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ANCHOR
STRATEGIC
ASSETS
TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT
DECEMBER 31, 1997
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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Comparison of the Change in Value of a $10,000 Investment in the
Anchor Strategic Assets Trust and the Barron's Gold Mining Index
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Assets:
Investments at quoted market value (cost $5,313,040 ;
see Schedule of Investments, Notes 1, 2, & 5)....... $4,662,417
Cash ................................................ 56,579
Dividends and interest receivable.................... 531
-----------
Total assets..................................... 4,719,527
-----------
Liabilities:
Payable for capital shares redeemed.................. 6,574
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (Note 3 )..... 15,635
-----------
Total liabilities................................ 22,209
-----------
Net Assets:
Capital stock (unlimited shares authorized at $1.00 par
value, amount paid in on 1,203,322 shares outstanding)
(Note 1) ........................................... 6,441,529
Accumulated undistributed net investment income
(Note 1)............................................ (320,338)
Accumulated realized loss from security transactions,
net (Note 1)........................................ (773,250)
Net unrealized depreciation in value of investments
(Note 2)............................................. (650,623)
-----------
Net assets (equivalent to $3.90 per share, based on
1,203,322 capital shares outstanding)........... $4,697,318
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Income:
Dividends........................................... $ 9,759
Interest............................................ 98,133
-----------
Total income..................................... 107,892
-----------
Expenses:
Management fees, net (Note 3)....................... 86,010
Pricing and bookkeeping fees (Note 4)............... 18,500
Legal fees.......................................... 8,391
Audit and accounting fees........................... 6,000
Custodian fees...................................... 5,139
Transfer fees (Note 4).............................. 3,000
Trustees' fees and expenses......................... 1,000
Other expenses...................................... 6,431
-----------
Total expenses................................... 134,471
Fees paid indirectly (Note 4)............... (3,639)
-----------
Net expenses................................ 130,832
-----------
Net investment loss.................................. (22,940)
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Realized and unrealized loss on investments:
Realized loss on investments-net................... (486,770)
Decrease in net unrealized appreciation in
investments....................................... (731,850)
-----------
Net loss on investments.......................... (1,218,620)
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Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations.. $(1,241,560)
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Year Ended Year Ended
December 31, December 31,
1997 1996
------------------------------
From operations:
Net investment loss.................... $ (22,940) $ (113,849)
Realized loss on investments, net...... (486,770) (72,237)
(Decrease) increase in net
unrealized appreciation
in investments......................... (731,850) 472,229
------------ -----------
Net (decrease) increase in net assets
resulting from operations.......... (1,241,560) 286,143
------------ -----------
Distributions to shareholders:
From net investment income............. -- --
From net realized gain on investments.. -- --
------------ -----------
Total distributions to shareholders.. -- --
------------ -----------
From capital share transactions:
Number of Shares
1997 1996
------- ---------
Proceeds from sale of
shares............... 218,740 774,469 950,843 3,891,921
Shares issued to
shareholders in
distributions
reinvested.......... -- -- -- --
Cost of shares
redeemed........... (699,780) (274,859) (3,194,210) (1,409,327)
---------- -------- ----------- -------------
(Decrease) increase
in net assets resulting
from capital
share transactions...(481,040) 499,610 (2,243,367) 2,482,594
========= ========= ------------ -----------
Net (decrease) increase in net assets.... (3,484,927) 2,768,737
Net assets:
Beginning of period.................... 8,182,245 5,413,508
============ ===========
End of period (including undistributed
net investment income of ($320,338)
and ($280,789), respectively).......... $ 4,697,318 $ 8,182,245
============ ===========
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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SELECTED PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS
(for a share outstanding throughout each period)
Year Ended December 31,
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
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Investment income..$ 0.40 $0.01 $0.03 $(3.40) $ 0.19
Expenses, net...... 0.50 0.03 0.06 (7.86) 2.19
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Net investment
income (loss)...... (0.10) (0.02) (0.03) 4.46 (2.00)
Net realized and
unrealized
gain (loss) on
investments....... (0.86) 0.31 0.12 (5.41) --
Distributions to
shareholders:
From net
investment
income........... -- -- -- -- --
From net
realized gain
on investments.. -- -- -- -- --
-------------------------------------------------
Net increase
(decrease)in
net asset value... (0.96) 0.29 0.09 (0.95) (2.00)
Net asset value:
Beginning of
period............ 4.86 4.57 4.48 5.43 7.43
------------------------------------------------
End of period..... $3.90 $4.86 $4.57 $4.48 $5.43
=================================================
Ratio of expenses
to average
net assets........ 2.35% 1.98% 1.99% 2.19% 30.85%
Ratio of net
investment loss
loss to average
net assets........ (0.40)% (1.49)% (1.10)% (1.24)% (28.14)%
Portfolio turnover. 0.21 0.37 0.12 0.42 --
Average commission
rate paid......... 0.0386 0.0568 0.0433 0.0345 --
Number of shares
outstanding at end
of period.......... 1,203,322 1,684,362 1,184,752 1,044,287 12,000
Per share data and
ratios assuming no
waiver of advisory
fees:
Expenses........... -- -- -- -- $ 2.30
Net investment loss -- -- -- -- $(2.11)
Ratio of expenses
to average net
assets............ -- -- -- -- 32.35%
Ratio of net
investment loss to
average net assets. -- -- -- -- (29.64)%
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997
Value
Quantity (Note 1)
COMMON STOCKS -- 32.60%
Gold/Silver Mining Stocks
40,000 Aquiline Resources Corporation................. $ 4,000
10,000 Barrick Gold Corporation....................... 185,630
25,000 Cambior Incorporated........................... 148,250
30,000 Euro-Nevada Mining Corporation................. 401,700
18,000 Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation............... 349,740
33,500 Guyanor Resources, Class B..................... 32,830
65,000 Miramar Mining Corporation..................... 124,800
8,000 Newmont Mining Corporation..................... 233,000
47,300 Northern Orion Exploration Limited............. 51,084
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Total common stocks (cost $1,855,755).......... 1,531,034
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FOREIGN TIME DEPOSITS -- 47.36%.....
13,337,78French Franc maturing 01/05/98
at 3.25% (cost $2,231,412)..................... 2,224,743
----------
PRECIOUS METALS -- 19.30%
Gold Bullion
3,139 Ounces gold bullion (cost $1,225,873) ......... 906,640
----------
Total investments (cost $5,313,040)............ 4,662,417
----------
CASH & OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES -- 0.74%.......... 34,901
==========
Total Net Assets...............................$4,697,318
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997
1. Significant accounting policies:
Anchor Strategic Assets Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"),
is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a
diversified, open-end investment management company. The following is a
summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Trust which are in
conformity with those generally accepted in the investment company industry.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
A. Investment securities--
Security transactions are recorded
on the date the investments are purchased or sold. Each day, at noon,
securities traded on national security exchanges are valued at the last sale
price on the primary exchange on which they are listed, or if there has been
no sale by noon, at the current bid price. Other securities for which market
quotations are readily available are valued at the last known sales price,
or, if unavailable, the known current bid price which most nearly represents
current market value. Options are valued in the same manner. Foreign
currencies and foreign denominated securities are translated at current
market exchange rates as of noon.The gold bullion is valued each day at noon
based on the New York spot gold price. Temporary cash investments are stated
at cost, which approximates market value. Dividend income is recorded on the
ex-dividend date and interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Gains
and losses from sales of investments are calculated using the "identified
cost" method for both financial reporting and federal income tax purposes.
B. Income Taxes-- The Trust has elected to comply with the requirements of
the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and
to distribute each year all of its taxable income to its shareholders. No
provision for federal income taxes is necessary since the Trust intends to
qualify for and elect the special tax treatment afforded a "regulated
investment company" under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code. Income
and capital gains distributions are determined in accordance with federal
tax regulations and may differ from those determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. To the extent these differences
are permanent, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts
based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not
require such reclassification. During the current fiscal year, permanent
differences, primarily due to foreign currency losses offset by net
investment income, resulted in a net decrease in undistributed net
investment income and an increase in accumulated realized loss from security
transactions. This reclassification had no affect on net assets.
C. Capital Stock-- The Trust records the sales and redemptions
of its capital stock on trade date.
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997
(Continued)
D. Foreign Currency-- Amounts denominated in or expected to settle in foreign
currencies are translated into United States dollars at rates reported by a
major Boston bank on the following basis:
A. Market value of investment securities, other assets and
liabilities at the 12:00 noon Eastern Time rate of exchange
at the balance sheet date.
B. Purchases and sales of investment securities, income and expenses at the
rate of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions (or
at an average rate if significant rate fluctuations have not occurred). The
Trust does not isolate that portion of the results of operations resulting
from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations
arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations
are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss from
investments. Reported net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise
from sales and maturities of short term securities, sales of foreign
currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and
settlement dates on securities transactions, the difference between the
amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded on
the Trust's books, and the United States dollar equivalent of the amounts
actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses
arise from changes in the value of assets and liabilities other than
investments in securities at fiscal year end, resulting from changes in the
exchange rate.
2. Tax basis of investments:
At December 31, 1997, the total cost of investments for federal income tax
purposes was identical to the total cost on a financial reporting basis.
Aggregate gross unrealized appreciation in investments in which there was an
excess of market value over tax cost was $244,637. Aggregate gross unrealized
depreciation in investments in which there was an excess of tax cost over
market value was $895,260. Net unrealized depreciation in investments at
December 31, 1997 was $650,623.
3. Investment advisory service agreements:
The investment advisory contract with Anchor Investment Management
Corporation (the "investment adviser") provides that the Trust will pay the
adviser a fee for investment advice based on a rate of 1 1/2% per annum of
average daily net assets. At December 31, 1997, investment advisory fees of
$6,289 were due and were included in "Accrued expenses and other liabilities"
in the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities. David Y. Williams, a
Trustee of the Trust, is President and a Director of the Investment Adviser.
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1997
(Continued)
4. Certain transactions:
Anchor Investment Management Corporation provides transfer agent services for
the Trust. Fees earned by Anchor Investment Management Corporation for
transfer agent services for the year ended December 31, 1997 were $3,000.
Certain officers and trustees of the Trust are directors and/or officers of
the investment adviser and distributor. Meeschaert & Co., Inc., the Trust's
distributor, received $10,190 in brokerage commissions during the year ended
December 31, 1997. Fees earned by Anchor Investment Management Corporation
for expenses related to daily pricing of the Trust shares and for bookkeeping
services for the year ended December 31, 1997 were $18,500. For the year
ended December 31, 1997 the total expense increase, as shown in the statement
of operations, is $3,639 as a result of an expense offset arrangement with
its custodian, Investors Bank & Trust Company. The Trust could have invested
the assets used by the custodian in an income producing asset if it had not
agreed to a reduction in fees under the expense offset arrangement. In
addition, the expense ratios in the Selected Per Share Data and Ratios are
based on the total expenses, which include amounts that would have been paid
in lieu of an expense offset arrangement
5. Purchases and sales:
Aggregate cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales and maturities on
investments for the year ended December 31, 1997 were:
Cost of securities acquired:
U.S. Government and investments backed by
such securities........................... $ 4,333,699
Other investments.......................... 89,117,258
=============
$ 93,450,957
=============
Proceeds from sales and maturities:
U.S. Government and investments backed by
such securities...........................$ 5,320,101
Other investments......................... 88,621,107
=============
$ 93,941,208
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Shareholders and Trustees of Anchor Strategic Assets Trust:
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Anchor
Strategic Assets Trust (a Massachusetts business trust), including the schedule
of investments, as of December 31, 1997, the related statement of operations for
the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two
years in the period then ended, and the selected per share data and ratios for
each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and
per share data and ratios are the responsibility of the Trust's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and per
share data and ratios based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and per share data
and ratios are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of
December 31, 1997 by correspondence with the custodian. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and selected per share data and ratios
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Anchor Strategic Assets Trust as of December 31, 1997, the results
of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for
each of the two years in the period then ended, and the selected per share data
and ratios for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
LIVINGSTON & HAYNES, P.C.
Wellesley, Massachusetts,
January 14, 1998.
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES
DAVID W.C. PUTNAM Chairman
Chairman, Board of Directors, F.L. Putnam and Trustee
Investment Management Corporation
President and Director, F.L. Putnam
Securities Company Incorporated
J. STEPHEN PUTNAM Vice President and
President, Robert Thomas Securities Treasurer
SPENCER H. LE MENAGER Secretary
President, Equity Inc. and Trustee
MAURICE A. DONAHUE Trustee
Director and Professor, Institute for
Governmental Services and
Walsh-Saltonstall Professor of Practical
Politics, University of Massachusetts
DAVID Y. WILLIAMS President
President and Director, Meeschaert & Co., and Trustee
Inc., President and Director, Anchor
Investment Management Corporation
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ANCHOR STRATEGIC ASSETS TRUST
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INVESTMENT ADVISER AND TRANSFER AGENT
Anchor Investment Management Corporation
579 Pleasant St., Suite 4, Paxton, Massachusetts 01612
(508) 831-1171
DISTRIBUTOR
Meeschaert & Co., Inc.
579 Pleasant St., Suite 4, Paxton, Massachusetts 01612
CUSTODIAN
Investors Bank & Trust Company
89 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
Livingston & Haynes, P.C.
40 Grove St., Wellesley, Massachusetts 02181
LEGAL COUNSEL
Yukevich, Blume, Marchetti & Zangrilli
One Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the
Trust unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus which includes
information concerning the Trust's record or other pertinent information.
