UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: | 811-01612 | |
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: | The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 | |
Address of principal executive offices: | Gateway Center 3, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102 | |
Name and address of agent for service: | Deborah A. Docs | |
Gateway Center 3, 100 Mulberry Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102 | ||
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: | 973-367-7521 | |
Date of fiscal year end: | 12/31/2005 | |
Date of reporting period: | 6/30/2005 |
Item 1 – | Reports to Stockholders – [ INSERT REPORT ] |
Prudential Long–Term
Growth Account
Semiannual Report to Participants
June 30, 2005
The Prudential Insurance Company of America
751 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102-3777
A Prudential Financial company
IFS-A105483
A description of the Account’s proxy voting policies and procedures is available, without charge, upon request. Owners of variable annuity contracts should call 888-778-2888 to obtain descriptions of the Account’s proxy voting policies and procedures. The description is also available on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Account voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, 2005 is available on the website of the Commission, at www.sec.gov and on the Account’s website at www.irrc.com/prudential.
The Account files with the Commission a complete listing of portfolio holdings as of its first and third quarter-end on Form N-Q. Form N-Q is available on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or by visiting the Commission’s Public Reference Room. For more information on the Commission’s Public Reference Room, please visit the Commission’s website or call 1-800-SEC-0330. Participants may obtain copies of Form N-Q filings by calling 888-778-2888.
This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus for VCA-2.
It is for the information of persons participating in The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 (VCA-2, Long-Term Growth Account, or the Account). VCA-2 is a group annuity insurance product issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, 751 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102-3777, and distributed by Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (PIMS), member SIPC, Three Gateway Center, 14th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4077. PIMS is a Prudential Financial company. Contract guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuing Company. Each company is solely responsible for its own respective financial conditions and contractual obligations. Prudential Financial and the Rock logo are registered service marks of The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ, and its affiliates.
Investors should consider the contract and the underlying portfolios’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. This and other important information is contained in the prospectuses that can be obtained from your financial professional. You should read the prospectuses carefully before investing.
Annuity contracts contain exclusions, limitations, reductions of benefits, and terms for keeping them in force. Your plan sponsor or licensed financial professional can provide you with costs and complete details.
The Prudential Long-Term Growth Program
Semiannual Report
JUNE 30, 2005
Letter to Participants
n | DEAR PARTICIPANT, |
We hope that you find the semiannual report for The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 a valuable source of information about your investments. Your success is important to us.
With this in mind, we recommend that you periodically review your financial objectives with your investment professional. It is important to ensure that you have a diversified investment plan that reflects your reasons for investing, personal investment horizon, and risk tolerance. Diversification also can be a key to successful investing for retirement. By dividing your investments among a number of different investment options with varying behavior patterns, you may better position yourself for potential market fluctuations.
At Prudential, we are committed to helping you grow and protect your wealth by providing financial solutions that meet your needs—today and in the future. We thank you for your confidence in our products.
Sincerely,
Judy A. Rice
President,
Variable Contract Account 2 | July 29, 2005 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2
STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2005
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS — 96.4% | Value | ||||
COMMON STOCKS | Shares | ||||
Aerospace/Defense — 1.1% | |||||
Lockheed Martin Corp. | 67,200 | $ | 4,359,264 | ||
Beverages — 1.3% | |||||
PepsiCo, Inc. | 95,500 | 5,150,315 | |||
Biotechnology — 3.8% | |||||
Amgen, Inc. (a) | 77,300 | 4,673,558 | |||
Genentech Inc. (a) | 74,800 | 6,004,944 | |||
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (a) | 94,900 | 4,174,651 | |||
14,853,153 | |||||
Capital Markets — 4.3% | |||||
Bank of New York (The) | 86,500 | 2,489,470 | |||
Charles Schwab Corp. | 506,500 | 5,713,320 | |||
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The) | 35,200 | 3,591,104 | |||
Merrill Lynch & Co. | 87,900 | 4,835,379 | |||
16,629,273 | |||||
Chemicals — 2.5% | |||||
Agrium, Inc. | 275,800 | 5,408,438 | |||
Dupont EI. de Nemours | 95,500 | 4,107,455 | |||
9,515,893 | |||||
Commercial Services & Supplies — 2.0% | |||||
Cendant Corp. | 179,100 | 4,006,467 | |||
Waste Management, Inc. | 128,800 | 3,650,192 | |||
7,656,659 | |||||
Communications Equipment — 1.6% | |||||
QualComm, Inc. | 118,100 | 3,898,481 | |||
Nortel Networks Corp. (a) | 868,900 | 2,267,829 | |||
6,166,310 | |||||
Consumer Finance — 1.9% | |||||
American Express Co. | 134,300 | 7,148,789 | |||
Diversified Financial Services — 3.2% | |||||
J.P. Morgan & Chase Co. | 165,292 | 5,838,113 | |||
PHH Corp. (a) | 84,800 | 2,181,056 | |||
Principal Financial Group, Inc. | 101,700 | 4,261,230 | |||
12,280,399 | |||||
Electronic Equipment & Instruments — 1.2% | |||||
Agilent Technologies, Inc. (a) | 195,600 | 4,502,712 | |||
Electric Utilities Producers — 1.4% | |||||
Exelon Corp. | 107,600 | 5,523,108 | |||
Energy Equipment & Services — 9.0% | |||||
BJ Services Co. | 151,100 | 7,929,728 | |||
ENSCO International, Inc. | 124,100 | 4,436,575 | |||
Global SantaFe Corp. | 160,500 | 6,548,400 | |||
Schlumberger Ltd. | 71,800 | 5,452,492 | |||
Smith International, Inc. | 80,800 | 5,146,960 | |||
Weatherford International Ltd. (a) | 94,600 | 5,484,908 | |||
34,999,063 | |||||
Food & Staples Retailing — 1.6% | |||||
Kroger Co. (The) (a) | 323,400 | 6,154,302 | |||
COMMON STOCKS | Value | ||||
(Continued) | Shares | ||||
Food Products — 1.5% | |||||
Cadbury Schweppes Spons. ADR | 149,600 | $ | 5,734,168 | ||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 1.3% | |||||
St. Jude Medical, Inc. (a) | 119,200 | 5,198,312 | |||
Health Care Providers & Services — 2.8% | |||||
Caremark Rx, Inc. (a) | 124,000 | 5,520,480 | |||
Wellpoint Inc. (a) | 77,200 | 5,376,208 | |||
10,896,688 | |||||
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 0.8% | |||||
Gtech Holdings | 106,200 | 3,105,288 | |||
Independent Power Producers & | |||||
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. | 91,900 | 5,301,711 | |||
TXU, Corp. | 49,400 | 4,104,646 | |||
9,406,357 | |||||
Industrial Conglomerates — 4.5% | |||||
General Electric Company | 339,100 | 11,749,815 | |||
Tyco International Ltd. | 189,800 | 5,542,160 | |||
17,291,975 | |||||
Insurance — 3.8% | |||||
American International Group | 136,900 | 7,953,890 | |||
Loews Corp. | 86,600 | 6,711,500 | |||
14,665,390 | |||||
Internet & Catalog Retail — 1.1% | |||||
eBay, Inc. (a) | 131,100 | 4,327,611 | |||
Internet Software & Services — 2.0% | |||||
Google Inc. Cl. A (a) | 26,300 | 7,736,145 | |||
Media — 1.9% | |||||
Univision Communications, Inc. | 136,000 | 3,746,800 | |||
Viacom, Inc. Cl. B | 107,232 | 3,433,569 | |||
7,180,369 | |||||
Metals & Mining — 6.3% | |||||
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce ADR (Brazil) | 292,300 | 8,558,544 | |||
Freeport-McMoRan Cooper & Gold, Inc. Cl. B | 199,600 | 7,473,024 | |||
Newcrest Mining Ltd. ADR (Australia) | 326,800 | 4,281,080 | |||
Phelps Dodge Corp. | 42,000 | 3,885,000 | |||
24,197,648 | |||||
Multiline Retail — 2.6% | |||||
Federated Department Stores, Inc. | 64,900 | 4,755,872 | |||
Target Corp. | 94,800 | 5,158,068 | |||
9,913,940 | |||||
Office Electronics — 1.6% | |||||
Xerox Corp. (a) | 445,500 | 6,143,445 | |||
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2
STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS (Unaudited) |
June 30, 2005
COMMON STOCKS | Value | |||||
(Continued) | Shares | |||||
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 8.4% | ||||||
Apache Corp. | 89,470 | $ | 5,779,762 | |||
EOG Resources, Inc. | 127,000 | 7,213,600 | ||||
Nexen, Inc. | 221,600 | 6,727,776 | ||||
Suncor Energy, Inc. | 275,100 | 13,017,732 | ||||
32,738,870 | ||||||
Pharmaceuticals — 7.2% | ||||||
Eli Lilly & Co. | 125,200 | 6,974,892 | ||||
Novartis AG ADR (Switzerland) | 132,900 | 6,304,776 | ||||
Pfizer, Inc. | 164,300 | 4,531,394 | ||||
Roche Holdings Ltd. ADR (Switzerland) | 96,900 | 6,134,255 | ||||
Sanofi Aventis ADR (France) | 93,000 | 3,812,070 | ||||
27,757,387 | ||||||
Semiconductors & |
| |||||
Applied Materials, Inc. | 109,400 | 1,770,092 | ||||
Intel, Corp. | 239,300 | 6,236,158 | ||||
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (a) | 104,600 | 3,978,984 | ||||
11,985,234 | ||||||
Software — 6.5% | ||||||
Adobe Systems Incorporated | 206,800 | 5,918,616 | ||||
Computer Associates International, Inc. | 2,254 | 61,940 | ||||
Electronic Arts, Inc. (a) | 90,500 | 5,123,205 | ||||
Mercury Interactive Corp. (a) | 100,100 | 3,839,836 | ||||
Microsoft Corp. | 292,800 | 7,273,152 | ||||
Navteq Corp. (a) | 80,200 | 2,981,836 | ||||
25,198,585 | ||||||
Specialty Retail — 1.0% | ||||||
Bed, Bath & Beyond, Inc. (a) | 89,200 | 3,726,776 | ||||
Tobacco — 1.4% | ||||||
Altria Group, Inc. | 83,800 | 5,418,508 | ||||
Wireless Telecommunication Services — 1.3% | ||||||
Nextel Communications, Inc. | 153,600 | 4,962,816 | ||||
TOTAL LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS (Cost: $289,450,470) | $ | 372,524,752 | ||||
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS — 3.4% | ||||||
MUTUAL FUND | ||||||
Dryden Core Investment Fund- Taxable Money Market Series (b) | 13,247,156 | 13,247,156 | ||||
TOTAL INVESTMENTS — 99.8% | $ | 385,771,908 | ||||
OTHER ASSETS, LESS LIABILITIES — 0.2% | ||||||
Cash | 90 | |||||
Receivable for Securities Sold | 383,938 | |||||
Dividends and Interest Receivable | 366,189 | |||||
Receivable for Pending Capital Transactions | 196 | |||||
Payable for Securities Purchased | (143,690 | ) | ||||
OTHER ASSETS IN EXCESS OF LIABILITIES | 606,723 | |||||
COMMON STOCKS | Value | ||||
(Continued) | |||||
NET ASSETS — 100% | $ | 386,378,631 | |||
NET ASSETS, representing: | |||||
Equity of Participants — | 369,898,403 | ||||
Equity of Annuitants | 14,245,084 | ||||
Equity of The Prudential Insurance Company of America | 2,235,144 | ||||
$ | 386,378,631 | ||||
(a) | Non-income producing security. |
(b) | The Prudential Investments LLC, the manager of the Account also serves as manager of the Dryden Core Investment Fund-Taxable Money Market Series. |
The industry classification of portfolio holdings and other assets in excess of liabilities shown as a percentage of net assets as of June 30, 2005 were as follows:
Energy Equipment & Services | 9.0 | % | |
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels | 8.4 | ||
Pharmaceuticals | 7.2 | ||
Software | 6.5 | ||
Metals & Mining | 6.3 | ||
Industrial Conglomerates | 4.5 | ||
Capital Markets | 4.3 | ||
Biotechnology | 3.8 | ||
Insurance | 3.8 | ||
Money Market Mutual Fund | 3.4 | ||
Diversified Financial Services | 3.2 | ||
Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment | 3.1 | ||
Health Care Providers & Services | 2.8 | ||
Multiline Retail | 2.6 | ||
Chemicals | 2.5 | ||
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders | 2.4 | ||
Commercial Services & Supplies | 2.0 | ||
Internet Software & Services | 2.0 | ||
Consumer Finance | 1.9 | ||
Media | 1.9 | ||
Communications Equipment | 1.6 | ||
Food & Staples Retailing | 1.6 | ||
Office Electronics | 1.6 | ||
Food Products | 1.5 | ||
Electric Utilities Producers | 1.4 | ||
Tobacco | 1.4 | ||
Beverages | 1.3 | ||
Health Care Equipment & Supplies | 1.3 | ||
Wireless Telecommunication Services | 1.3 | ||
Electronic Equipment & Instruments | 1.2 | ||
Aerospace/Defense | 1.1 | ||
Internet & Catalog Retail | 1.1 | ||
Specialty Retail | 1.0 | ||
Hotels, Restaraunts & Leisure | 0.8 | ||
Other assets in excess of liabilities | 0.2 | ||
100.0 | % | ||
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF VCA-2
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) |
Six Months Ended June 30, 2005
INVESTMENT INCOME | ||||
Unaffiliated Dividend Income (net of $55,789 foreign withholding tax) | $ | 2,464,588 | ||
Affiliated Interest Income | 109,215 | |||
Total Income | 2,573,803 | |||
EXPENSES | ||||
Fees Charged to Participants and Annuitants for Investment Management Services | (229,201 | ) | ||
Fees Charged to Participants (other than Annuitants) for Assuming Mortality and Expense Risks | (669,810 | ) | ||
Total Expenses | (899,011 | ) | ||
NET INVESTMENT INCOME | 1,674,792 | |||
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS | ||||
Net Realized Gain on Investment Transactions | 14,721,676 | |||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments | (2,780,407 | ) | ||
NET GAIN ON INVESTMENTS | 11,941,269 | |||
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | $ | 13,616,061 |
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (Unaudited) |
Six Months Ended June 30, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||
2005 | 2004 | |||||||
OPERATIONS | ||||||||
Net Investment Income | $ | 1,674,792 | $ | 4,497,064 | ||||
Net Realized Gain on Investment Transactions | 14,721,676 | 21,143,823 | ||||||
Net Change In Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments | (2,780,407 | ) | 9,957,696 | |||||
NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS | 13,616,061 | 35,598,583 | ||||||
CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS | ||||||||
Purchase Payments and Transfers In | 4,585,047 | 18,383,861 | ||||||
Withdrawals and Transfers Out | (16,460,366 | ) | (42,512,436 | ) | ||||
Annual Administration Charges Deducted from Participants’ Accumulation Accounts | (320 | ) | (10,155 | ) | ||||
Mortality and Expense Risk Charges Deducted from Annuitants’ Accounts | 17,793 | (40,134 | ) | |||||
Variable Annuity Payments | (1,019,226 | ) | (2,089,278 | ) | ||||
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS | (12,877,072 | ) | (26,268,142 | ) | ||||
NET DECREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM SURPLUS TRANSFERS | (25,544 | ) | (102,398 | ) | ||||
TOTAL INCREASE IN NET ASSETS | 713,445 | 9,228,043 | ||||||
NET ASSETS | ||||||||
Beginning of period | 385,665,186 | 376,437,143 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 386,378,631 | $ | 385,665,186 |
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR VCA-2
INCOME AND CAPITAL CHANGES PER ACCUMULATION UNIT* (Unaudited) |
(For an Accumulation Unit outstanding throughout the period)
Six Months Ended June 30, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||
Investment Income | $ | .1947 | $ | .4502 | $ | .3116 | $ | .2859 | $ | .3621 | $ | .4152 | ||||||||||||
Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Investment management fee | (.0176 | ) | (.0331 | ) | (.0269 | ) | (.0268 | ) | (.0320 | ) | (.0321 | ) | ||||||||||||
Assuming mortality and expense risks | (.0528 | ) | (.0991 | ) | (.0805 | ) | (.0803 | ) | (.0960 | ) | (.0961 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net Investment Income | .1243 | .3180 | .2042 | .1788 | .2341 | .2870 | ||||||||||||||||||
Capital Changes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions | 1.1179 | 1.5269 | (.3489 | ) | (2.4591 | ) | (2.1868 | ) | 1.8450 | |||||||||||||||
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments | (.1913 | ) | .7360 | 6.9421 | (3.2340 | ) | (.7809 | ) | .0344 | |||||||||||||||
Net Increase (Decrease) in Accumulation Unit Value | 1.0509 | 2.5809 | 6.7974 | (5.5143 | ) | (2.7336 | ) | 2.1664 | ||||||||||||||||
Accumulation Unit Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning of period | 28.5366 | 25.9557 | 19.1583 | 24.6726 | 27.4062 | 25.2398 | ||||||||||||||||||
End of period | $ | 29.5875 | $ | 28.5366 | $ | 25.9557 | $ | 19.1583 | $ | 24.6726 | $ | 27.4062 | ||||||||||||
Total Return** | 3.68 | % | 9.94 | % | 35.48 | % | (22.35 | )% | (9.97 | )% | 8.58 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratio of Expenses To Average Net Assets*** | .50 | %† | .50 | % | .50 | % | .50 | % | .50 | % | .50 | % | ||||||||||||
Ratio of Net Investment Income To Average Net Assets*** | .88 | %† | 1.20 | % | .95 | % | .83 | % | .92 | % | 1.12 | % | ||||||||||||
Portfolio Turnover Rate | 26 | %†† | 62 | % | 62 | % | 71 | % | 80 | % | 84 | % | ||||||||||||
Number of Accumulation Units Outstanding | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
For Participants at end of period (000 omitted) | 12,502 | 12,923 | 13,830 | 14,636 | 15,271 | 16,372 |
* | Calculated by accumulating the actual per unit amounts daily. |
** | Total return does not consider the effects of sales loads. Total return is calculated assuming a purchase of shares on the first day and a sale on the last day of each period reported. Total returns for periods of less then one full year are not annualized. |
*** | These calculations exclude Prudential’s equity in VCA-2. |
† | Annualized. |
†† | Not Annualized. |
The above table does not reflect the annual administration charge, which does not affect the Accumulation Unit Value. This charge is made by reducing Participants’ Accumulation Accounts by a number of Accumulation Units equal in value to the charge.
SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
VCA-2 (Unaudited)
Note 1: | General |
The Prudential Variable Contract Account-2 (VCA-2 or the Account) was established on January 9, 1968 by The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential”) under the laws of the State of New Jersey and is registered as an open-end, diversified management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. VCA-2 has been designed for use by public school systems and certain tax-exempt organizations to provide for the purchase and payment of tax-deferred variable annuities. The investment objective of the Account is long-term growth of capital. Its investments are composed primarily of common stocks. Although variable annuity payments differ according to the investment performance of the Account, they are not affected by mortality or expense experience because Prudential assumes the expense risk and the mortality risk under the contracts.
Note 2: | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
Securities Valuation: Securities listed on a securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on such exchange on the day of valuation or, if there was no sale on such day, at the mean between the last reported bid and ask prices, or at the last bid price on such day in the absence of an asked price. Securities traded via Nasdaq are valued at the official closing price provided by Nasdaq. Securities that are actively traded in the over-the-counter market, including listed securities for which the primary market is believed by Prudential Investments LLC (“PI” or “Manager”), in consultation with the subadviser(s), to be over-the-counter, are valued by an independent pricing agent or principal market maker. Options on securities and indices traded on an exchange are valued at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on such exchange. Futures contracts and options thereon traded on a commodities exchange or board of trade are valued at the last sale price at the close of trading on such exchange or board of trade or, if there was no sale on the applicable commodities exchange or board of trade on such day, at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and asked prices on such exchange or board of trade or at the last bid price in the absence of an asked price. Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or whose values have been affected by events occurring after the close of the security’s foreign market and before the Fund’s normal pricing time, are valued at fair value in accordance with the Accounts’ Committee members approved fair valuation procedures. Investments in mutual funds are valued at their net asset value.
Short-term investments which mature in more than 60 days are valued based on current market quotations. Short-term investments having maturities of 60 days or less are valued at amortized cost which approximates market value. Amortized cost is computed using the cost on the date of purchase, adjusted for constant accretion of discount or amortization of premium to maturity.
Securities Transactions and Investment Income: Securities transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized and unrealized gains or losses on sales of securities are calculated on the identified cost basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date and interest income, including amortization of premiums and accretion of discount on debt securities, as required is recorded on the accrual basis. Income and realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated to the Participants and Prudential on a daily basis in proportion to their respective ownership in VCA-2.
Estimates: The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those amounts.
Federal Income Taxes: The operations of VCA-2 are part of, and are taxed with, the operations of Prudential. Under the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, Prudential does not expect to incur federal income taxes on earnings of VCA-2 to the extent the earnings are credited under the Contracts. As a result, the Unit Value of VCA-2 has not been reduced by federal income taxes.
Annuity Reserves: Reserves are computed for purchased annuities using the Prudential 1950 Group Annuity Valuation (GAV) Table, adjusted, and a valuation interest rate related to the Assumed Investment Result (AIR). The valuation interest rate is equal to the AIR less .5% in contract charges defined in Note 3. The AIRs are selected by each Contract-holder and are described in the prospectus.
Note 3: | Investment Management Agreement and Charges |
The Account has a management agreement with PI. Pursuant to this agreement, PI has responsibility for all investment advisory services and supervises the subadviser’s performance of such services. PI has entered into a subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”). The subadvisory agreement provides that Jennison will furnish investment advisory services in connection with management of the Account. PI pays for the services of Jennison.
A daily charge, at an effective annual rate of 0.125% of the current value of the Participant’s (other than Annuitants’ and Prudential’s) equity in VCA-2, is charged to the Account and paid to PI for investment management services. An equivalent charge is deducted monthly in determining the amount of Annuitants’ payments.
A daily charge, paid to PI for assuming mortality and expense risks, is calculated at an effective annual rate of 0.375% of the current value of the Participant’s (other than Annuitants’ and Prudential’s) equity in VCA-2. A one-time equivalent charge is deducted when the Annuity Units for Annuitants are determined.
Prudential, PI and Jennison are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential”).
An annual administration charge of not more than $30 annually is deducted from the accumulation account of certain Participants either at the time of withdrawal of the value of the entire Participant’s account or at the end of the fiscal year by canceling Accumulation Units. This deduction may be made from a fixed-dollar annuity contract if the Participant is enrolled under such a contract.
A charge of 2.5% for sales and other marketing expenses is deducted from certain Participant’s purchase payments. For the six months ended June 30, 2005, Prudential has advised the Account it has not received any sales charges.
Note 4: | Purchases and Sales of Portfolio Securities |
For the six months ended June 30, 2005, the aggregate cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of securities, excluding short-term investments, were $94,410,289 and $95,750,564, respectively.
Investment in the Core Fund: The Account invests in the Taxable Money Market Series (the “Series”), a portfolio of Dryden Core Investment Fund, pursuant to an exemptive order received from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Series is a money market mutual fund registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and managed by PI.
Note 5: | Unit Transactions |
The number of Accumulation Units issued and redeemed for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and year ended December 31, 2004, respectively, are as follows:
Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 | Year Ended December 31, 2004 | |||
Units issued | 160,796 | 698,531 | ||
Units redeemed | (581,620) | (1,605,538) | ||
Net decrease | (420,824) | (907,007) |
Note 6: | Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Resulting from Surplus Transfers |
The increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from surplus transfers represents the net increases to/(reductions from) Prudential’s investment Account. The increase (decrease) includes reserve adjustments for mortality and expense risks assumed by Prudential.
Note 7: | Participant Loans |
Participant loan initiations are not permitted in VCA-2. However, participants who initiated loans in other accounts are permitted to direct loan repayments into VCA-2.
For the six months ended June 30, 2005 and year ended December 31, 2004, $4,896 and $9,435 of participant loan principal and interest has been paid to VCA-2, respectively. The participant loan principal and interest repayments are included in purchase payments and transfers in within the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.
VCA 2
Semiannual Report
June 30, 2005
Committee Members
Saul K. Fenster, Ph.D.
President Emeritus,
New Jersey Institute of Technology
W. Scott McDonald, Jr., Ph.D.
Management Consultant,
Kaludis Consulting Group, Inc.
David E.A. Carson
Formerly, Director, Chairman,
CEO and President of People’s Bank
Joseph Weber, Ph.D.
Vice President,
Finance, Interclass
The Prudential Variable Contract Account - 2
The Members of the Committee (the “Committee”) of The Prudential Variable Contract Account – 2 oversee the management of The Prudential Variable Contract Account – 2 (the “Fund”), and, as required by law, determine annually whether to renew the Fund’s management agreement with Prudential Investments LLC (“PI”) and the Fund’s subadvisory agreement with Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”). In considering the renewal of the agreements, the Committee, including a majority of the Independent Committee Members, met on May 24, 2005 and June 23, 2005, and approved the renewal of the agreements through July 31, 2006, after concluding that renewal of the agreements was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.
In advance of the meeting, the Committee received materials relating to the agreements, and had the opportunity to ask questions and request further information in connection with their consideration. In approving the agreements, the Committee, including the Independent Committee Members advised by independent legal counsel, considered the factors they deemed relevant, including the nature, quality and extent of services provided, the performance of the Fund, the profitability of PI and its affiliates, expenses and fees, and the potential for economies of scale that may be shared with the Fund and its shareholders. In their deliberations, the Committee Members did not identify any single factor that was dispositive and each Committee Member attributed different weights to the various factors. In connection with their deliberations, the Board considered information provided by PI throughout the year at regular Committee meetings, presentations from portfolio managers and other information, as well as information furnished at or in advance of the meetings on May 24, 2005 and June 23, 2005.
The Committee Members determined that the overall arrangements between the Fund and PI, which serves as the Fund’s investment manager pursuant to a management agreement, and between PI and Jennison, which serves as the Fund’s subadviser pursuant to the terms of a subadvisory agreement with PI, are fair and reasonable in light of the services performed, fees charged and such other matters as the Committee Members considered relevant in the exercise of their business judgment.
The material factors and conclusions that formed the basis for the Committee Members’ reaching their determinations to approve the continuance of the agreements are separately discussed below.
Nature, quality and extent of services
The Committee received and considered information regarding the nature and extent of services provided to the Fund by PI and Jennison. The Committee considered the services provided by PI, including but not limited to the oversight of the subadviser for the Fund, as well as the provision of fund accounting, recordkeeping, compliance, and other services to the Fund. With respect to PI’s oversight of the subadviser, the Committee noted that PI’s Strategic Investment Research Group (“SIRG”), which is a business unit of PI, is responsible for monitoring and reporting to PI’s senior management on the performance and operations of the subadviser. The Committee also considered that PI pays the salaries of all of the officers and non-independent Committee Members. The Committee also considered the investment subadvisory services provided by Jennison, as well as adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with applicable Fund policies and procedures.
The Committee reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of PI’s senior management responsible for the oversight of the Fund and Jennison, and also reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of Jennison’s portfolio managers who are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio. The Committee was provided with information pertaining to PI’s and Jennison’s
organizational structure, senior management, investment operations, and other relevant information pertaining to both PI and Jennison. The Committee also noted that it received favorable compliance reports from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) as to both PI and Jennison. The Committee noted that Jennison is affiliated with PI.
The Committee concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the investment management services provided by PI and the subadvisory services provided to the Fund by Jennison, and that there was a reasonable basis on which to conclude that the Fund benefits from the services provided by PI and Jennison under the management and subadvisory agreements.
Performance of The Prudential Variable Contract Account - 2
The Board received and considered information about the Fund’s historical performance, noting that the Fund had achieved performance that was in the second quartile over the one-year period ending December 31 and performance that was in the first quartile over three-year and five-year periods ending December 31 in relation to the group of comparable funds in a peer universe (the “Peer Universe”). The Committee further noted that the Fund had outperformed its benchmark index over the same time periods.
The Committee determined that the Fund’s performance was satisfactory.
The funds included in the Peer Universe are objectively determined solely by Lipper Inc., independent provider of investment company data.
Fees and Expenses
The Committee considered the management fee for the Fund as compared to the management fee charged by PI to other funds and accounts and the fee charged by other advisers to comparable mutual funds provided by Lipper Inc.
The Fund’s management fee of 0.125% ranked in the first quartile in its Lipper 15(c) Peer Group, and was the lowest fee among the funds included in the Lipper 15(c) Peer GroupThe Committee concluded that the management and subadvisory fees are reasonable.
Costs of Services and Profits Realized by PI
The Committee was provided with information on the profitability of PI and its affiliates in serving as the Fund’s investment manager. The Committee discussed with PI the methodology utilized in assembling the information regarding profitability and considered its reasonableness. The Committee recognized that it is difficult to make comparisons of profitability from fund management contracts because comparative information is not generally publicly available and is affected by numerous factors, including the structure of the particular adviser, the types of funds it manages, its business mix, numerous assumptions regarding allocations and the adviser’s capital structure and cost of capital. The Committee did not separately consider the profitability of the subadviser, an affiliate of PI, as its profitability was reflected in the profitability report for PI. Taking these factors into account, the Committee concluded that the profitability of PI and its affiliates in relation to the services rendered was not unreasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Committee noted that the advisory fee schedule for the Fund does not contain breakpoints that reduce the fee rate on assets above specified levels. The Committee received and discussed information
concerning whether PI realizes economies of scale as the Fund’s assets grow beyond current levels. In light of the Fund’s current size and expense structure, the Committee concluded that the absence of breakpoints in the Fund’s fee schedule is acceptable at this time.
Other Benefits to PI and Jennison
The Committee considered potential ancillary benefits that might be received by PI and Jennison and their affiliates as a result of their relationship with the Fund. The Committee concluded that potential benefits to be derived by PI included brokerage commissions received by affiliates of PI, as well as reputational or other intangible benefits resulting from PI’s association with the Fund. The Committee concluded that the potential benefits to be derived by Jennison included the ability to use soft dollar credits, brokerage commissions received by affiliates of Jennison, as well as the potential benefits consistent with those generally resulting from an increase in assets under management, specifically, potential access to additional research resources and reputational benefits. The Committee concluded that the benefits derived by PI and Jennison were consistent with the types of benefits generally derived by investment managers and subadvisers to mutual funds.
The toll-free number shown below can be used to make transfers and reallocations, review how your premiums are being allocated, and receive current investment option values in your contract. Unit values for each investment option are available to all participants from the toll-free number. The phone lines are open each business day during the hours shown below. Please be sure to have your contract number available when you call.
In the past, participants who held several variable contracts at the same address received multiple copies of annual and semiannual reports. In an effort to lessen waste and reduce expenses of postage and printing, we will attempt to mail only one copy of this report based on our current records for participants with the same last name and same address. No action on your part is necessary. Upon request, we will furnish you with additional reports. The toll-free number listed on the inside back cover should be used to request additional copies. Proxy material and tax information will continue to be sent for each account of record.
30 Scranton Office Park
Scranton, PA 18507-1789
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Prudential
IFS-A105483 LT.RS.001 Ed. 06/30/2005
Item 2 – | Code of Ethics — Not required as this is not an annual filing. |
Item 3 – | Audit Committee Financial Expert – Not applicable with semi-annual filing |
Item 4 – | Principal Accountant Fees and Services – Not applicable with semi-annual filing. |
Item 5 – | Audit Committee of Listed Registrants – Not applicable. |
Item 6 – | Schedule of Investments – The schedule is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form. |
Item 7 – | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable. |
Item 8 – | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not applicable. |
Item 9 – | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not applicable. |
Item 10 – | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – Not applicable. |
Item 11 – | Controls and Procedures |
(a) | It is the conclusion of the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer that the effectiveness of the registrant’s current disclosure controls and procedures (such disclosure controls and procedures having been evaluated within 90 days of the date of this filing) provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and that the information required to be disclosed by the registrant has been accumulated and communicated to the registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in order to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. |
(b) | There has been no significant change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal half-year if the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
Item 12 – | Exhibits |
(a) | (1) Code of Ethics – Not applicable with semi-annual filing. |
(2) Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.CERT. |
(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1. – Not applicable. |
(b) | Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – Attached hereto as Exhibit EX-99.906CERT. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant) The Prudential Variable Account Contract-2 | ||
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ DEBORAH A. DOCS | |
Deborah A. Docs Secretary |
Date August 24, 2005
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ JUDY A. RICE | |
Judy A. Rice President and Principal Executive Officer |
Date August 24, 2005
By (Signature and Title)* | /s/ GRACE C. TORRES | |
Grace C. Torres Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer |
Date August 24, 2005
* | Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature. |