Mutual Funds
South Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund
Fund Managers
Robert Millikan, CFA®
Michael McVicker
Overview
A
Shares
BASCX
Inception
Date
10.20.1997
Investment
Min.
$1,000
Subsequent
Investment Min.1
N/A
Max. Up Front
Sales Charge
2%
Max. Deferred
Sales Charge
N/A
1If subsequent investments are made as part of an AIP, the minimum is $25.
Philosophy & Process
The Fund seeks current income exempt from federal and South Carolina income taxes consistent with preservation of capital.
In managing the Fund, the team specializes in actively building and managing a high credit quality fixed income portfolio focused on the intermediate segment of the yield curve offering. The team employs a top-down investment process that focuses on: duration management, yield curve strategy and finding the best relative value with limited amount of risk in order to maximize the risk-adjusted total return.
Buy Strategy: We buy high quality, liquid issues and seek the best relative sector and security values available. We attempt to maximize total return and current income while reducing price volatility.
Sell Strategy: We will consider selling a security we own in order to reposition the Fund along the yield curve and adjust the Fund's average maturity or duration. In addition, we might replace a security with one that offers greater potential for total return or when its credit fundamentals are deteriorating.
Investment Considerations
The funds are subject to the same risks as the underlying bonds in the portfolios such as credit, prepayment and interest rate risk. As interest rates rise, the value of bond prices will decline and an investor may lose money. The funds are non-diversified and may invest a greater percentage of its assets in a single issuer than funds that are more diversified. Furthermore, the funds invest primarily in state-specific municipal obligations of issuers and therefore will be affected by economic, political or other events affecting municipal issuers.
| Term | Class A Shares | Class C Shares | Class I Shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticker | BASCX | BSCCX | BSCIX |
| Inception Date | 10.20.1997 | 02.01.2012 | 10.20.1997 |
| Investment Min. | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Subsequent Investment Min.2 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Max. Up Front Sales Charge | 2% | N/A | N/A |
| Max. Deferred Sales Charge | N/A | 1% | N/A |
2If subsequent investments are made as part of an AIP, the minimum is $25.
Co-Portfolio Manager
Co-Portfolio Manager
Performance
| Term | QTR | YTD | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | Since Inception |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Shares with 2.00% Sales Charge | -4.62% | -3.71% | -0.88% | -2.97% | 0.17% | 1.00% | 2.97% |
| A Shares without Sales Charge | -2.71% | -1.79% | 1.15% | -2.33% | 0.57% | 1.20% | 3.04% |
| Institutional Shares | -2.67% | -1.62% | 1.40% | -2.08% | 0.84% | 1.45% | 3.27% |
| Lipper Other States Intermediate Municipal Median | -2.72% | -1.47% | 1.76% | -2.30% | 0.61% | 1.37% | N/A |
The total expense ratios for Class A, C and I Shares are 0.81%, 1.56% and 0.56%, respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. The performance data quoted represents past performance and current returns may be lower or higher. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. To obtain performance information current to the most recent month end, please visit the performance summary.
The performance of the South Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund reflects the deduction of fees for value-added services associated with a mutual fund, such as investment management and fund accounting fees. The inception date for Class A Shares is 10.20.1997. The inception date for Class C Shares is 02.01.2012. The inception date for Class Inst'l Shares is 10.20.1997. Performance reflects 12b-1 fees and applicable expenses. Performance for Class C Shares for periods prior to inception is based on the performance of Class A Shares of the Fund. The performance shown reflects the reinvestment of all dividend and capital gains distributions.
Characteristics
Quality Breakdown as of 09.30.2023
Credit quality ratings using Moody's rating symbols reflect the credit quality of the underlying bonds in the fund portfolio and not of the Fund itself. Moody's assigns a range of ratings from AAA being the highest quality to C being the lowest rated class of bonds. Securities not rated by Moody's may be rated by S&P, Fitch or if no agency rating is available, the Fund will assign a rating of not rated. Bond quality ratings are subject to change.
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| 0-1 Yr. | 6.0 |
| 1-2 Yr. | 12.0 |
| 2-3 Yr. | 10.0 |
| 3-5 Yr. | 30.0 |
| 5-10 Yr. | 35.0 |
| 10+ Yr. | 5.0 |
Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to change and risk. Based on Market Value of securities.
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of Holdings | 37 |
| Average Life | 8.22 Years |
| Effective Duration | 4.97 Years |
| Annual Turnover | 32% |
| Composition | Fund | Index |
|---|---|---|
| General Obligation | 37.2% | 28.2% |
| Pre-Refunded | 3.0% | 3.1% |
| Revenue | 58.6% | 68.7% |
| Cash | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| # | Company Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SC St 5.0% 01-APR-2030 | 3.62% |
| 2 | Richland 5.0% 01-MAR-2030 | 3.58% |
| 3 | Mt Pleasant 5.0% 01-JUN-2030 | 3.49% |
| 4 | Lugoff-elgin Water Rev 5.0% 01-JUL-2030 | 3.19% |
| 5 | Florence Hosp Rev 5.0% 01-NOV-2033 | 3.18% |
| 6 | Spartanburg Sch Dist No 005 5.0% 01-MAR-2037 | 3.04% |
| 7 | Columbia Water/Sewer Rev 5.0% 01-FEB-2048 | 3.02% |
| 8 | Charleston Water/Sewer Rev 5.0% 01-JAN-2038 | 3.01% |
| 9 | Coll of Charleston Fac Rev 5.0% 01-APR-2027 | 3.00% |
| 10 | Columbia Water/Sewer Rev 5.25% 01-FEB-2052 | 2.99% |
Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to change and risk. Based on Market Value of securities.
Growth of $10,000 as of 09.30.2023
The Growth of $10,000 is hypothetical based upon the performance of net A Shares at NAV for the period ended 09.30.2023. It includes the reinvestment of dividends and capital gains.
Distribution
| Month | Class A Shares | Class C Shares | Class Inst'l Shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2023 | $0.0198 | $0.0134 | $0.0217 |
| October 2023 | $0.0193 | $0.0128 | $0.0213 |
| September 2023 | $0.0192 | $0.0129 | $0.0212 |
| August 2023 | $0.0187 | $0.0120 | $0.0207 |
| July 2023 | $0.0183 | $0.0117 | $0.0204 |
| June 2023 | $0.0169 | $0.0104 | $0.0189 |
| May 2023 | $0.0174 | $0.0107 | $0.0195 |
| April 2023 | $0.0165 | $0.0099 | $0.0185 |
| March 2023 | $0.0175 | $0.0108 | $0.0196 |
| February 2023 | $0.0152 | $0.0091 | $0.0172 |
| January 2023 | $0.0166 | $0.0098 | $0.0187 |
| December 2022 | $0.0156 | $0.0088 | $0.0177 |
| Share Class | Without Waivers | With Waivers |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | 3.42% | 3.45% |
| Class C | 2.74% | 2.77% |
| Class I | 3.75% | 3.78% |
South Carolina Intermediate Tax-Free Fund
Materials
Fixed Income Funds
Insights
12.01.2023
Sterling Capital Announces Liquidation of the Diverse Multi-Manager Active ETF
Sterling Capital Announces Liquidation of the Diverse Multi-Manager Active ETF
11.29.2023 • Robert Brown, CFA®
High Yield - The Incredible Shrinking Asset Class and the Imminent Fall of the Zombies
The high-yield bond market has been having a relatively good 2023 as technicals remain firm and the feared recession has so far failed to materialize. Through mid-November, the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index has generated 7.8% total return year to date and a 6.4% return in excess of duration matched Treasuries. We see a mixed picture for the asset class ahead as all in yields remain attractive, while challenges are increasing as a maturity wall looms.
11.28.2023 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
The Lead - "Pursuing Sustainable Success"
- As investors, we want our clients to have sustained success, and that means investing in dividend-paying stocks that have a capacity to pay attractive and sustainably-growing dividends. - In the current market environment, we believe those companies are becoming increasingly scarce. - Declining dividend payments in the Energy sector have been a key contributor to the overall decline in S&P 500 dividend growth and we discuss the challenges. - We prefer companies that have rising cash flows that provide more sustainable dividend growth that may position our clients for sustained success.
11.02.2023 • Andrew Richman, CTFA
Markets breathed a sigh of relief following this week's FOMC meeting as the current fed funds rate remained unchanged. Senior Fixed Income Specialist Andy Richman, CTFA, shares his views.
10.31.2023 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
The Lead - "Balance Sheet Season"
- Rising interest costs are causing companies that fund their businesses through borrowing to reassess their priorities. - By investing in quality companies that we feel generate higher-than-average returns on capital, we believe they have more control over their business and do not depend on excessive debt to fund it. - Dividend payers themselves offer evidence of financial strength and financial health by demonstrating the ability to reward their shareholders with cash proceeds from their business each quarter. - Historically, this is why dividend payers tend to outperform later in an interest rate tightening cycle, as seen in the chart above.
10.03.2023 • Charles Wittmann, CFA®
- In a period of rising interest costs, wages, and energy costs, double-digit dividend growers have outperformed in 2023. - The largest dividend growers are also outpacing high dividend yielders in 2023. - Higher dividend growers are being rewarded in part for their ability to return more cash to their shareholders than slower growth peers. - We believe owning quality companies that earn returns on capital well above their cost of capital have the potential do well in this new environment.
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