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 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: December 31
Date of reporting period: June 30, 2023
Item 1. REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES FUND
(Institutional Class and Investor Class)
(Institutional Class and Investor Class)
Semi-Annual Report
June 30, 2023
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 Ratings as of June 30, 2023 (unaudited)
Rating | Percentage of Fund Investments |
Aaa | 100.00% |
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 (January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023).
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* | |||
(01/01/23) | (06/30/23) | (01/01/23 – 06/30/23) | |||
Institutional Class | |||||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,015.06 | $1.75 | ||
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,023.06 | $1.76 | ||
Investor Class | |||||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,011.89 | $3.49 | ||
Hypothetical (5% return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,021.32 | $3.51 |
* Expenses are equal to the Fund's annualized expense ratio of 0.35% for the Institutional Class shares and 0.70% for the Investor Class shares, multiplied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 181/365 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: INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES FUND
Schedule of Investments
As of June 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Principal Amount | Fair Value | |
U.S. TREASURY BONDS AND NOTES | ||
U.S. Treasury Inflation Indexed Bonds TIPS | ||
$10,464,183 | 0.38%, 07/15/2025 | $10,013,426 |
3,735,648 | 0.13%, 10/15/2025 | 3,541,424 |
797,322 | 0.13%, 07/15/2026 | 748,898 |
10,690,937 | 0.13%, 10/15/2026 | 9,993,729 |
7,490,287 | 1.63%, 10/15/2027 | 7,379,469 |
4,981,230 | 0.13%, 07/15/2030 | 4,466,081 |
9,983,005 | 0.13%, 07/15/2031 | 8,850,071 |
3,925,854 | 0.63%, 07/15/2032 | 3,607,338 |
TOTAL U.S. TREASURY BONDS AND NOTES — 95.63% (Cost $49,712,357) | $48,600,436 | |
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 95.63% (Cost $49,712,357) | $48,600,436 | |
OTHER ASSETS & LIABILITIES, NET — 4.37% | $ 2,220,782 | |
TOTAL NET ASSETS — 100.00% | $50,821,218 |
TIPS | Treasury Inflation Protected Securities |
At June 30, 2023 the Fund held the following outstanding exchange traded futures contracts: | |||||
Description | Number of Contracts | Notional Amount (000) | Expiration Date | Fair Value and Net Unrealized Appreciation/ (Depreciation) | |
Short | |||||
U.S. 2 Year Treasury Note Futures | 5 | USD | 1,017 | Sep 2023 | $ 9,910 |
U.S. Ultra Bond Futures | 1 | USD | 136 | Sep 2023 | (603) |
Long | |||||
U.S. 5 Year Treasury Note Futures | 7 | USD | 750 | Sep 2023 | (11,485) |
U.S. Long Bond Futures | 1 | USD | 127 | Sep 2023 | 23 |
Net Depreciation | $ (2,155) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As of June 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Empower Core Strategies: Inflation-Protected Securities Fund | |
ASSETS: | |
Investments in securities, fair value(a) | $48,600,436 |
Cash | 2,230,115 |
Cash pledged on futures contracts | 11,328 |
Interest receivable | 67,888 |
Subscriptions receivable | 14,939 |
Receivable from investment adviser | 22,188 |
Total Assets | 50,946,894 |
LIABILITIES: | |
Payable for director fees | 7,340 |
Payable for other accrued fees | 83,001 |
Payable for shareholder services fees | 13,845 |
Redemptions payable | 21,146 |
Variation margin on futures contracts | 344 |
Total Liabilities | 125,676 |
NET ASSETS | $50,821,218 |
NET ASSETS REPRESENTED BY: | |
Capital stock, $0.10 par value | $1,884,143 |
Paid-in capital in excess of par | 52,000,322 |
Undistributed/accumulated deficit | (3,063,247) |
NET ASSETS | $50,821,218 |
NET ASSETS BY CLASS | |
Investor Class | $48,308,219 |
Institutional Class | $2,512,999 |
CAPITAL STOCK: | |
Authorized | |
Investor Class | 200,000,000 |
Institutional Class | 20,000,000 |
Issued and Outstanding | |
Investor Class | 18,145,844 |
Institutional Class | 695,587 |
NET ASSET VALUE, REDEMPTION PRICE AND OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE: | |
Investor Class | $2.66 |
Institutional Class | $3.61 |
(a) Cost of investments | $49,712,357 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
Statement of Operations
For the period ended June 30, 2023 (Unaudited)
Empower Core Strategies: Inflation-Protected Securities Fund | |
INVESTMENT INCOME: | |
Interest | $1,208,051 |
Income from securities lending | 315 |
Total Income | 1,208,366 |
EXPENSES: | |
Management fees | 78,295 |
Shareholder services fees – Investor Class | 78,818 |
Audit and tax fees | 36,697 |
Custodian fees | 10,625 |
Directors fees | 15,001 |
Legal fees | 3,519 |
Pricing fees | 599 |
Registration fees | 37,220 |
Shareholder report fees | 17,541 |
Transfer agent fees | 4,357 |
Other fees | 6,126 |
Total Expenses | 288,798 |
Less amount waived by investment adviser | 127,809 |
Net Expenses | 160,989 |
NET INVESTMENT INCOME | 1,047,377 |
NET REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS): | |
Net realized loss on investments | (353,931) |
Net realized gain on futures contracts | 13,895 |
Net Realized Loss | (340,036) |
Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments | (70,420) |
Net change in unrealized depreciation on futures contracts | (1,851) |
Net Change in Unrealized Depreciation | (72,271) |
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss | (412,307) |
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $635,070 |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
For the period ended June 30, 2023 and fiscal years ended December 31,2022, and April 30, 2022.
Empower Core Strategies: Inflation-Protected Securities Fund | June 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022(a) | April 30, 2022 | ||
OPERATIONS: | |||||
Net investment income | $1,047,377 | $967,650 | $555,530 | ||
Net realized gain | (340,036) | (1,643,086) | 37,549 | ||
Net change in unrealized appreciation | (72,271) | (752,675) | (606,257) | ||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | 635,070 | (1,428,111) | (13,178) | ||
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | |||||
From return of capital | |||||
Investor Class | - | - | (2,851,741) | ||
Institutional Class | - | - | (403,826) | ||
From return of capital | 0 | 0 | (3,255,567) | ||
From net investment income and net realized gains | |||||
Investor Class | (925,516) | (940,620) | (3,598,312) | ||
Institutional Class | (36,815) | (42,808) | (524,344) | ||
From Net Investment Income and Net Realized Gains | (962,331) | (983,428) | (4,122,656) | ||
Total Distributions | (962,331) | (983,428) | (7,378,223) | ||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS: | |||||
Shares sold | |||||
Investor Class | 13,811,800 | 30,554,259 | 11,804,332 | ||
Institutional Class | 381,269 | 861,485 | 1,987,123 | ||
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | |||||
Investor Class | 925,516 | 940,620 | 6,450,053 | ||
Institutional Class | 36,815 | 42,808 | 928,170 | ||
Shares redeemed | |||||
Investor Class | (5,523,442) | (2,664,437) | (8,022,248) | ||
Institutional Class | (289,150) | (542,050) | (451,584) | ||
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Capital Share Transactions | 9,342,808 | 29,192,685 | 12,695,846 | ||
Total Increase in Net Assets | 9,015,547 | 26,781,146 | 5,304,445 | ||
NET ASSETS: | |||||
Beginning of Period | 41,805,671 | 15,024,525 | 9,720,080 | ||
End of Period | $50,821,218 | $41,805,671 | $15,024,525 | ||
CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS - SHARES: | |||||
Shares sold | |||||
Investor Class | 5,083,444 | 10,905,332 | 3,225,110 | ||
Institutional Class | 104,208 | 228,587 | 351,507 | ||
Shares issued in reinvestment of distributions | |||||
Investor Class | 346,635 | 352,292 | 1,830,692 | ||
Institutional Class | 10,170 | 11,858 | 209,941 | ||
Shares redeemed | |||||
Investor Class | (2,030,857) | (944,798) | (2,024,022) | ||
Institutional Class | (78,738) | (143,513) | (88,352) | ||
Net Increase | 3,434,862 | 10,409,758 | 3,504,876 |
(a) | For the period May 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. The Board of Directors of Empower Funds, Inc. approved a change to the Fund's fiscal year end from April 30 to December 31, beginning. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES 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 | |||||||||||
06/30/2023 (Unaudited) | $ 2.67 | 0.06 | (0.02) | 0.04 | — | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $ 2.66 | 1.19% (c) | |
12/31/2022 (d) | $ 2.90 | 0.10 | (0.26) | (0.16) | — | (0.07) | — | (0.07) | $ 2.67 | (5.66%) (c) | |
04/30/2022 | $ 6.46 | 0.24 | (0.13) | 0.11 | (1.64) | (0.21) | (1.82) | (3.67) | $ 2.90 | 0.54% | |
04/30/2021 (e) | $10.00 | 0.25 | 0.01 | 0.26 | — | (1.97) | (1.83) | (3.80) | $ 6.46 | 3.22% (c) | |
Institutional Class | |||||||||||
06/30/2023 (Unaudited) | $ 3.61 | 0.08 | (0.03) | 0.05 | — | (0.05) | — | (0.05) | $ 3.61 | 1.51% (c) | |
12/31/2022 (d) | $ 3.87 | 0.16 | (0.35) | (0.19) | — | (0.07) | — | (0.07) | $ 3.61 | (5.01%) (c) | |
04/30/2022 | $ 7.32 | 0.28 | (0.16) | 0.12 | (1.61) | (0.14) | (1.82) | (3.57) | $ 3.87 | 0.73% | |
04/30/2021 | $10.39 | 0.15 | 0.66 | 0.81 | — | (2.05) | (1.83) | (3.88) | $ 7.32 | 8.43% | |
04/30/2020 | $10.22 | 0.22 | 0.26 | 0.48 | — | (0.27) | (0.04) | (0.31) | $10.39 | 4.68% | |
04/30/2019 (f) | $10.00 | 0.19 | 0.07 | 0.26 | — | (0.04) | — | (0.04) | $10.22 | 2.60% (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 | ||||||
06/30/2023 (Unaudited) | $48,308 | 1.06% (h) | 0.70% (h) | 4.43% (h) | 91% (c) | |
12/31/2022 (d) | $39,426 | 1.34% (h) | 0.70% (h) | 5.24% (h) | 106% (c) | |
04/30/2022 | $12,843 | 1.90% | 0.70% | 5.02% | 50% | |
04/30/2021 (e) | $ 9,062 | 0.96% (h) | 0.70% (h) | 4.14% (h) | 147% | |
Institutional Class | ||||||
06/30/2023 (Unaudited) | $ 2,513 | 4.33% (h) | 0.35% (h) | 4.63% (h) | 91% (c) | |
12/31/2022 (d) | $ 2,380 | 1.67% (h) | 0.35% (h) | 6.30% (h) | 106% (c) | |
04/30/2022 | $ 2,181 | 3.43% | 0.35% | 5.18% | 50% | |
04/30/2021 | $ 658 | 8.35% | 0.35% | 1.72% | 147% | |
04/30/2020 | $ 209 | 22.01% | 0.38% | 2.08% | 59% | |
04/30/2019 (f) | $ 88 | 1.72% (h) | 0.40% (h) | 2.26% (h) | 121% (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) | For the period May 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. The Board of Directors of Empower Funds, Inc. approved a change to the Fund's fiscal year end from April 30 to December 31, beginning. |
(e) | Investor Class inception date was September 3, 2020. |
(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 - June 30, 2023
EMPOWER FUNDS, INC.
EMPOWER CORE STRATEGIES: INFLATION-PROTECTED SECURITIES 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: Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (the Fund) are included herein. The investment objective of the Fund is to seek real return consistent with the preservation 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 Board of Directors of Empower Funds, Inc. approved a change to the Funds’ fiscal year end from April 30 to December 31, beginning December 31, 2022.
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 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 (ECM or the Adviser), to complete valuation determinations under those policies and procedures. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, 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.
Fixed income investments are valued using evaluated bid prices from approved pricing services when available and appropriate based on the conditions of the market. If a price cannot be located from either the primary or secondary sources, or if the market is determined to be illiquid or inactive, 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.
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.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
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 |
U.S. Treasury Bonds and Notes | 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. |
Futures Contracts | Exchange traded close price. |
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.
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 June 30, 2023, all of the Fund’s investments are valued using Level 2 inputs, except for Futures Contracts, which are valued using Level 1 inputs. More information regarding the sector classifications, as applicable, are included in the Schedule of Investments.
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. Interest income, including amortization of discounts and premiums, is recorded daily.
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities
For Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) the principal amount is adjusted daily to keep pace with inflation. Interest is accrued based on the adjusted principal amount. The adjustments to principal due to inflation are reflected as increases or decreases to Interest in the accompanying Statement of Operations. Such adjustments may have a significant impact on the Fund's distributions.
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.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
Distributions to shareholders from net investment income of the Fund, if any, are declared and paid semi-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 and market discount adjustments.
The aggregate cost of securities and other investments and the composition of unrealized appreciation and depreciation for federal income tax purposes as of June 30, 2023 were as follows:
Federal tax cost of investments | $49,713,766 |
Gross unrealized appreciation on investments | 10,431 |
Gross unrealized depreciation on investments | (1,125,916) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments | $(1,115,485) |
2. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Fund's investment objective allows the Fund to enter into various types of derivative contracts, including futures 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:
Interest Rate Risk - The risk that market value of a fixed income security is affected significantly by changes in interest rates. When interest rates rise, the security’s market value declines and when interest rates decline, market values rise. The longer a security’s maturity, the greater the risk and the higher its yield. Conversely, the shorter a security’s maturity, the lower the risk and the lower its yield.
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 capitalize on expected changes in the shape of the yield curve and to control overall interest rate exposure. 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 7 long futures contracts and an average of 7 short futures contracts for the reporting period.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure
Valuation of derivative investments as of June 30, 2023 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 | ||||
Interest rate contracts (futures contracts) | Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts | $9,933 (a) | Net unrealized depreciation on futures contracts | $(12,088) (a) |
(a) Includes cumulative appreciation (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. |
The effect of derivative investments for the period ended June 30, 2023 is as follows:
Realized Gain or (Loss) | Change in Unrealized Appreciation or (Depreciation) | |||||
Risk Exposure | Statement of Operations Location | Statement of Operations Location | ||||
Interest rate contracts (futures contracts) | Net realized gain on futures contracts | $13,895 | Net change in unrealized depreciation on futures contracts | $(1,851) |
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 0.33% of the Fund’s average daily net assets up to $1 billion dollars, 0.28% of the Fund's average daily net assets over $1 billion dollars and 0.23% 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 0.35% 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, distribution fees and certain extraordinary expenses (the “Expense Limit”). The agreement’s current term ends on April 30, 2024 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 June 30, 2023, the amounts available for recoupment were as follows:
Expires December 31, 2023 | Expires December 31, 2024 | Expires December 31, 2025 | Expires June 30, 2026 | Recoupment of Past Reimbursed Fees by the Adviser | ||||
$181,648 | $131,400 | $180,222 | $127,809 | $0 |
The Adviser and Empower Funds have entered into a sub-advisory agreement with Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (the Sub-Adviser). The Adviser is responsible for compensating the Sub-Adviser for its services.
Empower Funds entered into a shareholder services agreement with Empower Retirement, 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.
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.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
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 $673,000 for the fiscal period ended June 30, 2023.
4. PURCHASES AND SALES OF INVESTMENTS
For the period ended June 30, 2023, the aggregate cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments of U.S. Government securities were $48,798,689 and $41,544,629, respectively. For the same period, there were no purchases or sales of non 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 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. The Fund had no securities on loan as of June 30, 2023.
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 June 30, 2023, 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.
Semi-Annual Report - June 30, 2023
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 (“LRMC”) as the administrator of the liquidity risk management program. The LRMC 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 LRMC reassessed each Fund’s liquidity risk profile, considering additional data gathered through March 31, 2023, and the adequacy and effectiveness of the liquidity risk management program’s operations since March 31, 2022 (the “covered period”) in order to prepare a written report to the Board of Directors for review at its meeting held on June 15, 2023. 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 LRMC 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 that recent amendments to Rule 22e-4 proposed by the SEC were reviewed.
Investment Advisory Contract Approval
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Empower Funds, Inc. the “Company”), including the Directors who are not interested persons of the Company (the “Independent Directors”), at a meeting held on April 20, 2023 (the “April Board Meeting”), unanimously approved the continuation of (i) the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) between Empower Capital Management, LLC (“ECM”) and the Company, on behalf of Empower Core Strategies: Inflation-Protected Securities Fund (the “Fund”), and (ii) the investment sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) by and among the Company, ECM and Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. (“GSAM” or the “Sub-Adviser”), with respect to the Fund. (The Fund and the Company’s other series are referred to collectively as the “Empower Funds.”)
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, ECM acts as investment adviser and, subject to oversight by the Board, directs the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objective, policies and limitations. ECM also provides, subject to oversight by the Board, the management and administrative services necessary for the Fund’s operation. In addition, ECM is responsible for allocating the assets of the Fund among one or more sub-advisers - including, in this case, GSAM. In this connection, the Fund operates under a manager-of-managers structure pursuant to an order issued by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which permits ECM to enter into and materially amend the Sub-Advisory Agreement with Board approval but without shareholder approval, unless the sub-adviser is an affiliated person. Under this structure, ECM is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the performance of the Sub-Adviser and for recommending the hiring, termination and replacement of the Sub-Adviser to the Board.
Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser, subject to general supervision and oversight by ECM and the Board, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Fund, which includes making decisions to buy, sell or hold any particular security.
On March 22, 2023 (the “March Meeting”), the Independent Directors met separately with independent legal counsel in advance of the April Board Meeting to evaluate information encompassing a wide variety of topics furnished by ECM and the Sub-Adviser in connection with the proposed continuation of the Advisory Agreement and the Sub-Advisory Agreement (collectively, the “Agreements” or each, an “Agreement”), and met with representatives of ECM to review, among other things, comparative information regarding the Fund’s investment performance, fees and expenses, including data prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), an independent provider of investment company data. In addition, at the March Meeting, the Independent Directors met separately with representatives of an independent provider of mutual fund advisory contract renewal consulting services (the “Independent Consultant”) to review comparative information regarding the Fund’s investment performance, fees and expenses, as well as enterprise profitability data, and further discussed such information with ECM. The Independent Directors also conferred with the Independent Consultant regarding Broadridge’s peer group selection methodology and noted that they had previously discussed such methodology with representatives of Broadridge at a meeting of the Independent Directors convened on February 15, 2023. Additionally, the Independent Directors considered supplemental information provided in response to their requests made following the March Meeting. The Independent Directors further discussed continuation of the Agreements separately with independent legal counsel, including at a separate meeting of the Independent Directors convened immediately prior to the April Board Meeting and at the April Board Meeting. The Independent Directors weighed and considered the information provided in light of their substantial accumulated experience in governing the Fund and the other Empower Funds. Although the Board considered the approval of the Agreements for the Fund as part of its multi-faceted annual review process of agreements across the Empower Funds, the Board’s approvals were made on a fund-by-fund basis.
In approving the continuation of each of the Agreements, the Board considered such information as the Board deemed reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the Agreements. The Board noted that performance information is provided to the Board on an ongoing basis at regular Board meetings held throughout the year. Furthermore, at each of its meetings, the Board covers an extensive agenda of topics and materials and considers factors that are relevant to its annual consideration of advisory agreements for the Empower Funds, including the services and support provided to each of the Empower Funds, including the Fund and its shareholders. Additionally, the Board recognized that its evaluation process is evolutionary and that the factors considered and emphasis placed on relevant factors may change in recognition of changing circumstances in the mutual fund marketplace.
In its deliberations, the Board did not identify any single factor as being determinative. Rather, the Board’s approvals were based on each Director’s business judgment after a comprehensive consideration of the information as a whole. Individual Directors may have weighed certain factors differently and assigned varying degrees of materiality to information considered by the Board. The Independent Directors were assisted throughout the evaluation process by independent legal counsel.
Based upon its review of the Agreements and the information provided to it, the Board concluded that each Agreement was reasonable in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Directors considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment. The principal factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Directors’ determinations to approve the continuation of the Agreements are discussed below.
Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
The Board considered the nature, extent and quality of services provided and to be provided to the Fund by ECM and the Sub-Adviser (each, an “adviser”). Among other things, the Board considered, as applicable, each adviser’s organizational history and ownership, personnel, experience, resources and performance track record, its ability to provide or obtain such services as may be necessary in managing, acquiring and disposing of investments on behalf of the Fund, and its ability to provide research and to obtain and evaluate the economic, statistical and financial data relevant to the investment policies of the Fund. With respect to personnel, the Board noted that ECM’s affiliate, Empower Retirement, LLC (“Empower”) provides employees, including various management professionals, who provide services on behalf of ECM - which does not have its own employees - pursuant to an agreement between ECM and Empower. (Each of Empower and ECM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empower Annuity Insurance Company of America (“Empower of America”). References herein to personnel, services, activities and resources of ECM should be understood generally as including Empower.)
The Board reviewed the qualifications, education, experience, tenure and responsibilities of, and the reporting lines and backup plans for, the senior personnel serving the Fund and the portfolio management team responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund, as well as each adviser’s efforts to attract, retain and motivate capable personnel to serve the Fund. In addition, the Board considered, as applicable, each adviser’s reputation for management of its investment strategies and its investment decision-making process, its practices regarding the selection and compensation of brokers and dealers for the execution of portfolio transactions and the procedures it uses for obtaining best execution of portfolio transactions.
The Board also considered each adviser’s overall financial condition and ability to carry out its obligations to the Fund and the organization’s technical resources and operational capabilities, including, with respect to ECM, its investment administration functions, fund accounting services and financial reporting, as well as the controls, internal audit reviews and third-party assessments relating to such operations and services. Also considered by the Board was each organization’s disaster recovery procedures, cybersecurity program and/or controls relating to enterprise resiliency, noting - as to ECM - prior discussions with and presentations by ECM’s Chief Information Security Officer. With respect to ECM, the Board also took into account various organizational developments, including recent acquisitions by Empower and related integration initiatives, as well as recent and planned enhancements, such as progress on the implementation of an enhanced trade order management system and other similar projects.
As part of its assessment of the nature, extent and quality of services, the Board evaluated information regarding each adviser’s regulatory and compliance environment and compliance policies and procedures. The Board considered ECM’s compliance program resources and history, reports from the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”) about ECM’s oversight of and compliance with applicable laws and regulations and compliance-related resources devoted by ECM in support of the Fund’s obligations pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Compliance Rule”). The Board considered the CCO’s assessment that the Sub-Adviser’s compliance program appears to be reasonably designed to comply with the requirements of the Compliance Rule. The Board also considered ECM’s efforts generally to ensure that third-party programs and vendors used to service the Fund - including for purposes of regulatory compliance support - are monitored effectively.
Consideration also was given to the fact that the Board meets with representatives of the Sub-Adviser and ECM each year to discuss portfolio management strategies and performance. Additionally, the quality of each adviser’s communications with the Board, as well as the adviser’s responsiveness to the Board, were taken into account. Also considered was each adviser’s response to market volatility, changing circumstances in the mutual fund industry and investor sentiment, regulatory developments, economic indicators, monetary and fiscal policy developments, and emerging issues. In this regard, the Board received information on the impacts of macroeconomic and geopolitical developments on each adviser generally and the Fund, and considered how monitoring and analysis of such developments informs each adviser’s performance of its respective services to the Fund.
The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by ECM and the Sub-Adviser.
Investment Performance
The Board received and considered information regarding the investment performance of the Fund. Noting the Fund’s inception dates of September 3, 2020 and June 25, 2018 for the Fund’s Investor Class and Institutional Class, respectively, the Board reviewed performance information for the Fund’s Investor Class and Institutional Class as compared against its benchmark index and a “performance universe” of peer funds compiled by Broadridge, based on Lipper fund classifications, for the one-year period ended December 31, 2022 with respect to the Investor Class, and for the one- and three-year periods
ended December 31, 2022 with respect to the Institutional Class. In evaluating the Fund’s performance, the Board noted how the Fund performed relative to the returns of its benchmark index and the performance universe. In addition, the Board noted that it had also received and discussed at periodic intervals information comparing the Fund’s performance to that of its benchmark index and to a peer group of funds.
The Board observed that the annualized returns of each class of the Fund outperformed its respective performance universe median for each period reviewed, ranking in the second quintile of its respective performance universe (the first quintile being the best performers and the fifth quintile being the worst performers). The Board also observed that the Fund underperformed its benchmark index for each period reviewed.
In evaluating the performance data, the Board considered the Sub-Adviser’s investment decision-making process, the organization, composition and experience of its investment personnel and its portfolio risk controls, among other things. The Board also considered performance results in light of the Fund’s investment objective, strategies and risks, as disclosed in the Fund’s prospectus, and in the context of overall recent market conditions. Also taken into account was the Sub-Adviser’s performance attribution commentary, including, among other things, the impact of duration and asset allocation strategies on performance. The Board’s evaluation was also informed by its understanding of ECM’s processes for overseeing and analyzing the Sub-Adviser’s performance, including ECM’s systematic approach to performance monitoring. Furthermore, the Board noted ECM’s view that the Fund’s performance meets expectations relative to its investment objective and that ECM recommended the retention of the Sub-Adviser.
The Board determined that it was satisfied with the explanations for, oversight of, and information provided regarding, the Fund’s investment performance.
Costs and Profitability
The Board considered the costs of services provided by ECM and the Sub-Adviser from their relationships with the Fund. With respect to the costs of services, the Board considered the structure and the level of the investment management fees and other expenses payable by the Fund. In this regard, the Board noted that ECM’s management fee includes fund accounting and fund administration services. Furthermore, the Board noted that ECM has contractually agreed to limit the fees and expenses of the Fund through April 30, 2024.
In evaluating the management fee and total expense ratio of the Fund, as to each of the Fund’s Institutional Class and Investor Class, the Board considered the fees payable by and the total expense ratio of a peer group of funds managed by other investment advisers, as determined by Broadridge, based on Lipper fund classifications. Specifically, the Board considered (i) the Fund’s management fee as provided in the Advisory Agreement (the “Contractual Management Fee”) in comparison to the contractual management fees of the peer group of funds and (ii) the Fund’s total expense ratio in comparison to the peer group funds’ total expense ratios (in all cases, net of any waivers, if applicable). In addition, the Board considered the Fund’s total expense ratio in comparison to the median expense ratio for all funds in the peer group. As part of its comprehensive evaluation, the Board also reviewed a report from the Independent Consultant assessing expenses in the context of performance and other factors.
The Board observed that, as to each class, the Fund’s Contractual Management Fee was lower than its peer group median contractual management fee and, as to the Fund’s Institutional Class, was the lowest of its peer group. The Board also observed that, although the total annual operating expense ratio for the Fund’s Investor Class was in the fourth quintile of its peer group (with the first quintile being the lowest expenses and the fifth quintile being the highest expenses), the total annual operating expense ratio of the Institutional Class was in the second quintile of its peer group. In considering the foregoing, the Board took into account the Independent Consultant’s overall conclusion that the Fund’s Contractual Management Fee and total annual operating expense ratio are reasonable relative to the quality of services provided, comparable management fees and expenses of similar funds and the profitability of ECM.
The Board reviewed information regarding the fees charged by ECM and the Sub-Adviser to similar other funds of the Company managed by ECM and the Sub-Adviser, as applicable, and/or standard institutional fee schedules for the relevant investment strategy. With respect to ECM, the Board noted that ECM does not manage other client accounts in the same investment style as the Fund. As to GSAM, the Board noted that the information provided included the Sub-Adviser’s standard institutional fee schedule - as disclosed in its Form ADV - for an account managed with an investment strategy similar to that used for the Fund’s portfolio, noting that the standard fee was higher than the fee charged to ECM for the Fund. Also noted was GSAM’s statement that sub-advisory fees negotiated between the Sub-Adviser and investment advisers are a
function of the size of the mandate, the applicable benchmark, investment guidelines, account inception date and the level of servicing required. Moreover, the Board considered that ECM, not the Fund, pays the sub-advisory fees to the Sub-Adviser and that such fees were negotiated at arm’s length between ECM and the Sub-Adviser.
The Board further considered the overall financial soundness of ECM and the Sub-Adviser and the profits estimated to be realized by ECM and its affiliates and by the Sub-Adviser. For this purpose, the Board reviewed the financial statements and profitability information from ECM and the Sub-Adviser.
With respect to ECM’s profitability information, the Board considered that there is no recognized standard or uniform methodology for determining profitability for this purpose. Furthermore, the Board noted that there are limitations inherent in allocating costs and calculating profitability for an organization such as ECM, and that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability between advisers because comparative information is not generally publicly available. The Board also reviewed a report from the Independent Consultant comparing pre-tax investment management profitability margins for the latest fiscal year for certain publicly-traded advisers to fund complexes, as compared to ECM’s estimated complex-level profits. The Board considered that, while ECM’s overall profitability is not unreasonable, profitability information is affected by numerous factors, including the adviser’s organization, capital structure and cost of capital, the types of funds it manages, its mix of business and the adviser’s assumptions regarding allocations of revenue and expenses. In addition, with respect to the Fund in particular, the Board noted that each of ECM and GSAM reported a negative margin associated with its relationship to the Fund.
Based on the information provided, the Board concluded that the costs of the services provided and, as applicable, the profits estimated to have been realized by ECM and its affiliates and the Sub-Adviser were not unreasonable in relation to the nature, extent and quality of the services provided.
Economies of Scale
The Board received and considered information about the potential for ECM to experience economies of scale in the provision of services to the Fund and the extent to which potential scale benefits are shared with shareholders. In evaluating economies of scale, the Board considered, among other things, the current level of management and sub-advisory fees payable by the Fund and ECM, respectively, and whether those fees include breakpoints, as well as comparative fee information, the profitability and financial condition of ECM, and the current level of the Fund’s assets. The Board noted that ECM shares potential economies of scale from its business in a variety of ways, including through fee waiver arrangements, services that benefit shareholders, competitive management fee rates set at the outset, and investments in the business intended to enhance services available to the Fund and shareholders. In its evaluation, the Board noted that both the management fee schedule and the sub-advisory fee schedule contained breakpoints that would reduce the relevant fee rate on assets above specified levels as the Fund’s assets increased. The Board considered that, although the breakpoints in the sub-advisory fee schedule take effect at lower asset levels than for the management fee, the sub-advisory fee under the Sub-Advisory Agreement is paid by ECM out of the management fee that it receives under the Advisory Agreement and the sub-advisory fees are negotiated at arm’s length.
Based on the information provided, the Board concluded that ECM’s arrangements with respect to the Fund constituted a reasonable approach to sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund and its shareholders.
Other Factors
The Board received and considered information regarding ancillary benefits derived or to be derived by ECM or the Sub-Adviser from their relationships with the Fund as part of the total mix of information evaluated by the Board. With respect to GSAM, the Board noted that improved trading efficiencies from aggregated orders with other advisory accounts and potential economies of scale from infrastructure enhancements in support of its services to the Fund are the principal “fall-out” benefits derived by the Sub-Adviser from its relationship with the Fund.
The Board also noted where services were provided to the Fund by affiliates of ECM, including, in particular, the various recordkeeping, administrative and shareholder services provided by Empower pursuant to a shareholder services agreement (the “Shareholder Services Agreement”). The Board considered its assessment, as part of the Board’s annual contract review process, of the services provided by and fees paid under the Shareholder Services Agreement - an assessment that included, among other things, reviews of service metrics data, the nature and quality of shareholder services, fees retained by Empower and those paid to third-party providers and Empower’s estimated profitability on shareholder services fees from the Fund.
The Board also considered that the Fund is offered as an investment option on a brokerage platform sponsored by an affiliate of ECM and that an affiliate of ECM may provide asset allocation services to the Fund’s investors.
The Board concluded that the Fund’s management and sub-advisory fees were reasonable, taking into account any ancillary benefits derived or to be derived by ECM, its affiliates or the Sub-Adviser.
Conclusion
Based upon all the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board determined that the terms of each Agreement continue to be reasonable and that the continuation of the Agreements is in the best interests of the Fund.
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:August 23, 2023
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:August 23, 2023
By: | /s/ Kelly B. New |
Kelly B. New
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
Date:August 23, 2023