UNITED STATES |
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 |
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FORM N-CSR |
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CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT |
INVESTMENT COMPANIES |
INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT FILE NUMBER 811-4325 |
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
40 Wall Street |
New York, NY 10005 |
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) |
Joseph I. Benedek |
Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc. |
Raritan Plaza I |
Edison, NJ 08837-3620 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: |
1-212-858-8000 |
DATE OF FISCAL YEAR END: DECEMBER 31 |
DATE OF REPORTING PERIOD: DECEMBER 31, 2015 |
Item 1. | Reports to Stockholders | |
The annual report to stockholders follows |
FOREWORD |
This report is for the information of the shareholders of the Funds. It is the policy of each Fund described in this report to mail only one copy of a Fund’s prospectus, annual report, semi-annual report and proxy statements to all shareholders who share the same mailing address and share the same last name and have invested in a Fund covered by the same document. You are deemed to consent to this policy unless you specifically revoke this policy and request that separate copies of such documents be mailed to you. In such case, you will begin to receive your own copies within 30 days after our receipt of the revocation. You may request that separate copies of these disclosure documents be mailed to you by writing to us at: Foresters Investor Services, Inc., Raritan Plaza I, Edison, NJ 08837-3620 or calling us at 1-800-423-4026.
The views expressed in the portfolio manager letters reflect those views of the portfolio managers only through the end or the period covered. Any such views are subject to change at any time based upon market or other conditions and we disclaim any responsibility to update such views. These views may not be relied on as investment advice.
You may obtain a free prospectus for any of the Funds by contacting your representative, calling 1-800-423-4026, writing to us at the following address: Foresters Financial Services, Inc., 40 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, or by visiting our website at www.forestersfinancial.com. You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund, and should be read carefully before investing.
An investment in a Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Although the Cash Management Fund seeks to preserve a net asset value at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in it, just as it is possible to lose money by investing in any of the other Funds. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
A Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for any of the Funds may also be obtained, without charge, upon request by calling 1-800-423-4026, writing to us at our address or by visiting our website listed above. The SAI contains more detailed information about the Funds, including information about their Trustees.
Foresters Financial™ and Foresters™ are the trade names and trademarks of The Independent Order of Foresters (Foresters), a fraternal benefit society, 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9 and its subsidiaries.
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
BALANCED INCOME FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Balanced Income Fund for the period from November 2, 2015, the Fund’s inception, to December 31, 2015. The Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –1.70%.
During the review period, the stock market, as measured by the S & P 500 Index, returned –2.45%, including reinvested dividends. The broad U.S. bond market, as measured by the Bank of America Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index, returned –0.50% due to a modest rise in interest rates.
The Fund had an average allocation of 37.5% to equities, 49% to bonds, and 13.5% to cash during the period. The equity allocation was focused on dividend yield stocks. The Fund’s average bond allocation as a percent of Fund assets was 27.0% corporate bonds, 11.8% mortgage-backed securities, 9.5% U.S. Treasuries, and 0.8% high yield bonds.
The Fund slightly underperformed a blended return of its benchmarks due to equity security selection. The Fund benefited from its elevated cash position given the decline in both stock and bond markets during the review period.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
1 |
Understanding Your Fund’s Expenses (unaudited)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
As a mutual fund shareholder, you incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, and (2) ongoing costs, including advisory fees and other 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 examples are based on an investment of $1,000 in each Fund at the beginning of the period, July 1, 2015, and held for the entire six-month period ended December 31, 2015. The calculations assume that no shares were bought or sold during the period. Your actual costs may have been higher or lower, depending on the amount of your investment and the timing of any purchases or redemptions.
Actual Expense Example:
These amounts help you to estimate the actual expenses that you paid over the period. The “Ending Account Value” shown is derived from the Fund’s actual return, and the “Expenses Paid During Period” shows the dollar amount that would have been paid by an investor who started with $1,000 in the Fund. You may use the information here, together with the amount you invested, to estimate the expenses that you paid during the period.
To estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period simply divide your ending account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.60), then multiply the result by the number given for your Fund under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period”.
Hypothetical Expense Example:
These amounts provide 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 and help you compare your ongoing costs only and do not reflect any transactional costs. Therefore, the hypothetical expense example 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.
2 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
BALANCED INCOME FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(11/2/15)* | (12/31/15) | (11/2/15–12/31/15)** | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $983.00 | $5.05 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,003.12 | $5.10 |
* | Commencement of operations. |
** | Actual expenses reflect only from the commencement of operations to the end of the period |
covered (November 2, 2015 through December 31, 2015). Therefore expenses shown are lower | |
than would be expected for a six month period. Actual expenses for the six-month period will be | |
reflected in future reports. Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of 3.10%, multi- | |
plied by the average account value over the period, multiplied by 60/365 (to reflect the inception | |
period). Expenses paid during the period are net of expenses waived and/or assumed. |
Portfolio Composition
TOP TEN SECTORS
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
3 |
Portfolio of Investments
BALANCED INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—38.3% | ||||
Consumer Discretionary—3.9% | ||||
1,100 | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | $ 17,050 | ||
1,300 | Ford Motor Company | 18,317 | ||
500 | Johnson Controls, Inc. | 19,745 | ||
300 | L Brands, Inc. | 28,746 | ||
700 | Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. | 30,856 | ||
750 | Regal Entertainment Group – Class “A” | 14,153 | ||
1,400 | Stein Mart, Inc. | 9,422 | ||
500 | Tupperware Brands Corporation | 27,825 | ||
100 | Whirlpool Corporation | 14,687 | ||
200 | Wyndham Worldwide Corporation | 14,530 | ||
195,331 | ||||
Consumer Staples—6.2% | ||||
1,000 | Altria Group, Inc. | 58,210 | ||
600 | Coca-Cola Company | 25,776 | ||
950 | Koninklijke Ahold NV (ADR) | 20,078 | ||
500 | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A” | 18,945 | ||
500 | PepsiCo, Inc. | 49,960 | ||
750 | Philip Morris International, Inc. | 65,932 | ||
250 | Procter & Gamble Company | 19,852 | ||
600 | Sysco Corporation | 24,600 | ||
450 | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 27,585 | ||
310,938 | ||||
Energy—1.6% | ||||
100 | Chevron Corporation | 8,996 | ||
100 | ExxonMobil Corporation | 7,795 | ||
250 | Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 12,960 | ||
100 | Occidental Petroleum Corporation | 6,761 | ||
300 | PBF Energy, Inc. – Class “A” | 11,043 | ||
50 | Phillips 66 | 4,090 | ||
300 | Royal Dutch Shell, PLC – Class “A” (ADR) | 13,737 | ||
50 | Schlumberger, Ltd. | 3,488 | ||
400 | Suncor Energy, Inc. | 10,320 | ||
79,190 |
4 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Financials—5.8% | ||||
250 | ACE, Ltd. | $ 29,213 | ||
250 | Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | 26,605 | ||
500 | Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. | 14,555 | ||
1,100 | Brixmor Property Group, Inc. (REIT) | 28,402 | ||
500 | Discover Financial Services | 26,810 | ||
1,300 | FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc. (REIT) | 9,490 | ||
500 | JPMorgan Chase & Company | 33,015 | ||
250 | PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 23,827 | ||
1,400 | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.(REIT) | 17,486 | ||
500 | Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (REIT) | 16,350 | ||
600 | U.S. Bancorp | 25,602 | ||
700 | Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. – Class “A” (REIT) | 13,468 | ||
400 | Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. – Class “A” | 11,464 | ||
350 | Wells Fargo & Company | 19,026 | ||
295,313 | ||||
Health Care—5.1% | ||||
750 | Abbott Laboratories | 33,682 | ||
800 | AbbVie, Inc. | 47,392 | ||
950 | GlaxoSmithKline, PLC (ADR) | 38,332 | ||
500 | Johnson & Johnson | 51,360 | ||
650 | Merck & Company, Inc. | 34,333 | ||
1,700 | Pfizer, Inc. | 54,876 | ||
259,975 | ||||
Industrials—4.0% | ||||
300 | 3M Company | 45,192 | ||
200 | Altra Industrial Motion Corporation | 5,016 | ||
800 | General Electric Company | 24,920 | ||
300 | Honeywell International, Inc. | 31,071 | ||
200 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | 43,430 | ||
1,200 | * | TAL International Group, Inc. | 19,080 | |
600 | Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd. | 8,466 | ||
400 | Tyco International, PLC | 12,756 | ||
100 | United Technologies Corporation | 9,607 | ||
199,538 | ||||
Information Technology—5.7% | ||||
600 | Apple, Inc. | 63,156 | ||
1,400 | Cisco Systems, Inc. | 38,017 | ||
1,450 | HP, Inc. | 17,168 |
5 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
BALANCED INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares or | ||||
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Information Technology (continued) | ||||
600 | Intel Corporation | $ 20,670 | ||
100 | International Business Machines Corporation | 13,762 | ||
850 | Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. | 32,300 | ||
950 | Microsoft Corporation | 52,706 | ||
700 | QUALCOMM, Inc. | 34,990 | ||
700 | Symantec Corporation | 14,700 | ||
287,469 | ||||
Materials—.9% | ||||
300 | International Paper Company | 11,310 | ||
200 | Praxair, Inc. | 20,480 | ||
300 | RPM International, Inc. | 13,218 | ||
45,008 | ||||
Telecommunication Services—1.6% | ||||
1,300 | AT&T, Inc. | 44,733 | ||
800 | Verizon Communications, Inc. | 36,976 | ||
81,709 | ||||
Utilities—3.5% | ||||
700 | AGL Resources, Inc. | 44,667 | ||
500 | Black Hills Corporation | 23,215 | ||
500 | Duke Energy Corporation | 35,695 | ||
600 | Exelon Corporation | 16,662 | ||
800 | NiSource, Inc. | 15,608 | ||
350 | SCANA Corporation | 21,172 | ||
400 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 20,524 | ||
177,543 | ||||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $1,973,440) | 1,932,014 | |||
CORPORATE BONDS—25.1% | ||||
Automotive—1.1% | ||||
$ 50M | Johnson Controls, Inc., 5%, 3/30/2020 | 53,542 | ||
Chemicals—1.0% | ||||
50M | Dow Chemical Co., 4.25%, 11/15/2020 | 52,453 |
6 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Financial Services—4.1% | ||||
$ 50M | American International Group, Inc., 3.75%, 7/10/2025 | $ 49,651 | ||
50M | Ameriprise Financial, Inc., 5.3%, 3/15/2020 | 55,479 | ||
50M | Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 3.4%, 1/31/2022 | 52,739 | ||
50M | General Electric Capital Corp., 3.1%, 1/9/2023 | 50,798 | ||
208,667 | ||||
Financials—7.3% | ||||
50M | Bank of America Corp., 5.875%, 2/7/2042 | 58,562 | ||
50M | Capital One Financial Corp., 3.75%, 4/24/2024 | 50,412 | ||
50M | Citigroup, Inc., 4.5%, 1/14/2022 | 53,624 | ||
50M | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 3.625%, 1/22/2023 | 50,646 | ||
50M | JP Morgan Chase & Co., 4.5%, 1/24/2022 | 53,973 | ||
50M | Morgan Stanley, 5.5%, 7/28/2021 | 56,086 | ||
50M | Wells Fargo & Co., 3.9%, 5/1/2045 | 46,222 | ||
369,525 | ||||
Food/Drug—1.0% | ||||
50M | CVS Health Corp., 3.875%, 7/20/2025 | 51,128 | ||
Healthcare—1.0% | ||||
50M | Gilead Sciences, Inc., 3.65%, 3/1/2026 | 50,487 | ||
Information Technology—1.9% | ||||
50M | Apple, Inc., 2.5%, 2/9/2025 | 47,802 | ||
50M | Oracle Corp., 2.95%, 5/15/2025 | 48,769 | ||
96,571 | ||||
Media-Broadcasting—2.0% | ||||
50M | Comcast Corp., 4.25%, 1/15/2033 | 49,220 | ||
50M | DirecTV Holdings, LLC, 3.8%, 3/15/2022 | 50,385 | ||
99,605 | ||||
Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.0% | ||||
50M | Simon Property Group, LP, 3.375%, 10/1/2024 | 50,529 | ||
Retail-General Merchandise—1.1% | ||||
50M | Amazon.com, Inc., 4.8%, 12/5/2034 | 52,806 | ||
Transportation—1.0% | ||||
50M | Burlington North Santa Fe, LLC, 5.15%, 9/1/2043 | 52,931 |
7 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
BALANCED INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | |||||||
Amount | |||||||
or Shares | Security | Value | |||||
Utilities—2.6% | |||||||
$ 50M | Dominion Resources, Inc., 3.9%, 10/1/2025 | $ 50,153 | |||||
25M | Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 4.15%, 12/1/2044 | 24,485 | |||||
50M | Ohio Power Co., 5.375%, 10/1/2021 | 55,724 | |||||
130,362 | |||||||
Total Value of Corporate Bonds (cost $1,278,645) | 1,268,606 | ||||||
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED | |||||||
SECURITIES—12.3% | |||||||
Fannie Mae: | |||||||
100M | 4%, 1/13/2046 (a) | 105,825 | |||||
499M | 3.5%, 11/1/2045 – 1/13/2046 (a) | 515,477 | |||||
Total Value of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $621,743) | 621,302 | ||||||
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—9.9% | |||||||
500M | U.S. Treasury Notes, 0.337%, 7/31/2017 (cost $499,515)† | 499,232 | |||||
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS—2.4% | |||||||
1,475 | iShares iBoxx USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | ||||||
(ETF) (cost $119,644) | 118,856 | ||||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||||
OBLIGATIONS—19.8% | |||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||||
$150M | 0.18%, 1/22/2016 | 149,989 | |||||
150M | 0.13%, 1/26/2016 | 149,987 | |||||
700M | 0.18%, 1/27/2016 | 699,938 | |||||
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $999,880) | 999,914 | ||||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $5,492,867) | 107.8 | % | 5,439,924 | ||||
Excess of Liabilities Over Other Assets | (7.8 | ) | (393,865) | ||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $5,046,059 |
* | Non-income producing |
(a) | A portion or all of the security purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis (see |
Note 1G). | |
† | The interest rates shown on variable and floating rate notes are adjusted periodically; the rates |
shown are the rates in effect at December 31, 2015. |
8 |
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
ADR | American Depositary Receipts | |
ETF | Exchange Traded Fund | |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust | |
USD | United States Dollar |
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 1,932,014 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,932,014 | ||||
Corporate Bonds | — | 1,268,606 | — | 1,268,606 | ||||||||
Residential Mortgage-Backed | ||||||||||||
Securities | — | 621,302 | — | 621,302 | ||||||||
U.S. Government Obligations | — | 499,232 | — | 499,232 | ||||||||
Exchange Traded Funds | 118,856 | — | — | 118,856 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 999,914 | — | 999,914 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | 2,050,870 | $ | 3,389,054 | $ | — | $ | 5,439,924 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common |
stocks and corporate bonds. | |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
See notes to financial statements | 9 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Cash Management Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 0.0%. The Fund maintained a $1.00 net asset value per share for each class of shares throughout the year.
Economic Overview and Market Summary
The U.S. economy grew at an approximately 2% rate during the review period. The consumer was the backbone of the economy, supported by the continued decline in the unemployment rate to 5.0%, a seven-year low. Auto sales reached all-time highs and housing starts returned to prerecession levels. Capital spending was muted though, and the continued appreciation of the dollar was a drag on exports. Inflation remained subdued with the year-over-year change in consumer prices at 0.7%, reflecting in part the 30% fall in the price of oil.
At the beginning of the review period, market expectations were that the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) would end its zero interest rate policy in mid-2015 based primarily on the relatively low unemployment rate. But the unexpectedly weak first quarter economic growth stayed the Fed’s hand, at which point market expectations shifted to September for a first Fed rate hike. Global financial and economic developments, particularly in China, contributed to substantial financial market volatility in August, including a 10% decline in the U.S. stock market. Consequently, at its September meeting, the Fed again deferred raising interest rates. Finally, in December, the Fed raised the federal funds rate 25 basis points (0.25%) based on the continued decline in the unemployment rate.
Interest rates generally moved higher during the review period. The two-year U.S. Treasury note yield, which is very sensitive to Fed policy, had the largest move, rising from 0.67% to 1.05%, a five-year high. Movements in longer-term interest rates were more muted. Persistently low inflation, a stronger dollar, safe haven demand, and relatively high yields versus the rest of the world capped longer- term U.S. interest rates. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased from 2.17% to 2.27% during the review period.
The broad U.S. bond market returned 0.6% for the year, its fourth worst year over the last four decades. Low interest rates provided little cushion to protect against wider spreads and higher interest rates (when interest rates rise, bond prices decline). Agency mortgage-backed securities returned 1.3%, benefiting from their high credit quality. Treasury securities gained 0.8%. Corporate bonds lost 0.6%, as credit spreads widened primarily due to record new issue supply. High yield bonds had poorer performance,
10 |
losing 4.6%. Spreads moved substantially wider in large part due to weakness in energy companies (the largest sector of the high yield market), as well as other commodity-related firms. Non-dollar government bonds (i.e., foreign government securities) also had a difficult 12 months, down 4.6%, reflecting the headwind of a 9.3% increase in the value of the dollar. The municipal bond market returned 3.6% as it was insulated from many of the global issues which buffeted other sectors of the bond market.
Review of the Money Market Environment
Yields on money market investments were anchored by the federal funds target rate which remained very low during the review period. Several other factors suppressed short-term yields, including substantial levels of cash in money markets, a general lack of supply, and previous money market regulations that have forced money market mutual fund assets into very short maturities.
Yields in money markets increased slightly over the course of the year as the Fed approached its first increase in the target federal funds rate in almost a decade. Tenuous global growth, a strong dollar, and volatile financial and energy markets kept the Fed on hold for most of the year. However, steady improvement in the domestic labor market and modest U.S. economic growth coupled with Fed projections of slowly rising inflation toward 2% allowed the Fed to raise the federal funds rate by one quarter of 1% (25 basis points) in December.
The Fund invested conservatively during the period, maintaining a substantial portion of its assets in U.S. Treasury and government agency securities as credit risk was barely compensated. The Fund also maintained a weighted average maturity of fewer than 60 days during the period in order to comply with current Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules designed to moderate interest rate risk.
Current expectations are that the Fed will continue to raise rates very gradually over an extended period of time. As such, Foresters Investment Management Company (“FIMCO”) expects the yield to shareholders to be at or near zero for the immediate future based on that outlook. To avoid a negative yield to its shareholders, FIMCO continues to absorb expenses to the Fund and has waived its management fee.
In 2014, the SEC adopted amendments to certain rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that govern money market funds. There is a transition period extending until October 2016 for the most significant changes, with shorter transition periods for other changes, some of which have already occurred. These changes will impact all SEC-registered money market funds. FIMCO has analyzed the impact of these changes and will communicate with shareholders as the Fund transitions into compliance with the new laws.
11 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND
Although money market funds in general are relatively conservative vehicles, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share. Money market mutual funds are neither insured nor guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other government agency.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
12 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | $0.66 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,024.55 | $0.66 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .13%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid | |
during the period are net of expenses waived and/or assumed. |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
13 |
Portfolio of Investments
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | Interest | ||||||
Amount | Security | Rate | * | Value | |||
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||||
OBLIGATIONS—55.3% | |||||||
Fannie Mae: | |||||||
$ 400M | 3/30/2016 | 0.33 | % | $ 399,679 | |||
150M | 4/20/2016 | 0.19 | 149,915 | ||||
370M | Federal Farm Credit Bank, 3/10/2016 | 0.16 | 369,886 | ||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||||
700M | 1/22/2016 | 0.19 | 699,924 | ||||
400M | 1/25/2016 | 0.12 | 399,968 | ||||
400M | 2/9/2016 | 0.16 | 399,931 | ||||
500M | 2/9/2016 | 0.20 | 499,892 | ||||
600M | 2/12/2016 | 0.19 | 599,867 | ||||
500M | 2/17/2016 | 0.37 | 499,758 | ||||
400M | 2/19/2016 | 0.15 | 399,921 | ||||
200M | 2/24/2016 | 0.15 | 199,955 | ||||
550M | 3/2/2016 | 0.38 | 549,646 | ||||
500M | 3/4/2016 | 0.40 | 499,650 | ||||
500M | 3/16/2016 | 0.44 | 499,542 | ||||
Freddie Mac: | |||||||
400M | 1/12/2016 | 0.23 | 399,972 | ||||
547M | 2/4/2016 | 0.14 | 546,930 | ||||
600M | 2/5/2016 | 0.38 | 599,778 | ||||
Total Value of U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $7,714,214) | 7,714,214 | ||||||
VARIABLE AND FLOATING RATE NOTES—12.8% | |||||||
Federal Farm Credit Bank: | |||||||
400M | 4/20/2016 | 0.47 | 400,147 | ||||
140M | 7/15/2016 | 0.32 | 139,952 | ||||
400M | 8/26/2016 | 0.44 | 399,914 | ||||
200M | 10/11/2016 | 0.32 | 199,933 | ||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||||
250M | 4/20/2016 | 0.36 | 250,004 | ||||
400M | 7/25/2016 | 0.41 | 400,000 | ||||
Total Value of Variable and Floating Rate Notes (cost $1,789,950) | 1,789,950 |
14 |
Principal | Interest | ||||||
Amount | Security | Rate | * | Value | |||
CORPORATE NOTES—9.3% | |||||||
$ 400M | Apple, Inc., 3/14/2016 (a) | 0.43 | % | $ 399,651 | |||
400M | Coca-Cola Co., 3/15/2016 (a) | 0.42 | 399,655 | ||||
500M | IBM Corp., 3/21/2016 (a) | 0.42 | 499,533 | ||||
Total Value of Corporate Notes (cost $1,298,839) | 1,298,839 | ||||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT | |||||||
OBLIGATIONS—21.5% | |||||||
U.S. Treasury Bills: | |||||||
500M | 1/7/2016 | 0.07 | 499,994 | ||||
1,100M | 1/14/2016 | 0.13 | 1,099,948 | ||||
1,000M | 1/14/2016 | 0.17 | 999,941 | ||||
400M | 5/12/2016 | 0.27 | 399,611 | ||||
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Obligations (cost $2,999,494) | 2,999,494 | ||||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $13,802,497)** | 98.9 | % | 13,802,497 | ||||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.1 | 155,887 | |||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $13,958,384 |
* | The interest rates shown are the effective rates at the time of purchase by the Fund. The interest |
rates shown on variable and floating rate notes are adjusted periodcally; the rates shown are the | |
rates in effect at December 31, 2015. | |
** | Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes is the same. |
(a) | Security exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5). |
15 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND
December 31, 2015
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
U.S. Government Agency | ||||||||||||
Obligations | $ | — | $ | 7,714,214 | $ | — | $ | 7,714,214 | ||||
Variable and Floating Rate Notes: | ||||||||||||
U.S. Government Agency | ||||||||||||
Obligations | — | 1,789,950 | — | 1,789,950 | ||||||||
Corporate Notes | — | 1,298,839 | — | 1,298,839 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Obligations | — | 2,999,494 | — | 2,999,494 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities | $ | — | $ | 13,802,497 | $ | — | $ | 13,802,497 |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the |
reporting period. |
16 | See notes to financial statements |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
EQUITY INCOME FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for First Investors Life Series Equity Income Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –1.03%, including dividends of $0.35 cents per share and capital gains of $0.75 cents per share.
The Fund primarily invests in dividend-paying stocks and this year, with interest rate volatility, the Fund’s high-yielding stocks did not perform very well. We saw the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note start the year at 2.17%, quickly drop to 1.64% in January and rise to a high of 2.48% last June. The final six months of the year the yields bounced between 2.00% and 2.25%. The Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) signaled its intention to raise rates possibly at their September meeting, but because of weakness in emerging markets it ultimately determined to hold off until its December meeting. Ultimately the Fed decided to institute a 25 basis point (0.25%) increase and signaled its intention to raise rates in 2016. When interest rates fell over the past several years, fixed income investors looked to dividend-paying equities to supplement their income when investments such as money market accounts and CDs no longer offered compelling returns. As rates rise and those products become more competitive, investors may begin to return to fixed income investments, as they offer less volatility compared to equities.
This past year the prices of stocks whose yield is in the 2.0% to 3.29% range were down about 3.8%. That yield is the sweet spot for our investment process. The prices of stocks whose yields were greater than 3.29% were down about 2.65%. Because of these dynamics the Fund underperformed its benchmark the S&P 500. In fact, the prices of stocks whose yields were less than 0.22% were up more than 13% for the year. With our mandate to invest in dividend-paying stocks that offer our investors supplemental income, it was hard to compete against the Index, which is not subjected to the same constraints.
While the Fund’s absolute performance was disappointing compared to the benchmark and can be contributed to the factors discussed above, there were bright spots that let us know our investment process works. Several of the Fund’s portfolio investments were acquired this past year. Omnicare was the nation’s largest supplier of geriatric pharmaceuticals and ancillary services to nursing facilities and retirement centers. It was acquired by CVS for $12.8 billion or $98 a share in cash. We first started buying Omnicare in the low $60 because of their niche business that was growing nicely and opportunities we believed would allow the company to grow margins and improve cash flow dramatically. CVS recognized this and made a compelling offer as Omnicare’s pharmacy business will fit well with CVS.
17 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
Kraft has been a long-time holding for the Fund with its solid earnings growth and a dividend in excess of 3%. In July 2015, Kraft completed its merger with Heinz Company with the backing of 3G Capital, a private equity firm that teamed up with Warren Buffet to take Heinz private a few years ago. The merger makes Kraft Heinz the third largest food and beverage company in North America. In addition to the higher share price, because of the deal premium, the Fund also received a $16.50 special dividend when the transaction closed.
In December 2015 Cytec Industries, a small-cap specialty material and chemical company was acquired by European composite company, Solvay, for $5.5 billion in an all cash deal. With Cytec’s strong relationships in aerospace, we believe it will be a nice fit for Solvay whose specialty is in automotive products. The latest company to be acquired from the Fund’s holdings is Chubb Corporation. Chubb agreed to a $28 billion deal with ACE, which is a leader in the property and casualty insurance industry; the acquisition was completed in January 2016, after the end of the reporting period. The combined company will become one of the biggest players in both the commercial and property and casualty insurance industry. We believe Ace should realize substantial synergies from the deal and the earnings accretion should be significant. This merger is positive for the Fund as ACE is a large holding and we think the stock offers good upside potential.
As we look forward, we believe dividend-paying stocks should be a focus for any investor. Dividend-paying stocks tend to outperform non-dividend-paying stocks when interest rates are either rising or falling. If we look at stock returns since the 1970’s, dividend-paying stocks have outperformed the S&P 500 Index. The Fund is focused on finding those stocks that not only provide yield and stability over certain periods of time, but provide dividend growth and appreciation.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
18 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $983.77 | $4.00 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,021.18 | $4.08 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .80%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
19 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Equity Income Fund and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Equity Income Fund beginning 12/31/05 with a theoretical investment in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of such stocks, which represent all major industries. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Standard & Poor’s and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
20 |
Portfolio of Investments
EQUITY INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—93.5% | ||||
Consumer Discretionary—10.6% | ||||
29,400 | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | $ 455,700 | ||
5,787 | CBS Corporation – Class “B” | 272,741 | ||
17,650 | Comcast Corporation – Special Shares “A” | 995,989 | ||
7,600 | Delphi Automotive, PLC | 651,548 | ||
44,850 | Ford Motor Company | 631,936 | ||
20,100 | Hanesbrands, Inc. | 591,543 | ||
4,050 | Harman International Industries, Inc. | 381,551 | ||
8,050 | Home Depot, Inc. | 1,064,613 | ||
4,800 | * | Jarden Corporation | 274,176 | |
12,300 | Johnson Controls, Inc. | 485,727 | ||
4,550 | Lear Corporation | 558,877 | ||
6,900 | McDonald’s Corporation | 815,166 | ||
15,600 | Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. | 687,648 | ||
47,100 | Regal Entertainment Group – Class “A” | 888,777 | ||
9,116 | Time Warner, Inc. | 589,532 | ||
10,300 | Tupperware Brands Corporation | 573,195 | ||
4,300 | Walt Disney Company | 451,844 | ||
3,700 | Whirlpool Corporation | 543,419 | ||
5,400 | Wyndham Worldwide Corporation | 392,310 | ||
11,306,292 | ||||
Consumer Staples—8.9% | ||||
29,500 | Altria Group, Inc. | 1,717,195 | ||
17,600 | Coca-Cola Company | 756,096 | ||
14,600 | CVS Health Corporation | 1,427,442 | ||
3,850 | Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. | 358,820 | ||
4,500 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | 572,850 | ||
3,666 | Kraft Heinz Company | 266,738 | ||
12,000 | PepsiCo, Inc. | 1,199,040 | ||
15,900 | Philip Morris International, Inc. | 1,397,769 | ||
15,300 | Procter & Gamble Company | 1,214,973 | ||
10,200 | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 625,260 | ||
9,536,183 |
21 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Energy—6.0% | ||||
16,000 | Chevron Corporation | $ 1,439,360 | ||
21,050 | ConocoPhillips | 982,824 | ||
8,100 | Devon Energy Corporation | 259,200 | ||
16,000 | ExxonMobil Corporation | 1,247,200 | ||
6,500 | Halliburton Company | 221,260 | ||
10,400 | Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 539,136 | ||
14,600 | Occidental Petroleum Corporation | 987,106 | ||
12,500 | Royal Dutch Shell, PLC – Class “A” (ADR) | 572,375 | ||
8,700 | Suncor Energy, Inc. | 224,460 | ||
6,472,921 | ||||
Financials—21.1% | ||||
10,550 | ACE, Ltd. | 1,232,768 | ||
28,800 | AllianceBernstein Holding, LP | 686,880 | ||
6,650 | American Express Company | 462,507 | ||
4,050 | Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | 431,001 | ||
23,700 | Bank of New York Mellon Corporation | 976,914 | ||
28,950 | Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. | 842,734 | ||
37,300 | Brixmor Property Group, Inc. (REIT) | 963,086 | ||
14,700 | Chesapeake Lodging Trust (REIT) | 369,852 | ||
7,672 | Chubb Corporation | 1,017,614 | ||
22,300 | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 584,037 | ||
16,850 | Discover Financial Services | 903,497 | ||
47,270 | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF) | 1,124,081 | ||
12,000 | Invesco, Ltd. | 401,760 | ||
18,100 | iShares S&P U.S. Preferred Stock Index Fund (ETF) | 703,185 | ||
7,350 | iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF (ETF) | 552,059 | ||
24,400 | JPMorgan Chase & Company | 1,611,132 | ||
30,500 | MetLife, Inc. | 1,470,405 | ||
16,700 | Oritani Financial Corporation | 275,550 | ||
28,210 | Outfront Media, Inc. | 615,824 | ||
10,000 | PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 953,100 | ||
7,000 | Select Income REIT (REIT) | 138,740 | ||
16,900 | SPDR S&P Regional Banking (ETF) | 708,448 | ||
42,700 | Sterling Bancorp | 692,594 | ||
13,500 | Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (REIT) | 441,450 | ||
5,400 | Travelers Companies, Inc. | 609,444 | ||
20,600 | U.S. Bancorp | 879,002 |
22 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Financials (continued) | ||||
32,000 | Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. – Class “A” (REIT) | $ 615,680 | ||
35,850 | Wells Fargo & Company | 1,948,806 | ||
38,900 | WP Glimcher, Inc. (REIT) | 412,729 | ||
22,624,879 | ||||
Health Care—12.9% | ||||
13,900 | Abbott Laboratories | 624,249 | ||
19,300 | AbbVie, Inc. | 1,143,332 | ||
1,470 | * | Allergan, PLC | 459,375 | |
20,300 | Baxalta, Inc. | 792,309 | ||
8,500 | Baxter International, Inc. | 324,275 | ||
4,300 | Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 435,117 | ||
10,050 | GlaxoSmithKline, PLC (ADR) | 405,518 | ||
20,550 | Johnson & Johnson | 2,110,896 | ||
2,710 | McKesson Corporation | 534,493 | ||
10,412 | Medtronic, PLC | 800,891 | ||
37,020 | Merck & Company, Inc. | 1,955,396 | ||
3,550 | Perrigo Company, PLC | 513,685 | ||
76,885 | Pfizer, Inc. | 2,481,848 | ||
4,950 | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 702,158 | ||
9,990 | Zoetis, Inc. | 478,721 | ||
13,762,263 | ||||
Industrials—10.7% | ||||
5,400 | 3M Company | 813,456 | ||
5,400 | A.O. Smith Corporation | 413,694 | ||
6,300 | Altra Industrial Motion Corporation | 158,004 | ||
8,600 | Eaton Corporation, PLC | 447,544 | ||
2,900 | G&K Services, Inc. – Class “A” | 182,410 | ||
5,750 | * | Generac Holdings, Inc. | 171,177 | |
3,800 | General Dynamics Corporation | 521,968 | ||
69,730 | General Electric Company | 2,172,089 | ||
11,800 | Honeywell International, Inc. | 1,222,126 | ||
8,500 | Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF) | 450,585 | ||
12,550 | ITT Corporation | 455,816 | ||
13,600 | KAR Auction Services, Inc. | 503,608 | ||
3,680 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | 799,112 | ||
13,300 | Nielsen Holdings, PLC | 619,780 | ||
3,850 | Snap-On, Inc. | 660,006 |
23 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Industrials (continued) | ||||
12,125 | Tyco International, PLC | $ 386,666 | ||
8,300 | United Parcel Service, Inc. – Class “B” | 798,709 | ||
7,100 | United Technologies Corporation | 682,097 | ||
11,458,847 | ||||
Information Technology—10.9% | ||||
8,690 | Apple, Inc. | 914,709 | ||
5,450 | Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | 461,724 | ||
1,000 | Avago Technologies, Ltd. | 145,150 | ||
65,200 | Cisco Systems, Inc. | 1,770,506 | ||
25,000 | EMC Corporation | 642,000 | ||
26,800 | HP, Inc. | 317,312 | ||
42,800 | Intel Corporation | 1,474,460 | ||
9,600 | Juniper Networks, Inc. | 264,960 | ||
3,150 | Lam Research Corporation | 250,173 | ||
14,050 | Mentor Graphics Corporation | 258,801 | ||
9,000 | Methode Electronics, Inc. | 286,470 | ||
11,900 | Microchip Technology, Inc. | 553,826 | ||
42,750 | Microsoft Corporation | 2,371,770 | ||
13,500 | QUALCOMM, Inc. | 674,798 | ||
4,750 | SanDisk Corporation | 360,953 | ||
7,500 | TE Connectivity, Ltd. | 484,575 | ||
10,900 | Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF) | 466,847 | ||
11,699,034 | ||||
Materials—3.1% | ||||
16,450 | Dow Chemical Company | 846,846 | ||
8,990 | DuPont (E.I.) de Nemours & Company | 598,734 | ||
17,700 | International Paper Company | 667,290 | ||
6,400 | LyondellBasell Industries NV – Class “A” | 556,160 | ||
11,300 | Olin Corporation | 195,038 | ||
9,090 | WestRock Company | 414,686 | ||
3,278,754 | ||||
Telecommunication Services—3.6% | ||||
52,460 | AT&T, Inc. | 1,805,149 | ||
44,100 | Verizon Communications, Inc. | 2,038,302 | ||
3,843,451 |
24 |
Shares or | |||||||
Principal | |||||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||||
Utilities—5.7% | |||||||
11,050 | AGL Resources, Inc. | $ 705,100 | |||||
12,250 | American Electric Power Company, Inc. | 713,807 | |||||
28,600 | CenterPoint Energy, Inc. | 525,096 | |||||
7,550 | Dominion Resources, Inc. | 510,682 | |||||
7,700 | Duke Energy Corporation | 549,703 | |||||
17,600 | Exelon Corporation | 488,752 | |||||
5,700 | NextEra Energy, Inc. | 592,173 | |||||
12,200 | Portland General Electric Company | 443,714 | |||||
29,400 | PPL Corporation | 1,003,422 | |||||
12,500 | Vectren Corporation | 530,250 | |||||
6,062,699 | |||||||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $76,906,294) | 100,045,323 | ||||||
PREFERRED STOCKS—1.9% | |||||||
Financials—1.4% | |||||||
200 | Citizens Financial Group, Inc., Series A, 5.5%, 2049 (a) | 197,400 | |||||
11,400 | Digital Realty Trust, Inc., Series G (REIT), 5.875%, 2049 | 284,316 | |||||
21,200 | JPMorgan Chase & Company, Series Y, 6.125%, 2020 | 553,744 | |||||
Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. (REIT): | |||||||
9,000 | Series F, 7.125%, 2049 | 236,025 | |||||
11,000 | Series G, 6.75%, 2049 | 292,490 | |||||
1,563,975 | |||||||
Health Care—.5% | |||||||
500 | Allergan, PLC, Series A, 5.5%, 2018 | 515,090 | |||||
Total Value of Preferred Stocks (cost $2,019,492) | 2,079,065 | ||||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||||
OBLIGATIONS—4.5% | |||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||||
$2,500M | 0.18%, 1/27/2016 | 2,499,777 | |||||
1,000M | 0.245% 1/27/2016 | 999,911 | |||||
1,300M | 0.26%, 1/19/2016 | 1,299,925 | |||||
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $4,799,329) | 4,799,613 | ||||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $83,725,115) | 99.9 | % | 106,924,001 | ||||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | .1 | 92,481 | |||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $107,016,482 |
25 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
EQUITY INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
* | Non-income producing | |
(a) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5). | |
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
ADR | American Depositary Receipts | |
ETF | Exchange Traded Fund | |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 100,045,323 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 100,045,323 | ||||
Preferred Stocks | 2,079,065 | — | — | 2,079,065 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 4,799,613 | — | 4,799,613 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | 102,124,388 | $ | 4,799,613 | $ | — | $ | 106,924,001 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks |
and preferred stocks. | |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
26 | See notes to financial statements |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
FUND FOR INCOME
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Fund For Income for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –1.85%, including dividends of $0.36 cents per share.
Although negative returns are always disappointing, these returns outperformed the –2.82% return of the Fund’s Bank of America Merrill Lynch BB-B Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index. The Fund’s good credit selection helped the portfolio preserve capital better than the benchmark even after the deduction of fees and expenses. Active management worked in the Fund’s favor in a challenging period for high yield.
The Market
After a relatively attractive start to the year, high yield markets came under pressure during the year’s second half as commodities plunged in value. The Q3 and Q4 decline in commodity prices resumed a fall that had begun in the fourth quarter of 2014, but was temporarily interrupted by a Q1 2015 partial rebound in oil prices. Over the course of the year, market participants appeared to set their risk appetite in part by the level of oil prices, buying less high yield when oil prices — and those of other basic commodities such as coal and iron ore — fell, and more when they recovered. This occurred as falling oil prices gave investors pause with regard to not only the health of oil producers themselves, but also on the potential for a slowing trajectory of global economic growth.
As commodity prices fell, the September 2015 decision of the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) to not raise interest rates further cemented the view that lower global growth might slow down the U.S. economic recovery. November and December also brought a further convergence of bad news to global risk assets, including U.S. high yield, and to higher-quality assets alike, making many investors happy to say goodbye to a difficult 2015.
December’s volatility, which magnified many of the year’s second-half trends, was largely in our view a function of rapid changes in risk-off/risk-on market sentiment coupled with the historically slow December trading period. In the first half of December, the U.S. high yield market came under pressure in the wake of the demise of a distressed high yield fund faced with redemptions. That Fund held a highly concentrated portfolio of liquidity-challenged, highly speculative securities with limited trading liquidity. Investors in the fund accelerated a trend of redemptions in this vehicle, causing the managers to gate the fund. In addition, the energy sub-segment of the market came under further pressure after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries announced a continuation of their “lower-for-longer” strategy. However, on December 16th, the Fed continued on its path of policy normalization and announced
27 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
an increase in the federal funds rate. Although the Fed may have ended its zero interest rate policy, it stated clearly that future rate hikes will be gradual, particularly, it seems, while the Fed would have to worry about slowing global growth. This event resulted in a stabilization of the market through the last two weeks of the year.
The Fund
In this challenging environment, the Fund performed relatively well, outperforming the benchmark net of fees and expenses for the year after underperforming in the first half. During the first quarter, we worked to reduce the Fund’s exposure to energy credits, particularly to those companies we believed might suffer more permanent impairment with a long-term decline in the price of oil. In the second quarter, as the price of oil continued its unsustainable rebound, the portfolio did not quite keep up with the market. Our earlier risk reduction might have appeared unnecessary given resurgent oil prices; however, we positioned the portfolio with the perspective that volatility in oil, and in commodity sectors more broadly, would continue through the year as we could not identify the catalyst to bring oil supply inline with demand. Similarly, we sought to exit positions in iron ore and coal production as global demand softened. These changes were particularly important in helping the portfolio preserve capital better than the benchmark — and notably better than the wide high yield market which also includes lower-rated CCC credits — in both Q3 and Q4 2015.
Over the year, the Fund performed better than the high yield market as represented by both its benchmark and by broader market measures which also include lower-rated bonds. The Fund exhibited strong credit selection most notably in Services, Containers, Healthcare, Broadcasting and Cable/Satellite TV. Each of these areas is an industry we have focused on with an overweight to the market and in which we have delivered better-than-market credit selection. They are less cyclical in nature and reflect our efforts over 2015 to reposition the portfolio in less commodity-sensitive names. The Fund lost the most ground against the benchmark in the Banking sector where the Fund is traditionally underweight.
We have been cognizant throughout the year not only of credit risk, but also of duration risk which measures the impact on bond prices from changes in interest rates. Typically, bond prices can fall when interest rates rise. Although the Fed’s first interest rate increase came quite late in the year and was, in our view, both modest and well-telegraphed, we have generally preferred not to extend the portfolio’s duration risk since credit spreads have been relatively flat during the past five years. Thus, over the year, we were rewarded both for an overweight allocation to some credits with more moderate sensitivity to interest rate risk (under one year in duration and three-to-five years in duration) and an underweight in credits with greater sensitivity
28 |
(five-to-ten year duration). Our overweighting of credits with less than a year of remaining duration reflects the portfolio’s allocation to senior loans, instruments which can actually see returns increase along with increasing interest rates. Senior loans, with their floating rate coupon and lower concentration in commodity-intensive sectors, have helped stabilize and smooth this Fund’s performance.
Outlook
After a challenging year, we find that some parts of the U.S. high yield market offer more yield and more attractive total return potential than we have seen in some time, but not all bonds are created equal. The market is clearly differentiating between bonds more than has been the case for several years. Companies that disappoint investor expectations are more likely to be quickly rebuked by a re-pricing process, and even healthy companies in the same industry may trade off significantly in sympathy, heightening volatility overall. Volatility may be challenging to manage, but it also presents an environment in which careful investors who are able to sort out meaningful data from the noise may benefit significantly over a long time horizon. Short-term investors attempting to time the market without a view on fundamental, credit-by-credit value are, in our opinion, likely to be disappointed. Market-timing is a less reliable market strategy, especially in an asset class like high yield where attractive coupon payments pay the investor to be patient.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
29 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
FUND FOR INCOME
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $955.90 | $4.24 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,020.87 | $4.38 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .86%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
30 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
FUND FOR INCOME
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Fund For Income and the Bank of America (“BofA”) Merrill Lynch BB-B U.S. Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Fund For Income beginning 12/31/05 with a theoretical investment in the BofA Merrill Lynch BB-B U.S. Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index (the “Index”). The Index contains all securities in the BofA Merrill Lynch US Cash Pay High Yield Index rated BB1 through B3, based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, but caps issuer exposure at 2%. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. The issuers of the high yield bonds in which the Fund primarily invests pay higher interest rates because they have a greater likelihood of financial difficulty, which could result in their inability to repay the bonds fully when due. Prices of high yield bonds are also subject to greater fluctuations. Index figures from Bank of America Merrill Lynch & Co. and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
31 |
Portfolio of Investments
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
CORPORATE BONDS—87.8% | ||||
Aerospace/Defense—.7% | ||||
Meccanica Holdings USA, Inc.: | ||||
$ 475M | 6.25%, 7/15/2019 (a) | $ 514,188 | ||
150M | 7.375%, 7/15/2039 (a) | 158,625 | ||
672,813 | ||||
Automotive—4.7% | ||||
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.: | ||||
400M | 6.25%, 3/15/2021 | 415,500 | ||
250M | 6.625%, 10/15/2022 | 262,500 | ||
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.: | ||||
175M | 6%, 12/15/2024 | 181,562 | ||
75M | 6%, 12/15/2024 (a) | 77,812 | ||
250M | Dana Holding Corp., 6%, 9/15/2023 | 251,875 | ||
250M | Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, 5.25%, 4/15/2023 | 246,875 | ||
225M | General Motors Co., 4.875%, 10/2/2023 | 231,223 | ||
650M | Gestamp Funding Luxembourg SA, 5.625%, 5/31/2020 (a) | 665,600 | ||
Group 1 Automotive, Inc.: | ||||
325M | 5%, 6/1/2022 | 323,375 | ||
200M | 5.25%, 12/15/2023 (a) | 199,000 | ||
225M | Hertz Corp., 6.75%, 4/15/2019 | 230,400 | ||
500M | LKQ Corp., 4.75%, 5/15/2023 | 471,250 | ||
425M | Omega U.S. Sub, LLC, 8.75%, 7/15/2023 (a) | 394,188 | ||
75M | Oshkosh Corp., 5.375%, 3/1/2022 | 75,375 | ||
325M | Schaeffler Finance BV, 4.75%, 5/15/2021 (a) | 328,250 | ||
150M | ZF North America Capital, Inc., 4%, 4/29/2020 (a) | 151,800 | ||
4,506,585 | ||||
Building Materials—1.4% | ||||
Building Materials Corp.: | ||||
350M | 5.375%, 11/15/2024 (a) | 350,875 | ||
175M | 6%, 10/15/2025 (a) | 179,375 | ||
Cemex SAB de CV: | ||||
200M | 9.5%, 6/15/2018 (a) | 214,000 | ||
250M | 5.7%, 1/11/2025 (a) | 209,687 | ||
425M | Griffon Corp., 5.25%, 3/1/2022 | 406,937 | ||
1,360,874 | ||||
Chemicals—1.7% | ||||
Blue Cube Spinco, Inc.: | ||||
125M | 9.75%, 10/15/2023 (a) | 135,469 | ||
150M | 10%, 10/15/2025 (a) | 165,750 |
32 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Chemicals (continued) | ||||
$ 225M | Huntsman International, LLC, 4.875%, 11/15/2020 | $ 206,437 | ||
225M | PolyOne Corp., 5.25%, 3/15/2023 | 220,500 | ||
200M | Rayonier AM Products, Inc., 5.5%, 6/1/2024 (a) | 159,000 | ||
275M | TPC Group, Inc., 8.75%, 12/15/2020 (a) | 180,125 | ||
375M | Univar USA, Inc., 6.75%, 7/15/2023 (a) | 343,125 | ||
W.R. Grace & Co.: | ||||
175M | 5.125%, 10/1/2021 (a) | 177,187 | ||
75M | 5.625%, 10/1/2024 (a) | 76,031 | ||
1,663,624 | ||||
Consumer Non-Durables—2.7% | ||||
375M | Levi Strauss & Co., 6.875%, 5/1/2022 | 403,125 | ||
Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc.: | ||||
300M | 7.125%, 4/15/2019 | 306,000 | ||
775M | 5.75%, 10/15/2020 | 790,260 | ||
125M | Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., 6%, 10/15/2023 (a) | 130,938 | ||
Spectrum Brands Escrow Corp.: | ||||
300M | 6.375%, 11/15/2020 | 320,250 | ||
175M | 6.625%, 11/15/2022 | 185,500 | ||
450M | Wolverine World Wide, Inc., 6.125%, 10/15/2020 | 470,250 | ||
2,606,323 | ||||
Energy—7.0% | ||||
AmeriGas Finance, LLC: | ||||
75M | 6.75%, 5/20/2020 | 73,312 | ||
175M | 7%, 5/20/2022 | 170,187 | ||
Antero Resources Finance Corp.: | ||||
100M | 6%, 12/1/2020 | 84,000 | ||
125M | 5.375%, 11/1/2021 | 100,625 | ||
250M | Blue Racer Midstream, LLC, 6.125%, 11/15/2022 (a) | 173,750 | ||
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, LP: | ||||
225M | 6.5%, 4/15/2021 | 196,875 | ||
75M | 7.625%, 1/15/2022 | 64,125 | ||
300M | 7.75%, 4/15/2023 (a) | 256,500 | ||
CONSOL Energy, Inc.: | ||||
475M | 8.25%, 4/1/2020 | 361,000 | ||
175M | 5.875%, 4/15/2022 | 109,375 | ||
Crestwood Midstream Partners, LP: | ||||
350M | 6%, 12/15/2020 | 259,000 | ||
50M | 6.25%, 4/1/2023 (a) | 35,125 | ||
250M | Eclipse Resources Corp., 8.875%, 7/15/2023 (a) | 120,625 |
33 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Energy (continued) | ||||
$ 225M | Exterran Partners, LP, 6%, 10/1/2022 | $ 184,500 | ||
175M | Ferrellgas, LP, 6.75%, 6/15/2023 (a) | 143,500 | ||
250M | Forum Energy Technologies, Inc., 6.25%, 10/1/2021 | 208,750 | ||
Genesis Energy, LP: | ||||
200M | 6.75%, 8/1/2022 | 171,000 | ||
150M | 6%, 5/15/2023 | 120,750 | ||
300M | Gibson Energy, Inc., 6.75%, 7/15/2021 (a) | 288,750 | ||
250M | Hilcorp Energy I, 5.75%, 10/1/2025 (a) | 218,750 | ||
50M | Kinder Morgan Finance Co., LLC, 6%, 1/15/2018 (a) | 50,437 | ||
250M | Laredo Petroleum, Inc., 5.625%, 1/15/2022 | 218,750 | ||
200M | Matador Resources Co., 6.875%, 4/15/2023 | 187,000 | ||
375M | Memorial Production Partners, LP, 7.625%, 5/1/2021 | 114,375 | ||
MPLX, LP: | ||||
125M | 4.5%, 7/15/2023 (a) | 112,463 | ||
225M | 4.875%, 12/1/2024 (a) | 203,063 | ||
50M | 4.875%, 6/1/2025 (a) | 45,000 | ||
NuStar Logistics, LP: | ||||
50M | 4.8%, 9/1/2020 | 45,250 | ||
200M | 6.75%, 2/1/2021 | 189,000 | ||
300M | Rex Energy Corp., 6.25%, 8/1/2022 | 61,500 | ||
100M | Rice Energy, Inc., 7.25%, 5/1/2023 (a) | 73,500 | ||
Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC: | ||||
500M | 6.25%, 3/15/2022 | 465,000 | ||
225M | 5.625%, 4/15/2023 | 198,563 | ||
525M | 5.75%, 5/15/2024 | 459,375 | ||
250M | 5.625%, 3/1/2025 (a) | 212,500 | ||
SM Energy Co.: | ||||
150M | 6.5%, 11/15/2021 | 112,500 | ||
125M | 5.625%, 6/1/2025 | 82,813 | ||
57M | Suburban Propane Partners, LP, 7.375%, 8/1/2021 | 55,005 | ||
100M | Tesoro Logistics, LP, 6.25%, 10/15/2022 (a) | 95,250 | ||
425M | Unit Corp., 6.625%, 5/15/2021 | 308,125 | ||
6,629,968 | ||||
Financials—5.3% | ||||
Ally Financial, Inc.: | ||||
100M | 5.75%, 11/20/2025 | 101,500 | ||
525M | 6.25%, 12/1/2017 | 551,906 | ||
175M | 4.75%, 9/10/2018 | 179,594 | ||
500M | 8%, 12/31/2018 | 548,750 | ||
25M | 8%, 3/15/2020 | 28,562 | ||
175M | 8%, 11/1/2031 | 202,781 |
34 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Financials (continued) | ||||
$ 350M | Argos Merger Sub, Inc., 7.125%, 3/15/2023 (a) | $ 347,900 | ||
674M | Consolidated Energy Finance SA, 6.75%, 10/15/2019 (a) | 647,680 | ||
General Motors Financial Co., Inc.: | ||||
75M | 3.25%, 5/15/2018 | 75,418 | ||
150M | 4.375%, 9/25/2021 | 152,299 | ||
150M | 4.25%, 5/15/2023 | 148,603 | ||
International Lease Finance Corp.: | ||||
375M | 8.75%, 3/15/2017 | 400,312 | ||
1,075M | 8.25%, 12/15/2020 | 1,273,875 | ||
125M | Nielsen Co., (Luxembourg) Sarl, 5.5%, 10/1/2021 (a) | 128,594 | ||
250M | Quicken Loans, Inc., 5.75%, 5/1/2025 (a) | 239,063 | ||
5,026,837 | ||||
Food/Beverage/Tobacco—2.5% | ||||
325M | Barry Callebaut Services SA, 5.5%, 6/15/2023 (a) | 342,144 | ||
Constellation Brands, Inc.: | ||||
75M | 4.25%, 5/1/2023 | 75,187 | ||
125M | 4.75%, 11/15/2024 | 127,812 | ||
25M | 4.75%, 12/1/2025 | 25,531 | ||
125M | Dean Foods Co., 6.5%, 3/15/2023 (a) | 130,312 | ||
400M | JBS Investments GmbH, 7.25%, 4/3/2024 (a) | 365,000 | ||
JBS USA, LLC: | ||||
150M | 7.25%, 6/1/2021 (a) | 149,625 | ||
150M | 5.875%, 7/15/2024 (a) | 136,500 | ||
200M | 5.75%, 6/15/2025 (a) | 175,000 | ||
100M | Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., 5.75%, 3/15/2025 (a) | 97,500 | ||
250M | Post Holdings, Inc., 7.75%, 3/15/2024 (a) | 262,500 | ||
50M | Smithfield Foods, Inc., 6.625%, 8/15/2022 | 52,063 | ||
450M | Sun Merger Sub, Inc., 5.875%, 8/1/2021 (a) | 464,625 | ||
2,403,799 | ||||
Food/Drug—.5% | ||||
425M | Rite Aid Corp., 6.125%, 4/1/2023 (a) | 441,469 | ||
Forest Products/Containers—4.6% | ||||
225M | Ardagh Packaging Finance, PLC, 6%, 6/30/2021 (a) | 210,937 | ||
Ball Corp.: | ||||
250M | 5.25%, 7/1/2025 | 256,562 | ||
150M | 4.375%, 12/15/2020 | 152,625 | ||
525M | Berry Plastics Group, 5.125%, 7/15/2023 | 511,875 |
35 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Forest Products/Containers (continued) | ||||
CROWN Americas, LLC: | ||||
$ 75M | 6.25%, 2/1/2021 | $ 77,531 | ||
300M | 4.5%, 1/15/2023 | 294,750 | ||
150M | Graphic Packaging International, Inc., 4.875%, 11/15/2022 | 152,250 | ||
450M | Greif, Inc., 7.75%, 8/1/2019 | 499,500 | ||
Mercer International, Inc.: | ||||
50M | 7%, 12/1/2019 | 50,375 | ||
200M | 7.75%, 12/1/2022 | 203,000 | ||
Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc.: | ||||
75M | 5%, 1/15/2022 (a) | 73,594 | ||
75M | 5.875%, 8/15/2023 (a) | 76,266 | ||
250M | 5.375%, 1/15/2025 (a) | 245,313 | ||
50M | 6.375%, 8/15/2025 (a) | 51,469 | ||
200M | Resolute Forest Products, Inc., 5.875%, 5/15/2023 | 146,500 | ||
Sealed Air Corp.: | ||||
325M | 6.5%, 12/1/2020 (a) | 359,938 | ||
175M | 4.875%, 12/1/2022 (a) | 176,094 | ||
300M | 5.25%, 4/1/2023 (a) | 307,500 | ||
500M | Silgan Holdings, Inc., 5%, 4/1/2020 | 511,250 | ||
4,357,329 | ||||
Gaming/Leisure—5.1% | ||||
375M | 24 Hour Holdings III, LLC, 8%, 6/1/2022 (a) | 306,563 | ||
225M | AMC Entertainment, Inc., 5.75%, 6/15/2025 | 226,687 | ||
400M | ClubCorp Club Operations, Inc., 8.25%, 12/15/2023 (a) | 394,000 | ||
425M | GLP Capital, LP, 4.875%, 11/1/2020 | 418,625 | ||
175M | Hilton Worldwide Finance, LLC, 5.625%, 10/15/2021 | 182,219 | ||
International Game Technology, PLC: | ||||
200M | 5.625%, 2/15/2020 (a) | 198,000 | ||
200M | 6.25%, 2/15/2022 (a) | 188,000 | ||
200M | 6.5%, 2/15/2025 (a) | 176,500 | ||
650M | Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 7%, 9/1/2020 (a) | 676,000 | ||
225M | National CineMedia, LLC, 7.875%, 7/15/2021 | 235,125 | ||
NCL Corp., Ltd.: | ||||
250M | 5.25%, 11/15/2019 (a) | 256,720 | ||
250M | 4.625%, 11/15/2020 (a) | 246,055 | ||
200M | Regal Entertainment Group, 5.75%, 3/15/2022 | 200,750 | ||
225M | Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., 5.25%, 11/15/2022 | 231,750 |
36 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Gaming/Leisure (continued) | ||||
$ 350M | Scientific Games International, Inc., 6.625%, 5/15/2021 | $ 166,250 | ||
575M | Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 5.25%, 1/15/2021 (a) | 585,063 | ||
150M | Viking Cruises, Ltd., 6.25%, 5/15/2025 (a) | 123,750 | ||
4,812,057 | ||||
Health Care—10.9% | ||||
Community Health Systems, Inc.: | ||||
250M | 5.125%, 8/15/2018 | 252,500 | ||
100M | 8%, 11/15/2019 | 101,250 | ||
475M | 7.125%, 7/15/2020 | 475,594 | ||
250M | Concordia Healthcare, 7%, 4/1/2022 (a) | 240,937 | ||
DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc.: | ||||
250M | 5.125%, 7/15/2024 | 250,469 | ||
125M | 5%, 5/1/2025 | 120,937 | ||
Endo Finance, LLC: | ||||
300M | 5.75%, 1/15/2022 (a) | 292,500 | ||
700M | 7.75%, 1/15/2022 (a) | 719,250 | ||
225M | 6%, 7/15/2023 (a) | 225,000 | ||
Fresenius Medical Care U.S. Finance II, Inc.: | ||||
150M | 5.625%, 7/31/2019 (a) | 162,187 | ||
75M | 4.125%, 10/15/2020 (a) | 76,125 | ||
100M | 4.75%, 10/15/2024 (a) | 98,000 | ||
HCA, Inc.: | ||||
75M | 8%, 10/1/2018 | 84,187 | ||
875M | 6.5%, 2/15/2020 | 955,500 | ||
175M | 6.25%, 2/15/2021 | 185,937 | ||
50M | 7.5%, 2/15/2022 | 55,625 | ||
50M | 5.375%, 2/1/2025 | 49,437 | ||
300M | 5.875%, 2/15/2026 | 301,875 | ||
HealthSouth Corp.: | ||||
236M | 7.75%, 9/15/2022 | 246,620 | ||
175M | 5.125%, 3/15/2023 | 168,437 | ||
100M | 5.75%, 11/1/2024 (a) | 95,875 | ||
100M | 5.75%, 11/1/2024 | 95,875 | ||
150M | 5.75%, 9/15/2025 (a) | 140,250 | ||
405M | IMS Health, Inc., 6%, 11/1/2020 (a) | 418,162 | ||
175M | Jaguar Holding Co., II, 6.375%, 8/1/2023 (a) | 171,063 | ||
300M | Kindred Healthcare, Inc., 8.75%, 1/15/2023 | 277,125 | ||
LifePoint Health, Inc.: | ||||
300M | 5.5%, 12/1/2021 | 306,000 | ||
100M | 5.875%, 12/1/2023 | 101,750 |
37 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Health Care (continued) | ||||
Mallinckrodt Finance SB: | ||||
$ 100M | 4.875%, 4/15/2020 (a) | $ 96,750 | ||
225M | 5.75%, 8/1/2022 (a) | 217,125 | ||
75M | 5.5%, 4/15/2025 (a) | 69,375 | ||
325M | Molina Healthcare, Inc., 5.375%, 11/15/2022 (a) | 325,813 | ||
100M | NBTY, Inc., 9%, 10/1/2018 | 101,489 | ||
100M | Team Health, Inc., 7.25%, 12/15/2023 (a) | 103,750 | ||
Tenet Healthcare Corp.: | ||||
450M | 6.75%, 2/1/2020 | 429,750 | ||
425M | 6%, 10/1/2020 | 449,438 | ||
64M | Universal Hospital Services, Inc., 7.625%, 8/15/2020 | 60,400 | ||
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.: | ||||
275M | 6.75%, 8/15/2018 (a) | 273,900 | ||
600M | 6.375%, 10/15/2020 (a) | 582,000 | ||
150M | 5.625%, 12/1/2021 (a) | 138,750 | ||
175M | 6.125%, 4/15/2025 (a) | 156,625 | ||
625M | WellCare Health Plans, Inc., 5.75%, 11/15/2020 | 646,094 | ||
10,319,726 | ||||
Information Technology—4.5% | ||||
125M | Activision Blizzard, Inc., 5.625%, 9/15/2021 (a) | 131,250 | ||
150M | Anixter, Inc., 5.125%, 10/1/2021 | 150,562 | ||
Audatex North America, Inc.: | ||||
650M | 6%, 6/15/2021 (a) | 657,312 | ||
600M | 6.125%, 11/1/2023 (a) | 606,000 | ||
375M | Belden, Inc., 5.5%, 9/1/2022 (a) | 362,812 | ||
250M | CEB, Inc., 5.625%, 6/15/2023 (a) | 248,750 | ||
325M | CommScope Technologies Finance, LLC, 6%, 6/15/2025 (a) | 313,625 | ||
325M | CoreLogic, Inc., 7.25%, 6/1/2021 | 339,625 | ||
275M | Equinix, Inc., 5.875%, 1/15/2026 | 283,937 | ||
450M | IAC/InterActiveCorp, 4.875%, 11/30/2018 | 452,812 | ||
75M | IHS, Inc., 5%, 11/1/2022 | 76,219 | ||
275M | Match Group, Inc., 6.75%, 12/15/2022 (a) | 273,625 | ||
50M | Micron Technology, Inc., 5.875%, 2/15/2022 | 48,813 | ||
125M | MSCI, Inc., 5.75%, 8/15/2025 (a) | 128,438 | ||
175M | Open Text Corp., 5.625%, 1/15/2023 (a) | 173,688 | ||
4,247,468 | ||||
Manufacturing—2.9% | ||||
325M | Amkor Technology, Inc., 6.375%, 10/1/2022 | 317,281 | ||
100M | ATS Automation Tooling Systems, Inc., 6.5%, 6/15/2023 (a) | 101,500 |
38 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Manufacturing (continued) | ||||
$ 400M | Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc., 8.5%, 12/1/2021 (a) | $ 346,000 | ||
515M | Case New Holland, Inc., 7.875%, 12/1/2017 | 547,187 | ||
325M | Dematic SA, 7.75%, 12/15/2020 (a) | 328,250 | ||
300M | EDP Finance BV, 6%, 2/2/2018 (a) | 315,937 | ||
375M | H&E Equipment Services, Inc., 7%, 9/1/2022 | 369,375 | ||
125M | Sensata Technologies BV, 5%, 10/1/2025 (a) | 122,500 | ||
250M | Sensata Technologies U.K. Financing Co., 6.25%, 2/15/2026 (a) | 260,625 | ||
2,708,655 | ||||
Media-Broadcasting—2.2% | ||||
Belo Corp.: | ||||
100M | 7.75%, 6/1/2027 | 106,000 | ||
25M | 7.25%, 9/15/2027 | 25,500 | ||
425M | Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc., 6.875%, 11/15/2020 | 436,156 | ||
Sinclair Television Group, Inc.: | ||||
475M | 5.375%, 4/1/2021 | 477,969 | ||
225M | 6.375%, 11/1/2021 | 232,875 | ||
Sirius XM Radio, Inc.: | ||||
375M | 5.75%, 8/1/2021 (a) | 387,656 | ||
250M | 6%, 7/15/2024 (a) | 261,875 | ||
175M | 5.375%, 4/15/2025 (a) | 176,531 | ||
2,104,562 | ||||
Media-Cable TV—8.0% | ||||
325M | Altice Financing SA, 6.625%, 2/15/2023 (a) | 321,750 | ||
225M | Altice SA, 7.75%, 7/15/2025 (a) | 206,437 | ||
150M | Cable One, Inc., 5.75%, 6/15/2022 (a) | 149,625 | ||
375M | Cablevision Systems Corp., 7.75%, 4/15/2018 | 390,937 | ||
CCO Holdings, LLC: | ||||
152M | 7%, 1/15/2019 | 155,420 | ||
175M | 7.375%, 6/1/2020 | 182,656 | ||
75M | 5.25%, 3/15/2021 | 78,094 | ||
325M | 5.125%, 2/15/2023 | 326,219 | ||
300M | 5.875%, 5/1/2027 (a) | 299,250 | ||
625M | Cequel Communications Holdings I, LLC, 6.375%, 9/15/2020 (a) | 613,281 | ||
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.: | ||||
25M | 7.625%, 3/15/2020 – Series “A” | 22,844 | ||
550M | 7.625%, 3/15/2020 – Series “B” | 510,125 | ||
150M | 6.5%, 11/15/2022 – Series “A” | 145,312 | ||
250M | 6.5%, 11/15/2022 – Series “B” | 244,687 |
39 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Media-Cable TV (continued) | ||||
DISH DBS Corp.: | ||||
$ 725M | 7.875%, 9/1/2019 | $ 790,250 | ||
125M | 5%, 3/15/2023 | 108,750 | ||
250M | 5.875%, 11/15/2024 | 223,125 | ||
400M | Gray Television, Inc., 7.5%, 10/1/2020 | 412,500 | ||
775M | Harron Communications, LP, 9.125%, 4/1/2020 (a) | 822,469 | ||
225M | Lynx II Corp., 6.375%, 4/15/2023 (a) | 229,219 | ||
Midcontinent Communications & Finance Corp.: | ||||
300M | 6.25%, 8/1/2021 (a) | 304,500 | ||
250M | 6.875%, 8/15/2023 (a) | 254,375 | ||
Numericable Group SA: | ||||
425M | 6%, 5/15/2022 (a) | 413,313 | ||
200M | 6.25%, 5/15/2024 (a) | 193,500 | ||
200M | VTR Finance BV, 6.875%, 1/15/2024 (a) | 184,500 | ||
7,583,138 | ||||
Media-Diversified—.8% | ||||
225M | Gannett Co., Inc., 5.125%, 7/15/2020 | 234,000 | ||
175M | Lamar Media Corp., 5.375%, 1/15/2024 | 181,125 | ||
375M | Tribune Media Co., 5.875%, 7/15/2022 (a) | 375,938 | ||
791,063 | ||||
Metals/Mining—3.5% | ||||
Alcoa, Inc.: | ||||
575M | 6.15%, 8/15/2020 | 595,844 | ||
100M | 5.125%, 10/1/2024 | 91,500 | ||
Aleris International, Inc.: | ||||
84M | 7.625%, 2/15/2018 | 71,820 | ||
460M | 7.875%, 11/1/2020 | 352,820 | ||
ArcelorMittal: | ||||
175M | 6.125%, 6/1/2018 | 161,000 | ||
225M | 10.85%, 6/1/2019 | 212,062 | ||
125M | 6.25%, 8/5/2020 | 100,469 | ||
75M | 6.5%, 3/1/2021 | 60,742 | ||
200M | Commercial Metals Co., 4.875%, 5/15/2023 | 167,000 | ||
600M | JMC Steel Group, 8.25%, 3/15/2018 (a) | 402,372 | ||
225M | Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 8.25%, 6/1/2020 | 236,250 | ||
Novelis, Inc.: | ||||
350M | 8.375%, 12/15/2017 | 342,125 | ||
175M | 8.75%, 12/15/2020 | 161,438 |
40 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Metals/Mining (continued) | ||||
Steel Dynamics, Inc.: | ||||
$ 175M | 5.125%, 10/1/2021 | $ 162,750 | ||
100M | 6.375%, 8/15/2022 | 96,500 | ||
125M | 5.5%, 10/1/2024 | 114,375 | ||
3,329,067 | ||||
Real Estate—2.0% | ||||
Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc.: | ||||
100M | 6%, 4/15/2023 (a) | 94,750 | ||
175M | 8.25%, 10/15/2023 | 148,750 | ||
250M | Dupont Fabros Technology, LP, 5.625%, 6/15/2023 | 253,125 | ||
Geo Group, Inc.: | ||||
175M | 5.875%, 1/15/2022 | 173,250 | ||
100M | 5.125%, 4/1/2023 | 95,250 | ||
100M | 5.875%, 10/15/2024 | 97,500 | ||
Iron Mountain, Inc.: | ||||
450M | 5.75%, 8/15/2024 | 435,937 | ||
425M | 6%, 8/15/2023 | 441,469 | ||
125M | Lennar Corp., 4.875%, 12/15/2023 | 125,000 | ||
1,865,031 | ||||
Retail-General Merchandise—2.1% | ||||
500M | Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., 8.125%, 3/15/2019 (a) | 402,500 | ||
250M | L Brands, Inc., 6.875%, 11/1/2035 (a) | 257,813 | ||
Limited Brands, Inc.: | ||||
125M | 6.9%, 7/15/2017 | 134,063 | ||
450M | 8.5%, 6/15/2019 | 525,375 | ||
Netflix, Inc.: | ||||
275M | 5.5%, 2/15/2022 (a) | 283,250 | ||
125M | 5.875%, 2/15/2025 (a) | 128,750 | ||
150M | Party City Holdings, Inc., 6.125%, 8/15/2023 (a) | 146,250 | ||
100M | Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc., 5.625%, 12/1/2025 | 101,500 | ||
1,979,501 | ||||
Services—2.3% | ||||
ADT Corp.: | ||||
575M | 3.5%, 7/15/2022 | 517,500 | ||
50M | 4.125%, 6/15/2023 | 47,000 | ||
AECOM: | ||||
125M | 5.75%, 10/15/2022 | 129,219 | ||
225M | 5.875%, 10/15/2024 | 230,344 |
41 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Services (continued) | ||||
$ 125M | Aramark Services, Inc., 5.125%, 1/15/2024 (a) | $ 127,656 | ||
400M | Ashtead Capital, Inc., 6.5%, 7/15/2022 (a) | 419,000 | ||
175M | Monitronics International, Inc., 9.125%, 4/1/2020 | 139,563 | ||
300M | Reliance Intermediate Holdings, LP, 6.5%, 4/1/2023 (a) | 313,500 | ||
300M | Safway Group Holding, LLC, 7%, 5/15/2018 (a) | 300,750 | ||
2,224,532 | ||||
Telecommunications—4.0% | ||||
CenturyLink, Inc.: | ||||
100M | 6.45%, 6/15/2021 | 98,000 | ||
700M | 5.8%, 3/15/2022 | 644,175 | ||
175M | 6.75%, 12/1/2023 | 164,719 | ||
200M | Citizens Communications Co., 9%, 8/15/2031 | 169,000 | ||
450M | Frontier Communications Corp., 11%, 9/15/2025 (a) | 446,625 | ||
150M | GCI, Inc., 6.75%, 6/1/2021 | 153,000 | ||
250M | Inmarsat Finance, PLC, 4.875%, 5/15/2022 (a) | 244,375 | ||
Sprint Capital Corp.: | ||||
175M | 6.9%, 5/1/2019 | 143,500 | ||
375M | 6.875%, 11/15/2028 | 262,500 | ||
Wind Acquisition Finance SA: | ||||
275M | 4.75%, 7/15/2020 (a) | 272,938 | ||
675M | 7.375%, 4/23/2021 (a) | 639,563 | ||
Windstream Services, LLC: | ||||
325M | 7.75%, 10/15/2020 | 275,031 | ||
250M | 7.5%, 6/1/2022 | 192,813 | ||
100M | 6.375%, 8/1/2023 | 72,375 | ||
3,778,614 | ||||
Transportation—1.7% | ||||
Aircastle, Ltd.: | ||||
75M | 4.625%, 12/15/2018 | 76,875 | ||
775M | 6.25%, 12/1/2019 | 835,062 | ||
75M | American Airlines Group, Inc., 5.5%, 10/1/2019 (a) | 74,250 | ||
Fly Leasing, Ltd.: | ||||
200M | 6.75%, 12/15/2020 | 205,720 | ||
275M | 6.375%, 10/15/2021 | 274,656 | ||
153M | Mobile Mini, Inc., 7.875%, 12/1/2020 | 159,120 | ||
1,625,683 |
42 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Utilities—2.2% | ||||
AES Corp.: | ||||
$ 75M | 8%, 6/1/2020 | $ 82,875 | ||
275M | 7.375%, 7/1/2021 | 281,875 | ||
200M | 5.5%, 3/15/2024 | 179,500 | ||
275M | Dynegy, Inc., 7.375%, 11/1/2022 | 240,625 | ||
74M | Indiantown Cogeneration Utilities, LP, 9.77%, 12/15/2020 | 83,665 | ||
400M | InterGen NV, 7%, 6/30/2023 (a) | 319,000 | ||
200M | NRG Energy, Inc., 6.25%, 5/1/2024 | 169,040 | ||
357M | NSG Holdings, LLC, 7.75%, 12/15/2025 (a) | 387,027 | ||
175M | Talen Energy Supply, LLC, 6.5%, 6/1/2025 (a) | 116,375 | ||
100M | Terraform Global Operating, LLC, 9.75%, 8/15/2022 (a) | 80,250 | ||
125M | Terraform Power Operating, LLC, 5.875%, 2/1/2023 (a) | 104,063 | ||
2,044,295 | ||||
Waste Management—.7% | ||||
275M | ADS Waste Holdings, Inc., 8.25%, 10/1/2020 | 278,437 | ||
Covanta Holding Corp.: | ||||
125M | 7.25%, 12/1/2020 | 129,375 | ||
300M | 6.375%, 10/1/2022 | 300,000 | ||
707,812 | ||||
Wireless Communications—3.8% | ||||
Level 3 Financing, Inc.: | ||||
150M | 6.125%, 1/15/2021 | 155,625 | ||
75M | 5.125%, 5/1/2023 (a) | 74,719 | ||
325M | MetroPCS Wireless, Inc., 6.625%, 11/15/2020 | 338,647 | ||
Neptune Finco Corp.: | ||||
200M | 10.125%, 1/15/2023 (a) | 209,000 | ||
200M | 6.625%, 10/15/2025 (a) | 208,500 | ||
Sprint Nextel Corp.: | ||||
100M | 9.125%, 3/1/2017 | 102,000 | ||
175M | 8.375%, 8/15/2017 | 172,638 | ||
600M | 7%, 8/15/2020 | 465,000 | ||
275M | 6%, 11/15/2022 | 194,563 | ||
T-Mobile USA, Inc.: | ||||
600M | 6.25%, 4/1/2021 | 619,500 | ||
450M | 6.625%, 4/1/2023 | 460,125 | ||
275M | UPCB Finance IV, Ltd., 5.375%, 1/15/2025 (a) | 260,563 | ||
293M | UPCB Finance V, Ltd., 7.25%, 11/15/2021 (a) | 311,878 | ||
3,572,758 | ||||
Total Value of Corporate Bonds (cost $87,298,807) | 83,363,583 |
43 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
LOAN PARTICIPATIONS†—7.8% | ||||
Aerospace/Defense—.4% | ||||
$ 441M | TransDigm, Inc., 3.75%, 2/28/2020 | $ 427,576 | ||
Automotive—.2% | ||||
222M | CS Intermediate Holdco 2, LLC, 4%, 4/4/2021 | 219,686 | ||
Building Materials—.4% | ||||
399M | Builders FirstSource, Inc., 6%, 7/29/2022 | 396,091 | ||
Chemicals—.3% | ||||
333M | Axalta Coating Systems Dutch Holdings BBV, 3.75%, 2/1/2020 | 330,727 | ||
Energy—.2% | ||||
300M | Jonah Energy, LLC, 7.5%, 5/12/2021 | 190,500 | ||
Food/Drug—1.4% | ||||
Albertson’s LLC: | ||||
300M | 5.5%, 12/21/2022 (b) | 298,749 | ||
268M | 5.5%, 3/21/2019 | 267,069 | ||
430M | Rite Aid Corp., 4.875%, 6/21/2021 | 429,821 | ||
331M | Supervalu, Inc., 4.5%, 3/21/2019 | 328,076 | ||
1,323,715 | ||||
Food/Tobacco—.1% | ||||
75M | B&G Foods, Inc., 3.75%, 11/2/2022 | 74,969 | ||
Gaming/Leisure—.2% | ||||
219M | Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc., 3.5%, 5/14/2020 | 215,536 | ||
Health Care—.9% | ||||
Community Health Systems, Inc.: | ||||
87M | 3.75%, 12/31/2019 | 85,227 | ||
161M | 4%, 1/27/2021 | 158,021 | ||
498M | ConvaTec, Inc., 4.25%, 6/15/2020 | 488,171 | ||
100M | Sterigenics-Nordion Holdings, LLC, 4.25%, 5/16/2022 | 97,506 | ||
828,925 |
44 |
Principal | |||||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||||
Information Technology—1.7% | |||||||
$ 234M | ARRIS Enterprises, Inc., 3.25%, 4/17/2020 | $ 230,104 | |||||
750M | Avago Technologies Cayman, Ltd., 3.75%, 5/6/2021 (b) | 744,375 | |||||
335M | Dell International, LLC, 3.75%, 10/29/2018 | 333,737 | |||||
350M | Match Group, Inc., 5.5%, 11/16/2022 | 347,375 | |||||
1,655,591 | |||||||
Media-Cable TV—.5% | |||||||
500M | CSC Holdings, LLC, 5%, 10/9/2022 | 500,625 | |||||
Media-Diversified—.4% | |||||||
424M | Tribune Media Co., 3.75%, 12/27/2020 | 418,036 | |||||
Retail-General Merchandise—.5% | |||||||
442M | Restaurant Brands, Inc., 3.75%, 12/10/2021 | 438,839 | |||||
Services—.2% | |||||||
109M | Allied Security Holdings, LLC, 4.25%, 2/12/2021 | 106,489 | |||||
83M | Brickman Group, Ltd., LLC, 4.0%, 12/18/2020 | 80,894 | |||||
187,383 | |||||||
Utilities—.4% | |||||||
348M | Calpine Corp., 3.5%, 5/27/2022 | 336,497 | |||||
Total Value of Loan Participations (cost $7,703,352) | 7,544,696 | ||||||
PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES—.8% | |||||||
Transportation | |||||||
699M | American Airlines 13-2 B PTT, 5.6%, 1/15/2022 (cost $712,549) (a) | 713,415 | |||||
SHORT-TERM CORPORATE NOTES—2.1% | |||||||
2,000M | Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.12%, 1/14/2016 (cost $1,999,914) | 1,999,922 | |||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $97,714,622) | 98.5 | % | 93,621,616 | ||||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.5 | 1,411,867 | |||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $95,033,483 |
(a) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5). |
(b) | A portion or all of the security purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis (see |
Note 1G). | |
† | The interest rates shown on variable and floating rate notes are adjusted periodically; the rates |
shown are the rates in effect at December 31, 2015. |
45 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
FUND FOR INCOME
December 31, 2015
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
PTT | Pass-Through Trust |
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Corporate Bonds | $ | — | $ | 83,363,583 | $ | — | $ | 83,363,583 | ||||
Loan Participations | — | 7,544,696 | — | 7,544,696 | ||||||||
Pass-Through Certificates | — | 713,415 | — | 713,415 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 1,999,922 | — | 1,999,922 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | — | $ | 93,621,616 | $ | — | $ | 93,621,616 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization of corporate bonds, |
loan participations and pass-through certificates. | |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period. |
46 | See notes to financial statements |
Portfolio Managers’ Letter
GOVERNMENT FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Government Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 0.04%, including dividends of $0.23 cents per share.
Economic Overview and Market Summary
The U.S. economy grew at an approximately 2% rate during the review period. The consumer was the backbone of the economy, supported by the continued decline in the unemployment rate to 5.0%, a seven-year low. Auto sales reached all-time highs and housing starts returned to prerecession levels. Capital spending was muted though, and the continued appreciation of the dollar was a drag on exports. Inflation remained subdued with the year-over-year change in consumer prices at 0.7%, reflecting in part the 30% fall in the price of oil.
At the beginning of the review period, market expectations were that the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) would end its zero interest rate policy in mid-2015 based primarily on the relatively low unemployment rate. But the unexpectedly weak first quarter economic growth stayed the Fed’s hand, at which point market expectations shifted to September for a first Fed rate hike. Global financial and economic developments, particularly in China, contributed to substantial financial market volatility in August, including a 10% decline in the U.S. stock market. Consequently, at its September meeting, the Fed again deferred raising interest rates. Finally, in December, the Fed raised the federal funds rate 25 basis points (0.25%) based on the continued decline in the unemployment rate.
Interest rates generally moved higher during the review period. The two-year U.S. Treasury note yield, which is very sensitive to Fed policy, had the largest move, rising from 0.67% to 1.05%, a five-year high. Movements in longer-term interest rates were more muted. Persistently low inflation, a stronger dollar, safe haven demand, and relatively high yields versus the rest of the world capped longer-term U.S. interest rates. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased from 2.17% to 2.27% during the review period.
The broad U.S. bond market returned 0.6% for the year, its fourth worst year over the last four decades. Low interest rates provided little cushion to protect against wider spreads and higher interest rates (when interest rates rise, bond prices decline). Agency mortgage-backed securities returned 1.3%, benefiting from their high credit quality. U.S. Treasury securities gained 0.8%. Corporate bonds lost 0.6%, as credit spreads widened due primarily to record new issue supply. High yield bonds had poorer performance, losing 4.6%. Spreads moved substantially wider in large part due to weakness in energy companies (the largest sector of the high yield market), as well as other commodity-related firms. Non-dollar government bonds (i.e., foreign government securities) also had a difficult 12 months, down 4.6%, reflecting the headwind of a 9.3% increase in the value of the dollar. The municipal bond market gained 3.6% as it was insulated from many of the global issues which buffeted other sectors of the bond
47 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
GOVERNMENT FUND
market. Lastly, money market returns continued to be essentially flat due to the Fed’s zero interest rate policy.
Mortgage-Backed Market and Fund Review
Agency mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) outperformed comparable dated U.S. Treasury securities as investor demand for agency MBS continued to be robust even though issuance was much higher than anticipated. Agency MBS performance was mainly driven by strong bank demand, as well as the continued reinvestment of principal pay-downs back into the sector by the Fed. Agency MBS supply was high due to lower borrowing costs, as well as housing market strength. Spreads in the agency MBS market moved wider for the period under review, however the spread widening in the sector was not enough to erode the carry — or yield — enjoyed by agency MBS investors during a period where interest rates remained historically low.
Within the MBS market, 30-year Ginnie Mae (“GNMA”) mortgage-backed securities underperformed Fannie Mae (“FNMA”) MBS as the former returned 1.36% and the latter returned 1.76%. This outperformance of FNMA mortgages over their GNMA counterparts was due to faster GNMA prepayment speeds as more GNMA borrowers refinanced their mortgages.
During the period under review the Fund had an average allocation to agency MBS of 48.3%, U.S. Government agency securities 23%, U.S. Treasuries 17.1%, agency commercial mortgage-backed securities 6.1%, agency collateralized mortgage obligations 1.9% and cash 3.6%. The Fund underperformed its benchmark, the Citigroup Government and Mortgage Index, during the period under review. Broadly, the Fund’s 10% underweight in lower coupon agency MBS had a negative impact on performance. The Fund’s 5% overweight in 30-year GNMA agency MBS was also a drag on performance as these securities experienced elevated prepayment speeds. Lastly, the Fund’s trading activity in 30-year Treasury securities had a negative impact on performance.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
48 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
GOVERNMENT FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,003.09 | $3.69 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,021.53 | $3.72 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .73%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid | |
during the period are net of expenses waived. |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
49 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
GOVERNMENT FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Government Fund and the Citigroup U.S. Government/Mortgage Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Government Fund beginning 12/31/05 with a theoretical investment in the Citigroup U.S. Government/Mortgage Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged index that is a combination of the Citigroup U.S. Government Index and the Citigroup Mortgage Index. The Citigroup U.S. Government Index tracks the performance of the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government-sponsored indices within the Citigroup U.S. Broad Investment Grade Bond Index. The Citigroup Mortgage Index tracks the performance of the mortgage component of the Citigroup U.S. Broad Investment Grade Bond Index, which is comprised of 30- and 15-year GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC pass-throughs and FNMA and FHLMC balloon mortgages. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15. During the periods shown, some of the expenses of the Fund were waived. If such expenses had been paid by the Fund, the Average Annual Total Returns for One Year, Five Years and Ten Years would have been (.11%), 1.42% and 3.25%, respectively.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Citigroup and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
50 |
Portfolio of Investments
GOVERNMENT FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED | ||||
SECURITIES—48.6% | ||||
Fannie Mae—29.6% | ||||
$2,715M | 3%, 7/1/2021 – 1/1/2045 | $ 2,766,290 | ||
3,690M | 3.5%, 11/1/2028 – 1/13/2046 (a) | 3,821,001 | ||
1,147M | 4%, 1/1/2041 – 8/1/2044 | 1,217,139 | ||
335M | 4.5%, 11/1/2040 – 8/1/2041 | 363,245 | ||
415M | 5.5%, 7/1/2034 – 10/1/2039 | 467,091 | ||
160M | 9%, 11/1/2026 | 182,996 | ||
8,817,762 | ||||
Freddie Mac—7.2% | ||||
328M | 3.5%, 8/1/2044 – 10/1/2044 | 338,298 | ||
1,163M | 4%, 11/1/2040 – 8/1/2044 | 1,231,392 | ||
212M | 4.5%, 5/1/2044 | 229,258 | ||
321M | 3.5%, 11/1/2042 | 331,779 | ||
2,130,727 | ||||
Government National Mortgage Association I | ||||
Program—11.8% | ||||
568M | 4%, 11/15/2025 – 8/15/2041 | 606,494 | ||
1,088M | 4.5%, 12/15/2039 – 6/15/2040 | 1,179,788 | ||
1,157M | 5%, 6/15/2033 – 4/15/2040 | 1,291,000 | ||
223M | 5.5%, 2/15/2033 – 1/15/2036 | 250,597 | ||
155M | 6%, 11/15/2032 – 4/15/2036 | 177,998 | ||
3,505,877 | ||||
Total Value of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $14,305,683) | 14,454,366 | |||
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | ||||
OBLIGATIONS—22.3% | ||||
Fannie Mae: | ||||
500M | 0.875%, 5/21/2018 | 495,487 | ||
1,020M | 1.125%, 7/20/2018 | 1,016,220 | ||
300M | 1.5%, 11/30/2020 | 294,878 | ||
850M | 1.625%, 11/27/2018 | 856,548 | ||
125M | 1.75%, 11/26/2019 | 125,712 | ||
260M | 2.625%, 9/6/2024 | 263,050 |
51 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
GOVERNMENT FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY OBLIGATIONS (continued) | ||||
Federal Farm Credit Bank: | ||||
$ 550M | 1.7%, 2/6/2019 | $ 552,006 | ||
300M | 2.125%, 3/6/2019 | 306,361 | ||
200M | 4.875%, 1/17/2017 | 208,128 | ||
750M | Federal Home Loan Bank, 1.03%, 9/28/2018 | 741,648 | ||
Freddie Mac: | ||||
800M | 0.875%, 3/7/2018 | 794,642 | ||
1,000M | 1.25%, 8/1/2019 | 989,395 | ||
Total Value of U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $6,682,974) | 6,644,075 | |||
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—17.3% | ||||
122M | FDA Queens, LP, 6.99%, 6/15/2017 (b) | 127,012 | ||
225M | U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3%, 11/15/2045 | 224,363 | ||
U.S. Treasury Notes: | ||||
200M | 1.375%, 3/31/2020 | 197,562 | ||
100M | 1.375%, 8/31/2020 | 98,410 | ||
100M | 1.375%, 9/30/2020 | 98,283 | ||
400M | 1.375%, 10/31/2020 | 392,976 | ||
670M | 1.5%, 5/31/2020 | 664,282 | ||
700M | 1.625%, 7/31/2020 | 696,718 | ||
100M | 1.875%, 8/31/2022 | 98,861 | ||
840M | 2%, 7/31/2022 | 837,850 | ||
240M | 2%, 2/15/2025 | 234,647 | ||
400M | 2%, 8/15/2025 | 390,062 | ||
320M | 2.125%, 12/31/2021 | 322,869 | ||
400M | 2.25%, 11/15/2024 | 399,859 | ||
365M | 2.375%, 8/15/2024 | 368,864 | ||
Total Value of U.S. Government Obligations (cost $5,219,432) | 5,152,618 | |||
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED | ||||
SECURITIES—6.1% | ||||
Fannie Mae—4.4% | ||||
761M | 2.996%, 11/1/2022 | 782,446 | ||
500M | 3.84%, 5/1/2018 | 522,377 | ||
1,304,823 | ||||
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation—1.7% | ||||
500M | Multi-Family Structured Pass-Through, 2.13%, 1/25/2019 | 504,576 | ||
Total Value of Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $1,852,128) | 1,809,399 |
52 |
Principal | |||||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||||
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE | |||||||
OBLIGATIONS—1.9% | |||||||
$ 531M | Fannie Mae, 4%, 2/25/2025 (cost $572,503) | $ 571,669 | |||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||||
OBLIGATIONS—6.7% | |||||||
2,000M | Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.21%, 1/25/2016 (cost $1,999,720) | 1,999,836 | |||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $30,632,440) | 102.9 | % | 30,631,963 | ||||
Excess of Liabilities Over Other Assets | (2.9 | ) | (855,242) | ||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $29,776,721 |
(a) | A portion or all of the security purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis (see |
Note 1G). | |
(b) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5). |
53 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
GOVERNMENT FUND
December 31, 2015
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Residential Mortgage-Backed | ||||||||||||
Securities | $ | — | $ | 14,464,366 | $ | — | $ | 14,464,366 | ||||
U.S. Government Agency | ||||||||||||
Obligations | — | 6,644,075 | — | 6,644,075 | ||||||||
U.S. Government Obligations | — | 5,152,618 | — | 5,152,618 | ||||||||
Commercial Mortgage-Backed | ||||||||||||
Securities | — | 1,809,399 | — | 1,809,399 | ||||||||
Collateralized Mortgage | ||||||||||||
Obligations | — | 571,669 | — | 571,669 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 1,999,836 | — | 1,999,836 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities | $ | — | $ | 30,641,963 | $ | — | $ | 30,641,963 |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the |
reporting period. |
54 | See notes to financial statements |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Growth & Income Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –3.12%, including dividends of $0.55 cents per share and capital gains of $2.50 per share.
The Fund underperformed its benchmark index due to its multi-cap mandate, poor stock selection within certain sectors and general weakness among dividend style investments during 2015. Underperformance was driven by negative stock selection in the Industrial, Financial and Technology sectors, which more than offset relative outperformance in the Consumer Discretionary, Materials and Healthcare sectors. A review by market capitalization breakpoints (according to Lipper) had the Fund benefiting modestly on a relative basis from its weighting in small-cap stocks (13% of portfolio). However, performance within the large-cap (69%) and mid-cap (18%) sections of the portfolio drove the overall performance. Also, comparatively, “yield” stocks in general had a poor year, according to the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Performance Monitor, and were off 4.1%. Additionally, “dividend growth” strategies fared poorly, down 5.0%. Both are key strategies for the Fund’s stock selection, as greater than 90% of the Fund is invested in companies that pay dividends.
Among sector results, the Industrial sector represented the largest drag on Fund performance in 2015, driven by stock selection. Railcar manufacturer Greenbrier declined 54% during 2015 as new tank car orders declined sharply. Intermodal container leasing firms TAL International and Textainer declined 71% and 64%, respectively, as the outlook for global lease rates worsened. Fire safety and security provider Tyco International declined 26% on a weakening demand outlook from its global industrial clientele.
Stock selection within the Financials sector also dragged on 2015 performance. Leasing firm Ryder System declined 42% on deteriorating outlook for truck leasing rates. American Express declined 28% on increased competitive intensity in the card space, and on concerns surrounding its loss of the Costco co-branded card relationship. Wealth management and insurance provider, Ameriprise, declined 26% on deteriorating fund flows and concerns about the proposed “fiduciary rule” from the Department of Labor.
The Fund also suffered from disappointing stock selection in the Technology sector, with wireless semiconductor firms Qorvo and Qualcomm inflicting the greatest performance damage. Qorvo (which was formed earlier in the year as a combination of RF Micro and Triquint) declined 38% in 2015 amidst increasing concerns over smartphone sales and a dramatic slowdown in Chinese (4G) LTE base-station spending. Qualcomm’s 35% decline also resulted from increasing concerns about the maturing global smartphone market, as well as specific challenges in collecting royalties in its licensing business. Technology bellwether Hewlett Packard (which in November split
55 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
into two companies) declined 31% on an adjusted basis, hurt by continued weakness in the broader IT hardware industry, and in the PC and printing markets in particular. Additionally, the Fund’s decision not to hold the sector’s fast growth (and richly priced) bellwethers resulted in an outsized impact on relative performance (in particular, the so-called “FANG” stocks: Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google/Alphabet).
There were some bright spots for the Fund in 2015, most notably in the Consumer Discretionary sector, where strong stock selection drove outperformance. Automotive component suppliers Lear and Delphi Automotive gained 26% and 19%, respectively, despite increasing worries about the sustainability of global auto sales. Positive trends in home improvement and athletic apparel bolstered The Home Depot (+29% in the year) and Foot Locker (+18%). Meanwhile, shares of Jarden advanced 19% during a year in which it agreed to merge with longtime Fund holding, Newell Rubbermaid.
The Fund’s holdings within the Materials sector also contributed to relative performance (despite negative absolute performance) thanks to positive stock selection. Specialty materials provider Cytec Industries advanced 64% in 2015, during which it agreed to be acquired by Solvay SA in an all-cash transaction. Specialty chemicals maker Trinseo SA gained 58% as the outlook for styrene margins improved significantly.
The Fund’s overweighting of the Healthcare sector during 2015 contributed positively to relative performance, as the overall sector’s performance was among the strongest in 2015. Aiding performance for the Fund were specialty pharmaceutical firm Allergan PLC (+21%) and drug distributor Omnicare (+35%), both of which agreed to be acquired during the year. Gilead Sciences, one of the Fund’s largest holdings, gained 9% as the company showed improved visibility and momentum for its Hepatitis C offerings. However, the Fund’s overall stock selection within Healthcare was modestly negative for the year, with modest detractors including Mylan NV (–4% in a tumultuous year) and AbbVie (–6%).
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
56 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $945.62 | $3.78 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,021.33 | $3.92 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .77%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
57 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Growth & Income Fund and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Growth & Income Fund beginning 12/31/05 with a theoretical investment in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of such stocks, which represent all major industries. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Standard & Poor’s and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
58 |
Portfolio of Investments
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—98.3% | ||||
Consumer Discretionary—18.1% | ||||
202,300 | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | $ 3,135,650 | ||
69,500 | BorgWarner, Inc. | 3,004,485 | ||
113,000 | CBS Corporation – Class “B” | 5,325,690 | ||
81,400 | Delphi Automotive, PLC | 6,978,422 | ||
46,600 | Foot Locker, Inc. | 3,033,194 | ||
179,700 | Ford Motor Company | 2,531,973 | ||
66,400 | Hanesbrands, Inc. | 1,954,152 | ||
36,400 | Harman International Industries, Inc. | 3,429,244 | ||
48,000 | Home Depot, Inc. | 6,348,000 | ||
126,700 | * | Jarden Corporation | 7,237,104 | |
97,000 | Johnson Controls, Inc. | 3,830,530 | ||
46,600 | L Brands, Inc. | 4,465,212 | ||
53,300 | Lear Corporation | 6,546,839 | ||
39,600 | Magna International, Inc. | 1,606,176 | ||
120,700 | Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. | 5,320,456 | ||
52,400 | Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | 2,218,616 | ||
52,600 | * | Select Comfort Corporation | 1,126,166 | |
106,700 | Stein Mart, Inc. | 718,091 | ||
79,800 | Tupperware Brands Corporation | 4,440,870 | ||
42,700 | Walt Disney Company | 4,486,916 | ||
13,400 | Whirlpool Corporation | 1,968,058 | ||
44,900 | Wyndham Worldwide Corporation | 3,261,985 | ||
82,967,829 | ||||
Consumer Staples—9.6% | ||||
128,200 | Altria Group, Inc. | 7,462,522 | ||
96,178 | Coca-Cola Company | 4,131,807 | ||
77,400 | CVS Health Corporation | 7,567,398 | ||
51,200 | Delhaize Group (ADR) | 1,243,648 | ||
53,200 | Koninklijke Ahold NV (ADR) | 1,124,382 | ||
69,000 | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A” | 2,614,410 | ||
44,100 | PepsiCo, Inc. | 4,406,472 | ||
78,700 | Philip Morris International, Inc. | 6,918,517 | ||
28,000 | Procter & Gamble Company | 2,223,480 | ||
67,600 | Tyson Foods, Inc. – Class “A” | 3,605,108 | ||
42,650 | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 2,614,445 | ||
43,912,189 |
59 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Energy—5.8% | ||||
36,900 | Anadarko Petroleum Corporation | $ 1,792,602 | ||
9,300 | Chevron Corporation | 836,628 | ||
61,400 | ConocoPhillips | 2,866,766 | ||
65,400 | Devon Energy Corporation | 2,092,800 | ||
53,400 | ExxonMobil Corporation | 4,162,530 | ||
26,700 | Hess Corporation | 1,294,416 | ||
80,222 | Marathon Oil Corporation | 1,009,995 | ||
90,622 | Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 4,697,844 | ||
26,700 | Occidental Petroleum Corporation | 1,805,187 | ||
30,650 | Phillips 66 | 2,507,170 | ||
12,900 | Schlumberger, Ltd. | 899,775 | ||
93,607 | Suncor Energy, Inc. | 2,415,061 | ||
26,380,774 | ||||
Financials—14.2% | ||||
31,700 | ACE, Ltd. | 3,704,145 | ||
66,706 | American Express Company | 4,639,402 | ||
40,000 | Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | 4,256,800 | ||
149,500 | Brixmor Property Group, Inc. (REIT) | 3,860,090 | ||
92,700 | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 2,427,813 | ||
79,943 | Discover Financial Services | 4,286,544 | ||
145,900 | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF) | 3,469,502 | ||
12,300 | iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (ETF) | 1,714,374 | ||
25,400 | iShares Russell 2000 ETF (ETF) | 2,857,754 | ||
105,888 | JPMorgan Chase & Company | 6,991,785 | ||
15,000 | Morgan Stanley | 477,150 | ||
40,100 | PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 3,821,931 | ||
16,600 | SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (ETF) | 3,384,574 | ||
66,400 | SPDR S&P Regional Banking (ETF) | 2,783,488 | ||
170,908 | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (REIT) | 2,134,641 | ||
110,800 | Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (REIT) | 3,623,160 | ||
94,800 | U.S. Bancorp | 4,045,116 | ||
106,700 | Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. – Class “A” (REIT) | 2,052,908 | ||
76,567 | Wells Fargo & Company | 4,162,182 | ||
64,693,359 | ||||
Health Care—19.5% | ||||
106,700 | Abbott Laboratories | 4,791,897 | ||
89,400 | AbbVie, Inc. | 5,296,056 | ||
25,400 | * | Allergan, PLC | 7,937,500 | |
93,430 | Baxalta, Inc. | 3,646,573 | ||
46,730 | Baxter International, Inc. | 1,782,749 |
60 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Health Care (continued) | ||||
45,100 | Cardinal Health, Inc. | $ 4,026,077 | ||
42,722 | * | Express Scripts Holding Company | 3,734,330 | |
85,300 | Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 8,631,507 | ||
59,500 | Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | 2,859,570 | ||
72,275 | Johnson & Johnson | 7,424,088 | ||
2,512 | * | Mallinckrodt, PLC | 187,471 | |
18,900 | McKesson Corporation | 3,727,647 | ||
44,812 | Medtronic, PLC | 3,446,939 | ||
86,743 | Merck & Company, Inc. | 4,581,765 | ||
54,100 | * | Mylan NV | 2,925,187 | |
230,993 | Pfizer, Inc. | 7,456,454 | ||
70,800 | Phibro Animal Health Corporation – Class “A” | 2,133,204 | ||
69,443 | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 9,850,490 | ||
81,900 | * | VWR Corporation | 2,318,589 | |
53,272 | Zoetis, Inc. | 2,552,794 | ||
89,310,887 | ||||
Industrials—8.9% | ||||
37,294 | 3M Company | 5,617,968 | ||
54,900 | Altra Industrial Motion Corporation | 1,376,892 | ||
53,300 | * | Generac Holdings, Inc. | 1,586,741 | |
66,696 | General Electric Company | 2,077,580 | ||
56,000 | Honeywell International, Inc. | 5,799,920 | ||
60,500 | ITT Corporation | 2,197,360 | ||
5,400 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | 1,172,610 | ||
23,700 | ManpowerGroup, Inc. | 1,997,673 | ||
23,800 | Nielsen Holdings, PLC | 1,109,080 | ||
26,700 | Ryder System, Inc. | 1,517,361 | ||
26,100 | Snap-On, Inc. | 4,474,323 | ||
82,400 | * | TAL International Group, Inc. | 1,310,160 | |
39,800 | Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd. | 561,578 | ||
95,900 | Textron, Inc. | 4,028,759 | ||
73,400 | Tyco International, PLC | 2,340,726 | ||
37,500 | United Technologies Corporation | 3,602,625 | ||
40,771,356 | ||||
Information Technology—17.2% | ||||
77,500 | Apple, Inc. | 8,157,650 | ||
122,600 | * | ARRIS International, PLC | 3,747,882 | |
29,600 | Avago Technologies, Ltd. | 4,296,440 | ||
239,200 | Cisco Systems, Inc. | 6,495,476 |
61 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Information Technology (continued) | ||||
53,100 | * | eBay, Inc. | $ 1,459,188 | |
253,400 | EMC Corporation | 6,507,312 | ||
127,000 | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company | 1,930,400 | ||
127,000 | HP, Inc. | 1,503,680 | ||
155,200 | Intel Corporation | 5,346,640 | ||
20,100 | International Business Machines Corporation | 2,766,162 | ||
73,600 | Juniper Networks, Inc. | 2,031,360 | ||
99,600 | Mentor Graphics Corporation | 1,834,632 | ||
79,600 | Methode Electronics, Inc. | 2,533,668 | ||
166,100 | Microsoft Corporation | 9,215,228 | ||
23,400 | * | NXP Semiconductors NV | 1,971,450 | |
93,100 | Oracle Corporation | 3,400,943 | ||
38,200 | * | PTC, Inc. | 1,322,866 | |
19,300 | * | Qorvo, Inc. | 982,370 | |
73,288 | QUALCOMM, Inc. | 3,663,301 | ||
29,100 | SanDisk Corporation | 2,211,309 | ||
121,760 | Symantec Corporation | 2,556,960 | ||
26,600 | * | Synaptics, Inc. | 2,137,044 | |
40,100 | TE Connectivity, Ltd. | 2,590,861 | ||
78,662,822 | ||||
Materials—1.1% | ||||
29,000 | International Paper Company | 1,093,300 | ||
10,700 | Praxair, Inc. | 1,095,680 | ||
36,050 | RPM International, Inc. | 1,588,363 | ||
49,700 | * | Trinseo SA | 1,401,540 | |
5,178,883 | ||||
Telecommunication Services—2.2% | ||||
141,400 | AT&T, Inc. | 4,865,574 | ||
113,000 | Verizon Communications, Inc. | 5,222,860 | ||
10,088,434 | ||||
Utilities—1.7% | ||||
59,800 | AGL Resources, Inc. | 3,815,838 | ||
119,600 | Exelon Corporation | 3,321,292 | ||
21,900 | NiSource, Inc. | 427,269 | ||
7,564,399 | ||||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $286,362,175) | 449,530,932 |
62 |
Principal | |||||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||||
OBLIGATIONS—1.4% | |||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||||
$2,500M | 0.18%, 1/27/2016 | $ 2,499,778 | |||||
3,700M | 0.26%, 1/19/2016 | 3,699,785 | |||||
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $6,199,194) | 6,199,563 | ||||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $292,561,369) | 99.7 | % | 455,730,495 | ||||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | .3 | 1,356,113 | |||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $457,086,608 |
* | Non-income producing | |
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
ADR | American Depositary Receipts | |
ETF | Exchange Traded Fund | |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
63 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
GROWTH & INCOME FUND
December 31, 2015
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 449,530,932 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 449,530,932 | ||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 6,199,563 | — | 6,199,563 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | 449,530,932 | $ | 6,199,563 | $ | — | $ | 455,730,495 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks. |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
64 | See notes to financial statements |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
INTERNATIONAL FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series International Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 3.49%, including dividends of $0.23 cents per share.
Market Review
In the U.S., disappointing economic data, lackluster corporate earnings, uncertainties about an initial Federal Reserve rate hike and concerns regarding the Greek debt crisis contributed to U.S. equity market volatility for the first three quarters of the year. However, in the fourth quarter, U.S. equities rebounded, driven by a recovery in large-cap equities, with merger and acquisition activity remaining a dominant theme. Following strong October and November non-farm payrolls, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points (0.25%), the first time since 2006. U.S. equities, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, returned 1.38% for 2015.
European equities entered positive territory in the beginning of 2015, bolstered by Central Bank bond purchases. By mid-year, the Greek debt crisis impacted European markets, and the effects of the Chinese slowdown and a scandal at German auto manufacturer Volkswagen weighed on investor sentiment. In the fourth quarter, the European Central Bank announced additional stimulus and cut its deposit rate by 10 basis points to –0.3%, which was on the lower end of expectations, and disappointed markets. European stocks slightly recovered in the fourth quarter; however, over the one-year period ended December 31, 2015, the MSCI Europe Index returned –2.84%.
Emerging markets entered 2015 with positive momentum and after reaching highs in late-April, driven by soaring Chinese equity markets, emerging markets experienced steep declines as concerns over China’s weak macroeconomic data, Beijing’s unexpected move to devalue its currency, and substantial Chinese equity market volatility led to a global market sell-off in August. Emerging markets suffered far worse than their developed market counterparts. Currencies of many developing countries tumbled as well. While emerging market equities ended in slightly positive territory for the fourth quarter, the asset class faced headwinds due to slowing growth, earnings pressure, U.S. dollar strength and a collapse in commodity prices. Emerging markets, as measured by the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, returned –14.92% for 2015.
Overall, we expect slower global economic growth and heightened equity market volatility to continue into 2016. In this type of environment, stock selection is critical and we believe that taking a focused and concentrated approach to portfolio construction will enable us to outperform over a full market cycle.
65 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
INTERNATIONAL FUND
Stocks that Helped Absolute Performance
We believe Novo-Nordisk is well-positioned to achieve strong growth through innovation and new launches. Novo-Nordisk has both dominant market share as well as industry leading products. The group is the leading drug company focused on diabetes care. Novo-Nordisk is highly focused on its few core therapeutic areas and rewards shareholders with industry leading growth rates and cash returns.
Paddy Power, an Irish gaming company, has been a long-held and successful position in our strategies. It is predominantly a technology company as much of gambling has moved online. The company has a powerful brand and a fun, innovative and edgy image. Its business footprint currently spans only jurisdictions where it can operate legally, which is a rarity in the global online gaming marketplace. Most competitors in the online space have been happy to cross into geographies where gambling is not legal, tempted by the short-term buck to be made. Paddy Power has consistently kept its gaming nose clean and mainly operates in Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Australia through direct or business-to-business operating ventures. Specifically, Paddy Power has been extremely successful in Australia and has become the market leader there. Paddy Power’s stock performed well as it released its 1st half of 2015 results that exceeded expectations and announced that it has reached an agreement on the key terms of a merger with Betfair, which would create one the world’s largest public online betting and gaming companies. In our view, the merger brings together two very strong businesses to create an even stronger business. In addition, since Betfair is currently managed by many former Paddy Power employees, it is a good cultural fit. We believe the combined company will be a long-term industry winner in online gaming, particularly in the UK. In our view, Paddy Power has a bright future as penetration to online continues to grow and the company is growing its online business with existing customers.
Stocks that Hurt Absolute Performance
Enbridge is the largest liquid pipeline in Canada. It is the backbone system to move oil from the Alberta region to Eastern Canada and the United States. We think that the recent underperformance of the stock reflects the sharp correction in oil prices. In a scenario of long-term low oil prices, there is risk that oil producers in Canada will need to start cutting production targets. This will have a negative impact on Enbridge’s long-term growth trajectory. Enbridge transports and distributes energy (both crude oil and natural gas) throughout Canada and the U.S. and is one of the largest energy companies in the world. It owns Canada’s largest gas distribution franchise. In general, the pipeline business is stable as users of pipelines sign long-term contracts for natural gas transportation, allowing pipeline compa-
66 |
nies to raise the capital they need to build projects. Because of its many tendrils throughout North America, we believe that Enbridge has significant infrastructure growth opportunities from emerging shale plays.
Baidu disappointed with continued weakness in margins as the company is spending heavily on marketing to drive adoption of its Online-to-Offline (O2O) platforms. After a meeting with the management of Baidu, we decided to trim Baidu’s earnings estimates further. We had already trimmed our estimates by close to 25%. The weaker Chinese currency (which was not our base case) also impacted our assumptions. We believe that this currency weakness should persist and thus the USD returns need to be ratcheted down for the next two to three years. Our interactions with management led us to model a much more prolonged investment period in O2O (Online to Offline) than what we had assumed in our earlier models.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
67 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
INTERNATIONAL FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,007.53 | $4.30 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,020.93 | $4.33 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .85%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
68 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
INTERNATIONAL FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series International Fund, the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) EAFE Index (Gross) and the Morgan Stanley Capital International (“MSCI”) EAFE Index (Net).
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series International Fund beginning 12/31/05 with theoretical investments in the MSCI EAFE Index (Gross) and the MSCI EAFE Index (Net) (the “Indices”). The Indices are free float-adjusted market capitalization indices that measure developed foreign market equity performance, excluding the U.S. and Canada. The MSCI EAFE Index (Gross) is calculated on a total-return basis with the maximum possible dividend reinvestment (before taxes). The MSCI EAFE Index (Net) is calculated on a total-return basis with net dividends reinvested after deduction of foreign withholding taxes. The Indices are unmanaged and it is not possible to invest directly in these Indices. In addition, the Indices do not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Indices figures are from Morgan Stanley & Company, Inc. and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
69 |
Portfolio of Investments
INTERNATIONAL FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—97.0% | ||||
United Kingdom—22.5% | ||||
152,352 | British American Tobacco, PLC | $ 8,469,615 | ||
75,731 | Diageo, PLC | 2,072,658 | ||
131,659 | Domino’s Pizza Group, PLC | 2,041,857 | ||
59,439 | Imperial Tobacco Group, PLC | 3,142,688 | ||
1,505,476 | Lloyds Banking Group, PLC | 1,621,705 | ||
81,342 | * | Persimmon, PLC | 2,430,679 | |
62,028 | Reckitt Benckiser Group, PLC | 5,743,486 | ||
75,791 | SABMiller, PLC | 4,546,924 | ||
30,069,612 | ||||
United States—13.8% | ||||
21,790 | Accenture, PLC – Class “A” | 2,277,055 | ||
4,448 | * | Alphabet, Inc. – Class “C” | 3,375,498 | |
86,142 | * | PayPal Holdings, Inc. | 3,118,340 | |
76,383 | Philip Morris International, Inc. | 6,714,829 | ||
2,303 | * | Priceline Group, Inc. | 2,936,210 | |
18,421,932 | ||||
Switzerland—13.2% | ||||
411 | Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Spruengli AG | 2,566,575 | ||
85,089 | Nestle SA – Registered | 6,316,603 | ||
22,809 | Roche Holding AG – Genusscheine | 6,320,566 | ||
126,948 | UBS Group AG | 2,462,724 | ||
17,666,468 | ||||
India—10.5% | ||||
340,735 | HDFC Bank, Ltd. | 5,573,568 | ||
2,248 | HDFC Bank, Ltd. (ADR) | 138,477 | ||
351,038 | Housing Development Finance Corporation, Ltd. | 6,705,705 | ||
330,811 | ITC, Ltd. | 1,639,147 | ||
14,056,897 | ||||
France—7.1% | ||||
14,605 | Air Liquide SA | 1,645,140 | ||
91,430 | Bureau Veritas SA | 1,827,269 | ||
20,166 | Essilor International SA | 2,521,380 | ||
4,622 | Hermes International | 1,565,916 | ||
11,069 | L’Oreal SA | 1,868,150 | ||
9,427,855 |
70 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Australia—4.9% | ||||
44,737 | CSL, Ltd. | $ 3,433,082 | ||
50,514 | Ramsay Health Care, Ltd. | 2,500,835 | ||
43,748 | Sonic Healthcare, Ltd. | 569,679 | ||
6,503,596 | ||||
Germany—4.6% | ||||
22,676 | Bayer AG | 2,832,029 | ||
41,611 | SAP SE | 3,301,983 | ||
6,134,012 | ||||
Netherlands—4.1% | ||||
26,251 | ABN AMRO Group NV-CVA | 589,682 | ||
110,597 | Unilever NV-CVA | 4,820,297 | ||
5,409,979 | ||||
Denmark—3.9% | ||||
12,039 | Coloplast A/S – Series “B” | 971,995 | ||
74,096 | Novo Nordisk A/S – Series “B” | 4,290,026 | ||
5,262,021 | ||||
Canada—3.0% | ||||
59,189 | Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc. – Class “B” | 2,607,191 | ||
42,874 | Enbridge, Inc. | 1,423,453 | ||
4,030,644 | ||||
Japan—2.2% | ||||
13,900 | Daito Trust Construction Company, Ltd. | 1,605,596 | ||
68,300 | Unicharm Corporation | 1,394,800 | ||
3,000,396 | ||||
Hong Kong—2.1% | ||||
150,982 | Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings, Ltd. | 1,398,766 | ||
242,549 | Link REIT (REIT) | 1,452,155 | ||
2,850,921 | ||||
South Africa—1.6% | ||||
15,596 | Naspers, Ltd. | 2,137,958 |
71 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
INTERNATIONAL FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares or | |||||||
Principal | |||||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||||
Spain—1.6% | |||||||
1,835 | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA | $ 13,439 | |||||
45,168 | Grifols SA | 2,092,561 | |||||
2,106,000 | |||||||
Ireland—1.4% | |||||||
13,995 | Paddy Power, PLC | 1,872,246 | |||||
South Korea—.5% | |||||||
1,901 | Amorepacific Corporation | 667,113 | |||||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $92,324,395) | 129,617,650 | ||||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||||
OBLIGATIONS—2.2% | |||||||
United States | |||||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||||
$ 700M | 0.18%, 1/27/2016 | 699,938 | |||||
1,000M | 0.245%, 1/27/2016 | 999,911 | |||||
1,300M | 0.26%, 1/19/2016 | 1,299,925 | |||||
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $2,999,563) | 2,999,774 | ||||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $95,323,958) | 99.2 | % | 132,617,424 | ||||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | .8 | 1,073,784 | |||||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $133,691,208 |
* | Non-income producing | |
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
ADR | American Depositary Receipts | |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
72 |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks | ||||||||||||
United Kingdom | $ | 30,069,612 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 30,069,612 | ||||
United States | 18,421,932 | — | — | 18,421,932 | ||||||||
Switzerland | — | 17,666,468 | — | 17,666,468 | ||||||||
India | 14,056,897 | — | — | 14,056,897 | ||||||||
France | 9,427,855 | — | — | 9,427,855 | ||||||||
Australia | 6,503,596 | — | — | 6,503,596 | ||||||||
Germany | — | 6,134,012 | — | 6,134,012 | ||||||||
Netherlands | 5,409,979 | — | — | 5,409,979 | ||||||||
Denmark | — | 5,262,021 | — | 5,262,021 | ||||||||
Canada | 4,030,644 | — | — | 4,030,644 | ||||||||
Japan | — | 3,000,396 | — | 3,000,396 | ||||||||
Hong Kong | 2,850,921 | — | — | 2,850,921 | ||||||||
South Africa | 2,137,958 | — | — | 2,137,958 | ||||||||
Spain | 2,106,000 | — | — | 2,106,000 | ||||||||
Ireland | 1,872,246 | — | — | 1,872,246 | ||||||||
South Korea | — | 667,113 | — | 667,113 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Obligations | — | 2,999,774 | — | 2,999,774 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities | $ | 96,887,640 | $ | 35,729,784 | * | $ | — | $ | 132,617,424 |
* | Includes certain foreign securities that were fair valued due to fluctuation in U.S. securities markets |
exceeding a predetermined level or a foreign market being closed; therefore, $32,730,010 of | |
investment securities were classified as Level 2 instead of Level 1. | |
Transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities as of December 31, 2015 resulted from securities | |
priced previously with an official close price (Level 1 securities) or securities fair valued by the | |
Valuation Committee (Level 2 securities). Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 as of December 31, 2015 | |
were $68,359,394. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the reporting period. |
See notes to financial statements | 73 |
Portfolio Managers’ Letter
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Investment Grade Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –0.35%, including dividends of $0.47 cents per share.
The Fund invests in investment grade fixed income securities. The majority of the Fund’s assets were invested in investment grade corporate bonds. The Fund also had as much as 3% of its assets invested in high-yield securities and 2% invested in U.S. Treasuries.
Economic Overview and Market Summary
The U.S. economy grew at an approximately 2% rate during the review period. The consumer was the backbone of the economy, supported by the continued decline in the unemployment rate to 5.0%, a seven-year low. Auto sales reached all-time highs and housing starts returned to pre-recession levels. Capital spending was muted though, and the continued appreciation of the dollar was a drag on exports. Inflation remained subdued with the year-over-year change in consumer prices at 0.7%, reflecting in part the 30% fall in the price of oil.
At the beginning of the review period, market expectations were that the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) would end its zero interest rate policy in mid-2015 based primarily on the relatively low unemployment rate. But the unexpectedly weak first quarter economic growth stayed the Fed’s hand, at which point market expectations shifted to September for a first Fed rate hike. Global financial and economic developments, particularly in China, contributed to substantial financial market volatility in August, including a 10% decline in the U.S. stock market. Consequently, at its September meeting, the Fed again deferred raising interest rates. Finally, in December, the Fed raised the federal funds rate 25 basis points (0.25%) based on the continued decline in the unemployment rate.
Interest rates generally moved higher during the review period. The two-year U.S. Treasury note yield, which is very sensitive to Fed policy, had the largest move, rising from 0.67% to 1.05%, a five-year high. Movements in longer-term interest rates were more muted. Persistently low inflation, a stronger dollar, safe haven demand, and relatively high yields versus the rest of the world capped longer-term U.S. interest rates. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased from 2.17% to 2.27% during the review period.
The broad U.S. bond market returned 0.6% for the year, its fourth worst year over the last four decades. Low interest rates provided little cushion to protect against wider spreads and higher interest rates (when interest rates rise, bond prices decline). Agency mortgage-backed securities returned 1.3%, benefiting from their high credit quality. Treasury securities gained 0.8%. Corporate bonds lost 0.6%, as credit spreads widened due primarily to record new issue supply. High yield bonds had poorer performance, losing 4.6%. Spreads moved substantially wider in large part due to weakness in energy companies (the largest sector of the high yield market), as well as
74 |
other commodity-related firms. Non-dollar government bonds (i.e., foreign government securities) also had a difficult 12 months, down 4.6%, reflecting the headwind of a 9.3% increase in the value of the dollar. The municipal bond market returned 3.6% as it was insulated from many of the global issues which buffeted other sectors of the bond market. Lastly, money market returns continued to be essentially flat due to the Fed’s zero interest rate policy.
The corporate bond market began the review period on a weak note with corporate spreads widening due to the rapid and ongoing decline in oil prices and a sentiment of risk aversion towards commodity-related sectors. Lower beta sectors became safe havens for corporate bond investors as riskier assets traded with greater volatility. With the back drop of continued low Treasury rates, corporate issuers continued to issue new debt at record levels. This led to further spread widening through the review period.
The performance of the corporate bond market during the review period was predominantly a result of duration and Treasury curve movement. Of note, corporate bonds with maturities greater than 10 years significantly underperformed shorter-maturity debt (i.e., 3–5 years), reflecting the steepening of the Treasury curve and an aversion to longer maturity risk.
Fiscal Year Performance Attribution
The Fund outperformed the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Corporate Index during the review period. The relative performance was predominantly a function of the Fund’s underweight in corporate bonds with maturities greater than 10 years, which had the lowest returns during the review period. The Fund benefited from its overweight in financial issuers, which had the highest returns among different industry groups. This was partially offset by the Fund’s overweight in metals and mining issuers, which experienced increased volatility during the review period.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
75 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $998.14 | $3.37 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,021.83 | $3.41 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .67%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid | |
during the period are net of expenses waived. |
Portfolio Composition
TOP TEN SECTORS
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
76 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Investment Grade Fund and the Bank of America (“BofA”) Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate Master Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Investment Grade Fund beginning 12/31/05 with a theoretical investment in the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate Master Index (the “Index”). The Index includes publicly-issued, fixed-rate, non-convertible investment grade dollar-denominated, S.E.C.-registered corporate debt having at least one year to maturity and an outstanding par value of at least $250 million. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15. During the periods shown, some of the expenses of the Fund were waived. If such expenses had been paid by the Fund, the Average Annual Total Returns for One Year, Five Years and Ten Years would have been (.50%), 4.18% and 4.55%, respectively.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Bank of America Merrill Lynch & Co. and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
77 |
Portfolio of Investments
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
CORPORATE BONDS—94.6% | ||||
Aerospace/Defense—.6% | ||||
$ 400M | Rolls-Royce, PLC, 3.625%, 10/14/2025 (a) | $ 392,188 | ||
Agriculture—.7% | ||||
400M | Cargill, Inc., 6%, 11/27/2017 (a) | 429,532 | ||
Automotive—.9% | ||||
500M | Johnson Controls, Inc., 5%, 3/30/2020 | 535,420 | ||
Chemicals—2.9% | ||||
500M | Agrium, Inc., 3.375%, 3/15/2025 | 457,061 | ||
250M | CF Industries, Inc., 3.45%, 6/1/2023 | 233,067 | ||
500M | Dow Chemical Co., 4.25%, 11/15/2020 | 524,531 | ||
500M | LyondellBasell Industries NV, 6%, 11/15/2021 | 561,916 | ||
1,776,575 | ||||
Consumer Durables—1.2% | ||||
Newell Rubbermaid, Inc.: | ||||
500M | 2.875%, 12/1/2019 | 482,779 | ||
265M | 4.7%, 8/15/2020 | 272,388 | ||
755,167 | ||||
Energy—7.8% | ||||
575M | Canadian Oil Sands, Ltd., 7.75%, 5/15/2019 (a) | 616,430 | ||
500M | Continental Resources, Inc., 5%, 9/15/2022 | 369,375 | ||
400M | DCP Midstream Operating, LP, 2.5%, 12/1/2017 | 360,606 | ||
500M | Enbridge Energy Partners, LP, 4.2%, 9/15/2021 | 477,223 | ||
500M | Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LP, 3.45%, 2/15/2023 | 415,862 | ||
200M | Marathon Oil Corp., 3.85%, 6/1/2025 | 161,273 | ||
500M | Nabors Industries, Inc., 6.15%, 2/15/2018 | 507,590 | ||
200M | ONEOK Partners, LP, 3.375%, 10/1/2022 | 162,460 | ||
400M | Spectra Energy Capital, LLC, 6.2%, 4/15/2018 | 423,593 | ||
400M | Suncor Energy, Inc., 6.1%, 6/1/2018 | 430,465 | ||
466M | Valero Energy Corp., 9.375%, 3/15/2019 | 550,935 | ||
400M | Weatherford International, LLC, 6.35%, 6/15/2017 | 390,500 | ||
4,866,312 |
78 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Financial Services—16.6% | ||||
$ 400M | American Express Co., 7%, 3/19/2018 | $ 443,826 | ||
American International Group, Inc.: | ||||
400M | 3.75%, 7/10/2025 | 397,210 | ||
200M | 4.7%, 7/10/2035 | 199,416 | ||
500M | Ameriprise Financial, Inc., 5.3%, 3/15/2020 | 554,793 | ||
500M | Assured Guaranty U.S. Holding, Inc., 5%, 7/1/2024 | 520,344 | ||
400M | Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., 3.4%, 1/31/2022 | 421,910 | ||
200M | BlackRock, Inc., 5%, 12/10/2019 | 221,259 | ||
600M | CoBank ACB, 7.875%, 4/16/2018 (a) | 671,872 | ||
300M | Compass Bank, 6.4%, 10/1/2017 | 317,354 | ||
ERAC USA Finance, LLC: | ||||
500M | 4.5%, 8/16/2021 (a) | 529,700 | ||
270M | 3.3%, 10/15/2022 (a) | 266,023 | ||
500M | 7%, 10/15/2037 (a) | 611,196 | ||
600M | Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, 8.125%, 1/15/2020 | 707,288 | ||
General Electric Capital Corp.: | ||||
700M | 4.65%, 10/17/2021 | 775,611 | ||
450M | 6.75%, 3/15/2032 | 588,916 | ||
300M | Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc., 2.4%, 9/15/2019 (a) | 298,743 | ||
200M | Harley-Davidson Funding Corp., 6.8%, 6/15/2018 (a) | 222,012 | ||
400M | Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.95%, 5/1/2022 (a) | 424,570 | ||
300M | National City Corp., 6.875%, 5/15/2019 | 339,174 | ||
600M | Protective Life Corp., 7.375%, 10/15/2019 | 694,657 | ||
300M | Prudential Financial, Inc., 7.375%, 6/15/2019 | 348,424 | ||
400M | State Street Corp., 3.55%, 8/18/2025 | 413,074 | ||
250M | Wells Fargo Bank NA, 5.85%, 2/1/2037 | 299,253 | ||
10,266,625 | ||||
Financials—23.2% | ||||
Bank of America Corp.: | ||||
350M | 5.65%, 5/1/2018 | 376,564 | ||
625M | 5%, 5/13/2021 | 683,650 | ||
475M | 5.875%, 2/7/2042 | 556,339 | ||
Barclays Bank, PLC: | ||||
400M | 5.125%, 1/8/2020 | 439,936 | ||
600M | 3.75%, 5/15/2024 | 612,220 | ||
300M | Capital One Financial Corp., 3.75%, 4/24/2024 | 302,473 | ||
Citigroup, Inc.: | ||||
1,250M | 6.125%, 11/21/2017 | 1,347,099 | ||
200M | 8.5%, 5/22/2019 | 239,027 | ||
200M | 4.5%, 1/14/2022 | 214,496 | ||
400M | Deutsche Bank AG, 3.7%, 5/30/2024 | 399,106 |
79 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Financials (continued) | ||||
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.: | ||||
$ 200M | 5.375%, 3/15/2020 | $ 219,916 | ||
600M | 5.75%, 1/24/2022 | 683,216 | ||
300M | 3.625%, 1/22/2023 | 303,876 | ||
700M | 6.125%, 2/15/2033 | 822,282 | ||
JPMorgan Chase & Co.: | ||||
900M | 6%, 1/15/2018 | 972,335 | ||
500M | 4.5%, 1/24/2022 | 539,733 | ||
Morgan Stanley: | ||||
500M | 5.95%, 12/28/2017 | 537,916 | ||
600M | 6.625%, 4/1/2018 | 658,264 | ||
850M | 5.5%, 7/28/2021 | 953,469 | ||
200M | Standard Chartered, PLC, 3.2%, 4/17/2025 (a) | 186,868 | ||
600M | SunTrust Banks, Inc., 6%, 9/11/2017 | 637,606 | ||
500M | U.S. Bancorp, 3.6%, 9/11/2024 | 508,658 | ||
400M | UBS AG, 4.875%, 8/4/2020 | 442,783 | ||
500M | Visa, Inc., 3.15%, 12/14/2025 | 501,241 | ||
Wells Fargo & Co.: | ||||
300M | 4.6%, 4/1/2021 | 327,269 | ||
900M | 3.45%, 2/13/2023 | 902,967 | ||
14,369,309 | ||||
Food/Beverage/Tobacco—4.8% | ||||
550M | Bunge Ltd. Finance Corp., 8.5%, 6/15/2019 | 637,525 | ||
700M | Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., 6.82%, 5/1/2018 | 775,864 | ||
440M | Ingredion, Inc., 4.625%, 11/1/2020 | 463,147 | ||
250M | PepsiCo, Inc., 5%, 6/1/2018 | 270,623 | ||
400M | Philip Morris International, Inc., 5.65%, 5/16/2018 | 436,556 | ||
400M | SABMiller Holdings, Inc., 3.75%, 1/15/2022 (a) | 411,725 | ||
2,995,440 | ||||
Food/Drug—.7% | ||||
400M | CVS Health Corp., 3.875%, 7/20/2025 | 409,026 | ||
Forest Products/Container—.9% | ||||
500M | Rock-Tenn Co., 4.9%, 3/1/2022 | 530,997 | ||
Health Care—3.5% | ||||
300M | Biogen, Inc., 6.875%, 3/1/2018 | 328,792 | ||
Express Scripts Holding Co.: | ||||
450M | 4.75%, 11/15/2021 | 483,135 | ||
200M | 3.5%, 6/15/2024 | 197,395 |
80 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Health Care (continued) | ||||
$ 400M | Gilead Sciences, Inc., 3.65%, 3/1/2026 | $ 403,892 | ||
400M | Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings, 3.75%, 8/23/2022 | 403,154 | ||
400M | Mylan, Inc., 3.125%, 1/15/2023 (a) | 367,602 | ||
2,183,970 | ||||
Information Technology—1.3% | ||||
200M | Apple, Inc., 2.5%, 2/9/2025 | 191,210 | ||
400M | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., 2.85%, 10/5/2018 (a) | 400,039 | ||
200M | Pitney Bowes, Inc., 5.75%, 9/15/2017 | 211,065 | ||
802,314 | ||||
Manufacturing—3.0% | ||||
750M | CRH America, Inc., 8.125%, 7/15/2018 | 853,699 | ||
400M | Ingersoll-Rand Global Holdings Co., Ltd., 6.875%, 8/15/2018 | 441,786 | ||
500M | Tyco Electronics Group SA, 6.55%, 10/1/2017 | 539,065 | ||
1,834,550 | ||||
Media-Broadcasting—2.6% | ||||
200M | ABC, Inc., 8.75%, 8/15/2021 | 258,667 | ||
400M | British Sky Broadcasting Group, PLC, 9.5%, 11/15/2018 (a) | 471,929 | ||
500M | Comcast Corp., 4.25%, 1/15/2033 | 492,196 | ||
400M | DirecTV Holdings, LLC, 3.8%, 3/15/2022 | 403,081 | ||
1,625,873 | ||||
Media-Diversified—1.7% | ||||
620M | McGraw-Hill Financial, Inc., 5.9%, 11/15/2017 | 657,657 | ||
400M | Time Warner, Inc., 3.6%, 7/15/2025 | 390,168 | ||
1,047,825 | ||||
Metals/Mining—4.3% | ||||
500M | Alcoa, Inc., 6.15%, 8/15/2020 | 518,125 | ||
400M | ArcelorMittal, 6.125%, 6/1/2018 | 368,000 | ||
400M | Glencore Finance Canada, Ltd., 4.95%, 11/15/2021 (a) | 322,390 | ||
500M | Newmont Mining Corp., 5.125%, 10/1/2019 | 520,527 | ||
500M | Rio Tinto Finance USA, Ltd., 3.75%, 9/20/2021 | 486,633 | ||
500M | Vale Overseas, Ltd., 5.625%, 9/15/2019 | 453,750 | ||
2,669,425 |
81 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Real Estate Investment Trusts—5.7% | ||||
$ 100M | AvalonBay Communities, Inc., 3.5%, 11/15/2025 | $ 99,239 | ||
400M | Boston Properties, LP, 5.875%, 10/15/2019 | 444,395 | ||
Digital Realty Trust, LP: | ||||
300M | 5.25%, 3/15/2021 | 324,310 | ||
250M | 3.95%, 7/1/2022 | 248,602 | ||
300M | ERP Operating, LP, 3.375%, 6/1/2025 | 297,243 | ||
400M | HCP, Inc., 5.375%, 2/1/2021 | 436,046 | ||
ProLogis, LP: | ||||
200M | 3.35%, 2/1/2021 | 202,740 | ||
125M | 3.75%, 11/1/2025 | 124,249 | ||
500M | Simon Property Group, LP, 3.375%, 10/1/2024 | 505,286 | ||
400M | Ventas Realty, LP, 4.75%, 6/1/2021 | 426,492 | ||
400M | Welltower, Inc., 4%, 6/1/2025 | 394,230 | ||
3,502,832 | ||||
Retail-General Merchandise—1.2% | ||||
400M | Amazon.com, Inc., 4.8%, 12/5/2034 | 422,450 | ||
100M | GAP, Inc., 5.95%, 4/12/2021 | 105,908 | ||
200M | Home Depot, Inc., 5.875%, 12/16/2036 | 244,240 | ||
772,598 | ||||
Telecommunications—1.3% | ||||
750M | Verizon Communications, Inc., 5.15%, 9/15/2023 | 825,815 | ||
Transportation—2.2% | ||||
400M | Burlington North Santa Fe, LLC, 5.15%, 9/1/2043 | 423,445 | ||
440M | GATX Corp., 4.75%, 6/15/2022 | 462,395 | ||
300M | Penske Truck Leasing Co., LP, 4.875%, 7/11/2022 (a) | 312,463 | ||
200M | Southwest Airlines Co., 2.65%, 11/5/2020 | 199,208 | ||
1,397,511 | ||||
Utilities—7.5% | ||||
200M | Dominion Resources, Inc., 3.9%, 10/1/2025 | 200,611 | ||
300M | Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 4.15%, 12/1/2044 | 293,816 | ||
300M | E.ON International Finance BV, 5.8%, 4/30/2018 (a) | 323,251 | ||
300M | Electricite de France SA, 3.625%, 10/13/2025 (a) | 293,867 | ||
300M | Entergy Arkansas, Inc., 4.95%, 12/15/2044 | 296,422 | ||
400M | Exelon Generation Co., LLC, 5.2%, 10/1/2019 | 431,282 | ||
Great River Energy Co.: | ||||
44M | 5.829%, 7/1/2017 (a) | 44,713 | ||
278M | 4.478%, 7/1/2030 (a) | 294,425 |
82 |
Principal | |||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||
Utilities (continued) | |||||
$ 450M | Ohio Power Co., 5.375%, 10/1/2021 | $ 501,517 | |||
450M | Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co., 4%, 12/15/2044 | 423,133 | |||
279M | San Diego Gas & Electric Co., 1.914%, 2/1/2022 | 273,809 | |||
604M | Sempra Energy, 9.8%, 2/15/2019 | 731,395 | |||
500M | South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., 5.45%, 2/1/2041 | 551,834 | |||
4,660,075 | |||||
Total Value of Corporate Bonds (cost $58,342,626) | 58,649,379 | ||||
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—1.9% | |||||
U.S. Treasury Bonds: | |||||
525M | 2.5%, 2/15/2045 | 471,187 | |||
400M | 3%, 11/15/2044 | 398,672 | |||
300M | 3%, 5/15/2045 | 298,705 | |||
Total Value of U.S. Government Obligations (cost $1,268,381) | 1,168,564 | ||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||
OBLIGATIONS—1.6% | |||||
1,000M | Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.12%, 1/14/2016 (cost $999,957) | 999,961 | |||
Total Value of Investments (cost $60,610,964) | 98.1 | % | 60,817,904 | ||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.9 | 1,202,510 | |||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $62,020,414 |
(a) Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5).
83 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND
December 31, 2015
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Corporate Bonds | $ | — | $ | 58,649,379 | $ | — | $ | 58,649,379 | ||||
U.S. Government Obligations | — | 1,168,564 | — | 1,168,564 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 999,961 | — | 999,961 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | — | $ | 60,817,904 | $ | — | $ | 60,817,904 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for corporate bonds. |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
84 | See notes to financial statements |
Portfolio Managers’ Letter
LIMITED DURATION HIGH QUALITY BOND FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Limited Duration High Quality Bond Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –0.51%.
The Fund invests in investment grade fixed income securities. The majority of the Fund’s assets were invested in investment grade corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. The Fund seeks to maintain an average duration of between two and six years.
Economic Overview and Market Summary
The U.S. economy grew at an approximately 2% rate during the review period. The consumer was the backbone of the economy, supported by the continued decline in the unemployment rate to 5.0%, a seven-year low. Auto sales reached all-time highs and housing starts returned to prerecession levels. Capital spending was muted though, and the continued appreciation of the dollar was a drag on exports. Inflation remained subdued with the year-over-year change in consumer prices at 0.7%, reflecting in part the 30% fall in the price of oil.
At the beginning of the review period, market expectations were that the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) would end its zero interest rate policy in mid-2015 based primarily on the relatively low unemployment rate. But the unexpectedly weak first quarter economic growth stayed the Fed’s hand, at which point market expectations shifted to September for a first Fed rate hike. Global financial and economic developments, particularly in China, contributed to substantial financial market volatility in August, including a 10% decline in the U.S. stock market. Consequently, at its September meeting, the Fed again deferred raising interest rates. Finally, in December, the Fed raised the federal funds rate 25 basis points (0.25%) based on the continued decline in the unemployment rate.
Interest rates generally moved higher during the review period. The two-year U.S. Treasury note yield, which is very sensitive to Fed policy, had the largest move, rising from 0.67% to 1.05%, a five year high. Movements in longer-term interest rates were more muted. Persistently low inflation, a stronger dollar, safe haven demand, and relatively high yields versus the rest of the world capped longer-term U.S. interest rates. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased from 2.17% to 2.27% during the review period.
The broad U.S. bond market returned 0.6% for the year, its fourth worst year over the last four decades. Low interest rates provided little cushion to protect against wider spreads and higher interest rates (when interest rates rise, bond prices decline). Agency mortgage-backed securities returned 1.3%, benefiting from their high credit quality.
85 |
Portfolio Managers’ Letter (continued)
LIMITED DURATION HIGH QUALITY BOND FUND
Treasury securities gained 0.8%. Corporate bonds lost 0.6%, as credit spreads widened due primarily to record new issue supply. High yield bonds had poorer performance, losing 4.6%. Spreads moved substantially wider in large part due to weakness in energy companies (the largest sector of the high yield market), as well as other commodity-related firms. Non-dollar government bonds (i.e., foreign government securities) also had a difficult 12 months, down 4.6%, reflecting the headwind of a 9.3% increase in the value of the dollar. The municipal bond market returned 3.6% as it was insulated from many of the global issues which buffeted other sectors of the bond market. Lastly, money market returns continued to be essentially flat due to the Fed’s zero interest rate policy.
Fiscal Year Performance Attribution
The Fund underperformed the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year Broad Market Index during the review period. Security selection within the asset backed securities sector was a key drag on performance. The Fund’s overweight in 1-3 year U.S. Treasury securities also negatively impacted performance as three-year U.S. Treasury yields rose more than five-year yields. Although the Fund’s overweight in corporate bonds was a positive, an overweight in the Auto sector (specifically the Fund’s Volkswagen exposure) was a drag on performance. Lastly, the Fund was negatively impacted by security selection within both the energy sector and in the agency mortgage-backed security sector.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
86 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
LIMITED DURATION HIGH QUALITY BOND FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $997.94 | $6.35 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,018.86 | $6.41 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of 1.26%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). Expenses paid | |
during the period are net of expenses waived. |
Portfolio Composition
TOP TEN SECTORS
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
87 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
LIMITED DURATION HIGH QUALITY BOND FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Limited Duration High Quality Bond Fund and the Bank of America (“BofA”) Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year U.S. Broad Market Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the Life Series Limited Duration High Quality Bond Fund beginning 7/1/14 (commencement of operations) with a theoretical investment in the BofA Merrill Lynch 1-5 Year U.S. Broad Market Index (the “Index”). The Index is a subset of the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Broad Market Index which tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated investment grade debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market, including U.S. Treasury, quasi-government, corporate, securitized and collateralized securities. The Index includes all securities with a remaining term to final maturity or an average life less than 5 years. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15. During the periods shown, some of the expenses of the Fund were waived. If such expenses had been paid by the Fund, the Average Annual Total Returns for One Year and Since Inception would have been (.66%) and (–2.27%), respectively.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Standard & Poor’s and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
88 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
LIMITED DURATION HIGH QUALITY BOND FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
CORPORATE BONDS—47.1% | ||||
Automotive—1.7% | ||||
$100M | Toyota Motor Credit Corp., 2.125%, 7/18/2019 | $ 100,230 | ||
Consumer Durables—1.7% | ||||
100M | Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., 2.451%, 11/17/2018 | 100,459 | ||
Energy—1.9% | ||||
100M | Suncor Energy, Inc., 6.1%, 6/1/2018 | 107,616 | ||
Financial Services—7.7% | ||||
100M | American Express Co., 7%, 3/19/2018 | 110,957 | ||
100M | BlackRock, Inc., 5%, 12/10/2019 | 110,630 | ||
100M | Harley-Davidson Funding Corp., 6.8%, 6/15/2018 (a) | 111,006 | ||
100M | Prudential Financial, Inc., 7.375%, 6/15/2019 | 116,141 | ||
448,734 | ||||
Financials—12.6% | ||||
100M | Bank of America Corp., 5.65%, 5/1/2018 | 107,590 | ||
100M | Barclays Bank, PLC, 6.75%, 5/22/2019 | 113,740 | ||
100M | Citigroup, Inc., 6.125%, 11/21/2017 | 107,768 | ||
100M | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 6.15%, 4/1/2018 | 108,649 | ||
100M | Royal Bank of Canada, 1%, 4/27/2017 | 99,583 | ||
100M | U.S. Bank NA, 2.125%, 10/28/2019 | 99,979 | ||
100M | Visa, Inc., 1.2%, 12/14/2017 | 99,917 | ||
737,226 | ||||
Food/Beverage/Tobacco—3.7% | ||||
100M | Diageo Capital, PLC, 5.75%, 10/23/2017 | 107,410 | ||
100M | PepsiCo, Inc., 5%, 6/1/2018 | 108,249 | ||
215,659 | ||||
Health Care—1.7% | ||||
100M | Gilead Sciences, Inc., 2.55%, 9/1/2020 | 100,027 | ||
Industrials—1.7% | ||||
100M | PACCAR Financial Corp., 1.45%, 3/9/2018 | 99,398 | ||
Information Technology—1.7% | ||||
100M | Apple, Inc., 2.1%, 5/6/2019 | 101,218 |
89 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
LIMITED DURATION HIGH QUALITY BOND FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Manufacturing—1.9% | ||||
$100M | Tyco Electronics Group SA, 6.55%, 10/1/2017 | $ 107,813 | ||
Real Estate Investment Trusts—1.9% | ||||
100M | Boston Properties, LP, 5.875%, 10/15/2019 | 111,099 | ||
Retail-General Merchandise—1.7% | ||||
100M | McDonald’s Corp., 2.1%, 12/7/2018 | 100,135 | ||
Telecommunications—3.5% | ||||
100M | AT&T, Inc., 2.45%, 6/30/2020 | 98,586 | ||
100M | Verizon Communications, Inc., 3.65%, 9/14/2018 | 104,636 | ||
203,222 | ||||
Utilities—3.7% | ||||
100M | Arizona Public Service Co., 8.75%, 3/1/2019 | 118,801 | ||
100M | Wisconsin Public Service Corp., 1.65%, 12/4/2018 | 99,405 | ||
218,206 | ||||
Total Value of Corporate Bonds (cost $2,768,934) | 2,751,042 | |||
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED | ||||
SECURITIES—17.4% | ||||
Fannie Mae—15.7% | ||||
392M | 3%, 11/1/2021 – 6/30/2030 | 404,884 | ||
453M | 3.5%, 10/1/2025 – 12/1/2029 (b) | 476,486 | ||
36M | 4%, 9/1/2024 | 37,700 | ||
919,070 | ||||
Freddie Mac—1.7% | ||||
21M | 3%, 8/1/2027 | 21,770 | ||
71M | 3.5%, 8/1/2026 | 74,498 | ||
96,268 | ||||
Total Value of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $1,019,010) | 1,015,338 | |||
ASSET BACKED SECURITIES—10.4% | ||||
Fixed Autos—8.3% | ||||
Ford Credit Auto Owner Trust: | ||||
31M | 0.79%, 5/15/2018 | 30,531 | ||
23M | 1%, 9/15/2017 | 23,365 | ||
20M | Ford Credit Floorplan Master Owner Trust, 1.42%, 1/15/2020 | 19,852 |
90 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | ||||
or Shares | Security | Value | ||
Fixed Autos (continued) | ||||
$ 15M | Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Trust, 1.3%, 3/16/2020 | $ 14,924 | ||
Honda Auto Receivables Owner Trust: | ||||
40M | 1.31%, 10/15/2020 | 39,856 | ||
45M | 1.46%, 10/15/2020 | 44,858 | ||
50M | Hyundai Auto Receivables Trust, 1.48%, 6/15/2021 | 49,465 | ||
20M | Mercedes-Benz Auto Receivables Trust, 1.34%, 12/16/2019 | 19,898 | ||
23M | Nissan Auto Receivables Owner Trust, 1%, 7/16/2018 | 23,496 | ||
75M | Nissan Master Owner Trust, 1.44%, 2/15/2020 | 74,480 | ||
25M | Toyota Auto Receivables Owner Trust, 1.52%, 6/15/2020 | 24,872 | ||
120M | Volkswagen Auto Lease Trust, 1.25%, 12/20/2017 | 118,847 | ||
484,444 | ||||
Fixed Financials—2.1% | ||||
50M | American Express Credit Account Master Trust, 1.26%, 1/15/2020 | 49,915 | ||
40M | Chase Issuance Trust, 1.3%, 2/18/2020 | 39,723 | ||
30M | Discover Card Execution Note Trust, 1.04%, 4/15/2019 | 29,990 | ||
119,628 | ||||
Total Value of Asset Backed Securities (cost $607,660) | 604,072 | |||
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—8.5% | ||||
U.S. Treasury Notes: | ||||
40M | 0.5%, 6/15/2016 | 40,002 | ||
240M | 0.75%, 12/31/2017 | 238,411 | ||
35M | 0.875%, 1/15/2018 | 34,845 | ||
60M | 1.25%, 10/31/2018 | 59,927 | ||
85M | 1.375%, 4/30/2020 | 83,911 | ||
40M | 1.375%, 8/31/2020 | 39,364 | ||
Total Value of U.S. Government Obligations (cost $497,864) | 496,460 | |||
EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS—6.8% | ||||
Financials | ||||
5,050 | Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (ETF) (cost $399,736) | 398,899 |
91 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
LIMITED DURATION HIGH QUALITY BOND FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | |||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||
OBLIGATIONS—4.0% | |||||
Fannie Mae: | |||||
$ 50M | 1.125%, 7/20/2018 | $ 49,815 | |||
10M | 1.5%, 6/22/2020 | 9,882 | |||
60M | 0.875%, 12/20/2017 | 59,730 | |||
20M | Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.875%, 5/24/2017 | 19,976 | |||
95M | Freddie Mac, 1.75%, 5/30/2019 | 95,759 | |||
Total Value of U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $235,141) | 235,162 | ||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||
OBLIGATIONS—4.3% | |||||
250M | Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.195%, 2/10/2016 (cost $249,946) | 249,938 | |||
Total Value of Investments (cost $5,778,291) | 98.5 | % | 5,750,911 | ||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.5 | 85,539 | |||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $5,836,450 |
(a) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5). | |
(b) | A portion or all of the security purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis (see | |
Note 1G). | ||
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
ETF | Exchange Traded Fund |
92 | See notes to financial statements |
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Corporate Bonds | $ | — | $ | 2,751,042 | $ | — | $ | 2,751,042 | ||||
Residential Mortgage-Backed | ||||||||||||
Securities | — | 1,015,338 | — | 1,015,338 | ||||||||
Asset Backed Securities | — | 604,072 | — | 604,072 | ||||||||
U.S. Government Obligations | — | 496,460 | — | 496,460 | ||||||||
Exchange Traded Funds | 398,899 | — | — | 398,899 | ||||||||
U.S. Government Agency | ||||||||||||
Obligations | — | 235,162 | — | 235,162 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 249,938 | — | 249,938 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | 398,899 | $ | 5,352,012 | $ | — | $ | 5,750,911 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for corporate |
bonds, asset backed securities and exchange traded funds. | |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
93 |
Portfolio Managers’ Letter
OPPORTUNITY FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Opportunity Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –0.81%, including dividends of $0.03 cents per share.
Fund performance in 2015 was modestly negative on an absolute basis, however the Fund outperformed the broader market due to stock selection. The Fund’s absolute performance was mainly attributable to investments in Healthcare and Information Technology sectors. Among our healthcare stocks, Allergan PLC — which makes generic and specialty pharmaceuticals — benefited from merger synergies and new drug approvals. Then, in November, it agreed to be acquired by Pfizer, Inc. Additionally, Prestige Brands Holdings — which makes OTC healthcare products — announced an accretive acquisition of DenTek Oral Care, a maker of oral care products for adults and children. Among our information technology stocks, Avago Technologies Ltd. — which makes optoelectronic components and subsystems used in wireless communications — announced (in May) a well-received acquisition of Broadcom Corp. Later, in December, the company beat earnings and raised guidance despite a weak industry backdrop. Furthermore, it appears the company anticipates its content in the iPhone 7 could increase substantially in 2016.
On a relative basis, the Fund outperformed the S&P 400 Mid-Cap Index primarily due to stock selection in the Healthcare and Consumer Discretionary sectors, specifically, Allergan PLC and Prestige Brands Holdings in Healthcare — both discussed above — and ServiceMaster Global Holdings and Delphi Automotive PLC in Consumer Discretionary. A provider of residential and commercial services ranging from pest control (Terminix) to appliance warranties (American Home Shield), ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. reported strong quarterly earnings driven by new product momentum, strong pricing and margin expansion. In particular, the company’s margins benefited from the decision to sell its co-owned Merry Maids branches (professional residential cleaning business) to franchisees. A maker of powertrains and electrical architecture for passenger cars, Delphi Automotive PLC reported strong bookings and better-than-industry earnings growth.
Among negatives to relative performance, the Fund’s stock selection in the Industrial sector hurt. Greenbrier Companies — a maker of railroad freight cars in North America and Europe — fell as the fall in crude prices raised concerns about demand for the company’s tank cars in North America. Ryder System, Inc. — a truck lease and commercial rental company — fell after it lowered annual guidance due to soft demand in the truck market, as well as greater out-of-service vehicle time.
94 |
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
95 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $935.24 | $4.24 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,020.82 | $4.43 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .87%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
96 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Opportunity Fund and the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Opportunity Fund beginning 12/17/12 (commencement of operations) with a theoretical investment in the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 400 stocks designed to measure performance of the mid-range sector of the U.S. stock market. It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Standard & Poor’s and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
97 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—90.4% | ||||
Consumer Discretionary—22.4% | ||||
28,800 | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | $ 446,400 | ||
7,600 | * | Belmond, Ltd. – Class “A” | 72,200 | |
6,900 | BorgWarner, Inc. | 298,287 | ||
9,100 | Caleres, Inc. | 244,062 | ||
10,200 | Delphi Automotive, PLC | 874,446 | ||
5,500 | Foot Locker, Inc. | 357,995 | ||
3,650 | Group 1 Automotive, Inc. | 276,305 | ||
9,900 | Hanesbrands, Inc. | 291,357 | ||
3,700 | Harman International Industries, Inc. | 348,577 | ||
2,300 | * | Helen of Troy, Ltd. | 216,775 | |
14,500 | * | Jarden Corporation | 828,240 | |
3,200 | L Brands, Inc. | 306,624 | ||
5,100 | Lear Corporation | 626,433 | ||
13,600 | Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. | 599,488 | ||
2,800 | Nordstrom, Inc. | 139,468 | ||
8,900 | Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | 376,826 | ||
1,000 | Ralph Lauren Corporation | 111,480 | ||
10,400 | Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. | 165,568 | ||
7,300 | * | Select Comfort Corporation | 156,293 | |
13,300 | * | ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. | 521,892 | |
14,100 | Stein Mart, Inc. | 94,893 | ||
18,100 | * | TRI Pointe Group, Inc. | 229,327 | |
9,300 | Tupperware Brands Corporation | 517,545 | ||
1,300 | Whirlpool Corporation | 190,931 | ||
16,900 | * | William Lyon Homes – Class “A” | 278,850 | |
5,600 | Wyndham Worldwide Corporation | 406,840 | ||
8,977,102 | ||||
Consumer Staples—4.4% | ||||
6,400 | Coty, Inc. – Class “A” | 164,032 | ||
11,600 | Delhaize Group (ADR) | 281,764 | ||
800 | McCormick & Company, Inc. | 68,448 | ||
6,875 | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A” | 260,494 | ||
9,400 | Pinnacle Foods, Inc. | 399,124 | ||
4,000 | Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. | 126,360 | ||
8,600 | Tyson Foods, Inc. – Class “A” | 458,638 | ||
1,758,860 |
98 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Energy—2.6% | ||||
1,250 | * | Dril-Quip, Inc. | $ 74,037 | |
3,400 | EOG Resources, Inc. | 240,686 | ||
3,800 | EQT Corporation | 198,094 | ||
3,600 | Hess Corporation | 174,528 | ||
3,400 | National Oilwell Varco, Inc. | 113,866 | ||
6,700 | PBF Energy, Inc. – Class “A” | 246,627 | ||
1,047,838 | ||||
Financials—15.6% | ||||
2,800 | Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | 297,976 | ||
9,500 | Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. | 276,545 | ||
14,500 | Brixmor Property Group, Inc. (REIT) | 374,390 | ||
15,300 | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 400,707 | ||
9,100 | Discover Financial Services | 487,942 | ||
6,400 | Douglas Emmett, Inc. (REIT) | 199,552 | ||
1,900 | Federal Realty Investment Trust (REIT) | 277,590 | ||
17,300 | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF) | 411,394 | ||
4,900 | First Republic Bank | 323,694 | ||
4,300 | iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (ETF) | 599,334 | ||
5,000 | iShares Russell 2000 ETF (ETF) | 562,550 | ||
5,100 | Nasdaq, Inc. | 296,667 | ||
9,500 | National General Holdings Corporation | 207,670 | ||
4,300 | * | Realogy Holdings Corporation | 157,681 | |
9,700 | SPDR S&P Regional Banking (ETF) | 406,624 | ||
9,100 | Sterling Bancorp | 147,602 | ||
25,900 | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (REIT) | 323,491 | ||
12,900 | Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (REIT) | 421,830 | ||
3,400 | Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. – Class “A” | 97,444 | ||
6,270,683 | ||||
Health Care—18.2% | ||||
4,100 | * | Allergan, PLC | 1,281,250 | |
9,500 | * | Centene Corporation | 625,195 | |
3,200 | DENTSPLY International, Inc. | 194,720 | ||
6,000 | Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 607,140 | ||
9,500 | Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | 456,570 | ||
4,400 | * | Lannett Company, Inc. | 176,528 | |
3,400 | McKesson Corporation | 670,582 | ||
4,300 | Perrigo Company, PLC | 622,210 | ||
13,200 | Phibro Animal Health Corporation – Class “A” | 397,716 |
99 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Health Care (continued) | ||||
13,900 | * | Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc. | $ 715,572 | |
3,200 | Quest Diagnostics, Inc. | 227,648 | ||
5,450 | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 773,083 | ||
19,900 | * | VWR Corporation | 563,369 | |
7,311,583 | ||||
Industrials—10.1% | ||||
6,900 | A.O. Smith Corporation | 528,609 | ||
7,100 | Altra Industrial Motion Corporation | 178,068 | ||
2,100 | G&K Services, Inc. – Class “A” | 132,090 | ||
5,800 | * | Generac Holdings, Inc. | 172,666 | |
9,700 | ITT Corporation | 352,304 | ||
3,500 | J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. | 256,760 | ||
3,000 | ManpowerGroup, Inc. | 252,870 | ||
3,600 | Nielsen Holdings, PLC | 167,760 | ||
2,800 | * | Nortek, Inc. | 122,136 | |
7,050 | Regal Beloit Corporation | 412,566 | ||
1,700 | Roper Technologies, Inc. | 322,643 | ||
2,100 | Ryder System, Inc. | 119,343 | ||
3,400 | Snap-On, Inc. | 582,862 | ||
7,000 | * | TAL International Group, Inc. | 111,300 | |
7,900 | Textron, Inc. | 331,879 | ||
4,043,856 | ||||
Information Technology—11.5% | ||||
16,900 | * | ARRIS International, PLC | 516,633 | |
3,400 | Avago Technologies, Ltd. | 493,510 | ||
3,800 | * | Fiserv, Inc. | 347,548 | |
9,300 | Juniper Networks, Inc. | 256,680 | ||
6,500 | Lam Research Corporation | 516,230 | ||
10,100 | Mentor Graphics Corporation | 186,042 | ||
11,000 | Methode Electronics, Inc. | 350,130 | ||
9,700 | * | PTC, Inc. | 335,911 | |
2,800 | * | Qorvo, Inc. | 142,520 | |
2,500 | SanDisk Corporation | 189,975 | ||
11,900 | Symantec Corporation | 249,900 | ||
3,600 | * | Synaptics, Inc. | 289,224 | |
3,400 | TE Connectivity, Ltd. | 219,674 | ||
11,900 | Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF) | 509,677 | ||
4,603,654 |
100 |
Shares or | |||||
Principal | |||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||
Materials—1.3% | |||||
2,200 | International Paper Company | $ 82,940 | |||
1,700 | Praxair, Inc. | 174,080 | |||
10,100 | * | Trinseo SA | 284,820 | ||
541,840 | |||||
Utilities—4.3% | |||||
9,900 | AGL Resources, Inc. | 631,719 | |||
100 | Black Hills Corporation | 4,643 | |||
2,900 | NiSource, Inc. | 56,579 | |||
6,250 | Portland General Electric Company | 227,312 | |||
5,750 | SCANA Corporation | 347,818 | |||
8,600 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 441,266 | |||
1,709,337 | |||||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $33,491,838) | 36,264,753 | ||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||
OBLIGATIONS—8.0% | |||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||
$1,500M | 0.138%, 1/15/2016 | 1,499,935 | |||
700M | 0.18%, 1/27/2016 | 699,938 | |||
1,000M | 0.26%, 1/19/2016 | 999,942 | |||
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $3,199,698) | 3,199,815 | ||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $36,691,536) | 98.4 | % | 39,464,568 | ||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.6 | 649,444 | |||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $40,114,012 |
* | Non-income producing | |
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
ADR | American Depositary Receipts | |
ETF | Exchange Traded Funds | |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
101 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued) (continued)
OPPORTUNITY FUND
December 31, 2015
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 36,264,753 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 36,264,753 | ||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 3,199,815 | — | 3,199,815 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | 36,264,753 | $ | 3,199,815 | $ | — | $ | 39,464,568 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks. |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
102 | See notes to financial statements |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
REAL ESTATE FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Real Estate Fund for the period May 1, 2015, the Fund’s inception, to December 31, 2015. The Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 1.50%, while its benchmark — the Dow Jones U.S. Select REIT Index — returned 5.91% over the same time period.
During the period under review, Real Estate Investment Trusts’ (“REITs”) performance was helped by an expanding U.S. economy, which meant strong demand for commercial real estate. The domestic nature of real estate shielded REITs from global economic turmoil, namely a slowdown in the Chinese economy and a collapse in commodity prices. REITs sold off in the second and third quarter of the year due to uncertainty as to the Federal Reserve interest rate policy. The resulting discount to Net Asset Value (“NAV”) attracted private capital such as private equity funds and pension funds to the listed REIT space. 2015 was one of the busiest years in terms of M&A volume. Six REITs, ranging from hotels and apartments to shopping centers, were taken private or received buyout offers at premium.
Sector allocation and stock selection in the Hotels and Office sectors contributed positively to relative performance. Most of the negative effects were from stock selection in the Storage and Diversified sectors.
The strong U.S. dollar has at least hurt the perception of hotel fundamentals going forward. The Fund benefited by underweighting the sector. We avoided Pebble-brook Hotel, which operates a “buy and fixed” strategy that is leveraged to a boom cycle. Our underweight in Strategic Hotels detracted from performance, as we did not anticipate that it would be taken private at a premium given the price at which it was trading.
Within the Office sector, the Fund benefited from owning Equity Commonwealth. The company continues to add value by selling real estate assets at NAV prices and buying back shares trading at discount to NAV. Corporate Office Properties detracted from performance as the Washington, D.C. office market continues to lag.
In the Apartment sector, overweight positions in Associated Estates and Home Properties proved to be especially beneficial. Both were trading at significant discount to NAV and were bought out by private equity funds.
In the Storage sector, our position in Public Storage also aided performance. It consistently generates high return on invested capital and has a strong balance sheet. Strong customer demand and healthy fundamentals benefited the company. Iron Mountain was a large detractor as its organic growth prospect is deemed impaired.
103 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
REAL ESTATE FUND
Our position in Select Income REIT detracted from performance. Despite owning a diversified triple-net lease portfolio and an attractive Hawaiian ground lease asset, investors became concerned about the company’s acquisition of RMR — the external advisor of Select Income REIT.
In the Diversified sector, Corrections Corp., a core holding of the Fund, underperformed on an absolute and relative basis. Operating fundamentals were fine. It was, however, caught up in politics. Several presidential candidates have proposed to eliminate private prisons altogether. We believe this risk is overblown and the business remains solid.
At the end of the period, the Fund maintains an overweight exposure to Single Tenant, Regional Malls and underweight to Apartments and Shopping Centers.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
104 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
REAL ESTATE FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $1,080.93 | $11.64 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,014.02 | $11.27 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of 2.22%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
TOP TEN SECTORS
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
105 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
REAL ESTATE FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—95.1% | ||||
Apartments REITs—13.7% | ||||
580 | American Campus Communities, Inc. | $ 23,977 | ||
957 | Apartment Investment & Management Company – Class “A” | 38,309 | ||
1,569 | AvalonBay Communities, Inc. | 288,900 | ||
595 | Camden Property Trust | 45,672 | ||
90 | Education Realty Trust, Inc. | 3,409 | ||
3,296 | Equity Residential | 268,921 | ||
75 | Essex Property Trust, Inc. | 17,956 | ||
139 | Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. | 12,623 | ||
451 | Post Properties, Inc. | 26,681 | ||
698 | UDR, Inc. | 26,224 | ||
752,672 | ||||
Diversified REITs—7.3% | ||||
172 | CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust, Inc. | 2,552 | ||
6,117 | Corrections Corporation of America | 162,039 | ||
120 | Digital Realty Trust, Inc. | 9,074 | ||
2,478 | Duke Realty Corporation | 52,088 | ||
193 | DuPont Fabros Technology, Inc. | 6,135 | ||
1,960 | Retail Properties of America, Inc. – Class “A” | 28,949 | ||
1,358 | Vornado Realty Trust | 135,746 | ||
200 | Whitestone REIT | 2,402 | ||
398,985 | ||||
Health Care REITs—13.9% | ||||
1,656 | Care Capital Properties, Inc. | 50,624 | ||
5,849 | HCP, Inc. | 223,666 | ||
150 | Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc. | 4,248 | ||
250 | Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. | 6,742 | ||
130 | LTC Properties, Inc. | 5,608 | ||
550 | Omega Heathcare Investors, Inc. | 19,239 | ||
735 | Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. | 14,869 | ||
3,942 | Senior Housing Properties Trust | 58,499 | ||
5,219 | Ventas, Inc. | 294,508 | ||
1,205 | Welltower, Inc. | 81,976 | ||
759,979 |
106 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Hotels REITs—4.3% | ||||
2,781 | Hospitality Properties Trust | $ 72,723 | ||
7,256 | Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. | 111,307 | ||
1,679 | LaSalle Hotel Properties | 42,244 | ||
770 | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. | 9,617 | ||
235,891 | ||||
Manufactured Homes REITs—3.2% | ||||
2,161 | Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. | 144,074 | ||
417 | Sun Communities, Inc. | 28,577 | ||
172,651 | ||||
Mortgage REITs—2.1% | ||||
6,708 | American Capital Agency Corporation | 116,317 | ||
Office Property REITs—8.6% | ||||
981 | Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. | 88,643 | ||
1,289 | Boston Properties, Inc. | 164,399 | ||
400 | Brandywine Realty Trust | 5,464 | ||
1,460 | Corporate Office Properties Trust | 31,872 | ||
415 | Douglas Emmett, Inc. | 12,940 | ||
1,925 | * | Equity Commonwealth | 53,380 | |
60 | Franklin Street Properties Corporation | 621 | ||
1,108 | Mack-Cali Realty Corporation | 25,872 | ||
1,860 | New York REIT, Inc. | 21,390 | ||
1,275 | Paramount Group, Inc. | 23,077 | ||
1,237 | Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. – Class “A” | 23,355 | ||
171 | SL Green Realty Corporation | 19,320 | ||
470,333 | ||||
Real Estate Owners/Development REITs—.1% | ||||
205 | * | RMR Group, Inc. – Class “A” | 2,981 | |
Regional Malls REITs—19.8% | ||||
5,618 | CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. | 69,495 | ||
5,933 | General Growth Properties, Inc. | 161,437 | ||
623 | Macerich Company | 50,270 | ||
1,023 | Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust | 22,373 | ||
2,545 | Simon Property Group, Inc. | 494,850 | ||
4,406 | Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. | 144,076 | ||
1,828 | Taubman Centers, Inc. | 140,244 | ||
1,082,745 |
107 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
REAL ESTATE FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | |||
Shopping Centers REITs—5.1% | |||||
140 | Acadia Realty Trust | $ 4,641 | |||
420 | Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. | 2,974 | |||
1,430 | DDR Corporation | 24,081 | |||
678 | Federal Realty Investment Trust | 99,056 | |||
2,538 | Kimco Realty Corporation | 67,155 | |||
540 | Kite Realty Group Trust | 14,002 | |||
230 | Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust | 3,820 | |||
430 | Regency Centers Corporation | 29,292 | |||
390 | Weingarten Realty Investors | 13,486 | |||
2,085 | WP Glimcher, Inc. | 22,122 | |||
280,629 | |||||
Single Tenant REITs—4.3% | |||||
394 | National Retail Properties, Inc. | 15,780 | |||
1,270 | Realty Income Corporation | 65,570 | |||
6,836 | Select Income REIT | 135,490 | |||
1,800 | Spirit Realty Capital, Inc. | 18,036 | |||
150 | STORE Capital Corporation | 3,480 | |||
238,356 | |||||
Storage REITs—10.9% | |||||
267 | CubeSmart | 8,176 | |||
1,230 | Extra Space Storage, Inc. | 108,498 | |||
4,182 | Iron Mountain, Inc. | 112,956 | |||
1,315 | Public Storage | 325,725 | |||
406 | Sovran Self Storage, Inc. | 43,568 | |||
598,923 | |||||
Warehouse/Industrial REITs—1.8% | |||||
140 | DCT Industrial Trust, Inc. | 5,232 | |||
503 | EastGroup Properties, Inc. | 27,972 | |||
265 | First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. | 5,864 | |||
1,450 | ProLogis, Inc. | 62,234 | |||
101,302 | |||||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $5,141,247) | 95.1 | % | 5,211,764 | ||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 4.9 | 270,145 | |||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $5,481,909 |
* | Non-income producing |
108 |
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
REITs | Real Estate Investment Trusts |
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks* | $ | 5,211,764 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,211,764 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks. |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
See notes to financial statements | 109 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
SELECT GROWTH FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Select Growth Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was 3.21%, including dividends of $0.05 cents per share and capital gains of $0.78 cents per share. This compares to a return of 5.09% in the benchmark, the Russell 3000 Growth Index.
The Fund’s positive absolute return for the period, while underperforming the benchmark, was helped by finding companies that continue to deliver earnings in excess of expectations that still trade at reasonable valuations. Of the various characteristics of companies that we look for in security selection, only unexpected growth expressed by positive estimate revisions proved to be in demand. Reasonable valuation, good earnings quality, or high growth in the form of positive earnings surprises were not attributes leading the market. Thus, many of the attributes that we favor while building the Fund portfolio were not as preferred by the market during 2015 as is typical. By far the largest impact on benchmark performance, however, was the effect of the mega-and large-capitalization companies. In fact, the 5.09% return in the Russell 3000 Growth was 8.7% better than the return of the equal-weighted Russell 3000 Growth. Moreover, 3.6% of this difference was due to the performance of just four companies: Alphabet (the former Google), Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft. Despite these head-winds, security selection did provide 1% of outperformance during the year. However, the portfolio had an average exposure of 4.8% to the Energy sector, compared to just 2.5% weight in the benchmark. With the glut of oil, the sector declined significantly and the Fund’s exposure caused 1.8% of negative allocation effect, causing essentially all of the Fund’s relative underperformance.
The market started the year with very strong performance that lasted almost through the first half as several data points showed signs of improvement in the United States economy. A continuing improvement in the number of job-openings coupled with a firmer housing market, along with accommodative central bankers both domestically and abroad allowed investors to feel more optimistic. But a correction in Chinese A-shares in June brought forth a considerable uncertainty about the strength of the global economy. Also, a continual seesaw in language from various Federal Reserve sources created a guessing game in regards to the timing of the first rate hike in nine years. As a result, the second quarter ended with a gain of just a quarter of a percent, while the third quarter was dominated by a 9% correction in August and September. The correction allowed the market to rally during the fourth quarter on the agreement of the Trans Pacific Partnership, modest job growth, and hints of more stimulus from the European Central Bank.
110 |
The Fund’s performance for the fiscal year was helped by the Industrials and Healthcare sectors. In Industrials, Alaska Air Group delivered great earnings from both lower fuel costs and a continuing successful broadening of its route offerings into the lower 48 states. The stock also performed well during the previous fiscal year and added a 36% return this year to last year’s 65% gain. Railcar component manufacturer Wabtec was also a strong performer both years as robust railcar demand was recognized by the market. Its stock gained 10% this year to follow up last year’s 17% return. In the Healthcare sector, the Fund’s position in Allergan gained 22% on strong earnings through the year, capped by an announcement of a proposed merger with Pfizer. Also, strong demand for diagnostic and surgical technology allowed Hologic to post a 21% gain.
On the negative side, Information Technology was a challenging sector for the Fund. Lack of exposure to Alphabet, Facebook, and Microsoft caused 1.8% of negative relative performance. In addition, Hewlett-Packard’s struggles with its turnaround amidst slack demand hurt performance as the stock declined 35% before it was sold. The aforementioned Energy sector did outperform by 0.6% in security selection. However, this performance was more than offset by the negative allocation effect for an overall 1.2% negative relative performance.
While being encouraged by the positive relative return from a stock selection perspective during the fiscal year, we believe the worst is behind us in the Energy markets such that allocation will cease to be a drag on performance going forward. We continue to believe that equities should be able to generate healthy returns going forward as slow and steady economic growth should provide a solid foundation for strong earnings growth by the companies held by the Fund. We continue to believe our focus on high quality companies where earnings will exceed market expectations is the key to generating excess returns over the long term.
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
111 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
SELECT GROWTH FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $983.81 | $4.15 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,021.03 | $4.23 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .83%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
112 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
SELECT GROWTH FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Select Growth Fund and the Russell 3000 Growth Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Select Growth Fund beginning 12/31/05 with a theoretical investment in the Russell 3000 Growth Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of those Russell 3000 Index companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values (the Russell 3000 Index is an unmanaged index that measures the performance of the 3,000 largest U.S. companies based on total market capitalization). It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Frank Russell and Company and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
113 |
Portfolio of Investments
SELECT GROWTH FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—97.2% | ||||
Consumer Discretionary—16.3% | ||||
27,200 | Coach, Inc. | $ 890,256 | ||
65,860 | Gentex Corporation | 1,054,419 | ||
14,825 | Home Depot, Inc. | 1,960,606 | ||
20,600 | NIKE, Inc. – Class “B” | 1,287,500 | ||
28,140 | Starbucks Corporation | 1,689,244 | ||
13,200 | Wyndham Worldwide Corporation | 958,980 | ||
7,841,005 | ||||
Consumer Staples—9.8% | ||||
10,300 | Clorox Company | 1,306,349 | ||
10,640 | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | 1,354,472 | ||
49,300 | Kroger Company | 2,062,219 | ||
4,723,040 | ||||
Energy—3.5% | ||||
4,760 | Chevron Corporation | 428,210 | ||
5,180 | ExxonMobil Corporation | 403,781 | ||
7,820 | Helmerich & Payne, Inc. | 418,761 | ||
21,200 | SM Energy Company | 416,792 | ||
1,667,544 | ||||
Financials—12.3% | ||||
26,300 | Bank of New York Mellon Corporation | 1,084,086 | ||
13,890 | Discover Financial Services | 744,782 | ||
8,900 | FactSet Research Systems, Inc. | 1,446,873 | ||
4,700 | Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | 1,204,422 | ||
6,000 | Travelers Companies, Inc. | 677,160 | ||
20,200 | Voya Financial, Inc. | 745,582 | ||
5,902,905 | ||||
Health Care—18.6% | ||||
5,820 | * | Allergan, PLC | 1,818,750 | |
5,000 | C.R. Bard, Inc. | 947,200 | ||
13,400 | Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 1,355,946 | ||
35,600 | * | Hologic, Inc. | 1,377,364 | |
6,190 | Johnson & Johnson | 635,837 | ||
7,620 | McKesson Corporation | 1,502,893 | ||
18,400 | * | Quintiles Transnational Holdings, Inc. | 1,263,344 | |
8,901,334 |
114 |
Shares or | |||||
Principal | |||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||
Industrials—13.1% | |||||
18,460 | Alaska Air Group, Inc. | $ 1,486,214 | |||
9,640 | Boeing Company | 1,393,847 | |||
16,200 | C. H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. | 1,004,724 | |||
13,500 | Cintas Corporation | 1,229,175 | |||
8,500 | General Dynamics Corporation | 1,167,560 | |||
6,281,520 | |||||
Information Technology—21.6% | |||||
21,150 | Apple, Inc. | 2,226,249 | |||
36,200 | * | Aspen Technology, Inc. | 1,366,912 | ||
39,800 | Cisco Systems, Inc. | 1,080,769 | |||
14,600 | * | Citrix Systems, Inc. | 1,104,490 | ||
43,700 | Jabil Circuit, Inc. | 1,017,773 | |||
41,000 | Juniper Networks, Inc. | 1,131,600 | |||
21,600 | Microsoft Corporation | 1,198,368 | |||
14,900 | * | Red Hat, Inc. | 1,233,869 | ||
10,360,030 | |||||
Materials—2.0% | |||||
11,100 | LyondellBasell Industries NV – Class “A” | 964,590 | |||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $36,377,939) | 46,641,968 | ||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||
OBLIGATIONS—1.0% | |||||
$ 500M | Federal Home Loan Bank, 0.138%, 1/15/2016 (cost $499,973) | 499,978 | |||
Total Value of Investments (cost $36,877,912) | 98.2 | % | 47,141,946 | ||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.8 | 855,306 | |||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $47,997,252 |
* | Non-income producing |
115 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued) (continued)
SELECT GROWTH FUND
December 31, 2015
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 46,641,968 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 46,641,968 | ||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 499,978 | — | 499,978 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | 46,641,968 | $ | 499,978 | $ | — | $ | 47,141,946 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks. |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
116 | See notes to financial statements |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Special Situations Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. During the period, the Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –0.52%, including dividends of $0.22 cents per share and capital gains of $1.51 cents per share.
Although the Fund had a modestly negative return on a Net Asset Value (“NAV”) basis, it exceeded its benchmark index by a comfortable margin. The Fund’s absolute performance was mainly attributable to investments in Healthcare and Consumer Discretionary. Among healthcare stocks, Centene Corporation — a Medicaid managed care provider — continued to benefit from growth opportunities created by the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare). Investors also welcomed the synergy potential created by Centene Corporation’s announced acquisition of Health Net Inc., a Medicare managed care provider. Separately, Omnicare, Inc. — a provider of pharmaceutical services to the geriatric community — announced in May that it had agreed to be acquired by CVS Health, one of the nation’s largest pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers. In Consumer Discretionary, ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. — a provider of residential and commercial services such as Terminix and American Home Shield — reported strong earnings driven by new products, pricing and enhanced profitability expansion. In particular, the company benefited from the decision to sell its co-owned Merry Maids branches (professional residential cleaning business) to franchisees.
On a relative basis, the Fund outperformed the Russell 2000 Index primarily due to stocks in the Financials and Materials sectors. Among Financials, American Financial Group — an insurer that focuses primarily on providing specialty commercial property and casualty insurance — has shed a number of non-insurance operations and returned excess cash to shareholders. Furthermore, its core insurance operations have benefited from more disciplined underwriting. In Materials, Trinseo S.A. — a seller of plastics and synthetic rubber products to the automotive, consumer electronic and packaging industries — reported strong earnings and raised its outlook as stable supply (i.e., no new capacity builds) and modest demand combined to increase profitability.
Among negatives to relative performance, the Fund’s stock selection in the Utilities sector hurt. Dynegy, Inc. — a wholesaler of coal and gas-fired electric generating capacity — fell after it missed earnings expectations and lowered guidance. Falling natural gas prices drove down power prices. Since Dynegy has a highly leveraged balance sheet, investors became concerned that a greater percentage of cash flow will be used to repay debt.
117 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
118 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $919.67 | $3.82 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,021.23 | $4.02 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .79%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
BY SECTOR
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
119 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Special Situations Fund and the Russell 2000 Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Special Situations Fund beginning 12/31/05 with a theoretical investment in the Russell 2000 Index (the “Index”). The Index is an unmanaged Index that measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe. The Index consists of the smallest 2,000 companies in the Russell 3000 Index (which represents approximately 98% of the investable U.S. equity market). It is not possible to invest directly in this Index. In addition, the Index does not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table, it is assumed that all dividend and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Frank Russell and Company and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
120 |
Portfolio of Investments
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—96.1% | ||||
Consumer Discretionary—19.5% | ||||
80,000 | * | 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. – Class “A” | $ 582,400 | |
150,000 | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | 2,325,000 | ||
75,000 | * | Belmond, Ltd. – Class “A” | 712,500 | |
50,500 | Caleres, Inc. | 1,354,410 | ||
88,000 | * | Century Communities, Inc. | 1,558,480 | |
71,500 | Entravision Communications Corporation – Class “A” | 551,265 | ||
75,000 | Finish Line, Inc. – Class “A” | 1,356,000 | ||
104,000 | * | Fox Factory Holding Corporation | 1,719,120 | |
20,000 | Group 1 Automotive, Inc. | 1,514,000 | ||
72,000 | Hanesbrands, Inc. | 2,118,960 | ||
15,500 | Harman International Industries, Inc. | 1,460,255 | ||
72,000 | * | Jarden Corporation | 4,112,640 | |
60,500 | * | Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. | 1,486,485 | |
25,500 | Oxford Industries, Inc. | 1,627,410 | ||
45,500 | Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | 1,926,470 | ||
63,500 | * | Performance Sports Group, Ltd. | 611,505 | |
102,500 | Regal Entertainment Group – Class “A” | 1,934,175 | ||
95,500 | Ruth’s Hospitality Group, Inc. | 1,520,360 | ||
21,000 | * | Select Comfort Corporation | 449,610 | |
73,500 | * | ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. | 2,884,140 | |
29,500 | * | Starz – Class “A” | 988,250 | |
90,000 | * | TRI Pointe Group, Inc. | 1,140,300 | |
32,000 | Tupperware Brands Corporation | 1,780,800 | ||
22,500 | * | Visteon Corporation | 2,576,250 | |
67,600 | * | William Lyon Homes – Class “A” | 1,115,400 | |
39,406,185 | ||||
Consumer Staples—2.0% | ||||
45,000 | Coty, Inc. – Class “A” | 1,153,350 | ||
46,000 | Pinnacle Foods, Inc. | 1,953,160 | ||
33,000 | Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. | 1,042,470 | ||
4,148,980 |
121 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Energy—2.3% | ||||
25,000 | Delek US Holdings, Inc. | $ 615,000 | ||
14,250 | * | Dril-Quip, Inc. | 844,028 | |
31,100 | PBF Energy, Inc. – Class “A” | 1,144,791 | ||
57,500 | Western Refining, Inc. | 2,048,150 | ||
4,651,969 | ||||
Financials—24.0% | ||||
53,000 | AllianceBernstein Holding, LP (MLP) | 1,264,050 | ||
60,500 | American Financial Group, Inc. | 4,360,840 | ||
37,000 | Aspen Insurance Holdings, Ltd. | 1,787,100 | ||
56,400 | * | Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. | 1,122,360 | |
80,000 | Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. | 2,328,800 | ||
85,000 | Brixmor Property Group, Inc. (REIT) | 2,194,700 | ||
45,000 | Brown & Brown, Inc. | 1,444,500 | ||
58,000 | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 1,519,020 | ||
68,000 | Douglas Emmett, Inc. (REIT) | 2,120,240 | ||
13,500 | Endurance Specialty Holdings, Ltd. | 863,865 | ||
34,500 | * | FCB Financial Holdings, Inc. – Class “A” | 1,234,755 | |
18,100 | Federal Realty Investment Trust (REIT) | 2,644,410 | ||
135,000 | FelCor Lodging Trust, Inc. (REIT) | 985,500 | ||
162,000 | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF) | 3,852,360 | ||
56,000 | * | Green Bancorp, Inc. | 586,880 | |
26,000 | iShares Russell 2000 ETF (ETF) | 2,925,260 | ||
67,500 | OceanFirst Financial Corporation | 1,352,025 | ||
22,000 | Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. | 1,052,920 | ||
27,500 | Simmons First National Corporation – Class “A” | 1,412,400 | ||
96,000 | SPDR S&P Regional Banking (ETF) | 4,024,320 | ||
173,500 | Sterling Bancorp | 2,814,170 | ||
135,000 | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (REIT) | 1,686,150 | ||
68,500 | Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (REIT) | 2,239,950 | ||
80,000 | TCF Financial Corporation | 1,129,600 | ||
54,000 | Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. – Class “A” (REIT) | 1,038,960 | ||
15,500 | Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. – Class “A” | 444,230 | ||
48,429,365 | ||||
Health Care—11.5% | ||||
10,000 | * | ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 451,250 | |
57,000 | * | Centene Corporation | 3,751,170 | |
57,000 | * | DepoMed, Inc. | 1,033,410 | |
35,000 | * | Globus Medical, Inc . – Class “A” | 973,700 | |
51,000 | Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | 2,451,060 | ||
28,500 | * | ICON, PLC | 2,214,450 |
122 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Health Care (continued) | ||||
21,500 | * | Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation | $ 1,457,270 | |
23,000 | * | Lannett Company, Inc. | 922,760 | |
43,000 | PerkinElmer, Inc. | 2,303,510 | ||
67,000 | Phibro Animal Health Corporation – Class “A” | 2,018,710 | ||
66,500 | * | Surgical Care Affilates, Inc. | 2,647,365 | |
108,500 | * | VWR Corporation | 3,071,635 | |
23,296,290 | ||||
Industrials—13.7% | ||||
43,000 | A.O. Smith Corporation | 3,294,230 | ||
47,000 | Altra Industrial Motion Corporation | 1,178,760 | ||
15,500 | G&K Services, Inc. – Class “A” | 974,950 | ||
30,000 | * | Generac Holdings, Inc. | 893,100 | |
3,300 | Insteel Industries, Inc. | 69,036 | ||
65,000 | ITT Corporation | 2,360,800 | ||
98,000 | Kforce, Inc. | 2,477,440 | ||
115,600 | * | NCI Building Systems, Inc. | 1,434,596 | |
7,000 | * | Nortek, Inc. | 305,340 | |
43,000 | Orbital ATK, Inc. | 3,841,620 | ||
41,000 | * | Patrick Industries, Inc. | 1,783,500 | |
38,000 | Regal Beloit Corporation | 2,223,760 | ||
13,900 | Ryder System, Inc. | 789,937 | ||
22,500 | Snap-On, Inc. | 3,857,175 | ||
17,000 | Standex International Corporation | 1,413,550 | ||
55,000 | * | TAL International Group, Inc. | 874,500 | |
27,772,294 | ||||
Information Technology—14.0% | ||||
89,000 | * | ARRIS International, PLC | 2,720,730 | |
30,000 | Avnet, Inc. | 1,285,200 | ||
10,000 | * | Blucora, Inc. | 98,000 | |
9,000 | CDW Corporation | 378,360 | ||
35,500 | * | CommScope Holding Company, Inc. | 919,095 | |
19,000 | IAC/InterActiveCorp | 1,140,950 | ||
13,000 | Lam Research Corporation | 1,032,460 | ||
88,900 | Mentor Graphics Corporation | 1,637,538 | ||
71,500 | Methode Electronics, Inc. | 2,275,845 | ||
53,400 | * | Microsemi Corporation | 1,740,306 | |
16,500 | MKS Instruments, Inc. | 594,000 | ||
94,500 | * | Newport Corporation | 1,499,715 | |
99,000 | * | Orbotech, Ltd. | 2,190,870 | |
32,000 | * | OSI Systems, Inc. | 2,837,120 |
123 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares or | |||||
Principal | |||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||
Information Technology (continued) | |||||
61,000 | * | PTC, Inc. | $ 2,112,430 | ||
15,000 | * | Qorvo, Inc. | 763,500 | ||
14,000 | SanDisk Corporation | 1,063,860 | |||
19,700 | * | Synaptics, Inc. | 1,582,698 | ||
30,000 | * | Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. | 1,056,900 | ||
35,000 | * | Verint Systems, Inc. | 1,419,600 | ||
28,349,177 | |||||
Materials—4.6% | |||||
40,000 | AptarGroup, Inc. | 2,906,000 | |||
130,000 | * | Ferro Corporation | 1,445,600 | ||
40,500 | Olin Corporation | 699,030 | |||
21,000 | Sensient Technologies Corporation | 1,319,220 | |||
63,900 | * | Trinseo SA | 1,801,980 | ||
24,800 | WestRock Company | 1,131,376 | |||
9,303,206 | |||||
Utilities—4.5% | |||||
54,000 | AGL Resources, Inc. | 3,445,740 | |||
17,000 | Pinnacle West Capital Corporation | 1,096,160 | |||
40,500 | Portland General Electric Company | 1,472,985 | |||
25,000 | SCANA Corporation | 1,512,250 | |||
29,000 | WEC Energy Group, Inc. | 1,487,990 | |||
9,015,125 | |||||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $167,463,939) | 194,372,591 | ||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||
OBLIGATIONS—2.5% | |||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||
$2,500M | 0.24%, 1/25/2016 | 2,499,795 | |||
1,000M | 0.24%, 2/3/2016 | 999,800 | |||
500M | 0.26%, 1/19/2016 | 499,971 | |||
1,000M | 0.28%, 2/24/2016 | 999,660 | |||
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $4,998,895) | 4,999,226 | ||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $172,462,834) | 98.6 | % | 199,371,817 | ||
Other Assets, Less Liabilities | 1.4 | 2,749,078 | |||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $202,120,895 |
* | Non-income producing |
124 |
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
ETF | Exchange Traded Fund | |
MLP | Master Limited Partnership | |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust |
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 194,372,591 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 194,372,591 | ||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 4,999,226 | — | 4,999,226 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | 194,372,591 | $ | 4,999,226 | $ | — | $ | 199,371,817 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks. |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
See notes to financial statements | 125 |
Portfolio Managers’ Letter
TOTAL RETURN FUND
Dear Investor:
This is the annual report for the First Investors Life Series Total Return Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The Fund’s return on a net asset value basis was –1.61%, including dividends of $0.13 per share.
Economic Overview
The U.S. economy grew at an approximately 2% rate during the review period. The consumer was the backbone of the economy, supported by the continued decline in the unemployment rate to 5.0%, a seven-year low. Auto sales reached all-time highs and housing starts returned to prerecession levels. Capital spending was muted though, and the continued appreciation of the dollar was a drag on exports. Inflation remained subdued with the year-over-year change in consumer prices at 0.7%, reflecting in part the 30% fall in the price of oil.
At the beginning of the review period, market expectations were that the Federal Reserve (“the Fed”) would end its zero interest rate policy in mid-2015 based primarily on the relatively low unemployment rate. But the unexpectedly weak first quarter economic growth stayed the Fed’s hand, at which point market expectations shifted to September for a first Fed rate hike. Global financial and economic developments, particularly in China, contributed to substantial financial market volatility in August, including a 10% decline in the U.S. stock market. Consequently, at its September meeting, the Fed again deferred raising interest rates. Finally, in December, the Fed raised the federal funds rate 25 basis points (0.25%) based on the continued decline in the unemployment rate.
Fixed Income
Interest rates generally moved higher during the review period. The two-year U.S. Treasury note yield, which is very sensitive to Fed policy, had the largest move, rising from 0.67% to 1.05%, a five-year high. Movements in longer-term interest rates were more muted. Persistently low inflation, a stronger dollar, safe haven demand, and relatively high yields versus the rest of the world capped longer-term U.S. interest rates. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield increased from 2.17% to 2.27% during the review period.
The broad U.S. bond market returned 0.6% for the year, its fourth worst year over the last four decades. Low interest rates provided little cushion to protect against wider spreads and higher interest rates (when interest rates rise, bond prices decline). Agency mortgage-backed securities returned 1.3%, benefiting from their high credit quality. U.S. Treasury securities gained 0.8%. Corporate bonds lost 0.6%, as credit
126 |
spreads widened due primarily to record new issue supply. High yield bonds had poorer performance, losing 4.6%. Spreads moved substantially wider in large part due to weakness in Energy companies (the largest sector of the high yield market), as well as other commodity-related firms. Non-dollar government bonds (i.e., foreign government securities) also had a difficult 12 months, down 4.6%, reflecting the headwind of a 9.3% increase in the value of the dollar. The municipal bond market returned 3.6% as it was insulated from many of the global issues which buffeted other sectors of the bond market. Lastly, money market returns continued to be essentially flat due to the Fed’s zero interest rate policy.
The Fund’s average bond and cash allocations during the review period were 34.1% and 7.2%, respectively. Sector allocations as a percent of Fund assets were 22.0% corporate bonds, 4.6% U.S. Treasuries, 4.2% mortgage-backed securities, 1.7% municipal bonds, and 1.6% U.S. agency securities. The bond allocation returned 0.93% versus 0.60% for the Bank of America Merrill Lynch US Broad Market Index. The outperformance was primarily due to corporate bond security selection.
Equities
The equity portion of the Fund underperformed the broader equity market indices due to its multi-cap mandate, stock selection within certain sectors and general weakness among dividend-style investments during 2015. Underperformance was driven by negative stock selection in the Industrial, Financial and Technology sectors, which more than offset relative outperformance in the Consumer Discretionary, Materials and Healthcare sectors. A review by market capitalization breakpoints (according to Lipper) had the Fund benefiting modestly on a relative basis from its weighting in small-cap stocks (13% of portfolio). However, performance within the large-cap (69%) and mid-cap (18%) sections of the portfolio drove the overall performance. Also, comparatively, “yield” stocks in general had a poor year, according to the Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Performance Monitor, and were off 4.1%. Additionally, “dividend growth” strategies fared poorly, down 5.0%. Both are key strategies for the Fund’s stock selection, as greater than 90% of the Fund is invested in companies that pay dividends.
Among sector results, the Industrial sector represented the largest drag on Fund performance in 2015, driven by stock selection. Railcar manufacturer Greenbrier declined 54% during 2015 as new tank car orders declined sharply. Intermodal container leasing firms TAL International and Textainer declined 71% and 64%, respectively, as the outlook for global lease rates worsened. Fire safety and security provider Tyco International declined 26% on a weakening demand outlook from its global industrial clientele.
127 |
Portfolio Manager’s Letter (continued)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
Weak stock selection within the Financials sector also dragged on 2015 performance. Leasing firm Ryder System declined 42% on deteriorating outlook for truck leasing rates. American Express declined 28% on increased competitive intensity in the card space, and on concerns surrounding its loss of the Costco co-branded card relationship. Wealth management and insurance provider, Ameriprise, declined 26% on deteriorating fund flows and concerns about the proposed “fiduciary rule” from the Department of Labor.
The Fund also suffered from disappointing stock selection in the Technology sector, with wireless semiconductor firms Qorvo and Qualcomm inflicting the greatest performance damage. Qorvo (which was formed earlier in the year as a combination of RF Micro and Triquint) declined 38% in 2015 amidst increasing concerns over smartphone sales and a dramatic slowdown in Chinese (4G) LTE base-station spending. Qualcomm’s 35% decline also resulted from increasing concerns about the maturing global smartphone market, as well as specific challenges in collecting royalties in its licensing business. Technology bellwether Hewlett Packard (which in November split into two companies) declined 31% on an adjusted basis, hurt by continued weakness in the broader IT hardware industry, and in the PC and printing markets in particular. Additionally, the Fund’s decision not to hold the sector’s fast growth (and richly priced) bellwethers resulted in an outsized impact on relative performance (in particular, the so-called “FANG” stocks: Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google/Alphabet).
There were some bright spots for the Fund in 2015, most notably in the Consumer Discretionary sector, where strong stock selection drove outperformance. Automotive component suppliers Lear and Delphi Automotive gained 26% and 19%, respectively, despite increasing worries about the sustainability of global auto sales. Positive trends in home improvement and athletic apparel bolstered The Home Depot (+29% in the year) and Foot Locker (+18%). Meanwhile, shares of Jarden advanced 19% during a year in which it agreed to merge with longtime Fund holding, Newell Rubbermaid.
The Fund’s holdings within the Materials sector also contributed to relative performance (despite negative absolute performance) thanks to positive stock selection. Specialty materials provider Cytec Industries advanced 64% in 2015, during which it agreed to be acquired by Solvay SA in an all-cash transaction. Specialty chemicals maker Trinseo SA gained 58% as the outlook for styrene margins improved significantly.
The Fund’s overweighting of the Healthcare sector during 2015 contributed positively to relative performance, as the overall sector’s performance was among the strongest in 2015. Aiding performance for the Fund were specialty pharmaceutical firm Allergan PLC (+21%) and drug distributor Omnicare (+35%), both of which agreed to be acquired during the year. Gilead Sciences, one of the Fund’s largest
128 |
holdings, gained 9% as the company showed improved visibility and momentum into its Hepatitis C offerings. However, the Fund’s overall stock selection within Health-care was modestly negative for the year, with modest detractors including Mylan NV (–4% in a tumultuous year) and AbbVie (–6%).
Thank you for placing your trust in Foresters Financial. As always, we appreciate the opportunity to serve your investment needs.
129 |
Fund Expenses (unaudited)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
The examples below show the ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in your Fund and will help you in comparing these costs with costs of other mutual funds. Please refer to page 3 for a detailed explanation of the information presented in these examples.
Beginning | Ending | ||
Account | Account | Expenses Paid | |
Value | Value | During Period | |
(7/1/15) | (12/31/15) | (7/1/15–12/31/15)* | |
Expense Examples | |||
Actual | $1,000.00 | $971.61 | $4.27 |
Hypothetical | |||
(5% annual return before expenses) | $1,000.00 | $1,020.87 | $4.38 |
* | Expenses are equal to the annualized expense ratio of .86%, multiplied by the average account |
value over the period, multiplied by 184/365 (to reflect the one-half year period). |
Portfolio Composition
TOP TEN SECTORS
Portfolio holdings and allocations are subject to change. Percentages are as of December 31, 2015, |
and are based on the total value of investments. |
130 |
Cumulative Performance Information (unaudited)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
Comparison of change in value of $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Total Return Fund, the Bank of America (“BofA”) Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate, Government & Mortgage Index and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
The graph compares a $10,000 investment in the First Investors Life Series Total Return Fund beginning 12/17/12 (commencement of operations) with theoretical investments in the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate, Government & Mortgage Index and the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (the “Indices”). The BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate, Government & Mortgage Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar denominated investment grade debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market, including U.S. Treasuries, quasi-government, corporate and residential mortgage pass-through securities. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of such stocks, which represent all major industries. It is not possible to invest directly in these Indices. In addition, the Indices do not reflect fees and expenses associated with the active management of a mutual fund portfolio. For purposes of the graph and the accompanying table it is assumed that all dividends and distributions were reinvested.
* The Average Annual Total Return figures are for the periods ended 12/31/15.
The returns shown do not reflect any sales charges, since the Fund sells its shares solely to variable annuity and/or variable life insurance subaccounts at net asset value. The returns do not reflect the fees and charges that an individual would pay in connection with an investment in a variable annuity or life contract or policy. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results. The graph and the returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that an investor would pay on distributions or the redemption of fund shares. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. Index figures are from Standard & Poor’s and all other figures are from Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc.
131 |
Portfolio of Investments
TOTAL RETURN FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
COMMON STOCKS—55.8% | ||||
Consumer Discretionary—10.4% | ||||
9,200 | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | $ 142,600 | ||
3,100 | BorgWarner, Inc. | 134,013 | ||
5,100 | CBS Corporation – Class “B” | 240,363 | ||
3,700 | Delphi Automotive, PLC | 317,201 | ||
2,100 | Foot Locker, Inc. | 136,689 | ||
8,150 | Ford Motor Company | 114,833 | ||
3,000 | Hanesbrands, Inc. | 88,290 | ||
1,700 | Harman International Industries, Inc. | 160,157 | ||
2,200 | Home Depot, Inc. | 290,950 | ||
5,800 | * | Jarden Corporation | 331,296 | |
4,450 | Johnson Controls, Inc. | 175,730 | ||
2,200 | L Brands, Inc. | 210,804 | ||
2,400 | Lear Corporation | 294,792 | ||
1,750 | Magna International, Inc. | 70,980 | ||
5,500 | Newell Rubbermaid, Inc. | 242,440 | ||
2,400 | Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | 101,616 | ||
3,300 | * | Select Comfort Corporation | 70,653 | |
4,800 | Stein Mart, Inc. | 32,304 | ||
3,600 | Tupperware Brands Corporation | 200,340 | ||
1,900 | Walt Disney Company | 199,652 | ||
600 | Whirlpool Corporation | 88,122 | ||
2,000 | Wyndham Worldwide Corporation | 145,300 | ||
3,789,125 | ||||
Consumer Staples—5.4% | ||||
5,850 | Altria Group, Inc. | 340,528 | ||
4,300 | Coca-Cola Company | 184,728 | ||
3,500 | CVS Health Corporation | 342,195 | ||
2,300 | Delhaize Group (ADR) | 55,867 | ||
2,400 | Koninklijke Ahold NV (ADR) | 50,724 | ||
3,100 | Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. – Class “A” | 117,459 | ||
2,000 | PepsiCo, Inc. | 199,840 | ||
3,600 | Philip Morris International, Inc. | 316,476 | ||
1,250 | Procter & Gamble Company | 99,263 | ||
3,050 | Tyson Foods, Inc. – Class “A” | 162,657 | ||
1,900 | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 116,470 | ||
1,986,207 |
132 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Energy—3.2% | ||||
1,600 | Anadarko Petroleum Corporation | $ 77,728 | ||
400 | Chevron Corporation | 35,984 | ||
2,700 | ConocoPhillips | 126,063 | ||
2,700 | Devon Energy Corporation | 86,400 | ||
2,400 | ExxonMobil Corporation | 187,080 | ||
1,200 | Hess Corporation | 58,176 | ||
3,400 | Marathon Oil Corporation | 42,806 | ||
4,100 | Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 212,544 | ||
1,150 | Occidental Petroleum Corporation | 77,751 | ||
1,350 | Phillips 66 | 110,430 | ||
500 | Schlumberger, Ltd. | 34,875 | ||
4,100 | Suncor Energy, Inc. | 105,780 | ||
1,155,617 | ||||
Financials—8.1% | ||||
1,500 | ACE, Ltd. | 175,275 | ||
3,000 | American Express Company | 208,650 | ||
1,800 | Ameriprise Financial, Inc. | 191,556 | ||
6,800 | Brixmor Property Group, Inc. (REIT) | 175,576 | ||
4,100 | Citizens Financial Group, Inc. | 107,379 | ||
3,600 | Discover Financial Services | 193,032 | ||
6,600 | Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ETF) | 156,948 | ||
600 | iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (ETF) | 83,628 | ||
1,200 | iShares Russell 2000 ETF (ETF) | 135,012 | ||
4,800 | JPMorgan Chase & Company | 316,944 | ||
700 | Morgan Stanley | 22,267 | ||
1,850 | PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. | 176,324 | ||
800 | SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (ETF) | 163,112 | ||
3,000 | SPDR S&P Regional Banking (ETF) | 125,760 | ||
7,600 | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (REIT) | 94,924 | ||
5,100 | Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (REIT) | 166,770 | ||
4,250 | U.S. Bancorp | 181,348 | ||
4,800 | Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. – Class “A” (REIT) | 92,352 | ||
3,500 | Wells Fargo & Company | 190,260 | ||
2,957,117 | ||||
Health Care—11.1% | ||||
4,850 | Abbott Laboratories | 217,813 | ||
4,050 | AbbVie, Inc. | 239,922 | ||
1,100 | * | Allergan, PLC | 343,750 | |
4,200 | Baxalta, Inc. | 163,926 |
133 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
December 31, 2015
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Health Care (continued) | ||||
2,100 | Baxter International, Inc. | $ 80,115 | ||
2,100 | Cardinal Health, Inc. | 187,467 | ||
1,900 | * | Express Scripts Holding Company | 166,079 | |
3,900 | Gilead Sciences, Inc. | 394,641 | ||
2,700 | Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. | 129,762 | ||
3,300 | Johnson & Johnson | 338,976 | ||
118 | * | Mallinckrodt, PLC | 8,806 | |
900 | McKesson Corporation | 177,507 | ||
2,000 | Medtronic, PLC | 153,840 | ||
3,900 | Merck & Company, Inc. | 205,998 | ||
2,500 | * | Mylan NV | 135,175 | |
10,550 | Pfizer, Inc. | 340,554 | ||
3,200 | Phibro Animal Health Corporation – Class “A” | 96,416 | ||
3,100 | Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. | 439,735 | ||
3,750 | * | VWR Corporation | 106,163 | |
2,400 | Zoetis, Inc. | 115,008 | ||
4,041,653 | ||||
Industrials—5.1% | ||||
1,650 | 3M Company | 248,556 | ||
2,700 | Altra Industrial Motion Corporation | 67,716 | ||
2,400 | * | Generac Holdings, Inc. | 71,448 | |
3,000 | General Electric Company | 93,450 | ||
2,500 | Honeywell International, Inc. | 258,925 | ||
2,700 | ITT Corporation | 98,064 | ||
250 | Lockheed Martin Corporation | 54,287 | ||
1,100 | ManpowerGroup, Inc. | 92,719 | ||
1,100 | Nielsen Holdings, PLC | 51,260 | ||
1,250 | Ryder System, Inc. | 71,038 | ||
1,200 | Snap-On, Inc. | 205,716 | ||
3,800 | * | TAL International Group, Inc. | 60,420 | |
1,800 | Textainer Group Holdings, Ltd. | 25,398 | ||
4,350 | Textron, Inc. | 182,744 | ||
3,300 | Tyco International, PLC | 105,237 | ||
1,700 | United Technologies Corporation | 163,319 | ||
1,850,297 | ||||
Information Technology—9.7% | ||||
3,450 | Apple, Inc. | 363,147 | ||
5,500 | * | ARRIS International, PLC | 168,135 | |
1,400 | Avago Technologies, Ltd. | 203,210 | ||
10,900 | Cisco Systems, Inc. | 295,989 |
134 |
Shares | Security | Value | ||
Information Technology (continued) | ||||
2,400 | * | eBay, Inc. | $ 65,952 | |
11,500 | EMC Corporation | 295,320 | ||
5,600 | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company | 85,120 | ||
5,800 | HP, Inc. | 68,672 | ||
7,000 | Intel Corporation | 241,150 | ||
900 | International Business Machines Corporation | 123,858 | ||
3,300 | Juniper Networks, Inc. | 91,080 | ||
4,400 | Mentor Graphics Corporation | 81,048 | ||
3,500 | Methode Electronics, Inc. | 111,405 | ||
7,500 | Microsoft Corporation | 416,100 | ||
1,000 | * | NXP Semiconductors NV | 84,250 | |
4,200 | Oracle Corporation | 153,426 | ||
1,800 | * | PTC, Inc. | 62,334 | |
900 | * | Qorvo, Inc. | 45,810 | |
3,300 | QUALCOMM, Inc. | 164,951 | ||
1,300 | SanDisk Corporation | 98,787 | ||
5,500 | Symantec Corporation | 115,500 | ||
1,200 | * | Synaptics, Inc. | 96,408 | |
1,800 | TE Connectivity, Ltd. | 116,298 | ||
3,547,950 | ||||
Materials—.6% | ||||
1,300 | International Paper Company | 49,010 | ||
500 | Praxair, Inc. | 51,200 | ||
1,600 | RPM International, Inc. | 70,496 | ||
2,200 | * | Trinseo SA | 62,040 | |
232,746 | ||||
Telecommunication Services—1.3% | ||||
6,400 | AT&T, Inc. | 220,224 | ||
5,100 | Verizon Communications, Inc. | 235,722 | ||
455,946 | ||||
Utilities—.9% | ||||
2,700 | AGL Resources, Inc. | 172,287 | ||
5,400 | Exelon Corporation | 149,958 | ||
1,000 | NiSource, Inc. | 19,510 | ||
341,755 | ||||
Total Value of Common Stocks (cost $19,066,182) | 20,358,413 |
135 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
CORPORATE BONDS—21.7% | ||||
Agriculture—.3% | ||||
$ 100M | Cargill, Inc., 6%, 11/27/2017 (a) | $ 107,383 | ||
Automotive—.3% | ||||
100M | Johnson Controls, Inc., 5%, 3/30/2020 | 107,084 | ||
Chemicals—.8% | ||||
100M | Agrium, Inc., 3.375%, 3/15/2025 | 91,412 | ||
100M | CF Industries, Inc., 3.45%, 6/1/2023 | 93,227 | ||
100M | Dow Chemical Co., 4.25%, 11/15/2020 | 104,906 | ||
289,545 | ||||
Energy—1.9% | ||||
100M | Canadian Oil Sands, Ltd., 7.75%, 5/15/2019 (a) | 107,205 | ||
100M | Continental Resources, Inc., 5%, 9/15/2022 | 73,875 | ||
100M | DCP Midstream Operating, LP, 2.5%, 12/1/2017 | 90,152 | ||
100M | Enbridge Energy Partners, LP, 4.2%, 9/15/2021 | 95,445 | ||
100M | Suncor Energy, Inc., 6.1%, 6/1/2018 | 107,616 | ||
100M | Valero Energy Corp., 9.375%, 3/15/2019 | 118,226 | ||
100M | Weatherford International, LLC, 6.35%, 6/15/2017 | 97,625 | ||
690,144 | ||||
Financial Services—3.2% | ||||
100M | American Express Co., 7%, 3/19/2018 | 110,957 | ||
100M | American International Group, Inc., 3.75%, 7/10/2025 | 99,303 | ||
100M | Ameriprise Financial, Inc., 5.3%, 3/15/2020 | 110,959 | ||
100M | Assured Guaranty U.S. Holding, Inc., 5%, 7/1/2024 | 104,069 | ||
100M | BlackRock, Inc., 5%, 12/10/2019 | 110,629 | ||
ERAC USA Finance, LLC: | ||||
100M | 4.5%, 8/16/2021 (a) | 105,940 | ||
100M | 3.3%, 10/15/2022 (a) | 98,527 | ||
100M | Ford Motor Credit Co., LLC, 8.125%, 1/15/2020 | 117,881 | ||
100M | General Electric Capital Corp., 5.625%, 9/15/2017 | 106,653 | ||
100M | Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 4.95%, 5/1/2022 (a) | 106,143 | ||
100M | Prudential Financial, Inc., 7.375%, 6/15/2019 | 116,141 | ||
1,187,202 | ||||
Financials—4.3% | ||||
Bank of America Corp.: | ||||
100M | 5.65%, 5/1/2018 | 107,590 | ||
100M | 5%, 5/13/2021 | 109,384 |
136 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Financials (continued) | ||||
$ 100M | Barclays Bank, PLC, 5.125%, 1/8/2020 | $ 109,984 | ||
100M | Capital One Financial Corp., 3.75%, 4/24/2024 | 100,824 | ||
100M | Citigroup, Inc., 6.125%, 11/21/2017 | 107,768 | ||
100M | Deutsche Bank AG, 3.7%, 5/30/2024 | 99,776 | ||
100M | Fifth Third Bancorp, 3.5%, 3/15/2022 | 101,481 | ||
200M | Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., 3.625%, 1/22/2023 | 202,584 | ||
JPMorgan Chase & Co.: | ||||
100M | 6%, 1/15/2018 | 108,037 | ||
100M | 4.5%, 1/24/2022 | 107,947 | ||
100M | Morgan Stanley, 6.625%, 4/1/2018 | 109,711 | ||
100M | SunTrust Banks, Inc., 6%, 9/11/2017 | 106,268 | ||
100M | U.S. Bancorp, 3.6%, 9/11/2024 | 101,732 | ||
100M | Wells Fargo & Co., 4.6%, 4/1/2021 | 109,090 | ||
1,582,176 | ||||
Food/Drug—.3% | ||||
100M | CVS Health Corp., 3.875%, 7/20/2025 | 102,256 | ||
Forest Products/Container—.3% | ||||
100M | Rock-Tenn Co., 4.9%, 3/1/2022 | 106,200 | ||
Health Care—1.4% | ||||
100M | Biogen, Inc., 6.875%, 3/1/2018 | 109,597 | ||
100M | Express Scripts Holding Co., 4.75%, 11/15/2021 | 107,363 | ||
100M | Gilead Sciences, Inc., 3.65%, 3/1/2026 | 100,973 | ||
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings: | ||||
100M | 3.2%, 2/1/2022 | 98,277 | ||
100M | 3.75%, 8/23/2022 | 100,788 | ||
516,998 | ||||
Higher Education—.3% | ||||
100M | Yale University, 2.086%, 4/15/2019 | 100,896 | ||
Information Technology—.5% | ||||
100M | Apple, Inc., 2.5%, 2/9/2025 | 95,605 | ||
100M | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., 2.85%, 10/5/2018 (a) | 100,010 | ||
195,615 | ||||
Manufacturing—.3% | ||||
100M | Tyco Electronics Group SA, 6.55%, 10/1/2017 | 107,813 |
137 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Media-Broadcasting—.6% | ||||
$ 100M | Comcast Corp., 5.15%, 3/1/2020 | $ 111,796 | ||
100M | DirecTV Holdings, LLC, 3.8%, 3/15/2022 | 100,770 | ||
212,566 | ||||
Media-Diversified—.3% | ||||
100M | Time Warner, Inc., 3.6%, 7/15/2025 | 97,542 | ||
Metals/Mining—.3% | ||||
100M | Newmont Mining Corp., 5.125%, 10/1/2019 | 104,105 | ||
Real Estate Investment Trusts—2.0% | ||||
100M | AvalonBay Communities, Inc., 3.5%, 11/15/2025 | 99,239 | ||
100M | Boston Properties, LP, 5.875%, 10/15/2019 | 111,099 | ||
100M | Digital Realty Trust, LP, 5.25%, 3/15/2021 | 108,103 | ||
100M | HCP, Inc., 5.375%, 2/1/2021 | 109,011 | ||
100M | ProLogis, LP, 3.35%, 2/1/2021 | 101,370 | ||
100M | Simon Property Group, LP, 3.375%, 10/1/2024 | 101,057 | ||
100M | Ventas Realty, LP, 4.75%, 6/1/2021 | 106,623 | ||
736,502 | ||||
Retail-General Merchandise—.9% | ||||
100M | Amazon.com, Inc., 4.8%, 12/5/2034 | 105,613 | ||
100M | GAP, Inc., 5.95%, 4/12/2021 | 105,908 | ||
100M | Home Depot, Inc., 5.875%, 12/16/2036 | 122,120 | ||
333,641 | ||||
Telecommunications—.6% | ||||
200M | Verizon Communications, Inc., 5.15%, 9/15/2023 | 220,217 | ||
Transportation—1.1% | ||||
100M | Burlington North Santa Fe, LLC, 5.15%, 9/1/2043 | 105,861 | ||
100M | GATX Corp., 5.2%, 3/15/2044 | 95,791 | ||
100M | Penske Truck Leasing Co., LP, 4.875%, 7/11/2022 (a) | 104,154 | ||
100M | Southwest Airlines Co., 2.65%, 11/5/2020 | 99,604 | ||
405,410 | ||||
Utilities—2.0% | ||||
100M | Dominion Gas Holdings, LLC, 2.8%, 11/15/2020 | 100,394 | ||
100M | Duke Energy Progress, Inc., 4.15%, 12/1/2044 | 97,939 | ||
100M | Electricite de France SA, 3.625%, 10/13/2025 (a) | 97,956 |
138 |
Principal | ||||
Amount | Security | Value | ||
Utilities (continued) | ||||
$ 100M | Ohio Power Co., 5.375%, 10/1/2021 | $ 111,448 | ||
100M | Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co., 4%, 12/15/2044 | 94,030 | ||
100M | Sempra Energy, 9.8%, 2/15/2019 | 121,092 | ||
100M | South Carolina Electric & Gas Co., 5.45%, 2/1/2041 | 110,367 | ||
733,226 | ||||
Total Value of Corporate Bonds (cost $8,090,115) | 7,936,521 | |||
RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED | ||||
SECURITIES—6.1% | ||||
Fannie Mae—5.4% | ||||
320M | 3%, 6/1/2030 – 1/13/2046 (b) | 323,444 | ||
745M | 3.5%, 11/1/2028 – 1/13/2046 (b) | 776,522 | ||
548M | 4%, 7/1/2041 – 1/13/2046 (b) | 580,270 | ||
139M | 4.5%, 8/1/2041 | 151,243 | ||
134M | 5%, 3/1/2042 | 148,153 | ||
1,979,632 | ||||
Freddie Mac—.7% | ||||
131M | 3.5%, 11/1/2042 – 7/1/2044 | 135,536 | ||
110M | 4%, 7/1/2044 – 4/1/2045 | 116,876 | ||
252,412 | ||||
Total Value of Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (cost $2,232,381) | 2,232,044 | |||
U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS—5.1% | ||||
100M | U.S. Treasury Bonds, 3.125%, 8/15/2044 | 102,228 | ||
U.S. Treasury Notes: | ||||
500M | 0.3052%, 1/31/2016 † | 500,019 | ||
100M | 0.3442%, 1/31/2017 † | 99,999 | ||
100M | 0.3342%, 4/30/2017 † | 99,919 | ||
300M | 0.4282%, 10/31/2017 † | 299,754 | ||
200M | 2%, 2/15/2023 | 198,875 | ||
550M | 0.625%, 1/15/2024 (TIPS) | 554,903 | ||
Total Value of U.S. Government Obligations (cost $1,884,580) | 1,855,697 |
139 |
Portfolio of Investments (continued)
TOTAL RETURN FUND
December 31, 2015
Principal | |||||
Amount | Security | Value | |||
U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||
OBLIGATIONS—1.8% | |||||
Fannie Mae: | |||||
$ 100M | 1.5%, 11/30/2020 | $ 98,293 | |||
300M | 1.75%, 11/26/2019 | 301,710 | |||
250M | 2.36%, 12/14/2022 | 248,369 | |||
Total Value of U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $646,478) | 648,372 | ||||
SHORT-TERM U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCY | |||||
OBLIGATIONS—10.7% | |||||
Federal Home Loan Bank: | |||||
500M | 0.095%, 1/14/2016 | 499,980 | |||
400M | 0.12%, 1/21/2016 | 399,974 | |||
1,200M | 0.18%, 1/27/2016 | 1,199,893 | |||
600M | 0.24%, 2/3/2016 | 599,880 | |||
700M | 0.245%, 1/27/2016 | 699,938 | |||
500M | 0.25%, 1/7/2016 | 499,994 | |||
Total Value of Short-Term U.S. Government Agency Obligations (cost $3,899,524) | 3,899,659 | ||||
Total Value of Investments (cost $35,819,260) | 101.2 | % | 36,930,706 | ||
Excess of Liabilities Over Other Assets | (1.2 | ) | (421,685) | ||
Net Assets | 100.0 | % | $36,509,021 |
* | Non-income producing | |
(a) | Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 (see Note 5). | |
(b) | A portion or all of the security purchased on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis (see | |
Note 1G). | ||
† | Interest rates on adjustable rate bonds are determined and reset periodically. The interest rates | |
shown are the rates in effect of December 31, 2015. | ||
Summary of Abbreviations: | ||
ADR | American Depositary Receipts | |
ETF | Exchange Traded Fund | |
REIT | Real Estate Investment Trust | |
TIPS | Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities |
140 |
The Fund’s assets and liabilities are classified into the following three levels based on the inputs used to value the assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
The inputs methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. For example, U.S. Government securities are reflected as Level 2 because the inputs used to determine fair value may not always be quoted prices in an active market.
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2015:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
Common Stocks | $ | 20,358,413 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 20,358,413 | ||||
Corporate Bonds | — | 7,936,521 | — | 7,936,521 | ||||||||
Residential Mortgage-Backed | ||||||||||||
Securities | — | 2,232,044 | — | 2,232,044 | ||||||||
U.S. Government Obligations | — | 1,855,697 | — | 1,855,697 | ||||||||
U.S. Government Agency | ||||||||||||
Obligations | — | 647,372 | — | 647,372 | ||||||||
Short-Term U.S. Government | ||||||||||||
Agency Obligations | — | 3,899,659 | — | 3,899,659 | ||||||||
Total Investments in Securities* | $ | 20,358,413 | $ | 16,571,293 | $ | — | $ | 36,929,706 |
* | The Portfolio of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for common stocks |
and corporate bonds. | |
There were no transfers into or from Level 1 and Level 2 by the Fund for the year ended | |
December 31, 2015. Transfers, if any, between Levels are recognized at the end of the | |
reporting period. |
See notes to financial statements | 141 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
BALANCED | CASH | EQUITY | FUND FOR | GROWTH & | |||||||||||||||||
INCOME | MANAGEMENT | INCOME | INCOME | GOVERNMENT | INCOME | INTERNATIONAL | |||||||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in securities: | |||||||||||||||||||||
At identified cost | $ | 5,492,867 | $ | 13,802,497 | $ | 83,725,115 | $ | 97,714,622 | $ | 30,632,440 | $ | 292,561,369 | $ | 95,323,958 | |||||||
At value (Note 1A) | $ | 5,439,924 | $ | 13,802,497 | $ | 106,924,001 | $ | 93,621,616 | $ | 30,631,963 | $ | 455,730,495 | $ | 132,617,424 | |||||||
Cash | 310,220 | 483,736 | 765,558 | 676,225 | 707,353 | 939,960 | 808,104 | ||||||||||||||
Receivables: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Investment securities sold | — | — | 97,021 | 430,773 | — | 355 | — | ||||||||||||||
Interest and dividends | 22,328 | 288 | 193,692 | 1,380,316 | 102,894 | 883,187 | 356,281 | ||||||||||||||
Trust shares sold | 10,574 | 75 | 62,433 | 97,421 | 31,828 | 113,245 | 79,919 | ||||||||||||||
Other assets | — | 405 | 4,371 | 4,213 | 1,302 | 18,893 | 5,473 | ||||||||||||||
Total Assets | 5,783,046 | 14,287,001 | 108,047,076 | 96,210,564 | 31,475,340 | 457,686,135 | 133,867,201 | ||||||||||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||
Payables: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Investment securities purchased | 718,572 | — | 797,799 | 1,044,588 | 1,628,714 | 33,249 | — | ||||||||||||||
Trust shares redeemed | — | 315,293 | 147,478 | 49,317 | 39,569 | 246,914 | 55,808 | ||||||||||||||
Accrued advisory fees | 2,367 | — | 68,315 | 60,612 | 15,141 | 287,251 | 84,720 | ||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | 16,048 | 13,324 | 17,002 | 22,564 | 15,195 | 32,113 | 35,465 | ||||||||||||||
Total Liabilities | 736,987 | 328,617 | 1,030,594 | 1,177,081 | 1,698,619 | 599,527 | 175,993 | ||||||||||||||
Net Assets | $ | 5,046,059 | $ | 13,958,384 | $ | 107,016,482 | $ | 95,033,483 | $ | 29,776,721 | $ | 457,086,608 | $ | 133,691,208 | |||||||
Net Assets Consist of: | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capital paid in | $ | 5,101,473 | $ | 13,958,384 | $ | 77,986,330 | $ | 118,630,424 | $ | 30,164,054 | $ | 266,937,346 | $ | 106,574,341 | |||||||
Undistributed net investment income (deficit) | (1,149 | ) | — | 2,153,046 | 4,590,953 | 637,207 | 6,459,887 | 1,623,198 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments | |||||||||||||||||||||
and foreign currency transactions | (1,322 | ) | — | 3,678,220 | (24,094,888 | ) | (1,024,063 | ) | 20,520,249 | (11,786,229 | |||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value | |||||||||||||||||||||
of investments and foreign currency transactions | (52,943 | ) | — | 23,198,886 | (4,093,006 | ) | (477 | ) | 163,169,126 | 37,279,898 | |||||||||||
Total | $ | 5,046,059 | $ | 13,958,384 | $ | 107,016,482 | $ | 95,033,483 | $ | 29,776,721 | $ | 457,086,608 | $ | 133,691,208 | |||||||
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (Note 2) | 513,132 | 13,958,384 | 5,347,443 | 15,668,361 | 3,060,462 | 10,601,755 | 6,252,882 | ||||||||||||||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share — | |||||||||||||||||||||
(Net assets divided by shares outstanding) | $ | 9.83 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 20.01 | $ | 6.07 | $ | 9.73 | $ | 43.11 | $ | 21.38 |
142 | See notes to financial statements | 143 |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
LIMITED | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DURATION | ||||||||||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT | HIGH QUALITY | REAL | SELECT | SPECIAL | TOTAL | |||||||||||||||||
GRADE | BOND | OPPORTUNITY | ESTATE | GROWTH | SITUATIONS | RETURN | ||||||||||||||||
Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investments in securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
At identified cost | $ | 60,610,964 | $ | 5,778,291 | $ | 36,691,536 | $ | 5,141,247 | $ | 36,877,912 | $ | 172,462,834 | $ | 35,819,260 | ||||||||
At value (Note 1A) | $ | 60,817,904 | $ | 5,750,911 | $ | 39,464,568 | $ | 5,211,764 | $ | 47,141,946 | $ | 199,371,817 | $ | 36,930,706 | ||||||||
Cash | 489,977 | 272,474 | 844,188 | 233,447 | 843,604 | 1,061,944 | 364,396 | |||||||||||||||
Receivables: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment securities sold | — | — | 58,945 | — | — | 2,085,746 | — | |||||||||||||||
Interest and dividends | 768,976 | 23,316 | 61,992 | 24,911 | 14,677 | 287,663 | 145,740 | |||||||||||||||
Trust shares sold | 69,563 | 95,642 | 139,242 | 15,982 | 72,116 | 124,294 | 115,073 | |||||||||||||||
Other assets | 2,694 | 182 | 1,554 | 14,537 | 1,874 | 8,573 | 1,426 | |||||||||||||||
Total Assets | 62,149,114 | 6,142,525 | 40,570,489 | 5,500,641 | 48,074,217 | 202,940,037 | 37,557,341 | |||||||||||||||
Liabilities | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Payables: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment securities purchased | — | 290,699 | 415,221 | — | — | 600,349 | 1,010,187 | |||||||||||||||
Trust shares redeemed | 82,057 | 329 | 56 | 60 | 32,505 | 65,046 | 125 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued advisory fees | 31,701 | 2,794 | 25,135 | 3,284 | 30,675 | 129,363 | 22,772 | |||||||||||||||
Accrued expenses | 14,942 | 12,253 | 16,065 | 15,388 | 13,785 | 24,384 | 15,236 | |||||||||||||||
Total Liabilities | 128,700 | 306,075 | 456,477 | 18,732 | 76,965 | 819,142 | 1,048,320 | |||||||||||||||
Net Assets | $ | 62,020,414 | $ | 5,836,450 | $ | 40,114,012 | $ | 5,481,909 | $ | 47,997,252 | $ | 202,120,895 | $ | 36,509,021 | ||||||||
Net Assets Consist of: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital paid in | $ | 62,450,228 | $ | 5,866,277 | $ | 37,916,276 | $ | 5,343,101 | $ | 34,075,923 | $ | 160,677,207 | $ | 35,342,778 | ||||||||
Undistributed net investment income | 1,193,267 | 14,453 | 185,108 | 37,714 | 302,470 | 1,100,614 | 338,962 | |||||||||||||||
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) on investments | (1,830,021 | ) | (16,900 | ) | (760,404 | ) | 30,577 | 3,354,825 | 13,434,091 | (284,165 | ) | |||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value | ||||||||||||||||||||||
of investments | 206,940 | (27,380 | ) | 2,773,032 | 70,517 | 10,264,034 | 26,908,983 | 1,111,446 | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 62,020,414 | $ | 5,836,450 | $ | 40,114,012 | $ | 5,481,909 | $ | 47,997,252 | $ | 202,120,895 | $ | 36,509,021 | ||||||||
Shares of beneficial interest outstanding (Note 2) | 5,798,642 | 602,268 | 2,722,367 | 539,852 | 3,433,408 | 6,237,364 | 3,047,179 | |||||||||||||||
Net asset value, offering and redemption price per share — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(Net assets divided by shares outstanding) | $ | 10.70 | $ | 9.69 | $ | 14.73 | $ | 10.15 | $ | 13.98 | $ | 32.40 | $ | 11.98 |
144 | See notes to financial statements | 145 |
Statements of Operations
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Year Ended December 31, 2015
BALANCED | CASH | EQUITY | FUND FOR | GROWTH & | ||||||||||||||||||
INCOME | * | MANAGEMENT | INCOME | INCOME | GOVERNMENT | INCOME | INTERNATIONAL | |||||||||||||||
Investment Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Income: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest | $ | 6,311 | $ | 10,372 | $ | 2,544 | $ | 5,673,408 | $ | 715,927 | $ | 2,721 | $ | 675 | ||||||||
Dividends | 9,366 | (a) | — | 3,033,636 | (b) | — | — | 10,215,393 | (c) | 2,810,302 | (d) | |||||||||||
Total income | 15,677 | 10,372 | 3,036,180 | 5,673,408 | 715,927 | 10,218,114 | 2,810,977 | |||||||||||||||
Expenses (Notes 1 and 4): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Advisory fees | 4,878 | 59,670 | 819,548 | 744,065 | 226,964 | 3,560,457 | 1,008,680 | |||||||||||||||
Professional fees | 13,510 | 16,017 | 22,175 | 21,375 | 15,931 | 61,177 | 27,556 | |||||||||||||||
Custodian fees and expenses | 600 | 3,883 | 8,705 | 12,322 | 7,505 | 20,324 | 72,930 | |||||||||||||||
Reports and notices to shareholders | 250 | 3,238 | 13,078 | 15,028 | 5,115 | 52,030 | 16,682 | |||||||||||||||
Registration fees | 1,431 | 180 | 129 | 136 | 134 | 135 | 131 | |||||||||||||||
Trustees’ fees | 9 | 408 | 5,655 | 5,143 | 1,573 | 25,147 | 6,959 | |||||||||||||||
Other expenses | 444 | 3,287 | 14,974 | 52,944 | 15,163 | 42,649 | 36,525 | |||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 21,122 | 86,683 | 884,264 | 851,013 | 272,385 | 3,761,919 | 1,169,463 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Expenses waived and/or assumed (Note 4) | (976 | ) | (76,282 | ) | — | — | (45,393 | ) | — | — | ||||||||||||
Expenses paid indirectly (Note 1G) | — | (29 | ) | (1,151 | ) | (935 | ) | (154 | ) | (3,693 | ) | (254 | ) | |||||||||
Net expenses | 20,146 | 10,372 | 883,113 | 850,078 | 226,838 | 3,758,226 | 1,169,209 | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | (4,469 | ) | — | 2,153,067 | 4,823,330 | 489,089 | 6,459,888 | 1,641,768 | ||||||||||||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
and Foreign Currency Transactions (Note 3): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Investments | (1,322 | ) | — | 3,748,544 | (4,413,836 | ) | (326,405 | ) | 22,045,976 | (21,083 | ) | |||||||||||
Foreign currency transactions (Note 1C) | — | — | — | — | — | — | (18,761 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and | ||||||||||||||||||||||
foreign currency transactions | (1,322 | ) | — | 3,748,544 | (4,413,836 | ) | (326,405 | ) | 22,045,976 | (39,844 | ) | |||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
and foreign currency transactions | (52,943 | ) | — | (7,005,482 | ) | (2,252,019 | ) | (133,306 | ) | (43,062,986 | ) | 2,994,815 | ||||||||||
Net gain (loss) on investments and foreign | ||||||||||||||||||||||
currency transactions | (54,265 | ) | — | (3,256,938 | ) | (6,665,855 | ) | (459,711 | ) | (21,017,010 | ) | 2,954,971 | ||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting | ||||||||||||||||||||||
from Operations | $ | (58,734 | ) | $ | — | $ | (1,103,871 | ) | $ | (1,842,525 | ) | $ | 29,378 | $ | (14,557,122 | ) | $ | 4,596,739 |
* | From November 2, 2015 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2015. |
(a) | Net of $44 foreign taxes withheld |
(b) | Net of $8,202 foreign taxes withheld |
(c) | Net of $21,558 foreign taxes withheld |
(d) | Net of $293,610 foreign taxes withheld |
146 | See notes to financial statements | 147 |
Statements of Operations
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Year Ended December 31, 2015
LIMITED | ||||||||||||||||||||||
DURATION | ||||||||||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT | HIGH QUALITY | REAL | SELECT | SPECIAL | TOTAL | |||||||||||||||||
GRADE | BOND | OPPORTUNITY | ESTATE* | GROWTH | SITUATIONS | RETURN | ||||||||||||||||
Investment Income | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Income: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest | $ | 2,393,502 | $ | 56,986 | $ | 608 | $ | — | $ | 171 | $ | 2,667 | $ | 278,541 | ||||||||
Dividends | — | — | 492,837 | (e) | 98,928 | 687,283 | 2,803,068 | 403,655 | (f) | |||||||||||||
Total income | 2,393,502 | 56,986 | 493,445 | 98,928 | 687,454 | 2,805,735 | 682,196 | |||||||||||||||
Expenses (Notes 1 and 4): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Advisory fees | 472,165 | 27,682 | 260,870 | 20,210 | 349,528 | 1,599,172 | 244,104 | |||||||||||||||
Professional fees | 16,736 | 16,985 | 14,334 | 30,898 | 15,163 | 35,630 | 13,885 | |||||||||||||||
Custodian fees and expenses | 6,111 | 4,669 | 19,176 | 4,035 | 3,848 | 12,816 | 13,079 | |||||||||||||||
Reports and notices to shareholders | 8,799 | 51 | 5,341 | 998 | 6,418 | 24,421 | 6,644 | |||||||||||||||
Registration fees | 138 | 1,464 | 129 | 1,484 | 887 | 133 | 130 | |||||||||||||||
Trustees’ fees | 3,266 | 175 | 1,729 | 109 | 2,383 | 11,012 | 1,641 | |||||||||||||||
Other expenses | 13,609 | 7,565 | 7,255 | 3,506 | 6,952 | 23,653 | 11,456 | |||||||||||||||
Total expenses | 520,824 | 58,591 | 308,834 | 61,240 | 385,179 | 1,706,837 | 290,939 | |||||||||||||||
Less: Expenses waived (Note 4) | (94,433 | ) | (5,537 | ) | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Expenses paid indirectly (Note 1G) | (465 | ) | (43 | ) | (502 | ) | (26 | ) | (184 | ) | (1,717 | ) | (309 | ) | ||||||||
Net expenses | 425,926 | 53,011 | 308,332 | 61,214 | 384,995 | 1,705,120 | 290,630 | |||||||||||||||
Net investment income | 1,967,576 | 3,975 | 185,113 | 37,714 | 302,459 | 1,100,615 | 391,566 | |||||||||||||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(Note 3): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 386,873 | (4,776 | ) | (424,803 | ) | 30,577 | 3,355,150 | 13,583,984 | (176,397 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments | (2,593,994 | ) | (20,972 | ) | (491,446 | ) | 70,517 | (2,275,973 | ) | (15,432,445 | ) | (831,926 | ) | |||||||||
Net gain (loss) on investments | (2,207,121 | ) | (25,748 | ) | (916,249 | ) | 101,094 | 1,079,177 | (1,848,461 | ) | (1,008,323 | ) | ||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting | ||||||||||||||||||||||
from Operations | $ | (239,545 | ) | $ | (21,773 | ) | $ | (731,136 | ) | $ | 138,808 | $ | 1,381,636 | $ | (747,846 | ) | $ | (616,757 | ) |
* | From May 1, 2015 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2015. |
(e) | Net of $126 foreign taxes withheld |
(f) | Net of $829 foreign taxes withheld |
148 | See notes to financial statements | 149 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
BALANCED | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
INCOME | CASH MANAGEMENT | EQUITY INCOME | FUND FOR INCOME | |||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31 | 2015 | * | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | (4,469 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,153,067 | $ | 1,821,748 | $ | 4,823,330 | $ | 4,814,307 | |||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | (1,322 | ) | — | — | 3,748,544 | 3,841,139 | (4,413,836 | ) | 389,912 | |||||||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
of investments | (52,943 | ) | — | — | (7,005,482 | ) | 2,582,413 | (2,252,019 | ) | (4,402,351 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
from operations | (58,734 | ) | — | — | (1,103,871 | ) | 8,245,300 | (1,842,525 | ) | 801,868 | ||||||||||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | — | — | — | (1,821,769 | ) | (1,692,596 | ) | (5,371,141 | ) | (5,169,204 | ) | |||||||||||||
Net realized gains | — | — | — | (3,844,993 | ) | (4,129,108 | ) | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total distributions | — | — | — | (5,666,762 | ) | (5,821,704 | ) | (5,371,141 | ) | (5,169,204 | ) | |||||||||||||
Trust Share Transactions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 5,105,056 | 36,597,803 | 42,552,656 | 5,315,023 | 8,118,552 | 5,334,276 | 8,401,510 | |||||||||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | — | — | — | 5,666,762 | 5,821,704 | 5,371,141 | 5,169,204 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of shares redeemed | (263 | ) | (32,616,953 | ) | (43,527,282 | ) | (6,736,210 | ) | (5,450,729 | ) | (7,107,965 | ) | (5,742,002 | ) | ||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) from trust share transactions | 5,104,793 | 3,980,850 | (974,626 | ) | 4,245,575 | 8,489,527 | 3,597,452 | 7,828,712 | ||||||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | 5,046,059 | 3,980,850 | (974,626 | ) | (2,525,058 | ) | 10,913,123 | (3,616,214 | ) | 3,461,376 | ||||||||||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of year | — | 9,977,534 | 10,952,160 | 109,541,540 | 98,628,417 | 98,649,697 | 95,188,321 | |||||||||||||||||
End of year † | $ | 5,046,059 | $ | 13,958,384 | $ | 9,977,534 | $ | 107,016,482 | $ | 109,541,540 | $ | 95,033,483 | $ | 98,649,697 | ||||||||||
†Includes undistributed net investment income (deficit) of | $ | (1,149 | ) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,153,046 | $ | 1,821,748 | $ | 4,590,953 | $ | 4,654,859 | |||||||||
Trust Shares Issued and Redeemed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 513,159 | 36,597,803 | 42,552,656 | 260,788 | 393,394 | 845,118 | 1,253,054 | |||||||||||||||||
Issued for distributions reinvested | — | — | — | 273,229 | 296,119 | 844,519 | 780,847 | |||||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (27 | ) | (32,616,953 | ) | (43,527,282 | ) | (331,942 | ) | (264,808 | ) | (1,125,292 | ) | (855,036 | ) | ||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in trust shares outstanding | 513,132 | 3,980,850 | (974,626 | ) | 202,075 | 424,705 | 564,345 | 1,178,865 |
* | From November 2, 2015 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2015. |
150 | See notes to financial statements | 151 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
GOVERNMENT | GROWTH & INCOME | INTERNATIONAL | INVESTMENT GRADE | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31 | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 489,089 | $ | 557,861 | $ | 6,459,888 | $ | 5,622,556 | $ | 1,641,768 | $ | 1,463,608 | $ | 1,967,576 | $ | 1,701,642 | |||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments and | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
foreign currency transactions | (326,405 | ) | 155,039 | 22,045,976 | 25,731,545 | (39,844 | ) | 2,973,428 | 386,873 | 1,216,895 | |||||||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
and foreign currency transactions | (133,306 | ) | 210,134 | (43,062,986 | ) | 4,161,730 | 2,994,815 | (1,381,288 | ) | (2,593,994 | ) | 538,790 | |||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
from operations | 29,378 | 923,034 | (14,557,122 | ) | 35,515,831 | 4,596,739 | 3,055,748 | (239,545 | ) | 3,457,327 | |||||||||||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | (691,893 | ) | (784,013 | ) | (5,622,525 | ) | (5,573,499 | ) | (1,462,160 | ) | (1,447,791 | ) | (2,627,252 | ) | (2,449,388 | ) | |||||||||
Net realized gains | — | — | (25,760,338 | ) | (3,093,486 | ) | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||
Total distributions | (691,893 | ) | (784,013 | ) | (31,382,863 | ) | (8,666,985 | ) | (1,462,160 | ) | (1,447,791 | ) | (2,627,252 | ) | (2,449,388 | ) | |||||||||
Trust Share Transactions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 1,608,669 | 2,155,159 | 7,516,405 | 9,943,269 | 4,030,067 | 5,628,877 | 4,429,133 | 5,433,008 | |||||||||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 691,893 | 784,013 | 31,382,863 | 8,666,985 | 1,462,160 | 1,447,791 | 2,627,252 | 2,449,388 | |||||||||||||||||
Cost of shares redeemed | (2,572,137 | ) | (2,850,062 | ) | (28,469,280 | ) | (27,285,089 | ) | (6,209,304 | ) | (5,892,325 | ) | (5,371,890 | ) | (4,251,021 | ) | |||||||||
Net increase (decrease) from trust share transactions | (271,575 | ) | 89,110 | 10,429,988 | ) | (8,674,835 | ) | (717,077 | ) | 1,184,343 | 1,684,495 | 3,631,375 | |||||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (934,090 | ) | 228,131 | (35,509,997 | ) | 18,174,011 | 2,417,502 | 2,792,300 | (1,182,302 | ) | 4,639,314 | ||||||||||||||
Net Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of year | 30,710,811 | 30,482,680 | 492,596,605 | 474,422,594 | 131,273,706 | 128,481,406 | 63,202,716 | 58,563,402 | |||||||||||||||||
End of year † | $ | 29,776,721 | $ | 30,710,811 | $ | 457,086,608 | $ | 492,596,605 | $ | 133,691,208 | $ | 131,273,706 | $ | 62,020,414 | $ | 63,202,716 | |||||||||
†Includes undistributed net investment income of | $ | 637,207 | $ | 691,883 | $ | 6,459,887 | $ | 5,622,557 | $ | 1,623,198 | $ | 1,462,187 | $ | 1,193,267 | $ | 1,541,764 | |||||||||
Trust Shares Issued and Redeemed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 164,579 | 218,414 | 167,819 | 218,789 | 188,538 | 265,505 | 408,445 | 490,396 | |||||||||||||||||
Issued for distributions reinvested | 70,673 | 80,247 | 678,695 | 197,516 | 67,381 | 69,372 | 241,253 | 226,167 | |||||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (262,643 | ) | (288,676 | ) | (629,540 | ) | (600,449 | ) | (291,068 | ) | (277,543 | ) | (494,176 | ) | (384,124 | ) | |||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in trust shares outstanding | (27,391 | ) | 9,985 | 216,974 | (184,144 | ) | (35,149 | ) | 57,334 | 155,522 | 332,439 |
152 | See notes to financial statements | 153 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
LIMITED DURATION | REAL | |||||||||||||||||||||
HIGH QUALITY BOND | OPPORTUNITY | ESTATE | SELECT GROWTH | |||||||||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31 | 2015 | 2014 | * | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | ** | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income (loss) | $ | 3,975 | $ | (32,501 | ) | $ | 185,113 | $ | 60,296 | $ | 37,714 | $ | 302,459 | $ | 167,049 | |||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | (4,776 | ) | 233 | (424,803 | ) | (326,693 | ) | 30,577 | 3,355,150 | 2,393,581 | ||||||||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments | (20,972 | ) | (6,408 | ) | (491,446 | ) | 1,563,896 | 70,517 | (2,275,973 | ) | 2,427,906 | |||||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting | ||||||||||||||||||||||
from operations | (21,773 | ) | (38,676 | ) | (731,136 | ) | 1,297,499 | 138,808 | 1,381,636 | 4,988,536 | ||||||||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Net investment income | — | — | (60,301 | ) | — | — | (167,038 | ) | (125,761 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net realized gains | — | — | — | (7,787 | ) | — | (2,393,572 | ) | (41,015 | ) | ||||||||||||
Total distributions | — | — | (60,301 | ) | (7,787 | ) | — | (2,560,610 | ) | (166,776 | ) | |||||||||||
Trust Share Transactions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 3,413,609 | 2,619,930 | 16,416,999 | 13,087,780 | 5,379,891 | 5,806,585 | 5,841,359 | |||||||||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | — | — | 60,301 | 7,787 | — | 2,560,610 | 166,776 | |||||||||||||||
Cost of shares redeemed | (116,645 | ) | (19,995 | ) | (3,051,700 | ) | (532,614 | ) | (36,790 | ) | (2,777,732 | ) | (2,249,337 | ) | ||||||||
Net increase from trust share transactions | 3,296,964 | 2,599,935 | 13,425,600 | 12,562,953 | 5,343,101 | 5,589,463 | 3,758,798 | |||||||||||||||
Net increase in net assets | 3,275,191 | 2,561,259 | 12,634,163 | 13,852,665 | 5,481,909 | 4,410,489 | 8,580,558 | |||||||||||||||
Net Assets | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of year | 2,561,259 | — | 27,479,849 | 13,627,184 | — | 43,586,763 | 35,006,205 | |||||||||||||||
End of year † | $ | 5,836,450 | $ | 2,561,259 | $ | 40,114,012 | $ | 27,479,849 | $ | 5,481,909 | $ | 47,997,252 | $ | 43,586,763 | ||||||||
†Includes undistributed net investment income (deficit) of | $ | 14,453 | $ | (1,646 | ) | $ | 185,108 | $ | 60,296 | $ | 37,714 | $ | 302,470 | $ | 167,049 | |||||||
Trust Shares Issued and Redeemed | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sold | 351,206 | 265,066 | 1,074,011 | 915,743 | 543,588 | 409,840 | 437,045 | |||||||||||||||
Issued for distributions reinvested | — | — | 3,867 | 552 | — | 180,198 | 12,878 | |||||||||||||||
Redeemed | (11,967 | ) | (2,037 | ) | (202,544 | ) | (37,007 | ) | (3,736 | ) | (196,062 | ) | (168,982 | ) | ||||||||
Net increase in trust shares outstanding | 339,239 | 263,029 | 875,334 | 879,288 | 539,852 | 393,976 | 280,941 |
* | From July 1, 2014 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2014. |
** | From May 1, 2015 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2015. |
154 | See notes to financial statements | 155 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
SPECIAL SITUATIONS | TOTAL RETURN | ||||||||||||
Year Ended December 31 | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets From Operations | |||||||||||||
Net investment income | $ | 1,100,615 | $ | 1,331,338 | $ | 391,566 | $ | 199,218 | |||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investments | 13,583,984 | 9,214,245 | (176,397 | ) | (39,546 | ) | |||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) | |||||||||||||
of investments | (15,432,445 | ) | 1,898,988 | (831,926 | ) | 1,077,249 | |||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting | |||||||||||||
from operations | (747,846 | ) | 12,444,571 | (616,757 | ) | 1,236,921 | |||||||
Distributions to Shareholders | |||||||||||||
Net investment income | (1,331,340 | ) | (948,767 | ) | (305,447 | ) | (17,034 | ) | |||||
Net realized gains | (9,169,641 | ) | (33,976,971 | ) | — | — | |||||||
Total distributions | (10,500,981 | ) | (34,925,738 | ) | (305,447 | ) | (17,034 | ) | |||||
Trust Share Transactions | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from shares sold | 4,578,638 | 5,127,856 | 11,110,483 | 14,856,310 | |||||||||
Reinvestment of distributions | 10,500,981 | 34,925,738 | 305,447 | 17,034 | |||||||||
Cost of shares redeemed | (10,655,406 | ) | (9,841,042 | ) | (2,581,178 | ) | (939,053 | ) | |||||
Net increase from trust share transactions | 4,424,213 | 30,212,552 | 8,834,752 | 13,934,291 | |||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets | (6,824,614 | ) | 7,731,385 | 7,912,548 | 15,154,178 | ||||||||
Net Assets | |||||||||||||
Beginning of year | 208,945,509 | 201,214,124 | 28,596,473 | 13,442,295 | |||||||||
End of year † | $ | 202,120,895 | $ | 208,945,509 | $ | 36,509,021 | $ | 28,596,473 | |||||
†Includes undistributed net investment income of | $ | 1,100,614 | $ | 1,331,339 | $ | 338,962 | $ | 204,014 | |||||
Trust Shares Issued and Redeemed | |||||||||||||
Sold | 136,051 | 151,084 | 908,647 | 1,245,483 | |||||||||
Issued for distributions reinvested | 307,676 | 1,082,297 | 24,416 | 1,461 | |||||||||
Redeemed | (311,438 | ) | (291,150 | ) | (211,680 | ) | (78,453 | ) | |||||
Net increase in trust shares outstanding | 132,289 | 942,231 | 721,383 | 1,168,491 |
156 | See notes to financial statements | 157 |
Notes to Financial Statements
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
1. Significant Accounting Policies —First Investors Life Series Funds, a Delaware statutory trust (“the Trust”), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) as an open-end management investment company. The Trust operates as a series fund, issuing shares of beneficial interest in the Balanced Income Fund, Cash Management Fund, Equity Income Fund, Fund For Income, Government Fund, Growth & Income Fund, International Fund, Investment Grade Fund, Limited Duration High Quality Bond Fund, Opportunity Fund, Real Estate Fund, Select Growth Fund, Special Situations Fund and Total Return Fund (each a “Fund”, collectively, “the Funds”), and accounts separately for the assets, liabilities and operations of each Fund. Each Fund is diversified except for Real Estate Fund which is non-diversified. The objective of each Fund as of December 31, 2015 is as follows:
Balanced Income Fund seeks income as its primary objective and has a secondary objective of capital appreciation.
Cash Management Fund seeks to earn a high rate of current income consistent with the preservation of capital and maintenance of liquidity.
Equity Income Fund seeks total return.
Fund For Income seeks high current income.
Government Fund seeks to achieve a significant level of current income which is consistent with security and liquidity of principal.
Growth & Income Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and current income.
International Fund primarily seeks long-term capital growth.
Investment Grade Fund seeks to generate a maximum level of income consistent with investment in investment grade debt securities.
Limited Duration High Quality Bond Fund seeks current income consistent with low volatility of principal.
Opportunity Fund seeks long-term capital growth.
Real Estate Fund seeks total return.
Select Growth Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Special Situations Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Total Return Fund seeks high, long-term total investment return consistent with moderate investment risk.
158 |
A. Security Valuation—Except as provided below, a security listed or traded on an exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market is valued at its last sale price on the exchange or market where the security is principally traded, and lacking any sales, the security is valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices. Securities traded in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market (including securities listed on exchanges whose primary market is believed to be OTC) are valued at the mean between the last bid and asked prices based on quotes furnished by a market maker for such securities or an authorized pricing service. Fixed income securities, other than short-term debt securities held by the Cash Management Fund, are priced based upon valuations that are provided by a pricing service. Other securities may also be priced based upon valuations that are provided by pricing services approved by the Trust’s Board of Trustees (“the Board”). The pricing services consider security type, rating, market condition and yield data as well as market quotations, prices provided by market makers and other available information in determining value.
The Funds monitor for significant events occurring prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange that could have a material impact on the value of any securities that are held by the Funds. Examples of such events include trading halts, natural disasters, political events and issuer-specific developments. If the Valuation Committee of Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc. (“FIMCO”) decides that such events warrant using fair value estimates, it will take such events into consideration in determining the fair values of such securities. If market quotations or prices are not readily available or determined to be unreliable, the securities will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board. The Funds also use estimates from a pricing service to fair value foreign equity securities in the event that fluctuations in U.S. securities markets exceed a predetermined level or if a foreign market is closed. For valuation purposes, where applicable, quotations of foreign securities in foreign currencies are translated to U.S. dollar equivalents using the foreign exchange quotation in effect.
The Cash Management Fund values its portfolio securities in accordance with the amortized cost method of valuation under Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act. Amortized cost is an approximation of market value of an instrument, whereby the difference between its acquisition cost and market value at maturity is amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining life of the instrument. The effect of changes in the market value of a security as a result of fluctuating interest rates is not taken into account and thus the amortized cost method of valuation may result in the value of a security being higher or lower than its actual market value.
159 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”), investments held by the Funds are carried at “fair value”. As defined by ASC 820, fair value is the price that a fund would receive upon selling an investment in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment under current market conditions. Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Funds’ investments.
In addition to defining fair value, ASC 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below:
Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical securities that the Fund has the ability to access.
Level 2 – Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data.
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumption about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available.
Equity securities traded on an exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy to the extent that they are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied. Foreign securities that are fair valued in the event that fluctuations in U.S. securities markets exceed a predetermined level or if a foreign market is closed are categorized in Level 2. Corporate and municipal bonds, asset backed, U.S. Government and U.S. Government Agency securities, pass-through certificates and loan participations are categorized in Level 2 to the extent that the inputs are observable and timely, otherwise they would be categorized in Level 3. Short-term notes that are valued at amortized cost by the Cash Management Fund are categorized in Level 2. Restricted securities and securities that are fair valued by the Valuation Committee may be categorized in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy depending on the relative significance of the unobservable valuation inputs.
160 |
The aggregate value by input level, as of December 31, 2015, for each Fund’s investments is included following each Fund’s portfolio of investments.
B. Federal Income Tax—No provision has been made for federal income taxes on net income or capital gains since it is the policy of each Fund to continue to comply with the special provisions of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to investment companies, and to make sufficient distributions of income and capital gains (in excess of any available capital loss carryovers), to relieve each Fund from all, or substantially all, federal income taxes. At December 31, 2015, capital loss carryovers were as follows:
Not Subject | ||||||||||||||||||
to Expiration | ||||||||||||||||||
Fund | Total | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Long Term | Short Term | ||||||||||||
Balanced Income | $ | 1,322 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 1,322 | ||||||
Fund For Income | 24,088,699 | 3,694,844 | 15,502,053 | — | 3,554,607 | 1,337,195 | ||||||||||||
Government | 1,023,896 | — | — | — | 217,741 | 806,155 | ||||||||||||
International | 11,471,145 | 1,810,164 | 8,389,229 | 1,032,753 | — | 238,999 | ||||||||||||
Investment Grade | 1,829,332 | 684,231 | 1,145,101 | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Limited Duration | ||||||||||||||||||
High Quality Bond | 16,900 | — | — | — | 52 | 16,848 | ||||||||||||
Opportunity | 698,552 | — | — | — | — | 698,552 | ||||||||||||
Total Return | 274,892 | — | — | — | 98,142 | 176,750 |
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Investment Grade Fund utilized capital loss carryovers in the amount of $75,694.
As a result of the passage of the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (“the Modernization Act of 2010”), losses incurred in this fiscal year and beyond retain their character as short-term or long-term, have no expiration date and are utilized prior to capital loss carryovers occurring prior to the enactment of the Modernization Act of 2010.
The Funds recognize the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has analyzed the Funds’ tax positions, and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on returns filed for open tax years 2012 – 2014, or expected to be taken in the Funds’ 2015 tax returns. The Funds identify their major tax jurisdictions as U.S. Federal, New York State, New York City and foreign jurisdictions where the Funds make significant investments; however, the Funds are not aware of any tax position for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next twelve months.
161 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
C. Foreign Currency Translations and Transactions—The accounting records of the International Fund (the “Fund”) are maintained in U.S. dollars. Portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at the date of valuation. Purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend income and certain expenses are translated to U.S. dollars at the prevailing rates of exchange on the respective dates of such transactions.
The Fund does not isolate that portion of gains and losses on investments which is due to changes in foreign exchange rates from that which is due to changes in market prices of the investments. These changes are included with the net realized and unrealized gains and losses from investments.
Net realized and unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency transactions include gains and losses from the sales of spot currency transactions and gains and losses on accrued foreign dividends and related withholding taxes.
D. Distributions to Shareholders—The Separate Accounts, which own the shares of the Funds, will receive all dividends and other distributions by them. All dividends and distributions are reinvested by the Separate Accounts in additional shares of the distributing Funds. Distributions to shareholders from net investment income and net realized capital gains are generally declared and paid annually on all Funds, except for the Cash Management Fund which declares dividends, if any, from the total of net investment income (plus or minus all realized short-term gains and losses on investments) daily and pays monthly. Dividends from net investment income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for capital loss carryforwards, deferral of wash sale losses, late loss deferrals, post-October capital losses, net operating losses and foreign currency transactions.
E. Expense Allocation—Expenses directly charged or attributable to a Fund are paid from the assets of that Fund. General expenses of the Trust are allocated among and charged to the assets of each Fund on a fair and equitable basis, which may be based on the relative assets of each Fund or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to each Fund.
F. Use of Estimates—The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
162 |
G. Other—Security transactions are generally accounted for on the first business day following the date the securities are purchased or sold, except for financial reporting purposes which is trade date. Investments in securities issued on a when-issued or delayed delivery basis are generally reflected in the assets of the Funds on the first business day following the date the securities are purchased and the Funds segregate assets for these transactions. Cost of securities is determined and gains and losses are based on the identified cost basis for securities for both financial statement and federal income tax purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or for certain foreign dividends, as soon as the Fund becomes aware of the dividends. Interest income and estimated expenses are accrued daily. Bond discounts and premiums are accreted or amortized using the interest method. Interest income on zero coupon bonds and step bonds is accrued daily at the effective interest rate. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided in accordance with the Funds’ understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as custodian for the Funds and may provide credits against custodian charges based on uninvested cash balances of the Funds. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Funds received credits in the amount of $3,154. For the period January 1, 2015 through March 15, 2015, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. served as custodian for the Equity Income, Growth & Income, International, Opportunity, Select Growth, Special Situations and Total Return Funds. Certain of the Funds reduced expenses through brokerage service arrangements. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Equity Income, Growth & Income, Opportunity, Special Situations and Total Return Funds’ expenses were reduced by a total of $6,308 under these arrangements.
2. Trust Shares —The Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without par value. The Trust consists of the Funds listed on the cover page, each of which is a separate and distinct series of the Trust. Shares in the Funds are acquired through the purchase of variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts for which a Fund is an investment option.
3. Security Transactions —For the year ended December 31, 2015, purchases and sales of securities and long-term U.S. Government obligations (excluding U.S. Treasury bills, short-term securities and foreign currencies, were as follows:
163 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
Long-Term U.S. | |||||||||||
Securities | Government Obligations | ||||||||||
Cost of | Proceeds | Cost of | Proceeds | ||||||||
Fund | Purchases | of Sales | Purchases | of Sales | |||||||
Balanced Income | $ | 4,830,524 | $ | 834,158 | $ | 598,430 | $ | 98,492 | |||
Equity Income | 27,970,377 | 24,811,408 | — | — | |||||||
Fund For Income | 47,952,600 | 43,023,278 | — | — | |||||||
Government | 14,758,031 | 18,628,531 | 10,926,309 | 7,564,897 | |||||||
Growth & Income | 110,682,008 | 131,139,617 | — | — | |||||||
International | 35,395,866 | 38,495,635 | — | — | |||||||
Investment Grade | 22,773,956 | 22,602,612 | 1,269,063 | — | |||||||
Limited Duration | |||||||||||
High Quality Bond | 5,787,063 | 2,683,014 | 677,744 | 630,744 | |||||||
Opportunity | 25,274,642 | 14,733,746 | — | — | |||||||
Real Estate | 5,790,581 | 650,807 | — | — | |||||||
Select Growth | 22,814,767 | 19,595,248 | — | — | |||||||
Special Situations | 95,002,821 | 104,962,404 | — | — | |||||||
Total Return | 18,780,109 | 11,142,557 | 902,645 | 652,703 |
At December 31, 2015, aggregate cost and net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of securities for federal income tax purposes were as follows:
Net | ||||||||||||
Gross | Gross | Unrealized | ||||||||||
Aggregate | Unrealized | Unrealized | Appreciation | |||||||||
Fund | Cost | Appreciation | Depreciation | (Depreciation) | ||||||||
Balanced Income | $ | 5,494,016 | $ | 18,908 | $ | 73,000 | $ | (54,092 | ) | |||
Equity Income | 83,781,386 | 26,596,424 | 3,453,809 | 23,142,615 | ||||||||
Fund For Income | 98,521,348 | 649,822 | 5,549,554 | (4,899,732 | ) | |||||||
Government | 30,632,606 | 266,322 | 266,965 | (643 | ) | |||||||
Growth & Income | 294,025,028 | 175,088,510 | 13,383,043 | 161,705,467 | ||||||||
International | 95,639,041 | 38,520,596 | 1,542,213 | 36,978,383 | ||||||||
Investment Grade | 62,012,995 | 693,136 | 1,888,227 | (1,195,091 | ) | |||||||
Limited Duration | ||||||||||||
High Quality Bond | 5,821,949 | 675 | 71,713 | (71,038 | ) | |||||||
Opportunity | 36,753,388 | 4,860,960 | 2,149,780 | 2,711,180 | ||||||||
Real Estate | 5,144,614 | 260,914 | 193,764 | 67,150 | ||||||||
Select Growth | 36,887,912 | 11,676,066 | 1,412,032 | 10,264,034 | ||||||||
Special Situations | 172,621,773 | 38,104,872 | 11,354,828 | 26,750,044 | ||||||||
Total Return | 36,029,912 | 2,448,759 | 1,547,965 | 900,794 |
164 |
4. Advisory Fee and Other Transactions With Affiliates —Certain officers of the Trust are officers of the Trust’s investment adviser, FIMCO and its transfer agent, Foresters Investor Services, Inc. (“FIS”). Trustees of the Trust who are not officers or directors of FIMCO or its affiliates are remunerated by the Funds. For the year ended December 31, 2015, total trustee fees accrued by the Funds amounted to $65,209.
The Investment Advisory Agreement provides as compensation to FIMCO for each Fund, an annual fee, payable monthly, at the rate of .75% on the first $250 million of each Fund’s average daily net assets, .72% on the next $250 million, .69% on the next $250 million, .66% on the next $500 million, declining by .02% on each $500 million thereafter, down to .60% on average daily net assets over $2.25 billion. For the year ended December 31, 2015, FIMCO has voluntarily waived advisory fees in the amount of $976 on Balanced Income Fund, $45,393 on Government Fund, $94,433 on Investment Grade Fund and $5,537 on Limited Duration High Quality Bond Fund in order to limit the advisory fees on these Funds to .60% of their average daily net assets. During the year ended December 31, 2015, FIMCO has voluntarily waived the Cash Management Fund’s entire advisory fee of $59,670 and assumed $16,612 of other Fund expenses to prevent a negative yield on the Fund’s shares. For the year ended December 31, 2015, total advisory fees accrued to FIMCO were $9,397,993 of which $206,009 was voluntarily waived by FIMCO as noted above.
Muzinich & Co., Inc. serves as investment subadviser to Fund For Income, Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. serves as investment subadviser to International Fund and Smith Asset Management Group, L.P. serves as investment subadviser to Select Growth Fund. The subadvisers are paid by FIMCO and not by the Funds.
5. Restricted Securities —Certain restricted securities are exempt from the registration requirements under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 and may only be sold to qualified institutional investors. Unless otherwise noted, 144A securities are deemed to be liquid. At December 31, 2015, the Equity Income Fund one 144A security with a value of $197,400 representing .2% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund For Income held one hundred forty-four 144A securities with an aggregate value of $36,927,012 representing 38.9% of the Fund’s net assets, the Government Fund held one 144A security with a value of $127,012 representing .4%. of the Fund’s net assets, the Investment Grade Fund held twenty-one 144A securities with an aggregate value of $7,891,538 representing 12.7% of the Fund’s net assets, the Limited Duration High Quality Bond Fund held one 144A security with a value of $111,006 representing 1.9% of the Fund’s net assets and the Total Return Fund held eight 144A securities with an aggregate value of $827,318 representing 2.3% of the Fund’s net assets. Certain restricted securities are exempt from the registration requirements under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 and may only be sold to qualified
165 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
investors. Unless otherwise noted, these Section 4(2) securities are deemed to be liquid. At December 31, 2015, the Cash Management Fund held three Section 4(2) securities with an aggregate value of $1,298,839 representing 9.3% of the Fund’s net assets. These securities are valued as set forth in Note 1A.
6. Derivatives —Some of the Funds may invest in derivatives such as futures contracts and options on futures contracts (“options”), to increase income, hedge against changes in interest rates or enhance potential return.
The Funds may enter into interest rate futures contracts on U.S. Treasury obligations and options thereon that are traded on a U.S. exchange. An interest rate futures contract provides for the future sale by one party and the purchase by another party of a specified amount of a particular financial instrument (debt security) at a specified price, date, time and place. Such investments may be used for, among other purposes, the purpose of hedging against changes in the value of a Fund’s portfolio securities due to anticipated changes in interest rates and market conditions. A public market exists for interest rate futures contracts covering a number of debt securities, including long-term U.S. Treasury Bonds, 10-year U.S. Treasury Notes and three-month U.S. Treasury Bills. No price is paid upon entering into futures contracts. Instead, upon entering into a futures contract, the Funds are required to deposit with their custodian in a segregated account in the name of the futures broker through which the transaction is effected an amount of cash or U.S. Government securities generally equal to 3%-5% or less of the contract value. This amount is known as “initial margin.”
An option on an interest rate futures contract generally gives the purchaser the right, in return for the premium paid, to assume a position in a futures contract at a specified exercise price at any time prior to the expiration date of the option. The Funds may purchase put and call options on interest rate futures contracts on U.S. Treasury obligations which are traded on a U.S. exchange as a hedge against changes in interest rates, and may enter into closing transactions with respect to such options to terminate existing positions. There is no guarantee such closing transactions can be effected. When writing a call or put option on a futures contract, margin also must be deposited in accordance with applicable exchange rules. Initial margin on futures contracts is in the nature of a performance bond or good-faith deposit that is returned to a Fund upon termination of the transaction, assuming all obligations have been satisfied. Under certain circumstances, such as periods of high volatility, a Fund may be required by an exchange to increase the level of its initial margin payment. Subsequent payments, called “variation margin,” to and from the broker, are made on a daily basis as the value of the futures position varies, a process known as “marking to market.” Variation margin does not involve borrowing to finance the futures
166 |
transactions, but rather represents a daily settlement of a Fund’s obligation to or from a clearing organization. A Fund is also obligated to make initial and variation margin payments when it writes options on futures contracts.
To the extent that a Fund participates in the futures or options markets, it will incur investment risks and transaction costs to which it would not be subject absent the use of these strategies. The use of these strategies involves certain special risks, including: (1) dependence on the ability of the Funds’ investment adviser, FIMCO to predict correctly movements in the direction of interest rates and securities prices; (2) imperfect correlation between the price of futures contracts and options thereon and movements in the prices of the securities or currencies being hedged; (3) the fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different from those needed to select portfolio securities; (4) the leverage (if any) that is created by investing in the option or futures contract; and (5) the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at any time. If FIMCO’s prediction of movements in the direction of the securities and interest rate markets is inaccurate, the adverse consequences to that Fund may leave it in a worse position than if such strategies were not used. Derivatives may be difficult to sell, unwind or value.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the Funds had no investments in interest rate futures contracts or options.
7. High Yield Credit Risk —The investments of Fund For Income in high yield securities, whether rated or unrated, may be considered speculative and subject to greater market fluctuations and risks of loss of income and principal than lower-yielding, higher-rated, fixed-income securities. The risk of loss due to default by the issuer may be significantly greater for the holders of high-yielding securities, because such securities are generally unsecured and are often subordinated to other creditors of the issuer.
8. Tax Components of Capital and Distributions to Shareholders —The tax character of distributions declared for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:
167 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
Distributions | Distributions | |||||||||||||||||||
Declared in 2015 | Declared in 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||
Ordinary | Long-Term | Ordinary | Long-Term | |||||||||||||||||
Fund | Income | Capital Gain | Total | Income | Capital Gain | Total | ||||||||||||||
Equity Income | $ | 1,821,769 | $ | 3,844,993 | $ | 5,666,762 | $ | 1,692,587 | $ | 4,129,117 | $ | 5,821,704 | ||||||||
Fund For Income | 5,371,141 | — | 5,371,141 | 5,169,204 | — | 5,169,204 | ||||||||||||||
Government | 691,893 | — | 691,893 | 784,013 | — | 784,013 | ||||||||||||||
Growth & Income | 8,384,208 | 22,998,655 | 31,382,863 | 5,573,482 | 3,093,503 | 8,666,985 | ||||||||||||||
International | 1,462,160 | — | 1,462,160 | 1,447,791 | — | 1,447,791 | ||||||||||||||
Investment Grade | 2,627,252 | — | 2,627,252 | 2,449,388 | — | 2,449,388 | ||||||||||||||
Opportunity | 60,301 | — | 60,301 | — | 7,787 | 7,787 | ||||||||||||||
Select Growth | 383,817 | 2,176,793 | 2,560,610 | 125,763 | 41,013 | 166,776 | ||||||||||||||
Special Situations | 1,466,726 | 9,034,255 | 10,500,981 | 6,191,671 | 28,734,067 | 34,925,738 | ||||||||||||||
Total Return | 305,447 | — | 305,447 | 17,034 | — | 17,034 |
As of December 31, 2015, the components of distributable earnings (deficit) on a tax basis were as follows:
Total | |||||||||||||||||||
Undistributed | Accumulated | Capital | Other | Unrealized | Distributable | ||||||||||||||
Ordinary | Capital | Loss | Accumulated | Appreciation | Earnings | ||||||||||||||
Fund | Income | Gains | Carryover | Losses | * | (Depreciation) | (Deficit) | ** | |||||||||||
Balanced Income | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (1,322 | ) | $ | — | $ | (54,092 | ) | $ | (55,414 | ) | ||||
Equity Income | 2,153,046 | 3,734,490 | — | — | 23,142,616 | 29,030,152 | |||||||||||||
Fund For Income | 5,391,490 | — | (24,088,699 | ) | — | (4,899,732 | ) | (23,596,941 | ) | ||||||||||
Government | 637,207 | — | (1,023,896 | ) | — | (644 | ) | (387,333 | ) | ||||||||||
Growth & Income | 6,459,887 | 21,983,908 | — | — | 161,705,467 | 190,149,262 | |||||||||||||
International† | 1,623,198 | — | (11,471,145 | ) | — | 36,964,814 | 27,116,867 | ||||||||||||
Investment Grade | 2,594,609 | — | (1,829,332 | ) | — | (1,195,091 | ) | (429,814 | ) | ||||||||||
Limited Duration | |||||||||||||||||||
High Quality Bond | 58,111 | — | (16,900 | ) | — | (71,038 | ) | (29,827 | ) | ||||||||||
Opportunity | 185,108 | — | (698,552 | ) | — | 2,711,180 | 2,197,736 | ||||||||||||
Real Estate | 54,201 | 17,456 | — | — | 67,151 | 138,808 | |||||||||||||
Select Growth | 302,470 | 3,354,825 | — | — | 10,264,034 | 13,921,329 | |||||||||||||
Special Situations | 1,100,614 | 13,593,030 | — | — | 26,750,044 | 41,443,688 | |||||||||||||
Total Return | 540,341 | — | (274,892 | ) | — | 900,794 | 1,166,243 |
*Other accumulated losses consist of post-October loss deferrals and capital loss carryovers that cannot yet be utilized.
**Differences between book distributable earnings and tax distributable earnings consist primarily of wash sales, foreign currency transactions and amortization of bond premium and discounts.
† Includes currency depreciation for International Fund in the amount of $13,568.
168 |
For the year ended December 31, 2015, the following reclassifications were made to reflect permanent differences between book and tax reporting which are primarily due to the differences between book and tax treatment of investments in real estate investment trusts, bond premium amortization, foreign currency transactions, paydowns on securities and expiration of capital loss carryovers.
Undistributed | Accumulated | |||||||||
Capital | Ordinary | Capital | ||||||||
Fund | Paid In | Income | Gains (Losses) | |||||||
Balanced Income | $ | (3,320 | ) | $ | 3,320 | $ | — | |||
Fund For Income | (433,726 | ) | 483,905 | (50,179 | ) | |||||
Government | (37,942 | ) | 148,128 | (110,186 | ) | |||||
Growth & Income | — | (33 | ) | 33 | ||||||
International | — | (18,597 | ) | 18,597 | ||||||
Investment Grade | — | 311,179 | (311,179 | ) | ||||||
Limited Duration | ||||||||||
High Quality Bond | — | 12,124 | (12,124 | ) | ||||||
Total Return | — | 48,829 | (48,829 | ) |
9. Litigation —The Blue Chip and Equity Income Funds have been named, and have received notice that they may be putative members of the proposed defendant class of shareholders, in a lawsuit filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on November 1, 2010, by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Tribune Company (the “Committee”). The Committee is seeking to recover all payments made to beneficial owners of common stock in connection with a leveraged buyout of the Tribune Company (“LBO”), including payments made in connection with a 2007 tender offer into which the Blue Chip and Equity Income Funds tendered their shares of common stock of the Tribune Company. On December 9, 2011, the Blue Chip Fund was reorganized into the Growth & Income Fund pursuant to a Plan of Reorganization and Termination, whereby all of the assets of the Blue Chip Fund were transferred to the Growth & Income Fund, the Growth & Income Fund assumed all of the liabilities of the Blue Chip Fund, including any contingent liabilities with respect to pending or threatened litigation or actions, and shareholders of Blue Chip Fund became shareholders of Growth & Income Fund. The adversary proceeding brought by the Committee has been transferred to the Southern District of New York and administratively consolidated with other similar suits as discussed below. In addition, on June 2, 2011, the Blue Chip and Equity Income Funds were named as defendants in a lawsuit brought in connection with the Tribune Company’s LBO by
169 |
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
December 31, 2015
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as successor indenture trustee for a certain series of Senior Notes, Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, in its capacity as successor indenture trustee for a certain series of Senior Notes, and Wilmington Trust Company, in its capacity as successor indenture trustee for the PHONES Notes (together, the “Bondholder Plaintiffs”) in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. The Blue Chip and Equity Income Funds have also been named in a similar suit filed on behalf of participants in Tribune defined-compensation plans (the “Retiree Plaintiffs”). As with the Bondholder Plaintiffs and the Committee, the Retiree Plaintiffs seek to recover payments of the proceeds of the LBO. (All of these suits have been removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and administratively consolidated with other substantially similar suits against other former Tribune shareholders (the “MDL Proceeding”)). On September 23, 2013, the Judge in the MDL Proceeding dismissed various state law constructive fraudulent transfer suits, resulting in the Funds being dismissed from the Bondholder and Retiree Plaintiffs’ actions. On September 30, 2013, counsel for the plaintiffs in those suits appealed the MDL Judge’s dismissal ruling to the Second Circuit. The extent of the Funds’ potential liability in any such actions has not been determined. The Funds have been advised by counsel that the Funds could be held liable to return all or part of the proceeds received in any of these actions, as well as interest and court costs, even though the Funds had no knowledge of, or participation in, any misconduct. The Equity Income Fund received proceeds of $376,754 in connection with the LBO, representing 0.35% of its net assets as of December 31, 2015. The Blue Chip Fund received proceeds of $288,456 in connection with the LBO, representing 0.06% of the net assets of Growth & Income Fund as of December 31, 2015. The Equity Income and Growth & Income Funds cannot predict the outcomes of these proceedings, and thus have not accrued any of the amounts sought in the various actions in the accompanying financial statements.
10. Name Changes Events —On September 21, 2015, First Investors Management Company, Inc. changed its name to Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc., First Investors Corporation changed its name to Foresters Financial Services, Inc. and Administrative Data Management Corp. changed its name to Foresters Investor Services, Inc. The name changes did not result in any changes in the organization, management or corporate structure of the entities and did not affect the provisions of any currently existing agreements between the companies and the First Investors Funds.
11. Subsequent Events —Subsequent events occurring after December 31, 2015 have been evaluated for potential impact to this report through the date the financial statements were issued. There were no subsequent events to report that would have a material impact on the Funds’ financial statements.
170 |
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171 |
Financial Highlights
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
The following table sets forth the per share operating performance data for a trust share outstanding,
total return, ratios to average net assets and other supplemental data for each year ended December 31
except as otherwise indicated.
P E R S H A R E D A T A | R A T I O S / S U P P L E M E N T A L D A T A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less Distributions | Ratio to Average Net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment Operations | from | Ratio to Average | Assets Before Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset | Net | Net Realized | Net Asset | Net Assets** | Waived or Assumed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Value, | Investment | and Unrealized | Total from | Net | Net | Value, | Net Assets | Expenses | Net | Net | Portfolio | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning | Income | Gain (Loss) on | Investment | Investment | Realized | Total | End | Total | End of Year | Before Fee | Investment | Investment | Turnover | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
of Period | (Loss) | Investments | Operations | Income | Gains | Distributions | of Year | Return | * | (in millions) | Credits | *** | Income (Loss) | Expenses | *** | Income (Loss) | Rate | ||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCED INCOME FUND | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015(c) | $10.00 | — | $(.17 | ) | $(.17 | ) | — | — | — | $ 9.83 | (1.70 | )%†† | $ 5 | 3.10 | %† | (.70 | )%† | 3.25 | %† | (.85 | )%† | 26 | %†† | ||||||||||||||||
CASH MANAGEMENT FUND | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $ 1.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | $ 1.00 | .00 | % | $ 12 | .13 | %(b) | .00 | % | .99 | % | (.86 | )% | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 1.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.00 | .00 | 12 | .12 | (b) | .00 | .99 | (.87 | ) | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 1.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.00 | .00 | 11 | .10 | (b) | .00 | .99 | (.89 | ) | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 1.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.00 | .00 | 10 | .08 | (b) | .00 | .99 | (.91 | ) | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 1.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1.00 | .00 | 14 | .13 | (b) | .00 | 1.09 | (.96 | ) | N/A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
EQUITY INCOME FUND(i) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $15.06 | $.30 | $(.06 | ) | $ .24 | $.31 | $— | $.31 | $14.99 | 1.53 | % | $ 69 | .87 | % | 1.94 | % | N/A | N/A | 32 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 14.99 | .38 | 1.29 | 1.67 | .30 | — | .30 | 16.36 | 11.20 | 74 | .87 | 2.37 | N/A | N/A | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 16.36 | .36 | 4.55 | 4.91 | .38 | — | .38 | 20.89 | 30.53 | 99 | .82 | 1.97 | N/A | N/A | 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 20.89 | .35 | 1.28 | 1.63 | .36 | .87 | 1.23 | 21.29 | 8.26 | 110 | .81 | 1.76 | N/A | N/A | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 21.29 | .40 | (a) | (.58 | ) | (.18 | ) | .35 | .75 | 1.10 | 20.01 | (1.03 | ) | 107 | .81 | 1.97 | N/A | N/A | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
FUND FOR INCOME(h) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $ 6.54 | $.43 | $(.07 | ) | $ .36 | $.48 | — | $.48 | $ 6.42 | 5.66 | % | $ 74 | .88 | % | 6.68 | % | N/A | N/A | 63 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 6.42 | .41 | .42 | .83 | .44 | — | .44 | 6.81 | 13.51 | 84 | .88 | 6.11 | N/A | N/A | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 6.81 | .36 | .09 | .45 | .42 | — | .42 | 6.84 | 6.88 | 95 | .88 | 5.37 | N/A | N/A | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 6.84 | .34 | (.28 | ) | .06 | .37 | — | .37 | 6.53 | .79 | 99 | .85 | 4.88 | N/A | N/A | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 6.53 | .30 | (a) | (.40 | ) | (.10 | ) | .36 | — | .36 | 6.07 | (1.85 | ) | 95 | .86 | 4.86 | N/A | N/A | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||
GOVERNMENT FUND | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $10.35 | $.28 | $ .26 | $ .54 | $.36 | — | $.36 | $10.53 | 5.41 | % | $ 29 | .81 | % | 2.70 | % | .96 | % | 2.55 | % | 33 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 10.53 | .20 | — | .20 | .31 | — | .31 | 10.42 | 1.95 | 32 | .75 | 2.10 | .90 | 1.95 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.42 | .18 | (.43 | ) | (.25 | ) | .27 | — | .27 | 9.90 | (2.47 | ) | 30 | .76 | 1.76 | .91 | 1.61 | 118 | |||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 9.90 | .18 | .13 | .31 | .26 | — | .26 | 9.95 | 3.14 | 31 | .74 | 1.82 | .89 | 1.67 | 103 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 9.95 | .16 | (a) | (.15 | ) | .01 | .23 | — | .23 | 9.73 | .04 | 30 | .75 | 1.62 | .90 | 1.47 | 87 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
172 | 173 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
P E R S H A R E D A T A | R A T I O S / S U P P L E M E N T A L D A T A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less Distributions | Ratio to Average Net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment Operations | from | Ratio to Average | Assets Before Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Assets** | Waived or Assumed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset | Net | Net Realized | Net Asset | Net | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Value, | Investment | and Unrealized | Total from | Net | Net | Value, | Net Assets | Expenses | Net | Investment | Portfolio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning | Income | Gain (Loss) on | Investment | Investment | Realized | Total | End | Total | End of Year | Before Fee | Investment | Income | Turnover | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
of Period | (Loss) | Investments | Operations | Income | Gains | Distributions | of Year | Return | * | (in millions) | Credits | *** | Income (Loss) | Expenses | *** | (Loss) | Rate | |||||||||||||||||||||||
GROWTH & INCOME FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $28.37 | $.44 | $ .25 | $ .69 | $.50 | $ — | $ .50 | $28.56 | 2.37 | % | $321 | .81 | % | 1.51 | % | N/A | N/A | 26 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 28.56 | .61 | 4.35 | 4.96 | .44 | — | .44 | 33.08 | 17.45 | 357 | .80 | 1.87 | N/A | N/A | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 33.08 | .53 | 11.89 | 12.42 | .61 | — | .61 | 44.89 | 38.06 | 474 | .79 | 1.34 | N/A | N/A | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 44.89 | .54 | 2.82 | 3.36 | .53 | .29 | .82 | 47.43 | 7.65 | 493 | .78 | 1.18 | N/A | N/A | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 47.43 | .60 | (a) | (1.87 | ) | (1.27 | ) | .55 | 2.50 | 3.05 | 43.11 | (3.12 | ) | 457 | .78 | 1.33 | N/A | N/A | 23 | |||||||||||||||||||||
INTERNATIONAL FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $16.70 | $ .39 | $ (.29 | ) | $ .10 | $.36 | — | $ .36 | $16.44 | .64 | % | $106 | .96 | % | 2.26 | % | N/A | N/A | 32 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 16.44 | .28 | 3.12 | 3.40 | .27 | — | .27 | 19.57 | 20.85 | 122 | .94 | 1.53 | N/A | N/A | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 19.57 | .24 | 1.08 | 1.32 | .27 | — | .27 | 20.62 | 6.77 | 128 | .92 | 1.21 | N/A | N/A | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 20.62 | .23 | .26 | .49 | .23 | — | .23 | 20.88 | 2.39 | 131 | .92 | 1.10 | N/A | N/A | 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 20.88 | .26 | (a) | .47 | .73 | .23 | — | .23 | 21.38 | 3.49 | 134 | .87 | 1.22 | N/A | N/A | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
INVESTMENT GRADE FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $10.74 | $ .47 | $ .17 | $ .64 | $.52 | — | $ .52 | $10.86 | 6.23 | % | $ 47 | .71 | % | 4.17 | % | .86 | % | 4.02 | % | 29 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 10.86 | .43 | .76 | 1.19 | .48 | — | .48 | 11.57 | 11.23 | 57 | .70 | 3.73 | .85 | 3.58 | 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 11.57 | .42 | (.51 | ) | (.09 | ) | .45 | — | .45 | 11.03 | (.80 | ) | 59 | .70 | 3.49 | .85 | 3.34 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.03 | .42 | .21 | .63 | .46 | — | .46 | 11.20 | 5.86 | 63 | .69 | 2.78 | .84 | 2.63 | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 11.20 | .34 | (a) | (.37 | ) | (.03 | ) | .47 | — | .47 | 10.70 | (.35 | ) | 62 | .68 | 3.12 | .83 | 2.97 | 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||
LIMITED DURATION HIGH QUALITY BOND FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2014(e) | $10.00 | $(.13 | ) | $ (.13 | ) | $ (.26 | ) | — | — | — | $ 9.74 | (2.60 | )%†† | $ 3 | 5.82 | %† | (4.25 | )%† | 5.97 | %† | (4.40 | )%† | 11 | %†† | ||||||||||||||||
2015 | 9.74 | .01 | (a) | (.06 | ) | (.05 | ) | — | — | — | 9.69 | (.51 | ) | 6 | 1.44 | .11 | 1.59 | (.04 | ) | 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||
OPPORTUNITY FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012(f) | $10.00 | $(.05 | ) | $ .11 | $ .06 | $— | $ — | $ — | $10.06 | .60 | %†† | $ 1 | 16.84 | %† | (13.27 | )%† | N/A | N/A | 0 | %†† | ||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 10.06 | (.04 | ) | 4.06 | 4.02 | — | — | — | 14.08 | 39.96 | 14 | 2.28 | (.79 | ) | N/A | N/A | 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 14.08 | .03 | .78 | .81 | — | .01 | .01 | 14.88 | 5.73 | 27 | 1.01 | .31 | N/A | N/A | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 14.88 | .08 | (a) | (.20 | ) | (.12 | ) | .03 | — | .03 | 14.73 | (.81 | ) | 40 | .89 | .53 | N/A | N/A | 45 | |||||||||||||||||||||
REAL ESTATE FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2015(d) | $10.00 | $ .09 | (a) | $ .06 | $ .15 | — | — | — | $10.15 | 1.50 | %†† | $ 5 | 2.27 | %† | 1.40 | %† | N/A | N/A | 17 | %†† | ||||||||||||||||||||
174 | 175 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
P E R S H A R E D A T A | R A T I O S / S U P P L E M E N T A L D A T A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Less Distributions | Ratio to Average Net | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment Operations | from | Ratio to Average | Assets Before Expenses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset ** | Waived or Assumed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Asset | Net | Net Realized | Net Asset | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Value, | Investment | and Unrealized | Total from | Net | Net | Value, | Net Assets | Expenses | Net | Net | Portfolio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning | Income | Gain (Loss) on | Investment | Investment | Realized | Total | End | Total | End of Year | Before Fee | Investment | Investment | Turnover | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
of Period | (Loss) | Investments | Operations | Income | Gains | Distributions | of Year | Return | * | (in millions) | Credits | *** | Income (Loss) | Expenses | *** | Income | Rate | |||||||||||||||||||||
SELECT GROWTH FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $ 8.05 | $ .01 | $ .41 | $ .42 | $.01 | $ — | $ .01 | $ 8.46 | 5.25 | % | $ 18 | .90 | % | .07 | % | N/A | N/A | 61 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 8.46 | .05 | 1.08 | 1.13 | .01 | — | .01 | 9.58 | 13.30 | 24 | .87 | .61 | N/A | N/A | 52 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.58 | .04 | 3.12 | 3.16 | .05 | — | .05 | 12.69 | 33.15 | 35 | .85 | .43 | N/A | N/A | 64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 12.69 | .05 | 1.66 | 1.71 | .05 | .01 | .06 | 14.34 | 13.53 | 44 | .83 | .43 | N/A | N/A | 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 14.34 | .09 | (a) | .38 | .47 | .05 | .78 | .83 | 13.98 | 3.21 | 48 | .83 | .65 | N/A | N/A | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND(g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | $31.39 | $ .20 | $ .51 | $ .71 | $.16 | $ — | $ .16 | $31.94 | 2.24 | % | $150 | .81 | % | .61 | % | N/A | N/A | 59 | % | |||||||||||||||||||
2012 | 31.94 | .34 | 2.88 | 3.22 | .20 | 3.39 | 3.59 | 31.57 | 10.01 | 160 | .81 | 1.07 | N/A | N/A | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 31.57 | .19 | 9.11 | 9.30 | .34 | 1.56 | 1.90 | 38.97 | 30.88 | 201 | .82 | .53 | N/A | N/A | 108 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 38.97 | .22 | 1.82 | 2.04 | .18 | 6.61 | 6.79 | 34.22 | 6.30 | 209 | .80 | .66 | N/A | N/A | 41 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 34.22 | .18 | (a) | (.27 | ) | (.09 | ) | .22 | 1.51 | 1.73 | 32.40 | (.52 | ) | 202 | .80 | .52 | N/A | N/A | 46 | |||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL RETURN FUND | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2012(d) | $10.00 | $(.05 | ) | $(.02 | ) | $(.07 | ) | $— | — | $ — | $ 9.93 | (.70 | )%†† | $ 1 | 16.99 | %† | (14.84 | )%† | N/A | N/A | 64 | %†† | ||||||||||||||||
2013 | 9.93 | — | 1.69 | 1.69 | — | — | — | 11.62 | 17.02 | 13 | 1.93 | .16 | N/A | N/A | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2014 | 11.62 | .09 | .60 | .69 | .01 | — | .01 | 12.30 | 5.97 | 29 | .96 | .96 | N/A | N/A | 53 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2015 | 12.30 | .15 | (a) | (.34 | ) | (.19 | ) | .13 | — | .13 | 11.98 | (1.61 | ) | 37 | .89 | 1.20 | N/A | N/A | 39 | |||||||||||||||||||
* | The effect of fees and charges incurred at the separate account level are not reflected in these |
performance figures. | |
** | Net of expenses waived or assumed by the investment adviser (Note 4). |
*** | The ratios do not include a reduction of expenses from cash balances maintained with the Bank of |
New York Mellon or from brokerage service arrangements (Note 1G). | |
† | Annualized |
†† | Not annualized |
(a) | Based on average shares during the period. |
(b) | For each of the periods shown, FIMCO voluntarily waived advisory fees to limit the Fund’s overall |
expense ratio to .60% and waived additional advisory fees and assumed other expenses to prevent a | |
negative yield on the Funds’ shares (Note 4). | |
(c) | For the period November 2, 2015 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2015. |
(d) | For the period May 1, 2015 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2015. |
(e) | For the period July 1, 2014 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2014. |
(f) | For the period December 17, 2012 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2012. |
(g) | Prior to December 17, 2012, known as Discovery Fund. |
(h) | Prior to December 17, 2012, known as High Yield Fund. |
(i) | Prior to September 4, 2012, known as Value Fund. |
See notes to financial statements | ||
176 | 177 |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Trustees of
First Investors Life Series Funds
We have audited the accompanying statements of assets and liabilities of the fourteen Funds comprising First Investors Life Series Funds, including the portfolios of investments, as of December 31, 2015, the related statements of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the periods indicated thereon, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated thereon. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Life Series Funds’ management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. The Funds are not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Funds’ internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2015, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and agent banks. Where brokers or agent banks have not replied to our confir-mation requests, we have carried out other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of each of the fourteen Funds comprising First Investors Life Series Funds, as of December 31, 2015, and the results of their operations, changes in their net assets, and their financial highlights for the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Tait, Weller & Baker LLP |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
February 24, 2016
178 |
Board Considerations of Advisory Contracts and Fees
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the First Investors Life Series Balanced Income Fund
At the September 17, 2015 meeting (the “September Meeting”) of the Board of Trustees (the “Board” or the “Trustees”) of the First Investors Life Series Funds (the “Trust”), the Board, including a majority of Board members who are not interested persons of the Trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Independent Trustees”), discussed and approved, for the new First Investors Life Series Balanced Income Fund (the “New Fund”), the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with First Investors Management Company, Inc. (“FIMCO”).
The Trustees were provided with preliminary materials relating to the New Fund by FIMCO initially in connection with a Board meeting held on May 21, 2015 and then more detailed materials in advance of and at the September Meeting. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the approval of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below. In addition, the Trustees met in person with senior officers of FIMCO, Trust counsel, independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Legal Counsel”) and others to receive information on, and discuss the approval of, the Advisory Agreement.
In making their determinations, the Trustees took into account management style, investment strategies, investment philosophy and process, FIMCO’s past performance and FIMCO’s personnel that would be serving the New Fund. In evaluating the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees also reviewed information provided by FIMCO, including the terms of the Advisory Agreement and information regarding fee arrangements, including the structure of the advisory fee, the method of computing fees, and the frequency of payment of fees. Among other things, the Trustees also reviewed information comparing the New Fund’s advisory fee rate and projected total expenses with a peer group of other similar funds compiled by Lipper, Inc., an independent provider of investment company data.
After extensive discussion and consideration among themselves, and with FIMCO representatives, Trust counsel and Independent Legal Counsel, including during an executive session with Independent Legal Counsel held the day before the September Meeting, the Trustees concluded as follows with respect to the New Fund:
• The nature and extent of the investment advisory services to be provided to the New Fund by FIMCO were consistent with the terms of the Advisory Agreement.
• The prospects for satisfactory investment performance of the New Fund were reasonable;
179 |
Board Considerations of Advisory Contracts and Fees (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
• Shareholders of the New Fund may benefit from economies of scale in the future as assets grow due to breakpoints included in the fee schedule for the Advisory Agreement;
• Shareholders of the New Fund may benefit from FIMCO’s agreement to impose a voluntary advisory fee waiver which would reduce the advisory fee for the New Fund to the rate at the first breakpoint in the advisory fee schedule;
• The cost of services to be provided by FIMCO to the New Fund and the profits to be realized by FIMCO and its affiliates from their relationship with the New Fund would be assessed after a reasonable period of New Fund operations; and
• FIMCO may receive certain “fall out” or ancillary benefits by obtaining research and other services from broker-dealers that execute brokerage transactions for the New Fund.
Based on all relevant information and factors, none of which was individually determinative of the outcome, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the approval of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the New Fund and its shareholders and unanimously approved such Advisory Agreement.
180 |
Consideration of the Investment Advisory Agreement with respect to the First Investors Life Series Real Estate Fund
At the November 20, 2014 meeting (the “November Meeting”) of the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the First Investors Life Series Funds (the “Trust”), the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, discussed and approved, for the new First Investors Life Series Real Estate Fund (the “New Fund”), the investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with First Investors Management Company, Inc. (“FIMCO”).
The Trustees were provided with detailed materials relating to the New Fund and FIMCO in advance of and at the November Meeting. The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the approval of the Advisory Agreement are discussed below. In addition, the Trustees met in person with FIMCO, Trust counsel, independent legal counsel to the Independent Trustees (“Independent Legal Counsel”) and others to receive information on, and discuss the approval of, the Advisory Agreement. The Trustees also met in person with the portfolio manager from The Independent Order of Foresters (“Foresters”), the ultimate parent company of FIMCO, who would be managing the New Fund as well as with the Chief Investment Officer of Foresters, who had previously managed Foresters’ real estate strategy.
In making their determinations, the Trustees took into account management style, investment strategies, investment philosophy and process, FIMCO’s and Foresters’ past performance, FIMCO’s and Foresters’ personnel that would be serving the New Fund, and prevailing market conditions. In evaluating the Advisory Agreement, the Trustees also reviewed information provided by FIMCO, including the terms of the Advisory Agreement and information regarding fee arrangements, including the structure of the advisory fee, the method of computing fees, and the frequency of payment of fees. Among other things, the Trustees also reviewed information comparing the New Fund’s advisory fee and total expenses with a peer group (the “Peer Group”) of other similar funds compiled by Lipper, Inc., an independent provider of investment company data.
After extensive discussion and consideration among themselves, and with FIMCO, Foresters, Trust counsel and Independent Legal Counsel, including during an executive session with Independent Legal Counsel held the previous day as well as during the November Meeting, the Trustees concluded the following with respect to the New Fund:
• The nature and extent of the investment advisory services to be provided to the New Fund by FIMCO were consistent with the terms of the Advisory Agreement.
• The prospects for satisfactory investment performance of the New Fund were reasonable;
181 |
Board Considerations of Advisory Contracts and Fees (continued)
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
• Shareholders of the New Fund may benefit from economies of scale in the future as assets grow due to breakpoints included in the fee schedule for the Advisory Agreement;
• The advisory fee was below the median of the funds included in the Peer Group, although the total expense ratio was above the median of the Peer Group;
• The cost of services to be provided by FIMCO to the New Fund and the profits to be realized by FIMCO and its affiliates from their relationship with the New Fund would be assessed after a reasonable period of New Fund operations; and
• FIMCO may receive certain “fall out” or ancillary benefits by obtaining research and other services from broker-dealers that execute brokerage transactions for the New Fund.
Based on all relevant information and factors, none of which was individually determinative of the outcome, the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, concluded that the approval of the Advisory Agreement was in the best interests of the New Fund and its shareholders and unanimously approved such Advisory Agreement.
182 |
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Trustees and Officers *
Length of | ||||
Time Served | Number of | Other | ||
Position(s) | (including with | Portfolios in | Trusteeships/ | |
Name, Year of Birth | Held with | Predecessor | Fund Complex | Directorships |
and Address | Funds | Funds) | Overseen | Held |
DISINTERESTED TRUSTEES | ||||
Susan E. Artmann (1954) | Trustee | Since 11/1/12 | 46 | None |
c/o First Investors Funds, | ||||
Legal Department | ||||
40 Wall Street | ||||
New York, NY 10005 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
Retired. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of HSBC Insurance North America (2012-2013); | ||||
Executive Vice President and President (2008-2011) of HSBC Taxpayer Financial Services. | ||||
Mary J. Barneby (1952) | Trustee | Since 11/1/12 | 46 | None |
c/o First Investors Funds, | ||||
Legal Department | ||||
40 Wall Street | ||||
New York, NY 10005 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Connecticut (since October 2012); Executive Director of UBS Financial | ||||
Services, Inc. and Head of Stamford Private Wealth Office (2002-2012). | ||||
Charles R. Barton, III (1965) | Trustee | Since 1/1/06 | 46 | None |
c/o First Investors Funds, | ||||
Legal Department | ||||
40 Wall Street | ||||
New York, NY 10005 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
Chief Operating Officer (since 2007), Board Director (since 1989, currently Ex-Officio) and Trustee (since 1994) | ||||
of The Barton Group/Barton Mines Corporation (mining and industrial abrasives distribution); President of Noe | ||||
Pierson Corporation (land holding and management services provider) (since 2004). | ||||
Arthur M. Scutro, Jr. (1941) | Trustee | Trustee since | 46 | None |
c/o First Investors Funds, | and Chairman | 1/1/06 and | ||
Legal Department | Chairman | |||
40 Wall Street | since 1/1/13 | |||
New York, NY 10005 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
None/Retired |
183 |
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Trustees and Officers * (continued)
Length of | ||||
Time Served | Number of | Other | ||
Position | (including with | Portfolios in | Trusteeships/ | |
Name, Year of Birth | Held with | Predecessor | Fund Complex | Directorships |
and Address | Funds | Funds) | Overseen | Held |
DISINTERESTED TRUSTEES (continued) | ||||
Mark R. Ward (1952) | Trustee | Since 1/1/10 | 46 | None |
c/o First Investors Funds, | ||||
Legal Department | ||||
40 Wall Street | ||||
New York, NY 10005 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
Self-employed, consultant (since 2008). | ||||
Length of | ||||
Time Served | Number of | Other | ||
Position | (including with | Portfolios in | Trusteeships/ | |
Name, Year of Birth | Held with | Predecessor | Fund Complex | Directorships |
and Address | Funds | Funds) | Overseen | Held |
OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES | ||||
William Lipkus (1964) | President | Since 2014 | N/A | None |
c/o First Investors | ||||
Legal Department | ||||
40 Wall Street | ||||
New York, NY 10005 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (since 2012), Treasurer (1999-2013), Chief Financial Officer | ||||
(1997-2013) and Chief Administrative Officer (2012-2014) of Foresters Financial Holding Company, Inc. (for- | ||||
merly, First Investors Consolidated Corporation); Director (since 2007), Chairman (since 2012), Chief Administra- | ||||
tive Officer (2012-2014) and Chief Financial Officer (1998-2013) of Foresters Investment Management Company, | ||||
Inc. (formerly, First Investors Management Company, Inc.); Director (since 2011), Chairman (since 2012), Chief | ||||
Financial Officer (1998-2013), Treasurer (1999-2013) and Chief Administrative Officer (2012-2014) of Foresters | ||||
Financial Services, Inc. (formerly, First Investors Corporation); Chairman (since 2012), Director (since 2007), Chief | ||||
Administrative Officer (2012-2014) and Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (1998-2013) of Foresters Investor | ||||
Services, Inc. (formerly, Administrative Data Management Corp.); Director and Chairman (since 2012), Vice | ||||
President (1996-2014), Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (1996-2013) and Chief Administrative Officer (2012- | ||||
2014) of Foresters Life Insurance and Annuity Company (formerly, First Investors Life Insurance Company); Board | ||||
of Managers and Chairman (since 2012) and Chief Financial Officer (2012-2013) of Foresters Investors Advisory | ||||
Services, LLC (formerly, First Investors Advisory Services, LLC) and Director (since 2015) of Foresters Equity | ||||
Services, Inc. |
184 |
Length of | ||||
Time Served | Number of | Other | ||
Position | (including with | Portfolios in | Trusteeships/ | |
Name, Year of Birth | Held with | Predecessor | Fund Complex | Directorships |
and Address | Funds | Funds) | Overseen | Held |
OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES (continued) | ||||
Joseph I. Benedek (1957) | Treasurer | Since 1988 | N/A | None |
c/o Foresters Investment | ||||
Management Company, Inc. | ||||
Raritan Plaza I | ||||
Edison, NJ 08837 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
Treasurer of Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc. (formerly, First Investors Management Company, Inc.) | ||||
Mary Carty (1950) | Secretary | Since 2010 | N/A | None |
c/o First Investors Funds, | ||||
Legal Department | ||||
40 Wall Street | ||||
New York, NY 10005 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
General Counsel of Foresters Investment Management Company, Inc. (formerly, First Investors Manage- | ||||
ment Company, Inc.) and various affiliated companies since December 2012; Assistant Counsel of Foresters | ||||
Investment Management Company, Inc.(formerly, First Investors Management Company, Inc.), (2010-2012). | ||||
Marc S. Milgram (1957) | Chief | Since 2010 | N/A | None |
c/o First Investors Funds, | Compliance | |||
Legal Department | Officer | |||
40 Wall Street | ||||
New York, NY 10005 | ||||
Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years: | ||||
First Investors Federal Savings Bank, President (2000-2011), Treasurer (1987-2011) and Director (2004-2011). |
*Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term with the Funds, until his/her successor is elected.
185 |
FIRST INVESTORS LIFE SERIES FUNDS
Shareholder Information | |
Investment Adviser | Custodian |
Foresters Investment Management | The Bank of New York Mellon |
Company, Inc. | 225 Liberty Street |
40 Wall Street | New York, NY 10286 |
New York, NY 10005 | |
Subadviser | Transfer Agent |
(Fund For Income) | Foresters Investor Services, Inc. |
Muzinich & Co., Inc. | Raritan Plaza I – 8th Floor |
450 Park Avenue | Edison, NJ 08837-3920 |
New York, NY 10022 | |
Subadviser | Independent Registered |
(International Fund) | Public Accounting Firm |
Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. | Tait, Weller & Baker LLP |
1540 Broadway | 1818 Market Street – 24th Floor |
New York, NY 10036 | Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
Subadviser | Legal Counsel |
(Select Growth Fund) | K&L Gates LLP |
Smith Asset Management Group, L.P. | 1601 K Street, N.W. |
100 Crescent Court | Washington, D.C. 20006 |
Dallas, TX 75201 |
186 |
A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to vote proxies relating to a portfolio’s securities is available, without charge, upon request by calling toll free 1-800-423-4026 or can be viewed online or downloaded from the EDGAR database on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) internet website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, information regarding how the Funds voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, is available, without charge, upon request in writing or by calling 1-800-423-4026 and on the SEC’s internet website at http://www.sec.gov.
The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. The Funds’ Form N-Q is available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov; and may also be reviewed and copied at the SEC’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. The schedule of portfolio holdings is available, without charge, upon request in writing or by calling 1-800-423-4026.
There are a variety of risks associated with investing in variable life and annuity subaccounts. For all subaccounts, there is the risk that securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations. For stock subaccounts, the risks include market risk (the risk that the entire stock market will decline because of an event such as a deterioration in the economy or a rise in interest rates), as well as special risks associated with investing in certain types of stock subaccounts such as small-cap, real estate, global or international funds. For bond subaccounts, the risks include interest rate risk and credit risk. Interest rate risk is the risk that bonds will decrease in value as interest rates rise. As a general matter, bonds with longer maturities fluctuate more than bonds with shorter maturities in reaction to changes in interest rates. Credit risk is the risk that bonds will decline in value as the result of a decline in the credit rating of the bonds or the economy as a whole, or that the issuer will be unable to pay interest and/or principal when due. There are also special risks associated with investing in certain types of bond subaccounts, including liquidity risk and prepayment and extension risk. You should consult the Funds’ prospectus for a precise explanation of the risks associated with your subaccounts.
187 |
NOTES |
188 |
NOTES |
189 |
Item 2. Code of Ethics
As of December 31, 2015, the Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer. There were no revisions made to the code of ethics during the year January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.
For the year ended December 31, 2015, there were no waivers granted from a provision of the code of ethics.
A copy of the Registrant's code of ethics is filed under Item 12(a)(1).
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert
During the reporting period the Registrant's Board determined that it had at least one "audit committee financial expert" serving on its audit committee. Arthur M. Scutro, Jr. and Mark R. Ward were the "audit committee financial experts" during all or part of the period and were considered to be "independent" as defined in Item 3 of Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Fiscal Year Ended | |||||
December 31, | |||||
----------------- | |||||
2015 | 2014 | ||||
---- | ---- | ||||
(a) Audit Fees | $ | 149,350 | $ | 137,350 | |
(b) Audit-Related Fees | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | |
(c) Tax Fees | $ | 52,200 | $ | 45,500 | |
Nature of services: tax returns preparation and tax compliance | |||||
(d) All Other Fees | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | |
(e)(1) Audit committee's pre-approval policies |
The Charter of the Audit Committee requires the Audit Committee (a) to pre-approve, and to recommend to the full Board, the selection, retention or termination of the independent auditors to provide audit, review or attest services to the First Investors Funds (“Funds”) and, in connection therewith, evaluate the independence of the auditors and to obtain the auditors’ specific representations as to their independence; (b) to pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided to the Funds by the independent auditor; and (c) to pre-approve all non-audit services to be provided by the Funds’ independent auditor to the Funds’ investment adviser or to any entity that controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with the Funds’ investment adviser and that provides ongoing services to the Funds, if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Funds. The Audit Committee has not adopted pre-approval policies or procedures to permit the services in (b) and (c) above to be pre-approved by other means.
(e)(2) None, or 0%, of the services relating to the Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees and All Other Fees paid by the Registrant and Related Entities disclosed above were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X (which permits audit committee approval after the start of the engagement with respect to services other than audit review or attest services, if certain conditions are satisfied).
(f) Not Applicable
(g) Aggregate non-audit fees billed by the Registrant's accountant for services rendered to the Registrant and the Registrant's investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant for the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 were $169,000 and $216,000, respectively.
(h) Not Applicable
Item 5. | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants |
Not applicable |
Item 6. | Schedule of Investments |
(a) 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 & Procedures for |
Closed-End Management Investment Companies | |
Not applicable |
Item 8. | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies |
Not applicable |
Item 9. | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management |
Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers | |
Not applicable |
Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There were no material changes to the procedure by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant's Board of Trustees.
Item 11. Controls and Procedures
(a) The Registrant's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) are effective, based on their evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report.
(b) There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits
(a)(1) Code of Ethics - Filed herewith
(a)(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Filed herewith
(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 - Filed herewith
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
First Investors Life Series Funds
By | /S/ | WILLIAM LIPKUS |
William Lipkus | ||
President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
Date: | February 24, 2016 |
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/ | WILLIAM LIPKUS |
William Lipkus | ||
President and Principal Executive Officer | ||
By | /S/ | JOSEPH I. BENEDEK |
Joseph I. Benedek | ||
Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer | ||
Date: | February 24, 2016 |