N-CSRS 1 pf-ncsrs.htm PROSPECTOR FUNDS SEMIANNUAL 06/30/2015 pf-ncsrs.htm

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES




Investment Company Act file number 811-22077



Prospector Funds, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



370 Church St., Guilford, CT 06437
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)



Prospector Partners Asset Management, LLC, 370 Church St., Guilford, CT 06437
(Name and address of agent for service)



(203) 458-1500
Registrant's telephone number, including area code



Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2015



Date of reporting period:  June 30, 2015



 
 

 

Item 1. Report to Stockholders.
 
 
 
 
 






Prospector Capital Appreciation Fund
Prospector Opportunity Fund






Semi-Annual Report
 
 
 
www.prospectorfunds.com June 30, 2015
 
 


 
 

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.

 
 
July 30, 2015
 
Dear Shareholders of the Prospector Capital Appreciation Fund and Prospector Opportunity Fund,
 
Concerns about China, Greece, and Puerto Rico make the headlines these days, not in a good way.  The violent negative gyrations of the Chinese stock market have dominated the news in recent weeks, and it seems clear that economic growth there is slowing significantly.  In response the Chinese government has limited the ability of large shareholders to sell equities and injected cash into the market in an attempt to stem the tide. The Funds have no direct exposure to Chinese equities.  The twists and turns in the Greece rescue saga highlight how difficult it is to predict outcomes in the region.  Of course the issue is broader than just Greece, it’s more about contagion in southern Europe and the European Union.  The good news is that we have minimal direct exposure.  Finally, the Governor of Puerto Rico has publically stated the obvious that they will be unable to fully pay off their municipal debt.  Puerto Rico has approximately $72 billion in debt, a big number for a nation with a population of 3.6 million and only 1.1 million in the workforce.  Complicating matters, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth without clear bankruptcy law.  This mess will continue to unfold.  Again, the Funds have very little direct exposure to this crisis.
 
Overall the environment for equity investing remains the same.  Central bank quantitative easing strategies around the world attempt to keep interest rates near record low levels and encourage investors to buy risk assets.  These conditions have powered the doubling of stock prices over the past five years while earnings have grown by less than half that amount.  The benchmark S&P 500 rose 1.23% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, with significant dispersion within sectors.  In a continuation of the recent trend, commodity prices declined.  This resulted in energy stocks trailing the market, along with industrials and consumer staples.  Utility stocks were the worst sector as long term interest rates gently rose off of their lows, coupled with the expectation that the Fed would increase rates once or twice before the end of the calendar year.  Conversely, health care stocks led market gainers, aided by a mergers & acquisitions wave that shows no signs of abating.  Consumer discretionary shares were also strong as the U.S. consumer remains a tower of economic strength in an increasingly uncertain world picture.
 
Prospector Opportunity Fund Highlights
 
The Opportunity Fund provided a return of 2.84% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, lagging the 4.75% return of the Russell 2000, but exceeding the 2.35% return of Russell Midcap index.  Our returns were hurt by dismal performance from the energy sector, with Hess and Murphy leading the detractors.  Slowing global growth and volatile currency markets precipitated a sharp selloff in commodities prices, including energy prices.
 
The Fund’s top performing sectors year to date included health care, consumer discretionary, and consumer staples.  Top performers in consumer discretionary included our two restaurant holdings, Denny’s and Darden.  Both companies have benefited from falling gas prices and internal improvements that have led them to exceed analysts’ expectations for comparable store sales growth.
 
Within the consumer staples group, our returns were helped by a strong gain in the shares of Tootsie Roll.  The company’s stock increased on speculation that the company could become a takeover target after its longtime CEO, Melvin J. Gordon passed away.  We own Tootsie Roll because we are attracted to its free cash flow generation and its iconic brands such as Razzle, Junior Mints, Charleston Chew, Dots, Charms Blow Pops, Sugar Daddy, and Dubble Bubble.
 
Among health care stocks, our largest contributor was Hologic.  The company has a revamped management team that has orchestrated a powerful turnaround.  Since the new management team took over, the Company has had several quarters of better than expected mammography sales which has led the street to increase their earnings expectations.
 

 
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Our largest purchase during the first half of 2015 was Beneficial Bancorp (BNCL). Our purchase of Beneficial follows a well-worn path of value creation in small banks and thrifts. Most of our purchases in the bank and thrift sector are significantly overcapitalized, have solid capital management plans, operate in markets with attractive demographics, and have a plan to increase both return on assets and return on equity (“ROE”) over the long term. We believe Beneficial, operating in the attractive greater Philadelphia market, exhibits all of these traits. Beneficial, purchased at just over tangible book value, is currently carrying about one third of its assets in securities that yield just 1.8%. We believe management will deliberately take money from securities and deploy the funds into loans at more than twice the yield. This should benefit the bank’s returns and its earnings per share. In addition, we believe the company will manage down its 21% tangible equity to assets by repurchasing its own shares. Its capital management actions should also lead to higher earnings per share and a better ROE over our 3-5 year time horizon.
 
We also found value in two industrial companies which had been underperformers – Powell Industries (POWL), and FLIR Systems (FLIR – discussed in the Capital Appreciation Fund section below). POWL is a high-end electrical equipment manufacturer with a concentration in Oil & Gas, constituting about 60% of sales.  It also serves Utilities (20%), Public Transit (5%), and other heavy industries (15%).  We tracked POWL for a number of years, sitting on the fence and biding our time with this cyclical stock.  Like other companies exposed to oil, its stock price fell with the commodity.  It was also hampered by some operational missteps as it expanded operations, but has been turning the corner.  The stock went from a high near $70 to the current low $30’s.  We view Powell as having limited downside and significant upside.  We see: (a) the stock price back near prior cycle lows, (b) a fortress balance sheet with $14.69 per share in net working capital ($4.63 in cash) and de minimis debt, (c) logical eventual acquirers for the company (of which Chairman, Thomas Powell, owns over 20%), and (d) a cycle average earnings and free cash flow generation of about $2.00 per share (a 6.5% free cash flow yield on current enterprise value).  With good value and strong liquidity, we can wait out the uncertainties of the current environment.  We have upside as operations improve, and in the reasonable case of a recovery in Oil & Gas industry capex spending.
 
Prospector Capital Appreciation Fund Highlights
 
Your Capital Appreciation Fund returned 1.99% for the six months ended June 30, 2015, compared to 1.23% for the S&P 500.  While the Fund bested the S&P 500’s performance in eight of ten sectors, results were driven by gains in the healthcare and consumer discretionary sectors.  Within healthcare, the Hologic convertible security (discussed further below) was the top contributor (and also the Fund’s top gainer), while discretionary was led by Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, etc.) where an activist-led restructuring has driven Darden to all-time highs.  Merger & acquisition activity also helped results, as Hospira and RTI Metals were both the targets of takeouts and were among top contributors to performance.
 
The largest common stock purchase during the first half of 2015 was FLIR Systems, Inc. (FLIR).  FLIR is a name we have been monitoring from the sidelines for a number of years.  At its core, FLIR is the commercial market leader in thermal sensors.  These sensors have seen increasing adoption across a wide range of markets, particularly commercial and residential security, building automation, and automotive.  We expect this trend of adoption to continue.  What had kept us on the sidelines was FLIR’s significant presence in the defense end markets, where it saw strong sales during the Iraq and Afghanistan troop surges.  Although a possible return of sequestration remains the primary risk to the stock, we believe the defense market has mostly bottomed.  FLIR now looks poised to start returning to growth in the near-to-medium term.  That, plus an attractive valuation, makes us believe it is time to start building a position now.  Investor apathy after several years of the defense drawdown provides a very attractive 6.5% free cash flow yield expected for 2015, on top of a very strong balance sheet with $1.25 net cash per share (vs. a low-$30’s stock price).
 

 
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The next largest common stock purchase was Mondelez International, Inc.  Although Mondelez has excellent snack brands (e.g. Cadbury and Oreo) and global distribution, the company’s operating margins of 12.9% in 2014 are well below both the food industry average (around 15%) and key confectionary peers (around 18%).  Through a shift in production to modern manufacturing assets, as well as cost-savings initiatives, the company has set a goal of 15-16% margins in 2016, a target that we believe can be first achieved and then exceeded.  With a solid balance sheet and strong underlying free cash flow generation, we believe Mondelez is an attractive multi-year restructuring story.  Assuming margin improvement to 18% in 2017, we believe the company can generate free cash flow of $4.5 billion (or a yield of more than 6% on today’s enterprise value).  With consumer staples companies being acquired at yields closer to 4.5%, we see significant potential upside in Mondelez.
 
We also sold our Hologic 2037 convertible bonds, replacing them with the company’s issue due in 2043 (puttable near the end of 2017).  The womens’ health medical device manufacturer has been a big winner over the past eight months, as their new breast imaging technology has seen solid adoption rates.  Additionally, new CEO, Steve MacMillan, has acted quickly – improving the balance sheet, sales growth and margins.  Given the recent surge in Hologic stock, our convertible bonds were trading near 160.  While we still see potential upside in Hologic shares as MacMillan makes further progress, the breast imaging replacement process plays out, or in a possible sale of the company, we liked the downside protection provided by the ‘43 converts which were trading around 120 at time of purchase.  While we are giving away a bit of upside, we are more comfortable with the risk / reward dynamics of the security we currently own.
 
Outlook
 
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the economy remains in the slow growth recovery pattern in place since the end of the financial crisis.  U.S. economic performance is the global leader and should continue but faces headwinds from the strong U.S. dollar and weakening economic growth across the world.  Europe’s position is weaker.
 
Oil prices have fallen 50% over the past year which should stimulate consumer spending and confidence in the long run both here and for non-oil producing countries abroad.  In the short term, the U.S. will feel the negative impacts from abandoned drilling projects and job creation in the energy sector.  However we continue to enjoy the competitive advantage of a long-term supply of abundant cheap natural gas.
 
Interest and mortgage rates continue near historically low levels.  Our best guess is those rates will be materially higher in five years, although they are unlikely to move much this year.  Our best guess is that the Fed moves incrementally to tighten monetary conditions later this year. Ultimately, higher rates will likely accompany better economic performance and possibly higher inflation, both of which are relative positives for equities compared to bonds.  Much depends on the path and pace of interest rates’ return to normalcy.  In addition, the wealth effect on the U.S. consumer from rising 401k balances and higher home prices should also aid consumer spending.
 
Corporations as a whole have solid balance sheets and are accumulating excess cash and capital.  Importantly they are also starting to spend on new capital projects, new employees, and new acquisitions.  This could pressure profit margins in the near term which sit near all-time high levels, currently 10%.  The offset should be an improvement in revenue growth from the low single digit levels of the past few years.
 
Equity valuations remain near extended levels due to the strong stock market.  We estimate that the S&P 500 trades in the eighth decile on trailing operating earnings.  We feel we are in the latter stages of a bull market, although nothing is certain in the investment world.  Equities look reasonable when comparing earnings yields to Treasury or even
 

 
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corporate bond yields.  In any case, the values inherent in your portfolio should attract acquirers and other investors over time.  Meanwhile, we believe equities are a superior asset allocation alternative to bonds over the longer term.
 
Thank you for entrusting us with your money.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
John D. Gillespie
Kevin R. O’Brien
Jason A. Kish

 

Performance data quoted represents past performance; past performance does not guarantee future results.
 
Opinions expressed are those of the Funds and are subject to change, are not guaranteed, and should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
 
Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities. The Funds invest in foreign securities which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. The Funds invest in smaller and mid-cap companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility. The Funds may hold restricted securities purchased through private placements. Such securities can be difficult to sell without experiencing delays or additional costs. Derivatives involve risks different from, and in certain cases, greater than the risks presented by more traditional investments. These risks are fully disclosed in the prospectus.
 
Fund holdings and/or security allocations are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security. Please see the Schedule of Investments section in this report for a full listing of the Fund’s holdings.
 
The S&P 500 Index is a broad based unmanaged index of 500 stocks, which is widely recognized as representative of the equity market in general. You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
The Russell 2000 Index is an unmanaged small-cap index that measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index. You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
The Russell MidCap Index is an unmanaged mid-cap index that measures the performance of the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 index. You cannot invest directly in an index.
 
Stocks are generally perceived to have more financial risk than bonds in that bond holders have a claim on firm operations or assets that is senior to that of equity holders. In addition, stock prices are generally more volatile than bond prices. Investments in debt securities typically decrease in value when interest rates rise. This risk is usually greater for longer-term debt securities. A stock may trade with more or less liquidity than a bond depending on the number of shares and bonds outstanding, the size of the company, and the demand for the securities. Similarly, the transaction costs involved in trading a stock may be more or less than a particular bond depending on the factors mentioned above and whether the stock or bond trades upon an exchange. Depending on the entity issuing the bond, it may or may or may not afford additional protections to the investor, such as a guarantee of return of principal by a government or bond insurance company. There is typically no guarantee of any kind associated with the purchase of an individual stock. Bonds are often owned by individuals interested in current income while stocks are generally owned by individuals seeking price appreciation with income a secondary concern. The tax treatment of returns of bonds and stocks also differs given differential tax treatment of income versus capital gain.
 
Earnings growth is not a measure of the Fund’s future performance.
 
Free cash flow is revenue less operating expenses including interest expenses and maintenance capital spending.  It is the discretionary cash that a company has after all expenses and is available for purposes such as dividend payments, investing back into the business or share repurchases.
 
Free cash flow yield is an overall return evaluation ratio on a stock that standardizes the free cash flow per share that a company expects to earn against its market price per share.
 
Return on assets is an indicator of how profitable a company is relative to its total assets – calculated by dividing a company's annual earnings by its total assets.
 


 
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Return on equity is the amount of net income returned as a percentage of shareholders’ equity.
 
Tangible book value looks at what common shareholders can expect to receive if the firm goes bankrupt and all of its assets are liquidated at their book values.
 
Earnings per share is the portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share of common stock.
 
Tangible equity to assets is calculated as (common shareholder's equity – intangible assets) divided by (total assets – intangible assets).
 
Enterprise value is a measure of the theoretical takeover price that an investor would have to pay in order to acquire a particular company.
 
Capex spending is funds used by a company to acquire or upgrade physical assets such as property, industrial buildings or equipment.
 
Prospector Funds, Inc. are distributed by Quasar Distributors, LLC.
 

 
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Capital Appreciation Fund


 
 
The chart assumes an initial investment of $10,000.  Performance reflects waivers of fee and operating expenses in effect.  In the absence of such waivers, total return would be reduced.  Past performance is not predictive of future performance.  Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so that your shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original cost. Performance assumes the reinvestment of capital gains and income distributions.  The performance does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
 
Average Annual Rates of Return (%) – As of June 30, 2015
 
 
One Year
Three Year
Five Year
Since Inception(1)
Capital Appreciation Fund
-0.82%
10.45%
  8.86%
4.84%
S&P 500 Index(2)
  7.42%
17.31%
17.34%
6.20%

(1)
September 28, 2007
(2)
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (S&P 500) is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index generally representative of the U.S. market for large capitalization stocks.  This Index cannot be invested in directly.


 
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Opportunity Fund



The chart assumes an initial investment of $10,000.  Performance reflects waivers of fee and operating expenses in effect.  In the absence of such waivers, total return would be reduced.  Past performance is not predictive of future performance.  Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, so that your shares, when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original cost.  Performance assumes the reinvestment of capital gains and income distributions.  The performance does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.
 
Average Annual Rates of Return (%) – As of June 30, 2015
 
 
One Year
Three Year
Five Year
Since Inception(1)
Opportunity Fund
6.64%
15.02%
14.18%
8.76%
Russell 2000 Index(2)
6.49%
17.81%
17.08%
7.20%
Russell Midcap Index(3)
6.63%
19.26%
18.23%
7.79%

(1)
September 28, 2007
(2)
An unmanaged small-cap index that measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest companies in the Russell 3000 Index.  This index cannot be invested in directly.
(3)
An unmanaged mid-cap index that measures the performance of the 800 smallest companies in the Russell 1000 Index.  This index cannot be invested in directly.


 
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PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


Expense Example
June 30, 2015

As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, which may include but are not limited to, redemption fees, wire transfer fees, maintenance fee (IRA accounts), and exchange fees; and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees; distribution and/or service 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 mutual funds. 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, 2015 – June 30, 2015).
 
ACTUAL EXPENSES
The first line of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. Although the Fund charges no sales load or transaction fees, you will be assessed fees for outgoing wire transfers, returned checks and stop payment orders at prevailing rates charged by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, the Fund’s transfer agent. The example below includes, but is not limited to, management fees, shareholder servicing fees and other Fund expenses. However, the example below does not include portfolio trading commissions and related expenses, interest expense and other extraordinary expenses as determined under generally accepted accounting principles. You may use the information in this line, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the 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 Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
 
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 funds. To do so, compare this 5% hypothetical example with the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds.
 
Please note that the expenses shown in the table are meant to highlight your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs, such as redemption fees or exchange fees. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only, and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. In addition, if these transactional costs were included, your costs would have been higher.
 
 
Beginning Account
Value (01/01/2015)
Ending Account
Value (06/30/2015)
Expenses Paid
During Period(1)
(01/01/2015 to 06/30/2015)
 
 
Capital Appreciation Actual(2)
$1,000.00
$1,019.90
$6.51
Capital Appreciation Hypothetical
     
  (5% return before expenses)
  1,000.00
  1,018.35
  6.51
Opportunity Actual(2)
  1,000.00
  1,028.40
  6.54
Opportunity Hypothetical
     
  (5% return before expenses)
  1,000.00
  1,018.35
  6.51

(1)
Expenses are equal to the Fund’s annualized expense ratio for the most recent six-month period of 1.30% and 1.30% for Capital Appreciation Fund and Opportunity Fund, respectively, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 to reflect the one-half year period.
(2)
Based on the actual returns for the six-month period ended June 30, 2015 of 1.99% and 2.84% for Capital Appreciation Fund and Opportunity Fund, respectively.


 
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Sector Allocation (% of net assets) (Unaudited)
as of June 30, 2015(1)(2)

Capital Appreciation Fund
 
 

 
 
Top 10 Holdings (% of net assets) (Unaudited)
as of June 30, 2015(1)
 
Capital Appreciation Fund
 
RTI International, 1.625%, 10/15/2019
3.6%
InterOil, 2.750%, 11/15/2015
3.1%
Abbott Laboratories
2.9%
Chart Industries, 2.000%, 08/01/2018
2.7%
Hologic, 0.000%, 12/15/2043
2.7%
Merck & Co.
2.6%
McDonald’s
2.6%
Domtar
2.6%
Tootsie Roll Industries
2.6%
Forestar Group, 3.750%, 03/01/2020
2.5%

(1)
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.
(2)
Sector allocation includes all investment types.


 
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Sector Allocation (% of net assets) (Unaudited)
as of June 30, 2015(1)(2)

Opportunity Fund
 



Top 10 Holdings (% of net assets) (Unaudited)
as of June 30, 2015(1)(3)
 
Opportunity Fund
 
Endurance Specialty Holdings
2.7%
Murphy Oil
2.7%
Hess
2.6%
Patterson Companies
2.4%
Brown & Brown
2.4%
HomeTrust Bancshares
2.4%
Invesco
2.3%
Franklin Resources
2.3%
Tootsie Roll Industries
2.3%
Hologic, 2.000%, 12/15/2037
2.0%

(1)
Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and are not recommendations to buy or sell any security.
(2)
Sector allocation includes all investment types.
(3)
Invesco Treasury Portfolio excluded from top 10 holdings.


 
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Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
June 30, 2015

Capital Appreciation Fund
Description
 
Shares
   
Value
 
             
COMMON STOCKS – 71.2%
           
             
Chemicals – 0.7%
           
E.I. Du Pont de Nemours
    3,000     $ 191,850  
                 
Consumer Discretionary – 7.5%
               
Cablevision Systems, Class A
    11,600       277,704  
Darden Restaurants
    4,900       348,292  
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Class A*
    18,900       498,582  
McDonald’s
    8,100       770,067  
Yum! Brands
    3,400       306,272  
              2,200,917  
Consumer Staples – 14.6%
               
Campbell Soup
    6,000       285,900  
Coca-Cola
    16,600       651,218  
Colgate-Palmolive
    7,400       484,034  
Diageo – ADR
    4,280       496,651  
Energizer Holdings
    2,700       355,185  
Mondelez International, Class A
    11,350       466,939  
Tootsie Roll Industries
    23,560       761,224  
Walgreens Boots Alliance
    5,050       426,422  
Wal-Mart Stores
    4,700       333,371  
              4,260,944  
Diversified Financial Services – 3.9%
               
Legg Mason
    9,250       476,653  
Leucadia National
    10,300       250,084  
T. Rowe Price Group
    5,400       419,742  
              1,146,479  
Energy – 5.6%
               
Clayton Williams Energy*
    4,900       322,175  
ConocoPhillips
    9,300       571,113  
Hess
    7,100       474,848  
Murphy Oil
    6,400       266,048  
              1,634,184  
Healthcare – 10.2%
               
Abbott Laboratories
    17,400       853,992  
Eli Lilly & Co.
    2,900       242,121  
GlaxoSmithKline – ADR
    14,250       593,512  
Johnson & Johnson
    5,400       526,284  

See Notes to the Financial Statements


 
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PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015
 
Capital Appreciation Fund
Description
 
Shares
   
Value
 
             
COMMON STOCKS – 71.2% (Continued)
           
             
Healthcare – 10.2% (Continued)
           
Merck & Co.
    13,600     $ 774,248  
              2,990,157  
Industrials – 2.0%
               
Eaton
    5,900       398,191  
Sulzer
    1,900       195,395  
              593,586  
Information Technology – 6.1%
               
Automatic Data Processing
    4,000       320,920  
Comtech Telecommunications
    14,600       424,130  
FLIR Systems
    16,550       510,071  
Microsoft
    4,550       200,883  
Paychex
    3,000       140,640  
Science Applications International
    3,600       190,260  
              1,786,904  
Insurance – 8.0%
               
American International Group
    4,900       302,918  
Berkshire Hathaway, Class B*
    2,300       313,053  
CNA Financial
    4,800       183,408  
Donegal Group, Class A
    7,100       108,133  
First American Financial
    4,500       167,445  
Loews
    10,900       419,759  
RenaissanceRe Holdings
    1,914       194,290  
Selective Insurance Group
    6,400       179,520  
State Auto Financial
    19,700       471,815  
              2,340,341  
Metals & Mining – 0.2%
               
AuRico Gold
    24,420       69,353  
                 
Paper & Forest Products – 3.7%
               
Domtar
    18,451       763,871  
Louisiana-Pacific*
    17,800       303,134  
              1,067,005  
Real Estate – 3.0%
               
Howard Hughes*
    1,200       172,248  
Post Properties
    13,200       717,684  
              889,932  

See Notes to the Financial Statements


 
12

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

Capital Appreciation Fund
Description
 
Shares
   
Value
 
             
COMMON STOCKS – 71.2% (Continued)
           
             
Telecommunication Services – 2.0%
           
Telephone & Data Systems
    20,000     $ 588,000  
                 
Utilities – 3.7%
               
FirstEnergy
    16,500       537,075  
NRG Energy
    14,201       324,919  
TransAlta
    26,500       205,375  
              1,067,369  
Total Common Stocks
               
  (Cost $18,478,874)
            20,827,021  
                 
   
Par
         
CONVERTIBLE BONDS – 20.8%
               
Energy – 3.1%
               
InterOil
               
  2.750%, 11/15/2015
  $ 890,000       913,919  
                 
Healthcare – 4.3%
               
Hologic
               
  0.000%, 12/15/2043
    650,000       788,531  
Medicines
               
  1.375%, 06/01/2017
    390,000       464,100  
              1,252,631  
Industrials – 2.7%
               
Chart Industries
               
  2.000%, 08/01/2018
    825,000       797,156  
                 
Information Technology – 1.7%
               
HomeAway
               
  0.125%, 04/01/2019
    500,000       479,062  
                 
Metals & Mining – 3.6%
               
RTI International
               
  1.625%, 10/15/2019
    975,000       1,057,266  

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
13

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

Capital Appreciation Fund
Description
 
Par
   
Value
 
             
CONVERTIBLE BONDS – 20.8% (Continued)
           
             
Real Estate – 5.4%
           
Forest City Enterprises
           
  4.250%, 08/15/2018
  $ 150,000     $ 175,969  
  3.625%, 08/15/2020
    625,000       682,031  
Forestar Group
               
  3.750%, 03/01/2020
    825,000       729,094  
              1,587,094  
Total Convertible Bonds
               
  (Cost $6,063,440)
            6,087,128  
                 
CORPORATE BONDS – 6.6%
               
Consumer Staples – 3.1%
               
CVS Health
               
  2.250%, 08/12/2019
    463,000       460,897  
Walgreens Boots Alliance
               
  2.700%, 11/18/2019
    450,000       450,601  
              911,498  
Healthcare – 1.6%
               
Amgen
               
  2.200%, 05/22/2019
    464,000       462,680  
                 
Telecommunication Services – 1.9%
               
Verizon Communications
               
  3.650%, 09/14/2018
    525,000       552,188  
Total Corporate Bonds
               
  (Cost $1,950,909)
            1,926,366  

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
14

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

Capital Appreciation Fund
Description
 
Shares
   
Value
 
             
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT – 1.2%
           
Invesco Treasury Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.020%^
           
  (Cost $341,308)
    341,308     $ 341,308  
Total Investments – 99.8%
               
  (Cost $26,834,531)
            29,181,823  
Other Assets and Liabilities, Net – 0.2%
            55,863  
Total Net Assets – 100.0%
          $ 29,237,686  

*
Non-income producing security
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
^
Variable Rate Security – the rate shown is the annualized seven-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
15

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)
June 30, 2015

Opportunity Fund
Description
 
Shares
   
Value
 
             
COMMON STOCKS – 91.5%
           
             
Banks – 21.0%
           
Beneficial Bancorp*
    57,600     $ 719,424  
Capital Bank Financial, Class A*
    28,600       831,402  
Capital City Bank Group
    21,100       322,197  
Central Pacific Financial
    45,300       1,075,875  
Chicopee Bancorp
    26,200       432,038  
Citigroup
    13,470       744,083  
City National
    2,300       207,897  
Clifton Bancorp
    119,384       1,670,182  
First Connecticut Bancorp
    42,200       669,714  
First Defiance Financial
    13,000       487,890  
HomeTrust Bancshares*
    118,400       1,984,384  
Meridian Bancorp*
    49,300       661,113  
Metro Bancorp
    25,280       660,819  
OceanFirst Financial
    81,700       1,523,705  
Oritani Financial
    89,750       1,440,488  
PacWest Bancorp
    14,800       692,048  
ServisFirst Bancshares
    19,300       725,101  
SI Financial Group
    48,600       565,704  
Waterstone Financial
    100,100       1,321,320  
Westfield Financial
    100,500       734,655  
              17,470,039  
Chemicals – 1.2%
               
H.B. Fuller
    25,400       1,031,748  
                 
Consumer Discretionary – 5.8%
               
Darden Restaurants
    10,400       739,232  
Denny’s*
    46,500       539,865  
Home Depot
    11,900       1,322,447  
Hyatt Hotels, Class A*
    13,300       753,977  
McDonald’s
    15,500       1,473,585  
              4,829,106  
Consumer Staples – 9.6%
               
Church & Dwight
    18,600       1,509,018  
Diageo – ADR
    6,000       696,240  
J & J Snack Foods
    10,900       1,206,303  
Lancaster Colony
    15,800       1,435,430  
PepsiCo
    6,900       644,046  
Stock Spirits Group
    202,000       612,564  

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
16

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

Opportunity Fund
Description
 
Shares
   
Value
 
             
COMMON STOCKS – 91.5% (Continued)
           
             
Consumer Staples – 9.6% (Continued)
           
Tootsie Roll Industries
    59,518     $ 1,923,026  
              8,026,627  
Diversified Financial Services – 8.2%
               
Franklin Resources
    39,300       1,926,879  
Invesco
    51,700       1,938,233  
Legg Mason
    26,200       1,350,086  
Leucadia National
    50,500       1,226,140  
PICO Holdings*
    23,700       348,864  
              6,790,202  
Energy – 5.2%
               
Hess
    31,800       2,126,784  
Murphy Oil
    53,200       2,211,524  
              4,338,308  
Healthcare – 7.1%
               
Eli Lilly & Co.
    11,000       918,390  
Haemonetics*
    21,900       905,784  
Invacare
    30,500       659,715  
Merck & Co.
    24,148       1,374,746  
Patterson Companies
    41,700       2,028,705  
              5,887,340  
Industrials – 5.9%
               
CIRCOR International
    8,500       463,505  
Landstar System
    14,200       949,554  
Northrop Grumman
    4,800       761,424  
Powell Industries
    22,200       780,774  
Sulzer
    6,500       668,458  
Tyco International
    33,300       1,281,384  
              4,905,099  
Information Technology – 10.0%
               
Comtech Telecommunications
    13,600       395,080  
EMC
    27,500       725,725  
FLIR Systems
    26,200       807,484  
Maxim Integrated Products
    20,300       701,873  
Microsoft
    21,200       935,980  
Paychex
    28,300       1,326,704  
Synopsys*
    23,200       1,175,080  
VeriSign*
    19,700       1,215,884  

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
17

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

Opportunity Fund
Description
 
Shares
   
Value
 
             
COMMON STOCKS – 91.5% (Continued)
           
             
Information Technology – 10.0% (Continued)
           
Xilinx
    23,600     $ 1,042,176  
              8,325,986  
Insurance – 11.3%
               
AMERISAFE
    10,600       498,836  
Brown & Brown
    61,500       2,020,890  
Chubb
    5,000       475,700  
CNA Financial
    18,900       722,169  
Endurance Specialty Holdings
    34,400       2,260,080  
Infinity Property & Casualty
    10,392       788,129  
Selective Insurance Group
    17,000       476,850  
StanCorp Financial Group
    12,000       907,320  
XL Group
    33,160       1,233,552  
              9,383,526  
Metals & Mining – 1.8%
               
Kinross Gold*
    132,100       306,472  
Newmont Mining
    49,900       1,165,664  
Victoria Gold*
    96,500       11,599  
              1,483,735  
Paper & Forest Products – 0.6%
               
Domtar
    12,300       509,220  
                 
Real Estate – 2.9%
               
Easterly Government Properties
    100       1,592  
Forestar Group*
    29,700       390,852  
Howard Hughes*
    4,700       674,638  
Parkway Properties
    57,750       1,007,160  
Winthrop Realty Trust
    23,000       348,450  
              2,422,692  
Utilities – 0.9%
               
Public Service Enterprise Group
    19,100       750,248  
Total Common Stocks
               
  (Cost $64,876,108)
            76,153,876  

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
18

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Schedule of Investments (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

Opportunity Fund
Description
 
Par
   
Value
 
             
CONVERTIBLE BONDS – 3.6%
           
             
Healthcare – 3.1%
           
Hologic
           
  2.000%, 12/15/2037
  $ 1,000,000     $ 1,673,750  
Medicines
               
  1.375%, 06/01/2017
    775,000       922,250  
              2,596,000  
Real Estate – 0.5%
               
Forestar Group
               
  3.750%, 03/01/2020
    450,000       397,688  
Total Convertible Bonds
               
  (Cost $2,559,986)
            2,993,688  
                 
   
Shares
         
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENT – 4.2%
               
Invesco Treasury Portfolio, Institutional Class, 0.020%^
               
  (Cost $3,492,863)
    3,492,863       3,492,863  
Total Investments – 99.3%
               
  (Cost $70,928,957)
            82,640,427  
Other Assets and Liabilities, Net – 0.7%
            617,186  
Total Net Assets – 100.0%
          $ 83,257,613  

*
Non-income producing security
ADR – American Depositary Receipt
^
Variable Rate Security – the rate shown is the annualized seven-day effective yield as of June 30, 2015.

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
19

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (Unaudited)
June 30, 2015

   
Capital Appreciation Fund
   
Opportunity Fund
 
ASSETS:
           
Investments, at market value
           
  (Cost of $26,834,531 and $70,928,957, respectively)
  $ 29,181,823     $ 82,640,427  
Cash
    724       18,796  
Receivable for investment securities sold
          588,798  
Receivable for dividends and interest
    103,853       65,926  
Receivable for capital shares sold
          46,682  
Prepaid expenses
    9,826       11,738  
Total assets
    29,296,226       83,372,367  
                 
LIABILITIES:
               
Payable for capital shares redeemed
          344  
Payable to adviser, net
    18,530       63,644  
Accrued distribution fees
    2,438       13,587  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    37,572       37,179  
Total liabilities
    58,540       114,754  
                 
NET ASSETS
  $ 29,237,686     $ 83,257,613  
                 
COMPOSITION OF NET ASSETS:
               
Portfolio capital
  $ 26,851,924     $ 60,606,120  
Undistributed net investment income
    184,918       116,333  
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments
    (146,481 )     10,825,144  
Net unrealized appreciation of investments
    2,347,325       11,710,016  
Total net assets
  $ 29,237,686     $ 83,257,613  
                 
CAPITAL STOCK, $0.0001 par value
               
Authorized
    500,000,000       500,000,000  
Issued and outstanding
    1,836,722       3,901,087  
                 
NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE,
               
  AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE
  $ 15.92     $ 21.34  

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
20

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015

   
Capital Appreciation Fund
   
Opportunity Fund
 
INVESTMENT INCOME:
           
Interest income
  $ 77,915     $ (6,116 )
Dividend income
    378,932       800,729  
Less: Foreign taxes withheld
    (4,119 )     (8,115 )
Total investment income
    452,728       786,498  
                 
EXPENSES:
               
Investment advisory fees
    207,091       504,209  
Administration fees
    25,554       49,132  
Fund accounting fees
    20,443       20,964  
Audit fees
    16,290       16,290  
Transfer agent fees
    14,236       21,735  
Directors’ fees
    13,920       36,720  
Registration fees
    10,406       10,406  
Distribution fees
    7,139       24,630  
Legal fees
    7,059       16,589  
Other expenses
    5,216       10,699  
Custodian fees
    4,181       4,794  
Postage and printing fees
    2,102       5,071  
Total expenses
    333,637       721,239  
Less: Fee waivers
    (88,893 )     (125,356 )
Total net expenses
    244,744       595,883  
NET INVESTMENT INCOME
    207,984       190,615  
                 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS (LOSSES):
               
Net realized gain on investments
    972,921       5,936,730  
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments
    (256,797 )     (3,364,473 )
Net gain on investments
    716,124       2,572,257  
                 
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS
               
  RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS
  $ 924,108     $ 2,762,872  

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
21

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets

   
Capital Appreciation Fund
 
   
Six Months Ended
       
   
June 30, 2015
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
December 31, 2014
 
OPERATIONS:
           
Net investment income
  $ 207,984     $ 195,345  
Net realized gain on investments
    972,921       2,895,290  
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments
    (256,797 )     (1,475,357 )
Net increase resulting from operations
    924,108       1,615,278  
                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
               
Proceeds from shares sold
    145,901       824,222  
Proceeds from reinvestment of distributions
          4,821,050  
Payments for shares redeemed
    (10,229,986 )     (5,690,411 )
Redemption fees
           
Net decrease from capital share transactions
    (10,084,085 )     (45,139 )
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID FROM:
               
Net investment income
          (583,975 )
Net realized gains
          (4,247,435 )
Total distributions to shareholders
          (4,831,410 )
                 
TOTAL DECREASE IN NET ASSETS
    (9,159,977 )     (3,261,271 )
                 
NET ASSETS:
               
Beginning of period
    38,397,663       41,658,934  
                 
End of period (including undistributed
               
  (distributions in excess of) net investment
               
  income of $184,918 and $(23,066), respectively)
  $ 29,237,686     $ 38,397,663  
                 
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES:
               
Shares sold
    9,264       47,397  
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions
          305,323  
Shares redeemed
    (632,486 )     (326,944 )
Net increase (decrease)
    (623,222 )     25,776  

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
22

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets

   
Opportunity Fund
 
   
Six Months Ended
       
   
June 30, 2015
   
Year Ended
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
December 31, 2014
 
OPERATIONS:
           
Net investment income
  $ 190,615     $ 492,389  
Net realized gain on investments
    5,936,730       13,250,418  
Net change in unrealized depreciation of investments
    (3,364,473 )     (6,230,397 )
Net increase resulting from operations
    2,762,872       7,512,410  
                 
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS:
               
Proceeds from shares sold
    4,113,110       26,051,436  
Proceeds from reinvestment of distributions
          9,091,295  
Payments for shares redeemed
    (15,066,843 )     (39,376,434 )
Redemption fees
    70       381  
Net decrease from capital share transactions
    (10,953,663 )     (4,233,322 )
                 
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID FROM:
               
Net investment income
          (641,229 )
Net realized gains
          (8,940,235 )
Total distributions to shareholders
          (9,581,464 )
                 
TOTAL DECREASE IN NET ASSETS
    (8,190,791 )     (6,302,376 )
                 
NET ASSETS:
               
Beginning of period
    91,448,404       97,750,780  
                 
End of period (including undistributed
               
  (distributions in excess of) net investment
               
  income of $116,333 and $(74,282), respectively)
  $ 83,257,613     $ 91,448,404  
                 
TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES:
               
Shares sold
    193,841       1,198,108  
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions
          433,952  
Shares redeemed
    (699,466 )     (1,770,195 )
Net decrease
    (505,625 )     (138,135 )

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
23

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Financial Highlights

   
Capital Appreciation Fund
 
   
Six Months
                               
   
Ended
                               
   
June 30,
                               
   
2015
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
For a Fund share outstanding
                                   
  throughout the period
                                   
                                     
NET ASSET VALUE:
                                   
Beginning of period
  $ 15.61     $ 17.11     $ 15.19     $ 14.90     $ 15.92     $ 13.95  
                                                 
OPERATIONS:
                                               
Net investment income
    0.11       0.11       0.18       0.31       0.15       0.14  
Net realized and unrealized
                                               
  gain (loss) on investments
    0.20       0.63       2.72       0.54       (0.79 )     2.30  
Total from operations
    0.31       0.74       2.90       0.85       (0.64 )     2.44  
                                                 
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
                                               
From net investment income
          (0.27 )     (0.17 )     (0.34 )     (0.17 )     (0.16 )
From net realized gains
          (1.97 )     (0.81 )     (0.22 )     (0.21 )     (0.31 )
Total distributions
          (2.24 )     (0.98 )     (0.56 )     (0.38 )     (0.47 )
                                                 
NET ASSET VALUE:
                                               
End of period
  $ 15.92     $ 15.61     $ 17.11     $ 15.19     $ 14.90     $ 15.92  
                                                 
TOTAL RETURN(1)
    1.99 %     4.18 %     19.10 %     5.76 %     (4.00 )%     17.52 %
                                                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS:
                                               
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)
  $ 29,238     $ 38,398     $ 41,659     $ 39,104     $ 53,737     $ 43,535  
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                               
    Before expense reimbursement(2)
    1.77 %     1.74 %     1.77 %     1.77 %     1.70 %     2.01 %
    After expense reimbursement(2)
    1.30 %     1.30 %     1.30 %     1.37 %     1.50 %     1.50 %
Ratio of net investment income
                                               
  to average net assets:
                                               
    Before expense reimbursement(2)
    0.63 %     0.05 %     0.61 %     1.10 %     0.63 %     0.55 %
    After expense reimbursement(2)
    1.10 %     0.49 %     1.08 %     1.50 %     0.83 %     1.06 %
Portfolio turnover rate(1)
    21 %     48 %     31 %     15 %     24 %     27 %

(1)
Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(2)
Annualized for periods less than one year.

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
24

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Financial Highlights

   
Opportunity Fund
 
   
Six Months
                               
   
Ended
                               
   
June 30,
                               
   
2015
   
Year Ended December 31,
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
2014
   
2013
   
2012
   
2011
   
2010
 
For a Fund share outstanding
                                   
  throughout the period
                                   
                                     
NET ASSET VALUE:
                                   
Beginning of period
  $ 20.75     $ 21.51     $ 18.05     $ 16.62     $ 17.45     $ 15.10  
                                                 
OPERATIONS:
                                               
Net investment income
    0.05       0.13       0.07       0.20       0.07       0.09  
Net realized and unrealized
                                               
  gain (loss) on investments
    0.54       1.48       4.84       2.22       (0.11 )     2.47  
Total from operations
    0.59       1.61       4.91       2.42       (0.04 )     2.56  
                                                 
LESS DISTRIBUTIONS:
                                               
From net investment income
          (0.16 )     (0.07 )     (0.20 )     (0.05 )     (0.12 )
From net realized gains
          (2.21 )     (1.38 )     (0.79 )     (0.74 )     (0.09 )
Total distributions
          (2.37 )     (1.45 )     (0.99 )     (0.79 )     (0.21 )
                                                 
NET ASSET VALUE:
                                               
End of period
  $ 21.34     $ 20.75     $ 21.51     $ 18.05     $ 16.62     $ 17.45  
                                                 
TOTAL RETURN(1)
    2.84 %     7.36 %     27.25 %     14.63 %     (0.21 )%     16.94 %
                                                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS:
                                               
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)
  $ 83,258     $ 91,448     $ 97,751     $ 70,549     $ 59,715     $ 37,575  
Ratio of expenses to average net assets:
                                               
    Before expense reimbursement(2)
    1.57 %     1.53 %     1.57 %     1.64 %     1.70 %     2.05 %
    After expense reimbursement(2)
    1.30 %     1.30 %     1.30 %     1.36 %     1.50 %     1.50 %
Ratio of net investment income
                                               
  to average net assets:
                                               
    Before expense reimbursement(2)
    0.14 %     0.23 %     0.08 %     0.84 %     0.20 %     0.04 %
    After expense reimbursement(2)
    0.41 %     0.46 %     0.35 %     1.12 %     0.40 %     0.59 %
Portfolio turnover rate(1)
    14 %     40 %     25 %     43 %     45 %     45 %

(1)
Not annualized for periods less than one year.
(2)
Annualized for periods less than one year.

See Notes to the Financial Statements

 
25

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited)
June 30, 2015
 
1.  ORGANIZATION
 
Prospector Funds, Inc. (the “Corporation”) was organized as a Maryland corporation on June 6, 2007 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”), as amended, as an open-end diversified management investment company.  The Corporation issues its shares in series, each series representing a distinct portfolio with its own investment objectives and policies.  There are two series presently authorized, the Prospector Capital Appreciation Fund and the Prospector Opportunity Fund (individually a “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”).  The Funds commenced operations on September 28, 2007.
 
2.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by each Fund:
 
Security Valuation – The Fund has adopted fair value accounting standards which establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value.  These standards require additional disclosures about the various inputs and valuation techniques used to develop the measurements of fair value, a discussion in changes in valuation techniques and related inputs during the period and expanded disclosure of valuation levels for major security types.  These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
 
Level 1 –
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access.
 
Level 2 –
Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.  These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates, discounts and similar data.
 
Level 3 –
Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.
 
Following is a description of the valuation techniques applied to the Fund’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  The Fund’s investments are carried at fair value.
 
Common Stock – Securities that are primarily traded on a national securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded on the day of valuation or, if there has been no sale on such day, at the last bid price on the day of valuation.  To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Convertible and Corporate Bonds – Convertible and corporate bonds, including listed issues, are valued at fair value on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service which utilizes both dealer-supplied valuations and formula-based techniques.  The pricing service may consider recently executed transactions in securities of the issuer or comparable issuers, market price quotations (where observable), bond spreads, and fundamental data relating to the issuer. Convertible and corporate bonds are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
 
Investment Companies – Investments in other mutual funds, including money market funds, are valued at their net asset value per share.  To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
 

 
26

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or if the closing price does not represent fair value, are valued following procedures approved by the Board of Directors.  These procedures consider many factors, including the type of security, size of holding, trading volume and news events.  There can be no assurance that the Fund could obtain the fair value assigned to a security if they were to sell the security at approximately the time at which the Fund determines their net asset values per share.
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
 
As of June 30, 2015, each Fund’s investments in securities were classified as follows:
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Capital Appreciation Fund
                       
Common Stocks
  $ 20,827,021     $     $     $ 20,827,021  
Convertible Bonds
          6,087,128             6,087,128  
Corporate Bonds
          1,926,366             1,926,366  
Short-Term Investment
    341,308                   341,308  
Total Investments
  $ 21,168,329     $ 8,013,494     $     $ 29,181,823  
 
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Opportunity Fund
                       
Common Stocks
  $ 76,153,876     $     $     $ 76,153,876  
Convertible Bonds
          2,993,688             2,993,688  
Short-Term Investment
    3,492,863                   3,492,863  
Total Investments
  $ 79,646,739     $ 2,993,688     $     $ 82,640,427  
 
Refer to each Fund’s Schedule of Investments for further sector breakout.
 
Transfers between levels are recognized at the beginning of the reporting period.  During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Funds recognized no transfers between levels.  The Funds did not invest in any Level 3 investments during the period.
 
The Funds may invest in derivative financial instruments in order to manage risk or gain exposure to various other investments or markets.  The Funds’ investment objectives allow the Funds to enter into various types of derivative contracts, including, but not limited to, futures contracts, forward foreign exchange contracts, and purchased and written options.  Derivatives may contain various risks including the potential inability of the counterparty to fulfill their obligations under the terms of the contract, the potential for an illiquid secondary market, and the potential for market movements which may expose the funds to gains or losses in excess of the amounts shown on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.  As of and for the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Funds held no derivative instruments.  Each of the Funds is a diversified open-end management investment company which follows specialized accounting and reporting under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies.
 
 
3.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Distributions to Shareholders – Dividends from net investment income and distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, will be declared and paid at least annually.  The character of distributions made during the period from net investment income or net realized gains may differ from the characterization for federal income tax purposes
 

 
27

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

due to differences in the recognition of income, expense and gain items for financial statement and tax purposes.  All short-term capital gains are included in ordinary income for tax purposes.
 
Use of Estimates – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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.
 
Federal Income Taxes – The Funds intend to meet the requirements of subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all net taxable investment income and net realized gains to shareholders in a manner which results in no tax cost to the Funds.  Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is required.  As of December 31, 2014, the Funds did not have any tax positions that did not meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold of being sustained by the applicable tax authority.  Generally, tax authorities can examine all the tax returns filed for the last three years.
 
Foreign Currency Translation – The books and records relating to the Funds’ non-U.S. dollar denominated investments are maintained in U.S. dollars on the following bases:  (1) market value of investment securities, assets, and liabilities are translated at the current rate of exchange; and (2) purchases and sales of investment securities, income, and expenses are translated at the relevant rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions.  The Funds do not isolate the portion of gains and losses on investments in equity securities that is due to changes in the foreign exchange rates from that which is due to changes in market prices of equity securities.  The Funds report certain foreign currency-related transactions as components of realized gains for financial reporting purposes, whereas such components are treated as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.
 
Illiquid or Restricted Securities – A security may be considered illiquid if it lacks a readily available market.  Securities are generally considered liquid if they can be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven days at approximately the price at which the security is valued by the Fund.  Illiquid securities may be valued under methods approved by the Funds’ board of directors as reflecting fair value.  Each Fund intends to invest no more than 15% of its total assets in illiquid securities.  Certain restricted securities may be considered illiquid.  Restricted securities are often purchased in private placement transactions, are not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, may have contractual restrictions on resale, and may be valued under methods approved by the Funds’ board of directors as reflecting fair value.  Certain restricted securities eligible for resale to qualified institutional investors, including Rule 144A securities, are not subject to the limitation on a Fund’s investment in illiquid securities if they are determined to be liquid in accordance with procedures adopted by the Funds’ board of directors.  At June 30, 2015, the Funds had no investments in illiquid securities.
 
Expenses – Expenses directly attributable to a Fund are charged to that Fund, while expenses attributable to more than one Fund are allocated among the respective Funds based on relative net assets or another appropriate basis.
 
Other – Investment and shareholder transactions are recorded on the trade date.  Each Fund determines the gain or loss realized from the investment transactions on the basis of identified cost.  Dividend income is recognized on the ex-dividend date.  Interest income, including amortization of bond premium and discount, is recognized on an accrual basis.
 

 
28

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

Subsequent Events – Management has evaluated fund related events and transactions that occurred subsequent to June 30, 2015, through the date of issuance of the Funds’ financial statements.  There were no events or transactions that occurred during this period that materially impacted the amounts or disclosures in the Funds’ financial statements.
 
4.  INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2015, purchases of securities and proceeds from sales of securities, other than temporary investments in short-term securities, were as follows:
 
 
Purchases
Sales
Capital Appreciation Fund
$  7,663,166
$15,529,611
Opportunity Fund
  11,981,843
  23,158,815

 
There were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. Government securities.
 
The aggregate gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities held by the Funds and the total cost of securities for federal income tax purposes at December 31, 2014, the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year end, were as follows:
 
 
Aggregate
Aggregate
 
Federal
 
Gross
Gross
 
Income
 
Appreciation
Depreciation
Net
Tax Cost
Capital Appreciation Fund
$  5,179,043
$(2,751,182)
$  2,427,861
$  36,000,186
Opportunity Fund
  18,579,777
  (3,568,924)
  15,010,853
   75,851, 596

At December 31, 2014, the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year end, components of accumulated earnings (deficit) on a tax-basis were as follows:
 
         
Total
 
Undistributed
Undistributed
Other
 
Accumulated
 
Ordinary
Long-Term
Accumulated
Unrealized
Earnings
 
Income
Capital Gains
Losses
Appreciation
(Deficit)
Capital Appreciation Fund
$73,082
$      16,111
$(1,055,400)
$  2,427,861
$  1,461,654
Opportunity Fund
        —
  4,888,414
       (10,646)
  15,010,853
  19,888,621
 
As of December 31, 2014, the Funds did not have any capital loss carryovers.  A regulated investment company may elect for any taxable year to treat any portion of any qualified late year loss as arising on the first day of the next taxable year.  Qualified late year losses are certain capital, and ordinary losses which occur during the portion of the Fund’s taxable year subsequent to October 31.  For the taxable year ended December 31, 2014, the Capital Appreciation Fund deferred on a tax basis, short-term post-October losses (“late year losses”) of $(28,533) and long-term late year losses of $(1,072,404).  The Opportunity Fund does not plan to defer any late year losses.
 
There were no distributions paid during the six months ended June 30, 2015.
 

 
29

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 were as follows:
 
 
Ordinary
Long Term
 
 
Income
Capital Gains
Total
Capital Appreciation Fund
$   864,748
$3,966,662
$4,831,410
Opportunity Fund
  1,448,014
  8,133,450
  9,581,464
 
5.  AGREEMENTS
 
The Funds have entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with Prospector Partners Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser”), with whom certain directors and officers of the Corporation are affiliated, to furnish investment advisory services to the Funds.  Pursuant to this Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive a management fee, calculated daily and payable monthly, at the annual rate of 1.10% as applied to each Fund’s daily net assets.
 
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive its management fee and reimburse each Fund’s other expenses to the extent necessary to ensure that each Fund’s operating expenses do not exceed 1.30% of its average daily net assets.  Any such reduction made by the Adviser in its fees or payment of expenses which are the Fund’s obligation are subject to possible reimbursement by the Fund to the Adviser within three years after the fees have been waived and/or reimbursed.  Fees waived and expenses reimbursed by the Adviser may be recouped by the Adviser if such recoupment can be achieved without exceeding the expense limit in effect at the time the waiver and reimbursement occurred.  As of June 30, 2015, the Adviser did not recoup any previously waived expenses.  The Operating Expense Limitation Agreement will be in effect through at least September 30, 2016.  Waived fees and reimbursed expenses subject to potential recovery by year of expiration are as follows:
 
Expiration
 
Capital Appreciation Fund
   
Opportunity Fund
 
12/31/15
  $ 186,758     $ 183,148  
12/31/16
    188,732       237,316  
12/31/17
    174,159       250,997  
12/31/18
    88,893       125,356  
Total
  $ 638,542     $ 796,817  
 
As of June 30, 2015, it was possible, but not probable, those amounts would be recovered by the Adviser.  At the end of each fiscal year in the future, the Funds will continue to assess the potential recovery ofwaived/reimbursed fees and expenses for financial reporting purposes.
 
Quasar Distributors, LLC (“Quasar”), a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, serves as distributor of the Funds’ shares pursuant to a Distribution Agreement with the Corporation. Each Fund’s shares are sold on a no-load basis and, therefore, Quasar receives no sales commission or sales load for providing services to the Funds.  The Corporation has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “12b-1 Plan”), which authorizes the Corporation to reimburse Quasar and certain financial intermediaries who assist in distributing each Fund’s shares or who provide shareholder services to Fund shareholders a distribution and/or shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% of each Fund’s average daily net assets (computed on an annual basis). All or a portion of the fee may be used by the Funds or Quasar to pay the Fund’s distribution fees and costs of printing reports and prospectuses for potential investors and the costs of other distribution and shareholder services expenses.  During the six months ended June 30, 2015, Capital Appreciation Fund and Opportunity Fund incurred expenses of $7,139 and $24,630 respectively, pursuant to the 12b-1 Plan.
 

 
30

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Continued
June 30, 2015

U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC serves as transfer agent, administrator and fund accountant for the Funds.  U.S. Bank N.A. serves as custodian for the Funds.
 
6.  INDEMNIFICATIONS
 
The Funds enter into contracts that contain a variety of indemnifications. The Funds’ maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown. However, the Funds have not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expect the risk of loss to be remote.
 

 
31

 

PROSPECTOR FUNDS, INC.


 
Additional Information (Unaudited)
June 30, 2015
 
AVAILABILITY OF FUND PORTFOLIO INFORMATION
 
The Funds file complete schedules of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q, which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.  The Funds’ Form N-Q may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C.  For information on the Public Reference Room call 1-800-SEC-0330.  In addition, the Funds’ Form N-Q is available without charge upon request by calling 1-877-734-7862.
 
 
AVAILABILITY OF PROXY VOTING INFORMATION
 
A description of the Funds’ Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-877-734-7862.  Information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12 month period ended June 30, is available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-877-734-7862, or (2) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
 

 
32

 

 

 

(This Page Intentionally Left Blank.)
 
 


 
 

 

DIRECTORS
John D. Gillespie
Harvey D. Hirsch
Joseph Klein III
Roy L. Nersesian
John T. Rossello, Jr.

INVESTMENT ADVISER
Prospector Partners Asset Management, LLC
370 Church Street
Guilford, CT  06437

DISTRIBUTOR
Quasar Distributors, LLC
615 East Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202

CUSTODIAN
U.S. Bank, N.A.
1555 North River Center Drive
Milwaukee, WI  53212

ADMINISTRATOR AND TRANSFER AGENT
U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
Third Floor
615 E. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI  53202

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Ernst & Young LLP
155 North Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL  60606

LEGAL COUNSEL
Seward & Kissel LLP
One Battery Plaza
New York, NY  10004

 
 
 

 

 
This report should be accompanied or preceded by a prospectus.
 
The Funds’ Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the
 
Funds’ directors and is available without charge upon request by calling 1-877-734-7862.

 
 

 

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 6. Schedule of Investments.

Schedule of Investments 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 to open-end investment companies.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchases.

Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Not Applicable.

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a)  
The Registrant’s President and Treasurer have reviewed the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and by the Registrant’s service provider.

(b)  
There were no significant changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Item 12. Exhibits.

(a)  
(1) Any code of ethics or amendment thereto, that is subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy Item 2 requirements through filing an exhibit. Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  Filed herewith.

(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the Act sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons.  Not applicable to open-end investment companies.

(b)  
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  Furnished herewith.

 
 

 

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.


(Registrant)  Prospector Funds, Inc.                                                                                                

By (Signature and Title)*                    /s/John D. Gillespie
John D. Gillespie, President

Date  September 4, 2015



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.

By (Signature and Title)*                    /s/John D. Gillespie
John D. Gillespie, President

Date  September 4, 2015

By (Signature and Title)*                    /s/Peter N. Perugini, Jr.
Peter N. Perugini, Jr., Treasurer

Date  September 4, 2015

* Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.