SCHEDULE 13G/A: First Trust Entities Maintain Significant Passive Stake in Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.

First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P., and The Charger Corporation have jointly filed an amendment to their Schedule 13G, confirming a continued passive beneficial ownership of 11.39% in Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc. as of December 31, 2024.

Summary

• First Trust Portfolios L.P., First Trust Advisors L.P., and The Charger Corporation have filed an Amendment No. 15 to their Schedule 13G regarding their beneficial ownership in Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.
• As of December 31, 2024, the reporting persons collectively beneficially own 6,955,768 shares of Common stock, representing 11.39% of the class.
• The shares are held with shared dispositive power, but no sole or shared voting power by the reporting persons.
• The Charger Corporation is the General Partner of both First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P.
• First Trust Portfolios L.P. acts as sponsor of unit investment trusts (UITs) that hold shares of the issuer, while First Trust Advisors L.P. serves as portfolio supervisor for these UITs and investment advisor/sub-advisor for other investment vehicles holding the issuer's shares.
• The reporting persons explicitly state that the shares were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of changing or influencing the control of Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The document is a factual, routine regulatory filing disclosing beneficial ownership. It contains no positive or negative news about the issuer's performance or strategic direction, thus maintaining a neutral sentiment.

Future Outlook

The document does not contain any forward-looking statements or guidance regarding Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc.'s future performance or operations. It solely pertains to beneficial ownership disclosure.

Industry Context

This filing is a routine disclosure by investment management firms regarding their passive ownership stakes in publicly traded companies, as required by SEC regulations. It reflects the ongoing investment activities of First Trust entities in closed-end funds like Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, Inc., consistent with their roles as sponsors and advisors of various investment vehicles.

Related Party Transactions

• The filing details the relationship between the reporting persons: The Charger Corporation is the General Partner of both First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L.P., indicating an internal related-party structure among the filing entities themselves, not a transaction with the issuer.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Provides transparency regarding a significant passive ownership stake, confirming that a large portion of shares is held by institutional entities for investment purposes without intent to influence control.
• Management: Informs management of the continued passive nature of this significant ownership, which typically implies stability and no immediate pressure for strategic changes from this holder.

Key Dates

Keywords

Schedule 13G, Beneficial Ownership, Liberty All-Star Growth Fund, First Trust Portfolios, First Trust Advisors, The Charger Corporation, Investment Fund, Passive Investment, SEC Filing