Liberty All-Star Equity Fund

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LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

Period Ending March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

Fund Statistics

  

1st Quarter 2010

Net Asset Value (NAV)

   $5.44

Market Price

   $4.74

Discount

   12.9%

Distribution

   $0.08

Market Price Trading Range

   $3.82 to $4.83

Discount Range

   11.4% to 17.6%

Performance

    

Shares Valued at NAV

   5.64%

Shares Valued at NAV with Dividends Reinvested

   5.75%

Shares Valued at Market Price with Dividends Reinvested

   11.30%

S&P 500 Index

   5.39%

Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average*

   4.94%

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

   20th

Number of Funds in Category

   970

 

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

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

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

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


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    1

 

   

 

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

        
 

 

April 2010

   

 

Fellow Shareholders:

Maintaining momentum from 2009, equity markets got off to a solid start in 2010. Among major benchmarks, a key large cap gauge, the S&P 500 Index, returned 5.39 percent; the widely followed Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 4.82 percent; and the growth-oriented NASDAQ Composite Index gained 5.91 percent. It was the fourth consecutive quarter of gains for most major indices.

Investors kept their focus on prospects that the economy would continue to strengthen, despite the fact that economic signals remained mixed over the quarter. Factory production, auto sales and corporate earnings were sources of positive data. But, new jobless claims and unemployment generally remained stubbornly high. Sovereign debt concerns in Europe kept investors on edge and, back home, the housing market continued to be a major concern.

Reflecting the ebb and flow of such mixed data, the quarter was marked by higher volatility, with the S&P 500 Index declining 3.60 percent in January before posting a 3.10 percent gain in February and a strong 6.03 percent advance in March. Although the first few trading days of the new year were strong, from mid-January until February 9 markets shed their earlier gains and actually turned negative for the year. But, stocks caught their second wind and rallied for the rest of the quarter, including a stretch of eight straight trading days of gains for the Dow in mid-March.

Liberty All-Star Equity Fund turned in a solid quarter. The Fund returned 5.64 percent with shares valued at net asset value (NAV); 5.75 percent with shares valued at NAV with dividends reinvested; and a robust 11.30 percent when shares are valued at market price with dividends reinvested. Over the past year, the Fund returned 55.46 percent with shares valued at net asset value (NAV); 56.78 percent with shares valued at NAV with dividends reinvested; and 73.57 percent when shares are valued at market price with dividends reinvested.

By all three measures, the Fund’s quarterly returns were ahead of the 4.94 percent return posted by its primary benchmark, the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average. The Fund’s quarterly NAV reinvested return ranked it in the top 20 percent of 970 funds in the Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund universe. Similarly, the Fund’s returns for the past year were also ahead of the Lipper

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

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2    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

     

 

benchmark, and placed it in the top 10 percent of funds in that universe. In another positive development, the discount at which Fund shares trade relative to their underlying NAV narrowed to as little as 11.4 percent during the quarter after having been as wide as 26.5 percent in 2009.

Obviously, we are pleased to see the stock market add to its gains and to have the Fund fully participate in the recovery. We remain hopeful that the economy will continue to show signs of gradual but steady improvement in order to extend the rebound. What ever course the economy takes, however, we are confident that the Fund is well positioned to continue to perform in its role as a high quality, long-term core equity holding.

Sincerely,

 

/s/    WILLIAM R. PARMENTIER, JR.        
William R. Parmentier, Jr.

President

Liberty All-Star Equity Fund

The views expressed in the President’s letter reflect the views of the President as of April 2010 and may not reflect his views on the date this report is first published or anytime thereafter. These views are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict so actual outcomes and results may differ significantly from the views expressed. These views are subject to change at any time based upon economic, market or other conditions and the Fund disclaims any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice and, because investment decisions for the Fund are based on numerous factors, may not be relied on as an indication of trading intent.

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND         3
   

 

TABLE OF DISTRIBUTIONS & RIGHTS OFFERINGS

        
     

 

           RIGHTS OFFERINGS     

YEAR

   PER SHARE
DISTRIBUTIONS
    MONTH
COMPLETED
   SHARES NEEDED
TO PURCHASE
ONE ADDITIONAL SHARE
  SUBSCRIPTION
PRICE
   TAX
CREDITS*
1988    $ 0.64             
1989      0.95             
1990      0.90             
1991      1.02             
1992      1.07      April    10   $ 10.05   
1993      1.07      October    15     10.41    $ 0.18
1994      1.00      September    15     9.14   
1995      1.04             
1996      1.18                0.13
1997      1.33                0.36
1998      1.40      April    20     12.83   
1999      1.39             
2000      1.42             
2001      1.20             
2002      0.88      May    10     8.99   
2003      0.78             
2004      0.89      July    10**     8.34   
2005      0.87             
2006      0.88             
2007      0.90      December    10     6.51   
2008      0.65             
2009      0.31 ***           

2010

1st Quarter

     0.08             

 

* The Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains exceeded the amount to be distributed under the Fund’s distribution policy. In each case, the Fund elected to pay taxes on the undistributed income and passed through a proportionate tax credit to shareholders.
** The number of shares offered was increased by an additional 25% to cover a portion of the over-subscription requests.
*** Effective with the second quarter distribution, the annual distribution rate was changed from 10 percent to 6 percent.

DISTRIBUTION POLICY - Liberty All-Star Equity Fund’s current policy is to pay distributions on its shares totaling approximately 6 percent of its net asset value per year, payable in four quarterly installments of 1.5 percent of the Fund’s net asset value at the close of the New York Stock Exchange on the Friday prior to each quarterly declaration date. The fixed distributions are not related to the amount of the Fund’s net investment income or net realized capital gains or losses and may be taxed as ordinary income up to the amount of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. If, for any calendar year, the total distributions made under the distribution policy exceed the Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains, the excess will generally be treated as a non-taxable return of capital, reducing the shareholder’s adjusted basis in his or her shares. If the Fund’s net investment income and net realized capital gains for any year exceed the amount distributed under the distribution policy, the Fund may, in its discretion, retain and not distribute net realized capital gains and pay income tax thereon to the extent of such excess. The Fund retained such excess gains in 1993, 1996 and 1997.

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

   USA


4    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

TOP 20 HOLDINGS & ECONOMIC SECTORS

   

 

as of March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

 

TOP 20 HOLDINGS*

   PERCENT OF
NET ASSETS
 

Bank of America Corp.

   2.62

Apple, Inc.

   2.55   

Dell, Inc.

   2.18   

QUALCOMM, Inc.

   1.75   

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

   1.51   

Gilead Sciences, Inc.

   1.50   

Google, Inc., Class A

   1.30   

The Western Union Co.

   1.27   

The Allstate Corp.

   1.24   

Monsanto Co.

   1.22   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   1.21   

Hewlett-Packard Co.

   1.18   

Microsoft Corp.

   1.18   

The Boeing Co.

   1.14   

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   1.13   

Magna International, Inc., Class A

   1.12   

Arch Coal, Inc.

   1.11   

Tyco Electronics Ltd.

   1.08   

Amazon.com, Inc.

   1.04   

Wells Fargo & Co.

   1.01   
      
   28.34

ECONOMIC SECTORS*

   PERCENT OF
NET ASSETS
 

Information Technology

   22.82

Financials

   20.53   

Energy

   11.70   

Consumer Discretionary

   11.41   

Health Care

   10.28   

Industrials

   9.67   

Consumer Staples

   5.42   

Utilities

   3.13   

Materials

   2.53   

Telecommunication Services

   0.33   

Other Net Assets

   2.18   
      
   100.00

 

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

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    5

   

 

MAJOR STOCK CHANGES IN THE FIRST QUARTER

        
 

 

(Unaudited)

   

 

The following are the major ($3.0 million or more) stock changes - both purchases and sales - that were made in the Fund’s portfolio during the first quarter of 2010.

 

SECURITY NAME

   PURCHASES
(SALES)
    SHARES
AS OF 3/31/10

PURCHASES

    

American Tower Corp., Class A

   76,860      76,860

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

   71,710      71,710

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

   165,829      228,219

Cooper Industries Plc

   85,600      85,600

EQT Corp.

   208,461      208,461

Exxon Mobil Corp.

   52,300      121,400

State Street Corp.

   120,000      201,500

Tidewater, Inc.

   92,000      92,000

Wells Fargo & Co.

   120,535      324,570

The Western Union Co.

   261,557      744,700

Willis Group Holdings Plc

   130,025      130,025

SALES

    

BJ Services Co.

   (213,150   0

Cardinal Health, Inc.

   (109,625   0

Forest Oil Corp.

   (541,830   0

Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A

   (212,545   144,215

Google, Inc., Class A

   (7,861   22,688

Hess Corp.

   (84,657   0

MetLife, Inc.

   (78,975   0

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

   (72,830   58,732

Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A

   (180,073   134,542

UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

   (100,135   0

The Walt Disney Co.

   (176,456   76,889

Whirlpool Corp.

   (49,125   0

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

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6    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

INVESTMENT MANAGERS / PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

     

 

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

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MANAGERS’ DIFFERING INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

ARE REFLECTED IN PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

The portfolio characteristics table below is a regular feature of the Fund’s shareholder reports. It serves as a useful tool for understanding the value of a multi-managed portfolio. The characteristics are different for each of the Fund’s five investment managers. These differences are a reflection of the fact that each pursues a different investment style. The shaded column highlights the characteristics of the Fund as a whole, while the final column shows portfolio characteristics for the S&P 500 Index.

 

PORTFOLIO CHARACTERISTICS

AS OF MARCH 31, 2010

(UNAUDITED)

   LOGO

 

     SCHNEIDER     PZENA     MATRIX     CORNERSTONE     TCW     TOTAL
FUND
    S&P 500
INDEX
 

Number of Holdings

     39        43        39        46        33        165     500   

Percent of Holdings in Top 10

     52     35     34     44     44     17     19

Weighted Average Market Capitalization (billions)

   $ 30      $ 51      $ 55      $ 60      $ 48      $ 49      $ 82   

Average Five-Year Earnings Per Share Growth

     (4 )%      (4 )%      (3 )%      19     28     7     7

Dividend Yield

     1.5     1.7     1.4     0.8     0.7     1.2     1.9

Price/Earnings Ratio**

     22     16     19     21     25     21     19

Price/Book Value Ratio

     2.1     2.5     2.7     5.0     5.0     3.5     3.4

 

* Certain holdings are held by more than one manager.
** Excludes negative earnings.

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    7

   

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

        
 

 

as of March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

   

 

COMMON STOCKS (97.82%)

   SHARES    MARKET VALUE

u CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (11.41%)

     

Auto Components (1.52%)

     

Johnson Controls, Inc.

   122,000    $ 4,024,780

Magna International, Inc., Class A(a)

   179,315      11,090,633
         
        15,115,413
         

Diversified Consumer Services (0.58%)

     

Apollo Group, Inc., Class A(a)

   93,620      5,737,970
         

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (1.16%)

     

Carnival Corp.

   220,330      8,566,430

Yum! Brands, Inc.

   78,600      3,012,738
         
        11,579,168
         

Household Durables (1.21%)

     

DR Horton, Inc.

   196,720      2,478,672

Fortune Brands, Inc.

   1,975      95,807

NVR, Inc.(a)

   10,285      7,472,053

Pulte Group, Inc.(a)

   173,871      1,956,049
         
        12,002,581
         

Internet & Catalog Retail (1.19%)

     

Amazon.com, Inc.(a)

   75,870      10,297,835

priceline.com, Inc.(a)

   5,950      1,517,250
         
        11,815,085
         

Media (2.22%)

     

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

   87,319      3,175,792

The McGraw-Hill Cos., Inc.

   190,800      6,802,020

Omnicom Group, Inc.

   182,850      7,096,409

Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Class A

   52,290      2,319,061

The Walt Disney Co.

   76,889      2,684,195
         
        22,077,477
         

Multi-Line Retail (1.60%)

     

J.C. Penney Co., Inc.

   308,830      9,935,061

Nordstrom, Inc.

   57,832      2,362,437

Target Corp.

   68,218      3,588,267
         
        15,885,765
         

Specialty Retail (1.93%)

     

Best Buy Co., Inc.

   77,319      3,289,150

Guess?, Inc.

   45,711      2,147,503

The Home Depot, Inc.

   76,600      2,478,010

The Sherwin-Williams Co.

   79,350      5,370,408

Staples, Inc.

   250,000      5,847,500
         
        19,132,571
         

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

 

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8    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

   

 

as of March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

 

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

   SHARES    MARKET VALUE

u CONSUMER STAPLES (5.42%)

     

Beverages (0.19%)

     

The Coca-Cola Company

   35,000    $ 1,925,000
         

Food & Staples Retailing (2.18%)

     

Costco Wholesale Corp.

   127,560      7,616,608

CVS Caremark Corp.

   121,300      4,434,728

Walgreen Co.

   178,500      6,620,565

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

   52,700      2,930,120
         
        21,602,021
         

Food Products (0.98%)

     

General Mills, Inc.

   39,518      2,797,479

Kraft Foods, Inc.

   133,150      4,026,456

Smithfield Foods, Inc.(a)

   17,040      353,410

Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A

   134,542      2,576,479
         
        9,753,824
         

Household Products (0.95%)

     

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

   23,548      2,007,703

The Procter & Gamble Co.

   117,900      7,459,533
         
        9,467,236
         

Personal Products (0.42%)

     

Avon Products, Inc.

   123,975      4,199,033
         

Tobacco (0.70%)

     

Philip Morris International, Inc.

   132,509      6,911,669
         

u ENERGY (11.70%)

     

Energy Equipment & Services (2.72%)

     

FMC Technologies, Inc.(a)

   69,210      4,473,042

Oceaneering International, Inc.(a)

   102,400      6,501,376

Schlumberger Ltd.

   139,621      8,860,349

Tidewater, Inc.

   92,000      4,348,840

Weatherford International Ltd.(a)

   176,584      2,800,622
         
        26,984,229
         

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (8.98%)

     

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

   71,710      5,222,640

Apache Corp.

   37,100      3,765,650

Arch Coal, Inc.

   482,885      11,033,922

BP Plc(b)

   82,629      4,715,637

Chesapeake Energy Corp.

   507,194      11,990,066

Chevron Corp.

   76,000      5,763,080

ConocoPhillips

   129,000      6,600,930

Consol Energy, Inc.

   120,945      5,159,514

Devon Energy Corp.

   105,000      6,765,150

Exxon Mobil Corp.

   121,400      8,131,372

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    9

   

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

        
 

 

as of March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

   

 

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

   SHARES    MARKET VALUE

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)

     

Occidental Petroleum Corp.

   74,000    $ 6,255,960

Petrohawk Energy Corp.(a)

   282,858      5,736,360

Valero Energy Corp.

   406,950      8,016,915
         
        89,157,196
         

u FINANCIALS (20.53%)

     

Capital Markets (3.98%)

     

Bank of New York Mellon Corp.

   230,000      7,102,400

The Charles Schwab Corp.

   222,600      4,160,394

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

   20,404      3,481,535

Morgan Stanley

   327,150      9,582,223

State Street Corp.

   201,500      9,095,710

UBS AG(a)

   374,100      6,090,348
         
        39,512,610
         

Commercial Banks (2.93%)

     

Comerica, Inc.

   106,625      4,056,015

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

   250,476      14,953,417

Wells Fargo & Co.

   324,570      10,100,619
         
        29,110,051
         

Consumer Finance (2.25%)

     

American Express Co.

   135,000      5,570,100

Capital One Financial Corp.

   92,125      3,814,896

Mastercard, Inc., Class A

   15,286      3,882,644

Visa, Inc., Class A

   99,600      9,066,588
         
        22,334,228
         

Diversified Financial Services (5.23%)

     

Bank of America Corp.

   1,458,371      26,031,922

Citigroup, Inc.(a)

   1,729,313      7,003,718

IntercontinentalExchange, Inc.(a)

   68,218      7,652,695

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

   251,275      11,244,556
         
        51,932,891
         

Insurance (5.21%)

     

ACE Ltd.

   77,500      4,053,250

Aflac, Inc.

   19,690      1,068,970

The Allstate Corp.

   382,535      12,359,706

Assured Guaranty Ltd.

   228,219      5,013,972

Axis Capital Holdings Ltd.

   167,350      5,231,361

Brown & Brown, Inc.

   115,325      2,066,624

Fidelity National Financial, Inc.

   251,995      3,734,566

Genworth Financial, Inc., Class A(a)

   144,215      2,644,903

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

   86,500      2,458,330

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

   35,145      1,994,830

Torchmark Corp.

   130,325      6,973,691

Willis Group Holdings Plc

   130,025      4,068,482
         
        51,668,685
         

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

   USA


10    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

   

 

as of March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

 

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

   SHARES    MARKET VALUE

Real Estate Investment Trusts (0.93%)

     

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.

   406,339    $ 6,980,904

Redwood Trust, Inc.

   148,420      2,288,636
         
        9,269,540
         

u HEALTH CARE (10.28%)

     

Biotechnology (2.72%)

     

Celgene Corp.(a)

   68,684      4,255,661

Genzyme Corp.(a)

   60,000      3,109,800

Gilead Sciences, Inc.(a)

   327,771      14,907,025

Myriad Genetics, Inc.(a)

   198,368      4,770,750
         
        27,043,236
         

Health Care Equipment & Supplies (3.38%)

     

Boston Scientific Corp.(a)

   11,245      81,189

Covidien Ltd.

   86,000      4,324,080

Intuitive Surgical, Inc.(a)

   14,700      5,117,511

Medtronic, Inc.

   57,000      2,566,710

NuVasive, Inc.(a)

   22,601      1,021,565

St. Jude Medical, Inc.(a)

   109,656      4,501,379

Varian Medical Systems, Inc.(a)

   157,700      8,725,541

Zimmer Holdings, Inc.(a)

   121,800      7,210,560
         
        33,548,535
         

Health Care Providers & Services (1.13%)

     

Aetna, Inc.

   154,825      5,435,906

Brookdale Senior Living, Inc.(a)

   142,594      2,970,233

WellPoint, Inc.(a)

   42,882      2,760,743
         
        11,166,882
         

Health Care Technology (0.62%)

     

Cerner Corp.(a)

   72,332      6,152,560
         

Life Sciences Tools & Services (0.65%)

     

Life Technologies Corp.(a)

   123,400      6,450,118
         

Pharmaceuticals (1.78%)

     

Allergan, Inc.

   81,000      5,290,920

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

   208,442      5,565,401

Johnson & Johnson

   48,375      3,154,050

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.(b)

   58,732      3,704,815
         
        17,715,186
         

u INDUSTRIALS (9.67%)

     

Aerospace & Defense (3.29%)

     

Alliant Techsystems, Inc.(a)

   8,414      684,058

The Boeing Co.

   156,565      11,368,185

Honeywell International, Inc.

   133,579      6,047,121

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

   65,625      6,013,219

Northrop Grumman Corp.

   130,525      8,558,524
         
        32,671,107
         

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    11

   

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

        
 

 

as of March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

   

 

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

   SHARES    MARKET VALUE

Air Freight & Logistics (1.26%)

     

C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.

   150,145    $ 8,385,598

Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.

   113,190      4,178,975
         
        12,564,573
         

Commercial Services & Supplies (1.20%)

     

The Dun & Bradstreet Corp.

   28,000      2,083,760

Monster Worldwide, Inc.(a)

   420,000      6,976,200

Quanta Services, Inc.(a)

   148,600      2,847,176
         
        11,907,136
         

Construction & Engineering (0.44%)

     

Fluor Corp.

   93,953      4,369,754
         

Electrical Equipment (1.03%)

     

Cooper Industries Plc

   85,600      4,103,664

Rockwell Automation, Inc.

   108,150      6,095,334
         
        10,198,998
         

Industrial Conglomerates (1.13%)

     

Textron, Inc.

   205,458      4,361,874

Tyco International Ltd.

   179,000      6,846,750
         
        11,208,624
         

Machinery (1.32%)

     

Flowserve Corp.

   55,906      6,164,754

Navistar International Corp.(a)

   85,871      3,841,010

Terex Corp.(a)

   134,749      3,060,150
         
        13,065,914
         

uINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (22.82%)

     

Communications Equipment (4.07%)

     

Alcatel-Lucent (a)(b)

   1,321,733      4,123,807

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.(a)

   265,743      1,517,393

Cisco Systems, Inc.(a)

   254,000      6,611,620

Corning, Inc.

   290,000      5,860,900

Motorola, Inc.(a)

   212,775      1,493,680

QUALCOMM, Inc.

   414,242      17,394,022

Research In Motion Ltd.(a)

   45,600      3,372,120
         
        40,373,542
         

Computers & Peripherals (5.91%)

     

Apple, Inc.(a)

   107,861      25,339,785

Dell, Inc.(a)

   1,441,140      21,631,511

Hewlett-Packard Co.

   220,431      11,715,908
         
        58,687,204
         

Electronic Equipment & Instruments (1.73%)

     

Avnet, Inc.(a)

   214,940      6,448,200

Tyco Electronics Ltd.

   391,625      10,761,855
         
        17,210,055
         

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

   USA


12    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

   

 

as of March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

 

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

   SHARES    MARKET VALUE

Internet Software & Services (2.36%)

     

Baidu, Inc.(a)(b)

   3,362    $ 2,007,114

eBay, Inc.(a)

   256,000      6,899,200

Google, Inc., Class A(a)

   22,688      12,864,323

Yahoo!, Inc.(a)

   101,600      1,679,448
         
        23,450,085
         

IT Services (2.04%)

     

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.(a)

   149,600      7,626,608

The Western Union Co.

   744,700      12,630,112
         
        20,256,720
         

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment (2.66%)

     

Analog Devices, Inc.

   203,000      5,850,460

ASML Holding N.V.

   46,435      1,643,799

International Rectifier Corp.(a)

   348,013      7,969,498

Lam Research Corp.(a)

   135,455      5,055,180

Novellus Systems, Inc.(a)

   235,200      5,880,000
         
        26,398,937
         

Software (4.05%)

     

Adobe Systems, Inc.(a)

   275,240      9,735,239

CA, Inc.

   256,750      6,025,922

Microsoft Corp.

   398,763      11,671,793

Oracle Corp.

   327,022      8,401,195

Salesforce.com, Inc.(a)

   58,200      4,332,990
         
        40,167,139
         

u MATERIALS (2.53%)

     

Chemicals (1.75%)

     

Monsanto Co.

   170,193      12,155,184

Praxair, Inc.

   62,700      5,204,100
         
        17,359,284
         

Metals & Mining (0.78%)

     

Alcoa, Inc.

   410,000      5,838,400

United States Steel Corp.

   30,915      1,963,721
         
        7,802,121
         

u TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (0.33%)

     

Wireless Telecommunication Services (0.33%)

     

American Tower Corp., Class A(a)

   76,860      3,275,004
         

u UTILITIES (3.13%)

     

Electric Utilities (1.34%)

     

Allegheny Energy, Inc.

   298,930      6,875,390

Edison International

   137,275      4,690,687

FPL Group, Inc.

   35,384      1,710,108
         
        13,276,185
         

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    13

   

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

        
 

 

as of March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

   

 

COMMON STOCKS (continued)

   SHARES    MARKET VALUE

Gas Utilities (0.86%)

     

EQT Corp.

     208,461    $ 8,546,901
         

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders (0.54%)

     

RRI Energy, Inc.(a)

     1,463,010      5,398,507
         

Multi-Utilities (0.39%)

     

Sempra Energy

     77,150      3,849,785
         

TOTAL COMMON STOCKS (COST OF $976,755,740)

        971,288,335
         

EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (0.07%)

     

u EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (0.07%)

     

iShares Russell 1000 Value Index Fund (COST OF $684,020)

     11,940      729,176
         
     PAR VALUE    MARKET VALUE

SHORT TERM INVESTMENT (2.04%)

     

u REPURCHASE AGREEMENT (2.04%)

     

Repurchase agreement with State Street Bank & Trust Co., dated 03/31/10, due 04/01/10 at 0.010%, collateralized by several Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac instruments with various maturity dates, market value of $20,653,283 (Repurchased proceeds of $20,238,006) (COST OF $20,238,000)

   $ 20,238,000      20,238,000
         

TOTAL INVESTMENTS (99.93%) (COST OF 997,677,760) (C)

        992,255,511

OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES (0.07%)

        697,250
         

NET ASSETS (100.00%)

      $ 992,952,761
         

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE (182,678,079 SHARES OUTSTANDING)

      $ 5.44
         

 

Notes to Schedule of Investments:

 

(a)

Non-Income producing security.

(b)

American Depositary Receipt.

(c)

Cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is $1,006,953,245.

Gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation at March 31, 2010 based on cost of investments for federal income tax purposes is as follows:

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

   $ 113,048,064   

Gross unrealized depreciation

     (128,111,564
        

Net unrealized depreciation

   $ (15,063,500
        

For fund compliance purposes, the Fund’s industry classifications refer to any one or more of the industry sub-classifications used by one or more widely recognized market indexes or ratings group indexes, and/or as defined by Fund management. This definition may not apply for purposes of this report, which may combine industry sub-classifications for reporting ease. Industries are shown as a percent of net assets. These industry classifications are unaudited.

 

See Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

   USA


14    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

PER SHARE CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

     

 

     THREE MONTHS
ENDED
MARCH 31, 2010
(UNAUDITED)
    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,  
       2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  

Net asset value at beginning of year

   $ 5.23      $ 4.21      $ 8.07      $ 8.76      $ 8.85      $ 9.30   

Net investment loss(a)

     0.00 (b)      0.02        0.07        0.07        0.04        0.02   

Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss ) on investments

     0.29        1.31        (3.28     0.31        0.75        0.40   

Distributions paid(c)

     (0.08     (0.31     (0.65     (0.90     (0.88     (0.87

Change due to rights offering(d)

     —          —          —          (0.17     —          —     

Net asset value at end of period

   $ 5.44      $ 5.23      $ 4.21      $ 8.07      $ 8.76      $ 8.85   

 

(a)

Calculated using average shares.

(b)

Less than $0.005 per share.

(c)

Realized gains offset by capital loss carryforwards are not required to be distributed to shareholders. Any such gains distributed may be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. To the extent distributions exceed the Fund’s current year earnings and profits, the excess may be treated as a non-taxable return of capital.

(d)

Effect of All-Star’s rights offerings for shares at a price below net asset value.

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    15

   

 

NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

        
 

 

March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

   

 

Security Valuation

Equity securities are valued at the last sale price at the close of the principal exchange on which they trade, except for securities listed on the NASDAQ, which are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Unlisted securities or listed securities for which there were no sales during the day are valued at the closing bid price on such exchanges or over-the-counter markets.

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

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

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

Foreign Securities

The Fund invests in foreign securities which may involve a number of risk factors and special considerations not present with investments in securities of U.S. corporations.

Security Transactions

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

Foreign Currency Translation

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

Repurchase Agreements

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

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

   USA


16    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

   

 

March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

 

 

Income Recognition

Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Premium and discount are amortized and accreted, respectively, on all debt securities. Corporate actions and dividend income are recorded on the ex-date.

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

Fair Value Measurements

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

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments as of the end of the reporting period. The designated input levels are not necessary an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with these investments. These inputs are categorized in the following hierarchy under applicable financial accounting standards:

 

Level 1 –    Quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
Level 2 –    Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3 –    Significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of March 31, 2010.

 

Valuation Inputs*

   Investments in Securities

Level 1 - Quoted Prices

  

Common Stocks

   $ 971,288,335

Exchange Traded Fund

     729,176
      

Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs

  

Short Term Investment

     20,238,000
      

Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs

     —  
      

Total

   $ 992,255,511
      

 

* For detailed industry descriptions, see the accompanying Statement of Investments.

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, the Fund did not have significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) used in determining fair value. Therefore, a reconciliation of assets in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining fair value is not applicable.

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    17

   

 

NOTES TO SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

        
 

 

March 31, 2010 (Unaudited)

   

 

Indemnification

In the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties and which provide general indemnities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future claims against the Fund. Also, under the Fund’s organizational documents and by contract, the Trustees and Officers of the Fund are indemnified against certain liabilities that may arise out of their duties to the Fund. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss due to these warranties and indemnities to be minimal.

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

   USA


18    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

DESCRIPTION OF LIPPER BENCHMARK AND MARKET INDICES

     

 

Lipper Large-Cap Core Mutual Fund Average

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

S&P 500 Index

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

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


  LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND    

    19

   

 

NOTES

        
     

 

 

www.all-starfunds.com

   USA


20    

   

LIBERTY ALL-STAR® EQUITY FUND

 
   

 

NOTES

     

 

 

FIRST QUARTER REPORT

   LOGO       MARCH 31, 2010


LOGO

 

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

 

ALPS Advisors, Inc.

1290 Broadway, Suite 1100

Denver, Colorado 80203

303-623-2577

www.all-starfunds.com

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP

555 Seventeenth Street, Suite 3600

Denver, Colorado 80202

 

CUSTODIAN

 

State Street Bank & Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

 

INVESTOR ASSISTANCE,

TRANSFER & DIVIDEND

DISBURSING AGENT & REGISTRAR

 

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 43078

Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078

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

www.computershare.com

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

 

TRUSTEES

 

John A. Benning*

Thomas W. Brock*

Edmund J. Burke

George R. Gaspari*

Richard W. Lowry*, Chairman

Dr. John J. Neuhauser*

Richard C. Rantzow*

 

OFFICERS

 

William R. Parmentier, Jr., President

Mark T. Haley, CFA, Senior Vice President

Edmund J. Burke, Vice President

Jeremy O. May, Treasurer

Kimberly R. Storms, Assistant Treasurer

Stephanie Barres, Secretary

Melanie H. Zimdars, Chief Compliance Officer

                        

*  Member of the Audit Committee

A description of the Fund’s proxy voting policies and procedures is available (i) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov, and (ii) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-542-3863. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2009 is available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities is also available at www.all-starfunds.com.

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

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

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

LAS000328 07/31/2010


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