UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT
COMPANIES
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Investment Company Act file number: | | 811-01660 |
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Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: | | Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. |
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Address of principal executive offices: | | 655 Broad Street, 17th Floor |
| | Newark, New Jersey 07102 |
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Name and address of agent for service: | | Andrew R. French |
| | 655 Broad Street, 17th Floor |
| | Newark, New Jersey 07102 |
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | | 800-225-1852 |
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Date of fiscal year end: | | 12/31/2021 |
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Date of reporting period: | | 06/30/2021 |
Item 1 – Reports to Stockholders
Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc.
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SEMIANNUAL REPORT | | June 30, 2021 |
This report provides financial information about Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. (the Fund), an investment option under your variable contract.
The views expressed in this report and information about the Fund’s portfolio holdings are for the period covered by this report and are subject to change thereafter.
The accompanying financial statements as of June 30, 2021, were not audited; and accordingly, no auditor’s opinion is expressed on them.
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Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. Table of Contents | | Semiannual Report | | June 30, 2021 |
⬛ | PRESENTATION OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
Section A Schedule of Investments and Financial Statements
Section B Notes to Financial Statements
Section C Financial Highlights
⬛ | APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENTS |
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Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. Letter to Planholders | | Semiannual Report | | June 30, 2021 |
∎ DEAR PLANHOLDER
At Prudential, our primary objective is to help investors achieve and maintain long-term financial success. Despite today’s uncertainties, we remain strong and ready to serve and support you. This Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. semiannual report outlines our efforts to achieve this goal. We hope you find it informative and useful.
Prudential has been building on a heritage of success for more than 145 years. You can count on our history of financial stability. We are diversified for endurance. Our balanced mix of risks and businesses positions us well to manage through any economic environment. We’ve applied the lessons from decades of challenges to be stronger, because we are committed to keeping our promises to you.
Your financial professional is the best resource to help you make the most informed investment decisions. Together, you can build a diversified investment portfolio that aligns with your long-term financial goals. Please keep in mind that diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets.
Thank you for selecting Prudential as one of your financial partners. A strong sense of social responsibility for our clients, our employees, and our communities has been embedded in the company since our founding. It guides our efforts to help our customers achieve peace of mind through financial wellness.
We value your trust and appreciate the opportunity to help you achieve financial security.
Sincerely,
| | |
Timothy S. Cronin | | |
President, | | |
Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. | | July 31, 2021 |
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Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. Presentation of Portfolio Holdings — unaudited | | June 30, 2021 |
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Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. | | | | |
Ten Largest Holdings | | Line of Business | | % of Net Assets |
Amazon.com, Inc. | | Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | | 6.9% |
salesforce.com, Inc. | | Software | | 5.3% |
Alphabet, Inc. (Class C Stock) | | Interactive Media & Services | | 5.2% |
Adobe, Inc. | | Software | | 5.2% |
Microsoft Corp. | | Software | | 5.2% |
Tesla, Inc. | | Automobiles | | 5.1% |
Mastercard, Inc. (Class A Stock) | | IT Services | | 4.7% |
Visa, Inc. (Class A Stock) | | IT Services | | 4.6% |
NIKE, Inc. (Class B Stock) | | Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | | 4.6% |
Shopify, Inc. (Canada) (Class A Stock) | | IT Services | | 4.4% |
For a complete list of holdings, please refer to the Schedule of Investments section of this report. Holdings reflect only long-term investments.
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Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. Fees and Expenses — unaudited | | | | June 30, 2021 |
As a Planholder investing in the Fund through a variable contract, you incur ongoing costs, including management fees, and other Fund expenses. This example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other investment options. This example does not reflect fees and charges under your contract. If contract charges were included, the costs shown below would be higher. Please consult your contract for more information about contract fees and charges.
The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the period and held for the entire period January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use this information, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the Fund expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading entitled “Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period” to estimate the Fund expenses you paid on your account during this period. As noted above, the table does not reflect variable contract fees and charges.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The second line of the table below provides information about hypothetical account values and hypothetical expenses based on the Fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed rate of return of 5% per year before expenses, which is not the Fund’s actual return. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period. You may use this information to compare the ongoing costs of investing in the Fund and other investment options. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other investment options.
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing Fund costs only and do not reflect any contract fees and charges, such as sales charges (loads), insurance charges or administrative charges. Therefore the second line of the table is useful to compare ongoing investment option costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different contracts. In addition, if these contract fees and charges were included, your costs would have been higher.
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| | | | | Beginning Account Value January 1, 2021 | | Ending Account Value June 30, 2021 | | Annualized Expense Ratio based on the Six-Month Period | | Expenses Paid During the Six-Month Period* |
Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. | | | Actual | | | $1,000.00 | | $1,107.00 | | 0.60% | | $3.13 |
| | | Hypothetical | | | $1,000.00 | | $1,021.82 | | 0.60% | | $3.01 |
* Fund expenses (net of fee waivers or subsidies, if any) are equal to the annualized expense ratio (provided in the table), multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by the 181 days in the six-month period ended June 30, 2021, and divided by the 365 days in the Fund’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 (to reflect the six-month period). Expenses presented in the table include the expenses of any underlying portfolios in which the Fund may invest.
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| | PRUDENTIAL’S GIBRALTAR FUND, INC. | | |
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SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS | | as of June 30, 2021 (unaudited) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS — 99.2% | |
COMMON STOCKS | |
Automobiles — 5.1% | |
Tesla, Inc.* | | | 17,371 | | | $ | 11,807,069 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Biotechnology — 2.3% | |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.* | | | 7,445 | | | | 1,501,136 | |
Zai Lab Ltd. (China), ADR* | | | 22,270 | | | | 3,941,567 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5,442,703 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Capital Markets — 1.9% | |
S&P Global, Inc. | | | 10,562 | | | | 4,335,173 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Entertainment — 0.9% | |
Spotify Technology SA* | | | 7,743 | | | | 2,133,893 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Food & Staples Retailing — 3.5% | |
Costco Wholesale Corp. | | | 20,389 | | | | 8,067,316 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.5% | |
Danaher Corp. | | | 4,636 | | | | 1,244,117 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Health Care Technology — 1.5% | |
Teladoc Health, Inc.*(a) | | | 21,421 | | | | 3,562,098 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 2.0% | |
Airbnb, Inc. (Class A Stock)* | | | 31,202 | | | | 4,778,274 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Interactive Media & Services — 15.2% | |
Alphabet, Inc. (Class A Stock)* | | | 2,809 | | | | 6,858,988 | |
Alphabet, Inc. (Class C Stock)* | | | 4,869 | | | | 12,203,272 | |
Facebook, Inc. (Class A Stock)* | | | 26,717 | | | | 9,289,768 | |
Match Group, Inc.* | | | 20,013 | | | | 3,227,096 | |
Snap, Inc. (Class A Stock)* | | | 55,472 | | | | 3,779,862 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 35,358,986 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail — 8.7% | |
Amazon.com, Inc.* | | | 4,641 | | | | 15,965,783 | |
Chewy, Inc. (Class A Stock)*(a) | | | 53,724 | | | | 4,282,340 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 20,248,123 | |
| | | | | | | | |
IT Services — 18.1% | | | | | | | | |
Mastercard, Inc. (Class A Stock) | | | 30,112 | | | | 10,993,590 | |
Shopify, Inc. (Canada) (Class A Stock)* | | | 7,030 | | | | 10,270,690 | |
Square, Inc. (Class A Stock)* | | | 23,400 | | | | 5,704,920 | |
Twilio, Inc. (Class A Stock)* | | | 10,846 | | | | 4,275,059 | |
Visa, Inc. (Class A Stock)(a) | | | 45,918 | | | | 10,736,547 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 41,980,806 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Pharmaceuticals — 3.0% | | | | | | | | |
Eli Lilly & Co. | | | 30,677 | | | | 7,040,985 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Road & Rail — 2.6% | | | | | | | | |
Uber Technologies, Inc.* | | | 119,035 | | | | 5,966,034 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Software — 16.4% | | | | | | | | |
Adobe, Inc.* | | | 20,775 | | | | 12,166,671 | |
Microsoft Corp. | | | 44,439 | | | | 12,038,525 | |
RingCentral, Inc. (Class A Stock)* | | | 5,895 | | | | 1,712,969 | |
salesforce.com, Inc.* | | | 50,266 | | | | 12,278,476 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 38,196,641 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Shares | | | Value | |
COMMON STOCKS (continued) | |
Specialty Retail — 4.0% | |
Carvana Co.*(a) | | | 12,753 | | | $ | 3,849,110 | |
Home Depot, Inc. (The) | | | 11,870 | | | | 3,785,224 | |
TJX Cos., Inc. (The) | | | 23,292 | | | | 1,570,347 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 9,204,681 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals — 4.3% | |
Apple, Inc. | | | 72,578 | | | | 9,940,283 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 9.2% | |
Kering SA (France), ADR | | | 70,250 | | | | 6,157,834 | |
Lululemon Athletica, Inc.* | | | 12,661 | | | | 4,620,885 | |
NIKE, Inc. (Class B Stock) | | | 68,907 | | | | 10,645,443 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 21,424,162 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $74,411,796) | | | | 230,731,344 | |
| | | | | | | | |
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 10.0% | | | | | |
AFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS | |
PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund(wa) | | | 1,909,614 | | | | 1,909,614 | |
PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund (cost $21,255,574; includes $21,254,160 of cash collateral for securities on loan)(b)(wa) | | | 21,277,268 | | | | 21,264,501 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (cost $23,165,188) | | | | 23,174,115 | |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS—109.2% (cost $97,576,984) | | | | | | | 253,905,459 | |
Liabilities in excess of other assets — (9.2)% | | | | (21,408,825 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
| | |
NET ASSETS — 100.0% | | | | | | $ | 232,496,634 | |
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Below is a list of the abbreviation(s) used in the semiannual report:
ADR — American Depositary Receipt
LIBOR — London Interbank Offered Rate
* | Non-income producing security. |
(a) | All or a portion of security is on loan. The aggregate market value of such securities, including those sold and pending settlement, is $20,532,950; cash collateral of $21,254,160 (included in liabilities) was received with which the Fund purchased highly liquid short-term investments. In the event of significant appreciation in value of securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the Fund may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities and such shortfall is remedied the following business day. |
(b) | Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment. |
(wa) | PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund, if applicable. |
Fair Value Measurements:
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
Level 1—unadjusted quoted prices generally in active markets for identical securities.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
A1
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| | PRUDENTIAL’S GIBRALTAR FUND, INC. (CONTINUED) | | |
| | | | | | |
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SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS | | as of June 30, 2021 (unaudited) |
Level 2—quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates and yield curves, prepayment speeds, foreign currency exchange rates and other observable inputs.
Level 3—unobservable inputs for securities valued in accordance with Board approved fair valuation procedures.
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of June 30, 2021 in valuing such portfolio securities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 |
Investments in Securities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long-Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Automobiles | | | $ | 11,807,069 | | | | $ | — | | | | $ | — | |
Biotechnology | | | | 5,442,703 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Capital Markets | | | | 4,335,173 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Entertainment | | | | 2,133,893 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Food & Staples Retailing | | | | 8,067,316 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | | | | 1,244,117 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Health Care Technology | | | | 3,562,098 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | | | | 4,778,274 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Interactive Media & Services | | | | 35,358,986 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | | | | 20,248,123 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
IT Services | | | | 41,980,806 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | | 7,040,985 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Road & Rail | | | | 5,966,034 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Software | | | | 38,196,641 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Specialty Retail | | | | 9,204,681 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | | | | 9,940,283 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | | | | 21,424,162 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
Short-Term Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Affiliated Mutual Funds | | | | 23,174,115 | | | | | — | | | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | | $ | 253,905,459 | | | | $ | — | | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Industry Classification:
The industry classification of investments and liabilities in excess of other assets shown as a percentage of net assets as of June 30, 2021 were as follows:
| | | | |
IT Services | | | 18.1 | % |
Software | | | 16.4 | |
Interactive Media & Services | | | 15.2 | |
Affiliated Mutual Funds (9.1% represents investments purchased with collateral from securities on loan) | | | 10.0 | |
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods | | | 9.2 | |
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail | | | 8.7 | |
Automobiles | | | 5.1 | |
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals | | | 4.3 | |
Specialty Retail | | | 4.0 | |
Food & Staples Retailing | | | 3.5 | |
Pharmaceuticals | | | 3.0 | |
| | | | |
Road & Rail | | | 2.6 | % |
Biotechnology | | | 2.3 | |
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | | | 2.0 | |
Capital Markets | | | 1.9 | |
Health Care Technology | | | 1.5 | |
Entertainment | | | 0.9 | |
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | | | 0.5 | |
| | | | |
| | | 109.2 | |
Liabilities in excess of other assets | | | (9.2 | ) |
| | | | |
| | | 100.0 | % |
| | | | |
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
A2
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| | PRUDENTIAL’S GIBRALTAR FUND, INC. (CONTINUED) | | |
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SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS | | as of June 30, 2021 (unaudited) |
Financial Instruments/Transactions—Summary of Offsetting and Netting Arrangements:
The Fund entered into financial instruments/transactions during the reporting period that are either offset in accordance with current requirements or are subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements that permit offsetting. The information about offsetting and related netting arrangements for financial instruments/transactions where the legal right to set-off exists is presented in the summary below.
Offsetting of financial instrument/transaction assets and liabilities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Description | | Gross Market Value of Recognized Assets/(Liabilities) | | Collateral Pledged/(Received)(1) | | Net Amount |
Securities on Loan | | | $ | 20,532,950 | | | | $ | (20,532,950 | ) | | | $ | — | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Collateral amount disclosed by the Fund is limited to the market value of financial instruments/transactions.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
A3
| | | | |
| | PRUDENTIAL’S GIBRALTAR FUND, INC. (CONTINUED) | | |
| | | | |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (unaudited) as of June 30, 2021 | |
|
| |
ASSETS | | | | |
Investments at value, including securities on loan of $20,532,950: | | | | |
Unaffiliated investments (cost $74,411,796) | | $ | 230,731,344 | |
Affiliated investments (cost $23,165,188) | | | 23,174,115 | |
Tax reclaim receivable | | | 63,600 | |
Dividends receivable | | | 20,491 | |
Prepaid expenses | | | 892 | |
| | | | |
Total Assets | | | 253,990,442 | |
| | | | |
LIABILITIES | | | | |
Payable to broker for collateral for securities on loan | | | 21,254,160 | |
Management fee payable | | | 101,576 | |
Payable for investments purchased | | | 101,273 | |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities | | | 36,799 | |
| | | | |
Total Liabilities | | | 21,493,808 | |
| | | | |
NET ASSETS | | $ | 232,496,634 | |
| | | | |
Net assets were comprised of: | | | | |
Shares of beneficial interest, at par | | $ | 82,005 | |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | | | 45,289,947 | |
Total distributable earnings (loss) | | | 187,124,682 | |
| | | | |
Net assets, June 30, 2021 | | $ | 232,496,634 | |
| | | | |
Net asset value and redemption price per share, $232,496,634 / 8,200,541 outstanding shares of common stock (authorized 75,000,000 shares) | | $ | 28.35 | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | |
|
| |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS) INCOME | | | | |
Unaffiliated dividend income (net of $10,490 foreign withholding tax) | | $ | 417,614 | |
Income from securities lending, net (including affiliated income of $6,374) | | | 6,603 | |
Affiliated dividend income | | | 5,965 | |
| | | | |
Total income | | | 430,182 | |
| | | | |
EXPENSES | | | | |
Management fee | | | 617,855 | |
Custodian and accounting fees | | | 21,164 | |
Audit fee | | | 14,887 | |
Legal fees and expenses | | | 9,325 | |
Directors’ fees | | | 6,054 | |
Miscellaneous | | | 10,228 | |
| | | | |
Total expenses | | | 679,513 | |
| | | | |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME (LOSS) | | | (249,331 | ) |
| | | | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS | | | | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions (including affiliated of $2,783) | | | 14,811,244 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments (including affiliated of $(3,263)) | | | 8,395,063 | |
| | | | |
NET GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS | | | 23,206,307 | |
| | | | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | | $ | 22,956,976 | |
| | | | |
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (unaudited)
| | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 | | | Year Ended December 31, 2020 | |
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS OPERATIONS | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | $ | (249,331 | ) | | $ | 177,829 | |
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | | 14,811,244 | | | | 31,079,414 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | | | 8,395,063 | | | | 39,247,450 | |
| | | | | | | | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | | | 22,956,976 | | | | 70,504,693 | |
| | | | | | | | |
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Distributions from distributable earnings | | | — | | | | (21,707,458 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | | | | | | |
Capital stock sold [0 and 13,909 shares, respectively] | | | — | | | | 321,625 | |
Capital stock issued in reinvestment of dividends [0 and 885,046 shares, respectively] | | | — | | | | 21,707,458 | |
Capital stock purchased [622,160 and 1,010,221 shares, respectively] | | | (16,445,328 | ) | | | (22,590,959 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM CAPITAL STOCK TRANSACTIONS | | | (16,445,328 | ) | | | (561,876 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) | | | 6,511,648 | | | | 48,235,359 | |
NET ASSETS: | | | | | | | | |
Beginning of period | | | 225,984,986 | | | | 177,749,627 | |
| | | | | | | | |
End of period | | $ | 232,496,634 | | | $ | 225,984,986 | |
| | | | | | | | |
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
A4
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. Organization
Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) was originally incorporated in the State of Delaware on March 14, 1968 and was reincorporated in the State of Maryland effective May 1, 1997. It is registered as an open-end, management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”) and is a diversified fund for purposes of the 1940 Act. The Fund was organized by The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“PICA”) to serve as the investment medium for the variable contract accounts of The Prudential Financial Security Program (“FSP”). The Fund does not sell its shares to the public. The accounts will redeem shares of the Fund to the extent necessary to provide benefits under the contracts or for such other purposes as may be consistent with the contracts.
The investment objective of the Fund is growth of capital to the extent compatible with a concern for preservation of principal.
2. Accounting Policies
The Fund follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946 Financial Services — Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Fund consistently follows such policies in the preparation of its financial statements.
Securities Valuation: The Fund holds securities and other assets and liabilities that are fair valued as of the close of each day (generally, 4:00 PM Eastern time) the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. As described in further detail below, the Fund’s investments are valued daily based on a number of factors, including the type of investment and whether market quotations are readily available. The Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has adopted valuation procedures for security valuation under which fair valuation responsibilities have been delegated to PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments” or the “Manager”). Pursuant to the Board’s delegation, the Manager has established a Valuation Committee responsible for supervising the fair valuation of portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities. The valuation procedures permit the Fund to utilize independent pricing vendor services, quotations from market makers, and alternative valuation methods when market quotations are either not readily available or not deemed representative of fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. A record of the Valuation Committee’s actions is subject to the Board’s review at its first quarterly meeting following the quarter in which such actions take place.
For the fiscal reporting period-end, securities and other assets and liabilities were fair valued at the close of the last U.S. business day. Trading in certain foreign securities may occur when the NYSE is closed (including weekends and holidays). Because such foreign securities trade in markets that are open on weekends and U.S. holidays, the values of some of the Fund’s foreign investments may change on days when investors cannot purchase or redeem Fund shares.
Various inputs determine how the Fund’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the Schedule of Investments and referred to herein as the “fair value hierarchy” in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 820 - Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.
Common or preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds and derivative instruments, if applicable, that are traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price as of the close of trading on the applicable exchange where the security principally trades. Securities traded via NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. To the extent these securities are valued at the last sale price or NASDAQ official closing price, they are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. In the event that no sale or official closing price on valuation date exists, these securities are generally valued at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price in the absence of an ask price. These securities are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Investments in open-end funds (other than exchange-traded funds) are valued at their net asset values as of the close of the NYSE on the date of valuation. These securities are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy
B1
since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.
Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on pricing methodologies approved by the Board. In the event that unobservable inputs are used when determining such valuations, the securities will be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Altering one or more unobservable inputs may result in a significant change to a Level 3 security’s fair value measurement.
When determining the fair value of securities, some of the factors influencing the valuation include: the nature of any restrictions on disposition of the securities; assessment of the general liquidity of the securities; the issuer’s financial condition and the markets in which it does business; the cost of the investment; the size of the holding and the capitalization of the issuer; the prices of any recent transactions or bids/offers for such securities or any comparable securities; any available analyst media or other reports or information deemed reliable by the Manager regarding the issuer or the markets or industry in which it operates. Using fair value to price securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent closing price and from the price used by other unaffiliated mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.
Master Netting Arrangements: The Fund is subject to various Master Agreements, or netting arrangements, with select counterparties. These are agreements which a subadviser may have negotiated and entered into on behalf of all or a portion of the Fund. A master netting arrangement between the Fund and the counterparty permits the Fund to offset amounts payable by the Fund to the same counterparty against amounts to be received; and by the receipt of collateral from the counterparty by the Fund to cover the Fund’s exposure to the counterparty. However, there is no assurance that such mitigating factors are easily enforceable. In addition to master netting arrangements, the right to set-off exists when all the conditions are met such that each of the parties owes the other determinable amounts, the reporting party has the right to set-off the amount owed with the amount owed by the other party, the reporting party intends to set-off and the right of set-off is enforceable by law.
Securities Lending: The Fund lends its portfolio securities to banks and broker-dealers. The loans are secured by collateral at least equal to the market value of the securities loaned. Collateral pledged by each borrower is invested in an affiliated money market fund and is marked to market daily, based on the previous day’s market value, such that the value of the collateral exceeds the value of the loaned securities. In the event of significant appreciation in value of securities on loan on the last business day of the reporting period, the financial statements may reflect a collateral value that is less than the market value of the loaned securities. Such shortfall is remedied as described above. Loans are subject to termination at the option of the borrower or the Fund. Upon termination of the loan, the borrower will return to the Fund securities identical to the loaned securities. The remaining maturities of the securities lending transactions are considered overnight and continuous. Should the borrower of the securities fail financially, the Fund has the right to repurchase the securities in the open market using the collateral.
The Fund recognizes income, net of any rebate and securities lending agent fees, for lending its securities in the form of fees or interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. The borrower receives all interest and dividends from the securities loaned and such payments are passed back to the lender in amounts equivalent thereto, which are reflected in interest income or unaffiliated dividend income based on the nature of the payment on the Statement of Operations. The Fund also continues to recognize any unrealized gain (loss) in the market price of the securities loaned and on the change in the value of the collateral invested that may occur during the term of the loan. In addition, realized gain (loss) is recognized on changes in the value of the collateral invested upon liquidation of the collateral. Net earnings from securities lending are disclosed in the Statement of Operations.
Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains (losses) from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the specific identification method. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-date, or for certain foreign securities, when the Fund becomes aware of such dividends. Interest income, including amortization of premium and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required, is recorded on the accrual basis. Expenses are recorded on an accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual.
Taxes: It is the Fund’s policy to continue to meet the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute all of its taxable net investment income and capital gains, if any, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends, interest and capital gains, if any, are recorded, net of reclaimable amounts, at the time the related income is earned.
B2
Dividends and Distributions: The Fund expects to pay dividends from net investment income semi-annually and distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. Dividends and distributions to shareholders, which are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations and which may differ from GAAP, are recorded on the ex-date. Permanent book/tax differences relating to income and gain (loss) are reclassified between total distributable earnings (loss) and paid-in capital in excess of par, as appropriate.
Estimates: The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
3. Agreements
The Fund has a management agreement with the Manager. Pursuant to this agreement, the Manager has responsibility for all investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser’s performance of such services.
The Manager has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison” or the “subadviser”). The Manager pays for the services of the subadviser.
The management fee paid to the Manager is accrued daily and payable monthly at an annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund’s average daily net assets of the Fund. All amounts paid or payable by the Fund to the Manager, under the agreement, are reflected in the Statement of Operations.
The Fund has a distribution agreement with Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), which acts as the distributor of the shares of the Fund. No distribution or service fees are paid to PIMS as distributor of shares of the Fund.
The Fund has entered into brokerage commission recapture agreements with certain registered broker-dealers. Under the brokerage commission recapture program, a portion of the commission is returned to the Fund. Such amounts are included within realized gain (loss) on investment transactions presented in the Statement of Operations. For the reporting period ended June 30, 2021, brokerage commission recaptured under these agreements was $1,489.
PGIM Investments, PICA, PIMS and Jennison are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).
4. Other Transactions with Affiliates
The Fund may invest its overnight sweep cash in the PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund (the “Core Fund”), and its securities lending cash collateral in the PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund (the “Money Market Fund”), each a series of Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, registered under the 1940 Act and managed by PGIM Investments. PGIM Investments and/or its affiliates are paid fees or reimbursed for providing their services to the Core Fund and the Money Market Fund. In addition to the realized and unrealized gains on investments in the Core Fund and Money Market Fund, earnings from such investments are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as “Affiliated dividend income” and “Income from securities lending, net”, respectively.
The Fund may enter into certain securities purchase or sale transactions under Board approved Rule 17a-7 procedures. Rule 17a-7 is an exemptive rule under the 1940 Act, that subject to certain conditions, permits purchase and sale transactions among affiliated investment companies, or between an investment company and a person that is affiliated solely by reason of having a common (or affiliated) investment adviser, common directors/trustees, and/or common officers. For the reporting period ended June 30, 2021, no 17a-7 transactions were entered into by the Fund.
5. Portfolio Securities
The aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of portfolio securities (excluding short-term investments and U.S. Government securities) for the reporting period ended June 30, 2021, were $24,507,862 and $31,653,401, respectively.
A summary of the cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of shares of affiliated mutual funds for the reporting period ended June 30, 2021, is presented as follows:
B3
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Value, Beginning of Period | | | Cost of Purchases | | | Proceeds from Sales | | | Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) | | | Realized Gain (Loss) | | | Value, End of Period | | | Shares, End of Period | | | Income | |
|
| Short-Term Investments - Affiliated Mutual Funds: | |
|
| PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund (1)(wa) | |
| $11,401,041 | | | $ | 16,475,558 | | | $ | 25,966,985 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,909,614 | | | | 1,909,614 | | | $ | 5,965 | |
|
| PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund (1)(b)(wa) | |
| 27,684,893 | | | | 102,444,777 | | | | 108,864,689 | | | | (3,263 | ) | | | 2,783 | | | | 21,264,501 | | | | 21,277,268 | | | | 6,374 | (2) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| $39,085,934 | | | $ | 118,920,335 | | | $ | 134,831,674 | | | $ | (3,263 | ) | | $ | 2,783 | | | $ | 23,174,115 | | | | | | | $ | 12,339 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) | The Fund did not have any capital gain distributions during the reporting period. |
(2) | The amount, or a portion thereof, represents the affiliated securities lending income shown on the Statement of Operations. |
(b) | Represents security, or portion thereof, purchased with cash collateral received for securities on loan and includes dividend reinvestment. |
(wa) | PGIM Investments LLC, the manager of the Fund, also serves as manager of the PGIM Core Ultra Short Bond Fund and PGIM Institutional Money Market Fund, if applicable. |
6. Tax Information
The United States federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized appreciation as of June 30, 2021 were as follows:
| | | | |
Tax Basis | | $ | 97,585,082 | |
| | | | |
Gross Unrealized Appreciation | | | 156,886,910 | |
Gross Unrealized Depreciation | | | (566,533 | ) |
| | | | |
Net Unrealized Appreciation | | $ | 156,320,377 | |
| | | | |
The GAAP basis may differ from tax basis due to certain tax-related adjustments.
The Manager has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on federal, state and local income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements for the current reporting period. Since tax authorities can examine previously filed tax returns, the Fund’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for each of the four fiscal years up to the most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 are subject to such review.
7. Borrowings
The Fund, along with other affiliated registered investment companies (the “Participating Funds”), is a party to a Syndicated Credit Agreement (“SCA”) with a group of banks. The purpose of the SCA is to provide an alternative source of temporary funding for capital share redemptions. The table below provides details of the SCA.
| | |
| | SCA |
| |
Term of Commitment | | 10/2/2020 – 9/30/2021 |
| |
Total Commitment | | $ 1,200,000,000 |
| |
Annualized Commitment Fee on the Unused Portion of the SCA | | 0.15% |
| |
Annualized Interest Rate on Borrowings | | 1.30% plus the higher of (1) the effective federal funds rate, (2) the one-month LIBOR rate or (3) zero percent |
Certain affiliated registered investment companies that are parties to the SCA include portfolios that are subject to a predetermined mathematical formula used to manage certain benefit guarantees offered under variable annuity contracts. The formula may result in large scale asset flows into and out of these portfolios. Consequently, these portfolios may be more likely to utilize the SCA for purposes of funding redemptions. It may be possible for those portfolios to fully exhaust the committed amount of the SCA, thereby requiring the Manager to allocate available funding per a Board-approved methodology designed to treat the Participating Funds in the SCA equitably.
B4
The Fund did not utilize the SCA during the reporting period ended June 30, 2021.
8. Capital and Ownership
Pursuant to the Fund’s Articles of Incorporation, the Fund is authorized to issue 75,000,000 shares, with a par value of $0.01 per share, and an aggregate par value of $750,000.
As of June 30, 2021, all shares of record of the Fund were owned by PICA on behalf of the owners of the three variable insurance products: Prudential’s Investment Plan Account, Prudential’s Annuity Plan Account and Prudential’s Annuity Plan Account-2.
9. Risks of Investing in the Fund
The Fund’s risks include, but are not limited to, some or all of the risks discussed below. For further information on the Fund’s risks, please refer to the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Economic and Market Events Risk: Events in the US and global financial markets, including actions taken by the US Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in periods of unusually high volatility in a market or a segment of a market, which could negatively impact performance. Reduced liquidity in credit and fixed income markets could adversely affect issuers worldwide.
Equity Securities Risk: The value of a particular stock or equity-related security held by the Fund could fluctuate, perhaps greatly, in response to a number of factors, such as changes in the issuer’s financial condition or the value of the equity markets or a sector of those markets. Such events may result in losses to the Fund.
Market and Management Risk: Markets in which the Fund invests may experience volatility and go down in value, and possibly sharply and unpredictably. Investment techniques, risk analyses and investment strategies, including quantitative models or methods, used by a subadviser in making investment decisions for the Fund may not produce the intended or desired results. The value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics. There is no guarantee that the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved.
Management risk is the risk that the investment strategy or the Manager or a subadviser will not work as intended. All decisions by the Manager or a subadviser require judgment and are based on imperfect information. In addition, if a Portfolio is managed using a quantitative investment model, it is subject to the risk that the model may not perform as expected. Similarly, there can be no assurance that quantitative models or methods utilized by the Manager or a subadviser, or related data sources, will always be available, and the loss of access to any such model(s) or data sources could have an adverse impact on a Portfolio’s ability to realize its investment objective. Moreover, regulatory restrictions, actual or potential conflicts of interest or other considerations may cause the Manager or a subadviser to restrict or prohibit participation in certain investments. There is no guarantee that the investment objective of a Portfolio will be achieved.
Regulatory Risk: The Fund is subject to a variety of laws and regulations which govern its operations. The Fund is subject to regulation by the SEC. Similarly, the businesses and other issuers of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests are also subject to considerable regulation. Changes in laws and regulations may materially impact the Fund, a security, business, sector or market.
10. Recent Regulatory Developments
On December 3, 2020, the SEC announced that it voted to adopt a new rule that establishes an updated regulatory framework for fund valuation practices (the “Rule”). The Rule, in part, provides (i) a framework for determining fair value in good faith and (ii) provides for a fund Board’s assignment of its responsibility for the execution of valuation-related activities to a fund’s investment adviser. Further, the SEC is rescinding previously issued guidance on related issues. The Rule took effect on March 8, 2021, with a compliance date of September 8, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the Rule and its impact to the Fund.
B5
| | | | | | |
| |
Financial Highlights (Unaudited) | | |
Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Six Months Ended | | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | June 30, 2021 | | | 2020 | | | 2019 | | | 2018 | | | 2017 | | | 2016 | |
Per Share Operating Performance: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, beginning of period | | $ | 25.61 | | | $ | 19.90 | | | $ | 16.30 | | | $ | 17.18 | | | $ | 14.31 | | | $ | 15.64 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income (Loss) From Investment Operations: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net investment income (loss) | | | (0.03 | ) | | | 0.02 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.05 | | | | 0.03 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions | | | 2.77 | | | | 8.30 | | | | 5.26 | | | | 0.83 | | | | 5.11 | | | | 0.05 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total from investment operations | | | 2.74 | | | | 8.32 | | | | 5.31 | | | | 0.88 | | | | 5.16 | | | | 0.08 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Less Dividends and Distributions: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends from net investment income | | | — | | | | (0.03 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.04 | ) | | | (0.05 | ) | | | (0.03 | ) |
Distributions from net realized gains on investments | | | — | | | | (2.58 | ) | | | (1.67 | ) | | | (1.72 | ) | | | (2.24 | ) | | | (1.38 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total dividends and distributions | | | — | | | | (2.61 | ) | | | (1.71 | ) | | | (1.76 | ) | | | (2.29 | ) | | | (1.41 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Asset Value, end of period | | $ | 28.35 | | | $ | 25.61 | | | $ | 19.90 | | | $ | 16.30 | | | $ | 17.18 | | | $ | 14.31 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Return(a) | | | 10.70 | % | | | 42.73 | % | | | 33.13 | % | | | 4.61 | % | | | 36.24 | % | | | 0.39 | % |
Ratios/Supplemental Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net assets, end of period (in millions) | | $ | 232 | | | $ | 226 | | | $ | 178 | | | $ | 151 | | | $ | 161 | | | $ | 143 | |
Average net assets (in millions) | | $ | 227 | | | $ | 195 | | | $ | 167 | | | $ | 171 | | | $ | 158 | | | $ | 146 | |
Ratios to average net assets(b): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expenses after waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.60 | %(c) | | | 0.62 | % | | | 0.62 | % | | | 0.61 | % | | | 0.62 | % | | | 0.62 | % |
Expenses before waivers and/or expense reimbursement | | | 0.60 | %(c) | | | 0.62 | % | | | 0.62 | % | | | 0.61 | % | | | 0.62 | % | | | 0.62 | % |
Net investment income (loss) | | | (0.22 | )%(c) | | | 0.09 | % | | | 0.25 | % | | | 0.25 | % | | | 0.29 | % | | | 0.19 | % |
Portfolio turnover rate(d) | | | 11 | % | | | 22 | % | | | 16 | % | | | 12 | % | | | 16 | % | | | 21 | % |
(a) | Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of a share on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported and includes reinvestment of dividends and distributions, if any, and does not reflect the effect of insurance contract charges. Total return does not reflect expenses associated with the separate account such as administrative fees, account charges and surrender charges which, if reflected, would reduce the total return for all periods shown. Performance figures may reflect fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements. In the absence of fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements, the total return would be lower. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to GAAP. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized. |
(b) | Does not include expenses of the underlying funds in which the Fund invests. |
(d) | The Fund’s portfolio turnover rate is calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements, without regard to transactions involving short-term investments and certain derivatives. If such transactions were included, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate may be higher. |
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
C1
| | |
Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. Fund Liquidity Risk Management Program — unaudited | | June 30, 2021 |
Consistent with Rule 22e-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Liquidity Rule”), the Fund has adopted and implemented a liquidity risk management program (the “LRMP”). The Fund’s LRMP seeks to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk, which is defined as the risk that the Fund is unable to meet investor redemption requests without significantly diluting the remaining investors’ interests in the Fund. The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has approved PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”), the Fund’s investment manager, to serve as the administrator of the Fund’s LRMP. As part of its responsibilities as administrator, PGIM Investments has retained a third party to perform certain functions, including providing market data and liquidity classification model information.
The Fund’s LRMP includes a number of processes designed to support the assessment and management of its liquidity risk. In particular, the Fund’s LRMP includes no less than annual assessments of factors that influence the Fund’s liquidity risk; no less than monthly classifications of the Fund’s investments into one of four liquidity classifications provided for in the Liquidity Rule; a 15% of net assets limit on the acquisition of “illiquid investments” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule); establishment of a minimum percentage of the Fund’s assets to be invested in investments classified as “highly liquid” (as defined under the Liquidity Rule) if the Fund does not invest primarily in highly liquid investments; and regular reporting to the Board.
At a meeting of the Board on March 2-5, 2021, PGIM Investments provided a written report (“LRMP Report”) to the Board addressing the operation, adequacy, and effectiveness of the Fund’s LRMP, including any material changes to the LRMP for the period from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 (“Reporting Period”). The LRMP Report concluded that the Fund’s LRMP was reasonably designed to assess and manage the Fund’s liquidity risk and was adequately and effectively implemented during the Reporting Period. There were no material changes to the LRMP during the Reporting Period. The LRMP Report further concluded that the Fund’s investment strategies continue to be appropriate given the Fund’s status as an open-end fund.
There can be no assurance that the LRMP will achieve its objectives in the future. Additional information regarding risks of investing in the Fund, including liquidity risks presented by the Fund’s investment portfolio, is found in the Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
C2
Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc.
Approval of Advisory Agreements
The Fund’s Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (the Board) of Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. (the Fund) consists of nine individuals, eight of whom are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) (the Independent Directors). The Board is responsible for the oversight of the Fund and its operations, and performs the various duties imposed on the directors of the Board (the Directors) by the 1940 Act. The Independent Directors have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chair of the Board is an Independent Director. The Board has established four standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Governance Committee, the Compliance Committee, and the Investment Review and Risk Committee. Each committee is chaired by an Independent Director.
Annual Approval of the Fund’s Advisory Agreements
As required under the 1940 Act, the Board determines annually whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement with PGIM Investments LLC (PGIM Investments) and the Fund’s subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (Jennison). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, met on June 14-16, 2021 (the Meeting) and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2022, after concluding that renewal of the agreements was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.
In advance of the Meeting, the Board requested and received materials relating to the agreements, and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with its consideration. Among other things, the Board considered comparisons with other mutual funds in a relevant peer universe and peer group, as is further discussed below.
In approving the agreements, the Board, including the Independent Directors advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors it deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadviser, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders. In their deliberations, the Directors did not identify any single factor that alone was responsible for the Board’s decision to approve the agreements. In connection with its deliberations, the Board considered information provided at or in advance of the Meeting, as well as information provided throughout the year at regular and special Board meetings, including presentations from PGIM Investments and subadviser personnel, such as portfolio managers. The Directors determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PGIM Investments, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PGIM Investments and Jennison, which serves as the Fund’s subadviser pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PGIM Investments, are in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The Board considered the approval of the agreements for the Fund as part of its consideration of agreements for multiple portfolios, but its approvals were made on a fund-by-fund or portfolio-by-portfolio basis.
The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Board’s determinations to approve the renewal of the agreements are separately discussed below.
Nature, Quality and Extent of Services
The Board received and considered information regarding the nature, quality and extent of services provided to the Fund by PGIM Investments and Jennison. The Board considered the services provided by PGIM Investments, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadviser for the Fund, as well as the provision of accounting oversight, recordkeeping, compliance and other services to the Fund, and PGIM Investments’ role as administrator of the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. The Board also considered that PGIM Investments or its affiliates pays the salaries of all of the officers and interested Directors of the Fund. With respect to PGIM Investments’ oversight of the subadviser, the Board noted that PGIM Investments’ Strategic Investment Research Group (SIRG), which is a business unit of PGIM Investments, is responsible for screening and recommending new subadvisers when appropriate, as well as monitoring and reporting to the Board on the performance and operations of the subadvisers. The Board also considered the investment subadvisory services provided by Jennison, as well as adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with applicable Fund policies and procedures. The Board considered PGIM Investments’ evaluation of the subadviser, as well as PGIM Investments’ recommendation, based on its review of the subadviser, to renew the subadvisory agreement.
The Board reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PGIM Investments’ senior management personnel responsible for the oversight of the Fund and Jennison, and also reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of Jennison’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. The Board was provided with information pertaining to PGIM Investments’ and Jennison’s organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to both PGIM Investments and Jennison. The Board also noted that it received favorable compliance reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) as to both PGIM Investments and Jennison. The Board noted that Jennison is affiliated with PGIM Investments.
The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PGIM Investments and the subadvisory services provided to the Fund by Jennison, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that the Fund benefits from the services provided by PGIM Investments and Jennison under the management and subadvisory agreements.
Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PGIM Investments
The Board was provided with information on the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates from serving as the Fund’s investment manager. The Board discussed with PGIM Investments the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Board recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from fund management contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocations of direct and indirect costs, and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. The Board considered information regarding the profitability of the subadviser, an affiliate of PGIM Investments, on a consolidated basis. Taking these factors into account, the Board concluded that the profitability of PGIM Investments and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board received and discussed information concerning whether PGIM Investments realizes economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. The Board noted that economies of scale, if any, may be shared with the Fund in several ways, including low management fees from inception, additional technological and personnel investments to enhance shareholder services, and maintaining existing expense structures in the face of a rising cost environment. The Board recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Board’s understanding that most of PGIM Investments’ costs are not specific to individual funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
Other Benefits to PGIM Investments and Jennison
The Board considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PGIM Investments and Jennison and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Board concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PGIM Investments included compensation received by insurance company affiliates of PGIM Investments from Jennison, as well as benefits to the reputation or other intangible benefits resulting from PGIM Investments’ association with the Fund. The Board also considered information provided by PGIM Investments regarding the regulatory requirement that insurance companies determine that the fees and charges under their variable contracts are reasonable. The Board concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by Jennison included the ability to use soft dollar credits, brokerage commissions that may be received by affiliates of Jennison, as well as the potential benefits consistent with those generally resulting from an increase in assets under management, specifically, potential access to additional research resources and benefits to its reputation. The Board concluded that the benefits derived by PGIM Investments and Jennison were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.
Performance of the Fund / Fees and Expenses / Other Factors
With respect to the Fund, the Board also considered certain additional specific factors and made related conclusions relating to the historical performance of the Fund for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2020. The Board compared the historical gross performance of the Fund to the comparable performance of its benchmark index and to a universe of mutual funds that were determined by Broadridge, Inc. (Broadridge), an independent provider of mutual fund data, to be similar to the Fund (Peer Universe).
The Board also considered the Fund’s actual management fee, as well as the Fund’s net total expense ratio, for the calendar year 2020. The Board considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PGIM Investments to other funds and accounts and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds in a group of mutual funds that were determined
by Broadridge to be similar to the Fund (the Peer Group). The actual management fee represents the fee rate actually paid by Fund shareholders and includes any fee waivers or reimbursements. The net total expense ratio for the Fund represents the actual expense ratio incurred by Fund shareholders, but does not include the charges associated with the variable contracts.
The mutual funds included in the Peer Universe and the Peer Group were objectively selected by Broadridge, an independent provider of mutual fund data. The comparisons placed the Fund in various quartiles, with the 1st quartile being the best 25% of the mutual funds (for performance, the best performing mutual funds and, for expenses, the lowest cost mutual funds).
The section below summarizes key factors considered by the Board and the Board’s conclusions regarding the Fund’s performance, fees and overall expenses. The section sets forth gross performance comparisons (which do not reflect the impact on performance of any subsidies, expense caps or waivers that may be applicable) with the Peer Universe, actual management fees with the Peer Group (which reflect the impact of any subsidies or fee waivers), and net total expenses with the Peer Group, each of which were key factors considered by the Board.
| | | | | | | | |
Gross Performance | | 1 Year | | 3 Years | | 5 Years | | 10 Years |
| 1st Quartile | | 1st Quartile | | 1st Quartile | | 1st Quartile |
Actual Management Fees: 1st Quartile |
Net Total Expenses: 1st Quartile |
• | | The Board noted that the Fund outperformed its benchmark index over all periods. |
• | | The Board concluded that, after considering a variety of information, including the factors noted above, it would be in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders to renew the agreements and that the management fees (including subadvisory fees) and total expenses were reasonable in light of the services provided. |
* * *
After full consideration of these factors, the Board concluded that the approval of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
Investors should carefully consider the contract and the Fund’s investment objective, risks, and charges and expenses before investing. The contract and the Fund prospectus contain information relating to investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses, as well as other important information. Read them carefully before investing or sending money.
Annuity contracts contain exclusions, limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms for keeping them in force. For costs and complete details, refer to your contract or contact your licensed financial professional. Contract guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company.
Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) at www.sec.gov.
The Fund files with the Commission a complete listing of portfolio holdings as of its first and third calendar quarter-end on Form N-PORT. Form N-PORT is available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or call (800) SEC-0330.
The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the Fund’s Directors and is available without charge upon request by calling (888) 778-2888.
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| | The Prudential Insurance Company of America 751 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102-3714 |
The Audited Financial Statements of The Prudential Insurance Company of America are available upon request. You may call (888) 778-2888 to obtain a free copy of the Audited Financial Statements.
For service-related questions, please contact the Annuity Service Center at (888) 778-2888.
©2021 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. PGIM Investments, the Prudential logo, the Rock symbol, and Bring Your Challenges are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.
FSP-SAR
Item 2 – Code of Ethics – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.
Item 3 – Audit Committee Financial Expert – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.
Item 4 – Principal Accountant Fees and Services – Not required, as this is not an annual filing.
Item 5 – Audit Committee of Listed Registrants – Not applicable.
Item 6 – Schedule of Investments – The schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
Item 7 – Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.
Item 8 – Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.
Item 9 – Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not applicable.
Item 10 – Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – There have been no material changes to these procedures.
Item 11 – Controls and Procedures
| (a) | It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. |
| (b) | There has been no significant change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12 – Controls and Procedures - Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End
Management Investment Companies – Not applicable.
Item 13 – Exhibits
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Registrant: | | Prudential’s Gibraltar Fund, Inc. |
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By: | | /s/ Andrew R. French |
| | Andrew R. French |
| | Secretary |
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Date: | | August 16, 2021 |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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By: | | /s/ Timothy S. Cronin |
| | Timothy S. Cronin |
| | Principal Executive Officer |
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Date: | | August 16, 2021 |
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By: | | /s/ Christian J. Kelly |
| | Christian J. Kelly |
| | Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer |
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Date: | | August 16, 2021 |