As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2000
Registration No. 333-17391
File No. 811-07959
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 70 [X]
and
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
AMENDMENT NO. 71 [X]
ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
4455 E. Camelback Road, Suite 261E
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (602) 952-1100
ROBERT H. WADSWORTH
4455 E. Camelback Road, suite 261E
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate
box):
[X] Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[ ] On _____________, pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
[ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ ] On _____________, pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[ ] On _____________, pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2000
Registration No. 333-17391
File No. 811-07959
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Part A
of
Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
The Heritage West Preferred Securities Income Fund
Unity Fund Class A Shares
Unity Fund Class I Shares
Prospectuses Dated September 29, 2000 were previously filed with the
Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on September 29, 2000
are hereby incorporated by reference.
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2000
Registration No. 333-17391
File No. 811-07959
================================================================================
Part B
of
Form N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
The Heritage West Preferred Securities Income Fund
Unity Fund Class A Shares
Unity Fund Class I Shares
Statements of Additional Information dated September 29, 2000 were previously
filed with the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on
September 29, 2000 are hereby incorporated by reference.
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PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 23. EXHIBITS.
(a) Agreement and Declaration of Trust (1)
(b) By-Laws (1)
(c) Not applicable
(d) Form of Investment Advisory Agreement (4)
(e) Distribution Agreement (2)
(f) Not applicable
(g) Custodian Agreement (3)
(h) (i) Administration Agreement with Investment Company
Administration Corporation (2)
(ii) Fund Accounting Service Agreement (2)
(iii) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement (2)
(i) Opinion of Counsel (5)
(j) (i) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - filed herewith
(ii) Opinion and Consent of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP - filed herewith
(k) Not applicable
(l) Not applicable
(m) Form of Rule 12b-1 Plan (4)
(n) Not applicable
(o) Not applicable
(p) Code of Ethics
(i) Advisors Series Trust (6)
(ii) First Fund Distributors (7)
(iii) Avatar Investors Associates Corp. (8)
(iv) Chase Investment Counsel (8)
(v) Rockhaven Asset Management, LLC (8)
(vi) Segall Bryant & Hamill (8)
(vii) National Asset Management (8)
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(1) Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No.
333-17391) on December 6, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on January 29, 1997 and
incorporated herein by reference.
(3) Previously filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on February 28, 1997 and
incorporated herein by reference.
(4) Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 37 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on January 15, 1999 and
incorporated herein by reference.
(5) Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 45 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on June 29, 1999 and
incorporated herein by reference.
(6) Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on April 19, 2000 and
incorporated herein by reference.
(7) Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on April 28, 2000 and
incorporated herein by reference.
(8) Previously filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 66 to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 333-17391) on August 23, 2000 and
incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 24. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH
REGISTRANT.
None.
C-1
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ITEM 25. INDEMNIFICATION.
Article VI of Registrant's By-Laws states as follows:
Section 1. AGENTS, PROCEEDINGS AND EXPENSES. For the purpose of this
Article, "agent" means any person who is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or
other agent of this Trust or is or was serving at the request of this Trust as a
Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or was a
Trustee, director, officer, employee or agent of a foreign or domestic
corporation which was a predecessor of another enterprise at the request of such
predecessor entity; "proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed
action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative;
and "expenses" includes without limitation attorney's fees and any expenses of
establishing a right to indemnification under this Article.
Section 2. ACTIONS OTHER THAN BY TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of this Trust) by reason of
the fact that such person is or was an agent of this Trust, against expenses,
judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred
in connection with such proceeding, if it is determined that person acted in
good faith and reasonably believed:
(a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a Trustee of the
Trust, that his conduct was in the Trust's best interests, and
(b) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the
Trust's best interests, and
(c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, that he had no reasonable cause
to believe the conduct of that person was unlawful.
The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of
itself create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which the person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of this
Trust or that the person had reasonable cause to believe that the person's
conduct was unlawful.
Section 3. ACTIONS BY THE TRUST. This Trust shall indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending
or completed action by or in the right of this Trust to procure a judgment in
its favor by reason of the fact that that person is or was an agent of this
Trust, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by that person in
connection with the defense or settlement of that action if that person acted in
good faith, in a manner that person believed to be in the best interests of this
Trust and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent
person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
Section 4. EXCLUSION OF INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any provision to
the contrary contained herein, there shall be no right to indemnification for
any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
the agent's office with this Trust.
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No indemnification shall be made under Sections 2 or 3 of this Article:
(a) In respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which that person
shall have been adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal
benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit
resulted from an action taken in the person's official capacity; or
(b) In respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which that person shall
have been adjudged to be liable in the performance of that person's
duty to this Trust, unless and only to the extent that the court in
which that action was brought shall determine upon application that in
view of all the circumstances of the case, that person was not liable
by reason of the disabling conduct set forth in the preceding
paragraph and is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the
expenses which the court shall determine; or
(c) of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a threatened or
pending action, with or without court approval, or of expenses
incurred in defending a threatened or pending action which is settled
or otherwise disposed of without court approval, unless the required
approval set forth in Section 6 of this Article is obtained.
Section 5. SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE BY AGENT. To the extent that an agent of this
Trust has been successful on the merits in defense of any proceeding referred to
in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, before the court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought,
the agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and reasonably incurred
by the agent in connection therewith, provided that the Board of Trustees,
including a majority who are disinterested, non-party Trustees, also determines
that based upon a review of the facts, the agent was not liable by reason of the
disabling conduct referred to in Section 4 of this Article.
Section 6. REQUIRED APPROVAL. Except as provided in Section 5 of this
Article, any indemnification under this Article shall be made by this Trust only
if authorized in the specific case on a determination that indemnification of
the agent is proper in the circumstances because the agent has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 2 or 3 of this Article and
is not prohibited from indemnification because of the disabling conduct set
forth in Section 4 of this Article, by:
(a) A majority vote of a quorum consisting of Trustees who are not parties
to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the Trust (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940); or
(b) A written opinion by an independent legal counsel.
Section 7. ADVANCE OF EXPENSES. Expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding may be advanced by this Trust before the final disposition of the
proceeding upon a written undertaking by or on behalf of the agent, to repay the
amount of the advance if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not
entitled to indemnification, together with at least one of the following as a
condition to the advance: (i)security for the undertaking; or (ii) the existence
of insurance protecting the Trust against losses arising by reason of any lawful
advances; or (iii) a determination by a majority of a quorum of Trustees who are
not parties to the proceeding and are not interested persons of the Trust, or by
an independent legal counsel in a written opinion, based on a review of readily
available facts that there is reason to believe that the agent ultimately will
be found entitled to indemnification. Determinations and authorizations of
payments under this Section must be made in the manner specified in Section 6 of
this Article for determining that the indemnification is permissible.
C-3
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Section 8. OTHER CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS. Nothing contained in this Article
shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons other than Trustees
and officers of this Trust or any subsidiary hereof may be entitled by contract
or otherwise.
Section 9. LIMITATIONS. No indemnification or advance shall be made under
this Article, except as provided in Sections 5 or 6 in any circumstances where
it appears:
(a) that it would be inconsistent with a provision of the Agreement and
Declaration of Trust of the Trust, a resolution of the shareholders,
or an agreement in effect at the time of accrual of the alleged cause
of action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were
incurred or other amounts were paid which prohibits or otherwise
limits indemnification; or
(b) that it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by
a court in approving a settlement.
Section 10. INSURANCE. Upon and in the event of a determination by the
Board of Trustees of this Trust to purchase such insurance, this Trust shall
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any agent of this Trust against any
liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising
out of the agent's status as such, but only to the extent that this Trust would
have the power to indemnify the agent against that liability under the
provisions of this Article and the Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the
Trust.
Section 11. FIDUCIARIES OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN. This Article does not
apply to any proceeding against any Trustee, investment manager or other
fiduciary of an employee benefit plan in that person's capacity as such, even
though that person may also be an agent of this Trust as defined in Section 1 of
this Article. Nothing contained in this Article shall limit any right to
indemnification to which such a Trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary
may be entitled by contract or otherwise which shall be enforceable to the
extent permitted by applicable law other than this Article.
ITEM 26. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER.
Information required by this item is contained in the Form ADV of the
following entities and is incorporated herein by reference:
Name of Investment Adviser File No.
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Rockhaven Asset Management, LLC 801-54084
Capital Advisors, Inc. 801-14050
Chase Investment Counsel Corp. 801-3396
Avatar Investors Associates Corp. 801-7061
The Edgar Lomax Company 801-19358
AF Holdings, Inc. 801-30528
Heritage West Advisors, LLC 801-55233
Howard Capital Management 801-10188
Segall Bryant & Hamill 801-47232
National Asset Management Corporation 801-14666
Charter Financial Group, Inc. 801-50956
Chartwell Investment Partners 801-54124
C-4
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ITEM 27. PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITERS.
(a) The Registrant's principal underwriter also acts as principal
underwriter for the following investment companies:
Guinness Flight Investment Funds
Fleming Capital Mutual Fund Group, Inc.
Fremont Mutual Funds, Inc.
Jurika & Voyles Fund Group Kayne
Anderson Mutual Funds
Masters' Select Investment Trust
O'Shaughnessy Funds, Inc.
PIC Investment Trust
The Purisima Funds
Professionally Managed Portfolios
Rainier Investment Management Mutual Funds
RNC Mutual Fund Group, Inc.
Brandes Investment Trust
Allegiance Investment Trust
The Dessauer Global Equity Fund
Puget Sound Alternative Investment Trust
UBS Private Investor Funds
FFTW Funds, Inc.
Investors Research Fund, Inc.
Harding, Loevner Funds, Inc.
Samco Funds, Inc.
TIFF Investment Program
Trust for Investment Managers
(b) The following information is furnished with respect to the officers
and directors of First Fund Distributors, Inc.:
Position and Offices Position and
Name and Principal with Principal Offices with
Business Address Underwriter Registrant
---------------- ----------- ----------
Robert H. Wadsworth President and Vice President
4455 E. Camelback Road Treasurer
Suite 261E
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Eric M. Banhazl Vice President President, Treasurer
2020 E. Financial Way, Ste. 100 and Trustee
Glendora, CA 91741
Steven J. Paggioli Vice President and Vice President
915 Broadway, Ste. 1605 Secretary
New York, New York 10010
(c) Not applicable.
C-5
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ITEM 28. LOCATION OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS.
The accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by
Registrant pursuant to Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
the rules promulgated thereunder are in the possession of the following persons:
(a) the documents required to be maintained by paragraph (4) of Rule
31a-1(b) will be maintained by the Registrant;
(b) the documents required to be maintained by paragraphs (5), (6), (10)
and (11) of Rule 31a-1(b) will be maintained by the respective investment
advisors:
American Trust Company, One Court Street, Lebanon, NH 03766
Rockhaven Asset Management, 100 First Avenue, Suite 1050,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Chase Investment Counsel Corp., 300 Preston Avenue,
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Avatar Associates Investment Corp., 900 Third Avenue,
New York, NY 10022
The Edgar Lomax Company, 6564 Loisdale Court, Springfield, VA 22150
AF Holdings, Inc. 465 Forest Avenue, Suite I, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Heritage West Advisors, LLC, 1850 North Central Ave., Suite 610,
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Liberty Bank and Trust Company, 4101 Pauger St., Suite 105,
New Orleans, LA 70122
Howard Capital Management, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1440,
New York, New York 10111
Segall Bryant & Hamill, 10 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2150,
Chicago, IL 60606
National Asset Management Corporation, 101 South Fifth Street,
Louisville, KY 40202
Charter Financial Group, Inc., 1401 I Street N.W., Suite 505,
Washington, DC 20005
Chartwell Investment Partners, 1235 Westlakes Drive, Suite 330,
Berwyn, PA 19312
Capital Advisors, Inc. 3205 S. Boston Ave., Suite 1300,
Tulsa, OK 74013
(c) with respect to The Heritage West Preferred Securities Income Fund
series of the Registrant, all other records will be maintained by the
Registrant; and
(d) all other documents will be maintained by Registrant's custodian,
Firstar Bank, 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
ITEM 29. MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 30. UNDERTAKINGS.
Registrant hereby undertakes to:
(a) Furnish each person to whom a Prospectus is delivered a copy of the
applicable latest annual report to shareholders, upon request and
without charge.
(b) If requested to do so by the holders of at least 10% of the Trust's
outstanding shares, call a meeting of shareholders for the purposes of
voting upon the question of removal of a trustee and assist in
communications with other shareholders.
(c) On behalf of each of its series, to change any disclosure of past
performance of an Advisor to a series to conform to changes in the
position of the staff of the Commission with respect to such
presentation.
C-6
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the
Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant represents that this amendment
meets the requirements for effectiveness pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Amendment to the Registration
Statement on Form N-1A of Advisors Series Trust to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Phoenix and State of
Arizona on the 2nd day of October, 2000.
ADVISORS SERIES TRUST
By /s/ Eric M. Banhazl*
---------------------------
Eric M. Banhazl
President
This Amendment to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of Advisors
Series Trust has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities
indicated on October 2, 2000.
/s/ Eric M. Banhazl* President, Principal Financial
------------------------------------ and Accounting Officer, and Trustee
Eric M. Banhazl
/s/ Walter E. Auch Sr.* Trustee
------------------------------------
Walter E. Auch, Sr.
/s/ Donald E. O'Connor* Trustee
------------------------------------
Donald E. O'Connor
/s/ George T. Wofford III* Trustee
------------------------------------
George T. Wofford III
* /s/ Robert H. Wadsworth
------------------------------------
By: Robert H. Wadsworth
Attorney in Fact
C-7
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EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Description
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99B.J.i Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
99B.J(ii) Consent and Opinion of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
