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: | 811-01612 | |
| Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: |
The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 | |
| Address of principal executive offices: |
655 Broad Street 17th FL | |
| Newark, New Jersey 07102 | ||
| Name and address of agent for service: |
Deborah A. Docs | |
| 655 Broad Street 17th FL | ||
| Newark, New Jersey 07102 | ||
| Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: |
973-367-7521 | |
| Date of fiscal year end: |
12/31/2015 | |
| Date of reporting period: |
6/30/2015 | |
Item 1 – Reports to Stockholders
The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2
SEMIANNUAL REPORT • JUNE 30, 2015
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for VCA-2. Investors should consider the contract and VCA-2’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. This and other important information is contained in the prospectus that can be obtained from your financial professional. You should read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Annuity contracts contain exclusions, limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms for keeping them in force. Your plan sponsor or licensed financial professional can provide you with costs and complete details. Contract guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing company.
A description of the Account’s proxy voting policies and procedures is available, without charge, upon request. Owners of variable annuity contracts should call 800-458-6333 to obtain descriptions of the Account’s proxy voting policies and procedures. Information regarding how the Account 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 (Commission), at www.sec.gov.
The Account’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the members of the Account’s Committee and is available without charge upon request by calling 800-458-6333.
The Account files with the Commission a complete listing of portfolio holdings as of its first and third quarter-end on Form N-Q. Form N-Q is available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or by visiting the Commission’s Public Reference Room. For more information on the Commission’s Public Reference Room, please visit the Commission’s website or call 1-800-SEC-0330. Participants may obtain copies of Form N-Q filings by calling 800-458-6333.
| The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2
Table of Contents |
Semiannual Report | June 30, 2015 |
| n | LETTER TO PARTICIPANTS |
| n | PRESENTATION OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
| n | FINANCIAL REPORTS |
| Section A | Statement of Net Assets and Financial Statements | |||
| Section B | Financial Highlights | |||
| Section C | Notes to Financial Statements |
| n | APPROVAL OF ADVISORY AGREEMENTS |
| The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2
Letter to Participants |
June 30, 2015 |
| n | DEAR PARTICIPANT, |
At Prudential, our primary objective is to help investors achieve and maintain long-term financial success. This Variable Contract Account-2 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 135 years. The quality of our businesses and risk diversification has enabled us to manage effectively through volatile markets over time. We believe the array of our products provides a highly attractive value proposition to clients like you who are focused on financial security.
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. We value your trust and appreciate the opportunity to help you achieve financial security.
Sincerely,
Stuart Parker
President,
| The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 |
July 31, 2015 |
| Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 (VCA-2)
Presentation of Portfolio Holdings — (unaudited) |
June 30, 2015 |
| VCA-2 | ||||
| Five Largest Holdings | (% of Net Assets | ) | ||
| Allergan PLC | 3.2% | |||
| Apple, Inc. | 2.8% | |||
| Facebook, Inc. (Class A Stock) | 2.4% | |||
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 2.3% | |||
| Wells Fargo & Co. | 2.2% | |||
For a complete listing of holdings, refer to the Statement of Net Assets section of this report. Holdings reflect only long-term investments. Holdings/Issues/Industries/Sectors are subject to change.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2
| STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) | ||||||
June 30, 2015
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2
| STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) | ||||||
June 30, 2015
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
A2
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2
| STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) | ||||||
June 30, 2015
Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Account’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
| Level 1— | quoted prices generally in active markets for identical securities. |
| 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 the Account’s Committee approved fair valuation procedures. |
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of June 30, 2015 in valuing such portfolio securities:
| Investments in Securities |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
|||||||||
| Common Stocks |
||||||||||||
| Aerospace & Defense |
$ | 3,925,221 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
| Airlines |
1,515,397 | — | — | |||||||||
| Auto Components |
3,015,528 | — | — | |||||||||
| Automobiles |
4,779,602 | — | — | |||||||||
| Banks |
24,675,601 | — | — | |||||||||
| Biotechnology |
11,728,651 | — | — | |||||||||
| Capital Markets |
8,693,787 | — | — | |||||||||
| Chemicals |
2,544,208 | — | — | |||||||||
| Communications Equipment |
3,030,576 | — | — | |||||||||
| Consumer Finance |
9,589,134 | — | — | |||||||||
| Diversified Financial Services |
2,977,147 | — | — | |||||||||
| Electric Utilities |
4,064,942 | — | — | |||||||||
| Electrical Equipment |
2,794,963 | — | — | |||||||||
| Electronic Equipment & Instruments |
1,909,534 | — | — | |||||||||
| Energy Equipment & Services |
2,796,923 | — | — | |||||||||
| Food Products |
7,144,124 | — | — | |||||||||
| Health Care Equipment & Supplies |
1,954,234 | — | — | |||||||||
| Health Care Providers & Services |
7,464,442 | — | — | |||||||||
| Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure |
10,551,716 | — | — | |||||||||
| Insurance |
7,045,500 | — | — | |||||||||
| Internet & Catalog Retail |
11,315,742 | — | — | |||||||||
| Internet Software & Services |
20,608,251 | — | — | |||||||||
| IT Services |
8,186,934 | — | — | |||||||||
| Machinery |
2,472,191 | — | — | |||||||||
| Media |
16,490,151 | — | — | |||||||||
| Multiline Retail |
3,707,798 | — | — | |||||||||
| Multi-Utilities |
2,304,165 | — | — | |||||||||
| Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels |
14,210,663 | — | — | |||||||||
| Pharmaceuticals |
31,546,431 | — | — | |||||||||
| Road & Rail |
4,034,787 | — | — | |||||||||
| Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment |
2,717,919 | — | — | |||||||||
| Software |
10,172,575 | — | — | |||||||||
| Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals |
15,561,253 | — | — | |||||||||
| Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods |
7,269,905 | — | — | |||||||||
| Wireless Telecommunication Services |
2,622,578 | — | — | |||||||||
| Affiliated Money Market Mutual Fund |
3,632,387 | — | — | |||||||||
| Total |
$ | 279,054,960 | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2
| STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) | ||||||
June 30, 2015
The industry classification of portfolio holdings and other assets in excess of liabilities shown as a percentage of net assets as of June 30, 2015 was as follows:
The Account invested in derivative instruments (rights offerings) during the reporting period. The primary type of risk associated with these derivative instruments is equity risk. The effect of such derivative instruments on the Account’s financial position and financial performance as reflected in the Statement of Net Assets and Statement of Operations is presented in the summary below.
For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Account did not have any realized gain or (loss) or change in unrealized appreciation or (depreciation) on derivatives recognized in income on the Statement of Operations.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
A4
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2
| STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) | ||||||
Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
| INVESTMENT INCOME |
||||
| Unaffiliated Dividend Income (net of $69,454 foreign withholding tax) |
$ | 2,395,539 | ||
| Affiliated Dividend Income |
4,851 | |||
| Total Income |
2,400,390 | |||
| EXPENSES |
||||
| Fees Charged to Participants and Annuitants for Investment Management Services |
(173,721 | ) | ||
| Fees Charged to Participants (other than Annuitants) for Assuming Mortality and Expense Risks |
(509,563 | ) | ||
| Total Expenses |
(683,284 | ) | ||
| NET INVESTMENT INCOME |
1,717,106 | |||
| REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS |
||||
| Net Realized Gain on Investment Transactions |
7,369,758 | |||
| Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments |
(194,169 | ) | ||
| NET GAIN ON INVESTMENTS |
7,175,589 | |||
| NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS |
$ | 8,892,695 | ||
| STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Unaudited) | ||||||
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2015 |
Year Ended December 31, 2014 |
|||||||
| OPERATIONS |
||||||||
| Net Investment Income |
$ | 1,717,106 | $ | 2,264,114 | ||||
| Net Realized Gain on Investment Transactions |
7,369,758 | 26,046,456 | ||||||
| Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments |
(194,169 | ) | 2,584,419 | |||||
| NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS |
8,892,695 | 30,894,989 | ||||||
| CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS |
||||||||
| Purchase Payments and Transfers In |
401,919 | 1,290,974 | ||||||
| Withdrawals and Transfers Out |
(13,851,282 | ) | (28,656,778 | ) | ||||
| Mortality and Expense Risk Charges Deducted from Annuitants’ Accounts |
(11,599 | ) | (22,610 | ) | ||||
| Variable Annuity Payments |
(515,929 | ) | (1,119,971 | ) | ||||
| NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS |
(13,976,891 | ) | (28,508,385 | ) | ||||
| NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM SURPLUS TRANSFERS |
(7,648 | ) | (21,414 | ) | ||||
| TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS |
(5,091,844 | ) | 2,365,190 | |||||
| NET ASSETS |
||||||||
| Beginning of period |
284,693,801 | 282,328,611 | ||||||
| End of period |
$ | 279,601,957 | $ | 284,693,801 | ||||
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR VCA-2
| INCOME AND CAPITAL CHANGES PER ACCUMULATION UNIT* (Unaudited) | ||||||
(For an Accumulation Unit outstanding throughout the period)
| Six Months Ended June 30, |
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 |
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Investment Income |
$ | .5227 | $ | .7348 | $ | .7032 | $ | .7051 | $ | .5578 | $ | .5760 | ||||||||||||
| Expenses |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment management fee |
(.0382 | ) | (.0718 | ) | (.0596 | ) | (.0493 | ) | (.0488 | ) | (.0440 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Assuming mortality and expense risks |
(.1145 | ) | (.2151 | ) | (.1786 | ) | (.1476 | ) | (.1463 | ) | (.1320 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Net Investment Income |
.3700 | .4479 | .4650 | .5082 | .3627 | .4000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Capital Changes |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment transactions |
1.5480 | 5.6719 | 12.5785 | 4.1824 | (3.1568 | ) | 3.8198 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net Increase (Decrease) in Accumulation Unit Value |
1.9180 | 6.1198 | 13.0435 | 4.6906 | (2.7941 | ) | 4.2198 | |||||||||||||||||
| Accumulation Unit Value |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning of period |
60.4493 | 54.3295 | 41.2860 | 36.5954 | 39.3895 | 35.1697 | ||||||||||||||||||
| End of period |
$ | 62.3673 | $ | 60.4493 | $ | 54.3295 | $ | 41.2860 | $ | 36.5954 | $ | 39.3895 | ||||||||||||
| Total Return** |
3.17 | % | 11.26 | % | 31.59 | % | 12.82 | % | (7.09 | )% | 12.00 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of Expenses To Average Net Assets*** |
.50 | %† | .50 | % | .50 | % | .50 | % | .50 | % | .50 | % | ||||||||||||
| Ratio of Net Investment Income To Average Net Assets*** |
1.21 | %† | .78 | % | .98 | % | 1.29 | % | .92 | % | 1.14 | % | ||||||||||||
| Portfolio Turnover Rate |
24 | %†† | 70 | % | 69 | % | 45 | % | 56 | % | 70 | % | ||||||||||||
| Number of Accumulation Units Outstanding |
4,361 | 4,579 | 5,046 | 5,495 | 6,219 | 7,271 | ||||||||||||||||||
| * | Calculated by accumulating the actual per unit amounts daily. |
| ** | Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. 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. Total returns may reflect adjustments to conform to generally accepted accounting principles. Total returns for periods less than one full year are not annualized. |
| *** | These calculations exclude PICA’s equity in VCA-2. |
| † | Annualized. |
| †† | Not Annualized. |
The above table does not reflect the annual administration charge, which does not affect the Accumulation Unit Value. This charge is made by reducing Participants’ Accumulation Accounts by a number of Accumulation Units equal in value to the charge.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
VCA-2 (Unaudited)
| Note 1: | General |
The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 (VCA-2 or the Account) was established on January 9, 1968 by The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“PICA”) under the laws of the State of New Jersey and is registered as an open-end, diversified management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”), as amended. VCA-2 has been designed for use by public school systems and certain tax-exempt organizations to provide for the purchase and payment of tax-deferred variable annuities. The investment objective of the Account is long-term growth of capital. Its investments are composed primarily of common stocks. Although variable annuity payments differ according to the investment performance of the Account, they are not affected by mortality or expense experience because PICA assumes the expense risk and the mortality risk under the contracts.
| Note 2: | Accounting Policies |
The Account follows investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services-Investment Companies. The following accounting policies conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Account consistently follows such policies in the preparation of its financial statements.
Security Valuation: The Account holds securities and other assets that are fair valued at the close of each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading. 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. The Account’s Committee Members (the “Committee”) has adopted Valuation Procedures for security valuation under which fair valuation responsibilities have been delegated to Prudential Investments LLC (“PI” or “Manager”). Under the current Valuation Procedures, the established Valuation Committee is responsible for supervising the valuation of portfolio securities and other assets. The Valuation Procedures permit the Account 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. A record of the Valuation Committee’s actions is subject to the Committee’s review, approval, and ratification at its next regularly-scheduled quarterly meeting.
Various inputs determine how the Account’s investments are valued, all of which are categorized according to the three broad levels (Level 1, 2, or 3) detailed in the table following the Account’s Schedule of Investments.
Common and preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds, and derivative instruments, such as futures or options, 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 asked 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, as the inputs are observable.
Common and preferred stocks traded on foreign securities exchanges are valued using pricing vendor services that provide model prices derived using adjustment factors based on information such as local closing price, relevant general and sector indices, currency fluctuations, depositary receipts, and futures, as applicable. Securities valued using such model prices are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, as the adjustment factors are observable. Such securities are valued using model prices to the extent that the valuation meets the established confidence level for each security. If the confidence level is not met or the vendor does not provide a model price, securities are valued in accordance with exchange-traded common and preferred stocks discussed above.
Investments in open-end, non-exchange-traded mutual 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 since they may be purchased or sold at their net asset values on the date of valuation.
C1
Fixed income securities traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market are generally valued at prices provided by approved independent pricing vendors. The pricing vendors provide these prices after evaluating observable inputs including, but not limited to yield curves, yield spreads, credit ratings, deal terms, tranche level attributes, default rates, cash flows, prepayment speeds, broker/dealer quotations, and reported trades. Securities valued using such vendor prices are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
OTC derivative instruments are generally valued using pricing vendor services, which derive the valuation based on inputs such as underlying asset prices, indices, spreads, interest rates, and exchange rates. These instruments are categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Account Securities and other assets that cannot be priced according to the methods described above are valued based on pricing methodologies approved by the Committee. 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.
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 investment adviser 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 mutual funds to calculate their net asset values.
Rights: The Account may hold rights acquired either through a direct purchase, including as part of private placement, or pursuant to corporate actions. Rights entitle the holder to buy a proportionate amount of common stock at a specific price and time through the expiration dates. Such rights are held as long positions by the Account until exercised, sold or expired. Rights are valued at fair value in accordance with the Committee Members’ approved fair valuation procedures.
Restricted and Illiquid Securities: The Account may hold up to 15% of its net assets in illiquid securities, including those that are restricted as to disposition under securities law (“restricted securities”). Restricted securities, sometimes referred to as private placements are valued pursuant to the valuation procedures noted above.
Securities Transactions and Net Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses from investment and currency transactions are calculated on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. 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 the accrual basis, which may require the use of certain estimates by management that may differ from actual. Income and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to the Participants and PICA on a daily basis in proportion to their respective ownership in VCA-2.
Estimates: The preparation of the 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.
Federal Income Taxes: The operations of VCA-2 are part of, and are taxed with, the operations of PICA. Under the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, PICA does not expect to incur federal income taxes on earnings of VCA-2 to the extent the earnings are credited under the Contracts. As a result, the Unit Value of VCA-2 has not been reduced by federal income taxes.
Annuity Reserves: Reserves are computed for purchased annuities using the Prudential 1950 Group Annuity Valuation (GAV) Table, adjusted, and a valuation interest rate related to the Assumed Investment Result (AIR). The valuation interest rate is equal to the AIR less 0.50% in contract charges defined in Note 3. The AIRs are selected by each Contract-holder and are described in the prospectus.
| Note 3: | Investment Management Agreement and Charges |
The Account has a management agreement with PI. Pursuant to this agreement, PI has responsibility for all investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser’s performance of such services. PI has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”). The subadvisory agreement
C2
provides that Jennison will furnish investment advisory services in connection with management of the Account. PI pays for the services of Jennison.
A daily charge, at an effective annual rate of 0.125% of the current value of the Participant’s (other than Annuitants’ and PICA’s) equity in VCA-2, is charged to the Account and paid to PI for investment management services. An equivalent charge is deducted monthly in determining the amount of Annuitants’ payments.
A daily charge, paid to PI for assuming mortality and expense risks, is calculated at an effective annual rate of 0.375% of the current value of the Participant’s (other than Annuitants’ and PICA’s) equity in VCA-2. A one-time equivalent charge is deducted when the Annuity Units for Annuitants are determined.
PICA, PI and Jennison are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).
An annual administration charge of not more than $30 annually is deducted from the accumulation account of certain Participants either at the time of withdrawal of the value of the entire Participant’s account or at the end of the fiscal year by canceling Accumulation Units. This deduction may be made from a fixed-dollar annuity contract if the Participant is enrolled under such a contract.
A charge of 2.5% for sales and other marketing expenses is deducted from certain Participant’s purchase payments. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, PICA has advised the Account it has not received any sales charges.
| Note 4: | Other Transactions with Affiliates |
During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Account invested in the Prudential Core Taxable Money Market Fund (the “Core Fund”), a portfolio of the Prudential Investment Portfolios 2, registered under the 1940 Act, and managed by PI. Earnings from the Core Fund are disclosed on the Statement of Operations as affiliated dividend income.
| Note 5: | Purchases and Sales of Portfolio Securities |
For the six months ended June 30, 2015, the aggregate cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, were $66,322,741 and $76,556,290, respectively.
| Note 6: | Unit Transactions |
The number of Accumulation Units issued and redeemed for the six months ended June 30, 2015 and the year ended December 31, 2014, respectively, are as follows:
| Six Months Ended June 30, |
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | |||||||
| Units issued |
6,557 | 22,635 | ||||||
| Units redeemed |
(224,547 | ) | (490,060 | ) | ||||
| Net decrease |
(217,990 | ) | (467,425 | ) | ||||
| Note 7: | Net Increase (Decrease) In Net Assets Resulting From Surplus Transfers |
The increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from surplus transfers represents the net increases to/(reductions from) PICA’s investment Account. The increase (decrease) includes reserve adjustments for mortality and expense risks assumed by PICA.
| Note 8: | Participant Loans |
Participant loan initiations are not permitted in VCA-2. However, participants who initiated loans in other accounts are permitted to direct loan repayments into VCA-2.
For the six months ended June 30, 2015 and year ended December 31, 2014, $1,058 and $2,166 of participant loan principal and interest have been paid to VCA-2, respectively. The participant loan principal and interest repayments are included in purchase payments and transfers in within the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.
C3
| Note 9: | New Accounting Pronouncement |
In May 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-07 regarding “Disclosure for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share”. The amendments in this update are effective for the Fund for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU No. 2015-07 will eliminate the requirement to categorize investments in the fair value hierarchy if their fair value is measured at net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent) using the practical expedient in the FASB’s fair value measurement guidance. At this time, management is evaluating the implications of ASU No. 2015-07 and its impact on the financial statement disclosures has not yet been determined.
C4
The Prudential Variable Contract Account — 2
Approval of Advisory Agreements
The VCA-2 Committee
The Committee of the Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 (“VCA-2”) (the “Committee”) consists of eleven individuals, eight of whom are not “interested persons” of VCA-2, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Committee Members”). The Committee is responsible for the oversight of VCA-2 and its operations, and performs the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Committee Members have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Chair of the Committee is an Independent Committee Member. The Committee has established three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, and the Investment Committee. Each committee is chaired by, and composed of, Independent Committee Members.
Annual Approval of VCA-2’s Advisory Agreements
As required under the 1940 Act, the Committee determines annually whether to renew VCA-2’s management agreement with Prudential Investments LLC (“PI”) and VCA-2’s subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Committee, including all of the Independent Committee Members, met on June 9-11, 2015 and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2016, after concluding that the renewal of the agreements was in the best interests of VCA-2 and its investors.
In advance of the meetings, the Committee 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 Committee considered comparative fee information from PI and Jennison. Also, the Committee considered comparisons with other mutual funds in relevant Peer Universes and Peer Groups, as is further discussed below.
In approving the agreements, the Committee, including the Independent Committee Members advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors it deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided by PI and the subadviser, the performance of VCA-2, the profitability of PI and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with VCA-2 and its investors as VCA-2’s assets grow. In its deliberations, the Committee did not did not identify any single factor which alone was responsible for the Committee’s decision to approve the agreements with respect to VCA-2. In connection with its deliberations, the Committee considered information provided by PI throughout the year at regular Committee meetings, presentations from portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the meetings on June 9-11, 2015.
The Committee determined that the overall arrangements between VCA-2 and PI, which serves as VCA-2’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PI and Jennison, which serves as VCA-2’s subadviser pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PI, are in the best interests of VCA-2 and its investors in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Committee Members considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment.
The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Committee’s reaching its determinations to approve the continuance of the agreements are separately discussed below.
Nature, quality and extent of services
The Committee received and considered information regarding the nature, quality and extent of services provided to VCA-2 by PI and Jennison. The Committee considered the services provided by PI, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadviser for VCA-2, as well as the provision of recordkeeping, compliance, and other services to VCA-2. With respect to PI’s oversight of the subadviser, the Committee noted that PI’s Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PI, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PI’s senior management on the performance and operations of the subadviser. The Committee also considered that PI pays the salaries of all of the officers and Committee Members. The Committee also considered the investment subadvisory services provided by Jennison, as well as adherence to VCA-2’s investment restrictions and compliance with applicable VCA-2 policies and procedures. The Committee considered PI’s evaluation of the subadviser, as well as PI’s recommendation, based on its review of the subadviser, to renew the subadvisory agreement.
The Committee considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PI’s senior management responsible for the oversight of VCA-2 and Jennison, and also considered the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of Jennison’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of VCA-2’s portfolio. The Committee was provided with information pertaining to PI’s
and Jennison’s organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to both PI and Jennison. The Committee also noted that it received favorable compliance reports from VCA-2’s Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) as to both PI and Jennison. The Committee noted that Jennison is affiliated with PI.
The Committee concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PI and the subadvisory services provided to VCA-2 by Jennison, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that VCA-2 benefits from the services provided by PI and Jennison under the management and subadvisory agreements.
Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PI
The Committee was provided with information on the profitability of PI and its affiliates in serving as VCA-2’s investment manager. The Committee discussed with PI the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Committee 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 and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. Taking these factors into account, the Committee concluded that the profitability of PI and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable. The Committee did not separately consider the profitability of the subadviser, an affiliate of PI, as its profitability was reflected in the profitability report for PI.
Economies of Scale
PI and the Committee previously retained an outside business consulting firm to review management fee breakpoint usage and trends in management fees across the mutual fund industry. The consulting firm presented its analysis and conclusions as to the management fee structures to the Committee and PI. The Committee and PI have discussed these conclusions extensively since that presentation.
The Committee received and discussed information concerning economies of scale that PI may realize as VCA-2’s assets grow beyond current levels. The Committee considered information provided by PI regarding the launch date of VCA-2, the management fees of VCA-2 compared to those of similarly managed funds and PI’s investment in VCA-2 over time. The Committee noted that economies of scale, if any, may be shared with VCA-2 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 Committee considered PI’s assertion that it continually evaluates the management fee schedule of VCA-2 and the potential to share economies of scale through breakpoints or fee waivers as asset levels increase.
The Committee recognized the inherent limitations of any analysis of economies of scale, stemming largely from the Committee’s understanding that most of PI’s costs are not specific to individual funds, but rather are incurred across a variety of products and services.
Other Benefits to PI and Jennison
The Committee considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PI and Jennison and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with VCA-2. The Committee concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PI included fees received by affiliates of PI for serving as VCA-2’s securities lending agent, as well as benefits to its reputation or other intangible benefits resulting from PI’s association with VCA-2. The Committee concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by Jennison included the ability to use soft dollar credits, 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 Committee concluded that the benefits derived by PI and Jennison were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.
Performance of VCA-2 / Fees and Expenses
The Committee considered certain additional specific factors and made related conclusions relating to the historical performance of VCA-2 for the one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods ended December 31, 2014. The Committee also considered VCA-2’s actual management fee, as well as VCA-2’s net total expense ratio, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. The Committee considered the management fee for VCA-2 as compared to the management fee charged by PI to other funds and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds in a Peer Group. The actual management fee represents the fee rate actually paid by VCA-2 investors and includes any fee waivers or reimbursements. The net total expense ratio for VCA-2 represents the actual expense ratio incurred by VCA-2 investors.
The mutual funds included in the Peer Universe (the Lipper VA Large-Cap Core Funds Performance Universe)1 and the Peer Group were objectively determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”), an independent provider of mutual fund data. To the extent that PI deemed appropriate, and for reasons addressed in detail with the Committee, PI may have provided supplemental data compiled by Lipper for the Committee’s consideration. The comparisons placed VCA-2 in various quartiles, with the first 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 Committee and the Committee’s conclusions regarding VCA-2’s performance, fees and overall expenses. The table sets forth gross performance comparisons (which do not reflect the impact on performance of any fund expenses, or 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 Committee.
|
Performance |
1 Year |
3 Years | 5 Years | 10 Years | ||||
| 3rd Quartile | 4th Quartile | 4th Quartile | 2nd Quartile | |||||
| Actual Management Fees: 1st Quartile | ||||||||
| Net Total Expenses: 1st Quartile | ||||||||
| • | The Committee noted that VCA-2 outperformed its benchmark index over the ten-year period, though it underperformed over the other periods. |
| • | The Committee noted PI’s explanation that the underperformance was primarily attributable to VCA-2’s value and growth components. The Committee also considered PI’s explanation that the portfolio manager responsible for the value component had been replaced in 2014, resulting in changes in the securities selection process for value stocks, and that the Fund’s value holdings had not fully repositioned under the new portfolio manager until the end of 2014. |
| • | The Committee considered that, following the replacement of the value component’s portfolio manager, VCA-2’s performance had shown significant improvement, with VCA-2 ranking in the second quartile of its Peer Universe and outperforming its benchmark index during the first quarter of 2015. |
| • | The Committee concluded that, in light of the above, it would be in the best interests of VCA-2 and its investors to continue to monitor performance and to renew the agreements. |
| • | The Committee concluded 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 Committee concluded that the approval of the agreements was in the best interests of VCA-2 and its investors.
| 1 | Although Lipper classifies VCA-2 in its VA Multi-Cap Core Funds Performance Universe, the VA Large-Cap Core Funds Performance Universe was utilized because PI believes that the funds included in this Universe are more consistent with VCA-2’s investment approach, and therefore, provide a more appropriate basis for VCA-2 performance comparisons. |
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0228798-00004-00 LT.RS.001
| 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 – Not applicable. | |||||
| 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 registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter of 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 – | Exhibits | |||||
| (a) | (1) | Code of Ethics – Not required, as this is not an annual filing. | ||||
| (2) | Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.CERT. | |||||
| (3) | Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1. – Not applicable. | |||||
| (b) | Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.906CERT. | |||||
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: The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2
| By: | /s/ Deborah A. Docs | |
| Deborah A. Docs | ||
| Secretary | ||
| Date: | August 17, 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: | /s/ Stuart S. Parker | |
| Stuart S. Parker | ||
| President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
| Date: | August 17, 2015 | |
| By: | /s/ M. Sadiq Peshimam | |
| M. Sadiq Peshimam | ||
| Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | ||
| Date: | August 17, 2015 | |