UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-03364
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
8515 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Address of principal executive offices)
Jonathan D. Kreider
President and Chief Executive Officer
Empower Funds, Inc.
Empower Funds, Inc.
8515 E. Orchard Road
Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (866) 831-7129
Date of fiscal year end: April 30
Date of reporting period: October 31, 2022
Item 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
Empower Core Strategies: International Equity Fund
(Formerly Great-West Core Strategies: International Equity Fund)
(Institutional Class and Investor Class)
(Institutional Class and Investor Class)
Semi-Annual Report
October 31, 2022
This report and the financial statements attached are submitted for general information and are not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by an effective prospectus. Nothing herein is to be considered an offer of the sale of shares of the Fund. Such offering is made only by the prospectus of the Fund, which includes details as to offering price and other information.
Summary of Investments by Sector as of October 31, 2022 (unaudited)
Sector | Percentage of Fund Investments |
Consumer, Non-cyclical | 23.18% |
Financial | 18.14 |
Consumer, Cyclical | 12.71 |
Industrial | 11.84 |
Basic Materials | 6.20 |
Communications | 5.91 |
Technology | 5.44 |
Energy | 4.81 |
Utilities | 1.77 |
Exchange Traded Funds | 0.64 |
Diversified | 0.03 |
Short Term Investments | 9.33 |
Total | 100.00% |
Shareholder Expense Example (unaudited)
As a shareholder of the Fund, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees and other Fund expenses. This Example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the Fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other 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 (May 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022).
Actual Expenses
The first row of the table below provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this row, 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 row 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 row 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. Therefore, the second row 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 | Ending Account Value | Expenses Paid During Period* | |||
(05/01/22) | (10/31/22) | (05/01/22 – 10/31/22) | |||
Institutional Class | |||||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $ 878.40 | $3.08 | ||
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,021.90 | $3.31 | ||
Investor Class | |||||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $ 876.40 | $4.73 | ||
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,020.20 | $5.09 |
* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 0.65% for the Institutional Class shares and 1.00% for the Investor Class shares, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 days to reflect the one-half year period. Performance does not include any fees or expenses of IRAs or your financial professional brokerage commissions, if applicable. If such fees or expenses were included, returns would be lower. |
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
COMMON STOCK | ||
Basic Materials — 6.20% | ||
1,626 | Air Liquide SA | $ 212,703 |
564 | Akzo Nobel NV | 34,819 |
13,352 | Anglo American PLC | 399,873 |
1,142 | Antofagasta PLC | 15,382 |
1,638 | ArcelorMittal SA | 36,615 |
1,968 | Arkema SA | 155,744 |
3,900 | Asahi Kasei Corp | 25,006 |
2,857 | BASF SE | 128,195 |
23,546 | BHP Group Ltd | 565,581 |
21,753 | BlueScope Steel Ltd | 219,053 |
850 | Boliden AB | 24,719 |
480 | Brenntag SE | 29,125 |
322 | Chr Hansen Holding A/S | 17,884 |
739 | Clariant AG | 11,876 |
4,282 | Covestro AG(a) | 145,357 |
433 | Croda International PLC | 33,534 |
18 | EMS-Chemie Holding AG | 11,318 |
4,755 | Evolution Mining Ltd | 6,308 |
9,332 | Evonik Industries AG | 171,912 |
13,867 | Fortescue Metals Group Ltd | 130,641 |
28 | Givaudan SA | 83,634 |
30,667 | Glencore PLC | 175,799 |
314 | Holmen AB Class B(b) | 11,395 |
17,902 | ICL Group Ltd | 161,433 |
1,300 | JFE Holdings Inc | 11,909 |
489 | Johnson Matthey PLC | 10,852 |
4,300 | Kaneka Corp | 106,628 |
40,000 | Kingboard Holdings Ltd | 98,746 |
3,943 | Koninklijke DSM NV | 463,817 |
529 | Mineral Resources Ltd | 24,801 |
28,200 | Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp | 127,389 |
10,900 | Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co Inc | 138,509 |
8,000 | Mitsui Chemicals Inc | 148,071 |
1,510 | Mondi PLC | 25,327 |
2,778 | Newcrest Mining Ltd | 30,767 |
2,400 | Nippon Paint Holdings Co Ltd | 15,295 |
500 | Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp | 7,961 |
3,400 | Nippon Soda Co Ltd(b) | 101,432 |
2,500 | Nippon Steel Corp | 34,296 |
300 | Nissan Chemical Corp | 13,505 |
500 | Nitto Denko Corp | 26,343 |
4,183 | Norsk Hydro ASA | 26,547 |
3,547 | Northern Star Resources Ltd | 19,796 |
636 | Novozymes A/S Class B | 33,384 |
353 | OCI NV | 13,501 |
2,500 | Oji Holdings Corp | 8,667 |
3,255 | Rio Tinto Ltd | 184,721 |
3,498 | Rio Tinto PLC | 182,791 |
1,200 | Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd | 124,716 |
769 | Smurfit Kappa Group PLC | 25,456 |
223 | Solvay SA | 20,124 |
70,147 | South32 Ltd | 160,937 |
1,715 | Stora Enso OYJ Class R | 22,362 |
4,400 | Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd | 14,816 |
9,300 | Sumitomo Forestry Co Ltd | 145,485 |
700 | Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd | 19,622 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Basic Materials — (continued) | ||
1,885 | Svenska Cellulosa AB SCA Class B | $ 22,239 |
414 | Symrise AG | 42,258 |
7,000 | Tokuyama Corp | 81,623 |
4,300 | Toray Industries Inc | 20,887 |
900 | Tosoh Corp | 9,792 |
7,600 | UBE Corp | 98,023 |
647 | Umicore SA | 21,329 |
1,661 | UPM-Kymmene OYJ | 55,839 |
201 | voestalpine AG | 4,364 |
4,616 | Yara International ASA | 206,019 |
5,758,852 | ||
Communications — 5.91% | ||
1,006 | Adevinta ASA(b) | 6,886 |
165,000 | Ascential PLC(b) | 363,232 |
2,933 | Auto Trader Group PLC(a) | 17,550 |
5,436 | Bezeq The Israeli Telecommunication Corp Ltd | 9,623 |
3,088 | Bollore SE(b) | 15,445 |
149,313 | BT Group PLC | 222,426 |
33,400 | CyberAgent Inc | 274,387 |
507 | Delivery Hero SE(a)(b) | 16,685 |
600 | Dentsu Group Inc | 18,662 |
16,082 | Deutsche Telekom AG | 303,556 |
442 | Elisa OYJ | 21,360 |
464 | GN Store Nord AS | 9,861 |
4,169 | Grab Holdings Ltd Class A(b) | 10,839 |
500 | Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc | 4,213 |
10,000 | HKT Trust & HKT Ltd | 11,309 |
4,558 | Informa PLC | 29,033 |
2,700 | IPSOS | 130,699 |
586 | Just Eat Takeaway.com NV(a)(b) | 10,056 |
300 | Kakaku.com Inc | 5,074 |
5,000 | KDDI Corp | 147,785 |
10,275 | Koninklijke KPN NV | 28,740 |
1,300 | M3 Inc(b) | 38,740 |
440 | MercadoLibre Inc(b) | 396,713 |
6,600 | Metropole Television SA | 68,261 |
600 | MonotaRO Co Ltd | 9,108 |
197 | Nice Ltd(b) | 37,128 |
2,300 | Nice Ltd Sponsored ADR(b) | 436,747 |
7,100 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp | 195,823 |
33,933 | Nokia OYJ | 150,795 |
20,305 | Orange SA | 193,464 |
2,085 | Pearson PLC | 23,041 |
2,581 | Prosus NV | 111,607 |
601 | Proximus SADP | 6,301 |
710 | Publicis Groupe SA | 39,763 |
3,100 | Rakuten Group Inc | 13,840 |
19,800 | Reach PLC(b) | 20,845 |
9,000 | Relia Inc | 60,395 |
216 | Scout24 SE(a) | 11,069 |
1,100 | Sea Ltd ADR(b) | 54,648 |
942 | SEEK Ltd | 12,968 |
10,000 | Shopify Inc Class A(b) | 342,300 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
Communications — (continued) | ||
25,700 | Singapore Telecommunications Ltd | $ 45,251 |
9,000 | SoftBank Corp | 88,780 |
3,800 | SoftBank Group Corp | 163,120 |
5,746 | Spark New Zealand Ltd | 17,104 |
81 | Swisscom AG | 39,997 |
1,727 | Tele2 AB Class B | 14,155 |
32,331 | Telecom Italia SpA | 6,325 |
9,079 | Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson Class B | 50,473 |
3,487 | Telefonica Deutschland Holding AG | 7,598 |
38,699 | Telefonica SA | 133,403 |
6,000 | Telenet Group Holding NV | 91,478 |
2,177 | Telenor ASA | 19,784 |
26,400 | Television Francaise 1 | 167,589 |
8,269 | Telia Co AB | 21,911 |
12,633 | Telstra Corp Ltd | 31,140 |
400 | Trend Micro Inc | 20,169 |
4,485 | United Internet AG | 83,838 |
18,000 | Viaplay Group AB | 328,614 |
2,225 | Vivendi SE | 18,212 |
83,102 | Vodafone Group PLC | 96,995 |
163 | Wix.com Ltd(b) | 13,708 |
817 | Wolters Kluwer NV(b) | 86,813 |
3,397 | WPP PLC | 29,886 |
8,300 | Z Holdings Corp | 21,420 |
400 | ZOZO Inc | 8,487 |
5,487,227 | ||
Consumer, Cyclical — 12.18% | ||
599 | Accor SA | 14,353 |
537 | adidas AG | 52,419 |
400 | Aisin Corp | 10,268 |
500 | ANA Holdings Inc | 9,719 |
1,874 | Aristocrat Leisure Ltd | 44,481 |
600 | Bandai Namco Holdings Inc | 39,662 |
39,754 | Barratt Developments PLC | 171,417 |
3,529 | Bayerische Motoren Werke AG | 276,998 |
4,900 | Bellway PLC | 104,181 |
311 | Berkeley Group Holdings PLC | 12,374 |
9,800 | Bilia AB Class A(b) | 103,804 |
1,700 | Bridgestone Corp | 61,483 |
1,049 | Bunzl PLC | 34,170 |
1,233 | Burberry Group PLC | 25,685 |
6,400 | Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd | 10,957 |
1,624 | Cie Financiere Richemont SA | 158,719 |
7,210 | Cie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA | 183,740 |
1,000 | City Developments Ltd | 5,392 |
5,548 | Compass Group PLC | 116,819 |
335 | Continental AG | 17,352 |
8,500 | CTS Eventim AG & Co KGaA(b) | 405,760 |
6,907 | Daimler Truck Holding AG(b) | 184,228 |
1,800 | Daiwa House Industry Co Ltd | 36,265 |
8,100 | Daiwabo Holdings Co Ltd(b) | 104,517 |
14,400 | DCM Holdings Co Ltd | 112,201 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Consumer, Cyclical — (continued) | ||
1,300 | Denso Corp | $ 64,501 |
1,950 | Deutsche Lufthansa AG(b) | 13,332 |
84 | D'ieteren Group | 13,980 |
211 | Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd | 8,603 |
370 | Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG(b) | 37,845 |
3,400 | Eizo Corp | 82,710 |
548 | Electrolux AB Class B | 6,761 |
1,829 | Entain PLC | 26,449 |
568 | Evolution AB(a) | 52,985 |
200 | Fast Retailing Co Ltd | 111,428 |
666 | Ferguson PLC | 72,618 |
392 | Ferrari NV | 77,278 |
519 | Flutter Entertainment PLC(b) | 68,544 |
6,000 | Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd | 27,412 |
19,869 | Genting Singapore Ltd | 11,299 |
4,000 | Gunze Ltd(b) | 102,747 |
2,271 | H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB Class B | 22,874 |
49,000 | Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd | 130,355 |
7,800 | Haseko Corp | 80,326 |
98 | Hermes International | 126,850 |
14,900 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | 339,757 |
1,300 | Hornbach Holding AG & Co KGaA | 88,615 |
300 | Hoshizaki Corp | 8,595 |
300 | Iida Group Holdings Co Ltd | 4,166 |
177 | IMCD NV | 22,956 |
3,393 | Industria de Diseno Textil SA | 77,015 |
572 | InterContinental Hotels Group PLC | 30,728 |
14,600 | Isuzu Motors Ltd | 171,691 |
8,900 | ITOCHU Corp | 230,017 |
4,700 | Japan Airlines Co Ltd | 87,787 |
10,200 | Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd | 214,237 |
8,851 | JD Sports Fashion PLC | 9,888 |
3,400 | Kaufman & Broad SA(b) | 82,615 |
232 | Kering SA | 106,247 |
12,900 | Kindred Group PLC | 111,905 |
91,676 | Kingfisher PLC | 230,225 |
4,300 | Kohnan Shoji Co Ltd | 90,034 |
800 | Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd | 11,358 |
5,900 | Komeri Co Ltd | 102,931 |
348 | La Francaise des Jeux SAEM(a) | 11,341 |
6,924 | Lottery Corp Ltd(b) | 18,995 |
855 | LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE | 539,501 |
4,800 | Marubeni Corp | 42,019 |
1,900 | Mazda Motor Corp | 12,793 |
300 | McDonald's Holdings Co Japan Ltd | 10,415 |
7,395 | Mercedes-Benz Group AG | 428,034 |
6,400 | Mitsubishi Corp | 173,369 |
10,900 | Mitsui & Co Ltd | 241,208 |
638 | Moncler SpA | 27,526 |
405 | Next PLC | 22,870 |
600 | NGK Insulators Ltd | 7,000 |
6,700 | NGK Spark Plug Co Ltd | 122,235 |
3,000 | Nintendo Co Ltd | 121,797 |
7,200 | Nissan Motor Co Ltd | 22,949 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
Consumer, Cyclical — (continued) | ||
200 | Nitori Holdings Co Ltd | $ 18,123 |
10,100 | Okamura Corp | 92,972 |
200 | Open House Group Co Ltd | 7,114 |
700 | Oriental Land Co Ltd | 93,749 |
1,100 | Pan Pacific International Holdings Corp | 18,052 |
6,900 | Panasonic Holdings Corp | 49,146 |
283 | Pandora A/S | 14,887 |
947 | Persimmon PLC | 14,165 |
44,500 | Pirelli & C SpA(a) | 167,857 |
325 | Puma SE | 14,369 |
2,875 | Qantas Airways Ltd(b) | 10,743 |
13 | Rational AG | 7,328 |
29,400 | Redrow PLC | 141,406 |
531 | Reece Ltd | 5,273 |
568 | Renault SA | 17,488 |
9,600 | Rexel SA | 171,315 |
32,000 | RS Group PLC | 351,927 |
8,400 | Sands China Ltd(b) | 14,685 |
75 | SEB SA | 4,883 |
1,300 | Sekisui Chemical Co Ltd | 16,234 |
1,900 | Sekisui House Ltd | 31,545 |
500 | Sharp Corp | 2,999 |
300 | Shimano Inc | 46,423 |
3,700 | Singapore Airlines Ltd(b) | 13,724 |
276 | Sodexo SA | 24,449 |
4,000 | Sony Group Corp | 269,739 |
13,639 | Stellantis NV | 183,745 |
1,900 | Subaru Corp | 29,699 |
3,600 | Sumitomo Corp | 45,770 |
2,200 | Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd | 22,991 |
20,400 | Super Retail Group Ltd(b) | 134,135 |
1,100 | Suzuki Motor Corp | 37,191 |
227 | Swatch Group AG | 25,764 |
10,041 | Taylor Wimpey PLC | 10,793 |
10,600 | Teijin Ltd | 96,237 |
300 | Toho Co Ltd | 10,668 |
8,900 | Toyota Boshoku Corp | 113,249 |
500 | Toyota Industries Corp | 25,758 |
33,000 | Toyota Motor Corp | 457,862 |
700 | Toyota Tsusho Corp | 23,496 |
2,257 | Universal Music Group NV | 44,317 |
600 | USS Co Ltd | 9,053 |
707 | Valeo | 11,646 |
7,300 | Valor Holdings Co Ltd(b) | 84,413 |
86 | Volkswagen AG | 14,700 |
664 | Volvo AB Class A | 11,342 |
25,995 | Volvo AB Class B | 425,459 |
2,083 | Volvo Car AB Class B(b) | 8,840 |
16,600 | VTech Holdings Ltd | 88,365 |
200 | Welcia Holdings Co Ltd | 4,180 |
3,528 | Wesfarmers Ltd | 102,380 |
613 | Whitbread PLC | 18,035 |
500 | Yamaha Corp | 18,877 |
8,200 | Yamaha Motor Co Ltd | 169,269 |
8,100 | Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd | 126,661 |
67,500 | Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings Ltd | 68,624 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Consumer, Cyclical — (continued) | ||
649 | Zalando SE(a)(b) | $ 14,958 |
11,317,752 | ||
Consumer, Non-Cyclical — 22.99% | ||
4,460 | Adecco Group AG | 139,580 |
357 | Adyen NV(a)(b) | 509,653 |
2,000 | Aeon Co Ltd | 37,301 |
1,400 | Ajinomoto Co Inc | 38,505 |
7,954 | Alcon Inc | 484,282 |
10,901 | Amadeus IT Group SA(b) | 568,545 |
366 | Amplifon SpA | 9,093 |
2,701 | Anheuser-Busch InBev SA | 135,105 |
6,300 | Arcs Co Ltd(b) | 83,974 |
169 | Argenx SE(b) | 65,614 |
1,400 | Asahi Group Holdings Ltd | 39,173 |
700 | Asahi Intecc Co Ltd | 11,925 |
1,377 | Ashtead Group PLC | 71,717 |
1,089 | Associated British Foods PLC | 16,873 |
5,700 | Astellas Pharma Inc | 78,650 |
4,777 | AstraZeneca PLC | 560,388 |
1,541 | Atlantia SpA | 34,376 |
8,500 | Austevoll Seafood ASA | 62,985 |
125 | Bachem Holding AG | 8,963 |
10 | Barry Callebaut AG | 18,919 |
10,555 | Bayer AG | 554,993 |
313 | Beiersdorf AG | 30,046 |
144 | BioMerieux | 12,741 |
4,465 | Brambles Ltd | 33,428 |
10,699 | British American Tobacco PLC | 422,480 |
4,600 | Budweiser Brewing Co APAC Ltd(a) | 9,682 |
914 | Bureau Veritas SA | 22,613 |
113 | Carl Zeiss Meditec AG | 13,678 |
302 | Carlsberg AS Class B | 35,559 |
13,077 | Carrefour SA | 210,480 |
7 | Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG | 67,179 |
2,000 | Chugai Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | 46,344 |
23,000 | CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd | 114,490 |
32,000 | Clarivate PLC(b) | 330,560 |
104,100 | Cloetta AB Class B | 190,289 |
639 | Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC | 30,065 |
491 | Coca-Cola HBC AG | 10,722 |
2,804 | Cochlear Ltd | 358,194 |
4,156 | Coles Group Ltd | 43,454 |
369 | Coloplast A/S Class B | 41,133 |
3,498 | CSL Ltd | 626,198 |
600 | Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd | 12,018 |
5,400 | Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd | 172,858 |
1,997 | Danone SA | 99,250 |
1,483 | Davide Campari-Milano NV | 13,318 |
269 | Demant A/S(b) | 7,346 |
7,114 | Diageo PLC | 292,719 |
72 | DiaSorin SpA | 9,413 |
776 | Edenred | 39,783 |
700 | Eisai Co Ltd | 42,212 |
4,178 | Endeavour Group Ltd | 19,124 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
Consumer, Non-Cyclical — (continued) | ||
894 | EssilorLuxottica SA | $ 141,367 |
1,894 | Essity AB Class B | 40,017 |
418 | Eurofins Scientific SE | 26,758 |
35,000 | Evotec SE(b) | 667,556 |
15,864 | Experian PLC | 505,647 |
26,800 | Faes Farma SA(b) | 101,156 |
1,795 | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corp Ltd | 20,400 |
638 | Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co KGaA | 17,647 |
4,302 | Fresenius SE & Co KGaA | 99,003 |
1,704 | Genmab A/S(b) | 656,394 |
608 | Getinge AB Class B | 12,338 |
200 | GMO Payment Gateway Inc | 14,381 |
1,028 | Grifols SA(b) | 8,746 |
40,851 | GSK PLC | 669,092 |
46,498 | Haleon PLC(b) | 142,558 |
313 | Heineken Holding NV | 21,357 |
806 | Heineken NV | 67,329 |
7,400 | Heiwado Co Ltd | 93,645 |
388 | HelloFresh SE(b) | 7,756 |
318 | Henkel AG & Co KGaA | 18,668 |
18,556 | Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC | 266,270 |
674 | IDP Education Ltd | 12,716 |
17,308 | Imperial Brands PLC | 421,410 |
64,600 | Inghams Group Ltd | 104,512 |
502 | Intertek Group PLC | 21,025 |
2,123 | Ipsen SA | 218,176 |
200 | Ito En Ltd | 7,044 |
25,400 | Itoham Yonekyu Holdings Inc(b) | 113,584 |
78,302 | J Sainsbury PLC | 174,498 |
3,700 | Japan Tobacco Inc | 61,966 |
266 | JDE Peet's NV | 7,614 |
870 | Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA | 18,003 |
7,700 | Kanamoto Co Ltd | 111,157 |
1,400 | Kao Corp | 52,293 |
495 | Kerry Group PLC Class A | 42,993 |
820 | Kesko OYJ Class B | 15,958 |
500 | Kikkoman Corp | 27,095 |
2,500 | Kirin Holdings Co Ltd | 36,750 |
100 | Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | 5,307 |
400 | Kobe Bussan Co Ltd | 8,676 |
17,652 | Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV | 492,284 |
2,750 | Koninklijke Philips NV | 34,883 |
100 | Kose Corp | 9,982 |
800 | Kyowa Kirin Co Ltd | 18,841 |
806 | Lifco AB Class B(b) | 11,647 |
231 | Lonza Group AG | 118,915 |
750 | L'Oreal SA | 235,503 |
8,566 | Medibank Pvt Ltd | 15,425 |
400 | MEIJI Holdings Co Ltd | 16,460 |
402 | Merck KGaA | 65,512 |
21,600 | Metcash Ltd | 56,703 |
1,286 | Mowi ASA | 19,195 |
8,710 | Nestle SA | 948,160 |
1,251 | Nexi SpA(a)(b) | 10,815 |
800 | Nihon M&A Center Holdings Inc | 9,027 |
200 | Nippon Shinyaku Co Ltd | 11,073 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Consumer, Non-Cyclical — (continued) | ||
700 | Nisshin Seifun Group Inc | $ 7,564 |
100 | Nissin Foods Holdings Co Ltd | 6,473 |
305 | NMC Health PLC(b) | 17 |
16,166 | Novartis AG | 1,307,680 |
5,100 | Novo Nordisk A/S Class B | 554,529 |
1,663 | Ocado Group PLC(b) | 9,014 |
3,800 | Olympus Corp | 80,121 |
1,100 | Ono Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | 25,887 |
291 | Orion OYJ Class B | 13,391 |
22,513 | Orkla ASA | 151,854 |
1,200 | Otsuka Holdings Co Ltd | 38,465 |
652 | Pernod Ricard SA | 114,433 |
700 | Persol Holdings Co Ltd | 14,016 |
708 | QIAGEN NV(b) | 30,574 |
570 | Ramsay Health Care Ltd | 21,380 |
2,156 | Randstad NV | 107,453 |
2,225 | Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC | 147,609 |
243 | Recordati Industria Chimica e Farmaceutica SpA | 9,130 |
4,500 | Recruit Holdings Co Ltd | 138,470 |
37,000 | Redde Northgate PLC(b) | 141,085 |
5,988 | RELX PLC | 160,772 |
81 | Remy Cointreau SA | 12,388 |
7,798 | Rentokil Initial PLC | 48,643 |
3,653 | Roche Holding AG | 1,218,209 |
184 | Salmar ASA | 6,238 |
6,380 | Sanofi | 549,049 |
87 | Sartorius Stedim Biotech | 27,608 |
7,500 | Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S(a) | 125,630 |
700 | Secom Co Ltd | 39,879 |
17,142 | Securitas AB Class B | 140,064 |
2,400 | Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd | 89,588 |
20 | SGS SA | 44,090 |
900 | Shionogi & Co Ltd | 41,794 |
1,200 | Shiseido Co Ltd | 41,445 |
878 | Siemens Healthineers AG(a) | 40,223 |
2,714 | Smith & Nephew PLC | 32,056 |
2,100 | Societe BIC SA | 120,553 |
1,419 | Sonic Healthcare Ltd | 29,708 |
168 | Sonova Holding AG | 39,709 |
348 | Straumann Holding AG | 33,120 |
500 | Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd | 16,728 |
4,744 | Swedish Match AB | 48,792 |
526 | Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB(b) | 9,689 |
600 | Sysmex Corp | 32,294 |
4,700 | Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | 124,122 |
2,100 | Terumo Corp | 63,733 |
87,382 | Tesco PLC | 215,723 |
3,454 | Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd Sponsored ADR(b) | 30,810 |
900 | TOPPAN Inc | 13,423 |
9,552 | Transurban Group | 81,029 |
2,239 | Treasury Wine Estates Ltd | 18,554 |
394 | UCB SA | 29,695 |
1,300 | Unicharm Corp | 39,509 |
7,827 | Unilever PLC | 355,727 |
274,000 | United Laboratories International Holdings Ltd | 114,840 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
Consumer, Non-Cyclical — (continued) | ||
458,443 | WH Group Ltd(a) | $ 231,519 |
5,700 | Wilmar International Ltd | 15,615 |
3,776 | Woolworths Group Ltd | 79,741 |
743 | Worldline SA(a)(b) | 32,429 |
400 | Yakult Honsha Co Ltd | 22,160 |
21,357,320 | ||
Diversified — 0.03% | ||
400 | Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd | 18,320 |
2,000 | Swire Pacific Ltd Class A | 13,267 |
31,587 | ||
Energy — 4.81% | ||
982 | Aker BP ASA | 31,195 |
695 | Ampol Ltd | 12,122 |
3,670 | APA Group | 24,708 |
187,800 | Beach Energy Ltd | 192,038 |
59,140 | BP PLC | 327,165 |
296 | DCC PLC | 16,425 |
54,400 | ENEOS Holdings Inc | 179,447 |
21,950 | Eni SpA | 288,285 |
5,340 | Equinor ASA | 194,556 |
1,461 | Galp Energia SGPS SA | 14,834 |
700 | Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd | 15,316 |
3,200 | Inpex Corp | 32,296 |
1,316 | Neste OYJ | 57,678 |
4,551 | OMV AG | 209,543 |
19,914 | Repsol SA | 270,919 |
6,000 | Rubis SCA | 136,256 |
10,009 | Santos Ltd | 48,861 |
43,750 | Shell PLC | 1,211,696 |
828 | Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA | 14,679 |
15,115 | TotalEnergies SE | 824,574 |
3,142 | Vestas Wind Systems A/S | 61,940 |
13,307 | Woodside Energy Group Ltd | 307,638 |
4,472,171 | ||
Financial — 18.14% | ||
15,225 | 3i Group PLC | 202,685 |
18,374 | ABN AMRO Bank NV(a) | 180,628 |
7,660 | abrdn PLC | 13,954 |
622 | Admiral Group PLC | 14,377 |
33,626 | Aegon NV | 155,660 |
408 | AerCap Holdings NV(b) | 21,791 |
500 | Ageas SA | 17,309 |
37,400 | AIA Group Ltd | 283,297 |
1,670 | Allianz SE | 300,440 |
164 | Amundi SA(a) | 7,738 |
2,702 | Aroundtown SA | 5,356 |
4,300 | ASR Nederland NV(b) | 189,341 |
3,454 | Assicurazioni Generali SpA | 51,835 |
602 | ASX Ltd | 26,084 |
14,970 | Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd | 245,265 |
43,900 | Aviva PLC | 210,522 |
12,513 | AXA SA | 309,007 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Financial — (continued) | ||
131 | Azrieli Group Ltd | $ 9,705 |
1,541 | Baloise Holding AG | 210,535 |
50,841 | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA | 262,278 |
115,531 | Banco Santander SA | 299,627 |
3,950 | Bank Hapoalim BM | 38,075 |
4,802 | Bank Leumi Le-Israel BM | 45,810 |
12,600 | Bank of Ireland Group PLC | 90,728 |
52,081 | Barclays PLC | 88,487 |
3,500 | BAWAG Group AG(a) | 168,965 |
8,755 | BNP Paribas SA | 410,556 |
11,500 | BOC Hong Kong Holdings Ltd | 35,734 |
2,325 | British Land Co PLC REIT | 9,750 |
13,790 | CaixaBank SA | 45,728 |
10,400 | CapitaLand Ascendas REIT | 19,242 |
16,477 | CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust REIT | 21,868 |
8,000 | Capitaland Investment Ltd | 17,013 |
1,300 | Chiba Bank Ltd(b) | 7,123 |
6,000 | CK Asset Holdings Ltd | 33,171 |
3,311 | Commerzbank AG | 26,454 |
5,307 | Commonwealth Bank of Australia | 355,818 |
3,400 | Concordia Financial Group Ltd | 10,374 |
159 | Covivio REIT | 8,513 |
21,764 | Credit Agricole SA | 197,479 |
8,900 | Credit Saison Co Ltd | 95,126 |
8,245 | Credit Suisse Group AG | 34,155 |
3,000 | Dai-ichi Life Holdings Inc | 47,648 |
100 | Daito Trust Construction Co Ltd | 9,902 |
6 | Daiwa House REIT Investment Corp | 12,110 |
4,000 | Daiwa Securities Group Inc | 15,607 |
2,145 | Danske Bank A/S | 34,601 |
8,800 | DBS Group Holdings Ltd | 212,752 |
6,428 | Deutsche Bank AG | 61,270 |
2,891 | Deutsche Boerse AG | 470,134 |
3,303 | Dexus REIT | 16,459 |
11,993 | DNB Bank ASA | 212,119 |
918 | EQT AB | 18,066 |
1,069 | Erste Group Bank AG | 26,345 |
5,600 | ESR Group Ltd(a) | 9,550 |
120 | Eurazeo SE | 6,848 |
262 | Euronext NV(a) | 16,629 |
337 | EXOR NV | 22,647 |
1,592 | Fastighets AB Balder Class B(b) | 5,976 |
33,896 | FinecoBank Banca Fineco SpA | 456,769 |
8,200 | Fukuoka Financial Group Inc | 139,528 |
200 | Futu Holdings Ltd ADR(b)(c) | 6,772 |
160 | Gecina SA REIT | 14,265 |
686 | Gjensidige Forsikring ASA | 12,539 |
14 | GLP J-REIT(b) | 14,519 |
5,230 | Goodman Group REIT | 56,906 |
5,676 | GPT Group REIT | 15,686 |
309 | Groupe Bruxelles Lambert NV | 22,781 |
39,600 | Gunma Bank Ltd | 108,008 |
5,000 | Hang Lung Properties Ltd | 6,290 |
2,300 | Hang Seng Bank Ltd | 32,379 |
187 | Hannover Rueck SE | 30,429 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
Financial — (continued) | ||
1,213 | Hargreaves Lansdown PLC | $ 10,598 |
4,000 | Henderson Land Development Co Ltd | 9,793 |
3,700 | Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd | 98,211 |
3,300 | Hongkong Land Holdings Ltd | 12,309 |
61,657 | HSBC Holdings PLC | 316,392 |
1,100 | Hulic Co Ltd(b) | 7,991 |
416 | Industrivarden AB Class A | 9,422 |
518 | Industrivarden AB Class C(b) | 11,632 |
23,053 | ING Groep NV | 226,832 |
7,667 | Insurance Australia Group Ltd(b) | 24,066 |
31,000 | Intermediate Capital Group PLC | 377,303 |
51,374 | Intesa Sanpaolo SpA | 97,946 |
1,551 | Investor AB Class A | 26,374 |
5,668 | Investor AB Class B | 92,491 |
3,847 | Israel Discount Bank Ltd Class A | 21,874 |
4,100 | Jaccs Co Ltd(b) | 99,421 |
1,500 | Japan Exchange Group Inc | 19,713 |
19 | Japan Metropolitan Fund Invest REIT | 13,998 |
1,200 | Japan Post Bank Co Ltd | 7,996 |
7,300 | Japan Post Holdings Co Ltd | 49,089 |
500 | Japan Post Insurance Co Ltd | 7,402 |
3 | Japan Real Estate Investment Corp REIT | 12,571 |
3,788 | Julius Baer Group Ltd | 181,744 |
778 | KBC Group NV | 38,990 |
39,000 | Kerry Properties Ltd | 61,694 |
839 | Kinnevik AB Class B(b) | 10,365 |
514 | Klepierre SA REIT | 10,331 |
246 | L E Lundbergforetagen AB Class B | 9,709 |
2,071 | Land Securities Group PLC REIT | 13,537 |
216 | LEG Immobilien SE | 14,102 |
80,471 | Legal & General Group PLC | 215,189 |
6,556 | Link REIT | 38,750 |
542,415 | Lloyds Banking Group PLC | 260,474 |
1,025 | London Stock Exchange Group PLC | 88,826 |
7,924 | M&G PLC | 15,920 |
4,933 | Macquarie Group Ltd | 535,147 |
52,200 | Mapfre SA | 89,533 |
11,106 | Mapletree Logistics Trust REIT | 11,920 |
7,700 | Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust REIT | 8,641 |
21,294 | Mediobanca Banca di Credito Finanziario SpA | 192,915 |
13,600 | Melrose Industries PLC | 18,235 |
11,706 | Mirvac Group REIT | 15,510 |
3,600 | Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd | 45,271 |
37,400 | Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc | 160,486 |
67,600 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 319,332 |
2,800 | Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd | 53,615 |
468 | Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd(b) | 17,691 |
20,700 | Mizuho Financial Group Inc | 223,880 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Financial — (continued) | ||
1,300 | MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc | $ 34,426 |
435 | Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG in Muenchen | 114,830 |
9,984 | National Australia Bank Ltd | 207,389 |
99,105 | NatWest Group PLC | 266,807 |
4,000 | New World Development Co Ltd | 8,182 |
4 | Nippon Building Fund Inc REIT | 17,781 |
7 | Nippon Prologis REIT Inc | 14,688 |
4,693 | NN Group NV | 198,713 |
35,700 | Nomura Holdings Inc | 115,524 |
300 | Nomura Real Estate Holdings Inc | 6,781 |
11 | Nomura Real Estate Master Fund Inc REIT | 12,549 |
27,609 | Nordea Bank Abp | 263,736 |
8,500 | ORIX Corp | 124,846 |
10,600 | Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd | 90,991 |
71 | Partners Group Holding AG | 63,728 |
2,219 | Phoenix Group Holdings PLC | 13,806 |
8,552 | Prudential PLC | 79,426 |
4,614 | QBE Insurance Group Ltd | 36,151 |
186 | REA Group Ltd | 14,416 |
41,500 | Resona Holdings Inc | 156,412 |
4,300 | Ricoh Leasing Co Ltd(b) | 104,994 |
4,300 | Rothschild & Co | 152,494 |
437 | Sagax AB Class B | 8,053 |
1,490 | Sampo OYJ Class A | 68,134 |
700 | SBI Holdings Inc | 12,645 |
16,146 | Scentre Group REIT | 30,048 |
2,552 | Schroders PLC | 11,456 |
3,759 | Segro PLC REIT | 33,822 |
1,100 | Shizuoka Financial Group Inc | 6,946 |
2,500 | Singapore Exchange Ltd | 14,867 |
12,000 | Sino Land Co Ltd | 12,814 |
5,063 | Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB Class A | 53,381 |
9,674 | Societe Generale SA | 221,893 |
50 | Sofina SA | 9,750 |
1,000 | Sompo Holdings Inc | 41,692 |
1,687 | St James's Place PLC | 20,591 |
29,547 | Standard Chartered PLC | 176,468 |
32,020 | Stockland REIT(b) | 73,778 |
9,200 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc | 258,350 |
1,000 | Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc | 28,769 |
900 | Sumitomo Realty & Development Co Ltd | 20,641 |
5,000 | Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd | 53,732 |
3,928 | Suncorp Group Ltd | 28,733 |
4,538 | Svenska Handelsbanken AB Class A | 42,163 |
14,017 | Swedbank AB Class A | 208,966 |
3,400 | Swire Properties Ltd | 6,535 |
399 | Swiss Life Holding AG | 193,205 |
238 | Swiss Prime Site AG | 19,205 |
939 | Swiss Re AG | 69,753 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
Financial — (continued) | ||
4,400 | Sydbank AS(b) | $ 133,982 |
1,500 | T&D Holdings Inc | 14,835 |
6,000 | Tokio Marine Holdings Inc | 108,631 |
1,121 | Tryg A/S | 24,246 |
36,642 | UBS Group AG | 580,928 |
357 | Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield REIT(b) | 16,872 |
6,456 | UniCredit SpA | 80,063 |
63,900 | UnipolSai Assicurazioni SpA | 144,080 |
10,200 | United Overseas Bank Ltd | 200,112 |
1,400 | UOL Group Ltd(b) | 6,115 |
1,400 | Valiant Holding AG(b) | 137,126 |
11,096 | Vicinity Ltd REIT | 13,833 |
2,229 | Vonovia SE | 49,285 |
396 | Warehouses De Pauw CVA REIT | 10,164 |
705 | Washington H Soul Pattinson & Co Ltd(b) | 12,617 |
89 | Wendel SE | 6,969 |
10,891 | Westpac Banking Corp | 168,168 |
6,000 | Wharf Real Estate Investment Co Ltd | 23,640 |
469 | Zurich Insurance Group AG | 199,876 |
16,854,970 | ||
Industrial — 11.82% | ||
5,108 | ABB Ltd | 141,851 |
66 | Acciona SA | 11,884 |
696 | ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios SA | 17,860 |
233 | Aena SME SA(a)(b) | 27,385 |
95 | Aeroports de Paris(b) | 12,847 |
5,300 | AGC Inc | 166,075 |
1,838 | Airbus SE | 198,878 |
901 | Alfa Laval AB | 22,178 |
988 | Alstom SA | 20,334 |
8 | AP Moller - Maersk A/S Class A | 16,005 |
115 | AP Moller - Maersk A/S Class B | 240,255 |
3,117 | Assa Abloy AB Class B | 62,939 |
8,355 | Atlas Copco AB Class A | 89,175 |
4,855 | Atlas Copco AB Class B | 46,953 |
3,795 | Auckland International Airport Ltd(b) | 16,965 |
51,129 | Aurizon Holdings Ltd | 118,485 |
67,000 | Austal Ltd | 106,674 |
300 | Azbil Corp | 8,153 |
9,816 | BAE Systems PLC | 91,792 |
3,600 | Bekaert SA | 100,323 |
6,413 | Bouygues SA | 182,970 |
19,700 | bpost SA | 97,379 |
7,600 | Brother Industries Ltd | 129,473 |
1,690 | Cellnex Telecom SA(a) | 55,314 |
400 | Central Japan Railway Co | 46,311 |
8,300 | Cia de Distribucion Integral Logista Holdings SA | 171,656 |
5,648 | Cie de Saint-Gobain | 230,896 |
2,000 | CK Infrastructure Holdings Ltd | 9,501 |
3,183 | CNH Industrial NV | 41,179 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Industrial — (continued) | ||
2,373 | CRH PLC | $ 85,470 |
1,600 | D/S Norden A/S | 82,808 |
400 | Daifuku Co Ltd | 18,310 |
800 | Daikin Industries Ltd | 119,830 |
73 | Dassault Aviation SA | 10,842 |
11,683 | Deutsche Post AG | 412,992 |
100 | Disco Corp | 23,918 |
4,582 | DSV A/S | 619,158 |
900 | East Japan Railway Co | 47,957 |
259 | Eiffage SA | 23,419 |
78 | Elbit Systems Ltd | 15,782 |
2,049 | Epiroc AB Class A | 31,367 |
1,154 | Epiroc AB Class B | 15,495 |
600 | FANUC Corp | 78,511 |
1,500 | Ferrovial SA(b) | 36,658 |
300 | Fuji Electric Co Ltd | 11,599 |
439 | GEA Group AG(b) | 15,345 |
111 | Geberit AG | 49,344 |
1,368 | Getlink SE | 21,648 |
1,180 | Halma PLC | 28,601 |
800 | Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc(b) | 23,761 |
4,148 | HeidelbergCement AG | 190,753 |
6,054 | Hexagon AB Class B | 59,849 |
100 | Hirose Electric Co Ltd | 12,972 |
400 | Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd | 7,826 |
3,000 | Hitachi Ltd | 136,121 |
8,024 | Holcim AG | 364,549 |
10,000 | Hosiden Corp | 105,479 |
1,100 | Hoya Corp | 102,258 |
1,323 | Husqvarna AB Class B | 7,855 |
400 | Ibiden Co Ltd | 13,483 |
787 | Indutrade AB | 13,779 |
1,074 | Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA(a) | 9,479 |
393 | Investment AB Latour Class B | 6,639 |
1,385 | James Hardie Industries PLC | 30,239 |
3,100 | Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd | 48,248 |
500 | JSR Corp | 9,501 |
3,900 | Kaga Electronics Co Ltd(b) | 115,584 |
1,400 | Kajima Corp | 13,178 |
400 | Keio Corp | 14,024 |
400 | Keisei Electric Railway Co Ltd | 10,617 |
4,500 | Keppel Corp Ltd | 22,149 |
600 | Keyence Corp | 226,239 |
480 | Kingspan Group PLC | 24,200 |
500 | Kintetsu Group Holdings Co Ltd | 16,897 |
199 | KION Group AG | 4,412 |
253 | Knorr-Bremse AG | 11,390 |
2,800 | Komatsu Ltd | 54,853 |
1,057 | Kone OYJ Class B | 43,280 |
271 | Kongsberg Gruppen ASA | 9,718 |
3,100 | Kubota Corp | 43,244 |
169 | Kuehne + Nagel International AG | 35,974 |
6,100 | Kumagai Gumi Co Ltd(b) | 103,122 |
400 | Kurita Water Industries Ltd | 14,642 |
900 | Kyocera Corp | 43,584 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
Industrial — (continued) | ||
831 | Legrand SA | $ 63,326 |
1,870 | Lendlease Corp Ltd | 10,399 |
20,800 | Leonardo SpA | 167,109 |
1,000 | Lixil Corp | 15,105 |
600 | Makita Corp | 10,964 |
1,200 | MINEBEA MITSUMI Inc | 17,734 |
800 | MISUMI Group Inc | 17,040 |
6,000 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | 52,792 |
900 | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd | 31,000 |
1,000 | Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd | 19,795 |
4,500 | MTR Corp Ltd | 19,801 |
3,266 | MTU Aero Engines AG | 584,478 |
1,700 | Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd | 80,477 |
4,714 | Nibe Industrier AB Class B | 37,603 |
1,300 | Nidec Corp | 71,479 |
7,500 | Nippon Electric Glass Co Ltd | 129,867 |
200 | Nippon Express Holdings Inc | 10,050 |
1,800 | Nippon Yusen KK | 32,606 |
12,900 | Obayashi Corp | 82,801 |
1,000 | Odakyu Electric Railway Co Ltd | 11,888 |
600 | Omron Corp | 27,983 |
1,426 | Orica Ltd | 12,685 |
3,000 | Per Aarsleff Holding A/S | 83,817 |
1,827 | Poste Italiane SpA(a) | 15,921 |
793 | Prysmian SpA | 25,811 |
136 | Rheinmetall AG | 22,107 |
18 | ROCKWOOL A/S Class B | 3,585 |
26,028 | Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC(b) | 23,341 |
1,064 | Safran SA | 118,498 |
3,317 | Sandvik AB | 51,834 |
2,600 | Sankyu Inc(b) | 77,523 |
209 | Schindler Holding AG | 33,617 |
1,688 | Schneider Electric SE | 213,458 |
12,700 | Seino Holdings Co Ltd | 97,584 |
1,000 | SG Holdings Co Ltd | 13,251 |
800 | Shimadzu Corp | 21,074 |
1,900 | Shimizu Corp | 9,481 |
2,380 | Siemens AG | 259,917 |
1,337 | Siemens Energy AG | 15,586 |
917 | SIG Group AG | 17,628 |
5,500 | Signify NV(a) | 152,378 |
2,355 | Sika AG | 530,996 |
5,500 | Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd | 12,822 |
4,000 | SITC International Holdings Co Ltd | 6,551 |
12,872 | Skanska AB Class B | 200,177 |
12,047 | SKF AB Class B | 174,388 |
200 | SMC Corp | 80,280 |
1,167 | Smiths Group PLC | 20,897 |
230 | Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLC | 28,331 |
3,800 | Taisei Corp | 103,514 |
1,200 | TDK Corp | 37,486 |
4,500 | Techtronic Industries Co Ltd | 42,609 |
1,469 | Tenaris SA | 22,992 |
332 | Thales SA | 42,224 |
500 | Tobu Railway Co Ltd | 11,566 |
1,500 | Tokyu Corp | 17,296 |
1,200 | Toshiba Corp | 41,642 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Industrial — (continued) | ||
500 | TOTO Ltd | $ 14,261 |
5,100 | Tsubakimoto Chain Co(b) | 109,190 |
4,100 | Valmet OYJ | 93,247 |
83 | VAT Group AG(a) | 18,949 |
800 | Venture Corp Ltd | 9,003 |
1,660 | Vinci SA | 152,781 |
1,626 | Wartsila OYJ Abp | 11,085 |
600 | West Japan Railway Co | 23,788 |
4,700 | Wienerberger AG | 107,436 |
57,000 | Xinyi Glass Holdings Ltd | 73,254 |
900 | Yamato Holdings Co Ltd | 13,328 |
700 | Yaskawa Electric Corp | 19,383 |
700 | Yokogawa Electric Corp | 11,705 |
232 | ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd(c) | 5,450 |
10,980,666 | ||
Technology — 5.44% | ||
500 | Advantest Corp | 26,321 |
145 | ASM International NV | 32,077 |
2,253 | ASML Holding NV | 1,056,853 |
10,388 | AVEVA Group PLC | 371,650 |
270 | Bechtle AG | 9,328 |
3,100 | Canon Inc | 65,712 |
500 | Capcom Co Ltd | 13,908 |
509 | Capgemini SE | 83,420 |
318 | Check Point Software Technologies Ltd(b) | 41,095 |
1,690 | Computershare Ltd | 27,358 |
3,514 | CyberArk Software Ltd(b) | 551,382 |
2,073 | Dassault Systemes SE | 69,484 |
2,295 | Embracer Group AB(b) | 11,041 |
1,100 | FUJIFILM Holdings Corp | 50,325 |
600 | Fujitsu Ltd | 69,035 |
400 | Hamamatsu Photonics KK | 18,097 |
4,062 | Infineon Technologies AG | 98,566 |
200 | Itochu Techno-Solutions Corp | 4,637 |
16,000 | Keywords Studios PLC | 442,083 |
200 | Koei Tecmo Holdings Co Ltd(b) | 3,018 |
200 | Konami Group Corp | 8,766 |
300 | Lasertec Corp(b) | 42,153 |
538 | Logitech International SA | 26,756 |
10,900 | MCJ Co Ltd | 68,837 |
2,674 | Micro Focus International PLC | 15,938 |
700 | NEC Corp | 23,171 |
198 | Nemetschek SE | 9,440 |
1,500 | Nexon Co Ltd | 25,101 |
1,000 | Nomura Research Institute Ltd | 22,130 |
1,900 | NTT Data Corp | 27,519 |
300 | Obic Co Ltd | 45,019 |
200 | Oracle Corp Japan | 10,654 |
400 | Otsuka Corp | 12,597 |
117,000 | PAX Global Technology Ltd | 91,953 |
3,700 | Renesas Electronics Corp(b) | 30,953 |
20,100 | Ricoh Co Ltd | 147,289 |
300 | Rohm Co Ltd | 21,079 |
3,169 | Sage Group PLC | 26,406 |
3,189 | SAP SE | 306,950 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Shares | Fair Value | |
Technology — (continued) | ||
400 | SCSK Corp | $ 5,901 |
1,000 | Seiko Epson Corp | 13,576 |
6,500 | SimCorp A/S | 388,119 |
600 | Sopra Steria Group SACA | 79,418 |
300 | Square Enix Holdings Co Ltd | 13,387 |
2,126 | STMicroelectronics NV | 66,106 |
1,200 | SUMCO Corp | 15,210 |
183 | Teleperformance | 49,031 |
179 | Temenos AG | 10,661 |
3,800 | TietoEVRY OYJ(b) | 90,589 |
800 | TIS Inc(b) | 21,569 |
500 | Tokyo Electron Ltd | 131,548 |
3,400 | Tokyo Seimitsu Co Ltd(b) | 102,254 |
306 | Tower Semiconductor Ltd(b) | 13,077 |
328 | Ubisoft Entertainment SA(b) | 8,999 |
433 | WiseTech Global Ltd | 16,014 |
419 | Xero Ltd(b) | 20,807 |
5,054,367 | ||
Utilities — 1.77% | ||
79,600 | A2A SpA | 88,263 |
1,900 | Chubu Electric Power Co Inc | 15,466 |
5,000 | CLP Holdings Ltd | 33,559 |
27,600 | Drax Group PLC | 164,659 |
6,983 | E.ON SE | 58,476 |
8,635 | EDP - Energias de Portugal SA | 37,729 |
896 | EDP Renovaveis SA | 18,854 |
1,743 | Electricite de France SA | 20,585 |
90 | Elia Group SA | 11,379 |
665 | Enagas SA | 10,796 |
942 | Endesa SA | 15,739 |
25,299 | Enel SpA(b) | 113,019 |
5,681 | Engie SA | 73,815 |
1,163 | Fortum OYJ(b) | 16,368 |
6,500 | HK Electric Investments & HK Electric Investments Ltd(a) | 4,133 |
34,000 | Hong Kong & China Gas Co Ltd | 26,206 |
18,523 | Iberdrola SA(b) | 188,365 |
75,600 | Iren SpA | 112,348 |
2,000 | Kansai Electric Power Co Inc | 15,151 |
2,210 | Mercury NZ Ltd | 7,473 |
4,361 | Meridian Energy Ltd | 12,362 |
11,342 | National Grid PLC | 123,547 |
471 | Naturgy Energy Group SA | 12,087 |
5,478 | Origin Energy Ltd | 19,571 |
588 | Orsted AS(a) | 48,513 |
1,000 | Osaka Gas Co Ltd | 14,808 |
4,000 | Power Assets Holdings Ltd | 19,126 |
1,263 | Red Electrica Corp SA | 20,430 |
1,999 | RWE AG | 76,952 |
779 | Severn Trent PLC | 22,348 |
6,273 | Snam SpA | 27,893 |
3,518 | SSE PLC | 62,850 |
4,377 | Terna - Rete Elettrica Nazionale | 29,027 |
4,500 | Tokyo Electric Power Co Holdings Inc(b) | 14,659 |
1,400 | Tokyo Gas Co Ltd | 25,020 |
396 | Uniper SE | 1,185 |
Shares | Fair Value | |
Utilities — (continued) | ||
2,122 | United Utilities Group PLC | $ 22,862 |
2,071 | Veolia Environnement SA | 46,216 |
206 | Verbund AG | 16,137 |
1,647,976 | ||
TOTAL COMMON STOCK — 89.29% (Cost $106,541,776) | $82,962,888 | |
PREFERRED STOCK | ||
Consumer, Cyclical — 0.53% | ||
199 | Bayerische Motoren Werke AG | 14,675 |
1,777 | Porsche Automobil Holding SE | 99,285 |
32,600 | Schaeffler AG | 167,508 |
1,678 | Volkswagen AG | 214,786 |
496,254 | ||
Consumer, Non-Cyclical — 0.20% | ||
3,800 | Draegerwerk AG & Co KGaA | 152,902 |
554 | Henkel AG & Co KGaA | 34,901 |
187,803 | ||
Industrial — 0.03% | ||
76 | Sartorius AG | 26,797 |
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCK — 0.76% (Cost $1,147,845) | $ 710,854 | |
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS | ||
10,000 | iShares MSCI EAFE ETF(c) | 593,100 |
TOTAL EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS — 0.64% (Cost $561,502) | $ 593,100 | |
Principal Amount | ||
SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS | ||
U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes — 4.29% | ||
$4,000,000 | U.S. Treasury Bills(c)(d) 3.18%, 12/15/2022 | 3,984,537 |
Repurchase Agreements — 5.04% | ||
1,112,659 | Repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $1,113,516 with a maturity value of $1,113,610) with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc, 3.05%, dated 10/31/22 to be repurchased at $1,112,659 on 11/1/22 collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency securities, 1.50% - 5.50%, 8/1/37 - 10/1/52, with a value of $1,135,786.(e) | 1,112,659 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Principal Amount | Fair Value | |
Repurchase Agreements — (continued) | ||
$1,112,659 | Undivided interest of 11.43% in a repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $9,753,550 with a maturity value of $9,754,376) with Bank of America Securities Inc, 3.05%, dated 10/31/22 to be repurchased at $1,112,659 on 11/1/22 collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency securities, 0.01% - 5.50%, 2/25/32 - 1/1/61, with a value of $9,948,621.(e) | $ 1,112,659 |
1,345,717 | Undivided interest of 13.32% in a repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $10,132,689 with a maturity value of $10,133,547) with RBC Capital Markets Corp, 3.05%, dated 10/31/22 to be repurchased at $1,345,717 on 11/1/22 collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities and various U.S. Government Agency securities, 0.50% - 5.00%, 2/28/26 - 10/20/52, with a value of $10,335,343.(e) | 1,345,717 |
Principal Amount | Fair Value | |
Repurchase Agreements — (continued) | ||
$1,112,659 | Undivided interest of 14.92% in a repurchase agreement (principal amount/value $7,474,430 with a maturity value of $7,475,063) with Citigroup Global Markets Inc, 3.05%, dated 10/31/22 to be repurchased at $1,112,659 on 11/1/22 collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities, 3.38% - 4.38%, 10/31/24 - 8/15/42, with a value of $7,623,919.(e) | $ 1,112,659 |
4,683,694 | ||
TOTAL SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS — 9.33% (Cost $8,668,231) | $ 8,668,231 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 100.02% (Cost $116,919,354) | $92,935,073 | |
OTHER ASSETS & LIABILITIES, NET — (0.02)% | $ (20,462) | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.00% | $92,914,611 |
(a) | Represents securities sold under Rule 144A, which are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(b) | Non-income producing security. |
(c) | All or a portion of the security is on loan at October 31, 2022. |
(d) | Zero coupon bond; the interest rate shown is the effective yield on date of purchase. |
(e) | Collateral received for securities on loan. |
ADR | American Depositary Receipt |
ETF | Exchange Traded Fund |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
At October 31, 2022, the Fund held the following outstanding exchange traded futures contracts: | |||||
Description | Number of Contracts | Notional Amount | Expiration Date | Fair Value and Net Unrealized Depreciation | |
Long | |||||
MSCI EAFE Index Futures | 78 | USD | 6,848,010 | December 2022 | $(180,818) |
Net Depreciation | $(180,818) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
At October 31, 2022, the Fund held the following over-the-counter (OTC) forward foreign currency contracts:
Counterparty | Currency Purchased | Quantity of Currency Purchased | Currency Sold | Quantity of Currency Sold | Settlement Date | Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) |
CGM | USD | 3,906 | GBP | 3,647 | November 10, 2022 | $(278) |
CGM | USD | 2,081 | JPY | 298,945 | November 21, 2022 | 66 |
CGM | USD | 4,689 | JPY | 673,200 | November 25, 2022 | 149 |
CGM | USD | 2,101 | JPY | 301,495 | November 28, 2022 | 67 |
CGM | USD | 19,304 | JPY | 2,769,725 | December 02, 2022 | 609 |
CGM | USD | 2,673 | JPY | 383,350 | December 05, 2022 | 84 |
CGM | USD | 5,813 | JPY | 833,510 | December 06, 2022 | 183 |
CGM | USD | 1,779 | JPY | 255,000 | December 08, 2022 | 56 |
CGM | USD | 2,227 | JPY | 319,175 | December 12, 2022 | 70 |
CGM | USD | 3,096 | JPY | 443,700 | December 14, 2022 | 95 |
MEL | USD | 119,105 | CHF | 116,500 | January 17, 2023 | 1,618 |
MEL | USD | 2,617 | EUR | 2,632 | November 02, 2022 | 16 |
MEL | USD | 87,686 | EUR | 88,500 | January 17, 2023 | (369) |
Net Appreciation | $2,366 |
Counterparty Abbreviations: | ||
CGM | Citigroup Global Markets | |
MEL | Mellon Capital |
Currency Abbreviations | ||
CHF | Swiss Franc | |
EUR | Euro Dollar | |
GBP | British Pound | |
JPY | Japanese Yen | |
USD | U.S. Dollar |
Summary of Investments by Country as of October 31, 2022.
Country | Fair Value | Percentage of Fund Investments | |
Japan | $15,876,158 | 17.08% | |
United Kingdom | 12,155,032 | 13.08 | |
United States | 9,261,331 | 9.96 | |
France | 8,179,565 | 8.80 | |
Switzerland | 7,933,324 | 8.54 | |
Germany | 7,866,289 | 8.46 | |
Australia | 6,114,471 | 6.58 | |
Netherlands | 4,568,892 | 4.92 | |
Denmark | 3,233,636 | 3.48 | |
Sweden | 2,998,178 | 3.23 | |
Spain | 2,458,658 | 2.64 | |
Italy | 2,265,894 | 2.44 | |
Hong Kong | 1,867,078 | 2.01 | |
Israel | 1,449,391 | 1.56 | |
Ireland | 1,353,576 | 1.46 | |
Singapore | 1,018,500 | 1.10 | |
Norway | 959,634 | 1.03 | |
Finland | 923,822 | 0.99 | |
Belgium | 626,086 | 0.67 | |
Austria | 532,792 | 0.57 | |
Uruguay | 396,713 | 0.43 | |
Canada | 342,300 | 0.37 | |
Jordan | 266,270 | 0.29 | |
New Zealand | 95,111 | 0.10 | |
Luxembourg | 91,721 | 0.10 | |
Portugal | 70,566 | 0.08 | |
Chile | 15,382 | 0.02 | |
Macau | 14,685 | 0.01 | |
United Arab Emirates | 18 | 0.00 | |
Total | $92,935,073 | 100.00% |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Empower Core Strategies: International Equity Fund | |
ASSETS: | |
Investments in securities, fair value (including $4,583,789 of securities on loan)(a) | $88,251,379 |
Repurchase agreements, fair value(b) | 4,683,694 |
Cash | 3,172,794 |
Cash denominated in foreign currencies, fair value(c) | 157,989 |
Cash pledged on futures contracts | 746,555 |
Dividends and interest receivable | 781,039 |
Subscriptions receivable | 145,248 |
Receivable for investments sold | 13,607 |
Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | 3,012 |
Total Assets | 97,955,317 |
LIABILITIES: | |
Payable for director fees | 10,539 |
Payable for other accrued fees | 173,264 |
Payable for shareholder services fees | 24,375 |
Payable to investment adviser | 13,036 |
Payable upon return of securities loaned | 4,683,694 |
Redemptions payable | 72,752 |
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | 646 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 62,400 |
Total Liabilities | 5,040,706 |
NET ASSETS | $92,914,611 |
NET ASSETS REPRESENTED BY: | |
Capital stock, $0.10 par value | $1,185,046 |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | 164,865,952 |
Undistributed/accumulated deficit | (73,136,387) |
NET ASSETS | $92,914,611 |
NET ASSETS BY CLASS | |
Investor Class | $85,673,782 |
Institutional Class | $7,240,829 |
CAPITAL STOCK: | |
Authorized | |
Investor Class | 199,000,000 |
Institutional Class | 25,000,000 |
Issued and Outstanding | |
Investor Class | 10,885,788 |
Institutional Class | 964,667 |
NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE: | |
Investor Class | $7.87 |
Institutional Class | $7.51 |
(a) Cost of investments | $112,235,660 |
(b) Cost of repurchase agreements | $4,683,694 |
(c) Cost of cash denominated in foreign currencies | $159,119 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
Statement of Operations
For the period ended October 31, 2022 (Unaudited)
Empower Core Strategies: International Equity Fund | |
INVESTMENT INCOME: | |
Income from securities lending | $934 |
Dividends | 3,748,771 |
Foreign withholding tax | (404,033) |
Total Income | 3,345,672 |
EXPENSES: | |
Management fees | 459,143 |
Shareholder services fees – Investor Class | 290,984 |
Audit and tax fees | 36,580 |
Custodian fees | 60,586 |
Director's fees | 16,586 |
Legal fees | 8,931 |
Pricing fees | 15,869 |
Registration fees | 72,285 |
Shareholder report fees | 33,444 |
Transfer agent fees | 3,773 |
Other fees | 9,373 |
Total Expenses | 1,007,554 |
Less amount waived by investment adviser | 153,084 |
Net Expenses | 854,470 |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME | 2,491,202 |
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): | |
Net realized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions | (43,517,493) |
Net realized loss on futures contracts | (777,248) |
Net Realized Loss | (44,294,741) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments and foreign currency translations | 16,643,081 |
Net change in unrealized appreciation on futures contracts | 73,671 |
Net change in unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | (10,932) |
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation | 16,705,820 |
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss | (27,588,921) |
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $(25,097,719) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
For the period ended October 31, 2022 and fiscal year ended April 30, 2022
Empower Core Strategies: International Equity Fund | October 31, 2022 (Unaudited) | April 30, 2022 | |
OPERATIONS: | |||
Net investment income | $2,491,202 | $3,689,100 | |
Net realized loss | (44,294,741) | (2,959,252) | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | 16,705,820 | (45,149,449) | |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | (25,097,719) | (44,419,601) | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | |||
From return of capital | |||
Investor Class | - | (23,367,161) | |
Institutional Class | - | (599,069) | |
From return of capital | 0 | (23,966,230) | |
From net investment income and net realized gains | |||
Investor Class | - | (16,863,599) | |
Institutional Class | - | (194,462) | |
From net investment income and net realized gains | 0 | (17,058,061) | |
Total Distributions | 0 | (41,024,291) | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | |||
Shares sold | |||
Investor Class | 19,464,496 | 377,075,218 | |
Institutional Class | 2,540,918 | 5,947,572 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | |||
Investor Class | - | 40,230,760 | |
Institutional Class | - | 793,531 | |
Shares redeemed | |||
Investor Class | (183,497,457) | (158,155,516) | |
Institutional Class | (1,439,005) | (2,053,140) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | (162,931,048) | 263,838,425 | |
Total Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets | (188,028,767) | 178,394,533 | |
NET ASSETS: | |||
Beginning of Period | 280,943,378 | 102,548,845 | |
End of Period | $92,914,611 | $280,943,378 | |
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS - SHARES: | |||
Shares sold | |||
Investor Class | 2,336,114 | 33,242,823 | |
Institutional Class | 320,436 | 569,956 | |
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | |||
Investor Class | - | 3,863,279 | |
Institutional Class | - | 80,203 | |
Shares redeemed | |||
Investor Class | (21,938,635) | (15,426,016) | |
Institutional Class | (176,769) | (203,930) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) | (19,458,854) | 22,126,315 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Financial Highlights
Selected data for a share of capital stock of the Fund throughout the periods indicated.
Income (Loss) from Investment Operations: | Less Distributions: | ||||||||||
Net asset value, beginning of period | Net investment income(a) | Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) | Total from investment operations | From return of capital | From net investment income | From net realized gains | Total Distributions | Net asset value, end of period | Total Return(b) | ||
Investor Class | |||||||||||
10/31/2022(Unaudited) | $ 8.98 | 0.12 | (1.23) | (1.11) | — | — | — | — | $ 7.87 | (12.36%) (c) | |
4/30/2022 | $11.19 | 0.14 | (1.22) | (1.08) | (0.67 ) | (0.13) | (0.33) | (1.13) | $ 8.98 | (10.82%) | |
4/30/2021 (d) | $10.00 | 0.24 | 2.06 | 2.30 | — | (0.33) | (0.78) | (1.11) | $11.19 | 23.84% (c) | |
Institutional Class | |||||||||||
10/31/2022(Unaudited) | $ 8.55 | 0.11 | (1.15) | (1.04) | — | — | — | — | $ 7.51 | (12.16%) (c) | |
4/30/2022 | $10.66 | 0.18 | (1.17) | (0.99) | (0.47 ) | (0.18) | (0.47) | (1.12) | $ 8.55 | (10.51%) | |
4/30/2021 | $ 8.25 | 0.11 | 3.47 | 3.58 | — | (0.39) | (0.78) | (1.17) | $10.66 | 44.45% | |
4/30/2020 | $ 9.85 | 0.28 | (1.47) | (1.19) | 0.00 (e) | (0.41) | — | (0.41) | $ 8.25 | (12.88%) | |
4/30/2019 (f) | $10.00 | 0.11 | (0.19) | (0.08) | — | (0.07) | — | (0.07) | $ 9.85 | (0.83%) (c) |
Net assets, end of period (000) | Ratio of expenses to average net assets (before reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable) | Ratio of expenses to average net assets (after reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable) | Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (after reimbursement and/or waiver, if applicable) | Portfolio turnover rate(g) | ||
Investor Class | ||||||
10/31/2022(Unaudited) | $ 85,674 | 1.15% (h) | 1.00% (h) | 2.88% (h) | 12% (c) | |
04/30/2022 | $273,921 | 1.06% | 1.00% | 1.32% | 58% | |
04/30/2021 (d) | $ 98,555 | 1.41% (h) | 1.00% (h) | 3.42% (h) | 94% (c) | |
Institutional Class | ||||||
10/31/2022(Unaudited) | $ 7,241 | 1.36% (h) | 0.65% (h) | 2.82% (h) | 12% (c) | |
04/30/2022 | $ 7,023 | 1.23% | 0.65% | 1.79% | 58% | |
04/30/2021 | $ 3,994 | 2.10% | 0.65% | 1.06% | 94% | |
04/30/2020 | $ 1,531 | 1.37% | 0.65% | 2.91% | 26% | |
04/30/2019 (f) | $ 11,640 | 2.07% (h) | 0.65% (h) | 1.39% (h) | 29% (c) |
(a) | Per share amounts are based upon average shares outstanding. |
(b) | Total return shown net of expenses reimbursed and/or waived, if applicable. Without the expense reimbursement and/or waiver, the return shown would have been lower. |
(c) | Not annualized for periods less than one full year. |
(d) | Investor Class inception date was September 3, 2020. |
(e) | Amount was less than $0.01 per share. |
(f) | Institutional Class inception date was June 25, 2018. |
(g) | Portfolio turnover is calculated at the Fund level. |
(h) | Annualized. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND
Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Empower Funds, Inc. (Empower Funds), a Maryland corporation, was organized on December 7, 1981 and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as an open-end management investment company. Empower Funds presently consists of forty-five funds. Interests in the Empower Core Strategies: International Equity Fund (the Fund) are included herein. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term growth of capital. The Fund is diversified as defined in the 1940 Act. The Fund shares are available through certain broker-dealers, custodians or trustees of individual retirement accounts, or other financial intermediaries who have entered into agreements with the Fund’s distributor to make the shares available.
The Fund offers two share classes, referred to as Investor Class and Institutional Class shares. All shares of the Fund represent an equal pro rata interest in the net assets of the class to which such shares belong, and have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights and the same terms and conditions, except for class specific expenses and exclusive rights to vote on matters affecting only individual classes. Income, expenses (other than those attributable to a specific class) and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated daily to each class of shares based on the relative proportion of net assets represented by such class. Operating expenses directly attributable to a specific class are charged against operations of that class. Expenses incurred by Empower Funds, which are not Fund specific, are allocated based on relative net assets or other appropriate allocation methods.
The outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, specifically identified as "COVID-19", has affected the worldwide economy, the financial health of individual companies and the market in general. Global equity markets have experienced significant volatility and weakness. Governments and central banks have reacted with significant monetary and fiscal interventions designed to stabilize economic conditions. The duration and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is unknown at this time, as is the efficacy of the government and central bank interventions. It is not possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of these developments and the impact on the financial results and condition of the Fund in future periods.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) 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 revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Fund is also an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services - Investment Companies. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies of the Fund.
Security Valuation
The Board of Directors of the Fund has adopted policies and procedures for the valuation of the Fund’s securities and assets, and has appointed the Fair Value Pricing Committee of the investment adviser, Empower Capital Management, LLC, to complete valuation determinations under those policies and procedures. Effective September 8, 2022, pursuant to Rule 2a-5, the Board of Directors approved the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s investments, subject to oversight by the Board of Directors.
The Fund generally values its securities based on market prices determined at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on each day the NYSE is open for trading. The net asset value (NAV) of each class of the Fund's shares is determined by dividing the net assets attributable to each class of shares of the Fund by the number of issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Fund on each valuation date.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
For securities that are traded on only one exchange, the last sale price as of the close of business of that exchange will be used. If the closing price is not available, the current bid as of the close of business will be used. For securities traded on more than one exchange, or upon one or more exchanges and in the over-the-counter (OTC) market, the last sale price as of the close of business on the market which the security is traded most extensively will be used. If the closing price is not available, the current bid as of the close of business will be used. For securities that principally trade on the NASDAQ National Market System, the NASDAQ official closing price will be used.
For private equity securities that are not traded on an exchange, an appropriate source, which may include the use of an internally developed or approved valuation model, a different external pricing vendor, or sourcing a price from a broker will be used. Valuation of these securities will be reviewed regularly by the Fair Value Pricing Committee.
Short term securities purchased with less than 60 days remaining until maturity and all U.S. Treasury Bills are valued on the basis of amortized cost, which has been determined to approximate fair value. Short term securities purchased with more than 60 days remaining until maturity are valued using pricing services, or in the event a price is not available from a pricing service, may be priced using other methodologies approved by the Board of Directors, including model pricing or pricing on the basis of quotations from brokers or dealers, and will continue to be priced until final maturity.
Foreign equity securities are generally valued using an adjusted systematic fair value price from an independent pricing service. Foreign exchange rates are determined at a time that corresponds to the closing of the NYSE.
For derivatives that are traded on an exchange, the last sale price as of the close of business of the exchange will be used. For derivatives traded over-the-counter (OTC), independent pricing services will be utilized when possible. If a price cannot be located from the primary source, other appropriate sources, which may include the use of an internally developed valuation model, another external pricing vendor or sourcing a price from a broker, may be used.
Independent pricing services are approved by the Board of Directors and are utilized for all investment types when available. In some instances valuations from independent pricing services are not available or do not reflect events in the market between the time the market closed and the valuation time and therefore fair valuation procedures are implemented. The fair value for some securities may be obtained from pricing services or other pricing sources. The inputs used by the pricing services are reviewed quarterly or when the pricing vendor issues updates to its pricing methodologies. Broker quotes are analyzed through an internal review process, which includes a review of known market conditions and other relevant data. Developments that might trigger fair value pricing could be natural disasters, government actions or fluctuations in domestic and foreign markets.
The following table provides examples of the inputs that are commonly used for valuing particular classes of securities. These classifications are not exclusive, and any inputs may be used to value any other security class.
Class | Inputs |
Common Stock | Exchange traded close price, bids, evaluated bids, open and close price of the local exchange, exchange rates, fair values based on significant market movement and various index data. |
Preferred Stock | Benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, evaluated bids, offers and reference data including market research publications. Inputs also may include exchange prices. |
Exchange Traded Funds | Exchange traded close price. |
Short Term Investments | Maturity date, credit quality and interest rates. |
Futures Contracts | Exchange traded close price. |
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts | Foreign currency spot and forward rates. |
The Fund classifies its valuations into three levels based upon the observability of inputs to the valuation of the Fund’s investments. The valuation levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with the underlying investment. Classification is based on the lowest level of input significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels are defined as follows:
Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.
Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable either directly or indirectly. These may include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs to the extent observable inputs are not available and may include prices obtained from single broker quotes. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s own assumptions and would be based on the best information available under the circumstances.
As of October 31, 2022, the inputs used to value the Fund’s investments are detailed in the following table. More information regarding the sector, industry or geography classifications, as applicable, are included in the Schedule of Investments.
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | ||||
Assets | |||||||
Investments, at fair value: | |||||||
Common Stock | |||||||
Basic Materials | $ — | $ 5,758,852 | $ — | $ 5,758,852 | |||
Communications | 1,611,546 | 3,875,681 | — | 5,487,227 | |||
Consumer, Cyclical | 925,866 | 10,391,886 | — | 11,317,752 | |||
Consumer, Non-cyclical | 1,205,353 | 20,151,967 | — | 21,357,320 | |||
Diversified | 18,320 | 13,267 | — | 31,587 | |||
Energy | 136,256 | 4,335,915 | — | 4,472,171 | |||
Financial | 742,213 | 16,112,757 | — | 16,854,970 | |||
Industrial | 204,851 | 10,775,815 | — | 10,980,666 | |||
Technology | 844,398 | 4,209,969 | — | 5,054,367 | |||
Utilities | 112,348 | 1,535,628 | — | 1,647,976 | |||
5,801,151 | 77,161,737 | — | 82,962,888 | ||||
Preferred Stock | — | 710,854 | — | 710,854 | |||
Exchange Traded Funds | 593,100 | — | — | 593,100 | |||
Short Term Investments | — | 8,668,231 | — | 8,668,231 | |||
Total investments, at fair value: | 6,394,251 | 86,540,822 | — | 92,935,073 | |||
Other Financial Investments: | |||||||
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts(a) | — | 3,012 | — | 3,012 | |||
Total Assets | $ 6,394,251 | $ 86,543,834 | $ — | $ 92,938,085 | |||
Liabilities | |||||||
Other Financial Investments: | |||||||
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts(a) | — | (646) | — | (646) | |||
Futures Contracts(a) | $ (180,818) | $ — | $ — | $ (180,818) | |||
Total Liabilities | $ (180,818) | $ (646) | $ — | $ (181,464) |
(a) | Forward Foreign Currency Contracts and Futures Contracts are reported at the security's unrealized appreciation (depreciation), which represents the change in the contract's value from trade date. |
Repurchase Agreements
The Fund may engage in repurchase agreement transactions with institutions that the Fund’s investment adviser has determined are creditworthy. The Fund will purchase securities at a specified price with an agreement to sell the securities to the same counterparty at a specified time, price and interest rate. The Fund’s custodian and/or securities lending agent receives delivery of the underlying securities collateralizing a repurchase agreement. Collateral is at least equal to the value of the repurchase obligation including interest. A repurchase agreement transaction involves certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the counterparty. These risks include possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund’s ability to dispose of the underlying securities and a possible decline in the value of the underlying securities during the period while the Fund seeks to assert its rights.
Foreign Currency Translations and Transactions
The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Investment securities, and other assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate. Purchases and sales of securities, income receipts and expense payments are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate on the dates of the transactions.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
The Fund does not isolate the portion of the results of operations resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates on investments from the fluctuations arising from changes in market prices of securities held. Such fluctuations are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss.
Net realized foreign exchange gains or losses arise from sales of foreign currencies, currency gains or losses realized between the trade and settlement dates on securities transactions, and the difference between the amounts of dividends, interest, and foreign withholding taxes recorded by the Fund and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the amounts actually received or paid. Net unrealized foreign exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the fair values of assets and liabilities, other than investments in securities at fiscal period end, resulting from changes in exchange rates. These gains and losses are included in net realized gain or loss and change in net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on the Statement of Operations.
Security Transactions
Security transactions are accounted for on the date the security is purchased or sold (trade date). Realized gains and losses from investments sold are determined on a specific lot selection. Dividend income for the Fund is accrued as of the ex-dividend date and interest income, including amortization of discounts and premiums, is recorded daily.
Federal Income Taxes and Distributions to Shareholders
The Fund intends to comply with provisions under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income, including any net realized gain on investments not offset by capital loss carryforwards, if any, to shareholders. Therefore, no federal income or excise tax provision is required. The Fund files income tax returns in U.S. federal and applicable state jurisdictions. The statute of limitations on the Fund’s tax return filings generally remains open for the three preceding fiscal reporting period ends. State tax returns may remain open for an additional fiscal year.
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid twice annually. Capital gain distributions of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid at least annually. Distributions are reinvested in additional shares of the Fund at net asset value and are declared separately for each class. Distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Net investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) for federal income tax purposes may differ from those reported on the financial statements because of temporary and permanent book-tax basis differences. Book-tax differences may include but are not limited to the following: wash sales, distribution adjustments, adjustments for passive foreign investment corporations and foreign currency reclassifications.
The aggregate cost of securities and other investments and the composition of unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes as of October 31, 2022 were as follows:
Federal tax cost of investments | $120,744,936 |
Gross unrealized appreciation on investments | 1,626,171 |
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments | (29,614,486) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments | $(27,988,315) |
2. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Fund's investment objective allows the Fund to enter into various types of derivative contracts, including futures contracts and forward foreign currency contracts. Derivatives are investments whose value is primarily derived from underlying assets, indices or reference rates.
In pursuit of the Fund's investment objectives, the Fund may seek to use derivatives to increase or decrease its exposure to the following market risks:
Equity Risk - The risk that relates to the change in value of equity securities as they relate to increases or decreases in the general market.
Foreign Exchange Risk - The risk that adverse fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. Dollar and other currencies may cause the Fund to lose money on investments denominated in foreign currencies.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
The Fund is also exposed to additional risks from investing in derivatives, such as liquidity and counterparty credit risk. Liquidity risk is the risk that the Fund will be unable to sell or close out the derivative in the open market in a timely manner. Counterparty credit risk is the risk that the counterparty will not be able to fulfill its obligations to the Fund. Investing in derivatives may also involve greater risks than investing directly in the underlying assets, such as losses in excess of any initial investment and collateral received. In addition, there may be the risk that the change in value of the derivative contract does not correspond to the change in value of the underlying instrument.
Futures Contracts
The Fund uses futures contracts to equitize cash. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties to buy or sell a specified underlying investment for a fixed price at a specified future date. Futures contracts are generally entered into on a regulated futures exchange and cleared through a clearinghouse associated with the exchange. The use of futures contracts may involve risks such as the possibility of illiquid markets or imperfect correlation between the value of the contracts and the underlying securities that comprise the index, or that the clearinghouse will fail to perform its obligations.
Futures contracts are reported in a table following the Schedule of Investments. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount (initial margin deposit). Receipts or payments, known as variation margin, are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuations in the fair value of the underlying security. This is recorded as variation margin on futures contracts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When the Fund enters into a closing transaction, it will realize, for book purposes, a gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the futures contract at the time it was opened or purchased and its value at the time it was closed, and is reflected in net realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. The Fund held an average of 81 futures contracts for the reporting period.
Forward Foreign Currency Contracts
The Fund enters into OTC forward foreign currency contracts (forward contracts) primarily to capture potential returns from changes in currency exchange rates or to reduce the risk of undesired currency exposure. A forward contract is a commitment to purchase or sell a foreign currency at a future date at a negotiated rate.
Forward contracts are reported in a table following the Schedule of Investments. The unrealized appreciation or depreciation is reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and on the Statement of Operations within the net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation. Upon the closing of such contract the difference between the U.S. dollar cost of the original contract and the value of the foreign currency in U.S. dollars is recorded as net realized gain or loss on the Statement of Operations. The Fund held an average foreign currency contracts amount of $1,004,074 in forward contracts for the reporting period.
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
Valuation of derivative investments as of October 31, 2022 is as follows:
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | |||||||
Risk Exposure | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Fair Value | Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location | Fair Value | ||||
Equity contracts (futures contracts) | Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts | $(180,818) (a) | ||||||
Foreign exchange contracts (forwards) | Unrealized appreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | $3,012 | Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | $ (646) |
(a)Includes cumulative depreciation of futures contracts as reported in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. |
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
The effect of derivative investments for the period ended October 31, 2022 is as follows:
Realized Gain or (Loss) | Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) | |||||
Risk Exposure | Statement of Operations Location | Statement of Operations Location | ||||
Equity contracts (futures contracts) | Net realized loss on futures contracts | $(777,248) | Net change in unrealized appreciation on futures contracts | $73,671 | ||
Foreign exchange contracts (forwards) | Net change in unrealized depreciation on forward foreign currency contracts | $(10,932) |
Concentration of Risk
The Fund may have elements of risk due to concentrated investments in foreign issuers located in a specific country. Such concentrations may subject the Fund to additional risks resulting from future political or economic conditions and/or possible impositions of adverse foreign governmental laws or currency exchange restrictions. Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers have unique risks not present in securities of U.S. issuers, such as greater price volatility and less liquidity.
3. INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
Empower Funds has entered into an investment advisory agreement with Empower Capital Management, LLC (ECM or the Adviser), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America (Empower of America). As compensation for its services to Empower Funds, the Adviser receives monthly compensation at the annual rate of 0.53% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to $1 billion dollars, 0.48% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $1 billion dollars and 0.43% of the Fund’s average daily net assets over $2 billion dollars. Certain administration and accounting services fees for the Fund are included in the investment advisory agreement.
The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees or reimburse expenses that exceed an annual rate of 0.65% of the Fund's average daily net assets attributable to each Class, including management fees and expenses paid directly by the Fund, excluding shareholder service fees, and certain extraordinary expenses (the "Expense Limit"). The agreement's current term ends on August 28, 2023 and automatically renews for one-year unless terminated upon written notice within 90 days of the end of the current term or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement. The amount waived or reimbursed, if any, is reflected in the Statement of Operations.
The Adviser is permitted upon approval by the Board of Directors to recoup amounts waived or reimbursed by the Fund in future periods, not exceeding three years following the particular waiver/reimbursement, provided the total annual operating expenses of each Class of the Fund plus such recoupment do not exceed the lesser of the Expense Limit that was in place at the time of the waiver/reimbursement or the Expense Limit in place at the time of recoupment. At October 31, 2022, the amounts available for recoupment were as follows:
Expires April 30, 2023 | Expires April 30, 2024 | Expires April 30, 2025 | Expires October 31, 2025 | Recoupment of Past Reimbursed Fees by the Adviser | ||||
$227,366 | $241,494 | $205,082 | $153,084 | $0 |
The Adviser and Empower Funds entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Irish Life Investment Managers Limited (ILIM), an affiliate of the Adviser and Empower of America, Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC, and LSV Asset Management (the Sub-Advisers). The Adviser is responsible for compensating the Sub-Advisers for their services.
The Adviser is responsible for compensating ILIM, which receives monthly compensation for its services at the annual rate of 0.020% of the net assets subject to an annual $20,000 minimum.
Empower Funds entered into a shareholder services agreement with Empower, LLC (Empower), an affiliate of ECM and subsidiary of Empower of America. Pursuant to the shareholder services agreement, Empower provides various recordkeeping, administrative and shareholder services to shareholders and receives from the Investor Class shares of the Fund a fee equal to 0.35% of the average daily net asset value of the applicable share class.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
Empower Financial Services, Inc. (the Distributor), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empower of America and the principal underwriter to distribute and market the Fund.
Certain officers of Empower Funds are also directors and/or officers of Empower of America or its subsidiaries. No officer or interested director of Empower Funds receives any compensation directly from Empower Funds. The total compensation paid to the independent directors with respect to all forty-five funds for which they serve as directors was $983,250 for the period January 1 through October 31, 2022.
4. PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS
For the period ended October 31, 2022, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments (excluding all U.S. Government securities and short-term securities) were $20,615,409 and $178,641,985, respectively. For the same period, there were no purchases or sales of long-term U.S. Government securities.
5. SECURITIES LOANED
The Fund has entered into a securities lending agreement with its custodian as securities lending agent. Under the terms of the agreement the Fund receives income after deductions of other amounts payable to the securities lending agent or to the borrower from lending transactions. In exchange for such fees, the securities lending agent is authorized to loan securities on behalf of the Fund against receipt of cash collateral at least equal in value at all times to the value of the securities loaned plus accrued interest. The fair value of the loaned securities is determined daily at the close of business of the Fund and necessary collateral adjustments are made between the Fund and its counterparties on the next business day through the delivery or receipt of additional collateral. The Fund also continues to receive interest or dividends on the securities loaned. Cash collateral is invested in securities approved by the Board of Directors. The Fund bears the risk of any deficiency in the amount of collateral available for return to a borrower due to a loss in an approved investment. As of October 31, 2022, the Fund had securities on loan valued at $4,583,789 and received collateral as reported on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities of $4,683,694 for such loan which was invested in repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government or U.S. Government Agency securities. The repurchase agreements can be jointly purchased with other lending agent clients and in the event of a default by the counterparty, all lending agent clients would share ratably in the collateral.
Under the securities lending agreement, the collateral pledged is, by definition, the securities loaned against the cash borrowed. At October 31, 2022, the class of securities loaned consisted entirely of common stock. The remaining contractual maturity of all of the securities lending transactions is overnight and continuous. Additional information regarding the Fund's securities on loan is included in the Schedule of Investments.
6. INDEMNIFICATIONS
The Fund’s organizational documents provide current and former officers and directors with a limited indemnification against liabilities arising in connection with the performance of their duties to the Fund. In the normal course of business, the Fund may also enter into contracts that provide general indemnifications. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would be dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund. The risk of material loss from such claims is considered remote.
7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management has reviewed all events subsequent to October 31, 2022, including the estimates inherent in the process of preparing these financial statements through the date the financial statements were issued. No subsequent events requiring adjustments or disclosures have occurred.
The Board of Directors of Empower Funds, Inc. recently approved a change to the Fund’s fiscal year end from April 30 to December 31, beginning December 31, 2022.
Semi-Annual Report - October 31, 2022
Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Schedule
Empower Funds files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form NPORT-EX. Empower Funds’ Forms NPORT-EX are available on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330.
Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures that Empower Funds uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-831-7129, and on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.
Availability of Proxy Voting Record
Information regarding how Empower Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-831-7129, and on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.
Funds’ Liquidity Risk Management Program
The Funds have adopted and implemented a written liquidity risk management program as required by Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act. The program is designed to assess and manage each Fund’s liquidity risk, taking into consideration the Fund’s investment strategy and the liquidity of its portfolio investments during normal and reasonably foreseeable stressed conditions, its short and long-term cash flow projections, and its cash holdings and access to other funding sources. The Funds’ Board of Directors approved the designation of the ECM Liquidity Risk Management Committee as the administrator of the liquidity risk management program. The Liquidity Risk Management Committee includes representatives from the Adviser’s Risk, Trading, Investment Valuation, and Regulatory Compliance departments and is responsible for the program’s administration and oversight and for reporting to the Board on at least an annual basis regarding, among other things, the program’s operation, adequacy and effectiveness. The Liquidity Risk Management Committee reassessed each Fund’s liquidity risk profile, considering additional data gathered through March 31, 2022 and the adequacy and effectiveness of the liquidity risk management program’s operations since March 31, 2021 (the “covered period”) in order to prepare a written report to the Board of Directors for review at its meeting held on June 16, 2022. The report stated that:
(i) the program performed well during the covered period and meets the needs and profile of the Funds,
(ii) the Funds benefit from the stability of their shareholder base,
(iii) the selection of two vendors to supply liquidity measurement products has proven to be extremely helpful,
(iv) no changes were proposed to the program as of the date of the report, and
(v) no Fund approached the internal triggers set by the Liquidity Risk Management Committee or the regulatory percentage limitation (15%) on holdings in illiquid investments.
The report also stated that it continues to be appropriate to not set a “highly liquid investment minimum” for any Funds because the Funds primarily hold “highly liquid investments” and reviewed the changes to the program since inception.
ITEM 2. | CODE OF ETHICS. |
Not required in filing.
ITEM 3. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT. |
Not required in filing.
ITEM 4. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. |
Not required in filing.
ITEM 5. | AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS. |
Not applicable.
ITEM 6. | INVESTMENTS. |
(a) The schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
(b) Not applicable.
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. | PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS. |
Not applicable.
ITEM 10. | SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS. |
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s board of directors since the registrant last provided disclosure in response to the requirements of Item 407(c)(2)(iv) of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 11. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES. |
(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this report, that these disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be disclosed by the registrant in the report it files or submits on Form N-CSR is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within
the time periods specified in the commission's rules and forms and that such material information is accumulated and communicated to the registrant's management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
(b) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal half-year that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. | DISCLOSURE OF LENDING ACTIVITIES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES. |
Not applicable.
ITEM 13. | EXHIBITS. |
(a) (1) Not required in filing.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) Not applicable.
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.
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
By: | /s/ Jonathan D. Kreider |
Jonathan D. Kreider
President & Chief Executive Officer
President & Chief Executive Officer
Date:December 16, 2022
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/ Jonathan D. Kreider |
Jonathan D. Kreider
President & Chief Executive Officer
President & Chief Executive Officer
Date:December 16, 2022
By: | /s/ Kelly B. New |
Kelly B. New
Treasurer
Treasurer
Date:December 16, 2022