 | ) | | $ | (1,447,971 | ) |
46
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
The difference between the federal income tax cost of portfolio investments and the financial statement cost of portfolio investments for First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund is due to certain timing differences in the recognition of capital gains and losses under income tax regulations and GAAP. These “book/tax” differences are temporary in nature and are primarily due to the tax deferral of losses on wash sales.
As of August 31, 2019, the Funds had the following capital loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes:
| | First Western Fixed Income Fund | | | First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | | | First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | |
Short-term loss carryforwards | | $ | 84,046 | | | $ | 738,916 | | | $ | 522,141 | |
Long-term loss carryforwards | | | 265,432 | | | | 1,266,006 | | | | 220,052 | |
Total | | $ | 349,478 | | | $ | 2,004,922 | | | $ | 742,193 | |
These capital loss carryforwards may be carried forward indefinitely and are available to offset net realized capital gains in the current and future years, thereby reducing future taxable capital gain distributions.
The Funds recognize the tax benefits or expenses of uncertain tax positions only when the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has reviewed each Fund’s tax positions taken on Federal income tax returns for the current and all open tax years (generally, three years) and has concluded that no provision for unrecognized tax benefits or expenses is required in these financial statements and does not expect this to change over the next year. Each Fund identifies its major tax jurisdiction as U.S. Federal.
3. Investment Transactions
During the six months ended February 29, 2020, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities, other than short-term investments and U.S. government securities, were as follows:
| | First Western Fixed Income Fund | | | First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | | | First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | |
Purchases of investment securities | | $ | 9,708,025 | | | $ | 17,482,743 | | | $ | 17,402,981 | |
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investment securities | | $ | 9,969,064 | | | $ | 31,867,021 | | | $ | 18,510,989 | |
47
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
During the six months ended February 29, 2020, cost of purchases and proceeds from sales and maturities of U.S. government long-term securities were as follows:
| | First Western Fixed Income Fund | | | First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | | | First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | |
Purchases of U.S. government long-term securities | | $ | 13,793,773 | | | $ | 13,861,208 | | | $ | — | |
Proceeds from sales and maturities of U.S. government securities | | $ | 3,156,410 | | | $ | 11,418,391 | | | $ | — | |
4. Transactions with Related Parties
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS
The Adviser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Western Financial, Inc., a financial holding company.
Under the terms of an Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, First Western Fixed Income Fund pays the Adviser a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.50% of its average daily net assets. Under the terms of a separate Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, First Western Short Duration Bond Fund pays the Adviser a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.35% of its average daily net assets. Under the terms of a separate Investment Advisory Agreement between the Trust and the Adviser, First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund pays the Adviser a fee, which is computed and accrued daily and paid monthly, at the annual rate of 0.75% of its average daily net assets.
The Adviser has contractually agreed until January 1, 2021 to reduce its investment advisory fees and to pay other operating expenses to the extent necessary to limit annual ordinary operating expenses (excluding brokerage costs, taxes, borrowing costs, interest, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) to 0.60% of the average daily net assets allocable to Institutional Shares of each of First Western Fixed Income Fund and First Western Short Duration Bond Fund and to 0.95% of the average daily net assets allocable to Institutional Shares of First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund. During the six months ended February 29, 2020, the Adviser reduced its advisory fees by $117,399, $46,013 and $67,893 with respect to First Western Fixed Income Fund, First Western Short Duration Bond Fund and First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund, respectively.
48
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
Advisory fee reductions and expense reimbursements by the Adviser are subject to repayment by the Funds for a period of three years after such fees and expenses were incurred, provided that the repayments do not cause a Fund’s ordinary operating expenses (excluding brokerage costs, taxes, borrowing costs, interest, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses) to exceed the agreed upon expense limitations. As of February 29, 2020, the Adviser may in the future recover advisory fee reductions and expense reimbursements totaling $657,792, $192,759 and $405,210 with respect to First Western Fixed Income Fund, First Western Short Duration Bond Fund and First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund, respectively. The Adviser may recover these amounts no later than the dates stated below:
| | First Western Fixed Income Fund | | | First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | | | First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | |
August 31, 2020 | | $ | 110,435 | | | $ | 39,312 | | | $ | 71,941 | |
August 31, 2021 | | | 218,064 | | | | 66,749 | | | | 136,394 | |
August 31, 2022 | | | 211,894 | | | | 40,685 | | | | 128,982 | |
February 28, 2023 | | | 117,399 | | | | 46,013 | | | | 67,893 | |
| | $ | 657,792 | | | $ | 192,759 | | | $ | 405,210 | |
Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of the Adviser.
OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS
Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (“Ultimus”) provides administration, fund accounting, compliance, and transfer agency services to the Funds. The Funds pay Ultimus fees in accordance with the agreements for such services. In addition, the Funds pay out-of-pocket expenses including, but not limited to, postage, supplies and certain costs related to the pricing of the Funds’ portfolio securities.
Pursuant to the terms of a Distribution Agreement with the Trust, Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC (“UFD”) serves as principal underwriter and exclusive agent for the distribution of shares of the Funds. UFD is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ultimus. UFD is compensated by the Adviser (not the Funds) for its services to the Trust.
Certain officers of the Trust are also officers of Ultimus or UFD.
49
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
TRUSTEES’ COMPENSATION
Each Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Trust (“Independent Trustee”) receives from the Trust an annual fee of $30,000, payable quarterly, $1,000 for each special board meeting attended, plus reimbursement of travel and other expenses incurred in attending meetings.
Trustees who are affiliated with the Adviser do not receive compensation from the Trust. Each Fund pays its proportionate share of the Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses.
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF FUND SHARES
As of February 29, 2020, the following shareholders owned of record 25% or more of the outstanding shares of each Fund:
NAME OF RECORD OWNERS | % Ownership |
First Western Fixed Income Fund | |
Maril & Company (for the benefit of its customers) | 98% |
| |
First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | |
Maril & Company (for the benefit of its customers) | 91% |
| |
First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | |
National Financial Services, LLC (for the benefit of its customers) | 98% |
A beneficial owner of 25% or more of a Fund’s outstanding shares may be considered a controlling person. That shareholder’s vote could have a more significant effect on matters presented at a shareholders’ meeting.
5. Contingencies and Commitments
The Funds indemnify the Trust’s officers and Trustees for certain liabilities that might arise from the performance of their duties to the Funds. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Funds that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Funds expect the risk of loss to be remote.
6. Bank Line of Credit
First Western Fixed Income Fund and First Western Short Duration Bond Fund each have an uncommitted $3,500,000 senior secured line of credit with its custodian bank which expires on December 10, 2020. First Western Short Duration High Yield
50
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
Credit Fund has an uncommitted $2,000,000 senior secured line of credit with its custodian bank which expires on December 10, 2020. All portfolio securities held by each Fund are pledged as collateral for its line of credit. Borrowings under the lines of credit bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the bank’s Prime Rate at the time of borrowing. As of February 29, 2020, the Prime Rate was 4.75%. During the six months ended February 29, 2020, the First Western Fixed Income Fund incurred $41 of interest expense and fees related to borrowings. The Fund borrowed $311,000 for one day during the six months ended February 29, 2020. As of February 29, 2020, the Fund did not have any outstanding borrowings. During the six months ended February 29, 2020, First Western Short Duration Bond Fund and First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund did not borrow under their respective lines of credit.
7. Risks Associated with Mortgage-Backed Securities
First Western Fixed Income Fund and First Western Short Duration Bond Fund have each adopted a fundamental policy to concentrate its investments in mortgage-backed securities. This means each Fund will invest at least 25% of its total assets in agency and non-agency mortgage-backed securities. The Funds’ investments in mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk, especially when interest rates decline. Prepayment risk is the risk that the principal on mortgage-backed securities, other asset-backed securities or any fixed-income security with an embedded call option may be prepaid at any time, which could reduce yield and market value. This could reduce the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security and cause the Funds to reinvest their assets at a lower prevailing interest rate. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to extension risk, which is the risk that rising interest rates will increase the effective maturity of mortgage-backed securities due to the deceleration of prepayments. Mortgage-backed securities may also be subject to risks unique to the housing industry, including mortgage lending practices, defaults, foreclosures and changes in real estate values. The Funds’ investments in collateralized mortgage obligations are subject to default risk, prepayment and extension risk and market risk when interest rates rise. As a result of each Fund’s policy to concentrate in mortgage-backed securities, the Funds will be subject to the risks associated with these securities to a greater degree than a fund that does not concentrate in mortgage-backed securities. As of February 29, 2020, First Western Fixed Income Fund and First Western Short Duration Bond Fund had 41.8% and 46.1%, respectively, of the value of their net assets invested in mortgage-backed securities.
51
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Notes to Financial Statements(Continued)
8. Risks Associated with Lower Rated Debt Securities
First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund invests primarily in lower-rated debt securities (commonly called “junk” bonds). These securities are often considered to be speculative and involve greater risk of default or price changes than higher-rated securities due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Prices of lower-rated securities have been found to be less sensitive to interest rate changes and more sensitive to adverse economic changes and individual corporate developments than more highly rated investments. An economic downturn tends to disrupt the market for lower-rated securities and may adversely affect their values. Such an economic downturn may be expected to result in increased defaults by the issuers of such securities. Securities rated below Baa by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or BBB by Standards & Poor’s or Fitch Ratings are generally considered to be “junk” bonds.
9. Risks Associated with Rule 144A Securities
Rule 144A securities are securities that are exempt from registration in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules thereunder, and may have legal restrictions on resale. Under Rule 144A, these privately placed securities may be resold to qualified institutional buyers (“QIBs”), subject to certain conditions. An insufficient number of QIBs interested in purchasing Rule 144A securities at a particular time could adversely affect the marketability of the securities and a Fund might be unable to dispose of the securities promptly or at a reasonable price. As of February 29, 2020, First Western Fixed Income Fund, First Western Short Duration Bond Fund and First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund had 12.7%, 18.4% and 58.8%, respectively, of the value of their net assets invested in Rule 144A securities.
10. Subsequent Events
The Funds are required to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed as of the date of the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. For non-recognized subsequent events that must be disclosed to keep the financial statements from being misleading, the Funds are required to disclose the nature of the event as well as an estimate of its financial effect, or a statement that such an estimate cannot be made. Management has evaluated subsequent events through the issuance of these financial statements and has noted no such events other than the following:
On March 31, 2020, First Western Fixed Income Fund, First Western Short Duration Bond Fund and First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund paid net investment income dividends of $0.0211, $0.0207 and $0.0452 per share, respectively, to shareholders of record on March 30, 2020.
52
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
About Your Funds’ Expenses(Unaudited)
We believe it is important for you to understand the impact of costs on your investment. As a shareholder of the Funds, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees and other operating expenses. The following examples are intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Funds and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds.
A mutual fund’s ongoing costs are expressed as a percentage of its average net assets. This figure is known as the expense ratio. The expenses in the table below are based on an investment of $1,000 made at the beginning of the most recent period (September 1, 2019) and held until the end of the period (February 29, 2020).
The table below illustrates each Fund’s ongoing costs in two ways:
Actual fund return – This section helps you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from each Fund’s actual return, and the fourth column shows the dollar amount of operating expenses that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Funds. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period.
To do so, simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number given for the Funds under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period.”
Hypothetical 5% return – This section is intended to help you compare the Funds’ ongoing costs with those of other mutual funds. It assumes that each Fund had an annual return of 5% before expenses during the period shown, but that the expense ratio is unchanged. In this case, because the return used is not the Funds’ actual return, the results do not apply to your investment. The example is useful in making comparisons because the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) requires all mutual funds to calculate expenses based on a 5% return. You can assess each Fund’s ongoing costs by comparing this hypothetical example with the hypothetical examples that appear in shareholder reports of other funds.
Note that expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight and help you compare ongoing costs only. The Funds do not charge transaction fees, such as purchase or redemption fees, nor do they carry a “sales load.” The calculations assume no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.
More information about the Funds’ expenses can be found in this report. For additional information on operating expenses and other shareholder costs, please refer to each Fund’s prospectus.
53
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
About Your Funds’ Expenses(Unaudited) (Continued)
| Beginning Account Value September 1, 2019 | Ending Account Value February 29, 2020 | Net Expense Ratio(a) | Expenses Paid During Period(b) |
First Western Fixed Income Fund | | | |
Based on Actual Fund Return | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,028.80 | 0.60% | $ 3.03 |
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,021.88 | 0.60% | $ 3.02 |
| | | | |
First Western Short Duration Bond Fund | | | |
Based on Actual Fund Return | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,015.90 | 0.60% | $ 3.01 |
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,021.88 | 0.60% | $ 3.02 |
| | | | |
First Western Fixed Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund | | |
Based on Actual Fund Return | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,003.90 | 0.95% | $ 4.73 |
Based on Hypothetical 5% Return (before expenses) | $ 1,000.00 | $ 1,020.14 | 0.95% | $ 4.77 |
(a) | Annualized, based on each Fund’s most recent one-half year expenses. |
(b) | Expenses are equal to each Fund’s annualized net expense ratio multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 182/366 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
54
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Other Information(Unaudited)
A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge upon request by calling toll-free 1-800-292-6775, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is also available without charge upon request by calling toll-free 1-800-292-6775, or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The Trust files a complete listing of portfolio holdings for the Funds with the SEC as of the end of the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q or as an exhibit to its reports on Form N-Q’s successor form, Form N-PORT. These filings are available upon request by calling 1-800-292-6775. Furthermore, you may obtain a copy of the filings on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
55
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders(Unaudited)
On September 13, 2019, a Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Trust (the “Meeting”) was held for the purpose of voting on three proposals, all of which were approved by shareholders: (i) the election of three nominees to serve on the Board of Trustees of the Trust; (ii) the approval, with respect to each Fund, of a new advisory agreement between the Trust and Oakhurst Advisors, LLC; and (iii) the approval, with respect to each Fund, of a “manager of managers” structure that would allow Oakhurst Advisors, LLC and the Funds to enter into and materially amend investment sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated sub-advisers and certain affiliated sub-advisers without obtaining additional shareholder approval, subject to certain conditions.
The Meeting was held primarily to vote on a new advisory agreement on behalf of each Fund as a result of a proposed transaction whereby Lido Advisors, LLC, an affiliate of Oakhurst Advisors, LLC, would acquire the Adviser’s Los Angeles based fixed-income portfolio management team and mutual fund business (the “Transaction”). On November 1, 2019, it was announced that the Transaction was canceled. Therefore, the advisory agreements between the Funds and the Adviser remain in effect, Jason P. Lee, a Senior Managing Director of Oakhurst Advisors, LLC did not join the Board, and the Trust does not have the ability to operate under a “manager-of managers” structure.
The results of the voting with respect to each proposal is set forth below:
Proposal 1: To elect three nominees to serve on the Board of Trustees
The total number of shares of the Trust present and voting at the Meeting on Proposal 1, either in person or by proxy, represented 95.50% of the total shares of the Trust entitled to vote at the Meeting. Each nominee/trustee was elected to the Board of Trustees as follows.
| Number of Shares |
Nominee/Trustee | Affirmative | Withhold |
Jason P. Lee | 22,027,366 | 0 |
Debra L. McGinty-Poteet | 22,027,366 | 0 |
E. Keith Wirtz | 22,027,366 | 0 |
56
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders(Unaudited) (Continued)
Proposal 2: To approve, with respect to each Fund, a new investment advisory agreement between the Trust and Oakhurst Advisors, LLC
The total number of shares of each Fund present and voting at the Meeting on Proposal 2, either in person or by proxy, represented the following percentages of the total shares entitled to vote at the meeting:
First Western Fixed Income Fund – 97.86%
First Western Short Duration Bond Fund – 96.74%
First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund – 88.81%
Proposal 2 was approved by shareholders as follows:
First Western Fixed Income Fund
Number of Shares | |
For | Against | Abstain | % Voted in Favor |
6,693,266 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
First Western Short Duration Bond Fund
Number of Shares | |
For | Against | Abstain | % Voted in Favor |
11,137,108 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund
Number of Shares | |
For | Against | Abstain | % Voted in Favor |
4,047,241 | 0 | 17,638 | 99.6% |
57
FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST
Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders(Unaudited) (Continued)
Proposal 3: To approve, with respect to each Fund, a “manager of managers” structure that would allow Oakhurst Advisors, LLC and the Funds to enter into and materially amend investment sub-advisory agreements with unaffiliated sub-advisers and certain affiliated sub-advisers without obtaining additional shareholder approval, subject to certain conditions.
The total number of shares of each Fund present and voting at the Meeting on Proposal 3, either in person or by proxy, represented the following percentages of the total shares entitled to vote at the meeting:
First Western Fixed Income Fund - 97.86%
First Western Short Duration Bond Fund - 96.74%
First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund - 88.81%
Proposal 3 was approved by shareholders as follows:
First Western Fixed Income Fund
Number of Shares | |
For | Against | Abstain | % Voted in Favor |
6,691,270 | 1,996 | 0 | 99.7% |
First Western Short Duration Bond Fund
Number of Shares | |
For | Against | Abstain | % Voted in Favor |
11,088,049 | 49,059 | 0 | 99.6% |
First Western Short Duration High Yield Credit Fund
Number of Shares | |
For | Against | Abstain | % Voted in Favor |
4,039,164 | 25,715 | 0 | 99.4% |
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FIRST WESTERN FUNDS TRUST |
Investment Adviser First Western Capital Management Company 1901 Avenue of the Stars Suite 200 Los Angeles, CA 90067 Administrator Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC P.O. Box 46707 Cincinnati, Ohio 45246-0707 1-800-292-6775 Legal Counsel Sullivan & Worcester LLP 1666 K Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20006 Distributor Ultimus Fund Distributors, LLC 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450 Cincinnati, OH 45246 | Custodian U.S. Bank, N.A. 425 Walnut Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Board of Trustees Debbie Silversmith John R. Hildebrand Debra L. McGinty-Poteet E. Keith Wirtz Executive Officers John Sawyer, President, Principal Executive Officer Mark Seger, Vice President Theresa M. Bridge, Treasurer Lené Simnioniw, Secretary Martin R. Dean, Chief Compliance Officer |
|
Not required
| Item 3. | Audit Committee Financial Expert. |
Not required
| Item 4. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services. |
Not required
| Item 5. | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants. |
Not applicable
| Item 6. | Schedule of Investments. |
| (a) | Not applicable [schedule filed with Item 1] |
| Item 7. | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable
| Item 8. | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable
| Item 9. | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers. |
Not applicable
| Item 10. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
Not applicable
| Item 11. | Controls and Procedures. |
(a) Based on their evaluation of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and are operating effectively to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared, and that the information required in filings on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported on a timely basis.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
| Item 12. | Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies. |
Not applicable
File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form. Letter or number the exhibits in the sequence indicated.
(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Not required
(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)): Attached hereto
(a)(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons: Not applicable
(a)(4) Change in the registrant’s independent public accountants: Not applicable
(b) Certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)): Attached hereto
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.
(Registrant) | First Western Funds Trust | | |
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By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ John E. Sawyer | |
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| | John E. Sawyer, President and Principal Executive Officer |
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Date | May 5, 2020 | | |
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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 (Signature and Title)* | /s/ John E. Sawyer | |
| | | |
| | John E. Sawyer, President and Principal Executive Officer |
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Date | May 5, 2020 | | |
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By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ Theresa M. Bridge | |
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| | Theresa M. Bridge, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer |
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Date | May 5, 2020 | | |
| * | Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |